#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.

[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

[galacticlavender]

You Only Think When I Allow It

cw: intelligence play, light memory play, clicker training

“I’m smart when I want to be!” You regretted your words the second they left your mouth, and sure enough you now had your Mistress’s undivided attention.

“Petal? I think you meant to say that you are smart when I want you do be.” You hear the slight hum of her biorhythm bouncing off your implant, not strong enough to overwhelm you but enough to warn you that you were on thin ice.

“I uh well sorry Mistress I just thought…” 

She cuts you off before you can even finish the sentence: “No. You don’t think, pet.” This time her biorhythm gave you no room to argue or explain yourself. Your mind simply went 

Blank.

“Come back to me dear.” You hear the musical tones of your Mistress’s voice as you suddenly snap back to awareness. How long had it been? It couldn’t have been long you’re still in the same spot. You decide that it isn’t really important especially when Mistress is talking. “Darling are you back?” You nod silently as the last of the fog clears your head. 

“Normally I would say that this was enough of a demonstration but brats need reminded of their place sometimes don’t they dear?”

“Yes Mistress.” You say it automatically and without hesitation, you know better than to say or do anything else.

“Good pet!” A pulse of pleasure radiates through you before she quickly catches your attention again. 

“I think it’s time for a pop quiz pet! I know how much you used to pride yourself on how smart you were and that fancy education you had. That’s not inherently a bad thing, but the pressures and expectations that they put on you were crushing you before I found you flower. Thinking all the time was hurting you and I simply cannot allow that. Of course it’s ok to be smart sometimes too, but you need balance just as in all other parts of life. You seem to have forgotten that and it’s time for me to give you a reminder that you can be smart, yes, but only when I allow it. Now can you think clearly right now pet?”

You nod again, not knowing what she has planned but eager to find out. “Excellent then lets begin. Don’t worry the questions aren’t hard, especially for a smart girl like you who got such a fancy education,” you feel as well as hear the mocking tone of her voice and remember that with their long lifespans and superior intelligence even the smartest and most educated terran couldn’t hope to compair to an affini. 

“First question: what year did the Affini compact make diplomatic contact with humanity?” That’s easy, it was only a few years ago afterall. Before you can answer though you hear a sharp Click and feel a rush of pleasure that leaves your thoughts just a little more fuzzy than they were before. “Well pet? Whats the answer?” 

You hear another Click and another wave of that fuzzy pleasure floods over you. “That’s easy it’s…” The answer eludes you, replaced with a fuzzy, tingly warmth. Why is your head so foggy  suddenly? You don’t know, but Mistress is waiting for an answer. “I don’t know” you quietly admit.

“Good floret!”

Your Mistress’s praise feels so good that you barely even notice the Click that accompanied it or the fog rising behind it. What was going on again? You were proving you were smart so why is it so hard to think right now?

“Mistress, are you cheating by using xenodruggies to make me stupid?” You slur the words slightly reenforcing your theory that you have been drugged.

“Well first off, it would not be cheating to use xenodrugs on you. You are my pet and I can drug or play with you whenever I choose. But, no dear, you aren’t drugged. You don’t need to be anymore, remember this?” She produces a small plastic object. You whimper involuntarily as memories of countless hours of painstaking training rush back.

“Wait… you clicker trained me then made me forget about it?” You try to sound assertive but fail to hide your arousal at the thought of being trained.

“Watching you remember always was my favorite part. It’s just so cute watching you realize how much I own you. How much control I have over you.” You a faint moan escapes your lips but thankfully she interrupts you before you could embarrass yourself further. “I think its time for the next question: what is the name of the ship we are on?” Click.

Again you know that you should know the answer but it just can’t quite make it through the rising fog. “Uhhhhh I don’t know?” 

“Good pet!” another Click another wave of fuzzy pleasure hits your brain. “That’s right! You don’t know. Afterall why would a silly little pet like you need to remember things like that?” 

Another Click reminds you just how owned you are. “Good pets like you don’t need to think. Good pets like you can’t think, not without their owners permission anyway. You only think when I allow it. You aren’t a person anymore dear, you’re my adorable, obedient pet.” You don’t even try to hide your moan this time, you aren’t even sure you could hide it at this point iso you decide not to bother with trying.

“Ok pet, last question: what are you?” The anticipation you feel waiting for that beautiful Click almost feels as good as hearing it at this point.

