Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“And how does that feel?”

“...Like I’m about to go for a spacewalk.”

I was used to PPE as a general precaution. You don’t want to drag or bring out any sort of foreign contaminants, especially with something that’s such a time sink like flower breeding.

But this spacesuit with interlocking airtight joints, a full air filtering tank attached to the back, and reinforced phytotech plating felt just the littlest bit ridiculous.

“Well it’s an important step to take Lenora! We haven’t let any xenosophont, let alone an independent, into this part of the greenhouse. We must take as many safety precautions that we can to ensure your own safety.” The affini loomed overhead, a soft hum coming from their body as their workers buzzed around to all the blooms that surrounded us.

This was Arrium Tylphonia, 7th Bloom. They were my sponsor to even be here to begin with, let alone go this much farther in. They stood 5 meters tall, even despite being hunched over like a dying flower. Their shaggy moss-like cape covered most of their form, hiding the shape underneath if they held still. The green cloaked the various pathways and holes of their hive, gaping holes that looked like burrows into their paper-like nest of a torso.

Outside of their hidden body, their limbs tended to stretch and contort unlike any other affini I had seen before. Instead of the painstakingly sculpted muscles and skin made of vines and flowers, their arms and legs were crooked and darkened tree branches, gnarled like an old grasping hand. They almost look as if they were burnt, caught in some glorious forest fire. Even pulsing underneath was the warm orange glow of their eyes and core.

A large fluffy mound curled around their neck like the hood of a winter coat. It was near snow white, with the exceptions of the bugs that wove between the fluff, cleaning out any pollen or debris that was caught within its poof. It framed their head perfectly, an androgynous but angular face, 4 eyes that glowed a sunset orange and yellow perfectly symmetrical across their face. Their hair vines were tied back into a ponytail, with the sides of their head seemingly looking like a side shave that blossomed a bush of nail sized white blossoms with yellow centers, almost like daisies with five fat oval petals.

The insects that flew about them fit just as well to their form. Small bee-like companions using syllables I was unable to make with my mouth. Their small white fluffy bodies were easily stained by pollen and sap, making them wonderful little balls of white and yellow that floated about Arrium’s body. They often snuck in and out of their cloak, feasting upon the stamens of the flowers that went about the shelves and paths of the greenhouse.

They looked down at me with delight, a slight smile crossing their paper mask. “Besides, you look adorable in that suit dear.”

“As much as I enjoy the compliments, I do very much want to continue my studies.” 

If it wasn’t the fact that I had to go through two hours of preparation and teasing from other affini to even get to this point. Undressing, putting on this tight ass jumpsuit that felt like it hugged all my curves in the worst way as all the affini cooed and poked at me like I was some sort of experiment before needing to be physically handled to get on this suit.

If this was at any other time, especially at a kink club, I would lavish myself in their attention and adoration. Especially the experiment part. But I have spent a year dealing with the paperwork to be permitted here, and I wanted to sate my curiosity as soon as I possibly could.

“Can we please begin? I want to be able to take as many photos and notes as I can on this first trip and this jumpsuit is starting to ride up on my junk.” I couldn’t even reach down and adjust it, truly it was hell.

Arrium let out a chortle in response, the ripples sending mesmerizing waves through their collar and cape. “Of course, Lenora. We wouldn’t want to get in the way of your research after all.”

The noble and kind affini sarcastically swung their cape towards the disinfecting bay, strutting behind with the solid click of their heel like feet tapping the ground behind me.

Something, just something about them irritated me to no end. Their smug attitude, smooth but queenly voice, their noble stance. It felt like I was looking at a parody of our history of kings and queens of industry. How someone like this was a botanist, caring for these plants as they grew, was unknown to me outside of their little helpers.

I clicked my tongue in response, waiting patiently and tapping my foot while I waited for Arrium to activate the chamber. Slow too, having to wait for all their busy bees to make it back to the nest. Going anywhere with them would be a hassle, I wouldn’t understand how their floret did it.

