A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. -Saint Basil Bild über We Heart It
A/N: Hi there! Still Drunk Drabbling (or in my case NOT Drunk Drabbling while at work) with @the-ss-horniest-book-club with a request from the lovely @itsunclebucky - I put a little College AU spin on it, hope it’s ok!
You felt the eyes on you as you peered into the microscope. You were pretty sure you knew who it was but you trained your eyes on the specimen in front of you instead. No need to look like a fool in front of him today, you thought to yourself. A throat cleared beside you; you closed your eyes and prayed you were wrong.
Nope, you thought as a pair of stormy blue eyes twinkled at you, crinkled at the corners as he smiled. “Hey y/n, whatcha lookin’ at?” You tried to think of a smart comment but all you managed to eke out was “Um… I, a…. Hi.” His smile only grew as he moved on to another classmate, high-fiving him in greeting. You slumped back into your seat with a quiet groan.
“Class, five more minutes before we discuss the midterm.”
Chris Beck jogged up to catch her; she was the most driven person in his biology class and he knew you were heading into the medical field like he was. “Y/n!” he yelled. “Y/n, wait up!” You stopped and turned jaw agape. “Thanks for waiting for me,” he teased with a wink.
“I… um… hi.” His chuckle gave you goosebumps as you stared dumbly at him. He waited for a second to see if you would say anything else. Instead, your head dipped in embarrassment, hoping the floor might suddenly swallow you whole.
“Y/n, I was hoping you would want to study with me for midterms. I could use the help.” His eyes bore down on your still hung head.
You thought about his offer for a moment then raised your head in confusion. “You’re like, ahead of me in class. And you want my help?”
Chris smiled again. “She speaks,” he teased. “Okay so maybe I’m no slouch in class, but I wouldn’t mind studying with the prettiest girl in class. What’d ya say?” His eyes twinkled again as they did in class and once again you were gobsmacked.
“Um… I, ya know….”
“Just say yes and make my day a little better. Please?” His look turned pleading and his lips pursed into an adorable pout. How can he be this pretty, you wondered.
Slightly exasperated and completely shocked by his compliment you said the first thing that popped into your head. “Well if I’m the prettiest, why haven’t you asked me out before?”
Chris’s smile was nearly blinding at the sass. “See! I knew you were smarter than me.” He gently swung his left arm around your shoulders and pulled you gently to his side before heading towards the student rec center. “Let’s grab lunch so you can tell me more about how stupid I’ve been for not asking you out sooner.”
Nearly endless in its beautiful varieties, the orchid flower almost seems to float on air as it invites one to contemplate its beauty. There are over 30,000 different varieties of wild orchids growing across this Earth, from the jungles of the equator to the arctic tundra and everywhere in-between! That’s not even counting over 200,000 hybridized varieties that florists have bred into existence. Orchids come in so many different varieties which love so many different growing conditions that, no matter where your garden, you’re sure to find a variety that’s right for you!
Energy ~ Feminine Planet ~ Venus Element ~ Water Deities ~ Aphrodite, Qu Yan
Most varieties of orchids grow in jungle conditions, clinging to tree bark with thick white roots that are adept at drawing out moisture and nutrients. Because these varieties like to grow high in the tree tops, they’re ravenous for intense sunlight and thrive on 12-hour days — close to midsummer conditions in temperate regions. Many varieties of orchids are difficult to grow, to be sure; even professional growers can struggle to bring them to bloom! But even if your thumb isn’t quite green enough to get these fussy flowers to take to your garden, there are dozens of natural varieties and hundreds of hybridized species who are perfectly content to grow on a windowsill or under lights.
If you want to give your orchid the best possible chance of growing, do thorough research into which varieties are the best fit for your region, and purchase the most mature plant you can: younger plants are very difficult to please. If possible, buy it while it’s in bloom — that way you’ll immediately know what you’re striving for! While there are simply too many varieties of orchid to give general growing instructions for all of them, a look at the plant’s physical characteristics should give some clues. Plants with few or leathery leaves will likely prefer high-light environments, while plants with soft, limp leaves are probably light-sensitive and should not be placed in sunny south-facing windows.
