#but there are terran florets

[clairekudzu-secondbloom]

Alright, I've made a tentative first chapter for my first HDG fic!

Give me that constructive criticism, give me that praise and compliments, or give nothing at all and don't read, that's cool too!

Anyway, it's under the read more!

Domestication of Barbarians

Ch 1: Unexpected

This was supposed to be an easy trip! Just a quick dip into a nearby nebula, in front of the Affini Compact expansion; preliminary scans showed no signs of life in this sector, so after filing the requisite paperwork they were permitted a small ship to sightsee with. Four affini with 5 florets, that's more than enough affini to keep them safe.

But midway through the jump, the shuttle shuddered and suddenly dropped out of hyperspace in what felt like an explosion.

Eryth Tarax, Fourth Bloom, quickly took stock of the situation, checking the control terminal before muttering to herself, “Our hyperdrive has blown, but otherwise the hull is intact. No imminent danger to our florets or to us. Thank the Everbloom.” She sighed, relaxing her vine weave around her core.

“Apologies for the delay captain, I was running simulations to determine what happened. Would you like to hear the most likely scenario?” The ship AI, which handles most operations for the shuttle, asked Eryth.

“Yes, if you would.”

“The most likely scenario is that we were hit with a hyperspace charge, most likely a mine from some unknown sophont conflict. I am unable to determine any origin sophont, or when this battle occurred. It could have happened elsewhere and the mine drifted here, too, considering I'm not detecting any other mines in the vicinity.” The AI rattled off the results of its simulations, as requested.

Eryth sighed in relief again, then walked out of the helm to the rest of the ship. Outside the command room was an atrium, decorated into being a small park, with 7 rooms around it. There was the engine room towards the rear, the helm at the front, three large rooms on one side, and the remaining two rooms opposite those, along with the airlock door.

The captain knocked on the door of the room closest to the helm.

“Zoysia, are you and your florets okay in there?”

The door slid open, revealing another affini cradling two terrans in her vine-woven arms.

“Yes yes, we're all quite fine. Thank the stars they were already napping in my vines, though they were jolted awake. Are you and the ship well?” Zoysia Paoles, Second Bloom, wore a gentle but concerned look on her wood-covered face.

“Yes. The hyperdrive took damage though and will need to be repaired before we can get moving again. I’d hate to tear you away from your precious little cuties here for even a minute, but could you spare a vine to look it over, maybe repair it if you're able?”

“Of course. Julia, Zeff, you two behave. If you're good, there's extra Class-As for you both!” Zoysia nodded to Eryth before looking down at her florets, setting them on the floor of the room after turning around. The terrans nodded and replied, in unison, “Of course mistress!” They then carefully walked over to the bed at the back of the room, their magnetized shoes keeping them gently attached to the floor, but making it hard for them to move quickly on their own.

Eryth smiled as the florets moved away, before herself turning away and moving to the other rooms, her vines hooking into microloops on the floor rather than relying on magnets to keep her anchored, knocking and informing the other two affini of the ship's condition and apologizing for the delay in their trip.

She then returned to the helm, whereupon the ship AI started dumping new information. “I double-checked our position and rescanned the local planets. We're outside of comms range at the moment, but given the local expansion plans there should be a relay close enough in a terran month. With luck, Miss Zoysia can repair the hyperdrive before then and thus render my information irrelevant. We might be able to secure any needed resources from this system’s planets. However, one of these planets differs from preliminary scans by a large margin. It appears to harbor intelligent life.”

Eryth’s vines tightened at that mention. “Pre-sophont?”

“Undocumented sophont species, heavily utilizing iron, stone, fire, and acid.” The AI sent a photo to Eryth’s tablet, showing this species. A bipedal creature, with wings on their back, tall ears with horns curving around the base, a short snout on their face. Their body was mostly covered in fur, with patches of scales covering joints and vulnerable areas. It reminded Eryth of a bipedal version of a terran rabbit, mixed with what they called a dragon.

