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Cellulose & Steel	By : Not-Taylor Category: Misc Books > FemmeSlash Views: 1028 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own HDG or its characters and I don't make money from this work.

Chapter List
- 30
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- 32
Song wakes up with a disgusting headache. “God, that’s Painful. None is mightier than You.” It tries to shake its head and fails. It’s strapped down by every extremity. Its hyperdrive is still offline, as are its thrusters and most external sensors. Life, if a space raft’s existence can be called that, keeps getting worse every minute. Everywhere else aches too, and its interior feels dry. This is not a good day. What happened, again? Right, the weed pumped it full of xenodrugs when it refused to be a happy brainless floret. But how can an object be a floret? That makes no sense.
Gradually, over the course of minutes or hours, Song can’t say which, the outside world comes into being again. The boat is strapped to a metal table in a dark and forbidding room. Nobody’s around. Nothing’s visible. There are no windows, unlike last time. There’s nothing there but sadness. It’s a fitting place for a failure of a tool like Song.
A door slides open, parting in half to the sides. The unmistakable silhouette of an affini blocks most of the light from entering. Even worse. There’s a flinch at the base of the skull a boat oughtn’t to have. Somehow, it knows which weed that is.
“Hello, petal.” It was right. That’s Artemis Pallas, a young second bloom and the proud owner of a formerly feral floret named Ginger Pallas. Somehow, Song knows that Artemis is quite young for a second bloom. Blooms are associated with age? That kind of makes sense. Did anyone ever explicitly tell it that? It doesn’t think so, but thinking is very hard right now. It’s still very drained.
“I’m happy you’re awake! Close your eyes, if you don’t mind. I’d like to turn the lights on so we can see each other.” The plant stands still in the open doorway, waiting for a reply. Song is too tired to beep or to offer much resistance. That vile thing had better not come one step closer… That doesn’t stop the vessel from obeying. It doesn’t feel like being blinded.
The lights come on, revealing the affini’s true form. Its limbs and tendrils look the same as the last time Song had seen them, which was in a “vet’s” office. This looks like one too. Wait…
The affini smiles broadly at her captive. Uh oh. Where’s Verda? Where’s It’heela? Where’s Evlen? Where’s literally anyone?
Wait… It’s met this affini before? How does it know that? How does it remember being captured? How does it know Artemis’s name? It’s brain hurts. It wants the parasitic organ excised, so it can be a good little ship again. It just wanted to do its job and fulfill the purpose of its existence. Song beeps mournfully.
“How are you feeling, Olivia?”
Olivia groans. She’s not feeling well at all. She doesn’t want to admit that to the plant. Artemis ignores the lack of an answer and strides intently into the room to Olivia’s side. She puts a few vines on her body, which the terran only now realizes is naked and covered by a sheet. That’s no good… But the affini has no intention of remedying the situation until her floret is sufficiently groped.
A tablet emerges from the leaves around Artemis’s core. She pushes a couple of buttons and the pain drains away. Olivia feels mostly all right now. Artemis smiles at her. Things might not be so bad after all, for the moment.
“Where’s Verda?”
“She’s elsewhere. I’m your new mistress, Olivia. Verda Edok wasn’t able to take very good care of you, so you’re with me. She let you get into far too much trouble for any little floret and failed to prevent you from being harmed, and on top of that she nearly let you harm some poor little florets to be. I’ll make sure you stay safe forever. Do you like that idea, pet?”
“No, I’m a Free Terran. I can’t have a mistress, especially not you.” She can’t help feeling that statement isn’t true, even as she says it. Why is it false? That’s what she’s always believed!
“Let’s try that again,” the plant woman says with a frown. She pushes a couple of buttons and Olivia gasps for air. “Are you all right with being my floret, Olivia?”
She strokes Olivia’s cheek with one of her vines. Stars, that’s better than when Verda touches her… She nuzzles into the vine for a moment before replying.
“Yes…”
“Yes…?”
“Yes, Artemis.”
“Let’s try that again, blossom.” Another vine caresses her.
