Maaria began to regain consciousness on what was an oddly familiar bed, As her thoughts returned she shot up in fear only for the reassuring sight of Preamorsa to fill her vision immediately “Your ok dear, Your safe here, Your safe with me.”

 

Maaria quickly hugged the vines seemingly to the shock of Preamorsa who didn’t move for a few seconds.

 

“Am I still yours?” Maaria quickly asked whilst clinging to Preamorsa fearing the Affini who’d captured her could have made true on their threat to take her for themselves.

 

“Of course you are dear, You’ll always be mine, flower” Praemorsa calmly replied her vines taking the chance to hug Maaria pulling her off the bed and closer to her core until she was almost sinking into her vines.

 

“The other Affini… They said that they’d take me for themselves… That they’d get rid of my memories” Maaria tried to explain, A feeling of dread washing over her as she said it, The notion of having parts of her memories removed, Of having who she is now killed off somewhat and replaced by someone else, The thought terrified her.

 

Preamorsa didn’t respond immediately and merely hugged Maaria tighter “I’m sorry I let you get scared dear, I should have stayed by your side… I’ve been a bad Owner to you”

 

For a few minutes, no words were said and Maaria simply clung to the mass of vines in front of her, It made her feel safe, Like no harm could befall her as long as she stayed with them.

 

Praemorsa eventually spoke with a stronger sense of authority in her voice “I want you to know flower, That I will never give you up to someone else, I adore you far too much for that. I’m also not going to remove any of your memories unless you want me to dear, I just want to make you happy as my pet”

 

“Thank you” Maaria quietly spoke into the vines, Unsure if Preamorsa would even be able to hear although she assumed that she had when she felt a few firm and surprisingly pleasurable pets of her head as she began to listen to Preamorsa speak further. 

 

“Dear, You’ll always have my firm protection.

Just as you have my ardent affection.

As my Floret, You’ll live a life of bliss.

And every day I'll offer you a kiss.

So you may have eternal perfection.”

 

Hearing the poem Maaria felt a sense of indebtedness, Maybe her situation wasn’t perfect but Preamorsa had been kind to her even after she tried to escape, Maybe she had it better than she thought with Preamorsa as her appointed Owner.

 

“I’m… sorry I tried to escape” Maaria admitted with a general feeling of remorse.

 

Maaria began to feel vines brushing through her hair tenderly, She was surprised by how pleasant it felt and began nuzzling into the touch trying to keep it on her for as long as possible “It’s okay dear… Oh you look adorable like this you know” 

 

Preamorsa eventually placed Maaria back onto her bed “Don’t worry dear, I’m not going to leave your side again until you feel more than comfortable as my Floret”

 

Maaria didn’t know what to say, She’d expected to be treated harshly after trying to escape yet Preamorsa was treating her just as kindly as she had previously she began to think that maybe the Affini, Or just this specific Affini didn’t seem so bad in fact they seemed caring and… maybe even benevolent too.

 

“I’d like you to start feeling at home here first, dear flower. We have a lot of TV shows, Maybe we could find one that you like?” 

 

Maaria considered it for a moment, It seemed like it could be nice to relax in front of a TV for a change, The idea of watching Affini TV was jarring but Maaria felt optimistic that it could be entertaining. 

 

“That sounds nice” Maaria eagerly agreed. 

 

Praemorsa seemed to almost glow in excitement from her statement and one of her vines quickly grabbed her and moved her to a sofa in the atrium of the hab and then grabbed a remote to the TV as she not so subtly moved closer on the sofa to the Maaria “I’m glad you agree pet, We have archives of most Terran shows if you’d like to watch one, We also have plenty of floret cuts if you want to feel more cozy” She explained.

 

“What’s a Floret Cut?” Maaria asked.

 

“Oh, Sorry dear I should have explained, A Floret cut is a softer version of a show, Many of our Florets find some Terran media to be too distressing so we have Floret cuts to account for that.

 

Maaria thought about it for a second, It did seem nice to alternatives for softer people but it also seemed very condescending. The Terran accord had always talked about the endurance of humanity, how they endured pain and other dilemmas, Her family had told her much the same, It had always made Maaria feel so strong to have endured everything that Terra had thrown at her yet here was this alien who considered her a pet offering to take it all away, Maaria didn’t know how to respond fully but eventually replied. 

 

“Could we watch Phantom of the Opera?” She asked.

 

“Of course, we can dear, Do you want to watch the Floret cut or the original?”

 

Maaria thought for a second and then she responded in a way that part of her barely understood, In a way that her family certainly would have berated her for “I’ll watch the Floret cut”

 

“Of course dear” Praemorsa responded pressing a few buttons on the remote with her vines.

 

Maaria sank back deeper into the sofa behind her trying to find a comfy position to watch from finding it remarkably soft and snug when she suddenly felt a vine wrap around her affectionately hanging from her shoulder as if a Terran had put their hand on her shoulder and seeing it there Maaria began to feel a warm, reassuring feeling wash over her. Preamorsa seemed to sense her concession and quickly she felt another vine gently push her head towards Praemorsa, resting it upon a mass of her vines comfortably. “Good girl, good floret” 

 

As soon as Maaria started to relax she felt almost abnormally compelled to hug back into Praemorsa as if repaying her affection and slowly and reluctantly did so feeling vines rush around her back hugging her just as strongly.

 

Maaria felt surprisingly safe and secure surrounded by the vines of Preamorsa, Safer and more cared for than she’d ever felt before when she suddenly felt a tear run down her cheek, A vine was quick to dry it before it gently pushed her face upwards looking towards Praemorsa “Your safe dear, My sweet floret Maaria, Would you mind telling me what’s made you upset?”

 

“I… I don’t really know” Maaria was able to blubber out as she felt more tears begin to fall.

 

“We have a few xenodrugs that could help you work through your emotions if you’d like dear, I know they’re rather new to you an—” Praemorsa cut herself off as Maaria nodded, She seemed almost shocked by her swift acceptance but her surprise quickly shifted as a small grin formed and Maaria felt a sudden prick on her arm whilst they hugged even stronger into Praemorsa’s vines as she up stared up at her.

 

“Do you want to try again dearest? What’s made you upset?”

 

Maaria wanted to respond again that she didn’t know but it was as if something wouldn’t let her as she began to express feelings she didn’t even know she had.

 

“I… Just feel so… happy but… also sad, It’s just… life was so hard on Terra even as a child and I was so proud to endure it… But… I…It all just means nothing now, There’s nothing to endure anymore and that’s… all I’ve ever really lived for I suppose…” Maaria tried to explain but could scarcely find the words.

 

“It’s ok dear, I’ll help you with all of it pet, The harmful life you had on Terra is over and as your Owner I’ll make sure that you really bloom in this one, You deserve all the good things coming to you.”

 

Maaria felt gratitude bubble from inside her as she almost to her own shock responded.

 

“Thank you, Mistress”