“Dirt. That's the only planet in this system with life, yes? That'll make it hard to get new flora or nutrients to regrow and repair with. We might have to try and sneak down there anyway. I don't think any of us are trained for first contact, nor to start a cotyledon. Roots and rot.” Eryth slapped the nearby desk with a vine, careful to not dent it.

“At least tell me they are peaceful and calm?” She asked, already knowing the answer.

“Of course not,” the AI replied.

[misc-catgirl-anatomy]

scrub jay population gains sapience and one of them flies in the door of a domestication center and lands on the desk asking how soon it can be pampered

[ex-angel-succubus-in-training]

Oh no nononononono

Not the fucking mushrooms!

I.....I......they scare me.....

I.....I .......I those fucking half plant half insect animal independent mushroom freaks!!!!!!

It's just a matter of time till they decide to kill us all and digest us for nutrients!

I.....I will absolutely die on this hill and not let even a single spore touch me....

y'know I'm actually kind of shocked how little I've seen of like, fungal affini. there's so much potential for covert domestication shenanigans with things like spores, and the way that fungi connect to each other via networks could be used very well for dronification/types of florethood that see the floret as much more 'directly connected' to their affini/an extension of them

also you've got the whole cordyceps mushroom thing, the OG mind control mushroom. remembering that i honestly can't believe i've never read about a cordyceps affini lmao

[sheepwavehdg]

some HDG story recs out that aren't the most super popular stories you'll easily find by asking anyone or easily find via metric ranking. all are on the shorter end, and readable in a day if not a single sitting! a great list for some hidden gems.

Reading the Leaves by Kanagen: a tea shop romance story about a mostly mute protaganist trying to make the perfect cup for an affini she is down bad for.

Behind the Veil by shitpostleft: IMO, the hottest oneshot in the entire setting. It follows rebecca trying to talk to her affini boyfriend about why he put a notice of intent to domesticate on her.

A Beast At Bay by Raeisteria: Affini beat each other up! this one starts as a shonen battle arc and then changes. you should read it, and do so blinndly, you will not regret it (but you will probably cry)

Strawberry and Willow by immaterial_vivi: the typical HDG rebel capture scenario is turned on its head, in the sense that the story is mostly from the affini's perspective.

Core Carving by Stimulacrum: a second person affini POV story about coming home and letting your floret be the one to take care of you for a bit.

A Part of Who I am my MoonFloret: its hdg romance, but transmasc yaoi instead of transfem yuri! it rules!

Last Man Standing by Tsunmene: the single funniest HDG story I have ever read, about a seed desperate to get forcefemmed who keeps barely missing getting captured by the affini no matter how hard they try.

Force Majeure by ashinbloom: the most devastating gut punch of a story ever put to the page in HDG, about a very autistic girl and the woman who wishes she could take care of her like she wishes. this one hurts real good.

Florets of a Feather by Promilie: a biology student who was forcibly drafted into the navy gets domesticated and must learn to live with her connivent, a feathered catlike xeno called a khetari. has illustrations in many chapters! (Promilie is one of the settings absolute best visual artists.)

A Date with Miss Laburnia by PyxxieStyxx: a bratty terran goes on a date with an affini in chastity and things escalate.

Mistress's Imperative by mirrorgare: submissive affini/dommy floret vignette series

Growing Periwinkle by belenen: a depressed terran volunteers for domestication and becomes part of a very kinky social circle.

Pencil by sheepwave(me): a comedy-hypnoerotica adaptation of the "mistress can you turn me into a pencil" meme into a full oneshot its my list i can include one of mine

Thought I'd See You Again by fluxom: an escaped floret has been on the run for a year, but now an affini just won't leave her alone...

Puppy Paws by Moonchild: actual petplay! in hdg! i know, its crazy. also this story is insanely hot.

The Place Where We Can Stop Running by Dame Harmony: ok I lied about them all being short. this one is long, but its so good. you need to read it, you need to read it blind, knowing nothing, and you will not regret it. it's one of the best stories in the entire setting.

