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rulersreachf4n · 2 years

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Another Hollow Mind Post

I loved this week’s episode of TOH but next week’s episode is gonna be even more cool because we’ll (hopefully) get some of our questions answered. I already did a prediction post of what will happen which you can read here, but this post isn’t my predictions but more like me analyzing the promo images and breaking down who, what, where, when,why, and how.

Let’s take a look at these first 2 images. First of all he has his artificial magic staff not his regular palismen staff second of all he’s being tackled to the ground by Luz but why, this is obviously going to be in the beginning of the episode but why is hunter going into Philip, Belos, The Emperor whatever you wanna call him what is he going into his mind in the first place. I think Hunter will start questioning The Emperor’s loyalty since the last time we saw him, it seemed like he was on the way to redemption. Was Luz attacking out of self-defense or was it she was forced to.

Based off of they way she's attacking Hunter and the position he's in in the first photo I think we can safely say that Luz was doing it in self defense. Take a good look at Hunter's position in the first photo, it looks as if he's preparing for an attack, Luz didn’t want to fight him but she has no other choice resulting in them getting pushed into the spell circle and into The Emperor’s mind.

Now before I go any further I think I should mention the Gravity Falls season 1 episode 19 Dreamscaperes Stan was asleep when Bill, Dipper, Mabel, and Soos enter his mind and in Understanding Willow, she was also asleep when Amity and Luz when in her head so here's my question, how will they get Belos asleep to go into his mind. I know that Gravity Falls magic isn't the same as the magic in TOH but if in both shows that have to do with memory/past involve the person being asleep then I think it's safe to say that you gotta be asleep in order to see someone's mind.

I think that Tara snapdragon will play a role in making Belos asleep. Either Tara or Darius it has to be one of those 2 people.

In this image Hunter looks sassy, and probably is trying to do that sibling thing where they share their knowledge of something the other sibling isn’t interested in to feel smart and for their sibling to feel dumb. He most likely is explaining all these memories to Luz and what they mean like a know it all, then stumbles upon a memory that even he can’t explain or know that it means. Hunter will find Belos true plans for the titan/day of unity and is shocked that his uncle lied to him about his true plans. Luz comforts him and tries to get him on the right path and at first he might not believe her side he’s been so brainwashed to the point where he doesn’t know what to believe.

Again this is just my interpretation of the images and answering all the questions I have about the images and trying to get explanations. I feel like from all these images we’re given so much yet so little information about the episode, as if the crew gave us just enough cookie crumbs to fill our tummies but not too much that it’ll make us sick. Honestly I am not ready for this episode but I’m so excited.

Then we get this image of this masked kid with a wooden sword.

This is most likely either, his inner Belos or like a memory of Belos come to life like his subconscious or something. I think baby Belos (which is what I’m gonna refer to him from now on in this post) on the left is protecting a memory, or is running away from something and preparing to attack with his wooden sword. Baby Belos to the right looks as if he came out of hiding in the corner and is looking at something that caught his attention.

Baby Belos and Hunter most likely will interact and Hunter will trust/follow him since he trusts baby Belos. We know that Hunter has been abused by Belos mentally, to the point to where he hasn’t talked to kids his own age ever before, and doesn’t know right from wrong. He blindly follows orders from Belos without question, and is always looked down upon since he’s younger than everyone. Baby Belos will till him that he wants to hear and further manipulate him into staying in the castle and under The Emperor’s thumb to be controlled like a puppet. Maybe Hunter or Luz found out something they shouldn’t have and baby Belos is shocked or trying to follow Hunter and Luz or there are 2 baby Belos one for Luz and one for Hunter to make them split up.

This image is covered by text but if you zoom in it looks like Hunter is shocked and Luz is yelling something. This based off of their facial expressions will come after Hunter and Luz are reunited in the mind after being tricked by baby Belos and separated. Now I didn’t notice this until just now as I’m writing this post but Luz has something in her hands. Now, this might be just a glair from the text but it looks like something rabbit like is in her hands and Hunter looks like he pushed her out of the way, look closely and you see one of his arms is over her. What is this rabbit like shape that Luz has in her hands.

Maybe it’s another communicator like what Amity had in Eclipse Lake, or something similar to that and she is yelling into it to try to get out of here and it’s not commutation via emojis like eclipse lake but by voice so Luz is yelling/begging to get out of this hell.

The next image we have is of Belos in his cursed form with glowing feathers or something similar to a feather like substance. I think Luz is the one who will find this and not Hunter, she’ll see his cursed form and will freak but won’t tell Hunter to protect him. If Hunter is the one to find this memory or form of Belos he might have a break down like he did in eclipse lake.

Luz seeing Hunter relive traumatic, unpleasant memories, choses not to tell Hunter ‘cause she sees how scared he is after all they have been through in this episode or Belos knew that Hunter and/or Luz was in his mind and purposefully planted this in his mind kinda like lucid dreaming where you can control your dreams. I think Belos purposefully led Luz away from Hunter and is seeing this lucid dream from Belos to care her into keeping her mouth shut.

