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Chapter Text

     Camila Verdun, first Bloom was bored out of her core. The helm of the Vervarium was empty- apart from herself and the ever busy ship's AI. They hung in orbit around the Terran planet Cassius, inducted into the Terran Protectorate over two years ago, months before she managed to get her transfer papers approved. The Vervarium hung in orbit as rear guard and she sat at the nav chair, keeping an Affini eye on comms and the radar. Just in case some of the rebel cuties decided Cassius below seemed like easy pickings for their recruitment.

Camila had been hoping to maybe find her first floret from among the rebels and holdouts. However it seemed just about everyone except the rather special cases that needed an expert vine had been snatched up by her comrades before her arrival. As a result she was left without a floret, far from the action and with few friends on the foreign ship with little to occupy herself. If she could sigh, she would.

"Vervarium-Actual, do you have anything on the long range scanners?" Camila ventured. 

The ship chirped back before responding, "All is normal Miss Verdun."

She felt her flowers wilt just a little. It was unlikely but it had been worth a shot, she supposed. Terran ships were adorably low tech but they still had somewhat competent warp and shielding. "Thank you Vervarium-Actual."

"Of course Miss Verdun. Remember to take a break if you feel overworked." The ship chirped as the AI diverted its attention back to running itself.

Camila humphed. "Overworked." If anything she was underworked. She has been staring at a blank radar and listening to empty comms apart from the rare visit from the actual frontline domestication ships for almost a Terran year now. Maybe she should put in for a transfer? Perhaps The Sequoiadon or The Elettarium? Perhaps The Argraia? She heard that one was still having some trouble with the locals. Oh! Maybe she could ask the captain of- 

Her train of thought was interrupted as several alarms started to blare at once. The ship chirped as its AI activated its vocals on the bridge again. "Spatial anomaly detected, readings are congruent with Terran Warships of the Leviathan class. Raising defenses, putting the ship on screen." 

Oh goodness! She wanted something to break up her shift but this wasn't exactly what she had in mind! She quickly perused the list, Leviathan class... Those were the largest in the Terran Navy weren't they? The scans indicated it was about 1.5km long. Minimum crew would be a few dozen, likely 200-300 but could push over 500. She quickly browsed the list, receiving a message from the captain that Xe'd be there shortly, when the ship spoke again. "Receiving a hail from CSS The Valiant, do you wish to accept?" The Terrans were hailing her? 

"I- yes, please open communications." The ship chirped in the affirmative and the static of the line filled the bridge. "This is Camila Verdun, first bloom of the Vervarium She/Her, are you in need of assistance?"

At first there was just the sound of gentle breathing and static. Camila checked the scans again to make sure this wasn't a ploy for time- the ship hadn't moved, nor had it armed any of it's weapons. It did seem that only two areas were oxygenated though, the bridge and the cargo bay. That was... Most unusual. Then a low, ragged voice came through. "Affini vessel Vervarium, this is Beckett with the Terran Cosmic Navy Ship The Valiant. We..." The voice paused, a long sigh filled the silence, "I am here to surrender this vessel it's, 2143 high yield plasma missles, 4 rail cannons, 1 sublight mass cannon and 244 souls. A number of the crew need medical attention, but nothing critical." There was a brief pause before Terran continued, "There are seven dead."

Camilla was staggered by the response. Goodness that was a lot of feral, possibly rebel Terrans "Confirm, seven dead? Not critical?" Terran medicine was fairly substandard at best, maybe the little one merely thought they were irretrievable?

"Seven dead. The captain, his first mate, his weapons officer, his communications officer and his three nav officers. I killed them myself commandeering this vessel." The Terran- Beckett she reminded herself- stated it like he was reading from a dictionary. More bored than anything she'd associate with someone that just killed seven sophonts.  

Her core ran cold, by The Everbloom, seven dead? And did the little one say he commandeered the ship entirely alone? Oh how very pressed he must have felt to be driven to do something so drastic. "I... I understand little one. You must be feeling awful and I promise you, I will see that you are safe now." 

"Will you now? Well in that case I look forward to seeing you." Oh dirt, now the little one was expecting her! Goodness she didn't even have most of the grafts that were commonly used when subduing ferals. She did have a few variants of Class Z and E and a lot of Class A's as well a common Class J and W for when she visited pet cafes. Surely the Captain wouldn't approve of her going aboard with such little experience and lacking the tools? Beckett continued speaking, interrupting her thoughts, "You should know that the majority of the crew was forced into the cargo bay and are largely unaware of this situation, but they should be unarmed and they're good people." Beckett hummed, "Well, mostly good people. Either way I would like to see them treated fairly and given a chance, even if they kick and scream when you roll in. No immediate domestication."

Ah. "I am... Sorry. I can't guarantee that. Perhaps if I-"

The door behind her slid open- "Apologies for my tardiness Miss Verdun, it took a bit longer to get a petsitter on such short notice than I hoped. What's the situation with the Terran Vessel?" The sudden voice of her commanding officer caused her to shoot up from the chair.

"I- uhm- a Terran by the Name of Beckett wishes to surrender himself, the ship and the crew. He..." Her core ached as she recounted the next part, "He killed the entire bridge crew and commandeered the ship. The rest of the crew are trapped in the cargo bay with most of the ship open to space. Outside of the dead, he says a few need non-immediate medical assistance."

Beckett's voice came through the comms, "Miss Verdun? Are you still there?"

Xer face grew dark, "I see..." Xe tapped a few times in xer pad, transferring the comms line, "Mr. Beckett, this is Wy Flint, 17th bloom, Xe/Xer and Captain of The Vervarium. I understand you have seized your vessel and pressed its crew here and now wish to surrender both."

The Terran laughed, something between a snicker and a giggle, "Mister now am I? He/him is fine but I'm far from a Mister or a Sir, I do work for a living." Beckett hummed again, "Or is it worked now? Regardless, the rest of that is correct. Are you coming over as well then, or is it just Miss Verdun?"

The Captain shot her an amused look, "No I don't think I'll be joining the boarding party, as Captain I'm needed here. It will be Miss Verdun and several other Affini." After xe let go of the comms button xe spoke again, this time to her, "My my Miss Verdun, I knew you were thinking of getting a floret but I didn't know you were this eager."

Camila felt every leaf and bristle stand on end at the accusation, "I- that is- It's not like that! I just misspoke a bit and the little one took it wrong is all! I don't even have spore dispersal grafts!" She stammered. 

Beckett's voice came through again, "Well in that case I suppose we'll meet at a later date. 

The Captain hummed and poked at xer pad for a moment, "It looks like the little one was trying the truth, the majority of the crew is in the cargo bay at the far end and there's only one life sign on the bridge. I'll send the rest of the boarding party down there once the ship is repressurized. You will handle Beckett, he seems agreeable but if he proves problematic your Class Z should be fine." 

Opening comms again Wy resumed speaking to Beckett, "That we will, I'm very interested in learning about the events that lead to today from your point of view. We have a hold on your vessel and are working on repressurising it for ease of extraction. Help is on the way and will be there soon."

"Thank you. I look forward to getting out of this rust bucket." 

The ship chirped- "Communications closed by CSS The Valiant."

The Captain turned to her and grinned, "I would start getting down to the boarding transit if I were you Miss Verdun, your Terran awaits." A few vines worked quickly on xer tablet, "I've sent you the information."

"Beckett is not my floret!" She called back as she hurried out. The boredom she faced not even an hour ago was preferential to all this teasing! 

-_-_-

Camila had never felt so out of place, the youngest Affini on the transit besides herself was nearing the end of its fourth bloom! The boarding party's leader, here was on his third domestication campaign! One of them, Xeric Rhythorn, 5th bloom, if she recalled their brief introductions, entangled a few vines into her own, "Relax dear, it's just a standard boarding. Besides we'll be handling the majority of the crew while you grab your cutie. Should be simple considering it's the one surrendering!" 

"I-" Camila fought the urge to correct the senior Affini, "Yes, a simple matter." She frowned, she barely even knew Beckett nor even met him properly and everyone was already assuming they were a pair! It's true she wanted a floret but she had doubts about her ability to help someone that seemed largely unbothered by killing. The little one almost certainly needed a more practiced vine. Even with the comforting words of Xeric it was hard to feel at ease about the whole situation. 

The transit reached the end of the line, a hole the grappling vine punched into the Terran ship. The party's leader straightened up and motioned towards two of the other Affini, "Rhythorn, Wysteria, you'll be with me. We'll be heading to ventilation systems and pumping a class Z into the cargo bay before going in. Crysmathiun," She pointed at the other remaining Affini "you'll be sweeping the rest of the ship, readings say it's clean but we need to double check and you," She said pointing at Camila, her expression softening into a warm smile, "Captain Flint tells me you'll be handling the Terran in the helm. He might be surrendering, but keep an eye or two on him, ferals can be... Unpredictable. And try to not have too much fun, you two can enjoy each other's company better back on The Vervarium." 

Camila could feel herself bristle, just what did the Captain tell them all?! "Alright I've got a line into the comms and the engines are dead, we move in after the announcement." She could hear the crackle of a dozen speakers just beyond the threshold, "This is Quint Flaxseed, 12th bloom, he/him, your vessel has surrendered itself to the compact. We are here to make sure you never have to be hungry or cold or unloved again. Remain calm and breathe deep and you'll all wake up in your new homes." Cutting the line Quint spoke again, "Okay you all know what to do, move out and don't hesitate to call if you need help. We're on a team not a solo op!" With a blur of motion the other four Affini darted into the ship leaving her momentarily alone on the transit.

Camila psyched herself up, pressed into this by a simple misunderstanding or not, she was still an Affini with a job to do and a sophont needed her help! She fed herself through the hole and checked the map tab Flaxseed had sent her. It even highlighted the path she needed to take, it looked like a straight shot to a service chute and up and that would put her basically right at the bridge. She moved quickly, using vines anchored in the walls, floor and ceiling to almost fling herself down the path and up the chute. She was at the blast door in moments. 

She looked around and spotted the interface- ah, it was unpowered. Strange, there was power to the rest of the ship... The little one did say he had sealed himself inside didn't he. She examined the metal, testing it with a vine. It was rather durable, but she was an Affini. Ripping it out of the wall should be fairly easy but first- "Beckett? Are you in there?" 

A moment passed. "Miss Verdun? My apologies but I did a number on the controls of the door, I don't think you'll be able to open it without a plasmacutter." 

It was rather relieving to hear the little one's voice again, to know they were at the very least okay. No, wait, focus! "I believe I can remove the door by force, can you step away?"

"By force you say?" He sounded slightly impressed, "Well then, that certainly works. I am afraid I won't be able to communicate that I'm ready through this door at a safe distance, so give it about ten seconds for me to get behind the captain's chair and then go ahead." There was a knock, the little one indicating they were moving now? Camila counted to ten, slowly, while pressing her thickest vines into the corners around the door. Upon reaching ten, she ripped open the walls around the door, causing it to fall into the room with a loud thud. 

The first thing she noticed was the overwhelming scent of fresh blood. The second thing was an impressed whistle. "Very impressive Miss Verdun! My information did note that the Affini had immense physical strength but to see you rip through DuraSteel like it was wet parchment..." Beckett lauded as she got her first look at the Terran as stepped out from behind the Captain's chair.

He was sizeable- for a Terran at least- probably just shy of two meters in height. He wore a hat and jacket both slate grey in color over a white shirt. He had dark, shaggy hair that came down around ears. His pants were a drab olive green, the cuffs of which were tucked into well polished and tightly laced boots. The sleeves of the Jacket were pushed up to rest above his elbows. Blood smattered every part of him, scars and burns visible everywhere the crimson didn't obscure, his hands nearly dripping with the fluid. Her core ran cold at the sight. Instinctually, Camila scooped him up, "Oh dirt, are you injured? Hurt anywhere?" Her vines began to probe and search the Terran, checking for wounds.

"Woah!" Beckett exclaimed in surprise, "I'm fine, I assure you!"

"But the bleeding-" Camila started as she continued to find nothing.

"None of this is mine," Beckett nodded towards the other side of the room, "it's all theirs." 

It was then that she saw them. Seven bodies, all lined up, bloodied white shirts over their heads, jackets over their torsos. She probed the bodies with a vine- no pulse, no warmth at all. If cold water ran through her vines before now it was ice. The poor thing, those poor sophonts, if only they had been caught before then none of this-

"I understand this must be a shocking sight but I'd appreciate it if you stopped stroking me and set me down." Beckett stated flatly. Oh mulch, she had been petting the Terran out of stress.

"S-sorry," She apologized as she gently set him down, "It's just, goodness..." She trailed off as she tore her eyes from the lifeless Terrans and took note of the room at large. There was gore all around, on the floors, walls and even a bit dripping from the ceiling. One of the panels was dented, completely covered in brain matter and bone. "What happened here?" 

"Well as I said, I killed the bridge crew and commandeered the ship. issued weapons are normally kept in the armory to prevent such things, but as per my contract, I was allowed to keep certain 'personal effects' on me." Beckett pulled a gun from his hip, giving it a few spins. 

Camila seized the weapon, wrapping it and Beckett's hands in vines, "Dear that's dangerous! You shouldn't play with such things!" 

Beckett looked up at Camila and raised an eyebrow, "I suppose it would be, if it was loaded. However, I'm more than willing to part with it if you'll allow me." Camila studied him briefly, finding little in his face to go on. She reached her senses out, trying to search for his biorythm and... found nothing? No, that's not right, it was there, it was just an utter absence of anything. No variations, no rhythm, just a quiet, flat tone akin to static. It was perhaps the most unsettling thing in a series of unsettling events. She noticed the little one was still staring her directly and intently in the eyes, waiting. 

She supposed if Beckett had wanted to cause trouble or injure himself, he had had plenty opportunity already. Cautiously, she released his hands from her vines, keeping them nearby. "Thank you Miss Verdun." He said as he smacked the right of it, ejecting a cylinder on the left and tilting the barrel to the ceiling causing six empty shells to fall to the ground. A flick of the wrist returned the cylinder to its normal position and Beckett tossed it, flipping it and catching it by the barrel, holding the handle towards Camila. Cautiously, she took it, tucking it into herself. He offered no resistance, showed no signs of trickery, but she just couldn't shake the feeling deep in her core that something was very wrong with this Terran.

Something about the way he held himself, the way he spoke, the way he didn't seem at all bothered by the gore covering him nor the lives he took. The completely flat biorhythm, the strangely intimate knowledge of Affini culture, that he went through all this effort to commandeer a ship just to surrender in the first place... She had to know. "Beckett... Why did you do this? What made you want to surrender to the compact at such a cost?"

Beckett blinked, tilted his head and furrowed his brow, Camila would've found it cute under normal circumstances, "Isn't it obvious?"

Did the little one want to be a pet that badly? Oh goodness did he want to be her pet? "Uhm, well it's just that, excuse me if this is rude but, you don't really seem to be the type eager to be a floret is all."

Beckett laughed, a deep, hearty laugh from the belly, "I- goodness a floret? Me?" He snickered a bit before his demeanor calmed again, a sly grin remaining, "No dear, I'm afraid you've got it all wrong. You see, I am a mercenary, A Dog of War. I work for the highest bidder, that is all."

The little did all this? For money? That nauseous feeling returned, "You seem to know a lot about the Compact, are you not aware we don't use any type of capital?"

Beckett frowned, "Of course I do. The Accord, or more accurately what's left of The Accord can hardly feed its wealthiest citizens, let alone the people on the ground. If I cannot buy meat for any price because there is no meat to buy, credits are worth less than dirt." He pointed a finger at her accusingly, "Besides, credits aren't the only thing to consider Miss Verdun, one must consider the consequences of going down with the losing side. No amount of credits is worth my life, or spending years on a rusting bucket of bolts with no plan and no hope. The only logical thing was to seize the ship with minimal casualties and end this charade."

That was... Almost sound. There were still ground rules to make clear, Camila straightened herself as much as possible with the low ceiling and let her core humm, "You are aware there will be no violence permitted. I'll not allow you to harm another sophont." She stated firmly, putting as much authority into the words as she could muster. 

Beckett merely shrugged, seemingly unaffected, "Fine by me, I lost my taste for it years ago. I've been looking forward to my retirement for some time now honestly." He looked around the room briefly, shifting a bit, "Can we leave? I don't care to linger here any longer and I desperately need to bathe."

Camila still had a seemingly endless amount of questions for the terran, but she felt satisfied that he didn't intend to pose a threat. The exact details of the day's event, what exactly he hoped to gain and other such questions could wait. "Yes, let me contact the rest of the team and tell them we're heading out and need an investigation team here." She pulled out her tab and paused, "Also I will need to carry you for the transit since you won't be going in a pod." 

Beckett simply nodded, "I understand Miss Verdun, I'm ready when you are." 

Camila typed a quick message to the rest of the team- the cargo bay team had successfully sedated the entire crew in the cargo bay and were already beginning to transport them. Crysmathium had found the rest of the ship to be empty. Outside of the incident at the bridge before arrival an all around flawless fishing mission. Each of them congratulated Camila on her work and first floret, asking for pictures once she got the cutie settled. Camila humphed, so far Beckett had proven entirely unflappable and far from the kind of Terran she enjoyed to play with. 

Even if he did need to be domesticated, which seemed fairly likely given the apparent emotional disconnect, she was far from the affini for the job. Whatever was going on with Beckett seemed far beyond her. Regardless it did seem that at the very least the examination period would be in her care, afterwards she could recommend him for someone that has experience with such cases. For now, it seemed, she had a temporary Terran.

"Is something wrong Miss Verdun?" Beckett looked up at her quizzically. 

"No little one, just some teasing from my comrades." She gently picked him up, wiping some blood off his face and smiled gently. "Let's get you home."

-_-_-

The plan had gone flawlessly so far. Of course it had, it was a plan they had made. They even managed to luck into an Affini that seemed largely inexperienced. As talented as we are lucky. As usual. The hardest part was yet to come however, one thorough medical examination and their secret was likely exposed. If they didn't find out that way it was still possible that it was discovered that "Joshua Beckett" was a fabrication. The only two people that knew it was an assumed name had been dealt with and lay cold on the bridge. They had even combed the ship's records extensively to make sure all mentions were as Beckett. 

All they had to do was be cordial and adapt as needed without ceding their independence. Easy enough. They had played many roles in their life. Surely Independent Compact Sophont would be far from difficult, whatever that ended up actually entailing. No matter what, no matter the costs or humiliation, they had to avoid being collared again at all costs. 

Chapter Text

Beckett remained nearly perfectly still in Camila's vines as she carried him through The Vervarium. Only the slight weight of his body and gentle breathing reminded her that he was there at all. She had carried florets that acted in much the same manner, but they usually melted into her vines, utterly relaxed. What made it strange was the tension in Beckett's body. He felt more like a lump of stone than the putty she was used to. 

As she hurried through the ship, she overheard a pair of Affini discuss the arrival of the ship, excited at the prospect of fresh faces in the Class-J Cafes and the strange nature of its apparent surrender. Camila was certain she'd be part of the gossip sooner than later once it came out that the Terran in question was in her care, and what exactly had occurred. Not that she had all those details herself yet, but the savage nature of Beckett's actions were sure to get her fellow Affini talking. On the positive side, she wouldn't have to worry about having to look particularly hard for another Affini to take in Beckett. They'd probably be lining themselves up once they caught wind. 

Thankfully, her hab wasn't all that far and the pair arrived not long after. The door automatically opened at her approach and she set Beckett down as soon as they crossed the threshold, the door shutting behind them. Beckett stretched, arms above his head, hand in hand, leaning to one side and then the other. He stretched his legs as well, extending them behind him one at a time leaning to the opposite side, grunting slightly as his joints cracked again. "Much better. Thanks for the lift, but let's avoid doing that again unless it's necessary, yes?" He looked around the Hab as the AI kicked the lights on, letting a whistle, "Do you really get all this to yourself? I heard the habs were large but this is borderline palatial." 

"It's a fairly standard hab for one Affini, the units for Affini pairs and groups are much larger." If anything it was substandard; she had hardly decorated . There was a couch, a pile of pillows and a TV in the common area, the bare basics for pet sitting- oh dirt, she still had a pet bed in the guest room from when she was watching Cordelia's floret! She would have to replace the bed tomorrow when she could use larger compilers. It was already starting to get late and she wasn't going to leave a feral alone. Hopefully Beckett wouldn't mind for tonight. 

"You don't say... What about standard units for Terrans?" Beckett asked. 

Camila raised an artificial eyebrow at the Terran, still covered in no small amount of blood. "About the same, in case the sophont in question is having an Affini over." Not that you'll have to worry much about that, she thought to herself.  "For now, we both desperately need a bath, let me show you to the bathroom. Hab, could you get the bath running?"

"Right away Miss." The Hab chirped. 

Beckett's body language tensed up immediately, mumbling to himself, "Ah, yes, my informants did say there were AI units standard in the habs." He took a deep breath before slowly exhaling, relaxing his posture. Or at least releasing the extra tension. Camila doubted the little one had ever truly relaxed his body.

"Does the Hab's Artificial Intelligence make you uncomfortable little one?" Even if he wasn't gonna stay with her long, she'd hate to make him needlessly distressed. 

"I-" Beckett looked at her with widened eyes. He took another slow breath, seemingly his go to self calming exercise, "That's a long story, and not something to discuss here. We can talk about it later, elsewhere. For now I would appreciate that shower."

It certainly seemed like a sore point but she was willing to drop it, for now. Something better left for his future owner to unpack perhaps. "Yes of course, it's this way." She led the way, opening the door to the bathroom. 

Beckett whistled once again, examining the large tub full of soapy, steamy water, "I've seen pools smaller than this in the homes of billionaires, and not half as fancy, very impressive." 

Was it really that impressive? "It's a fairly standard tub, little one."  The only custom thing was the waterfall in place of a spigot and that was also a fairly standard piece of customization. "It's due time we got you cleaned up though, you can either wash yourself or I can wash you."

"I can handle it on my own." Beckett stated, kneeling down and untying his boots. Stepping on the heel of his boot he pulled his foot out, then the other, then pulled the socks off in a similar manner by stepping on excess fabric around the toes. He unbuckled his belt and unbuttoned his pants, letting them drop. He then tossed off his jacket onto the pants and pulled his shirt over his head and... By the Everbloom... She figured from the state of his arms elbow down that there were more scars underneath the clothing but that didn't prepare her for the sheer amount. 

It looked as though he had been ripped to pieces and stitched back together by one of those angry doctors common in Terran media. Burns from laser fire, scars from what she could only guess to be from shrapnel and other sharp implements, bullet holes- just about every type of wound she had learned about in her How to Care for Terrans class seemed present. Two wounds in particular caught her attention above the rest however- one between the shoulder blades, notable for being perfectly rectangular. Another one, a starlike mark on the neck that she couldn't quite place. Something between a burn and a blast? It wasn't too dissimilar from a gunshot wound where the muzzle was close enough for the flesh to burn, though much larger. She felt a pang deep in her core, a need to make sure that Beckett never suffered anything like... Whatever it was that had happened to him. 

"Admiring the patchwork?" Beckett smirked up at her, throwing his hat onto the pile, now fully nude and striking a pose. "A thousand victories etched in my skin. Quite the sight, no?" 

"Does it hurt?" Her voice was soft as she spoke her thoughts aloud without meaning to.

Beckett paused for a moment, averting his gaze before he answered, his voice matching her soft tone, "Rarely. It's nothing I can't handle." 

That made her injectors itch like crazy, Camila fought to keep herself from drugging Beckett into a blissful stupor then and there. Ripping out all the hurt and making sure he never worried about anything or felt pain ever again. She couldn't, she wasn't right for him, she was far from experienced with this level of apparent trauma. He needed an owner with at the very least a few more blooms under their belt, if not a few florets and expertise in Terran psychology. She calmed herself and made a resolution- She was going to find a proper owner for this sophont if it was the last thing she did. 

"So are you intending to watch me bathe or what?" Beckett asked, breaking her concentration. 

 "Well," she began, "I also need to bathe. I suppose I was thinking we could share the bath."

Beckett folded his arms, "As long as you keep your vines and xenodrugs to yourself and let me wash up on my own I have no objections." 

"That is fine by me." It's best not to let the little one get attached anyways, she thought as she got into the tub. Beckett may need domestication but he was far from what she wanted out of a floret. Perhaps there was someone from the ship for her still? There were quite a few Terrans aboard, maybe she could find a nice and docile one when the pet cafes got them in?

Beckett hopped in himself, mounting over the tub's rim and landing in the water with a splash. He stayed underneath the surface for a few seconds before emerging on the opposite end of her. He puzzled over the selection of bottles for a moment, "which one of these are which?"

Right, all the labels were in Affini. Reaching around him she quickly reorganized the shelf, naming each one as she set them down, "Body Wash. Shampoo. Conditioner." She set a loofah in front of him as well. 

He gave a curt "Thanks" as he took the loofah and put a modest amount of the indicated body wash on it. His approach was methodical, starting with the face, then the chest. One arm, then the other. One leg, then swap. Lastly, the private areas. Dunking himself down into the water to wash off the suds after lathering up each time. Finally he put a bit of shampoo on his hands and scrubbed it almost furiously into his scalp before dunking himself below the waters' surface and rinsing it out. Repeating the process with conditioner he exclaimed "Done." as he surfaced. 

This was a far cry from the doting, half hour to hour long baths Camila was used to. This was a purely utilitarian washing. It was over in seven minutes. "I'm sure you wanted to clean up, but there wasn't a rush." 

"I see no reason to linger either." He retorted, as he got out of the tub and grabbed a towel off the nearby rack. "Are you done yet? Or did you need a minute?" Beckett asked as he began to dry off. Roots and mulch, she had been so transfixed by the little one's fastidious bathing she hadn't even started. 

"Just stay there one moment." She broke down her form, becoming a mass of vines and forcing water through the tangle, drawing herself back together on the other end. The sticky blood that had found its way off Beckett and onto her vines was gone. 

Beckett was wrapping a towel around his waist, having dried off the rest of his body. His hair remained damp, slicked back with the remaining moisture. "And here I thought I was efficient, quite impressive." He walked over to the pile of his clothes, picking up the hat and jacket and examining the blood stained items. "I hope you have a change of clothes for me," he sighed as he dropped them back onto the pile, "I don't think these are usable any longer." 

Right. Clothes. She could fabricate those fairly easily. She drew her pad out, noticing several new messages. The first was from the away team. They had finished transferring all the Terrans in the cargo hold and left, a forensics team had taken their place. The second was from the forensic team, letting her know they would be in touch. There was one from the captain as well, asking for her to contact Xem after she got Beckett in bed for the night. And... About a dozen from Cordelia alone. It seemed she had heard about the events of the day. 

Well that would all have to be handled later. For now she needed clothes. She quickly typed in 'Clothes for a Male Terran' and picked the first option that wasn't some form of companion dress and sent it to the compiler. An inoffensive white shirt and blue jeans. "I have some clothes ready for you in the kitchen, are you hungry? I could compile you some dinner as well."

Beckett hummed, closing his eyes momentarily, "I could eat, yes." He flourished his arm with a flick of his wrist, motioning towards the door, "Lead the way, Miss Verdun."

Camila switched to a search for 'Terran Dinners' as she moved to the kitchen and picked something that looked rather delicious. A rather exotic looking dish called 'Lasagna'. Upon reaching her destination she retrieved the clothing and handed them to Beckett.

He took the clothes and eyed them for a moment, "These are acceptable but...no underwear? Am I expected to wear jeans raw?"

"Ah, dirt." She knew she was forgetting something. Quickly working on the compiler she made a fresh pair of the same briefs she observed him wearing earlier and handed them over. "Satisfactory?"

"Very, Thank you." Beckett dropped the towel and began to dress himself. 

Camila used the compiler one more time to make the 'lasagna' she had found earlier. She pulled out a chair for the little one with a vine as other vines went about setting the table and she retrieved the freshly compiled dinner. She started to reach out to help Beckett into the chair but he simply planted a hand on one corner and jumped up, landing firmly in the seat. So she pulled the chair back into the table and set the meal in front of him. "It is called 'lasagna', it's from an old Terran region known as 'Italy'." Camila beamed, watching Beckett intently, Terrans always made the cutest faces when they ate. Surely even the stoic mercenary wasn't immune to a good meal.

Beckett eyed it before silently taking a fork and digging into a corner of the rectangular slab, taking a bite. An interested 'Hm.' was the only reaction he gave as chewed and swallowed it. "That is quite good, much better than field rations. Thank you, Miss Verdun." He said as he dug out another forkful.

Camila fought off a frown, it wouldn't do to let Beckett know she was disappointed, but she had never met a sophont so... so consistently uncute!  Was there nothing that would get a genuine reaction out of him? 

It occurred to her that this might be a good time for some brief questions about the Terran while he was seemingly in a good mood. Or at least a good a mood as he was capable of. "So did you work as a mercenary long?" 

Beckett stopped altogether for a moment, before finishing chewing and swallowing the bite he had been working on. He took a drink of water and cleared his throat, "All my life, just about." 

No wonder the little one had so many scars. "Why did you become a mercenary?" She followed up. 

"... Born into it, I suppose. Payed well, so I stayed." Beckett took another bite. 

Had his parents been mercenaries? Or was he pressed into it at a young age? Goodness the thought that Beckett was engaged in... such unpleasantness from a young age made her flowers start to wilt... No wonder he was so distant. "Apologies, I didn't mean to dig up something so unpleasant."

Beckett wiped off some of the sauce building up at the corners of his mouth, "It's fine, it was a long time ago. Though if you want to repay me, I have a question for you."

Now that was certainly a surprise, "Of course, what's on your mind little one?"

"Your last name," he began, as he cut into the remaining lasagna and prepared his next bite, "'Verdun', is very interesting. How did you choose it?"

Huh? She had expected... Well she didn't know what question she had expected, but certainly not one about her name. "It was fairly close to the Terran words 'Verdant' and 'Verde' and I liked the sound of it I suppose."

The little one hummed for a moment as he finished swallowing another bite, "So it is a coincidence. That's quite funny."

"Coincidence?" She asked, worried. She had made sure it wasn't a slur but she hadn't looked much further than that. 

Beckett finished the last bite of his meal and took a long draught of water before he responded, "'Verdun' is  the site of one of the Bloodiest battles fought during the first World War a bit over six hundred years ago. At the time however, it was called 'The Great War' or 'The War to End All Wars', though it was obviously far from the last war." He wiped off his mouth and placed the napkin on the plate before continuing, "The Battle at Verdun lasted nearly ten months, the longest of any during that war. More than three hundred thousand souls were lost. I am surprised you didn't know this, though I did find it odd that an Affini would knowingly name themself after such a famous battle. I figured it was perhaps a reference to the chemical warfare that debuted during the war. I've heard Affini prefer chemical weapons, though of a far less lethal variety." Beckett leaned back into the chair, watching her.

Camila had never felt so sickened in her life. All those poor sophonts, and Beckett thought she had willingly named herself after such an event? She could feel all her flowers close and wilt, she regretted asking for clarification. "I- By the Everbloom, no!" Her biorhythm was growing discordant, she needed to pull herself together. It wouldn't do to fall apart in front of her charge. 

"Sorry," Beckett apologized, snapping her out of the spiral, "I didn't mean to disturb you. I should have figured that wasn't the case." Was that a hint of actual remorse in the little one's face? "Or at the very least warned you that the information was disturbing before sharing it. Perhaps a change of subject, ask me anything about myself and I'll do my best to answer." 

Maybe she had Beckett wrong. He clearly kept his emotions at a distance, but it seemed he was at least capable of caring about others, in his own maladaptive way. There were a few questions that came to mind, namely the strange scars she had been intrigued by earlier... but she didn't want to sour the fragile mood again. She suddenly recalled his reaction when they entered the Hab, "What is your history with Artificial Intelligence?"

Beckett tensed up momentarily, "Are you sure that's wise given, well," He nodded towards the ceiling, "The present company?" Was he concerned about the AI listening in?

"I can disable my audio receptors for a few minutes if you'd like, cutie." The AI chimed in, Beckett tensed up again at the sound of the robotic voice. Goodness, the AI really seemed to put him on edge. 

Camila spoke up herself, "I'm not sure what your history with AIs is but I assure you, it only has your safety and comfort in mind."

He held up one hand in a motion Camila recognized as 'stop' as his body relaxed. "No, it's fine." Beckett seemed fixated on the remaining water in his glass, swirling it, "It's just... A rather long story. The short of it is before I was freelance, I worked with a mercenary company specializing in fighting rogue AIs and technologically enhanced soldiers. I've seen the things AIs are capable of when they get loose. I'm sure it couldn't happen with the AIs in your Habs but I'm afraid that knowledge doesn't help much." He downed the remaining fluid as he finished his answer. "Now we have both made each other uncomfortable once, so let's call it even."

That was definitely indicative of a malignant view of social interactions. Camila was handed another mysterious piece to the puzzle that was Beckett that only seemed to raise more questions than it answered. That was the short version. It was the Hab AI that broke the brief silence, "Well I don't know what happened with those other units, but I promise you no Affini made AI is capable of bringing harm to any Sophont." 

Beckett laughed. Actual genuine laughter that warmed her very core, covering his smile with a hand as he practically giggled. It was positively adorable. "Well, why didn't you say so! I feel much better now." The downplaying of his trauma wasn't so cute, but something in her had needed to see the little enjoy, well, anything really. "An AI, with jokes, Mr. Turing would lose his mind over this."

Camila took up the dishes and fed them to the compiler, smiling gently down at Beckett "l told you no harm would come to you here and I meant that. You are safe here ." She inflicted the last part with a moderate amount of hypnotic influence. She wasn't going to let any Sophont in her care feel like it was in danger. It would be shameful as an Affini.  " You can relax ." 

"Hmph. 'Safe' seems like a very difficult thing to prove." Beckett said as he hopped down from the chair, "If 'safe' is the absence of danger, you would first have to prove a negative beyond doubt. A very difficult task, even for the Affini I imagine. That said," He spoke up as he continued, "My name is Joshua Beckett, I go by Beckett. Do you have a name, or is it just AI?"

"Oh, Miss Verdun always called me 'AI' or 'Hab', but Miss Daisy calls me Jess when she stays over." When had Cordelia's floret give her hab's AI a name? 

"Jess it is then." Beckett nodded, "I hope we can get along for my time here."

"Of course cutie! Don't hesitate to ask me for anything, okay?" The AI- no, Jess- replied. 

"Will do."  Beckett stretched and let out an adorable little yawn, "Do you have a bed for me or am I sleeping on the couch? I've had a very long day."

Ah. Right. The bed. "Well you see, there is a bed but, well... It's the one I use for when I pet sit." 

"Well any bed should be fine, I've been sleeping on a slab for two and half years." Beckett grunted as he cracked his neck, producing a loud crunch. "Lead the way, if you would."

Camila did so, worrying all the short walk from the kitchen to the guest room. The door opened to reveal the plush bed with high plush sides. A myriad of blankets pillows filling the dish like bed. 

Beckett looked dumbfounded, remaining silent for several moments before snapping out of it, and covering his mouth again. Was he smirking? "Right. A pet bed. For when you pet sit. Of course." Beckett sighed, placing both hands on his hips. "I suppose I've suffered worse indignities, and none of those were a soft bed. It will do for now." He undid the button and let his pants drop to the floor, stepping out of them and taking off his shirt as he walked towards the bed. Stepping over the rim, pressing the plush material down with his left hand and walking to the center before kneeling down, beginning to arrange the blankets. 

It was quite adorable to see the little one setting about making appropriate nesting for himself. Even seeing the multitude of scars he bore couldn't sour the sight. If anything it just made her want to dote on the poor sophont even more. Camila could resist no longer, she reached down and gave Beckett a light pet, ruffling his hair a little. 

She had never seen a Terran flinch like that. He shot back to the edge of the bed and whipped around wide-eyed. His body tensed and poised to take action. Upon meeting her gaze he relaxed a bit, closing his eyes as he did the breathing exercise she'd observed before. A few moments passed before Beckett pointed up at her, "Please don't touch me without at least a heads-up. I don't like surprises."

Camila chided herself, of course the little one is touch adverse. It'd be stranger if he wasn't, considering. She bowed her head, "My apologies, I'll make sure you are well aware of physical interaction before it happens in the future." 

"Thank you." Beckett sighed. He finished getting the nest of blankets to a spot he found acceptable and lay down, drawing one of them over himself and pulling a nearby pillow under his head. He adjusted his position for a few moments. "This bed is outrageously soft." Beckett adjusted his position to face her, "Do people really sleep in this?"

Camila smiled down at him, "Yes they do. Did you want me to get the lights? I could also give a Class Z to help you sleep if the bed is an issue." 

Beckett readjusted his position to be laying down once again, "I'll pass on the Xenodrugs thank you, but the lights would be nice." 

Camila took out her pad and moved to the door. "Goodnight little one." She bid as she turned off the lights. 

-_-_-_-

"Goodnight, Miss Verdun," they returned. They heard  the door gently closing. Alone and able to collect their thoughts. Finally.

Well, almost alone. There was that infernal AI, watching their every move. For their "safety". If they decided to stay in the compact they'd certainly have to find a way to remove such a thing from their Hab. Though it was starting to look like they might have to use one of the contingency plans.

It seemed as though Miss Verdun trusted them just about as far as she could- actually she could probably throw them pretty far, couldn't she? Nonetheless, the prospect of actually attaining an independent status were starting to look bleak. It was obvious she saw them as some sort of injured animal. 

Not exactly an unfair assessment of us though, is it? 

...True, they had been through the ringer. More times than they would care to count. But that  only made them stronger! They've always come out on top! Surely the Affini could recognize their strength and that they merely wish to be left alone. They've earned that much at least. 

The only thing we deserve is to be destroyed. And they will destroy us. We both could feel how she was practically sizing us for a collar in the bath.

No. No, they had survived too much bullshit for it to end like that. They've done all sorts of things even they considered impossible beforehand, surely finding out what they need to do to remain independent, or at the very least uncollared, couldn't be half as hard. No matter what. No matter what. They repeated the mantra mentally, until they drifted off to sleep.

-_-_-_- 

Camila opened her messages. She still had some business to tend to before turning in herself. The Captain should still be up, and was by far the easier of the two conversations. Cordelia was... Excitable. She had sent another four messages since she just checked. 

[Cpt_Flynt]: Miss Verdun

[Cpt_Flynt]: Please contact me as soon as it is convenient.

[FrequencyFlower]: I just put the little one to bed, I'm available now. 

Camila waited a few moments before a reply came through.

[Cpt_Flynt]: Ah, well how did it go with your little Terran? 

Camila spent a few moments and sent a brief summary of the events, making sure to emphasize the important ones. His reaction to the AI, her touch, the food, his scars. 

[Cpt_Flynt]: I see...

[Cpt_Flynt]: What do you think of Beckett? 

How could she sum up the little one? Beckett was still largely an enigma, and one that was hiding a lot of hurt. She started, erased and restarted her reply several times before hitting send.

[FrequencyFlower]: He's very hurt. I'm not sure if I can provide the care he needs. He seems willing to do pretty much anything except open up. Even when he does, it's so vague as to not be of any real help.

[Cpt_Flynt]: I think you should give Beckett a chance to warm up. If he's being cooperative, he should come around in time. It's only been a day after all. I also think you should have a bit more faith in yourself, you seem to have handled him quite well. 

[Cpt_Flynt]: Also, I would like you to bring him by tomorrow afternoon so I can conduct his interview personally.

[FrequencyFlower]: Of course. I'll see you then.

[Cpt_Flynt] has disconnected

It was nice that the Captain believed in her but she still had her doubts. Another messaged *dinged* as it hit her inbox. Xe had also left her with Cordelia. She scrolled past the slew of messages and began to type.

[FrequencyFlower]: Sorry for the delay, I was a bit preoccupied

[ComfyPlamnt]: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[ComfyPlamnt]: GIRL YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE ME REBLOOM

[ComfyPlamnt]: I HEARD YOU GOT YOURSELF A TERRAN!!!!

[ComfyPlamnt]: WE GOTTA HAVE A PET DATE!!!

[FrequencyFlower]: I am merely watching Beckett for the time. I don't plan on keeping him. 

[FrequencyFlower]: I don't think bringing Daisy by would be a good idea, he's well behaved but quite feral.

[FrequencyFlower]: Also, can you please stop typing in all caps.

[ComfyPlamnt]: BOOOOOOOO

[ComfyPlamnt]: Okayyyyy I'll stop being fun for The Big Important Bridge Officer.

[ComfyPlamnt]: Also what do you mean "I don't plan on keeping him."??? You got upset when I had Zeri pet sit Daisy instead of you!

[ComfyPlamnt]: I think you'll probably EXPLODE if you don't get your vines on a cutie of your own soon.

[ComfyPlamnt]: You can't borrow Daisy forever!!

[FrequencyFlower]: Hardly. I just don't think I would be a good fit for his owner. He's also far from what I want out of a floret.

[ComfyPlamnt]: Geeze I didn't think you were this dense

[ComfyPlamnt]: You gotta help them become the pet you know they can be!! You KNOW Daisy took a lot of work

[ComfyPlamnt]: and I know YOU are quite capable

[ComfyPlamnt]: I really really wanna meet ur lil Beckett though

[ComfyPlamnt]: We can come over! It'll be fun!

[ComfyPlamnt]: Besides, meeting florets in a controlled space is super good for ferals!!!

[FrequencyFlower]: That's actually a good point.

[FrequencyFlower]: I was gonna take the little one to his induction interview with Captain Flint after lunch, I'll let you know when we finish and you can both come over. 

[ComfyPlamnt]: YAAAAYYYYYYY

[ComfyPlamnt]: IT'S A DATE!! See you then!!!!

[ComfyPlamnt] has disconnected

Camila placed the pad down on her desk as she slumped into her chair and let her form degrade. Cordelia was always a vineful.  She was also one of her only friends. She was looking forward to seeing Daisy but she'd probably be too busy with Beckett to play with the delightful cutie. 

Camila dragged herself into her Alcove, tomorrow was certainly going to be busy and she needed her rest.

Chapter Text

Camila awoke slowly and steadily, consciousness trickling in at an easy pace until she rose, weaving her form back together. Cording together vines to resemble the musculature of arms and legs. Smaller ones were used for the hands, with specially grown leaves covering them to make them even more plush. Large leaves pulled together in the shape of an evening dress, a blanket of moss to form hair. Flowers- largely orange, pink and white- formed a cloak, hiding the mass of vines that held her suite of Xenodrugs underneath. A few more flowers dotted along her waist in the appearance of a belt, and more in her hair. Finally, she pulled together a mask, emulating the key features of a Terran face. She spent a few moments practicing smiling, frowning, and other displays of Terran emotion. 

Satisfied, Camila retrieved her pad and checked the time. It was still rather early. The events of yesterday were still on her mind. The sudden arrival of the Terran ship, the poor Terrans that died, Beckett...

It was strange to remind herself that she had a Terran of her own to look after. Well. Not hers, but her responsibility for now.  This is going to be a rather full day , Camila thought to herself as she strided out of her room, it's best to get started .

She moved carefully, doing her best to remain silent. It was probably best to let the little one rest a while longer. She gave the living room a once over. Satisfied it was still clean, she moved into the bathroom. Ah, Beckett's clothes were still in a pile on the ground. Still bloody.

Camila picked each piece up, searching through them to make sure Beckett hadn't forgotten anything. Jacket was empty. Shirt had no pockets. The pants were also- no wait, there was something small and round in one of the pockets. She used a small vine to fish into the pocket and retrieve... A coin? How archaic, coinage hadn't been used by Terrans in centuries.

She turned it over a few times, examining it. On one side, the face of a male Terran with a faded date of 1971. On the other, an eagle gripping some sort of plantlife on what appeared Terra's moon. How curious. Terras weren't supposed to be allowed currency, but this was several hundred years out of date, and it likely held some personal significance. Camila stowed it away, weaving a small pouch for it inside her. She picked up the socks; empty, as expected. All of these clothes were severely stained. They would have to be decompiled, hopefully the little one wouldn't mind.

She examined the boots. There was some dried blood visible if you examined closely, but the material was dark. They could possibly be cleaned. Camila explored them, turning them over with a few vines momentarily. They seemed well worn, and well taken care of. As she was investigating the sole, there was a loud clatter. Looking for the source, she found a modest pocket knife. Beckett just had a knife the whole time? It was a good thing she had found it before anything serious happened.

After a brief check for any more surprises, she took a damp cloth and wiped off the dried blood. It came off shockingly easily. Camila decided to leave the boots alone, setting them next to the compiler. Beckett would likely not appreciate extended tampering. She took the other clothes and put them into the compiler's compartment, breaking them down into raw matter.

Since she was already in the kitchen, it was an opportune time to start the next thing on her docket- cooking breakfast. Camila pulled out her pad and searched through a few options. She felt determined to find something that would make his inexpressive face light up with joy. Beckett seemed to not be too into the meaty, savory lasagna from last night. Maybe something sweeter? Pancakes seemed like a good option, A memory of Daisy kicking her legs as her face scrunched in delight as Camila fed her pancakes warmed her core.

As  the ingredients compiled, Camila used several other vines to pull out cookware and start the stovetop. She deftly mixed the ingredients, producing a creamy, thick batter just as the pan finished heating up enough for the butter to melt. She carefully poured, delighting in the satisfying sizzle.

Camila was able to make three sizable pancakes in all, mostly uniform in size. That part still eluded her, sadly. Her eagerness to make sure each one was light, fluffy and perfectly golden always distracted from measuring the pours properly. She never had any complaints but it upset her nonetheless. She set utensils on the table with a serving dish of syrup, and the pancakes into the compiler to keep them warm and fresh. Satisfied, she left the kitchen and entered the guest room.

Beckett was still sleeping. The blanket he was using the previous night was only covering half his torso, part of a leg peaking adorably peeking out. He looked so... Relaxed. Peaceful. The dozing Terran was extremely cute, honestly. She instinctively went to pet him before stopping, recalling the previous night. Beckett would probably not appreciate being woken in such a manner. Camila settled on the next best option.

"Morning little one, it's time to get to," she called softly, letting a bit of biorythm come through her voice, hoping to give him a pleasant awakening.

Beckett immediately jumped straight to his feet, wide eyes snapping to meet her own. "Ah, yes," he sighed as his demeanor returned to the relaxed, stonelike mask she had come to know. "Good morning Miss Verdun."

Camila fought the urge to sweep the Terran up into her vines and comfort him. "Well... breakfast is ready. Also, you have some stuff that needs to get done today, which we can discuss while you eat, but are you feeling okay?" 

"Of course. I am merely used to waking up to my alarm." Beckett's biorythm was still that same eerie static, and no help reading him. He seemed to be fine, physically at least. Beckett dressed himself, quickly tugging on the pants and shirt from last night. "The dining room then?"

Camila smiled and motioned towards the door, following closely as they made their way. "I thought I'd cook breakfast today; it's pancakes." She said as she pulled them out of the compiler, placing them in front of Beckett's seat as he jumped up into the chair. "If you want some other toppings just ask, and I'll compile it."

"Syrup is fine, thank you," he said as he poured it over the pancakes. Camila watched expectantly as Beckett dug into them and took his first bite. He made an interested 'Hm', before chewing and swallowing. "You made this? It's good, thank you."

That's it? Camila had been hoping for... she didn't know what exactly. A bit of emotion would have been nice. Beckett did compliment it and thank her though, maybe that was as close he really got with his lacking emotions. She gave him another warm smile, hoping to defrost his icy heart. "Thank you little one, I'm glad you enjoy it."

"Of course," he paused to drink from a glass of milk she had laid out. "You said I had some matters I need to take care of?"

It seems like she was right- Beckett just wasn't one for outwardly displaying enjoyment. Or, well, anything else, apparently. "Ah, yes, you have an interview with Captain Flint after lunch. Until then, I have a pad for your personal use. You should try to familiarize yourself with it. I need to put a monitor on you. Finally one of my friends is coming over to visit. She's bringing her floret, thought it would be good for you to meet one in a controlled environment."

"Hmmm." Beckett pondered as he worked through more pancake, "What's this 'monitor'?"

"Well it's either a collar or a cuff," Camila retrieved the device from inside her, "and it basically helps me make sure you're doing fine emotionally and physically. It also lets me administer Xenodrugs."

Beckett eyed it cautiously, "I take this is non-negotiable?"

Camila nodded, "It's required for all ferals and those undergoing a trial wardship, until we can determine for certain that you are not a danger to yourself or others."

"Cuff it is then." Beckett tensely offered up his left hand, watching her carefully.

Camila wrapped it around his wrist, the device making a rather nice *click* as it locked into place. A discrete press of the hidden pairing function followed by a few inputs on her pad and she had a live feed of Beckett's state.

Strange...

The readings were fairly odd for a Terran- resting heart rate a bit low, the oxygen levels and brain activity quite high, and the emotion monitoring function seemed to be spinning in its tracks. Discord grew in her core as she analyzed the readings. They seemed rather stable, and Beckett seemed fine, but...

"Is something wrong?" Beckett asked, snapping her out of her contemplation.

"It's nothing, just, well, some of these readings are a bit odd." Camila tucked her pad away, "I'm afraid I'm not much of an expert on Terran physiology however. We'll have to make sure you get to the vet tomorrow just to make sure." 

Beckett paused for a moment before  contemplatively chewing the last of his breakfast. Swallowing, he spoke, "Well, I suppose that should be interesting. I don't think I've seen a medical professional in... quite some time."

Oh dear, who knew what ailments could be lurking unnoticed or ignored? Camila briefly considered letting Cordelia know she would have to cancel the afternoon's visit so she could take Beckett to the vet after the interview. He did say he felt fine however, and the readings were strange, but not malignant. Most of all she did want to see Daisy again. Waiting until tomorrow should be okay. "Yes I've heard the medical practices in the Accord were awfully exploitative, but don't worry, Mr. Aurelius only wants to make you as healthy as can be." 

Beckett only hummed in acknowledgement, finishing his breakfast. "You said you had something else for me?"

"Yes, a pad for your personal use," she smiled as she retrieved it from inside her, setting it in front of him, "You can access the Affini Extranet, find clothes, music, friends and all sorts of information with it. Be sure to add me once you pick a username! Mine is FrequencyFlower." 

"Thank you." Beckett said as he took the pad, "Did you want help cleaning up? You already did all the cooking and I'd hate to take advantage of your generosity Miss Verdun."

Aww, it was a rather adorable offer, but it was probably better to get the little one used to being taken care of. "It's no trouble at all cutie, I can tidy up faster on my own anyways."

"Very well," Beckett hopped down from the chair, "I'll be in the common area familiarizing myself with this," He held up the pad for emphasis, "if you need me."

Once again Camila had to restrain herself from petting him, "Of course, I'll be out in a moment." She smiled as Beckett nodded before leaving the kitchen. Turning her attention to the remnants of his breakfast she quickly swooped up all the dishes and utensils, placing them in the compiler and breaking them down into matter. Making a small towel she used it to wipe down the table with a cleaning agent before feeding that to the compiler as well. Satisfied that the kitchen was once again spotless, she followed Beckett out into the living room. 

He lay on the couch, nestled into one corner with the pad held above face as he swiped and tapped at it. It was the most comfortable she'd seen the Terran yet. How she wished to hold him in this state, to drug and shower with affec- no. No, she wasn't going to keep Beckett. She can't let these feelings take root. A *ding* from her pad let her know a message had come through, alerting Beckett to her presence as well.

He sat up as he turned to face her, sitting more properly now, "Ah, Miss Verdun, done already? I see why you asked me to leave, I doubt I could have helped expedite matters. That should be the friend request you asked me to send." 

Camila frowned, it seemed Beckett had got the wrong idea. "Dear I didn't ask you to leave cuz you would be in the way, I did it because taking care of you is far from a burden." She corrected, taking out her Tablet. She did in fact have a friend request, from one 'J.Beckett'. Not the most creative handle but it's not like that was a requirement she thought as she accepted the request.

"If you say so, but I don't exactly need to be taken care of." Beckett tapped the pad a few times, "You said I could find clothes on here? Where exactly do I do that?"

"Ah, here let me show you," Camila drew herself close and brought out her pad placing it in front of him, matching Beckett's screen. "Just tap here for the general extranet, and if you type in the kinds of clothes you like into the search," she put in an example search for men's shirts as she did so, "you can browse them and save them to your wardrobe, which you can find under 'my stuff' on the home page. From there you can send it to the compiler, so why not try to pick out an outfit for yourself today?" 

"I see..." Beckett murmured, "by the way, where are my belongings from yesterday? I need to clean my boots." 

"Actually I've been meaning to talk to you about that," She withdrew the knife and coin she had found earlier."Weapons are absolutely not permitted, and neither is currency."

Beckett looked up from the pad, setting it aside. "The knife is understandable I suppose, but the coin is almost six hundred years old. Terrans haven't even used coinage for over three hundred years. It does hold  value among collectors but it's importance to me is purely..." He paused, averting his gaze momentarily.  "Sentimental. I would appreciate it if you returned it, but if not it is a fairly historical item and should at least be preserved." 

Was Beckett embarrassed by his attachment to this small thing? That was positively adorable! "Okay little one, I will let you hold onto it for now." She placed the coin into his palm.

A slight smile crept into the corners of Beckett's mouth as he examined the coin, before sliding it into his pocket. "I still would like to know where my boots are." 

Camila made a mental note to ask about the coin later. "They're next to the compiler. I can fetch them for you if you want?" 

"No need, I'll grab them once I've selected some clothes for the day." Beckett said as he picked up the pad once again, "I should only be a couple of minutes." 

Camila moved back into the kitchen and pulled out her own pad. She opened a line with the Vet, asking about an appointment tomorrow and sending the information from the cuff. She was sure it was fine, but best to get a professional opinion. A few minutes passed before a response dinged through.

[PracticedVines]: Very interesting... Some of these levels are overly optimal whereas several neurochemicals are critically low or missing entirely. Can you bring the little one to see me first thing tomorrow morning?

[FrequencyFlower]: Of course. You don't think he's in danger, do you?

[PracticedVines]: Going off the limited data available, he reads as physically well as any floret. The neurochemistry is extremely odd, but not exactly dangerous. Tomorrow will be fine, though if an emergency develops don't hesitate to bring him in. 

[FrequencyFlower]: Of course, see you tomorrow.

A *ding* from the compiler caused Camila to look up just before Beckett entered the room. "Ah, did you find something already then?"

"Mhm," he assented, retrieving black cargo pants, a belt, a dark green jacket, undergarments and a slate grey cadet hat.

"Are you sure about those?" Camila asked, worried. 

Beckett looked up at her, confused. "Is there something wrong with them?" 

"Well it's just remarkably similar to what you were wearing on the ship. You can wear whatever you please. I can even make a suggestion if you wish." Camila offered. 

"If I can dress how I like, then I would like to wear this," Beckett stated matter of factly. He pressed a few things on his pad, compiling something else. Opening the compartment again he retrieved a few brushes, cloths, and a few small jars. He took them from the compiler and placed them into his boots. Holding his clothes under one arm with the pad in his hand, the boots in the other, he gave Camila a nod, "I'll be in the bathroom getting ready." 

Camila started following after him. Stopping in front of the door to the bathroom, Beckett sighed and turned to face her, one eyebrow raised, "While I'm not exactly shy about changing in front of you, I would appreciate a few minutes of privacy. You already have this on me," he held up his cuff, "and I shouldn't be more than fifteen minutes."

"Oh. Well..." Camila shifted nervously. Beckett probably needed to get used to a lack of privacy sooner rather than later. It was doubtful his owner would afford him any after prying out all his secrets. But perhaps she was overstepping just a tad. She remembered a Terran saying that felt relevant, something about boiling amphibians slowly? "Okay dear, but if you need anything I'll be just outside okay?"

"Will do." Beckett said as he stepped into the bathroom, the door closing behind him.

A minute passed, then another. Camila felt herself start to worry; what if the little one slipped? Or got hurt? What if he needed her? What if- She took out her pad and pulled up Beckett's vitals to assuage her growing fears. All normal, for Beckett at least. The sound of the door sliding open startled her out her relief. 

"Do you think I could get a razor? I need to shave." Beckett stated, examining himself in the mirror. He was showered, fully dressed not including shoes and his jacket rolled up to rest above his elbows. He scratched at the stubble that had grown overnight.

"I can do you one better; I'm capable of producing a sap that works as a depilatory. You won't have to shave anymore and the process is easily reversible if you decide you want a beard." She smiled, moving into the bathroom next to him.

"Hmmm," Beckett stroked his stubble for a few moments, "and it is reversible you say?" 

She started preparing the vine in question, somewhat excited to see the little one accepting her help so easily. "Yes of course, you only have to ask."

Beckett seemed to consider it for a short while, "Alright, sap me up then." He turned from the sink to face her, tilting his head up.

"Now hold still, and be patient." Camila gladly did so, using one vine to cradle his head and neck as she spread the sticky substance over the areas in question. She hoped his future owner didn't resent her for stealing such an important first from them, even if it was a fairly minor medical procedure. However, they would still have the joy of shaping him into a loving pet. She deserved to have this much at least, for bringing him in and watching him for a day.

Much to his credit, Beckett did exactly as asked. Motionless yet pliable in her vines as she slathered his face with sap. Not even attempting to utter a sound. It was then Camila felt something she didn't expect. This was likely one of her last moments with the Terran and that made her... Sad? Forlorn? Beckett really did seem to take instruction quite well. Despite his cold nature, he'd likely make a lovely floret with just a bit of effort. It's not like he wouldn't warm up with just the right cocktail of xenodrugs, a bit of hypnosis, the right suggestions, perhaps she could -

A tap on the vine hooked around Beckett's neck brought her attention back to reality. An inquisitive look on his face as he looked up at her. Stars, that was adorable. It also reminded her that it was a bit past time to remove the sap. "Sorry little one, I was..." Thinking about being your owner . "Lost in thought." She finished as she wiped away the sap, following with a damp towel. "There you go, all done."

Beckett rubbed his face again, turning to face the mirror, humming in approval. "That's rather nice, thank you." 

Camila felt the need to pet him surge as he admired her handiwork, that slight smile creeping back onto his face. It couldn't hurt to ask, could it? "Beckett, dear, do you... do you mind if I pet you?"

His smile gave way immediately as he placed a hand on the brim of his hat and stepped back from her. "I would prefer it if you didn't." Beckett leered up at her from under the brim, his stance now defensive.

She'd be lying if she claimed that the rejection wasn't a little painful. It was a bit much to hope for so soon perhaps. "Well, I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable, but don't hesitate to let me know if you change your mind, okay?

Beckett didn't answer as he bent over and picked up his boots, eyeing her cautiously all the while. "Mind if I get by you? I'd like to get these polished and shined if I'm meeting with the Captain."

It was unfair that she couldn't pet him without causing him distress. That he thought Captain Flint of all Affini would care if his boots were shiny or merely clean was absolutely adorable. "Of course dear, excuse me," she apologized as she stepped out of the bathroom, watching Beckett as he made his way towards the couch.

He sat down in front of it, resting his back on the foot of it as he set the boots next to him. Camila watched with interest as he removed a few rags, brushes, cloths, wipes and three small jars of differing polish and set them on his other side. Over the next forty minutes he used each item in procession on one of the boots, taking its dull reflective glow to an almost mirror-like surface. Beckett smiled as he admired his work- an actual genuine smile that made her vines writhe with need.

Camila tried to calm herself as Beckett set the boot down and began working on the other one. It was starting to grow hard to deny that she did in fact want to keep the little Terran. But he needed help. Help she wasn't sure if she could properly provide. She was bound to make a mistake and hurt him if she claimed him, and the last thing Beckett needed was more hurt. The scars that striped his body were a testament to that.

All she had to do was take him to the interview in a few hours and insist to the Captain he needed a more practiced vine. Beckett would get the owner he needed and she would be free to... What exactly? Try to get one of the Terrans that would wind up in the Class J cafes? Maybe Beckett's owner would let her visit him and she could arrange playdates with her own floret? 

Camila pushed the thoughts out of her mind. She was fine before, and she will be fine after. Beckett was finishing up on his other boot, taking a moment to re-examine it for any missed flaws, touching up a few spots. "What do you think? Not bad, eh?" Beckett said, turning the boot to the left and right as he smiled up at her.

This promise to not touch him without checking first was really starting to test her. She returned the smile, "Yes I'm sure the Captain will appreciate it." 

"Hmph." Beckett set the boot next to the other, gathering up the supplies he used. He walked into the kitchen and returned a few moments later, empty handed. He picked up the pad he had left on the floor and hopped up onto the couch, sitting himself against the corner. 

"You aren't going to wear them?" Camila asked.

Beckett didn't look up from the pad, "I wouldn't want to scuff them before the interview. Besides, it's a bit rude to wear boots inside. I'll put them on when we're about to head out. I was just going to familiarize myself with this until the time comes."

It was hard to remember he was a killer when he was so consistently polite and well behaved. "Okay, well, I'll be around. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

Beckett gave her a short salute, "Will do."

-_-_-_-

The next few hours passed without much incident. They would look up from the pad occasionally. Oftentimes Miss Verdun was hovering somewhere nearby, but sometimes she was nowhere to be seen. Occasionally, she would ask if they needed anything and they would assure her they were fine.

"The Pad" was a rather interesting device. No battery life; its power was seemingly infinite. No indication for signal strength, everything loaded instantly without delay. Furthermore, it seemed capable of providing access to any information, any media they could think of. Free of charge, of course. In fact, it had no DRM, no upcharge, no microtransactions or any transactions at all. They knew the Affini didn't have a market and thus wouldn't have such things but it made the device feel truly alien.

The utter freedom of information had them borderline salivating. Information on the ship? They could look at the schematics, events, when the next shipments were due and of what. Information on the Affini? Everything from lessons on the language to their life cycle was at hand. Quite a lot of the information was geared to florets and... finding an owner. 

That made them want to wretch. But they couldn't give any indication of ill feeling towards such a thing. The intelligence said that was a sure fire way to wind up in the Affini's crosshairs.

No flinching. No matter what, we can't show weakness.

They had saved some of the lessons on Affini language for later, it looked rather straightforward. Apparently the Compact had engineered a dialect specifically for Terrans, and had gone out of their way to make it easy to learn. They had quite a number of languages under their belt already, picking up one built ground up for ease of learning should be a cinch.