“I’m your obedient pet, Mistress.”

“Yes you certainly are dear. I think you deserve a reward for doing such a good job.

Click.

[pyxxiestyxx]

Paw

"Come on now, love.  Give Miss Magias paw!"

I stared at the pale imitation of a Terran's hand before me; it was massive compared to mine, but she had clearly added an additional thumb on the other side, creating a strangely symmetrical shape that would be beautiful...if it weren't being used to mock me. 

I glared at her instead of complying, crossing my arms firmly to hide my hands away.  This was not the kind of treatment I had asked for at the Domestication Centre, after all.  I had been expressly clear that I wanted an affini who treated me with respect and courtesy, and who wasn’t going to treat me like I was some dumb animal.  I had a Doctorate in Microbiology, for starssake!  

“I’m not doing that Canea,” I said in my most even-toned voice, the kind reserved for colleagues who didn’t yet know they were incorrect.  “I don’t even have a paw to give.  I am more than willing to shake your hand, as is customary for many Terrans.  Did you perhaps get my species confused with the Rinans?”

At that she couldn’t help but clutch her belly and laugh, a rumbling that felt like it was shaking me apart from such close proximity.  She wiped a nonexistent tear from one of her several eyes and replied, “Oh, Everbloom no, silly.  I do know exactly what you are, you have my word.”

There were a few moments of silence before it was clear she wasn’t going to continue, so I made the next move (albeit with a short sigh of frustration).

“Right, perhaps we should start over.  My name is Doctor Caleb Davenport, and I am-”

The affini interrupted me with a wave of her hand.  “Sweetie, I already know those old details, just as I’m sure you looked into mine as soon as you were given my name by the nice receptionist lady.” 

I had, of course; Canea Magias, Ninth Bloom, pronouns of she/her.  Has two florets already, both terrans, both so far off the deep end of pethood that the mere sight of them had my skin crawling.  She was on the shorter end for an affini, but exceedingly curvaceous, to match her lackadaisical and bubbly personality. 

A personality which grated harshly on my nerves.

If ever a mismatch could be, this certainly was.  I was looking for an elegant, dignified affini, the kind who enjoyed a good book and some social discussion on the intricacies of xenobacteria, not…not…puppy play.

I sighed again, lifting my glasses and rubbing the bridge of my nose.  “Yes, I did.  Hence why I reiterate: clearly there was some kind of mix-up.  The floret-to-be you were supposed to be assigned is probably in one of the other rooms, and my affini is probably with her, wondering how she is supposed to have a debate with someone who can’t stop putting her fingers in her mouth.  So, if you’ll excuse me…”

I stepped to the side to try and get around her and leave the room, but she matched mine with her own.  Her smile widened as she produced a stack of familiar-looking papers.  “Oh, I’m quite certain I am right where I need to be, just as you are.  I even have your intake questionnaire, which you so kindly filled out this morning.  Everything I read tells me that we were perfectly matched~  We’re going to be one big family, with plenty of playtime and delicious treats!”

I snatched the offered papers from her grasp, checking to make sure my answers hadn’t been tampered with.  

That my words remained unchanged was when I began to worry.

I jabbed my finger at the third page as I retorted, “That’s ridiculous.  Look, this question plainly asks ‘How do you spend your day?’”

“It does, yes.”

“And my answer was, ‘I prefer a standard 0500-1700 workday spent on my projects.  Upon arriving home, I will do some light research while eating a meal.’”  I held the page up for her to see, tapping it again for good measure.  “This is what I enjoy.  Not ‘playtime’ or ‘treats’.”

Canea smirked, rolling her eyes in a way that was extremely disconcerting.  “Are you sure that’s what it says, dear?  And before you protest, I’m not speaking of the literal characters or words they form.  I’m talking about the intent.  When I looked at the meaning and purpose behind all the pages and pages of posturing, all I read, over and over and over, was ‘I'm terrified of losing control, even if it is perfect for me.  I don’t know how to manage my time. I’m packing my life full of tasks so I don’t think about the things tugging at the depths of my mind. I need Miss Magias's help.”

“I…that’s preposterous,” I sputtered angrily.  “I am a Doctor, not some invalid.  I would know if I needed to deal with anything, and I would handle it like an adult.”

