Dog of War

CWs:

Camila woke up bursting with energy as she wove herself together. Her vines lashed and wriggled about, her flowers blossomed to meet the morning, her leaves rustled with anticipation- she had never felt so excited in her life! Today was the day. Today all her planning paid off. Today she was going to make Princess truly hers in every way. 

 

The air itself was invigorated Camila as she mixed her favorite blend of mineral water. There was much to do if she wanted to execute her plan. Princess' dress and shoes had been selected well in advance, as were both backup shoes. They still needed compiling, but that could wait until after feeding her, to avoid any chance of a wrinkle. Breakfast was similarly planned out, with time and ingredients allotted to remake the dish if needed. She was even able to make a few final adjustments to Princess' domestication contract last night. ‘Princess Verdun, first and second florets pluribus, pinnates to Daisy Dawnbloom’ had a lovely sound to it. 

 

Camila dipped a vine into the water as she left her room. She had the main plan worked out with countless contingencies, and backups for the backups. Improvising could fill in whatever had been overlooked. All she needed to do was to follow through and today would be something she would easily remember for a dozen blooms. 

 

“Good morning Miss Verdun!” Jess greeted, her own excitement bleeding into her synthesized voice. 

 

“Good morning, cutie~” Another highlight of the day would of course be getting the digital sophont into her new chassis. “How are you doing?” 

 

“Hxshxh- Great! I can't wait to actually get my body today!”

 

Neither could Camila. She had familiarized herself with the finer details of its design, taking note of its erogenous zones and sensitive areas. How it fit together and came apart. “Let me know if you need anything before you transfer over to Viola, okay?” 

 

“Of course, Miss!” 

 

It wouldn't be long until Camila was drafting paperwork for her third floret. Jess, Daisy and Princess had been adorable together last night. It was nice to see them getting along so well, even if their interactions were still a bit stiff; Jess due to her unrequited crush, and Princess still feeling remorse over having acted so poorly towards her. Hopefully once they were both hers she could get the two together. It'd be so cute if Princess was able to heal enough to be romantic with the very AI she used to fear. 

 

Camila briefly wondered if Princess' submissive nature or Jess’ passiveness would win out. Both sophonts were also massively inexperienced, it was unlikely either would be able to recognize even obvious passes. The way they bumbled around each other would only make it that much more adorable. 

 

There was no time to daydream yet, she had breakfast to prepare. Vines busied themselves collecting the ingredients as others got the saucepan and skillet on the stove. Such a special day called for an equally special meal- a redux of the first one Princess ever tasted. First was the bread, this time from a loaf Camila had personally baked last night. She cut six thick slices, which better absorbed the mixture of eggs, milk and cinnamon. They sizzled as she placed them on the skillet. 

 

The thicker bread didn't just better lend itself to French toast, but also the second major change- the toppings. Camila took a dozen berries from her graft, diced them, and placed them in the pan with sugar and water. There would be no syrup this time. Making a compote out of xenomemetic treats was a bit much, but Princess unquestionably deserved it. She had been such a good girl recently, and making massive strides in her recovery. It was maybe a bit selfish too; such a meal would have her absolutely melt in her vines. As she stirred the pot, Camila couldn't help but fantasize about what a needy mess the girls would be by the time she confessed.

 

Yes, Camila could already feel Princess squirming in her vines, eyes flooded with pleasure. She'd have to make sure to slip the girl some class N when she got her up, just so she wasn't spent right away. She already had a variant in mind that would let her leak without actually achieving orgasm. Teasing her about the mess she made over breakfast as she stripped her nude would be fun. The way Princess would struggle in her vines only to realize there was no hiding her embarrassment from her, or how excited that made her...

 

Camila flipped the French toast as she gave the compote another stir. Perhaps over dinner she could finally show Princess some of what she had been holding back all this time. Slipping her vines under her dress, binding the girl in her lap,  wrapping them around her breasts and clit. She could set food on her tongue, not even giving the command to close her mouth while playing with both for minutes, using any mistake as a reason to start the ‘training’ over. A punishment oddly similar to the reward for success. Maybe even give her a small hint of the delights her untouched prostate held, and show her just how many times she could actually cum. 