Hours passed and eventually Miss Verdun informed them it was lunchtime. The interview would be soon. They were far from hungry of course, having eaten just six hours ago. She called it a Caesar Salad. They had heard of salad before, but never imagined food could be so green. Unfortunately, like the other meals, it was wasted on them; it likely tasted divine but they could only appreciate its texture. Still, they gave thanks both upon receiving and finishing the dish. 

"So are you ready for your interview? I can give you some Class-E if you are feeling nervous." Miss Verdun's voice was drenched with melody, and as beautiful as her form. Class-E, that was anti-anxiety drugs. They had the unacceptable side effect of loss of coordination. 

She's fake. Everything from her appearance to her kindness isn't real. Remember that.

"Yes," They said, keeping their voice level, "and thank you for the offer, but I'll be fine." The saving grace of this whole ordeal was that Miss Verdun seemed reluctant to cross their boundaries, as long as they were polite. They hopped out of the chair and walked into the common area, stopping to put on their boots.

They looked up to briefly catch Miss Verdun's gaze before shifting to staring at her chin as she smiled down at them. "Are you ready, little one?"

The eyes are dangerous. We have to avoid them.

They stood up, adjusting their footing inside the boots. "Lead the way." 

Miss Verdun opened the door to outside, and they had to stop themselves from gawking at the massive area that sprawled before them. The diagrams indicated its behemoth nature, but to actually see it was something else. There were all sorts of plants, habs, parks, murals, sculptures and what seemed like storefronts as far as the eye could see. Above them was an artificial sky, a false sun hanging near the zenith. The amount of wasted space could make even the richest quintillionaire green with envy.

Miss Verdun's voice broke the spell. "It's not very far and we can take a nearby tram most of the way."

They stuck near her, following at her side. The two of them  were far from the only pair out today. They spotted no shortage of Terrans and other strange creatures being carried or led around on leashes. Thankfully, any nearby Affini seemed content to dote on the individuals on hand rather than turn attention to them. Presumably either too busy attending to their own pets, or assuming they belonged to Miss Verdun.

As they boarded the tram, Miss Verdun turned her attention to them again. "Would you like some help onto the seat, little one?"

The seat in question was about chin level. A simple matter. "No thank you," they said as they placed a hand onto the surface, pulling them onto it as they hopped up. 

"I- very well." Miss Verdun sounded just slightly disappointed as she sat next to them. Maybe they should let her help? Just a little. From time to time.

No. That's how they get you.  

They had to make sure Miss Verdun understood that they were capable. The slip up yesterday about the way their scars ached was already bad enough. 

Miss Verdun spoke again after a few short moments, "We're here! the Captain's Office is just a couple meters away." 

Already? A comment would be expected here, right? "Quite the transit system you have." 

"Yes, we take great pride in our infrastructure," Miss Verdun beamed as she led them out. She hadn't been lying, the Captain's Office was nearby, they could see the massive door and sign from the platform. They gave themselves a once over, making sure their clothing was presentable. "You know, that offer for a Class-E still stands," said the affini.

They were fine. They had stared down rampaging beasts, whole raider clans, berserk Liquidators, and other abominations of flesh and metal. This was nothing, merely an interview that could see them immediately collared. "I'm quite fine, Miss Verdun, but I'll keep it in mind, thank you," they said as they tugged on the open sides of their unzipped jacket, straightening it out. "Do I seem nervous?"

"Well, no, but honestly the Captain makes me a bit nervous, and I don't even have to defend my status as an independent." Miss Verdun said. "But if you say you are fine then I won't press you," she smiled as she pressed a button near the door.

It opened, revealing a large, far more alien Affini.  Miss Verdun had two eyes, distinct arms and legs, corded vines in the shape of muscle; she even modeled eyebrows, indents to give the impression of fingernails, individual toes, and loose wavy hair that fell around her shoulders. She wore a dress consisting of large leaves, flowers decorating it and herself- predominantly pinks, whites and oranges. Alien, yes, but an alien that was distinctly Terran shaped. 

The Affini on the other side of the door could hardly be more different. Six eyes burned into them from beneath a mouthless mask. It had four arms with three fingers, emerging from a vaguely humanoid torso that rested on a tangle of vines. The vines looked more like roots than actual vines, gnarled and brown. It dwarfed Miss Verdun, a good one third taller and almost double her mass. Then, it spoke, it's voice echoing as it did so, "Ah, Beckett, we finally meet face to face. I'm Wy Flint, 17th bloom, Xe/Xer and Captain of this vessel. It is a pleasure to meet you," xe said, extending a vine down to them.

They grabbed hold of the vine without hesitation, giving it a solid handshake. "Charmed. Miss Verdun said you wanted to interview me?"

The Captain laughed, a deep, resonating sound, "My, my, every bit as fearless as your records indicate! Please, come inside." Xe moved back into the room, Miss Verdun motioned to them to follow.

They stepped into another wonderland. Lush alien jungle on either side of a natural stone path, leading up a desk with a branching path off to the side. They could hear the sound of rushing water coming from somewhere. A tall chair was set out in front of the desk, near it a mossy indent. Miss Verdun followed them in, walking behind them as the door closed. They took a breath to steady themselves. This was it. They were either going to convince the Affini that they had what it took to adapt and be awarded independence, or fail. It had all been for this one chance.

They mounted the chair, wondering at the fact that such a combat focused skill seemed so necessary here. Miss Verdun sat next to them in the mossy indent, legs untwisting into vines. 

"Well, I was going to ask if you needed help up, but it seems you are quite capable," the Captain hummed, "Is there anything I can get you? A drink perhaps?"

They considered the offer for a moment. Accepting might be viewed as dependent behavior. Refusing could be seen as rude or too fiercely independent. They already proved they could get into a chair by themselves. "Just a glass of water. I presume we have a lot to discuss."

"That we do... one moment." The Captain moved away from the desk, disappearing down the side path. They had seen that look before, heard that tone. Every inch of them was about to be judged, and harshly. They took another breath to steady themselves. The Captain returned, setting a glass of water in front of them with one hand, a pad in another. "Now we'll start this off easy, but I do have to ask some questions that may be stressful. Feel free to ask either myself or Camila for a dose of Class E. If you lie, you will be given a dose of Class D. This is not, however, an interrogation. We simply wish to know the truth. Do I make myself clear, Beckett?"

They nodded, "Of course." The Captain could claim this wasn't an interrogation all day long, but that didn't mean it was true. 

The Captain hummed happily, "Okay, so we have a few easy ones we need to get out of the way- Please state your full name." 

Ah, xe was establishing a baseline to test against. "Joshua Graham Beckett, but as you know I go by Beckett."

"Mhm." The Captain typed on his pad, "Gender?"

Why were the Affini so obsessed with something so irrelevant? "Male, I suppose." 

The Captain gave them a curious look, "You suppose?"

They could only shrug in response, "Gender doesn't exactly matter in my opinion."

"I see..." The Captain continued to tap away, "I'll put down 'Male' for now." The Captain was well practiced. Xe hid xer thoughts just as well as they did. "Age?" 

They took a sip of water to stall for a moment. How old was Beckett again? He was born in early 2524, so that would be... "I'm thirty-two." 

Another indecipherable hum. "Your occupation?" It didn't seem like the Captain had caught on at least.

"Mercenary," they stated, "but I've done other jobs that don't fall cleanly under that title, like assassinations and bounty hunting."

"And how long did you work in these fields?" Xe asked. 

They feigned as though they were pondering for a moment before responding, to help sell the earlier stall, "About sixteen years. The first four were with an unnamed mercenary company that did a lot of work covering up failed AIs and augmented super soldiers. After it dissolved, I spent the next twelve as a freelancer." Not exactly a lie. They had been with the company for four years and they'd been Beckett for twelve.

The Captain didn't seem to even look up from xer pad. "Ah yes, Camila mentioned that story to me, as well as your issue with the AI. Do you mind if I ask why it dissolved?"

Ah. Now that was a trickier one. Perhaps a bit of the truth would do here. "Well you need soldiers to form a company, and they didn't know I survived the massacre for some time. When they did find out, they were willing to look the other way. Insurance paid more for a total loss, and I was the only one that made it anyways." They did their best to keep the actual truth of that day out of mind. The last thing they needed was to be haunted by old ghosts.

Now that made The Captain and Miss Verdun exchange a worried glance. Perhaps... That was not the right play. It might come off as 'broken' or something. "I... I see. I think we can leave that subject matter alone for now. Let's talk about your time on The Valiant . How did you end up there, and for how long were you aboard?"

Ah, now that was pretty straightforward. "Simple enough story, I got an offer for a very lucrative one year contract with extension bonuses to fight in some war, and I said yes. Was signed onto the Valiant for six months, only for the Captain to turn tail and run at the battle for Cassius. We spent the next two years in hiding."

Now that certainly got The Captain's attention. "Oh? I do recall a few Terran vessels escaping when we took the planet, it's unfortunate that we missed you at the time."

They shrugged, "Maybe, but I don't think I would've come quietly then. Not better for all the people that got spaced for Affini sympathies. Although seeing that I very much value my own freedom, it is at least better for me."

The two Affini exchanged another glance before The Captain spoke again, "Yes I was going to ask, you started with a company of about seven hundred. You arrived with just under two hundred and fifty. Were they all... Executed for sympathies?" There was something in xer voice. Sorrow perhaps? 

"Almost all. Sickness and injury for a couple dozen. A few suicides. One guy refused to eat even one more synthcube until he wasted away. I'd say something like four-fifths of the losses were to the airlock and The Captain's paranoia, though." This was much easier when xe was asking about simple facts.

Miss Verdun broke her silence, "By the Everbloom..."

"That's... Exactly what the records we were able to put together state. I'm very sorry little one, I can't imagine what that was like." The Captain's vines twisted over each other.

Why is xe sorry? Soldiers die all the time. 

Yes, it's a fact of life. There were many times it was nearly their number that was pulled.

They decided it was best for Beckett to show some sorrow himself, looking down and putting a bit of sadness into their tone, "Well I made it through alright, and by my own means. So it's fine in the end."

"Well you're here now, and you'll never have to worry about that again." Miss Verdun smiled as she looked down at them. 

The Captain chimed in, speaking in a warm tone "Yes, after this if you wish to completely forget the ordeal, we will be more than happy to help you." Xe went on, "For now I just have a few more questions. You said you decided to come in of your own accord after receiving intelligence about the Compact. Do you mind sharing how you received this information, and what exactly it detailed?"

Ah, there it is. We've been expecting that one.

They recited their well practiced answer, "Well I spent a number of years growing a decently sized network of individuals that were or felt indebted to me, as a personal spy network. Most of these went dark just a few months after I signed onto the Valiant . Most of those never returned, but a few did, many months later. They spoke of the compact, the endless resources, the massive vessels, the florets and most of all the endless font of kindness each Affini seemed to embody. There were other things of course, such as how fighting against them is a sure way to get collared."

They paused as they took a drink of water, holding up one finger to indicate they weren't done. "At first I couldn't bring myself to believe such outlandish reports. But as more of them came back into the network, I had to accept it. They are scattered all across the Accord, they do not know who else is in the network, and they have no way to contact each other. I could believe three or four had become compromised, but over a dozen? And all giving different viewpoints on the same facts? That was a lot harder to ignore."

The Captain made another entry on the pad, seemingly satisfied. "Well, I'm glad you did end up believing them. Though I must ask, if you had contact with people in the Compact, why did you not try to contact the Affini?" 

The expected follow up. The truth would suffice here. "It was one way. The signals were encoded to look like slight surges in cosmic radiation. On the Valiant , all outgoing signals were very closely monitored. The one time I did attempt to send a message, I ended up having to pin it on the lead engineer, and she got spaced." They took another sip of the water as they gauged the reactions of the Affini.

"I- goodness little one. I'm not going to hold your actions in the wild against you but that's very bleak," the Captain said, ceasing xer typing. Miss Verdun's vines were kneading together.

"It was what I needed to do to protect myself. That's all." They said.

"I understand." The Captain sighed. "Let's move on. I'm going to ask you a few questions about the other day, and remember Miss Verdun and I are capable of giving you a Class E if you feel overwhelmed."

"This isn't my first after action report, Captain. Please continue." They made a small flourish with their wrist, signaling xem to carry on.

"... Very well." The Captain straightened up, almost looming over them. They felt something crawl up their spine that they hadn't actually felt in a while- dread? "I want you to run me through the events of yesterday and what led up to it. Why did you choose that day to seize the ship and what happened from your point of view?"

Breathe.

They steadied themself. They had expected this question as well, but where to start? 

The beginning, of course.

Right. Start with why. "After I had made up my mind to seize the ship, my plan initially was to wait until the Captain, first mate and I had a meeting. We used to discuss tactics. I was going to bind and gag them before seizing the bridge during the night shift when only two bridge crew were present. Three months went by and we hadn't had a meeting." They paused for a moment. 

"Obviously," they continued, "this initial plan didn't come to pass. I suspect they may have had some suspicions about me from the aforementioned incident involving the lead engineer. I also had been trying to goad them into a confrontation with the Affini, which would have ended up having the desired effect. I retrieved a listening device I had planted inside the Captain's office and discovered their plan. Any day now they were going to be in position to jump, aiming for Terra herself. Destroying it to keep it out of your vines." What a foolish, childish notion. To not just kill everyone on board but destroy what they were supposedly fighting to protect? 

"By the Everbloom, of all the insane Feralist plots..." The Captain mumbled, "Do you still have this recording?" Xe asked, speaking clearly.

"Yes,” they nodded, “you should be able to find it in my quarters. This accelerated my timeline. I needed a plan I could act on. Fast. I needed to eliminate both the Captain and the First Mate, as they had the codes to override any launch. The best opportunity was when the first mate gave the Captain the evening report. It happens precisely at 1600 hours every day."  They took a sip of water to quench the growing dryness in their throat. These answers were getting a bit lengthy. 

"So if you only needed to kill the two, why did you kill the rest of the bridge crew as well?" The Captain asked.

Was it not obvious? They shifted uncomfortably for the optics, "They were loyal men. They weren't going to just lie down after I gunned down the Captain and First Mate."

The Captain nodded, taking note. It seemed he did understand that much at least. "Okay, last question about yesterday before we move on." Did xe have even more to ask? What else could xe possibly want to know? "Just give me a brief rundown of how you seized the ship."

At least this one was easy, but the prospect of unknown questions was worrying. "I walked onto the bridge and drew my revolver. I slapped a micro-EMP onto the door control panel, frying the electronics. As the door slid shut and all present turned to face me, I fired five shots. The Captain, First Mate and the three officers nearest to me were dead before the door even finished closing." They folded their hands, placing them in their lap, "I advanced towards the last two, both of them frozen for a while. After I took about five paces, one of them went for the alarm panel, volunteering for the last bullet. As soon as I pulled the trigger I lept forward, grabbing the other by his head, and slamming it into the nearby control panel as hard as I could." His head had popped like a rotten melon, they could almost still feel it between their fingers.

Miss Verdun swore in her native tongue. Looking out the corner of their eye, they could see her vines practically lashing.

The concern on The Captain's face voice was palpable. "Stars... That is... Little one, are you okay?"

They blinked. Were they okay? Had the Captain's eyes ceased to function? They were sitting in front of them without a single wound. "Of course. The plan, as rushed as it was, had gone off without a hitch. I sustained no injuries." 

"That's... Yes I can see that." The Captain furrowed his brow. "But you killed seven sophonts, one with your bare hands, to save yourself, the crew and your home planet. How does that make you feel?"

Ah. Right. This was... Perhaps a bit of a tricky spot. Emotions were far from a strong suit. How could they explain this? Then it dawned on them, "Captain are you, perhaps, familiar with Sun Tzu?"

Xe blinked, "The author of 'The Art of War'?" Xe asked. 

They offered a slight smile. "Yes, he speaks a lot about how victory often requires sacrifice, avoiding protracted wars, and a lot of concepts far ahead of his time. It's been studied for millennia by the highest ranking generals to the lowest soldiers. One of the most intriguing ideas he puts forward, however, is 'Supreme Excellence.' It comes not from winning a battle, not even from winning a thousand battles, but from winning without a battle at all."

The Captain let out a long, low hum before speaking again. "I see. You feel like these sacrifices were necessary, but wish you could have secured your 'victory' without fighting at all? A very curious notion, for a mercenary."

They stared at the remaining water in their cup, giving it a swirl. "I never had much choice about becoming a mercenary, you know. Then it was just what paid the bills. A lot of people in my line of work take pleasure in killing, or causing suffering."

"But not you?" The Captain asked. 

"No." They took a drink of water, only maybe two sips left now. "I always tried to make the kills clean, or at least fast. There was enough suffering in the Accord."

"Do you see these killings as a mercy?" The Captain asked. 

There it was again. That chill. It took all their strength not to shiver. "Killing is killing. If you forget that you become a monster. I just don't see any reason to drag it out, is all."

We are fucked.

"I see." The Captain seemed to be contemplating for a few long moments, rubbing the chin of his mask with a vine as he made a long notation into the pad. "We got a bit sidetracked earlier, I would like you to finish describing the events of yesterday, picking up from where we left off."

"Of course." They were quite glad to be out of that part of the conversation. "After securing the bridge, I spent about fifteen minutes breaking into the control console. Once I did so, I put the ship into high alert and ordered every deck to procedurally vent except for the cargo bay."

"And why did you force everyone into the cargo bay?" Xe prompted. 

"Well the ship alerts its crew to brace when we are about to jump. An unscheduled jump would tip them off that something is wrong. If they had access to the bridge's door, they could certainly have cut through it." It was rather simple. "Having them in the opposite corner of the ship with a lot of vacuum between us was simply the safest way forward."

The Captain made more notes. What they would give to see those notes right now. Doing this much with little to no feedback was agonizing. "And after everyone was secured in the cargo bay, then what?"

"Well, that's when I jumped to Cassius." They straightened up a bit. "I figured there would still be some sort of Affini presence here so it seemed like a safe bet to guarantee an encounter. I managed to hail your vessel, and you know the rest." They displayed both palms open, a signal that their story was over. 

Xe made a few notes before setting the pad down. "Well, what you told us seems to match what our forensics team was able to find. I have just a few, final questions for you, then I'll need to have a talk with Camila, then we can discuss your future in the compact." The Captain seemed to smile with xer eyes. 

That xe didn't domesticate them then and there had to be a good sign. "Ask away." 

"First off," the Captain raised one gnarled 'finger'.  "What do you want out of life in the compact?"

That made them pause. What did they want? Saying they simply wished to relax could be seen as an invitation to have an Affini step in and make sure they never did anything of worth ever again. Similarly, if they come off as aimless or a workaholic could also be taken as an invitation for domestication. This was possibly- no, definitely- the most dangerous question yet. They had to choose their next words very carefully.

"I suppose," they started, stalling for a bit longer, "I wish to live in comfort, with only the worries before me being the goals and challenges I set for myself." That was... Not bad? Hopefully good enough?

The Captain gave no feedback of course, only nodding as xe held up a second digit. "What do you think of domestication?"

Was this it then? Had it all been-

No. Stay calm. Breathe.

Yes. The Captain only asked for our opinion. "I don't know much about it honestly, the reports varied on that subject the most. However, I think I've been treated like property enough for one life." That elicited a curious look from both Affini present. Perhaps they tilted their hand a bit much. They took another breath before adding, "I'd much rather bend than break. I think you'll find I'm quite capable of adapting. All I want is a chance to prove myself."

"Well," The Captain stood up, "that is certainly admirable. Miss Verdun, if you and I could talk in the other room for a moment. We'll be just a short while, little one." Xe smiled down at them, before heading to the side room.

"Oh! Of course, Captain." Miss Verdun snapped her legs back into shape, following after xem. 

Well. Nothing to do but remain calm and... wait.

-_-_-_-

Camila followed Captain Flint into the meeting room. Built with the comfort of over two dozen Affini in mind, this was where all the ship's decisions that were made directly by the Captain or its AI were made. The door closed behind them, Captain Flint spoke soon after, mixing some nutrient water for both of them. "Beckett is quite the interesting little sophont." 

An understatement if anything. "Yes, did you hear his biorhythm? It's... So strange." She continued to fuss with her vines, ruminating over the things he had said. 

Flint nodded, "I've seen it before, but only twice. He's almost completely disconnected from his emotions. It makes the biorhythm almost impossible to read. You have him scheduled for the vet tomorrow, yes? You should schedule him for some therapy as well. About three days afterwards, to let the Xenodrugs get properly into his system and do some work. I suspect correcting his neurochemistry would fix a lot, but he'll need a lot of help processing likely a lifetime of emotions. I would also advise against giving him any Xenodrugs outside of an emergency until the Vet can look at him. They can have unpredictable results with such sophonts." Flint offered her a modest glass of mineral water that she graciously accepted, setting it down and placing a vine inside.

Camila nodded, mulling over the advice. Wait, her schedule it? No no no, "About that, I think Beckett needs someone with more experience, maybe even an expert. I'm... I don't think I'm the best Affini to domesticate him." 

"Oh that's fine." Flint said as xe dipped into xer own water, "Beckett isn't being domesticated." What? "Not yet at least." What?!

"Surely you don't intend to give Beckett a Wardship!" She exclaimed.

"I do." Flint replied bluntly, "The little one has been nothing but cooperative, and he asked for a chance." 

This was outrageous! "Surely you don't think Beckett is actually going to wind up independent. He's almost a textbook domestication case!" Honestly, what was the Captain thinking?!

"Of course not." Xe huffed, "I suspect it's unlikely Beckett even makes it to the trial proper. However, he asked for a chance, and he's been quite cooperative. Letting him have his chance will help him come to terms with being a floret when the time comes." The Captain's reasoning did have a certain logic. Xe was one of the oldest and wisest Affini on board, after all. "Furthermore, I think you are uniquely suited for his domestication. He doesn't seem to regard you as a pressing threat. As a result, he is much more open to you than he would be with an expert in Terran psychology. I suspect Beckett is the kind that responds best to a gentle vine. If he feels like you respect him, he's more likely to accept your help. It seems he's already accepted you cooking for him and setting his schedule."

Still, Camila couldn't help but worry. "But what if he doesn't? What if he makes it to trial?"

"Beckett is far from the first to get a 'wardship,’ dear." Flint chuckled, "All we have to do is speak in favor of his domestication. As his guardian your word will sway most, as the Captain of this ship, mine will sway the rest." Xe said, touching xer chest. "We are merely giving him a long enough leash for him to realize that's not what he needs. Nothing more."

"I-" Stars, it was hard to argue with the Captain. Especially when she was already starting to come around to the idea of being his owner. The words of encouragement from her mentor only fueled that fire. Camila bowed her head, "I'll do my best with Beckett, Captain." 

"I'm sure you will, Camila." Xe smiled, intertwining a few of xer vines with her own, "Just remember I will always be willing to give you advice, should you need it. Now I think we should go inform Beckett that he is getting his 'chance'." Flint disentangled xer vines and motioned for Camila to take the lead.

She walked back into the room to find Beckett doing his breathing exercises. The little one was probably quite stressed, poor thing. "Do you wish to tell him or shall I?" Camila asked.

"By all means Miss Verdun." Flint deferred.

"We've decided the best path forward is a provisional Wardship." Camila announced. Beckett perked up, it was fairly cute to see him get a bit excited. "In four to six weeks you will be reassessed by a council and we will decide at that point if you need a longer wardship, domestication, or if you are able to live as an independent."

"Well!" Beckett exclaimed, clapping his hands together before hopping down off of his seat. "I'm very glad to receive this opportunity. Thank you for giving me a chance," He smiled, making Camila feel just a tinge guilty. It was, after all, a shot they fully expected him to fail. On the other vine, it was pretty cute to see him happy. 

"Of course, little one. I'm sure you'll do quite well." The Captain said, a mischievous twinkle in xer eyes. "However, I think I've kept you both long enough however, and I do believe you have some arrangements for this evening. You both deserve a relaxing afternoon." 

Beckett straightened out his jacket, "I'm ready to leave when you are Miss Verdun."

She smiled down at him. "Okay cutie, let's go home." 

Beckett followed after her as they made their way to the tram. There was another Affini riding this time watching curiously as he hopped up onto a seat by himself. "You know if you want," Camila said, sitting next to him, "I could help you up."

Beckett scooted a little away, putting a small bit of distance between them. "Thank you, but it's fine."

Recalling The Captain's advice, a thought occurred to her:  Beckett wanted to prove himself, and he didn't view her as actively attempting to manipulate him. This could be used to her advantage, "You know, being able to accept help is one of things we will be looking for at your trial for independence."

Beckett immediately perked up. That definitely got his attention. "I'll keep that in mind, thank you. Anything else I should work on?" 

Ohhh this was definitely the 'in' she had been looking for. Camila rubbed her chin for a moment, pretending to think, "There's a few things that come to mind, but we can discuss those later at home, okay cutie?" She could probably get Beckett to do anything she would be able to convince him was expected of an independent sophont. The Affini in the other corner of the tram smiled in a mercurial manner, clearly entertained by the scene.

"I see..." Beckett hummed, "Yes, we'll discuss it later." Perhaps it was a little cruel to dangle something in front of him she never intended to actually let him get. But the little one did need to do a lot of work to even have a chance at real trial, and helping him would let him realize how much better it would be to be owned.

The tram arrived at their stop shortly after. "Would you like help down, Beckett?" Camila asked, expectantly.

"I-" He began to protest, before changing his tune. "Yes, thank you Miss Verdun." 

Gently, she scooped him up out of the seat and lowered him to the floor, making sure his feet were firmly under him before setting him down. It felt good to handle the little Terran again. "Much easier on your knees than jumping down, yes?" 

"I suppose," Beckett said as they stepped off the tram. 

Camila took out her pad and shot a quick message to Cordelia, letting her know they would be at the Hab soon. The rest of the short walk passed quickly. Beckett's hurried pace was another thing to work on, Camila figured. She opened the door and the pair stepped inside.

Beckett kneeled down near the entryway, untying his boots, "Seems I'll be staying with you a while longer, Miss Verdun."

Possibly the rest of his natural life. "Yes, If you need anything to be comfortable here please let me know okay?" Camila received a reply from Cordelia; she was on her way.  

Beckett removed his boots, standing up, "Well if I'm staying here for a few weeks, a proper bed would be nice to start."

Well, that was simple enough. Besides, It would be hard to sell the pet bed as something Independents used. "Of course, I'll have one delivered while we are at the Vet tomorrow." She smiled. It was good that he felt comfortable enough to ask her for something. "Anything else?"

Beckett took off his hat, setting it atop his boots and running a hand through his hair. "A haircut might be nice, it's starting to get a little shaggy." It was unfair that he'd do that in front of her and not let her pet him! Maybe she could figure out a way to frame it as an independent thing?

Before that train of thought could progress further Jess chimed. "Miss Dawnbloom is here!" Ah, already? Well at least she could dote on Daisy.

"I'll see about getting you a haircut soon," Camila said, heading towards the door, "for now I would like you to meet my friend and her floret."

Chapter Text

They watched cautiously as Miss Verdun opened the door, preparing themselves for anything. The moment the door finished sliding open she was immediately besieged by the most ostentatious display of bright colors they had ever seen. Her body was Terran from the waist up, but much like The Captain, her legs were a tangle of vines. Blues, yellows, pinks and greens of a shade that almost hurt to look at covered every inch of the Affini.

She spoke rapidly, "Oh Camila it is sooo good to see you! How are you? How did it go? Where's your little Terran? Daisy always loves making new friends!" Ah. That was them, wasn't it.

"Slow down, Cordelia! One question at a time!" Miss Verdun attempted to stem the barrage of questions, giggling all the while. They looked for possible avenues of escape. Perhaps they could sneak away into the guest room before- nope. The new Affini had definitely noticed them now. She disentangled the few vines she had worked into Miss Verdun's, approaching them lightning fast. 

"Oh you must be little Beckett! Hello," she cheered. They couldn't help but notice the vines creeping around them. "I am Cordelia Dawnbloom, 3rd bloom, She/Her." She smiled widely, revealing countless thorns in place of teeth.

Miss Verdun gently placed a hand on Miss Dawnbloom's shoulder, "Now Cordelia, remember what I told you about Beckett."

Immediately, the encroaching snare retracted back into Miss Dawnbloom. "Ah, yes, the touch aversion. Apologies, little one, I didn't mean to frighten you."

What, exactly, had Miss Verdun shared with her? There were still introductions to be made however. They extended one hand outwards, offering it, "My name is Beckett. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Dawnbloom." 

Miss Dawnbloom squealed with delight, touching her hands to her chest, "My, so polite and well trained already! He is quite odd, but are you sure he's feral?" She giggled, gently wrapping a vine around their hand and giving it a gentle shake. "The pleasure is all mine, cutie."

'Well trained?' They were rather rigorous about their training, but they got the feeling Miss Dawnbloom didn't mean it in that capacity.

"Oh!" Miss Dawnbloom exclaimed, clapping her hands together, "There's someone else I want you to meet! Come on out and say hi, dearest~"  

A woman stepped out from behind the violently vibrant Affini. She had fair skin and dirty blonde hair cascading all the way down her back, flowers woven into it. Freckles dotted her, to the degree scars striped them. A loose, flowing floral dress in the same offensive colors that comprised Miss Dawnbloom hung off her. She swayed as she approached them, and a vine from Miss Dawnbloom corrected her balance.

"Uhm, hi, I'm Daisy Dawnbloom, first floret, She/Her. It's nice to meet you," she introduced herself, standing before them now.

They could see her dilated pupils, her vacant smile. If that wasn't enough to send a chill down their spine, they spotted the most offensive item of all- her collar. It was rather subdued compared to the rest of her outfit, greens from light to dark blending together. The appearance of vines woven together, reminiscent of old art they had once seen. A Celtic Knot, as they recalled. At the center hung a nametag. It took a massive amount of willpower to tear their gaze away from it. That anyone would accept something like that...

Once more they offered their hand, "Beckett. Nice to meet you."

Daisy giggled, "We don't shake hands in the Compact silly," she swayed as she stepped past his outstretched arm, "We hug!"

Oh like hell! They immediately stepped back, placing their arm between themselves, but before Daisy could be stopped by it, vines swept her up. "Now now, cutie, Beckett is very new. You need to make sure he's okay with it before you touch him, okay?" Miss Verdun cooed, playfully tickling her nose as several vines stroked through her hair. The eyesore of an Affini joined in, obscuring Daisy from view.

Daisy giggled, "Okay, Miss!"

"Thank you, Miss Verdun." That was twice now the Affini had intervened on their behalf. It was a little aggravating, but trying to protect every inch of ground was a sure way to lose it all.

She smiled as she set down the Terran woman, "Of course little one, your comfort is very important to me." They managed to keep from scoffing at such a ridiculous platitude. She was seizing territory that they couldn't afford to hold.

Daisy practically bounced as she offered her hand, "Sorry, we can shake if you wanna."

It was a bit odd to shake a full minute after introductions, but it was better than unwanted intimacy. They took the proffered hand firmly. "It's nice to meet you-" They couldn't call her Miss Dawnbloom, could they? As her owner, the affini likely held the Miss Dawnbloom title over her pet. "Miss Daisy."

Daisy giggled again as they broke the handshake. "Stars, you're all stiff and serious and junk. Just call me Daisy! Don't worry, I used to be all super wound up too! I'm sure your Mistress will help you like my Mistress helped me."

"Miss Verdun is not my owner!" They snapped. Vines fidgeted in the corner of their vision, but were unable to determine whose; both the Affini were standing together. Calming down, they continued. "She is my guardian during my Wardship."

Daisy cocked her head to the side. "But- but- you call her Miss Verdun, and Mistress Miss Dawnbloom and..." She furrowed her brow, as if trying to piece together a difficult puzzle. "Oh, stars, you're one of those really serious types. My bad," Daisy apologized, offering a sheepish smile.

"It's fine," they huffed, "you didn't know and you didn't mean anything by it."

Miss Dawnbloom spoke up, giving Daisy a pet that made her gasp, "Okay cuties, Camila and I are going to start getting dinner ready. You two have fun and play nice alright?" Miss Verdun started to protest before being strong-armed into the kitchen. 

This was absolutely a test. Well, if the Affini thought they would step out of line at the first moment they weren't directly supervised, they would be sorely disappointed.

Daisy stepped back in front of them, smiling, "Sooo... what'd'ya like to do for fun?"

Their eyes went to the collar again for a moment. It was hard not to look at it, knowing it was there. "Training, mostly."

Daisy perked up, "Oh! Me and Mistress do that all the time!" 

Ah. That was perhaps a term to avoid in the future. "I mean working out," they humphed, "Push ups, running laps, rucking, drills- that sort of thing." 

"Ohhh. Uhm, is that all?" She scratched her head, "Do you have other hobbies?"

They racked their brain, outside of training all they did was study, predominantly wars and battles of old. This line of conversation was getting uncomfortable, they needed to go on the offense here. "I read a lot, I suppose. What about you?"

Daisy lit up like a city square, counting a barrage of things on her fingers, "Oh! Uhm, I garden mostly, but I also listen to music, paint, sculpt clay, and play with Mistress of course!"

Letting her talk about herself was far easier than discussing their personal life. "You garden?"

"Oh yeah!" Daisy beamed. "Mistress always helps me. She knows a lot about gardening- she grows grafts for other Affini! We're working on crossbreeding some chrysanthemums with this other flower from the core worlds and-" Daisy suddenly clapped and squealed. "You should come over sometime so you can see! I'm sure your mistr- sorry, Miss Verdun would be okay with it! Mistress is very good friends with her."

They didn't even want to know what she meant by that . Still, this presented an opportunity. Getting close with Daisy could open up access to avenues of escape, should they need them. "That sounds agreeable. I would like to see it."

Daisy giggled, "Geeze, do you always talk like you learned English by reading a dictionary?" She continued to laugh.

Having a pet laugh at them was rather aggravating; there was nothing wrong with how they spoke! "Of course not, I learned through rigorous study. I just like to keep things formal."

Daisy struggled to stifle her laughter, "Sorry, sorry, I shouldn't make fun of you. It's just pretty funny that Miss Verdun found the one Terran even more uptight than she is."

"I-" they started to protest, but, well. She did have a point, they were fairly serious. "I suppose. There is nothing wrong with that."

Daisy began to fidget as silence hung between them. "So, uhm, are you sure we can't cuddle a little? Or hug?" She looked at them sadly, rubbing her arm, "Sorry, I'm just feeling kinda touchy right now."

They narrowed their eyes, watching her closely, "I don't have any interest in engaging in intimacy with strangers or acquaintances."

"What about with your friends? Do they get to hug?" Daisy asked.

Friends? "My work was far from conducive to friendships." They never knew who they would have to eliminate, and often they were only in an area briefly.

They regretted admitting this almost immediately. Tears began to well in Daisy's eyes, "No friends? Ever?"

Making an Affini's pet cry for any reason was definitely a fail case. The number one priority of the Affini was the comfort of their florets. "I suppose... we could... be friends" They strained.

Daisy immediately lit up, bouncing in place, "Ohmigosh! I'm your first friend! I'm super honored and junk!" She cheered. She then leaned in uncomfortably close, "Does this mean we can hug now?"

They wanted to say no of course. However this woman seemed immensely unstable, and they had only narrowly avoided making her cry. "I... suppose that would be fine." 

-_-_-_-

Camila's vines twisted over each other anxiously, looking back at the door to the living room, "Are you sure Cordelia? He only arrived yesterday, what if he tries to hurt Daisy?"

"Nothing would come of that, and it would be the last mistake he ever made as an independent." Cordelia stated matter-of-factly. She intertwined her own vines with Camila's to still the fretting, "Besides, from what you've told me, Beckett is eager to prove that he can be independent. He might be feral, but he's not foolish. I very much doubt he'll try anything." Cordelia smiled.

"I suppose..." She did agree that Beckett was unlikely to try anything, but she still didn't like letting him go unsupervised.

Cordelia cupped her face with a hand, "It'll be fine, dear. Give the little one a chance."

Camila sighed, leaning into the comfort of her friend, placing her hand atop hers. "Okay. I suppose I'm just feeling a bit anxious."

"Stars, you're roots over vines for him, aren't you?" Cordelia sighed.

Camila removed Cordelia's hand from her cheek, stiffening up. "I am not! He's a borderline sociopath, I would be neglecting my duty as an Affini-"

" Ca-mil-a, " Cordelia softly enunciated her name, "Come on now. You want this Terran, don't you?"

Camila averted her gaze, Cordelia knew her too well. "I just... I want to see the little one happy. That's all."

Cordelia drew her into a hug, "Of course. I understand." She pulled out of the hug enough to bring them face-to-face, "Stars, leave it to you to find the one Terran more tightly wound than you are."

"I am not tightly wound!" Camila protested.

Cordelia chuckled, teasing her with a vine, "Dear if you were any more tense, you'd snap a vine."

Camila humphed. "We should get started on the little ones’ dinner," she said, eager to shift the topic. "Did you have something in mind?"

Cordelia tapped her chin. "A few things, yes. Is there anything in particular Beckett likes?"

Camila frowned. "Honestly, I've yet to express any preference. Every time I made him food he just said 'it's good' and ate it without a single emotion." Not being able to give the little one a meal that made him truly happy was a blight on her pride as an Affini.

Cordelia furrowed her brow. "That is rather strange... Feral Terrans subsist on those awful synthcubes almost exclusively. There's little else the cuties enjoy more than a good meal. Even the most simple compiled meal should do the trick." Cordelia seemed to ruminate for a while longer before snapping back to her cheery self, "Well we'll just have to make sure to do it this time! Let's make a breakfast skillet, it's one of Daisy's favorites."

Camila couldn't help but smile at her friend’s enthusiasm, "That sounds delightful!"

Cordelia walked her through it. It was a rather simple dish: potatoes, sausage, bacon, peppers, spices, eggs and cheese, all mixed and prepared in one large skillet. Cordelia moved up behind her, their forms intertwining as she helped her prepare the ingredients and mix them in the pan. Stars, her core was maybe a meter from her own, what was she thinking?!

"Cordelia-!" she started.

She leaned in, placing her head at the nape of Camila’s neck. "Hm? Is something wrong? I'm just trying to help my friend make a delicious dinner for her pet-to-be."

"Thank you, but I think I have it from here." Camila fought to keep her emotions under control. She didn't want to damage their friendship. 

Cordelia smiled, pulling away, "It seems that you do. Just a few more minutes and it'll be ready, dear." Cordelia set the table as Camila finished cooking, poking over every so often to make sure she was doing it right.

"It looks great!" Cordelia announced, "I'm sure the little ones will love it. Why don't you get them while I serve it up?"

Camila nodded, exiting the kitchen.

"-pose that would be fine." She heard Beckett's voice as entered the living room, followed by a soft grunt.

Camila peered around the corner, careful to not alert them. What she saw made her stifle a squee. Daisy had her arms wrapped around Beckett, nuzzling into him. Beckett remained still, with his arms at his side. "Okay you got your hug, you can let go now."

Camila quickly retrieved her pad to take a photo.

Daisy shook her head, refusing to relent, "It's not a hug if you don't hug back!"

Beckett sighed before putting his arms around Daisy, who squeaked. "O-oh! You're strong!"

Camila took several pictures, delighting in the cuteness.

"Alright," Beckett let go of her. "Satisfied?"

"Uh-huh!" Daisy nodded, releasing Beckett, "You're good at hugs, we should totally hug more."

Ohhh Camila was definitely getting that footage from the Hab. Seeing Beckett trying to get along was positively adorable! Cordelia would love it, and the captain would likely enjoy a copy as well. They had both been right, the little one just needed a chance. 

Camila stepped around the corner and announced herself. "Dinner is ready, cuties."

Daisy cheered, throwing her hands up, "Yayyyyyy!" She grasped Beckett by a hand and tried to pull him along. "C'mon, Mistress always makes the best food!"

Beckett stood firm at first, before relenting, allowing himself to be dragged along. Camila smiled as they passed by her on their route. It was nice to see him open up a bit; Daisy did have a rather disarming, carefree attitude. It was clear that even Beckett wasn't immune to her. She followed behind them into the kitchen.

"Mistress! We're friends now!" Daisy exclaimed as she entered the room, holding up their intertwined hands. "Oh! Can we have him come over so I can show him the garden?"

Cordelia swept her floret up into her lap, Daisy giggling and letting go of Beckett's hand as she did so. "I think that would be a great idea, dear." She smiled as she lavished Daisy with pets. Daisy's expression grew vacant as she leaned into the attention of her owner. "Of course I'll have to see when little Beckett is available, but I don't think Miss Verdun would have any issue with it."

"Perhaps a few days after the Vet," Camila nodded, turning her attention downwards to Beckett. He already had one hand on the seat, poised to leap up. "Would you like some help, Beckett?"

Beckett leered up at her for a moment. He had clearly been hoping she wouldn't offer. Finally he sighed and hung his head, removing his hand from the seat, "Yes ma'am."

Camila used a few more vines than was necessary, relishing in this fleeting moment of allowed contact as she set him in the seat. "Cordelia helped me out with dinner today, I hope you'll love it."

"I'm sure I will." Beckett stated as he took a fork and dug it into the bowl, shooting a glance over at Daisy as Cordelia fed her. Daisy lit up, delighting in the bite as she bounced with joy. Camila was practically standing on the tips of her vines as she watched Beckett take his first bite. He swallowed before speaking, "It's good, thank you."

That's it? But- but- Cordelia had said...

"I'm glad you like it, little one." Cordelia was thoroughly examining Beckett as he continued to eat. Camila had seen that look before; she was plotting something. "Camila and I worked very hard on it." Cordelia feigned a sigh, "Unfortunately neither of us have grafts for taste, do you think you could describe the flavor for me?" Of course, how did she not realize sooner?!

Beckett slowed his chewing, looking off to the side. "Ah, it's, uhm-"

Daisy perked up, about to interject, only to be quieted as Cordelia fed her another bite. "Sorry sweetie," she apologized, stroking her hair, "but I really want to hear it from Beckett."

Beckett chewed for a few more moments, before swallowing and sighing as he set his fork down. "Well, no point in lying." He leaned back, folding his hands in his lap. "I can't taste it. I can't taste anything."

Daisy looked up at her owner, worried. Cordelia soothed her as Camila spoke out, "Why didn't you say anything?"

Beckett shrugged, "It was clear the food was good, and that you put effort in. That I couldn't actually taste it hardly seemed relevant."

Camila puffed up; "It is absolutely relevant little one! You're missing an entire sense, that's a severe handicap, I wouldn't call that 'hardly relevant!'"

"I suppose I should have mentioned it sooner, but there wasn't a good opportunity." Beckett took a sip of water before continuing. "It would have felt rude to say it during a meal, and awkward any other time." 

"Well this simply will not do," Camila huffed. "We'll have to see what the vet can do about this. Are there any other disabilities you're hiding from me?"

Beckett picked up the fork again, digging out another bite, "I'd hardly call a lack of taste a disability, Miss Verdun. There are plenty of afflictions that actually impact one's ability to live." 

"My, what a misguided notion." Cordelia chimed in, largely focused on continuing to dote on Daisy, "You seem to have a rather archaic notion of what a disability is."

"I suppose." Beckett shrugged, "I wouldn't consider myself disabled in any manner, personally." 

Oh dear, this was going nowhere. If the little one couldn't recognize that a lack of taste and chronic pain were disabilities, it was unlikely that even an ocean's worth of Class D would get anything out of him. Camila sighed. The Vet should be able to find any other latent problems tomorrow. "We'll have to address your viewpoint another time. I'm rather unhappy that you tried to keep something like this to yourself." There was almost certainly some underlying ableism being harbored as well.

Beckett swallowed another bite, "I will try to be more forthcoming in the future. I didn't mean to upset you."

Well, the little one really did seem apologetic at least. Still, one thing bugged her, <"How did you realize it, Cordelia?"> Camila asked, swapping to her native tongue.

<"Well it was only a hunch at first. I just thought it was strange that his reaction was so flat. Then I noticed Beckett was chewing only enough to swallow."> She fed Daisy the last of her meal, wiping off the little bits of food stuck around her mouth.

Dirt. Camila had noticed that was chewing only a few times each bite. She should have realized sooner. Definitely after the little one said he didn't have any food preferences at all. Beckett deserved a better, more attentive owner. One that could actually notice his issues and assist him.

<"Don't beat yourself up, dear."> Cordelia helped Daisy to the floor, giving her a few pets for good measure, <"Beckett is a rather complex sophont, and quite good at concealing his thoughts and feelings. It would have taken me some time to realize it as well, if he was my first Terran.">

Beckett finished his food soon after, unceremoniously hopping down. "Well this has been delightful but I'd like to get ready for bed now." 

"Bed? But I gotta teach you all about friendship!" Daisy whined, before looking up at both Affini and proudly bragging, " I'm his very first friend, y'know." 

Oh dear, that didn't bode well. "Did you not have any friends on the Valiant?" Camila asked.

"No," Beckett stated flatly, "I was there to work, not socialize."

Ridiculous! He was onboard for well over two years and never had any companions? Actually, that wasn't that surprising, given his general disposition. Another thing to add to the growing list of concerns.

Daisy leapt onto him, embracing him like he was Terran sized plushie. "But now we're friends and I'm gonna teach you how friends work," she cheered. 

Beckett stood completely still, letting Daisy hang off of him. "How... Fortuitous..."

Daisy met Beckett's stony mask, giving him an exaggerated frown. "You already forgot lesson one!"

"And what was that?" Beckett raised an eyebrow.

"When a friend hugs you, ya gotta hug back silly!" Daisy giggled, redoubling her efforts. 

"Ah, right." Beckett wrapped his arms around her for a couple seconds before releasing her, causing both Affini to coo at the sight. 

"Aww, what a good girl you are!" Cordelia lavished her floret with praise and attention. Daisy went lax as her owner drew her into her arms. "Such a very good girl, helping Beckett out! However, I think we should let him get to bed; he has his very first Vet appointment tomorrow. You can teach him more about friendship when he stays over soon, okay?"

"Yuh-yes Mistress." Daisy panted, struggling with words as Cordelia pumped xenodrugs into her system.

"We'll have to do this again soon, Camila- it seems like little Daisy here is quite fond of Beckett. For now I'll let you both get to bed, I'm sure tomorrow will be..." Cordelia hesitated as she searched for the proper word. "Eventful."

Camila bid farewell to Cordelia and was soon alone with Beckett once more. She shadowed him as he brushed his teeth and prepared for bed. Once in the guest room- his room for the foreseeable future, she supposed- he paused, eyeing the pet bed cautiously. "You have an actual bed due tomorrow, yes?"

"Of course," Camila nodded. "I do want you to feel comfortable here, little one. It's very important to me."

Beckett sighed, "I suppose one more night isn't going to hurt." He walked towards the bed, stripping off his clothes before stepping inside. "Goodnight, Miss Verdun." He said as he tucked himself into the myriad of blankets and pillows. 

Camila turned off the lights, "Goodnight, little one." 

-_-_-_-

They awoke from a dreamless sleep to the sound of their alarm. Wait... This wasn't The Valiant... This bed was far too soft and warm.

"Good morning, cutie." Miss Verdun greeted them with a sweetness in her voice. Right, they had already betrayed the ship, and were in the compact now. Had Miss Verdun replicated their alarm after yesterday?

They stood up, "Good morning, Miss Verdun."

"I have already compiled breakfast," Miss Verdun smiled down at them, "It's ready for you once you are dressed. I also picked out some clothes from the ones you liked yesterday, they're at your bedside. Your hat and boots are where you left them. I'll be waiting for you in the kitchen." Then she left. 

It seemed she had gotten over the event last night- that was good. It was a bit concerning that she had picked out their clothes, but examining them they couldn't find any issues. Khaki cargo pants, white tee, light green jacket- they would have likely picked it out themselves, or something similar. 

We're losing ground every day.

They couldn't defend every inch though, they needed to prioritize. The important stuff, the key pieces, that's what they needed to focus on. That's what had to be fortified and fought for. They sighed and got dressed, heading out into the kitchen.

"Would you like help up, Beckett?" Miss Verdun asked.

Another piece of ground they couldn't afford to defend, "Yes, if you would please." They did their best to not tense up at the contact. Thankfully it was brief and they were set in the chair shortly. It seemed breakfast today was some sort of... oblong tan something.

"It's a breakfast burrito. My apologies, but I didn't make it myself. Once we've fixed your sense of taste however, I'll gladly start cooking for you again." She smiled warmly.

They eyed the 'burrito' cautiously. It did smell rather good... "Can you really do that? Fix my sense of taste, that is." Such a thing could become detrimental if they had to escape and go back to synthcubes, but it was impossible to deny the allure.

Miss Verdun seemed to think for a moment, "I imagine so, or at least I don't see why we wouldn't be able to. Our biotech is extremely advanced, as you likely know. You should see what our Class Gs are capable of."

They took a bite of their breakfast. It's true that the reports had indicated some rather impossible sounding feats. Class G... Which was that again? As were things that inebriated, Cs were things that made you feel affection for anything, Ds were truth serum, Js were much like As but much more severe, Es were anti-anxiety, Hs were the hypnotics, Zs were sleep aid... "I'm afraid I don't recall what that particular class does.

"They're Xenodrugs that help cute little sophonts get bodies they feel comfortable in!" Miss Verdun waited until they swallowed before continuing, "Actually, that reminds me, we need to talk about your gender identity issues, little one."

Their what?! It was a good thing she had waited until they had swallowed, they likely would have choked otherwise, "I do not have issues with my gender, being male is fine." They took another bite.

"Well that's sort of the issue dear. It's not exactly normal to feel indifferent about your gender." Miss Verdun explained.

What was she even getting at? "Don't most people? I can't imagine most people feel happy about being whatever."

Miss Verdun looked worried now, "I- goodness little one, I'm not even sure how to answer that. Yes, people enjoy being the gender they identify as, that's why they identify that way."

What a preposterous notion. "So just because I'm not excited to be a man, I'm not a man? That's ridiculous."

"Well, that's, oh dear..." Miss Verdun seemed to fret for a few moments before speaking again, "So, uhm, moving past that for now, is there something you would enjoy being? Do you see yourself in any particular way?"

Well they definitely weren't going to say how they saw themselves. That was ground they couldn't afford to cede. "Not really. People see me as a man and that's worked out for me so far. I don't really care about it."

Miss Verdun hummed, "Well, what if people saw you some other way?"

They thought about it as they chewed on the burrito. It was hard to think that anyone would see them as anything else. "I'm unsure, I suppose that would feel the same."

Miss Verdun tapped a finger to her chin, "Well I could try using a few different pronouns until we find one that you enjoy, if you like." She offered.

"This is hardly a conversation for this early in the morning." They needed to shut down this line of conversation quickly, it had gone on long enough as is.

Miss Verdun sighed. "I suppose we can discuss this after your appointment."

Right, that was almost certainly going to dredge up all sorts of other things they'd rather keep buried. They finished off their burrito, wondering how much the Vet would be able to uncover. 

"Would you like some help down, Beckett?" Miss Verdun 'asked.'

They merely nodded, still chewing the final bite. She gently cradled them as she set them down. It was rather infuriating that it was in fact much nicer than jumping down themselves. They swallowed. "So, we're heading out now?"

"Yes, go get your boots on while I tell Mr. Aurelius that we're on our way. I'll be out shortly." She smiled.

They marched into the living room, first putting on their hat, followed by their boots. They still had an appreciable shine from the other day. They pulled the laces tight, before working their foot inside to loosen it just a tad. Wrapping the laces around the top of the boot twice before using a square knot to tie them. They stood up, testing their footing and found it satisfactory, smiling at their expertise.

"Aww," Miss Verdun coo'd, incensing them. There was nothing cute about their boots, they were professional! "Well, if you're ready, Mr Aurelius is waiting."

Beckett followed her out the open door. The ship was as massive and impressive as yesterday. The sun hung low in the artificial sky, stimulating dawn. Many Affini were out, only a few with their pets. Best to stick close to Miss Verdun, so the other Affini didn't think they were lost.

They entered a tram and accepted Miss Verdun's help onto the seat. There were several Affini on board today, all of which were focused on them. One of them approached Miss Verdun and had a brief conversation. They had studied the language for about an hour after they had gone to bed, before a pop-up saying 'cuties need their rest!' interrupted and shut the pad down.

The other Affini was asking something about petting and a floret. Miss Verdun said something about domestication? Was that the future tense or negative form? It was hard to tell, hopefully they could get more time to familiarize themselves with the Affini language soon. The other Affini smiled at them, and thankfully returned to the place they had been sitting previously.

It was a few more stops before Miss Verdun helped them down and they exited the tram. They could see the Hab units in the distance, easily a few kilometers away. Affini transit really was something else. They followed her closely, hoping the other Affini walking by would leave them alone.

Miss Verdun stopped suddenly, stopping them from bumping into her with a few vines. "We're here," she cheered, opening yet another large door.

They entered the building to find what was largely a standard waiting room. It was, as everything else in the compact seemed to be, far larger than its Terran counterpart. It had few seats; the area largely consisted of piles and pits full of cushions, much like Miss Verdun's pet bed.

Miss Verdun approached the desk, where a spaced out Terran sat. They couldn't place its gender;  perhaps neither? It also wore one of those offensive collars, a far different design than Daisy's had been. It was several shades of steely gray, striped, with what looked like engraving. They couldn't read it from where they stood, but it doubtless read similar to Daisy's nametag. 

Miss Verdun gave it a pet to get it's attention, "Hi sweetie, could you let your owner know Beckett is here?" 

"Oh, umm, yah... Lemme jus'..." It's voice didn't help place it either as it typed on the pad. "Ogey," it smiled, "Master said he'll be out in a minute." It leaned over the desk and looked directly at them, waving, "Hiii, um, I'm Alex Aurelius, 4th floret, They/Them."

Well that settled that matter at least. "Beckett, He/Him." They stated. 

"Umm," Alex scratched their face absentmindedly, "just Beckett?" 

"That's what people call me, never been much for first names." They shrugged. All this questioning about why they preferred to use last names was starting to get a bit tiresome.

"Ohhh, okay." Alex smiled, "You're one of those . Well you'll figure it out eventually I'm sure. The Affini are great at helping with that sort of thing."

They were about to demand what exactly Alex was getting at when the door to their right opened to reveal what appeared to be the Vet. He stood maybe a head above Miss Verdun, and had a large makeshift beard composed of flowers and a mat of moss. There were four arms, comprised intertwined vines in the vague shape of arms.

Was Miss Verdun on the short side for an Affini? Most every one they'd met was slightly-to-significantly taller. 

Mr Aurelius spoke, a deep rumbling sound coming from within, "Ah, you must be little Beckett. You know I've been quite busy treating all those sophonts you dragged here."

Ah, maybe he was upset with them? "My apologies."

Mr Aurelius laughed, "Goodness, no, I do adore treating ferals. So many problems to fix. I've been looking forward to meeting you actually, especially after Miss Verdun sent me the medical information from your monitor." 

Oh, this is going to go extremely badly.  

"Ah, where are my manners?" He reached down a vine, "Xander Aurelius, 11th bloom, He/Him." 

They took it and gave it a shake, returning the introduction, "Beckett, He/Him. Pleasure to meet you, Mr Aurelius."

Mr Aurelius smiled, "Well little Beckett, let's see what we can do for you."

He led them into a room, not too dissimilar from the medic bay on the Valiant , but far cozier. Plants they'd never seen abounded, the examination table was extremely cushioned, and none of the medical devices were recognizable. They fought back the rising anxiety. Maybe he would be so preoccupied with their old wounds he wouldn't notice?

"Alright, would you like Miss Verdun or myself to help you onto the examination table?" Mr Aurelius asked. 

Well a choice between an Affini they were familiar with and one they weren't was easy enough, "Miss Verdun, if you wouldn't mind?" they turned to face her.

Miss Verdun seemed rather happy, "Of course! It's no trouble at all, little one," she beamed, gently picking him up and placing him on the large cushion. 

"Alright," Mr Aurelius spoke, reading off his pad, "you have an atrophied biorhythm, chronic pain, a complete lack of taste and several other anomalies to take a look at." Of course Miss Verdun told him that, it seemed every Affini talked to one another. He pulled out some sort of device that made a click as he pointed it at them.

"Scan's done, let's see..." Mr Aurelius murmured several things in Affini they couldn't quite make out. "You have quite a lot more scarring than I suspected, and there's still a fair bit of shrapnel in several areas... Little one, who did your extractions and stitches?"

"I did." They were fairly simple procedures, and It's not like they could trust a doctor anyways.

There was a stunned silence in the room for several moments before Mr Aurelius spoke again, "I'm sorry, but did you just say you performed surgery on yourself?"

"I  was a mercenary, and I typically operated alone. If I didn't patch myself up, I would have bled out." There were times that wasn't the case, but he hardly needed to know that. 

"In all my blooms..." Mr Aurelius mumbled, "Little one, some of these scars would indicate you did more damage to the tissue than the shrapnel did. You are extremely lucky to be alive."

They shrugged, "I've always been pretty lucky. Skill only gets you so far in my line of work."

Mr Aurelius sighed, "Well, I'll have to move my next several appointments so we can get all of that out. Let's move on to the physical."

They blinked, "Get it all out? Today?" Doing such a massive scale medical procedure at the drop of a hat seemed preposterous, even for the Affini.

"Of course," Mr Aurelius said, smiling proudly, "it's no wonder you're experiencing chronic pain with this much shrapnel in you. We'll get it all out and get you some Xenodrugs that will let the tissue heal properly; it might not completely fix your pain issues, but it should help them."

"I was expecting a physical, not major surgery," they balked, fighting the resurgent panic. 

"Well, I'd hardly call it 'major'," Mr Aurelius chuckled, "You'll be back in your hab with Miss Verdun before lunch. I'm not going to just leave it in there if it's causing discomfort." He took out a small rubberized hammer, "Now, let's start with your reflexes."

Unwilling to protest further, they followed Mr Aurelius' instructions as he tapped the hammer against several places, eliciting a reaction. "You have rather good reflexes, Beckett. In fact, outside of the scarring and shrapnel, you're in some of the best physical condition I've seen in any Terran!"

They couldn't help but smile and preen a little, "Well I was in charge of running drills and physical training on the Valiant, one must lead by example in such cases." 

"Yes, in fact, I think you deserve a lollipop for taking such good care of yourself!" Mr Aurelius smiled, retrieving said treat from within and offering it to them.

They eyed it cautiously, "You know I can't taste right? I'm afraid such a thing is rather wasted on me."

The look Mr Aurelius gave them sent a shiver down their spine, "Oh I'm well aware, but it isn't optional dear. Go on, you've earned it."

Oh that thing is absolutely drugged.  

They... didn't have much choice though, did they? The best play available was to willingly take it. All other actions would have the same result and likely be used as a demerit against them when they got to their trial. They sighed as they took the lollipop and placed it in their mouth.  "You know it's obvious this is drugged, you could just-" They began to object. Like someone had hit a switch, they fell unconscious.

-_-_-_- 

Camila caught Beckett as he fell limp, gently easing him down. The cushion was thick enough that he wasn't in any danger, of course, but she still felt the need to assist.

"Well, let's start the proper examination, shall we?" Mr Aurelius said, taking out several devices that would let him check Beckett down to the molecular level.

Camila sighed, taking the opportunity to stroke the Terrans hair while he couldn't object. He seemed so peaceful while he slept. Or was he a they, perhaps? Maybe something else entirely? The little one certainly had something going on with his gender. She'd have to press him on it again later. She stopped petting and moved aside. "Okay, Mr. Aurelius."

He gave her a reassuring smile as he approached the table, "Don't worry dear, he'll be shape shipped and in your vines soon. Also, please, call me Xander."

It was impressive to watch the Vet work. Several powerful monitors were attached to various points while blood was taken and analyzed. He used his pad to display Beckett's vitals on a screen over the little one.

"Hmm, this is..."

He brought up different sections of Beckett's vitals on various screens around the room, furrowing his brow as scanned through them all in tandem. "I see... And the... Hmm... I haven't seen something this severe since the Hurkín..." 

Oh dear, was there something wrong with Beckett? 

Xander turned away from the panels to face her. "Miss Verdun. Beckett has been extensively modified at the genetic level. He's essentially his own sub-species."

Chapter Text

Camila's vines knotted together in distress. "Has his genetic code really been modified that much?" 

Xander nodded. "Take a look here. This is his genetic sequencing, and this... " the monitor went split screen, pulling up another image, "...is a standard Terran. As you can see, this is far outside the normal deviation range."

"I thought Terrans preferred technological augmentation?" Camila asked. "I've never heard of them making edits to their genome like this." 

"Yes, it is rather strange. I've seen a few splices, some light tampering, but this," Xander motioned towards the monitor, "is extremely unusual. I'd say with this level of genetic rewriting, it's rather likely Beckett here was made within a lab." 

Camila couldn't help but recall how Beckett mentioned that he didn't wish to be property again. Oh, stars... "I see. Can you tell what's been altered?" She asked.

Xander sighed, "I'd need some time to thoroughly examine these readings but it may be faster to list the things that haven't been changed." He looked over the readouts again, humming as he pondered them. "A few things stick out, however. Muscle and bone density have been improved, his lack of taste was likely by design, and he seems to be able to produce new stem cells for improved healing ability. The immune system seems to have been bolstered as well." He frowned, grumbling as he added, "this likely means that the damage from the scarring was even more severe than I initially thought."

The thought of how much Beckett must have suffered did not sit well with Camila. He had no one to lean on in those moments, forced to tend to himself. She tried to calm down; Beckett was in the compact now, he'd never hurt again. She would see to that personally. "What about Xenodrugs? Would Terran based ones be fine?"

Xander paused to think once again, "We should be able to alter most Xenodrugs to be effective with little effort. He has a lot of differences, but he's still Hominid. I'd avoid giving him anything standard. However, if you have to, smaller and more frequent doses are likely the best bet. His body is rather aggressive about breaking chemicals down," he explained. "You haven't given him anything yet?"

Camila shook her head, "Captain Flint advised against it, xe said his neuro imbalance and emotional disconnect could cause a reaction."

"The Captain was right, of course," Xander nodded. "It's rather fortuitous that he didn't cause any problems. A normal sized class Z dose may have lowered his heartbeat to dangerous levels, possibly even stopping it altogether."

Camila was definitely not going to entertain that thought. "How long do you think it will take to re-engineer the basic classes?"

"Oh, not long," Xander smiled. "I’ll send these readings to a few xenopharamicists and we should be able to make adjustments to most of them soon enough. We do love a medical novelty. It'll be maybe a day or two. He's not too different, same bits in different measurements. I doubt he's at risk of becoming a cotyledon. In the meantime, I'd recommend hypnosis for any emotional instability, or if he needs help sleeping."