Now get this image and Luz is covering most of the image but we can get little clues and of what is going on the to the sides of Luz we see these shadows of hooded figures but that look a lot like Darius and Eberwolf based off the hair and the shape of the body, and the clothes or these could just be some mysterious hooded figures to trick us I don’t know. I strongly think that these shadows are Darius and Eberwolf who will be helping Hunter and Luz, maybe by being a distraction while Belos is asleep and Hunter is in his mind.

Lastly is this image and I know it looks blurry and static but it looks like Hunter casting the spell circle on the ground again this could just be the static of the image but I think this comes at the beginning of hollow mind where Hunter is standing in the spell circle like in the first image but except Hunter is alone, Luz isn’t there in the image (other than blocking the rest of the image) but Luz isn’t there it’s only Hunter.

So here’s how the episode will go…

Hunter will ask Darius and Eberwolf to go into Belos mind something will tempt Hunter into wanting to cast the spell and wants to know the truth about the day of unity that Belos is hiding from him. Hunter using his artificial staff and not his palismen so Belos won’t find out about Flapjack tries to cast the spell but Luz infiltrating the Emeror’s coven runs into Hunter, and Hunter trying to keep up his image of loyalty attacks Luz but goes easy on her giving him just enough time to cast the spell but Luz tackles him to the ground causing them both to go into the mind of Emperor Belos.

Walking down the halls of the memories Hunter, acting like a know it all explains all the picture memories and their meaning, while wondering down the hall of memories they come across baby Belos.

Luz being the cutie that she is thinks that baby Belos is adorable and Hunter is not amused. Baby Belos takes something of Hunter or Luz causing a chase scene, but there are 2 baby Belos’ and Hunter and Luz get tricked and get separated from each other thanks to baby Belos.

Later Hunter and Luz get reunited in a memory they see of the collector, Hunter pushes Luz to the ground and saves her from something that was aimed at her. Luz yells for help but without Belos being conscious it’s no use.

They go exploring in the memory of the collector and Luz sees a cursed form of Belos and decides to keep this information to herself and decides not to tell Hunter, maybe it will be useful to her in the future.

While Luz and Hunter are trapped in Belos Darius and Eberwolf cause a distraction since people in the cover are getting suspicious and wondering where Hunter is, so Darius and Eberwolf decide to disguise themselves in mysterious shadow figures drawing them away from Belos.

Luz and Hunter get out of the emperor’s mind and swear not to tell anyone about what they saw in the mind but Belos know about Luz and Hunter’s adventures but decides to keep it to himself as it can be used against him later in the show.

#toh #the owl house #toh season 2 #toh season 2b #hunter toh #hunter the golden guard #hunter wittebane #toh hunter #speculation #the golden guard #luz noceda #emperor belos #hollow mind #the owl house predictions #toh predictions #prediction #analysis

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eclipsewarrior101 · 2 years

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Empress Owl Lady & Kid Wittebane

So, basically.

Eda is Belos

Luz is the golden guard (might not be a grinewalker)

Lilith is Kikimora

King is their very dangerous guard animal

Kikimora and the blights are actually friends.

Belos or Philip is a boy the three raised. He was found in the night market as a very small boy used for a sideshow.

Raine is the creepy Tara snapdragon BUT her music is what scares people. It could lead people to kill.

Amity is actually the blights daughter that turned evil. They disowned her after she tried to destroy them.

Hunter and the other kids are still on the ?? Table.

#owl house au #it’s a time loop and swap au #it gets dark #Belos is as old are a bit younger than luz #the owl house #Empress Owl Lady & Kid Wittebane Au

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beyondglass · 2 years

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It's really lucky that Tara snapdragon chose the plant track in life. Imagine if she decided to go into construction with the last name snapdragon

#the owl house

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princelymlm · 5 years

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Gotta Be LGBT+

This is a list of just some of the LGBT+ content out there. Anything on this list was contains LGBT+ characters or was made by LGBT+ creators. All entries on this list were sent in by followers and have not been confirmed by the mod. (Entries with ‘rep not given’ next to them mean that the suggestion did not include what kind of representation is in the content)

Put everything under the cut since this list started getting really long

Books/Comics

They Both Die At The End - Adam Silvera (mlm)

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe - Benjamin Alire-Saénz (mlm)

Symptoms of Being Human (genderfluid)

Lily and Dunkin - Donna Gephart (trans/trans woman)

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid (wlw/bi)

The Gentleman’s Guide To Vice and Virtue - Mackenzie Lee (mlm/gay/bi)

Been Here All Along - Sandy Hall (gay/bi)

History Is All You Left Me - Adam Silvera (mlm/gay)

Blue Is The Warmest Color - Julie Maroh (wlw/bi/lesbian)

Mask of Shadows - Linsey Miller (bi/genderfluid)

Once and Future - Cori McCarthy (wlw/mlm/gay/bi/nonbinary)