 

The night was the only thing not meticulously planned out. The only thing on the schedule was showing Princess just how wonderful it was to be owned. Camila had allowed herself room to improvise whatever that entailed, with no shortage of ideas to draw upon.

 

It was unfortunate that Camila couldn't just give Princess a good dosage of Class D and pull out every latent kink. Sadly, the girl's sexual experience was practically non-existent, and her sex education was even worse. No xenodrug in the Compact could make her admit she was into something she didn't know about. Correcting that lack of knowledge was near the top of Camila’s agenda, but it would take time. 

 

Camila already had plenty to work with anyways, more than enough to begin Princess’ education tonight. The girls would certainly love being tied up if her penchant for tight clothing and being held down were any indication. She was clearly into the idea of ‘being a princess’ as well, which opened several avenues of roleplay and training. Giving her lessons on posture and manners tied nicely into a variety of punishments. Her growing penchant for needleplay similarly offered a lot to work with. Camila would never get tired of the way she squirmed beneath her injectors or how they made her heart quicken. She definitely got off on humiliation and the mere act of submission as well. The way her body naturally reacted to orders alone was enough to make any Affini jealous.

 

Camila plated the meal, buttering the toast as she poured the sauce into a serving container. She would take advantage of Princess in every way, it was just a matter of which ones she would lean into first. A puzzle that was best worked out when the moment arose.

 

Camila placed the food in the compiler to keep it warm. She did have one idea that she absolutely wanted to execute once Princess was ready to sign the contract. During the signing, Camila would play with her body, progressively shredding her clothes and dosing her with As every time she ticked a box. By the time Princess reached the end she'd be nude, and too needy to hold the pen. Camila would then make it clear she couldn't cum until the contract was signed. Once Princess had proven how much she wanted it, Camila would wrap her vines up her arm, around her fingers, and ‘assist’ her hand as it scrawled her name for the first time. Princess might be good girls, but begging was an invaluable skill for any pet.

 

She likely wouldn't be signing tonight, of course, but that didn't stop Camila's vines from curling with delight at the thought. Everything was finally coming together in the most wonderful way! The next few dozen hours held untold promise. For now, it was time to get the terran up. She hadn't needed to remake the meal, but a few extra minutes would be nice to pad out the existing wiggle room. 

 

Camila crept into Princess' room to find her sleeping as expected- she had given her Class Zs just to ensure she slept well. It wouldn't do to have today of all days sullied by a bad dream. After playing with Daisy and Jess for several hours, Princess had been too tuckered out to object. Not that she would have otherwise- an unexplained needle now only resulted in some utterly precious whimpers. 

 

Camila pushed aside the sheer curtains. By the Everbloom did Princess live up to her name lying there, her bear held close. One vine gently brushed those plump lips, another her hair. The girl murmured, shifting under her touch. Camila had to remind herself that she shouldn't play with the girl's body today, as tempting as it was. Not only was it a foolish risk when she was this close, Princess was already going to be dropping fairly deep over the course of breakfast and getting dressed. Walking her up in sub space could complicate matters; she wanted Princess to be aware enough to say yes on her own volition later. Camila managed to steel herself. Tomorrow she could go as far as she wanted.

 

Stealing a kiss, however, was irresistible. She needed to give Princess her xenodrugs somehow, and her lips were so inviting. Camila prepared the usual doses of E and Z, adding some class N with just a hint of A to make the morning a bit brighter. 

 

Princess’ lips were as soft as they looked.

-_-_-_-

Princess stirred, smacking her lips, the taste of berries on her tongue. The bedding had never felt so soft against their skin, a pleasant tingling throughout her body incited to highs by the nightie. The nearby presence of Miss and pleasant feeling coursing through her veins was thankfully enough to keep her from crying out at the loss. Mr Bear helped too, in his own way. The cuddly plush felt right in her arms, and stroking the soft yet stiff fur of his paw was soothing. 