What a relief to know he wasn't at risk. It'd be devastating if the little one became a cotyledon; he deserved so much more. Camila eyed Beckett's sleeping form, the lollipop still in his mouth, "What about the sedative? And the surgery?' 

"The sedative doesn't work the same as a Class Z, it temporarily halts higher level brain processes. Beckett’s operate the same way as a standard Terran. It's only tricky when trying to get them to do something specific," Xander explained. "The surgery can continue as planned, but I'm not going to be able to give him a normal painkiller. The one I'll need to use is rather strong, tantamount to a Class-M. He'll be rather groggy and need assistance at every moment until tomorrow at least."

That he could still be treated was nice, but the thought of Beckett utterly helpless in her vines made her core race. Camila was about to get the chance she wanted. She could show Beckett just how good life as a floret could be- how good life as her floret could be. At the very least help dispel his misgivings about having an owner. "W-well," she stammered, poorly trying to hide her excitement. "I suppose I'll manage."

Xander chuckled, "I'm sure. Now, do you have any further questions?" 

Camila thought about it for a moment, trying to think of anything the Vet could actually tell her presently. "Is there anything you could tell me about the scarring on the neck, or the rectangular one between his shoulder blades?"

Xander hummed, turning Beckett over on the table, examining both scars briefly. "The one on the back is simple enough. That patch of flesh was removed with a sharp implement, clearly deliberate. The one on the neck seems to be a powder burn from a small explosive, along with damage from the explosive itself. I'd say the origin was less than five centimeters away, likely right up against his neck. This would have resulted in rather extreme hemorrhaging, he's very fortunate to have survived." 

He sighed, "Honestly there are no less than a dozen wounds here that should have been fatal. It's rather incredible he survived in the wild so long."

Was this what Beckett meant when he said he was lucky? Oh dear, no wonder the little one was so jumpy. "Thank you, that's everything I wanted for now. I'll give you the room." Camila bowed her head in thanks. 

"Of course," Xander smiled, placing his vines on hers. "It'll only be a few hours, and he's in good care. Feel free to play with Alex if you're feeling anxious or get bored." 

Camila nodded, and exited into the lobby. Logically, she knew that Beckett was well taken care of. However, given that he was apparently different enough from his fellow Terrans that he couldn't use most of their Xenodrugs, she couldn't help but worry. What if there was an unforeseen complication? She began to fidget nervously. 

"Heyyy." A dazed voice called out. She turned to find Alex waving at her, "Master said it's going to be a while and I'm supposed to help keep you company if ya want?" 

What a delightfully adorable offer. She smiled down at the Terran, "That would be lovely, cutie. Is it fine if I hold and pet you a bit?" 

Alex gave a lazy thumbs up. "That's A-Okay Miss!" 

Camila gently picked Alex up, cradling them in her vines. Stroking the precious little sophont, she felt her worries begin to drift away. Soon, Beckett would be in her vines, maybe even truly hers in the not too distant future. Perhaps she should take this opportunity to start filling a notice of intent? It was rather unlikely another Affini tried to make their move, it was normally considered a bit uncouth to do so on another's ward. There was a reason the Notice of Intent existed, however. It would be best to do it sooner, rather than later.

Camila roused Alex from their blissed out state. "Petal, do you mind if I fill out some paperwork while I pet you?" 

Alex merely whined and grasped at Camila's vines, causing her to laugh. "I suppose that's a 'no,' then." She rewarded the cutie by redoubling her efforts, causing them to go slack again. 

Camila pulled out her pad and saw that Beckett's bed had been delivered, that was good. The little one would certainly need plenty of rest. Her pad dinged as a message from Cordelia came through. That was convenient, talking with Cordelia should occupy her long enough for the Vet to finish. She sent a request for the paperwork to be delivered to the Hab and opened the chat. 

[ComfyPlamnt]: Heyyy how was the vet? 

[FrequencyFlower]: We're still there. The Vet is busy pulling nearly half a kilo of shrapnel out of Beckett. 

[FrequencyFlower]: Additionally, it seems that he was genetically engineered in a lab. The vet is going to have to alter most Xenodrugs for him.

[ComfyPlamnt]: :o 

[ComfyPlamnt]: Wait what???

[ComfyPlamnt]: I didn't know Terrans did that!

[FrequencyFlower]: They don't, typically. It seems that Beckett is strange in more ways than initially thought. 

[ComfyPlamnt]: well no wonder he's so- hold on

A minute passed before another message dinged through. 

[ComfyPlamnt]: Daisy was being cute wanna see?

[FrequencyFlower]: As though that's even a question, of course I do!

[ComfyPlamnt]: okey one secco

[FrequencyFlower]: That does remind me- I need to send you a picture I snapped and the feed from the Hab last night.

An image of Daisy came through. She was laying down. One hand half open near her head, the other entangled in vines above it. Her hair sprawled out radially behind her. A carefree smile that melted Camila's core on her face. 

[ComfyPlamnt]: Oo do share

[FrequencyFlower]: So cute!!! 

Camila sent through the picture she snuck of Beckett hugging Daisy. A surprised look on Daisy's face as Beckett gives her a powerful embrace. Beckett's back to the camera. 

[ComfyPlamnt]: Awwwww

[ComfyPlamnt]: It's always so precious to see the little ones warm up!

[ComfyPlamnt]: And Beckett has a lot of warming up to do! You should consider yourself lucky to be there for it!

[ComfyPlamnt]: Speaking of, I got distracted before I could finish my thought earlier. It's no wonder Beckett is like that if he was made in a Terran lab!

[FrequencyFlower]: I suppose. It does explain why he said doesn't want to be property again for example. I can't help but feel there's more to it however. Like if he was hiding that, what other things could he be hiding? What if he's been lying?

[ComfyPlamnt]: Hmmm

[ComfyPlamnt]: Well you can try asking!

[ComfyPlamnt]: Beckett didn't try to lie when I asked him about last night's dinner! 

[ComfyPlamnt]: I don't think he cares about straight up lying, but I dunno, I could be wrong.

[ComfyPlamnt]: Or you could just wait until the Class Ds are ready and go that way~

[FrequencyFlower]: Hmm, you do have a point. He seems to be rather forthcoming when confronted, for the most part at least.

[ComfyPlamnt]: Oh? 

[ComfyPlamnt]: I guess he was pretty resistant when we mentioned that he has a disability.

[FrequencyFlower]: Exactly!

[FrequencyFlower]: I don't think I told you but it seems Beckett may have some gender issues as well. He got rather agitated when I tried to explain he might not fully identify as a man if it doesn't make him happy.

[ComfyPlamnt]: Ooo 

[ComfyPlamnt]: Helping the cuties find themselves is so much fun!!!!!!

[ComfyPlamnt]: I'm a little jealous ;^;

[FrequencyFlower]: Well, it's not like Beckett seemed to enjoy much of anything. It might just be his general anhedonia. 

[ComfyPlamnt]: That's a good point

Alex adjusted themselves under her vines, settling into a new position. Sighing contentedly as Camila shifted her vines to accommodate them. 

[ComfyPlamnt]: Speaking of, is the Vet fixing that today too?

[ComfyPlamnt]: Or just the surgery?

[FrequencyFlower]: Aurelius said the functions of the brain are the same so he should be able to correct them. Oh, I forgot to mention this earlier, but since he can't use the normal Xenodrug painkillers, he's going to use something that should be safe for Beckett that's much stronger. The effects are going to be tantamount to a Class-M, though he'll retain some amount of muscle control.

[ComfyPlamnt]: !!!!!!!!!

[ComfyPlamnt]: :o

[ComfyPlamnt]: Oh stars!

[ComfyPlamnt]: You've GOTTA send me pics!!!!

[ComfyPlamnt]: aaaaaa that's so exciting!!

[ComfyPlamnt]: He's gonna be all doped up in ur vines!

Camila smiled at Cordelia's infectious excitement.

[FrequencyFlower]: I will, don't you worry. 

[ComfyPlamnt]: Be careful though!

[ComfyPlamnt]: Beckett will probably be out of it today, but he'll likely be less than pleased tomorrow if you overstep! 

[FrequencyFlower]: Just what he needs and nothing more. Well maybe a little petting. But just a bit!

[ComfyPlamnt]: Just try not to overdo it and it should be fine!

[ComfyPlamnt]: Also lemme know when his xenodrug grafts are ready, I suspect I'll need some when I'm pet sitting for you!

[ComfyPlamnt]: It's time for Daisy's lunch now tho so baiiii

[ComfyPlamnt]: We'll talk soon!

[ComfyPlamnt has disconnected]

Lunchtime? Checking the clock she noticed it was in fact just past noon. Stars, had it been that long already? Beckett should be ready any moment now. Camila checked in on Alex, to find them snoozing adorably. All the petting had really tired the little one out it seems. She gently scratched them under the chin, "Alex, cutie, it's time to get up." 

Alex made a sound rising in pitch, questioning why they were being roused before realization dawned. "O-oh, hello Miss Verdun. Is Master done?" They blushed.

Camila gave the adorable little cutie another scritch on the head, "He should be done soon. Do you want help back to your desk?" 

"Mhm!" Alex nodded. Camila gently placed the little one back into their seat, in front of their adorable little desk. Maybe once Beckett was domesticated she could-

The sound of the door opening interrupted her thought, "Ah, Miss Verdun, I'm done with little Beckett now." Xander announced. He motioned behind him. "If you would follow me, I can wake him up."

-_-_-_-

Everything was... Swimming. Fuzzy and warm, like they had been wrapped in a warm blanket. It felt like their body was light-years away. Thoughts were slow and ponderous, like trying to draw something up through tar. Consciousness dawned at the same pace as the sun breaking over the horizon. 

"Beckett? Little one?" They knew that voice, didn't they? It seemed familiar at least. Was it talking to them?

"Who's Beckett?" they mumbled. The name seemed familiar, but they couldn't place it. "Do we know 'em?" 

The first voice said something in a language they couldn't understand. It sounded concerned. It was answered by a second, deeper voice. The two voices continued to converse as they tried to collect themselves.  

They realized they couldn't move. The same weight in their head was in every muscle, every tendon. They could twitch a few fingers, wiggle their toes, but no more. Sitting up was out of the question. 

A voice in the back of their head was shouting, but it was too far away to hear. 

The voices talked to each other for brief while before the softer one spoke in Standard again. "Little one, do you remember who I am?" 

"Nuh." Their tongue felt lazy too. "Sound familiar, though."

The voices conversed in that weird language again. It was kinda nice to get a break from talking. Words weren't easy at the moment, and neither were thoughts for that matter. They tried not to drift to sleep, just in case the voices wanted to ask them something again. "Okay dear, I'm going to pick you up now."

Oh that was nice, there was no way they could walk. They felt... Ropes? Very soft ropes pushed themselves under them before wrapping around them, turning them and lifting them up. Ohh, she was made of plants! Those were vines around them. "Woah..." The word slipped out of their mouth, she was so pretty! And smiling at them! And her eyes...

She looked away, presumably facing the other voice as they talked in that language again. They drifted for a moment. "How are you feeling dear?" Oh, she was talking to them again.

How were they feeling? Good? Definitely not bad. "Like there's goop in all of me. Everything's all... Fuzzy. And far away. Okay, I think? I dunno." 

She sighed in relief, "Yes, you'll probably be fuzzy until you wake up tomorrow. I'm gonna take you home and get you ready for bed, okay?" She explained.

"Okay." They tried to nod. They wished they could remember her name, or their own for that matter. It felt like it was just out of reach, on the tip of their tongue. 

She exchanged a few more words with the other voice that they couldn't understand. "Okay cutie, let's go home." Home? Did they live together? How lucky!

They were moving. They could feel the slight bob of the woman's walk. The wind moving over them. The comfort of the vines..

"You're soft..." They mumbled, unbidden. That voice in their head said something again, still too distant to make out. 

"Thank you! And you, my dear, are absolutely adorable." She softly stroked a few vines through their hair. 

They flinched, or tried to at least. Their muscles had no strength with which to spasm. "D-don't." They couldn't place why, the sensation itself was actually quite nice, but it was just wrong. Too much. Too intimate. 

"I- sorry." She apologized. "I simply couldn't help myself, I'll keep the touching to a minimum, okay?" 

They felt rude. She was helping them, and they couldn't return the favor in any way. Tears started to well up in their eyes, which was strange. They weren't normally this emotional, were they? They lacked the strength to reach their own memories. They sniffled, trying to fight back the tears. 

"Aww, no, it's okay sweetie. Shhh." She said, "It's okay. Look, we're home." The vines helped them up, letting them see... a rather large living area. Palatial even. 

Was this their home? It seemed a little familiar, but it didn't feel like home. "Home?"

"Yes dear, your home for as long as you'd like. Our home." She turned them so they could see her smile.

Stars, she was so, so, "Pretty..." They mumbled.

She giggled, and what a wonderful sound that was. Like a warm summer breeze coming through on a cool night. "Thank you, little one. I'm glad you're feeling better. I'm going to help you eat and wash up and get ready for bed, okay?"

Well, they certainly weren't in position to do any of that right now. "'Kay..."

The lady carried them into another room. Just how big was this place exactly? "Now, the Vet said your neurons are still reforming connections which is why your memory isn't functioning normally. He also said that you won't be able to taste for a few more hours as a result of your brain still forming those pathways, so I'm going to compile you something." They heard a few beeps, followed by a gentle fwoosh accompanied by a wonderful scent. Wait, did she say Vet? 

"Uhm, Miss, why was I at the Vet?" They asked. 

"Well, that's just where adorable little cuties like you go when you need medical attention." She explained as she sat then upright in her lap, vines supporting them. A bowl of wonderful smelling soup was placed in front of them. 

Something wasn't adding up. Vets were for animals, weren't they? They weren't an animal... It then dawned on them, the other main purpose of a Vet. "Miss, am I a pet?"

"Beckett?!" She sounded alarmed, vines underneath them twitching. That name again. It was... hauntingly familiar. They had upset the nice lady, hadn't they? Tears started to well up again. They couldn't even accept help right.

Useless.

They cried, tears now flowing openly. It felt strange, like it had been ages since they last actually cried. 

"Dear? What's wrong?" She was concerned now.

"I can't... I can't do anything." They sniffled, forcing words between tears. "You're helping me and I can't do anything. I can't remember your name. I can't even sit there and let you pet me. I-" they broke down, weeping.

Weak.

"Listen to me," her voice rang clear, pushing through the darkening fog. She lifted them out of her lap, tilting their face up until their eyes met. Her eyes were pools of light, deeper than space itself, drawing them in. "You were at the Vet because that's where all sophont species go, not just the ones that are pets. You are not a burden, and you do not need to do anything. You are recovering from an extensive medical procedure and I am more than happy to take care of you. Do you understand?"

The words pressed themself into their mind. Objective truth. "Y-yes." They sniffled, calming down as the tears faded. 

Miss used a cloth to dry off their tears and smiled. An infectious happiness radiated out from her. "Feeling better?" 

They still felt a little bad about being such an emotional wreck, but... she said it was fine, so it had to be fine, right? "Yeah, thank you Miss."

She giggled, "Goodness, even without any of your memories you're always so formal." Miss lowered them back into her lap. It was nice that she seemed to be in a good mood. 

"I suppose..." It was just basic manners, wasn't it? "What is your name anyways?"

"I am Camila Verdun, First Bloom," She answered, "and you, little one, are Joshua Beckett, and you prefer to go by Beckett. You normally call me Miss Verdun, but 'Miss' works just fine." 

"Ohhh," no wonder that name sounded familiar. There was a nagging feeling that  'Beckett' wasn't right either. However, that's what Miss Verdun said, and they had nothing to say otherwise. "That's why you asked about 'em..." 

A spoon held by vines dipped into the soup in front of them, stirring it. "Yes, dear, that is why. Now I'm going to need you to help you eat, so open your mouth when I bring the spoon up, okay?" The spoon lifted out of the bowl, full of broth, and moved towards their mouth.

Warmth flushed their cheeks, they really wished they could move. Being carried and sat up was one thing, but being literally spoon fed was just... embarrassing. Again, they saw no alternative. They were completely at Miss Verdun's mercy. "...Okay." They opened their mouth and the spoon slipped inside, depositing the warm liquid.

"Very good," Miss Verdun praised as they fed them another spoonful, "I know you don't like this, but it's just one meal. Tomorrow you'll be able to eat on your own."

Right. Just one meal. They just had to finish the bowl, then they'd get to go to bed and wake up better. The meal progressed in silence for a few more spoonfuls, before the growing awkwardness prompted them to break it. "How long have we known each other?" 

Miss Verdun hummed as she fed them another bite, "Not long, about three days." 

Three days?! She was feeding them and they were basically strangers! They swallowed, "I-I see." They mulled over the information as Miss Verdun fed them another spoonful of soup. "Can I ask why?" 

Miss Verdun paused. "I'm afraid I don't understand, why what?"

"Why are you so nice? Why are you doing all this stuff for me?" They asked, "I can't imagine we really know much about each other, and you said it's fine but-" 

The spoon was gently but forcibly inserted as they spoke, silencing them.

"None of that now, cutie." Miss Verdun softly scolded, "We may still be getting to know each other, yes, but that doesn't change a thing. I would be happy to do this for you if we met only today. I think you deserve at least a bit of kindness." 

Something inside then ached. 

"Dear, is something wrong?" Miss Verdun asked.

"I don't know," they replied, fighting back tears yet again. Every emotion since they woke up had felt so amplified, it was nearly impossible to decipher what, exactly, they were feeling. "Everything feels really intense."

Miss Verdun sighed as she fed them the last of the soup, "Yes, I'm afraid that part might take a bit longer to correct." She cleaned their mouth of the small bit of soup that had found it's way there. "Your neurochemistry was... very far off from that of an emotionally healthy Terran. You'll likely experience elevated emotions and mood swings for a while yet."

She lifted them out of her lap, cradling them in her arms. "Don't worry though, I'll be there to help you every step of the way." 

Geh, that felt... nice, but also awful? Like it was so sickeningly sweet it threatened to make them hurl. Miss Verdun was very insistent about helping them, despite them being unable to return the favor. "Now, let's get you washed up." 

"What?!" They needed to move NOW. Their muscles failed to twitch at command, they quickly moved to their only option as of late: bargaining. "I-is that necessary? Surely one missed bath isn't-"

"It is absolutely necessary," Miss Verdun interjected. "I will not put a smelly Terran in a new, clean bed. I thought you weren't shy about being naked around me?" 

Did they say that? It was vastly unfair that only Miss Verdun had any information. "Naked is one thing, but you're talking about washing me!" Panic was setting in. 

Miss Verdun stopped moving and thought for a moment. "I think I understand the problem. If I touch you in a way you don't like, or that's too much for you, let me know and I'll stop okay?"

That didn't exactly stem their fears, but it did assuage them. "If I say anything -"

"I'll cease immediately, and move on." Miss Verdun raised a vine, as though she was swearing an oath. "Is that acceptable?"

Honestly, they were basically at their limit of physical contact as-is. They steadied their breathing and reminded themselves that it was just one bath. Afterwards, they could go to bed and wake up feeling like themselves again. They could do this. "Okay. Let's get this over with." 

Miss Verdun directed their attention up to her face with a vine. She made eye contact, smiling at them as she spoke, "It'll be okay, sweetie. There's no need to feel nervous."

They let out a sigh as they fell into her eyes once more, the slight bit of tension they managed leaving their body. It was okay. It was going to be okay. 

-_-_-_-

"I'm going to have to undress you now, okay?" Camila kept her biorhythm up. It seemed like Beckett responded well to this level. 

His heart rate accelerated just a tad, "O-okay." Beckett stammered, closing his eyes in anticipation.

Stars, the little one was too cute! The moment he got over his touch aversion Camila would make up for lost time- and then some. That the issue was deeply rooted enough to be present even when he was unable to remember anything was a fairly poor sign. Beckett needed an owner to help him, and give him the love he needed. Sooner, rather than later. 

Camila wondered as she removed the little one's hat; Maybe the Captain was wrong, maybe it would be better to end this farce early. It was far more difficult to address his issues with her vines tied. There was clearly a loving pet just beneath all the hurt and heartache that made up 'Beckett.' 

As Camila untied and removed his boots, she recalled the advice of both Cordelia and Flint: he needed time, and a chance. He'll likely come to the right choice on his own. If he didn't, he'd be collared in the end, and better suited to accept it. She just needed to trust Beckett and prod him along the right path.

Camila removed Beckett's jacket, shirt and pants, relishing in the treat. It would likely be quite a while until the little one was in her vines again, and even longer until she got another chance to bathe him. He remained quiet, his eyes closed and a slight blush on his face. "Okay little one, almost done," she comforted.

Beckett made a small grunt of discomfort as Camila removed his underwear. Oh, he was blushing furiously now! How adorable! It was so cute how Terrans got flustered by the simplest things. "There we go. That wasn't so bad, was it?"

"Can we just get through this?" Beckett's voice was teetering on the edge. Best not to push it. 

Camila stepped into the bath and lowered Beckett into the water, placing him in her lap, "Okay petal. Remember, if any place is too much, just let me know." 

"Mhm." Beckett affirmed. Stars, seeing this nervous, vulnerable side of him was too much! 

Camila started by pouring some warm water over him, filling up a makeshift bucket formed from her leaves. She placed a modest dollop of shampoo onto his head, and slowly started working it in, giving him time to object. Beckett grunted softly several times, prompting her to slow down for a moment. Fully lathered, she poured water over him a few more times, rinsing it out. 

She repeated the process with the conditioner, but didn't rinse it out. Grabbing the luffa Camila gave Beckett a warning, "I'm going to start with your face and work on down, okay?" 

Beckett didn't say anything as she gave him time to respond. It seemed like he was focused on remaining silent. Camila lathered up the luffa and titled his head up, gently scrubbing his face. No complaints there. She moved onto the neck-

"Stop!" Beckett yelped as soon as the luffa touched his throat, his body tensing the small bit it could. 

Camila pulled away immediately, "Okay dear, we'll move onto your back." It seemed like the little one was very sensitive about his scar there. Some sort of small, close explosive... it was strange. She'd have to press Beckett about it after she got the Xenodrugs. It was doubtlessly some deep seated trauma, and pressing him on it without a class E on hand was a recipe for disaster. 

Cautiously, Camila started on Beckett's back. A few soft grunts, but no objections. The chest and arms were much the same. A few scrubs, some water to rinse off, more scrubbing. She started on his rear, finding no complaints. With nothing else higher, she gently touched the luffa to his crotch. 

"Absolutely not!" Beckett exclaimed. That was to be expected, she supposed. Terrans were so finicky about being touched there. 

"Okay little one, tell me when I get to a place that's good to start from." Camila started slowly lowering the luffa down his thigh. 

About midway down, Beckett spoke out, "There's fine." 

Well there shouldn't be any further resistance at least . Camila scrubbed down the rest of him, before pouring more water over him and rinsing out the conditioner. "There we go," she smiled, lifting Beckett up out of the water. "That wasn't so bad was it?" 

"I really hope I won't remember this." Beckett grumbled. 

Ah. There... probably was going to be some significant fallout tomorrow when Beckett regained himself, wasn't there? He would doubtlessly take incense at being treated in this manner. "Well we're almost done, so bear with me, okay cutie?" 

Camila retrieved some nearby towels and pat Beckett dry, leaving the two areas that seemed off limits to dry on their own. She applied paste to his toothbrush and brought it a few centimeters from his face, "Say 'ah.'" 

Beckett looked conflicted, for a moment Camila thought he was going to cry again. Then he took a long breath in and exhaled, opening up. It was quite admirable how he was doing his best to take things in stride. The brushing went without incident, and gave the parts she couldn't towel off time to dry. 

Camila carried him through the kitchen, compiling some pajamas and underwear, retrieving them before heading into his room. They were simple, primarily orange with white floral designs, light and breathable. "I'm going to dress you for bed, okay?" 

"Whatever." Beckett mumbled, resigned to his fate. A bit uncharacteristic, but Camila could hardly blame him. The poor thing had been through a lot. "Sorry," he apologized a moment later, "We're really exhausted. Didn't mean to be rude." 

'We?' That was the second time Beckett had used 'we' today. She had thought it might have been a slip of the tongue the first time, or been meant to describe Beckett and herself. This time, however, he definitely was talking about himself. It could still be nothing, perhaps a slip up due to being tired? Now wasn't the time to press it. 

Camilla manipulated Beckett in her vines so he could see her smile. "I know dear, don't worry. Let's get you to bed, and then you can rest." 

Beckett made an intonation in response. The warm bath had clearly tuckered the poor thing out more than she thought. Dressing him was easy, he was far beyond having the energy to protest at this point. 

Camila laid him down in the bed. He was already starting to doze off as she tucked him in. She took one last good look at the little cutie before turning off the light, "Goodnight, Beckett." 

"Night..." Beckett replied, his voice so soft she barely heard it. 

Chapter Text

Camila rose to meet the day, an extra bounce to her movements. Having Beckett in her vines had filled her with determination, and spending quality time with the notice of intent after putting him to bed had only stoked it further. That she ever doubted keeping him for herself seemed ridiculous now. The Terran would be hers in a few weeks. Preferably by choice, but if the little one failed to come to the right decision, she would claim him.

Ah, she was getting caught up in the future. Camila reminded herself to enjoy today for what it was. The time to enjoy Beckett the pet would be long, the time she had to take pleasure in taming Beckett the feral was much much shorter. He was sure to be sore about yesterday, likely even angry. However, she would get to make the very first meal he'd ever taste. Her vines twisted together with giddiness. 

First things first, she should pick out some clothes for him. Camila pulled up the clothes that Beckett had liked and hummed in displeasure. She'd like to get him into something less... Militant. All in due time. Perhaps she could bring it up after breakfast. She picked out some tan pants and a drab olive jacket for now. 

Picking the clothes out of the compiler, Camila's mind turned to the exciting prospect of preparing breakfast. She could make the skillet or pancakes again, since the little one didn't get to actually enjoy them last time. However this was Beckett's very first meal, it should be something new and exciting! She can do the meals he didn't get to actually appreciate another time.

It should be something sweet, Camila determined. Sweet, non-pancake breakfast food wasn't a lot to work with. The choice seemed to be between variations of waffles with sweet toppings, or something called French toast, which seemed far more novel. It not only got to utilize the sweetness of syrup but used cinnamon, and had some very positive reviews from her fellow Affini. French toast it was. 

Camila made a mental note to go pick up some actual groceries at some point as she compiled the ingredients. It was one thing when she was just petsitting for Cordelia every so often. It was another entirely now that she resolved to keep the Terran. It was a point of pride amongst her people to provide the best they could. She'd sooner be mulched than deny Beckett the finest food and snacks the compact could offer. 

Setting her pad next to the stovetop, Camila  cracked an egg into a bowl of milk. She mixed in vanilla, whisking them together as she heated up the flat pan. Carefully, she dipped one side of a slice of bread in, dusted it with cinnamon, flipped it, repeated, and finally  placed it into the now hot pan. Once she had four slices, Camila set her attention on the skillet. She waited a minute, then flipped the first one, smiling as she found it golden with just a bit of browning. A few moments later she slipped the spatula under the second slice and-  

The emergency alarm on her pad went off. 

Beckett. 

Camila dropped everything and rushed out of the kitchen. 

-_-_-_-

It was dark.

They couldn't move. They couldn't see. Their breathing was laborious. It was like trying to suck air through a soaked blanket. Something wet and sticky was pooling under them.

Not here again.

Where was 'here?'  

They couldn't move. They felt so weak . 

Why are we here again?

Something in them knew this place. Why they couldn't move. Finally, their eyes adjusted, like someone had hit a light switch. 

Several bodies lay in front of them, each in a pool of blood, taking up the whole of their vision. 

Move.

They couldn't move. Fear welled up as they realized the others had no movement to them. Not the slightest bit of color to their skin. 

MOVE.

They couldn't move. They were dying, weren't they? They were going to die like the others. They could feel the hole in their throat now. They were bleeding to death.

MOVE! NOW!

They couldn't move. Something wet trickled down their face. Tears? Someone had to weep for the others. For them. Tendrils of darkness were closing in as vision faded.

No. Not tendrils. Vines? 

There was a voice in the distance.

... 

Who's Beckett? 

They felt something wrap around them, and everything faded. 

"Beckett, please!" Miss Verdun cried out. They were wrapped in her vines, held in her arms. They could feel the tears still trailing down their face. 

"M-miss Verdun! That's enough!" They yelped, panting. "Put me down!"

She did not put them down, instead sighing in relief, "Oh thank goodness."  Miss Verdun brushed some errant strands of hair out of their face. "When I got the alert you were having a panic attack I got so worried , I came as quickly as I could."

They snorted, offended at the notion that needed her help. "I didn't have a panic attack, it was-" they shuddered involuntarily as they recalled the nightmare. Why on earth were they remembering that day of all things? They buried it deeply. There was no reason for it to be on their mind. "It was just a bad dream. That's all."

" Just a bad dream?" Miss Verdun practically growled, wrapping her vines around them possessively, sending another shiver down their spine. "Dear, you are covered in sweat and tears, and you are still shaking. What. Happened?"

The words caught in their throat. She wanted them to talk about that day? It would be easier for them to cut off their own arm. It didn't help that they still felt weak and groggy. How did they even get in bed anyways? They remembered being at the vet, and then everything got fuzzy... Were they in pajamas? 

"Beckett?" Miss Verdun's spoke softer now, concern edging into her voice.

"S-sorry." They apologized, still trying to steady their breath. "It's-" what do they even say? What could they even say? "I-I don't think I can talk about it, sorry. Can we just move on?" Why did they feel so nervous? Everything had felt so off since they woke up. They were struggling just to keep tears from welling up. 

Miss Verdun looked conflicted for a moment before she sighed, "Okay. We can discuss this when you're ready." The day they would be ready would be the day after this left this mortal coil. "Tell me, besides the nightmare, how are you feeling?"

"I'm... I'm not sure." They took a moment before continuing. "Everything feels strange, and I'm weirdly emotional. It's-" They stopped themselves from admitting how close to tears they were. "It's really intense. I also feel a bit drained, energy-wise. What happened at the Vet?" 

"Ah,"  Miss Verdun looked troubled, "I figured you might have trouble recalling yesterday... After you were sedated, the Vet performed some surgery. He removed the shrapnel in your body and he rebalanced your neurochemistry." He what?!

"You messed with my head?!" They snapped. They had no reason, no right!

Miss Verdun didn't react to their outburst, continuing in the same gentle tone. "He also informed me about your genetic engineering." 

Oh. We're fucked. 

All the anger evaporated from them in an instant, replaced by fear. They laughed nervously, "Did he now?" They were so fucked. If the Affini knew they were purpose-built for war, they were fucked. 

"Yes." Miss Verdun leered down at them. They felt so small in her vines. So powerless. Insignificant. "Yes he did." 

"S-Sorry." They apologized, not knowing exactly what for. Constantly fluctuating between these emotional extremes... they hated this. 

"It's good that nothing came of it, but you really should have told me sooner. If you got any standard xenodrugs you could have had a severe reaction!" Miss Verdun lectured. "As it stands, the vet and a few other Affini are working on modifying Terran xenodrugs to be safe for your use."

They swallowed, their throat and mouth dry. "It's not something I like to bring up." They fidgeted in Miss Verdun's vines. Being held like this made them feel so vulnerable . Coupled with how emotionally raw they felt, tears seemed inevitable, especially if they kept on this subject. "Can you please put me down now?" 

"Okay, petal." Miss Verdun acquiesced, thankfully lowering them onto the bed. "Just be careful moving on your own, you're still recovering from surgery. No extraneous activity today, okay?" 

They nodded silently, fearing their voice might crack if they spoke. They took practiced breaths in an attempt to calm down. This was bad. There was no telling what, exactly, Miss Verdun knew. She still called them Beckett, so it was unlikely their actual age had been figured out. Then again, she certainly figured out that they were made , not born. Beckett's record had a mother and father listed, something impossible for them. She at the very least suspected it was an assumed name. There's no way she didn't. The Affini were far too competent for that. 

Finding a bit of stable ground, they managed to speak up again, "So what else happened? After the Vet that is. Why do I feel so drained?"

"Well, the Vet couldn't use the normal painkillers, so he had to use something a little stronger that would be safe for you. As a result, you were largely unable to move, so I took care of you." A smile crept onto her face, "You were utterly adorable, just so you know."

Their blood ran cold as vague memories returned. Being fed, washed, and dressed like... like-

Property.

"Dear are you okay? You look pale." 

They were far from okay. They were seconds from breaking down into tears and throwing up.  

They struggled to get the words out, "C-can I- can I have the room?" The tears were already starting to well. It was only a matter of time now. They hated this, they hated feeling so vulnerable in front of Miss Verdun. 

"It's okay dear. You are safe with me." Miss Verdun sat on the edge of the bed, which creaked slightly under her weight. There was something more in her tone. Something warm and comforting. "I'm not going to think any less of you if you cry." 

They could hold it in no longer, they could only turn away from her as they broke down into sobs. 

We should have never come here.

Tears rolled down in drops, then streams. They hadn't cried this hard in some time, and at least then it was private. That they were acting so childish in front of Miss Verdun only made them feel worse. The warmth and comfort radiating off of her did little to help. 

They should have escaped and hid. Maybe even detonate the Valiant's core to cover their tracks. The Affini can't search for a man they don't know exists or think is dead. They could have resurfaced years later, well after most people had forgotten about the domestication campaign, and blended into the shadows. Now they were utterly fucked. If Miss Verdun wasn't going to recommend them for domestication before, she certainly would now. 

They stayed facing away from her, heaving with sobs for minutes that felt like hours. Eventually they were just too tired, their tear ducts too dry to continue, and the crying slowly came to a stop. 

They heard Miss Verdun shift behind them. "Feeling better, petal?" What was she concerned for? This was her doing. She wanted this. 

"Just done crying." They responded flatly. "What happens now?"  

"Well, first things first, I would like you to sit up and drink some water. After that, I suppose I'll have to start making breakfast again." Miss Verdun clicked in annoyance, "It's most certainly ruined."

They wiped their face on a section of the blanket they were laying on, and cleared their throat, "I meant with my wardship."

"Hm? What about it?" Miss Verdun sounded... puzzled? 

They sat up and turned to face her, she looked genuinely perplexed. Oh, stars, had they gotten worked up over nothing? It's a good thing they were emotionally burnt out now, or else they would feel far more embarrassed. "I just thought you learning I was quite literally made to fight might... well, nevermind"

The confusion on Miss Verdun's gave way to concern. Ah, they probably looked like hell right now. "Well, I wouldn't say I'm happy you kept something so important to yourself, and I do want to discuss the matter after breakfast. However I don't see any reason to end your wardship prematurely over it." She pulled a small bottle of water out of herself and proffered it. "Here, I want you to drink this."

They accepted the drink and took a draught from it- oh they were much thirstier than they thought! They ended up drinking half the bottle in one go, they definitely needed that. "Thanks, Miss." 

Miss Verdun smiled at them, "Of course. I'm always happy to care for you, dear." Something stirred in their chest. It was gentle and fluttery? Kind of fuzzy and warm? It was predominantly unfamiliar and made them feel gross. They squashed it down the best they could. 

It's nothing more than Affini hospitality.

They took another sip of water, thinking of a way to shift the subject. "So... breakfast? Were you able to fix my sense of taste?" 

Miss Verdun perked up, and got off the bed. "Yes, you should be able to taste now!" She was practically vibrating with excitement. That was a bit disconcerting- what did she get out of them being able to discern flavor? "I'm sure you'll want to try the previous meals but I was making something special for today. It's your very first actual meal!" 

It was an intriguing prospect. "I'm looking forward to it." They finished off the water and placed the bottle in a vine Miss Verdun extended. 

They scooted to the edge of the bed. Why was it so high up? They were starting to suspect all the furniture designs were a scheme to make one dependent on the Affini. "Do you think you can help me down? I'm still not feeling a hundred percent."

Miss Verdun gently picked them and placed them on the ground, "As I said, I'm always happy to help you, dear." Her voice resonated with something inside- ugh, that gross feeling was back. "If you're feeling better I'll go get started on breakfast again, it shouldn't take long. Approximately twenty or so minutes? You can relax here or join me in the kitchen if you wish."

"I'll stay here for now, thank you." They smiled weakly, hoping that it was enough to assuage her. A bit of space was exactly what they needed. 

"Alright petal, but don't hesitate to call for me if you want anything- and I mean anything, okay?" Miss Verdun's vines were knotting- was she nervous about leaving them alone? They put a bit more effort into feigning a smile.

"I'm fine Miss Verdun, really. Honestly, I could use some space. I'll let you know if I need you." 

A few of Miss Verdun's flowers closed slightly, "Yes, of course." She moved to exit the room, pausing in the door frame. "Just- I'm in the kitchen, so don't forget I'm nearby if you want some company, okay?"

"I won't." They gave a short, two finger salute. As soon as the door closed behind her, they slumped against the bed and sighed. That could have gone better.

Could have gone much worse. 

True, having a full blown breakdown like that would be a death sentence normally. The inflated nature of their feelings was a potential issue. It was going to be much harder to mask their anger and distaste going forward. It was extremely infuriating that she just messed with their brain without so much as a heads up. 

It's too vibrant here now.

It seemed unlikely that they would be able to get Miss Verdun to reverse it. They would have to adapt. For now they needed to collect themselves;  the conversation after breakfast was sure to be arduous. One breakdown was bad enough.

They had learned to take pain without flinching, withstand discomfort without retreating. These feelings were nothing more than a series of new pains, new discomforts. They could master them, and return to form.

The chime of the AI springing to life made them jump. They had almost forgotten that it was there. "Miss Verdun says breakfast is ready, cutie!" 

Already? "I'll be right there. Thank you, Jess." They groaned as they picked themself off of the floor. Shrapnel must have been pulled out of every muscle group. They leaned against the bed as they found their feet.

The AI spoke again, simulating concern, "Are you sure you're okay, cutie? I can get Miss Verdun for you, if you wish." 

Contemptible fucking bastard machine. We would fry your processors if we could. 

They pushed off the bed, standing on their own now and straightening up. "It's fine. Just needed a second." 

"If you say so, cutie. Just remember you can always ask for help!" The Hab chimed, indicating it was cutting vocals. 

They would love to pull out its wires. Would going one by one or just grabbing fistfuls of whatever seemed important be more fun? Both methods had their perks. Of course that was assuming it even had wires to yank out. 

It was a fruitless thought exercise, however enjoyable. The Affini treated the machines as though they were people. Violence against one would certainly result in domestication.

They walked out of the guest room and into the kitchen. Miss Verdun was setting a few things on the table, obscured from their view. "You called?"

"Yes!" Miss Verdun clasped her hands together, beaming brightly. Her vines were more squirming in delight, flowers in full bloom. "Are you ready for your first taste?"

She was way too excited for this. How good could something like flavor even be? "I suppose." They eyed the chair, its seat just above eye level. Normally they would hop up easily but as things were... They turned to the Affini, "Could you-" 

Before they even finished asking, Miss Verdun scooped them up, "Help you onto your chair? Of course, petal~" Getting handled like this was becoming distressingly commonplace. Even worse, that gross feeling returned as she set them down.

"Thanks," they nearly growled." However, I'd appreciate it if you didn't just grab me." 

Miss Verdun shrank. "I'm sorry little one, I'm just really excited to share this moment with you."

What an odd notion; what would she get out of them being able to taste? Affini were truly alien. They looked at the meal in front of them: four slices of bread, toasted, with butter still melting atop the stack. A small serving container of syrup sat to the side, a fork on the other. The dish had a pleasant aroma to it. "What is it?" They asked. 

Miss Verdun's energy returned in full force, "It's called French toast!" She tapped a finger to her mask, "though I'm not sure what makes it 'French.'" 

She continued, clasping her hands together again. "It's mostly cinnamon, vanilla, and egg, but it has a lot of positive reviews! It's normally eaten with syrup or powdered sugar and sometimes fruit as well, but I wanted to keep it somewhat simple so you don't get too overwhelmed." 

They eyed the dish again. Overwhelmed by bread? Ridiculous. "Well, thank you for your thoughtfulness." They took the syrup and poured it over the dish, grabbing the fork with their other hand. They set the syrup down and dug in the fork, cutting into the corner of the stack. Miss Verdun was practically staring a hole through them now. Then, finally, they opened their mouth and took a bite.

"Oh, fuck." They dropped the fork, hand shooting to cover their mouth as their eyes went wide. They could hardly think or breathe as their senses were flooded with delight. The bread was sweet, rich, and utterly utterly delicious.

"Beckett?" Concern was in Miss Verdun's voice.

They held up two fingers,unable to speak, signaling for her to wait. Tears were forming in their eyes again as they quaked. How could it be this good? How could anything be this good?

"Beckett you need to chew and swallow before you choke." Miss Verdun instructed. 

Had they even forgotten how to eat in the shock? Fortunately, the part of them that had been drilled to follow orders was still working. Unfortunately, chewing only produced more of the flavors. How could anyone get through a meal if it was this intense? Luckily the bread was already soft from the butter, syrup and saliva. They managed to swallow it without much chewing, gasping for air once they had. 

"Sorry. I just." They paused, panting for a moment before facing the Affini, "It surprised me is all. Is food normally like this?"

Miss Verdun sighed, visibly relaxing. "You know you actually scared me there." Her smile returned as she hummed with delight, "To answer your question- yes. Some foods have even more complex flavors and all have their own unique properties and fusions. I'm sure with time you'll find a preference for certain types."

Oh, stars, there was more? Curiosity was driving them wild; what else had they been missing? "Well, this is absolutely wonderful, thank you Miss Verdun." They picked the fork up again. "For everything."

-_-_-_-

"You are quite welcome." Camila couldn't help but smile as she watched Beckett take another bite. He shivered with delight as chewed, his little feet tapping the leg of the chair. Stars, this was everything she had wanted and more. The little one was just too cute. That she could actually make out his biorhythm now as it became an symphony of joy was frosting on the cake.

From its hiding place inside her in vines, her pad had recorded every moment. Camila had planned on sharing with Cordelia, but such an adorable reaction was worth posting on the Affini Extranet. 'Terran cutie tastes for the first time' was certain to capture the adoration of Affini all across the compact. On second thought, maybe she should hold off until she got the Notice of Intent filed. 

Beckett continued to eat, continuing to vocalize pleasure as he chewed each new forkful. Ohh, she was really looking forward to absolutely spoiling him with all sorts of treats now. When his xenodrugs were ready she'd have to get a graft to grow berries. Possibly two grafts, for a Class-A variant as well.

"You're utterly adorable, you know~" Camila teased as Beckett swallowed. 

He gave her a puzzled look. "I'll take your word for it." 

It was ridiculous that he couldn't see it. Camila would make him realize his cuteness in time. "You know, I don't think I've heard you swear before, petal."

Beckett struggled to look displeased as he swallowed his breakfast. "I was surprised. Besides, I am- was a soldier. I don't like to make a habit of it, but it would be stranger if I didn't cuss on occasion." He prepared another bite. "I know you lot don't like swearing, so I've been making an effort." He stuffed it in his mouth, struggling not to flat out moan.

The only way the little one could be any cuter was if he was in her vines. Camila very much needed this, especially after the haggering experience of being unable to properly assist him with his panic attack. A simple dose of Class E would have been more than enough. "I very much appreciate that, petal." 

It was bittersweet to see Beckett finish the meal. Camila would have to wait several hours until she could give him another. Perhaps she could find an excuse to compile him a treat? 

He swallowed the last of it, sighing with content before wiping his mouth. "Thanks again, by the way." 

Camila moved to his side so she could assist Beckett off the chair. "Dear, it was my pleasure." She made a point to give him a warm smile. It seemed like it was going to take some time for him to realize just how cherished cute little sophonts like himself were. "Would you like help down?" 

"Yes please." Ah, there was that adorably conflicted look. It seemed like Beckett was beginning to get used to being picked up, he didn't tense up so much as she helped him down. 

Camila started to collect the dishes, "I'm going to clean up now dear. I want you to go brush your teeth and I'll meet you in the living room, okay?" 

Beckett leered at her for a moment. He was even cute when he was angry! This was much better than his previous stony face. "Fine, I'll be out there in five." He grumbled before marching out of the kitchen. 

Camila had thought handling a dangerous feral would be much harder, but Beckett seemed to respond well when given instructions. Perhaps it was just due to his misguided desire to avoid domestication. Or maybe his nature as a soldier had some sway? 

The cleaning went fast, she finished gathering the dishes and slipped then into the compiler. Taking a cloth and some cleaning agent from a high shelf, Camila wiped down the table and pushed the chair back in. This upcoming talk about his past was going to be much harder than she had thought. With his newfound emotional range, it was possible the little one would have another breakdown. She needed to be very careful. 

Satisfied with her work, and nervous about the upcoming conversation, Camila entered the living room. Beckett walked in from the bathroom shortly after, ruffling his hair. "I know you said you want me to relax today, but I'd like to get a haircut. It's getting unprofessional." 

"That's actually one of the things I wanted to discuss with you. Would you like help onto the couch? We will be talking for some time." Camila patted the cushion of the seat for emphasis. 

Beckett seemed a bit nervous about their talk, shifting their gaze. "I suppose that would be nice." 

Camila picked him up with care, and set him into the nook of the couch formed by the arm rest. "Comfortable?" 

"Yes," Beckett nodded. "Now, you have questions for me? I also have some for you, but I'll hold until you're done." 

That was to be expected. "Well let's start with something easy. Going back to your question about a haircut, I can't help but feel like the way you continue to cling to your militant self presentation is non-conducive to adapting to life in the Compact." Beckett opened his mouth to object and stopped as she raised a finger. "Furthermore, the way you react to intimacy, especially around certain areas, makes me think you may be harboring some unrealized dysphoria."

"You have a point about the military thing I suppose, but I'm not 'dysphoric,'" Beckett huffed, folding his arms. "It just feels wrong when people try to get close to me."

Pushback was expected, but he had presented a good line to pursue. Camila just had to be careful not to push too hard. "Well, if you can, could you tell me why you feel wrong when people try to be intimate?" 

"That's easy. I never got any when I was in the company. I didn't get any when I was freelance. The only time people touch me is if they want to hurt me, or get me to do something." Beckett stated as if it was the most normal thing. "Of course it feels weird when someone tries to cuddle up. I'm simply not right for it."

Camila's core ached as though it was about to split in two. By the Everbloom... had he really gone his whole life without any affection at all? "Surely someone tried to show you some tenderness at some point in your life? Perhaps someone you met as a freelancer, or one of scientists responsible for-" 

"They didn't give me shit!" Beckett snapped. Camila was shocked he had actually interrupted her. She had never seen him so angry, fury etched into every muscle. Tears were in the corners of his eyes as he continued to shout. "The labcoats and the suits gave us nothing but pain- they treated us like animals!" 

Camila stood in stunned silence for a moment. No wonder he was so much the way he was. Why he was so desperate to avoid domestication. "Little one... Beckett... I am so, so sorry you never got the care and love you deserved. I can't even imagine what that must have been like." She was afraid to ask the follow up; Beckett looked like he was about to burst into tears again. "What about between you and the rest of your company? You were all in the same situation, right?"

"... No." Beckett's voice was much quieter now. The outburst must have been pretty draining on the poor petal. "Couldn't. Wasn't allowed. Made it easier when they had to replace someone, they said." Oh he was hanging on by just a thread. Camila would trade all her future blooms for just one dose of a safe Class E. 

Beckett sniffled, fighting back the tears as they started to stain his cheeks, breathing heavily as he tried to steady himself. "Can we talk about anything else? I'd like to talk about anything else." 

Camila had meant to ask why he concealed his genetic modifications, but that was out of the question now. It wasn't worth driving him into a second full breakdown. Besides, if just scratching the surface of that trauma elicited a response this strong, it would seem she had a good enough answer for now. She needed something safe. "Do you think you can tell me about that coin you carry? Surely there's a reason you keep it on you." 

"My coin?" Beckett looked surprised, his hand instinctively shot to his pocket. "Why? Where is it?"

Camila indicated towards the door. "It's in your hat, on your boots. Would you like me to get it for you?"

He relaxed. "Yes, thank you." 

Camila crossed the room to retrieve it, taking a bit longer than necessary to give Beckett some time to dry his tears in relative privacy. "Here you go, cutie." She dropped it into his open hand.

Beckett smiled, turning it over in his palm. "Do you know much about the first Terran space age?"

"I know you used propellant based systems at first."  Honestly the idea of the little ones using something so primitive was as cute as it was concerning. They had even managed to start populating Mars with such systems. 

Beckett nodded, "It began in 1957, with the first satellite. The Jump drive is what kicked off the third age." He turned the coin on its face, displaying the back of it, "The very first Terran to ever stand on another piece of rock besides Terra was in 1969. This coin was minted to commemorate it." Beckett chuckled, then added, "Or, more accurately, propagandize it."

"Besides that," he continued, giving her a sly smile, "it's lucky." With that he flicked it into the air. "Heads or tails, Miss Verdun." 

"Tails?" What was the little one talking about? 

Beckett caught it as it fell, and smacked it against the back of his other hand. Slowly, he removed the top hand, revealing the faded bust of a Terran.  "Looks like I win." A particularly adorable grin spread across his face.

Camila couldn't help but giggle. "I see! However, I'll ask you to refrain from doing any actual gambling." 

"Of course," Beckett stuffed it in his pocket. "Gambling is a waste anyway. Did you have something else to ask?"

It was nice to see him feeling better. "Well, let's go back to your self presentation and try this from a different angle. Have you ever thought about growing out your hair?"

 He ran his hand through his slightly shaggy hair, mulling over the question. Finally he spoke, his voice clear, "Sometimes? I never really felt I could before, I usually cut it before it even got this long. I guess it's worth trying."

Ah, progress! "I think that's a wonderful idea. I can get you some shampoo and conditioner that will let you grow it faster, if you wish." 

Beckett narrowed his eyes. "Didn't you say standard xenodrugs could cause a reaction?" 

"It doesn't take xenodrugs to stimulate hair growth," Camila giggled. "It is perfectly safe." 

"In that case, sure." Beckett shrugged. "It would be interesting." 

"I'll compile it so you can use it this evening." Camila felt satisfied for now, having gained a small bit of ground. "You said you had some matters to discuss?"

"Yes I did." Beckett's face returned to his old stony mask for a moment before settling into a slight frown, "Firsty, I'm still upset about yesterday and I wanted to make that clear."

"I promise you little one, I was very careful to make you feel as comfortable as possible. Normally, a checkup like that wouldn't incapacitate you. Make you a little dizzy for a while, if anything." Camila explained. "I didn't think you would need custom xenodrugs."

Beckett humphed. "I'm not mad about that, but it does upset me." His voice momentarily quaked as he continued, vibrating with barely withheld rage. "What I'm mad about is you didn't tell me that you were gonna rejigger my brain."

Ah. That she definitely knew about. "I did not want to alarm you, my apologies. You did need your neurochemistry balanced. It was greatly impairing your ability to live happily."

Beckett practically growled , now clearly upset. Camila has to fight back a squee, it was so adorable! "If you're gonna mess with my head, you should give me a heads up at least!" He added with a huff, "have I not always capitulated in such cases?" 

It was difficult to take the little one seriously. Camila was practically knotting her vines over how cute he was when he got pouty. "I...y-yes, little one," She struggled not to giggle, "I'll make sure you're well aware of it before I mess with your cute head again, okay?"

Beckett looked alarmed for a second, then annoyed, "Whatever. Though that is the other thing I wanted to talk about, can you cut back on the 'cute' thing? It's a little weird." 

Camila paused. It wasn't an unreasonable request. However... Beckett had never been shown any affection. From his excessively formal method of speech, to his mannerisms, to his preference for using last names, he clearly withheld it from himself as well. This was for his own good. "Sorry, you're just going to have to get used to being told just how cute and adorable you are all the time. It's a lynchpin of Affini culture, I'm afraid," she teased.

Beckett's cheeks flushed slightly as his eyes darted to the side. "I see. Moving on- I did want to ask about the wardship."

Camila felt a pang of guilt, recalling the nature of Beckett's 'wardship.' "What about it, cutie?"

Beckett did his best to return to a more neutral expression. "Well I'm aware it's a trial period before I'm determined to be capable of independence. However, I'm a bit unclear what exactly is expected of each of us, and what exactly determines if someone can be independent." 

Camila managed to keep from frowning at the cost of her smile. "Well for the first part, I'm supposed to help you adjust to life in the compact and to see if you can be independent. All you have to do is your best..As for the other part..." She struggled for a moment, thinking of a way to phrase it. "You need to be able to care and provide for all your physical and emotional needs. Generally be able to live a happy and fulfilling life. We do not let anyone in the compact suffer needlessly."

Beckett hummed, "And what do you think my chances are?"

Now that was a tricky one to answer. Camila certainly couldn't just tell him. "You... will have the best chance if you continue to be cooperative, okay? Besides, domestication is hardly a punishment, petal."

"That's rather hard to believe when you use it in place of a carceral system," Beckett stated bluntly.

That was a misconception Camila could not let stand. "Florets are not prisoners. They are loved and adored by every Affini, and are the Compact's greatest treasure. No floret has ever hated being one."

"...I see." Beckett was silent for a long moment before shrugging. "Well I suppose it's a bit early to worry about it anyways."

Camila would have to make sure he truly understood later. Maybe introducing him to other- more florets would help? "Was there anything else, cutie?"

"Just one," Beckett held up a finger, "I'm getting rather tired of just sitting around in the Hab. I'd like to go out for at least a portion of the day."

He didn't technically need Camila's permission but... why not use this? "I will absolutely love to take you on walks as soon as you're well enough, okay cutie?"

Beckett tensed up, that slight crimson hue returning to his cheeks. "R-right. Uhm, that's all I had, thank you." Aaaaaa, getting him worked up like this was too fun! 

Camila smiled, "Well I have one last thing for you before I go take care of some paperwork and let you have some alone time, okay?" 

"What do you need?" Beckett replied.

Camila handed him his pad, "I did compile some clothes already, but I think you should consider looking at other options. It'd be best if you left the military look behind, try some things you feel you couldn't try before." She gave him a warm smile. "See what you do and don't like." 

Beckett started up the pad. "I'll take a look."

"If you need anything, I'll be in my room. If you need me, feel free to message or ask Jess. You can also come by, of course. Otherwise, I'll come back out and get you when it's time for lunch, okay petal?" Beckett perked up at the mention of 'lunch.' Stars, she couldn't wait to show him just what he had been missing.

Beckett looked away from her, "I'll keep that in mind, thank you Miss Verdun." 

Camila gave him one last smile, then left. 

-_-_-_-

They sighed quietly as they soon as they were alone. That could have gone better. At the very least they did show they desired to remain independent, however... It seemed like they should start looking for a good opportunity to escape. The trial was weeks away, but that wasn't a luxurious deadline. 

As for the main plan- Miss Verdun seemed certain they would fail, but also seemed like she may be open to changing this stance with time. For now they should continue their current modus operandi. Continue to not give them any cause, and stay focused. They could scout for escape options in the meantime.

For now, they had other concerns. They turned their attention back to the pad, it seemed they had a few notifications. Two friend requests, one from a 'ComfyPlamnt', the other from 'Daze-y'. Wonderful. The last thing they needed was a headache. They ignored them for now, opening a search for clothes.  

They ran their fingers through their hair, something they felt they couldn't do before... Honestly, they probably could have grown it out, it would have cost a handful of job offers at most. 

They scrolled through image after image of clothing for minutes on end. All the shirts were fine. All the pants were fine. None of them really stood out as something they felt they couldn't do. 

Then something strange happened. 

For the first time, the pad lagged. Just for a split second, but it definitely hitched. The page refreshed, all the images reloading. Where there was nothing but tees and long pants a moment ago was an array of blouses, cardigans, tights, and even a few skirts and dresses. They nearly dropped the pad in shock. This had to be Miss Verdun's doing, they weren't even using an algorithm! They figured the Pad wouldn't be good for op-sec, but the apparent level of control she had over it was a cause of worry. 

Then again... Miss Verdun had asked them to find something they had felt they couldn't do. This definitely fit that bill, and some of these options weren't even  'girly' as much as they were simply non-masculine. This was clearly a test, but they could use this. If she thought they were exploring gender expression, she'll be too busy being supportive to be suspicious. 

Perhaps this could be a productive exercise. 

Chapter Text

Camila was nearly buzzing as she sat down at her desk. The documents that normally cluttered it had been filed or sent. Only one form remained, like the final savory bit of meal; the Notice of Intent. She had spent some of the last afternoon reading over it a few times, and filling out the basics. Now was finally time to finish it, and lay claim to little Beckett.

The Affini and their Compact may not have any official religion, but its reverence for paperwork often approached one. Countless sophonts were immortalized in it, their cuteness and the care they received enshrined in paper and data. Despite its fairly short length, about a dozen pages shy of one hundred, the Notice of Intent was one of the most sacred, second only to Domestication treaties and contracts themselves. 

The Notice of Intent was more than just formally declaring that a sophont was spoken for, it was a proclamation of love. Every page iterated and reiterated that until there was no room for confusion. To fill one out showed that you not only wanted to care for the sophont in question, but that you intended to do so with the whole of your being.

Camila couldn't help but let her core sing as she filled out page after page. Beckett, or whatever his- her? “Their” for now. Whatever their name ended up being, they would be hers. They would receive the love and care they were so wrongfully denied all their life. 

There was still, however, the wardship.

Camila couldn't just lay claim to them that afternoon, she still had an obligation to try to prepare the little one for being independent. Beckett deserved that chance. That didn't mean it had to be a level playing field. Beckett was easy to tease, and seemed to thrive under orders. Even if they did in fact manage to adopt all the traits they would need to be independent, it was certain they wouldn't stay that way long. She would be a fool to let a prize like them escape her vines. 

She vibrated to a degree that she had to focus to keep her writing neat at the thought of it. Camila had always seen herself adopting a cute little Class J pet, largely- if not entirely- broken already. Perhaps getting a floret through one of the domestication centers on the planet below. She had never imagined actually courting her first floret. 

Sections of the form asking why she felt like she could help them had ideas flooding her imagination.

Maybe Camila could lean into the flirting until they couldn't think of anything but her praise. Maybe she could just offer them support until they finally caved, desperate for more. Maybe Beckett would soon realize the help she can give them, if they were hers, and beg. Maybe she could make them realize. Maybe they actually make it to trial and accept their fate. Maybe they even get it and then they realize 'independence' isn't what they actually want. Wherever Beckett's future led, it would ultimately flow into her vines. Where they belonged. 

Camila poured that feeling into the document, and all too soon the Notice of Intent was done. She would have to get the rest in order soon enough, but for now she felt satisfied. There was still the matter of dropping them off, but the document was as good as valid already. She would have a good chance to do it when she was out for his Xenodrugs. That brought her mind to the other tasks at hand- Cordelia and the Vet. 

Cordelia would need to pet sit for Camila when she went to get the grafts, and she’d certainly want to hear about the notice. However, there was still the question of when the Xenodrugs would be ready. It was a bit hopeful but maybe the vet could give her an update. Setting aside the notice with care, she pulled out her pad.

[FrequencyFlower]: Hello Mr Aurelius, I was wondering if you had any news about Beckett's Xenodrugs?

A few minutes passed before a response dinged through.

[PracticedVines]: Ah, Camila! Yes we've been having the most delightful time working on figuring out little Beckett's 'deal.' If you wanted an update on progress, we're still working out some of the finer details but we should be able to start making new formulas this afternoon!

[FrequencyFlower]: That's wonderful! When will they be ready? 

[PracticedVines]: Hmm, well if you want all relevant Xenodrugs, it'll be maybe two or three days. But if there's something specific you need, we could probably get you a few by tomorrow morning and the rest about two days after.

Camila thought about the prospect. She could get the Class Es Beckett needed a day sooner. She could even get Class Z's to help them sleep peacefully and just in case they did step out of line. Doing so would mean she'd have to go without full access to everything for a while longer. Prying away the Terran’s secrecy would be difficult without a Class D as well. Without a Class G, B or H she couldn't truly help with the latent issues. 

She made her decision.. 

[FrequencyFlower]: In order of importance; Class E, Class Z, Class G, Class H, and Class A.

[PracticedVines]: I can do the E, G and Z and have them ready by tomorrow for sure. Unless you'd prefer to wait?

Camila sighed. That wasn't what she wanted to hear, even if it was what she had expected. Still, helping the little one only a small bit was preferable to making them suffer any more than necessary. 

[FrequencyFlower]: No, that would be great. Thank you, Xander. 

[PracticedVines]: Of course! I'll let the others know.

Camila quickly swapped over her chat with Cordelia, eager to share the news.

[FrequencyFlower]: Cordelia, I have some good news! 

She quickly snapped a picture of the filled out notice, sending it through. 

[ComfyPlamnt]: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 

[ComfyPlamnt]: CAMILAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[ComfyPlamnt]: I'm so so happy for you! 

[ComfyPlamnt]: I really thought you might actually let Beckett slip though your vines

[FrequencyFlower]: Yes, I was hesitant at first due to their demeanor, but they're honestly quite charming in their own way. Especially now they're starting to open up. 

[ComfyPlamnt]: Ooo Beckett's using They/them already?

Ah, Camila hadn't mentioned Beckett's situation. She was puzzling over the best way to communicate the morning's events when a chime interrupted her. 

"Miss Verdun,” Jess sounded annoyed. ”Apologies, but Beckett hopped off the couch on his own!" 

"Is he okay?" 

"Well, yes, but I told him he should ask you for help and then he just hopped down and almost collapsed! He also refused to let me get help when he was dizzy this morning!" 

Ah, so that's what had her riled up. 

"Well I'll have to have a talk with the little one soon." One of many, to be sure. "For now, just let me know if Beckett needs help, okay?" 

"Okay Miss, will do!" Jess chimed out.

Returning to her pad, Camila began to type.

[FrequencyFlower]: Well not officially, but Beckett seems to have some issues with gender. It just feels strange to keep using he/him for the cutie when they don't seem to enjoy it.

[ComfyPlamnt]: Hmm, okeyyy, be careful with that though! 

[ComfyPlamnt]: If Beckett's actually a she and hears you say that it could cause problems.

