One Thousand Blooms — (ON HIATUS)

[Lycoris]

@awkward_viking

Or at least be able to stop if such a thing happens.

There will be several instances where the MC will witness what is it truly like out there for Thorns, and how different is it of what they are used to. I believe that it’s vital for the MC to have a different initial/starting point of view of what the rest of characters are used to (hence I created Datura as he is ) for the player to truly have options (or else they wouldn’t be able to play a MC with thirst for freedom; they would be like sheep, doing whatever The Sociey wants!).

They will have the option to intervene (or not) in such cases: of course, that will have an effect on their reputation, on how both The Society and the Thorns (and other possible factions ) see your MC.

Again, thanks for your feedback, really

@Beaterxys

I think you know. Most of our MCs would do anything to save Datura.

Once we reach that point, we will see how many people will do it for real Although it’s not like I verified if Datura is going to live enough for him to see the MC becoming a monster for his sake, either

@Zanite thanks! I knew how to rectify the typos, but I had a bit of a hard time figuring that one out (I’m not a native speaker, so sometimes I don’t know how to correct my mistakes, even if I look around).

@Bre haha, yep, going from having no demo to 30k+ words; not bad at all! Nah, jokes aside, I’ve gotten better at using ChoiceScript; when I made the other demo, I was quite new to the whole coding thing, so what I made was buggy as hell.

@bbcurl it depends on several factors, such as who is the other parent and how many the MC wants in-game.

@Phoenix_Wolf

What is the MCs skin color, mixed?

Yes; the MC is of mixed descend. Most of the Nightshade family is dark skinned, while the Crowfoot are varied and mixed (though they look predominantly like what we would interpret as white/caucasian).

I’m still not sure if I should leave the skin color vague (so the player can imagine their character however they want and they don’t bug me with “RAH RAH RAH, I DON’T LIKE HAVING MY SKIN COLOR DETERMINED, I WANT TO CHOOSE IT”) or give an option, since genetics aren’t an exact formula (plenty of cases where a mixed baby only looks like one parent and such), and the MC’s family is kind of a melting pot.

@awkward_viking

In terms of the Adonis scene, it was perfect. It’s just that you asked how I came to the conclusion that the move to the borders was forced and that’s what made it stand out to me.

@RagEgnite

I understood clearly that Clematis was being sarcastic. I wouldn’t want to change that bit unless there are many people misinterpreting that bit over and over again. That’d be silly.

Okay, I’ll leave it as it is; I just wanted to make sure

@RagEgnite Mmm… I’m not really sure, because I don’t know how much work it may take me. It’s unlikely that I allow having children outside the wedlock; it would complicate some things a tad too much. Having a child with someone else other than the spouse, maybe, but it also depends on the workload and how well it fits the rest of the plot.

And yes, it’s a possibility for the children to inherit a sickness or affliction from their parents. Every family has a thing or two running in their blood (plot reasons); not only the MC’s children may have something from the Nightshade and Crowfoot, but their partner’s family, too. I don’t think I’ll determine it (or maybe I set some in stone with certain ROs ), but use a *rand feature (like in real life).

The MC’s height depends on several factors, but it relies mainly on a variable called “health_points”. The more points you get, the taller the MC can be Though if you want a clear answer, I think of dmabs between 5’5’’ (165cm) and 5’7’’ (170cm) and dfabs between 5’1’’ (155cm) and 5’3’’ (160cm) as the “average” (whose health_points are neither too low, nor high).

Thank you for your kind words!

---

By the way, I’m looking for a different name for the game, but I don’t know what Do you guys have any suggestion or idea?

[Quaintrelle]

@Lycoris

By the way, I’m looking for a different name for the game, but I don’t know what Do you guys have any suggestion or idea?

One Thousand Blooms is beautiful on the tongue and with what visuals may be imagined, alas:

A Bitter Fate/The Bitter Taste of Fate
The Bitterest Kind
The Bittersweet Descent
Bitter Flowers
A Flowering Fate
The Bane of Us
A Baneful Existence
In The Garden of Night
Intoxicate We
The Deadliest Bloom(s)
In Darkness That Blooms
To Poison A Dynasty
The Nature of Civility
The Seeds of Society

[Vergil16]

wow this WIP is awesome! I can’t wait to meet my brother and teach him how torment Mummy

[squarelyblue]

So far maybe Bloodlines due to the emphasis the game has on it?

