Helia was briefly distracted from her latest work – analyzing the interactions between the compact’s xenodrugs and sophonts with a gluten allergy – by the sound of the door opening behind her, and her terran assistant stepping into the spacious office. “Ivy! Is everything okay? I thought you’d be working for a few more hours, at least.”

Helia Nathus, First Bloom, had a strength to her voice that was typically only found in older affini; a subtle note of authority and confidence despite her years. To be fair, she hadn’t always been, especially when Ivy had first gotten to know her. That had changed a few months after Ivy had started working for her, of course. Apparently, having such an adorably, yet viciously, independent sophont become a flustered mess around you would give any member of the Compacy a confidence boost.

“Yes. I’m just… taking most of the afternoon off.” Ivy briefly fiddled with the topmost button of her blouse. Usually, she favored simple, traditional terran clothes while she was working, and today had been no exception – a simple white blouse and black slacks, finishing the look with a simple black blazer. With her short-cropped hair, it gave her a look of confidence, and independence, that she adored – and a masculine edge that she never would have been comfortable with in the early stages of her transition, before the Compact’s xenodrug regimen started working wonders.

Most importantly, though, it was practical workwear. With how closely she worked with the affini at her local lab, some part of her desperately wanted to not be mistaken for one of their florets. (Not that she objected to the concept, of course. Just… not yet. She had a lot of affini to… research with before she could even think of settling down.)

“That’s good to hear! Did you finish most of the reports on –“

“I’ve completed most of my urgent reports,” explained Ivy, cutting the affini off and placing a folder on her boss’s desk. “And I checked - we have more than enough capacity for the remainder to be assigned to other staff.” It had taken some time for Ivy to adjust to that part of working under the Affini Compact. Work needed to be done, yes, but between their incredible level of technology, the utter efficiency of the affini, and the number of willing sophonts under their care… filing the latest xenodrug tests could wait. “In fact, our entire team can take the afternoon off… if you were interested.”

“Well, then,” replied Helia, with a wry grin. There was a brief flurry of typing from her vines, before her workstation was locked and folded up. “I assume the ‘entire team’ is an integral part in whatever extra-curricular activities you have in mind. Are we engaging in some more… personal research?”

Personal research. That was one term for it, Ivy had to admit. Affini-human relations were still new, to say the least, and while some florets had managed to negotiate how certain needs could be satisfied by their owners… those interactions weren’t well documented. And so, when Ivy had thrown herself at her new boss one evening, pampering the confused affini with kisses, they’d spent some time discussing exactly what that meant – before deciding that, yes, this was an avenue that was worth pursuing. Helia’s coworkers, Lanci and Lilum, had been more than happy to join in on the endeavor.

They’d engaged in ‘research’ just a few times previously… and mostly, it consisted of Ivy letting the participating affini drug her out of her mind and pamper her with affection – and a wide variety of sex toys. Strictly speaking, Ivy knew she should be ashamed at being such a pillow princess, but an asexual species like the affini didn’t quite find the act as mind-blowing as humanity did. They’d never evolved a need for sexual gratification, thanks to their reproductive cycle.

At least, not until recently. Helia, Lanci, and Lilium had been hard at work – very hard at work, honestly – duplicating some of humanity’s features that were more focused on sexual reproduction. But finally, it seemed like they’d been able to create some new growths that adequately duplicated the human nervous system. Particularly the responses sent to the amygdala.

The affini, of course, had been delighted with the response of their prototypes, and the research group’s progress was being followed with remarkable interest by senior members of the compact. Humanity was… unusual; all of the previous species that had been domesticated by the affini reproduced either asexually, or out of necessity. Somehow, nobody had explored the… concept of undertaking sexual activity for pleasure. At least, not until humanity’s arrival.

Thankfully, progress was immensely satisfying, for all involved.

“Yes.” A pause. Ivy had since learned “I’m – you looked really nice this morning, and I’ve been thinking about it all day, and –“

“Aw, petal,” observed Helia. There was a subtle movement of vines and Ivy found herself lifted up gently, and placed in the affini’s lap, the sophont’s legs straddling the mass of soft bark and leaves that made up her thigh. It was a tender gesture. Unfortunately, it did nothing to alleviate her state, especially as some of Helia’s vines started sliding up the inside of her thigh, trailing between her legs and eliciting a single, desperate shudder, before withdrawing. “You’ve worked yourself up into a state, haven’t you?”

Ivy cursed her decision to introduce her research group to porn; they’d quickly learned just what kind of lines produced what kind of a result. “… Yes. I kept thinking of you, and what you could to do me…” She trailed off for a moment as a mass of vines slithered up, under her dress, caressing her breasts for a moment before settling around the side of her neck. Exhaling sharply, she tried to focus. I’ve written up a report on the kinds of… activity I’d like to explore with the group. Now that we’ve mastered penetration, I feel like we can go… a lot more wild.” She glanced over at the folder that she’d placed on the table, before abandoning her focus in favor of pressing her head against Helia’s shoulder and surrendering herself to her touch as Helia quietly read through the paperwork she’d brought with her.