Simon vs the Homosapiens Agenda - Beck Albertalli (mlm/gay)

Leah on the Offbeat - Becky Albertalli (wlw/bi)

Grasshopper Jungle - Andrew Smith (questioning/mlm)

The Rest of Us Just Live Here - Patrick Ness (mlm/gay)

Flying Tips For Flightless Birds - Kelly McCaughrain (mlm/gay)

I’ll Give You The Sun - Jandy Nelson (mlm)

Point Pleasant - Jen Archer Wood (mlm)

True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys - Gerard Way (mlm/wlw)

The Wayfarers Series - Becky Chambers (wlw/aro/trans man/nonbinary/genderfluid)

Vesuvius Club - Mark Gatiss (bi)

The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller (mlm)

Radio Silence - Alice Oseman (bi/mlm/demi/gay/pan/wlw/lesbian)

Of Fire and Stars - Audrey Coulthurst (wlw/lesbian)

Magnus Chase Series - Rick Riordan (genderfluid)

Heroes of Olympus - Rick Riordan (gay)

This Is Kind of An Epic Love Story - Kheyrn Callender (mlm/wlw)

Gracefully Grayson - Ami Polonsky (trans woman)

If I Was Your Girl - Meredith Russon (trans woman)

Call Me By Your Name - Andre Aciman (mlm)

Red, White, and Royal Blue - Casey McQuinston (mlm)

I Wish You All The Best - Mason Deaver (nonbinary)

Dreadnaught + Sovereign - April Daniels (wlw/trans woman)

The Art of Being Normal - Lisa Williamson (trans)

The Gone Series - Michael Grant (mlm/wlw)

One Of Us Is Lying - Karen McManus (mlm)

Six Of Crows - Leigh Bardugo (mlm)

Crooked Kingdom - Leigh Bardugo (rep not given)

The Last Sun - Author Not Provided (rep not given)

Romeo and/or Juliet - Ryan North (rep not given)

American Gods - Neil Gaiman (mlm/gay/bi)

The Mage Wars Series - Mercedes Lackey (gay)

Scott Pilgrim vs The World - Bryan Lee O’Malley (mlm/gay/wlw)

Boyfriends With Girlfriends - Alex Sánchez (mlm/wlw/bi/gay)

Will Grayson, Will Grayson - David Levithan & John Green (mlm)

This Is Where It Ends -Marieke Nijkamp (lesbian/wlw)

Carry On - Rainbow Rowell (mlm)

Stranger Than Fanfiction - Chris Colfer (mlm/trans man/gay)

The Reader Trilogy (The Reader, The Speaker, The Storyteller) - Traci Chee (mlm/wlw/nonbinary)

I Was Born For This - Alice Oseman (trans)

Heartstopper - Alice Oseman (mlm)

The Broken Earth Trilogy - MK Jemisin (trans woman/poly/pan/mlm

A Boy Worth Knowing - Jennifer Cosgrove (mlm/bi/gay)

The Rifter - Author Not Provided (mlm)

Snapdragon - Author Not Provided (wlw/ trans woman)

The Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon (wlw/lesbian/mlm/gay)

Tipping the Velvet - Sarah Waters (wlw/lesbian)

Fingersmith - Sarah Waters (wlw/lesbian)

The Paying Guests - Sarah Waters (wlw/lesbian)

I Am J - Cris Beam (trans man)

Little And Lion - Brandy Colbert (bi)

Autoboyography - Christina Lauren (bi)

Felix Ever After - Kacen Callender (trans)

Birthday - Meredith Russo (trans)

Stay Gold - Tobly McSmith (trans)

You Should See Me In A Crown - Leah Johnson (lesbian)

Girls of Paper and Fire - Natasha Ngan (lesbian)

The Henna Wars - Adiba Jaigirdar (lesbian)

Let's Talk About Love - Claire Kann (ace)

The Lady's Guide To Petticoats and Piracy - Mackenzi Lee (ace/aro)

The Vanishers' Place - Aliette De Bodard (wlw)

Ash - Malinda Lo (wlw/bi)

The Little Homo Sapiens Scientist - S. L. Huang (wlw)

Everfair - Nisi Shawl (wlw)

Dread Nation: Risse Up - Justina Ireland (wlw/bi/ace)

The Gilda Stories - Jewelle Gomez (wlw/lesbian)

The True Queen - Zen Cho (wlw)

The Devourers - Indra Das (genderfluid/bi)

We Set The Dark On Fire - Tehlor Kay Mejia (wlw)

Smoketown - Tenea D. Johnson (wlw/lesbian)

Falling In Love With Hominids - Nalo Hopkinson (wlw)

The Fox’s Tower and Other Tales - Yoon Ha Lee (nonbinary)

Her Body and Other Parties - Carmen Maria Machado (wlw)

Beneath the Citadel - Destiny Soria (mlm/gay/bi/ace)

Witchmark - C.L Polk (mlm/gay)

The Prey of Gods - Nicky Drayden (trans/bi)