Tbh, your game has this odd steampunky feel despite it not really mentioning of the sort so :)) (only clue is that they wear clothes that can possibly be from the first IR)

If I’m right then you can play off that?

@Lycoris

They will have the option to intervene (or not) in such cases: of course, that will have an effect on their reputation, on how both The Society and the Thorns (and other possible factions ) see your MC.

In case father dearest does kick the bucket, how precarious is the MC’s situation? How many of them actually see MC as a viable pawn/player in their own right from the get go? Is it enough for us to be wary :))

Oh! Do we also get to be “introduced” to society? Or Datura isn’t into that either

[Beaterxys]

@Lycoris He will live on.

[idonotlikeusernames]

Hmmm…how easy or difficult is it gonna be to keep those health points up? Of course those possible “average” mc heights tell us little without knowing the overall average of the Society.
There have been periods within European history where those heights would have been well into the average/above average range overall and then there’s the present situation in my country where the men are currently the tallest in the world at an average of 183 cm, though at the time of our fabled “golden age” by the best estimates of some historians the average Dutch man would have been only 167cm tall. Although back then that apparently used to be quite tall too.

Of course there is also the fact that you’ve hinted the mc comes from fairly tall lineage on both sides, but that would possibly make his lack of stature only a drawback within the family, provided it isn’t far below the overall average.
Still having to literally look up to almost every other member of our “family” would be a constant annoyance to my mc.

@squarelyblue

In case father dearest does kick the bucket, how precarious is the MC’s situation? How many of them actually see MC as a viable pawn/player in their own right from the get go? Is it enough for us to be wary :))

From the old demo from way back that I remember where dear old dad was always dead the mc didn’t really have a position, which is why they were locked into a rotten arranged marriage type of deal to Rhona. So I’d say very precarious, though that may have all changed into the revisions.

[Lycoris]

@Quaintrelle it’s not like I’m really displeased with the title, but I’m not 100% sure it fits, either? Out of everything a story has, naming things (especially places) is probably what I dislike having to do the most.

Thanks for your suggestions! I quite like several of them: I’m still not sure how many I’ll make, but can I use them for chapters?

@Vergil16 thank you!

@squarelyblue

So far maybe Bloodlines due to the emphasis the game has on it?

Mmm… the game itself is not so focused on the lineages, but it’s the in-game’s society who does (do I make sense?). The Society cares about it, but in the grand scheme of things there’s so much more than just blood ties to the story. The very quote I used in the prologue is “The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb”: calling the game Bloodlines would be kind of counterproductive, if I explain myself?

@squarelyblue

Tbh, your game has this odd steampunky feel despite it not really mentioning of the sort so :)) (only clue is that they wear clothes that can possibly be from the first IR)

A steampunky feel, you say? How curious, I’ve never thought of that (or aimed to; I don’t think I would have managed to if I actually tried. For some reason, it’s difficult for me to fit my writing to such genres, I just write and let people find the nuances )

Though, what do you mean with the first IR? Does IR stand for interracial relationship? If that’s the case, the MC’s parents aren’t the only mixed marriage; the Nightshade-Bane, Crowfoot-Mallow (I said that the Crowfoot look white/caucasian, but there’s a long story of mixed parents), the Faerwald, and a long etc.

@squarelyblue

In case father dearest does kick the bucket, how precarious is the MC’s situation? How many of them actually see MC as a viable pawn/player in their own right from the get go? Is it enough for us to be wary :))

Quite

The MC will be left unprotected to the upper classes’ whims, and that’s not a nice position to be in (so they must find a way to gain control of the situation, power or… something). I can’t say much more without spoiling the plot (but it’s clear that offing Datura wouldn’t be a good thing for the MC ).

The position of pawn/player is sometimes hard to determine; players can be tricked intro believing they are the ones in control (and end up being played), and pawns have a lot of potential (if they know how to use, that’s it). So I can’t truly say how some NPCs may perceive the MC when they meet them

@squarelyblue

Oh! Do we also get to be “introduced” to society? Or Datura isn’t into that either

I have a quote in-game that sums up his feelings regarding what he thinks of The Society pretty well:

“Just because I have certain values, that doesn’t mean the rest of The Society shares them. It would be cruel and thoughtless of me to keep you in the dark only because I think differently,” he explains, his eyes fixed on the ground.