And Helia was more than happy to return the attention, pressing her lips to the sophont’s cheek. They were wet, moist, and not quite the same as a human’s… but similar enough. And after multiple sessions of research, Ivy had come to love the difference; the way they lightly scraped along her neck as Helia’s kisses trailed down, along her neck, or the way the small thorns under them dug into her skin as Helia nibbled on her neck…

“Oooh. Choking’s on the table this evening?” Helia raised her eyebrows, slightly, and Ivy was forced to try and focus again. The affini loved to tease… but rarely when it came to research ‘negotiations’. “Maybe we should check to see if Lilium wants to join us, after all. I know she’s been wanting to wrap her vines around you for a few days, now, ever since she grew them to be more sensitive.”

There was a pause. “Well – it’s only on the table for you,” admitted Ivy, forcing herself to speak up rather than lapsing into an awkward silence.

Their ‘research group’ functioned entirely due to open communication, especially when it came to ‘non—standard sexual activity’. Originally, there’d been plans to dose her up with xenodrugs – they’d be able to determine exactly what needs had to be satisfied without any awkwardness. But preliminary tests had revealed some concerns with informed consent. Sure, Ivy might admit to wanting to be treated in a demeaning way under the influence of Class-A’s… but was such an admission truly acceptable, considering humanity’s strict views of consent?

It became readily apparent to the Affini members of the research group that, floret or not, any sexual activity needed to be clearly communicated in advance. And while that delayed their progress significantly… Ivy had it on good authority that her blushing, tentative admissions were very adorable. They’d told her multiple times.

“Only me?” asked Helia. “I’m honored. But can I query why?”

“I trust you,” replied Ivy, simply. This time, there wasn’t any blushing. “I trust everyone here, of course, but you, more than anyone else. Our group – this whole thing wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for you.”

“If it wasn’t for me?” asked Helia, the subtle arch of her eyebrows, carved out in soft, green tendrils, raising slightly. She’d spent time adjusting and regrowing elements of her face to best suit human predilections, learning exactly what combination of floral additions and imitation worked best. Originally, it had been for science. Once she’d met Ivy… well, it’d become for her own personal satisfaction, as well. “I’d say it wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for you, either, cutie. We never would have figured out why you got so distracted if you hadn’t spoken up!”

“Yes, you would have.”

“… Yes, we would have, but it would’ve taken so much longer! And it was so much flattering hearing you describe how ‘hot I am’.” There was a pause, as she glanced over the list, before nodding her head. “This is a delightful list of requests.”

“I thought you’d like it. And you’re fine with the… final part?”

“The pain?” Helia studied the paper again. “You’ve described a few acts that are more… violent than we normally cover.” That was understating it. She was pampered, normally, driven to ecstasy with the wildest touches, and the things she’d proposed definitely pushed against that affini tendency.

“Yes.” Yet again, Ivy flushed, rubbing at the side of her neck – Helia’s vines were still caressing it, and she absently pushed them away. “I understand if you’re not… interested in it, but I’ve been thinking about it ever since I started working with the team. The thought of you guys taking me, and…”

“I believe the term you described was ’using you for our satisfaction’?” Helia’s bark lips curled up in a smile. “I think there’s still a little bit of internalized Terran propaganda in that dome of yours, darling. But – yes. I like the idea, if I’m honest.”

“You do? I didn’t think it was in your… interests.”

“I didn’t think so, either. It wasn’t originally, at least. But Ivy, if you could see yourself – how I see you – you might understand. You’re so adorable, so proud, such a brave, independent sophont; I don’t think there’s any affini who wouldn’t love to make you their floret.” She continued before Ivy could raise an objection. “And I know, I know. Even though you like being with us, you like having your own life, too. I’m not going to change that. But that just makes it all the more special, doesn’t it?”

Ivy stared up at Helia, her throat dry, as the Affini gently ran a few vines through her short-cropped hair, the thorns lightly tracing over her scalp. She’d forgotten how to breathe, it seemed, lost in the intense, almost possessive gaze of Helia. There seemed to be nothing beyond her scarlet eyes and the subtle frame of petals around them, drawing her in.

“I don’t own you. You give yourself to me. Freely.” The vines trailing through her hair lowered to Ivy’s cheek, then her lips, gently tracing patterns over them as the sophont resisted the urge to shudder, again. There was nothing but Helia’s knowing gaze, the eyes that told her just how many things she had planned for this afternoon.

Eventually, though, there was a chime from Helia’s tablet that broke the spell, and the affini and sophont both blinked, glancing at it. “Shall we head to my place, get started, and let Lanci join in once she arrives?” There was a pause, as Helia lifted the tablet to check her message. “Oh. Actually, I think Lilium is coming, too. I already sent the report to both of them, and apparently, your… research proposal was much more enticing than reading through another Terran study on amphetimines.”