An Unkindness of Ghosts - Rivers Solomon (wlw/trans/nonbinary/intersex)

The Root - Na’amen Gobert Tilahun (mlm/gay)

Gods & Monsters: Snake Eyes - Hillary Monohan (wlw)

Labyrinth Lost - Zoraida Cordova (wlw/bi)

The Winged Histories - Sofia Samatar (wlw)

The Weight of Stars - K. Ancrum (wlw)

Huntress - Malinda Lo (wlw)

Will Do Magic For Small Change - Andrea Hairston (bi/pan/nonbinary)

The Last Chronomancer - Reilyn J Hardy (aro/ace/genderfluid/lesbian)

A Taste of Honey - Kai Ashante Wilson (mlm/bi)

Deadline - Stephanie Ahn (wlw/lesbian)

The Read Threads of Fortune - JY Yang (wlw/bi)

Not Your Sidekick - C.B. Lee (wlw/bi)

Timekeeper - Tara Sim (mlm)

Ascension - Jacqueline Koyangi (wlw)

When The Moon Was Ours - Anna-Marie McLemore (trans)

Amberlough - Lara Elena Donnelly (mlm/gay)

The Perfect Assassin - K.A Doore (gay/ace/mlm)

Afterparty - Daryl Gregory (wlw/lesbian)

Borderline - Mishell Baker (wlw/bi)

The Cloud Roads - Martha Wells (bi)

An Accident of Stars - Foz Meadows (wlw/bi/aro/trans)

The Last 8 - Laura Pohl (aro/bi)

Failure to Communicate - Kaia Sonderby (wlw/bi)

The Luminous Dead - Caitlin Starling (wlw)

The Wrong Stars - Tim Pratt (wlw)

Full Fathom Five - Max Gladstone (trans)

A Memory Called Empire - Arkady Martine (wlw)

Silver In the Wood - Emily Tesh (mlm)

The Raven Tower - Ann Leckie (mlm/bi/trans)

Ariah - B.R. Sanders (mlm/bi/nonbinary)

The Raven and the Reindeer - T. Kingfisher (wlw)

Planetfall - Emma Newman (bi)

Black Wings Beating - Alex London (ace/gay/mlm)

The Scorpion Rule - Erin Bow (bi)

Inkmistress - Audrey Coulthurst (bi)

Into the Drowning Deep - Mira Grant (wlw/bi/lesbian)

Vengeful - V.E Schwab (ace)

Blackfish City - Sam J Miller (nonbinary)

Daughter of Mystery - Heather Rose Jones (wlw/lesbian)

Stranger Grace - Tessa Gratton (bi/pan)

The Brilliant Death - Amy Rose Capetta (nonbinary)

Chameleon Moon - RoAnna Sylver (wlw/trans/ace)

19 Love Stories - David Levithan (trans/queer)

It’s Not Like It’s A Secret - Author Not Given (wlw)

Picture Us In The Light - Author Not Given (mlm)

Two Can Keep A Secret - Author Not Given (mlm/bi)

Death Sets Sail - Author Not Given (wlw)

Becoming Dinah - Author Not Given (rep not provided)

Witch Wolf series - Winter Pennington (wlw, lesbian, bisexual)

Underrealm series - Garrett Robinson (wlw, mlm, nonbinary, trans man trans woman, trans, pansexual, bisexual)

A Cloak of Red - Brenna Gawain (wlw, lesbian)

Blood Canticles - Naomi Clark (wlw)

Podcasts

Welcome to Night Vale (mlm/gay/wlw/nonbinary)

Dreamboy (mlm/gay)

Alice Isn’t Dead (wlw/lesbian)

The Penumbra Podcast (mlm/bi/genderfluid/nonbinary)

My Favorite Podcast (trans men)

Within the Wires (wlw)

The Adventure Zone (mlm/wlw/trans/gnc/nonbinary)

Limetown (wlw/lesbian)

Getting Curious With Jonathan Van Ness (nblm/nonbinary)

Friends at the Table (mlm/wlw/nonbinary)

LezHangOut (wlw)

Bright Sessions (mlm/demi/ace)

Queer As Fact (historical lgbt)

History Is Gay (historical lgbt)

Always Here (historical lgbt)

And That’s Why We Drink (nonbinary)

Magnus Archives (mlm/ace)

The Two Princes (mlm/gay/bi)

Girl-ish (trans women)

The Bright Sessions (gay/ace)

TV Shows/Movies/ETC

One Day At A Time (Remake) (wlw/lesbian/nonbinary)

Love, Simon (mlm/gay)

A Single Man (mlm/gay)

Brokeback Mountain (mlm/gay)

In The Flesh (mlm/gay)

Weekend (mlm)

RWBY (wlw/trans)

Jessica Jones (wlw/lesbian)

Critical Role (mlm/gay/bi/wlw/lesbian/nonbinary/genderfluid)

Pose (trans women/gay)

Schitt’s Creek (pan/mlm)

White Collar (wlw)

Lucifer (bi)