Even if Datura doesn’t agree/isn’t into some practices (such as having their children introduced into The Society), he knows he can’t just ignore their customs. That would do much more harm than good for his kids in the long run, and he doesn’t want that.

So while there are some things Datura is bound to do (like arranging his childrens coming-of-age parties so they can be presented to The Society as tradition demands), he will get away with what he can (like not making arranged marriages).

@idonotlikeusernames

Hmmm…how easy or difficult is it gonna be to keep those health points up?

There will be several choices where, depending on the player’s choices, they may get more or less points. I’m not leaving it to a random number generator, but gaining them is going to be quite intuitive (if not logical/consistent).

@idonotlikeusernames

So I’d say very precarious, though that may have all changed into the revisions.

Yeah, there are some game elements that have been redesigned and adapted, but they are in the same vein as the whole game.

[squarelyblue]

@Lycoris

Though, what do you mean with the first IR?

Oops. Industrial Revolution since the whole movement was from the mid/late 1700s to sometime during 1800s strictly speaking (since there were some breaks in between but more often than not the aesthetic vibes for steampunk were for the Victorian era, which was the highlight and at a much later time)

So having said that, peeps think of the Industrial Rev, more often than not it’s the latter/Second Industrial Rev. In so far as headcanons go it’s refreshing to see an “earlier” setting (even if it’s just a headcanon image as of now)

Like my headcanon costuming is more of Regency era fashion rather than Victorian

(Yes. Historical fashion is my jam and this is me nerding out over the possibility of semi-glossed over periods of clothing for fiction purposes)

@Lycoris

So while there are some things Datura is bound to do (like arranging his childrens coming-of-age parties so they can be presented to The Society as tradition demands), he will get away with what he can (like not making arranged marriages).

Okay having said that, do we require an escort? I’m not sure about the in-world tradition but cottilions/debutante balls from where I live usually do :))

AKA: is this the earliest point we will meet potential RO’s and their parents/guardians? I’m equally excited though to see more of the Society and the kind of maneuvering that’s involved

[Lycoris]

@squarelyblue

Oops. Industrial Revolution since the whole movement was from the mid/late 1700s to sometime during 1800s strictly speaking (since there were some breaks in between but more often than not the aesthetic vibes for steampunk were for the Victorian era, which was the highlight and at a much later time)

Oh, I see! I’m terrible with acronyms, so when I looked it up online, I got things like interracial relationship, infrared and injured reserve, so… yeah

Some time ago I wrote about the game’s setting, maybe this might be of your interest?

@Lycoris

Regarding the game: now, I wonder what would happen if I were to make it 18+. I seriously want to make it suitable for younger audiences, but after some planning and whatnot, this is going to be at least 15-16+, because there’s some serious heavy stuff.

The game atmosphere is similar to the late Victorian/Edwardian era, the technology and industry tip toeing around; it exists, yet its development is rather slow. Though if I have to be entirely honest here, I based The Society on The Roman Empire, so… yeh, wait for some complications.

Health and hygiene are fairly advanced, as long as it doesn’t mean surgical intervention; after all, “cutting the body open” is a monstrosity for The Society, and only done in extreme cases, like a cesarean section. Even then, it’s not seen with good eyes, and midwives and doctors that had need of it are seen as failures (“not good enough”).

What does it mean, then? Personal hygiene is something that doctors insist on. Unlike back when people washed their hair only once a week/ twice a month, in this world people are aware that showering/bathing is important, and not a way to let evil or a sickness enter your body. But surgical interventions are rather primitive and not really developed, far behind their technology; the most they can do are “simple” extirpations and then cauterize it/stitch it. Oh, and nothing about blood transfusions

The fashion is also late Victorian/Edwardian, more likely a mix and match of them (some people prefer the former, others the latter, some do original combinations…), though this one is truly a matter of personal taste, as long as it’s not naff or gaudy. But when it comes to very formal/important parties, it’s more common to see the Victorian style.

There isn’t much historical accuracy because the game is not set in our world, so I made a mix and match of things. If anyone who studies history reads this, I’ll probably make them cry

When I started, the setting was similar to the Victorian/Edwardian era (though now that I think about it, the Regency era looks quite good!). The industry around it is backward/belated while medical procedures (that don’t need surgical intervention) are quite progressive, and the general knowledge about hygiene is quite advanced.

