Amity was sitting in deep thought. Sometimes it came to her, that she needed to do that. She would usually find a good spot on top of the tree hab, with a good view of the world around them, for what good it was. Perhaps the blotches of green were enough. She just… Stared. And thought.

 

"What's wrong flower?" Of course, Hyacynthia's voice came after she didn't answer the call for dinner. The Affini wove herself through the leaves and branches, creating enough of her torso to appear sitting next to her beloved. "Aren't you hungry? If there's something on your mind, you can tell me."

 

Amity hummed, and leaned against her guardian. She let the stress of heavy thought leave her somewhat, but not enough to derail it. Just enough to express. "I think… You've been very kind to me. And sometimes it hurts to know other florets don't have the same kind of bond we share."

 

"But all love is sacred, is it not?" Hyacynthia retorted, letting an arm and a few vines wrap around Amity's shoulder. Pulling her in a bit closer for some comfort. "All love is something to be cherished. And held dear. And there's so much to give to others. Did something happen? You don't usually bring this topic up."

 

All the white floret could do was give a small, sad smile. "I… Went more on the overnet. Read things about the earlier days of the Protectorate. You know, just after the Accord dissolved." She began to explain, through her eyes betrayed her calm expression. "Reading about so many florets and their owners, people who put their stories out there for the universe to see. So much love to revel it. And yet… More than once, you find instances where what the Affini do is just… Unjustified. Claiming pets with no volunteering or any hint of danger to anyone, or any other good reason. Domesticating people who, if the Affini just stopped and thought for a bit that what they're doing is wrong, could've ended as absolutely normal citizens of the Compact. Or worse yet… Forcing their love on those who don't need the help. Who were fine, and didn't really need the plant rulership to just drop in on their lives and take their independence from them without a second thought." She paused for a moment. It was tough to talk about. "And I know, there's a lot of stories of rebels and other miscreants of many sorts who do need to be domesticated to be better for their own sake. I should know." She gave her mistress a knowing look, though with eyes darkened by grief. "And yet… It's not fair. They're wrong. The Everbloom never wanted this. Love is meant to be shared, not enforced. If you force it on someone… It's not love anymore. It's just ownership."

 

After she finished talking, a long, long pause was shared between the two. Neither plant nor human had much to argue. Not until Hyacynthia finally broke the silence with two well thought words.

 

"...You're right."

 

Amity looked at her with just a hint of bewilderment. "So you agree?"

 

"To an extent, yes." The elder Affini nodded. "When I was young, in my very early blooms… We didn't have interstellar travel. We didn't have domestication programs and rebel fleets to subdue. Not did we have the technology we do now. All we had… Were beeples. And the beeples were more than happy to be cuddled senseless and spread our spores, seeds and pollen around." In the end she only shook her head. "And something tells me that even so many cycles, after so much time… We never truly adapted to the complexities of the universe. And this time I should know." A barely audible chuckle came from Amity. "No, instead… We just enforced our simplicity upon everyone around us. Which is easy when every single civilization you meet is far less technologically advanced than you." To that end, her floret gave a simple hum. "I suppose the most apt comparison would be the ants, that roam this garden. How you convinced me to let them in I'll never know, but that's besides the point. Compared to them… We are giants. Their society has its own rules and structure, and yet by meeting them we project our own values on the tiny beings. If love is good, it means ants must love to be fulfilled right?"

 

The obvious sarcasm of the answer didn't go unnoticed. "But they don't." Amity continued. "They are happy to serve their queen and so what tasks are needed to expand their nest."

 

"And that wouldn't stop an Affini from trying to domesticate them anyway." For a change, Hyacynthia's core hummed with… Shame. "For some Affini, the best you that you can be is what they want to make of you. With no way to deny it."

 

"But… That's. It's bad. That's not love, that's-" 

 

"I know." Amity felt the hug tighten around her, letting her spill her emotions on someone who's there for her.  All while the tears slowly dripped down her cheeks and to her chin. "It isn't. And you're valid in how you feel about it."