Surprisingly they weren’t all over them here. Surely they could modify a floret to handle these environments with everything else they’ve done. Damn sure they’ve been able to do wonders for me. 

Reminder to self: get scheduled for bottom surgery finally. Stop putting it off.

They were even making me remember annoying things I still needed to do, insufferable I swear.

Finally the doors slid shut and sealed behind us, the sound of a vacuous pop alerting us of the torrential disinfect and air that bore down upon us. It nearly knocked me over, stumbling to my knees before the gnarled hand grabbed my shoulder, lifting me up and holding me still while we were cleaned.

Stars, they were even unbothered by something like this, acting like it's no big deal. Everything they did, frustrating. And I had to deal with them whenever I wanted to further my studies.

Ugh.

A hiss alerted us to the end of the sanitization, the thick purr of the heavy doors in front of us curling open.

The first I could even notice was the haze that hung over the room. It assaulted my visor, prismatic pollen leaving traces and speckles of color across my whole vision. I felt like a girl walking into a dive bar that allowed smoking, the shade just slowly enveloping me. Luckily the suit they gave me could filter out all of these materials from the air, leaving me able to breathe without succumbing to the effects of dozens of xenodrugs. Still, a vaguely floral scent made it through, the slightest buzz dusting my face with blush.

I went to adjust my collar, being stopped by the percussive smack of me hitting the exoskeleton of a suit I was wearing.

“I do not think the suit is filtering out all of the materials, Arrium. Should we retreat and look for leaks? This may be poisonous.”

A look of surprise flash across their face, before realization as they snapped their fingers and hit the side of their head. “Oh dirt, we forgot to mention this. We were able to rate the filter for everything but one specific flower. However we decided to go through with it as the effects are rather minor, even for independents. It's a root flower we use for arousing Class-N effects. It should, at worst, make you feel a bit tipsy.”

Bit tipsy my ass!

I could feel my balance start to sway, like I had just pounded down three shots of vodka. I leaned against the side of the railing to reorient myself. They prolly knew that this was going to happen. I’ll bet my tits that they did this to make me all bubbly and cute, not that they ‘forgot.’

My head bobbed up to look at the lab I found myself in, doing my best to focus my vision on what was held inside. Towers of transparent glass containers lined the wall, reaching from floor to ceiling as they left imposing shadows that loomed over me. Each receptacle contained its own uniquely alien bloom, painstakingly organized to provide each bloom enough light to reach to them. At the center was a sparkling clean metal workbench, with all the necessary tools for testing, transplanting, and splicing samples.

I could feel my own heat start to rise slowly, the feeling of dampness sticking to my thighs as I did my best to balance myself “Oh dear, this is a lot…”

“Thank you! We like to keep as complete of a collection in our travels, we like to dabble in experiments involving the effects of different xenohomeworld flora and how they may affect different xenosophonts. Of course all that research has been done by this point with terrans and rinans, so we must simply tend to our garden until the news of a new species is reported.” 

They ran their burnt skeletal hand across the front of each glass container, sharpened tips tinking against the metal and glass. I was expecting for the briefest trail of soot to be left behind before being reminded that this was how they kept their form.

I did my best to stand upright, doing my best to push down the effects of this flower. I could masturbate about it later, first science needed to be done. “W-well, I would like to request for you to show me the blooms that are often used in Class-G xenodrugs. I-I would go alphabetical but they interest me the most of all.”

“Gladly! Just give us one moment and we can collect, mmm let’s say…. 20 different related plants? That should be enough for you to start, no?”

Damn uppity voice, don’t pavlov me into being horny about condescension.  “Yes, that would be a great place to start.”

“Just sign here! It will be logged that you have seen the loving little things we keep, best keep track of who comes and goes after all.”

A small clang of metal hitting phytotech echoed from in front of me, the shape of an affini-sized tablet now mocking me. It was too blurry to make out, more and more pollen started to cling to my suit. I took my gloved hand and did my best to wipe away the colorful muck that was clouding my vision.

