🪶 What in carnation? 💐
Based on this post
Lee: Malleus
Ler: Feather lilies
(Summary: Malleus comes into the possession of a strange plant he hasn't seen before. After taking care of it for a day it blooms into something quite strange.)
(Feather lilies created by @lilaccfeathers)
Malleus normally didn't walk through the greenhouse of the school unless necessary, however because of how slow the day was he decided to take a small stroll before heading back to Diasomnia. Lilia was currently with Cater and Kalim and the Pop Music Club, while Sebek and Silver were training with the Equestrian club, meaning he was alone. As he passed through a few students scurried out of his way upon seeing him, not that Malleus minded, but it would've been nice to have someone to talk to. Perhaps he could visit Ramshackle and see the child of man, surely they'd be willing to talk, hopefully about Gargoyles as Malleus had seen an interesting one and wanted to tell someone about it.
"I told you to put that thing back!"
Malleus' peaceful thoughts were redirected by a commotion coming from across the greenhouse. He decided to go and see what was going on. As he crossed the main area he saw two familiar figures arguing in the grassy area. Leona was currently arguing with Ruggie about something.
"I'm not going to put it back! Crewel will have my hide if he finds out I took it from potionology classroom. Besides there were so many he probably won't even notice it's missing" Ruggie protested, and that's when Malleus noticed the hyena beastman holding a very interesting looking plant.
Upon further inspection the plant seemed to be some kind of flower. The dragon fae had an extensive knowledge on plants, though this one eluded him. At first it looked like your average plant with a green stem but atop it was a very fluffy pink and purple flower that seemed to made out of feathers instead of petals. It was fascinating.
"I don't care about that. What if that thing grows?" Leona argues back unaware of the approaching fae.
"Pardon me." Malleus stated, making his presence known and startling the two Savanaclaw students.
Leona and Ruggie turn to see Malleus standing there. Elegant yet an aura of power around him. Ruggie instinctively stepped behind his Housewarden and Leona's bored look reappeared on his face as he leant against the tree trunk behind him.
"What do you want, lizard?" The lion beastman asked.
"I apologize for intruding on your conversation, however I couldn't help but notice that plant you're holding. I've never quite seen anything like it before, especially not in Briar Valley." The Diasomnia Housewarden explained, stepping closer to the duo. "What is it?"
"Yeah it's some new species recently discovered, not much is known about it save for the fact that it behaves like any normal flower." Leona explained, taking note of Malleus' interest. "Students here have been taking care of 'em to find out what they do basically. It was covered in the last Housewarden meeting."
"I wasn't informed there had been a meeting recently." Malleus stated, getting a tad agitated learning that people forgot to invite him to another meeting, again. "It seems you forgot to invite me again."
"Yeah, sure, that." The Savanaclaw Housewarden brushed it off.
Ignoring that part, Malleus stared back down at the plant. He could swear he could see the feathery petals moving on their own but it could also be the artificial breeze in the greenhouse. Either way the more he stared at the plant the more interesting it became. From it's medium size to it's pastel petals.
"Could I see it?" He asked and immediately Ruggie handed it over.
Seeing an opportunity as Malleus inspected the plant, Leona took it.
"You can have if you want." He said, much to both the surprise of the other two boys.
"Really?"
"Yeah, this is your chance to catch up to everything. Besides, it's a low maintenance plant, should do fine in the gloomy air of Diasomnia." Leona explained, shrugging as Malleus stared at the potted plant in awe.
"But Leona-" Ruggie began to protest.
"Shush." Leona elbowed the second year. "What do you say lizard? You gonna take it off our hands?"
"I suppose if it is low maintenance... and it is quite fascinating." Malleus started muttering to himself. "Very well, I accept this gift from you, Kingscholar."
"It's not a... ugh, nevermind." Leona grumbled as he turned to leave. "C'mon Ruggie, we have Spelldrive practice in an hour."
The two Savanaclaw students left and as they walked out of the greenhouse, younger of the two expressed his concern.
"Does Malleus even know about it's second and third stage?" Ruggie asked.
"Nah, probably not. Doesn't matter anyways, it's not like the thing will hurt him."
"Shishishi... I didn't know you had a mischievous side to you Leona."
"I don't, I just didn't want that thing causing trouble in Savanclaw. Besides, Diasomnia seems like the kind of people who need to... lighten up a bit."
Back in Diasomnia, Malleus had places the small potted plant near the windowsill. He had gone to the library earlier to get books on plant care and even though there wasn't much light that filtered through, the plant seemed to be thriving. The Houswarden was watering it when he noticed footsteps stopping in his doorway.
"Ah, Lilia, I see you have returned from your club activities." Malleus said, turning to see his father figure/vice Housewarden.
"Yes I have, though I can see your have your hands full. Where did you acquire such a unique plant?" Lilia asked, stepping in and inspecting the small plant.
To Malleus' surprise the plant curled its petals around Lilia's fingers and the uncurled.
"Fascinating." Malleus spoke.
"Yes, quite. Feather lilies are known to be quite clingy plants." Lilia explained as the plant uncurled from his fingers.
"I wasn't aware you knew so much about this specific flora, Lilia."
"Oh I don't, I only know the basics that the other Housewardens know." The vice Housewarden continued to explain. "It's so small now, I wonder what'll actually look like when it gets to its second stage."
"It's what?" Malleus asked.
"Ah, never mind. Take good care of it, the dorm could use a splash of color anyways." Lilia said with a smile on his face as he turned to leave. "Remember to water it daily."