“Yes, Mistress.” That was so easy. Why had she held out for so long? Because Verda’s mean. But Artemis is soft and nice…
“See? Was that so hard, Olivia? You’re going to be such a good girl.” Another pair of vines wraps around the terran girl. She moans. She’s making her owner happy already.
“You’ve already made me a happy affini, pet. Are you ready to come home?”
Olivia nods kind of aimlessly. She doesn’t have strong feelings either way. A chorus of vines move around her, working to untie her restraints. Soon they’re off and she’s being lifted into the affini’s embrace. It’s surprisingly warm and cozy in here. Olivia’s still dazed from what was done to her by the nasty plant, so she just flops against the friendly plant’s core. It’s cool to the direct touch. Overall, it’s really comfy here. She doesn’t feel much like moving. Artemis strokes her hair gently as she carries her new pet home. Shimp tink sympatimp.
The terran doesn’t quite pass out, but she’s far from lucid on the way home. It looks like Artemis’s habitation unit, no different from before. She places Olivia on the bed (or maybe it’s the couch, it’s kind of hard to tell) and tucks her under some blankets for a little. Olivia hears talking but can’t make out the words.
When she wakes up, she’s really on Artemis’s bed, which feels oddly familiar. It’s very soft, so Olivia doesn’t worry about trying to move. Something stirs next to her. It’s her mistress, smiling at her charge’s sleepy expression.
“Hello there, cutie.” Olivia can’t help smiling back at the affini.
“H-hello.”
“Are you feeling any better now?”
Olivia nods. The pain hasn’t come back, but she’s a little hungry and very dizzy. She leans forward for stability, despite already lying on her side. Artemis catches her and coos.
“Good. I’m glad you’ve come home, Olivia. I think you’ll be really happy here, now.”
“Hm?”
“The implantation went very smoothly. It seems that bitch knows her human biochem if nothing else. You were out like last year’s fashion. Do you remember where you were before you woke up and I got you?”
“Hm?” What? Oh. “I was in a prison where Verda was torturing me. She tried to make me eat terran food.”
“Oh no!” There’s something odd about it, but the affini’s sympathy feels genuine.
“Mmm.”
A few vines shift and Olivia feels a little more awake.
“It wasn’t fun, wherever I was.”
“Then thank goodness I’ve got you now. You’ll never have to feel unsafe again. Would you like that?”
“Yes, mistresssss.” It’s hard to think with Artemis sliding vines across her bare skin. Why did she resist this, again?
“I know you’re still recovering right now, but I have something to show you. Sit up, Olivia.” The last bit was firmer than the rest. It almost felt like a command. Olivia sits up anyway. She doesn’t want to make Artemis sad by refusing.
Vines shift more, and somebody enters the room. That’s Ginger! Olivia grins widely. She’s missed her so much… Wait, she was mad at her old navigator. Why was that? Because… she abandoned everyone to become Artemis’s floret, that’s right. She tried to wait but nobody was listening. Just like Ginger to give up on Olivia. She flinches and tries to hide in Artemis’s vines. They’re comfy and protective. Shimp tink sympatimp. Shimp tink sympatimp. Shimp tink sympatimp.
Ginger comes to the bed cautiously. She knows she’s not in Olivia’s good graces today. “I’m sorry, Liv.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry about before. I wish I hadn’t hurt you. I didn’t mean it. You freaked out and I… didn’t know what to do. I’ll try to be a better girlfriend, if you’ll let me.”
Olivia wants to snap at her, but she suddenly loses her train of thought. Ginger’s so cute… How can she be mad at her? Nobody’s ever made her feel like Ginger did. Well, except… No, she shouldn’t think like that. Artemis is her mistress now and being with Ginger will make her happy. It’ll make Olivia happy too, obviously, and she knows that. If all three of them know and agree, what’s she fighting it for? That’s stupid. Olivia giggles.
“It’s ok, Ginger. I know you were doing your best.”