Arrium had already gotten to work collecting the plants, humming their annoying song along with their busybees. It was an annoying little earworm that I had started to hum to myself throughout working with them because they never exist anywhere without it. 

I returned my attention back to the tablet that laid in front of me, reaching out to pull it closer. Displayed across its surface was a long log list that displayed countless names along its margin. It did not escape me that all the names were affini in origin, not a single other xenosophont had been in this lab.

I stopped my doomscrolling. No point in focusing on the fact you're out of your depths, you’re here to do your own research. Don’t despair that these immortal beings have infinite lifespans compared to you, or that they could lengthen yours at the cost of your free will.

Fuck I thought about it.

I quickly signed my name across the tablet and pushed it away from me. I do not care what ever floret and indie I know says about me, I am not a seed! They just make it so hard not to think about florethood or domestication or being owned. It’s their entire M.O.!

“Your blossoms, from 13G-32G. Do be careful! Some are a bit volatile and shy, wouldn’t want to scare the poor girls.” Arrium pet the ‘heads’ of each plant, summoning their cloud of busybees to start to pollinate and drink from the flowers. 

“I-i’ll careful, thank you. I will just be taking my own notes on what I find and, hhrk, hopefully have an antidote I can take for this strain tomorrow.”

“Oh why didn’t we think about that. Very smart, you know that Lenora? Should have been done from the start…”

Yeah no kidding.

I ignored the rambles of the pompous pistil and turned back to my work.

…Now I know I have always been a bit of a scatterbrain when it came to my works, but I truly could not think of where I could even start with this all. The slut part of me could only focus on how good my body felt, burning up inside.

Face was fully flush, sweat beading down from the heat of my body and suffocating claustrophobia of this suit. I felt like I was draining fluids from every orifice of my body, dehydrating and slowly clawing away at my oxygen.

I slipped my hand out of one of the glove sleeves, running it along the tightly held form against my jumpsuit. Stars the slick material felt so… texture against me right now, like a pilot stuck in their piloting seat.

I let it run down to my legs, how soft and squishy I felt, the smallest little belly that pushed out from inside. The hips only fattened by good eating and new hormone treatment.

Fuck, I was so sexy.

I traced along the edges of my bits, doing my best to not think of what was truly there. Somehow I was fully erect, a large hard bump that rested between.

What could I do?

I had to rub it, I needed to get this out.

I had to feel the building, pressure.

So tight, building up and begging to be released from this drugged prison.

Grinding and pushing and.

Choking, so hard to breathe.

So overwhelmingly I, can’t breathe its 

Clawing, get me out of this suit, let me be free I need-

“I-I NEED TO BREATHE!!”

My gloves grasped the sides of the helmet, looking for the seal as I twisted and tugged at it.

I needed to get out, let me out I can’t its too much.

My flails had their consequences, as I slapped one of the plants in front of me and-

Hissing, oxygen leaking as pollen and smells began to overwhelm me.

My vision went blurrier and blurrier, my screams drowned out by the colors and sounds rattling around in my brain.

I couldn’t process anything, it was all so much.

I felt like I was being ripped out of my own skin, shaken around as I was pulled forward towards whatever awaited me. Mindlessly whining and screaming all the way as I begged for air.

Then a force, pushing me down harder than a metal bat to the head, with hurricanes beating the air around me as I spun into insanity and incomprehension. 

I laughed, I cried, I screamed, I begged, I gasped.

All at once, every part of me from the past and future overlapping and tearing apart and-

Until a cold feeling of fluid pumped through my veins, the fire cooled down into manageable smolders. My eyes cleared as I sat gasping for air.

A glance down showed a needle within my thigh, and a vine pulling it back towards its source. I had been ripped from my PPE, only now left in the jumpsuit.

Arrium stood above me, deadly seriousness scrawled across their face. The vine belonged to them, retracting behind their moss curtain as they spoke curtly to me.

“We need to have an examination. Now.”

