Chapter Text
If our waiter was a floret, I couldn't tell. There was a bit of an air about him which might suggest so, but plenty of folks these days had that, especially if they weren't the type to take a class-C inhibitor to keep any errant rhythms away. He was dressed sharply, a vintage suit following the upscale restaurant's theme of the early 22nd century; other than the one his tie was under, no collar to be seen. He poured my glass of wine and left us to ponder the menu.
"This place is a lot... fancier than I was expecting," I admitted, looking over the menu while taking a sip of my drink. The menu was certainly not my standard fare - until recently, there had been very few occasions in my life for an evening such as this.
She let out a melodic chuckle. "Yes, dear. I knew it may be a little out of your comfort zone for venues, but Cordri swore it had one of the best views in the area, and it does not disappoint."
It was true - the restaurant, the Dawn of Good Times, overlooked a wooded canyon stretching down for at least a kilometer below and several across, before sweeping up into a line of snow-capped peaks, illuminated by the amber sunset which had begun to dip below the horizon. The pianist behind us was playing a soft jazz number – some pre-Stellar thing fitting with the theme – while the other members of the quartet were getting ready to play for the evening.
We both looked out over the view for a moment, before a vine found my cheek. It directed my gaze up and across the table to my companion for the evening: Adriss Salvium, Eighth Bloom. Her beauty mingled with the radiance of the sunset catching bits of gold across the field of violet flowers she had loosely wrapped just off of her shoulders as a shawl. Our gaze met, her four eyes behind her intricate wooden mask staring into mine, illuminated both by the gold of the evening light and their own soft silver.
"Petal, you've been taking your bonding inhibitor, correct?" she asked softly, not breaking the gaze. I gave a short nod.
"Good. Just making sure my beauty is what my sweet Everly is held captive by."
I tried to hide the forming blush across my face; a stray vine briefly stopped my head before relenting, letting me bury my face in the menu once again. I sipped more of the wine - Adriss had apparently selected it for us when she made the reservations. It was a good thing she did, both because she seemed to have good taste, and even with that choice out of the way, I was lost in the rest of the menu.
I eventually settled on some manner of fancy pork dish that Adriss recommended would pair with the wine, which I ordered alongside a cup of the house soup for the day. Unfortunately, the waiter also took away our menus, leaving me nothing to hide behind. I just put my hands in my lap, trying to not look as flustered as I was feeling.
After a moment of looking at one another again, she broke the silence, "I'm glad you wore the dress I sent you. You look lovely tonight, my dear."
Looking down at my outfit, I let out a nervous giggle as the blush reasserted itself across my face. It was a nice dress after all, a pretty black thing which fit right into the retro style of the establishment. While it had been a rather forward gesture, I was glad she had sent it to be compiled at my hab this morning; I wouldn't have known what to wear to a place like this. I was rather happy with how my hair and face turned out - a simple little updo and light, with a rosiness to the cheeks which I found our 'conquerors' adore. After all, I had been getting my share of practice over the last couple months.
"When you messaged me that you were sending me an outfit for tonight, I was half expecting this to be the night you slip me into a companion dress."
It was Adriss' turn to let out a chuckle. "Oh no dear - not for you. Not yet."
We stared at one another for another moment, my attention only breaking when Adriss poured herself a fresh glass of wine, the small vine she had slunk into the glass having already finished her first. I took another few sips of my own while enjoying the music as the sunlight finally slipped below the horizon.
As night suddenly settled in, the lights of the restaurant gently were brought up, the candles on our table springing to life on their own. I turned from looking out over the canyon below to find Adriss staring at me with the softest smile across her face.
She was dangerously lovely in the candlelight. So tall, her silver eyes sparkling with the flickering of the flames. After a moment I finally caught myself staring, looking down and away before I quietly asked, "Why do you treat me this way?"
"Like what way, my dear? Like you are gorgeous and deserving of admiration and a lovely evening?" She smiled, clearly enjoying herself.