The attitude regarding women is much better, they can inherit their family titles and have their own business, and it’s not expected of them to save themselves until marriage (just childless); same with homosexuality, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the continuation of the bloodline (heirs and such), people have nothing against it, not even the several religions I have in-game.

Mmmm… I’m liking the Regency era (or at least its fashion) more and more. Thank you!

@squarelyblue

Okay having said that, do we require an escort? I’m not sure about the in-world tradition but cottilions/debutante balls from where I live usually do :))

In the game these balls are called Efflorescence, and serve to present upsurges/burgeons (how youngsters are called) to The Society as functioning adults; that’s why a escort is not needed of them (to symbolize their independence as grown-ups). Though if any of them is betrothed, their escort will be their fiancé(e), to show the start of their life together.

@squarelyblue

AKA: is this the earliest point we will meet potential RO’s and their parents/guardians? I’m equally excited though to see more of the Society and the kind of maneuvering that’s involved

Not at all; in chapter 2 the MC will meet their childhood friends, Rhona and Maetthere Faerwald (Rhona is only for male MCs), along other love interests as they grow up. The romance won’t start until everyone is an adult, though.

Here you go some info about 4 ROs

The Faerwald siblings:

• Maynard: the oldest of the four, is eight years older than Maetthere and your MC. Natural tan skin which is dusker thanks to the multiple outdoors activities he does. His hair is dark brown and his eyes are the same color as iron. Takes after their father, Caelan. You won’t see much of him in your MC’s childhood years, but once Shade reaches adulthood, he’s going to be around. He’s strict and doesn’t like change, and Rhona often says that he doesn’t know how to have fun.

• Coriander: named Cora by her siblings and four years older than Maetthere. Unlike all of her siblings she doesn’t have a single drop of Faerwald blood, since she is the daughter of Perebea’s previous relationship. Her biological father remains unknown. She’s fair skinned with a lot of freckles, with hazel brown eyes and honey blonde locks. Having learned everything from her mother, she’s the very definition of a “proper lady”, feminine and coquette; she has plenty of suitors.

• Maetthere: the awkward one, doesn’t share much similarities with his older brother or father since he shares looks with their grandfather. From staying indoors most of his time, his skin looks paler than it really is. His hair is chestnut with blonde highlights and his eyes a pale blue. Childhood friend of the MC, they have the same age; he lacks confidence and is very much a bookworm. Has a strong dislike for fencing, but loves horseback riding. His mare’s name is Peppermint.

• Rhona: the youngest of the Faerwald, three years younger than your MC, thus the most pampered child of the family. Her skin is tan and peppered with freckles, and has strawberry blonde/copper hair, which to everyone’s horror, she cuts short. Her eyes are a dark brown yet bright with life. Unlike all of her siblings, she’s cheerful and jaunty, to the point it’s almost unbecoming; that’s something that displeases her family greatly, whether it’s for tradition or future consequences.

[squarelyblue]

@Lycoris

In the game these balls are called Efflorescence, and serve to present upsurges/burgeons (how youngsters are called) to The Society as functioning adults; that’s why a escort is not needed of them (to symbolize their independence as grown-ups). Though if any of them is betrothed, their escort will be their fiancé(e), to show the start of their life together.

Is there a Season then? What other public outings are there that require the MC’s attendance :)) (I have a very good feeling that I will somehow botch the social events haha)

All and all the world is looking more and more exciting!

[Lycoris]

@squarelyblue

Is there a Season then?

The Efflorescence takes place around the beginning of spring, with the first blooms It’s a really big ball arranged for all the burgeons (not individual parties for each person) because even the Peers of the Realm attend (they hold the highest status on the social ladder), so it’s a yearly party instead of a set of events

@squarelyblue

What other public outings are there that require the MC’s attendance :)) (I have a very good feeling that I will somehow botch the social events haha)

Except the Eflorescence, there isn’t any other party where it’s demanded of the MC to attend; refusing to go to any of them will have affect the MC’s reputation, yes, but it’s not strictly obligatory for the MC to assist to any of them.

Most of the social events are held by the families (a birthday, an engagement, because they just feel like it…), few are actual festivals: Spring and Fall Equinox, Summer and Winter Solstice, Harvest Season, and few others I have to work on. Those can either be celebrated in a big social event, or in family (like in the story).

Thank you for your kind words!