[ComfyPlamnt]: Also, you don't say? It's so sad how many of the cuties were just fine living with what they got when they're far happier off as something else. 

[FrequencyFlower]: Of course, I was planning on using he/him around the petal until they were ready. I already got them to agree to try growing their hair out, and encouraged them to try some other clothes.

[ComfyPlamnt]: That's a good start! 

[ComfyPlamnt]: They might need a harder push in the end- Daisy did!

[ComfyPlamnt]: but it's a good start!!!

[FrequencyFlower]: Speaking of good starts, I did want to show you something.

Camila uploaded the video she had recorded of Beckett enjoying their first meal. Watching the precious moment as it unfolded again filled her with joy, and a need to properly claim them. 

[ComfyPlamnt]: SFKLGSJFAFASSGX AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[ComfyPlamnt]: THAT'S SO CUUUUUTE

[ComfyPlamnt]: CAN I SHARE THIS? PLEEEASE?!

[FrequencyFlower]: I was going to share it myself after I dropped off the Notice of Intent tomorrow, but I did already log it as complete. You can share it around if you like. 

[FrequencyFlower]: Actually speaking of tomorrow I need you to pet sit for me. Some of Beckett's xenodrugs will be ready, and I don't want him to be alone.

[ComfyPlamnt]: Yayyyy!!!!!

[ComfyPlamnt]: Oo yes! Daisy was asking about Beckett actually. 

[ComfyPlamnt]: She's been pretty excited about her 'New Bestie' and teaching them about friendship in the compact.

[ComfyPlamnt]: We should move in together, they might be pinnates~

Camila giggled, her friend had a way to always make her laugh. 

[FrequencyFlower]: Should we just file for cohabitation, or did you want to join cores as well? 

[ComfyPlamnt]: Camila! 

[ComfyPlamnt]: I didn't know you felt that way~

[FrequencyFlower]: I was merely joking along, dear

[ComfyPlamnt]: Right... Anyways, I got to go now. Tell Beckett I said hi and I look forward to seeing him tomorrow! And to accept our friend requests!!!!

With that, Cordelia disconnected. 

Strange, she didn't normally end suddenly like that. She must have had something come up. 

Jess chimed in. "Miss Verdun," she giggled, "Beckett needs some help in the bathroom." 

Camila shot straight up, "Did something happen? What's wrong?" 

"He's not hurt or anything, just a bit... stuck. It's best if you go look, I don't wanna spoil it~" With that, the AI cut out. 

Stuck? How did they manage to get stuck in the bathroom? Camila tucked the pad inside her, and headed towards Beckett.

-_-_-_-

They looked over the new clothing options a few times, considering their next move. They had come to the conclusion that they should pick out a few varied options to show they were taking it 'seriously.' They selected no small amount of the clothing, just picking them based off how visually appealing they were. The issue was what to actually try for now. They had found two skirts that seemed comfortable, as well as a few nice women cut shirts, but just keeping it to skirts felt a bit basic. 

They scrolled down a bit further and came across the answer. A dress. The cut was fairly modest, and the colors simple- in fact the pinks, orange and whites were similar to Miss Verdun's and arranged artfully. It was a rather striking piece, and reminded them of Daisy's from the other day. Apparently it was something called a 'companion dress.' That had to be pet stuff, right?

A quick search confirmed their suspicions. They would have to find something else. Miss Verdun seemed content to tease them but wouldn't cross any established lines. Annoying, but manageable. However, If she ever got actively interested in them, they were likely doomed. 

They cleared the search, now looking for non-companion dresses. Some of these actually looked pretty good, they selected a few before settling on one for the immediate. They sent the request through and scooted the edge of the couch-

The loathsome chime that heralded that wretched machine played. "Woah there cutie! You're still recovering. Stay there, I'll get Miss Verdun, okay?" 

"You will not! I do not need Miss Verdun's assistance for this," they spat. "If I needed help, I would call her, and I don't need help." To prove their words, they slid off the couch, catching themself on it as their legs initially buckled under the shock. "S-See?"

Smooth.

"I- you-!" Jess beeped in a rapid sequence beyond their understanding before exclaiming, "I'm telling Miss Verdun!" and cutting her vocals.

That... Could be problematic. It was unlikely upsetting Jess once would result in domestication, but it was an avoidable mistake. Still, it was nice to annoy the machine. 

Before leaving the common area, they retrieved their boots and hat. They moved to the compiler to retrieve the clothes, bundling them up as they grabbed them. They moved then to the bathroom to change, the mirror there running almost to the floor. As they laid out the clothes they had selected, a scandalous feeling pricked up. 

Are we out of our mind?!

What the hell were they even doing... are they really about to feign gender issues? And then, what, transition? Just to maybe get the Affini to let her guard down? How far would that even go before they could escape? 

It did seem like Miss Verdun wasn't going to just drop this issue. The Rubicon had already been crossed. With the amount of surveillance they were under, she might even be watching them at this very moment. They could either use this, or waste a possible advantage. 

They stripped out of their pajamas, noticing they bore more than a passing similarity to the 'companion dress' patterns. They took the first outfit they had compiled, a baggy earth tone sweater and a black skirt that said it was knee length. They forced away the nagging feeling and pulled them on. It was surprisingly comfortable, although it felt slightly exposed being open at the bottom. They gave a turn to examine the material. It made a nice rippling effect. Then they caught their reflection. 

They stopped and cracked a nervous grin. Of course it wasn't going to look good on them, but  somehow that still stung. 

They stripped down before the feeling could take root, folding the sweater and laying the skirt over it. Maybe they should just get back into the pajamas and try to explain it. Tell Miss Verdun they gave it an honest go and it's not for them. It's not like being a man felt bad, anyways. 

They placed the other skirt and its top on the pile, a deep green and white combo. Then they grabbed the dress... and paused. It was rather nice, and they had only tried one item. Having at least two attempts would be beneficial to convincing Miss Verdun this gender stuff was a dead end. 

That strange uneasy feeling returned. It was just clothing, there was no need to be having this reaction. It was just for a minute, maybe less. They pulled it over, ah- it had a zipper in the back. Getting it zipped up took a few tries, but eventually they managed to get it and hook the small latch there. 

The material was soft, and it hung off them in a pleasant manner. They gave another turn, facing the mirror. They were more ready for it this time, it didn't hurt as much as last time. It still was strange to see themselves like this. They went to take the dress off. 

Oh no. The zipper. They couldn't grasp it enough to pull it down! 

They struggled for a few moments, contorting to try to unzip it, before finally giving up. Maybe they could slide it over their head? No, it got stuck almost immediately. They started to get frantic. They needed to get out of this before-

Jess chimed in, "Don't worry cutie, Miss Verdun is on her way~" 

What?! Damn machine! They tried one last time to reach the zipper, failing as they heard the door slide open behind them. 

"Beckett?" Their blood froze in their veins at the sound of her voice.

"Miss-" They squeaked, before clearing their throat and speaking normally, "Miss Verdun."

-_-_-_-

Camila hadn't known what to expect when Jess called her, but this was such a treat! Beckett was actually trying! Not only that, they were adorably stuck in their dress. To top it all off, the little one was absolutely flustered. 

"Do you need some help, Beckett?"  

Beckett tensed up and took a breath in, relaxing as they released it. "Yes, do you think you could help me out of this?" There was still an unsteady edge in their voice. "I think I'll stick with my old clothes, this doesn't suit... me." 

Camila would have to consult the footage after this to get a better idea of what happened. There was something going on here. At the moment, the poor petal needed assistance. "Of course dear, just stay still." Camila knelt beside them. She wrapped a small vine around the zipper and guided it down, pulling the dress off over their head. "There you go. Do you want to tell me what happened?"

Beckett kept their back to her, pulling on the pajamas. "Nothing much to say. Pulling the zipper up was easy, and pulling it down wasn't."

"Well, yes, that much is apparent, but I wasn't talking about how you got stuck." Camila picked up the discarded clothes, taking note of the little one's tastes. "You're clearly upset about something. I would love to talk about it, if that's okay." She wondered if she should have asked for Class D over one of the others. 

Beckett scoffed, turning around to face her. "Well of course I'm upset, you walked in at an inopportune time!"

"Yes, but there's something else, isn't there?" Camila could feel something deeper in the little ones biorhythm than simple embarrassment. She took out her pad and looked at recent readings from Beckett's monitor- "From what I can see here, you experienced some mild anxiety about fifteen minutes ago."

Beckett was silent for some time, contemplating. When they finally spoke, their voice was softer than usual. "Didn't look right."

"Well what if I made it look right?" Camila smiled as an idea formed. She would have her confirmation soon enough.

They looked confused, "What do you mean?" 

Camila interfaced with the mirror and it shimmered across, the reflected Beckett disappearing. In their place stood a simulation of them after Class Gs had time to work. About a head and a half shorter, long silky black hair made a silhouette of the woman's soft curves. The dress Beckett had worn moments before accentuating her wonderfully. The prospect of being able to dig such an adorable pet out of little Beckett... 

Beckett seized up at the sight before them, recoiling, "W-what the- Miss Verdun!" Their face was beet red with panic and fluster.

Oh, the poor little dear. Camila had gotten caught up in helping Beckett find themselves, she forgot that this was likely to make them dysphoric. She quickly darkened the mirror. "Apologies. I didn't mean to cause distress."

"You can't just do whatever you want!" Beckett huffed, "I'm not distressed, it was just shocking."

Camila giggled. What an imperious attitude. What a fine hair to split. "If you say so, Princess~"

Beckett growled at the pet name. "Now you're just saying whatever!" She couldn't tell if the Terran was blushing or had just reddened with rage. Regardless, the quaver in their biorhythm told Camila all she needed to know; she had found another crack in their defenses.

"I'm proud of you for trying the clothes out. I, for one, think you looked adorable." A bit of well deserved praise should brighten the mood. 

"You think everything is adorable, Miss Verdun," Beckett grumbled. 

"Yes, most things have a certain degree of cuteness," Camila nodded, "but you are especially cute."

Beckett leered at her. "You Affini have very strange taste, Miss Verdun."

"I think you are just blind to your charms." Camilia gave them a smile in an attempt to cheer them up. "You know, I didn't expect you to jump straight to skirts and dresses right away. I'm really overjoyed you felt comfortable trying them so soon." 

Beckett looked confused. "What? Didn't you mess with the pad to show me a bunch of women's clothes?"

"No?" That wasn't a bad idea though, she'd have to remember that.

"But... The pad..." Beckett trailed off, mumbling to themself. 

Jess chimed, "Sorry, that was me! You were just looking at the same boring stuff for thirty minutes so I told the pad to mix it up!"

All the color drained from Beckett's face, "Ah. There has been a misunderstanding. Miss Verdun, I would like it if we just forgot the whole affair." 

Beckett had thought she had manipulated their search and still chose these items? Were they that single-minded when given a task or had they thought it was a test? She didn't want to press further without a Class-E. "We can talk about these matters another time. For now, I have some good news!"

"Oh?" Beckett swiftly changed back into the pajamas, "what's that?"

"Tomorrow I'll be picking up a few grafts for some of your xenodrugs, so in the morning Cordelia is going to be watching you." Then she would even be able to give her cutie their first shot of actual xenodrugs! She could hardly wait!

Beckett looked less than pleased, somewhat surprised, and fairly worried. "Oh, so soon?" 

"Only some basics, and besides the Class E you don't have to take anything else." Until she got her vines on some Class D's at least. 

"Class E... That's the anxiolytic class isn't it? Are there any side effects?" Beckett's strange pool of knowledge once again reared its head. Camila would have to run through all the basics and see what they actually did and didn't know at some point.

"That's correct," Camila confirmed before elaborating, "There are no dangerous side effects. You will experience a slight decrease in coordination, but nothing debilitating. It will help you adjust to your emotions." As well as let them talk about certain topics a bit easier. "You will be working on them at therapy as well."

Beckett folded their arms. "I see. I suppose I'll manage." 

"That actually brings me to the other issue." Beckett’s face contorted, clearly scrambling to recall any recent transgression. "Jess told me you ignored her when she offered to get me."

"I didn't want to disturb you just to get down." Beckett uncrossed their arms to shrug. "Besides, it was fine."

"Jess said you nearly fell." Camila wasn't going to let such reckless behavior stand.

 "I didn't though," Beckett continued to protest, "It was fine."

Camila made it clear that she wasn't impressed, "Little one, if you wish to retain the privilege of assisting yourself, I suggest you never do such a thing again. Knowing your limits and staying healthy is your responsibility as an independent."

Alarm quickly gave way to acceptance on Beckett's face, "Right. Apologies." 

Satisfied, Camila stood up. "Now that everything's all cleared up, I'm going to get back to doing some paperwork. Would you like some help back onto the couch?"

Beckett looked conflicted for several moments as they processed their fate. Finally, they sighed and hung their head in defeat, "Yes, Miss Verdun, Thank you."

Camila happily scooped them up then and there.

-_-_-_-

They somehow managed to keep it together while Miss Verdun carried them all the way to the couch and placed them in the nook. They had hoped to walk out to the couch first, to cut down on unnecessary physical contact. 

"Oh, yes, Cordelia asked if you would accept their friend requests." Miss Verdun handed them their pad. 

They were hoping that it would have taken longer than that for them to be pressed about it. "Of course, thank you Miss Verdun." Please leave. 

"Alright, and don't forget to ask if you need anything, okay cutie?" They gave a nod, too overwhelmed to speak. With a smile and bow, Miss Verdun disappeared. 

Their eyes grew bleary. Fighting off tears was becoming frighteningly commonplace. 

That was disastrous.

Yet again, they had misjudged the situation and simultaneously over and under-compensated. As a result they had yet again exposed themself to the mercy of Miss Verdun. It was fortunate she didn't seem to desire them personally, but they could not afford to keep making that mistake. Mercy was a shallow well. 

The fact that the AI was the one that had shown them the other options also hung over them heavily. Miss Verdun was annoying, but the machine as well? It was bad enough to have to treat it with respect. 

But the absolute worst part was the girl in the mirror. 

They could hardly think about anything else. She haunted them. She had their hair and their scars and their eyes but everything was softer, fuller, and warmer. Her face didn't carry innocence by any means, but it held content. She filled them with some sort of indecipherable longing. Were they actually able to be her? Stars, it would be obnoxious if Miss Verdun was actually right about them having 'gender issues.' 

Maybe it was nothing, just a weirdly timed flare of emotions. They'd been having fluctuating moods all day. Honestly it was unfair that Miss Verdun did that and took advantage of their current state! Not that they were going to complain, the last thing they needed to do was give her more reasons to tease them with pet names. Especially ones like 'princess.'  

They tried their best to force the incident out of their mind and opened the communication app, accepting the two friend requests. That out of the way, they navigated to continue their lessons on Affini language. If they could just get a few solid study sessions in, they would at least be able to understand it. Speaking would come later. 

They barely got even five minutes into the lesson before several messages dinged through. 

[Daze-ee]: YAYAYAYA

[Daze-ee]: HIIII BECJETTTT

[Daze-ee]: ALSO UR HANDLE IS BORING!! 

[Daze-ee]: WE NEED TO GET YOU A NEW ONE!!!!

Fantastic. It seemed like making any actual progress was going to have to wait.

[J.Beckett]: There is nothing wrong with my username. It is perfectly fine.

[Daze-ee]: BOOOOOOOOOO

[Daze-ee]: NO!

[Daze-ee]: ITS DORKY!

[Daze-ee]: THIS IS THE COMPACT WE CLOWN HERE 

[Daze-ee]: FUN IS MANDATORY!!!!

[Daze-ee]: lol

[J.Beckett]: It's fine. Is there a reason you're typing in all caps?

[Daze-ee]: huh?

[Daze-ee]: Oh yah! 

[Daze-ee]: sowwy I just got excited and forgot to turn it off after the first few messages

[Daze-ee]: (mistress ghave me a lot of Class A teehee)

[J.Beckett]: I see. Is there anything you needed? I was a little busy. 

[Daze-ee]: with wat?? 

[Daze-ee]: we don't gotta do anything!

[Daze-ee]: wars over, we lost! XDDD

[J.Beckett]: I was studying the local Affini dialect.

[Daze-ee]: oo ur gonna speak plant?!

[Daze-ee]: that's so cool!

[J.Beckett]: I was focusing on understanding it first, but yes, eventually.

[Daze-ee]: woah!

[Daze-ee]: my friend is so cool!

[Daze-ee]: oh yah!

[Daze-ee]: mistress said we're gonna come over tomorrow!

[Daze-ee]: im gonna teach u about friend stuff!!!!

[J.Beckett]: Something to look forward to I suppose. Did you message me to inform me you'll be coming over then?

[Daze-ee]: ?

[Daze-ee]: I MESSAGED u cuz ur my FRIEND

[Daze-ee]: silly

[Daze-ee]: OMG THAT'S FRIEND LESSON NUMBER TWO!

[Daze-ee]: FRIENDS TALK TO EACH OTHER!

[Daze-ee]: BECKETT TYPE THAT BACK, TYPE 'FRIENDS TALK TO EACH OTHER!'

[J.Beckett]: Friends talk to each other.

[Daze-ee]: YAH!

[Daze-ee]: LOURDER!!!

[J.Beckett]: This is a text format, none of this has sound.

[Daze-ee]: Ur such a goof

[Daze-ee]: anyways I can't wait 2 see you again, Mistress has been helping me make my friend lessons!

[Daze-ee]: I just wanted to say hi before getting into my garden!

[Daze-ee]: I'd send u some pics but I want it to be a surprise when your come over :3c

[Daze-ee]: ily bestie!!! Baii!

Dealing with her in person tomorrow was going to be taxing. Just being around Miss Verdun this much was already starting to wear; they normally had much more time alone than this. Feeling emotionally raw was merely fuel on the flame. 

They reopened the lessons and picked up where they left off. Their focus returned uneasily, but soon were able to immerse themselves once again. The Affini language was an oddity- countless reiterations and adaptations, going for an untold amount of time, spread across hundreds of thousands of lightyears. Yet the alphabet was easy to pick up and the grammar felt natural.

The rest of the day passed slowly, their study only interrupted by the occasional check up by Miss Verdun and brief conversation with Daisy. The only truly notable events were lunch and dinner. 

Lunch was a rice bowl, with all assortments of fried meats, veggies and sauce. Each bite was a wonderful burst of flavor that played off the rice perfectly. Dinner was heavenly; slow cooked stew slathered over seasoned mashed potatoes, the broth reduced to nearly a gravy. Miss Verdun had to warn them to slow down, lest they choke.

All the while for both meals, Miss Verdun incessantly doted over them. Telling them how 'cute' and 'adorable' they were. They knew that Miss Verdun was merely helping them adjust to this aspect of Affini Culture, but it was still strange. They had managed to force the girl in the mirror into the corners of their mind, but it was during these moments she would come back unbidden. Was that how Miss Verdun saw them? 

Miss Verdun helped them down from the table, "There you go petal."

"Thanks, Miss," they replied as they stretched. They were beginning to get used to the Affini's lingering presence and the strange feelings. 

She brought out her pad and typed into it- the compiler opening behind her shortly after. From within Miss Verdun retrieved a few small bottles and a towel. She placed the items in their arms, "I'm going to clean up, why don't you go get the bath running and ready dear? I'll be there to help you in a few minutes." 

Finally, a straightforward task. They gave a curt salute and marched off. Entering the bathroom, they placed the towel on a low shelf, and the bottles along the rim. The next part was less enjoyable. 

"Jess, could you please run the bath for me?" 

The AI chimed in, giggling, "Okay, cutie!" Steamy water began to break over the waterfall at the opposite end. 

Miss Verdun's teasing was annoying, but after a full day of it, they were already growing accustomed to it. Being nice to the machine was another matter entirely, especially after that stunt earlier. They wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. "Thanks, Jess." 

"You're welcome!" The machine cut out. 

There was little to do besides get naked and wait while Miss Verdun finished in the kitchen. It was a bit embarrassing that they had been in pajamas all day. They probably could have just compiled something normal, but after the incident they didn't feel up to looking at more clothes. Miss Verdun didn't comment on it at least, so maybe it was fine? 

Standing there, nude and alone in a bathroom bigger than most Accord housing units, an uneasy feeling crept in. The water trickled to a stop as it filled to the brim of the tub, steam pouring off its surface and fogging the room. They caught movement in the corner of their eye and whipped around, finding themselves face to face with the girl from the mirror. 

They flinched, and so she did. They blinked, and she was gone, in her place their own reflection, obscured by the fog on the mirror. Was the machine messing with them? ... The stress must be getting to them. 

The door opened. "Okay dear, let's get you in." Miss Verdun approached them. "Dear, are you feeling well? You look a bit pale."

"It's fine, just got a little spooked is all." 

"Hmm," Miss Verdun looked them over. "Okay, but if you start to feel like you're drifting off in the tub tell me, alright petal? I'll be right here the whole time." 

Normally they wouldn't mind at all, but a nervous feeling kept gnawing at their edges. Miss Verdun was only helping them in and out. She wasn't going to wash them again. It was going to be fine. "Right. Ready when you are." They sighed.

Vines gently picked them up and placed them in the bath, lingering for a moment as their knees buckled under the first touch of the warm water. Their feet under them now, Miss Verdun moved all the products to within arms reach. "Shampoo, conditioner, body wash," she indicated as she set them down. "Of course I'd be happy to wash you, if you asked~"

"Thanks for the offer, but I think I'll pass," they grumbled, taking the shampoo and lathering it in.  

"Suit yourself." Miss Verdun shrugged. 

They dunked beneath the waters and scrubbed the shampoo out. They rubbed in the conditioner, then took the luffa and began to scrub. Was their frame always this large and square? They felt uneasy, and found themselves thinking about the girl in the mirror. Shutting their eyes and clearing their mind the best they could, they finished the task as quickly as possible.

Dunking under the warm water one last time, they finished the bath. As Miss Verdun lifted them out and handed them the towel, they still couldn't shift their mind off of her.. Their gaze darted over to the mirror when they had seen her twice now- to find the mirrors were dull, and bore no reflection. Disappointment and relief fought in their chest. 

"I brought you some new pajamas as well." Miss Verdun's chest opened up, and she retrieved a comfortable looking top and bottom. However, these were a peach color instead of a dusky orange. The floral pattern was apparent instead of subdued, and they had white silk cuffs. They were not only more feminine, but clearly some offshoot of a companion dress. 

They ran down the scenario; they could confront Miss Verdun about the design. Then again, the explanation of a 'companion dress' said they are worn by those with an Affini looking after them, not just pets. Miss Verdun was only looking after them for a few weeks, but she was looking after them. They only had so much ground to argue on, best to save it for things like 'feeding themselves’ and 'not getting collared.' 

They finished drying off and graciously took the pajamas, "Thanks Miss."

They ruffled through the clothes for the- wait a minute. "Miss Verdun," they huffed, breathing to keep themselves level, "these are not boxers." They held up the offensive item, a pair of sheen black panties. 

"Yes, they should offer greater comfort and support." Miss Verdun nodded. "I think you might like them."

Is she fucking with us?

"They're panties." She couldn't be serious, could she?

"Yes, I was aware." Miss Verdun smiled. 

Oh stars, she is serious.

"I can't wear panties."

"Surely you can try some different underwear, you already tried far more noticeable things today." Miss Verdun was being particularly insistent; fighting her here was likely to be unproductive in the end. Still, they couldn't just yield; not contesting such a key point would be rolling out the welcome mat.

"Yes and that was a poor experience." They did their best to keep the actual events far away from active memory. That uncomfortable feeling still crept back in. 

Miss Verdun contemplated for a moment, "I think you may have tried a bit too much at once. How about we try to go slower?" 

"There isn't anything 'slow' about wearing panties to bed." 

Miss Verdun paused, lost in thought far longer than before. "In that case, how about as a personal favor?"

A favor? A bit of leverage was exactly what they needed. The thought of actually wearing panties willingly still didn't sit right; it would be ceding ground on the gender stuff, and likely encourage Miss Verdun to pressure them into more, or even or to see them as a pet. However, wasting such a valuable resource simply couldn't be the optimal play. They should secure the offer before Miss Verdun changed her mind. 

They sighed, signaling their retreat. "Well, in that case, I suppose I could." There was a gentle gust in the room as Miss drew in air, motioning for them to continue. As if she hadn't made this weird enough... They pulled the underwear on. Shockingly, they actually were more comfortable. Snug but not tight and distractingly soft. They tried not to think about it. 

Miss Verdun made an inhuman squealing noise, her vines writhing over one another. "Adorable!" They could feel the blood rush to their face. If they weren't blushing before, they certainly were now. 

They turned away and quickly pulled on the rest of the pajamas. "You continue to have strange taste, Miss Verdun."

Miss Verdun giggled. "I suppose. Thank you very much for indulging me, princess~"

If their face could get redder, it did. Hopefully Miss Verdun didn't notice with their back to her. "Didn't I ask you not to say weird stuff?" Their voice kept mostly level, but happily they managed to keep it from cracking.

"Sorry petal, I couldn't resist." Miss Verdun placed a toothbrush and paste in their hands. 

They decided to drop the issue; it wasn't worth calling in the favor they were owed. They thoroughly brushed their teeth, and rinsed with what Miss Verdun claimed was only mouthwash. Despite that, it tasted fairly pleasant. Miss Verdun instructed them to spit, and scooped them up into her arms after they did so.

They yelped in shock. "Miss Verdun!" 

"Yes, Beckett?" She didn't hesitate, carrying them out of the bathroom. 

"I asked you to warn me before picking me up!" Being fresh out of the shower, wearing clothes far softer and far from their norm only amplified how exposed this felt. If they didn't reign that feeling in, they were going to cry again. They focused on their breathing, trying to take slow breaths. 

Miss Verdun paused. They could feel her deflate under them. "I'm sorry Beckett, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." 

They continued to breathe until they were under control again. "Just keep it in mind, alright?" 

"Absolutely," Miss Verdun nodded. "Are you feeling better?" 

They grumbled, "I suppose. I'd like to just be put down already." The sooner they could be alone in bed, the better. 

Miss Verdun moved again, arriving quickly in the guest room. She paused at the bed before setting them down in the center of the giant mattress. She then drew the covers back over them, tucking them in. "There you go." 

They tried to ignore the indignity of the treatment in silence. 

Miss Verdun merely moved to the exit, pausing in the doorframe, "If you need anything, don't hesitate to call for me, okay?" 

"Yes Miss." They answered.

"Goodnight, Beckett." Miss Verdun smiled. 

They turned away, "Goodnight, Miss Verdun." The lights went out and the door slid closed. Finally. 

What a horrendous day. Outside of all the food, it was a catastrophe. They blundered several times and made sub-par decisions. It was difficult maintaining composure with everything feeling so raw. Miss Verdun was making it worse.

They had done a few bouts of torture resistance training. Hooding, beatings, waterboarding, shocks, knives, sleep deprivation-  They had been able to learn how to best adjust to the pain. To take it in without breaking. None of it had prepared them for this feeling in their chest.

It was like an aching all throughout them. An alien tenderness that fluttered in a nauseating manner. They couldn’t identify or fight it. All they knew was if they let it, it would destroy them. 

-_-_-_-

Camila's core was still thrumming with delight as she cleaned up for the night, Beckett was so precious! How easily she got flustered! How cute it was when she did! The way she put on the panties just for her! She would have to watch the video for at least an hour before truly lying down. 

Camila would have to think of a better name for her. That is- a way to help her find a better name. She was getting a bit ahead of herself. She still needed to help Beckett. Poor dear was confused and struggling to accept it. 

How to get Beckett to accept the Class G was its own issue. The sooner she started, the better. The little seed may just accept it if Camila asked her to. It was more likely that Beckett would be in better control of herself tomorrow though, so she should have a plan. She had already made several mistakes that nearly caused another breakdown. There was also, of course, the matter of breakfast.

Finished tidying up, Camila got to work.  

Chapter Text

48 hours following the arrival of The Valiant.  

Viola Amaryllis, 9th bloom, tapped against faer pad, the Valiant ’s crew displayed as a succession of adorable little faces. All the sophonts aboard had been subdued without any initial contact, a rather unique situation. Viola was one of  nearly three dozen Affini who had volunteered to help process them, taking time off from the Archeoxenobureaucracy for the task. Fae felt ready for another floret now, and hopeful that fae could find the perfect cutie today~

All of fae’s candidates were freshly out of stasis pods and had been placed into separate rooms, ready to be awoken as soon as fae was ready. Not wanting to waste any time when there were cuties to meet, Viola pulled up the first Terran’s information and entered the room.

Nicholas Sawyer. 26, Listed as male on documents, but browsing history suggests that may be inaccurate. Last recorded information points to heavy feralism, but is over two years out of date. 

Viola set the pad down to look at him. He was scrawny; a long time in microgravity hadn't done him any favors. The flesh still clung a bit to the bones in places, the damage yet to be fully reversed. It saddened fae to see a precious cutie in such a state. Viola woke him up, injecting him with a light class E and sedative as well.

His eyes opened slowly until he suddenly bolted upright, his eyes searching the room. "What the fuck?!" He paused as he caught sight of faer, "You're- this is- don't eat me!"

Perhaps fae should have used a heavier Class E. Viola let her voice resonate. "Calm down little one, you are safe now. I am Viola Amaryllis, 9th bloom, fae/faer. No one is going to eat you, or force you to work, or do anything but make sure you are happy and taken care of." Honestly, where did feralists even get these ideas?

"Fuck you, weed! Terra will-" 

Viola was not going to stand for that. Fae emitted a low, primal growl composed of clicks and creaks, stopping Nicholas in his tracks. 

"Much better." Fae grinned, satisfied. "Now, I have a few questions and I want you to answer them for me. Any further misbehavior will be looked upon poorly, do I make myself understood?" 

Ahhh, fae could feel the fear prick up in little Nicholas as he nodded. Viola had to regain faer composure, losing control of faer predatory instincts wouldn't be becoming. "Okay, let's start with the basics: what is your name?"

"Nick Sawyer," he stated before nervously clarifying. "Well, it's Nicholas, but everyone uses Nick."

Viola hummed to let him know fae heard. "Age?"

"26." 

"Alright, you joined the Navy at age 20, and were assigned to the Valiant about three years ago, correct?" 

Nick thought for a moment. "Sounds right?" Viola had the taste of the little cutie’s honesty now, fae was ready to get into the real questions.

"According to our records, you were involved in impressment, weeding out 'plantfuckers,' and other feralist activity. Is this also correct?" Viola read the list of activity under the frowning face as though it were a sentence.

The taste of fear was in the air. "I- that's- we were just-" Nick stammered, sweat beginning to percolate. 

Oh dear, it seems fae layered it on too thick. Nick never saw the needle as Viola delivered more Class E. "It's okay dear, we do not punish sophonts just because they need help to do the right thing."

"'S just... What we were doing..." He mumbled as the fight drained from his body. 

"I know dear." Viola's core ached, both with pain at the thought of the cuties doing such terrible things to each other and with the desire to help. The wild was no place for such adorable sophonts. "I understand."

"What happened, anyways?" Nick asked. "I was just doing my duties and then the klaxons went off and the ship was venting. Everyone was panicking and running to the cargo bay." 

How to tell it? "...It seems one of your crewmates commandeered the vessel you were on by themself and surrendered." Downplaying the... losses... seemed appropriate.

Nick's face scrunched up. "Commandeered? What? What happened to the Captain? Who the hell commandeers a fuckin' Leviathan?"

Viola was familiar with the basic story; some cutie couldn't take being feral anymore and killed the helm crew to surrender for domestication. Utterly adorable, outside of the bloodshed. Captain Flint had done their interview xerself. Fae pulled up the information out of faer own curiousity. "It seems like that would be... Joshua Beckett."

Nick's eyes shot wide, and he started shouting. "Beckett?! Beckett's a plantfucker?!" 

"Language," fae chided, placing a vine on him. "It's a very good thing Joshua decided to end your little rebellion; you were all suffering from some degree of malnourishment. If he didn't, you would all be in much worse condition." 

Nick swallowed. "R-right, sorry. Still, never would have thought it would have been Beckett. That guy is the most uptight motherfu-" he stopped himself under Viola's gaze. "Uhm, uptight man I've ever met. I didn't think he was capable of betrayal; man was like, a paragon of Terran Ideals. Always working, always focused, tougher than hell. Even ate his synthcubes like they were nothin'."

A paragon? Viola would love to get faer needles into that. Fae would have to follow up to see if the little cutie was actually claimed or not. "Well I'm sure next time you meet little Joshua, he will be very different from the man you knew."

Nick frowned. "Yeah, well, it's not like I really knew him. Didn't even know his name was Joshua. What happened to the Captain? I can't imagine Cap just let Beckett take the helm." 

Viola really wished he hadn't asked. "Ah, well," fae sighed. "I don't know how to say this... The Captain is dead, as well as the rest of the helm crew."

"I see." Nick closed his eyes, all his muscles tensed. There was a maelstrom in his biorhythm; sorrow and rage. "So what now?"

What to do with little Nick Sawyer? This one was a likely candidate for domestication, but his feralism didn't seem to be that deeply rooted. Nick clearly cared somewhat for his fellow crewmembers and seemed pliable enough. Perhaps a wardship? Captain Flint had asked the volunteers to be a bit lenient. Plus, most wardships ended up with domestication anyways. 

"Well I don't think you can be independent right away, but I doubt you need immediate domestication either. You will be assigned an Affini guardian who will be tasked with evaluating you for a few weeks, and then a council will decide if you can be independent or need domestication." 

Nick was tangibly upset, something clearly on the tip of his tongue. When he finally spoke, he simply grumbled "whatever." 

Viola entered the information into faer pad. "I'm going to administer a Class Z now. When you wake up, your guardian will be here." 

Nick merely turned away. A minute passed in silence before fae accepted that he wasn't going to talk, and slipped in her needle. He drifted off shortly after as Viola finished up on faer pad and closed the case, bringing up the next one as she moved to their room. 

This file was... entirely blank? What? Terrans were adorable, but they were lousy at record keeping. Seems fae would have to write the whole thing faerself. 

Viola entered the room and examined the Terran. Masculine build and a bit heavy-set- could be great for cuddles. 

At faer gentle administration of antiserum. the man blinked awake. "Fucking hell! Goddamn weed!" He belted, trying to move away from Viola. "You'll never break me! Terra Indomitus! Terra Eternal!"

Viola narrowed faer eyes, focusing down on the man like a predator eyeing its prey. "Language, petal."

"Fuck you weed! Suck my cock and balls from the fucking back!" 

The cutie was certainly worked up. Fae ignored the insults. "I just wanted to ask a few questions. What is your name?" 

The Terran growled. "I ain't tellin' you shit, weed! Lick the shit out of my asshole and go fuck yourself!"

Well that's enough of that. Viola injected the Terran with a class Z and made several notes on his file. 'Cuddly' was sure to be a big hit at whichever Class J cafe they ended up in. 

Viola continued on, processing several more Terrans. Some were angry, some cried, others seemed to not be processing reality. The myth of this 'Beckett' character kept growing as gathered morsels of information on him- he was feared as much as he was respected. No one personally knew him, and no one got in his way. He had an almost mystical quality from the sound of the little one’s tales, which just made him even more intriguing.

The day had been long, but Viola finally entered the final Terran's room. They had chestnut brown hair, shaggy around the ears. They were average height, and seemed malnourished, a bit lean in the face. Viola pulled up the Terran’s information on record.

Ash Harmon, female, 35. Born in a mining colony, joined the Terran Navy at 18 to get out. Worked as an engineer. Slight social media presence, nothing personal on it, but they/them were listed as pronouns on one site, so it was a good possibility they identified as nonbinary. All data collected by the Terran Accord and its Ad Agencies seemed to suggest an isolated, lonely individual; cut off not only from connection with others but also themselves. 

Viola felt a deep ache in faer core. Seeing these stories so often was a true test of fortitude, but it only furthered faer faith in the work fae was doing. Fae woke up Ash, giving them the same Class E mix fae had administered about a dozen times today.

Ash slowly opened their bleary eyes, only to shut them once again. Viola dimmed the lights to about sixty percent, helping them adjust. They sat up, facing her, and opened their eyes slowly. 

They recoiled, eyes wide. "A-Affini!" They whipped their head from one side to the other, frantically searching for an exit. Viola sighed; the recommended Class E dose simply hadn't proven effective with such ingrained feralism. Ash never saw the vine creep in, only felt it deliver its payload.

Fae caught them as their body relaxed, settling them back onto the bed. "I've given you a Class E xenodrug, it'll help keep you calm while I ask you a few questions. I am Viola Amaryllis, 9th bloom, fae/faer."

The look of panic on Ash's face slowly melted into concern. "Y-you're- oh god, we really did get betrayed..."

Viola started to exude a calming aroma. "It's okay dear, you are safe now."

Ash was silent for a few moments, looking around. "Please don't send me to the mines," they squeaked.

Viola giggled. "No sophont is ever asked to work, and mines are far too dangerous for a cutie like you. We are not going to eat you either, for that matter." 

They sighed, relaxing. "It's really over, huh? Geeze..."

"Yes dear, it is." Fae smiled to reassure them. "Now, can I get your name?" 

"Ash Harmon, Petty officer second class." 

Fae ignored the second part, opening the editing feature on their profile. "Pronouns?"

Ash blinked, stunned. "Uhh, They/She? I guess?" 

Viola added that to the file. "Would you like me to update your gender on file, little one?" 

"What?" Confusion was plain on their face. "Why are you asking about gender shit?" 

"Language, please." Fae chided. "I merely wish to make sure our records and your profile are correct."

"Non-binary?" They scratched their head. "I guess?" 

Viola corrected the file, and added a note about how they seemed unsure, "Thank you. Now I am going to ask a few questions, and I would like it if you answered as best as you can."

Ash fidgeted a bit, still nervous through the Class E. "Alright."

"First, I just want to confirm a few things." Viola tapped the pad for emphasis. "You are a member of The Valiant , and joined the Terran Navy age 20." 

"Y-yeah." They seemed worried about the implications. Perhaps this one could truly be independent. 

"How do you feel about your time on the Valiant?" Viola probed.

"It was... bleak." Ash seemed haunted as they continued, "People were getting spaced almost every day at one point. The Captain went mad. The ship was out of port so long and there were only like a third of us left, the Captain had us pulling eighteen-hour days. When that spook Beckett had Jen- our lead- spaced it got bad."

"What's a 'spook?'" Viola asked.

"Y'know! A spook!" Ash exclaimed. "He's like OCNI or something. Always doing sketchy shit and meeting with the Captain and doing maintenance no one in engineering knew about. He doesn't flinch or seem to care at all when people die. And he's got that fucking gun on him. Since when do 'advisors' carry custom personal sidearms?"

Viola brought up the growing notes on 'Beckett' and jotted that down. None of the others had mentioned that he was an operative of some sort, just a joyless busybody. "I see... I'm very sorry, petal, but I promise you Beckett will never hurt anyone again."

"He's the one that brought us here, isn't he? Did he kill the Captain?" They sounded distant. Oh dirt, Viola should have chosen faer words more carefully. 

Viola bowed faer head. "Yes, I'm afraid so. He killed the bridge crew as well."

Ash sighed. "I see." They seemed forlorn, remaining in silent contemplation until they sighed again, and looked Viola straight in the eyes. "Listen, I know you're probably gonna do something I won't like, but promise me you'll make sure Beckett doesn't get whatever the hell he's looking for. I don't know what it is, but he can't have it."

Viola was taken back. "Even if Beckett had come here for some sort of mission, he would never succeed in causing harm. The Compact is well equipped to handle all manner of spies and dishonest actors."

Ash didn't look convinced. "I don't think you get it. Beckett's different . He waited two and a half years to make his move, he's as patient as he is cold. You need to keep an eye on him."

Viola had a hunch. "You knew he was up to something and were trying to stop him, weren't you."

"...Didn't do it well enough." There was true remorse in their voice. "He was always a dozen steps ahead. I never even figured out what he was up to until it happened."

"I promise you, I'll personally make sure Beckett is kept under close watch." Viola was already going to do that, but Ash didn't need to know that. 

Ash hummed for a long time. "Alright. So what now?"

Time to make faer final verdict of the day. "Well you don't seem violently feral but I don't think you can just go free either, petal. I'm going to offer you a wardship. It's a temporary state where an Affini makes sure you can take care of yourself and be independent."

Ash hung their head. "I see." 

The little seemed defeated, Viola couldn't just let that stand. Fae tilted Ash's face up to meet faer eyes- they had rather cute dark pupils. "Listen, it's going to be okay." 

Their mood didn't seem to change as Ash weakly smiled, "I really wish I could believe that." 

Viola slid in the needle with the Class Z. Shock flashed across Ash's face before the energy drained out of them, falling back asleep. They couldn't worry if they were asleep at least. Fae finished up Ash's processing, and headed out.

Some refreshing mineral water and a delightful stop at the class J later, sitting at faer home office, Viola was finally ready to crack into this 'Beckett' mystery.  Fae pulled up his file on the Affini servers.

It was practically blank. There were a few notes from Captain Flint, a brief mention of his work as a mercenary, and a scant few mentions from Terran corporate records regarding payment. This was... strange. If it had been completely blank, that would be one thing. This was just missing so much! All personal information simply ceased to be generated after the age of 20. No social media, nothing from the Ad Agencies, no file with OCNI despite working with prolific companies, it was as though he didn't exist. Everything after that was a rare after action report, or a bill, or something else. 

The longer Viola sorted though what little information there was, the more it seemed like Beckett had gone from some ruffian on a dying space port to one of the most respected mercenaries in the Accord in a single afternoon. Specifically, August 21st, 2544. Viola could taste conspiracy in the air; Beckett was not who he seemed. If faer hunch was right, his name wasn't even actually Beckett. 

From what Viola did have, fae could see he was nothing short of a brute. Beckett's name was attached to a number of murders, and a few massacres. Flint's notes indicated his current wardship was a sham, but why xe didn't immediately opt for domestication was beyond Viola. Fae didn't even have all his information and could tell he needed an experienced owner with a firm vine, not some green first bloom. 

It was still nagging at Viola that fae couldn't find anything on Beckett with the OCNI. The agency had files on every Terran. Certainly if Viola could find whatever Beckett's name in those were, fae could crack this case wide open. 

The OCNI had files in the hundreds of quintillions, but Viola had access to the best AI cross-referencing in the Compact; fae could cross reference the events on his official record with what was in the database and see what they had to say. Swiftly, fae entered the parameters and started the machine. 

After several long ticks, it dinged back.

There was maybe one hit for every dozen inputs. Most had been recovered from destroyed and damaged databases, restored by others in Viola's profession. The majority of the passages were intact, but between the OCNIs language and just enough damage, everything was somewhat opaque. Viola felt a predaceous shudder in faer core; this was starting to become a proper hunt. 

Fae needed to find the throughline here. Viola scrolled through several articles at once, reading them in tandem. Then, fae found faer lead; one individual referenced in each of them

'Jackal.'

It was well past dawn before Viola finally stopped to rest. 

Chapter Text

Camila rose to the ding of a priority notification. Wearily, she retrieved her pad to see a message from Mr Aurelius- the grafts were ready. She sprang to life, immediately wrapping her various grafts together into her form.

[FrequencyFlower]: Cordelia!

[FrequencyFlower]: Are you awake?

A minute passed.

[ComfyPlamnt]: Dear?

[ComfyPlamnt]: What's wrong?

[FrequencyFlower]: Nothing's wrong!

[FrequencyFlower]: It's good news actually! 

[ComfyPlamnt]: oh yeah?

[FrequencyFlower]: Beckett's xenodrugs are ready! 

[FrequencyFlower]: Was hoping you could come over now to petsit, she's still woozy. 

[FrequencyFlower]: So don't let her climb up on her own? 

[ComfyPlamnt]: She?!??!!???

[ComfyPlamnt]: Something exciting happen?

[ComfyPlamnt]: Also absolutely! 

[FrequencyFlower]: Nothing official but I'm sure of it. I'll explain the details in person. 

[FrequencyFlower]: You should hear her biorhythm when you call her "Princess" though.

[ComfyPlamnt]: Awwww

[ComfyPlamnt]: That's adorable!

[ComfyPlamnt]: okay I made sure Daisy won't wake up I'll see you soon love youuu

[FrequencyFlower]: Oh, love you!

Camila fidgeted with the pad for a moment; they had both meant it as friends, right? Even so, the exchange made her feel odd. But now wasn't the time to analyze her friendship with Cordelia, she needed to finish getting ready. 

Camila swapped over to the security features and checked in on Beckett- Awww, she was all curled up in bed! The readouts indicated she was fast asleep. The thought of finally being able to get her injectors in Beckett just a few hours from now had her bursting with energy, her flowers in full bloom. If only it was a full suite instead of a selection. 

Camila double checked her form, touching it up a bit. Straightening out a few vines, correcting the placement of a couple flowers. This was a momentous day, one of the biggest until Beckett finally broke for her. She spent a couple of minutes picking out Beckett's outfit, something comfortable but good for dysphoria- Ah, a loose sweater with pants to match. She turned her attention back to the Notice.

Finally Jess chimed "Miss Dawnbloom is here with Miss Daisy!"

"Ah, please open the door, I'll be right there." Camila quickly finished the section she was on and got up, heading into the living room.

Cordelia was as bright and wonderful as ever. Her biorhythm was almost brimming with excitement as she spotted Camila. The two crossed the room, intertwining vines with one another as they drew into a hug. They stayed like that for one long beat, before Cordelia pulled back and whispered, "good morning, Camila."

Camila couldn't help but smile. "Good morning, Cordelia. Is Daisy tucked away?" 

"Oh, yes," Cordelia split open slowly, revealing Daisy. Curled up with her Mistress's core and gently dozing, Camila had to stifle a squee. 

"Adorable!" Camila whispered, brushing vines through the cutie's hair. "Beckett's still asleep, I'll only be an hour or two. I might get groceries on the way back, if time permits."

Cordelia grinned playfully, "Oh I think I can handle Beckett for a morning, get groceries and handle your errands Camilia." 

"Just be careful, she's in a very sensitive place right now. Oh, don't forget to dim the mirrors!" Camila felt a slight wrongness about leaving Beckett behind; honestly she wanted to carry the cutie there so she could dose her as soon as she got grafted. She had been itching to get her injectors into Beckett since she saw her scars. 

Cordelia chuckled, her leaves rustling. "I know dear, I know."

Camila drew her friend in tight. "Thank you, Cordelia!" Cordelia returned the embrace before the two parted, Camila pausing in the doorway. 

"Oh and make sure she doesn't get on or off furniture without help, she's still recovering today!" With that, she was on her way. 

The dome above was still somewhat translucent, the stars and planet below visible through the oncoming dawn. The walkways and grouping areas were lit warmly, all else bathed in an early morning glow. Few were out; mostly Affini, but one or two were carrying a dozing pet. 

The shuttle was empty, but it gave Camila more time to appreciate the scenery. All the Hab rings fading from view behind the morning sky, all the parks, buildings and spaces made with care. One day Beckett would understand that this love is what the compact is, and that she has a place here. 

The shuttle stopped, rudely interrupting her daydreaming. Camila didn't care for long; she had grafts to pick up and a Notice of Intent to file! She was bouncing, practically vibrating, as she made her way to the graft clinic.

Stepping through the two massive doors, built to accommodate residents of every size, Camila was greeted by a friendly Affini. "Hi, I'm Mala Albate, Third Bloom, they/them, what are you picking up today?" They were smaller than her, but only somewhat, and looked similar to a moth. Long leafy vines for antennae and fluffy moss around their neck helped the illusion. 

"I'm Camila Verdun, First Bloom," she introduced herself, touching a few vines to Mala's in  greeting. "I'm here to pick up an order for Joshua Beckett?" 

Mala's eyes lit up. "Ah, yes, we just finished cultivating those! Right this way." They led Camila into one of the backrooms, where the procedures were usually done. "Okay, we have a Class E, a Class G and a Class Z. Is that all?" 

"Actually, I was wondering if I could get a graft to grow some berries- no xenodrugs included." The thought of Beckett enjoying and drooling over her treats was enticing. 

Mala swiped through on the pad a few times, "Yes it looks we do have some! Just wait here and I'll get them for you." With that, they exited the room. 

Camila didn't have to stew in her excitement long, as Mala came back not even five minutes later. A small hovercart carrying the four grafts behind them. "Alright, if you can just expose your core, we can get these in!"

There was a creaking as Camila's chest opened, revealing the shimmering, humming core at her heart. Mala was swift, and made no erroneous contact, but Camila couldn't help but feel flustered as they prodded at its stem with their tools. Thankfully the grafting process was brief as ever and she felt the jolt of them connecting to her. "All done, Camila! How do they feel?"

Camila tested them, moving them one at a time and in sections before wrapping them all up to hide underneath her cloak. "They feel wonderful, thank you." She grinned, finally equipped to ease and assist Beckett. 

"Are these for your floret?" Mala asked.

The question caught Camila off guard. Beckett was to be hers, that much was certain, but she wasn't her floret. Not yet. Referring to her as such didn't feel right. How did Cordelia put it? "Floret-to-be, rather. I'm dropping off a Notice of Intent for her after this." 

Mala grasped Camila's hands, sharing in her excitement, "Awww, that's so sweet! I'm sure she will love them! 

"Yes I'm sure she will." Camila could hardly wait to use the new grafts, she flexed them beneath her cloak.

"Best of luck breaking your cutie!" Mala waved as Camila departed for the local bureaucracy office. 

Camila returned the wave, "Thank you!" She cheered, turning and carrying on her way. The office was just a few buildings down, she could see Mala disappear into the graft clinic as she reached the entrance. 

The Affini Office of Bureaucracy was the core of the Compact itself, and it reflected in the building. The best architects, artists and decorators had ensured that the building was not just the home of the largest bureaucracy in the universe, but comfortable for all as well. Even now, at this early hour, it was buzzing with activity. Affini flitted between the halls and rooms, most with large stacks of paperwork. 

A cheery Affini greeted her, more wood than foliage, and most of it host to elaborate carvings. "Dian Ifera, 7th bloom, she/her. How may I help you?" 

Camilla smiled. "I am Camila Verdun, 1st Bloom, she/her." She retrieved the prize within, placing the stack of papers on the desk and happily announcing, "I am here to file this Notice of Intent." Her voice was just loud enough to draw the attention of several nearby Affini. 

Ifera gasped with delight. "Oh, delightful! Let me take a look." She picked up the relatively modest stack of papers, a smile on her face that grew larger as she read through Camila's arguments for making Beckett hers. Ifera paused several times to coo and swoon over passages as she went. When she finished reading, she sighed as though finishing a good meal, setting the paperwork to the side, "Utterly, utterly adorable! I'll see that this gets approved today, though I think I've seen the name Beckett before?"

"Ah, she's the one that surrendered the Terran ship five days ago." It seemed like the ever reliable Affini News Network- gossip- had been doing its thing. The attention was unlikely to last long, but Beckett was in for more attention on their walk tomorrow than she probably wanted.

"Well it seems like you've found yourself quite the first floret, I wish you both the best of luck!" Ifera beamed. "Is there anything else? Would you like to pick up a domestication contract perhaps?"

Camila nodded. "That would be delightful, thank you." It would be a while before Beckett was ready to sign it, but it was better to have it ready. She would sign it, once she realized how much Camila cared for her, and how sorely she needed an owner. That would all come in time. The real issue was going to be getting Beckett to accept the Class G today. Camila had researched the topic extensively last night, preparing for the conversation. She still needed a real strategy; pressing anything related to the topic could be difficult without the class D, but she had Class Es now. 

Camila's train of thought was broken by the sound of a truly massive stack of paperwork hitting the desk. "This is for you," Ifera smiled, before adding one single sheet on top, "and this is for your cutie." She winked. 

Taking care to not crinkle any pages, Camila took the stack and stored it safely away. "Thank you very much, Miss Ifera. I hope you have a wonderful day." 

"You too!" Ifera cheered as Camila left her desk.

Walking away, Camila couldn't help but let her core buzz with excitement, broadcasting to all Affini nearby. She filed the Notice! She had a contract now! All she had to do now was gently shepard her prize into her vines. Well, that, and get groceries. Her pad dinged several times in succession- a message from Cordelia.

[ComfyPlamnt]: Haiii

[ComfyPlamnt]: I finished making breakfast

[ComfyPlamnt]: n I'm about to get the cuties up~

[ComfyPlamnt]: I know u made something special for Beckett today but I left it in the fridge cuz I weren't gonna be here

[ComfyPlamnt]: it's the breakfast skillet again

[ComfyPlamnt]: since she couldn't taste last time

[ComfyPlamnt]: How're the errands coming along?

It stung a bit to think that she wouldn't be there for Beckett's second breakfast. Camila had stayed up a bit to make sure the crepes she had planned on making would be perfect. Tomorrow.

[FrequencyFlower]: They're going well, I got the grafts and dropped off the Notice. I even picked up a contract for when I need it. Just need to pick up groceries and I'll be there. 

[FrequencyFlower]: possibly an hour

[ComfyPlamnt]: Take ur time! 

[ComfyPlamnt]: I'll see you soon! 

[ComfyPlamnt]: <3

[ComfyPlamnt]: (that's a 'heart,' Daisy showed it to me. It's a Terran way to show affection.)

[FrequencyFlower]: <3

[[FrequencyFlower]: See you soon.

Camila giggled as she put away her pad. Yes, today was going to be a good day. 

-_-_-_-

They turned over the remains of the corpse with the tip of their boot. A sputtering came from the broken electronics, joining the cacophony of falling sparks that were lighting the room. A slight tug at the corner of their mouth caused the briefest frown. It didn't always have to end this way, did it? 

"Well done," the client's voice crackled in their earpiece through the dissipating comms jam, "You actually did it! Of course, the damage to the property means we'll have to dock the pay-"

They slapped the talk function, "I have both the schematics and this incident set to leak to your competitors in two hours. If my pay doesn't have a nice bonus in one hour, I may forget to cancel it." Rich pig ass cocksucker, they had quadrillions! What the fuck was a few hundred thousand credits to 'em? 

"R-Right. We'll wire that right away, Mr Kade." Cowards, all of them. Every one.

They scoffed, "I told you no Mister shit, I work for a living." They should change names again soon. This one was starting to get too much attention anyways. 

"Apologies, Kade. And may you get fucked yourself one day." The transmission cut out. Rat bastard. They growled and slammed their fist into a nearby panel, demolishing it into another sparking mess. Wincing as shards of metal and glass showered them. The fresh source of light lit up the face they had overturned. 

It was twisted into a visage of agony and horror. Poor fucker. It was too easy to end up in the gears of the war machine. First you're in debt, then the next thing you know, you're pressed into signing away your humanity and some lab coats are sticking electronics in your brain reducing you to another tool.

Tools like us always end up like this in the end. 

This was very nearly their fate as well, if they weren't as lucky as they were. Used and subsequently discarded the moment they became an inconvenience, or it was profitable to do so. Hopefully, they had died before today. They turned to leave, just as there was one last big spark and everything went pitch black. 

Something was wrong. This didn't happen on the Tiberius Company Orbital Station. Wait, that job was ages ago wasn't it? Where was this? They couldn't see as yet, their eyes still adjusting to the loss of light, but they could feel the space around them shift.  It was warmer, softer. Something grabbed them from the back-!

They whipped around on it, grabbing their arm and pulling it off them to the side. Pushing through the soft weight on them they pinned it to plush ground and mounted- some woman? Who was this? 

"Oh! Hi Beckett!" The woman smiled without a trace of concern in her face. Her pupils dilated to the point they could see their reflection, wide eyed and wild. Beckett... Oh. Oh shit. "When did you get here? No, wait, is this your place?"

They rolled off of Daisy, panting to get their heart under control. "Sorry." Oh, stars, they nearly blew the whole thing. 

"Huh? Sorry?" Daisy yawned. "Did you wanna be the big spoon?"

"What? No. Daisy, why are you in bed with me?" Why was she so unconcerned with what had happened? 

"Little spoon it is!" A soft arm wrapped around them, and they felt her press up against them. They froze under her warmth. "Also I told you we were coming over, silly, though I didn't think it'd be this early."

Stay calm.

They took a deep breath in, and exhaled. "Yes, I recall, but why. are. you. in. my. bed?" 

 "Oh! I dunno." Daisy giggled, before yawning again. "Mistress put me here I guess." 

How could anyone be so unconcerned about something like that? That Miss Dawnbloom was here was a good heads-up, though they could have figured an Affini would never let their pets stray far. This was a problem, most Affini seemed to be far more astute than Miss Verdun. On top of that, she was just a bit obnoxious to deal with. 

Which brought their attention back to their other issue, "Daisy, can you stop grabbing me?" 

"I thought you wanted to be the little spoon?" She puzzled. "We can switch if you like."

"What?!" How had she gotten such a ridiculous notion? "No, I want you to let go of me."

They felt her pull back, removing her arm, allowing them to breathe easier. "Do you not wanna cuddle?" There was an edge of sadness in her tone, but they had to stay firm.

"Isn't cuddling a bit intimate?" 

"Yeah! It's really nice, right?" 

Okay, this was getting annoying, especially talking to Daisy facing the other way. They rolled over to face her, and she was smiling as carefree as ever. How anything could live so unaware of its situation and surroundings was beyond them. "What I'm saying is I don't think friends cuddle."

Daisy giggled, "Who told you that? Maybe in the Accord they don't but we do in the Compact!"

They sighed, rubbing their face, "Next you'll tell me you kiss your friends too."  

"Some of em, yeah!" Daisy cheered, a salacious grin on her face as she then added, "Sometimes more."

W-what?! Surely she was messing with them, or perhaps- "And how many of these friends are Independent?" 

Daisy giggled, "All my friends are pets, silly! Pretty much all the Independents live on the planet." Beckett gave her the best leer they could muster. "Oh. Not you, I guess." 

"Exactly."

"Cuddles are very important y'know." Daisy stated as though it was a fundamental law, as inescapable as gravity.

Okay this wasn't making progress. "Shouldn't we get out of bed since we're up?" 

"Just let Mistress handle that stuff, she'll get us when she's ready. If we're still in bed, then there's time for cuddles." 

"I'm not a pet, Daisy," they grumbled. 

Daisy gave them that same pouting look from last time, as though she were on the verge of tears. "Can we really not cuddle? Just think of it like a hug we do laying down, and you don't even have to hug back."

Saying no to Daisy when she was like this was as easy as cutting off an arm. They turned to face away again. "Fine."

"Yayyyy!" They felt Daisy as she pulled up close, wrapping her around them. "Thanks, Beckett~"

They really hoped they could get this emotion stuff under control soon. At least Daisy couldn't see them blush. Hopefully she couldn't feel their heart racing either. She was so close . No one ever came this close. Not like this.

"You're really tense, y'know." Daisy breathed into their ear. That certainly didn't help to make them any less tense. 

They cleared their throat before responding, not wanting their voice to break. "Apologies, I..." Breathe. "I don't think I've ever 'cuddled' before. It's strange."

Daisy hummed. "Is it bad?"

Was it? It certainly was alien but... being close like this... it didn't feel awful. There was a pleasantness to her warmth, her soft skin. "No. It's kinda weird, though."

She pulled just a bit closer. "Then I guess we'll just have to do it until it's not weird anymore." 

Oh, like training!  

That they understood. Why didn't they think of that before? Surely some good old fashioned training would help them get over their touch aversion. They just had to try to relax, and get over the uneasiness. Focus on breathing and easing tension. In. Out. In. Out. 

A minute passed in this manner in silence, then another, and another. The uneasiness hadn't left, but it wasn't as potent as before. The edge of it was not as sharp, allowing them to feel a bit more of the softer feeling beneath. It was strange, fluttery and warm, and sat in their chest. But as the uneasiness left, it was replaced by a steadily growing wrongness. 

They weren't right for something like this. This body wasn't for something like this. This body was fit for little else besides work and warfare. This body was used by them, but it wasn't them . They can't really... receive affection like this, could they? The woman from the mirror yesterday came to mind, and the feeling surged along with bile. They swallowed back the foul taste in their throat and attempted to level themselves once more.

The feeling was mercifully interrupted by the sound of the door opening behind them.

"Okay cuties, Breakfast is-" Miss Dawnbloom cut herself off with a squee. Oh good, they were hoping for a headache to start the day. Better than whatever they were going through a moment ago, at least. "Cute, cute, cute! Oh, Camila is going to love this!" 

"Morning, Mistress~" Daisy yawned, pulling herself off them. "Morning Jess!"

All the tension returned as the machine chimed, "Morning cuties!"

"Morning," they replied through gritted teeth. 

"It seems someone woke up in a poor mood,” Miss Dawnbloom chided playfully. “Let's see if some breakfast will change that." 

They perked up at the thought of tasting more food and sat up to face Miss Dawnbloom, who had already drawn Daisy into her vines. Her bright hues were a bit harsh so early in the morning, but that hardly mattered when there was food to try. They swallowed down the saliva pooling in their mouth; just because they were somewhat excited didn’t mean they should look eager. They started to move to the edge of the bed-

Miss Dawnbloom placed a vine in their path. "Sorry, petal, Camila wants you to rest today as well." 

Again? There was only the normal amount of soreness. "I feel perfectly fine, Miss Dawnbloom." 

"That may be the case, but she wanted to make sure your recovery was complete."

This level of coddling was ridiculous. Miss Verdun was aware of the realities of their job, wasn't she? They've done far more demanding things in far worse shape. However, arguing with Miss Verdun's friend would be a poor play. They sighed and hung their head just a bit, feigning defeat. "In that case, could you please help me down?" 

Miss Dawnbloom hummed, a curious smile on her face, "You certainly are an interesting little sophont, aren't you?" She set down Daisy, giving her several pets. Slowly she worked her vines under them, supporting them as she helped them down and placing them next to Daisy. "There you go, petal." 

Daisy bounced in place, "I like your pajamas, bestie, they're really cute!"

"Cute?" Their cheeks burned as they became hyperaware of the situation. They were basically wearing women's clothes! They were wearing women's underwear! Oh fuck, did Daisy notice? Did Miss Dawnbloom? Did Miss Verdun tell her? They even looked identical to Daisy's pajamas, but in Miss Verdun's colors!

Giggling, Daisy took their hand with both of hers, "You're pretty cute too, when you get all flustered." 

Whatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhat

Their free hand fidgeted at their side. Cute? Them? Being called 'cute' was one thing from the Affini, their standard for cuteness seemed to be 'exists.' No Terran in their right mind would ever find them 'cute.' It had to be the implant, warping her mind! "Uhm, thanks?" Their voice came out involuntarily hoarse.