Another blush. I hadn't been so consistently on my back foot like this since I was having crushes as a teen.
It felt wonderful.
"My friend Liv - you two've met right? Well, she met Miss Rexilmaltus two weeks after you... introduced yourself to me-" I paused at Adriss' chuckle, "-and she's already recovered from getting h-her implant! But, I-you have been treating me practically like any partner I've had, at least next to any affini I've met, um-not that I-err..."
I was losing where I was going with this.
"Oh you are wondering why I haven't filled you with my nectars and rendered you nothing but a mewling little thing in my vines? Why haven't I broken you with my hypnotic powers and sheer will? Why the only xenodrug I have requested you take shields you from the rhythm which would erode your will with my mere presence?"
I nodded shakily. She had not moved herself any closer, still comfortably sitting back in her seat, yet she took up all of my perception in that moment.
"My dearest petal, I-" she paused as she noticed our waiter approaching, "-believe your soup is here."
Indeed, the waiter had come over with my soup and a bowl of some variety of mineral water for Adriss. She set a vine into her bowl as I unwrapped my silverware and folded the napkin in my lap to eat.
"Oh by the way, how is the most lovely Liv doing? Have you heard from her much since her surgery?"
I gave a noncommittal shake of my head as I swallowed my first sip of the soup. It was unfamiliar, but not in a bad way - in the sort of way that your tongue hasn't fully made up its mind, but is not opposed to trying more. "Only briefly, just some reassurances that everything went well and she's doing alright. Oh and some, umm, pictures."
"She certainly is a precious thing from the pictures Chrysnim sent me. I do expect you to hear from her soon to set up a date of some sort for the two of you."
I smiled and chuckled, to which Adriss added more pointedly, "She will also almost certainly want to get to know her darling floret's friend too, so be ready for that."
I didn't quite catch her meaning. "Ready?"
"For Miss Rexilmaltus to show an interest in you."
"I..ahh-" I muttered as I moved to take another bite of soup to delay responding.
"And you-" A vine intercepted my hand. "-are already claimed."
She stared deep into my eyes. I wondered what she was seeing there. "As I promised to you that night two months ago - in a years' time from then, you will become my floret."
We stared for more than a long moment, until the waiter came once again with our main course. The quartet had started their first number together.
"But for now," Adriss continued, as if we hadn't just spent the last few minutes locked in each other’s eyes, "we have a lovely dinner and a lovely evening to enjoy together. After we eat we'll go dancing with the others."
~~~
I was never particularly good at dancing, but this wasn't the first time Adriss had taken me either. It felt so... easy with her. Effortless just to flow into one another with the music. Tonight there was only another pair of couples dancing with us, an affini with their floret and two older men leaning in the theme of the establishment, albeit their clothing on the more informal side of the era. They were having a lot of fun with it.
"I've enjoyed this place - I'll have to thank Cordri again for the recommendation. Although, once again, it has been the company which has made the evening, my precious flower," Adriss whispered as we stepped gently to and fro with the band. "Are you familiar with why this place is named the Dawn of Good Times?"
I had to think for a moment. "It's a play on 'the End of Good Times', the nickname for this era - early 22nd, right? When like the last time anywhere on Earth was remotely... comfortable." I wasn't the worst at history, but a lot of the stuff before the jump drive could be fuzzy at times.
"Very good! I admit when I learned this, it seemed an odd choice for a romantic atmosphere with such a... bittersweet theme."
I thought for another moment, listening to the music and the muted song coming from my dance partner. "Bittersweet can be romantic."
“I know dear.” I felt something stir inside her as she pulled close. "From all my blooms, I know all too well."
We hugged tightly to one another, her vines carrying me through the dance. After a few moments, she continued, "But from what reports say, Earth is doing rather well these days. Latest projections are showing pre-industrial climate conditions within the decade, even if the ecosystems will take a fair bit longer to... undo as much as possible..." she tailed off.
