“She’s been like this all day.”

 

“All day? Have you administered any Class-E’s?”

 

“I am… somewhat conflicted in that decision. I don’t wish to enhance her resentment.”

 

“Hmmm. It may be time to consider more traditional domestication methods Everly. There’s no requirement for you to humour her bet, and I have to question its effect on her well-being. Would you like me to contact a -”

 

“No. No, that won’t be necessary. She’ll come around; she needs time.”

 

I rolled over, shifting my body weight from my left shoulder to my right, and stared at Cereus and Miss with dead eyes. “You’re aware I can hear you both? If you’re going to talk about me in such a passive manner, kindly do so in your own tongue.”

 

The two exchanged a brief, somewhat taken aback, somewhat worried look. Miss’s vines ruffled in a manner that told me she was struggling to hold her composure which I took as my cue to recast my back towards both of them. I flopped my head against Foxy and returned to my vacant stare accompanied by vacant thoughts.

 

The two aliens decided to heed my advice and switched to their native tongue, their conversation, or maybe disagreement growing in intensity. By this, I mean the rate of speech increased by 11%, and their ceiling increased by 8 decibels.

 

It’s interesting that I’ve retained the ability to accurately process these changes, and yet I feel nothing towards them. Foxy’s fur, usually so fluffy and comforting, now felt null and no different from the textured sofa. I think I noticed that after I had finished crying this morning, or was it after I had returned from my outing with Lucia? It’s not important, I suppose. Gosh. When was the last time I felt like this? Months, years? Am I supposed to feel frustrated now? Internal sigh. Time for a change of scenery.

 

I begrudgingly swung my legs to the edge of the sofa and planted them against the floor, taking the time to place Foxy in the corner and smothering her in the blanket I had previously worn. At least you’ll get to stay comfortable, Foxy. I stood up.

 

“Going somewhere?” Miss asked, the conversation halting mid-flow.

 

“I am, actually,” I replied. “I’m heading out. Change of scenery, new perspectives, that type of thing.  Any issues with that?”

 

“Several, flower, you’re in no state –“

 

“I exist in a state. A state may I remind you that you pushed me towards. I’m heading out; if you want to stop me, pin me down, or better yet, hypnotise me again and make it so I don’t want to leave. You seem to excel in that field,” I interrupted dryly.

 

Miss’s vines ruffled a second time, and the irises of her eyes tinted towards red, not in their entirety, but enough to notice.

 

“Perhaps a change of scenery would do her well, Everly. I’ll take her out and have her back within the hour,” Cereus quickly added.

 

Miss’s vines settled down, and she looked considerably older for a time. “Yes, I think you may be right… Very well.” She turned to face me, bringing herself to eye level. “Star, please be on your best behaviour for Cereus. When you get back, we’ll address this more earnestly and discuss how we want to take our relationship in the future.” She leaned in and kissed my forehead. I didn’t retract from it, but I didn’t exactly lean into it, either. She pulled back, her eyes clouded with negative emotions and reluctantly retrieved a collar from beneath her vines. “I’ll need you to wear this as well.”

 

I gave a forced, quick laugh. “I’m presuming this has some sort of in-built tracker?”

 

Miss nodded. “As well as identification details for my and your being,” she added.

 

“I’m not going to run away,” I announced, clicking the collar around my neck. “It’s not like I could.” Several ground rules later and one reluctant hug, Cereus and I departed for the outside world.

 

The two of us sat on a bench, observing the beach and all the happy floret and Affini pairings. The same beach I had been on not a couple of days ago. Or yesterday, perhaps? Oh, how distant those happy memories now feel.

 

“How are your studies coming along?”

 

I blinked and looked up at Cereus. “Come again?”

 

“Your studies, how are you fairing with them?”

 

Ah. “Well enough. I can change the colours of isolated body parts, fingernails, hair, eyes etc. I’m stuck to singular components for the time being. Additionally, I figured out that you can extend certain parts with a combination of XYZ definitions, say, for example, turning my nails into claws or making myself slightly taller.”

 

“You’ve achieved all that in 4 days?” Cereus asked, their voice sounding slightly proud.”

 

“I’ve had a lot of free time. Why is that not normal?”

 

“It’s not unheard of, but it’s certainly not common,” Cereus noted. “If I were in your position, I’d be very proud of myself. What about your assignment? Have you made progress with that?”

 

“A few sketches, yes. I have a general idea of what I want the frame to look like. You can find them in my room when we return.”