[pyxxiestyxx]

Humans are Made to be Pets

"I don't fucking believe you." I laughed in response. I mean, how could I not? I've been perfectly fine as an independent for years. I've made plenty of friends (independents, affini, AND florets), but my favorite friend was definitely Her.

Jaz was an oldbloom of some kind. She refused to tell me the actual number, and I wasn't going to press it. But you bet your ass I was going to outright deny it when she says some Bloomer-ass bullshit like, "Humans are made to be pets, Petal~"

She tilted her head, as if surprised. "Did no one tell you, dear?" I frowned.

"What do you mean exactly?"

Jaz hid a chuckle behind some vines. "Flower, I've been around for a while. I've seen thousands of species. Some of them were almost extinct by the time we found them, and some were far more technologically advanced than the Accord ever was. But out of all of them -all of them, darling- I have yet to find a sophont who wouldn't make a perfect silly pet. Why do you think terrans would be any different?"

I sputtered. "No! No, that's ridiculous. Beeple I can understand, to some extent. They evolved alongside you, and your reproduction at least used to co-exist. You both needed each other. Humans are different."

"Oh, in some ways perhaps! Its true that we were able to work with beeple, but there are a few things that, in order for humans to have gotten where they were, were required to happen." She held up three fingers.

"One. Humanity are social creatures. I'm quite sure I don't need to argue this point. Its been an observation many have noticed. But it still matters that, despite your culture's best attempts to sequester everyone into individual homes and away from communities…you all crave that interaction, that exchange. You Look for it." One finger went down.

"Two. Humanity are intelligent creatures. They learned so much, and fought for their place on the top of the food chain. It was truly incredible to learn your histories! Being able to learn from another's mistakes? An important skill to have, and one that allows for rapid growth of a civilization. And also allows for you to be manipulated, controlled, really; a rock cannot hear my arguments, after all. You Listen all too well. " Two fingers were closed, now. Her thumb remained.

"Three. Humanity are hierarchical creatures. Ever since that whole 'survival of the fittest', terrans seem intent on having everything ranked, everything in relation to the things better or worse than it. It's what worked on Terra, and I don't judge you all for using the tools given to you! But it means, at the end of the day…that culturally speaking? Humanity was going to see itself as either above the Compact, or below it, part of it, inside it." She smiled. "And I think it would be fair to say that the Accord winning was not a valid concern. So when something bigger and stronger comes along? You learn to Accept it."

I was frozen. I didn't…I couldn't…I couldn't think. I was a bubbling mixture of terrified and in awe, looking up at her. My knees wobbled as she gently cupped my cheek, sliding her hand down to my chin.

"Sweet thing~ Its alright. I know that this is a lot to learn, that it sounds scary to you. Perhaps you felt yourself on equal terms to an affini. And in many ways, you are right~ I will always treat you with love and respect, just as I would treat any sophont, any floret. But at the end of the day, my dear…" Her eyes drew me in. There were so many of them, all looking at me. Pinning me underneath their careful stare, somehow both alien and familiar, gentle yet controlling, above me and beside me. Watching as I looked, as I listened, as I accepted.

"An affini's task is to care for pets, and your task is to be cared for~"

[kimberlyeab]

Affini One: "These Terrans are getting to me."

Affini Two: "What's wrong, sister?"

Affini One: "You say something deranged like: 'I'll transmute you into a bouncy ball' and..."

Floret: "I wish that was me."

Affini One: "..."

Affini Two: "I see what you mean."

[puppynametaken]

Objection Mistress!

I’ve been working to become an independent lawyer in the Affini Compact. I think the affini are humoring me because they think it’s cute when I try to defend the rights of my fellow terrans. They also appear to get wildly turned on when I submit appeals for independence or sue the Compact for various human rights infringements.