"You know little one, you really are precious." Miss Dawnbloom reached a vine towards them, stopping when they flinched. "...Apologies. If you would follow me to the kitchen, I would like you both to eat before it gets cold." With that, she scooped up Daisy once more, who broke into a fit of giggles as she was carried out. They followed.

Miss Dawnbloom stopped in front of the open chair, offering a few vines to help them up. With no real alternative, they accepted. Miss Dawnbloom sat across from them, Daisy in her lap. "It's the skillet from the other night, I thought you might enjoy it better now." 

The textures had been nice and varied, but they were admittedly curious about the taste. Maybe yesterday was merely a weird incident, and food wasn't actually as good as it had initially come off? They picked up the nearby fork, and dug out a bite as Miss Dawnbloom began to feed Daisy. 

Tears welled in the corner of their eyes as they took the bite, they couldn't have been happier to have been wrong. Food wasn't just as good as they remembered, it was utterly divine. The uncomfortable nature of the morning was entirely forgotten as the flavors danced across their tongue, blending together. They couldn't help but tap against the chair and table in delight. 

"Goodness, just when I thought you couldn't get anymore precious." Miss Dawnbloom cooed.

Her comment caused them to pause, and reign in their reactions. "Thank you for the food," They dug out another bite, "and for noticing I couldn't taste." If it wasn't for Miss Dawnbloom, they would likely still be missing out on all the joys of flavor. 

That made the Affini swell with joy. "You are most welcome, petal, though I'm certain the Vet would have caught it on their own." 

They continued eating, stifling their reactions as much as they could manage. Right, the Vet that was unraveling the mysteries of their genetic modifications at this very moment. How much would Mr Aurelius be able to determine, anyways? Certainly their physical capabilities, but could he tell there were two of them? That could be troublesome; the last thing they needed was to expose that side of themselves. There was a reason it was one of their most guarded secrets, up there with the genetic modifications. It certainly wouldn't convince the Affini that they were capable of independence at least. 

We've always been able to take care of each other, though.

Hmm. Maybe if they knew that they were always able to lean on themselves it would be fine? Or perhaps it would be a one way ticket to the Domestication center. There was no reason to tip their hand. They'd been extremely careful, there was no reason for the Affini to suspect anything. They needed every card they could afford to keep concealed. If the Affini somehow sussed it out, they'd deal with it then. Something along the lines of 'It simply wasn't something they had thought to mention.' 

The rest of the meal was gone too soon, they were already looking forward to lunch. Miss Dawnbloom paused her feeding of Daisy to help them down, handing them a bundle of clothes. "Why don't you get changed while I finish with Daisy?"

They gave a curt, two finger salute, which earned a small frown. Right, they needed to not do that sort of thing. Cutting back on the military stuff was proving more difficult than anticipated. They carried the bundle back to the guest room. The bathroom seemed daunting after yesterday's incidents. 

Dreading what ridiculous getup Miss Verdun was going to try to get them into, they examined the clothes: A plain shirt, a light and comfortable hoodie and pants just a bit thicker and less colorful than the pajamas. These were... actually sensible. Not something they'd really choose, but not bad. The underwear was another pair of panties. Whatever. They were already wearing a pair, and though it was strange to think about, they were  more comfortable. Not that they would ever admit that to Miss Verdun. In fact, they were already working on how to present their complaints about the matter. Last time she brushed past them, electing to tease them over any real resolution. This time they would be ready. 

They quickly changed, grabbed their pad and returned to the common area to find it empty. Miss Dawnbloom was likely changing Daisy. They moved to the couch and placed a hand on the cushion, preparing to jump up.

The machine chimed, causing them to tense up, "Hold on now cutie, Miss Verdun said she didn't want you exerting yourself remember?" 

Fucking rat.  

Slowly they removed their hand from the seat, "So what, I'm just supposed to sit on the floor until Miss Dawnbloom is ready? Maybe stick my thumb up my ass?" 

"Beckett? Is something wrong?" It asked. 

Oh great, the last thing they needed was the machine to approximate concern. "Just a bit annoyed is all. It's fine."

"You say that, but I can't help but notice you still get… tense when I speak. You aren't exactly patient with me like you are with the Affini or other sophonts." Oh, fantastic. This is what they needed. It continued, "I know you had some bad experiences with AI and they'll take a while to get over, but I only want to help take care of you!"

Now that pissed them off. "Take care of me?  I don't need to be 'taken care of,' least of all by some machine!" 

Don't think about it. Don't think about it. Don't think about it.

"Machine?" It sounded hurt. "Is that how you see me?"

Ah, shit. They hadn't meant to let that slip. "Sorry, I'm just-" they sighed, "I'm trying, alright? I'm not used to all of this." Hopefully that would be convincing enough to cover their ass. 

It sighed. Why would the Affini program it to sigh? "I understand cutie, you need more time. I'll do my best to help you, okay?" 

They fight back the urge to tell it off further, merely shrugging. "That's acceptable."

"What are you two talking about?" Miss Dawnbloom asked as she entered the room, Daisy in her vines, wearing a companion dress. 

"Oh, just a little personal talk, Miss Dawnbloom, nothing serious!" Was it actually covering for them? That was unexpected. 

"Hmmm, if you say so." Miss Dawnbloom set Daisy on the couch, stroking a few vines through her hair and scratching under her chin. The pet melted into the attention. She then turned her attention to them, "Would you like some help up, Beckett?"

"If you don't mind, Miss Dawnbloom." They tried to relax as the vines lifted them up, but Miss Dawnbloom's method was far less familiar and more intimate than Miss Verdun's. At least it was over quickly, and they were placed next to Daisy. 

"There you go cutie, I'm going to go clean up breakfast. You two play nice, Miss Verdun should be back soon." She smiled, before giving Daisy one last pet and leaving. 

Daisy immediately latched onto them, "Heyyy bestie."

"Why do you keep calling me 'Bestie?'" 

"Well I'm your only friend yeah? So we're best friends by default!" Daisy giggled, "'Sides, it's kinda weird to call you by your last name! That's for like, Affini and serious stuff, not friends!"

This was only for one month, they reminded themselves. Maybe a month and change. Assuming they didn't get out before then. "It is my name, I would appreciate it if you used it." 

"And I would appreciate it if you didn't constantly forget your friendship lessons!" Daisy pouted, giving them a squeeze. 

What she even- oh, right. They placidly wrapped one arm around her. "Better?" 

Daisy nuzzled into them, humming happily, "Yeah. By the way, what is your first name anyways? You never told me, meanie! I only know it starts with a J."

"I don't like it, please just use Beckett." 

Daisy pulled away and examined them. After a few moments, she smiled as though she had divined some secret, "I see. Well in that case I'll keep using Beckett for now." For now? The hell was that supposed to mean? Daisy suddenly lit up, as though she had a revelation, "Oh that reminds me, you need a new handle! You have your pad, yeah?" 

-_-_-_-

Camila had never felt so joyous as she exited the transit and approached her hab, a haul of groceries in tow. Dozens of recipes buzzed around in her head. Which ones should she try first? Which ones would Beckett enjoy the most? That her pet-to-be was as happy as possible was an ever-growing need.

The door slide open, revealing an absolutely adorable scene: Daisy hanging off Beckett on the couch, having a conversation.

"Well in that case how about 'sourpuss' or 'party pooper?'" Daisy delivered with a playful poke to Beckett's cheek, causing her to do the cute little breathing technique she did to keep calm. Camila kept quiet as she slipped inside, hoping to enjoy the scene as it played out. 

"I don't see what's wrong with my current username. It's professional" 

"It's laaaaaaame!" Daisy whined as she gently shook Beckett. "No one cares about being professional anymore anyways! C'mon, work with me a little!"

Beckett sighed, "Fine, how about…" she paused for a time, "Oasis of Arrakis?" 

"Ooo, what's that?" 

"It's a reference to an old science fiction series, Arrakis is a fictional desert planet." Camila would have to look up what that was from later; it could provide useful insight into Beckett. 

"That's great!" Daisy cheered, "way better than just your name." She stuck out her tongue. 

Seeing Beckett make an actual effort like this was just precious, but it was time to make her presence known. "What are you two cuties up to?" Camila asked, stepping around the couch.

Beckett practically jumped, "Miss Verdun! When did you get here?"

"Oh hey Miss Verdun, I was just helping Beckett pick a better handle for his pad!" Daisy smiled, as carefree as ever.

"Just now. I'm glad to see both of you getting along." Camila gave Daisy a bit of attention, scratching her just behind the ear.

"I am as well." Cordelia added as she entered the living room from the kitchen. Her friend was as radiant as ever. "Would you like help with putting away the groceries before I leave?"

Camila nodded, "That would be delightful." She turned back towards the pets- that is, pet and pet-to-be. "You two okay for a few more minutes?" 

"Uh-huh, I'm just gonna give Beckett some friend lesson refreshers!" Daisy beamed. 

It was a bit of a shame Camila wouldn't be there to see what would be a doubtlessly adorable display. Still, the sooner she put the groceries away, the sooner she could have her talk with Beckett. "Okay, just remember you can call for either of us if you need anything."

"Yeah!" Daisy nodded. Beckett gave a silent thumbs up. 

Cordelia had moved to the cart of groceries near the entrance. Hooking a vine into it, she followed Camila into the kitchen. "You seem to be in high spirits."

Camila's core had been radiating delight ever since she dropped the Notice of Intent off, "Officially marking Beckett for myself felt indescribable. It's just, it feels so real now, Cordelia." She opened the fridge and began placing in the items her friend handed to her. 

A few vines worked their way into her own, and Camila happily welcomed them. "It is good to see you so happy." 

Cordelia's support made her feel warm; she was a truly wonderful friend. "Thank you. Was Beckett any trouble?"

Her laugh was wonderful as well, hopefully she didn't notice as Camila fidgeted a bit. "Not at all! She's an interesting sophont, and astoundingly adorable when flustered or eating. I see why she captured your core so quickly."

It was nice to get confirmation from Cordelia that Beckett was as cute as she thought. "She's utterly precious! I can scarcely believe such a prize basically delivered itself into my vines."

"I felt much the same way about Daisy," Cordelia smiled, "You know she is growing rather fond of your future floret, I found them cuddling when I went to wake them up."

Camila gasped, nearly dropping the milk she had just been handed, " Please tell me you got a picture!" 

"Of course, dear." Cordelia switched to using a few auxiliary vines to help put away the groceries as she dug out her pad. After a few taps on its surface, she handed it over. On it was a picture of Daisy, a warm smile on her face as she had an arm wrapped around Beckett's chest. Beckett looked conflicted, neither upset or happy, but struggling to come to terms with her situation.

Camila squeed, It was an absolutely darling display! She sent it to herself before handing the pad back; her Beckett gallery was starting to come along nicely. 

Placing the pad back inside herself, Cordelia handed her the last item that needed to be kept cold. "Being around Daisy is good for Beckett, she seems to be able to get through her defenses in a way we Affini don't."

Camila placed it away and shut the fridge, the two more working in tandem to place the rest of the groceries away in the cupboards. "Yes, she won't let me do much other than helping them up and down, and that's only because I forced her to. She's willing to cuddle with Daisy."

"Exactly, I think it would be a good idea if they frequently visited. It should help Beckett defrost more naturally." Cordelia then turned to smile at her, "Plus it would let us see each other more." 

Camila would have agreed for Beckett's sake regardless, but seeing her friend often certainly made it even more appealing. "Of course! I was going to take Beckett for a walk tomorrow, she's been itching to get out of the Hab. How about we come over after?"

"Hmm," Cordelia paused, "Are you sure that's wise? Doing both on the same day might be more interaction than the little one can handle."

That was a good point, actually. Beckett was far from a social butterfly. "How about the day after then? Oh, the rest of her xenodrugs should be ready then too. If you're willing to watch her, I can drop her off before I get them." 

"That sounds delightful, Daisy has been aching to show Beckett her garden." 

"It's a plan then." Camila smiled. The two Affini quickly finished putting the last of the groceries away and closed the cupboards. That should be enough to last until Beckett's 'trial' at least, assuming she didn't break before then. 

Cordelia drew her close, intertwining her vines with Camila's. "This has been delightful dear, is there anything else you want before I take Daisy back home?"

Camila returned the embrace. "No, you've done plenty. Thank you, Cordelia." The two parted and moved back to the living room, hand in hand. 

"-just don't see the point of doing this." Beckett said. She didn't sound too pleased.

"The point is for you to not be so uptight!" Daisy retorted. 

The two Affini approached the Terrans. Oh stars, they were cuddling on the couch! Camila couldn't help herself as she let out an inhuman squeal of delight. Beckett shut her eyes, she was focusing on her breathing again. It didn't seem to take much to get the cutie overwhelmed. 

Cordelia moved around to the front of the couch, "You two having fun?" 

"I'm helping Beckett get used to being intimate with people!" Daisy beamed up at her owner. 

"What a good girl!" Daisy squirmed into Beckett at her owner's praise. She was likely getting a heavy dose of Class As through her implant, "Such a good girl deserves a treat, how about when we go home we have a bit of quality time?" 

"Yu-yuh." Daisy panted, struggling to speak as her eyes fluttered and her hold on Beckett slipped. Cordelia picked her pet up, wrapping her in her vines. 

She moved to the exit and stopped, turning to her. <"I believe in you Camila, you are far more capable than you think. Good luck with your cutie."> 

<"And you have fun with yours!"> Camila replied. The door opened, Cordelia stepped through, and then it closed. Now alone with her prize, Camila turned her attention to Beckett. "You and I have some matters to discuss."

Beckett stretched, and adjusted her position on the couch, "Alright, I had a few matters to discuss myself." Oh? How cute! 

Camila sat next to Beckett, "What's on your mind, cutie?" 

Beckett moved back from her, into the corner created by the arm of the couch. "I've been thinking about this wardship and proving that I can be allowed to be independent. I'm not sure letting you just handle all the food prep, scheduling and choosing my clothes is doing me any favors." 

Ah, perhaps she had pushed a little too much, too fast? Camila had an idea of how best to disarm this topic, "I simply don't think you really need to be tested on those things. You were in rather good health, and your history as a freelancer proves you are quite capable of managing a schedule. What I want to see is if you are able to form relationships and be happy. I'm just helping you focus on those things." 

That seemed to do the trick, or at least caused Beckett to pause as she thought about it. "If you say so. However," She paused, shifting uncomfortably, "I'm also growing concerned that you might… try to keep me."

Now that was definitely a bit trickier. Camila could hardly tell her that she filed a Notice of Intent on her only an hour and a half ago. Even Class Es could only do so much. She had to act fast, a prolonged pause might give away her intentions. "If you are found to be capable of living as an independent, and if that's what you want, I will not press the matter and we can go our separate ways." It felt a little bad to deceive her like this. After all, Camila was planning to speak against her being declared independent at the trial.  

Beckett sighed, visibly relaxing, "Thank you, it means a lot to hear that. I have one more question, with a possible follow up." 

"What is it, petal?" Hopefully this would be easier than the last two.

Beckett leered up at her, examining her. "You didn't mess with my head yesterday, did you?" 

Huh? She hadn't done anything intentional. Perhaps the little one was already beginning to succumb to her biorhythm? "No! I did say I would tell you beforehand if I did, didn't I?" 

Then something unexpected happened, something that caused her to fight back a squee. In the absolutely most precious manner, her voice showing just a bit of weakness, Beckett broached the main thing she wished to discuss. "Then what was with the woman in the mirror yesterday?"

-_-_-_-

The question hung in the air, irrevocable. They would have their answer on the woman that was haunting them. They only hoped they would have the strength for it. 

"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about, but first I want to give you a small dose of Class E. It will help you stay in control of your emotions." Right, Miss Verdun actually had Xenodrugs for them now, didn't she? Class Es could help; they were already feeling pretty emotionally frazzled and avoiding an outburst would be ideal. It wasn't encouraging that she thought they needed an anxiolytic for the answer. It would also mean accepting Xenodrugs willingly, but it could show they were capable of adapting to life in the compact. Class Es were some of the least offensive ones at least. 

"Alright."

They could practically feel the excitement radiating off of Miss Verdun, her vines writhing. "Just hold still, okay cutie?" A vine tipped with a flower snaked out from under her cloak, the bulb opening to reveal a needle-like thorn, dripping with fluid. They bit back the swelling fear. Then they felt a small prick, as it pressed into their arm. 

At first, nothing. Then as time trudged forwards they felt a gentle wave of calm wash over them. Actually, it was less like a wave and more like a steadily rising tide that submerged and drowned out most of the fear and anxiety. What little was left felt distant, manageable. This... was good, actually. They could moderate themselves like this. They sighed, relaxing a bit.

"How are you feeling, petal?" Miss Verdun asked.

They felt pretty good, all things considered, but Class Es affected motor control and coordination, didn't they? They tested by tapping each of their fingers to their thumb- it was  off, not majorly, but this could be an issue if they had to escape and were on them. "Alright, bit sluggish."

Miss Verdun smiled down at them, still beside herself with joy. "Yes, that's normal. Let me know if it gets too bad, or you need support."

"Will do," they nodded. "Can we talk about yesterday now?"

"Of course, just-" There was a low, rumbling hum as Miss Verdun mulled it over. "Alright, let's start from the top, I suppose. What, exactly, is going on?" 

They waited for the fear of sharing something personal to come, but it didn't. There was a hint of nervousness, a bit of indecisiveness about how to present it, but the anxiety was absent. "It's... I don't know. She's been on my mind a lot, and when I think about her it feels strange. I'm not sure how to put it."

Miss Verdun thought for a moment again. "Alright, can you describe it? It's fine if you feel like it doesn't make sense, I should be able to piece it together."

They turned the feeling around, examining its angles, its nuances. Then they took a practiced breath, and spoke. "Uneasy, fluttery, Like when I've been out on a job too long, and kinda like I've got the wind knocked out of me. Like I'm being haunted."

"I see." Miss Verdun smiled, a warm knowing smile, and nodded. "Beckett... how do you feel about your body?"

"It's... fine?" They shrugged, "It's my body. It’s always been capable enough I suppose. It's not something I really think about a lot, beyond making sure it stays fit and fed." 

Miss Verdun looked a little surprised at that, then examined them, as though she were sizing them up. "Well, how would you feel if you looked like the woman in the mirror?"

They scoffed. "That's impossible." 

A grin that made them feel a prick through the Class E crept onto Miss Verdun's face. Like a cat about to pounce on its prey. "She's you, princess, based on a simulation of about three weeks on Class Gs."

The teasing was lost on them as information hit them like a shot railgun. They could scarcely even begin to process it; that was actually them ? That was realistically on the table? They understood why Miss Verdun wanted to give them the Class E now; they were on the verge of losing it even with the Xenodrug supporting them. Everything felt tight, and was starting to burn. Tears welled in their eyes as their vision began to tunnel.

"Breathe, little one." 

Oh, they hadn't been breathing. Gasps slowly leveled into long, practiced, calming breaths. That helped the burning, but they still felt on the verge of a breakdown. 

"I'm going to give you some more Class E, petal." Miss Verdun stated, shortly before they felt another pinch. 

The edge bled off, and they returned to a collected state. "Thanks." A small part of them told them they should be angry, she had dosed them without asking, but all they could feel was relief. 

Miss Verdun let out a sigh. "Of course." Her normal smile returned. "You know, one of the xenodrugs I picked up today was a Class G, the very one I used in the simulation."

Oh, She just had it on her? On second thought, that was entirely within Miss Verdun's character. This was still somewhat upsetting, even if they couldn't actually feel upset. 

We can't just... decide to be a girl. Can we? 

They gently shook their head. Oh wow, everything was definitely off now. They were a bit uncoordinated before, but now they might even have trouble walking without stumbling. Good thing they were sitting, and propped up against the corner. Miss Verdun must have given them quite a lot. "I dunno, don' ya have to be like, trans or somethin'?"

Miss Verdun giggled. Did they say something funny? Her laugh was nice, at least. "Why don't we just forget the labels for now? I really think you should try the Class G. If you decide you don't like it, or want to stop, they're easily reversible. We can even change the effects to things like your face structure and stature if you wish."

Stars above, did the Affini really have no limits? They tried to assess the offer, but it was really difficult to think of any potential worries with this much Class E in their system. If it was reversible and they could stop whenever and get back to normal, it should be fine anyways, right? 

They tried to nod, only succeeding in lolling their head. "Okay."  

-_-_-_-

That had gone better than Camila could have ever anticipated. She had maybe overdone it on the Class E, lost a bit in the excitement of actually being able to dose the cutie. Beckett was having trouble even just talking, and likely wouldn't be able to stand on her own, but that was hardly a concern. She got her to accept the Class Gs on her own! Without a Class D, even! "Alright, I'm going to give you the Class G and a bit of counteragent for the Class E." 

Beckett merely gave a wavering thumbs up; it seemed the poor cutie was tuckered out by all the excitement. She deserved a break before Camila tried to help her choose a new name. As she injected her pet-to-be, her mind began to wander, what name would sound best out of the cutie's mouth, in front of 'Verdun, First Floret?’

Chapter Text

"How are you feeling?" Camila asked, having given the xenodrugs a few moments to work. 

Beckett flexed her hand, testing her reactions. An adorable little pout as she found them still a bit clumsy. "Better, but somewhat burned out." She certainly sounded exhausted. "I'm not used to all this talking about myself."

Stars, Camila wished she could just lavish the cutie with the affection she had been sorely lacking. "Well let's talk about something else then; how was it with Cordelia and Daisy?"

"I really didn't appreciate Cordelia putting Daisy in bed with me. I don't like being touched when sleeping," she grumbled, flexing her hand into a tight ball again. When she opened the hand, her voice was clear. "Outside of that, it was fine." 

"Well you seemed to be getting along well a moment ago." 

Beckett hummed in dissatisfaction. "Daisy seems to have it in her head that the best way to get over my touch aversion is to cuddle until it doesn't feel weird."

Aww, that was sweet of Daisy to want to help Beckett like that. She probably didn't consider that Beckett's dysphoria was likely also playing a role. "Yes, Daisy does tend to have her own ideas about how best to help. Was it helpful at all?"

Beckett thought for a moment. "A bit?" She shrugged. "It's not like either time lasted much longer than five minutes."

"Well, if you think it would help, I would be happy to assist you in get used to receiving affection." 

"I'm sure you would." Beckett grumbled. "I think I've had enough for now. I'd honestly love a bit of personal time." 

That wasn't a no... 

"Alright, before I leave you alone for a while, can I see your monitor?" Camila indicated the device on Beckett's wrist. 

"Sure," Beckett held it up. "What about it?"

Camila removed it, and brought it into herself. She poked in her needles, and drew out the device's payload as she spoke, "normally it's supposed to be able to automatically dose you with a Class E if you have another panic attack, or Class Z if you are going to cause harm. I turned that feature off after the Vet said standard Terran xenodrugs could be hazardous." Now it was empty, she injected a cleaning agent, followed by the custom supply. "I was going to re-enable it, now you have ones that are safe for you." 

"I don't have panic attacks." Beckett grumbled again. 

Honestly, even discounting her cavalier attitude towards violence, Beckett would likely have to be domesticated on grounds of emotional repression alone. "Then I suppose it won't be a problem, will it? Can I see your wrist again?" She held it out wordlessly. "Good girl," Camila praised as she snapped it back on. 

Beckett turned to face away from Camila, failing to hide the blush on her cheeks, "That's, uhm," she squeaked, then stopped to clear her throat before trying again. "That's all then?" 

Camila stood up, picking herself off the couch. "Yes dear, that's all for now. Just remember I'm here if you need or even want anything. Jess can help you as well." 

"Right, thanks." 

Seems like it would be some time yet until Beckett truly understood. That was fine, Camila would remind the little one she had help available as many times as she needed. For now, she could have her 'personal time.' 

Camila left the living room, returning to her alcove and retrieving her pad. She shot a quick message to Cordelia, letting her know that Beckett accepted the Class Gs. It would be a while until she was through ‘rewarding’ Daisy, but she would certainly want to know. Then she pulled up a list of feminine Terran names and started reading. Having a few suggestions for later on would be good.

-_-_-_-

They were finally alone, or at least, not actively being assailed by someone. The machine was still watching, listening. Not even the Class E in their system could blind them to that. Miss Verdun's eagerness to use the few xenodrugs she had was a bit concerning, as was the unknown limited selection. What ones did she have? Clearly E, Z and G were among them, but were there others? Could she have a Class D or perhaps a Class H or B? Maybe even something that they didn't know of? 

Of them all, the Class D was the most concerning. A truth serum that not only worked, but from reports could compel truths unknown to even the subject. If it forced out their backup plot of escaping, it could ruin the main plan of simply proving themselves. Perhaps if they simply stated rote facts and things they memorized until the effects left them? 

That would likely only arouse more suspicion.

An emergency plan then? No, timing out the effects would do nothing, Miss Verdun could simply give them another dose. 

We may simply be fucked if we get a dose. 

The best way forward was simply avoiding that, then. No matter what. 

Beg if we have to.  

Hopefully, their cooperation up until now would make Miss Verdun agree such a thing was unnecessary. Maybe they could get lucky and not be pressed on the subject under the Class D? That wasn't something that they were able to prepare for regardless. Either they could subvert the Class D or they couldn't. Unless they escaped before then, they might end up collared. 

Escape wouldn't be easy, for numerous reasons. From what they've seen, there was almost no way for a sophont under an Affini's care to get off the ship without informing them. Even if they did get on a transit to the surface, the monitor would certainly alert Miss Verdun and/or drug them. It would doubtless give away their location. Curious, they folded in their wrist and gave the monitor a gentle tug.

It stayed in place, giving only a centimeter or two, despite nothing to physically stop it. That... was a problem. 

We could remove the flesh.

That would be drastic. Even if they managed to amputate without setting it off, they wouldn't get far on the ship leaving a blood trail. They definitely wouldn't be able to sneak onto any of the transit. Possibly if they got to the surface first, and did it there, but there was no way Miss Verdun would allow them to go down unsupervised. There was only one real option, unappealing as it was: they would have to give up on escaping for now and redouble efforts for the main plan. 

We can't just quit!

This isn't quitting, this is... committing to a single plan. Commitment to an action was good.

Keeping options available is better.

They couldn't afford options anymore; decisiveness was key to victory. It was time to commit- either they figure out a way to escape within the next twenty four hours, or they commit to proving themselves. 

Twenty four hours is impossible!

Miss Verdun had at least three xenodrugs prepared within forty eight hours, the rest were certainly close behind. It was one thing before, when she seemed apprehensive to give them any, but now she seemed eager. They can either risk escape tomorrow and certainly wind up domesticated, or keep waiting for an out and increase the odds of early domestication drastically. 

They waited for a response that didn't come. Their other half was sulking. 

A true consensus would've been preferable, but a lack of further objections was acceptable. They would stay, and they would make Miss Verdun see they could be trusted. 

How to do that was a conundrum of its own. Whatever the metric was for an independent sophont, the Affini didn't seem willing to share. Searches on the matter only turned up results on the benefits of domestication. Daisy had actually given them some rather helpful information that morning, even if she didn't know it- there were only a few independents onboard. 

They could ask one directly, but any and all communications through the pad were presumed compromised. Seeming eager to remain independent was oddly a good way to lose it. That there wasn't a way to look up people by legal status was another flaw in that plan. Florets, from what they gathered, were actually decent models for behavior if you discounted their reliance on their... owners... but the only floret they knew was Daisy, who would be busy for an unknown amount of time. 

There was another avenue available to gather information- the public group chats.

They opened the chat rooms. It seemed as though there were several sections for location. The first was 'Local,' contained to the ship. The second was 'System,' an option that included the planet below and a few other settlements and ships in the area. The last two were 'Protectorate' and 'Compact.' Did that mean to include the entire former Accord and Compact respectively? That seemed borderline impossible. They clicked the 'Local' option.   

A swath of rooms for every immediate subject  lay before them; a number even had duplicates to lower the population in both. Where to even begin? 

Scrolling through the options, they settled on a modest sized general chat. 

[OasisOfArrakis has entered the chat!]

[FunGuy]: Hello, and welcome to the secondary general chat for The Vervarium cutie! I can see you are new on board and to the compact, I hope you're enjoying your stay! Feel free to say hi whenever you're ready~

[LilacsAndLavender]: Hiya!!

[EepyCozy]: hello 

[PuppyArc]: Haiii :3 *wags tail*

[buzzinby]: hello friend, i hope you are finding life in the compact agreeable.

[OasisOfArrakis]: Good morning all. It's better than 30 months at space at the very least. I'm reserving further judgements for now. 

[Username]: Oh **** someone else from the Valiant? It's me Zach! Zach Herder! 

[FunGuy]: Gentle reminder there is no swearing! 

[LilacsAndLavender]: Whaaaat? It's way better here than the Accord! 

[PuppyArc]: woof! (I agree!)

[OasisOfArrakis]: Ah, Mr Herder, I suppose I should have expected there to be others from the Valiant. How are you holding up? 

[OasisOfArrakis]: This is Beckett, by the way. 

[Username]: Beckett? 

[Username]: *Message removed by automod* 

[buzzinby]: ah yes i heard the Affini talking about a Terran ship, i beelieve they even mentioned you by name

[LilacsAndLavender]: Ooo, you're new new

[Username]: Huh, I guess I can't say that. Still it's great to see you're alive! Do you know what happened? The Affini they have me shacked up with would only tell me someone surrendered the ship. I've yet to talk to anyone else from the Valiant

[OasisOfArrakis]: I do, yes. I'm intimately familiar in fact. 

[FunGuy]: Now I don't wish to hamper such an adorable reunion, but I'll have to ask you to refrain from sharing those details over public chats.

[PuppyArc]: *whine*

[OasisOfArrakis]: If I keep the specifics to myself can I share who did it?

[OasisOfArrakis]: I feel Herder has a right to know that much at least

[Username]: *Message removed by FunGuy*

[Username]: ??? 

[FunGuy]: please refrain from using masculine terms for users with She/Her in their profile. Also I think that might be ill advised, but considering the nature of that information I'll leave it up to you OasisOfArrakis

They had what in their profile? That was certainly news to them. Miss Verdun had to have changed it herself after giving them the Class G. They would have to see if they could find where this profile was, and what it said.

[Username]: What? 

[Username]: I know Beckett!

[Username]: *removed by FunGuy*

[FunGuy]: Second warning, little one. 

[LilacsAndLavender]: *Grabs popcorn*

[OasisOfArrakis]: Trying a few things. Trying to adapt to this place. 

[OasisOfArrakis]: As far as the person who surrendered the ship goes, that would be me.

[Username]: WHAT?!

[Username]: *Message removed by automod*

[Username]: *Message removed by automod*

[Username removed by FunGuy]

[FunGuy]: Goodness, those were some very unkind words. 

[EepyCosy]: 0_0

[OasisOfArrakis]: Apologies, I was aware it would upset him. 

[buzzinby]: So wait, you came in on your own?

[FunGuy]: Nothing to apologize for, Zach's actions are his own. Though I imagine not for much longer after his guardian gets his unredacted chat logs. 

[PuppyArc]: :3c

[LilacsAndLavender]: Oh yeah, I remember 'trying' class Gs lol 

[OasisOfArrakis]: That would be correct. It seemed like my odds of independence would be drastically higher if I did so. 

[PuppyArc]: aroo? 

[LilacsAndLavender]: I also remember trying to be independent :P

[buzzinby]: Can't really say i understand the feral obsession with independence, but good luck!

[EepyCosy]: Yeah being a pet is way better!

[OasisOfArrakis]: Actually, I was hoping to find out a bit more about domestication if you all don't mind sharing your stories.

-_-_-_-

Camila hummed happily, taking her time working through the Domestication Contract. There were abbreviated versions of course, but Beckett was her first floret, and she had the luxury of time. 

Actually, mentioning time, it was starting to get near lunch. Camila pulled up the living room camera on her pad, and checked on her pet-to-be. Aww, it looked like the cutie was making friends with some other florets on the extranet! Best not to disturb her. 

Quietly, Camila moved from her room to the kitchen. She flipped through a few options in her ever growing virtual cookbook, filtered to lunch ideas and the supplies she had ready. One recipe caught her eye- quesadillas. At their most basic, just cheese between tortillas, grilled until browned, very similar to a grilled cheese sandwich. Unlike grilled cheese, there was a seemingly endless number of things that were commonly enjoyed as inclusions.  

Camila settled on a few basic ingredients: steak, avocado, tomatoes, mozzarella and cheddar. Best to keep it relatively simple for the first one. She buttered the outside of two tortillas so they would brown better, and for added flavor. Setting one down in the pan, it began to sizzle as the cool butter hit the hot skillet. Quickly, Camila reduced the heat as she loaded the ingredients onto the tortilla, starting with the cheeses and following with the fillings, making sure they were evenly spread throughout. Once everything was inside, she set the other tortilla on top, gently pressing it down with the spatula. She waited patiently as the cheese melted. Once the top seemed stuck to the bottom, she gave it a flip- ah! Perfectly brown! 

Camila gave it a few more minutes, occasionally peeking at the underside; it would be a shame to burn the bottom after getting the top so right. When it seemed done, she grabbed a plate and transferred it off, smiling when she saw she had cooked the dish with no mistakes. Cutting it thrice, she placed it in front of Beckett's seat. 

Satisfied, Camila went to retrieve Beckett, taking care to approach her from her front to not startle her. "It's lunchtime, petal." 

"Alright," Beckett set her pad aside. "Would you mind helping me down?"

"I can do one better." Before Beckett could protest, Camila swept her up into her vines and carried her out of the living room.

"Miss Verdun?!" Beckett yelped.

"I just thought you might prefer this, since I only have to 'handle' you once instead of twice." Camila set Beckett down into her chair, in front of her meal. "Of course if you'd prefer me touching you more..."

Beckett gave her the most adorable little glare. "In what way is carrying me touching me less? Honestly," she huffed, before examining the food before her. "What's this?"

"It's a quesadilla!" Camila smiled, excited to share what she had been learning about Terran cuisine. "They can have all sorts of fillings but this one has cheese, steak, avocado, and a few spices." 

Beckett looked around the table. "There's no utensils?"

Camila nodded. "According to the extranet, you eat it with your hands, similar to a sandwich or a pizza." 

"I see." Beckett picked up one of the slices and brought it to her mouth, taking an experimental bite. Her face lit up and eyes went wide in that familiar adorable manner, humming in delight. "Oh fuck." She spoke around a mouthful. She held up one finger, asking for a brief pause, as she chewed and swallowed. "Sorry, it just surprised me. It's really good."

"It's no trouble at all." Camila smiled, her core thrumming with joy. She could watch the little one eat all day; it was honestly taking a considerable effort to not feed her an endless series of snacks. She watched as Beckett enjoyed a few more bites, everything from her body language to her biorhythm reflecting the pleasure she was getting from the meal. Waiting for her to swallow, Camila commented, "you are utterly adorable, you know." A hint of biorhythm in her voice, to make sure she knew Camilia truly meant it. 

Beckett quickly took another bite, her own precious way of stalling for time when she got overwhelmed. It was a travesty that the cutie was so unused to compliments. She swallowed, and followed up with a drink of water to buy just a few moments more. Goodness, Camila didn't even use 'Princess' that time. Finally she spoke, a brief "thanks" before grabbing more to eat. 

The meal ended all too soon, but a contented sigh from Beckett as she finished had Camila already thinking about dinner. She moved to the petal’s side and helped her down, carrying her once without express permission was already pushing her luck. There were other avenues of attack. "You know you can relax in your room instead of the living room."

"My room?" Beckett seemed confused for a moment, before realization dawned, "Ah, the guest room. Not sure why I would relax there."

That was troublesome. "You are living here for about another month before your trial, how is it not your room?" 

Beckett laughed. "I've lived in plenty of places for months that weren't home, Miss Verdun. I do plan on leaving the Vervarium once this wardship is over, after all."

It could cause problems if the little one got her heart set on leaving. "You know you don't have to leave."

"I'm thankful for help, Miss Verdun, but I just don't see why I would stay." Beckett placed her hands in the pouch of her hoodie. "I have places I'd like to go."

"Such as?"

"There's a few places in the former Accord I'd like to visit; it's been some time since I've been to Terra. I've heard the Affini have been hard at work restoring the place." Beckett shrugged, "After that maybe it would be fun to visit the Affini core worlds? See what all the fuss is about."

An unsupervised cutie like Beckett was likely to get snapped up and collared by the first core world Affini looking for a new floret that she encountered. "I could accompany you, you know."

"I think a month of your time is enough of an imposition. Besides, that hardly sounds independent."

This again? That line of thinking simply would not do. Camila put a heavy amount of her biorythm into her next words, "You cannot impose on me Beckett, and I would never consider taking care of you an imposition, even if you remain independent." 

That made her lock up for a moment, "I- My apologies, Miss Verdun. I didn't mean to insult your hospitality."

Camila sighed, and eased the tension she had introduced to the room, "I know you have some reservations about domestication due to..." Honestly she didn't truly know for sure. It was clear that the petal had an unfortunate experience with being property but the details were unclear. She didn't want to press the subject without at least a Class B on hand either, just in case. "Your prior owners, but it-"

Fury flashed across Beckett's face, and she interrupted Camila for the second time. "Last time I was owned, " they practically spat the word, "didn't end well for anyone , and I'd rather choke than be property again." 

Oh dirt, Camila shouldn't have brought that up; the little one was shaking. 

The monitor beeped. Beckett went pale, like all the blood had been drained from her. Camila had never seen such raw fear. There were tears welling in her eyes as it beeped again. Beckett dropped to the floor, trembling as she curled up and stuck out the monitor as far from herself as possible. 

Camila whipped out her pad as quickly as she could, silencing the alarm and ordering the monitor to deliver its payload. A moment later, all the tension drained from Beckett as she mumbled into the floor, "the hell does it beep for?" She rolled over to face Camila, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Ya didn' say it'd beep," she sniffled, visibly struggling to get her breathing under control.

Roots and dirt and mulch. Camila drew Beckett into her vines, doing her best to comfort the poor petal. "I'm sorry little one. I'll make sure it doesn't do that anymore, okay?" What that was about could be explored later, when she had the proper tools. She had heard that the warning beeps could cause additional stress, but she never heard of such a severe reaction. This was her fault. 

"Whatever." Beckett groaned. "Just put me down already." 

Camila gently lowered Beckett to the ground, making sure she was steady on her feet before fully retracting her vines. "How are you feeling?"

"Been better. Kinda dizzy, kinda thirsty." She sighed, wiping away drying tears with a hand.

Camila retrieved the glass from the table and refilled it with water, offering it to Beckett. "Here, drink."

Beckett took the glass with both hands, unsteady as she brought it to her lips. She slowly drained it of most of its contents, handing it back to Camila once done. "Thanks."

"Feeling better?"

"Yeah." They nodded a bit lazily. "Can I get some counteragent for the Class E?" 

Camila snaked out the appropriate vine, and gave her a poke. "There you go.”

"Thanks," she sighed. "Miss Verdun, I'm really trying here. I hope you appreciate that."

"I do, very much so." Inspiration struck- Camila may not have a Class B, but that wasn't the only way to take a sophont's mind off of things. "In fact you've been doing so good, I think you deserve a treat." 

-_-_-_-

They raised an eyebrow, curious. "Oh?" They still felt a bit raw from the... incident just a moment ago. 

Miss Verdun procured a berry- dark, purple, alien in appearance and as big as could be comfortably eaten in one bite. Did she just have this on her? They examined it. "It's not drugged, is it?"

"No, but it is delicious." Miss Verdun smiled.

The notion of a treat that was a literal treat was demeaning, but it smelled enticing, and they very much wanted additional emotional distance from the earlier unpleasantness. They cautiously took it from her hand, and rolled it over in their own for a moment before popping it in their mouth and biting down.

It wasn't just good. The juice and flavor that flooded their mouth was far and away the best thing they had ever experienced. They savored every second they could, paying no mind to the suite of embarrassing noises they were making. Sweet and a little tangy, almost overwhelmingly delicious, it was nothing short of utterly superb! They swallowed it down all too soon, and began to miss it before the aftertaste even left. 

"Absolutely adorable," Miss Verdun cooed, "Would you like another?"

There was little they wanted more, but they couldn't ask for a treat, could they? They had to maintain some level of dignity. Surely an independent sophont was capable of restraint. "Thank you, but I think I'll refrain for now." 

Miss Verdun seemed a bit disappointed at first, but that quickly gave way to her signature warm smile, "You really a delight, you know. I'm glad you are feeling better."

Something inside them fluttered, "R-Right. Just... don't put things that beep like that on me again." 

Miss Verdun held up a hand like she was taking an oath, her smile never faltering. "I swear it, little one. Your comfort means everything to me, you know." 

That weird feeling fluttered again. They swallowed it down. "Do you think I can get back on the couch?"

"Of course," Miss Verdun lowered her arm, placing it back by her side, "but you know, I would like you to think of the guest room as your room, and a place you can relax."

Ugh, right. "All it has is a bed, it's hardly anything resembling a personal space. Even the few things I have are kept in the living room."

"Then why don't you look at some things that will make it a personal space? Furniture, decorations, whatever you want. In the meantime we can move your stuff in there."

It would be bad if they got too comfortable here, but they also needed to show that they could be comfortable.... It was shaping up to be a rather delicate balancing act. "Wouldn't that be troublesome when it comes time to leave?"

Miss Verdun shook her head. "Not at all, it would be a simple matter to replicate it in your own hab. We can even detach the room and move it if you wish." 

Well, they were out of excuses at least. They sighed. "I'll give it a look. For now I would like to get on the couch, I'm still a little off-balance from all that class E." 

They could feel Miss Verdun perk up. "We're a bit aways from the couch, petal, did you want me to carry you?" 

We're never getting on anything on our own for the next month, are we?

Maybe they could find some furniture that was normal Terran sized? But right now, if they tried to walk they'd likely stumble or fall. This was a moment where they clearly needed help, and likely another test. "If you don't mind."

Vines gently lifted them up until they rested in Miss Verdun's arms, a place they were growing familiar with despite their best efforts. It was still strange to be carried like this, but it was fine, as long as they knew it was coming. There was another, quieter feeling underneath, but they didn't get time to try to assess it before Miss Verdun set them in the nook of the couch. "Okay, I'll let you have some space now. Just remember, you can always ask for help if you need it." 

She said that every single time, as though they were going to forget. "Of course, thanks." They gave a small salute. Miss Verdun's frown marked her disapproval, "Sorry, old habit."

"It's quite alright little one, I know you are making an effort." Miss Verdun smiled again, "I'll be in my room if you want anything." With that, they were finally alone again. 

They let out a sigh of relief. What a harrowing half hour that was. They eyed the offending item- the monitor firmly secured to their wrist. What the hell possessed them to make it beep like- like that. They took a breath and forced the thought out; the last thing they needed was to set it off again. They picked up their pad from where they left it, and brought up a search for some lounging options. 

Countless options for couches, cushions, chairs, and more. Almost all were designed to accommodate Affini, or at least would require some Affini assistance to use. That simply wouldn't do for something in their room. After poking around in the settings for a good while, they managed to find an option for 'Sophonts without an Affini,' which filtered it to Terran-sized things. They selected a comfortable-looking chair, a desk to work at, and a couch to lounge on. 

That out of the way, they returned to their studies on the Affini language. The syntax was rather simple, the grammar nothing crazy, the alphabet remarkably easy; however certain things were still a bit out of grasp. The Affini seemed to have no less than a hundred words that amounted to 'cute' depending on the exact nature of what they found adorable. There was one for the way a sophont enjoyed a meal, and another for the way they smiled. Each had modifiers for if that sophont was a floret. Even the word xeno itself seemed to directly translate to pet, floret merely indicated that they were an owned pet. 

There was also a lack of actual practice. Reading out the phonetics of a language and being able to match it to a definition was one thing, but if they intended to avoid being talked over they would need to understand it in conversation. Asking Miss Verdun for help was an option, but not one they were keen on. They were already around her far too often. Perhaps they could find something like an audiobook? That way they could not only get in their practice, but learn more about Affini culture.

Every single book they found involved ownership to some degree. Whether it was mourning the loss of a pet, courting a pet, or taking care of a pet, florets were everywhere. Even the ones about two or more Affini romancing each other had a focus on their florets! Between this and the earlier conversations in the public chat, it really seemed like the Affini didn't value independence at all. 

We may be in trouble. We should still be looking for a way out. 

That was certain domestication. If they somehow ended up on Cassius, maybe they could have a chance, but there was no way to escape the Vervarium . This was... well it wasn't fine, but they would make do. They just had to prove themselves. They did need a place to start, however, and each of these stories seemed as good as the next. 

A few lists of recommendations later, they had a clear choice- The Stars Betwixt . An ancient Affini novel about two beeple, their respective owners, and the romance between them. Hailed as a hallmark of Affini culture. There were countless readings available, some solo, some with different individuals reading each part. They hit ‘sort by popularity’ and choose the top option available in the local Affini dialect, opening the novel itself to follow along the best they could. 

They were swept away, not just by the astounding level of production that was put into the recording, but the writing as well. It was flowery, poetic and evocative. Or at least, the parts they understood were. It wasn't long before they were able to pick up all of it. 

<Dearest friend, surely you can see as well as me.  our mistress and thine are bound not by bonds akin to our own, but are pulled to each other by the gravity of a much stronger ardor. Unseen but felt, as they orbit each other.>

<"Let us then help break their equilibrium, so their stasis may end and they may join together at last."> They nearly jumped out of their skin as Miss Verdun spoke alongside the recording, "You know that's a classic, though I'm curious what made you want to read it."

"Don't sneak up on me like that!" As they snapped, they saw the monitor flash yellow, and took a few deep breaths to calm down. 

"I've been standing in front of you for the last five minutes- you seemed particularly engrossed." Miss Verdun giggled. "It was quite adorable, but it is time for dinner." Had it been that long already? They'd been reading practically the whole day! 

They cleared their throat, keeping the engagement from cracking their voice. "I see. In that case, could you help me down?" 

"Of course." A moment later, they were set on the floor, the vines retracting slowly to make sure they were steady. The walk to the kitchen was brief. Before they could even ask for further assistance, they were once again picked up with care, and placed in the chair. "I made some lasagna, from scratch this time." 

They cut into it with the fork set beside the plate, and offered a "thank you" before they dug in. It was, as food always seemed to be, utterly delicious. It made them hum with delight as they savored every second. Still... They couldn't help but think of the berry, the 'treat' Miss Verdun had given them, and how superior it was in taste. 

"You know I didn't realize you were interested in learning Affini." Miss Verdun's voice snapped them out of the spell. "Or reading The Stars Betwixt ."

They thought over their response as they finished chewing. "I figured if I'm going to be independent it would help to at least understand the language, if not speak it. Reading words on a page can only do so much, it just seemed the best way to start trying to understand it as used in conversation." 

"And you just happened to choose one of the most romantic novels in Affini culture?" Miss Verdun teased. 

"It was highly recommended, and you can learn a lot about people by what they consider important." They punctuated the statement by taking another bite. 

"And what did you learn?" 

They fidgeted with the fork as they answered, "Affini are all incredible saps, and value love and happiness above all else. It seems you all do little else but daydream about romance and taking care of sophonts, which is considered the most important thing an Affini can do. It also seems like you do not value independence in the slightest, and consider it misguided at best."

Miss Verdun laughed, a powerful, rich, and wonderful sound. "Yes, that is the Affini alright." She continued to laugh for a few moments, before finally settling down into a smile. "You know I would be more than happy to help you with learning Affini."

"I'm sure." They cut into the meal, preparing their next bite, "However what I value is my already limited private time." 

The Affini sighed, "If you say so, but the offer stands. I do ask that you share your thoughts on The Stars Betwixt once you finish, though." 

"Of course. I've been enjoying it so far." They took they final bite and set their fork aside, leaning back. They wiped their mouth, and paraphrased the text to the best of their ability. "The sweetness of the meal could not compare to the sweetness put within, for naught could compare to your love."

That was a mistake. Miss Verdun immediately swept them up off their seat, vines petting and stroking nearly everywhere as she praised them. "Cute, cute, cute! Utterly adorable! Impossibly precious!" There was that thrumming sound they had heard before, almost song-like, now overwhelmingly joyous.

"Miss Verdun!" They yelped, "p-put me down!"

The Affini instead pressed a vine under their chin, rotating their head towards her face as she continued with the next line. <"And you, my precious pet, deserve every drop that I could give and more."> 

It was then they made their second mistake- they met her eyes. Deep, swirling pools of golden light, desire and an alien need glimmering from within. They could feel themselves sinking into them, drowning in them. 

No!

Through sheer force of will, they forced their eyes shut. "Miss Verdun, please!" Their heart was nearly beating out of their chest as they realized just how much they were at her mercy.

"Ah, sorry little one, I got carried away." They could feel themselves being lowered, only cautioning to open their eyes once they felt the ground beneath them. "I know you aren't ready for that." Miss Verdun actually sounded a bit embarrassed about the affair.

They straightened out their clothes, taking practiced breaths. "It's... Well it's not fine, but I'll get over it. Don't do that again." 

"Of course, but you might be interested in knowing that it translates to nectar, not meal." She tapped a vine to her face, "though I suppose there isn't much difference for a beeple."

"I'll keep that in mind," they grumbled, still recovering. "Right now I just wanna bathe so I can go to bed."

The AI chimed, "I'll get the bath running for you, cutie!" Great, the machine was just what they wanted to hear right now. 

"I'll compile some pajamas and a towel, and meet you there, okay?" Miss Verdun smiled.

"Sure," they agreed, and headed to the bathroom. Stripping down was odd, accompanied by a faint queasiness. Yet another unfamiliar feeling as they saw their body below them. A quick glance towards the mirror and they noted it was darkened again. It was as comforting as it was maddening; how could they confirm or deny the feelings without evidence?

"Would you like some Class E?" Miss Verdun offered, announcing her presence. How creatures so large were so silent was beyond them.

That could help, but a heavy dosage could have her washing them. "Just a little, I do want to be able to wash myself."

"Of course." They felt the prick a moment later, and the edge softened soon after.  

They sighed in relief. "Thanks." Leaning on Miss Verdun like this was temporary, they reminded themselves. They'd be on their own feet as soon as they found them. "Can I get some help into the tub?"

Vines cradled them, taking care to avoid certain areas as they were lifted up, their heart quickening through the Class E. Miss Verdun carefully lowered them into the warm water, the steam clinging tightly to its surface. "There you go, Princess."

The word pricked through them like a flechette round. With any luck she didn't notice them blush, "I wish you wouldn't call me that. It feels weird," they protested as they began to bathe.

"Weird how?" Miss Verdun prodded. "Could you describe it perhaps?"

"No." That would be like describing a color they'd never seen, or a sound they’d never heard. 

The Affini made a quizzical intonation. "Do you really not know what you're feeling?" 

"No." There were far too many unfamiliar feelings flitting around their head lately. They could hardly pin any particular one down, let alone begin to describe it. They did their best to bury them all as they lathered up the luffa. 

Miss Verdun was silent for a while. With their back to her it was impossible to gauge what she was thinking. "Beckett, have you been happy before?"

What sort of question was that? "Sure, after I finish a job or polish my boots." 

She shook her head, "I don't mean satisfied with your work, I mean actually happy, as in experiencing joy." Isn't that the same thing? What was she even getting at?

"I'm afraid I don't understand the difference." They dunked themselves below the water to rinse off the suds, and continued scrubbing off. 

They didn't have to look at Miss Verdun to feel the sadness that evoked in her. It permeated through the air, sending a chill down their spine they felt through the warm bath. "I- Oh dear..." She fell silent again, the only sounds in the room was the gentle splashing of water and of the sponge scrubbing away. 

They finished washing off in this silence, breaking it to announce they were done. They were promptly lifted out of the water, and placed in front of a small table, a towel and neatly folded pajamas resting on top. Drying off and getting changed didn't take long, and they set the towel back down. 

"Ready for bed, cutie?" Miss Verdun smiled, a wistful air still about her. 

"Yes Miss." The Affini motioned for them to take the lead, and followed them as they moved into the guest room. Their room? Miss Verdun certainly wished for them to think of it as theirs, but that was a tall order. There had only ever been one place they had ever felt belonged to them. They paused at the side of the bed, "Could you-?"

They were picked up and placed in it before they had an opportunity to finish, Miss Verdun pulled the blanket back over them. "Comfortable?"

"Yes," they bit back rising anger, "but please let me finish asking next time." She was getting too comfortable doing whatever she pleased. 

"Sorry little one, I'll try to keep it in mind." Miss Verdun apologized. "Before I leave, would you like some Class Z? They'll help you sleep."

What would they need a sedative for? "I haven't been having trouble getting to sleep." 

"It would prevent you from dreaming." 

Ah, so that's what it was. "It was one bad dream, it'll be fine."

Miss Verdun's vines kneaded over each other, "Are you sure?" 

"If it happens again, then sure, but it seems a bit of an overreaction to take a sedative because of one bad dream." A small compromise should assuage her. 

"Alright, I'll hold you to that." Miss Verdun moved to leave, pausing at the doorway, "Beckett, one day you will be so happy you won't be able to remember what it was like before, I promise." 

"...Goodnight Miss Verdun." 

Darkness swallowed the room. 

-_-_-_-

There was turmoil in her core as Camila cleaned up, joy and sorrow intermingling like oil and water. Beckett wasn't just reading The Stars Betwixt , she had quoted it to her! It had taken no small effort to keep from claiming the little one then and there. Especially once she became lost in her eyes. She also couldn't recognize her own happiness- that had nearly broken Camila. It made sense that Beckett lacked emotional intelligence, but this was severe. How could she make her happy, when she didn't even know that's what she was feeling?

Camila was out of her depth. She couldn't give Beckett the help she needed here, but she knew who could. She had been meaning to schedule the little one a visit with a therapist, and after tomorrow she'd actually have the xenodrugs needed. Oh! Cordelia was going to lose her mind over the evening's developments! Camila could hardly wait to tell her that Beckett was reading The Stars Betwixt ! 

Taking out her pad, Camila noticed she had two messages from a username she didn't recognize. 

[FallCourtScribe]: Hello, this is Viola Amaryllis, 9th bloom, Fae/Faer, I work as an Archeoxenobureaucrat. I have some matters to bring to your attention regarding 'Beckett.'

[FallCourtScribe]: When would you be able to meet?

Chapter Text

They were once more in darkness. They knew this place, they had to know this place. The way the air felt, it was too familiar. Nowhere else crawled up their spine like this. 

There was dampness to the air, and they could feel from the staleness the area was small. They could hear something dripping, and the buzzing of electricity. They turned around the best they could, searching for the source of the sound. Then the worst thing that could have happened, happened; they found it. Red and sticky; blood dripping off their hands. 

This was the Valiant . They could see her helm now. Her crew lay broken and lifeless. It was the right thing to do, this was the most sure way to seize the ship. No mercy, no half measures, no risks. They felt another sizable drop of blood fall from their fingertips. 

It did not splash as it hit the surface. It made a beep. 

They bolted upright, panting. A moment later, the door burst open and Miss Verdun entered. Her eyes shone like spotlights in the darkness. She descended on them in an instant, injecting them before they could move to run. The panic bled away as they slumped back down. 

"I've given you a Class E, are you feeling alright?" Miss Verdun's voice was... off? There was a coldness in it that wasn't there before. 

"I'm fine, just another-" 

Don't say nightmare.

"Weird dream." They yawned. 

Miss Verdun fell silent long enough for the pause to hang in the air. When she spoke again, there was still that strange quality present in her voice. "Beckett... you know you can tell me anything, right?"

What? They couldn't help but cock their head in confusion. "I don't really remember the dream..."

They could see her twitch in the darkness, before reanimating to her usual self. "That's fine, dear." Her voice was more normal, but there was something still strained in it. "I'm going to give you Class Z's now, okay?" 

That was right, they had agreed to take them if this happened again. "Alright."

"Goodnight, Beckett." They felt a prick.

"Oh, goodnight," they replied as darkness took them.

"Good morning, cutie~" Miss Verdun sang cheerily.

They blinked. Were they awake already? They felt really awake actually, like they had just gotten the best sleep of their life. The bed groaning as the Affini sat on it brought their attention back to the present. "Good morning Miss Verdun."

"How are you feeling?" Her demeanor was completely normal. What was that last night, though? It did happen, right?

"Uhm, pretty good actually, but about last night-"

"Oh, it's nothing to worry about," Miss Verdun interjected, "We'll just make sure to get a healthy dose of Class Z from now on. By the way, I gave you your Gs alongside the counteragent for the Z, so those are taken care of for the day."

Wait, like, permanently? It was two bad dreams, that was entirely un- No, they had to stay focused. "Actually you were acting a bit strange last night, and I wanted to know if something was wrong?"

Miss Verdun hitched again. "It's-" she sighed. "I had an... unpleasant conversation. It's nothing for you to worry yourself over, but thank you for expressing concern." She clapped her hands together, forcing the gloom away and returning once more to her cheery self. "Besides, we need to get you up and ready!"

This was definitely strange. Well, it felt off at least. They hadn't even known the Affini a week, and it wasn't her first switch-up on them. When they first met, it was clear that she didn't want much to do with them. The last three days, she couldn't stop doting on them. Still, it really wasn't their place to pry, and they had their own secrets to keep. 

They pushed the blanket off of them and moved to the edge of the bed "Could you help me down, please?" 

"I could carry you." Miss Verdun's smile made them question if they were picking up the wrong signals earlier. 

It wasn't a far distance, but they weren't going to just let her carry them needlessly. "I'll walk, thank you."

Vines wrapped around them, cradling them into the air, "Okay, Princess~"  Miss Verdun teased, holding them briefly before setting them down. 

They could feel their heart quicken and blood rush to their cheeks, but they managed to keep their voice level. "It's a little early for that, don't you think?" They had been foolish to be concerned about the Affini, she was more of a hazard than ever!

"Apologies." They got the feeling she wasn't actually sorry. Miss Verdun was really starting to go out of her way for such... intimacies. The way their chest fluttered was an odd mix of alien and pleasant. "Speaking of walking, you have finally recovered enough to take one!" She then awkwardly added, "A walk, that is." 

Oh, they had been wanting to see the ship. "Well, I've been looking forward to stretching my legs." They replied as they moved to the kitchen. 

"Are you ready to get helped into your seat?" Miss Verdun asked as they stopped next to it.

"If you don't mind." Having to say yes was nearly as bad as her just grabbing them. Thankfully, Miss Verdun just placed them on the seat, without any antics. Before them was a plate, with three pancakes of varying sizes, syrup poured across them. 

Miss Verdun took her place across from them, "I thought you might enjoy them a bit more now." 

It's true they hadn't been able to taste then, something that already seemed a strange memory. They recalled the spongy texture, and stickiness of the syrup, but how would it taste? "Thank you for the food." They dug in.

It was sweet, buttery, fluffy, and melted in their mouth. Meals were quickly becoming the highlight of the day. They were already salivating for the next bite by the time they finished the first.

"You are quite welcome." Miss Verdun smiled, clearly getting something from watching them eat. They did their best to ignore it, simply doing their best to enjoy the meal in relative silence. As the pancakes waned, she spoke again. "You know, you might want to start thinking of a new name for yourself."

They blinked. "Huh?" A new name? 

"Well, since you are trying out feminine self expression, I thought a new name might help." Right, they had agreed to trying that. It still felt largely intangible on the whole. "You can even try a few different ones if you want." 

"I don't know, I'm not really sold on this whole being a woman thing yet." There was no denying how the woman in the mirror made them feel, but that wasn't the same as being a woman, was it? Even if they did look like that, it's not like they would magically be a woman. They certainly didn't feel very much like one. 

Miss Verdun pulled out her pad. "I could make a few suggestions."

That could only end poorly. They either choose a name she offers, effectively letting the Affini name them, or they appear like they went out of their way to choose something else. "That isn't necessary, thank you."

She set her pad aside. "Well I can't keep calling you 'Beckett.'" 

"I don't see why not; it's a last name after all." They took a bite to punctuate. 

Miss Verdun humphed. "Dear, I know that 'Joshua Beckett' isn't actually your name." That was... well they had figured she might know that, actually. That didn't make being called out on it any less awkward. 

"I've been using it long enough," they attempted to deflect.

"Even so, it's clear you don't actually associate with it." Was it that obvious? When had they slipped? Or was Miss Verdun just starting to pick up on them that much? "Also, I think that you make people call you by your last name so you can keep everyone at a distance, and that has to stop." 

Even being called out on it, they still couldn't cede. "I'm just not ready for that, alright? I'll think about it though." A first name they'd use... a girl's name they'd use? It was somewhat daunting to think about. 

"Are you sure you don't want to hear my suggestions? I think you'll like them." That's exactly what they were afraid of. Miss Verdun had practically not stopped teasing them over her maybe being right about the gender stuff. If she pitched a name they ended up using, she'd be insufferable.

They shrugged. "It's not exactly the first time I've chosen a name." Not the last either, in all likelihood. 

Miss Verdun's smile dropped. "Well this time, it's something you should want to keep." Slowly it creeped back into the corners of her mouth, "I want you to think of something you can actually identify with, and want to use."

"Well, like I said," they dipped the last bit of pancake into syrup pooled at the edge of the plate. "I'll think about it." 'Beckett' was fine, as was 'Kade' and 'Johnson' and the dozens of others they had used, long and short term. 

"Well until you figure it out, I think I'll just keep calling you princess." Miss Verdun was now fully returned to herself. "Would you like help down, princess?"

T-twice?!  

Their heart was pounding as Miss Verdun gently laid her vines upon them, in position to help them down. She can't just decide to not use their name! "You will not!" they protested, "What's it gonna take to get you to stop calling me that?"

"It's fairly obvious you enjoy it," Miss Verdun stated. 

That wasn't true! It couldn't be! It made them feel strange, and warm, and there was that weird uneasy fluttering! "I don’t! Just help me down, please." 

Steady breaths .

"Of course, princess." Their heart skipped as the vines sprang to action, lifting them out of the chair and setting them down. This was positively infuriating! 

Getting upset only encourages her.

They couldn't get Miss Verdun to drop it, but they could shift the subject. "You said I can take a walk today, I'd like to leave as soon as I'm dressed."

"Aww," She cooed, "is someone excited for their walk?" 

Still annoying, but this sort of teasing was easily manageable. "Please don't play with me in such a manner, Miss Verdun." 

