“Mis…Mistress?”
Oleander Labelle First Bloom had been rushing her hab around at breakneck speed ever since she had been told of her hopefully Floret-to-be’s impending arrival, She had fabricated a large amount of Terran accessible furniture and she had prepared from scratch what the Terran’s called a ‘pizza’ It was reportedly very popular among Florets, She had to make sure that everything was perfect, Many of Oleander’s friends had taken on Florets and she had tried to observe it and she had seen just how many Terrans were reduced to awe upon seeing the full care an Owner can bring and she intended to show Cecil the same as best as she could.
Oleander could barely suppress her glee as she rushed around, She had wanted to adopt a floret since the Human Domestication Treaty had been signed but the vast majority of florets on Thalia’s Grace were feralists and it had been judged to be too risky to allow such a young Affini to adopt a feralist.
Oleander quickly wiped such thoughts from her mind however as her vines whipped around in joyfulness at the thought of finally having a Terran who wanted her as an owner. As her hab door opened Oleander finally slowed down enough to lay eyes upon her Floret-to-be laying within Exdela’s vines looking rather nervous It took every piece of self-restraint she had to not immediately inject her with a class D and take her within her vines until her anxieties melted away and she was feeling safe and comfortable, But Oleander had been told that the poor sophont appeared quite fragile and averse to Xenodrugs so she felt that she’d have to try and take things more slowly.
“This is the sophont I was telling you about” Exdela spoke as she entered before looking down at the sophont within her arms “Cecil dear, This is Oleander Labelle First Bloom” She explained as she set Cecil down on her feet. “I believe she’d be a wonderful owner for you”
Oleander slowly approached the adorable intending to not be too overbearing “I’m delighted to meet you Cecil” Oleander began, hoping that a standard greeting might help reassure them but seeing the anxiety on the small sophont’s face she couldn’t help herself and decided to try and push further “I would like to pick you up… If you wouldn’t mind”
Exdela shot her a look as if a suggestion to tone it back but delightfully Cecil slowly nodded adding somewhat nervously “I’d like that…”
Oleander moved at an almost disorienting speed scooping little Cecil up and leaving her laying gracefully in her vines as more vines snugly wrapped around her, Oleander looked down at the delightful sophont in her vines and met her eyes.
The feeling of having such an ambrosial Floret-to-be within her vines filled Oleander with such elation that she could barely contain herself, All those lessons on appropriate care for Florets could hardly compare to the feeling of having a sophont resting comfortably in her vines.
Exdela spoke suddenly “I’ll need to get back to my Florets” She commented before adding with a mischievous glare “Have fun you two” before promptly leaving the hab, Oleander felt a tinge of nerves being left with her precious Floret-to-be.
“I hope you like it here Cecil, I’ve fabricated some Terran furniture for you and I’ve also prepared some Terran food” Oleander stated barely able to contain the happiness in her voice as she saw Cecil begin to lightly smile, Oleander gently began to pet Cecil and upon seeing the smile grow wider she knew that she wanted nothing more than to have a day of pampering her new Floret.
“Mis…Mistress?” Mabel questioned as she woke up on a couch, She thought back and remembered resting in Mistress’s vines as they visited Magnus for a wellness check, Mabel had just planned to rest her eyes but she must have fallen asleep for longer than expected.
Mabel looked around the room for her Owner but her eyes stumbled upon Magnus who seemed to be using a tablet, He had a stressed and unsure look on his face as he looked up at Mabel, “Exdela left to take Cecil to a friend” He explained “She’ll be back soon” He added reassuringly before going back to looking at the tablet.
It felt strange to be separated from Mistress, Mabel thought as she playfully tugged her collar, It felt reassuring to feel it on her neck, It was nice to have a symbol of her Mistress on her at all times, It made her feel safe to know that she’d always have a gift from her Owner.
“What is it like?” The question knocked Mabel out of her thoughts “Being domesticated I mean” Magnus clarified.
Thoughts of adoration to her mistress flooded her mind in response to the question to the point that Mabel barely knew where to begin “It’s amazing… mistress makes me feel so safe and happy all the time” Mabel started whilst gently feeling the edges of the collar around her neck “Before I met mistress I was constantly worried about things, worried about my job, about keeping a roof over my head, about if I’d be able to afford to eat, Mistress took all of that away… She cares for me in a way that no one else ever has” Magnus nodded understandingly “What about the implant?” He questioned further, Mabel shifted around nervously “I have sometimes felt slightly anxious about it… But I trust Mistress and she can make the nerves go away” Magnus looked away seemingly unsatisfied by the answer so Mabel continued “I just don’t want to feel anxious or nervous or upset again, I just want to feel happy and safe and mistress tells me the implant can help with that”
“What if I like adversity?” Magnus questioned “Being totally cared for sounds nice but I feel it would get boring without any obstacles or controversy to face”
Mabel shook her head vigorously “You don’t need to deal with hardship to make life meaningful, That’s just the lie the Terran Accord spread to make the conditions they put us all through sound better, There’s plenty of entertaining on this ship, Maybe I and mistress can show you some”
Magnus slowly nodded his head solicitously before all attention was drawn to the hab door as it opened and Exdela entered, her vines instantly rushing to Mabel and pulling her into Exdela’s embrace “Mistress!” Mabel happily squealed in response quickly wrapping her arms around her owner before lying down upon her vines resting lazily.