“Even now your words whimper one thing, but your intent screams another, petal.”  She sauntered towards me slowly, giving me ample time to scramble backwards before she could reach me.  The problem, of course, was that the room was finite in its dimensions, and all too soon I reached the far wall.  I eyed her warily, watching as she continued to slowly advance.

Step.  “You are many things, my dear.  A Doctor, a problem solver, a polyglot. But do you know what else you are?”

“What?”

Step.  “My floret.  You signed the paperwork already, love.  And according to point two of the contract, that means I own you.  I can rip that Doctorate from you as easily as I can drug you, if that is what is needed for you to be your best self. I will change your name, to better match the precious girl you are hiding deep inside. And if I say my pet has paws, then she has paws.”

“I…but-”

Step.  “You are my property, love.  And as the very first point in the contract said, you must obey me in all things.  Not ‘some of the time’.  Not ‘when you feel like it’.  All.  Things.”  

Step.  She towered over me now, enough to send a cold line of fluttering fear down my back.  She hadn’t changed form, hadn’t grown, but her presence alone had pinned me to the wall and choked off any attempt to disagree.  

“Now then, pet.  I am going to ask one more time.  Paw.”  Her hand was palm-up once more, though far lower than where it had been before, near my chest.  In fact, it was almost brushing the floor, as if-

I yelped as Canea wrapped a vine around the back of my knees and tugged, pulling me down to all fours before I had a chance to think.  I opened my mouth to protest, but a series of vines wove around my jaw and head into a starsforsaken muzzle.  

And yet, she didn’t speak.  Instead she stared me down, the intensity of her gaze drilling into my defiance...and eventually forcing me to look away.

After a few long moments of silence, I slowly lifted my hand and shakily placed it in her grasp.

“Good Girl~”

[tiffinifanyamber]

An "independent Terran" telling her strangely supportive friend on the Overnet all about how much she secretly wants to be domesticated by the Affini that just moved into the hab next door, blissfully unaware that they're one and the same.

Sharing all her deepest most intimate fantasies, asking if the Affini would like it if she started wearing companion dresses (her "friend" seemed incredibly enthusiastic about this one for some reason), confessing the desire to just give in and beg to become her floret is getting harder to resist every day, no idea she's been telling all of this to her soon-to-be Mistress until it's far too late.

[orangaria]

An affini that takes away all mirrors and reflective surfaces in the hab and starts calling her new “cis male” floret a girlie name from the moment she first wakes up.

The usual “free Terran” resistance doesn’t even cross her mind as she instead declares over and over that this isn’t her name, and that she is a boy.

The affinity simply chuckles. What a silly pet she is! She’s obviously a girl, and always has been! And she give her a heavy dose of xenodrugs to soothe her mind.

Over the next few days, the floret gets put into cute dresses, her hair grows out quite a bit due to the drugs, and even her voice starts sounding more feminine.

There daze she is being kept under is making it harder and harder to protest, and she starts to respond naturally to her new name under the affini’s care.

Class Gs are used and she is too far gone to even realize that the adorably feminine body she now had is one different from just a week prior.

She is now a happy pet. A happy girl pet

Get florted, get forcefemed :3

[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.

[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."

[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."

[eleanor-second-floret]

A group of terran feralists who all start out staunchly opposed to the Affini, but over time each one finds themselves being more and more of a seed. They hide it so none of the other feralists find out in fear of danger, until one day an Affini vessel is spotted entering the same system as their planet. Over the day, each “feralist” sends secret comms to the Affini to surrender.

When the Affini arrive, each one insists they didn’t call the Affini. And then the Affini show up and are like “actually we got a note from each one of you, anyways hop in we’re going to the J-Cafes”

[other-floret-friend]

Genuinely creepy goonerfinni.

She stalks you at night. Screens hooked up to the cameras in your hab, gently stroking at her injectors with that pink-gold glow in her eyes, observing you doing the most banal of things because you're just so precious. And when curiosity takes you over and you look up something like how it feels to be collared, her leaves visibly tremble from excitement.

Other Affini seem a little... strange around her, in a way that's pretty hard to explain. The visible sight of glittery pollen across her form despite not actually having a floret, being quite obviously her own, brings about intrigued looks - nothing accusatory, but certainly curious. She's a bit odd, perhaps, but not harmful.

She still watches, though. Seeing something like you making a sandwich with such a sense of lust in her form, giggling and babbling almost incoherently about how adorable you are when you drop the butter knife you're using, about how precious you are, how you're so helpless all on your own. She's got pretty detailed notes about you, and yet you've not met her.