 

There was also the chasm where the rest of herself had been just hours ago. A wound in her very psyche. 

 

Princess' eyes slowly opened to find Miss was hovering above her, her face just centimeters away. Her heart immediately leapt into action at the sight, hammering away in her chest. The Affini was absolutely breathtaking this morning. The arrangement of leaves constructing an almost Terran visage, that well-practiced smile, and the glint of yellows, purples and pinks- like showers of sparks across her stained glass eyes. 

 

A vine ruffled Princess' hair, sending a jolt of pleasure down her spine and reminding her to breathe. “Good morning, Princess! Did you sleep well?” Her voice was like crystal chimes in the breeze.

 

“Yessh Miss.” she panted, pressing into the touch on reflex. Oh stars, just a bit lower! 

 

“I'm glad to hear that, cuties~” Miss stopped to pull back the blanket. “Now let's get you up.” 

 

Princess fought the urge to whine, trying not to pout as she looked up at the Affini. The petting was far too short, she needed more! 

 

“Awww, okay, just a bit more,” Miss cooed. The vines returned in force, scratching the special place at the base of her skull. They didn't stop there; more vines searched out behind her ears, under her chin, stroking through her hair- she could do little else but whimper. She barely even registered it as she scooped up into Miss' vines, where she belonged. Surrendering to the attention was almost enough to forget how incomplete they were.

 

“Today's going to be a little busy, petal, but I'll give you a full run down later. For now you-” Miss playfully booped her nose, “need to get fed and dressed, cutie~”

 

“Yes, Miss.” Princess stayed in the floaty headspace. It was easier than dealing with the hole she had torn in herself. Without a doubt it was the biorhythm speaking, but being this close to the Affini was so relaxing, so wonderful, so perfect.With Mr Bear at her side it was nearly enough to fully distract from the void inside her. She nuzzled into the caress for good measure; she just needed to last a few more hours. 

 

“Morning, Princess!” Jess’ voice rang from the ceiling. “Last night was fun, I can't wait to actually get to see you in my chassis!” 

 

“G’mornin'.” Princess yawned. “That sounds fun. Can give you an actual hug.” She'd be long gone by then, with any luck. It was unfortunate she wouldn't get to give her a proper hug though, it was really awkward to embrace a vacuum. 

 

“I- I- I- I cannot wait!” Jess' voice skipped, before promptly cutting out. 

 

Princess frowned. The machine sophont had been acting strangely around her all last night too. Always stammering or making bursts of static, normally whenever she paid attention to her. It made Princess feel bad that Jess was still uncomfortable around her, but it wasn't like an earnest apology could fix everything. Ash was proof of that. It was best not to dwell on it; hopefully Jess would feel better once she left. 

 

Princess didn't get much chance to dwell anyways, as Miss placed her in her lap, sitting them both at the table. Before her was a familiar sight, one that had her eagerly salivating- French Toast. It looked much better than last time, too; the toast was easily twice as thick and each one was arranged to show its browning. Miss gave her another thought-scattering scritch. “Today's breakfast is a bit special, Princess.”

 

“Ah?”

 

“Yes, you see you two have been very good girls lately, and I thought deserved a treat.” 

 

The words shook through her, bringing attention to the emptiness inside even as they made her smile. She was not a good girl. Good girls don't do what she did, what she needed to do. 

 

Princess focused instead on the promise of a treat, and the vine at the back of her neck. Miss picked up a small pitcher near the French toast. Chunks of dark berries in rich purple sauce were drizzled over the crispy toast, glistening with invitation. She swallowed back drool, perking up with anticipation. “Uhm, is that-?” 

 

“It is.” Miss set the pitcher down, picking up a knife and fork to cut out a bite. “As I said, you've been good girls.” The words still sent a shiver of pleasure down Princess’ spine, in spite of her rejection of the phrase. Miss dipped the bit of toast in sauce pooling on the side. “And good girls get treats.” 