In addition to one variety of orchid being our source for vanilla, the tuberous root of the plant is filled with a highly-nutritious and starchy substance, which is famous for a sweetish taste and somewhat unpleasant smell. This substance, known as bassorin, can be used to replace starch as a reserve material, or to make a drink known as salep — named after an Arabic word for orchid — which was sold in stalls from the Middle East to the streets of London until being supplanted by coffee. In addition to this drink’s purported rejuvenating properties (being lauded as a strengthening and demulcent or anti-inflammatory agent), Chinese medicine has recorded uses for orchids dating back over 3,000 years, noting varieties of the Dendrobium genus of orchids as one of nine ‘faery herbs’ said to be a gift from heaven. Different types of orchids are used in remedies for a huge variety of purposes, ranging from improving memory to treating rheumatism to even easing the symptoms of tuberculosis! Many cultures, including Greece and China, use the plant as an aphrodisiac, and orchid fragrance is also used in perfume and aromatherapy.
In terms of magick, old texts tell of witches using orchid tubers in their philters, the fresh tuber being given to promote true love whilst the withered one checks wrongful passions. Culpepper refers to orchids as being under “the dominion of Venus,” and tells us that, among other things, when “being bruised and applied to the place” they cure the King’s Evil. Orchids also correspond to beauty and elegance, expressing uniqueness, ecstasy, spiritual intuition, and Goddess energy. Some varieties of orchids are also used in creating visions, entering trance-states, and inducing psychic powers.
Confucius wrote many poems on the orchid’s beauty, and even based some of his teachings on this delicate flower! He wrote, “The orchids grow in the woods and they let out their fragrance even if there is no one around to appreciate it. Likewise, men of noble character will not let poverty deter their will to be guided by high principles and morals.” Whether you ascribe to the teachings of Confucius or not, the many multitudes of orchid varieties have a great deal to give us on all levels of our life: whether contemplating them philosophically, utilizing their medicinal properties, or simply savoring their beauty, orchids are a treasure to be cherished.
Different colors of orchid have different meanings, but generally speaking, in flower language it means “Love, Beauty, and Refinement.”
Idrehu is a follower of the Chaotic Good drow goddess Eilistraee, who is usually depiced dancing naked with swords in front of a full moon.
Since Idrehu is an afab nonbinary person, their player really wanted to make sure they were drawn by someone with roughly the same experience, and I am so happy that they did. I really loved getting to design a fantasy binder - I’ve taken inspiration from armour, waistcoats and from corsetry here, with the idea that this could actually be an article of clothing in the setting. (And as always, fantasy pants are always fun to try to make look not-modern, but also not-stupid.)
All the flowers in this image are night-blooming varieties, along with having the usual flower language associations, which was a lot of fun to research. My personal favourite is the Night Blooming Cereus which is forming the bottom border of the image.
The flowers are: Top of the Wall Night convovulus Blue convovulus Honeysuckle
Bottom of the Wall Starwort Night Gladiolus Evening Primrose Night flowering catch-fly Petunia
This was an unusual commission for me! As some of you know, I don’t normally do fanart on commission - I don’t like the idea of profiting off of someone else’s IP - and when I do do my fanart SLFPs, I make sure they’re only available once. However, given the current… everything… when my friend emailed me with a query about doing some fanart on commission, I realised I had a solution: if she would donate the normal cost of my commisison to her local hospital or another charity, I would do the art.
This is Fall from Grace from Planescape: Torment, and I had an absolute blast drawing her. (Partially because I haven’t gotten do to any Art Nouveau stuff in ages.)
Her flowers are: Background: - Birch trees - gracefulness Outside the border: - Windflower - loss, abandonment, sincerity Base of the trees: - cowslip - pensiveness, native grace - sweet flag - fitness, grace - snowdrop - consolation and hope - wild geranium - steadfast piety - gentian - intrisic worth In her arms: - yellow jasmine - grace, elegance, modesty - multiflora rose - grace, many charms - hundred-leaved rose - grace, pride - marianthus - hope for better days - delphinium - big-hearted, fun - hyacinth - play
Probably the most flowers I’ve put into a single image before!
Barnaby is holding a white rose in this illustration for an upcoming T&B 2 interview with Hirata-san and Morita-san.
White roses represent purity and are often used at weddings. They represent: youthful innocence, young love, and loyalty.
Your honor, they’re married and in love.
Okay, so, I’ve had tea and breakfast now, so I’m awake. Looking closer at the preview text they provide, the article also has a section where they (the magazine) write about how Kotetsu and Barnaby would be as marriage partners (like, in general, not necessarily to each other or anything like that, lol).
First there are little blurbs about the characters this season. Kotetsu’s mentions how he is doing yoga for his health at Kaede’s insistence, but that he isn’t very health conscious with his food intake. The fact that they are mentioning this here is just adding fuel to the fire, for me anyway, that Kotetsu is going to have some kind of health scare in the second cour. Especially since he is only two years away from 40 years old now.
About him as a marriage partner, we have:
A previously married single father!