Chapter Text

The cool overwhelming air of the bland room that sat around me was unbearable. My bare ass stuck to the table that I had been instructed to sit upon, a sensory hell to add on to my miserable mindfuck.

Instructed to undress because of a stupid containment breach, stuck on a surface that was too high for me to climb or jump off of without breaking my legs. Just a damsel stuck with no way to assure my own freedom.

I shivered, the coldness of everything starting to seep into my bones. I had goosebumps all over my body, and it started to really sting my breasts and bits. I did my best to rub my hands together and applied it to the parts that felt coldest.

I need to definitely make sure not to look down. Despite being high on my own adrenaline and having enough painkillers in my system to subdue an elephant, I could still feel the tug of foreign bodies that pierced the flesh of my arm. I did not do good with open wounds I did not want to look at it I wanted them gone why is Arrium taking so long with first aid???

I did my best to focus on the room around me. It was some sort of infirmary off to the side and far away from wherever the greenhouse was located, with very basic furnishings, like the table I sat upon. Arrium was across the room, their busybees in a flurry around them as they moved in a panic in front of the compiler, frantically talking to themself in their Affini Standard as they slowly unwound their vines.

Other than the hulking mass of anxiety, the room was rather plain, for Compact standards. A water basin stood next to what I assume was a sink, designed to mimic that of a tree branch as it hung over its drain. The walls that flanked me were cream colored, with the faintest traces of green curls and curves that drew themselves across the wall like wild grass reaching for sunlight.

The floor far below me appeared wooden, but judging by my previous interactions with affini architecture it was probably much softer than it looked. Its patterns seemed almost random at first, but with the smallest squint you could see the larger pattern, all swirling and draining into a single defined point. My loaned jumpsuit sat next to the table leg, stained with pollen and torn open by whatever breached my suit.

I still felt unclear on what had fully happened. I knew I was grossly unable to handle the sheer heat I felt from the unfiltered scent, but what had happened to tear open a suit designed by the Compact? It surely needed to be something grand.

The thought process was cut short by a white fluffball landing on the tip of my nose, an instinctual scrunch and bat at it before it flew back to its hive. The harmonious voice that belonged to that body echoed out to reach me as I looked up to see Arrium coming forward and hovering over me. “Ooook, we think we got everything that was needed. Bandages, disinfectant, some quick-sealing sap… We are so sorry that something like this even had the chance to happen. This was a gross miscalculation on our part and we will do anything in our power to-”

“...Arrium can you please just get these pins out of me?”

“Right, sorry.”

They slowly began to lean in, hovering over my arm as the soft sounds of paper rustling filled my ears.

They were so close, but for once it had a feeling and sense of intimacy, of empathy. The soft buzzes of their hive radiated outwards, the busybees crawling across his moss and fluff as they inspected me. I could detect the faintest traces of… honey? Its floral scent burned my nose, like a mix of natural sweetness as the sting of intoxicants that begged to be huffed.

The white fluff of their collar tickled the tip of my nose, soft and plush as it ran across my smooth skin. I wanted to push further into it and nuzzle about, despite who the collar was attached to and-

Wow, ok maybe I hadn't fully recovered mentally from the pollen.

Just as easily as they had pulled into my grasp, they fluttered away just out of reach of my finger tips. Within their hands they held a group of long thin spikes, about the thickness of mechanical pencil lead. The faintest traces of red could be seen near their tips, but otherwise seemed perfectly intact.

I looked down to my own arm, expecting to see gore and punctures but was only met with a heavily bandaged lump, a plaster made of bandages and sap clinging around its diameter.

I looked back up sheepishly at Arrium, who looked at me with worry and concern. It was dawning on me that I had been a major ass with all of this, and that they were simply trying to do their best.

Their burning eyes continued to stare, waiting for some level of recognition from me.

“...Thank you Arrium. I apologize for the accident I caused.”

They looked genuinely surprised by the comment, their burnt legs tapping against the floor as they looked down in contemplation. Their busybees went to check in on the changed behavior, crawling around their face as they hrm’d and hah’d.