 

With that, Miss placed the bite on their tongue, and a noise escaped Princess’ throat. Miss didn't make her wait, giving her the commands to close and chew the moment the whimper left her. She couldn't help but moan as she did so. The berry sauce was every bit as decadent and delectable as ever, but it didn't overpower the French toast. In fact, it was as if it was drawing out all the best qualities of the dish. The cinnamon was sweeter and its smokey flavor held far more depth, the rich butter could be tasted in full, and the bread underneath it all had lost nothing. Being a good girl held more appeal than it did a moment ago. 

 

Miss hummed happily as she had Princess swallow, wasting no time in feeding her the second bite with a bit of petting. She realized how much trouble she was in as raw flavor flooded her mouth. It was much better than the last bite, something that didn't even seem possible a moment ago. Miss had said the berries worked to acclimate to her taste with each one, hadn't she? Oh stars, what would a meal of the stuff do? She was going to utterly spoil her for good! 

 

A vine tickled her throat and Princess swallowed, trembling and panting. Her vision was already losing focus as it settled upon the plate. She was only halfway through the first slice, and there were six in all. Miss simply continued to hum and pet her in that way that clouded her thoughts as she cut another bite. The commands to open and close her mouth came quickly, but the one to chew was delayed just enough to remind her who was in charge. Miss had her in her spell once again, and Princess wasn't sure she even wanted out. 

 

Princess was swaying to Miss’ humming as she fed her the last of the first slice, a vine tracing circles on her back. Why was she trying to resist this? The conditioning was too strong to be shrugged off so easily, and without the rest of herself it was hopeless. She'd just be wasting her energy if she tried to fight it now. The plan wasn't for another few hours, it wouldn't hurt to just be a good girl until then, right? Princesses were good girls, after all. Yeah! She'd just... save her strength for later! Letting herself enjoy Miss was just part of the plan! That way Miss wouldn't expect that anything was different! Stars, she was so clever to come up with such a foolproof idea. 

 

With every bite, it became harder to think about anything besides the decadence of the meal, the humming, and the caress of the vines. A few bites were delayed on Miss letting her close her mouth or chew, but each was more delicious than the last. It wasn't long before all that Princess could perceive was the food, and Miss all around her. She could no longer even gauge how much was left, the plate itself lost to the realm of insignificance. That was something she didn't need to know anyways, Miss was feeding her, as was normal. Princesses needed help. Princesses relied on others. Princesses were good girls. 

 

Princess' jaw was hanging half open by the time Miss gave her a tap and placed another bite in her mouth. The following stroke did not come, the juices of the sauce trickling down her tongue, joining with drool as it dripped down her chin. Miss gave them a scritch in several places at once, and she had to fight to keep her mouth from shutting. She couldn't disappoint the Affini. “Do you have any idea how proud I am of you, petal?” Miss whispered in her ear. “How happy you both make me?”

 

The gears in Princess' head ground fruitlessly against each other as her heart fluttered at the words. She made Miss happy? Tears pricked up in the corners of her eyes as she was overcome with emotion. “Ahn?” 

 

The stroke finally came, and the circle followed soon after. Miss dabbed away the slobber on their chin as she continued. “It's true. You know, before you came here all I really had was my work. Long hours listening to the radio static, scanning for wayward signals. Co-ordinating, making sure those who could help got to those that needed it. I never thought that I could be the one to assist a sophont in need. There was always another, more experienced Affini that would be better for the task.” 

 

Miss had her swallow, gave her a drink of milk, and fed her another bite. “I was a little surprised when you personally requested that I retrieve you, and more than a little worried. If it wasn't for the Captain pushing me to go, I probably would have sent someone else. It's a bit shameful to admit, but I was honestly unnerved by our first meeting. I even made a case to have your wardship be with someone else who might be more suited to help. Then I got to know the sweet girls you really are.”

 

Miss did not give Princess a chance to respond, or even properly process the information. The petting and absurdly good food chased away any thoughts before they could come to fruition. “I'm so glad I did. My life has been so much brighter since you came into it, Princess. Watching you come into yourself and helping you along has been nothing short of wonderful. I know I'm not the oldest Affini, not yet halfway through my first bloom, but the last dozen days have been the best days of my life. Getting to meet you makes me feel lucky.”

