Wakefulness came easy, bubbling into existence like condensation on a coolant pipe, in stark contrast to the usual snap to attention and subsequent exhaustion until her mind caught up a few hours later. 

 

Jackie felt comfortable for the first time in as long as she could remember. A heavy blanket draped over her shoulders, and more pillows than she’d seen in a single room lay piled around her head. Dreamily pondering, she realized that the affini had likely followed through on the threat from earlier and just brought her to her home.

 

She lay back down in the dark, and gazed up at the starry sky above. The twinkling, shifting hues were like nothing she’d ever seen, not that she’d often had the time to spend stargazing after the rebellion had ‘recruited’ her, and before that her life was spent below the hazy atmosphere of Etenna.

 

She almost felt like she could touch them.

Extending an outstretched arm, she felt her hand brush against a vine, reflexively curling around her arm for a moment before releasing.

That vine was hanging from the—
That’s not the sky at all, is it?

Just as Jackie came to that conclusion, two more lights ignited as all the stars went out.
The affini’s eyes were a beautiful shade, somewhere between indigo and blue, and Jackie let out a gasp at the sight.

 

“The little moth comes for my light once more. How are you feeling, dear?”

“I- um. Surprisingly awake, maybe a little thirsty?”

 

Jackie let out a sigh.

“I’m worried about what’s going to happen next. I don’t even know your name, and you’ve brought me here to watch me while I sleep.”

 

Extending her vines down, to support herself on the floor, the affini replied, in a much more casual voice than what Jackie had heard until now,

“Then how about we get some food and drink, and properly introduce ourselves?”

 

The writhing mass of vines pulled herself through a doorway, leaving a few of those shimmering flowers behind, lighting up the room like pale blue candles. Jackie pulled the sheets around herself, trying to work up the courage to confront her captor.

 

As the sounds and smells of cooking food emanated from the next room, a pleasant hum came with them, rising and falling in time with the glow emanating from the vines.

 

 

Dragging herself out of the absurdly large bed, Jackie glanced over the room, before her attention was drawn to a vine wrapped around some clothing, a simple gown and undergarments.

 

Feeling underdressed for it, Jackie sidled through the open door, and was greeted by an oversized lounge, with the exception of a table that was clearly recently brought in just for her.

 

This room actually had lighting, a dim orange glow reminiscent of a sunset through the clouds.

 

The kitchen was abuzz with sounds and smells, as something fried and sizzled in a pan too high to look into, the affini’s vines handling three things at once as she sang.

 

By the time she’d made it close enough to try and take a peek, she was diverted into a chair that had just been pulled out, and a plate full of what looked like omelette and toast was placed in front of her, followed shortly by the affini flowing to the other end of the table with a plate of her own.

 

“It’s nice to properly meet you, Jackie. I am Hissolla Abnetria, third bloom.”

 

Jackie lazily stabbed at a bit of egg, letting out a quiet hum of delight upon tasting her first bite.

 

“I probably shouldn’t be surprised that you already know my name. How long was I asleep for?
…and it’s nice to meet you too, I guess,” she finished with a smile.

 

“Only a few hours, little moth. A quick check up at the vet, then straight here. You’re in good health, by the way.” 

 

Hissolla paused for a moment, pulling a piece of her meal inside herself.

“And, once the documentation is all filled out, my floret.”

 

Jackie froze for a second, while her brain came to terms with what she just heard.

 

“You mean your p-” she stopped to clear her throat with a glass of water. “Your pet, right?”

 

“That’s right dear. You said you needed help, and I will provide it.”

 

 

Pushing the remains of her meal away, Jackie slumped in her chair, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. Hissolla brought herself around, lifting the terran out of her chair, and into an embrace.

“Oh, my moth, I promise that whatever propaganda about us they’ve fed you is a lie. We love our florets with all we have, and raise them up to be the best versions of themselves that we can make them.”

 

Letting out a quiet sob, Jackie dug her arms into the vines, and held on tighter.

“It’s not that. I’ve spent my whole life trying and failing to be independent. It feels like I’m so so close to reaching it, but I always end up toppling my life down around me. Reaching out for help feels wrong, like if I was good at being a person I wouldn’t have failed, so I don’t get to ask for help without admitting that I’m somehow lesser.”

 

Wiping the tears out of her eyes, she finished, “I thought this would be the thing I was most scared of, but now that it’s here, now that you’re here, all I can feel is relief. I can stop this futile struggle and just… let go.”

 

Not like I had any actual freedom in the Accord anyway, right?

 

“And I promise that I will always be there to catch you,” Hissolla whispered, running a vine through Jackie’s hair, her glow pulsing to a rhythm no-one else could hear.

“Let’s take this somewhere more comfortable, hm?”

 

“Wait!” Jackie interjected. “Can we fill out that paperwork now? …please?”

 

“You certainly are an eager little thing, aren’t you.” Hissolla rustled her body, like she hadn't quite figured out how to have a sensible chuckle.

Jackie sighed. “I don’t want to let myself catastrophize over this. It might be the first and last good decision I ever make, and I don’t want to get in my own way. …again.”

 

“Little moth, the path of your life has been mine since you tangled yourself in my vines. You wouldn’t be getting in your own way, you’d be getting in mine, and as I have already said, you cannot stop me from giving you what you need. But if it eases your anxiety, then what kind of owner would I be to stop you?”

 

Hissolla retrieved a folder from a nearby cupboard, and retrieved a single page, presenting it to Jackie, along with a pen. Taking hold of it like it was the most delicate document in existence, Jackie ran her eyes over the words, taking it in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few quick strikes of ink, and it was done. Her life was no longer her own. She had successfully made herself someone else’s problem. Jackie smiled at the feeling of someone wanting her to be their problem, until a vine snaked around her arm, constricting with dozens of pinpricks, and the blissful warmth that spread through her washed her remaining doubts away as her mistress held her pet close, and gently rubbed her head.