Thorns And Roses: Historiography Of Roselia And Roserade In Sinnoh-Hoenn High Society
J. Oak, G.L. Erika, G.L. Gardenia, S. Elm, C. Shirona.
Species Overview
Budew are bipedal, rose-bud-like Grass-Poison Pokemon, barely 8 inches tall. They are found in Eterna Forest in Sinnoh. They make use of poisoned thorns for defense, but are largely harmless and placid; it is safe to handle wild Budew. Budew are a conditional form, and may hatch from Roselia eggs in the presence of wild roses. They evolve during the day with a strong bond with a superior- usually, either a trainer or a Roselia.
Roselia are humanoid Grass-Poison Pokemon, roughly a foot tall. Rather than hands, they possess two roses of differing colors, possessing dexterous petals which they use in place of fingers. They make use of poisoned thorns protruding from their body, which they can either spit or conceal within their roses, and a contact poison which they secrete from their petals. They are found in the wild on Route 117 in Hoenn. They are moderately skittish, and may sting or strike if grabbed unexpectedly, but can be attracted by the prospect of food. The petals can be pruned safely without harm to the Roselia, but the roses cannot be removed safely. They evolve into Roserade through the activation of a Shiny Stone.
Roserade are humanoid Grass-Poison Pokemon, roughly three feet tall. Rather than hands, they possess two clusters of three rose blossoms, which they can manipulate either individually or as a group to grip things. Their petals have limited mobility and can aid their grip. They make use of petals as projectiles launched through phytokinesis, as well as a contact poison which they secrete from their petals. They are not safe to approach in the wild, as their poison is lethally dangerous in large quantities, and they will attack humans if startled. Give wild Roserade a wide berth unless invited to approach. Their petals and roses can be pruned safely.
Early History
Sinnoh
The tradition of "Aroma Ladies", grass-type trainers (almost entirely women) focused on raising Budew to Roselia or even Roserade, originates in the middle of the Wth century, alongside the development of glass greenhouses in Floraroma Town. In addition to allowing for year-round cultivation of vegetables, fruit, and other crops, this invention allowed for a new class of fashion to develop: Competitive raising of Grass-types. Budew were a popular option for children to raise due to their placid nature, presence in Eterna Forest nearby, and the the sweet scents and beautiful colors of Roselia and Roserade's flowers.
Upon evolving to Roselia, young girls would be introduced into high society. An evolution to Roserade, though much rarer, typically accompanied a major life change, such as marriage or a major promotion. Records of evolution in Eterna Town indicate that a significant fraction (Nearly 15%) of Roselia were able to evolve to Roserade- an indication that Budew ownership was largely limited to the wealthy who could afford both greenhouse space and a Shiny Stone.
[A black-and-white photograph of a young girl, clutching her Roselia to her chest. She is staring at the camera, eyes wide. ]
[Caption: A young girl about to be introduced to high society. This would have been one of the most important moments in a young girl's life.]
[A photograph of a journal entry, written in slightly messy script. There are blotches of water, and several sections are scratched out. The words 'mother is evil' are visible. Faded red-brown petals are pressed into the page. ]
[Caption: A journal entry depicts a rocky entry into high society.]
[A photograph of an Eterna Town evolution log. "Roselia" entries fill almost 40% of all entries, with "Roserade" present repeatedly.]
Roselia and Roserade are fully capable of regenerating petals; in fact, pruning is essential for proper Roselia health. As a result, Roselia petals, or more fashionably, the much larger Roserade petals, were a common decoration. A common gift to a suitor or fiance was a pair of petals, to be affixed to an outfit. Because Roserade evolution was so rare and expensive, high-class tailors frequently possessed a Roserade of their own from which to source petals; poorer tailors often entered into an agreement with a patron who could provide them with the desired source of material.
[Image: A book spread open. Displayed prominently is an illustration of a Roselia's petal, as well as captions pointing to multiple petals in varying states of health.]
[Caption: An early book regarding Roselia pruning and care.]
[Image: An ancient dress hung on a mannequin. Each sleeve is lined with small petals of a different color- red for the left, blue for the right. The left half of the dress is light colored, while the right half is dark colored. The collar contains much larger petals of the same color. ]
[Image: A portrait of a young man. He is smiling. Two petals, one yellow and one pink, are prominently pinned to his lapel.]
[Caption: A newly agreed fiancé.]
However, this fashion hid a darker side. Roselia's flowers possess a potent poison- one which grows even stronger when they evolve to Roserade. Internecine conflicts within eastern Sinnoh often ended with the loser being pricked by a thorn, falling ill, then collapsing into an unending slumber. With Pecha Berries difficult to cultivate in Sinnoh's cold winters, even in greenhouses, the only available cure for Poisoning was the Aromatherapy move possessed by Duchess Gardia's Roserade- a closely kept secret. As a result of this monopoly, Eterna Town's influence only grew over roughly sixty to eighty years of dominance, ending when the move was stolen by an unknown figure- most likely, a rebellious Aroma Lady. Even afterwards, adoption was slow, as those holding the power of this potent healing move were loath to share it.