 

Powerful emotions welled up in Princess' chest, feelings superseding thought. Camila continued. “On top of it all, the amount of progress you've made in not even two weeks is inspiring. It's helped me realize how much I can grow, and how much I have to offer. I wanted to thank you for that, petal.” 

 

“Miss?” Princess managed before the Affini fed her another bite. Her vision blurry with tears now.

 

“I know, dear.” The pets turned soothing, calming Princess’ frayed emotions. “It's a bit much for a treat, but thank you for indulging me.”

 

The petting continued, but the following bite did not come. Did the meal end? Princess noted she was being held now as thought started to once again congeal in the gooey substance of her brain. Miss... hadn't wanted her at first? That was- did that change things? Ugh, this was too much to put together when her brain was this soupy. She couldn't even rely on her other half to help sort this out. She wasn't supposed to be doing this much heavy contemplation, that was her job!

 

Princess opted to enjoy the feeling of the caress instead. There would be time for analyzing later. Right now, she was where she belonged, and everything else could wait. 

 

Miss continued the slow strokes up and down Princess’ back and through her hair. Vines pressed Mr Bear to her chest, weaving between her fingers. Slowly she recovered from the meal, and the passage of time stopped slipping away from her. Awareness trickled in soon after. She was in the bathroom, and Miss was smiling down at her as stunning as ever. “Feeling better, petal?” 

 

Princess averted her eyes and nodded, afraid of what kind of noise she'd make if she spoke. Stupid pretty plant. 

 

“Would you like to get dressed now?” 

 

She nodded again. 

 

“Good girl.” Princess couldn't help but smile; she was a good girl! 

 

Miss set her down, vines wrapping her in the familiar manner. Mr Bear was gently lifted from her arms and vines tapped her elbows. The nightie was lifted over her head. “Goodness! Again, Princess?” Miss giggled, a vine fishing into her panty line. 

 

Her eyes darted downwards to find a sizable wet spot. “Uhm-” Princess' cheeks burned with embarrassment, did she really leak that much just from being fed and pet? She reflexively tried to cover her blush only to find vines keeping her arms in place. There was no hiding from the Affini. Her small clit twitched at the realization, another bead of precum drooling out. 

 

“Don't worry,” Miss tugged the panties down to her knees. “I thought this might happen.” The next thing Princess knew, she was moaning as Miss ran a damp, warm cloth over her clit. “It's not like there's a lot to clean up anyways~”

 

Princess was sure she added more of her clear fluids to the towel at the tease. It didn't help that the towel was so soft and it was just the right temperature. Almost too hot, but each pass was short enough that it never scalded, only inching them closer to a true orgasm. She was getting so close now, oh stars ! Just a few more and surely- 

 

The wiping stopped as quickly as it began, a tap on each leg had them stepping out of the ruined panties. If it weren't for the support Miss offered, she would have surely collapsed. 

 

A dry towel patted off the remaining moisture, and the warmth burning through her body began to cool off. Princess whined with need. “Now, now, there will be time for that later,” Miss scolded playfully as she finished drying her off. “There you go Princess, your little clit is all clean~”

 

Princess struggled fruitlessly against the bonds in an attempt to hide her blush again. At least she didn't cum from that, she'd probably die from embarrassment. “Th-thanks,” she choked out, desperate for the conversation to move on. 

 

“Of course petal, you know I'm always glad to help you!” Miss gave Princess a headpat, and she made some inhuman noise at the touch. “Now let's get you dressed, okay?” 

 

“O-okay.” Princess squeaked, her heart pounding. Miss simply tapped each leg and pulled up a fresh pair of panties. Large lacy pink ruffles gave a hyper feminine appearance, and the inner lining was silky against her skin. The ruffles fluttered as she squirmed in Miss’ grasp, giving her a good look at the floral patterns of the lace. 

 

“A nice, fresh pair of pretty pink panties.” Miss lowered herself, until Princess could feel her behind her ear. “It suits you, doesn't it,” she purred, each word pressing into her. 

