YURI SHIPPING OLYMPICS 2024 - BONUS ROUND 3

[a1c0bb]

For this bonus round, we're looking for prompts inspired by plant/flower symbolism and the language(s) of flowers!

Here are some resources on flower meanings:
Script Florist
Farmer's Almanac
Wikipedia: Hanakotoba
Wikipedia: Plant Symbolism

This round will end on July 1st.

Fills can be in any format, and you can fill your teammates prompts, but you cannot fill your own prompt.

You can post as many fills and as many prompts as you want!

for your prompt post title, please use the following format:

PROMPT: TEAM [TEAM NAME]

for your fill post title, please use the following format:

FILL: TEAM [TEAM NAME]

POINTS - BONUS ROUNDS
For prompts: 10 points each (maximum of 150 prompt points per team per round)
For fills:
First 4 fills by any member of your team: 100 points each
Fills 5-10: 50 points each
Fills 11-20: 40 points each
Fills 21-50: 30 points each
Fills 51+: 25 points each

Comments

FILL: TEAM TRANSFORMERS

[mariequitecontrary]

Pairing: Airazor/Elena Wallace (Transformers)
Words: 1,120

‘Till all are one.

Elena had repeated that simple phrase with the rest of the Maximals at the end of Optimus Primal’s eulogy to Airazor.

Two months had passed since she helped the Autobots, Maximals and Noah stop Scourge from summoning Unicron. For someone who had never been outside of Bronx, it was surprisingly easy for her to decide to stay in Peru. It was Optimus Primal’s suggestion, that she take credit for the archeological discovery of the temple beneath Cusco.

It also gave her the opportunity to be present for the design and creation of Airazor’s mausoleum. Unlike Bumblebee, the Maximals hadn’t immediately placed Airazor’s body on an altar of Energon rich rock. They all refused to think of the what ifs, and continued as Airazor would have wished, honor her memory and move forward together.

Today, that is what they did. Optimus Primal had held Airazor’s frame close to his chest as he carefully carried her up the mountain that caressed their valley, leading the Maximals, Elena and their small tribe of allies up to a secluded cliffside edge. The mausoleum they’d built was simple yet beautiful, made entirely of the rock veined with Energon, deeply engrained to the mountain with an unobstructed view of both the sky and the valley below.

Elena paused at the entrance to Airazor’s resting place and brushed her hand across the two ceramic seals, one resembling a falcon, the other the maximal symbol, and walked inside.

“Hey, Airazor.” Elena murmured as she laid her eyes on the maximal’s resting form on the altar. “It’s ah- it’s my turn to wish you well on your way to the AllSpark. The other Maximals told me to go first…I think they’re planning on a long vigil and an additional ritual. Some tradition from your home world? Eukaris?”

Elena stopped by Airazor’s side and slowly trailed her gaze along her large frame. They had meticulously cleaned her until not a single rusted speck of Unicron’s dark energy could be seen. Each feather and talon glinted dangerously in the golden hour light. Adornments framed the altar, traditional Andean offerings for Airazor to take into the afterlife.

“You would have loved the set up we’ve prepared for you.” Elena continued, her chest felt tight, “Optimus Primal had chosen each slab of rock by hand. He- he carved it right out of the side of the mountain and built this entire thing, with Cheetos and Rhinox’s help of course…oh! And Wheeljack’s,” she barked out a laugh, “You would have had a field day, seeing your friends having to beat back all of Wheeljack’s grand ideas for your…space.”

Elena lowered her head and fiddled with the edge of her shirt, silence stretching across the mausoleum before she found the words to speak again. “I helped too. I was the one who thought to give you a view of the sky.” She pointed up at the skylight on the ceiling, allowing in the natural light that held Elena and Airazor together in a single spotlight. “I couldn’t imagine you wanted to be encased in stone.”

“I also helped Amaru and his family gather all the flowers.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, “Quantuta, the sacred flower of the Incas, hang across the walls outside. They say that if the you become thirsty on your way to the other world, you can drink from the flower’s nectar. A pretty thought…though I doubt that’s your cup of tea.”

Elena fell silent, raising her head to take in Airazor’s face. So elegant yet fierce. Marigold eyes that long since sheathed their light. She looked peaceful here, as if she’d one day wake up to see the resting place her friends had so lovingly crafted for her.

Elena’s voice cracked, “I also…” she took a deep breath, “I also picked a lot of alstroemerias. Did- did you know that there are so many different meanings to the Lily of the Incas? Traditionally, it’s a symbol of wealth and prosperity, but the individual colors of the alstroemeria have their own meanings as well.”

“We picked mostly yellow alstroemerias. They are associated with camaraderie and companionship. Fitting, right? You and the rest of the Maximals were like family to each other, no matter how long it’d been since you’d last seen one another. Amaru told me that by giving you these, we show our gratitude for all you’ve done for us and that you are a person within our inner circle of sacred trust.”

Elena’s eyes shifted back and forth, the world suddenly blurred as she struggled to find somewhere to look, “Um…white symbolizes purity and innocence. You and I both know you turned plenty of robot heads in your time.” She choked out a laugh, “but it also means new beginnings. Fitting, since both the Incas and the Maximals believe in the afterlife. Orange means strength, positivity, and warmth. Something you showed me in abundance in the time we spent together…”

It was such a short time too. Elena had barely known Airazor. Why did she feel this way? Everything happened so fast. Elena had been thrown into the adventure in the midst of a battle. All at once introduced to aliens, robots, war, and a giant planet god that wanted to destroy her world, without any prior warning. Yet in between the screaming for her life and hunting down portal keys, Elena had been drawn to Airazor. She had been drawn to the way she held herself. The way she preened when Elena teasingly praised her majestic visage. She had admired her wisdom, the way Airazor so effortless understood life and the importance of truly living. She’d been as vibrant as an orange alstroemeria.

“And. Um…um…” A tear streaked down Elena’s cheek. “We also picked pink flowers. They represent femininity. Another trait of yours…that feminine strength could have shook New York City down to her bones, you know. They also convey joy, affection, love…”

Oh.

Elena curled in on herself, head hung over Airazor’s still frame. Her chest constricted as a laughing sob wracked across her body. A little too late to realize she’d had a massive crush on Airazor. Had Airazor been human, would Elena had clocked her feelings immediately? Would she had thought to squeeze in just a couple more seconds with her before she’d lose her chance? If only they’d had more time.

In her short human lifespan, Elena never so desperately wished for time to spend on the one she’d lost before she knew what she had to lose.

“I- I…” Elena tried and failed to speak, tears streaming down her face. “Thank you. For what you freely gave to me and my world. Adiós, Airazor. Nos vemos…’till all are one.”