Yet.

You seem to get this sense that someone's watching you, but maybe that's just normal. Sure, your hab's AI is always active, but sometimes, it's like it speaks with a different... purpose, behind it. Odd orders of Terran-compatible... "pleasure tools" keep "mistakenly" arriving at your door from unmarked senders, but you know this has to be a mistake, right? And surely the changes in recommendations on your infopad are just some sort of glitch, as they seem to suggest weirder and weirder florn over and over, almost insisting on it.

...maybe you shouldn't have refused those obscure, tiny little advances for so long. Your secret admirer's only more and more infatuated by the day, constantly on the precipice of putting out a notice of intent on you, but wondering if you'd turn it down. She just can't have that. An idea forms. Not something most Affini would do on a whim, but something that Affini like her seem to revel in. Fantasies shared with other plants. All of them like her, ending up with their own florets by some means or another.

Late one night, while you're snoozing, all tuckered out from tentatively looking up the effects of different xenodrugs out of "curiosity" on the overnet, she finds that she just can't help herself. She knows where you are. In fact, she knows how to effortlessly, silently slip into your hab, unnoticed, and she does just that. She's so close to you. She smells so, so sweet, reeking of spent xenodrugs and nectar. That look on her face is so controlling, but so loving.

Unfurling around your sleeping form, vines wrapping around you, exposing you to her core as you groggily bat your eyes to see her looking down at you, she shushes you, injectors slipping into your skin, so softly apologising both that she just couldn't hold herself back, but also for not doing this sooner.

You don't need to worry. You'll be such a good floret. This was always best for you, right? The biorhythm sinking into your soul, the class-C's entering your bloodstream, that look of tired grogginess giving way to flustered, pet-like adoration on your little face suggests as much. This is how it'd always end up.

...she'll file a notice tomorrow, make it official, all above-board. You're not going to turn it down, after all. :::)

[raqi-marr]

i just realised: how the fuck has no one written HDG among us yet

picture this: group of florets get placed in a small compact shuttle together. the ship has been """disabled""", and they have to complete various tasks (including things like sorting the blocks into the right holes) to get it working again. however: one floret among them is actually an affini in disguise

the shapeshifting plant is capable of moving through vents, and when they are alone with another floret, they can take on their true form and inject them with a mixture of class-M's and class-W's to pacify them. every time a crewmate gets florted, the remaining florets have a vote, and can choose to send someone to the floret wiggler. whoever they send to the floret wiggler gets wiggled and is rendered incapacitated for the remainder of the session. if they successfully figure out who the affini is and wiggle them, then they win, or if they manage to repair the ship before all getting drugged, they also win

the affini could very easily win every time if they wanted to, but they keep getting distracted by how adorable their pets look doing all the puzzles. a floret finishes sorting all the blocks, and they just hear "Good job, petal! Well done!", then turn around and have half a second to scream before the mass of injectors and teeth behind them finishes cooing and pumps them full of drugs

most affini losses are because they forget to change back to terran form after doing the above because they were too busy petting the dolled-out cutie for doing so well

[littlemissspiraleyes]

Petal, it's time for your Class G's. ... Aaaand some Class C's, Class N's, Class A's, and Class M's. Oops, did I forget to mention those before injecting you? Silly me. I just get so distracted by you cute you are and how I'm the luckiest Affini in the universe to have you. Oh, look at how you blush at that. Not that you can do anything else right now. But don't worry, I'll take good care of you~

Your eyes are rolling to the back of your head so easily today! Giving you some time to recover then petting you again so they shoot back up is so much fun to watch. I could do it all day~

Don't worry, your haustorium will keep your silly little brain from getting too fried. I learned from last time. Though getting to rebuild you from the ground up was so much fun. You Terrans experience ego death so easily.

But I do miss the sounds you make. Here, let me fix that: Hab, play the compilation of my floret's best moans. The ten hour version. We have all the time in the world...

[forthefictionallesbians]

Andy stared pointedly into the glowing eyes of the affini sharing her table, daring them to prove her right. It would be an easy victory for "Wisteria Salashi, Fourth Bloom," should she decide to take it. Andy was under no illusions about her ability to resist any of the countless tools Wisteria had at her disposal--the xenodrugs, the hypnosis, even just prolonged exposure to her biorhythm. But if she could count on anything, it was her domineering friend's pride. That was the game, and she was winning.