“...it was by no fault of your own. we should have taken more time to properly ensure your safety. We would encourage you to see your vet after this, if any further symptoms occur.” They let the supplies they had gathered sink into their form, probably to be studied or decompiled later. “Until then, we will need to do a full body inspection to make sure we haven’t missed anything. And…”

They looked off to the side, doing their best to simulate eye contact with me as the realization slowly dawned on me.

“Oh stars, you mean everywhere everywhere.”

The silence hung over both of us, only broken by the soft buzzing of the busybees that hung in the air as they cried out for more blossoms.

“...we think we will start with your exterior? Are you opposed to standing and spinning around for me?”

I sputtered out in return. A heat began to flush across my face. Why was I getting so flustered from this??? “Y-yeah, I think I can manage that?”

“Good! Good…”

It was very clear that they did not want to do this as much as I loathed having to as well. The first time I had seen an affini seeming to be reluctant to touch a terran, let alone any kind of xenosophont. I could swear I could see imperceptible shakes in their hands as they reached out to touch me, only to pull back into their cloak.

“Ok yes, please turn we can see everything rather clearly from here. I’ll try to get this done and over with for us both as soon as possible.”

Coldness, the concern fading into a blank and frigid state as they recoiled away from the table. Was it something I had said or done? I did hurt all their research and messed up their lab so it would only be understandable.

I started to turn slowly on my heels doing my best to stay blankly staring through the walls and affini that met me at my eye level. I just needed to ignore what was happening, stop thinking like you’re an experiment Lenora.

“Would you be able to tell me what exactly happened in the greenhouse Arrium? It’s all rather blurry.”

I heard the click on the tongue from behind me, with a fuller buzz filling the room as they thought over my question.

A few taps of their grim fingers hit the metal table before they responded. “Well, it is clear that the scent of the flower caused you to go into a heightened state of arousal. Rather common effects of inhaling that flower’s pollen but we did not think that the scent would have such a strong effect on an independent…”

They swiped the air in front of them to wave away their mental tangent. “Anyways, that caused you to get… excited enough to engage in some autoeroticism- Er, we mean you started masturbating.”

Oh no they heard that, oh no oh stars whyyyyyyyyyyy??!!?

I buried my face in my palms, ignoring the spinning at this point to clamp up from cringe and embarrassment.

They cleared their throat to move on from the hanging shame that hung over us both. “Afterwards we can only assume the scent of the Class-N base caused a feeling of heat to build, especially creating a tightness in your chest. You screamed about not being able to breathe and fumbled with your helmet. By pure bad luck you managed to unlock the seal and opened the helmet. That triggered the emergency measures: to flood the suit with a sealant foam and disinfectant so you would be left safe and unhurt but…”

“I think I started to flail in panic, didn’t I?”

“Yes, and you hit one of the plants you were examining. Sample 17G we believe. When it is disturbed by a struggle, it activates its self-defense due to its fear and wants to protect its life due to its fragile bulbs and blossoms. It shoots these very thin, razor sharp spines into the nearest threat. These needles are often harvested to use for certain types of injectors so… there was no chance you would be able to protect yourself from them.”

My heart skipped a beat. If they were something that dangerous, I was incredibly lucky that they did not puncture a more sensitive spot.

“Due to the opened holes, a sudden vacuum had to be filled. Pair that with your hyperventilating you drew much of the pollen and spores from the air. That caused… whatever you experienced. We are surprised you’re even conscious and processing everything considering the overdose you just had.”

“...frankly I think it’s because I am running on mostly adrenaline and whatever antidote you gave me. I am half-expecting to collapse suddenly from exhaustion.”

“...Noted, we will make sure you can make it home safely. Umm…” They continued to stare at my form. Not in a longing or affectionate way, but with genuine anxiety and uncertainty. “Afterwards we ripped you from the suit and foam, bringing you to the disinfecting chamber before giving you the variety of antiagents needed for what you inhaled. From there, we assume you can probably figure out what happened. …You can sit back down now.”