Umbrella Academy (mlm/wlw)

Call Me By Your Name (mlm)

Brooklyn Nine Nine (mlm/gay/bi)

Steven Universe (nonbinary)

Sailor Moon (wlw)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (wlw)

Sense8 (mlm/gay/wlw/lesbian/trans woman)

Doom Patrol (?/rep not given)

Good Omens (nonbinary)

Gentleman Jack (wlw)

American Gods (mlm/gay/bi/two-spirit)

Orange Is The New Black (wlw/trans)

Blue Is The Warmest Color (wlw)

Shameless (mlm/trans)

Euphoria (wlw/trans woman)

Modern Family (mlm/gay)

Daisy Brown ARG (wlw/lesbian)

Deadpool (pan)

Deadpool 2 (pan/wlw)

Alex Strangelove (mlm/gay)

Wynonna Earp (lesbian/gay/wlw)

She-Ra (wlw/mlm/gay/bi/lesbian/nonbinary/trans man)

SKAM (rep not provided)

Gotham (bi)

The Haunting of Hill House (wlw)

The Haunting of Bly Manor (wlw)

Kipo and the Wonderbeasts (mlm/gay/nonbinary)

Billie and Emma (wlw)

Carmen & Lola (wlw)

Carol (wlw)

Disobedience (wlw)

Elisa & Marcela (wlw)

Good Manners (wlw)

The Handmaiden (wlw)

Heart Beat Loud (wlw)

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (wlw)

Rafiki (wlw)

Stranger Things (wlw)

Handsome Devil (mlm)

Pride (wlw/mlm)

Musicals

The Prom (wlw/lesbian)

Be More Chill (mlm/bi)

Fun Home (wlw)

Spring Awakening (mlm)

A New Brain (mlm)

Falsettos (mlm/wlw)

Rent (mlm/wlw)

Firebringer (wlw/bi)

A Very Potter Musical (mlm/gay)

The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals (wlw)

Bare: A Pop Opera (mlm)

Everybody’s Talking About Jaime (mlm/gay)

Yank! The Musical (mlm)

Octet (wlw)

Ghost Quartet (wlw)

Spies Are Forever (mlm/gay)

Willow: A New Musical (wlw)

Over And Out: A New Musical (nblw/nonbinary)

Video Games

Fallout: New Vegas (mlm/gay/wlw/lesbian)

When The Night Comes (mlm/nonbinary)

The Arcana (nonbinary)

Dream Daddy (mlm/gay/bi/pan/trans)

Dragon Age (mlm/wlw/gay/lesbian/trans/pan/bi)

Smile For Me (wlw)

Undertale (trans/nonbinary/wlw/mlm)

Monster Prom (nonbinary)

Cookie Run (nonbinary/mlm/wlw/bi/pan)

The Missing (wlw/trans woman)

Fable 2 & 3 (wlw/mlm)

Borderlands 2 (mlm/wlw/bi/gay/lesbian)

Gone Home (wlw)

Prey (wlw)

Dishonored 2 (nonbinary/wlw)

Deus Ex Mankind Divided System Rift (rep not given)

Assassins Creed Series (mlm/wlw/gay/lesbian/trans)

The Last of Us (wlw/lesbian)

Mass Effect Series (mlm/wlw/gay/lesbian/bi)

Life Is Strange (wlw)

Overwatch (mlm/gay/wlw/lesbian)

Animal Crossing (pan)

Night In The Woods (pan/mlm/trans woman)

The Elder Scrolls (trans/wlw/lesbian)

Dreamfall Chapters (mlm/gay)

Dishonored: Death of the Outsider (wlw)

In the Outer Worlds (wlw/ace)

Elder Scrolls: Skyrim (mlm/wlw)

Fallout 4 (wlw/mlm)

Hades (mlm/bi)

Obviously this list is far from complete so feel free to add to it or let me know of anything else and I’ll edit the post to add it as long as you include the category it belongs to! Be sure to include what representation it has though otherwise I can’t add it!

#lgbt #mlm #wlw #bi #gay #lesbian #trans #nb #nblm #nblnb #nblw #lgbt recs

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masqueradenoir · 2 years

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Bellos: we need more coven heads like Tara snapdragon and Adrian Gray

Kikimora: so more rapists and serial killers

Bellos: yes people with no sense of right and wrong

#the owl house #kikimora #adrian grey #tera snapdragon #emperor bellos #philip wittebane

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nehswritesstuffs · 3 years

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Stars in A Sky of Blood and Blue - Part LXII

This is just cute and fluffy with younger starlets, which is all I was really aiming for this time around.

Chapter Index - ff.net - AO3

How Blooms Talk; Though things are not serious by any means, the Marquis begins to show his daughters the importance of flowers. [nobility/arranged marriage/kids Whouffaldi AU]

Rough ages are as follows: Johan at 55; Daniel at 38; Clara at 36; Martha at 33; Lena at 5; and Astra and Tara at 3

It was a dreary day in the Spring when the Marquis of Kasterborous and Gallifrey had his daughters for the morning. With the eldest in a free day from lessons and the younger two not ready for them, he brought all three with him as he went to the greenhouse, the girls hiding from the steady rain under his cloak.