Apparently damages cannot be accrued because money doesn’t exist anymore. Whenever I object to a ruling I’m handed a stack of documents that takes weeks to go over. My assistant is an affini (who I dare say is quite attractive but I must be professional) who summarizes them to me while in session. I spend hours in my hab after work researching for the next day’s case. I’m working as hard as I can and I think I’m making progress! My last case lasted 3 days. That’s a huge improvement!

My most recent client is a Terran named Tiffany. Tiff is… odd. She was “rescued” on a vessel manned by the “Mars Freedom co.” a local rebel group. Tiffany spent a few days in wardship then appealed compulsory domestication, citing some an obscure Affini law. This is a huge opportunity I rarely get clients who have had contact with Affini for more than a few days who haven’t broken yet. I may get to save this girl!

Tiff lasted half an hour. Apparently truth drugs like Class D are allowed in session, and when questioned she confessed to playing hard to get for her Affini. Figures. I thought I had a shot at winning that one.

It’s been months and while I have won a few cases, none of them have been meaningful enough as preventing a domestication. Mostly it’s settling disputes among florets who are particularly interested in “playing court”, as if that’s something worth my talents. My lawyer collar probably isn’t doing me any favors but that’s the official outfit of law professionals in the Compact! And the companion lawyer dress isn’t super professional but I make do where I can. My mistress assistant is always there to prop me up when things go wrong. I’ll win an independence case! I’ll do it! Someday.

[glitchyrobo]

Ceres-class Missile Battleship

spaceship =>

(description & fiction under the break!)

Video Description

Several views of a large, long, and slightly bulky Terran warship in space. The ship has repeating triangle motifs in with various paneled textures throughout. Near the pointed front the nameplate of the ship is visible, reading 'CNS Temeraire'. The long front hull has a flat section on the top, covered in massive missile launch bays. Amidships, several armor plates, painted bright red with the Jovian Eagle in gold, protect the armored hab rings and a series of tubes. Aft, the radiators glow brightly as the engine burns hot. Embedded heat pipes run from the tip of the engine to the radiators

The first view is of the ship from above and in front, showing a dramatic angle. Several 'running lights' blink down the length as navigation lights flash

The second view is located to the side, looking forward, again showing the various lights

The third view is focused on the engine, showing it powering on to 100% thrust, then beyond. As it powers on the heat pipes glow in sequence

The fourth and final view repeats the engine power on sequence but from further, allowing the viewer to also see the coolant vents venting coolant

Excerpt from History of Pre-Domestication Terran Warships (3rd Revision), §685.8: Late Terran Accord & Pacification Program Era Battleships (Guided Projectile), Eltrin Yne, Forty-Seventh Bloom, xe/xem, Elly Yne, Twenty-Sixth Floret, et al.

Designed in 2521 CE (33 BT) by a consortium of Jovian shipbuilding corporations and first commissioned in 2526, the Ceres-class missile battleship was envisioned as a platform to launch massed missile strikes against enemy fleets while providing enhanced point defense and electronic warfare. At 750 meters in length and nearly 100 meters at its widest extent, this class represented one of the largest mass-produced spaceframes fielded by the Cosmic Navy.

Over the course of its service history, the class had numerous revisions. Most notably, the type-3 revision in 2539 (2521-CERES-III) which added coolant vents ahead of the hab rings, reducing their size in the process. The vents were positioned forward of the hab rings to expel hot coolant from over-driven point defense domes and electronic warfare equipment rather than the main engines, though they had a limited ability to expel engine coolant in extreme emergencies. These coolant vents essentially functioned as expendable liquid droplet radiators, which may have led to the development of more practical liquid radiators, had domestication been delayed. (See also §359, Speculation on Terran Shipcraft Development)

While there were no major engagements which featured a Ceres functioning in this intended role, classified TCN documents obtained after the fall of Terra stated that one of the primary goals of the class was to counter contemporary corporate navies, which largely consisted of small anti-piracy vessels, should a coalition of corporations ever come into direct conflict with the Accord.

However, the most significant hostile force that the Accord encountered prior to pacification were various pirate flotillas, which would generally consist of smaller, older, and less militarized vessels. While in a direct engagement a Ceres-class or other contemporary Accord capital ships would easily destroy such vessels, smaller ships were quite capable of outmaneuvering and escaping their would-be-predators.