If you were to marryKotetsu…
It seem that he’d always be happy to help you out!?
While Kotetsu does have his share of flaws, his very nature is that of a man you can rely on! Being depended on appears to be something that makes him happy. So it would probably be in your best interest to actively depend on him when you are distressed or in trouble!?
For Barnaby, they mention how Thomas calling him an old man shocks him, lol.
About him as a marriage partner we have:
If you were to marryBarnaby…
You would need to prepare to be the spouse of a popular hero.
At events you will be barraged with questions by fans, many people will be there for meet-and-greet sessions, and Barnaby will remain as popular as ever. If you were to marry him, then it looks like you would have to prepare yourself for that kind of celebrity status lifestyle!?
—————–
I love how both Kotetsu and Barnaby have basically done both of these things. Barnaby learned how to actively rely on Kotetsu when he is in distress and trouble, and Kotetsu has acclimated himself to Barnaby’s celebrity status and fame and all the lifestyle stuff that comes with it.
Basically, in conclusion…
Your honor, they are married, in love, and are each others ideal partners!
I just doubled down on my previous assessment, lol.
The Mysterious Symbols of the Victorian Era with Guest Speaker, Jessica Roux, Author / Illustrator of Floriography, An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers
Join Light Grey Art Lab instructors Lindsay Nohl & Jenny Wells and guest speaker Jessica Roux, Author / Illustrator of Floriography, An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers, for an insightful workshop that wanders through the Victorian Era’s mysterious, romantic, ornamental, and symbolic icons.
The Mysterious Symbols of the Victorian Era The Victorian Era inspires thoughts of dark fabrics, top hats, corsets , and bustles, strict codes of courtship and romance, of arsenic-laced wallpapers with ornate patterns, of days when mediumship and alternative forms of spirituality spurred some of the most intriguing esoteric communities and how death was memorialized in photos, memento-mori, and monuments to the lost. And amongst all of these aspects of living, a language of symbols pervaded every aspect of life – from love to loss, hope to despair. In this course, we will cover some of our favorite Victorian symbols and their connection to the time, and speak with author/illustrator Jessica Roux about the stories behind her new book, Floriography, An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers.
Want to attend with a friend? Now there is a friend pack discount on the shop :)
Okay the fact that Ikuno’s are lillies got me thinking about the other girls…
Like if there is a flower expert out there could you please tell me if you know these flowers? They must have a meaning but I don’t know what type of flowers they are TT
Edit (Except the lillies which were already pointed out to me)
Steve’s birth flowers are water lily and blue delphinium. I found the meaning and symbolisms often associated with those flowers fit Steve’s character quite well.
The symbolism of water lily plays a significant roles in various cultures. In ancient Egypt it was used to represent the unity in the country. It also represents the sun and is a symbol of rebirth. In Asia water lily often is used to represent enlightenment, purity and resurrection. In western culture they often represent purity, birth, circle of life and innocence because of the places it’s often found, water.
Meanwhile, blue delphinium generally represent dignity, grace, youth, new life and remembrance. It represents the ability to strive and achieve one’s goals, new opportunities and openness to new emotions. It can also represents protection against all kinds of danger.
The silver moon behind him represent his Intuition and dreams alongside his fears, insecurity and uncertainty. It can also represents mysteries being unveiled. The rays of sun shine represent his optimism, joy, positivity, warmth and success.
![Lotus [loh-tuh s] noun, plural lo·tus·es.Purity, Rebirth(in Greek mythology) a plant whose fruit in](https://64.media.tumblr.com/cdd5ae56a50c26f2f896a1591e191dc7/tumblr_pfcbbshKGN1w056jyo1_1280.jpg "Lotus [loh-tuh s] noun, plural lo·tus·es.Purity, Rebirth(in Greek mythology) a plant whose fruit in")
![Lotus [loh-tuh s] noun, plural lo·tus·es.Purity, Rebirth(in Greek mythology) a plant whose fruit in](https://64.media.tumblr.com/f39b23a78ce546cb5db149c8b9b69c8f/tumblr_pfcbbshKGN1w056jyo2_1280.jpg "Lotus [loh-tuh s] noun, plural lo·tus·es.Purity, Rebirth(in Greek mythology) a plant whose fruit in")
![Poppy [pop-ee] noun, plural pop·piesEternal Dream](https://64.media.tumblr.com/11575639745084b7477134f575aa7b6e/tumblr_pcb0lgZEPW1w056jyo1_1280.jpg "Poppy [pop-ee] noun, plural pop·piesEternal Dream")
