Work Text:
“Hi, I’d like to volunteer for domestication.” I said, looking slightly up to the Affini seated at the desk in front of me. There were some steps and a platform in front of the desk so that Terrans didn’t have to crane their necks too far to make conversation.
“Oh! How delightful!” the Affini replied, “My name is Styla Graminifolium, Third Bloom, She/Her. Can I ask you name so that I can look you up please petal?”
“John Smith, Ma’am. He/Him”
“Okay John, just give me a moment here.” there was the sound of clacking from behind the desk, did she have an actual keyboard back there? Most Affini I’ve encountered prefer touch interfaces, strange. “Ah, there we are, John Smith from Ganymede?” she said.
“Yep, that’s me Ma’am.”
“Excellent, we must have picked you up on our way in towards Terra then. How have you found this last year on the Lustra?”
“Much warmer than Ganymede. I was quite sick of all the ice and snow and I’m glad for the change. I appreciate the low gravity on this ring, even if it’s still a bit higher than it was at home.”
More clacking from her keyboard.
“And the class G’s to help adapt to it, and plenty of other xenodrugs too I’m sure.” she said.
“Yes the G’s were quite helpful but I haven’t really indulged in any others besides the ones in some of the drinks at the brewery nearby.”
“Oh the Swooning Maiden! I’m familiar, my little one loves the live music nights.”
“I do too Ma’am, quite a lovely venue.”
She chuckles, “Oh dear look at us, we’ve gotten quite distracted.” she straightened up a little at the desk, a movement that involved a noticeable “tightening” of the weaves that made up her face and torso. “Might I ask why you would like to volunteer to become a floret my dear?”
“Well I just think it would make my life easier.” I reply.
“That would certainly be true, but easier how? If I may ask.”
“Well it would be nice to have someone to prepare meals and organise my calendar. I’ve been making do with the compiler and my hab AI and the nearby restaurants but it’s all a bit boring and tedious. A lot more pleasant than synthcubes and pirated sports broadcasts that’s for sure, I didn’t have much of a social life back on Ganymede. Just tending to my houseplants in my apartment.”
“Yes yes that’s all in your file, and your quick adaptation to life on the Lustra. Very commendable I must say, taking into account the general hesitancy of Terrans to being integrated into the compact.”
“The Affini that helped me move my stuff and my plants to my new hab was a perfect gentleman. Helped me get my bearings nice and quick. But yes it would be nice to have someone to help keep me on track.”
“Now that is a peculiar reason to volunteer for domestication, well amongst Terrans at least. Usually it’s because a particular Affini has caught their eye or they want to change their body in a way that requires an implant. You don’t want any complex biomods?”
“No Ma’am.”
“You don’t want to be digitised?”
“Don’t think so Ma’am.”
“You don’t want to be drugged out of your mind and have all your deepest fantasies indulged?” She loomed over me with a quite wicked grin on her face.
“I don’t think I have any of those, Ma’am, I’m not adverse to the idea of xenodrugs I just haven’t really found any that I enjoy that much yet.”
“Huh” a vibe of pure bafflement was emanating from her. She moved back behind the desk, “You are a curious Terran, John, very curious indeed.” She clacked away behind her desk for a little longer before freezing in place. I could almost see the light bulb going off over her head “Hang on, I’ve just had a thought. A friend of mine lives nearby who has been looking for a floret and I think you two might hit it off. Would you mind if I dashed over and got her really quick?”
“Not at all Ma’am.” I replied.
“Excellent, let me just put you up on a seat real quick.” Some vines grabbed me under the shoulders and moved me over to a chair near the door as she moved towards it. “I’ll be right back” and she was out the door before I could reply.
I sat there waiting for probably about 10 minutes, watching a soccer game being played on another hab ring, before Styla returned with another Affini in tow. She was talking to her so I listened in.
“I’m telling you, he’s perfect for you.” Styla said.
“I don’t know, what if he doesn’t like me? What if I do something that hurts him? What if I use the wrong injector? What if I-” she managed to blabber out before Styla cut her off.
“You passed your Terrans are adorable! class with flying colours years ago, Chromata, and you’ve been worrying nonstop since. You will be just fine, and you are well aware that implanted Terrans are just as hardy as any other floret. You won’t hurt him and he is perfect first floret material.” She turned to me as the other Affini, Chromata apparently, pulled herself together. Quite literally in effect, going from a chaotic bundle of vines to a striking feminine humanoid form, nearly three metres tall, so not too much taller than my lanky low-g frame, covered in tiny pink-purple blossoms with four long petals each.
I extended a hand, “Hello Ma’am, I’m John, He/Him, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. If I may, your flowers are quite pretty.” that got a reaction, the rhythm of her vines stuttered for a moment before they resumed their original dance.
“Oh my, John, you did not let on that you were such a charmer.” Styla said, “well come on Chromata, introduce yourself.” She nudged Chromata towards me before heading back to her desk.
“Oh, of course, um, hi! I’m Chromata Flos, Second Bloom, She/her. It’s nice to meet you John.” she shook my hand with an extended vine, “Although I suppose you should call me Mistress or Miss Chromata since I’m sure Styla here has already filed the preliminary paperwork. We can sort out the details of your contract later but for now how about we get some lunch and get to know each other a bit better?”
“That sounds like a good plan to me Mistress. I’m a big fan of the Swooning Maiden which is just around the corner. They do a delicious BLT and I’ve heard that the mineral water cocktails are also pretty good.”
She hesitated for a moment before replying, “Oh yes okay Styla you might have a point. It does feel good when they call you that. Come on little one.” she picked me up and wrapped a vine around my neck. “Since I haven’t got a collar for you yet this will have to suffice. It isn’t too snug is it?” she sounded genuinely worried.
“Not at all Mistress, it feels good. Shall we get going?”
When we got to the door Styla called out to us “Oh roots you two are just the most adorable couple ever! Be sure to keep me updated Chromata, and we will just have to organise a playdate for our little ones!”
“I will, I’m sure I will be bombarding you with questions anyway, but talk later.” Chromata replied as we left the Domestication Centre and walked down the street. She turned to me and asked “So tell me about yourself John, what do you like to get up to?”
“Well, I have a wonderful flower garden back at my hab that I’d love to show you.”