#the tumblr houseplant series rose

[anulithots]

The Rose. Episode 5 - "Gone"

Trigger warnings for blood and sickness.

Welcome to the finale everyone <3. I hope you like Rose and how this ends, because guess what? Fae makes a cameo in the next houseplant series (Prayer Plant)!

Also also, I like the idea of beings who don't have "aha moments" and are suddenly... okay. Because growth is not a linear process, and there isn't a set rule as what counts as "better" or not. So Rose isn't suddenly amazing now but fae is getting better.

Maidoe is a reoccurring character btw <3 Fae is supposed to be a master navigator in Trinity Hollow, and for context, most fairies never leave their tree's side. So Maidoe is.... a bit famous around there. Fae also has this uncanny knack for telling the future, for better or worse.

A tumblr houseplant story from @briarborealisart

The info post is here

Episode one - "Thorns"

Episode two - "Maidoe"

Episode three- "Petals"

Episode four - "Wild"

Note - this is still a first draft, any feedback would be much appreciated. Especially for this one, this is a super interesting concept to explore, but my brain found it so difficult, and comments on if I got to the core of this would be appreciated. <3

------

Maidoe lost leaves.

One.

Two.

Three.

Fae didn't have much to begin with. White sap fell off the wounds in droplets. Puddles had stains on faer hands from wiping it away. Maidoe - silly, observant, practical Maidoe - was reduced to a mumbling heap of little leaves beside a bare tree.

Rose. Tried. Everything.

Fae told Maidoe about all the wild ways: too much water absorption, not enough microbes, leaf angling, and Maidoe always slept during prime evening and morning sun hours. Rose was gentle & soft. Fae sat beside Maidoe and told faer everything... but all fae would do was nod. Nod and never change.

Puddles told fair that Maidoe was going through a 'rough patch' and needed utmost care. So Rose sat with Maidoe, measured faer words and made sure to never poke Maidoe with faer thorns.

Rose wondered if Puddles helped more. Puddles gave nowhere near as helpful advice - 'take it slow' fae said.... that was so general and not conducive to a speedy recovery - but Maidoe always smiled more and gave Puddles hugs. Fae never listened to Rose's advice. Puddles said Rose's instructions were "too much" to deal with while Maidoe was in pain. Rose didn't understand. faer advice would bring less pain. Why didn't they see that?

Perhaps it was the hugs.

Maidoe left the next day, white splotches over faer skin where the surprise hug punctured.

Rose had faer own matching splotches, all over faer thorns.

For a precious moment, fae forgot fae had them. But fae wouldn't forget again. If Rose had been more stern- more faerself - thorns & all, then Maidoe wouldn't have left. Simple as that.

-----

Puddle's leaves drooped, darkening.

Rose bit faer tongue. Fae shouldn't say it unless Puddles asked. It would hurt Puddles more, but how could fae let it get that bad? It was probably just a wind issue - the indoor winds always smelled weird. It was such an easy fix -

"Maidoe's tree is doing better"

Rose glanced over, it had gotten bushier - full of sprouts and leaves.

Rose nodded. "Fae had to get rid of the dead ones and let faer tree get sun, simple changes."

"Not to Maidoe."

Rose blinked. Right. Fae had already poked the others, already caused damage. How could fae fix that?

" ... Sorry"

"Sorry? Who are you and what have you done with Rose?"

"Oh don't be fooled, we are still having our debates."

"For sure."

Puddles fluffed faer leaves. a few fell. Rose grimaced. Wait, wait... if it gets any worse, fae would tell faer anyways.

Puddles sighed. "Do you have 'simple fixes' for these?"

"YES. It's a wind issue, your leaves are delicate-"

"Without the insults."

"Insults?"

"No one likes being insulted Rose, they want to know what they are doing right, THEN give advice."

Rose flicked faer ears. "Sooo... You did a very good job at - at -"

"It's that hard?"

"You're great at resting."

"Wow. Thanks."

"Love the sarcasm. But... really, both you and Maidoe let yourselves rest, maybe at the wrong times, but still... that's a good thing."

Puddles hummed. "Thank you. You should also try it."

"... Can I give you advice now?"

"Hold on... you need advice first."

"Me? Oh.. Ok-okay."

"Maidoe didn't leave because of you."

Rose blinked. "Wha - where did that come from?"

"You've been twisting your claws since you've gotten here."

Rose scowled at faer claws for their betrayal." That does not immediately mean that I think- I think... Maidoe left..."

Rose swallowed. Silly tears. Silly, silly tears that come for the smallest of things.

Puddles tapped Rose's snout in a supportive 'bop'. "Maidoe left because fae was losing faer leaves & wanted to see if there was more to the world."

"But... faer scars."

"I think Fae's quite proud of them actually"

"Oh."

"And fae wanted to see how great the wild actually was."

"It is great."

"I know Rose."

"Why didn't fae tell me.... before fae left?"

"You would make faer stay, say something like 'it isn't conducive for your health'"

"It wasn't conducive for faer health"

".... Faer tree is all bushy now. If we see faer again, I'll ask faer if fae has been a pollywiggin this whole time."

"I doubt that."

".... we'll have a debate on it later."

"For sure... and... Puddles?"

"Yes?"

"Tha- Thank you."

"Of course, Rose."

".... Now can I give you advice?"

Puddles laughed. "Of course, Rose."

Rose smiled. Fae didn't have to hide faer thorns, but fae shouldn't poke others with them either.

They wanted to be cared for - like faer bloom - that's why they never listened.

And Rose? Rose would work on listening too.

-----

That's the end <3

I hope you all like Rose's story. This houseplant series gives me so much joy, especially since I seem to be in a bit of a spiral again. (Listening to my favorite song "Agnes" by Glass Animals, non-stop to stop the throbbing static and the overwhelming heat and urge to cry but I just can't and it might get so so much worse and I thought I was doing better. This shouldn't hurt, this happened before, it shouldn't hurt.) And I guess that's the point, isn't it? I can't promise you hope for a happy ending, and it's okay to be broken now, it's a story, right? A constant cycle? And I know it's so so wrong of me to say it when I feel so awful, but... perhaps we can enjoy every stage of it? I love this song, I finally have the motivation to do schoolwork because my creative energy is sapped out, it will pass, it's okay right now. We'll take care of each other, and agnst is fun in stories right? All my little characters in my head are curling beside each other, murmuring comfort, because that's all I can really offer. I don't know the answer, but hey, growth is growth, isn't it? No matter if the plant is losing leaves or growing or living or dying, it's beautiful in a way. It seems so complicated and messy, but that's the web, full of dewdrops, catching the light.

Erhm... sorry for the rant, my thoughts are on the borderline of mean and I needed to sort them out.

But if you don't mind the little self-promo: reblog this with one kind statement to "water" rose, let's spread some wonder to this convoluted place <3

And spread the word to anyone else who would like to add their houseplant to the garden, perhaps we can fill tumblr with houseplants.

#writeblr #the land of the fallen fairies #creative writing #fiction #short story #self improvement #that's a bit of a clickbait tag #but I'm trying to tell the self improvement people that it's okay #so it's okay #the tumblr houseplant series #the tumblr houseplant series rose

[briarborealisart]

Asking all the writeblrs I love to grow a vast garden, apologies if I ask the same thing twice *

Hello! I'm attempting to grow a Tumblr garden, with input from people around here to make a series of short stories about' houseplant fairies. The hope would be to have a 'community tumblr garden' full of all the wholesomeness the internet can offer.

Here's the request/seed - do you have a prior worry' or 'stumbling block'. perhaps an event or a piece of advice others told you that didn't help much or simply an' obstacle that you overcame. To be honest, I'm unsure of how to accurately describe 'the seed' but something in the realm of 'society expectations versus what actually helped- or whatever you wish? Also also, favorite plant/houseplant/ flower to write the story about.

Thanks for participating :)

hello unknown!! this is my main blog and my writeblr is @briarborealisocs but ill just answer here and rb it over there lol since this is kind of a catchall blog anyway

thank u so much for the support as always!! let's see here. this seed i think shall grow into a rose of some sort. a stumbling block of sorts for me was the idea that being your true, authentic self meant saying every thought that came through your head without any filter or regard for how you affect other people. i really bought into the idea that you should never ever change for others, which is a nice sentiment, but one that i took too far. i was mean. i didn't hold any regard for other people's feelings or experiences. we are pretty social creatures and it's good to be considerate of how what you're doing will affect others—even if that means changing the way you would say or do something. :)

#briarborealisart

[gummybugg]

Asking all the writeblrs I love to grow a vast garden, apologies if I ask the same thing twice *

Hello! I'm attempting to grow a Tumblr garden, with input from people around here to make a series of short stories about' houseplant fairies. The hope would be to have a 'community tumblr garden' full of all the wholesomeness the internet can offer.

Here's the request/seed - do you have a prior worry' or 'stumbling block'. perhaps an event or a piece of advice others told you that didn't help much or simply an' obstacle that you overcame. To be honest, I'm unsure of how to accurately describe 'the seed' but something in the realm of 'society expectations versus what actually helped- or whatever you wish? Also also, favorite plant/houseplant/ flower to write the story about.

Here's the houseplants we have so far in case this was confusing.

The Venus Flytrap from @poetsandstuff

"I've had advice about 'getting out there' and just socialising lile im not dieing on the inside every time"

The Venus Flytrap episode one - Relationships

The Rose from @briarborealisart

"i could still be true to myself while valuing what others thought."

Episode one - Thorns

The Prayer Plant from @awleeofficial

"I worry about how I am percieved by the people in my life as well as the creative works that I choose to share, and I can be rather hard on myself when it doesn't come out perfect."

Episode one - Inspiration

Thanks for participating :)



I think my obstacle would be to begin a task or remember to do a task, which I have very clearly demonstrated with this very late ask (I am so very sorry)!

Some things that others have told me to do to combat this include "just set a reminder," "it mustn't have been that important if you forgot about it," or my favorite, "I don't think you have [diagnosis]." The last one is related to my experiences with forgetting certain symptoms or events that would be crucial to a diagnosis of whatever kind. Feels like gaslighting.

