The size of an Affini hab unit was intimidating to say the least. While the interior looked similar to Mel's old home, everything was built for someone twice her size. The scale was disorienting and Mel rummaged worriedly through her personal belongings, unable to find what she was looking for. “Syl- uh- Mistress?”

“Yes, dear?” Sylnathi said, looking over from the counter where she was preparing some Terran food.

“I can’t find my medication.” Mel said anxiously, “Where did you put it?”

Sylnathi smiled and replied, “It’s alright, you won’t be needing those anymore. I ordered a new regimen for you.”

“But- No, I need those!” Mel pleaded. “You can’t just get rid of them like that!”

 

Mel’s voice immediately caught in her throat as one of Sylnathi’s tendrils quickly shot out and wrapped commandingly around her wrist. She started to cry out but stopped as she saw Sylnathi's stern expression.

“First of all,” the Affini woman said firmly, “You are not the one who dictates what will or will not happen in this relationship. Understand?” Mel swallowed hard and nodded, unable to break eye contact. “Second of all,” the vine lessened its grip and the face in front of her softened. “Please trust that I have your best interests at heart. If I decide something for you, it’s because I believe it is best for you.”

 

Mel relented. “Yes. I’m sorry, Mistress.”

Sylnathi turned back to her work as she continued speaking, “If you hadn’t so rudely interrupted me, I would have explained. In order to get your Haustoric Implant, you need to build a tolerance and acceptance to various Xenodrugs. Therefore, I have replaced your normal medications with a daily injection that will help your system adjust.” Mel began to protest but felt the tendril tighten around her wrist once more. “This also includes your other medications.” Sylnathi said, turning back towards her. “So you see, there is nothing to worry about! Just relax and trust me.”

 

Mel breathed easier and nodded as the tendril left her wrist. She felt rather embarrassed that she hadn’t thought Sylnathi would account for her needs. The Affini woman glided over from the counter and knelt down beside her. Melrose stared into her glinting blue eyes as she spoke, “I know this situation is new to you, Pet,” - that word felt like a spark racing through Mel’s mind - “But you must remember that acceptance and obedience are essential here. You told me just yesterday that you were done resisting. So, why the outburst?”

The presence of the Affini woman before her was both authoritative and compassionate. Mel gasped as Sylnathi gently brushed a leafy finger across her cheek. The sensation dazzled her senses and she stammered, “I- I don’t know- ah, Mistress. I guess- ever since Abby left, I’m just- not used to anyone taking care of me. Does that make sense? Like- If I don’t do it myself, nobody will...” Mel trailed off, feeling guilty and averting her eyes.

Sylnathi’s tendrils enveloped Mel and easily lifted her off the floor into a warm embrace. “I understand, dear.” her Mistress said gently. “The Terrans treated their own kind with such contempt, it’s no wonder it’s hard to let go of all that. But I want you to let go for me now, Pet~”

 

Mel yelped as she noticed the sting and hiss of the injector. She looked down to see a small cylindrical device held in one of Sylnathi’s vines pressing against her arm. A few seconds later a flood of sensation rushed through her, not warm like before but cool and electric, making her entire body tingle gently.

“Your first dose.” Sylnathi whispered directly into her ear. “It might be a bit intense. Why don’t we lay you down for a little while?”

All Mel could do was whimper and hang limply in her grasp, the sensation was so overwhelming. She felt herself carried through the hab unit before being laid on an unusually large bed. Sylnathi lay beside her, caressing her body and offering calm assurances. The experience was far more potent than any of her Mistress’s personal Xenodrug injections before this. Her body hummed with pleasure wherever Affini flesh touched her bare skin. Lying there, feeling the Xenodrugs rush through her, Mel felt utterly helpless. Yet knowing Sylnathi was right there beside her made her feel safe and secure. Perhaps being helpless was okay? So long as her guardian was there to protect her.