“Yeah, ok, cool.” I collapsed back onto the hard surface, my view now firmly starting directly into where their chest would be.

…No brain, do not think about what is behind their cloaked chest. It’s probably just more holes of the hive on some sorta shrimpy skinny burnt form. You were annoyed and frustrated by this plant, why are you suddenly all lovey-dovey? Just because they saved your life, kinda? They still caused it with negligence, or maybe even on purpose! …Right?

“Now… we will have to perform a full cavity inspection. It’s well… Ok let’s skip maybe every part we do not wish to-”

I held up my hand to cut them off. “Does it need to be done for my safety?”

They looked back with what I could only describe as a pitiful wet cat countenance. “...Yes?”

“...Let’s just get this done with please and never speak of this again.”

Another fake cough to break the tension. Why were they even pretending to do that? I know they don’t have lungs. “Let’s start with the head.”

They began to lean in yet again, and I closed my eyes while I waited for their vines or hands to lay upon me. Instead, I was just met with dozens of nuzzles across my face. It tickled and brushed against my cheeks, pushing up and around every crevice of my face.

I let my eyes slowly open, only to be met with an even, steady glow of warm colors. I felt as if I had been transported to the edge of the sea, watching as the sun set over the water, letting the comfort run over me. It brought me comfort to be bathed within it, to let go into the past and exist in this palace of time.

Tiny motes of light floated within the beaming light, like a calm mist that hung over us. The motes drifted towards me, pushing their way into my nostrils and ears as they picked and cleaned whatever was there.

It wasn’t until Arrium’s voice surrounded me that I broke from my stupor. “You may wish to keep your eyes closed, Ms. Mills, this light can be hazardous for independents.”

I just dumbly nodded to let my eyelids droop shut. As soon as the light was cut off I snapped back to my own reality.

Starsdammit I needed to ease up on all the hypnosis florn I had been watching lately. 

“Sorry, curiosity got the better of me. What is your hive doing?”

A soft laugh echoed out, pulling at my chest. “Oh, we are looking for trace amounts of pollen that we can take from you. This way you won’t be tracking in around everywhere with you and won’t cause a relapse after the antiagents wear off. In fact, could you open your mouth?”

“Open my mouth, why would you- ACK!”

I was left agape while I felt the tiny fluffballs start to buzz into the newly formed cavern. I felt them land on my teeth and move about in my mouth, their song echoing in my ears as they move about. Picking at and collecting whatever they could find within me.

All I could do was stay still, not wanting to hurt any of Arrium’s busybees.

The affini leaned over, feeling them just inches above me as they stared into my form. I could hear the deep thrum that plucked across their form, a soft hum matching both hive and form. “It seems like you did have some trace amounts left behind. We believe we got most of the remainder, but it would be good to rinse your mouth out with water or some form of mouthwash. If you wish I could compile some for you before you leave?”

All I could do was look up at them, furrowing my brow while clenching my eyes closed.

“Right! Apologies.” As if a subsonic whistle had been blown, the insects all began to retreat from my own form. I could feel their subtle movements drifting back towards their hive. “You are safe to open your eyes now.”

With hesitation I opened my eyes, expecting for my vision to be flooded with more tantalizing light. Instead, I was just met with the regal hive standing in front of me. I breathed a sigh of relief and covered up my form, crossing my legs and folding my arms in front of my chest.

“...I hope we are done?”

A small flicker of a pale yellow coursed through their form before it calmed back to their vibrant orange. “...well technically we have to do a rectal examination.”

A silent wind ran between us, with seconds of despair and anguish shared between us both. Why couldn’t this be a scene? Why did this have to be an actual medical urgency?

“...We think we can skip that. It is unlikely that anything could have entered there.” The affini took a step back, setting a good amount of distance from either of us after the awkward events that had transpired. “Do you feel sound of mind and safe to return to your hab Lenora?”

“...once I get my clothes back please?”