[A photograph of an ancient letter. ]
[Caption: A landowner writes to his uncle, informing him that he is gathering a large offering for Duchess Gardia in exchange for a cure for his wife' illness.]
Hoenn
Roselia were first brought to Hoenn in the late Xth century, along with a wave of middle-class immigrants from Sinnoh. Shiny Stones are not endemic to Hoenn, and as a rare resource primarily owned by the rich, largely failed to make the same journey, leaving Roselia as the final stage in Hoenn. More startlingly, though, was the discovery that Budew, previously thought to be the first stage of the line, was revealed to be a situational juvenile form similar to Pichu. As Hoenn wildflowers do not include roses, the prerequisite for Budew, all eggs hatched in Hoenn resulted in Roselia. As a result, Hoenn's only member of the Budew line was Roselia.
Fashions quickly diverged between the two regions. Lacking Roserade's bouquets, Hoenn's fashion styles focused on Roselia's singular flowers placing a heavy emphasis on elegance and a subdued use of color, while Sinnovian styles reacted by continuing to emphasize large collections of flowers, with the addition of groups of trained Budew to demonstrate patriotism and class in comparison to Hoenn's 'false' Roselia.
[Picture, top-left: A painting of two young girls sitting and talking. Behind each of them, a Roselia is busily braiding their hair. One has a Roselia rose already braided into their hair; the other has a small crown of roses.]
[Picture, top-right: A portrait of a woman in a white dress. Her hair is done up in a tight bun, with a single Roselia rose sticking out.]
[Picture, bottom-left: A black-and-white photograph depicts a massive bouquet arranged behind a woman staring at the camera; it is reminiscent of a peacock's tail. By the woman's side, a Roserade stands calmly.]
[Picture, bottom-right: A painting depicting a parade of Budew following a finely dressed woman. Each Budew is carrying a rose.]
[Group caption: Top: Hoenn fashions, circa XX50-XX80. Bottom, Sinnovian fashion over the same period. Top right and bottom right: Typical wedding fashions of the time.]
Roselia poisons are far less deadly than Roserade. Ironically, this made these toxins far more commonly used in Hoenn than in Sinnoh- without the threat of death, and with Pecha berries much easier to grow in Hoenn's warm climate, Roselia toxins could be readily used for a variety of purposes, including but certainly not limited to social maneuvering. It was not considered uncommon for a major social event to include a 'fainting couch' and supply of Pecha Berries expressly for the purpose of recovering from an enemy's social maneuver. Fashions adapted to this trend, with white makeup derived from Beautifly powders used frequently to cover rashes caused by Roselia's contact poisons.
[Image: An oil painting of a well-dressed man carrying a woman in a dress. The woman is covering her face with one hand, while the other reaches down to grasp a Roselia's flower as it walks alongside. Thorns are visibly piercing the woman's thumb. The Roselia's expression is worried. ]
[Caption: A reluctant Roselia helps her trainer catch the attention of a suitor.]
The Zth Century
Hoenn
The most significant change to Hoenn fashion in the late Yth century and beginning of the Zth was, of course, mass production of Swablu-based fabrics. However, dye technology had not yet progressed to create water-fast dyes compatible with Swablu silk. In this market void, Roselia stepped in to provide color. By providing colored water to drink, Roselia's flowers become temporarily dyed in that same color- and those petals could then be pruned safely and used as lining, coloring, or a paste that could be rubbed into the silk to provide temporary color, then washed out when the color was no longer desired. Our records of color in these days are primarily thanks to paintings and portraits of the time- the colors have long since washed out.
[Image: A painting of a husband and wife dancing. The wife is wearing a bright blue dress. Next to them, a Roselia and Manectric are playing.]
This marked the beginnings of seasonal fabrics in Hoenn, driven by the ability to easily add and remove color from fabric. A standard rotation of four to five yearly colors became established- blues and purples in the winter, pink and red in the summer, yellow in the summer, and orange and purple in the fall. It was during this time that the tradition of "Black Roses" became popular in funerals- though it must be noted that this coloration is stressful for the Roselia to maintain over a long period.
[Image: Four pressed and dried Roselia flowers, in each of the four seasonal colors.]
[Image: A black-and-white photograph of a coffin. Two Roselia stand guard, bearing black roses.]]
Breaking from the previous traditions of elegance and simplicity, it also became fashionable to own an assortment of three to six Roselia at once, wearing them on shoulders or in pockets as decoration. This provided a further distinguishing mark compared to Sinnoh fashions, as Roserade are simply too large for such an arrangement to be comfortable. This trend is closely tied to the increased adoption of mass-market Pokeballs during this period, making multiple Pokemon much easier to handle by a non-specialist.
[Image: A picture of a letter. The words 'imitation Roserade' are prominently visible. ]
[Caption: In a letter to her tailor, a Sinnovian fashionista mocks the latest Hoenn fashion trend.]