 

Mel struggled to maintain her thoughts as she listened to Sylnathi speaking to her, holding her, caressing her, “You know, Pet,” her Mistress mused, “I’ve had my eye on you for a long while. Since we began working together, in fact! I’ve never had a Floret before, but something about you... You can’t imagine the joy I feel to know that you’re mine, that you chose me in return...” Her hands and tendrils pressed more firmly, more intimately. Mel whined needily as the ministrations intensified. “You are an adorable little creature, you know that?” Sylnathi teased her, “I made sure to conduct myself properly when we first met. I didn’t want to be too crass with an independent subject. You should have heard the rumors tossed around my staff meetings after we started seeing each other regularly!” Her physical presence was enough to drive anyone wild, but the mental stimulation brought things to another level; as though Sylnathi were probing directly into Mel’s mind with her words. The Xenodrugs coursing through the Terran girl’s body created a state of semi-paralysis, but the restricted movement only made the experience more intimate. “But now, there’s no need to hold myself back either.” Sylnathi whispered intently, “You are mine now, little Melrose~”

 

Her Mistress’s affections frazzled Mel's consciousness as she lost herself to the sensation.

 

 

Mel regained her thoughts some time later. She wasn't sure how long she'd been out. She felt dazed and subdued, her body still twitched and shivered occasionally. Sylnathi lay beside her on the bed, her presence calm and reassuring. Mel was very happy to see that her guardian hadn't left her alone! She remained still, not wanting to wake the sleeping Affini- Wait, did Affini even sleep? She wasn't sure. Finally, she mustered her courage and whispered, "Mistress, are you awake?"

Sylnathi stirred slightly and murmured. "Yes dear, just resting."

Mel paused, then whispered again, "Miss, do Affini sleep?"

Her question was met with a soft chuckle. "Yes, we do." Sylnathi said quietly. "We require sleep at regular intervals or after stressful exertion, though perhaps not as often as you Terrans do."

"Did you fall asleep after I did?" Mel asked curiously.

"No, I wanted to stay awake in case you needed anything after your injection." the Affini woman replied, shifting in bed to look her pet in the eyes. "How are you feeling, Melrose?"

 

Mel extended her senses through her body. It felt light, yet sluggish; almost as if the air around her was as thick as water. "Odd." Mel said tentatively, "But very comfortable." The words seemed to leave her mouth so slowly.

"Good!" Sylnathi cooed, wrapping herself lovingly around the Terran girl once more. Her Mistress's touch was quite pleasurable, but a far cry from the overstimulation she'd felt after the injection.

 

Mel looked up lovingly at Sylnathi. She had never seen an Affini so visibly relaxed before. She could swear that her figure looked a bit less humanoid, her limbs seeming to revert to tangled vegetation. Her leaves splayed out gently and her tendrils sat limp and calm. Her voice came slow and soft, as if she herself were in a trance alongside her pet. Her Pet. Mel smiled at the thought, reaching up to playing idly with her Mistress's vines. She admired the various flowers and buds which gave Sylnathi such a vibrant appearance.

 

"Hey, I recognize this one." Mel said softly, touching the colorful petals. "Snapdragon. But- that's a Terran flower."

"Yes it is," Sylnathi said dreamily. "A particularly lovely one. When I first saw it I knew I needed one grafted onto my Bloom."

Mel’s Xenodrug-addled mind wasn’t capable of figuring out what that meant. "What's your- Graft?" She asked, awkwardly.

Sylnathi turned over Mel's hand to reveal the tattoo which ran down the inside of her arm. A series of lines and rings traced across her skin, each of them corresponding to a star or planet in the Alpha Centauri system. "Think of it like your arm here," Sylnathi replied, "We can graft different flora onto our bodies, for practical or cosmetic reasons. They become a part of us and grow with our blooms."

Mel looked back at the flower sprouting from her Mistress, fascinated. She guessed that's why Sylnathi always seemed so colorful and inviting, even for an Affini; her body was covered in exotic flowers. Being a botanist must have its perks.

 

Mel closed her eyes and let herself drift. As her senses slowly returned to normal, a thought crossed her mind. "Will the injections always feel like that, Mistress?" she asked.

"No, the first one is always the most potent." Sylnathi assured her. "But you'll still feel drowsy and disoriented for a little while after your injections until you're used to them. If your regimen changes you might experience similar effects again, but I'll warn you if that ever happens."

"Aww, alright." Mel giggled. "I was just thinking... it might be fun to do this again sometime?"

Mel felt a tendril wrap affectionately around her throat and she gasped excitedly. "Oh, little Melrose," Sylnathi purred hungrily, "I'm sure I can arrange something like that~"