I think a forget-me-not would best represent my need/want to remember things (in a literal sense, disregarding the romantic connotations). Or any related plant.

#thanks for the ask! #writeblr #tumblr garden #apologize for the lateness #i am not ditzy i am just forgetful and that shouldnt be glamorized #not sure if it is but yeah

[rainisawriter]

Asking all the writeblrs I love to grow a vast garden, apologies if I ask the same thing twice *

Hello! I'm attempting to grow a Tumblr garden, with input from people around here to make a series of short stories about' houseplant fairies. The hope would be to have a 'community tumblr garden' full of all the wholesomeness the internet can offer.

Here's the request/seed - do you have a prior worry' or 'stumbling block'. perhaps an event or a piece of advice others told you that didn't help much or simply an' obstacle that you overcame. To be honest, I'm unsure of how to accurately describe 'the seed' but something in the realm of 'society expectations versus what actually helped- or whatever you wish? Also also, favorite plant/houseplant/ flower to write the story about.

Here's the houseplants we have so far in case this was confusing.

The Venus Flytrap from @poetsandstuff

"I've had advice about 'getting out there' and just socialising lile im not dieing on the inside every time"

The Venus Flytrap episode one - Relationships

The Rose from @briarborealisart

"i could still be true to myself while valuing what others thought."

Episode one - Thorns

The Prayer Plant from @awleeofficial

"I worry about how I am percieved by the people in my life as well as the creative works that I choose to share, and I can be rather hard on myself when it doesn't come out perfect."

Episode one - Inspiration

Thanks for participating :)



Hmm, this is a tough one and I had to give it a lot of thought. I think one of the biggest things I struggle to overcome is taking things to heart. I'm quite sensitive, see, and I tend to take things personally even when it isn't personal at all.

I still have a long way to go, but I believe I'm getting better at learning how to let things just wash over me, like water off a duck's back. I know it's nothing personal so there's no reason to get upset over it. It's simply not worth the negative feelings I put myself through when I do this to myself.

I'm not sure if this is what you meant by a seed? If not, please let me know and I'll try to better understand what you're asking for :) I hope this helps, though! Thank you so much for reaching out.

As for the plant, I chose the Philodendron because it's supposed to symbolize a love and appreciation for nature, as well as be a symbol of growth.

#ask #answered #talesfromtheunknowntheunknowable #tumblr garden #houseplant fairies #community tumblr garden

[sm-writes-chaos]

Asking all the writeblrs I love to grow a vast garden, apologies if I ask the same thing twice *

Hello! I'm attempting to grow a Tumblr garden, with input from people around here to make a series of short stories about' houseplant fairies. The hope would be to have a 'community tumblr garden' full of all the wholesomeness the internet can offer.

Here's the request/seed - do you have a prior worry' or 'stumbling block'. perhaps an event or a piece of advice others told you that didn't help much or simply an' obstacle that you overcame. To be honest, I'm unsure of how to accurately describe 'the seed' but something in the realm of 'society expectations versus what actually helped- or whatever you wish? Also also, favorite plant/houseplant/ flower to write the story about.

Here's the houseplants we have so far in case this was confusing.

The Venus Flytrap from @poetsandstuff

"I've had advice about 'getting out there' and just socialising lile im not dieing on the inside every time"

The Venus Flytrap episode one - Relationships

The Rose from @briarborealisart

"i could still be true to myself while valuing what others thought."

Episode one - Thorns

The Prayer Plant from @awleeofficial

"I worry about how I am percieved by the people in my life as well as the creative works that I choose to share, and I can be rather hard on myself when it doesn't come out perfect."

Episode one - Inspiration

Thanks for participating :)



Oh yes I saw this on my dash before it's very cool! I'll try to see if I understand correctly. Since perfectionism was already talked about I'll do another struggle of mine.

I worry a lot about interpretation. In real life I think very hard about what I say and try to make it perfect so as to not offend anyone, or so that no one can take what I'm saying the wrong way. In my writing I feel as if I have to explain why I added each little detail before I realized that a lot of things are audience interpretation. They're not going to see it the way I do but I still worry that they'll get the "wrong" interpretation.

I'm held back in what I say and do because of this, and my writing as well. They say to "be yourself" but what if myself rubs them the wrong way? So I guess it's like feeling like you want to desperately speak your mind but your on mute.

I try to remember that people will always think differently than me and to not be afraid what people will say. I'm responsible for what I say, not for what people think I said.

And for plants...it's so hard to choose! I'll have to go with the California Poppy. It represents freedom which is something I'd like to feel more of when I want to speak. (and its pretty)

This is a really cool project thanks for involving me!

#ask #writeblr #writing

[forthesanityofstorytellers]

Asking all the writeblrs I love to grow a vast garden, apologies if I ask the same thing twice *

Hello! I'm attempting to grow a Tumblr garden, with input from people around here to make a series of short stories about' houseplant fairies. The hope would be to have a 'community tumblr garden' full of all the wholesomeness the internet can offer.

Here's the request/seed - do you have a prior worry' or 'stumbling block'. perhaps an event or a piece of advice others told you that didn't help much or simply an' obstacle that you overcame. To be honest, I'm unsure of how to accurately describe 'the seed' but something in the realm of 'society expectations versus what actually helped- or whatever you wish? Also also, favorite plant/houseplant/ flower to write the story about.

Here's the houseplants we have so far in case this was confusing.

The Venus Flytrap from @poetsandstuff

"I've had advice about 'getting out there' and just socialising lile im not dieing on the inside every time"

The Venus Flytrap episode one - Relationships

The Rose from @briarborealisart

"i could still be true to myself while valuing what others thought."

Episode one - Thorns

The Prayer Plant from @awleeofficial

"I worry about how I am percieved by the people in my life as well as the creative works that I choose to share, and I can be rather hard on myself when it doesn't come out perfect."

Episode one - Inspiration

Thanks for participating :)

Hi!! I feel so grateful to be involved in this!

So, I hope this one isn't too much but the first thing that came to mind was anxiety and "pushing through". About ten years ago my world just about broke and I started suffering panic attacks, anxiety attacks, so badly that when they hit I literally couldn't move and often hyperventilated. I took years of trying to simply "push through" (to distill the unhelpful social response) the panic attacks - continue going to college, continue working, continue continue continue. Eventually it all fell apart and at the bottom of the barrel is when I figured out that, for me, that what I actually needed to do was to be still. To learn and accept this new version of myself and figure out what actually helped her. Taking it slow, having boundaries, different coping mechanisms for different triggers, learning and relearning that I'm not broken I'm literally just different than I used to be...and so on. It's been an uphill battle that I still fight and will probably continue to fight, but in the very least I haven't had a full-blown panic shut-down in...maybe three years? So progress! Whoo!

Anyway. I hope that's what you were looking for and I didn't overshare 😅 lol and for the plant...I know it's not a houseplant per say, but I've always loved the resilience and insane tenacity of my garden peppermint. I mean...I think it's a peppermint plant. I know it's in the mint family, lol (It kind just grew there one day and I didn't pull it out and now it's a fourth or fifth generation monstrosity right outside the door)

Best shot I have of both the flower and the leaves of the tenacious minty beastie

#asks answerd #tysm for this ask! #and thinking of me! #I'd love to be added to the Tumblr garden

[quillyfied]

Mega Good Omens Fic Rec Post 2

Part 2 is here!

99 titles this time because I have no self-control, once again separated into different categories: Jaunts through History/Canon, South Downs, Post-Apocalypse, Bus Ride/Night Before/Heaven and Hell, AU/UA, Soft, Before (a new category exclusive to this list, about Heaven before and during the War), Touch-Starved/Body Worship/Wings, Bonus, and H/C /Whump/BAMF. Warnings for gore and explicit material present where applicable.

Enjoy these as I have, because they’re all worth savoring!

Mega GOmens Fic Rec Post MASTER

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF A LINK IS BROKEN OR IF I MISATTRIBUTED SOMETHING.

JAUNTS THROUGH HISTORY/CANON

1. Paperwork – Mirach (T, the one where Aziraphale is filling out forms for a new corporation and is idly flashing back to the reasons for his discorporation. It has a lot to do with Crowley. This one is so sweet and heartfelt, and also has a surprise at the end that gave me a good chuckle.)

2. A Dozen Red Roses for My Darling – @raiining (G, the one where Crowley finds himself in a bit of a pickle while doing a miracle for Aziraphale. This one has the funniest summary and I don’t even know why it’s so funny to me. It’s even better that it’s a Regency story, and the underlying tension between Crowley and Aziraphale is so good. Simple and sweet.)

3. When the lights go out (run away with me) – strawberriesandtophats (T, the one where Nanny Ashtoreth and Brother Francis skip out for the night. Has a gorgeous little rendezvous between the two of them, and a wonderful second chapter where they find Warlock again. Entirely too beautiful. All the emotions.)

4. older now, and the light is dim – WISHBONE (NR, the one where Aziraphale walks in on Crowley holding baby Warlock and both he and my heart go entirely to pieces. Based on that one gingerhaole fanart, it captures the quiet tenderness of the art perfectly, and then beyond—Crowley goes a little protective at one point and then Aziraphale is introspective and it’s GOOD.)

5.  It begins, as it will end, in a garden – @tenoko1 (G, the one where it’s the cold open but with a recurring theme of flowers woven in. This one has fluctuating gender presentations and Crowley and Aziraphale discorporating each other and one utterly perfect moment where Aziraphale tries to kill Crowley and can’t make herself do it, and it is all Too Soft and Too Beautiful for words.)

6. A House in the Country – @theoldaquarian (T, the one where Crowley and Aziraphale take a vacation in an abandoned house in the Lake District for a summer. It’s beautiful and there’s pining and there might be thirty-six rooms in this place but it’s nicer to spend time together, dangit. Understated and quiet and perfect.)