Ginger smiles broadly and comes over to her, as her girlfriend moves out from inside the nest she’s made out of affini vines. She doesn’t completely leave. Some of the vines seem to have caught on her limbs. They feel too nice to shake loose from. Ginger joins her, and they nestle deeper into the foliage. It’s softer than one might think. Ginger is soft too. Olivia sighs before she loses vocal control. Ginger’s hands seem to be everywhere at once and her mouth is held captive by Ginger’s lips. Just like old times… Shimp tink sympatimp.
It’s the vines, not Ginger, that are everywhere. Her hands are limited to Olivia’s breasts, her fingertips pulling and kneading. Olivia finds Ginger’s shoulders, attempting to pull her all the way in. The sea of vines that surrounds them makes that pointless, but she can’t stop herself from trying. She needs Ginger. Stars, why was she so stupid?
Ginger’s hands move out of the way, destroying any separation between the lovers. Suddenly they’re on her hips and Olivia’s vocal chords make some unrecognizable sound. She doesn’t care, but Ginger pulls with all her might. They separate for an instant and lock eyes. Her girlfriend’s are unfocused but they see her well enough. Olivia’s never seen such beautiful eyes. They remind her of things she’s never seen and places she’s never been. Ginger’s breath on her face reminds her that she hasn’t been breathing. Who needs air?
Olivia breaks the spell and kisses Ginger again. The intake of air she makes in response is so cute… A stray vine shifts between them. Was it a stray at all? They both moan and can’t help themselves from sliding against one another. It’s almost more intense than the flowing vines encasing them. Ginger is so loud that Olivia can’t help going faster and faster. Soon she’s just as loud, though they haven’t broken from their kiss.
They both shiver and groan and they don’t stop. Olivia tries to and fails. She doesn’t have the time to chide herself for such a silly idea because Ginger doesn’t let her. For that she’s grateful. The smooth dryness of her partner’s skin, any moisture sapped away by eager tendrils, eggs her on. How could she refuse such a girl?
Their haste leads to a quick conclusion, but they don’t stop with that. They don’t need to stop. They can’t want to stop. Primordial motion seizes them with no thoughts to what might come after. They don’t need to think of such things. Artemis will keep them safe. Instead, they gain more energy over time, lost to impulse.

A great deal of time passes before Olivia realizes what she’s done. She’s gotten the only woman she’s ever really loved back! Stars, that was a good decision. She smiles and she pets her mate on her head. Ginger sighs into Olivia’s neck, pulling closer with all of her arms and legs. This really is just like old times. There’s no need to speak. They understand each other so well, it’s almost like they share a single mind. Mmm. What Ginger’s thinking about right now…
She’s thinking about earlier, and Olivia’s thinking the same things. She reaches down Ginger’s neck, running the backs of her nails on her girlfriend’s smooth skin, and down her shoulders. The human female in her arms moans gently, looking up at her with full and moist eyes. They slowly move towards each other as Olivia’s hands descend along Ginger’s body.
Vines shift, reminding the couple that they aren’t alone. Mistress is embracing them both in every way imaginable. It’s like the most intimate hug Olivia’s ever experienced, and it’s going three ways. Connivent is the word for what Ginger is to her now. She never wants to let her go. Mistress squeezes them both and they both moan. She’s wonderful.
Ginger shifts too. They’re all awake and aware of one another. What could be better. “Breakfast, my adorable florets?” That would be better. Olivia squeals. She hasn’t done that since she first allowed herself to have feelings, years ago. Her mate makes a rumbling sound in her throat. That’s new, but it’s really cute. They all get up together, chilling Olivia from the cold of the empty air of the bedroom. Her mistress quickly dresses her in frilly pink lingerie. She starts to resist, but suddenly smiles instead. There are worse things than being dressed by a pretty plant, she decides. At the same time, Ginger’s being dressed, though her mate doesn’t notice so much while it’s happening. She’s wearing a matching outfit in royal purple and looking very hot. Wow.