 

If they didn't before, Princess’ cheeks surely matched their color now. “Y-yes Miss!” It was just her biorhythm that had her acting like this... right? Dirt, she hoped she wasn't leaking again already, it'd be a pity to have to change out of such a cute pair right away. 

 

The vines suddenly groping Princess’ breasts earned another squeak from her. “Miss?!” She was definitely redder than her panties now, she didn't need a mirror to know that. 

 

“Just double checking to make sure I got the size right, petal.” Miss stated matter-of-factly, having Princess lift her arms. “You’re a C cup now, by the way.” She lowered an equally lacey bra onto her. 

 

“O-oh.” Right, Miss had done that before, when Princess first needed a bra. Although, she never seemed to have to double-check any of Princess' other sizes. Maybe it was just harder to estimate bra size? 

 

Miss helped her into a frilly white dress shirt, silky and cut low enough to show off some cleavage. Princess felt something metallic hidden under those large ruffles. “I think you'll gain maybe two more cups before your current class G regimen has run its course. Of course, if you want to make them smaller or larger, we can always tweak the formula then.” 

 

“Uhm-” Did Princess want them bigger? A bit bigger than current would be nice, but they were already going to get bigger. Would two sizes be big enough, or would that be too big? How much was two sizes, anyways? Miss always handled her clothes, she didn't know anything about bras or cup size!

 

Miss gave her a reassuring pat. “It's not something you have to decide right now, dear, just thought you might want to know.”

 

Princess remained silent as Miss helped her step into a petticoat, adjusting it around her waist. It came nearly to her ankles, marking how long the actual dress would be moments before Miss pulled it over her head. She spent a few moments fixing the impossibly soft fabric to sit correctly before zipping it up. It was much lower cut than the shirt; in fact, the entire breast area was missing, letting the white poofy ruffles of the dress shirt show from underneath. The sleeves were short, coming halfway down the bicep, with poofy shoulders. The skirt of the dress was multi-layered, coming down to her ankles. A vibrantly red fabric was draped around her waist, pink ruffles layered out beneath it. A sharp white V cut from the waist to the hemline, and upon it was embroidered Miss' flower, larger and more detailed than ever before. 

 

The dress was regal, cute, and the most blatantly floret thing Miss had made her wear yet. More than that, however, it made her feel like a princess. She could hardly resist giving a small half turn, smiling as the fabric rippled around her. “If you like it now, I think you'll love it in just a moment~” Miss wrapped a leather corset around her. 

 

Right, of course it wasn't done yet, it was still missing the best part. Miss wouldn't forget something like that. Princess sadly didn't get a great look at the corset, her breasts preventing a downward view and the vines obscuring any side angle. She'd have to get a look when- the laces were suddenly pulled taut, and her knees gave out under her. The vines around her waist kept her from falling, pulling her into Miss' lap, where she belonged. “Let's fix that hair now.” 

 

Princess voice was lethargic as it offered up a weak “Yes Miss,” the Affini's vines already threading through her hair. That overwhelming sense of comfort and intoxication from being so close made her head spin. She was thankful for the vines helping her sit up, and not just for how nice they felt against exposed skin. She just... needed to enjoy this a few hours more...

 

“Once you're ready, Daisy will be coming over,” Miss began. Her voice was the sweetest music. “We won't be leaving for the festival for another hour or so, so you two will have time to hang out a little first. Jess was going to transfer over to Viola after saying hi to Daisy.”

 

“Viola?” 

 

“You haven't met fae yet, but fae's something of a friend of mine. Viola is the one working on Jess’ new chassis. Cordelia and I are going to go pick her up when she's ready, sometime just after the planting ceremony. That's when you and Daisy will get to spend some time alone~”

 

Princess swallowed her nerves. Right, that was her one chance. She'd get some distance from all of this and clear her head. The thought of leaving the comfort Miss’ vines offered while she was in them felt like getting out of camp to hike twenty clicks in a blizzard, and  was every bit as necessary. Staying would be like sleeping in the snow. It even had the same warm feeling that heralded the end. She already wasn't thinking clearly, and couldn't rely on the part of her that was meant to do that. 