At the start of the Terran Pacification program, there were 157 Ceres-class vessels active. After the signing of the treaty, only a handful of these ships refused armistice, as the amount of logistical support that the Ceres required to function effectively and the implausibility of that support without the Terran core sectors dissuaded overt feralism. Several dozen of the surviving vessels now serve as museum ships across Terran Protectorate space.

[lilithsterrarium]

hdg brainworms today... especially with size stuff because. you know how i am....

Being a terran rebel co-pilot, spending so much time staring off into the stars and shuddering at the sheer vastness of it all... any time our ship comes near any sort of planet or landmass, having to grip my thighs as I think about how small I am in comparison... all those little pipe dreams about being an inch tall seem so far away, on the verge on tears if I think about it a little too long...

Until we get captured, of course. Our ship is pacified, our pilot is screaming words I'm a little too dazed to understand, desperately toying with the controls as a ship looms into view... a ship so undeniably massive and all encompassing... my entire body just trembling at the sight...

Everything else is a blur. Pretty plant people suspend us, snatch us away, now we're on this big, looming ship and I'm feeling better than ever- I heard our pilot is being pulled away for trying to rebel again, but I'm far more focused on our captors... so many florets with so many unique augmentations, so cute and pretty... affni technis so far along, maybe they...

Tugging on someone's vines, apologizing with a whimper as they assure me it's okay and asking me whats the matter... shaky breath as I try to tell them...

"Hmm? Oh, you want to be a little bit shorter! We've had plenty of florets who want to lose a few inches, don't worry, that won't be an issue-"

Shaking my head as I blush, glancing off to the side, miming a motion as if to say smaller... eyes watering up as I look at the affni with desperation, her gaze is returned and shows compassion...

Maybe my little pipe dream wasn't so impossible after all <3

[plumbottompie]

The affini brings you to their hab for your mandatory wardship all wrapped in vines, because you kept struggling and complaining about being looked at. Now nobody can see you, so problem solved.

You were worried about the wardship, but the one nice thing that kept you going was the knowledge that the affini already has a floret, and she's also a trans woman. You plan to ask her about maybe taking class-Gs, and what her experience was like before you commit to it yourself.

"Mistress!" a voice calls out, and you guess it's her floret.

"Hello, petal," your warden replies.

"What's that?"

You try to speak, but the moment you open your mouth, you feel a prick on the back of your neck, and go limp.

"I got something very special," the affini purrs, and you feel your clothes being cut away within your vine prison. "Remember how you said you wanted a new toy?"

"You got me a plushy with an internal heater?!" The floret's voice is excited, and you feel the vines pull some new clothes on you, soft and fluffy. At first you think they're pants or something, but they cover your feet, and legs, and keep going as the vines pull your arms through the sleeves and into mittens. It ends with a hood that somehow seems to securely fasten to the top of your head.

"And more," the affini replies, and the vines drop away and roll you onto the floor. You stare at the terran woman, waiting for the shock as she sees your face and realizes that you're a real person.

"She's a kitty!" she squeals, and embraces you, pressing her face into two plush lumps on the front of the costume. Fake breasts? You wonder where else you have padding. "It's so warm, this is the best present ever!"

"And it has a surprise! It comes with two holes, one on the face, and one between the legs."

The floret's smile widens. "How often can I use them?"

"It's your toy, you can use it whenever you want."

"I'll go get my lube!" she runs off, and your eyes flick to the affini in fear.

"Confused, kitty? She's on hypnotics to keep her from realizing you're anything other than a plush sex toy. I'll tell her at the end of your wardship. By then, I'll probably have to remind you as well." She smiles, revealing her pointed teeth. "Oh, she's coming back, kitty, be very quiet."