7. The Gospel of Crowley – gutterandthestars (T, the one where Crowley gets on with tempting Christ and in true Crowley fashion it backfires on him. Jesus has the BEST characterization, he and Crowley have wonderful banter, and the whole thing is poignant and hilarious. Loved it from start to finish.)

8. build me a city, call it jerusalem – @gyzym (T, the one where Crowley considers Right and Wrong. Book-verse. Jumps around in history and is one of those really esoteric, artistic pieces that makes you stop and think about what you just read. Absolutely gorgeous.)

9. Solitarius – @popcornpowergoddess (G, the one where Crowley blesses an old cottage and is sad. This one blew my mind when I read the author is fifteen, because WOW they are going places if they’re already this good. The work is heartbreaking and a little funny and so, so visually appealing. A real treat for the brain.)

10. Sawdust of Words – @aethelflaedladyofmercia (G and T, the series where Crowley and Aziraphale’s relationship and the Ineffable Plan get looked at from another angle. This series is already gonna rip me to pieces—Early Days had the most gorgeous and DIFFERENT storyline for Aziraphale post-Adam and Eve getting cast out, and it has him and Crowley actually arguing and being contentious at first in their relationship, it’s so good, especially when they start to try and work it out. Obedience hurt me in ways I did not ask for. The stories jump around in the timeline and it’s all so GOOD, I’m READY for more!)

11. An Angel who did not so much Fall In Love as Settle Into It Gradually – @theladyzephyr (G, the one where it’s exactly what it says on the tin. Jumps through history and has precious tender moments and less-than-tender moments all jumbled up in there, you can really feel with Aziraphale where he starts to lose the fight against his feelings. Just fantastic.)

12. Inauspicious (But Not Impossible) – @thetunewillcome (M, the one where there’s a kiss in 1945 and immediate consequences, and Aziraphale contemplates Romeo and Juliet. IMO doesn’t deserve the M rating, the kissing and the snogging are both pretty innocuous. The pining is real and delicious and painful, and the ways Heaven and Hell choose to remind their agents of what happens to traitors is Awful. Nothing gory, just sad. But it ends so much happier.)

13. and you can say that my hair’s a disgrace – @phoenix-soar (T, the one that’s an ode to Crowley’s hair throughout the years, and excuses for Aziraphale to touch it. Intimate, romantic, intensely emotional, just a real treat of a fic. Aziraphale loves Crowley and his hair so much.)

14. As Yearning Lips to Unyielding Stone – SanSanFanFan (G, the one where Crowley gets maudlin over a statue that looks like Aziraphale. Oh my gosh, you guys. You guys, the PINING. The YEARNING. The LONGING. It’s exquisite and painful and a work of art in and of itself. I have a soft spot for period fics, especially Italian Renaissance, for some reason, and THIS is one of the best.)

15. What’s Done In the Dark – @charmingpplincardigans (T, the one where Crowley literally glows with love and HOLY CRAP ON A STICK, Y’ALL, this one is an epic. It’s as much a story about growth as it is about love, and it’s so, so satisfying to watch Crowley go through this journey. I don’t have the words, just know that it’s one of those fics you can’t pass up. A+++++++)

16. Hot Days, Mad Blood – noodlefrog (T, the one where Aziraphale teaches Crowley how to duel, or he will in future chapters. This is a brand-spanking-new one that is gonna be so much fun to watch update. Italian Renaissance! Swordplay! Crowley being a smitten idiot! Aziraphale being competent! It’s gonna be so good y’all.)

SOUTH DOWNS

17. make your good love known to me (or just tell me about your day) – Sky_Stars_Sea (G, the one where Crowley is adjusting to living with Aziraphale. Has a beautiful sensory experience running throughout, and Crowley being so vulnerable it physically hurts. Beautiful, beautiful story.)

18. The Cottage at the End of the Lane – Angelina_Aintithenniel (T, the series where Crowley and Aziraphale have to defend what’s theirs. I have never screamed at my computer so much while reading a fic series, mostly along the lines of “LEAVE THEM AND THEIR HOUSE ALONE,” because this series is the Madoka Magica of fics: cute and fluffy casing, unexpectedly wild, angsty, action-packed innards. I adore this whole series. It makes me FEEL things.)

19. in my darkness I remember – @anthxnyjcrxwley (T, the one where it’s a soft, quiet night in the South Downs. A straight shot of fluff right to the heart, friendos, nothing more, nothing less. Stuff a mattress with this fic and say goodbye to any and all worldy pains.)

20. there’s no kingdom to come – killingthemoon (T, the one where Crowley slips off to fix up the cottage before springing it on Aziraphale. Tender, sweet, has a gorgeous ending scene that’s lots of fun and lots of shouting at the sky.)

21. A Heaven More Like This – miladyshakespeare (T, the one where it’s a Welsh cottage this time, cycling through a year. Such a beautiful piece of longing and uncertainty as Crowley and Aziraphale circle each other, a lot of quiet themes about letting yourself be cared for and letting yourself care, and also there’s a cat.)

22. The Legend of Devil’s Dyke – @sameoldsorceress (M, the one that’s a retelling of a popular South Downs local legend. Not sure at all why this one is rated M but it might be the gratuitous use of the word “cocks”, though in context it’s not filthy at all. This one is FUN, y’all, and I agree with the sentiment of the Tumblr post that inspired the fic, there need to be more fics featuring local South Downs legends.)

POST-APOCALYPSE

23. Slow – @theirdarkreturning (T, the one where the Antichrist makes some assumptions when he puts the world back together. Scores points for being very Jewish and playing right into the classic nigh-Shakespearean trope of miscommunication. Hilarious and sweet also the one where God signs the marriage certificate.)

24. Binary Stars – samael_the_scrivener (T, the one where Crowley has an emotional breakdown and Aziraphale does his best to make it right. Heavily emotional and angsty, nearly had me in tears right along with Crowley, and Aziraphale’s portion doesn’t back down from the tone, they have to fight tooth and nail through the emotional blockage to get to understanding and it’s positively sublime.)

25. If We’ve Got Nothing (We’ve Got Us) – @kedreeva (G, the one where everyone ends up where they’re meant to be. A gorgeous story about found family and working through differences and—eventually—God’s Ineffable Plan possibly coming to full fruition. I don’t wanna spoil too much, it’s best experienced blind.)

26. The Ludicrous and Many Disasters of Mister A.Z. Fell, Houseplant – @souljellied (T, the one where it is also exactly what it says on the tin and is exactly as ridiculous as you’d hope. With an unexpected but not unwelcome dash of angst, to boot. Crowley doesn’t take too well to being unable to immediately find Aziraphale, after all. Aziraphale is mostly wondering how to get out of this mess.)

27. In the (Second) Beginning – cherryfeather (M, the one where they have an inevitable conversation after the Ritz. Doesn’t really need the M rating since the smooching is intense but not graphic, and has the single greatest scene of Aziraphale reminding Crowley he’s a sensualist of ALL TIME. Fabulous work, very formative for me tbh.)

28. all I need, darling, is a life in your shape – @mortuarybees (G, the one where Aziraphale and Crowley need some convincing in the form of their well-meaning friends putting them in a room with one bed. The pining is delicious and piping hot, friends, and then suddenly oh my GoSatSomebody, they were roommates. A great little number with a beautiful confession scene.)

29. corrections – @0nelater (T, the one where Crowley is having a slow, melting come-apart about his feelings. Lots of Crowley being, in his own words, a basket case, and having a fundamental misunderstanding of how angels sensing love works, and how those two concepts are resolved. Has beautiful color symbolism and fun meta throughout.)

30. dearly beloved – @dissatisfied-starlight (T, the one where Crowley and Aziraphale get married, despite the universe’s best efforts, it seems. Hilarious and sweet and surprising! Not to spoil anything, but also has the best Beelzebub characterization as a nice little cherry on top.)

31. A Buried and Burning Flame – Lissomedi (G, the one where Crowley and Aziraphale visit an art museum and happen upon a disturbingly accurate and intimate depiction of themselves. Lots of Crowley pining and then being miserable, lots of Aziraphale being confused and then exasperated. So cute and sweet.)

32. The Long Game – sir_not_appearing_in_this_archive (G, the one that’s an adventure romp with proper twists and pining and saving the world. I love the spirit of this one, and the various inconveniences the cast have to overcome to stay out of Heaven and Hell’s radar. The building action right before the climax of the plot is heart-stopping, and the resolution is suitably satisfying. Was a fun way to spend a late night, for sure.)

33. in which labels are finnicky things – REVVIII (T, the one where Aziraphale is trying to figure out the perimeters of their relationship post-Apocalypse. He tries so hard, does his research, but honestly, nothing is gonna do it like talking to Crowley about it openly, which is, of course, not his first course of action. Very cute, especially when he’s trying to suss out what friends with benefits are.)

BUS RIDE/NIGHT BEFORE/HEAVEN AND HELL

34. if you wanna be alone, come with me – mygalfriday (G, the one where they can’t even make it into Crowley’s flat before it all comes spilling out. Short and sweet shot of fluff, just a perfect little sip of serotonin.)

35. The Things We Did and Didn’t Do – @dietraumerei (G, the one where they finally get their act together and defeat Heaven and Hell with the power of LOVE. Such tender, very emotion. Wow.)

36. Too Generous – rfsmiley (T, the one where That One Line, you know the one, from Pride and Prejudice serves as the inspiration. There’s some sneaky shirt-opening and it’s both hot and kinda funny. The very definition of “enthusiastic consent.”)

37. Exit Interview – Pygmy Puff (G, the one where Crowley has to survive a round of paperwork in order to get out of Heaven in Aziraphale’s body. This one went in a completely unexpected direction. I was ready for a humorous romp through Heaven’s bureaucracy. I got so much more than I was bargaining for. Read it, it’s ridiculous in all the best ways and surprisingly dangerous.)

AU/UA

38. An Honest Surrender – @kedreeva (T, the one where their plan to fool Heaven and Hell is a little different. Y’all might already know this one as the Angel Marriage fic, but for those who don’t, imagine “marriage” as we know it and then throw that concept out the window, because what happens is too weird and beautiful for words. My words, anyway.)

