Elowin walked through one of the many parks the Athelum had to offer. The ship was larger than most vessels of its class. Parks strewn across the entirety, and she was planning on visiting all of them. In many ways she’d managed to shed her old life for a new, more exciting one. Being responsible for the many small forests and terrariums in the area was a position that many Affini would envy. She’d manage to visit only four today, the rest of her time spent at the interesting Sophont flower shop. The place had a calming aire to it. The many plants that she inspected were in such good shape that she thought a fellow affini ran it.

Such an interesting lady as well. She showed respect for the affini, and shone in her beauty. It was exhilarating, she wanted to know more about this sophont. Perhaps her lover could share what she knew. Her leaves rustled as she thought of her new partner. She made sure to have the vine of forget me nots were one of the visible ones. The pattern differs from her other grafts in a strangely human way, its geometric shapes naturally unnatural. She’d have to return to that shop, perhaps see if the terran could help with her park projects.

Reaching the door to her hab unit, Elowin’s vines tightened around her. A feeling of suspense and excitement filled her core with a softly discordant melody as she opened the door. Entering the room to see her lover, vines wrapped around the affini’s pet in a loving embrace as her hands gently rubbed the girl's exposed belly. Elowin made no footsteps as she entered, her vines gliding across the floor like a snake would. “I’m… home!”

Echona turned to look at the affini, her core thrumming an excited and pleased rhythm as she ushered her partner closer. “You’re finally here! It was so excruciating to wait for you to finally move in, knowing you were on the ship already.” Elowin smiled as she moved to sit herself next to Echona. Vines tangled with each other as her flowers bloomed. “I could say the same, even when we did have that wonderful date. I still ache as I had to leave you after, but now that is of no worry.” A grin growing on the flowered affini, her hand moving to play with the floret’s hair, hearing her soft whimpers for more. “I see little Tara is tuckered out.”

“Yes, the poor girl just had a meeting with her… ‘friend’. It was quite emotionally distressing for her. We’ve had issues with the seed before, but her behavior and actions are turning more and more destructive to herself and her environment.” Elowin’s vines tightened more before she felt the lulling melody of her lover, their rhythms slowly merging with each other, calming her. “Oh dear, has the little one been placed into domestication yet? I’d rather not have one of these adorable flowers be harmed.”

Echona shook her head and sighed. “Tara here begged me to be lenient, but I still tightened my vines around her. She’s gonna have a review in a month’s time, and if she can’t find an affini for herself, we’ll choose one for her.” Elowin nodded, her vines loosening again as she placed her newly grafted vine against the sleeping floret’s frame. She felt sorrow for the girl’s situation, she’s known many independent sophonts who could not accept the care of affini for different reasons. She was relieved that she would soon find an affini who could take care of her. “This is new! Did you have it grafted newly?”

“Oh yes! I learnt of these terran flowers known as forget me nots, they are quite an interesting flower. I had them grafted earlier today before I finished my rounds on this Habitation Ring. I still have to check on the last few, but I’m enjoying the work!” The black and red affini smiled warmly at her flower covered partner. “They look lovely, the pattern is quite interesting.” Elowin grinned and wrapped the vine around Echona’s waist, pulling the two closer as their forms intermingled. “How about, next time. We go and get ourselves matching grafts, I’ve heard humans do such things!” The affini’s form tightened at the thought before loosening and nodding. “Fine, but it’ll be either black or red, I’d rather it not ruin my current look.”

A while later, Tara finally awoke from her slumber, her speaking slurred as she called out for Lily. Vines wrapping around her form as she nuzzled deeper into them, whining softly and whimpering. Noticing two rhythms pulls against her. She identified the first, the loudest. It was her Mistress of course, her implant thrumming in accordance with the calming melody. The other was just as warm and pleasing, she soon realized that she was in the vines of two affini. Her eyes looked up to Elowin before making an attempt at a hello. “Hello my dear floret. How about we get some sleep. Me and Elowin have been, how do you put it? Bursting with excitement at getting to cuddle you in bed.”

Tara looked up at the two affini, her thoughts straying towards Lily for a moment. She wanted to meet her again, love her again. She knew that no matter what happened, she wanted to be there for her.