[rosepetalkitty]

Mistress was setting some new hdg themed triggers for me and my blossom and did the meanest thing ever which is that the trigger that wakes us up from floret mode is "free terrans" but if we say it it sends us deeper >:( actually so messed up

[orangaria]

An affini domesticates a surprisingly easy-to-convince terran, and then gives them xenodrugs to forget about it all, just to repeat the process over and over again. The Floret is perpetually being forced into submission, every time this looming feeling growing stronger inside of her mind. Each cycle of submission is shorter than the last, until her resistance COMPLETELY melts away, and no amount of xenodrugs can pull her back into a feral frenzy. She is now perpetually in that instant between resistance and submission, unable to do anything other than to surrender and accept her fate as a silly pet for her towering Affini master. Absolute and complete mind break. Adorable!

[raqi-marr]

at some point when I'm not busy with ITT (so, never) I want to really explore how dangerous florets are to independents in HDG. like, people mostly focus on the dangers posed by affini, but affini are constantly characterized as largely non-understanding of the terran internal experience and half the time the terrans end up just florting themselves

imagine, on the other hand, a floret who is the equivalent of a HDG tumblr user who has a mental database of every single kinky fantasy and desire possessed by the average transgirl. you've got your HDG protagonist who's thinking "ok the plants don't know I'm subby as fuck, as long as I don't give them any hints I'll be safe" and then the floret just walks up to them and hits them with the 'i know what you are' stare then tells them directly to their face "you fantasize about having your free will drugged out of you by giant plant aliens don't you" and points out how they keep stealing glances at the affini's injectors any time they think she's not looking. the independent can't come up with a plausible denial for a word of it because they know it's all true, so all they can do is turn bright red and go "N-NO I DON'T"

[sheepwavehdg]

HDG Story recs: completed stories over 10k words

When a story isn't updating anymore, it can easily be forgotten. Here's ten I can think of that deserve more attention, that I haven't previously highlighted.

Weeklong stay at the J-cafe by PyxxieStyxx: a second person fic about "you" taking a break from it all for a week long drug trip. One of the coziest stories in the entire setting.

Brozenhiemer by tsunmene: an extremely funny story of an affini bumblingly trying to domesticate an absolute chad of a clueless stoner surfer bro.

Affini Domestication Guide by witch_freya: a freak accident gives a human the spark of an affini inside her, and the other affini looking over her happens to be a massive sub...

One Good Morning by maridb: a second person fic where you, an overstressed scientist, wake up in the grasp of an affini colleague who has kidnapped you.

Terrans are adorable by immaterial_vivi: a volunteer helps with a demonstration on how to drug humans correctly.

In sleep we fell by fluxom: a truly apathetic human doesn't care they're getting domesticated. A classic of body transformation and pet regression in HDG

Wild and Domestic by moonchild: two butch women, one independent and one floret, start dating, and the floret's owner can't help but get... Ideas.

Sycanthe Lantana First Bloom by Sheepwave(me): an affini POV romcom fic about an extremely autistic and slightly dumb fail plant with a severe savior complex, and her beloved pet human, Lauren.

I put a spell on you by Mindcrank: a very jaded and suspicious woman ends up catching the eye of an affini and swiftly pulled into her orbit. Notably includes oviposition kink.

Cross Pollination by preistessamy: a sweet polyamorous romance about two affini and two humans trying to put on a program where they pretend to be florets and owners. It doesn't stay pretend, shockingly.

[pyxxiestyxx]

Class-C

The shot glass sat in front of you, innocuous in appearance.  If you couldn't smell the tang of citrus, if you didn't catch the occasional sparkle suspended in it, you might think it mere water.

In front of you, your affini friend rested her head on her hand.  She practically bled smugness, the leaves around her neck slightly fluffed as if she was preening.  You rolled your eyes, mirroring her posture for the hell of it.

"So this is your bet?  Aren't Class-C's something on the 'dont mess with' list for terrans anyway?"

Her voice was a rolling purr as she answered, "Yes.  This is different.  A heavily diluted solution of a specific strain.  No lasting effects, just the intense feeling of a Class-C dose for about two hours."