I looked up into her eyes. "Hey there, let's not talk about work right now, it's just you and me tonight,” I said, trying to muster even a token show of not just being along for the ride tonight. But goodness, her eyes - stars, are they beautiful, even when speckled with a gray that has begun to break my heart whenever I see it flickering in.
She continued to hold me close as the current number ended and the next started up. "One last song before I walk you home, my dear?"
I savored the way she looked down and smiled at me in that moment, softly blushing at the attention. "I would love to."
She took the lead again, holding me close. "Are you scared?"
I stayed silent for a moment. "Sometimes. A little."
"I'm so happy you're being so brave though. It'll be worth it in the end."
"A-aren't you supposed to... not force yourself on us? That unless we're...bad-" A disapproving tone gently rumbled from Adriss. "-not bad - you know what I mean - we're allowed to stay on our own?"
"If my unknown plans for you were so unwelcome, why would we be on our seventh date? You've never been obligated to accept my invitations, even if I admit I loathe the thought of being deprived of so many wonderful moments with such a pretty thing."
Her hand caressed my cheek as a smile formed on my lips as I looked up at her. "These have been the most wonderful weeks… months of my life. But... couldn't you just be sneakily acclimating me to the idea? Take a long time so it doesn't seem so scary and sudden and by the time it comes, it'll be too far to turn away?"
"Too far, little one, will only arrive only once you have signed yourself away to me. Up until that day, you will have a choice." I shuddered; I was unsure if from fear or desire.
"And besides; while I have warded you from my rhythm, I have not been deaf to yours." She paused to lean her face down to whisper directly into my ear, "From the moment I declared you mine that night, I have known you want this."
I shuddered and whimpered as she pulled me close. We danced away the rest of the song, melting into one another.
~~~
The restaurant was a little further from my hab than past dates had been, but nothing too arduous. It was a lovely, cool evening, with a bit of dampness in the air from late spring rain. The moon was mostly out, passing in and out of obscurity behind the clouds, its pale blue glow complementing the town's lighting.
And right beside me, I had the creature who had so thoroughly caught my heart in just a short couple months. I kept stealing shy, admiring glances up at her face, knowing full well that I couldn't hide from Adriss' notice.
We arrived at my hab up on the third floor, Adriss stopping before the door. "I had a wonderful evening tonight, my precious flower."
"S-so did I, Miss Adriss," I stumbled to say, being caught off guard by her eyes again.
"Oh am I ‘Miss’ as we part ways this evening? Well, for such a polite little terran, I think I shall leave you with a little parting gift~"
With a smile barely concealing her inner excitement, she pulled out a box from within herself. I accepted it, stumbling through a breathless thanks.
Adriss giggled and leaned down to kiss the top of my head. "Goodnight petal. I look forward to our next outing together. Be sure to take good care of what is to be mine."
"O-of course, always. Thank you for everything tonight."
She waited for me to be safely inside before heading off into the night.
~~~
I settled myself inside the hab, basking in the feelings and memories of the evening as I slipped off my shoes and started to take down my hair.
Once changed into something more... well, back before everything I would say more comfortable, but the (not-a-companion) dress was still of affini craft, and thusly was the epitome of comfort ...more appropriate for winding down for bed, I turned my attention to the present on the sitting room table where I had left it.
It was a simple dark brown thing, with faint, darker markings tracing patterns across the surface that lent complexity without being fully discernible. Upon lifting the lid, I discovered a note, under which was a mysterious glass object.
"My lovely Everly - a little something to brighten up your home and remind you of the one waiting for you~"
Putting aside the note and lifting the object out of the box, I found it was a beautiful vase - a soft spiral, crystal clear apart from some thin strips of intricate etchings. However, my appreciation of the craftsmanship was cut short as soon as I really saw what was displayed inside.
While I didn't know a lot about them, I knew enough to know at once what it was: a grown and primed haustoric implant.