Wisteria just sighed, the scarlet vines composing her chest folding inwards slightly along with the loud exhalation. All five of the eyes embedded in her "face" closed, and one titanic hand reached up to rub the bridge of her not-nose. It was a shockingly human gesture. Proof of how far Wisteria had come since moving into terran space.

"What's wrong, Wist? Afraid of showing your empire's true colours?" She tried her best to sound innocent, and failed. Each word dripped with the smirk slowly pulling at her lips. Behind her friend, a set of floret servers in overly cutesy orange-and-pink floral dresses had paused their rounds to gape. A few of the diner's other patrons, humans and affini alike, had also glanced after hearing the sigh. No matter. Witnesses would just make the victory all the sweeter.

"Really, Andy? You're taunting me with a feralist talking point?" Wist's response came slowly, as she completed her exasperated display and stared down at Andy with disbelief and... hunger? "You do understand that I could use that as a reason to domesticate you, without violating your rights as an independent at all?"

Ooops. "Ah, but we both know I don't really believe that," she retorted in a sudden flash of anxiety.

"Then why, dearest acorn, did you think this was a good idea?"

Her mind reeled slightly. What did Wist mean? It felt like the whole impulsive plan was crumbling around her. But she had known why she'd pushed when she had. This had seemed like a good idea then. Frost and fire, it could still be a good idea. She just had to make it work, and then she would finally be the winner in their daily sparring matches. Time to dig in.

"If you're so frustrated by this, then what's stopping you from domesticating me?" Wisteria's eyes were unreadable, dazzling ovals that seemed to dance as Andy resumed glaring. That wasn't fair. Hers couldn't do that. And they were so beautiful. And deep. And wow. Wisteria blinked with a slight chuckle, forcibly breaking their eye contact for a second. Wha- right. Andy continued. "I know you want to, so desperately. It's why you come here every day. And all that's stopping you is my explicit lack of consent." She folded her arms over her chest, the sleeves of her jacket making a satisfying rustle as a flared nose finished her picture of defiance.

Wisteria leaned forwards, towering over Andy as she closed the distance. The expression on her face had turned distinctly predatory. Andy yelped despite herself, before returning to her best facsimile of resoluteness. "Do you want me to domesticate you?"

The way her voice squeaked in response was horrifically undignified. "N- no! No, I don't! I-"

She was cut off by a purred pronouncement, silenced by the forest of thorny teeth curling into a cruel smile. "You've been coming here too, little one. Every day, just to meet with me. I think you do want it."

"You- you can't! Unless you break the rules! Which-"

"Which means you win? Because you've proved I don't care about them?" Her voice rolled like sap, slow and irresistible. Andy had the horrible feeling that she had messed up somehow. "Isn't it cute that the only way for you to win is on my leash?"

Frost. Frost frost frost frost. How had this gotten so out of hand?

"It's almost like you want me to take you."

Maybe she could still pull this together? Not be the flustered one for once in her storming life?

"To wrap my vines around your neck and never let go."

No. She didn't want that. Didn't she? Wisteria was so close, her eyes were so bright. The rest of the restaurant had stopped existing.

"Turning you into my little pet, my little plaything, forever and ever."

She was blinking so fast. It didn't help. Her mind was filling with that light.

And then it was gone. Andy shuddered, confused, the world slowly fading back in. What had happened? Wisteria was sitting back, leaning away from her, a satisfied expression on her beautiful face. The glow in her eyes had faded, and they were back to their normal burnished sheen. Part of Andy twinged in disappointment at that. But that didn't matter. As memories slowly folded back into her mind, she realized she'd lost. Again. Frost, she was hopeless.

"It's funny, you know?" Wisteria was speaking. Andy's head whipped up towards them, gaze refocusing.

"Wuh-- huh?" Eloquence had always been once of her strong suits.

"You could already be my floret, domesticated and then hypnotized to not remember it. And you would have no idea." Wisteria wasn't even looking at her while talking, focusing instead on swirling an oversized glass of some affini beverage. If Andy wasn't so busy panicking, she would have found the image strikingly beautiful.

Full consciousness crashed back in an instant, mind returning and immediately flying into overdrive. "I'm not, am I?" Andy frantically began searching through her memories, desperately hunting for proof of her lauded independence. What had she eaten for breakfast that morning? Where did she work? Were the answers real? Could she know??