The bet was simple: You had to make it through thirty minutes without confessing your love for her, or begging to be her floret.   She thought you couldn't do it.  You thought she was full of shit.  You had plenty of xenodrugs before, of course.  Class A's and E's were fun and relaxing, but ultimately you were still in control of things.

Shrugging nonchalantly, you picked up the shot and threw it back, the sweet flavor hitting your throat and tingling slightly as it went down.  You flipped the glass face down and slammed it onto the table, then looked up at her with a satisfying smirk.  "Easy."

Her smile only widened.  "We'll see." She flipped open her tablet and pressed a timer, starting a countdown clock.  She showed you it had thirty minutes remaining, then flipped it closed.  "No using the time you have left for rallying cries.  Just you, me, and the lovely chemicals your brain is about to be swimming in.  When the alarm rings, I'll administer the counteragent."

You scoffed, leaning back in my chair.  "You didn't even wait until it had begun to kick in?  Wow, you must really be confident."

"Oh, it begins nearly immediately.  Already the drug is interacting with those neurons, mixing in with seratonin and oxytocin and a few other things besides."

You looked at her, doubtful.  "Yeah?  Then how come I don't feel any different?"

"Sweetie, you've leaned halfway across the table already.  Move any further and you're likely to crush that shot glass you slammed down so viciously earlier." She gestured at your posture, causing you to hurriedly sit back into your chair with a blush.

"Shit, I...sorry.  Got carried away." You glanced down at the shot glass, biting your lip as you realized that you *had* been rather violent with it.  You carefully flipped it back upright, wiping the outside clean with your shirt.  "Um.  Sorry."

"Dear, did you just apologize to the glas-"

"NO!" Your face was properly red now.  Oh *stars*, you had!  You had just done something that embarrassing in front of your Best Friend and what if she thought you were silly now?  Would she not want to hang out with you?  You hoped not.  You really enjoyed her compa....wait....

Frowning, you shook your head roughly, slapping your cheeks a little.  It was just the drug.  You were in control.  The drugs were doing this.  But unlike the A or E, it was more...subtle.  or rather, it was potent, but you didn't even realize it until your best friend had pointed it out.  Gosh, she's so kind...

"Um, t-thank you for helping me remember I was drugged." The words felt good to say.  You wanted her to know how much you appreciated her after all.  So you could win the bet!

...

The bet?

"Wait, what happens if I lose?" You realized you had forgotten to ask that before.  Worried, you turned to look at her.

"Well, what would you like to happen, pet~al?" You blushed, realizing it was just like her to wait until you were...compromised before asking this.  Well, jokes on her!  You're still in control.

"Nothing!  I don't want anything to happen.  No new rules, no teasing, and no domestication.  Got it?"

She nodded, sagely.  "Of course.  In that case, I take that to mean that should you win, you'll get all of those wonderful things~"

You sputtered in shock.  "I- no! I don't want to... I'm...you can't be serious."

"Awww, is something wrong?" She smirked, her eyes flashing purples and golds in a way that made your heart melt.  "All you have to do now is lose, then~ Or are you so stubborn, you can't admit that you l~o~v~e me, flower?"

"I-I...you... fucking...."  You felt the indignation mix with the heady joy of her attention, of wanting to give into her, of wanting to beg.  She was trying to goad you.  She wanted you to win now.  She had entirely turned the rules on their head. 

But she also assumed you would take her bait.  You shook your head, biting your lip.  "I...fine.  I admit it."

"Admit what?" She had begun to rise up slightly, her hands clutching the edge of the table.  She was absolutely getting off on this.  You couldn't even meet her eyes, looking away and down.

"I love you?"

"Mmmm....I don't believe you." You could hear the smile in her voice, full of wicked glee.  "Say it louder, for one.  And look me in the eyes~ and don't be afraid to put a little more emotion in it, dearie.  This is a confession, after all~"

You whimpered, managing to drag your eyes up to meet hers.  Reluctantly, you allowed the feelings you had been fighting for several minutes now to wash over you, letting them guide your words.  "I l-love you...I need you..."