[lokidemon007]

Sounds fascinating! Looking forward to seeing it!

[Beaterxys]

Tfw you dont know if you should trust @Lycoris anymore.

[Quaintrelle]

So I’ve come to the realization that my kid is absolutely, positively baby-unicorns-on-the-good-ship-Lollipop too precious for this world–chasing all the horrified Machiavellianists around the ballroom with open arms because hugs cure evil, gosh darn it! And once left alone with mother and sib, oh, how society will poison this soul.

Now if you are still not sated on stats, meet Hyacintha, namesake of an actual 17th century royal party girl and socialite turned nun, who has the Nightshade eyes and is far too endearingly naive and sickeningly saccharine for her own good.

Her Values

I must say, Charming MC’s reaction to meeting Adonis Crowfoot(in mouth) was the living end. He casts aspersions on a 4 year old and little Shade, (or Mini Blinds), is all indignant until–oooh, shiny pressie!
Just wait ten, fifteen years when the kid becomes a world-weary threat, and then try it, Uncle. Tsk. He probably would.

Also, as a real life ninja doll at gatherings who remains quiet enough to observe and retain the bits of knowledge and information that can potentially be used later, (even with such a trusting MC, I was able to perceive all the little goodies you laced about), and rather than leading us about by the hand, I agree vastly with @awkward_viking and appreciated that we could make our own connections. Like fitting together twinkling, silver slivers of a grander puzzle.

I do find it intriguing that the more affable Clematis is the more aggressive counterpoint to her brother’s passive-aggressive one, but perhaps he’s just better at avoiding the impetus of emotion. Granted his living situation casts a shadow on the family, but he was the wounded party when it came to losing Lawren–though as they had married out of desire and pure choice, then they all lost and Clematis likely doesn’t want to feel like the elephant in the room–not to mention her own hand-me-down marriage. Still, I cannot manage to have much sympathy for Adonis Crowfoot quite as yet. Ah, such toxic fumes must be bad for the children, and in particular I worry for Sid.

Also, if Leander exists than Baladre does not? 'Tis a shame, but it does make Petunia’s intentions far more precarious.

And then there was this:

Rue, who for once looks agitated and not in complete control of the situation. What could have her so worker up? Her skin has a gray hue that makes her look sick

Since Father appears to be faring better healthwise at this point, a wonder that Rue must have unknowingly intercepted the poison meant for him.

In earlier versions of Blooms I saw Father as a saint and martyr, but for me it is all the better now that I find Datura imperfectly human. Never more so than the times he seemingly convinced himself to think the best of one of the worst, (to give the benefit of the doubt to she who should have caused nothing but doubt), even to the detriment of his own children.

@Lycoris

I’m still not sure if I should leave the skin color vague (so the player can imagine their character however they want and they don’t bug me with “RAH RAH RAH, I DON’T LIKE HAVING MY SKIN COLOR DETERMINED, I WANT TO CHOOSE IT”) or give an option, since genetics aren’t an exact formula (plenty of cases where a mixed baby only looks like one parent and such), and the MC’s family is kind of a melting pot.

Oh, whichever you find the least taxing. It’s not very necessary for me to choose a skin color. Why, even my own caramel cashew hue is unique amongst my family.

@idonotlikeusernames

From the old demo from way back that I remember where dear old dad was always dead the mc didn’t really have a position

I was thinking this but didn’t want to cause the petals of hope to wilt off the newer readers just yet. {{bites lip in trepidation}}

@Lycoris

Thanks for your suggestions! I quite like several of them: I’m still not sure how many I’ll make, but can I use them for chapters?

In whatever capacity you choose, they are yours, dear one.

@squarelyblue

(Yes. Historical fashion is my jam and this is me nerding out over the possibility of semi-glossed over periods of clothing for fiction purposes)

Truly am ecstatic over the fashion extravaganza to come when we display ourselves at The Efflorescence, even if it does arrive later than usual, thank you, mommy dearest.

@Lycoris

Maetthere: the awkward

Aww. MC already stripped to bloomers and went fetal due to flashbacks of demos past…

[squarelyblue]

@Quaintrelle

Truly am ecstatic over the fashion extravaganza to come when we display ourselves at The Efflorescence, even if it does arrive later than usual, thank you, mommy dearest.

