Lily’s brisk walk to the shop was shorter than expected. She didn’t have the time to say hello to many of the affini or their florets as she marched with purpose. Her mouth filled with the taste of her juice and nutrient gel as she reached the front entrance. Quickly grabbing her data pad to open the door, the interior is revealed as soft lights shine on an assortment of plants and flowers. The humid and light adjusted room fills the woman’s nostrils with sweet floral and earthy tones. This was one of the many reasons she loved working here.

Being allowed to even own something of this… value, was almost foreign to her up until recently. Receiving some help from her friend and her mistress, she managed to sort the paperwork to open the store last year. “That’s one of the perks of having friends who are florets I guess…” Mumbling to herself as she looked at a message from Evie. Another excuse as to not come, a vet appointment later today. As if she couldn’t tell her that earlier. Sighing she wrote her best non-hostile acceptance before moving into the store.

The store was not big by Affini standards, but that was for talking plants who grew to be 10 feet tall. For her it was almost too much. Many of the products were hard for her to reach, and required ladders and stools to properly maintain. It was probably the most exercise she got as most of her free time was spent more and more alone in her hab unit. “Perhaps a run would be nice once in a while… I haven’t done those since I entered a ship.”

Talking to herself again? She was starting to dig up old habits with that one as she bit her mouth. Moving to the desk where she usually sat, paperwork and pen set up from one of the shelves as she moved to the back room.

The storefront was pleasant in its vibrancy and scents. Plants of all kinds, some terran, some front planets she never knew of, and some modified by Affini to be “perfect”. The backroom however… was familiar. Not in an entirely enjoyable sense, the pure white room, clean surgery utensils and clinical perfection reminded her of days spent as a student, and then as a medic. She moved to replace some of the old blades and check the dates on the different solutions and gels given to her for grafting. She wasn’t a student, nor a medic anymore, but that still didn’t mean she wasn’t qualified for clinical work.

Making sure everything was in place, the human returned to the front, the first of her guests already entering the front room and looking at her flowers. As she was entering her “service” attitude, a notification lit up her datapad.

Candy

“Heyyyy love! I was wondering if you’d be up for a coffee later? We haven’t talked in a looongg whiiille, and I miss u! If you can’t today, maybe tomorrow? I know it’s your day off, so don’t lie about work! luv u <3”

Lily stared at the message for a while, contemplating if she should come up with an excuse. It has been a while since they talked, and Evie already canceled her plans. Sighing, she quickly typed a response.

Lily

“Hi Candy! I was gonna meet with Evie later today, but Vale apparently set her up for a vet appointment that day, I think that woman hates me.”

Candy

“Awwwww, don’t say that! You know how that girl is. She probably forgot the appointment and had to cancel. Still, if you’re up weee can go shopping as well!”

Lily

“Sure, just don’t try and put me in anything too revealing. I swear you always find the most translucent things there are. Anyway, gtg, got customers to please.”

Looking up from her pad, her eyes landed on a strange new visitor. Was she from another ship that docked or simply someone she hadn’t met yet. Most Affini’s would come to find gifts for their florets or for grafting. So new faces were uncommon. Still, there was something strangely intriguing with her. Flowers seemed to mark her entire body, it was hard to tell what kinds they were, many were exotic to her.

Before she could get a better glance at the newcomer, an affini arrived with her floret in toe. The girl having an unmistakable bounce in her step as she clung to her mistress, vines soothing the now cooing pet. “My! What an adorable look you have Lily! Might I say, your eyes came out perfect! I love how brightly they shine.” The human gave the slightest flush as the affini complimented her, a warm smile plain on her face. “Thank you miss Vera, I’m quite pleased with them myself. I might get a few more changes done, but for now I think this is as far as I’ll go. What is it you need?”

The affini nodded, her loose vines wrapping around her pet, the girl cooing and whining for more attention as the affini continued. “I am going to meet Selene and her adorable pet Viv! Little Rosa here has been missing their friend.” A vine slowly moves to rub at her neck. The moan of pleasure barely loud enough for the two to hear as Lily attempts to not let the pair get to her. “So you want a gift for Selene? I know you say that it’s for little Rosa, but you have been visiting her more and more recently. You do know roses are a staple symbol for humans.” Lily grinned, cooing out the last word in teasing as Vera’s vines tightened slightly. “I-I was thinking of some orchids… as well, perhaps some white or red ones, they seem to match her eyes so well.” The affini responded, a little too dreamily.

Finishing off her customers for the day, Lily sighed and stretched her body. Affini and their paperwork. Lily was sure that some of them simply add more for the fun of it. The strange, no intriguing Affini didn’t arrive at the counter, having disappeared some time while she was finishing up the orders for Vera. “Maybe she’ll come back tomorrow…” Right, tomorrow was her day off. The next day then, sighing softly, Lily soon went to ensure all the plants were well kept and watered, pruning a few plants that needed such care and added nutrient mixes to others. A little over an hour later, the shop door closes as Lily walks home, taking a moment to look at the park, still lit with a few lanterns as affini and florets enjoy the more dark atmosphere.

Having picked up her order, remembering this time. Lily went to eat as she watched some terran cartoons, the affini censoring removing and replacing scenes that were deemed harmful. Slowly rising from the couch, Lily simply took off her clothes and grabbed a syringe. Injecting herself with some class G and class Z before laying in bed, allowing the darkness to take her.