“Missed me did you, darling?” Exdela commented affectionately “It won’t be long until there’s a piece of me within you at all times Flower” she cooed as she turned her attention towards Magnus “How long has it been since you’ve eaten anything, dear?” She asked as a vine playfully caressed his arm.
Magnus took a few seconds to respond to the question seemingly not having expected it to be asked before shrugging and saying “I don’t really know, But quite a few hours at the minimum I think”
“We’ll need to solve that right away then” Exdela responded quite authoritatively “And then we’ll need to take care of a few bureaucratic tasks and take you to the vet for a checkup”
“The vet?” Magnus questioned quickly.
“Well, where else would we take you, dear? Your health is important to us” Magnus nearly questioned further before the idea of a species that takes others as pets taking Terrans to the vet clicked together in his head and he nodded.
Exdela’s vines moved suddenly, picking up Magnus and quickly placing him down next to Mabel in her vines, Magnus found it somewhat startling after not being warned about being picked up but quickly found himself relaxing into the vines, finding them exceedingly comfortable as Exdela began to leave the hab.
“Have you given any thought to domestication Magnus dear? I really do think it would suit you” Exdela asked whilst lightly but possessively using a vine to tug Magnus’s gaze upwards towards her.
“I’ve thought about it…” Magnus confirmed “But I find the implant a bit concerning” Magnus explained somewhat nervously, Talking to Exdela about this made him very tense and so he began resting deeper into her vines to compensate.
“You don’t need to worry dear, The haustoric implant would only help you” Exdela began “I can take very good care of you Magnus, All you have to do is ask'' A part of Magnus screamed out to surrender and accept, to lay back and allow Exdela to make him her pet, A part of him wanted it more than anything… But another part felt conflicted and racked with doubt and insecurity he felt consumed by concerns, what he agreed and then changed his mind afterwards. What if he lived a life of regrets? Magnus felt totally torn in half over the proposition when he began to hear Exdela lightly singing.
“Life could be a dream…
If only all my precious plans would come true…
If you would let me spend my whole life loving you…
Life could be a dream sweetheart…”
Exdela finished the song by lightly petting Magnus and Mabel, Magnus felt the light pet but something about it felt different, She had petted him before but now it just felt so right, Almost bliss-inducing, as if he could just lay back and be petted all day without a care in the world.
Magnus was only knocked out of his euphoria when he sluggishly began to notice that Exdela was speaking to him as the petting ended “Magnus dear?” He barely managed to make out “I didn’t realise that you were so starved for affection,” She said as Magnus felt his lucidity slowly return “We’ll have to make up for it my precious little seedling” Magnus heard as he felt the petting return in full force and he quickly felt himself falling into a paradise of relaxation and contentment.
Exdela looked down at the two adorable sophonts in her vines, Mabel was becoming a wonderful Floret as she had expected and Magnus appeared on the brink of volunteering, She considered for a moment if it might have been kinder to domesticate him involuntarily to save him the worries and concerns he had obviously been experiencing but as she looked down at him and saw him staring off into space with a dazed, lazy smile on his face she put the thoughts aside, It had all worked out well, Magnus would certainly never be without care and love again and Exdela would finally have two delightful Florets to cherish. Exdela had so many fantasies planned out for when she eventually had the two of them implanted, They’d both be blissed out after the operation for a time and the thought of having two cute Terrans too blissed out to think all to herself filled her with intense excitement.
She looked down at Magnus for a moment and saw one thing missing, She’d have to get him a collar as a reward after he signed his contract, But it had to be special, It couldn’t just be one she fabricated it had to be handmade to truly mark the occasion, She looked down at Magnus, he still looked adorable in his blissed out state and a slight smirk filled her face as she thought of the ideal collar for her soon to be Floret.
Exdela arrived at a Floret ran restaurant, Magnus had gone far too long without food and she hoped that this would be the place where he finally admitted what she already knew that he wanted, She set both the Terrans down and hooked a vine through Mabel’s collar when she suddenly saw a message alert from her tablet, She quickly inspected it and her vines went slightly stiff as she read it, She quickly responded with stern opposition before focusing her attention on her two Florets, She didn’t want them to worry and so she put her tablet away and entered the restaurant with the two of them.