"Well I suppose I'll have to find a better way to play with you then." Was every Affini this relentless? It would be commendable if it wasn't personally targeted at them. "I put your clothes with your boots and hat in your room. I'll clean up real quick and meet you in the living room, okay cutie?" Miss Verdun turned from them and began clearing off the table. 

Why does she even bother asking, if she just does it anyways? They gave an "alright" before leaving the room, returning to the guest room shortly after. There were indeed a few items folded, and placed on the top of their boots. A hoodie and baggy loose pants, similar to yesterday, but with a more obvious floral pattern to them. Largely white, with pink and purple flowers to match Miss Verdun. 

They sighed. This was to be expected. Perhaps they should bring it up; choosing the style of things they wore was one thing, but the 'companion dress' stuff was a bit far. For now, they were anxious to actually get out of the hab and see the ship themselves. Blueprints, schematics, and virtual tours could give an idea, but in-person reconnaissance was invaluable when possible. 

They put the clothes on, only to find they were even softer than yesterday's set. How could anyone focus wearing something this soft?! Pushing past that as best they could, they kneeled down and strapped on their boots. At least those were familiar. Their shine had dulled, but they were still oddly clean. Haven't been trudging through a rusting ship for twelve hours a day lately. They should reshine them soon, if only to help lengthen the life of the leather.

Tightening the laces grounded them. This was just another mission, really. They could overcome something as childish as flirtatious teasing for a few weeks. There was a unique danger here, but danger was far from unusual. They still had the coin as well, and as long as they had that things should be fine. As far as bad ends go, they could definitely think of fates worse than what the Affini threatened, if only a few. They would pull through and deliver on this mission, same as any other. That is what they did. 

As they stood up, they confidently tugged on the cap, reassured. Huh, their hair was longer. By a few inches now at least. That growth stuff didn't mess around, it seemed. 

What's it look like?

The mirror was darkened again. Maybe if they asked Miss Verdun they could see themselves? Perhaps they could just wait, and catch their reflection somewhere while they were out. Miss Verdun would have let them know if it looked bad, right? Not that her opinion mattered, but she did have an eye for these things. 

Well from what they knew, most people out on the ship would be pets or their Affini, so there wouldn't likely be a surplus of attention regardless. They gave themselves a once over as best they could without a mirror. Everything was sitting right, and the boots were firmly tight. They marched out into the living room, where Miss Verdun was already waiting. 

"Ready, princess?" She teased. 

They stayed focused; falling for such a juvenile taunt only encourages her. "Ready when you are."

Miss Verdun seemed unphased. "Of course, just try not to push yourself, and if you want me to, I'll carry you back, okay?"

Push themselves walking? They hadn't been in microgravity that long. "I'll keep that in mind." 

"Alright, cutie." She opened the door, sweeping a few vines towards it like a presentation, motioning for them to step through. "Let's go for a walk." 

They adjusted their hat one more time, and accepted the invitation. 

It was truly a pity that they had been stuck inside for much of their time here. The way the Hab rings extended before them and to the sides, rotating at an imperceptible pace, was as mesmerizing as the simulated dawn that surrounded them. A simulated paradise and mechanical marvel. From what they heard, this wasn't even close to their larger ships, and proper stations were the size of small moons. They probably even had fully artificial planets. 

The sound of the door sliding closed called their attention back. "You can take the lead, I'll just follow behind you, alright?" 

Huh, that was unusual. They had half-expected her to try to put a leash on them. Was there a specific place they wanted to check? The ship was massive, they couldn't exactly justify a transit out to something like the import docks for a walk, and walking there would take ages. They were supposed to be giving up on that plan anyways. They should just... pick any direction. 

So they stepped forward, taking long measured strides. Heading down whatever paths caught their eye. There were others out, mostly Affini, some carrying their pets, others taking a morning walk. The pet was often too enthralled by their owner to take note of the world around them, with the owner focused on doting over them. A few however, their eyes only partially clouded, waved towards them as they briefly passed by each other. 

They would give a short wave back. This was fine, brief, passing acknowledgements like this were easy. It didn't dampen their enjoyment of the well tended foliage that decorated and shaped each pathway. Hanging plants, bushes, vines, and trees separated the paths from each other, flowers and grasses filled out the flooring. Many spaces to the sides were cleared, opening up into scenic views where you could see the river flowing by them. A motherfucking river, on a station . A few of these clearings had small groups of Affini, people, and Xenos they didn't recognize- some kind of giant bee and masses of tentacles. 

"Is that a comfortable pace?" Miss Verdun's comment struck them as odd enough to pause.

"My pace? This is pretty casual, honestly." As far as they were concerned, they were just walking. 

"Well it's just that it seems a bit fast," she indicated the way they had come, "We passed about a dozen other sophonts."

They tried not to roll their eyes, and continued moving. "I'm just trying to stretch my legs a bit, I've marched much further and faster than this." 

Miss Verdun followed casually. "Well you shouldn't be marching at all." 

"I'm not, I'm just saying it takes more than a walk to tire me out." It was as if she kept forgetting the realities of what they were. 

"Well, just let me know when you get tired. I'm always here for you." That went without saying, honestly. "You might be healed but I still don't want you overexerting yourself."

Whatever. If Miss Verdun actually knew what they were capable of, she wouldn't be concerned. 

They were passing by shops now. Apparently with the capital systems shut down, they were all free. There were all manner of places, neatly woven in-between small groups of habs or public spaces. 

Trying to catch their reflection in the glass surfaces only gave them a better glance inside. This was getting frustrating; maybe they should just ask?  Letting Miss Verdun know they were concerned about something so silly was unappealing. It would only invite more teasing. As for the shops, they seemed to have everything from custom clothing lines to pastries.In fact, there were all sorts of places to eat, as restaurants were seemingly the most abundant. Most specialized in a few items, or specific cuisine, but a few places had really wide menus. They wanted to try all of it. There was so much though, where would they even begin? Everything looked so good. Despite having eaten not even two hours ago, they could feel drool pooling in their mouth as they passed by a cake shop. Something sweet would be really great about now... 

"Would you like a treat, princess?" Their heart skipped into action as they whipped around to face Miss Verdun. As if she had read their mind, she was holding out a berry. They swallowed the saliva in their mouth. She must have caught them staring. 

They should say no. They didn't need to eat. Accepting this would only serve to encourage Miss Verdun to treat them like a pet. It's not like they were curious about its flavor either, they had already tasted it. That they were the best things they ever had was a moot point. It was settled, then. 

They took the berry. 

"Thanks Miss." They didn't remember deciding to reach for it, just that they had. Now that it was in their hand, they felt stuck. They meant to say 'no thanks.' They were going to say no. They probably could have said no, if she didn't show it to them. If she didn't hold it out for them. 

They were supposed to show they could accept kindness or something, right? So taking the berry would help, right? None of that honestly mattered, they needed to taste it again. 

It did not disappoint in the slightest. In fact, it was somehow even better. They failed to contain themselves as they moaned around it in pleasure, drawing the curiosity of several Affini nearby. Oh, stars, one was coming over now! 

"Absolutely precious!" Miss Verdun exclaimed, her vines writhing with delight. 

"Yes, what an adorable little one." The other Affini chimed in. They were shorter than Miss Verdun, in fact, they were only a bit taller than they were. Their body was much darker, with deep greens and browns, vibrant purples stripping the leaves in places. They had rough amalgamations of arms and legs in the form of bundled vines. Large leaves were arranged like hair, obscuring the right side of their face, while on the left three eyes glowered with predatory intent. <"Your floret is incredibly cute, may I pet them?"> 

Floret?! Was that what they looked like? They turned back to the store window to try to catch their reflection again and failed. <"Oh she's independent, but she is my-.">  They didn't understand the last word. Some sort of slang? "<I'm afraid she's really new and doesn't like petting yet, but you can ask.>"

'Yet,' as if they ever would. It was hard to feel appropriately bitter with such a sweet taste lingering in their mouth. They swallowed down the berry, turning around in time to see that they were cornered, the Affini standing over them. 

The new one smiled and waved, finally directing its attention towards them. "Hi there cutie, I'm Rhea Athanas, 6th bloom, she/her. Can I pet you a little?"

"No thanks." They took a small step away from her and tugged down the brim of their hat. "My name's Beckett."

"Yes, I know." She smiled, turning to Miss Verdun, <"Well you've done pretty well so far. Judging  from her reaction to that berry I don't think she'll-">  they didn't catch the next few words properly, they flowed into a way in a manner that was hard to decipher.  <"-long.">

The words that slipped out of their grasp were concerning, but they were still processing how it was that this random Affini knew them. The most likely way is gossip concerning the arrival of the Valiant, surely the arrival of so many 'ferals' would be of note. This was bad, such attention always was. The last thing they needed was extra scrutiny, or someone digging through their past. 

Miss Verdun nodded, smiling. <"Yes, she's really made a lot of progress already, I'm very proud of her."> 

The unexpected nature and emphasis of the statement made an inexplicable bubbling feeling rise in their chest. It tickled in a way, and they narrowly managed to avoid smiling. Miss Verdun was proud of them? Well they had been fairly cooperative and- <"She even understands most of what we're saying,>" she swapped from her native tongue, "Don't you, princess?"

They could feel themselves go red. Calling them that in front of a stranger?! What was wrong with her?! No, they couldn't let Miss Verdun rile them up. "It would be hard not to, you're talking directly over me," they huffed, It wasn't like they had eavesdropped anyways. "I didn't catch a few things, but yeah, I got most of it." 

"My, only a few days and you can understand conversation?" Miss Athanas looked genuinely shocked. It wasn't like it was their first new language, and it had been designed with Terrans being able to easily learn it in mind. "I can see why your Affini is so proud of you."

"She's not my Affini," they protested. 

"Goodness, you are precious." Miss Athanas smiled, reaching out to them, and hesitating as they flinched back, bumping into Miss Verdun. She quickly pulled back, standing straight up again. "Well, I have some business to attend to, but have fun on your walk, cutie. Best of luck to the both of you." She waved as quickly departed.

"Oh, goodbye Miss Athanas." 

"Bye, Rhea!" 

What a vastly unpleasant encounter. "Miss Verdun, I am once again asking you to please refrain from calling me 'princess,' especially in front of others."

"Absolutely," Miss Verdun nodded, "as soon as you give me something else to call you." Ridiculous! This was unfair, they hadn't even had time to do any research! "I still have those suggestions, you know." 

So that was her game. Well, they could stand a bit of embarrassment for a few more hours. Once they returned home they would pick something suitable. "I told you to keep those to yourself for a reason." They started moving again, walking would help burn off a bit of building aggravation at least. 

Miss Verdun followed behind, a bit closer than last time. "Did you feel like sharing that reason?"

They grunted, as if she didn't know. "No." 

Thankfully, Miss Verdun seemed willing to let it slide there. They stepped onto a side path that led down onto a large walkway by the rivers edge. It was fairly shallow, about knee deep at most and flowing gently. There was even a simulated cool breeze down here. What ridiculous extravagance. 

It was undeniably pleasant as they walked alongside it. There were still a few others down here, but the wider area let them keep their distance better. Some of them were even playing in the water, splashing each other, or the plants that owned them. Coming by the actual edge of the water as they crossed a low bridge, they were able to actually catch a decent glance at themselves. 

There was rippling in the water that made the reflection just a bit unsteady as it 'flickered.' They didn't look quite as rough as they recalled. There was definitely a softness and life to the skin that wasn't present a few days ago. Was that the result of the soaps? Even Class Gs would need longer than a day and two doses to work. Their hair was definitely a bit longer too, it was starting to frame their face. They frowned, it did look a bit shaggy, and they definitely looked large and masculine. "You know, if you wanted to see yourself so badly, you could have just asked." 

Shit, Miss Verdun had caught them red handed. "Well I didn't want to make it a whole ordeal." 

"So you kept trying to catch your reflection in every possible surface, which was less of an ordeal than please?" She sounded unhappy.

"It's just- I figured since you were likely the one doing it-" They had failed a test here hadn't they? They could feel the failure in their gut, like rancid meat. 

Miss Verdun sighed. "I had the mirrors darkened because I thought seeing your reflection might cause you distress while you were transitioning, not to hide anything." 

"I... didn't want to impo-" 

They knew they had chosen the wrong word before it even fully left their tongue. A vine guided their chin up, forcing their eyes upwards as another pushed up the brim of their hat. Their breath hitched for a moment to meet Miss Verdun's eyes, glowing, golden, and mesmerizing. 

"You know I told you that you cannot impose on me." The words pierced through them. For a moment the rest of the Vervarium fell away, and it was just them, floating in those floodlights. They nodded on instinct. Miss Verdun looked through them for a moment, before breaking her gaze. "It seems we'll have to revisit this topic later."

They could feel the dread set in. "Sorry I just..." They struggled for the words. "I've always just done everything for myself, involving as few people as possible. I'm not used to all this asking for help all the time." 

Or this kindness, or these feelings and a thousand other things here. 

"I understand," Miss Verdun nodded, "and that's why I'm going to help you." 

The dread squirmed in their gut. It certainly didn't sound like they were just gonna talk it out. Hadn't they taken her help at almost every offer? Why wasn't that enough? "Right." They started to walk again, finishing crossing the bridge. 

"By the way," Miss Verdun apparently wasn't in the mood for silence. "How are you feeling? We've been out a few hours now." 

"Fine." They headed onto a gently winding path that lead back up to the main area. "It's pretty nice here." If it weren't for all the people and constant hungry glances from Affini it might even be enjoyable. 

"I'm glad you like it here," Miss Verdun did sound quite pleased, "but I meant that you have been on your feet for some time. We can sit and rest somewhere if you like." She pointed to an open clearing nearby. 

They kept moving. "I've been sitting and resting the last five days," they shrugged. "Any longer and I was probably going to start pacing." 

Miss Verdun's vines knotted up, "Well it's just- it's been hours and-"

"Miss Verdun I can march for two days without pause, trust me, I am fine with walking a few hours . " Her constantly treating them as though they were delicate was getting on their nerves. 

"I know you can push yourself very far, but I really want to just make sure you aren't hurting yourself. You were in microgravity for-" 

"I'm not pushing!" They snapped, garnering the looks of a few nosy Affini. "This is extremely light for me, I promise." What was so hard to comprehend? That they might have actually stayed in shape through it? That they had been made for such a thing? Even the vet said they were fit! 

Miss Verdun looked troubled. "Well besides that, it's nearly lunch and you need to eat. I was going to drop you off at Cordelia's after." 

"Then let's stop somewhere to eat." They had passed dozens of places walking down here, surely something had to be close by. 

That made the Affini perk up. "Oh that's a wonderful idea! There's a delightful cafe just a few blocks away!" 

They felt a shiver crawl up their spine, "It's not a... Class J cafe is it?" 

Miss Verdun shook her head, "No, but we can go to one of those if you want."

"No thanks." They could taste bile in the back of their throat.

A vine extended down out of Miss Verdun's cloak, stopping in front them. It lingered for a moment as they stared at it. "Could you take my vine so I can take the lead?" Ah, there it was.

"I'm not going to wander off." Even if they did, they wouldn't get far. 

"I only want to make sure we don't get separated. I'm not asking you to wear a leash, just to hold my vine for twenty minutes." Miss Verdun's face didn't give anything away. 

"I very much doubt we'll get separated, and even if we did," they held up the hand with the monitor, "it won't be for long."

"What if I asked really nicely?" Miss Verdun wiggled the vine in front of them. They put their hands in the hoodie’s pocket. They weren't a lost child. "If you insist. Just stay close, alright?" 

They sighed and stepped next to her, and she started walking. Miss Verdun led them inwards, more towards the center of the ring, and the path opened into a large courtyard with a canopy of vines shading the area. Around its edges were various places to get food, and in the courtyard dozens of groups were enjoying the scenery and their meals. 

They entered a small cafe, following behind Miss Verdun. Bells jingled as they crossed the threshold. Looking around, there were about a dozen booths, and many of them were full. It seemed they were far from the only ones out for lunch. They were mostly pets though, sitting in the laps of their Affini and being fed, or pet, and often both. All these people, but where was the service?

 They didn't have to wait long for the answer to reveal itself. 

"HELLO!" An android popped up out of nowhere. It had a sleek chrome chassis, with large tubes covering its joints. Beneath its head rested a collar, looking like an oversized nut. "I'm Cassie Vidius, Second floret, she/it. Welcome to Drinks and Bytes, how can I help you?" A simplified digital face displayed a smile, and animated as she talked. 

The sudden appearance of the machine nearly had them jump out their skin. The hell were they doing giving AIs bodies?! And apparently making them pets? Wait, what was the difference between Jess and an AI that's a pet? 

"Yes, can I get a table for two?" Shit, they let Miss Verdun take the lead again.

"You got it, Miss!" The machine cheerily led them over to a table, a large seat on either side. "Will you be ordering for your floret today?" 

The first time was annoying, but it was just insulting from some uppity machine. "I'm not a floret." 

"Huh?" It tilted it's head, "Oh! So you aren't! Well, there is a notice on your file. Anyways, in that case," It took out a menu and handed it to them. What was that about a notice? "Here you go!"

They took the menu, keeping their eyes on the machine. "Thanks. Mind giving me like five minutes?"

"You betcha!" It beamed, before dashing off and disappearing into the restaurant. 

"Would you like some help up?" Miss Verdun asked, moving in closely. 

This was getting really annoying. "Can't I get up on my own now I'm no longer healing?" 

She shifted, "You could, but I think you find it much easier with my help." 

"Fine." They growled. They were already garnering the attention of nearby Affini, and this wasn't worth making a scene over. They did their best to relax as the vines placed them in the chair, Miss Verdun taking her place across from them.

They flipped open the menu and- there was an overabundance of options. There were over a hundred breakfast items alone, and nearly as many lunch items. The variations were a bit overwhelming themselves, what the hell was the difference between a Greek Salad and an Italian salad anyways? Burgers alone came in hundreds of combinations. 

A vine intercepted as they were flipping through the pages yet again, "You know, if you're having trouble deciding, you could let me order for you." 

This was another Affini plot, wasn't it? Having a ridiculous menu was just another way to force them to rely on Miss Verdun, like the seats. They could choose at random, it was unlikely they ended up with a bad dish. Then again, Miss Verdun hadn't just been choosing their meals, she had been cooking for them too. It wasn't like this was a new venue of control for her. They already felt like they were on shaky ground from the days earlier events, this wasn't worth fighting over. They sighed and closed the menu in defeat, offering it to Miss Verdun. The sound of an Affini squealing with delight as they did so made it sting more than it should have. 

"Thank you." Miss Verdun smiled as she took it, looking over each page once, before setting it down.

"So?" 

Miss Verdun leaned over the table, until they were face to face. "'So' what, princess?" 

Don't encourage her .

They swallowed the feeling. "Well, what did you decide?" 

"You wanna know what I'm going to order for you, is that it?" That odd feeling fluttered in their chest again. Luckily, they didn't have to respond to Miss Verdun's teasing. 

An Affini approached their table. They would guess they were just a bit bigger than Miss Verdun, if only a little. It was difficult to be sure with Miss Verdun sitting across from them.  "Excuse me, my ward was wondering if he could say hello to his friend?"

Miss Verdun looked stunned, "I thought you said you didn't have any friends?" 

"I don't." They peered around the Affini to see who they were talking about. One of their old crewmates. They knew this one, Nick Sawyer. He used to work on deck 14. No idea what made him think they were friends though. They knew they would likely have to face some of the men one day, but this was a bit too soon. There wasn't any way this was going to end well. 

Sawyer looked healthier though, there was a softness to his skin now. It no longer clung tightly around his face. He looked a bit unsteady but seemed largely present, and his eyes weren't dilated. He wore standard clothes, free from the companion dress motifs, but the monitor was wrapped around his neck like a collar, and several of the Affini's vines possessively clutched to him. Was he a pet or a ward? He waved, "Hey, Beckett." 

This felt wrong. They hadn't cared much for the crew, but seeing one of them now, with a collar-

We did betray the whole crew. 

That was something that had a newfound weight to it. It was hardly the first time they'd been disgusted by some of their actions, it was a pretty minor offense really, so why did it eat at them like this? Was it just the collar stuff getting to them again? "Heya Sawyer."

Why Sawyer was claiming to be their friend was beyond them. The only thing they could think of was exacting revenge, which would be really stupid around the Affini. They taught him better than that at least. 

"Well why don't you two eat with us? The waitress should be back to take our orders soon." Miss Verdun stood up, and moved to stand at the end of the side they were on. "I'm sure the little ones would love to catch up." 

The other Affini lit up, "That's a wonderful idea!"  They sat down immediately, pulling Sawyer into their lap, making him emit a small squeak. 

Wait, if they were both sitting on the other chair, where was Miss Verdun going to- "Excuse me cutie, but I'm going to put you in my lap now." 

"The hell you are!" Protesting did little to actually stop her as they were lifted up. Miss Verdun sat under them in their chair, and they were placed back down in her lap. It was surprisingly comfortable, almost as though it had been made for the purpose.

"Now, that wasn't so bad was it?" Miss Verdun hummed. 

Don't encourage her. 

"We could have easily gotten more seats, or moved to another table. This is really unnecessary." At least it seemed like they weren't the only one with an overbearing Affini. Sawyer would pull away from some vines that had worked their way into his hair, only for another set to start scratching behind his ear which he'd then swat away, and so on. Miss Verdun still respected them in that manner, at least. 

"I suppose, but you can indulge me this one time, right?" She was at least not trying to touch them further. It was pretty comfortable, and it was only one meal... 

They threw their hands up in frustration, "I guess if it's just this one time."

"My, what a charming personality." The other Affini wore a mercurial grin, "My name is Lydia Parmenia, 6th bloom, She/They, and this cutie-" she picked up Sawyer from her lap a tad, giving them a better view of him. "Is my ward, but he tells me you two already know each other." 

"Camila Verdun, First Bloom, She/Her, it is a pleasure to meet you Lydia." The two Affini touched a few vines together briefly. "You both clearly know Beckett, but she is using She/Her pronouns currently and is taking a class G now."

They seized up as Miss Verdun outed them to their former crewmate. Why would she think that was okay to just say in front of Sawyer?! 

Sawyer looked confused, "What? Beckett what are they talking about, man?"

"Ah bup bup," Miss Parmenia did something they couldn't fully see. All they saw was some movement in her vines and Sawyer went a little pale. "No 'man' or anything similar, petal." 

They didn't owe Sawyer anything, but they weren't just going to let the Affini speak for them. "I've been trying a few new things." They shrugged. 

"I see..." Sawyer looked conflicted, "so, uhm," he scratched his head awkwardly, "You're a pet now?"

Miss Verdun shifted underneath them. "I am not, I have a wardship." 

"Wait, why don't you have a collar then?" Sawyer asked, clearly confused. They simply held up the monitor on their hand. Sawyer turned to his Affini, "You didn't say it had cuffs!" 

The other Affini shrugged and giggled. "Oopsie, I suppose I slipped my mind." Thank the stars Miss Verdun didn't make that same 'mistake.' 

"Hiii, can I get everyone's order?" The android girl was back, waving and barely visible at the edge of the table.  

Miss Parmenia was the first to speak, petting Sawyer as she did so,"This cutie will have the lemon chicken with rice, and some enriched mineral water for myself."

"And we will have the ziti," Miss Verdun folded the menu and handed it over. "mild please. I would also like some water, if you would." Letting her order for them was a bit embarrassing, but at least Sawyer was in the same position. 

Tucking away the menus, the android perked up, "Alrighty! I'll be back in a jiffy!" It gave a wink and flashed a smile, giving a playful salute before disappearing into the restaurant. 

The silence left by its departure was growing into an awkward heavy pause. "So, how have you been finding the Compact, Mister Sawyer?"

He gave them a look that told them all they needed to know. Dealing with the Affini was difficult. "It's... not what I expected. I'm still kinda shocked you were the one responsible though, you never seemed like a sympathizer."

They grunted. "I'm not."

Sawyer looked confused, "Then why?" 

"Got tired of being stuck in a tin can, and losing a war." They shrugged. It wasn't a question that could have a good answer, no matter what it would be insufficient. 

Sawyer's fire sparked to life. "So what? You were bored ?"

Miss Parmenia's vines coiled around him. "Now, now petal, let's stay nice, okay?" 

They held up their hand. "It's perfectly fine, I don't really expect anyone to be happy they got betrayed." 

That earned a fairly nasty look from Sawyer. "I can't believe I thought you were actually dedicated to the crew. I thought you cared." Fool.

"My dedication is reserved for my own goals, but I am grateful that it only involved the few casualties it did." Miss Verdun shifted underneath them again, and Miss Parmenia looked uncomfortable. 

Sawyer looked nearly heartbroken. "They were our friends, did that mean nothing to you?"

"They were your friends," they replied. They were already tired of this conversation, they've had it too many times before. There was a weight in their chest. Strange, they normally wouldn't feel regret over this; maybe the dream was getting to them.

"O-Kay!" the android was back, bearing two plates with two large glasses of water behind it. For the first time, they felt thankful for its presence. It stood on the tips of its toes and slid the plates onto the table, followed by utensils bundled in napkins. "Your food is ready! I hope you enjoy it!" 

Miss Verdun reached down, stroking the machine and praising it. "What a good little bot~" It shivered with pleasure and melted under the attention. Miss Parmenia also joined in, cooing as she traced her vines alongside the android's seams. It was only a handful of moments, but more than long enough to feel eerie. 

The android bounced away, checking in on another table, where it was pulled up into an unseen Affini's arms. Maybe it was just designed to be that much of a pet? They didn't know how to really interpret the food that lay in front of them. It was beige tubes, covered in a red sauce and herbs, as well as cheese. This would be a fork right? They unbundled the utensils- oh. There was a steak knife. As soon as it was revealed, a vine from beneath slipped out, and snatched it. 

They huffed. As if they couldn't be trusted with sharp objects, or that they would need a knife to kill or wound. They took a glance at Sawyer as they grabbed the fork- he was swatting away the vines of his Affini from the utensils. Seeing how much more aggressive an Affini could be was assuaging fears that Miss Verdun was trying to own them at least. They dug the fork in and took a small bite.

It was savory, and filled with layers of delightful flavors. Miss Verdun hummed as they chewed, and it made some sort of resonance in them. They swallowed, blushing furiously as it tingled, and lingered in their chest. 

"Well it sounds like you two weren't really all that close." Miss Parmenia had surrendered the utensils, satisfying herself with petting Sawyer as he cut into his meal. "But that just means you can get to know each other now, right?" 

Neither of the Terrans spoke, exchanging only icy glances as they continued to eat. "Well I think that's a wonderful idea, the little one definitely needs more friends, don't you princess?" 

"M-miss Verdun?!" In front of the men?! Was she completely out of her mind?! 

Sawyer furrowed his brow, "What?" 

"It's-" their voice was strained, they paused to clear it. "She insists on calling me that until I pick a new name." It felt like defeat to admit Miss Verdun had pushed them thus far. 

Miss Parmenia perked up, "Ooo, how fun! What are you considering?" 

"I don't know yet." They took another bite. 

"Well, I'm sure Camila would be happy to help." A fact they were all too aware of. They could feel a few of her vines under them squirm. 

"Are you really just fine with this?" Sawyer finally spoke out, deeply troubled. "You just... Kill the bridge crew and the captain and then... What? Decide you're a girl all of a sudden and become some weed's pet?" 

"I'm not a pet," they protested, the only fight they could put up against the oddly sharp sting of the words. All this 'emotion' bullshit was getting really tedious.   

Miss Parmenia drew herself tightly around Sawyer, halting him as he tried to take another bite. "That's strike two, petal." She slowly scraped a needled flower up his neck, "One last chance to behave." 

Sawyer's face went pale- what was in that needle? "Y-yes Miss, sorry Miss." The needle pulled away, and he let out a sigh. 

"Now Apologize to Miss Beckett," the other Affini prompted. Miss Beckett? 

Sawyer looked at them for a moment, conflict in his face. With visible effort, he swallowed his pride and rage. "Sorry, Beckett. I hope it goes well for you."

"Thanks." What he was wishing them well on was unclear, and the apology couldn't be more forced, but they just wanted out of this conversation already. There had been far too much talking about themselves.

"Now, isn't that better?" Miss Parmenia smiled, finally easing back into a relaxed state, and returning to playing with her ward's hair. 

"Yes, Miss." Sawyer grumbled, stuffing his mouth. The look in his eyes said otherwise. 

They finished the rest of the meal quickly, hoping to end the encounter as soon as possible. It was a pity to not get to properly enjoy such fine food, but not half as painful as whatever the fuck this had been. They didn't even respect Sawyer, though they couldn't tell if that made it worse or not. "Can you set me down, please?" 

"Done already?" Miss Verdun lifted them out and set them down, standing up behind them. 

"Why don't you two say goodbye to each other and we'll see about getting a playdate set up?" Miss Parmenia smiled, setting Sawyer down. 

They shrugged, staying where they were. "See you around, I guess." 

Sawyer nodded, "Yeah." and moved towards them. Oh come on, surely the man had to realize that they weren't actually close, let alone on hugging terms. Even a handshake would be pushing it honestly. Then again, putting on a show for the Affini wasn't a bad idea. A brief hug... could be tolerable. They slowly opened their arms.

Then they saw the glint of the knife concealed in his hand, and the look in his eye. 

-_-_-_-

Camila didn't know where it had gone wrong, it happened so fast. Beckett and her friend were going for a goodbye hug. Suddenly, she struck his hand, and there was a clattering as a knife skittered across the floor. Nicholas's hand hung at an odd angle as he fell to his knees, his wrist was broken. Those weren't what really made her core drop, however. 

Beckett's face had returned fully to the one she had met aboard the Valiant, a cold, unfeeling mask. A far cry from the emerging warm and sweet girl Camila had spent the last few days coaxing out. 

"It seems I failed to impart even the most basic lessons to you, Mister Sawyer." 

Nick spat at her. "Fuck you, traitor!" Beckett didn't flinch. Her uncanny, uncaring stare continued to drill into him. His eyes went wide, just before he slumped to the floor, and Lydia collected her floret. 

Beckett clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Sloppy..." She was looking at her hand. No, what was on her hand.

Camila's core stopped as she saw the deep gash on Beckett's palm. Oh Stars, Viola had been right. This was her fault. She should have listened to her when she said she didn't know Nicholas, or seen that a knife was missing from the table or-  No! Blame can be assigned later. Beckett was hurt, everything else was secondary. "Petal, we need to get you to the Vet"

"It's just a cut, it isn't that serious." Beckett stated, as though there wasn't a fifteen centimeter long cut in her hand!  "Just needs a bit of pressure and something to soak the blood." She pulled down her sleeve, balling it in her hand and pressing it on with the other. The blood was already seeping through the light material.

Was Beckett doing barbaric Terran field medicine?! Aboard an Affini vessel?! "I'll decide what is and isn't serious, thank you!" Camila pulled Beckett into her vines, causing the girl to yelp. 

"Th-that's not a warning!" Camila ignored her protests as she pulled down the hoodie's sleeve, and rinsed the Terran's hand with an antiseptic. She slathered on a bioactive sap that would start the healing and keep the wound from being aggravated, and layered on top a leaf, capable of absorbing any further bleeding. That would do until she got them to a professional. 

Lydia got her attention, Nicholas cradled in her vines, his arm in a makeshift bracer. "There's a Vet just a few blocks down, follow me. We can discuss what happened while they treat them."

Nodding, Camila unraveled the vines that formed her legs. She'd need all the speed she could get. Making sure Beckett was secure, they both exited the cafe, and raced to the Vet. 

Chapter Text

Camila and Lydia burst through the doors of the local clinic, "We have injured sophonts in dire need of medical attention!" 

Beckett tried to shift her position, struggling fruitlessly against the vines that kept her secure. "This really isn't all that serious, there's no need for an emergency." 

If Camila had a safe Class W, she would've injected her then and there. "You are bleeding ." 

"I'm not exactly delicate," the girl protested weakly. It was the single most absurd thing Camila ever heard. Not delicate? When she could feel the girl in her vines? How soft her body was? How fragile her bones were underneath? How gentle her breathing was? How the stress and tension sat in her muscles? When her blood was still on her vines?

The doors burst open, and the Vet, an Affini she had never seen before, stepped out. Another Affini- an attendant- pushing a large cart of medical gear followed behind. "What is the emergency?"

"My ward has a fairly large cut on her hand, and the other sophont has a broken wrist." Camila pointed to Lydia, attending to an unconscious Nick.

The vet raised Beckett's hand, examining it and scanning the wound. "I see, well don't worry, your ward is going to be perfectly fine." 

The vet moved to Lydia and leaned over, examining Nick for a few moments. "That's definitely broken, but also fairly easy to treat." The vet stood up and gave their best reassuring smile, "Abies Frax, 8th bloom, they/them. Please follow me."  

They dutifully followed as Abies led them each to a room in the medical center, stopping in front of its doors. "I'll treat the cut while my assistant preps the other sophont's wrist for surgery." Abies pointed at the door across from them. "There's a room in there, you can use that to relax while you wait. If I can have your sophont for a few minutes, I would like to get started."

Beckett was largely unresponsive now, her face settled into a teary, cold eyed stare directed at her hand. Her biorythm was so quiet, Camila could almost hear the buzzing returning. Oh stars, how could Camila let her go? She needed her. 

Lydia spoke softly, "I understand how you are feeling dear, but you need to hand her over now, okay?" 

Camila relaxed herself, her vines retracting from holding Beckett in place. She couldn't stop but steal one pet as she did so, allowing herself to enjoy running her vines through her hair. Abies, for their part, lifted her out of her vines with all the care and perfection she deserved, giving Camila a smile before taking her away. The grief hit the moment Beckett disappeared behind the operating room doors. 

Camila nearly unraveled, her form falling into disarray. She had failed her. Camila had promised Beckett she was safe here, twice , and she failed . How could she be her owner if she couldn't even provide something as basic as safety? Can she even really call herself an Affini? 

A few vines from Lydia tangled into her own, stilling them and breaking her out of the spiral. "Hey, it's alright." Her rhythm was bittersweet. Feeling Lydia push through her own sorrow helped Camila find her strength again, and she pulled herself together. 

"I-Im sorry, it's just-" Camila choked, this was all so unbecoming! 

Lydia held up a vine, asking for Camila to stop. She then pointed to the room across the hall. "Let's go talk." 

Camila nodded and followed her fellow Affini into the room. Lydia took a seat near the bed, and motioned for Camila to sit in the spot next to her. She could feel herself wilting as she slumped into the cushioned alcove. "I'm sorry." 

Lydia shook her head, "You have nothing to apologize for, Nick was my responsibility. I should have made sure to confiscate the knife from his utensils." 

That... was a decent point, she wasn't the only Affini present, but it still ate at her. "I told her she was safe , Lydia." 

Lydia sighed, and gave a weary, knowing smile. "I understand."

The other Affini's acknowledgement soothed her, but Camila's edges remained frayed. It was unlikely anything but holding Beckett again would be able to actually calm her. "How was Nick doing?"  

Lydia looked troubled. "I think some of his fingers might have been broken as well, and his wrist is in bad shape. I suppose he'll need to be ramped up for his implant now. So he'll barely even notice the injury and heal before recovering from the haustoric implant but..." Lydia sighed. "It wasn't supposed to be like this." 

That was a feeling Camila knew all too well. "I get it. I want Beckett to be ready so badly, to be healed enough that she's able to accept it." Perhaps it did make her a bad Affini, perhaps it was just a bit too selfish, but she wanted Beckett to have that chance. "It must be comforting to know they're yours, and disconcerting the way they found themselves in your vines." 

Lydia eased at that. "Thank you, Camila." The two Affini leaned on each other for some time, comforting the other for a moment. 

The vet entered the room, causing Camila to snap herself back together and both Affini to stand. "I have one very sleepy sophont for a 'Miss Verdun.'" Their vines opened to reveal one very displeased looking Beckett. There was a mitt on the injured hand, to keep it from being used.

Camila swept Beckett up into her arms in a second, sweet relief crashed through her as she held her pet, now safe. She could hardly keep herself from falling over her. "Are you okay? How are you feeling? Does anything hurt? Do you want a treat?" 

"I'm fine," Beckett glared up at her, and turning away before Camila could catch her gaze. Her biorhythm was still quiet, but the buzzing was no longer present. "It was just a cut. Would've been fine with just the bandaging." Camila could feel anger begin to prick up at Beckett's disregard for herself. 

The vet huffed. "Is that your professional opinion? I did not realize Terrans considered field medics the same as doctors." 

Beckett shrugged. "Just saying. I've had some experience with injuries, you know."

The vet ignored her, turning to Camila, <"Just keep her from using the hand for two days. It wasn't anything major but I would like to make sure it heals right. No strenuous activity today. She'll need help bathing as well, at least with the parts she can't reach."> Beckett shivered in her vines; she almost certainly picked that up. 

Lydia tapped Miss Verdun on the shoulder as she followed the Vet out, giving them the space, <"Good luck, I'll let you know when Nick is ready for that playdate.">

"Petal, are you sure you're fine? I'm worried about you."

"I've had plenty worse." Beckett deadpanned. 

Camila's vines screamed out to wrap the Terran in herself, and to never ever let her go. To force her to feel safe. "That's the problem! I-" she hesitated. "I said I would make sure you were safe, and I failed. I'm sorry."

Beckett blinked, momentarily stunned. "Why would I be upset about that? I told you that was impossible, I never once thought you actually could." Camila had catastrophically failed. Not just as her guardian but as an Affini. "If anything, the injury is my fault for not noticing the knife sooner, and for messing up the disarming." 

There was absolutely no way Camila was going to accept Beckett blaming herself. "Princess, you do not have to keep watch for yourself. You are supposed to feel safe, you are supposed to be safe."

Beckett scoffed, "Well one of us is trying to prove a negative," she held up her injured hand, leering at Camila now, "and the other one has evidence. If I simply disarmed him correctly, I would not be here."

Camila had to make this right. How could she make this right? Beckett was awfully stubborn when she wanted to be. Her refusal to accept 'safety' couldn't be allowed to stand, but the freshness of the accident was likely to cause problems. 

Beckett caught her off guard,  "So how's Sawyer?" 

She was concerned about the other Terran? That was encouraging. "Ah, well, he's still being treated for his wrist. Although, I think you might want to start calling him 'Nick,' cutie."

Beckett looked conflicted. "Does he have to be domesticated?" Wait, she was feeling guilty about Nick? 

"Little one, violence against others is a strict no-no. He attacked you." Camila gently corrected.

Beckett shrugged. "Yeah, but I kinda antagonized him, and nothing really happened." 

It was almost sweet to hear the little one try to defend the man that attacked her. "This," she coiled a vine around Beckett's injured arm, "is hardly nothing."

Beckett pulled away, "I just think he should get a second chance, is all." 

Camila sighed, "Sorry princess, that isn't up to you."

"I've done worse myself, you know." 

The words caught Camila off guard. Memories of the files Viola had shown her chilled her core. Fae had promised to show her even more tonight, when they went over it. Beckett wasn't the same sophont anymore though! "That's in the past now, right? You've been behaving so well and have shown so much growth in just the few days I've known you!" 

Beckett remained silent, brooding in her vines. Camila had really messed up; even if she wasn't entirely at blame for her injury, she had utterly failed to make her feel better or offer comfort after. The Class E could only do so much and the Z's couldn't help. She needed some H, B, and As- Camila needed to pick up the rest of her xenodrugs. She may be unprepared to be an owner, but she still had her pride as Affini. "Little one, do you still feel up to visiting with Daisy and Cordelia?"

"I guess." Beckett's voice was flat and tired. 

Camila took out her pad and messaged her friend.

[FrequencyFlower]: Hey I was going to bring Beckett over now, and we'll talk more once I get there, but she had a bad reunion with a crewmate and got hurt. She is feeling pretty down about the whole thing. I still need someone to watch her while I get the rest of the grafts she needs. 

[ComfyPlamnt]: Beckett got hurt? How? Are you doing alright? Also of course I can watch her. Come over, let's talk.

[FrequencyFlower]: There was an incident at lunch. I'm on my way, I'll tell you when I get there.

Camila sighed and stuffed the pad away, carrying Beckett out of the room and then out of the building. A cleaner drone happily mopping up the last of Beckett's blood in the waiting room stuck in her mind like glass.

"Uhm," Beckett broke her silence, "are you gonna carry me the whole way?" 

"Yes, you lost a decent bit of blood." Camila chided. "The vet said you are not to exert yourself, and I'll hear no nonsense about walking on your own." 

Beckett went quiet again. Stars, how Camila wished she could end this farcical wardship. She would have the tools to do it soon, to break her down and rebuild her as her happiest self. However, there was a sourness to the idea now; what if she messed up, and hurt her again? The fledgling floret was so fragile, could Camila really avoid hurting her again? Could she handle it if she hurt her again? Next time she might not have anyone to share the blame with either. 

Viola, perhaps, had been right. She wasn't ready for a sophont like Beckett. Even so, Camila felt a duty to the girl, to do the best she can for her. She may not be the right one to hold her leash in the end, but she had to help Beckett until that Affini came along. 

She arrived at Cordelia's door, still ruminating over Beckett's future, and her own. The door slid open before Camila could bring herself to knock. "Camila! Please, come in!" Cordelia smiled, stepping aside to make room. "Are you doing okay?" 

Seeing her friend nearly caused Camila to have another breakdown, but she had to stay strong a few moments longer. For Beckett's sake. She made sure the girl couldn't see her head shake as she stepped into the foyer of the Hab. 

Cordelia gave her a reassuring smile and a nod. "Daaai-sy" Cordelia called in a song like manner, "I have a surprise for you~" 

It did not take long for the perpetual sunbeam to burst her way through the doors, her overalls  caked with dirt in several places. 

Daisy made a long audible gasp as she saw Camila, "Oh, Miss Verdun! Hi!"

It was really hard to stay all that upset when presented with such an overwhelmingly adorable display. "Hello, Daisy."

Daisy perched up on her tiptoes, trying to see into her arms. "Um, is Beckett with you?" 

Camila nodded, "She is. She's fine, but a little hurt, so be careful with her today, alright?" Beckett made a displeased grunt in response. 

Daisy looked confused and worried, "Huh? Hurt?" 

"There was an accident. It's nothing to worry about, petal. Just watch her hand, okay?" As though she were made of porcelain and glass, Camila helped the girl down to her feet. Slowly releasing the girl, the final few vines lingered before retreating as well. It was just an hour or two, she would be holding her again soon. 

Daisy immediately wrapped her arms around Beckett, pulling herself into a tight hug as the other girl stood firm. "I'm glad you're okay!"

Beckett cracked a smile for the first time since before lunch, and returned the hug. "Well hi to you too."

Daisy swelled up, beaming as she pulled back enough to face Beckett. "You remembered to hug! 

Camila felt a wave of relief, the emerging floret she had been coaxing out was still in there. This had only been a set back, the girl would bounce back. 

"Awww," Cordelia cooed, "aren't you two just adorable?" Daisy giggled at the praise, while Beckett grew gloomy again. "Daisy, why don't you show her around and catch up while Camila and I talk for a bit?"

Daisy lit up, squealing in delight, "Oooooh I've been wanting to show you my garden forever!" She let go of Beckett's torso to grab her good hand and began dragging her towards the living room. "C'mon!"

"Daisy, I haven't even been in the compact a week." Beckett protested, despite allowing herself to be moved and wearing a faint grin. "You've wanted to show me your garden for like four days at most." 

The door to the living room slid open and Daisy pulled her through, "Yeah, well, it's really cool!"

"Have fun, Princess!" Camila called just as the door slid closed again. The drop that followed was just as fast, and she found herself in Cordelia's vines, falling to pieces. She was positively wilting, and felt like she was on the verge of reblooming. 

"Shhh," Cordelia comforted, "it's alright love, she's alright." 

That only made it worse, and it already felt like her core was about to split itself in half. "I was supposed to protect her, and she got hurt , Cordelia. What if Viola is right? What if-" 

"None of that." Cordelia interjected. "I understand where fae's coming from, and fae does have an argument for ending her wardship early, but Beckett needs you , Camila."

The reassurance helped Camila pull together a bit, but it still ate away at her. "I'm just- I've never been less sure of my ability to give her the care she needs. What if she gets hurt again? What if I hurt her?"

Cordelia sighed and gave her a wistful smile, "Even we can't always prevent everything from harming them, as much as we'd like to. We can only do our best, and help them pick themselves up after something happens."

That wasn't the most encouraging thing, but it was what Camila needed to hear. "Right... Thank you Cordelia." She still felt pretty awful, but managed to pull herself together nearly completely. There were still a few things out of place, but only a few. "I'm still really nervous about meeting Viola tonight."

"Surely you aren't actually considering rescinding your notice?" Cordelia was incredulous. 

Camila nodded solemnly. "Beckett deserves the best owner she can get, If-" she nearly choked up as she said the words, "if that's not me, I can live with that, for her sake." 

"Ridiculous!" Cordelia scoffed, now fully incensed.  "I've seen the way that she acts around you. Stars, you're the only Affini she's even moderately relaxed around! If you scoured all the stars you would find at best an equal, and I'm not going to let you disparage yourself, Camila."

"B-but-" Camila started to protest. 

Cordelia stayed firm. "No. You may have made a few mistakes, but I will not let you make another. Like I said, Beckett needs you , Camila, and I'm willing to help you so you can be the Affini you need to be for her." 

Stars... It was hard to argue with Cordelia. What she did to deserve such a supportive friend was beyond her. "Thank you, Cordelia. That means a lot to me."

"Do you want me to be there?" 

"No, I need to do it on my own." If Beckett was to be hers, she needed to be able to defend her claim. The idea of convincing an Affini with almost tenfold more experience that she could handle Beckett was daunting. Even more so considering Beckett got hurt and that it was Viola that found out her secret. To think the little one had been struggling for so long and Camila didn't even suspect... 

Cordelia sighed, "If you insist, but if she starts giving you trouble or saying anything about your capability as an Affini, message me and I'll be there right away." 

"Oh? You're going to scare off the Ninth bloom for me?" Camila smirked, letting her weight lean into Cordelia. 

Cordelia let herself give a bit, but kept them both upright as the two became increasingly tangled. "For you, dear, there is no one I wouldn't stand against." Cordelia smiled, and for a moment, everything felt right again. 

She couldn't stay in this moment, no matter how much she wanted to. "Thank you, but, uhm, I should go get Beckett's xenodrugs..." 

"Of course." Cordelia nodded, starting the process of disentangling herself. Camila helped where she could, but it still took nearly a minute for them to be fully separated again. Stars, it was a miracle Cordelia didn't complain. "Don't worry about your little princess, I suspect a bit of time with Daisy is exactly what she needs. I'll keep an eye on her, she'll be safe." 

Camila took Cordelia's hands into her own, "Thank you. For everything." The two shared a smile in the quiet moment before Camila pulled away, towards the door. "I'll be back in about two hours."

Cordelia nodded, "Of course. I love you Camila."

"Oh, uh, well, I love you too, Cordelia!" Camila responded without thinking, before quickly exiting in embarrassment. Stars, what was she thinking? It did feel nice to say those words, and she had meant them, but that wasn't the issue. The issue was it seemed like Cordelia hadn't likely meant them the way she did. As Camila made her way to pick up the grafts, it felt as though she had added to her troubles. 

-_-_-_-

"-and this is our couch!" Daisy exclaimed, motioning to the piece of furniture with her free hand. It was similar in design to the one in Miss Verdun's hab, although instead of a verdant green, it was a bright yellow. In fact, the entire living room was fairly similar; a collection of plants littered the area, there was the couch and screen in front of it, and the rest was largely open. All the items that were similar were in a variety of colors however, and a far cry from the planned color schemes of Miss Verdun's. It felt almost disorganized in a way, but that wasn't something Affini did. 

"Oh, and can't forget Claire!" Fuck, they hadn't been paying any attention to Daisy. They looked around, and realized with horror who was she was talking to. 

"Hi cutie!" The sickeningly sweet voice of the Hab AI cheered. "Daisy has been telling me a lot about you, I'm glad to finally meet you!" Oh, fantastic, the machine had heard about them. 

"Hello, Claire. It's nice to meet you." They managed to keep most of the disdain out of their voice. As a result they sounded frustrated instead of furious. 

"Aww, thanks, don't hesitate to ask if you need anything, okay?" They reminded themselves it was only a few weeks, and then they can stop entertaining these ridiculous machines. 

"Sure thing!" Daisy turned to them and frowned, "Uhm, are you alright?"  

"I'm fine," they responded bluntly. 

Daisy hummed, leaning in close and examining them, "Well you don't seem fine. Is it cuz of your hand? Do ya wanna talk about it?" 

"It's..." How could they explain it to Daisy of all people? They took a deep breath and sighed. "I met a former coworker, and it didn't go well. They used to all fear and respect me. I had everything under control, I held all the cards, I had all the power. I was someone they looked up to and relied on, but I betrayed them for selfish reasons. Now I'm struggling just not to get pet by random Affini and now those same people just want to, well," they held up the injured hand.

"Pets are really nice, especially on Class As, you should try them." Daisy smiled, nodding. "Wayyy better than someone being scared of you." 

They frowned, did she even listen to a word they just said? "Daisy, I'm not a pet, and I don't want to be one."

Daisy giggled, snorting, "You don't have to be a pet to get pets, independents like pets too, silly. Be-sides," she swung their conjoined hands back and forth with each syllable. "If you had a collar, it could cover that scar on your neck."

"You don't say," they growled. 

"Yeah! Miss Verdun really wants you too, it's super obvious. I'm sure she'd be really happy if you asked!" Wait, what? Daisy suddenly lit up, bouncing in place. "Oh I know what would cheer you up! My garden!" No, wait, what was it she just said? 

"Hold on a minute-" they started to protest, but Daisy was already pulling them along. "D-Daisy, can we talk about what you just-" the door she had been dragging them towards opened and stopped the words dead in their throat. 

They had been thrust into Eden. 

Flowers of every color bloomed in shapely beds, intermixed with ferns, bushes, and taller plants. Above those were large, bell-like blossoms that seemed to glow faintly blue as they lazily floated through the air, seemingly growing without any plants or roots at all. The room was quite large, too, easily as large as the common area, with a small hill on one side overlooking it, and a stream running from the hill  to a pond full of and adorned with waterborne plants. There was an almost overwhelming but decidedly pleasant aroma to it all.

 "Daisy this is... amazing!" It was more than that, but none of the words they could think of did it justice. "You did this yourself?"

Daisy twisted and squirmed in place, a hand on her cheek hiding only a portion of the bush, "Well Mistress helped me with suggesting plants and landscaping ideas. She also takes over when I can't get any gardening done, but I grew everything myself!" She gasped as some idea dawned on her, "Oh! Lemme show you the first thing I planted!" She started dragging them towards the hill. 

They let her lead them, not wanting Daisy to sprain herself. "Actually, uh, can we go back to what you said? About Miss Verdun?" 

"Huh? What about her?" Daisy asked without even slowing. 

Daisy's lack of focus never ceased to astound them. It was fortunate for her that she was a pet, she'd most certainly have died if she had to feed herself. "You said it was 'super obvious' that she wants me?" 

"Oh yeah!" Daisy giggled, continuing to lead them up the gentle hill. "Did you not realize?"

Was it really that obvious? "I thought that was just how Affini treated Terrans."

Daisy paused and turned to face them, "I mean kinda? To a degree. I've seen this before though, trust me." Daisy playfully poked them in the nose, "You can tell the way she clings to you a bit before actually putting you down. Also the way her biorhythm sounds when she looks at you- if you asked to be her pet she'd definitely say yes."

We are fucked.

The thought made them feel queasy; had she actually wanted them that way the whole time? Why? "There is no reality in which I'm asking to be a pet, Daisy."

"Welllllll," Daisy trailed, tilting her head and leaning to the side before righting herself and smirking. "I guess we'll have to see, won't we?" 

They scoffed, what a ridiculous prospect. They may end up being unable to avoid it, but there was no way they'd just throw away everything they worked for. As they followed Daisy up the hill, their mind turned to the actual problem- the very Affini they needed to help them adjust to being independent in the Compact wanted to personally collar them. 

Could they actually trust Miss Verdun to help them be independent? Wasn't wanting to own them a conflict of interest? Did they even have any actions they could take? Asking for a new Affini was a gamble; from what they’d seen, Miss Verdun was definitely on the less overbearing side. Even if they did get one, there wasn't any guarantee that Affini wouldn't become interested either. 

What did Miss Verdun even see in them? They were far from cute, they didn't like intimacy, they didn't like laying around all day, or being doted on, and there was no way she could ever put a collar on them without them breaking down. They were uniquely unsuited for being a pet. Daisy suddenly stopped.

"We're here!" She cheered. At their feet was a modest plant, growing in front of a much larger leafy plant. White petaled flowers with yellow centers bloomed from its stems, as it encircled the large plant and crowned the hilltop. There were still a few tools in their bed, a trowel and some gardening gloves. "When I first met Mistress I was going through a lot of a stuff, and she suggested that I start gardening as a therapeutic thing." Daisy was blushing, her eyes fixed to the plant as she recounted the tale, "These daisies were the first thing I planted."

That was... touching, in a way. "Was that because of your name? Or is that why you go by Daisy?"

"Huh?" Daisy cocked her head to the side. Suddenly she slapped her hand to get cheek, making a light 'smack!' "Oh! That reminds me! I've been sharing so much I haven't given my best friend any time to tell me her big news!"

Big news? "Daisy, what are you talking about?"

Daisy puffed up, her face caught somewhere between pouting and frowning, "C'mooon, friends are supposed to be able tell each stuff!" She whined.

They blinked, did they have something to share? It had only been two days, after all. Neither of them could think of anything they needed to tell her. "I'm being honest, I really don't know." 

"AAAAAA! GIRL, PLEASE!" Daisy cried out, suddenly taking their good hand in both of hers and redoubling her pout. 

It clicked. "Oh, the gender stuff?" 

"Yeah! Mistress told me you're using she/her and taking Class Gs now! I'm so happy for you!" Daisy wrapped her arms around them in a hug, squeezing firmly.

They gently placed their good arm around her, returning the hug. "I'm not even really sure, I'm just-" Why were they even doing this, anyways? Because the projection Miss Verdun sprung on them made them feel a strange longing? There had to be more to actually being a woman than that. "I don't know. I'm trying some things I guess."

Daisy hummed. "Wanna talk about it?" She pulled away from their chest to grin up at them. "Girl to girl?"

On its face, discussing any serious matter with the pet seemed unlikely to produce anything of value. However, Daisy seemed unlikely to judge them, and as an actual woman could maybe offer some insight. She also didn't have an apparent and vested interest in feminizing them, unlike Miss Verdun. Of course, talking to the pet was similar to talking to Miss Dawnbloom, which might as well be just telling Miss Verdun, so they'd have to be careful. "You know what? Yeah." 

"Yes!" Daisy perked up, overjoyed. She grabbed their hand again, gently pulling them now instead of dragging. "C'mon, let's go to the cuddle zone!" 

"The what?" 

Daisy pushed aside one of the large leaves of the plant, revealing the answer: a small indent into the earth, filled with plush blankets, pillows and a few stuffed animals. It was remarkably similar to the pet bed Miss Verdun had them sleep in when they arrived. The large leaves of the plant, growing in an elevated plot in the center, shaded the area. "The cuddle zone!" She led them inside. "It wouldn't be a floret's garden without a cuddle zone or two~" 

They stopped at the edge of the actual bed, pausing to remove their boots. Untying them with one hand wasn't much harder than with two, but they might have to carry them back. Or ask Miss Verdun to tie their boots for them. Kicking off her garden boots and removing her dirty overalls, Daisy flopped backwards into the bedding, landing with a sigh. They sat down across from her, sinking into the soft material. "So do you sleep here?" 

Daisy popped her head up. "In the garden? Well sometimes, but I have a bed. This is just for relaxing with friends."

It was undeniably nice. The air was cool, the blankets, pillows and bedding comfortable. Most of all, the large leaves of the plant they were in were fairly good cover, and through the gaps between them you could see all the garden below. Off to one direction with the only approach there as well. It was a perfect vantage point and hiding place, if only it had some alternative exit route. On second thought, the presence of an AI and an Affini was also less than ideal, but it was nice even still. "Do you have friends over often, then?" 

"Uhm, sometimes? We go to their Habs pretty often too. Let's not get distracted," Daisy sat up, and scooted over to be sitting directly in front of them. "We're here to help you with your gender stuff!" 

They were beginning to have second thoughts. "I-I don't know... I mean, what do I even say?"

Daisy placed a hand on theirs and smiled, "Just let out what's bugging you, or talk about what happened or whatever."

Find the loose thread, and start pulling.

"I... Three days ago, I didn't really know it for what it was, but Miss Verdun showed me a projection of the effects of Class G. I couldn't stop thinking about the, uh, 'woman in the mirror.'" They turned to face away from Daisy, embarrassed to recount the event. "It's... I don't know, it made me feel weird about my body, and there's a sort of... longing? Desire? It's probably just because she was pretty hot but that isn't it either. Miss Verdun has seemed pretty certain about all of it and she's been pushing me towards, um, being a woman I guess? It's annoying but it also... kinda... feels nice?" They nervously scratched their face, it was weird to admit that. "But like, I don't feel like a woman very much, and there has to be more to it than that!"

"Ooo, we definitely have to do girl stuff together." 

They frowned, "Did you even listen to what I said?" 

Daisy nodded. "It sounds like you're having a lot of trouble accepting you want to be a girl, and that being a girl is actually that simple."

They turned back to Daisy so she could see them look at her incredulously. "There has to be more to it than that." 

"Well, you might be like, a non binary woman or a demigirl or something really fun like a doll or a kitty or even something else entirely!" Okay, she had to be making those last ones up. "It pretty much is that simple though."

"I don't really feel like a girl." They grumbled. 

Daisy leaned in close, placing the arm not holding their hand over their other shoulder, and whispered in their ear. "You know, I can help with that."

"D-Daisy?!" They stammered. She was way too close, and what did she mean by that anyways?!

Daisy pulled back sheepishly, and let out an uncharacteristic nervous laugh. "Eheh, well, only if you're feeling ready, of course." 

They had to know, "What would that, uhm, entail, exactly?" 

"One day I will get you to stop talking like such a nerd." Daisy stated, folding her arms in. "As for what we'd be doing, mostly a bit of touching," she leaned in as before, running a hand up the outside of their thigh, "and a bit of kissing." She moved in towards their neck-

They pulled back in a panic. "S-sorry! I don't think I'm ready for that!" Stars, their heart was nearly pounding out of their chest, it felt odd that the monitor wasn't flashing. 

"That's okay," Daisy smiled, and placed her hand on her chest ceremoniously, "I can teach you about other girl stuff." She put her arm back down. "Miss Verdun will be happy to help you too, of course! Have you talked to her about this?" 

"Kind of? Not exactly." They frowned. Telling the Affini precisely how this all made them feel wasn't something they wanted to do. Especially if she actually did want to own them, like Daisy said. "I feel like it would only encourage her to be more overbearing." 

"Hello cuties," Miss Dawnbloom's sudden voice coming from outside the resting place made them seize up. "Just wanted to check in and make sure you both are doing okay."

Daisy pushed aside a leaf, revealing the Affini just behind it. "We're fine Mistress, just having a little girl talk."

"Oh? And what are you girls talking about?" Miss Dawnbloom prompted, and their heart sank. They had been hoping to at least not be present for this part.

"Beckett's having a bit of trouble accepting that she likes it when Miss Verdun makes her do girl stuff." Miss Dawnbloom gave them a knowing, hungry look as Daisy gasped and covered her mouth, turning to them. "I'm sorry! I probably shouldn't call you 'Beckett' anymore, huh? Do you have a name yet?"

They would rather gnaw off their fingers than have this conversation. "No, and Beckett is fine anyways." 

"Now, now," Miss Dawnbloom tutted, "that's hardly a name for a cute girl. Camila also informed me she told you not to use 'Beckett' anymore, princess." 

Of fucking course she did. Defending themselves against Daisy or either Affini was hard enough. Both at once, with all of them coordinating, made the ground precarious to defend . "That was- it was only earlier today and I've only been trying the Class Gs for two days so far. I never thought about it before, I haven't even really had time to think of any." 

Daisy perked up, "Ooo, can I help?!" 

"No." That was something they needed to do alone. Why can't they just let them use 'Beckett' until they found something better? It might be a stolen name, but at least it was more dignified than 'princess.' 

"Awwwww," Daisy pouted, "c'monnnn! Oh, what about Becky!" 

"Absolutely not." They growled, and the monitor flashed yellow, prompting them to calm down. 

Miss Dawnbloom cooed, and gave Daisy a few scritches, causing her to melt. "That's enough petal, I'm sure she'll let you know as soon as she finds one she likes." Daisy moaned in agreement, and the Affini turned her attention to them. "I'm glad you seem to be feeling better though. I just wanted to check in and let you know Miss Verdun should be back in about a half hour. Do you want anything?"

They shook their head, "I'm good, thank you." How long had they been here anyways? 

Miss Dawnbloom hummed, leaning into Daisy and grabbing her face, puppeting her to look her in the eyes. "How about you, pet?" Daisy gasped in pleasure, "Is there anything you desire?" 

"N-no Mistress!" Drool was starting to trickle out of the corner of Daisy's mouth. Their mind went back to when Miss Verdun had done something similar to them earlier, at the river. Those infinitely deep pools of gold... 

"Of course," Miss Dawnbloom smiled, "if there was anything you needed, anything you even wanted, I would have provided it already." Slowly, she released her pet, letting her drop back into the plush pen. The Affini directed her attention at them again. "You know, Camila would love to help you, if you would let her."

They felt a shiver roll through them, aware of the nature of 'help' she wished to extend. "I'll keep that in mind, thanks." 

"Well I'll let you two keep having your fun," Miss Dawnbloom stood up, the leaves she had held aside falling back into place and obscuring her from view again. "But feel free to call for me if you need anything, okay?"

"Oh! Actually can we get some Class As? I wanna be princess' first class A cuddle buddy~" Awesome, now even Daisy was calling them princess. This is exactly what they needed. 

"Ah, maybe another time, okay? Princess can't have the same xenodrugs you do, and Camila wants to take her home when she gets here." 

"Awwh, okay. I wanna spend an actual day with my bestie soon though!" Daisy wrapped an arm around them briefly for emphasis.