 

“You don’t seem too excited about that?”

 

I gave a lazy shrug.

 

“I was under the impression you were looking forward to designing your new body?” Cereus inquired.

 

“Were being the operative word,” I retorted.

 

Silence formed between us, broken only by a soft chuckle to my left.

 

“It’s not easy adjusting, is it?” Cereus asked after a period of 3 or 4 minutes.

 

“Like you would know,” I replied.

 

Vines gripped beneath my arms, lifting me into Cereus’ lap. “I would. Unlike Everly, I am somewhat experienced in taking care of florets.” My body was repositioned into an admittedly very comfortable position, the weight of my neck pressing my head into Cereus’s pillowy vines as if to emphasise their point.

 

“Oh? How many have you had?” I asked.

 

“10.”

 

I took in a sharp intake of breath, my stomach feeling uneasy. “10?” I asked hesitantly. “What happened to them?”

 

“They all passed on,” Cereus added melancholic.

 

“I’m… I’m sorry for your loss.” I was somewhat surprised when I realised I actually was.

 

“Don’t be! They all lived fulfilled lives. They all passed on with smiles,” Cereus noted, smiling as if recalling fond memories.

 

“What about currently? Do you have any present florets?” I asked, trying to recover the mood.

 

“No, and I doubt I ever will. I don’t regret my time with my florets, but it does change you. Ten was enough for me; I couldn’t bear letting another go.”

 

I felt like error. I grabbed as much of Cereus’s vines as possible and pulled them closer, emulating a consoling hug. From the tender vine against my neck, I think I might have achieved one. It was time to change the subject.

 

“Cereus, the way you talk to me. It’s… It’s not condescending. You speak to me like I’m an equal or some long-standing friend. Why?”

 

Cereus barely hesitated. “You’ll find that’s pretty common amongst the older generation. Most of the Affini you’ll encounter will be in their early blooms. This often makes them eager and excited around new florets, especially with a race as cute as your own,” they chuckled. “Unfortunately, age has a way of dampening that fire. For me, it resulted in becoming very bared back-“

 

I gave a genuine laugh, the first of the day. It wasn’t deep by any means, but it was there. “The saying is laid back,” I corrected.

 

“Oh! Are you sure?”

 

“Quite sure!” I responded with a smile, one that Cereus returned. A thought forced its way through, one that soured my mood instantly. “Maybe I should have been your floret,” I said seriously.

 

Cereus went deathly still.

 

“Think about it! I’m artificial, meaning I can’t age, so I can stick around as long as you need. You treat me like an equal. Have a better understanding in regards to my needs and are more experienced. We’re far more compatible, wouldn’t you agree!?”

 

Further silence...

 

“Never suggest something so outrageous ever again,” Cereus rebuked with a cold fury. “You are inexperienced, so I will forgive you, but what you have just suggested is an insult of the highest magnitude.”

 

“Why!? Because I’m betraying Miss,” I snapped. “It’s not like I care; I hate her, despise her. I’d be far happier living under you. I thought that was the compacts’ goal, to keep their florets happy and content!”

 

Cereus removed me from their lap. “Zeitha. Cut. It. Out. This goes far further than you could possibly imagine.”

 

“I don’t care! If you don’t take me on, then I’ll find someone else! I’m smart and adorable, amongst a vast collection of other desirable traits. It won’t be difficult.” I scowled.

 

Cereus’ vines smashed against the ground. “ENOUGH! I value our time together, and I am glad you’re feeling more energetic, but that is enough. We will be returning ahead of schedule.” I opened my mouth to protest. “That was not an invitation for you to argue. Come.”

 

A single vine interlocked with my collar and started escorting me away. Judging from the looks on the onlooker’s face, I feel I may have approached territory better left uncharted.

 

We passed by several sophonts on our way home, many of whom were quick to get out of our way. Between Cereus’s cold aura and my heated one, we made quite a pair. We had made it about 70% of the way home when we passed by a domestication centre, eliciting my second intrusive thought of the day.

 

Without thinking, I broke away from the vine and ran. Some may question how I had managed that, and to that, I honestly have no response. The important thing is that I did. I busted into the centre, located the first clerk and continued running.

 

“Hiya cuti-“

 

“I NEED TO REPORT A CASE OF FLORET ABUSE AND FILE FOR A TRANSFER OF OWNER!” I demanded.

 

I turned to face Cereus, flashing an evil, smug grin at their bewildered face.