The better question is if we’ll have the budget to go shopping for a suitable attire given how pressed the finances of the fam is. As it is, my MC would probably cry if Datura manages to scrummage enough money to buy them something suitable (and also feel a lot of guilt)

@Quaintrelle

Now if you are still not sated on stats, meet Hyacintha, namesake of an actual 17th century royal party girl and socialite turned nun, who has the Nightshade eyes and is far too endearingly naive and sickeningly saccharine for her own good.

Interesting. My MC’s name is Hypatia which is close but not close enough :)) I’ll run through again so I can post my stats too for comparative purposes

[Lillith]

I loved this game, Well it wast long, byt i cant wait to either play it all or bye it, I would ask how long you are in your writing but that last page makes me not… I just want to say I loved it, and hated that you left me on a cliffhanger… I don’t want a sister just because I am a bit small… is mc sick or dwarf or is she just small of nature, delicate… I need to know

[Quaintrelle]

@squarelyblue

The better question is if we’ll have the budget to go shopping for a suitable attire given how pressed the finances of the fam is. As it is, my MC would probably cry if Datura manages to scrummage enough money to buy them something suitable (and also feel a lot of guilt)

Ah, in demos past we did end up presenting to society at a later age than what is considered proper due to Aquilegia’s…wastefulness.

Still, when it comes to fashion, or our greenhouse couture, I have a deep-seeded faith that @Lycoris would never let such a lushly opulent opportunity wither on the vine.

@squarelyblue

Interesting. My MC’s name is Hypatia which is close but not close enough :))

Hypatia has a strong name to live up to indeed. I’ve always been into symbolism and the Hyacinth resonated all too perfectly with me: while sweetly fragrant their poison is most concentrated in the bulb, or heart of the flower, and yet the plant also has healing properties and was even used for glue (whereupon at many points in time the child might have been the very thing keeping the family together); in Greek myth the flower is born of tragedy, and if purple it symbolizes sorrow or deep regret, blue for sincerity–both colors found in MC’s and Datura’s eyes–while in Victorian times the hyacinth would be the memento for play or the engagement of sport, (an attitude that might serve well in society once childhood naivete is gone and buried).

[squarelyblue]

@Quaintrelle

Ah, in demos past we did end up presenting to society at a later age than what is considered proper due to Aquilegia’s…wastefulness.

Still, when it comes to fashion, or our greenhouse couture, I have a deep-seeded faith that @Lycoris would never let such a lushly opulent opportunity wither on the vine.

Oh this is news. How old are people when they come out in society @Lycoris O:

And what do you mean by green house couture? We make our own fashion? Or is this like Aschenputtel where we shake a tree and get a dress :))

(Jokes aside, doesn’t this bode poorly for mother dearest? I mean even if she hates the MC she’s still big on appearances. So I imagine it will not do for the MC to present late and shabby)

[Quaintrelle]

@squarelyblue

Oh this is news. How old are people when they come out in society @Lycoris O:

@Lycoris

I have to rewrite everything, but the thing is; the MC doesn’t have a word in it because they are a minor (even if they are 21 they are not recognized as adults because they didn’t have the coming-of-age party).

@Lycoris

Given that if you happen to miss your second chance at 21 you become a sere, someone with even lesser status, the second chance by itself is bad. Because it shows that the family has terrible management skills (given that everyone knows the Efflorescence is at 18, if a family can’t gather the money with such large time range, it shows that they are terrible at handling money), and it’s bad for people who work with strict time/paying schedules or that don’t want a bad work reputation/image. It’s doesn’t inspire trust

At 18 years, and yet the MC was not allowed to present until the age of 21.

@squarelyblue

And what do you mean by green house couture? We make our own fashion? Or is this like Aschenputtel where we shake a tree and get a dress :))

Well, first we would knock over all the unused potpourri inventory, spread it out a bit and then roll around in it, and whatever sticks we call art and whatever molds to the body we call
haute(house) couture.

Ah, nothing meant but a playful reprise on the theme of flora, as well as the consideration on the fragility of a greenhouse’s glass structure–but…now I greatly desire that dressmaking tree…

@squarelyblue

(Jokes aside, doesn’t this bode poorly for mother dearest? I mean even if she hates the MC she’s still big on appearances. So I imagine it will not do for the MC to present late and shabby)

Oh no, late she’ll allow, never shabby.

[Lycoris]

@Beaterxys

Tfw you dont know if you should trust @Lycoris anymore.

