The long-awaited episode has arrived! Bloom's dark blue gown finally gets its moment to shine! I really hope the episode lives up to the hype now after all my teasing 😆It's my personal favorite so far, and I had the most fun scripting and drawing this one out of all season 2 episodes 🥹
Can't wait to read all the comments! Enjoy the episode, guys. 🤍
Spoilers ahead
And...? Are we screaming, crying, throwing up yet? Because I certainly am 👀
Okay before we get to the juicy stuff, though, we should start from the beginning! Lord Dante, my own silly creation, haha. I thought it'd be funny to include a little Easter egg from season 1 by including Varanda. I personally love little details like these! In the fanfiction Sparked by Rist, we actually see Varanda, and I remember thinking it was so clever to include background characters like that. Even if they don't play a huge role, it can make the world feel a little bigger and more thought through. So meet Lord Dante from Calisto, Varanda's father! I had this vision of an annoying but harmless noble getting on Bloom's nerves, and I think he did the job perfectly. 😆
Of course, a party full of nobles isn't complete without King Radius (and Stella causing him a bit of trouble, heheh). I thought it would be cute to have him talking to Dufour and her being absolutely smitten by him.🥹 We never really talk about this, but Radius is an absolute dilf and is absolute dad goals! Who wouldn't find him a bit cute? 😌 To refer back to season 1 again, I added the little text about him asking about the potion's classroom. If you remember, Stella said her dad paid for all the damages after she destroyed it. 😂 I feel like he had a good laugh over it and is the kind of dad who never can get too angry at his princess.
Another detail from the original show has to do with Layla and Stella coming to Bloom's rescue! If you remember, Bloom absolutely hates everything that comes with being a princess. She has no etiquette or social awareness about these things. 😂 I thought it'd be cute to have her do a little bow to show her lessons are paying off, but she still isn't perfect and struggles to communicate with nobles. So Layla and Stella to the rescue! If you remember the episode where the girls left Alfea to go to Earth and dance in a shady nightclub, Layla was the one who got them out of trouble thanks to her immaculate etiquette. I thought it'd be so adorable if Layla and Stella were the ones to come and help Bloom by using their princess manners 🥹
But Bloom was a little bit too excited! In her haste to leave and go see Valtor, Flora caught her 👀 What will this mean for Bloom? Will Flora tell anyone? Will Flora figure it out herself? We'll have to see the next episode! 🤭
Bloom finally arrives in the library and is greeted by a sleeping Valtor. I've had this idea for a long long time now! I always love the trope where the FMC sees the evil MMC sleeping for the first time. Their features are soft, unguarded, and human. Valtor doesn't sleep often, as he's a demon. I'd assume he doesn't really need to too often and does it more recreationally. But sometimes fatigue does catch up to him, and he sleeps for a short time. Of course, he's still hyperaware, so when Bloom brushes his hair, he immediately wakes up. His eyes glow red at the potential threat, but when he notices it's Bloom, they immediately return to a softer purple until they're back to his usual dark blue.
He notices her beautiful dress immediately and is absolutely smitten, of course. 😌
This scene represents that he wants their relationship to be more than enemies who tolerate each other. Bloom has been wanting this too, but I feel like she would be too "shy" to tell him. They're not together as a couple; I don't think either one of them is ready for that conversation lol. But he does know he wants to be by her side and kiss her whenever he wants, and Bloom is more than happy to let him. 🤭
I again do hammer on that consent! I love a man that asks for permission. 😤 The line "I'm going to kiss you now, Bloom" is meant to give her the time and space to tell him no in case that's what she wants. Of course, luckily Bloom has no doubts left about wanting to kiss him. 😂
This kiss scene was even more fun than the one from the season 1 finale to create; the soft blue atmosphere, Bloom in her pretty gown, and this time no adrenaline fueling them makes this kiss feel even more real and romantic. 🥹
But Bloom is still refusing the mark! Our girl still has her principles! Even if it's a very handsome man (who is also a good kisser) asking to mark her, the answer is no 😤