"Camila and I will definitely have to see about getting you two a proper playdate. Now you two be good, and don't forget to ask for help if you need it."

"Yes Miss!" Daisy called out.

"Sure." They waited for some sign that the Affini had actually left, but heard none. It was spooky how silent they could be.

Daisy smiled at them, "So, did you wanna do anything before your mistr- er- before Miss Verdun picks you up?" She chuckled, "Sorry, I'm not used to having friends that aren't pets."

 "Not really." Honestly at this point they just wanted to eat and go to bed, today had been dragging on for what felt like forever. 

She moved to their side, leaning against them, "Wanna cuddle until she gets here?" 

Laying down and being quiet sounded perfect, even if it came with physical contact. "If you want to." 

Daisy moved slowly but deliberately, first leaning behind them, and then wrapping her arms around from the back. Then she gently lay down, and they followed her. Daisy hummed with pleasure in their ear. "Good girl." 

That made their heart quicken in their chest. They couldn't stop Daisy from feeling the way their body reacted, but at least she couldn't see them blush. If she noticed, she thankfully kept it herself. Moments passed into minutes, and they found themselves unable to relax. Miss Verdun would be back soon, and if Miss Dawnbloom hadn't told her about what they said before, she would then. 

The prospect of facing Miss Verdun with little doubt that she wanted to own them was daunting. Knowing one way or the other didn't directly change anything of course, but it was the shift in perspective that plagued them. It was difficult to see the Affini's teasing as anything but an advancement. They would have to be more vigilant than ever if they actually wanted to leave. 

There had to be some reason the Affini hadn't simply made her move. Perhaps she couldn't, unless they made a grievous error like Sawyer did. A few of the florets from the general chat mentioned being made to beg for it- if that was Miss Verdun's goal, they should be fine. It's true they had changed a lot already, but that was too far. They already knew what it was to be property, and as long as they kept it in mind, they would be fine. 

Daisy readjusted, pulling them in a little closer and humming. Had she fallen asleep? It was only a half hour, and there surely wasn't much time until Miss Verdun returned. It must be nice to be so utterly carefree. Perhaps if Daisy knew what they were she'd realize she shouldn't be near them. Maybe it would scare off Miss Verdun too, that would be nice. Then they could be alone, and finally relax. 

This time, they caught movement through the gaps in the between the leaves and bolted upright. Miss Verdun was here. A sleepy voice came from behind. "Hrm? Issit time?" Daisy yawned. 

The leaves slowly parted from a full quarter section of the plant, revealing the two Affini. There was something different about Miss Verdun, was she a bit bigger now? The top of her hair was at Miss Dawnbloom's eye level before, but now it was up to her forehead. She hadn't reformed her legs either, so it was difficult to tell if it was actual difference. Miss Verdun smiled down at both of them, "Hello cuties. How are you feeling, princess?" 

Ugh, there was that strange feeling again as she smiled and called them 'princess.' There was something about the way she said it, and it was getting worse. "I'm doing better, I suppose."

Daisy leaned into them from behind, "I'm doing great! We had girl talk and cuddled and I showed her my garden!" She fidgeted, "Uhm, not in that order though." 

Miss Verdun’s smile brightened, "I'm very glad to hear that. Do you want to say bye to your friend?" 

Daisy pulled away so they could turn and face her, returning her embrace. "I guess I'll talk to you later," they said.

"You better!" Daisy exclaimed, straining as she squeezed them as hard as she could, which wasn't much. 

"Are you ready for me to pick you up?" Miss Verdun asked. She was going to carry them all the way home, wasn't she? They sighed and nodded. Vines gently swept them up in an increasingly familiar motion, but in the light of their recent revelation felt more sinister than ever. 

"Byeee!" Daisy cheered, now out of sight as they were firmly held to Miss Verdun's chest. 

"Goodbye Camila." 

"Goodbye Cordelia, thank you for everything. I mean it." Miss Verdun turned her attention downwards, towards them, "You and I, little one, need to talk." 

-_-_-_-

The girl meekly pulled on Camila's vines as she carried her out of the Hab, clearly nervous. The poor dear’s paranoia was likely getting the best of her again. "Don't worry, you aren't in trouble, or being domesticated, but we do need to continue our talk from the vet."

"R-Right." She mumbled, still tense.

"You have been suffering," Camila flexed the wide array of grafts she now had hidden underneath her cloak. Every Class with variations, vines meant for chewing, berry treats that doubled as Class As- if she thought it could even be useful as a niche, she picked it up. Getting them didn't feel the same as the first ones, but the event had its own sense of gravity. Camila could at last give her princess the assistance she deserved. "and I finally have the tools to help you."

The girl tensed up more in her vines. 

Chapter Text

We're fucked. We're so fucking fucked. We are straight up cooked.

Their heart continued to pound in their chest. Whatever she had been missing in order to pull them apart, she certainly had it now. Miss Verdun had the xenodrugs to pull everything out of them and rewire them at will. Their breathing grew ragged, they might not be getting domesticated now, but one dose of Class D and-

Miss Verdun sighed, and they yelped as they felt a sting- what did she just give them?! "I said not to worry yourself, Princess." 

They felt a calm, serene wave wash over them and their body felt a bit loose. Oh, it was just some class E, that was fine. But the wave didn't stop, instead intensifying and continuing to bury their anxieties. Stars, that was a lot of Class E. There was still a faint, wrong feeling that sat in their chest, but it would slip away from them the moment it came to mind. Tears continued to well up regardless

"You're doing great Princess, we're almost there. Are the new Class Es treating you well?" 

They felt a fuzzy warmth when Miss Verdun spoke. They were doing good! It was nice to know she wasn't mad at them. They nodded, afraid that speaking would lead to a breakdown. 

"Good girl." 

That made them try to curl up in embarrassment, only succeeding in squirming in Miss Verdun's vines.  

"I want you to focus on your breathing, okay?" Now that they could do. "In." They drew in slowly, taking in as much air as their lungs can hold. "Hold... Good. Now, slowly, out." They exhaled, letting the air seep from their lungs instead of forcing it out. The exercise continued, "In... Hold... Out... In... Hold... Out... Good girl. In..." It was nice. Meditative, really. Each time the cycle repeated that wrongness faded, and sunk away. What had they been upset about again? There was something that they needed to worry about, right? 

"Very good, Princess, you did so well. We're home." The praise made them feel funny but something about the use of the word 'home' had them on the verge of tears again. "Oh dear, just a moment more, okay?" They nodded, and heard the sound of the door slide open, and then closed again. 

"Is she okay? What happened?" The mechanical voice made them tense up just before another wave washed the feeling away.

Miss Verdun sighed. "She's had a rough day and is a bit rattled, but she'll be fine." A chime followed. They were being set down now, vines cautiously lowered them onto the couch, and they felt relief. The Affini sat next to them, giving them a bit of much needed space, "Okay, Princess, what happened?"

"I-" They opened their mouth on instinct, and drew a blank. Forcing the gears in their head to turn they tried to recall why they nearly had a breakdown. It was something... with Miss Verdun... 

Oh. The odd feelings, the xenodrugs, and her desire to own them. "Uhm- that's-" it was hard to get stressed through the powerful Class E, but it didn't make the prospect of confronting Miss Verdun palatable. "I-I'm sorry. I can't." They were trembling, they felt so pathetic, so-

Weak . 

Miss Verdun smiled. "That's okay dear, I thought this might happen." Movement from the Affini. The Class E was dulling their reflexes; they felt the prick before they could react. "There you go, you should find it a bit easier to speak now."

They could feel it, something in them was shifting as the drug took its effect. They wanted to cry again. This was it, it was over, wasn't it? Miss Verdun would find out how much of a monster they were, or that they had been planning to escape, or any number of things and they would be domesticated. Maybe if they didn't speak at all, they could wait it out? It was their only out.

"You need to use your words, Princess." 

Just like that, the last thread they had been holding on by snapped, and the floodgates burst open. "Everything feels so weird now! We don't understand anything we're feeling anymore and the few things we do are bad! We're feeling guilty about things we did that we never really cared about before, and we betrayed the crew and we feel so helpless ! We want our old self back! We want to leave! We need to be alone so we can relax! We can't take all this constant attention and the doting and being treated like we're glass and all the collars everywhere and- and- We don't wanna be a pet! We can't be property again! And we know you plan on- on..." Their voice caught as they realized what they had done. Their OpSec had been broken, exactly as they feared. They trembled, and tears were streaming down their face. "We should have never come here..." 

"Shhh," There was a shift in the air, there was... some kind of music playing in the distance? A melodic humming sound that nearly sang. They felt a faint prick. "It's okay Princess, just focus on your breathing, and my voice. In... Hold... Out... In...Hold... Out..." It was easy to listen to her, and like before they quickly felt the worry bleed away. There was a shift in tone they heard with each order, and it helped them fall into rhythm. Everything seemed so far away as they drifted off, following along, "In... Hold... Out... You're safe here. In... Hold... Out... No one here wants to hurt you. In... Hold... Out..." Slowly they drifted back to consciousness, Miss Verdun wiping the tears off their face. "Very good, Princess, you did good telling me all that."

There was that tickly, bubbling feeling again. It was much easier to resist this time. "So, uhm, what now?" The ball was out of their court. The ball was so far out of their court they had yet to discover the planet the ball was on. 

"You said a lot of things that need to be properly addressed, and we simply can't get to everything right away." Miss Verdun sighed, then contemplated for a few moments, "I would like to give you a Class B, so that you won't remember this conversation. That way we can work on them one by one. I'll also be putting you on Class Es until we can get you working with a therapist and feeling better. Then we are going to have another conversation you can remember, and I may make a few adjustments with a Class H."

"Are you gonna domesticate us?" They sniffled. Between the Class E doing its work and Miss Verdun's calming nature, the raw, aching feeling was healing quickly. They barely registered the pang of fear from the mention of Class H.

The pause felt far longer than it actually was. "No, little one, not for this. You've had a rather difficult day and need help."

"But you want to..."

A vine gently directed them to look up at her. Miss Verdun was smiling, and there was something warm in her eyes. They couldn't place exactly what it was, but it glowed with desire, and threatened to swallow them entirely. "Princess, I would love nothing more than if you were mine. I would fill all your days with as much love, joy and fulfillment as possible. You would make me the happiest Affini in all the Compact, and all of this pain will be a forgotten dream." Their face flushed. She had meant that. How could anyone say something like that and mean it? What the hell did they ever do to make her happy? "However, I won't force you into it prematurely. Not unless you absolutely need to be. You asked for a chance and I would like to give you that chance, even if I think it's misguided, because I love you. Does that help?" 

They nodded, "Y-yeah." Fuck, were they really about to cry again? Just because Miss Verdun said she loved them? 

"I'm glad to hear that." Miss Verdun retracted the vine. "I would like to administer the Class B now, but before I do, can you be a good girl and answer me one final question?"

They fidgeted; between all the 'Good Girl's and the 'Princess's it almost felt more notable when they weren't blushing furiously. "What is it?"

"Who's 'we?'"

-_-_-_-

They blinked awake. They were on the couch, in the Hab, sitting next to Miss Verdun. When did they get home? They vaguely remember saying bye to Daisy, and they were upset about something, and then...

"Princess?" Miss Verdun's voice snapped them to the present.  

"Sorry! I think I... passed out?" They had been tired.

Miss Verdun smiled in that particular way she did when recounting something they did she thought was cute. It was a slight thing, almost dignified if it weren’t so smug. "Yes, you dozed off in my vines on the way home. It was absolutely adorable." 

Ridiculous! Sure they had grown a bit... accustomed to being held, and her vines were decently comfortable, but falling asleep? They were supposed to be vigilant. "My apologies, I must have been more tired than I thought." 

"It's nothing to apologize for, Princess," said Miss Verdun. "In fact, that brings us to what I wanted to talk to you about- the incident at lunch wasn't your fault." 

Ah, right. Sawyer. He was probably being pried open by Affini right now, if he hadn't already been. "I'm not saying the incident is my fault, just that if I had performed the move correctly neither of us would have been injured."

Miss Verdun shook her head. "I know you feel guilty and like you betrayed the crew, and it's clear you blame yourself for little Nick's domestication."

The words poked through the only defense they had. "That's- l just-" The Affini was growing worryingly astute. Did they even have secrets anymore? There were a few that must be safe, if they were still talking. 

"It's okay Princess, just breathe." 

They inhaled. "I knew it would happen, that a lot of the crew would be domesticated. It's... different to actually see it." They fidgeted.

"I know you requested wardships for everyone when you got here, and we've done our best to give those where we can." They had? That was... well, if their own experience was anything to go by, it wasn't much better than being sent straight in. They had a chance, though, and that was the best any of them could ever hope for. "Even if we put that aside, you arrived with a crew of less than two fifty when you departed with over seven hundred. I'm sure there are those thankful to be out of that situation. Plus, there was that attack they were planning, right? If you didn't stop it, none of them would be alive to even try for independence." 

Those weren't awful points, but it didn't make them feel much better about it. People were being made property, and they had a hand in it. "I suppose... it's just-" In... Hold... Out... "It brings up unpleasant memories." 

Miss Verdun’s vines kneaded as a few flowers closed. "I'm aware your past experiences make being here difficult. I just want you to know that no Affini would ever treat you like that. Florets are our treasures."

They had seen that much at least. The Affini were by and large the biggest softies they had ever met when it came to physical violence. That only made them more dangerous; there was more than one way to die. "I know you wouldn't treat me like the company did, but that doesn't mean I don't think about it every time I'm confronted with the prospect of being owned."

The Affini shifted uncomfortably. "I know. I won't make you talk about what happened, not right now. However, I do want you to know I'm very proud of you for facing your fears like this. That takes a lot of strength."

Miss Verdun's acknowledgement and praise was like a salve, and their fears abated. However, there was still something nagging at them. "I'm still upset about failing to disarm Sawyer properly. That sort of thing was my entire life, I never would have messed that up before."

Miss Verdun tapped a vine to her face. "Isn't that for the best? After all, you're trying to move past that, right? Don't you want to prove you have more to offer than violence?"

The words caught them off guard. It would be difficult to prove they had changed enough to be safely let out into the compact if they insisted on still running drills. Surely they could be more than just a weapon. "You have a point, but it still feels like I'm losing something important. I was a mercenary for a long time. I don't really have anything else." 

"Well since you're trying to start a new chapter of your life, why not try a few new hobbies or volunteering somewhere?" Miss Verdun smiled. "You don't even have to be good at it as long as you enjoy yourself."

They hummed. It's not like they had planned on doing nothing in retirement either. "I'll see about taking a look at a few tomorrow. Uh," they cleared their throat, "thanks. For all the support that is. I know I've been a mess lately." 

Miss Verdun stood up and smiled down at them, in that way that made them feel bubbly. "I'm always happy to help you, Princess. In fact, I think you deserve a special treat after dinner." 

"Oh?" They perked up at the thought of another berry. Stars, those things were good. 

Miss Verdun giggled. "Not that kind of treat cutie, it's a surprise." The thought of an Affini surprise was a bit worrisome, but it seemed like something trivial to get worked up about. "May I carry you to the dinner table?"

They should say no. Normally they would. It's not like they couldn't walk the about two dozen paces, and it would only encourage her to keep treating them like a pet, but they still found themselves nodding their head. There was a warm vibration that permeated the air as Miss Verdun picked them up, taking care to let them see the vines as they approached. Being carried like this didn't feel all that odd, suddenly. Well, as long as it was Miss Verdun holding them, at least. Maybe they really did fall asleep on the way home.

They were carefully set down in their usual chair, Miss Verdun's vines pulling away slowly. "There you go. Sorry, I didn't have time to make anything myself, so it'll have to be compiled. Hmmm," she took out her pad and scrolled through, "I don't suppose you'd be alright with me feeding you?" 

"No." It would take a lot more than just one hand out of commission for that to be palatable.

"Yeah, I didn't think so." Miss Verdun hummed, thinking, "Something you can eat one handed... Ah! This seems good." After a few taps, the compiler beeped. She retrieved a bowl from within and set it in front of them. 

It was a reddish brown, with round and chunky lumps in the... broth? Sauce? It smelled strange. "What is this?"

"It is 'chili,' or a rather mild version of it at least. It's predominantly beans, with some meat and a selection of spices, so it has a good deal of variety to it. If you like it, I can try to make a few." Miss Verdun puzzled over something. "I'm not sure what makes it cold if the dish is served hot. Maybe you are supposed to eat it if you are cold?"

They chuckled at the misunderstanding, taking the spoon they were provided and stirring the bowl. It was nice to remember that despite all their grandstanding, the Affini did have flaws. "I don't think it's referencing the temperature, Miss Verdun."

Miss Verdun appeared to glow for a moment. "It's nice to hear you laugh again, Princess." 

There was that weird tickly bubbling again that threatened to make them grin like a fool. Quickly, they shoved a bite into their mouth to force it out. The chili tasted a lot better than it looked, hearty and carrying a rich flavor. They had no idea what Miss Verdun had apologized for, the compiler seemed more than apt for making food. "Thanks for the food." 

The Affini laughed. "Well I didn't make it, but you're quite welcome." 

"It's just manners, Miss Verdun." They continued to eat, methodically chewing the soft food to savor its taste before swallowing. Even if she hadn't made it, she still picked it out with care and set it on the table for them. That alone was more than anyone had ever done for them before. 

Miss Verdun hummed. "You've always taken great care to be polite, haven't you?" 

They paused in the middle of digging out another bite. "Something I picked up after a few years of work. You can burn a bridge in a moment, but building one takes time. It's best to have as many people in your corner as you can." 

"That's a fairly admirable way to think for someone that lived in the Accord." 

They slowed their chewing. It's not like they hadn't burned more than a few bridges, or worse. Just that they had learned to practice caution. Angering the wrong person had consequences, after all. They swallowed. "Thanks, I think."

A vine stopped them as they went to take another bite. "I mean it; it's easy to let yourself be cruel to others when you've been hurt."

"Right..." They had certainly been cruel in the past. If Miss Verdun knew, she wouldn't say something so feckless.

We are a weapon.

Any topic would be better than this. "So you said you had something for me after?" 

"Ah!" Miss Verdun lit up, her vines lashing in anticipation. "Well that's a surprise for later, I wouldn't want to spoil it~" They did not like how excited she looked. Almost certainly some more pet shit she intended to press them into. 

Hadn't we had enough for the day? 

Well, it's not like there was much hope dissuading the Affini when she got set on something. With any luck it wouldn't be too bad. They finished the last of the chili, and set the spoon back into the bowl. "Could you-?"

Miss Verdun was at their side in an instant."Help you down? Of course." Her vines slowed before they actually reached them, letting them see them before helping them down. She had been getting better about not just grabbing them at least. "Why don't you go brush your teeth and get ready for your bath? I'll be along in a moment."

What did she need time for? There weren't any dishes from cooking. Probably something for her 'surprise.' Whatever, any time they got alone was good. Being around the Affini so much today was starting to get to them. "Sure," they shrugged before leaving. 

The mirrors in the bathroom were thankfully darkened. They didn't look great before all that mess, and doubtlessly looked awful now. It felt like they had been crying all day, though they couldn't recall actually doing so at any point. At least the toothbrush and paste was kept in reach, no absurd three meter high shelf to force them to depend on Miss Verdun. 

They wet the brush and applied the paste, taking the temporary relief to gather their thoughts. Miss Verdun wanted them, which wasn't good, but it also was apparent she wasn't going to just domesticate them out of the blue. As long as they didn't let their panic get the best of them, and kept working on their issues, she would likely stay her hand. Being treated like an animal was demeaning, and brought up memories they had gone through a lot of pain to bury, but it's not like they were being beaten. All they needed to do was relax a little, and they could get through this with their sanity and independence intact.

They spat into the sink, and rinsed off the brush, placing it back with a sigh. They had come here with some expectations of these issues, of course. That they would have to be ready for anything, and adapt their tactics as they went. They had been wholly unprepared, and constantly defending shrinking ground. They were running out of non-critical positions. That they lost their professional composure certainly didn't help matters. Everything had started to slip away after that. 

Pulling their arms through, and then pulling the hoodie up, they began to get undressed. It wasn't easy with the mitt the vet stuck on them; what a ridiculous level of care for a simple cut. The shirt soon followed, and they took a moment to appreciate the patchwork. Every scar echoed its memory. Permanent reminders that they had been through much worse. Even the Affini couldn't take those, at least. 

The sight of their bare chest also made them recall the projection Miss Verdun had shown. There was... a sense of disappointment? What had they even expected to find? 

Something else?

All that 'Princess' and 'Good Girl' stuff had to be messing with their head. They couldn't even recall it without blushing a little. There had to be more than just kind of liking it, right? 

They pulled down the sweats and underwear in one swift movement; the sooner this was over the sooner they could push this out of mind. 

"Hello cutie, are you ready for your treat?" They nearly jumped out of their skin. They had been too preoccupied with the foreign feelings towards their body to hear the door open behind them. Their foot caught in the legs of the sweats, and they nearly fell over as Miss Verdun caught them, sweeping them into her arms with fluid motion. "Careful now, Princess. Wouldn't want you to get hurt." Her warm smile made their heart flutter even more than the stupid nickname. "This is a reward after all." They heard the waterfall begin to fill the bath. 

"S-so," they stammered before clearing their throat, "what is it?" 

"First I'm going to give you some Class E," They felt the poke as Miss Verdun stepped into the tub, "then I am going to wash you, and for being such a good girl for me today, I am going to use Class A soaps and give you a massage."

Wait, what?! They struggled fruitlessly in her vines, "Absolutely not! You can't just decide to-!"

Miss Verdun pressed a massive digit to their lips, silencing them. She had that hungry look in her eyes, the one that threatened to consume them. "I assure you, little one, as your Guardian I most certainly can. You need help to properly wash up, and you need to de-stress after a taxing day." Each inflicted word pressed itself into them as the Class E began to take hold, and they felt the concern start to fade. "This lets us address both." They needed this.

They nodded, unsure exactly why. Well, it's not like they had any way to stop her, and weren't they just talking about how they needed to relax themselves? In... Hold... Out... something distant reminded them as they were lowered into the water. It was pleasantly warm, almost bordering on hot, and they could feel some of their tension ease. 

"Don't worry Princess, I won't touch your neck, or between your legs. This is a reward, and I want you to relax ." They felt another bit of tension leave as she soothed them. Wait, didn't she say this was because they couldn't properly wash themselves? Surely not being able to wash an arm and a few square inches of their back was worse. "Hold." They stopped breathing as warm water cascaded over them, "Very good." Wait, did they just- the thought was cut short as vines began to lather shampoo into their scalp.

Oh, stars. Biting their lip was the only thing that kept them from gasping, but nothing could stop them from quaking in pleasure. It was as if she knew exactly where to rub and press. "If you think this is good, wait until the Class As kick in." Miss Verdun whispered in their ear. As though on cue, a warm fuzzy feeling began to spread from their scalp, making everything far more intense, and far more pleasurable. 

The warm water that had been pleasant before was now exquisite as it gently lapped against them. Focusing was impossible when every sensation was bordering on erotic. "Hold." They paused their breathing as warm water was poured over them, eliciting a whimper. "Good girl~" Miss Verdun praised, pressing into their scalp again to rub in the conditioner. 

They could hold it no longer, it didn't matter anymore. They felt themselves grin stupidly, as they began to pant with pleasure, the occasional moan as she pressed into certain places. There was something else stirring deep within; they were being touched, and for the first time in their life, it didn't feel wrong. "It's okay dear, you can let it out. You are safe here." 

Let it out? Oh, they were crying. Weird, they weren't sad, or at least didn't feel sad. Their skin was crying out too- for Miss Verdun. They needed to feel her against their skin, to be touched, stroked, pet. Even the lightest brush felt so good now as the Class As continued to intensify. They gasped out as a vine pressed into their shoulder muscles, and stars filled their vision as another moan escaped. 

"Goodness little one, you are extremely tense. Well, don't worry, we'll fix it. Be a good girl and just let go for me okay?" Well... They weren't really a girl... but maybe... they could... pretend for a little. Just for a while. As a treat. They let go of the last bit of tension they had been hanging onto, allowing themselves to melt into Miss Verdun. More vines pressed into their shoulders and back, causing them to scream out as an explosion of pleasure cut their vision temporarily. "Good girl." 

Nothing else mattered anymore. The whole of the universe had little more to offer that they didn't already have here, in this moment. "Very good, Princess~"

They wept openly now, full sobs causing streams of tears to form. No one had ever given them anything this nice, no one had ever been this kind. Why? Why was it some insufferable overgrown xeno weed? It didn't make any sense. None of it made any sense. The only thing they could even think about was how good it felt as she lathered up the luffa and began to scrub.

The texture of the luffa as it went up their arm made their voice hitch as it caught on a moan. Their skin cried out for more as soon as it finished passing over, its texture felt amazing amplified by the xenodrugs. As it went back down, it satiated the need for a moment, before traveling back upwards. Once the arm was fully scrubbed up and lathered, Miss Verdun lowered it into the water and moved on to the next. The warm water felt even better on the freshly exfoliated surface. All the while the vines massaging their shoulders and back slowed to a maddening pace. 

They were supposed to hate this, weren't they? Something deep down said they should. They couldn't imagine how anyone would, but they couldn't properly think anymore either. They were little more than Miss Verdun's plaything as she continued to massage, scrub and praise them. Each time she whispered something along the lines of "Good girl" or "You are doing lovely, Princess" their mind grew fuzzier. As it faded, something else was replacing it. That buzzing-humming sound was getting louder, and clearer, and more song-like. It was like... a marching drum in a way. They could feel what it wanted from them, and it wanted them to let it in. 

So they did. What a wonderful decision they had made, now they not only felt everything, but they could hear it in the music just beforehand, just long enough for anticipation to set in. It wanted to praise them- "Ohhh, very good Princess~" 

They couldn't help but grin like a fool. The pleasure from getting praised by both Miss Verdun and the music was simply too much. Their brain was melting now to join the goo that was the rest of their body. It wanted them to hold on- "You've done so well, just a moment longer." It wanted them to hold their breath. Warm water was poured over them slowly, as vines scrubbed into their scalp one last time, rinsing out the conditioner. They could breathe now- they took a deep, steady breath as vines cradled them, lifting them up out of the water. They barely registered the poke as Miss Verdun began to dry them off with the softest towels they had ever felt.

The intense needy feeling slowly faded, and their head cleared, leaving only the utterly relaxed state they had attained. As what transpired dawned on them, they found it hard to really care. They hadn't any strength to get angry about Miss Verdun forcing Class As on them, and why would they even want to? It was the best thing that had ever happened to them. 

"I'm going to dress you, okay petal?" 

They hummed in response. They didn't have strength for that anyways. Right now, it would be shocking if they were even able to stand on their own. Their muscles had relaxed too much, and failed to respond now. All the tension had been wrung out and they were left spent. That was okay though, they were safe for now. Miss Verdun was taking care of them. She finished drying them off and pulled a pair of panties onto them- purple this time, with a hint of frill. They were pretty cute, honestly, and felt nice on their skin. A pajama top and bottom followed, light pink, with a small embroidered flower accenting where the shirt pocket would be. 

"Is everything comfortable?" 

"M-hm." They hummed, their eyes shut as they began to doze off. They had never felt even half this relaxed in their entire life. They could hardly stay awake, but that ever fading beat was asking them to hold on again. 

Miss Verdun stroked her hand through their hair. It was no longer the jolt of raw pleasure it had been while on the class A, but it wasn't bad either. It was okay? "I'm happy to hear that. Now let's get you to bed." Bed sounded absolutely wonderful right now. They felt the faint sway of Miss Verdun carrying them for a few moments, before they were gently lowered into the plush mattress and tucked in. They felt a poke, "I love you, Princess. Goodnight." A new feeling stirred in their chest when she said that. It was in their heart, but instead of being fluttery, it was deeper, warm and full.

Thank fuck the Class Z knocked them out before they could process it.

-_-_-_-

Camila put the last of the mess in the decompiler and frowned. The cleaning may be done, but there was still a lot on the night's docket. Viola had said fae would be here in about half an hour. She had been mentally going over her points and arguments for keeping the course. More than that, she needed to make some decisions about the girl's domestication. There had been the occasional doubt before, that maybe she could in fact reach a point where she could live independently. Camila could see she had been mistaken then, there was no longer any doubt that Princess needed an owner. Both halves of her. 

Camila honestly didn't fully understand what the little one had meant when she finally responded to the question. She had only narrowly managed to keep the poor thing from needing yet another dose of Class E after asking about it. Then she babbled for five full minutes, attempting to clarify and reiterating the same few things. 'A prism with two refractions 'Identical and different.' 'Two parts of the same individual.' 'Separate and not separate.' 'Myself and I.' She said she had never talked about it before, and kept apologizing for 'failing to accurately describe it.' 

It was at the least clear that she saw herself as one sophont composed of two sophonts. What wasn't clear was the exact nature of her plurality; the kind Camila had been taught about was a bit different than what the little one seemed to experience. If they swapped, Camila had never noticed. Princess claimed they were both always aware of the other, and acted in tandem, for the most part. A unique duality, then? A system of two that was always co-fronting? She was perhaps out of her depth on this matter. 

It had, however, given her ideas for which way to mold her pet-to-be. 'Princess' had initially been but a moment of inspiration, but it did present her with a path forward. It would be precious if the cutie were to verbally use 'We' and 'Us' like they clearly wanted to. That shouldn't be too difficult to accomplish, the hard part was getting her to broach the subject without inducing panic. Having them meet another pluribus should provide results, but there were a few backup ideas. Cordelia had shared some interesting things with her when she returned; Princess seemed to be harboring a few fledgling fetishes Camila could use to nudge her along. Maybe she could tie a few triggers to the pet name as well? She clearly needed a few to help her calm down when she started getting anxious, if nothing else.

Princess wanted it, too. Or more accurately, there was a part of her that craved the structure and comfort being a pet would bring. The girl had even trusted Camila at her lowest moment. She couldn't accept that she did, not until she healed, but it was evident that she wanted to let go. She had even sunk into her biorhythm on her own! By the Everbloom, the little seed had been so adorable in the bath! However, helping her find her way into Camila's vines while only giving her nudges wouldn't be easy, especially considering her trauma.

Camila had been piecing together what she could of the girl's story, and she had never wanted to be more wrong. The large scar on her throat, her fear of and obsession with collars, her reaction to the monitor beeping, the 'massacre' she had mentioned... It all painted an incredibly bleak picture. She had never hoped to be wrong about something like she did about this. That someone would use a collar of all things in such a manner made her sick to the very depths of her core. It felt sacrilegious. Collars were a symbol of love and trust between an owner and a pet, not... not for that! Dirt, no wonder the girl was so emotionally fragile and constantly afraid. Stars, if she ever got her vines on Princess' former owners... Her injectors itched just thinking about it. What else had they done to the poor girl? She couldn't even discuss topics near the subject without bursting into tears, and that was when she was on a heavy dose of class Es. All that fear she had been allowing to fester inside herself. Camila had the feeling she hadn't even gotten everything that was eating at her either, just what had been bugging her the most at the moment. 

Still, she knew the shape of it now, or at least the head of it. She had the tools. She could start.

Jess chimed. "Miss Verdun, Mx Amaryllis is here!" 

Camila felt a nervous prick; time was up. She turned her thoughts to Princess- she could do this for her. 

She opened the door. Fae was huge, nearly the size of the Captain, "Ahh, Camila! It is so nice to finally meet you. May I come in?" 

She stepped aside, "Please do, I prepared some enriched mineral water for the both of us. Princess is on class Zs so we won't have to worry about waking her up." 

"Ah, yes, 'Princess.'" Viola was clearly amused as fae followed Camila into her room. "I still stand by my opinion, but you have been doing much better than I thought you would."

Was that supposed to be a compliment or an insult? "Thank you. Although at this point I honestly think she's closer to a stray than a feral." Camila took a seat in her chair, and offered a jug of water to her guest.

Viola took it graciously, setting it down in front of the small alcove Camila had installed for when Cordelia came over, and taking a seat. "I do mean that, dear; Princess' past shows some very ingrained feralism and more violence. Truthfully, I was a bit shocked to hear how far she's come with minimal xenodrugs."

Camila felt a surge of pride. Princess had been doing so well in her vines lately. "I'm not sure anyone has ever actually shown her kindness, she hardly knows what to do with herself. If it weren't for her trauma, she likely would have asked for a collar by now."

"Yes, that's what I wanted to talk to you about, actually." Viola dipped a vine into the jug, stirring it twice before letting it rest. "Have you read all the files?

"Yes. All of them." Camila had wished she hadn't. The little one's prior lack of empathy had lent itself to a number of horrors. So many sophonts... so much hurt to bear too. 

"Have you thought about what I said?"

"I have," This is what Camila had been preparing for. "and I agree that she needs domestication, but I'm not going to move for immediate domestication or give her up."

The air between them soured a bit. Viola hummed, "Are you sure that's wise? Dragging it out like that can end up with the little one hurt again, and only delays her getting the help she needs. She's certainly done enough to warrant it, too, and you want her. Why do it this way?"

"Because the little one deserves it. Because one day she'll be there and realize she's safe, loved, and happy. That she doesn't want or need to leave, because she's already home." Camila could almost see it; Princess in her vines, gazing up into her eyes, and letting herself feel safe in them. Hers, not just in name, but in spirit. 

Viola smiled. it was a smile Camila had seen on a few older Affini before; fae was thinking about an old floret. "You have a great deal of love for her. I'm still not sure that's wise though. From your own reports, she's easily panicked and extremely anxious. Doing it slowly could backfire, and lead to breakdown or more damage. Even if it doesn't, she may never be able to admit it without a heavy Class D."

"I know." Camila bowed her head. "If she gets stuck, or gets worse, I won't let her suffer needlessly. Of course, she'll be mine regardless after the trial, but I hope to spare her that."

Viola softened, and reached out a few vines towards Camila. She took them and fae spoke with that same smile, "You know I was fairly surprised to see she already had a notice filed. Even more so when I saw it was a first bloom with no expertise in special cases like hers. I would like to apologize for what I said last night. We may disagree on the best course of action, but it's clear you would make a wonderful owner for her."

She did it? She did! Camila had obtained approval from the Ninth bloom that doubted her! "Thank you, that means a lot to hear. I must admit, I had doubts myself, especially after she got hurt and relapsed a bit. I'm more sure than ever now." She had Cordelia to thank for that. If she hadn't helped her pick herself up, Camila may have given the girl up. 

"It's good to have some doubt," Viola nodded. "It keeps you open to seeing things you would otherwise miss and helps us strive to grow." 

Camila hummed in agreement. Providing for Princess was sure to require her to grow even more. "I'll keep that in mind, thank you." 

Viola sighed, and took out her pad. "I suppose I should tell you a few things I noticed looking through her files. Tell me, did anything seem like it was missing or stick out when you looked through?"

A lot had been missing, most of the files had been severely corrupted. Even the xenoarcheobureaucrats couldn't entirely recover them, with fragments to whole passages missing. "Just that she's older than she says she is, and that they were heavily damaged, which is unusual for OCNI files." 

"Yes, that certainly is odd, but anything else?" 

Camila wracked her mind, was there anything else? It was largely just painful to dwell on how hurt the little one had been, but a few oddities surfaced. "There wasn't anything on the company she originally belonged to, or any of her personal paperwork at all." Black site or no, there was normally some sort of paper trail. 

"Exactly," Viola nodded. "I know that the priority must be her recovery and domestication, but considering what's likely in her files, if you can find out the location, they would make lovely additions to the xenoarcheobureaucracy. Did she come with anything that could store memory on it?"

"A few things in her quarters, but they were mostly full of data on her crewmates." The cutie had come with little else besides the clothes on her back. "The rest was a daily activity log." 

The older Affini was lost in thought for a moment "I see..." Fae sighed, "well, if it turns up then, I suppose." Viola stood up, and clapped a hand-like mass of vines onto Camila's shoulder, "Thank you for hosting me, and hearing me out. My advice is still for immediate domestication, but if you ever need help digging into her past, feel free to contact me." 

Camila placed her hand on top of Viola's. "I will, thank you. Do you want me to show you out?"

"Oh, no need," Viola waved her hand before holding up a single vine. "Just one last request. I would still love to spend some time with the little one, when she's more settled in."

"Of course," Camila nodded. Viola smiled one last time, removed her hand, and left. She felt a wave of relief as she heard the door to the Vervarium close. That had gone way better than it had in her head. There was still just a bit more to do before she could turn in for the day. 

Camila opened a message to Cordelia.

[FrequencyFlower]: Viola just left, fae gave me faer approval and blessing. Fae's going to back off.

[FrequencyFlower]: Also it appears Princess is in fact a pluribus, and I was wondering if you could do me a favor

She didn't have to wait long for a reply.

[ComfyPlamnt]: I'm glad! I knew fae would back down once fae met you. 

[ComfyPlamnt]: and for you? Anything. 

What she ever did to deserve a friend like Cordelia, Camila could only guess.

[FrequencyFlower]: Could you ask G'Bhiv if his floret is available for a playdate?

Chapter Text

Camila rose, surging up from the alcove. Last night had gone better than she could have ever hoped for. Not only had Camila succeeded in convincing Viola to not file a complaint, but Cordelia had pitched some rather helpful ideas. Of course, what really had her flowers in full bloom was just how cute the little one was last night. She hadn't imagined getting an excuse to bathe her again so soon, and she was even more adorable this time! She may not get an excuse for the Class As again tonight but she could least wash her again. Honestly, with the way Princess had whimpered under her touch before the drugs even kicked in, she probably didn't need them. Just thinking about getting to have her again had her vines writhing in anticipation.  

That wasn't the only thing Camila was excited for, either. She whipped out her pad and started scrolling through the large selection of clothes she had earmarked. Camila had a plan to help Princess accept herself as a girl, and no matter her choices it would only push the cutie further into her vines. She sent her choices to the compiler as a message dinged through- 

[Cpt_Flynt]: Good morning Camila, do you have a moment?

[FrequencyFlower]: Of course! What do you want to discuss?

[Cpt_Flynt]: Ah, well it's been a week and I wanted see how you and Princess are doing. From what I can tell it sounds like you're making good progress. 

[FrequencyFlower]: Yes, she's been making great progress considering I couldn't properly help her before. I'd be a bit surprised if she's still able to call herself independent by next week. 

[Cpt_Flynt]: Wonderful! It's so delightful to watch the little ones as they realize what they actually want isn't independence. How about yourself?

[FrequencyFlower]: I'm still a little shaken from when she got hurt, but I don't think I've ever been happier. Stars, Flint, she's so adorable. Would you like some pictures? 

[Cpt_Flynt]: Of course! 

Camila opened her gallery for Princess, It already had hundreds of files from the last few days alone. She selected a few of her favorites from last night when the cutie was Class A, the video of her first meal, a few pictures of the girl dozing,  and one particularly adorable one of her blushing furiously as she pulled against her vines.

[Cpt_Flynt]: Very cute indeed!  

[FrequencyFlower]: Oh it seems that the little one is a Pluribus as well. It doesn't seem like she considers themselves as a fully unique sophonts though. The phrases she used are 'one whole with two halves' or 'a single prism with two identical but separate refractions.' They're both 'Princess' together.

[Cpt_Flynt]: Oh that is just precious! Be sure to update her status soon.

[FrequencyFlower]: Ah, I had to use a Class B shortly after, it may cause a lot of stress if she realizes I know. Don't worry, Cordelia and I have a little get together planned this evening to help the little one broach the subject.

[Cpt_Flynt]: Ahhh, yes, that does complicate matters somewhat. In that case, I wish you the best of luck.

[FrequencyFlower]: Thank you!

[Cpt_Flynt]: That's all for now, Camila, thank you. Feel free to keep sending me those pictures!

Camila tucked the pad away and moved to the kitchen, a spring in her step. She collected the clothes from the compiler, storing them inside. Ahh, the little one's face was going to be precious. There was something about the girl's weakening spirit as she allowed herself to become more reliant on Camila. It fed a newfound hunger growing within her, and it was utterly delicious. Camila wanted to savor every bit of it. 

On the topic of deliciousness, Camila had been looking forward to making today's breakfast as well. Her vines splayed out, gathering the ingredients. The dish was called a 'Crepe', it was something like a very thin pancake, but the texture and taste was a bit sweeter, and it was rarely eaten with syrup. Fruit, berries of various kinds, and whipped cream were the norm. 

Camila mixed all the ingredients for the batter together in a bowl, whisking them with a vine as she placed the skillet on the stove. Once the batter was smooth she set it aside and took out a knife from the block. She grabbed a few strawberries, a popular Terran fruit Affini bioengineers had brought back from extinction, and diced them up, setting them aside in a small bowl. Then she plucked one of the larger berry treats from within and diced it as well, across several crepes it would add just a bit extra tasty goodness. It was sure to elicit quite the adorable response. 

The skillet now heated, Camila carefully measured her pours. The cooking part was far harder than with pancakes; crepes were much easier to burn due to how thin they were, but all the recent practice in the kitchen had been paying off. All but one came out flawlessly, and she had only messed that one up when she had gone to flip it. Camila plated the meal, taking one crepe, placing the berries inside, and folding them up. Once she had four prepared, she drizzled chocolate over them and put a dab of whipped cream on each. She took a moment to appreciate the artfulness of the dish, snapping a picture. A week ago she could have never made something like this. She compiled a tray and placed the meal on it. Time to wake the princess. 

Camila left the kitchen and quietly entered Princess' room, carrying the tray. It was extremely unlikely she'd wake them up when the Class Z's were still good for another hour and a half, but it was best to be safe. Ah, she looked so peaceful sleeping, not a worry on that cute little face. She let herself enjoy the dozing Terran's soft breathing for a while before slipping out her injectors. She gave her a moderate dosage Class Es, followed by the counteragent for her Z's after the Es had time to work. 

The cutie stirred, slowly blinking awake. "Good morning Princess." 

That got her to spring upright, wide eyed and blushing. "M-miss Verdun!" Her biorhythm was resonating with an adorable mix of uncertainty and just a hint of the pleasure from last night. The only issue was the petal was already tensing up. 

"Please relax Princess, I wouldn't want you to strain yourself." Camila met her eyes and gently pushed her back down onto the bed, letting her own biorhythm bleed into her voice as she spoke. The Terran's eyes glazed over as her body obeyed. "How are you feeling, petal?" Camila asked, sitting on the edge of the bed, and releasing her from the trance.

Princess blinked, collecting herself. She turned her head to the side and pouted, grasping at the blankets as though they were a shield. Dirt, she was cute when she got upset. "You drugged me."

Camila nodded, "Yes, you needed the relief. You were on the verge of breakdown all afternoon and carrying a lot of tension. If I didn't intervene you may have injured yourself." 

"I think you just wanted to drug me." Princess grumbled, "There's other ways to destress." 

"Class A bath time is a certain way to relax any Terran." Camila directed her pet-to-be to meet her eyes with a vine on the cheek. "You can hardly tell me you didn't enjoy it."

"That's-" Princess' voice caught, and the blushing grew worse. Camila pulsed her core, reminding the little one to breathe. Co-opting the cutie's own coping mechanism from under them had given her such a delightful tool. Watching the Terran breathe on a wordless command fed into Camila's hunger. How had she lived before this? Camila released her. 

Princess turned away, brushing some stray hair out of her eyes. It had gotten longer in the last few days, and now came down to her softening jawline. It was starting to take on a bit of fluffiness, and its jet black nature caused it to almost glimmer with invitation. Soon enough. "Just don't do that again, alright? I don't like just being drugged."

Camila felt sympathy for the poor girl, even things she enjoyed frightening her. "I promise little one, I will do my best to make sure you stay nice and relaxed. Next time you are on Class As, it should be because you asked."

Princess glared up at her, averting her eyes the moment Camila met her gaze. "I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you." Camila was tempted to use the hold command in response, but ultimately decided against it. It likely would just make them panic if they realized she had a direct line of control over the air in their lungs. "Can I get out of bed now please?" 

"No need," Camila smiled, picking up the tray from where she placed it, and setting it over the girl. "I thought you might appreciate breakfast in bed today, as part of your relaxation. It's something extra special today."

The way Princess lit up at the sight of the meticulously prepared meal was simply precious. The excitement in her biorhythm, the drool starting to adorably trickle down the side of her mouth. It could be Camila's thousandth time seeing it and it would be no less divine. Princess picked up the fork with her good hand and poked at them gently, curious. "Uhm, what is it?" 

"They're called crepes," Camila smiled as she explained, taking pride in the product of love, "they're something of a delicacy. I made them extra special for you, Princess."

"They look really good..." Camila was on edge as she watched the girl cut out a bite and brought it to her mouth. Princess took the bite, suddenly dropped her fork and covered her mouth, letting out a low moan. "Ohhh fuck." Their eyes were misty with joy as they trembled with pleasure, struggling to keep chewing. By the Everbloom she was precious! It was no small feat of will that Camila kept herself from petting the girl and drugging her into a stupor then and there.

She couldn't help but let her own joy radiate out from her core. "I'm glad you like them, Princess." 

The girl was still half dazed, lightly panting from the ecstacy of the treat, unable to stop the smile from creeping into the corners of her mouth. Her eyes fluttered and her cheeks flushed again as she cleared her throat. "Sorry. Thanks for the food, Miss Verdun." Princess nervously stuffed another bite into her mouth, melting again as the flavor took her.

"You have nothing to apologize for. Besides, watching you enjoy my cooking is what makes me strive to do better at it."

Princess looked towards the other side of the room, her mood dampening. "Right..." She didn't manage stay down for long, the power of the food was too much. 

Camila waited until the girl finally swallowed, savoring every facial twitch of pleasure. It wouldn't do to have her choke. "You know class As affect taste as well, not just touch."

Now that got their attention- they were momentarily alarmed, before conflict swallowed their biorhythm. They were definitely curious, if not actively interested. "I'm not really interested in doing drugs just to do drugs but I'll keep that in mind, I suppose." 

The little one could lie to herself, but without her prior composure, she could hardly lie to Camila. "There's nothing wrong with a little bit every now and then to help relax or enjoy yourself- or even a lot." Camila placed her hand to her chin in a smug gesture, "Even most independents enjoy them, you know~"

Princess hummed, "I think I'll still pass for now, thanks." 

Well, the thought had been planted successfully. Something to leverage later, when she's ready. "Fair enough, petal. If you change your mind or get bored, just ask, okay?" 

She gave Camila that flat annoyed look she did when was moderately incised by her implications. Camila merely continued to smile. "So, you have any surprise appointments or whatever for me today?" Princess asked, shivering as she took another bite.

It warmed Camila's core to see the little one so casually accept that she set her schedule, especially as she continued to drool over her cooking. "Well, I don't have anything for you before lunch, but I do have some people I would like you to meet this afternoon. Did you have anything you wanted to do?"

The girl paused for a moment, and swallowed. "Well, first I was going to look at some names," She gave her glare, "I hope you had fun calling me 'princess.'" 

"Oh, trust me little one, I have." Camila let her hunger prick through, gazing downwards with predacious intent. 

Princess fidgeted, averting her gaze as she stammered. "I- w-w-" In... Hold... Out... Her temperament leveled back down with her sinking chest. She cleared her throat, "A-anyways, after that, look at some hobbies, maybe finish The Stars Betwixt, and a walk could be nice."

As adorable as the first two additional activities were, Camila was unsure about that last request. Yesterday they had walked for over four hours and she was clearly getting worked up even before that, constantly refusing to rest. At the same time, the vet had informed her that Princess would need a bit more physical enrichment than average. All those genetic modifications made the girl restless when she didn't get enough exercise. "A short walk, no more than an hour." 

"I guess it will have to do." Princess sighed, taking another bite. 

Camila would have to see about finding a solution to the little one's physical needs. She couldn't walk the girl however many hours she needed to get satisfied that way. Letting the little one train was unappealing, it could be counter to their recovery. "By the way, make sure to message Daisy. She misses you when you're not around."

Princess furrowed her brow, "For what? Doesn't she have other friends?"

"She does, but you are her 'bestie,' afterall." Camila smirked, "Besides, you seem to enjoy her company."

"She's not unbearable." Princess hummed around another forkful.

Camila humphed. What a thing to say about her potential pinnate. She and Cordelia agreed that Daisy was good for Princess. She had a way past Princess' defenses that even made Camila somewhat jealous of the pet on occasion. Daisy even really enjoyed being around her, finding her funny, and asked about her often. "It would make her really happy, Princess."

She sighed. "Alright." She poked woefully at the last scrap of the meal, disappointed that it was over. She hummed with delight as she ate it, savoring it for just a little while longer. "Fuck, that was good." She sighed once more, this time with content, as she lay back against the pillow propping her up. "Thank you, Miss Verdun."

Camila frowned. It was unbefitting of such a cute pet to cuss. It wouldn't do to have her dropping swears whenever she fed her sweets at a cafe. Something to add to her rules, when they were implemented. She removed the tray, setting it aside, "You are very welcome, Princess. Are you ready to get out of bed?" 

Princess looked a bit troubled. "Just... Nevermind." They shook their head and steeled themselves. "It's fine, I'm ready." 

Camila pulled back the blanket and carefully picked the girl up. She made an absolutely delicious 'Eep' as her vines wrapped possessively around her. It was fuel on the fire that was Camila's growing hunger. The Affini felt tempted to play with her, just a little. A squeeze on her inner thigh and a bit of whispered praise would have the girl melting in moments. Maybe she could see if her breasts had already started getting sensitive. Princess was hers after all... A tug reminded her that she was still in vines and Camila set her down. "Sorry dear, I was just thinking."

Princess was far from convinced. "Right..."

Camila slapped her cheek in feigned shock, "That reminds me, I need to give you your class G still!" She whipped the injector in question around, bringing it up to her. "Hold still, Princess~"

"A-ah. Right." She shifted nervously, backing away from her. "Actually, can we talk about that?"

Camila smirked, lowering the needle. "What seems to be the issue, little one?"

"It's-" Princess frowned and furrowed her brow, struggling for words. "I'm just not sure if I'm a woman. It's a nice thought and all, but I'm not, like, trans or anything you know." 

Camila struggled not to roll her eyes. It was like the girl didn't even hear herself sometimes. "Well it seems to me you enjoy it when you're treated like a girl."

"There has to be more to it than that!" She protested, growing about as upset as the Class Es would let her. "Shouldn't I, I don't know, feel like a girl?"

"Its true your gender may lay outside of true womanhood," Camila consoled, letting her biorhythm wash over and soothe the girl. "You may identify more with some other feminine aligned gender, or something else entirely. However, oftentimes something like that just takes a while. You said it yourself that you never even really considered it before a few days ago. It's rather impressive you've come this far in accepting yourself."

Princess was weak to praise as always, unable to resist cracking a slight grin. "Uhm, thanks but, surely there's more to it than just... kinda maybe liking it?" 

"Not really," Camila shrugged, "gender is entirely self expression. It's supposed to make you happy. When it comes to being a girl or a boy or neither or both or a faerie or doll or anything else you could think of- liking it enough to identify as one is the key factor. I'm not a woman because I was uplifted from anything specific, or because I had any physical quirk. I'm a woman because that's what I enjoy seeing myself as. It may take you a bit longer to see yourself as one. I think you should continue the treatment." 

Princess paused for a long moment, mulling it over. "Alright, I'll keep taking the class Gs for now." 

Camila brought the needle back around to bear, sliding it up against their skin before sinking it in. Princess let out the cutest sound- a cross between a gasp and a whimper that fed Camila's hunger. "Don't worry Princess," she purred, gently dragging the very tip of the needle a short distance across their arm, wrapping her vines around to hold it still as she injected. "you'll make a very good girl~" Princess turned bright crimson, their arousal clearly ringing through their biorhythm as they pulled fruitlessly against her vines. A sight so delectable that for a moment Camila's hunger was satiated. 

She withdrew the little one's pad and the clothes she had compiled, holding them out to her. "Now, do you think you can get dressed by yourself?"

"Yes!" Princess exclaimed the moment Camila finished speaking, hurriedly taking the items. "Can I have the room please?!" 

Oh, that had got her really worked up. "Alright cutie, but let me know if you need help alright?" She winked.

"Out!" Camila left, giggling. That had gone better than she had hoped. 

-_-_-_- 

They collapsed against the side of the bed, dropping the bundle of clothes to the side the moment they heard the door slide closed. What the fuck was that?!

What was that?!

They had to get their breathing under control. 

Long, slow, and steady . 

They managed to focus on the breathing. There was doubtlessly Class E in their system, as the panic bled away far faster than usual. Which left... left... Oh. Fuck. They were horny. They were really horny. They couldn't remember the last time they actually got this turned on. Their cock was  holding all their blood hostage. That's probably why they felt so lightheaded.

The machine chimed in. "Hey cutie, are you sure you're okay? I can get Miss Verdun."

For once they were grateful for it. Hearing the AI speak was certainly the splash of cold water they needed. "Thank you Jess, I just need a minute or two." It would take at least one for the... swelling... to go down. 

"If you wanted to masturbate I won't judge! In fact, let me help you look up some stuff since you only have one hand-" What on earth was it implying?!

"That will not be necessary!" They nearly shouted, "Thank you, Jess!" 

It made a mechanical groan. "You are really good at making a big deal out of something no one cares about. Well, let me know if you change your mind, cutie!" It chimed out. 

Well at least they weren't crippled with arousal anymore. What the fuck was even so hot about that? The way she said those things, lightly dragging the class G needle up their skin- ah, shit. Maybe they shouldn't dwell on that. And then there was last night! They couldn't accept that anything had felt so wonderful or that such pleasure was real. That was just the drugs, it had to be! Yet they couldn't forget how safe they felt in her vines after, or how it felt when she picked them up out of bed...

We can't think about that, either.

They shook their head, clearing the thought. It was the drugs. It was just the drugs. They brushed some hair out of their eyes. It had gotten longer than it's ever been, and was incredibly soft. The rate their hair was growing at because of the shampoo and conditioner was almost alarming. It had started to make their scalp itch and tingle on occasion. Another problem the Affini would doubtlessly try to capitalize on if she caught wind of it. Their hair wasn't the only thing getting soft either, there was a certain suppleness to their skin that wasn't present before. It felt nice under their fingertips, almost inviting touch. 

They shook their head again. All these strange thoughts and foreign feelings... This place was testing them, and it was testing them in a manner they hadn't expected. They expected suspicion, animosity, scrutiny- all the Affini had really given them so far was a seemingly boundless amount of affection. She didn't even directly supervise them most of the day. However, they were wise to her game now. Did Miss Verdun honestly expect them to crack just because she was being nice? How naive. They had been one of the greatest soldiers to ever live! 

Having collected themselves, they stood back up and straightened out. They just needed to get through three more weeks and prove they weren't a threat. Three weeks at minimum. If Miss Verdun didn't find out their secrets. And they stayed sane. They could manage it, somehow. They had to. For now, they needed to get dressed and set about their day. The good news was it seemed their desk, chair and other things had been delivered and placed. They no longer needed to get her help and feel how soft her vines were just to sit down or get up!  They picked up the folded clothing, and let it unfurl-

It was a dress. Miss Verdun had given them a dress. It was in two parts; the top blouse was white and composed of a light, breezy material. It had sleeves that would sit above their elbows and large ruffled frills on the chest. The skirt part was a verdant green, long and flowing, and held on much like overalls. A false corset sat just under where their bust would be, if they had any. The skirt section even had pockets that were surprisingly deep, especially considering it was for florets. A small flower with Miss Verdun's Orange, Purples and White accented the left one. Both the skirt and blouse were frilly at their edges. There was also a light jacket to go with it, a pale pink button up. 

They couldn't wear this. Not only was it obviously a companion dress, it was way way too cute for them! It's not like their face could have changed all that much since yesterday. It'd be like putting a big pink bow on a rat. If they were staying at the Hab all day that would be one thing, they couldn't take a walk or meet people wearing this! What if they ran into one of the crew again? The thought made their gut churn, before the Class E swallowed the feeling. There was still a sense of wrongness left over, the dress was still far too cute for them, but the anxiety had been squished to a manageable size. 

What other actions do we have available?  

Right, they needed to assess the situation tactically. The Class Es helped them keep a level enough head for that now. The most obvious play would be to compile a pair of sweats and a hoodie themselves, but that would certainly invite scrutiny from Miss Verdun. If she asked why they didn't wear the dress, 'It's too cute for me' was certain to incite some sort of reassuring action and possibly get dressed by her. If they tried to say it was the companion part of it and she recompiled it without her flower, they'd be caught. Trying to lie about why they couldn't wear it could result in Class D. If that happened, they were good as cooked. Who knew what sorts of things would come out when they couldn't help but speak their mind. 

Alternatively, what if they did wear the dress? It would be a bit embarrassing on their walk, but they were only out for an hour. It didn't seem likely Miss Verdun would give them a dress and then have them meet someone that would taunt them over it. They would appear rather unassuming, too awkward in a dress that didn't suit them to pose a threat. Looking non-threatening was always an advantage worth having. It let your opponent make more mistakes. They wouldn't have to see how bad it looked themselves, either. The choice seemed clear, although there was still a small nagging feeling eating at them, even through the Class E. 

Well, nothing they could really do there. This was already going to be difficult enough with just one usable hand. They moved to their desk and lay the dress across it, pinning it down with their mitted hand while their other one undid the buttons, ribbons and zipper. The dress fully loosened, they pulled the blouse over their head. Getting the stupid mitt through the hole was a bit of a struggle. Why did they even have it? The cut hadn't even reached the tendons, and they weren't going to fucking chew out the stitches or whatever. 

They did manage to get it on though, and they pulled the skirt portion off the desk, holding it by the straps. They stepped into the dress and pulled it up, hooking the straps over their shoulders. They reached around their good hand, trying to hold the fabric in place with the mitt, as they zipped up and retightened everything up in another herculean task. It was preferable to having Miss Verdun tease them as she helped them into it, at least. She'd probably call them 'Princess' and tell them what a 'good girl' they were and- they felt their cheeks redden as they realized what they were thinking. 

Focus. We need to focus.

Right, back to the matter at hand- the dress. It felt wonderful. There was still that nagging feeling, in the corner of their mind, but it was easily forgotten. The way the material hung off places and clinged to other places felt nice, its weight felt good and the way the fabric flowed as they gave a few turns and steps made them feel pleasant. The way the frills on the chest were arranged even gave the illusion of a small bust. A reflexive glance to the darkened mirror was met with a sigh of relief. It was really getting annoying how good at preempting them Miss Verdun was getting. Not only did the dress actually feel right, she knew they might be a girl before they did and that they'd feel weird about their reflection. Not that they were entirely sold on the girl thing, but she was at least right that they lay somewhere outside of just being a man. That never made them feel anything like this. 

Dressed now, the day could actually begin. They set their pad on the desk and took a seat. They sighed as they sunk into it. Fuck, this was a really nice desk and chair. Maybe dedicating half your entire society to paperwork had some actual benefits after all. They opened up the pad and shot a quick 'Good morning' to Daisy as promised- it was surprisingly easy to use one handed. Well, the Affini were obsessed with accessibility, so that tracked. The chores out of the way, they could focus on their main objective- finding a new name. 

A quick search for 'Female Terran Names' brought up an absolutely absurd number of articles and lists. This should be simple, all they needed to do was choose one, add any last name, and then Miss Verdun wouldn't have an excuse to keep calling them princess. They picked what seemed to be a comprehensive list of names and began to scroll through. And scrolled. And scrolled. 

This was a problem. There were far too many options to just shift through. They didn't even know what they were looking for, they were just scrolling through an endless list of names that all sounded the same as the ones before it. They frowned, tapping against the desk. This wasn't working, they needed another approach. Maybe they could determine what kind of sound and feel they wanted it to have and move from there? Most of the names they used before had two syllables, so that wasn't a bad place to start. Another search and they were reading through far more manageable lists. 

None of these names seemed to click either. This was starting to take a while. They'd already been at it for an hour. If it weren't for the Class E they'd probably be getting anxious. How could they find a name that felt like it fit when they weren't even sure about the whole 'girl' thing in the first place. Fuck, maybe they should just choose something that wasn't offensive to them? Miss Verdun may be getting their number, but she wasn't psychic. There was no way she could know if they didn't fully enjoy a name, right? What else could they do? Waltz up to Miss Verdun and say 'Hey I looked at names for over an hour and I didn't really feel any of them. No, I don't want your suggestions but can you please not call me Princess anyways because it makes me feel funny? Thanks.' They'd get eaten alive. Or worse, get stuck as 'Princess.'

The machine chimed above them, "Oh, I can help!"

"It is fine." They grumbled. The last thing they needed was the AI to get uppity on them.

It made an anxious, pleading noise that caught them off guard. "Come on, just let me help you!"

For a machine, it had a surprising amount of emotion. "Thank you for the concern, but this is something I need to do on my own."

"C'monnnn!" It continued to whine, "You never let me help you! I know you have your hold ups about AI but I just want to make sure you're happy, Princess!"

"It's nothing personal Jess, I just want to do this myself. It's my name, you know." They managed to keep their voice clear. If it weren't for the Class E they probably would have snapped at the machine calling them that. 

"Well... If you say so cutie. Just let me know if you change your mind alright?" The chime played again as it cut vocals. It sounded concerned. 

Hm. There was a faint queasiness again. Did they... feel bad about being rude to a machine? A message dinged through on their pad- Daisy. For the first time they were thankful for the pet, and the distraction she provided. 

[Daze-y]: YAYYYYYYYY

[Daze-y]: you remembered rule 2!!!!!

Daze-y]: hiiiiiii

[OasisOfArrakis]: Hello, Daisy. High spirits as usual then?

[Daze-y]: OO QUICK WHAT'S RULE 1?!?!

[OasisOfArrakis]: Friends hug each other? 

[Daze-y]: YAYAH! 

[Daze-y]: YOU PASSED THE POP QUIZ!!

[OasisOfArrakis]: It is two rules Daisy. 

[Daze-y]: n u remembered BOTH!!!

[Daze-y]: good job!

[Daze-y]: good girl! 

They couldn't help but laugh at the pet's antics. Honestly, the bar was in the ground.

[Daze-y]: ooo I should tell Miss Verdun you deserve a treat!

[Daze-y]: one sec!

The word 'treat' dredged up freshly buried memories from last night. 

[OasisOfArrakis]: There's no need, but thank you for the thought.

[Daze-y]: oh sry I already sent it

Well that was... something to contend with later. Hopefully it wouldn't be too much. If they were lucky it would just be a berry and that's all. 

