Saiunkoku: Standalone: Pollen for Dreams

[branchandroot]

Fic post from my archive.

Pollen for Dreams

A quiet moment between Ryuuki and Seiran, balancing between truth and pretending. Drama with Unspoken Romance, I-3

"Let me play pretend? Just for a little bit?" Ryuuki begged, and Seiran's resistance fell all in a heap.

Comments

[aishuu.livejournal.com]

I am usually pretty anti-incest, but this pairing works for me in all its agonizing unspoken truths. Enjoyed this, glad to see you in a fandom I know again. <3

[branchandroot]

*hearts* Glad you liked it! I just love the tension between these two, and, while there is a smutbunny cooking, I expect most of anything I write for them will linger on the fraughtness of it all. ^__^

[written-in-blue.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. The two of them are such adorable woobies. (No, I didn't just finish 4, why do you ask?)

Such a shiny, shiny new fandom. *hearts*

[branchandroot]

*sparkles* Total woobies; and really hot ones, too. That ep gave me a definite thing for Ryuuki getting teary over aniue. *is probably a bad person, and doesn't care*

[giving-ground.livejournal.com]

Oooh, yes. Yes. This is good. :) *purrs happily*

[branchandroot]

*hearts* God I love this show. The new-fandom love is glowing brighter with every ep.

[reppu.livejournal.com]

I usually support Ryuuki with Shuurei (ZOMG HET), but when you write something in one of my fandoms, I come running. Sweet and simple, like the brothers should be. It can't be denied that those two love each other; only to what extent is the general question. I think you handled this pairing very well, so good on you for that. XD

[branchandroot]

*hearts* Thank you! Really, just about every pairing and potential pairing in this whole show makes me bounce; I love how subtle most of them are. *grins* Including Ryuuki and Shuurei.

[thierrys.livejournal.com]

yay, a new story!

do the flowers have any particular meaning? that is just the sort of question ryuuki would ask seiran. i thought this was elegantly written.

sorry that i'm not good at long reviews =(

[branchandroot]

Any comment is good! Glad you liked it!

And, yes, Saiun is just chock full of flower language, so I thought it would be fun to play with in the story. I tried to give the meanings in the narrative (daisy for faith, lavender for "held in my heart", sunflower for love and admiration). Did that come through, or should I add a footnote, too, do you think?

[thierrys.livejournal.com]

I think a note for specific meaning wouldn't go amiss, if only for people like me who are bad at picking up on things like that ;) There really is a lot of flower language used in Saiunkoku. I think it's kind of funny that even military officers know it.

[branchandroot]

*nods* I'll add that when I revise, then. Thanks!

*chuckles* Isn't it? I'm actually working on a list of good sources I've found for the Japanese flower language, to post in the main comm for other ficcers to use if they want to. Or even just for people wondering why on earth Kijin brought Shuurei an orchid and said he'd bring a camellia! Of course, most of the best sources are in kanji. *rueful sigh* I suppose it's good practice.

[arctic-dragon.livejournal.com]

...just gorgeous.
You really capture the painful longing of their interactions while keeping it light hearted and joyful.
Very nice.

[branchandroot]

*glowing with pleasure* Thank you; it's great to hear it worked out that well.

[zyxinn.livejournal.com]

omg! what does the lavendar symbolize, i wonder? like specifically... is it just love and affection? brotherly love? loyalty? or perhaps something more?
lovely fic, hopefully there's a follow-up (goes to search)

[zyxinn.livejournal.com]

ahhh, just read other comments~ got the meaning now.

but geh! still hoping for that sequel!

[branchandroot]

Glad to hear you liked it!

This is a standalone, and will not have any sequels, but there's a lot of brotherly cuteness and doting on each other in the alternative-timeline arc. Hope you enjoy those too. ^_^