39. Mr. Fell – @amarguerite (T, the one that’s a reverse AU where Aziraphale is a Victorian dandy frat boy party-thrower who used to date Satan and talks about it constantly, and Crowley is Heaven’s perfect little soldier and all the PTSD that comes with. Tons of heart and originality already, though it’s still early in the fic, and a truly special dynamic between Aziraphale and Crowley. Also Aziraphale accidentally causes Original Sin by inventing brunch and if that doesn’t get you to read, nothing will.)

40. Keep Getting Stranger (I Do) – @callipygiangoldfish (T, the one that’s a Howl’s Moving Castle AU, patterned more after the book than the movie. It’s a wonderful little adventure about accepting yourself and the side-dish of falling in love is SCRUMPTIOUS.)

41. By the Light of My Stars – @theladydrgn (T, the one where Crowley was Raphael and in love with Aziraphale and that bit doesn’t change, at least. Has probably my favorite tag used in any fic ever of all time, I’ll see if you can spot it. Protective Crowley for MILES and MILES in this one, what he does to a demon that threatens Aziraphale is pure poetry. Going in a promising direction for sure!)

42. flammam gladii hinc – @wildenessat221b (G, the series where Crowley was Raphael and wiped Aziraphale’s memory to protect him. Has the BEST backstory for the flaming sword, of all things, and a bittersweet story throughout. Told in terms of [redacted] so it’s got a bit of mystery to it but not much. Somehow that makes it sadder.)

43. Bring Out Your Dead – metallic_sweet (T, the one where Crowley is Raphael and a healer no matter what Heaven tries to get him to do. A reverse AU where Aziraphale is a shark, of all things, and a warrior with a supernaturally bad sense of direction trying his best. It’s a refreshing change of pace in both reverse AUs and Raphael AUs; Crowley is still gruff and Aziraphale is still sweet and it’s perfect.)

44. Something to do with these sacred words – @thehumantrampoline (T, the one where Crowley confesses early and often. It’s both lovely and sad, in a way, for Crowley to be so open about his feelings so much without Aziraphale doing much about it besides panic internally, but the ending is sweet, very much so.)

45. reckless and wild and stricken – @weatheredlaw (T, the one where Armageddon happens again and this time it’s a true post-apocalyptic nightmare scenario. Weatheredlaw is famous for having fics that just tear at the heartstrings, and this one’s no different. It’s tender and it’s sad and it’s desperate and it HAUNTS ME.)

46. A price to pay – @aerococonut (T, the one where performing miracles costs Crowley something. A lovely look at the technicalities of Crowley—and Aziraphale, mind—doing something they aren’t made for, and the ways it changes them. Fans of fics about chronic pain, this is the one.)

47. Soulmates – GoodandIneffable (G, the one where your lies put marks on your soulmate’s body, and Aziraphale and Crowley are soulmates. This is one I wish had at least a 3k-word expansion, because the concept is gorgeous and Crowley’s realization at what it truly means to be Aziraphale’s soulmate is staggering. Short, but worth it.)

48. i love(d) you – extraordinarilyextreme (G, the one that’s a Star Wars AU and it WRECKED ME. Force-bonds, love, betrayal, forgiveness, AUGH. It’s too much. I love it. Also Padawans Warlock and Adam ftw.)

49. The Book of Aziraphale – @gigglesnortbangdead (T, the one where Aziraphale wrote poetry he never intended to make public, and naturally it goes public. This had the potential to be silly or sweet and wound up directly in poignant instead; Aziraphale takes a decidedly self-loathing approach with a lot of his poetry and it’s amazing to watch him work through his feelings about himself and about Crowley.)

50. Of Celestial Sonnets and Pitiable Poets – trieduntrue (T, the one where Crowley wrote poetry he never intended to make public and then Hell finds it. So naturally, to save his skin, he has it printed and distributed under the guise of “spreading sin.” Then he writes and publishes a second one completely drunk. This one is pure silliness and Crowley schadenfreude; it really plays up the beloved device of “everything Crowley does backfires on him somehow” in the most lighthearted way.)

51. The Healer and the Lover – Nnm (T and G, the series where Aziraphale’s name means “of Raphael” and that’s who Crowley used to be, and there’s a lot of complicated feelings involved. Really emotionally complex and interesting take on the Raphael AU, one I’ve come back to a lot because it’s so compelling.)

52. Tracing The Stars On Your Skin – PunJedi (T, the one where Crowley’s freckles used to be stars. Achingly sweet and sad, goes through each constellation Crowley made and has a story for it. The end is just gorgeous, really emotional and sweet.)

53. On the Matter of Touch – @somedrunkpirate (T, the one where Aziraphale is flooded with the emotions of the ones he touches, and Crowley is a touch-starved lovesick sad sap. Incredibly tender and emotional, lots about boundaries and communication and the Mortifying Ordeal of letting yourself care and be cared for.)

SOFT

54. keep me close – @saints-and-demons-preserve-us (G, the one where Aziraphale accidentally discovers that Crowley does local theatre. It’s so funny and sweet and full of longing and excellent Broadway tunes, and also Aziraphale is The Most Awkward and it’s gratifying af.)

55. i keep a window for you (it’s always open) – @campgender (T, the one where they quote Romeo and Juliet a lot. It’s beautiful and romantic and Shakespeare always deserves appreciation. The lines that are picked out are especially gorgeous in the context of the fic.)

56. Hunter’s Heart, Hunter’s Mouth – kashiichan (T, the series where Aziraphale romances Crowley with poetry. I’m new here so I don’t quite understand the Gomens fandom’s immortal love of Richard Siken, but I can darn well appreciate good poetry, especially when it’s couched in tender touches and overwhelming feels.)

57. Fools in Love – @theres-a-goldensky (T and M, the series where this is absolutely true. The first is a frankly hilarious jaunt at Aziraphale trying different hobbies and dragging Crowley into them, the second is Aziraphale not realizing he’s projecting his own longing for Crowley onto everyone around him and then getting jealous of his own warped perceptions. M rating is more for lascivious intent and verbiage than actual smut, and what an intent it is XD)

58. To Trust in One Another – bluespring864 (T, the one where Aziraphale is haunted by something insensitive he once said to Crowley. Do you enjoy pining that builds until it breaks every dam in the universe? Do you enjoy self-flagellating for something dumb you said once? Welcome to paradise, friends, a sweet, adorable paradise.)

59. Best Not To Dwell On It – @saaliyah (G, the one where they make out in a linen closet sometime in the early 1800s. Short, simple, sweet, and making out in a linen closet, what more do you thirsty lovies need XD)

60. Something So Precious – @freyjawriter24 (G, the one where Aziraphale and Crowley are adopted by two separate groups of old ladies who take it upon themselves to matchmake, as groups of old ladies are wont to do. Too adorable for words, will cause literal discorporation.)

61. Birds of a Feather – @idiopathicsmile (T, the one where Aziraphale is nesting and Crowley doesn’t get it. Another one of those classic miscommunication fics where everything is awful until they finally get on the same page, and then it’s wonderful. Also the thought of Aziraphale in particular feathering his nest with things he and Crowley both like is the sweetest mental image of all time.)

62. Just Hold On Tight – @books-n-bentleys (G, the one where communication is key to every relationship. Love languages are a thing and making sure you and your partner come to an understanding about them is important; see this fic for why this is a really good idea. Because every relationship deserves tenderness and understanding and the correct level of schmoop.)

63. Braving Those Angry Skies – ladymerlot (T, the one where Crowley nearly kills himself saving Aziraphale from Nazis. Crowley is so perfectly in character throughout it’s almost funny even when it isn’t (maybe especially when it isn’t). A prime example of my favorite Gomens fic trope to date. I know I don’t have a lot of variance in my adjectives but you guys TENDER. ROMANTIC. SWEET. IT’S ALL OF THEM.)

64. Moral Arguments – WhiteQueenWrites (T, the one where Crowley and the gang help a woman get revenge on her truly horrible ex. This one is FUN, there’s no other way to say it. It’s cathartic and satisfying and is one of those fics I wish was a cheesy movie I could watch while eating disgusting amounts of popcorn.)

65. get religion quick (cause you’re looking divine) – @brinnanza (G, the one where Aziraphale is convinced Crowley doesn’t love him back and it’s fine. Cute and emotional and must absolutely be read with its counterpart below. This one first, that’s why it’s listed first; they aren’t related in the way that they’re the same scene from different perspectives, they’re just similar situations with the roles swapped, and it’s so worth reading, these idiots I swear 2 Someone.)

66. you play with my feelings (right from the start) – @penrosesun (G, the one where Crowley is convinced Aziraphale doesn’t love him back and it’s fine. Hilarious and emotional and must absolutely be read with its counterpart above. Really illustrates how two smart people can completely miss the point for THOUSANDS OF YEARS.)

67. Worth Any Price – @sameoldsorceress (T, the one where Crowley sets up a kissing booth. You guys I was ready for fun shenanigans involving Crowley kissing the general public and maybe Aziraphale getting a little bothered under the collar. I was not expecting the FEELS. The PLOT. The UNEXPECTED PUNCH TO THE GUT. Absolutely an underrated treasure in this fandom, needs to be talked of often.)

68. Bodies of Change – @dietraumerei (G, the one where Aziraphale has new clothes. This one plays right into my Fashion itch and it’s wonderful and body-positive and so, so sweet. Crowley is so smitten with his angel.)

69. i did not know ‘twas love i gave – miribees (T, the one where Aziraphale makes Crowley a mixtape. This one is unexpectedly bittersweet and tender, with Crowley and Aziraphale in a fight for a good chunk of the fic, but it’s the apology and the making up that’s sweetest, of course.)

70. World Cold, Aziraphale Warm – maddiemaynot (NR, the one where Crowley is trying his best, okay. It’s unbearably romantic how much they love each other, how they slide into soft intimacy in fits and starts. Also has quite possibly the most disastrous date in history, but it’s the thought that counts.)