“You’re safe now,” he announced as they entered the greenhouse. The girls poked their heads out—there was one of the gardeners to greet them, with the entire building warm and cozy and filled with budding life.

“To what do I owe this surprise?” the gardener asked.

“We’re getting flowers for Mama!” Astra declared.

“Yeah!” Tara agreed. “Mama’s not feeling well, so Papa decided we’d all pick flowers for her!”

“That sounds like an excellent idea—your papa seems to have them often,” the gardener agreed. She then looked at the Marquis, who was glancing around the room, pretending to have not heard her. “What precisely did you have in mind, milord?”

“I was thinking of letting the girls each pick a main flower, and you work with the rest of the vase from there,” he said. “You always do wonderful work.”

“Thank you, milord.” The gardener bowed slightly, knowing the compliment was genuine. “How about you? Did you wish to choose a vase?”

“On that matter, I also trust you; you are aware of the things I wish to express to Her Ladyship on a regular basis and in which manner,” he said. Red colored his face—she knew secrets others dare not and he knew she was aware of how important and valued her discretion was to him.

“Papa, why do we give Mama flowers to cheer her up?”

The Marquis glanced down at his young heir, seeing that she was petting the leaves of a leafy plant taller than herself, her sisters watching on either side. He offered her a kind smile and stroked her hair, getting her attention.

“…because, starlet, flowers often help say things that we can’t always say in words,” he explained. The twins both bounced up and down, holding their arms up high in pleas to be held. “What about you both? Do you see flowers here you want to show Mama?” He picked them both up and chuckled as they snuggled into his shoulders—too much longer and he would be unable to allow them their papa as such, according to his back.

“I like that one!” Astra said, pointing at a cluster of white daisies.

“That one’s pretty too!” Tara added, pointing at pink-and-orange snapdragons.

“What is this one?” Lena asked. She grabbed a stepstool and climbed atop it so that she could see the rows of green shoots with the beginnings of indigo flowers attempting to poke out.

“That is called an iris, milady,” the gardener said. “They stand for eloquence, with this color also being associated with wisdom. Your mama and papa are very wise, which is why we keep this color readily at-hand.”

“Is that because Papa tells you he’s wise?” Lena asked. Her father’s face went red as the gardener smirked.

“No—he is wise because he has learned much,” she explained.

“…like what…?”

“I know that hatred is always foolish, and that love is always wise,” he offered.

The gardener chuckled at that. “…and based on how he treats his family and his people, it is safe to say he is a very wise man indeed.”

“Oh, okay.” The little girl nodded and turned her attention back to the irises. “Is this going to be very pretty when it opens?”

“Very pretty indeed, milady,” the gardener agreed. “It will be nearly as pretty as you.”

Lena giggled at that. “Thank you! Did you hear that, Papa? She said I’m prettier than flowers, and those are very pretty!”

“A wise people for a wise Doctor; I have more than the moon and stars in my sky to be thankful for,” he said simply. He gave the gardener a wink and moved so that Tara was no longer within arm’s reach of the snapdragons she was attempting to take. “How about it? Did you girls want to get some irises for Mama?”

“I want those! Those!” Tara pouted.

“Papa…!” Astra whined. “Pretty!”

“Papa, Papa, Papa! You said the irises!”

“Those!”

“Pretty!”

“Papa!”

“Enough!” the Marquis ordered. His daughters quieted and he placed the twins on the floor. “We are here to pick out something nice for Mama, not here to shout. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Papa,” the three mumbled in unison.

“Enunciate, starlets. Mushed words make poor conversations.”

“Yes, Papa!” they replied clearer. He nodded at that—mumbling was fine in certain situations, but not this one.

“Good. Now, each of you pick a flower so that they can be placed in a vase.”

Each sister pointed at a different flower, adding “please” to their choice. The gardener took a pad out and scribbled down the selections, along with notes on which sister picked which bloom.

“Any other requests?” she asked. She saw that the Marquis was staring at a nearby rosebush, his gaze slipping out of focus. “Milord? Have you changed your mind?”

“Arum lilies, please; with chrysanthemums and bishop’s lace,” he requested quietly. The gardener nodded and wrote the order down—it was her honor.

“Papa, what does this one say?” Astra wondered, pointing at another cluster of flowers. The Marquis nodded and moved the stepstool so that it sat in front of the flowers. The three girls all climbed up, poking their noses over the countertop.

“That is heather—much of it grows in the hinterlands and in the hills around the city,” their father explained. “The purple ones mean beauty and admiration, while the white ones mean protection.”

“Oh, are those going to be irises too?” Lena asked. She pointed at shoots on the other side of the heather and looked at the Marquis, her eyes wide as her mother’s. “Are they? Am I right?”

“Not this time, starlet,” he chuckled. “Those are going to be tulips.”