Wisteria chuckled, still looking away. "There's only one way to find out, my acorn."

"And what's that?" Her heart felt tight. Panic still held her in an iron vice.

The towering affini pushed the chair back, and stood. However much she had dwarfed Andy while sitting, standing just made it worse. She held out a hand. "It's time for us to go now, pet." Her voice was iron, commanding, sweeping through Andy. With the turmoil in her head, there was no refusing the order.

Tentatively, anxiously, but obediently, Andy stood and walked over to take Wisteria's hand. Vines snaked out, binding her wrist and upper arm with a surprising gentleness that still lacked any give. There was no escape. Wisteria started to walk. Andy quickly began jogging along, barely keeping up with her friend's(?) massive strides. After the hypnotic display, a solid third of the patrons watched them go. Most of the humans were gaping in open desire. She blushed, hard.

Wisteria swung the door open, and Andy quickly followed out into the street. Her mind was still churning, struggling to catch up with how quickly things had gone wrong. Wrong? Had they gone wrong? She didn't know anymore. Gathering enough thoughts to ask a question took until they reached the train station, where she was picked up and placed firmly on a viney lap. That silenced her for another long moment, until she finally spoke up.

"Wist?"

There was no response; Wisteria didn't even acknowledge that anything had been said.

"Wisteria?" Andy turned to look up at her. Still, nothing. Her shoulders clenched. She had lived in under the compact her entire life, she had been surrounded by affini media and books, to say nothing of having watched many of her friends and acquaintances fall to domestication over the years. She knew what Wisteria was waiting for. And as hesitant as she was to say it, she had to know.

"....mistress?"

A wide grin spread across the affini's face, and she looked down at the girl in her lap. "Yes, my acorn?"

Andy felt herself tremble. This was not how she had imagined the conversation going this morning. But nothing felt real anymore. She didn't even know if her hab unit was real. The train was traveling the wrong direction for her, but she didn't know if that was right either.

"Did you-- Am I a floret?"

"Not yet, dearest. But we're going to change that right now. After how adorable you were today, I couldn't believe I'd held myself back for so long."

Andy whimpered, but did not resist.

[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~"

[montmorillionite]

Asleep in my vines

A microfic:

"Feralist?"

The veterinarian handling intake asked, gesturing to the little sleeping terran cradled in my vines.

"Oh, no she's quite docile. She reached out for medical help and then fell asleep in my vines on the way over here"

The veterinarian cooed and layed a tendril across the little terran's cheek.

"awww adorable! What sort of medical care does she need?"

"based on a field assessment it seems she is suffering with acute fatigue and dehydration which are likely exacerbated by several nutrient deficiencies based on the state of other terrans on this station."

The veterinarian acknowledged my assessment and motioned for me to pass the little creature over into eir vines.

"I believe that is likely, yes. Why don't we do a full work up here while she's asleep"

As I passed the terran over, she stirred slightly, letting out an adorable discontented grumble to be leaving my vines. Both the veterinarian and I cooed in adoration. The vet quickly slipped a class Z into her thigh to keep her asleep for the examination.

As the veterinarian busied emself with taking blood and physically examining the cute little creature, e cast a portion of eir attention at me.

"Think you've found your next floret in this one?"

I hesitated, I could feel my leaves fluffing in surprise. I hadn't been thinking that, but now that the veterinarian mentioned it I felt my core pulse with wanting and taking and caring emotions, conflicting with my preconcieved plans to drop the terran off here and let another handle her wardship.

"I was thinking that with how she was able and willing to reach out for help she would likely have a decent chance at independence actually."

The veterinarian's biorhythm took on a piercing, amused, good-naturedly conspiratorial quality. E definitely noticed the conflict and want in my own rhythm.

"She might, but you can't have missed how quickly her breathing synched to your biorhythm. I think you might have found that new pet you've been looking for. Especially if she wakes up in your vines on a small dose of class C."

The wanting and taking in my core redoubled. We would definitely be doing that. I could already imagine the docile, overawed expression she would have as she awoke to her new life under my care. I ruffled my leaves in excitement and anticipation.

"I suppose I'd better schedule a core sample and an implantation surgery then!"

The veterinarian ruffled eir vines in amusement.

"Yes I rather think you had better. We can take care of the core sample as she's sleeping off the class Z"

I shuddered in anticipation

"That sounds perfect!"