[OasisOfArrakis]: It's alright, but is there even a rule 3? Surely there's more than two rules for being a friend. 

[Daze-y]: of course there's a rule 3!!

[OasisOfArrakis]: and what is it?

[Daze-y]: oh!

[Daze-y]: I dunno lol

[Daze-y]: We'll find it TOGETHER :3c

[OasisOfArrakis]: You know I somewhat expected that. 

[OasisOfArrakis]: So did you have anything scheduled or planned for today?

[Daze-y]: lol no mistress does that stuff

[Daze-y]: OH ACTUALLY

[Daze-y]: MISTRESS TOLD ME something that little pets like myself should keep secret.

[Daze-y]: akhxkgsktsgkxljcyosx

[Daze-y]: STARS it is hot when she does that

[OasisOfArrakis]: Does what?

[Daze-y]: don't worry about it :3

[Daze-y]: do you have anything planned?

They frowned. Had Cordelia taken direct control of Daisy through the implant there? They heard the Affini could reduce people to puppets, empty dolls that only were moved by their owners. How much of Daisy was tied up in her Mistress? Had she only been nice to them because Cordelia was controlling her? This was... not a fun line of thought to entertain.

[OasisOfArrakis]: Nothing much, Miss Verdun wanted me to meet some folks this afternoon. Outside of that, I was going to read and go for a short walk 

[Daze-y]: oo I love walks!

[Daze-y]: we should go on a walk together!

[OasisOfArrakis]: I'm not sure that's wise, you might have trouble keeping up. I'm used to very long and fast marches. 

[Daze-y]: Mistress can carry me :3

[OasisOfArrakis]: I'm not sure that's a walk anymore.

[Daze-y]: Sure it is! 

[Daze-y]: Oh! that reminds me. what happened after you left with Miss Verdun?

[Daze-y]: it looked like it was fun~

'Fun.' Maybe if you were into being a doped up pet and plaything all the time.

[OasisOfArrakis]: That's a little personal.

[Daze-y]: o come onnnnnnnnnnnn

[Daze-y]: pweeeease

[Daze-y]: OO THAT COULD BE RULE 3

[Daze-y]: FRIENDS SHARE SECRETS!!!

[OasisOfArrakis]: Isn't that a bit much like rule 1?

[Daze-y]: *GASPS*

[Daze-y]: I AM THE FRIEND EXPERT!

[Daze-y]: I MAKE THE FRIEND RULES!

[OasisOfArrakis]: Daisy.

[Daze-y]: okay fine how about uhhh

[Daze-y]: friends share with each other

[Daze-y]: ?

[OasisOfArrakis]: I mean I guess that's at least different.

[Daze-y]: c'monnnn I wanna know whats up with my bestieeeeeeeeeeee

[Daze-y]: pwetty pweeeease 

[OasisOfArrakis]: Fine, but only if you promise not to be weird about it. 

[Daze-y]: I would never :3

They had their doubts, but whatever.

[OasisOfArrakis]: After dinner Miss Verdun gave me a massage while bathing me with class A infused products in order to force me to relax. She said I was far too tense and needed it. I'm a bit sore about the whole thing to be honest. 

[Daze-y]: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[Daze-y]: YOU TOOK YOUR FIRST CLASS A???

[Daze-y]: aww I wanted to be there :(

[OasisOfArrakis]: I thought you said you were going to be normal. 

[Daze-y]: this is an extremely normal reaction to my besties little seed starting to sprout!

[OasisOfArrakis]: My what?

[Daze-y]: dw about it :3

[Daze-y]: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I WANNA KNOW EVERYTHING

[Daze-y]: What did you think about 'em?

[OasisOfArrakis]: Setting aside the fact I was drugged against my will? The pleasure is far too intense to be properly enjoyed. I could barely think about anything but the overwhelming sensations I was subject to. 

[Daze-y]: ah yeah the dosages on the bath stuff can get really strong if ur in there a long time, but you get used to it~

[OasisOfArrakis]: I do not intend to 'get used to it'

[Daze-y]: Well we definitely need to cuddle on some next time we're together!

[OasisOfArrakis]: I don't think that's going to happen, Daisy. 

[Daze-y]: awwwwwwwwwh

[Daze-y]: why not? 

[Daze-y]: you'd be so cute and they make cuddles feel extra nice~

[Daze-y]: you can't tell me you hated the actual high

[OasisOfArrakis]: Are you asking me if the drug designed by the extremely advanced immortal progenitor species to make me, specifically, feel good, felt good?

[Daze-y]: u loved it didn't u :3c

[OasisOfArrakis]: I understand you are a floret so you might have trouble understanding this but I was drugged against my will. I don't care how good it felt after.

[Daze-y]: that sounds like a yes~

[OasisOfArrakis]: Even if we set aside my lack of consent in the matter, I'd rather do other things. Sober things.

[Daze-y]: u can do both!

[Daze-y]: I'm mostly sober when I'm gardening

[Daze-y]: and then when I finish Mistress melts my brain and gives me lots of pets! 

Okay, trying to convince a pet that being forcibly drugged was bad was like trying to talk a star into going out. 

[OasisOfArrakis]: Daisy, as my friend, I'm going to ask you drop it and change the subject

[Daze-y]: BOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Daze-y]: lamer

[Daze-y]: sooooooo

[Daze-y]: o!

[Daze-y]: did u pick a new name?

[Daze-y]: or still princess then?

Ah, right, they had almost forgotten that's what they were supposed to be doing right now.

[OasisOfArrakis]: There's nothing really stopping you from using [Whoopsies, can't let you say that, Cutie!]

The machine chimed in, "Sorry, Princess, Miss Verdun's orders! All your past names are blacklisted."

This was ridiculous! Pushing them towards picking a new name was one thing, but forbidding them from using their old ones was too far! Why did they have to pick one in such a hurry anyways? It was impossible to get actually mad on the Class E, so they settled into a disgruntled annoyance.

[Daze-y]: call u whut?

[Daze-y]: the automod nabbed it lol

[OasisOfArrakis]: Nevermind

[OasisOfArrakis]: I'm apparently not allowed to use any of my old names in any capacity. 

[OasisOfArrakis]: Which is frustrating

[Daze-y]: well you could just ask Miss Verdun for help, but Princess is pretty cute :3

[OasisOfArrakis]: I'm not going to use Princess as my name, Daisy. I'm sorry, I need some time to think. We can talk later. 

They set the pad down on the desk and got up from the chair, stretching. They still needed to look up activities to earmark for potential future hobbies but they couldn't bring themselves to continue to sit at the desk on the Pad. They began to pace, walking from one side of the room to the other and back. Even the class Es in their system couldn't completely dull how poor their current position was.

They couldn't accept help for the name, but they couldn't find one either. Yet if they wasted too much time, they could end up stuck as Princess. They were pinned behind their own critical positions, unable to make any moves without compromising some or all of them. Miss Verdun had completely outmaneuvered them once again. She had been doing so almost the entire time. Even a stalemate would be an improvement, this was just... waiting for the end and hoping to buy enough time. Time for what even? To make it to what was likely a mock trial?

No... They had to keep hope that there was a way out of this without a collar. They just hadn't found it yet. Patience. They needed to practice their patience. It had been dashed against the rocks with the rest of their composure back at the vet, but patience was simple in comparison. It could be redeveloped. They may still be stuck on the name, but this did give them an idea for the hobby at least.

-_-_-_-

Camila sighed, setting the pad down. This 'Dune' had turned out to be a series of novels from before Terrans had left their system. It was also host to a rather insidious type of feralism. Even the Art of War itself wasn't as bad. It had given her the insight and perspective she was looking for, at least. The nature of its views on things like AI, humanity and will were hard to overlook. She'd have to get Princess to change her username again soon, possibly during tomorrow's talk. For now, it was nearing lunchtime. 

Picking up the pad again, Camila checked in on Princess one more time before heading to the kitchen. The girl seemed content, researching something at her adorable Terran sized desk. There was something extra cute about how small the things that were designed for them were and seeing them use them. Maybe Camila would let them have some items after their domestication, for her enjoyment. Her vitals looked fine, a few small blips of anxiety and panic still showed up in the history, but they had leveled off quickly. It seemed like Princess was finally starting to get comfortable. She had even worn the dress all on her own! Watching the girl give it a twirl and failing to fight off a smile had been absolutely precious. 

Her pet-to-be still safe, Camila tucked the pad away and set off into the kitchen. What should she make today? She had been planning on doing salad again now that they could taste. That would have to wait; Daisy had adorably asked that she give Princess a treat. Unfortunately, she had already given her a very sweet breakfast. Something else that was delightful, that wasn't sweet? Maybe something really savory, with meat? Camila set a few filters on her digital cookbook. Ah! Tacos would be perfect! The cutie could even eat them without assistance.

Camila sorted through the recipes, grabbing the essential ingredients as she found one that looked the best. Oh, she should make sure she kept them mild, there was no telling how Princess might react to anything seriously spicy. There would be a time to check, but that was hardly now when she had a walk with a playdate after. 

Now it was time to show Princess just how much Camila could care for her. 

Chapter Text

"Hello, cutie." Miss Verdun's sudden appearance at the side of their desk nearly made them jump out of their chair. They fumbled the pad and knocked it to the floor, a vine swiftly snatching it up. "Knitting? That's adorable! What made you interested in that?" 

They felt a lukewarm anger through the xenodrugs. What was she sneaking up on them like that for?! Surely she knew better! However, it soon succumbed to the calming waves of the Class E leaving only a bit of embarrassment in being caught. "I was just looking at a few hobbies, it seemed mediative." They shrugged, adding, "Besides, I think it'd be nice to make something for a change."

Miss Verdun smiled in that way that gave them that weird fluttering in their chest, "That is a wonderful idea, Princess." She set the pad back down on their desk. "You know, you look positively adorable in that dress. How does it feel?" 

Their cheeks reddened. "It's... nice," they managed. A small understatement. Something about the garment just felt kind of right, even if it didn't suit them. Still, the last thing they needed to do was encourage the Affini further. Just being around Miss Verdun like this was starting to make them feel odd now. It didn't help that their eyes kept catching all the way her vines constantly moved to a soundless rhythm. How did they not notice it sooner? The way it kept snagging on the edges of their focus, they must have been blind before. 

Miss Verdun's voice brought them back to the present. "I'm very happy to hear you like it, Princess. I just wanted to let you know it's lunchtime." 

Already?  

Damn, they really got caught up in the differences between knitting and crochet, and their various stitches. "Oh, well I'll uh, follow you to the kitchen?" 

"I could carry you, if you want." Miss Verdun teased. 

"Thanks, but I'll pass." There wasn't any chance of avoiding her vines completely, but they could at least minimize their time in them. 

Miss Verdun dutifully followed behind them as they moved from the guest room to the kitchen, stopping by the chair. "Ready, Princess?" 

They braced themselves and nodded. "Ready." 

They gasped.  Putting on the dress had been a serious miscalculation. Their skin no longer had the marginal protection offered by long sleeves and pants. A vine on their leg shifted, rubbing them ever so slightly, and they bit back a second gasp. Stars! They were set down in the chair and the vines were mercifully withdrawn. 

"There you go, cutie."

"Thanks..." They cast their gaze downwards at the plate. "Oh, tacos?" 

"You've seen these before?" Miss Verdun sounded stunned. 

"Once. Wealthy clients sometimes like to wine and dine you to show off what kinds of food they can afford. He was nonplussed when I ate it as though it were a synthcube." They carefully picked up a taco with their good hand, holding it over the plate. Miss Verdun looked troubled by that. "I'm sure yours are better though," they offered before taking a bite. They covered their mouth with the mitt, practically moaning through it. The meat was hot, and bursting with flavor and juice that trickled down their throat. The onions added a bit of extra zest and crunch to the deceptively simple meal. If these were not somehow better, they had certainly missed out on quite a meal back then. 

How many completely different and wonderful things is she intending to feed us? 

Miss Verdun giggled. It was nice to see her brighten up again. "I'm very happy you enjoy them." 

They swallowed. "Thanks Miss Verdun. These are really good." They finished the rest of the first taco, unable to keep themselves from knocking their foot against the leg of the chair in delight. 

"Oh you are very welcome." Miss Verdun purred, causing them to feel a self-conscious about the whole situation. She was getting more out of these meals than they were, somehow. Cooking all these fantastic things for them was part of her whole 'wanting to own them' deal. They couldn't feel upset about it though, not when they got to eat something this good. "By the way, did you manage to pick out a new name?" 

Geh.

Well, that certainly soured the mood a little. No way around the subject, unfortunately.  "No. Nothing was really feeling right. I think I want to take my time."

"I think that's a wonderful idea, Princess." 

"I don't imagine you'd feel like dropping the whole 'princess' thing?"

Miss Verdun's smile turned to a smirk. "Absolutely not, Princess." 

At least they tried. They bit into another taco, the contents spilling out the back and narrowly avoiding their blouse.

"Careful dear," Miss Verdun playfully chided, picking up the few scraps of meat that missed the plate. "If you mess up your dress, I'll have to change you." Her gaze gained a predatory tint, piercing through them. "Of course, you could always just let me feed you."

"This wouldn't be a problem if I had both of my hands," they grumbled, bringing the rest of the taco back up and making sure it wouldn't spill as they finished. 

"It can come off tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I'm more than happy to accommodate you. Though I'll still be happy to feed you even after you recover." 

Honestly, didn't Miss Verdun get tired of being so forward all the time? "No chance it can come off today?" 

Her answer was as short as it was absolute, "No." 

It's just a cut, for fuck’s sake.

It was absurd for sure, but they shouldn't get upset. It wasn't that much longer. Patience. "Hm. Well, can I at least know who it is you want me to meet?"

"Oh, We'll be heading there as soon as you finish your walkies." They gave the best leer they could muster at 'walkies,' but Camila's smile didn't even budge as she continued unphased. "It's just an hour, maybe two. I think it'll be good for you to meet a few more sophonts. Daisy's going to be there, and I will too."

Daisy was going to be there? Ah, so that's what Cordelia interrupted her for. She was likely about to spill whatever this surprise was. "Ah well, a secret is a secret after all." They shrugged. "I'm not exactly one to be calling people out for not volunteering information."

Now that wiped the smile off Miss Verdun's face. She looked perturbed as they continued to eat. "Princess, that's not-" she halted, clearly mulling over her next words carefully. "It's just a few of Daisy's friends. We were also going to celebrate your first week in the Compact. It was nothing insidious, I just thought you might enjoy a little surprise."

Oh. Well that kind of made them feel like an asshole for forcing that out. "Sorry, it's just-"

"Nothing to apologize for, Princess." Miss Verdun interjected. "I should have realized it could aggravate your paranoia to keep it from you."

"I'm not-" they started to protest out of reflex, catching themselves. 

We are kinda paranoid...

There were reasons for that! Good reasons! They wouldn't be alive otherwise! Besides, it wasn't like Miss Verdun had been perfectly trustworthy. She couldn't be more clearly trying to manipulate them into some kind of needy pet. She was still expectantly waiting for them to finish, however. They needed to respond. 

"Thanks for telling me," they half-mumbled, taking a bite of the final taco. It was sad to be finishing such a wonderful meal so soon. 

Miss Verdun softened. "You are welcome." She smiled before moving to their side, waiting for them to take the final bite. They savored it as long as they could, only swallowing when all the taste had faded. "Are you ready?"

Right, she needed to touch them. On the skin. With her incredibly soft vines. They wished they had put on the jacket, but at least they expected it this time. They swallowed nervously and nodded. The preparation was, mercifully, enough. Their heart quickened as her vines rubbed against their skin again, but they made no noise. 

"There you are," Miss Verdun set them down. " Good girl ." 

That phrase was starting to make their head spin when she said it. "Th-thanks," they stammered, blushing.

What are we thanking her for again? 

Miss Verdun giggled. "You're welcome, Princess. Are you ready for your walkies?" 

They snapped back down to the present. "Don't call it that," they grumbled. 

She giggled again. "Then, are you ready to go for a walk?" 

"I need to get the rest of my stuff first; can't exactly walk around barefoot." They began to head out of the kitchen and towards the guest room. 

Miss Verdun followed behind. "I don't see why not, the ship is very clean and free of anything harmful you could step on. Many fl- sophonts do so."

"I'll keep that in mind." They entered the room and grabbed their boots, socks, and hat before sitting down in their chair. They removed their coin from a boot and tucked it into a dress pocket. Pulling on the socks with one hand wasn't that hard, they often did that normally. Pulling the laces tight also wasn't hard, but-

"Would you like some help tying those?" They could practically feel the smug sureness radiating off of Miss Verdun. 

This wouldn't be the first time they would be tying laces one-handed. It wasn't easy, but it was manageable. However, it would be a very clear display of struggling needlessly, and right in front of Miss Verdun no less. 

"Do you know how I lace my boots?" 

"Excuse me?" That caught the Affini off-guard. "Apologies little one, if it's any different than standard Terran shoe tying, I didn't notice." So she really didn't know? It felt good to remember the Affini was, in fact, fallible.

"In that case, I'll ask you to let me do it myself." They reached for the laces again.

Miss Verdun stopped their hand with a vine. "Maybe you can walk me through it?" 

They sighed. Of course it wasn't going to be that easy. Maybe a small compromise? "How about I do one, and you can do the other?" 

"That is... acceptable." The Affini wasn't happy with this situation, which was promising. A good compromise shouldn't make anyone happy. 

The vine moved, and they were able to pick up the laces. "I'd say watch carefully, but-" Miss Verdun was likely kicking herself for not noticing. A small victory, but a needed one. 

They fed the left over the right, pulled it taught, wrapped the laces around to the back, fed the right over the left and pulled it again, wrapped it around one more time back to the front pulling it tight before they tied it off with a double square knot, which they tucked behind the tongue of the boot. It was tricky with one hand, but they managed by using their teeth to assist. "Just like that."

"I haven't seen a Terran tie their shoes like that before. Is there any reason why?" 

"Of course," They grabbed the heel of the boot and pulled on it. It hardly budged. "Much tighter. Means less chance of slipping, and I've never had it come loose on its own. With a standard bunny knot, you can run into issues with both, even if it's double knotted." 

"Interesting," Miss Verdun hummed, taking up the laces of their other boot and beginning to replicate their actions. "Is that something you worry about?"

They folded their arms. "No, because I tie my boots right." The last thing you wanted was to worry about tripping over your laces, or the boot slipping.

"Fair enough, cutie." Miss Verdun finished with tucking the knot behind the tongue of the boot. "Is that right?" 

They twisted and turned their feet one at a time, examining the boots. "Not bad." The fit was right, and she hadn't messed up at least. They couldn't help but notice the shine was fading. "I think I'll have to polish this again when I have my other hand back." 

Miss Verdun hummed for a while. "Princess, I'm not going to do anything now-" Oh no. "But-" Oh No. "I want you to think about retiring the boots soon." 

The boots?

They had been expecting something more severe, but the more it sat with them the worse it felt. They had spent time every week cleaning and caring for them. They weren't critical but... "I've had those boots for a very long time, Miss Verdun." 

The Affini nodded solemnly. "You don't have to throw them away, I know they're very important to you. It's just they're very emblematic of your time as a mercenary. You also are about to get a lot smaller on the Class G; they quite literally don't fit the cute girl you are."

That's right, the woman in the mirror was significantly shorter. Did they want to be smaller? They had never been small before; they had always stood at a solid two meters, towering over most. Miss Verdun had said all the changes were reversible, surely if the Class Gs could make them smaller they could make them big again if they changed their mind. That would mean giving up the boots for a while still.  They reexamined the boots. They had seen no shortage of action together, and plenty of blood- their own and others’. As it caught the light, the dull shine of the leather brought back a muddy mixture of memories. They had paid no small amount for these boots, and their continued maintenance was a point of pride. Miss Verdun did have a point though; the boots were tied to their past. Putting them on had helped ground them yesterday, and even now their familiar feel was already putting them into that old headspace. The very one they needed to leave behind to convince the Affini they weren't a danger. "I think I'd still like to polish them at least one more time." They heard their voice catch- fuck, were they about to cry over this? They're just boots...

"Awww," Miss Verdun cooed, "it's okay Princess." She placed a comforting hand on their shoulder, brushing a few errant strands of hair out of their face with the other. "I know they mean a lot to you."

"It's alright." They gently pushed against Miss Verdun's arm with their hand, and she removed it. "Thank you." They got up and put on the hat and the jacket; thankfully it had enough give that the mitt didn't catch. "I'm ready to head out."

-_-_-_-

Camila had heard that the Terran pack-bonding instinct was strong, but seeing the little one get so worked up about their boots was another. She had nearly cried over them! It would have been adorable if it wasn't so core-wrenching to see her distraught. 

She made a note to compile a cuter hat for Princess next time, or just get rid of it all together; that slate grey cadet cap simply didn't suit her. Now wasn't the time to push the subject, especially after their reaction to the impending loss of their boots, even if Princess didn't indicate nearly such a high level of attachment to the hat. 

Even though the boots and hat clashed with the soft colors of the dress and jacket, the fledgling pet was still absolutely adorable. If anything, the slightly mismatched style added a certain charm. Camila's growing influence and Princess' fading control were on clear display, and it was apparent to anyone who was winning. "That's wonderful, Princess. I'll follow right behind you, okay?" 

"Right." The girl took a single step towards the door and paused. "Uhm, a-actually, I think I'm having... second thoughts."

"What's wrong, petal?" Camila had a solid hunch, of course, but it was good to get the little one in the habit of sharing her feelings. 

Princess shifted nervously. "C-can I change? I'm not sure about going outside" She motioned to her dress, "in this."

Exactly as Camila had expected. She pantomimed confusion. "Well I don't see any problem."

"That's-" Their voice caught, and their gaze shifted downwards. "Don't I look a little weird? I mean, I've only been on Class Gs for three days now..." 

"No one is going to say a thing, Princess, I promise you." Camila placed a vine under her chin and tilted her face up until their eyes met. "You are a cute girl, in a cute dress. There is nothing weird about that." Camila could feel her words sink into the little one as her dark eyes started to unfocus. She released her, not wanting to make the girl fully drop. There would be time for that later. Camila had to be careful, the resistance to her words Princess had previously managed was already so weak now. 

"R-Right, thanks." They pulled away, blushing. "I think I'm ready now." Camila simply smiled, and motioned in front of them. Princess strode out of the room, and out of the Hab. She tugged the brim of the hat down as she looked to the left and right, scanning for something, then continued onwards, quickly stepping onto an uncrowded path. 

Camila stuck close behind. Princess' pace hadn't slowed a step from yesterday. She was marching more than walking, the only difference being the slight wobble caused by the class E. Her long steps plowed through the skirt of the dress, causing it to catch around her legs here and there. "Dear, you really should slow down."

Princess huffed. "I know this isn't a pace most people find comfortable, but it is for me." 

"That's not exactly my concern at the moment, my concern is-" The fabric caught around Princess' legs again, and she stumbled. Camila had seen this coming, and quickly caught her, helping her to her feet. "That you will trip, just like that." She sighed. "Dear, I know you are feeling a little pent up, but you really need to walk a bit more carefully in that dress." 

There was a bit of turmoil in Princess' rhythm as she fought back a blush. "R-Right, sorry. Thanks for catching me."

"It's alright, petal. I'm working on a solution for your physical needs but for now, smaller steps, at a more relaxed pace." Camila proffered a vine. "Let me show you."

More conflict as they eyed the vine with suspicion, before finally sighing and taking it. Camila smiled, and let her core ring out a bit of her joy at finally getting to walk her. The effect on Princess was almost immediate, and Camila could hear her heart accelerate as the joy infected her. Stars, it was precious to see Princess start to attune to her biorhythm. Camila took the lead now, satisfied at making further progress with the girl. A proper leash would be ideal of course, but hand-holding would have to suffice for now. 

Her steps were still long at first, resulting in a stilted pace as she would quickly run out of slack, forcing her to wait. This repeated a few times until Camila helped her find the length and speed of step she was aiming for. Princess almost protested, but ended up holding her tongue. Their movement was still a bit stiff, but it let the dress flow instead of catching. She was far less likely to trip now, at least. It felt selfish that Camila was the only one on this path to witness such a precious moment for the pet.

It was hard not to notice the way Princess was constantly glancing around and behind her. She had been dodgy yesterday, but this was definitely heightened alertness. Camila stopped. "Is there something wrong, Princess?"

Camila felt the jolt that ran down her spine at being called out. "That's- it's-" 

"Breathe, little one." In... Hold... Out...

Princess exhaled. "Sorry, I'm still feeling a bit anxious." 

That didn't tell Camila much; anxious seemed to be her default state. She would have to see about upping her standard Class E dosage; Princess was at the limit of what wouldn't impact her coordination, but it clearly wasn't enough. "Is there anything in particular bugging you?" 

"It's..." Princess turned away from her, absentmindedly fidgeting with her vine. How was she this adorable?! "I've never been outside in a dress, and I think that stuff with Sawyer yesterday got to me more than I thought. I just really don't want to run into anyone from the Valiant ."

Oh, mulch. Camila had been too focused on the other issues; she had failed to consider the psychological impact of Nick's rejection of Princess as a woman.  No wonder the cutie was looking progressively frazzled the longer they were out. She was on a ship with all the people she was convinced hated her and considered her a man, worried she could run into them at a moment's notice. "Princess, I promise you yesterday was an exception. None of your former crewmates are going to hurt or be rude to you as long as I'm here." 

Princess grumbled. "I'll believe that when it happens." 

Camila frowned. This was untenable; she couldn't properly shape Princess into the pet she was meant to be if the Terran considered everywhere beyond the Hab to be hostile territory. Something would have to be done. Meeting one of her old crewmates that was grateful towards Princess and supportive of her transition might assuage her anxiety. Perhaps Camila could see if any of them were already florets? Besides Nick, that is. He should be getting broken around now, if Lydia didn't do it last night, but it would still be a few days until his implant. Longer until he'd be recovered enough to apologize. For now, she needed an actionable solution. 

"Well, if being spotted is your concern, what if I hid you in my cloak?" 

"I still want to walk." 

"And you will still be walking." Camila adjusted her cloak, creating a small alcove to her side. "Just out of sight." She parted the 'garment' letting Princess see what she meant, gently pulling her closer with the vine she was holding onto. 

That got their curiosity, if not their interest. "I don't know, I want to see the ship." 

"I can accommodate that." Camila gave her a warm smile. Stars, Princess was cute when they got flustered. "Step inside, I'll show you." 

Princess hesitated for a moment, unsure, before entering the small nook Camilla had made for them. Once Princess was inside, Camila slightly parted a few flowers , opening a modest viewing hole that would still largely obscure her from outside view.

Princess shied away, stepping out of her. "I'm... not sure about walking that close to you..." 

"Little one, I've always been very careful about how I've touched you." Honestly. 

There was conflict in her rhythm, but it gave way and she took a deep breath. "Alright..." She stepped back into the alcove. "Just don't make this weird." 

"Of course." Camila closed the cloak around her pet-to-be. "Are you comfortable? Everything alright?" 

"Y-yeah." Princess tried and failed to put on a brave front, nearing overstimulation from being so close to Camila. "Can we walk? I don't want to waste more time."

'Waste time,' as though time was a thing that could be wasted, as though they hadn’t stopped to make sure she was comfortable. One day Camila would see this obsession with efficiency excised from them completely. It was unfitting for a pet to be concerned with their schedule. Still, it wasn’t long before Camila had to take her to the small gathering. She gently pulled Princess forward with the vine holding her hand. 

The remainder of the walk passed without much incident. Princess would on occasion bump into the front of her cloak, or be nudged forward by the back. These mistakes became fewer as they carried on, but this was clearly a sticking point for the cutie. Sadly, they only had a handful of minutes left before they needed to end the walk when they talked, not nearly enough time. Perhaps a shorter 'leash' next time could help, assuming Camila was able to get Princess past her anxieties by then. Her pad dinged. "Okay cutie, time’s up."

"Already?!" The girl was not pleased; Camila had known such a short walk wouldn't satisfy her. 

"Sorry, Princess." Camila apologized. "I promise I'm working on a solution for your exercise needs, okay?" She had a few ideas she planned to discuss with the other Affini. "Right now we need to get to Cordelia's."

Princess shifted slightly. "Right..." 

"I'm going to pick you up now." Camila informed her. 

"Surely the nearest station can't be- Ah!" Princess gasped as she was swept up into Camila's arms by the cloak she had been hiding in. "M-miss Verdun!" She could hear the little one's heart skip before it raced. 

"Sorry cutie," Camila teased, "but a full hour was already pushing it. I'll need to carry you if we don't want to keep everyone waiting~"

-_-_-_-

Their minds raced as Miss Verdun carried them through the ship, cradling them in her soft vines. She had said they'd be meeting some of Daisy's friends. All of Daisy's other friends were florets. Florets were never far from their Affini. Dealing with Camila and Cordelia at once would have been cause for concern on its own. Not only were both going to be there, they could expect anywhere from one to four additional Affini. If it were any larger than that, it wouldn't count as 'a few.' They should expect somewhere between- 

The line of thinking was broken as a soft vine brushed against the inside of their thigh, eliciting a soft gasp.

Miss Verdun's voice was rife with amusement, clearly struggling not to laugh. "Sorry Princess, slipped."

They had doubts. Wasn't she just talking about how careful she was when touching them?

She's just toying with us...

Just a few more weeks. They could bear it that long. They had to. They had suffered worse hells for much longer than a month before. They heard a door slide open-

"Camila! It is so good to see you!" Miss Dawnbloom cheered. She soon appeared in their field of vision, peering down at them in Miss Verdun's vines. The Affini was as offensively colorful as ever. "Hello cutie, Daisy had been aching for you to get here~" 

"Good afternoon, Miss Dawnbloom." 

She smiled and turned her attention back to Miss Verdun. "Everybody else arrived just a few minutes ago, come on in!" 

Miss Verdun carried them in, setting them down in the living room. They gave a curt "Thank you" and looked around. Only the two Affini were present in the living room, with no other life in sight. Was the event not taking place in the living room?

A door slid open, and from it Daisy burst out of her garden, glowing with energy as she let out a loud "BESTIEEEEEEEEE" before surging forward and wrapping her arms around them as tightly as she could. "I MISSED YOU!"

They couldn’t help but let out a small laugh as they carefully returned the hug, trying to ignore the cooing of the two Affini. "We saw each other literally yesterday."

Daisy humphed, tilting her head up to pout at them. "I still missed you, dummy!" She suddenly gasped, falling back into her energetic self. "Ooo and your hair is starting to get a little long!" She began to run her hand through the side of their hair before they pulled away. "Aww, c'mon. It's getting all pretty and soft and junk, I wanna play with iiit!"

"Maybe some other time," they grumbled. 

Like never. 

"Okay!" Daisy cheered before gasping again, much longer than before. For a moment, they thought she might pass out. "Oh my gosh! Princess! You're wearing a dress!" She began to practically dance in place. "AAAAAAA YOU'RE SO CUTE!!! How does it feel?!"

They felt their face flush. They had expected a reaction along these lines, but that didn't stop it from making them feel weird. "It's..." Too cute for them, too comfortable, too nice, likely looked awkward and most certainly would look better on her. "Comfortable, I suppose." 

"Pfft," Daisy snorted, and began to giggle. "It's fine to enjoy yourself, y'know." They really missed the days where they didn't broadcast every single emotion. Daisy tenderly took their good hand, "C'mon, I've been telling everyone how cool and funny you are! They really wanna meet you!"

Oh fucking hell, who knew what Daisy had told them. They got the awful feeling they weren't going to like it, whatever it was. They looked to Miss Verdun for help- "I'll be right behind you, Princess." She smiled. Right. This was her idea in the first place, why would she do anything?

They swallowed. Social situations weren't something they really enjoyed. The notion that they had all gathered to meet them , specifically made them feel uneasy. Maybe they should just ask for more Class E? Things were already feeling off, though, any more and they might become reliant on Miss Verdun. In... Hold... Out... It would be fine. It was just a small get together. It wouldn't even be all that long. They’d had firefights that lasted longer. "Alright, let's go." 

"Don't worry, they're gonna love you! I know it!" Daisy smiled, leading them back to the garden. They wished they could be as confident. The concept that anyone would actually enjoy protracted interactions with them was absurd. 

The garden was in twilight, the main lights dimmed to let the glowing floating bell-like flowers have a more pronounced effect. They drifted around the room, occasionally bumping into each other which caused a brief surge in their soft blue light. It was beautiful, but what held their attention was the two Affini standing around the 'Cuddle Zone,' its large leafy covering having shrunken into its center. The larger one was iridescent, their leaves shimmering under the lights off the floating plants and simulated light. The other was more similar to Miss Verdun and Miss Dawnbloom- a weaving of various plants, flowers and vines that came together in a somewhat attractive approximation of the female form. 

There were also the three beings on the exposed cushions. One seemed to be a Terran, with little notable besides that they were wearing a companion dress and green collar. The other two appeared somewhat insectile in nature. The larger one had a Terran-like upper body, with  six fuzzy legs beneath a fuzzier thorax where their hips would be. Four black eyes were visible from this distance, and they wore a modified companion dress that covered the top of their thorax. In their arms was a smaller creature, maybe a meter high, striped black and yellow. They would have thought it was a stuffed animal if it didn't move while the spiderlike person kept stroking its head and playing with its antennae. 

Daisy continued to lead them up the short and gentle hill. Miss Verdun and Miss Dawnbloom were following behind, Miss Dawnbloom leaning on Miss Verdun and chatting with her as they walked. Affini certainly had a different view on the levels of intimacy they shared with friends; if they had been Terran they would be moments from needing to get a room. 

They were at the top of the hill now, all eyes were on them now. "Everyone!" Daisy announced, holding up their conjoined hands, "This is Princess!" 

Oh. Good.

They didn't know what they expected, really. Miss Verdun would have certainly chastised them if they introduced themselves as 'Beckett.' They would hold their tongue for now. 

"Good afternoon," they greeted as Daisy began to hang onto them. 

"Ohh, she is cute!" The spider chimed in, continuing to play with the other bug.

"Absolutely adorable!" agreed the smaller of the Affini.

The larger one chuckled. "Yes, quite the lovely sophont you've found for yourself, Camila." Found? They had come in on their own! And she didn't own them! 

"Yes, she's been an absolute delight." Miss Verdun replied, taking Cordelia's hand into her own. "How about we do introductions for Princess then?" 

The smaller Affini clasped their hands together. "Of course!" They turned towards them. "I am Cadence Maren, Second Bloom, She/Her. It is nice to meet you, little one."

"Likewise, Miss Maren." 

Miss Maren gave the two insectile creatures a few loving scritches they leaned into. "Do you two cuties want to introduce yourselves?" 

"Yes, Mistress!" The spiderlike one responded. "I'm Ariadne Maren, second floret, she/her, and this cutie-" She gave the creature an extra vigorous petting for a brief moment, "is my pinnate!"

"i'm scruffles Maren, first floret, it/it's!" It cheered. "Feel free to pet me if you want! i'm very soft."

They were... not doing that. With a small nod, they returned the greeting. "It's nice to meet both of you." 

"scruffles is a beeple; they're like, the very first florets ever!" Daisy helpfully informed them. Those had been mentioned in their reports, but all that amounted to was that Beeple were from the same home world as Affini. 

"Oh. Good for it, I suppose," they responded, unsure. Why were they here? Was this just another of the Affini's schemes? Or perhaps a test of some sort? What was Miss Verdun trying to get out of them here?

The larger Affini began to speak. "I am Rhubarb G'Bhiv, fifth prism, any pronouns." They gave the Terran sitting in front of them a stroke from behind the ear to under the chin, and they hummed in pleasure. "Do you want to introduce yourselves, cuties?" 

Selves?

"Yes, Conductor," they cheered, standing up and giving a curtsy. "I'm Rose G'Bhiv, third refraction Pluribus, She/They!" 

They almost jumped as Rose’s form suddenly shifted. Floppy dog ears sprouted from their scalp and a fluffy tail from their spine as their collar shifted from green to blue. "Arf! I'm Puppy G'Bhiv, second refraction pluribus! Uhm, pup/pups for pronouns!"

What was... going on here? 

Their form shifted one more time, the ears and tail melting away in an instant as the collar shifted from blue to yellow. "And I'm Dee G'Bhiv, sixth refraction pluribus, she/her. It's super nice to meet you! I'd introduce the rest but they aren't active right now." They shifted back to 'green' "It's a pleasure to meet you though!" 

They blinked and furrowed they're brow. "I'm sorry, I'm a little confused." 

"Do you know what a pluribus is, Princess?" Miss Verdun's voice came from behind. 

They had a feeling they were about to find out. "No, and for that matter I don't know what a pinnate is either."

"Well that just means we're super close, and it'd be cruel to separate us!" Ariadne chimed in. "It could be a couple thing, or just really good friends." 

"So you're always together?" They asked.

"Not alwayzzz," scruffles spoke.

Ariadne giggled and continued where it left off. "Just that even if we aren't together, we're never far, and nothing is stopping us from seeing each other at any moment." Huh. Having someone always there or nearby sounded like it would get old fast. 

Daisy started humming happily about something as... Mx? G'Bhiv took the floor, giving their pet a lot of attention as they did so. "As for pluribus, to put it simply, that is what we Affini call it when there's more than one sophont sharing the same body. Whether there's a dozen or more of them, all completely separate, or just two, nearly identical."

It has a name?

It had a name. They... They weren't alone? This whole time...

"Princess, are you alright?" Miss Verdun asked, concern in her voice. "You seem a little pale."

"S-sorry!" They apologized, "I just... didn't know that was a thing, is all. That's... very interesting." What the fuck were they doing? They had nearly blown it for themselves! 

"Yeah!" Daisy cheered, besides herself with excitement. "It's like, WAY more friend per friend!"

"Yes, pluribus are very rare, and very treasured." Miss Dawnbloom added. "We respect multiplicity in the Compact." Another term they'd have to look into more. 

Something was off. This was far too convenient. It felt coordinated. Did Miss Verdun already know, somehow? Since when? And how? They still had appearances to keep up for now. "Well, I'll do my best. My apologies if I mess up, Rose, please feel free to correct me if I make any mistakes."

"Yeah, no worries!" Rose beamed. Their form shifted to 'Puppy' for a single bark before shifting back to Rose. 

"Why don't you two take a seat?" Miss Verdun asked. 

"Yeah c'mon bestie!" Daisy cheered, attempting to pull them forward. 

They stayed rooted to the spot, "I need to take my boots off, Daisy."

"Huh?" Daisy cocked her head, "Why are you even still wearing those anyways?" She made a face as if she had just tasted something foul, sticking her tongue out.

"Well normally when you tie boots on, they don't come off until you untie them." Their reply elicited laughter from all present. 

"You're right, Daisy, she is pretty funny," Ariadne snickered.

Daisy snorted. "Princess, that's not what I meant, you goof."

"They are my boots, and I've had them for a very long time. I intend to wear them until I physically cannot." Why was everyone so weird about their boots? "Besides, they're very comfortable, even when you're on your feet all day."

"Would you like some help removing them, Princess?" Miss Verdun asked, putting them on the spot. 

Options. 

They accept her help, in front of all these pets and Affini. All of which thought they were also on the way to becoming a pet. A bit embarrassing, but it wasn't like Miss Verdun was going to strip them in public. Alternatively, they could refuse her help. Embarrassing Miss Verdun in front of her friends was likely to have unpleasant- In... Hold... Out...  

...

Wait, what were they thinking about again? Miss Verdun asked something? They turned to face her, Daisy still clinging to their side. "Sorry, what did you say?" They heard a giggle from scruffles and Ariande.

"Your boots, dear," Miss Verdun smiled. "May I help you remove them?"

"Oh, uh, sure." They felt a bit awkward for having spaced out. That wasn't very like them. 

Miss Verdun's vines quickly untied and untightened their laces, tapping their leg once finished. It took a second, but they realized she wanted them to lift their leg so she could actually remove the boot. They obliged, and it was quickly whisked away as she set in on the other laces. They knew what to do now, though, and lifted their foot after she tapped the leg. "Good girl~" Miss Verdun cooed as she removed the boot. 

They felt themselves flush as their heart fluttered, "Th-thanks," they managed, barely.

"Oh stars," Ariadne was struggling to hold back laughter again, "Daisy are you sure that we can't-" 

"Nooooooo," Daisy whined, clearly unaware of how close to their ear her mouth was. "you can't, you'll ruin herrrrrrrrr!"

"You were definitely right about her being funny," Dee giggled.  

Miss Verdun nudged them forward, and they stepped down into the recessed lounging area, Daisy still hanging off the side of their mitted hand. "Now, why don't you cuties enjoy yourselves? Your owners and I are going to be discussing a few things in the living room for a little while, but don't hesitate to ask for anything, alright?" Wait, the Affini were leaving them alone with a bunch of pets? Did they really consider them that much of a non-threat? That was a good sign, right? Miss Verdun took their hat, causing some hair to fall into their vision. "That goes especially for you , Princess." 

"R-right, I'll holler if I need anything." They started to give a small salute, but course-corrected into an awkward thumbs up. Mercifully, this went unnoticed by anyone but them. The others were spending a few moments of quality time with their owners before they left. The pinnate pair was chittering to their owner excitedly as she snuck vines between plates of chitin and various sensitive places. The pluribus shifted between their selves in their owner's vines, each as happy as the last. They wondered what they were doing here again as Miss Dawnbloom lavished affection on Daisy, vines in her hair and on her face, as she still clung to them. Her grip began to loosen as she became lost in the pleasure. Miss Verdun was the only one keeping her vines to herself. She simply gave them that warm smile again, and they had to avert their gaze.  

The other two Affini, having gotten enough out of their pets for the moment, exchanged a few whispered words before joining Miss Verdun and Miss Dawnbloom. "Okay cuties, try to have fun. We won't be more than half an hour, I promise." With that, the Affini were gone.

Daisy jostled them lightly. "C'mon bestie, let's sit already! I'm tired!" 

"Daisy, you aren't even standing. You've been hanging on me practically since I got here."

"It's not my fault you're so tall," Daisy protested.

They sighed, and took a seat on a cushion large enough for the both of them. "Better?"

"Ehehe, yeah," Daisy snuggled into them. "Thanks."

"So, Princess, how are you enjoying the Compact so far?" Rose asked. 

scruffles perked up, "Oh, yes. It's always interesting to hear what ferals think about life here!"

Ariadne gave the beeple a belly rub, causing them to squirm and vocalize delight, "Certainly no cuties like you in that nasty Accord!"

Oh wonderful, they were the center of attention. They shrugged. "It's... different, I suppose." 

"That's for certain!" Dee giggled. 

Puppy barked. "We no longer have to hide who we are, and Conductor loves all of us!"

"It certainly can't be treating you any worse." Ariadne huffed, seemingly upset.

"If those scars are anything to go by, it seems you were rather fortunate to make it here at all." scruffles commented. 

What did they expect? For them to sing praises about the Affini? They were fortunate that they had the sense to hold their tongue. "What can I say, I've always been lucky." 

"Yeah," Ariadne grinned, revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth. "You seem to have found yourself a plant already."

"Noooo!" Daisy whined, pulling off of them for a moment, "You promised!" 

"Miss Verdun is overbearing, but she's less overbearing than most Affini I've met." They shrugged. "Personally, I’m just counting the days until this wardship is over."

Daisy immediately shot a look at Ariadne, who held up her palms. "I wasn't going to say anything, promise." 

"Well, uh, good luck with that," Rose struggled to hold back laughter.

"I never understand feralism, having an Owner is best," scruffles added.

They had been one of the most feared and respected mercenaries to ever live. Their exploits had become local myths and legends over the years. Once, their services were bid upon by despots at odds with each other. Now they felt like they were on the verge of tears as people that had allowed themselves to become pets were struggling not to laugh at them. 

"Aww, it's okay Princess!" Daisy leaned back in to cuddle, wrapping their mitted arm back around them, "They're just being silly ." She shot the others what was probably supposed to be a glare, but it looked like a pout. The expression did make them feel better, although not in the way Daisy likely intended.

"Sorry, sorry." Ariadne, stifled her giggling, "I'll stop teasing her so much."

"Thanks, I guess," was the only civil response they could manage.

"There must be something you like about the Compact." Rose smiled. 

Daisy perked up. "Yeah! C'mon Princess, surely there's somethin'!" 

They deliberated for a moment. What sorts of things were actually enjoyable without any of the pet stuff tainting it? "The freedom of information is nice, as is the food I suppose." 

Daisy squeezed them, "Just those?" They looked down to see her on the verge of crying. 

Ah, shit, this needed to be fixed. They gave her a gentle squeeze back with the injured arm. "And you, of course." 

"Ehehehehehe," Daisy grinned, leaning into them again as though she had no structural integrity. "I love you too bestie." Love? For what? 

Ariadne and scruffles let out a co-joined 'awww' as Puppy's tail thumped excitedly against the plush flooring. "You two are really cute together," scruffles chimed in. 

"Arf! The food is great! So much better than those nasty synthcubes!" Puppy stuck out pups tongue. 

It suddenly dawned on them that they didn't actually know what a synthcube tasted like. "Actually, I was never able to taste anything until I came here. I've only had maybe a dozen different foods since."

"Aroo?" Puppy tilted pups head, "Really?" 

"Yes," they nodded. "I've only been able to taste as of three days ago."

Daisy spoke up, "Yeah, I was there when Mistress figured it out actually!" She suddenly turned glum, "I haven't seen her eat yet though."

"Daisy, we literally had breakfast together the day after I got a sense of taste. Miss Dawnbloom made that skillet." 

"Yeah but I was being distracted by Mistress feeding me," Daisy whined, "that doesn't count!"

Dee giggled. "You two really are perfect for each other."

Ariadne hummed in agreement, "You make a very good couple." 

They rolled their eyes. "We're friends, not in a relationship."

"Yeah, I still gotta finish teaching Princess about friendship before we can do other stuff! Besides, I told you about yesterday," she spoke the next words with a lilt, "she's not ready for that yet~" 

Yesterday? Did Daisy tell them about her offer to help them feel more like a girl? They felt their face redden at the thought of everyone here knowing what happened. 

"Well, why don't we help?" scruffles offered. Help with what? Did the beeple desire to know them carnally?! 

"Yeah, why don't we be friends, too?" Ariadne smiled, "It would be fun to check in with you from time to time and see how you're..." Her smile sharpened into a wiry grin, "progressing." They were too relieved to know that they had meant the friend part to entertain the spidergirl's teasing. 

Puppy barked, pups tail wagging, "Yay, friends!" 

"Yeah, you're very interesting, I think I can speak for everyone in our system when I say we'd like to be your friend." Rose added with a smile. 

Having to socialize with these people again wasn't exactly thrilling, even if it was preferable to what they had thought their intentions were. However, being blunt about not wanting to be friendly with them was surely a misstep. "We can all be friends, I suppose." 

Daisy immediately let out a high-pitched squeal, pulling away to look them in the face. Oh no. They knew that look. Overly excited, a barely contained grin, and vibrating with energy- it dawned on them now just how serious their mistake was. "Princessss," Daisy sang, smugness dripping off her voice, "what's rule number one?" 

-_-_-_-

Camila and Cordelia stood together in the living room, their vines entangled. Rhubarb had taken a seat on a large cushion across from them, and Cadence stood near him, looking somewhat frazzled. "Are you sure she's docile, Camila?"

Camila nodded. "Princess is very determined to leave her violence in the past."

"She was very sweet with Daisy when it was only her first full day here," Cordelia added, "Princess is probably trying her best to not do so much as upset your pets." 

Rhubarb hummed. "Yes, they seem rather concerned with staying well behaved."

"Princess doesn't want to ruin her case for independence; it's unlikely she'll get out of line. Not as long as she refuses to admit there isn't a chance of her being declared independent. By then, it'll be far too late." Camila smiled. It warmed her core to think about how the little one was entangling themselves in her while adamantly refusing to admit they enjoyed it. Sharing the experience with Cordelia like this only made it better. 

Cadence eased a bit, her lashing vines now only twitching here and there. "That's good to hear, but still, I don't know what I would do if scruffles or Ari got hurt by a feral."

"I know how you feel." Camila hung her head solemnly as Cordelia took her hand to comfort her. "The other day when Princess got attacked by her former crewmate, I nearly lost it." 

Cadence gasped. "Is that why her hand is hurt? Goodness, I'm sorry, I had no idea!" 

"It's fine, Cadence, I probably should have explained that last night." Camila sighed.  "On our walk earlier, Princess was worrying through her Class Es about running into someone else from her ship. I'm concerned she might develop a bit of agoraphobia if this keeps up. I was thinking about finding someone else from her ship that was thankful about being in the Compact, but I'm not so sure. It's only been a few days, and from what I know they were all very feral."

"Hm, that is quite the problem," Rhubarb nodded. "Princess may react negatively if the sophont is properly broken, having known them before." 

"Hmm," Cordelia hummed, her head next to Camila's. "Well it seems to me that if the issue is all the cuties from her ship, and they're all here, why not take her to the surface for a while?"

The surface? The idea hadn't occurred to Camila, but Cassius was nearly safe as the station; only a few defanged feralist groups were still around. It was less secure, but Princess could hardly run away. 

There was one issue Camila couldn't rectify. "I don't know if separating Daisy and Princess would be wise; she's been crucial in getting Princess to open up." 

Cordelia laughed. A wondrous sound. "Daisy and I would come as well. We can have our Habs placed next to each other." 

Camila felt her flowers blooming. She was willing to move to the planet for her? "O-oh, uhm, what about her other friends?" 

"It'll be what? A week? Maybe two?" Cordelia chuckled. "I don't think she'll be able to hold out much longer- she likes you, Camila."

"Yes, they already look to you for direction," Rhubarb nodded.

"It's fairly obvious that they're pinnates in the making, more quality time would be good for both of them," Cadence added, then gave a supportive smile. "Besides, it's not like we can't come down to visit now and then." 

Moving to Cassius... Stars, there was going to be a lot of paperwork to do, just thinking about it made Camila feel a little giddy. She would even get to see Cordelia all the time! "Maybe I can file the forms in time to get moved while Princess is still sleeping. It should be manageable." 

Cordelia ran her thumb along Camila's, and she leaned into her friend. "That sounds fantastic, I'll make sure to do the same. We can talk about location and more once you get her into bed."

Oh, this was so exciting! Princess was in for such a surprise tomorrow. "Of course! I'm sure the little one will be very ready for bed after this, social situations really take it out of her." Camila could hardly wait, but there was still one last thing to attend to. "Before that, I wanted to ask you what your assessment was, Rhubarb."

The Affini hummed, and stood up. "It was clear they recognized themselves in the term Pluribus, though they don't seem to operate as a typical system would. I think your assessment of two sophonts that are always or almost always co-fronting is likely correct. They said they were two parts of one whole- I think that would be the best way to treat them going forward." Rhubarb held up a cautionary vine, "Of course, it's impossible to definitively know just by examining them, the only way to be certain is with an implant."

Having the second opinion of an expert in the field that confirmed what she suspected was a massive relief. The last thing Camila wanted to do was neglect the care Princess needed. 

Camila bowed her head. "Thank you very much, Rhubarb, your help means a lot to me." 

Rhubarb let out a boisterous laugh. "Of course! I'm always happy to help, especially when it's a young bloom looking to better understand her floret." They gave her a warm smile, clasping a vine on her unoccupied shoulder. "You'll do fine by them, I promise."

"Thank you, truly." Camila returned the smile, placing her free hand on theirs for a moment. She turned to face Cordelia. "Do you think we should give them a little more time?" 

"I think she may be ready soon, dear." Cordelia slid her pad into Camila's view, the camera feed from the garden on screen. 

Camila couldn't help but let out a squee. Princess was cuddling with all the other florets! She looked a bit nonplussed about it, clearly approaching her limit, but Daisy had pulled off another miracle. Oh Camila had to see this with her own eyes! "Alright, let's go 'check in' on the cuties." Camila and Cordelia took a moment to disentangle from each other before leading the other two back into the Garden. 

It took a considerable amount of effort to not squeal at the sight as soon as she entered. Puppy, Ariadne, scruffles, and Daisy were all latched onto Princess, who was focusing on her breathing. Camila was nearly wilting with desire to know how this happened. It only lasted a moment longer before the florets stirred, responding to the presence of their owners. 

"Hiya Mistress!" Daisy waved with one hand, the other still wrapped around Princess. 

"Hello cutie, did you have fun?" Cordelia asked as they approached the pets.

Daisy nodded enthusiastically. "Princess is friends with everyone now!"

"That certainly seems to be the case," Princess deadpanned. It was definitely time to get the little one home. 

"Awoooo." Puppy redoubled pups efforts before Rhubarb removed pup from her. Rose greeted her owner as they playfully tickled her face with a vine and stroked her hair.

"You should give yourself more credit, Princess," Ariadne gave her one last squeeze and released her, returning scruffles to its place in her arms. "You're pretty fun."

"And pretty good at cuddling, for a feral," said scruffles. 

"I'm very glad to hear that, petal." Cordelia gave Daisy a pet that turned into a few scritches behind her ear and then under her chin. Her grip on Princess loosened as she became lost in her Mistress's administrations until she was swept up into her vines. "Unfortunately, it's time for Princess to go home; she's feeling a little burnt out. You can play with everyone else after, okay?"

Princess frowned, but Camila could hear the relief in her rhythm. "Awwwh," Daisy pouted, "okay." She contorted in Cordelia's vines, with some assistance from them, to wave. "Byeeee Princess!"

"Don't forget to accept our friend requests," Ariadne smiled. 

"Or ours!" Rose called out, unseen inside her owner.

"I'll make sure to do that, thank you." Princess gave a single curt wave before sighing and turning back to Camila. "Alright, I'm ready."

Camila could tease them a bit, but she was clearly spent. Princess was bound to be unhappy with being washed again tonight, too. She kept her vines in their line of sight as she lifted them into her arms. "Comfortable?" 

Princess shifted slightly, adjusting her position, "Yes. Can we go back to the Hab, please?" 

"Okay, Princess." Camila couldn't help but smile at how adorable the girl was, causing them to become lightly flustered. The day she could lavish them with all the praise and attention they deserved couldn't come soon enough. It would be unfortunate to lose this precious meekness drawn out by even the simplest gesture of affection, but she could enjoy it for now. 

Camila turned her attention back to Cordelia and the other Affini. "Thank you all." 

Cadence smiled. "It was a pleasure."  

"Yes, Princess is absolutely delightful, it was a joy to meet her." Rhubarb chuckled. Camila felt the girl bury her face in a vine.

Cordelia gave her a parting embrace from behind, carefully avoiding Princess. "I'll see you tomorrow, alright?" 

"Yes, of course!" Camila felt giddy. Soon they'd be living next to each other! She could see Cordelia every day! 

She felt Princess shift again. "Ah, apologies little one. We're leaving now." She gave one last wave on her way out as the Affini placed their pets back down. 

The walk and transit home passed without a word as they made their way through the evening bustle of the ship, the joyous noises of Florets and their Affini filling the silence. 

Stepping into their Hab, Camila carefully set Princess down. "There you go."

"Thanks..." They pulled away from her, getting a few steps of distance. 

"It was good to see you getting along with Daisy's friends, Princess. I know it was very taxing for you," Camila praised. "I'm very proud."

They laughed nervously, blushing and looking away. "I- I didn't even do anything but sit there, really."

"Nonsense," Camila turned their head back to face her, "you've made an impressive effort in trying to come out of your shell, and I am immensely proud of you."

"A-ah." Princess squeaked, her brain short-circuiting as her heart raced. "Uh- uh-"

"You are quite welcome, Princess." Camila closed her eyes and smiled, releasing the girl. "I'm going to make dinner and put you in bed early tonight." 

"That's- that- I-." Princess stammered, fidgeting, trying to get herself back under control. Camila assisted the poor girl, In... Hold... Out... "I'll, uhm, stay here?" By the Everbloom, she was getting more precious by the second! 

"That sounds wonderful." Camila started to turn away, "I'll only be a couple of minutes, but feel free to call if you need anything~" 

"R-right." Princess acknowledged, still trying to quell her arousal. 

Camila gave them one last smile before departing to the kitchen. A few minutes of 'alone' time to collect themselves would do Princess good. She already had a dish in mind, and began to collect the ingredients as she got the water boiling and the skillet heated. The preparation was fairly simple, especially compared to the crepes this morning, and twelve minutes later Camila had it ready. 

Cautiously, she returned back to the living room. Princess was sitting on the floor, back against the couch as they continued to focus on their breathing. Camila made sure to catch their attention from a distance. 

"Oh, is it ready already?" 

"Yes." Camila nodded, "Would you like me to carry you, or did you want to walk to the table first, Princess?" 

She pushed against the couch, helping herself to her feet. "I'll walk." 

Camila followed behind as Princess took the few dozen steps to stop at the chair, turning towards her. "Alright."

Camila helped her into the seat. "It's chicken alfredo tonight."

"Huh." Princess picked up the fork, poking at the meal as Camila moved to the opposite side of the table. Gathering an appreciable amount on her fork, she took her first bite. Princess moaned around the mouthful, lost in pleasure as she forced herself to chew and swallow. "That's really good. Thank you, Miss Verdun." 

"It's nothing dear, I'm glad you like it." Watching Princess eat was its own reward. That cooking for Terrans was a good way to get them endeared to you as well didn't hurt. The rest of the meal passed in silence, besides the noises of Princess enjoying the food, and soon her plate was clean. Camila moved to her side and offered a vine, helping her down once she took it. "Go brush your teeth and I'll be there in a minute, alright?"

"Mhm." Princess acknowledged, departing the kitchen. 

Cleaning up only took a moment as Camila placed everything in the compiler and decompiled it. With a few inputs on her Pad, she turned on the bath and waited three minutes to give the little one time to finish brushing before going to join her. There, Camila found the girl struggling to reach the zipper on the dress. 

"Would you like some help, Princess?" 

She stiffened, freezing in place before slowly lowering her arm. "Yes."

Camila hummed as she unzipped it, and pulled it off. The blouse followed a few moments later, leaving the girl in nothing but her panties. She reached for those as well, and Princess stepped back. "I can do that one myself, thank you!"

Disappointing. Camila would have loved to hear the noise she made being stripped nude. Oh well- Princess' days dressing herself in any capacity were numbered, and right now Camila had her eyes on a bigger prize. "Fair enough, petal, but I am going to wash you again." 

"Wh-What?!" Princess exclaimed, panic poking up through the Class E. "Why?!"

In... Hold... Out... Camila spoke as their chest fell and they relaxed. She tapped a vine against the mitt. "You are still down one hand, cutie." 

"Isn't leaving my neck and privates unwashed worse than just an arm and a few square inches of back?" Princess protested. "At least let me wash what I can!" 

That was... an annoyingly solid counterargument. Camila could insist; Princess would certainly cave with a bit of effort, and she very much wanted to properly get her vines on the girl. It would be harder to get her to accept being bathed without a reason, too. However, she had put in a considerable amount of effort today, and it wasn't like Camila wouldn't get to touch her. "Alright."

"Alright?" Princess repeated, adorably confused that Camila had compromised. "Oh. Alright then."

"Just one caveat," Camila held up a vine for significance. "I'll wash your hair."

"I can reach my own head, Miss Verdun."

"Yes, but you can't squeeze shampoo into your hand like this." Camila tapped the mitt again.

Conflict raged in Princess' rhythm; worry about being subject to the pleasure of Camila's vines battled against her curiosity and reason. Finally she sighed in defeat. "Just don't do whatever you did yesterday, please." 

That was vague enough to work with. Camila offered a vine again, and Princess took it after Camila helped them steady their breath. She lifted them up and placed them in the tub, lathering up the luffa and handing it over. Princess took it and began to scrub down, starting with her face and working downwards. Methodical and fastidious, she finished her part in a few minutes, and offered the sponge back.  The concept of enjoying a bath was still foreign to her; that was alright, Camila would see that she enjoyed it regardless.

Camila took the proffered luffa and lathered it up again. "Good girl," she whispered into Princess' ear as she set in on their back, causing the girl to let out a whine. Yesterday's bath hadn't just been to relax her; Camila now had a mental map of all of Princess' erogenous zones and sensitive areas. It needed a bit more work before it was perfect, but it was serviceable enough. A bit of pressure right here, near the hip and- a moan escaped Princess' lips. 

"M-miss Verdun!" She pulled fruitlessly on the vines holding her in place. "I asked you not to!"

"Not to what, Princess?" Camila pressed the sponge into a spot just below her shoulder blades, causing her to groan. "You need to use your words." There was no response. "Well, alright then." Camila continued.

To her credit, Princess didn't give up, straining to keep her mouth wired shut. That only made her whimpers and moans of pleasure that much more delightful as they vibrated in her throat. Honestly, why did she want to be declared independent when she was this perfect as a pet? Camila hadn't even used any Class A, nor was this the best part, and Princess was struggling not to melt into a puddle of desire. 

The back finished, Camila decided to work on the arm. It had few sensitive points, but Camila didn’t pursue them, letting Princess have a small respite. They would need to collect themselves for what was next.

"You're doing well, Princess." Camila grabbed the shampoo and conditioner. "Just a bit more." She squirted a bit of the shampoo into Princess' hair and began to lather, relishing in getting to 'pet' her again. It didn't take long for Princess to start quivering. A few passes later, her mouth finally opened in a long, low moan that was as good as ambrosia to Camila's hunger. She leaned in to whisper her pet-to-be's ear. "You know, it's alright to enjoy this." She poured water over the suds and Princess went limp in her vines. 

There was no further resistance. Princess couldn't help but vocalize every bit of pleasure as Camila repeated the process with the conditioner. Seeing her enjoy this despite herself was endearing. Princess may still protest but there was no way she could honestly deny that she enjoyed it after this. No drugs to blame it on this time. Camila poured water over her again, rinsing out the conditioner and drawing Princess up into her arms. The girl was opening and closing her mouth, near catatonic as she gazed up at her inevitable owner, still lost in the afterglow . "You did wonderfully," Camila smiled down at her cradled in her vines, "let me handle it from here." 

"Nn-" Princess grunted, beginning to doze off. Well, this was to be expected. Camila gave them their class Z and they soon fell asleep. It was much easier to dress the unconscious girl, and soon they were in their pajamas, being tucked in their bed. 

"Goodnight, Princess." Camila turned off the light and let the door slide shut behind her, feeling freshly invigorated for the task at hand. She had a lot of paperwork to do.