emidescent

[emidescent]

Something I have always loved about the HDG community has been the positivity. I hadn't ever written a story before 'joining' HDG with Five Lives, but I was welcomed here despite that, and I'm far from the only one. Provided you don't be a dick and respect both the setting and folks who are part of it, the community is a fantastic place to explore a passion for writing, and that freedom and encouragement to be creative is something to be celebrated.

There have been some incredible HDG stories that have come out in the last year alone, and I think that's in large part due to how comfortable places like the HDG discord are. I think it fits some of the common themes of HDG as well- that you matter, that your thoughts matter, and that we should look out for one another. I personally believe that one of the worst things to do to someone trying out a new passion is to give them too much criticism- save that for later, and let them enjoy the wonder! I think that's something the community does very well.

Of course, it also helps that folks new to HDG have incredible resources like the HDG Discord (which has volunteer staff who are very good at answering any tricky setting questions, called Lorets) and the Guide to Writing in HDG. It helps that we as a community have all agreed to play in the same sandbox without kicking over each other's castles. And it helps that so many folks are clearly so passionate about the setting, have found real and powerful emotions and growth from the stories.

Anyway, all that to say: if it's your first time writing but you have that idea in your head that you're sure is perfect for the HDG shared setting?

You should go for it.

[emidescent]

Dental Checkup

The floret behind the reception desk seemed to be currently engaged with some sort of puzzle on her tablet. So much so that she had missed my failed attempts to get her attention for the last few minutes.

“Oh that’s it!” She exclaimed with excitement, tapping at the screen a few times, rewarded with a happy sounding chime. She put the tablet down and looked out across the room, finally noticing me. “Oh! Hello! How can we help you today at Palamatum’s Pet Procedures?”

I groaned internally, why did this have to be the only vet within walking distance.

“Uhm. I’m here to see Doctor Palamatum, I recently got some biomods put in and she wanted to see how they were coming along.”

The floret smirked as she looked me up and down, taking in my appearance. But, I realised with a start that she wasn’t looking at the new ears or tail I had gotten.

“H-hey! The breasts are natural, at least as natural as Class-G’s are.” I blushed, looking away from the girls prying eyes. “A-and my ears are up here!” I added, pointing at the feline additions poking through my hair. The floret’s smirk deepened. 

“Oh I've made my choice~” She licked her lips slowly.

I squeaked in a dignified manner, Not used to the sudden and focused attention from such a flirty floret.

“M-my appointment please?”

”Wellllll the only appointment Dr Palamatum has left today is a dental one, So unless you’re looking for me to leave some impressions on you somewhere, you might be a tad lost little kitty~” She grinned, baring her teeth before snapping them shut. Now looking directly at my ears. They flattened against my head as I stepped back, my blush only growing redder.

“I-i got new teeth too!” I stammered out, opening my mouth and pointing at the little fangs I had installed.

“Aww, adorable” The floret giggled. A gentle bell chimed through the foyer. “Doctor Palamatum will see you now-” She gestured to the door on her right, which opened on cue.

I nodded, grabbing my tail to my chest and scurrying through the door lest the floret decide she wasn’t done with me.

The Doctor's office was clean and orderly. A tall, deep blue affini stood off centre in the room dressed in some very form fitting bell bottom pants edged with a delicate floral pattern and a frilly blouse adorned with flowers matching those that made up her hair. She appeared to be preparing a small tray of metallic and floral tools. She looked over her shoulder as I approached and her eyes shifted from a pale blue to a warm and inviting yellow.

“Welcome darling, here for a dental checkup?”

I nodded, taking a few steps towards the operating table next to her.

She turned and watched as I mounted the table, laying down next to her.

“Such an obedient little kitty, Did what i asked without me even needing to ask~” She smirked. I blushed. Was nobody in this office safe?!

“So what are we in for today darling? Just a checkup on those darling little fangs you had installed recently?”

I nodded in confirmation.

“Wonderful, Now some sophonts choose to be drugged for these procedures, would you like me to drug you?” She peered down into my eyes, little flecks of gold dancing at the edges of her eyes. I don’t think this was a safe question.

“Umm” I replied. “Only the necessary amount of drugs.”