[Image: A grainy brown photograph of a Hoenn accountant as she looks up at the camera. Three Roselia sit on top of her hat's brim, looking down at the paper in front of her, and one sits on her shoulder with its legs dangling down, idly fidgeting with a spare pen.]
Overall, early Zth century fashion in Hoenn was marked by an increase in color and extravagance, driven by vastly eased access to color. In contrast to other nations, it never quite found the same footing in terms of extravagant color or complex patterns, but its vibrant pastel colors and innovation with seasonal fashions and unusual use of living Pokemon set it apart from any other.
Sinnoh
Active assassination began to settle down in the Zth century, as access to Aromatherapy spread. Poisoning became seen as almost passé- with the prospect of eliminating a rival or hated foe growing less likely by the day, those vicious poisoners turned their backs on the weapons of yesterday, declaring a once-deadly threat to be positively rude.
[A woodcut cartoon. An ugly man shouts to the room: "My wife has been poisoned! Help! Help!". Two women in the foreground mutter to each other. The caption reads: "With a husband like that, I'd poison myself, too!"]
[Caption: Cartoon, artist unknown. Poisoning is seen as more of a joke than a threat. ]
Instead, attention turned back to the most important matter of the day: Fashion. With dyed Roselia fashion spreading in Hoenn, tailors, dyers, and gardeners searched for a solution that could preserve Sinnoh supremacy in the international rivalry. They found it in Roserade. While they could not easily match Hoenn's massive advantage in raw Pokemon numbers, they were able to leverage Roserade's much superior ability to produce large petals en masse or even shed entire roses safely, producing extravagant fashions where flowers made up the primary material- not just supporting color.
[Image: A dress on a mannequin. The dress is covered in dozens of Roserade petals, forming a gradual gradient in brilliant color from head to tail. Look up Andy Goldsworthy for vibes. Seriously, look him up. There are also whole blossoms acting as accents on the shoulders and collar. ]
Sinnoh fashions had limited adoption among other countries due to their emphasis on Shiny-Stone based Roserade, but records of visits to other countries show that they made a strong impression whenever they met, with an indulgent use of massive roses that no other country could match.
[Image: A grainy brown photograph of a Sinnoh celebrity stepping off a boat onto Slateport Town. His suit is lined with eight whole roses on his shoulders. Onlookers form a large crowd, and more cameras are visible in the shot.]
Kalos
It is also at this point that Kalos enters the picture. While minor imports of Roserade had been present up until this time, Kalos largely disdained the foreign flower for their native flower-based Pokemon, Flabébé. In particular, their final evolution, Florges, which also evolves through a Shiny Stone. The comparisons were easy to make, and a rivalry was inevitable.
Florges burst onto the scene in the ZZ10s with a vervent explosion of color. Their flowers were not individually large, but they were incredibly numerous thanks to Florges' ability to grow external gardens, rather than relying on harvesting directly from the Pokemon. Additionally, flowers grown by Florges are exceptionally uniform in color, matching the five classical colors of Florges (Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, White). This produced a stunning fashion in which selected petals from multiple colors of Florges were used in combination, producing mosaic-like geometric patterns and striking contrasts between neighboring shades.
[Image: A suit with a sharp yellow-black diagonal pattern.]
This also formed the origin of the popular pointillism movement in paintings; in fact, Paul Ginsac's early paintings made heavy use of sliced and laminated Florges petals.
[Image:
https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6202464]
As this style of fashion grew alongside developments in pointillism, the two movements took inspiration from each other, with Florges fashion making use of the shading techniques pioneered by pointillists, and pointillists taking inspiration from tailors' understanding of color combinations and layering to create the precise colors they wished.
[Image: Google dithering. It's cool!]
While late to the party, Kalos fashion quickly became a strong contender, with elements of their focus on primary colors and sharp contrasts becoming quickly adopted in Sinnoh.They found slightly less adoption in Hoenn, where their sharp and clear colors appeared garish among the bright pastels that Swablu silk so easily took on- perhaps a jump too far for the understated fashions Hoenn had preferred in the past.
Conclusions:
The history of Hoenn-Sinnoh flower fashion is heavily shaped by the economics of both countries. Sinnoh fashion was heavily shaped by the rich who could afford both a greenhouse and a Shiny Stone, while Hoenn was shaped by access to Roselia for all, lacking Sinnoh's intensity. Despite this, both had their own merits, and there was significant conversation between the two styles, particularly as flower Pokemon became used more and more as a component of fashion in the Zth century.
In contrast, Kalos' contribution to flower fashion comes much later to the picture, perhaps due to their previous focus on the fabrics and aromas derived from that region's native Fairy-types. As a result, their flower fashion existed in a relationship with their other art movements, most notably pointillism- a highly distinct line of descent that took them down a completely different path of fashion technology.
A/N: Yes, Cynthia was one of the contributors to this paper. It's Sinnoh history! Of course she's involved!