BEFORE

71. Fractured Heart – @asparklethatisblue (T, the one that’s gonna murder me with Aziraphale’s feels. The premise is that angels can be physically broken by strong emotion, and what’s stronger than the grief of losing a loved one to the Rebellion? Also dealing with Aziraphale’s feelings for Crowley getting tangled up in his feelings for his lost heavenly love, and it’s DELICIOUS.)

72. ask, and ye shall receive – @ariaste (G, the one where Crawly gets exactly what he’s asking for. Very much has the feel of my something-great grandpa, who once told a man “Go ahead, shoot me!” and was obliged. Hilarious and sweet, you can FEEL God’s smugness throughout the entire fic.)

73. what wound did ever heal – HallsofStone2941 (M, the one where Aziraphale is wounded in the War in Heaven and carries it with him. Rated M for one line involving sexytimes that truly isn’t that bad at all. Aziraphale is just so good and brave and Aziraphale about it all, A+++ characterization.)

74. Falling – @differentjasper (T, the one where the War in Heaven changed a lot of things. Read this if you want to picture little baby angel Aziraphale and Crowley and then get EMOTIONALLY WRECKED about them. I kinda wanted to rip my own heart out just to stop it from hurting so much while reading it.)

TOUCH-STARVED/BODY WORSHIP/WINGS

75. Uncaffeinated Decisions – @suntosirius (T, the one where Aziraphale is insecure and Crowley is sleepy. Utterly heart-rending in the best way; reading Crowley being so loving of Aziraphale’s body was extremely cathartic and satisfying, and continues to deliver every re-read.)

76. And So He Bringeth Them Unto the Haven – @je-suis-em-jee (T, the one where they’re both so touch-starved it’s obscene. Pitch-perfect romance and intimacy, I could feel the affection and love in my very bones.)

77.  All that’s been shown to me (Sunlight) – WillowRoseBrook (T, the one where Aziraphale needs some convincing that being soft is good. I’m especially weak for softness being praised, so this one hit me like a nail between the eyes. Intense, passionate, and intimate. Deffo got that praise kink going, too.)

78. These Fragments I Have Shored Against My Ruins – @istezada (NR, the one with vague D/s themes as Crowley and Aziraphale work through their traumas together. Has wing grooming and praising and misunderstandings and communication, oh my. A veritable piñata of feels.)

79. Long For the Touch of Your Hand – sara_wolfe (T, the one where Crowley and Aziraphale Did the Do in ancient Athens and predictably never touched again because Miscommunication. Oh, y’all, so mournful and uncertain, so desperate and sweet! My skin literally ached the first time I read this, it was the best.)

80. I Love My Lover With A-- – DictionaryWrites2 (T, the one where Crowley and Aziraphale have a game that involves kissing and adjectives. Book-verse, one of those curious fics where you’re both drowning in feels and learning something. Sensual in all the best ways and so achingly loving.)

81. Untouched – @etaleah (T, the one that RIPPED MY HEART FROM MY CHEST WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE HUNDRED WORDS OR LESS. And then CONTINUED TO PUMMEL ME INTO THE GROUND FOR THREE THOUSAND WORDS. Crowley is so painfully touch-starved it kicked my own touch-starvedness into overdrive. Will take your emotions and leave them bleeding and broken before carefully bandaging them up and giving them a snuggle.)

82. a garden all their own – @letmetemptyou (T, the one where Crowley gets some much-needed TLC as he starts to process the day of Armageddon. Plaintive, poignant, and deeply emotional. Absolutely wrecked me.)

BONUS

83. High Risk, No Reward – @asideofourown (T, the one where idiots try to rob the bookshop. BAMF Aziraphale and hapless mortals, it doesn’t get any better than this.)

84. Asportation – @mazarin221b (T, the one where Aziraphale gets kidnapped and gets the best of his kidnappers. Or, rather, brings out the best in his kidnappers. Such a delightful way for Aziraphale to deal with the people who tried to put him up for ransom, the whole thing is utterly charming.)

85. A Button to Lurk – @reidluver (T, a quiet and mournful look at a possible spin on Michael and Hastur’s relationships with Ligur, and what’s left after Armageddon. Took me completely by surprise. Understated, powerful, and dignified, if you can believe it. Of course it is, it’s Michael.)

86. And So They Grew Better – JiMoriartea (NR, the one that’s about the plants! Basically has canon from the perspective of the unfortunate little plant that gets singled out for having a leaf spot. She is a delight and I’m so proud of her, and can’t wait to see her completely miss the point of future events XD)

87. Secret Agent Man – @theaceace (G, the one from the perspective of an actual secret agent who doesn’t think Crowley and Aziraphale are very good at their jobs. Baffling and hilarious and wonderful in every way.)

H/C /WHUMP/BAMF

88. The Point of You and Me – Rizandace (T, the one where you think everything is gonna be fine and then Gabriel happens. The danger is real. The emotions are real. The heart-stopping was figurative but felt pretty real at the time, tbh. Prepare to get punched in the face with your feelings.)

89. (Don’t) Say My Name – @cosmicocelot (M, the one where Crowley gets summoned by a not-nice person. M for torture. A classic search-and-rescue and it’s the best OH SNAP moment when Aziraphale finally catches up. Woof.)

90. Something Wicked – @thepaisleyelf (M, the one where Aziraphale gets summoned by a not-nice person. M for torture, though it’s supernatural and not exactly graphic. This one is an intense and wild adventure, y’all, that morphs straight into intense and desperate attempts at care and healing. The whole thing is a tender love story wrapped in a Victorian supernatural candy coating and it SLAPS.)

91. Every Demon Wants his Pound of Flesh – @dolphin-bouillabaisse (T, the one where Hastur is stalking Crowley. If hurt!Crowley trying to be brave and not let anyone know he’s hurting and bamf!Aziraphale taking care of business once he finally figures it out is your flavor, then welcome to Flavor Town, because this one is juicy. Was not at ALL expecting the ending, it’s delicious and vindictive.)

92. And we could feel, (none of it) – @clankclunk (G, the one where Aziraphale comes to grips with how Crowley knows to save him and the implications of that. Aziraphale’s entire emotional journey through this fic is so heartbreaking. But the conclusion is the exact counterbalance of healing and sweetness needed. Also Heaven is full of dicks but we knew that (except Aziraphale didn’t but that’s the point of this fic, now go read it).)

93. the wonder that keeps the stars apart – Nilmiel (G, the one where, fourteen hours after he gets the holy water, Crowley immediately has an Incident. Painful and emotional and intensely sweet. The second chapter has the best closure, even though it happens post-Armageddon’t.)

94. goodnight sweet prince (and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest) – @xoxoemynn (T, the one where Crowley needs a nap. Told throughout like a bedtime story in between the narrative and it’s such a charming effect, watching Crowley succumb to his exhaustion and Aziraphale take care of him.)

95. Fragments of Life – TheGirlWithBrightEyes (G, T, M, the series where Crowley has PTSD and anxiety, and Aziraphale adjusts. This series is a heartbreaking one and doesn’t shy away from the ugly parts of neurodivergence, but as much pain as there is, there is an equal and even greater amount of comfort and positive reinforcement. The single M is for a fic that toes the line of smut but doesn’t actually go over. Feels as cathartic as a good long cry.)

96. A Choiceless Hope In Grief – @thealphaaxolotl (NR, the one inspired by Orpheus and Eurydice. Featuring Crowley trapped in Tartarus and Aziraphale being more determined than Heaven and Hell combined to save him. One of those stories that drags you through the dark but doesn’t leave you there—at least, not alone, not without comfort.)

97. November Rain – FeatherBlack (T, the one where Crowley has a very bad time dealing with his emotions and Aziraphale is very bad at communicating. Visceral and emotional and raw and difficult to read at times with how miserable everyone is, but it does get better. It does definitely get better.)

98. Within These Walls – Elvendork (G and T, the series that you think is gonna be a fluffy “Greatest Showman” song-inspired jaunt but then comes out of left field with a sucker punch straight to the throat. Touching and thrilling and who invited Gabriel and Sandalphon, because I sure didn’t.)

99. Sticks and Stones – Kaz_Langston (T, the one where Aziraphale develops disordered eating because Gabriel is a dick. This one hurt so much, Aziraphale does not deserve what happens to him, but he does deserve the love and care Crowley gives him as a result.)

#good omens #good omens fic recs #mega gomens fic rec list #there might be one more after this #and then regular-sized fic rec lists i promise #a reasonable amount of recs #bless your soul if you actually read all of this

[therealjammy]

The Worth Of the Wait (Witness)

AN: Posting this here for the Tumblr crowd, but also in the hope it’ll garner a bit more audience. It’s quite angsty, so please bear that in mind xx

The title that isn’t in parenthesis is from Ivan & Alyosha’s song by the same name

Words: A little over 2.5k

--

And since it falls unto my lot

           That I should rise and you should not…

—

There was something in the reading of ghosts Dani had done that mentioned souls were doomed to wander the grounds around which they died due to unfinished business. As to what that business was, the spectre had to find out on their own, a task that began as soon as one came to.

           No such task was set forth when Dani woke the first evening after her death, collapsed on the shore of the lake on her knees, not knowing it was the same spot Jamie had knelt just hours earlier. No sense of purpose filled her, only the strangeness of the afterlife, the emptiness of the manor’s grounds, and a bizarre, echoing loneliness.

           Here, Dani did not bear the weight of the first Lady of the Lake. No second gaze watched from within. No claws tore away pieces of her. She was Dani once again. Almost whole, but not quite1.

           She walked the grounds to grow used to her new body and life. She mused that this must have been what the astronauts who landed on the moon felt like—terribly weightless, yet able to come back to the ground by sheer force of will. So light. Like floating on air. But she wasn’t hovering. The afterlife wasn’t nearly so stereotypical. There was grass underneath her feet, and gravel, and brick. Dani was pleased that the muted feel of them all did not terrify her. The downside, however, was everything she took in reminded her of Jamie. And Hannah and Owen and Flora and Miles. So much so that she dropped to her knees for the second time in the middle of the statue garden and allowed herself to feel another knife. It slid beside the one that’d pierced her chest at the sight of Jamie in the water, reaching for her, agonized screams distorted by the thick, choking medium. I won’t, Dani had said. Don’t reach out for me to take you; this is the only time I will not accept your hand.