Malleus didn't trust the way Lilia smiled at him when he said that but turned his attention back to the flower which seemed to be moving on its own again. He decided to water it a little more before going to bed and watering it again in the morning where it'd hopefully get a small amount of sunlight that day.
The next morning Malleus awoke to a strange sensation on his chest. It felt as if a small animal was resting there and when he opened his eyes he was met with a large cluster of feathery petals near his face. He sat up slowly and after turning his neck he saw that the creature had a rotund green body with tiny nubs for feet and a long green stem for a neck where the purple and pink head of feathers rested. The small creature didn't seem malicious and in fact curious as it turned and wagged it's tail which had a small clump of the same feathers attached.
"Curious." He muttered, and then he turned his head to check on the Feather Lily he had taken in only to see an empty pot.
Two and two clicked together and he came to the conclusion that this creature must've been the plant in the pot earlier. Gently he reached out to pat the creature and like a cat it settled under his hand, not backing away or showing any signs of fear. It was refreshing in a way.
"Quite the fearless creature, are you?" Malleus said as patted the creature.
Instead of replying the creature bounded upwards on Malleus' chest and started nuzzling its head into the prince's neck. The feathery sensation tickled at his skin and Malleus bit back the urge to giggle or make any noise. He refrained from pushing at the creature in fear of hurting it.
"Snrk- staha... dohohon't." Malleus protested, trying to turn his head to the side and block out his neck, but this only seemed to spur the creature on more.
The Feather Lily started nuzzling with more vigor and it's tiny nubs stuck to his clothes. It then used it's tail to dust at an open spot of skin from his robe being slightly undone. Seemingly feeding off the soft laughter coming from him.
"Cehehease thihihis nohohow." Malleus tried commanding the plant to no avail.
It was then, suddenly, his door opened and two similar creatures bounded in. Both were attracted to the sound of soft laughter. Before the prince could do anything against them, the two plants also bounded onto his bed and began clinging to him and nuzzling into his body themselves. One of then was at his torso burrowing it's feathery head into his stomach and using its tail to tease at his sides. While the other made its way above his head and dusted against his horns which caused small jolts of sensitivity to shoot through his body.
"Ghk... Desihihist... plehehehehease..." The prince fell into louder giggles, still holding himself back from pushing or harming the plants by curling his hands into fists and keeping them at his sides. "Nahahat thehehere."
The main Feather Lily saw an opportunity as Malleus' robes began coming more undone through his squirming and burrowed its head into his bare stomach, causing the prince to let out an undignified squeal. He tried gently shoving the creature off but its nubs seemed to stick onto his clothes making it harder for him to remove it.
"Okahahahay! Enohohohough! Enough plehehehease! Stahahahahap!" The tingling sensations continued to grow as the Feather Lilies began tickling him with more fervor, feeding off and enjoying his laughter. "Hehehehehelp!"
"Ah, so that's where they went." A familiar voice came from the doorway, causing Malleus to look up despite trying to hide his neck earlier.
Lilia stood there in uniform with an amused look on his face as he watched the prince of Briar Valley struggling to compose himself under the wrath of small tickly creatures. It had been so long since he had seen Malleus laugh so freely and part of him didn't want it to stop. However, he knew the sensation was a tad foreign to Malleus so it'd be best to stop this before he reached his limit.
"Lihihihihia! Hehehelp!" Malleus called out, still trying to get the plant off him. "It tihihihickles! Gehehet them ohohohohoff!"
Slowly he made his way over to the giggling heap and picked off the creatures himself, for some reason they didn't attack him instead and just scurried around the room.
"Sebek and Silver were gifted similar plants by their classmates who insisted that they'd make great decorations around our dorm." Lilia explained as he watched Malleus regain his composure and his giggles die down. "Fufufufu... it seems they also fell for the same prank. Though your seemed to have sprouted first. There's must've grown overnight as well and were attracted to the sound of laughter. Such mischievous little plants."
Malleus must've had a confused look on his face because Lilia just chuckled again and continued explaining.
"The Feather Lilies are a type of plant that feeds of laughter as well as conventional plant needs. It has three stages it can grown into. The first stage was the one you were given and it starts small and harmless. However, this is their second form, giving them a small body which allows the plants to tickle others to make feeding off laughter easier."
"I... see, and you didn't think to relay this information to me earlier?" Malleus huffed, crossing his arms.
"Ah, where's the fun in that. The plant is harmless. Besides, many speculate it can get as big as an elephant in its third stage!" Lilia exclaimed, taking pride in the surprised look on Malleus' face. "Though with how new the plant is very few documents of it have been recorded. I doubt they would've gotten any bigger feeding off you... though if they got loose in the dorm..."
"I shall give them to professor Crewel, he will know what to do with these plants." Malleus firmly said, sitting upwards.
"Shame. It would've been nice to see them running around Diasomnia."
Malleus clearly disagreed but couldn't help but look down fondly at the plants. After all they weren't afraid of him and despite the original annoyance he didn't mind the sensations... it made him feel warm, happy even. Lilia must've noticed this because he sat down next to Malleus and started petting the Feather Lilies.
"Of course, we can turn them in a moment." He said, watching as Malleus tentatively started petting the Feather Lilies as well.
"Yes, perhaps later. These are... interesting creatures." Malleus agreed. "I do not mind them, I'd like to study them more, perhaps in a more suitable environment."
The future king of Diasomnia continued petting the plants softly. Quite the interesting plant indeed, perhaps he should take one to Kingscholar, return the favor. Though right now he enjoyed the quiet moment with the creatures and hoped he'd get to interact with them again in the future.