A Red, Red Rose

What flower represents me… isn’t it obvious? Oh wait, I’m writing. You can’t get a slant at me. Well, I was born with a red rose shine, not to mention the pale markings that stand stark against my dark fur. I am the red rose, no doubt about that. Beautiful to look at, but barbed with vicious thorns.

In the language of flowers, the red rose symbolises romance, passion, desire, devotion, and most important of all… true love. The red rose is the truest and deepest love - the one we shared. I wouldn’t be here now if we didn’t. Red roses are the flower of commitment, and there is none I am more committed to than her. Even if I can’t remember her name all the time... I remember her face. Her laugh, her smile. I’ll find her again one day. That’s how deep my devotion runs.

But something you probably didn’t know about red roses is that they have many meanings. The language of flowers is as complicated as it is ancient. For example - a red rosebud represents innocent love - young, pure, and beautiful. Just like ours was at the start. I gave her a red rosebud after I learned she knew the language of flowers, to see if she would reciprocate. It was risky, I know. But it didn’t flop, yeah? Besides, I can’t get sent to the big house for a flower, and knowing the language was a rarity back then.

If you take off all the thorns, a red rose means love at first sight. I wouldn’t quite say ours was love at first sight, but… as we started working together, the feelings blossomed and grew just like the flowers we loved so much. I never gave her one without the thorns, but she didn’t mind. She said the thorns were just as beautiful as the flower. That’s one of the things I loved about her. Speaking of - a single red rose in full bloom means “I love you”. Those three simple words, condensed into the form of a gorgeous flower. She gave me one first, I remember that now. Of course I returned the sentiment, but she beat me to it.

The number of the flowers given also means different things. I already said that one red rose means “I love you”, but it can also mean “I’ve loved you since the day I saw you” or “I still love you as deeply as ever”. A pair of red roses is used to represent mutual love and affection. Two intertwined are usually the symbol of a marriage proposal - something we always wanted, but never got to have. I wonder, if we’d been born in this day and age… would we be happier? We could’ve been out in the open. We could’ve been together; truly together without worrying about the law or what the world thought of us.

Okay, okay - back on track. Three red roses is the traditional one month anniversary gift. A lot of plugs know that one, so we had to be extra careful. Blinds closed, sneaking around in the dark like low-down dirty hoods. Six red roses usually means that you want to be loved, specifically by the person you’re giving them to. And if you give someone ten, you’re telling them that their love is perfect. Eleven roses show that your love is deep and true. “You are my treasured one”, I think. I was taught that sometime, but I don’t remember when. A dozen roses is the traditional symbol of true love. Again, had to be careful with this one. Man it would’ve paid to have a beard.

Thirteen means you’ve got a secret admirer. I might’ve started out that way, I think… yeah. Yeah, I did. I had to do some digging before I was ready for the rosebud - make sure she wouldn’t rat on me if she knew it was me. Fifteen red roses is an apology. If you screw something up and words just won’t cut it, that’s the way to go. Two dozen is a symbol of complete and utter devotion. “I’m yours.” Plain and simple. Three dozen is “I’m head over heels for you.” If you’re sending someone three dozen red roses, you’re dizzy with a dame. Or a fella, or both or neither. As they say nowadays, love is love.

Now. If you’re that goofy in love with someone and want to do something really big and swanky, fifty red roses. Fifty means “my love has no bounds. I would do anything for you.” That’s the kind of love we have. Had. Sorry. I mean, I sold my soul for her. Never got to give her fifty roses, though.

The shade of red of the rose has its own meaning too. A dark crimson rose, for example, can convey true regret and sorrow. Loss; mourning. It was this one I thought of when she died - when I doomed my soul. Even so, I don’t regret it. She got to live because of me, even if my rose wilted and became brittle as I turned into a monster. I got my vengeance on those goons before I bit the big one, though.

Again, back on track. Bright red roses are for enduring passion. You don’t give a bright red rose to a friend or family member; it’s a romance only kind of deal. Darker shades of red convey feelings that have been kept secret until the rose’s delivery, and a readiness to commit to a relationship. But there’s a difference between dark and burgundy, which means you’re carrying a torch for someone - you think your love is unrequited.

Point is, red roses are always used to convey deep emotion. I feel everything so deeply now; more than I ever did when I was mortal. Perks of being a demon, I guess. That brings me to the thorns. All roses have thorns. The ones sold in gas stations, grocery stores, and at flower stands usually have them cut off already. But when growing roses, the little barbs are all there, just waiting to fill you with daylight like the grifters they are. People are drawn in by their beauty… they don’t see the thorns until it’s too late. You follow? I may be a looker, but I’m not here for fun and games. I’m here to do my job, and that means luring suckers in until they get snared by my thorns.