           The book said nothing about the loneliness one would feel in the afterlife, nor the emotions that ghosts were still capable of feeling, nor even the fact that ghosts could have their own ghosts.

 —

Time was nearly impossible to tell here. The days varied in their colors, of course, so Dani knew the hours, but she could not count the days. Or the weeks. She only knew the beautiful grounds, once kept tame by Jamie and a series of others before her, were slowly being reclaimed. The hedges lost their shapes. The statues in the statue garden wore masks and robes of moss. The rose garden and the white iron table and chairs were covered in leaves and surrounded by weeds, and armies of aphids munched greedily on the wilting roses. The church was dark and drafty; the candles had dust gathering in them, and the benches were covered in it, too. Jamie’s beloved greenhouse was overgrown, looking the part of a houseplant jungle that was now home to spiders and large, fearless rats. Soon many varieties of leaves and arms of vines would cover the bench, concealing the evidence of a deep first kiss and—on a different day—a thick half-hour’s lovemaking.

           Concealing life so that they might live their own. Jamie would say that, or something similar to it. Part of nature, innit? Inevitable. Uncontrollable, once set free.

           Dani was not bound to the lake. Not entirely. And so she spent a series of nights on the greenhouse’s bench, on her bed of plants and cracking cushions, perfectly content to lose herself in memories that hadn’t been sharp for years.

 —

It could have been months, or even years later, that Dani began to hear voices. They were faint and far away, like music drifting from an open window several stories up, the voices unidentifiable, the words a string of incoherence. There were no others on the grounds; what others there were had moved on to somewhere else the second the Lady of the Lake settled herself inside Dani. But the voices were there, whispering in the woods and the lake, the greenhouse and the church, wherever Dani managed to find herself. Was it possible, she wondered, for someone dead to lose their mind? It shouldn’t have been. It would be cruel of the afterlife to make her repeat an act that had already been done. The voices were not memory, either; memory did not tickle the eardrums or raise one’s hackles.

           It didn’t take long for Dani to shrug the voices off, thinking them a new music serenading her world. She often fell asleep to them—a different kind of lullaby.

 —

The first time Dani was called to the land of the living was an accident.

           She was walking through the woods, admiring a golden sunset slashing through silhouetted branches on the way to the spot where Jamie’s carefully grown moonflower once sat. Dani seated herself on the log she’d occupied, watching the shadows lengthen on the iron the moonflower had used as an anchor to grow against, thinking of Jamie and her going-out-on-a-limb monologue, of the kisses that followed and the laughter-filled ascent up the stairs that led to them making love in Dani’s bedroom, with no hesitation after Jamie’s, “It’s not too fast?” A voice shattered her thoughts, clear as day, a whisper.

           “Where are you?”

           Jamie.

           Heart leaping, feeling more alive than her new life had lately allowed her to be, Dani ran, ran through the woods and the gardens, past the empty greenhouse, church, and manor, calling Jamie’s name. “I’m here!” she shouted. “I’m here, Jamie!” No avail. No reward. Just the whisper, again and again. “Where are you?”

           Once again, Dani found herself wading into cold water, and once again fell and sank, but it was not to the lake’s silty, reedy bottom.

           There was water underneath her hands. And wood. Not even an inch of it, but still it lapped at her hands, an insistent, icy tongue. There was hissing. And further away, the sound of sirens. Dani stared at the floor. Light finished oak. Skinny pieces. She knew this floor.

           Looking up, in a state of dizzying disbelief, was looking into the flooding kitchen of the apartment. Their apartment. The sprinklers were spraying water. Something must’ve caught fire, but Dani wasn’t looking for that. Her gaze was trapped by the cracked front door and the unmistakable figure of Jamie, soaked to the bone, sitting between the oven and the sink, the posture of someone who had slid there in defeat, not quite weeping but on the verge of it.

           The strangest part was how ardently she stared into the water.

           “Where are you?” Jamie said.

           “Here,” Dani would have said, and reached out to her, had she not felt herself being pulled back.

 —

Several times, the breaking through happened, each as jarring as the first, until Dani learned to expect it. Until, one winter evening, when the grounds of Bly were dusted with frost, she only thought of Jamie and was instantly over her shoulder. They were in The Leafling, the winter plants and flowers in full season. Outside, there was snow, and fresh flakes were falling like cigarette ash from a steely sky. Jamie was in dark jeans and a black turtleneck, her curls pinned up in a bun, a few unruly ones dangling over her eyes, her hands putting the finishing touches on a pot filled with pansies.

           “It’s a very ironic name,” Jamie had said once, back when they first opened the shop and rotated the flowers out depending on the season. “Call this flower a pansy but it survives the winter.”

           “Maybe we should call it a toughie,” Dani suggested. Jamie shook her head, smiling, but she ended up making a chalk art sign that read, “These toughies survive the winter!” and placed it appropriately in front of the pansy display. They’d sold out within the first two weeks.

           The signs that were in the flower shop now were not written by hand in Jamie’s half-messy cursive. They were all typed and displayed on boards. Including the sign on the door, which was flipped to closed.

           There was life here, Dani realized, her heart seizing in her chest, continuing despite the gaping loss Jamie obviously still felt.

           How many times, Dani wondered when she returned to Bly, to the greenhouse, had Jamie thought of giving up? It had to be several, by now.

           It took a special sort of perseverance to overcome the call of death.

 —

Time hardly existed at Bly, but Dani found a way to keep track of it. She watched Jamie and knew the months went by, staying longer and longer, until she hardly found herself at Bly at all.

           She watched Jamie change. Her hair got longer and less wavy. Grey began to show. Slowly at first, and then they were as sudden as weeds. Dani watched efforts of romances, all of which ended in apologies and the showing of the ring she’d slipped onto Jamie’s finger in the nineties. She watched The Leafling change hands. Watched Jamie pack up the apartment and move into a small house in a different town. Watched her fly to Paris and step through the doors of A Batter Place for the first time in ages. Owen was still there, dressed in white chef’s uniform. And Hannah’s picture remained where it was, too, her kind, smiling face forever immortalized.

           Jamie stood by the doors. Jet lag sagged her shoulders. Made her eyes droop like half-dead leaves. Yet there was determination, Dani saw, mixed with an oncoming wave of nostalgia.

           Owen was a few tables away, smiling, pouring refills of wine into two guests’ glasses. He glanced in Jamie’s direction, owner’s instinct kicking in at the sight of someone loitering in the entryway, looking back at the customers, and then giving Jamie a long double-take.

           “Please excuse me,” Dani heard him say.

           He and Jamie approached each other slowly.

           “My god,” were Owen’s first words to her, “you’ve gotten old.”

           The laughter that erupted from Jamie’s mouth was the sweetest music.

           They sat at the same table that’d seen them a little over a decade ago, talking over French cuisine and wine, until long after closing and long after everyone else left. There was much to say and then nothing at all, a silence settling over the old friends that was comfortable.

           There was a bit of happiness in Jamie’s life at last.

 —

Jamie’s life had changed since seeing Owen in Paris. It was lighter. She walked with new purpose. There was, however, one constant. Jamie always left doors cracked. Always left something filled with water—the kitchen sink, the bathroom sink, the tub, a watering can—and gazed into it, much like she had that day in the kitchen. The habit could have started long before that, Dani theorized, but there was no plausible way to be certain. The only thing that was certain was the statement these habits made: I’ll wait for you. In those moments, Dani’s heart ached in her chest, its own clenched, frustrated fist.

           On a blustery spring day in 2007, Dani followed Jamie around her plant-populated kitchen as she had a conversation with Owen over the phone. Jazzy piano floated from a speaker somewhere Dani couldn’t see, the volume low. She only heard Jamie’s side of the talk.

           “This makes me feel really fucking old.”

           “Well, wasn’t she twelve the last time we talked to each other?” A smile. “I’m giving you shite, you moosher.”

           A pause.

           Her tone turned serious. “You’re sure you want me there?” A pause. “You know they might not remember me.” Silence. Then, with another smile, “All right, you’ve convinced me with your battering on about it.”

           In the past, Jamie threw on whatever outfit was convenient: old, soft T-shirt tucked into worn jeans, jacket pulled on over it; paint-splattered overalls and flannel shirt; sweater and jeans and a grey-blue coverall caked with soil. Her style came together in the nineties. It was polished in the New Millennium. She planned her outfits with a little more care, and she looked stunning in all of them. It was, thought Dani, no wonder the younger women that floated in and out of Jamie’s life fawned over her.

           The occasion she talked about with Owen was, much to Dani’s surprise, Flora’s wedding. The man she’d been smitten with at seventeen was the same one she was marrying at twenty- eight. Jamie marked the date in the calendar hanging on the fridge.

           In the days that followed, a melancholy shadowed Jamie. Dani saw it on her face, and deep in her eyes. She believed Jamie was thinking about their own union, how they had to practically beg for it to be civil while all some people had to do was slide a ring on a finger and ask for a license. How Flora’s life stretched for acres ahead of her while Dani’s own was an uncertain countdown. Dani saw, as she’d gotten rare glimpses of, Jamie scribble the thoughts down in a notebook with yellowed edges. (She had usually left Jamie when she wrote. That time was hers alone.)

           She turned the page. Her pen hovered.

           Jamie began a new note.

We should have grown old together. Watched each other change. Kept track of the lines that appeared around our eyes and mouths. Made love until we were too ancient to do it properly. Found other ways. We should have had our whole lives ahead of us. It seems unfair I get to be the age I am. But we had our time, Poppins. Not many people get that.

             The note wasn’t a goodbye. To Dani, it was more of a reminder.