“How can you tell?”

“I simply do.” He saw his eldest scrunch her nose at that, not accepting so simple an answer. “The leaves are different—lighter and larger than iris—and the flower is not poking out the top in the same manner. Do you see that?”

“It doesn’t poke at all, Papa,” Tara said.

“Exactly—they poke out much later.”

“…but what do those mean?”

“Many things.” He turned to the gardener, who was quietly going over her notes with someone else, and caught her attention. “What colors are here?”

“Oh, those? Those will be lavender, pink, and yellow, if I recall correctly,” she said. “I have more pink, some white, orange, and reds in another section.”

“What do those mean?!” Lena gasped. “That’s a lot of colors!”

“Now, now; let me show you girls one,” the Marquis said. He placed his pointer and middle fingers on either side of a stem and quietly muttered, “fàs.” A soft golden glow flowed from his fingertips into the dirt, aiding the bloom along and making the children gasp. It grew upwards and opened, showing soft, delicate, pink petals dusted in shimmering magic. The Marquis accepted a knife from the gardener and sliced off the stem to show to his daughters. “This one means caring and confidence.”

“That’s neat,” Lena marveled. “When do I get to learn that in classes?”

“You learn it on your own—it is not important when it comes to governance and law,” her father explained. “Most people do not know, nor care to know, about such things.”

“…then why did you learn, Papa?” Astra wondered.

“…to give my wife a puzzle that would in the end tell her how much I truly care for her,” he said. There was no need explaining to them about days gone by and those long-laid in the earth, for it was true that he had secretly brushed up on his flowers when he began to court the Marchioness in earnest. “It is good to tell someone that you love them in those words, but do not cheapen such talk by only speaking. Actions are a wonderful way to reinforce what you have already said, making the words all the more powerful.”

“Sir Daniel says you have to act as well as talk to govern well,” Lena said. She furrowed her brow as she attempted to remember her lesson, given now what felt so long ago yet was only the month prior. “If you say there is going to be a holiday, but then never make one, then people will be cross next time you say there will be a holiday again, because they never got the first one to begin with. Right?”

“Your lessons are going well, starlet,” the Marquis nodded. He glanced back over at the gardener and nodded. “Do you have a book on flower language the young Earlessa can use? Mine has words she might not know just yet.”

“I’ll have one of the assistants look,” she replied. “If that is all, milord, I would like to at least allow the young ladies here a chance to play.” The girls all gasped in anticipation; what did the gardener have in mind? “We have roses that went soft at their base—they will be good for learning how to handle them.”

“Then let us learn,” the Marquis agreed. He calmly ushered his daughters over to where the gardener had gathered some old roses in a bucket, waiting to be discarded. It was good to watch the girls as their eyes went wide at the very concept of petaling a rose; they marveled at the innards of the flower, giggled at how the petals felt, and squealed in delight as the gardener showed them what would happen if one attempted to beat the countertop with the flower, petals puffing out in a small burst in a manner all three immediately wished to try. Before long the girls were smacking the cobblestone floor with old roses, the gardener unsure of the monsters she had created.

The rain began to let up slightly before long and the Marquis gathered his brood under his cape once more, heading back for the castle proper. They returned to the family wing with little fuss, finding the Baron Coal-on-the-Hill talking in the corridor with a member of the Border Forces—a medical officer whom the Marquis recognized immediately.

“You girls remember Miss Martha, don’t you?” the Baron said. He watched as the medical officer gave a short curtsey, with his daughters wobbling to mimic her.

“Why are you here, Miss Martha?” Lena asked out of curiosity.

“I came here to observe your mama,” she replied, going down on one knee to be at eye-level with the children. “It shouldn’t be anything to worry over—I think she caught a sickness while at the front last, because her symptoms are very similar to what I’m seeing there.”

“Oh…” The Earlessa nodded; that was a good answer, she supposed. “Did Mama ask for you?”

“No, I did,” the Baron said. “Miss Martha is one of the best physicians this side of Braxos. Your papa and I feel better knowing what she thinks of your mama not feeling well.”

“Does that mean the regular physician is no good anymore?”

“No, starlet; merely that he does not often see illnesses caught along the border, nothing more,” the Marquis assured. “Sir Daniel and I thought it was best we ask the opinion of a physician more used to such things. Medical Officer Jones is the kind of Doctor that inspired our title back before the lands were a march and earldom.”

“Flattery suits you on occasion, milord,” the physician laughed. The girls saw their papa blush in embarrassment—it was a humorous sight, though one that was to be diffused quickly. “Would the young ladies like to see their mama? She is not contagious and I think can do with company.” She offered her hands and the twins each took one, dragging her along as Lena led the way, leaving their father and tutor in the corridor alone.

“Is it true?” the Marquis asked. The Baron shrugged.

“I trust Martha, you know that. If it’s what she says, then it’s what she says. At least your regular physician didn’t try anything stupid and waited for her diagnosis.”