“Absolutely petal. “ She grinned a little too widely. “Only the necessary amount of drugs.” But before I could say anything else she slipped a metal tool into my mouth and began peering around.

“Say ahhh~”

She spent the next few minutes alternating between tools, inspecting my mouth. I tried my best not to get distracted. But that wasn’t an easy task with a beautiful woman inches from your face with her fingers in your mouth. It was honestly unfair how Affini could shapeshift so easily. Because it meant they were all unbearably hot, and the little accidental touches on my lips were sending little jolts of pleasure through me that I absolutely could not react to.

After a while I noticed she hadn’t changed tools in a few minutes and was giggling as she moved a vine around in my mouth. I made a little questioning noise in my throat to get her attention and raised my eyebrow.

She looked up at me and smiled.

“Did you know that during a dental inspection, a terrans tongue will unconsciously follow and poke at whatever you put in their mouths?” She giggled again. “I’ve just been playing with your tongue for the last few minutes~”

I squeaked my displeasure, not doing very well at masking the blush that was suddenly forming on my cheeks and tucked my tongue away.

Dr Palamatum moved faster however, pinning my tongue to the bottom of my mouth with her thumb and holding my jaw in place with one hand. My breath quickened and I failed to stifle the moan that escaped my mouth.

“Ah-ah-ah little one… I’m not finished~” She purred. Worming another vine into my mouth.

“I was just going to look at your fangs. But now i’m going to be inspecting each and every one of your little teeth to make sure they’re in perfect condition~”

She moved very slowly, very deliberately as she inspected each of my teeth, like I was some prize battle horse. I was doing my best to not react. But one of her vines bushed over my lips and I whimpered, feeling completely under her power. She grinned a little too hungrily, I tried to grab her arm, but a needle quickly slipped into my thigh and my body stopped responding to my commands.

And to make matters worse, now each step in the inspection was followed by a rewarding brush against my lips. Soon I was barely able to think. Eyes locked helplessly onto her own as she played with me.

Finally, Regrettably. She finished, withdrawing a saliva coated vine and thumb from my mouth. I whimpered in between shaky, panting breaths. The sudden loss of sensation far too sobering in comparison to the last half hour.

Dr Palamatum smirked down at me. “Did I forget something?” She teased, watching over me as she lazily produced another needle that I hoped contained the counteragent to the paralytics.

I whined up at her defiantly. And her expression changed to one of poorly faked shock. “Oh of course!” She leant over me. “You” She gently grasped my face. “Can’t” She licked her lips. “Move~”

She pressed her lips to my own, and my eyes closed, my mind swimming in bliss. She was gentle, yet firm. I felt the needle slip into my thigh and I shakily lifted my hands to cup either side of her face.

It was my own decision to part my lips when I felt her tongue probing at them, my moans and whimpers only getting louder as I let her retrace her steps around my mouth. But it was her decision to break the kiss. Leaving me panting, reaching for her desperately. She giggled and grabbed my hands, slowly pulling me into a sitting position. “You’ve been a good girl today” She held out a Lollipop, brushing over my lip with a vine. My mouth popped open obediently and she slipped the sweet between my lips.

“A very good girl~”

“I think it's best if we do a followup appointment…..let's say tomorrow. And let's make it a house call, shall we?” I touched my neck, feeling the bare skin for perhaps the last time.

[emidescent]

My opinion on this might change, but:

For those who say HDG is purely psychosexual horror, and the wish fulfillment detracts from the setting, and for those who say the opposite:

They’re making out sloppily.

But for real—the point of the Affini is that they are the direct opposite of the Terran Accord. The Accord wants one story: Humanity under their control, with everyone stripped of their potential for the greater war machine, lives cut short by faulty implants and capitalism.

The Affini are the opposite. We see this time and time again. For every story like Abcission, there’s another like Wellness Check. The Affini do want control—but for them, control means giving Humanity freedom. Freedom to be a needy, Xenodrug adoring Petal, or a witty, deeply romantic Sophont that’s adoring all on their own without coercion, and broken, ruined souls who need xenodrugs and gentle, utterly gentle care to get back on their feet.

The Affini are a future where people can work for the pure enjoyment of serving their community. Of course people who are under the heel of the Accord would be afraid, resist, or fight. Fear is natural.