The affini grabs the heads of her two florets with a vine each, and gently ushers them to the table. They sit patiently while their owner makes them waffles with blueberries and whipped cream. It’s delicious, so much better than those weird blue cubes Olivia had been stupid enough to eat before. Her mistress makes such good decisions about food! She eats faster than Ginger, probably because she’s famished. Maybe that’s because she’d barely eaten anything for the past few days. Maybe because the waffles are so good? She has more, just because Artemis lets her. Waffles… Her head is patted briefly. Mistress…
After eating they go sit on the couch together. The two terrans cuddle and kiss while their owner does something or other boring on her laptop. She has a lap to put it on top of, by the way. Olivia thinks that’s kind of cool. Occasionally a vine caresses them while its owner’s eyes don’t leave the screen. This is so much better than fighting!
Not soon enough, Artemis finishes her task and separates her florets. They groan in dejection but quiet as soon as they see their mistress is going to tell them something. They sit at attention, waiting for her wisdom to be shared.
“We have a little outing today, girls. Do you feel up to going to the office of a nice affini who’ll give you candy.?”
They both shout their affirmation.
“Good. Olivia, this trip is about you. I need you to behave well for me. Can you handle that now?”
“Yes, mistress.” She moans as a vine passes across her shoulders.
“Thank you, pet. Come along now. If you’re good, we’ll go to the park after.” That’s directed at both of them, who stand up sharply, smiling at each other, their mistress, and Ruby Trunk at large. It’s not a bad day to be alive, is it? Artemis puts shoes and a coat on her pets and a necklace on herself, and walks out the door with them in tow. Olivia is on a leash, which hangs limp as she stays as close as possible to her new owner. Shimp tink sympatimp.
It’s a short trip. They actually don’t need to ride in a tram so their destination must be extra close for a change. It’s not a bad thing at all. Artemis beams the whole way, holding the hands of both of her florets in hers. Olivia doesn’t think she’s ever seen such a joyful affini before. She’s proud to be partly responsible for the happiness of her mistress.
They approach a building with a sign written in Afini. It’s small and isolated, but designed cutely. It’s a little like a log cabin, though Olivia’s never actually seen one of those for real. It’s barely big enough for them, she judges.
“What’s that say?” she asks.
“Elvis Longstem, thirteenth bloom (xe, xer, xers), Registrar of Floret Affairs.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means xe makes sure that florets are taken care of and all of their documentation is in order, petal.”
“Oh.”
“Xe’s very nice. You’ll see. There’s always candy in xer office, too.”
“OK, mistress.”
“Good girl.”
Gingers whines softly but is silenced by a few pats from her mistress.
Elvis is a large affini, whose office barely holds it. Holds xe? No. Holds xer. And xe looks up as they knock on the door. Artemis says things Olivia doesn’t understand more quickly than she could understand even if she knew what was being said. Xer vines retract a bit and they all enter. There are three seats in front of a desk, behind which Elvis sits. Xe’s a handsome affini, Olivia thinks. Is that rude to think? They all sit together until Artemis says something her pet understands.
“We’re here for Olivia’s domestication contract.”
“One of those? My timbers shiver. That’s a novelty.”
“She’s gone to a lot of trouble to resist her domestication and been through a lot of hardship with her previous owner. Now she’s ready to accept her position.”
“Is that so, Olivia?”
She feels they should’ve had that conversation before dragging her to a weird office building, but her mistress probably knows best. She nods soberly. This feels like a big deal and she doesn’t want to make Artemis or Ginger look bad.
“I see… Well, maybe you’re ready to sign after all. Have you been implanted?”
“Yes, she has.”
“Well, this shouldn’t take long then.” Xer expression is kind of weird, but Olivia feels it would be awkward to say something about it. Maybe xe just looks that way.
“All right, what’s your name, you cute little xeno?” Xe’s talking to Olivia? She looks at her mistress, who nods.
“Olivia… Pallas.” That was clearly the right answer, as she almost goes limp from strange sensations when she’s said it. Did she just cum? That’s not unfortunate at all. The affini both smile dotingly at her. “Olivia Pallas, second floret of Artemis Pallas.” Artemis hugs her very tightly after she says that. Wow. She’s just happy to make her affini happy.
“That’s going to make this very easy. Thank you, Olivia. What are your pronouns, before we continue?”