“It is part of why Kasterborsian physicians are some of the best in the entire kingdom, second to only a select few.” He saw the Baron smirk in agreement—there was little Kasterborsian medicine could do, certainly. “Did you learn how she contracted it?”

“The water, most likely; they’re boiling water for tea a bit longer than normal right now because of it.”

“Good thing it runs its course in a week or so,” the Marquis nodded. That was how long varying soldiers at the front were laid up with similar symptoms, if his memory served him well. “How long can Jones stay here? Do you think she would feel awkward staying here?”

“I’ve… erm… already offered her my cottage,” the Baron admitted. It was his turn to blush now, color returning to his ashen face for but a moment. “Martha and I… we’re seeing one another…”

“Daniel?” The Marquis’s face grew grim. “Are you telling me that you are potentially letting your judgement be clouded?”

“What do you take me for?!” the Baron scoffed. “Martha is truly the best! My relationship with her is coincidental! She’s one of your soldiers, remember?”

“…which is why I am not furious,” the Marquis replied. “Watch yourself—if this venture goes poorly, it could mean plenty more than a rift between you and her.”

“I’m aware it could affect her duties on the border.”

“I was referring to your barony—the one you seem to occasionally forget these days—but yes, that as well.”

“Don’t get on me; I leave for Coal-on-the-Hill next month and you know that.” The Baron’s attention was caught by something further down the corridor and he blinked in surprise. “What’s that…?” The Marquis turned and was taken aback himself.

“Ah! That was quick!” He stepped aside so that the maids carrying vases of flowers could walk past them, headed for his quarters. “I was not expecting this to be done so soon.”

“We were told that there was not much left to be done for the day, so the gardeners had begun the arrangements immediately, before you had even left the greenhouse,” one of the maids said. She was holding Tara’s vase, not only full of snapdragons, but geberas and lilies as well, all balanced with greens and delicate fill. There were even roses the same pink-and-orange as the snapdragons, with ruffled petals and the countenance of a southern sunset. “Do these please His Lordship?”

“Of course,” he said. The Baron opened the door as the maids walked into the Marquis and Marchioness’s chambers, where the children gasped at the sight of their vases so soon after ordering them. Whilst the Marquis’s vase went on the nightstand, the children’s vases were carefully placed around the room, in spots of honor next to seats the family often used.

“We picked these for you, Mama!” Astra said.

“We did!” Tara agreed.

“They look lovely, my dears,” the Marchioness chuckled. She was frighteningly pale, with the medical officer taking the compress from her forehead and wringing it out in the bowl next to the bed. “I am rather tired of being ill, so this should brighten my chambers well. You are behaving for Papa, aren’t you?”

“Yes we are, Mama,” Lena assured. She was sitting on the bed, watching as the compress was rewet and replaced. “Why are you sweating?”

“Your mama’s body is trying to rid itself of the sickness, so it is trying to sweat it out,” the medical officer explained. “Sometimes that works, but sometimes it doesn’t.”

“Will it work now?” Astra asked.

“In this case? I’m not entirely certain. It takes a while to be able to say which patient will heal this way, and which needs additional medicine.” She helped the girl up onto her mother’s bed before patting her atop the head. “Many sicknesses are very predictable in how they behave inside people. While this one is less-so, at least it’s not one that is terribly dangerous. All your mama needs is rest right now… rest and three daughters who are good at behaving.” The medical officer then began packing her bag, taking most of her equipment with her. “Milady, Milord, send for me at the cottage if anything changes. Daniel and I need to talk.”

“Talk all you like,” the Marquis replied. The medical officer and the baron shared a look—her confused and he feigning any knowledge of what the statement meant — before leaving the family be. Once it was just the parents and their brood, all the children snuggled into their mama, not wanting to leave her side.

“I hope you get better soon, Mama,” Lena pouted.

“I’m already better than before, now that I see my Moon and Stars and the presents they chose,” the Marchioness replied. She watched as her husband took off his boots, laying atop the bedding with his cape as a blanket. The girls all burrowed beneath their father’s cape, taking advantage of the cozy, warm fabric and the rain that was beginning to pick up again pattering against the window. “Are you going to nap with me?”

“But of course, Mama,” the Marquis said. He gazed at her across the pillows and took her hand in his—though her sickness and their daughters kept them apart, they were still close as ever. “Your Moon and Stars shall light the way.”

All five settled in, and they did.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

A/N: Honest to goodness, I am dead serious here: if you have an old, soft rose, it is very fun to smack it against a counter and watch it explode. Some do it better than others, but that’s up to you to find out. :D

#Whouffaldi #Clara Oswald #Twelfth Doctor #In Want of An Heir #Stars in A Sky of Blood and Blue #Lena Smith #Astra Smith #Tara Smith #Danny Pink #Martha Jones #Doctor Who #fan fiction #I wrote a decent enough chunk of this during a painfully slow day at work #and all but one mentioned flower was in the cooler that day #(and THAT flower has been in the cooler before)#the weird perks of working at a florist #also #my birthday present to you dear reader

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