 

Vines rubbed away the tension in Princess' shoulders, calming her. “I know being alone makes you anxious, but I'll be nearby if you need me. You can ask any Affini you see to contact me and I'll come right away. Daisy will be with you too, of course, and we'll only be about an hour. It will be alright.” 

 

“Yes, Miss.” Princess' muscles slackened, leaning more into Miss’ support as she continued to attend to her hair. She was right, as usual. Princess would just have to be away long enough to be able to properly assess the situation and all the emotions tied to it. Just a few weeks to clear her head, and a couple days to make up her mind. She could even come back if that's what she decided! 

 

“There's a good girl~” Miss helped Princess back to her feet, giving her a now-commonplace bit of petting. She was definitely going to miss that. “I know you don't like to wear shoes indoors, but I thought you might like to try them on before we head out. You'll be walking most of the day in them, though I’d be more than happy to carry you.”

 

That got Princess’ attention. If she was going to be running away, she'd definitely need good shoes for it. Miss continued, “now these are compiled, and I do have a few alternatives, but-” As though she had read her mind, Miss lowered a pair of boots in front of Princess. “I do think you'll like these.” 

 

It was the closest she had ever gotten to love at first sight. 

 

They were tall, just below knee-high, a rich mahogany color, and had a distinctly more feminine style than her old boots. The toe had a slight point, the heel was just a bit more pronounced, vines engraved up the shaft in the quarter, light brown laces were threaded through the many eyelets with plenty of extra to tie them with. Princess picked one up to examine it more closely. They even appeared to be nubuck! An odd choice, given that nubuck was usually reserved for black leathers since the unfinished material could stain, but very few things could noticeably darken the mahogany leather. The greater concern was the stitched vines, those would sully much faster. A bit of care while wearing and when cleaning and that should be avoidable enough! 

 

Princess bounced with excitement, grinning widely. She was getting actual boots today! Sure they weren't as practical as she liked, but the cuteness more than made up for that. Ah- she was getting ahead of herself. It didn't matter how much she liked them if they didn't feel right. Fit was vastly more important than aesthetics, it was even above durability. “Can we try them on?” 

 

“Of course, Princess.” Miss' voice was laden with adoration as the vines gently tugged the boot out of her hands. She could sense just how happy the Affini was that she liked the boots. It was clear that she had spent some time picking them out. That fuzzy fluttering love sat deep in her chest, a feeling that only grew stronger as the Affini drew herself around Princess to help her into the boots. 

 

It was so unfair that Miss got to make her feel like this, even though she had lied to her. That the Affini was always so dang nice and considerate made it hard to feel any other way, biorhythm or not. The boots feeling nice once tightened didn't help either. She twisted her foot and only to find the footing nearly flawless. A few paces across the bathroom only confirmed her findings with a satisfying clack of the heels. Almost as good as her old boots. What she would give to have been able to wear them even one more time... Ugh, she could already feel the tears coming. 

 

Miss wasted no time in comforting Princess, vines immediately brushing through her hair and stroking her back. “Sorry, is it too much? I have some alternatives if you want to change.” 

 

“No.” Princess choked out, fighting back tears as she latched onto the nearest vine. She did her best to focus on the heatless warmth that was her biorhythm and the safety it carried. “It's just- they're really, really nice, but we still miss our old boots.” 

 

Miss continued to soothe her with slow, rhythmic strokes, vines wrapping around her. “I know, Princess, I know.” She wiped away the moisture collecting in her eyes, returning Mr Bear to her arms. She felt another vine drop her coin into a skirt pocket. “I think I have something that might cheer you up though.” 

 

“Oh?” She already had Mr Bear, and she’d just eaten a full breakfast of berries, so what could this be?

 

A vine gently tilted Princess' head upwards until her gaze met those breathtaking eyes, shimmering and rippling in the most utterly fascinating way. “Princess, would you like to see yourself?” 