Magnus took a few seconds to collect himself as Exdela set him down, Part of him wished that it would have never ended, That feeling of being totally content and cared for in Exdela’s vines was almost addictive but as he looked into the restaurant Exdela had taken them to he felt that he should certainly eat something, Under the Terran Accord Magnus had often seen luxury food as a waste of money that he couldn’t afford to purchase but with the Affini he could finally indulge as much as he wanted, He looked on to Exdela with a slight smile at the thought and found it strange when her usually energetic figure froze for a second as she looked at a tablet before suddenly returning to normal as she put the tablet away, It seemed somewhat concerning but as Magnus felt a gentle tug of a vine around his bare neck pull him towards the entrance he felt all his worries evaporate as he followed Exdela inside.
Magnus slowly followed as the vine around his neck directed him around the building, He figured that probably only a few days ago he would have resisted such a thing but just knowing that it was from Exdela sent ripples of perfect relaxation throughout his body.
Magnus eventually reached a very large seat, Before he could attempt to climb up him himself several of Exdela’s vines rushed around him and pulled him up towards a table facing towards Exdela and Mabel and sat him down upon a comfortable seat.
Exdela seemed to inspect him intently for a few seconds “I’ve been waiting for that look in your eyes, Magnus” She stated authoritatively “You want to be my pet, I want to hear you say it”
“I…” Magnus caught himself, He had nearly said it without thinking, He thought back to the dilemmas he’d had earlier about the loss of autonomy and about the implant but he also remembered the wonderful relaxation and contentment he felt whenever he was in Exdela’s vines.
“I want…” He stopped himself again, He felt just as torn as he had earlier, It was such a permanent and significant decision to make.
“Come on dear, You can do it” Exdela spoke in a reassuring tone, Her voice alone seemed to make all his worries almost fall apart but the fear of the implant still remained in his mind, The fear and anxiety about it pacing back and forth relentlessly, He suddenly thought back to Exdela when he had asked about it ‘You don’t need to worry dear’ she had said, Exdela had told him not to worry about it… No not Exdela, his Owner had told him not to worry and so he shouldn’t, His Owner would never let anything bad happen to him so there was no need to be worried.
“I want to be your pet!” He finally said confidently, all the fears breaking away and vanishing, The statement would have shocked him earlier but now hearing it he just felt relief, relief at having finally accepted the inevitable, He was a pet with an Owner now, The thought was comforting to repeat in his head, whenever he had a concern his Owner could take care of it, He wouldn’t have to worry about making decisions anymore he could just trust Exdela… his Owner.
Exdela seemed to smile with an almost aura of superiority around her “I knew you could do it Magnus dear, I’ve been waiting to hear you say those words from the second I saw you” Exdela’s vines suddenly rushed over to Magnus and pulled him over the table straight into her arms “I’ll never let you have a worry again my precious Floret” She teased before pulling Mabel closer into her arms too, cuddling them both.
For a time Magnus simply lay in his Owner’s embrace, feeling the loving warmth of his Owner radiate from every subtle movement of their vines. Magnus eventually heard some words but found them utterly incoherent to his ears soon feeling his owner lightly pull him upwards sitting him up, Looking around he began to feel more lucid, It seemed as if he had only been in his Owners embrace for a few minutes but coming up from it made it feel as if he had been there for hours and a part of him longed for it back.
“Your eagerness is adorable flower but I need you lucid for now” Magnus heard, “That goes for you too dearest Mabel” He heard added on Exdela’s voice seemed to almost radiate through him, as if her voice took on an entirely different form or as if he had never truly heard it properly until now, The voice had a loving but equally commanding tone and Magnus almost instinctively began trying to shake himself out of his mental stupor.
Looking around he saw that a Floret appeared to be looking over at his owner as if to take their order, The sight was slightly strange to Magnus, he hadn’t seen a Floret working before, he imagined that earlier the sight would have made him concerned or uncomfortable but the thought of his Owner eased any concerns he might have had, His Owner would ensure everything was right in the world and she didn’t seem opposed so everything was as it should be.
Magnus heard his Owner speak to the Floret, She seemed to be ordering for all of them, It felt nice to have someone take care of his needs like that so he didn’t need to bother dealing with it, He could just lie back in his Owners vines and trust that she would take care of him.
Soon after Magnus saw what appeared to be a Pizza placed before him and Mabel, It looked delicious and he almost had to stop himself from wolfing it down immediately, He looked up at his Owner for a second and she looked back down at him.
“Thank You….. Mistress”