I’ll make it easy for you; you should never trust me. NEVER.

@Quaintrelle thank you so much for sharing your MC, her stats will be of great help! I love her name, and its meaning She sounds like a sweetheart, too bad that she’s in for a lot of suffering, I wonder how well she will fare all by herself. Also, depending on which initial stat you pick, you’ll get to see different hints and interpretations, so maybe you should make another MC and decide which one you like better

@Quaintrelle

I do find it intriguing that the more affable Clematis is the more aggressive counterpoint to her brother’s passive-aggressive one, but perhaps he’s just better at avoiding the impetus of emotion.

Clematis is usually a sweet-natured woman who isn’t one for hostility, except when it comes to Adonis. But rather than it being another side of her personality, or something she keeps under wraps to play a nicer charade, that’s because as her brother, Adonis knows how to push her buttons (anyone who has siblings knows what I am talking about ). He doesn’t even need to say anything in particular, just being in the same room as her is enough to keep Clematis on her toes.

It’s good that you don’t feel much compassion for Adonis or even like him; I didn’t give him a winning personality for reasons. He was never meant to be a likable character, because even though awful things happened to him (for which you can empathise with him or not), his personality isn’t the best, nor some of his actions on The Borders. And yeah, he would still make snippy remarks regardless of the MC’s age

@Quaintrelle

Ah, such toxic fumes must be bad for the children, and in particular I worry for Sid.

Adonis isn’t the best father out there; he’s not quite awful but I wouldn’t really give him another child to take care for. Also, given that he used to be with Lawren, and is still quite angry about him marrying Clematis, no one is wondering who is Sid’s mother? Or from where did they pop up?

@Quaintrelle

Also, if Leander exists than Baladre does not? 'Tis a shame, but it does make Petunia’s intentions far more precarious.

Exactly; I have coded it like that for plot reasons, since Petunia has only one child (if she had both, that would complicate a lot of things). If you’re playing a dfab MC, then you get Leander, and if you have a dmab MC, Baladre. What intentions are you talking about? I love it when people share their theories

Regarding Rue she was extremely tired because she had to deal with Aquilegia (and failed to get her to the dinner), not because she was poisoned. It’s a bit soon for that. Datura looks better because he was having a good day and was in a wonderful mood

@Quaintrelle

In earlier versions of Blooms I saw Father as a saint and martyr, but for me it is all the better now that I find Datura imperfectly human.

In the earlier versions of the demo, he died when the MC was 4 (so he is already outliving what I had planned for him) and appeared in very few scenes. I had very little room to establish his character, so I decided to portray him as a figure full of love and compassion, in contrast with Aquilegia’s personality. Now that I have the time to make him a full-fledged character, I could still make him a kind-hearted man, but with his faults and flaws, which reinforce his kind and utopian nature Too bad he’s a really poor judge of character, and just like all humans, makes (serious) mistakes.

@Lillith …you say it wasn’t long? …The demo alone is 30k words (30.000), over one hundred pages of text and code, you consider that short? Anyways, it’ good that you liked it, but the fact that the MC has a sibling isn’t because they are smaller than average. Just like in real life, having siblings isn’t really much of a choice.

@Quaintrelle

Still, when it comes to fashion, or our greenhouse couture, I have a deep-seeded faith that @Lycoris would never let such a lushly opulent opportunity wither on the vine.

I’ll give some elaborate options for the MC’s Efflorescence party; the first demo had different dress/suits styles and materials you could pick, but this time around I’ll arrange more specific choices that will evoke a nice imagery

@squarelyblue

Oh this is news. How old are people when they come out in society @Lycoris O:

Just as @Quaintrelle pointed out, in most cases burgeons become adults at the age of 18, and of for some reason fail to present, they have a second chance at 21

@squarelyblue

(Jokes aside, doesn’t this bode poorly for mother dearest? I mean even if she hates the MC she’s still big on appearances. So I imagine it will not do for the MC to present late and shabby)

No, it doesn’t (really) sit well with Aquilegia, but if there’s no money, not much else can be done It reflects badly on her, and she hates it because she cares a lot for her reputation, but her management skills are poor. There will be a scene where Aquilegia is really angry with the fact the MC can’t have their Efflorescence, and it’s a nice opportunity for the MC to express their feelings regarding The Society’s traditions.