 

She would have blinked if she wasn't so enraptured. Princess knew instantly what Miss wanted to hear, and the answer beat any thought to formation. “Yes, please.” Nerves lapped like starved hounds at the heels of the confession. Oh, stars, when was the last time she had seen herself? Four days ago? All she could recall was how it felt. How everything was wrong and she didn't look like a-

 

A well-timed scritch derailed the train of thought. Miss had quickly become an expert in preventing Princess’ frequent downward spirals. “I promise you it will not be like last time, petal. You have had twice the time on Class Gs since, and I think you'll be quite pleased with the results. If you want, I can even give you some Class B and you won't remember I even asked.” 

 

Princess relaxed. Miss could be trusted in this matter, she wouldn't lie about something like that. She had a good point too, she had almost looked like a girl last time! It had to be close now, or Miss wouldn’t have brought it up. “Okay.” 

 

Miss turned Princess to face the blackened mirror. “I'm here for you both, okay? Let me know, and we'll stop.” Princess nodded, readying herself. 

 

The mirror didn't come on all at once. The reflection started blurred, focus slowly bleeding in. Princess was able to make out the shape of herself, her dress, her unsure stance. The femininity was apparent even in the pixelated shapes, reassuring her. The details then began to come rapidly, the mirror quickly gaining focus as though it had finally decided to commit to the action. Therein lay not the woman in the mirror, nor the man she had lived as, nor any cross between the two. What was there was far greater and more devastating. 

 

For the first time in her life, Princess truly saw herself.

 

Her face had softened considerably, now unmistakably feminine. No one would ever think she had been a man, and looking at her own reflection it was hard to believe herself. The memories felt like a faded dream, surreal and absurd. Her jawline had rounded, her lips had grown plump, and her skin was silky. Even the scars looked more delicate now. 

 

Princess’ face wasn't the only thing that had softened either, she had put on maybe a dozen kilos. It was hard to gauge with her reduced stature; standing about a quarter meter shorter she might just weigh less than before. Regardless of actual weight, she had fat in places she’d never had before. It mostly settled in her thighs and breasts, but her arms had lost definition and her waist was definitely wider, even hidden by the corset. It was no mystery how she managed to put on so much in such a short time; her body, designed to subsist on two or three synthcubes a day, required roughly seventy percent the normal calories. Three full meals a day had settled on her like a blanket. 

 

The mirror allowed Princess to take in the entirety of her outfit as well, and it was even cuter than it felt. It draped over her perfectly, the skirt swished delightfully at the slightest movement, her boots visible just beneath. The white ruffles accentuated her bust while the shirt teased just enough cleavage. The black corset beneath it drew attention and made the lighter colors pop. It also matched her hair, the jet black braids that framed her face shining almost like the finished leather. Flowers were woven into her hair above them, forming a crown. Free flowing hair cascaded down her back, like a waterfall spilling over massive bluffs. Yes, she was cute beyond any doubt. 

 

She was also a floret. 

 

There was no other way to put it; Princess clearly belonged to the Affini behind her. Miss' influence could be seen in everything; the flowers in her hair could have come from no other source, the dress and her nails were the same pink that decorated Miss petals, she swayed in time to the vines supporting her, and most damning of all was the dazed, docile look in her eyes with pupils so wide she could make out a faint recursion of her reflection. Even without the flower embroidered into the dress, even without a collar, no one would ever mistake her for anything but a pet. That didn't bug Princess nearly as much as she would have liked. Instead, something within stirred. 

 

That was her in the mirror. The near comical level of femininity, the dazed floret look, the soft figure- that was all her, that was Princess. Not some body she simply had, or one she was aspiring to, but herself.

 

She broke into tears immediately, overcome with emotions. She turned to hug the Affini that had given her something so precious, choking out thank you after thank you between sobs. Biorhythm conditioning or not, she owed her that much.

 

Miss wrapped her in vines, shushing her, stroking her, hugging her, petting her. “There's no need to thank me, petal, your happiness is more than enough.”