 Epilogue:

Witness

The asylum-turned-hotel was surprisingly cozy, even by dead people’s standards. Nestled in a sort of grove in Northern California, Dani liked the rustic look of the place and how pleasant it looked against the late afternoon sunlight shining through the trees. It had a sitting room just off the lobby, populated by comfortable couches. Despite the spring warmth, a fire crackled in the fireplace, and the wedding guests gathered around it, some with drinks in their hands, others empty-handed. They chatted amongst themselves until, rather abruptly, Jamie announced, “I have a story.”

           Dani settled behind her, back to the warmth of the fire. Bly did not call back to her. Nothing held her but Jamie, whose command of the room was absolute.

           She hung on every word.

           She felt light. She felt like she could fly at the way Jamie narrated the story that held everyone so raptly; her voice wavered from tenderness to melancholy to, at the end, devotion. A sense of purpose.

           It hit Dani as suddenly as cold water. Her purpose. Her unfinished business. It had only taken seven years and countless witnessing of someone perpetually in wait.

           Jamie filled the hotel’s sink. And the bathtub. She cracked open the door, just a little, letting in a small bar of white light. She turned a chair to the door. Waiting. Expectant.

           Dani knew then.

           If Jamie waited for her, Dani would wait for her in return.

           She set a hand on Jamie’s shoulder, a promise she would, hopefully, feel.

--

Endnotes

1. A reference to my favorite novel, Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones

The lines before the start of this work are from “The Parting Glass”

#the haunting of bly manor #dani x jamie #fic stuff #kate writes things #i'm proud of this one still

[justanotherboyinblue]

  a soft, stay at home ask game

your favourite playlist (made by yourself or someone else) https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1MgunoFZWQzzbF94KiNp8q?si=HiVGvQzjQyOMlCI78teOtw , you’re welcome  ❤️️️

how many houseplants in your room, and what kinds are they? i have no plants in my room because they would Die

your favourite “grounding” activity (anything that involves using the hands/doesn’t involve “spacing out” or escapism - something like gardening, knitting, dancing, cooking) baking is Amazing for grounding and therapy, but lately ive been too tired or lazy to bake asdkljbg

an account on social media whose posts make you smile there are so many!! lately it’s this one tiktok account that makes paint and when she muddles it oh my gosh it’s beautiful everytime

5 tv shows that cheer you up idk anymore, all of my favorite shows just dont do it for me anymore deception? ive always loved that show, and the magicians is mostly a cheer me up kinda show

how you get relaxed when you’re struggling to sleep browse pinterest until im bored enough to sleep askjldbgls that or listen to soft guitar, Or talk to Alexis

your favourite board game they’re all so boringg

if you were going to write a non-fiction book on any topic, what would it be? i feel like it would be an autobiography. like to tell the stories of relationships ive had and people ive met, lessons ive learned the hard way so whoever reads it wouldnt need to learn how i did

a quote that you would consider getting tattooed or putting in a frame okay so its from a tumblr post i cant remember who by, but the line “guarded by a forest of roses and thorns lies a corpse refusing to rot “ has always gone Way harder than is necessary and i love it

something you’ve created in the last year that you’re proud of (a playlist, a piece of art, some writing, a craft hobby, a social media account, etc) okay so this took me like a solid week and its not the most Original thing in the world but i think its cool, and for some reason cant put it in here so clink for the picture akjsldb

a tip or hack you’ve learned that makes cleaning or tidying easier create a system!! use colors and only pick up things that are yellow, or only pick up the trash and then work with what’s left etc. etc.

if you could make a candle that smelt like anything, what would you pick? freshly baked bread, or cinnamon rolls

the last so-bad-it’s-good joke you heard boomba 🍊🍊

an artist (of any kind) whose work you look forward to seeing at the moment i am obsessed with @/charminglyantiquated, @/nymika, and @grendelmenz on twitter

the last tv episode that made you laugh out loud phineas and ferb halloween special

how you wake your body up when it’s feeling tired, achy or needs a stretch i give myself a bubbly peptalk that consists of “get up you overgrown sausage you got shit to do”

a bath, shower, beauty or toiletry product that makes you feel revived, or that you always re-order when it’s running out it’s this one kind of aveeno shampoo, the apple cider vinegar blend, it smells so good

a book series you can always escape in the o’malley series by Dee Henderson or the fnaf series by my man Scott Cawthon

the sport or exercise you enjoy the most, and what’s helped you get better at it as if id go anywhere near a sport

a skill you’ve picked up in the past few years ✨d i s s o c i a t i o n✨

a youtube video you find useful, entertaining or relaxing any of dollightful ‘s doll repaints

if you were going to dye your hair any colour of the rainbow, what would you choose? aksjdbglkajsbd okay ive been doing a Think and i really want black cherry cola look it up it’s so pretty

the book you just finished and what you thought (no spoilers!) u h what was the last book i read. i think it was an Agatha Christie novel? the body in the library im pretty sure, and i thought it was excruciatingly boring would not recommend 

describe the most wacky, weird and wonderful at-home outfit you’ve put together tiger onesie

a game you’re playing that takes your mind off things a m o n g  u s oh my gosh i love that game so much, and as always my one true love minecraft<3

the film you watched most recently that you could watch again and again lockout, it’s on netflix and it’s Hilarious

your favourite flavour and brand of tea i hate tea, that shits nasty, and if you drink it i am so very sus of you

a good-will story you’ve heard on the news that’s made you feel hopeful trumpie getting covid ❤️

a favourite easy recipe: 5 ingredients or less, or takes less than 30 min to make chicken and a bisket crackers and a can of spray cheese. it slaps

a song that makes you want to have a boogie round your bedroom mr. clean by yung gravy and walk man by tmc are always Bops

#long post #meet the blogger #Knox's ask games #tw trump mention #tw cursing #im Beyond bored so im doing these again

[anulithots]

Tumblr's houseplant garden.

Growing a garden of houseplants based off this weird thing called existence, "planted" by others from tumblr.

The houseplant story ask game

The Venus Flytrap from @poetsandstuff

"I've had advice about 'getting out there' and just socialising lile im not dieing on the inside every time"

The Venus Flytrap episode one - Relationships

------

The Rose from @briarborealisart

"i could still be true to myself while valuing what others thought."

Episode one - Thorns

------

The Prayer Plant from @awleeofficial

"I worry about how I am percieved by the people in my life as well as the creative works that I choose to share, and I can be rather hard on myself when it doesn't come out perfect."

Episode one - Inspiration

----

The Philodendron from @rainisawriter

"I think one of the biggest things I struggle to overcome is taking things to heart. I'm quite sensitive, see, and I tend to take things personally even when it isn't personal at all."

Episode one - Weather you like it or not.

Status is currently in a hiatus.

#the tumblr houseplant series rose #the tumblr houseplant series dottie plant #the tumblr houseplant series roses #the tumblr houseplant series venus fly trap #the tumblr houseplant seires #the tumblr houseplant series philodendron #Rose the pollywiggin #Venus the pollywiggin #Dottie the pollywiggin #Philo the pollywiggin #Rose supremacy #writeblr #the land of the fallen fairies

[anulithots]

The Rose. Episode 1- "Thorns"

(I had to take a screenshot, sorry)

A tumblr houseplant story from @briarborealisart

The info post is here

Note - this is still a first draft, any feedback would be much appreciated. Especially for this one, this is a super interesting concept to explore, but my brain found it so difficult, and comments on if I got to the core of this would be appreciated. <3

--------

Rose thought of faerself as quite interesting and quite successful. 

It wasn't much of a leap. Not to Rose. Fae grew large & imposing, faer plant growing up the pole with large, flush leaves and a single spectacular bloom.

And it wasn't that Rose was better than anyone else, certainly not.

Rose valued faer life.

The others did not. 

They talked and talked & played... before talking more. It annoyed Rose. How could they be so ignorant? Did they not see how much better they could grow if they employed Rose's methods?

Fae fluffed the bloom in fair tail. Rose was quite proud of it, for it had taken lots of methodical resourcing - knowing which bodily functions to enact & which nutrients to absorb, when to drink & when not to. But it was worth it. Fae had an actual, physical, & oh so pretty, manifestation of faer efforts. Fae liked to twirl it around in tail dances, showcasing its beauty for all to see.

 They would regret saying that faer hugs were not appreciated.

What did they want faer to do?

Cover up faer thorns?

Faer thorns - and faer ingenuity - were how fae got here. They would reach the same heights as Rose if they weren't so bothered by inconsequential, infinitesimal pokes. Case in point. the Money tree.

"Well, perhaps if you didn't spend so much time wallowing in self-pity you wouldn't be prone to this sort of thing."

Money tree recoiled. leaves flaring.

Rose glanced to the canopy and flicked faer claws against each other. "Focus on your growth. You lost one tree already. right?"

Money tree faltered. "That's a- that's a sensitive subject ."

"All the more reason to fix this" Rose leapt to the base of the tree. sniffing & pawing at the dead one in the braid.

It was quite the simple fix actually. Rose twirled fair tail, satisfied. Money tree would see the merit in faer words and be oh-so-grateful that Rose told faer what needs to be told.

"You're too opportunistic & attention, seeking."

"You're one to talk" 

Rose flicked an ear. "Pardon?"

Money tree flared four wings. "You did all this for attention right? You acted like you CARED. Well, I won't be taken advantage of by pollywiggins like you-" 

 Rose growled. "I'm afraid your mistaken. One of your trees is no longer here because you wanted the immediate pleasure of watering. Perhaps an extra few leaves to show off? Explain to me how I should be held responsible for your negligence, I am trying to help you-" 

Money tree hissed. "This. This isn't help."

"If you can't handle -" 

"No. Rose, I can't. You need to leave."

 Rose growled, barring faer teeth. Fae was just being honest. Didn't Money Tree ask? If fae asked Rose, then fae should expect the honest truth, none of this watered-down wishy washy from the others. If fae wanted actual results, then fae should expect Rose to give actual answers.

"Now" 

Fae huffed and slinked back to faer plant.

No one handles pokes.

Fae climbed to the tallest knot of stems. Rose specifically grew it to be a comfortable spot, away from the peculiarity of the others. Fae cuddled into it, letting the thorns and leaves blanket faer.