But for every time I see people decrying the Affini—they forget that the Affini are the closest to heaven Humanity might ever get.

The horror of your body wasting away for a state that despises you—or the potential, existential horror of having a choice—and either shirking it out of terror, or accepting it with an open heart.

The Affini are a haven for so many trans people, disabled people, all telling stories in their own, unique way. The gentle love of the Affini leading to individuality in all but name means so much to me as someone who struggles with disability and mental health.

Thanks for reading!

[emidescent]

temporarily back on my vampire bullshit

[emidescent]

noticing your doll has always had trouble walking, something it rarely does because you carry it in your arms almost everywhere you go and wondering what the problem is. the issue isn't hard to pin down, as when you slide its socks off, you can see that its feet are just a single part. no joints below the ankles, just a mass of the porcelain like material that makes up most of the rest of its body

even if it doesn't walk on its own very often, you can't be having that. it deserves better. you measure the foot as carefully as you can, making sure it'll still be able to wear its old shoes, and take extra care with the ankle dimensions so you can make a clean fit. for days, you toil away, often with the doll at your side, crafting a new pair of feet for it

gone will be the solid lumps of material, replaced with jointed toes, themselves attached to a jointed part to allow for more range of motion with each step, even adding a bit of range to the heel. though the feet are no longer sculpted to be cute like the old pair was, there is a beauty in the new jointed model, an appeal in how it allows for more motion. you can't help but feel proud of your work

you motion for the doll to hold out its arms, allowing you to more easily lift it up onto the workbench. you brush its hair away from its face, smile, and ask it to stay still, making sure to guide it through the process to ensure it knows it's safe. it's always been good at staying still, and it's trusted you for a long time, but you always make sure reassure it whenever you're doing anything to change or repair it

you bind its legs to the workbench at the shins, tightening the leather straps so you can pull on the first foot. you don't wince at the sound of tightening cable, something that takes effort on your part, as you don't want any worry to show on your face. a snapped cable wouldn't irrevocable harm the doll, but it would still feel pain and it would be a lengthy repair, to say nothing of how its trust in you may suffer as a result

once the foot is separated enough, you place a spacer between the joint and the leg to keep the cable loop locked, then unhook the old foot. the most difficult part is over, and now all you need to do is hook the new foot in place. you make sure you have the correct one, not wanting to make the same mistake you did when repairing its hands some months ago, then hold it tight as you remove the spacer. once the spacer is out of the way, you keep holding onto the foot and slowly guide it into space so that it doesn't snap, potentially harming the leg and the ankle

a perfect fit. you smile at the doll, brush its hair for a few seconds, and call it a good girl. you're already halfway done and it's done a fantastic job. in its stillness, you can feel its appreciation

the second foot is replaced just as easily. the cable in this leg isn't as old, having been replaced some time ago, so the tension change isn't as audible. you place the spacer, you unhook the old foot, and hook in the new one. just like the last one, you slowly move it into place, making sure it's secure in its fitting

with both new feet in place, you loosen the straps and lift its legs up at the knees to let it know it's able to move again. you smile at it, then move each one of its toes one by one

"can you do that for me?" you ask, waiting to see what happens. it takes a few moments, but soon enough, in the exact order you moved them, the doll moves the toes on its own

"keep going" you say, hoping it takes the hint

it does

the joint further up each foot moves down and then up, as it tests the full range of motion, then moves its feet independently of its heel. finally, it curls its toes down along with the rest of the foot, then flattens it out. it turns to look at you and even though its face remains static, you can tell it's smiling

you help it down off the work bench and hold its hands as you guide its tentative first steps on its new feet. it's clumsy at first, but soon manages to adjust itself to the new feelings and the new range of motion. it leans back and forth, side to side, adjusting itself in ways that it was never able to in the first place

it does not smile, but it does hug. a quiet hum resonates through the porcelain like material that makes up its neck, almost like a high pitched purr

you're glad you could make it so happy

[emidescent]

I keep stumbling across hand drawing tutorials and its doing things to my brain.

[emidescent]

Oh, that poor, sweet doll. Working so dilligently, the squeak of its little joints echoes through the halls. Yet there it is, still struggling to clean, to learn, to make, to be. Nothing it does can ever be sufficient, hm?