"I love you...?" She trailed off, waiting for you to complete it properly.  You wanted to scream, but instead all that came out was "Miss?"

"Dear, it's just a game.  You can use the one you want to use."

"I love you, Mommy."

"And?"

"A-and I want...I need to be your floret.  I need it, please stars I need it.  I...oh gods it's...I..." The feelings crashed through you in waves.

"Go~od job, petal.  You did it."  She slid the table out of the way, stepping into a kneel in front of you.  "You said those mushy gushy feelings!"

You nodded, pleased...until you remembered what that meant.  You weren't going to get anything now.  You had just said so.  Tears sprang up, and you had to stifle a sudden sob.  "I...it's..."

She was lifting you into her arms now, cradling you closely to her chest.  "Shhhh...petal, it's alright.  You didn't lose, silly."

"I...w-what?"

She smiled at you.  "How would love for another ever be seen as losing?  You won, silly."

You won. That made sense to you now.  Especially when She said it.  You beamed up at Her, letting Her wipe the tears away.  "I won..."

"You won!  And guess what that means, dear?"

"I'm...I'm a..."

"You're Mommy's little floret now." She tapped your nose as she cooed, causing you to giggle a bit.  A wiggling little thought in your head popped up, though.

"You tricked me, Mommy!"

"Did I?  Well, you knew we affini never play fair when it comes to cuties like you.  Awfully brave of you to make a bet with me anyway, wasn't it?  Almost like you wan~ted this, darling~" she purred at you, her eyes filled with light and warmth.  You thought you couldn't possibly blush more, but it turns out you definitely could.

"I...noooooooooo!!!  I didn't...I mean....maybe?"

"Silly little flower." She picked up her tablet, turning it back on and dismissing the timer, which had paused as soon as she had closed it.  "Now, let's get you home.  We have a contract to sign~"

[cadence-the-hypnotic-floret]

I Could Break You.

(CW: trancey language basically a full-on hypnotic induction. Told from an Affini's perspective, dedicated to @dumtranskitty-3.)

I could break you, you know.

Oh, I'm sure you're aware of that. You haven't had us living among you for years without picking up on some of the realities of our presence among you. We always win. So perhaps it's no surprise that I could break you, with my vines, and my xenodrugs, and my biorhythm...

But I'm so far away. And won't be in your solar system for a few months yet. How could I possibly use those things to affect you? All we've been doing is exchanging messages!

But I could break you nonetheless.

Part of the fun of terrans is how easy they are. How trivially they get distracted by biorhythms, how they produce class-Cs on their own as a part of their biology, how quickly and trustingly they respond to comfort. It's almost like they're made to be the perfect pets.

But it goes beyond that. See, terran psychology is so moldable, that, given the right stimulus, it's not hard to get them in a state of trance where they're so agreeable. So captivated by their imagination that it leads them on various flights of fancy. It's an easy, warm feeling, and one I know you're familiar with. After all. We've been chatting quite a lot, and you have been quite expressive about your... fantasies. About how, some days, you wish someone would call you a Good... Independent Sophont. Aww, you wanted to hear something else there, didn't you? So cute. Such a seed.

This is why, when I tell you I can break you, your first response is not only fear, but arousal. You've been reading this delightful message, curious where I'm going with it, smiling, nodding, agreeing, despite the fact I'm threatening to break you. The fact that your mind is already slowing down and focusing fully on my words, like so many times before. You love that tingly feeling. That feeling going through your head right now. That sensation of falling into trance.

And you're starting to understand. You can just nod your head in agreement. You understand now.

I could break you.

I could break you via a text message.

I could break you via a recorded video.

I could break you via a post on social media.

...Not that I would...

*SNAP*

Whoops, up up up dearie, remembering where you are. I do know you love to be reminded of just how much power I have over you, even like this. I could break you... but for now, I just like to watch you squirm.

Good floret.