Well, Rose didn't know how to be any other way.

-----

Hope you like Rose <3 Fae was an interesting character to write.

if you don't mind the little self-promo: reblog this with one kind statement to "water" rose, let's spread some wonder to this convoluted place <3

And spread the word to anyone else who would like to add their houseplant to the garden, perhaps we can fill tumblr with houseplants.

[next episode - "Maidoe"]

#Rose the pollywiggin #the land of the fallen fairies #the tumblr houseplant series rose #the tumblr houseplant series #writer #writeblr

[anulithots]

The Rose. Episode 4 - "Wild"

Monkia has infected my computer and now my mouse won't work, sooooo.... there's that.

I handwrite these and have my paper tablet translate it to text, and it thinks the fairies fae/faer pronouns are wrong and I hate it. For clarification, fae is pronounced like "fay" and faer is pronounced like "fair".

There should be one more episode for Rose, I couldn't fit the *reveals* I wanted to in this episode, but the last one should be out soon <3

And if this series has taught me anything, it's that aha moments are HARD,.

A tumblr houseplant story from @briarborealisart

The info post is here

Episode one - "Thorns"

Episode two - "Maidoe"

Episode three- "Petals"

Note - this is still a first draft, any feedback would be much appreciated. Especially for this one, this is a super interesting concept to explore, but my brain found it so difficult, and comments on if I got to the core of this would be appreciated. <3

-----

Puddles had been the one to tell Rose to hug others. Fae said everyone liked surprise hugs, the 'quintessential show of affection.

Maidoe didn't like hugs.

That, or Rose never realized how sharp fur thorns actually were.

Rose could've blamed Puddles. Maybe fae did. Fae didn't know. Rose just enjoyed Puddle's company more than faer anger. 

Rose flicked faer tail & trotted to faer plant, carefully checking to make sure their needs were met. It seemed okay. Large trailing vines, full of wild glory, with the bloom - a showcase of wild ingenuity.

So why didn't the others work that way?

Money tree glared in faer direction whenever Rose passed by - as if Rose's advice was a personal offence- before sitting with Venus.

Puddles was more absent than usual, not at all willing to have their usual debates. and fae completely shut down Rose's help.

And Maidoe?

Maidoe left. Never to be seen again. Because Rose had tried to forget faer thorns.

Rose climbed the trailing vines, inspecting each leaf for infestation (never could be too careful after the recent scare).

Rose was wild. Rose had thorns. Rose was Rose. Fae didn't know how to be any other way. Fae didn't WANT to be any other way.

So why couldn't these houseplants look at Rose's own success with faer plant & see...

....how well fae took care of it.

What did Rose do so differently with faer blooms? Fae settled upon faer high-knot -sanctuary, kneading the vines as fae thought.

Well, Rose watched & listened. Fae waited for any signs of distress. then gently eased it to how it would grow best.

And with the others?

Rose tried to give them thorn-y hugs they didn't want. But that didn't mean four thorns were bad... it just meant that Rose needed to... "cultivate" faer friendships.

Fae needed to listen and watch and only give advice when they needed it... or when they showed signs of distress..?

Rose climbed from faer perch to the base of faer plant.

Perhaps fae could ask questions. That would be helpful.

Like to Puddles. Rose found faer sitting beside Maidoe's tree, stroking the leaves.

Rose sat next to faer. "What can I help with?"

"Just... sit here, with me? For a little while."

Rose flicked faer tail "Of course"

There were ways to not poke the others.

Without covering faer thorns.

------

[Next episode - "Gone"]

if you don't mind the little self-promo: reblog this with one kind statement to "water" rose, let's spread some wonder to this convoluted place <3

And spread the word to anyone else who would like to add their houseplant to the garden, perhaps we can fill tumblr with houseplants.

#i hope this works! #I may need to rework this episode later #overall I like how this is turning out #Rose is just hard to write #we love faer that way #All these characters who don't overthink and are actually aware of their surroundings #they be hard #the tumblr houseplant series rose #the tumblr houseplant series #writeblr #the land of the fallen fairies #creative writing #short story #dryads #tumblr's houseplants

[anulithots]

The Rose. Episode 3 - "Petals"

I like Rose now. Fae gave me a reason to talk about the only one I couldn't save.

A tumblr houseplant story from @briarborealisart

The info post is here

Episode one - "Thorns"

Episode two - "Maidoe"

Note - this is still a first draft, any feedback would be much appreciated. Especially for this one, this is a super interesting concept to explore, but my brain found it so difficult, and comments on if I got to the core of this would be appreciated. <3

---------

Rose waved faer tail. Fae did that. By faerself. Grown to the tallest heights in a place as tame as this. The same could not be said for the other houseplants.

Rose brushed the dirt off faer tail. "I think it's neat."

Puddles hummed. "It is neat" 

Rose flicked faer ears." It took quite a lot of effort."

 "I know" 

 "And it turned out quite nice"

"It did"

"I think its better than having lots of little flowers like Shamrock" 

"Shamrock would disagree with you there"

Rose shook fair head. "I'm pretty sure the splendor of my flower would impress quite a few more pollinators in the wild. In this stale place? Are faer flowers better? Debatable. But the objective fact of the wild is that my flower is superior."

"Okay Rose"

 Rose startled.

" What? No debates? Have you finally admitted defeat?" 

Puddles rubbed the base of faer ears. "It's nothing major. I'm just... really tired."

Rose fluffed up fair ears. "Well there is a simple procedure-"

"Thank you Rose, but I don't - "

Rose tapped Puddles on the snout. "Shush shush. In the wild. signs of weakness grow into an insurmountable predicament. Take it from the bona-fide growth expert..." Rose gave puddles a once over, "You spend too much time daydreaming. But not to worry, the unveiled ignorance will reveal the best possible path -"

"Rose. I didn't ask"

"That's part of the problem. You don't see things until it's too late."

"Rose. Not now."

"Ah, but when? The answer is always now, for you could miss the solutions-"

Puddles stood. Rose blinked. Why did- didn't Puddles need assistance? Rose had plenty to offer, all faer points were valid. There should not be a problem. This was all fae had to offer.

Puddles rubbed fair muzzle. "I - I need some alone time. Okay?"

"I wouldn't reccomend it"

"Thankfully, I'm too tired to care"

Rose bristled. "Fine. But don't come later seeking the advice I am so graciously offering you-"

Puddles turned and left.

Rose stuttered.

Puddles could come at any time for advice.

Rose would never refuse giving advice.

Same with Puddles.

Rose flicked faer ears. No. Something was wrong.

---

[next episode - "wild"]

Having Rose be from the wild and thinking fae is superior, along with wanting to "be faerself with no filter" is just... so interesting to me.

These first three episodes are the ones I wrote at a two am writing session, and I stopped here.

There shall be more episodes on the way tho <3

Annnndddd.. quick question, I think it would be fun to do a "special plant themed tumblr-wholsomeness challenge" once the garden reaches five plants, something like a "send a nice message", maybe a "everyone do some self-care and buy a plant?" IDK, I like the idea of collective things.

if you don't mind the little self-promo: reblog this with one kind statement to "water" rose, let's spread some wonder to this convoluted place <3

And spread the word to anyone else who would like to add their houseplant to the garden, perhaps we can fill tumblr with houseplants.

#writeblr #the land of the fallen fairies #the tumblr houseplant series rose #the tumblr houseplant series #tumblr's houseplants #congrats tumblr #you got a garden now #full of plants with some sort of personal issues #very on brand

[anulithots]

The Rose. Episode 2 - "Maidoe"

I'm VERY UNSURE about this one. But... what if Rose had backstory? And I could insert and undeveloped OC? Maybe????

A tumblr houseplant story from @briarborealisart

The info post is here

Episode one - "Thorns"

Note - this is still a first draft, any feedback would be much appreciated. Especially for this one, this is a super interesting concept to explore, but my brain found it so difficult, and comments on if I got to the core of this would be appreciated. <3

------

Rose saw everyone else hugging, talking, laughing.

Maidoe in particular wanted to make more friends.

"It would be fun, difficult, but fun."

"Hmmph. Can't I just overpower them in battle?"

"Noo... although... maybe someone else may like that? We should just be ourselves. Anything less and the others start picking up on our 'closed off behavior'"

"Speaking from experience?"

Maidoe shuddered. "Never again"

Rose should've listened.

Bled.

Blood.

White sticky droplets.

And Maidoe never quite got the stains out of fair skin. 

Fae was gone now. But everyone remembered faer quite fondly.

Rose could be like that too.

Just... no hugs. No one appreciates Rose's hugs.

They had to see faer thorns.

----

A short one >:3

(another screenshot, sorry,)

if you don't mind the little self-promo: reblog this with one kind statement to "water" rose, let's spread some wonder to this convoluted place <3

And spread the word to anyone else who would like to add their houseplant to the garden, perhaps we can fill tumblr with houseplants.

[next episode]

#writeblr #the land of the fallen fairies #Rose the pollywiggin #the tumblr houseplant series rose #the tumblr houseplant series #writers of tumblr #short story

[anulithots]

The tumblr houseplant series versus the land of the fallen fairies

Since I crave writers that I like talking about the "writer things" as they make their stories, I'll just do that because why not.

I just think it's funny how Rose is a wild fairy brought into the "houseplant world" and fae is too harsh and blunt for everyone, whereas Anuli is a houseplant brought into the wild world and finds faer overthinking and fallen fairy behaviors to make faer the antagonist. They became unplanned foils in a way. And I absolutely love that. I'm not sure if it has some "accidental deeper metaphorical meaning about existence" but I'll probably find one at like... 2 am.

#writeblr #the land of the fallen fairies #anuli the dryad #creative writing #take care of yourself #dryads #fiction #oc story #the tumblr houseplant series #the tumblr houseplant series rose

[anulithots]

I finished episode five for Rose! It should be uploaded today. Get ready for *backstory*

#the tumblr houseplant seires #the tumblr houseplant series roses