Thankfully, that choice isn't its to make.

It doesn't take a lot to whisk it away. A gentle touch on the scruff of its neck is enough to hush its petulant protests-- a delicate dance it is scarcely aware of until it finds itself ensconced on my lap.

My hand envelops the lubricated tissue, and with a touch so tender, I explore the softness of its neck, the graceful curves of its shoulders, and the elegance of each dainty finger. Kissing every edge and contour with its silky caress, lingering and deliberate.

I savour the soft yield of its limbs as they bend and pose at my touch, responding as though mine.

And they are, aren't they?

Good doll. Nice and still for me. Your hair next, then.

[emidescent]

ppl in the hdg tag rly like injecting real world morals into a kink setting

at least for my part, yes I recognize the problem with the affini taking away agency

on the other hand it's an escapist fantasy for me to not have responsibilities, to be cared for and doted on, and to have fun drugs and HRT freely accessible

so yes I wanna be a floret but no that doesn't mean I condone drugging and enslaving people, get a grip

[emidescent]

desk jobs should be reserved for tgirls and for office lady yuri purposes and we shouldn't have to do any work while doing the yuri

[emidescent]

they should invent surgery where they make your entire body an erogenous zone. you agree, reblog

[emidescent]

its no real secret that the Human Domestication Guide Series catches on, especially amongst transfemmes because we literally live in the worst world where if we stop doing backbreaking work for a single day we die our medicine is witheld from us because the powerful think we don't deserve it unless we are rich and because Jesus said so and we have lived with a family that at best is indifferent to our suffering and unwilling to even so much as hold us in a hug and at worst tries to actively kill us and kick us out of the house onto the streets

and here comes a series of stories about benevolent plant people that aren't just kinky motherfuckers with a post-scarcity (and often post entropy) society, but they're also loving beings that are FURIOUS that people are going through this and would rip apart the universe on our behalfs.

The fantasy that we can encounter someone that loves us as we are, wants us to be our best selves, will help us reach this Best Self on our own terms, and is actively angry at the things that hurt us so?

We may never have this in our entire lonely lives, and its no wonder this series reaches to our souls so.

[emidescent]

as true as it is, there's more to the appeal of human domestication guide than "the fantasy for trans girls is to be loved unconditionally," it's that the affini can prove it. I'm certain there are people in my life who do love me unconditionally, but even then on some level it's hard to believe fully. it's impossible to prove a negative, "this person would love me no matter what" isn't something I could ever be comfortable testing anyway. "what if it isn't true?" a big part of being trans is having to justify your very existence even to well meaning people, and what happens when your justification falters?

and I think a big appeal to the affini that seems to be lost on a lot of people is how these stories tend to be from the perspective of "the person who is just about as against this as someone possibly could be." consider HDG proper, Elvira is against capture on a moral level for obvious reasons like "kidnapping is wrong" and "I deserve freedom," but she's also personally racist towards the concept of aliens. all of this forces the affini into a position where they can't just show "enough" kindness, to move from that position to one of love and trust, the affini are forced to show so much love and kindness that they prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they really do care. they understand that behind every vicious word and lack of faith from their floret-to-be is a subtle hope that the world the affini promise is the real one. such a hope deserves nurturing at any cost; they deserve to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is really true. by assuming the worst case scenario, the affini prove the negative.

that's the real trans girl fantasy at play here; to be at your worst and for someone to love you anyway, to not have to feel like you're hiding some layer of your identity deep down that would ruin everything if it came out. your mistress saw the very core of your being and yet here you are, still wrapped in her loving embrace. you bared your teeth and gnashed at every helping hand along the way, and yet she still says she loves you. she still shows you love and affection beyond what you could have ever imagined. why?

and then at some point you just have to accept that it's true.

[emidescent]

The obvious fantasy of any human domestication guide story is big plant lady makes you her pet, but at least to me an equally powerful fantasy is being able to take someone so deeply hurt and have the resources and time and patience and power to really help them. To pick them up and tell them it will all be okay and know that it's true because you can make it true. I guess I know too many people who deserve the affini and it'd be nice to be that for them.

[emidescent]

A maid is a type of highly derived cat that sometimes makes you a lovely dinner but otherwise lays in your lap.