What? “Um…”
Artemis pokes her floret, who’s stumped. Why’s this a hard question? And why does she feel as if there are things she can’t see or hear about Elvis? What’s with the phantom limb syndrome? And by the stars, what is that oddly familiar tension in her lower half, that she doesn’t really remember but knows just enough to dread? Just as she’s starting to get agitated, Olivia’s brain melts at her mistress’s touch.
“I… she/her, I guess? But I think pronouns are chronically online snowflake shit. I guess nobody’s asked me before.” Artemis makes a gesture “she” can’t see behind “her” back. Elvis looks questioningly at Artemis, who Olivia feels shrug.
“Good. Olivia, are you comfortable being Artemis’s floret? Is there anyone whose floret you’d rather be? Do you feel in any way unsafe or uncomfortable with your mistress?”
“No.”
“You’re ready to sign your name, agreeing to be her property and her pet for the rest of your life?” Olivia looks up at her owner. No, she doesn’t want to be away from her again.
“Yes.” Artemis massages the place where Olivia’s shoulder meets her neck. That feels nice…
“Are you willing to promise to obey her, with the understanding it’s her responsibility to take good care of you and keep you happy and safe?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re willing to treat your mistress and your connivent, Ginger, well?”
“Yes.” Olivia smiles, thinking about doing that.
“Is there anything more you want to add to that, either of you?” Xer gaze flicks between owner and pet. Ginger fiddles with one of Artemis’s vines in the background of her mate’s awareness.
“No.’ They respond together. That was easy. Artemis gives her a gentle squeeze and she sighs.
“Fantastic. All you have to do is sign this, and you’ll be free to go.”
Elvis takes out a sheet of paper and places it on the desk. Xe hands Artemis a pen.
“Do you agree with everything you just said, little one?”
“Yes, mistress.” Artemis’s face contorts under the effects of a broad and loving smile. She looks so happy… She checks a number of boxes and hands the paper to Olivia. The words are written in Affini. She looks up at her mistress, puzzled.
“That only says what you’ve already agreed to, pet. Do you think you’re able to sign for yourself, or do you need my help?”
“I’m a free Terran,” she replies automatically. Olivia blushes at the phrase but takes the pen anyway. She frowns at how strangely hard it is to hold steady. Artemis points to a place she’s supposed to sign her new name. Olivia Pallas, second floret of Artemis Pallas, second bloom. Perfect. The characters are ugly, partly because she can’t see very clearly today and partly because it’s literally been years since she’s written something out. Her mistress hugs her and signs on the line below that.
“Congratulations, Artemis.” Elvis rustles congenially. “Congratulations to you too, Olivia. You look happier than a lot of new florets from Terra.”
“Thanks!” Olivia’s proud of herself for some reason. But the pronouns-
“Thank you, Elvis. And thank you for making this easy for my Olivia.”
“I did see her on the news. I’m glad somebody was able to tame her. She looks so much happier, too.”
Ginger interjects as everyone starts to get up. “Candy?”
“Ah, yes. Would you two darling little florets like some butterscotch?” Olivia flinches for reasons she can’t remember. She’d rather have butterscotch right now, actually. Wait, what? Rather? The candy is placed into her hand and she reflexively pops it into her mouth. It’s really good. They didn’t make candy like this back home. Back in her old home, anyway. Her new home is full of delicious food, and a wonderful affini mistress who will make sure she gets everything that will make her happier. Shimp tink sympatimp. Shimp tink sympatimp. Shimp tink sympatimp.
Olivia’s so glad they came, and would be even if her mouth weren’t full of sugary goodness. Now she’s officially Artemis’s pet, and nobody can take her away any more. She walks hand in hand with her Mistress on one side and Ginger on the other as they head to the park to sit outside and enjoy the artificial afternoon. For once, Olivia is well and truly happy. This day has been long in coming. Olivia knows for sure she’s a real girl because Mistress said so. The lovers are reunited and will never be pressured to hide their feelings again. Terra’s resistance is over, and that’s a good thing.
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Cellulose & Steel