Peachy Keen

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Since the symbolism of flowers can widely vary around the world, I decided to base myself on the definitions of the Victorian Era (according to this site).

There are some visual tellings/cues on the designs, but some choices I think need to be explained more in depth.

For my RT I choose the Honeysuckle (Purple-leaf Japanese Honeysuckle variety) that symbolises “Bonds of Love”.

The way I see the "relationship" of my Rt and Marazhai is that it is a codependent, toxic attachment with a drive to seek physical gratification. Both are manipulating each other and know that the other is doing the same but both are also having a good time and also enjoy the presence of each other.

There is no “love” (or maybe, there is no love the way most people would define it, maybe it is love for drukhari), so “bonds of love” carries a more abusive and violent connotation. Since Japanese honeysuckles are highly aggressive and invasive vines that climb, strangle and suffocate other trees, these bonds can be interpreted as a literal forced and vicious attachment by my Rt with Marazhai. This is also the reason why she is carrying his flower.

Also Japanese honeysuckle flowers are sweet and edible, while its berries are considered poisonous. A nice mixed contrast that alludes to My Rt’s personality.

For Marazhai I choose the Wild Rose (dog-rose variety) that symbolizes “pleasure and pain”.

Very fitting for him. I focused more on the rose thorns (roses have prickles, but for the design I mixed a little bit of both because apparently I didn't pay attention to my biology classes and only discovered this while doing the research). Since he attaches his armor directly into his flesh and nerve system, I wanted to make the thorns coming out of his body to create a connection between his lore and the design.