"What is it, petal?"
"It's not-"
"It's not nothing, I know that much."
"It might not work out, she's not-"
"I don't want to hear any of your doubts about what might happen, now spill before I give you a class-D and force it out of you the old fashioned way."
Athena let out a sigh, rolling her eyes at the threat. "I saw that," her Mistress intoned. Despite having the appearance of a misshapen mass of assorted plant matter, Athena knew that her vines were photoreceptive and thus there was no gesture small enough to escape notice. Athena tried for a diplomatic response. "It would've been wasted if you didn't."
"You're trying to change the subject," came Rosana's voice again, in a tone that would send most florets - most independents, really - falling to their knees in fear. Rosana being a known feral-breaker did give her a bit of a fearsome reputation, but Athena had been owned for long enough to see past that façade and be used to her tricks.
"I thought I was doing a decent job of it."
Rosana didn't respond audibly, but a vine slithered out from under the otherwise inert bed of plant matter that Athena was half leaning on, and wrapped around her thigh. Athena shifted, her arm trying to swat the offending tendril away but she was too slow. The plant was as firm as a steel coil as it squeezed her upper thigh pinching the skin tight just at the part where Rosana knew Athena was sensitive, drawing an "Ah-ah-ahhhh!" from her throat. She blushed and her thighs clenched together instinctively, but the vine was already between then and the pinch tightened. It was painful but it was good pain, and Athena felt herself groan as she felt the rush inside her, the damn class-N keeping her from reaching a peak, it was so frustrating she couldn't get close but it felt so good and oh fuck dirt sod roots that's aaahhhhh.
"Language," came the singsong voice in response, but the vine relented it's pinch, leaving Athena rubbing her inner thigh instinctively. Not that it helped, and it certainly didn't help that her hand was so close to where she could touch her own-
Nope, that wouldn't help either - she had to hold back, for now. "You've never cared about the my language before, what's the occasion?"
"Oh, and here I thought your talking smack meant you wanted a firmer vine to put you back in your place."
Athena didn't have a prepared response to that, and Mistress didn't even have a face to be smirking at the moment, but Athena could sense it. She was smirking with her vines. The devious plant.
"You're right, I am smirking."
Athena let out a strangled groan and collapsed back into the waiting bed of plant behind her. "Mind reading isn't fair!" she grumbled. Behind her the vines gently caressed her shoulders and arms, beginning to massage the tension out of her taut muscles. It was blissfully soothing, and Athena felt her eyes slip closed, felt a long drawn out breath escape her lips. At least it was a calming distraction and not... the other kind.
"That's it, pet." Athena felt rather than heard the emphasis placed on that word. "Since when have you cared about what is fair in your life?"
Athena grumbled again with a hint of resignation. The massage was nice. "Since a certain plant will read my mind to quip back at me, but insists I still tell her everything she already knows herself."
"I wouldn't deprive either of us of the fun of you telling me all about your new prey."
Athena stayed silent. That much was obvious, but she was waiting, she knew Mistress's limits, she knew-
"And you know as well as I do that I don't 'read minds' as Terrans used to worry about, I receive vague neurochemical information from your implant, not coherent thoughts..."
Athena waited.
"... And you're just adorably predictable sometimes."
There it was. The corners of Athena's lips curled up in a smile, despite her efforts to prevent it, the soft warm feeling of the praise after being implanted always hitting her just a little more than she was expecting. Her eyes slid shut, enjoying the moment for a second. "Now you're smirking again," Athena murmured.
With her eyes shut, she couldn't see the movement happening around her, but she could feel the plant matter shifting, reforming, coalescing into - part of - a body, in front of her. The bed of gentle vines she was laying back on propped her up a little, leaving her sitting mostly upright in a comfortable throne of plant matter.
Athena's eyes slipped open and she was met with the face of her Mistress staring lovingly back at her. Rosana's simulacrum of a Terran face was hanging from an absolute web of vines and leaves that coiled all around Athena. The face, a construction of interlocking and shaped pieces of bark complete with those two deep red eyes looked stunning to Athena, and she didn't know how long she spent enamoured by them before Rosana blinked, causing the floret's attention to shatter along with an undignified "uh?".
As Athena met Rosana's eyes again, not getting lost in her thoughts this time, she heard her plant Mistress giggle softly, before her facsimile of a mouth creaked open to speak. "I suppose I am also predictable after all this time."
Athena met her Mistress's eyes and let out a soft giggle of her own. "A little," she said.
"Then, I'm sure you can predict precisely what is behind this flower that I happen to be oh so very close to using." As she spoke, a vine tipped with a bright blue flower hovered in Athena's peripheral view, and her heart rate quickened.
"I can."
"Well then, will I have to use it, or will I sit here waiting to rebloom before you tell me about her?"
Athena bit her lip, feeling a light flush come to her cheeks. The class-N was already torture enough, and Athena didn't think her Mistress was going to let up on that one any time soon after what she would hear tonight. But it was a start. Probably. She steeled herself, took a deep breath in and out, and spoke. "Okay, so there's this girl..."
The woman was sitting alone, tucked in one of the secluded corners of the establishment, one where normally couples could be found sitting with each other, kissing, or - since the compact had taken over and reinvigorated the city's nightlife - engaging in all manner of debauchery. But this woman was alone. Occasionally some partygoer, likely drunk, would stumble over and exchange a few inaudible words, but the exchange would always end with the woman gently shaking her head, and the other patron stumbling back into the crowd on the dance floor. She was gorgeous too - short black hair cut in a messy bob that framed her face perfectly, her wide eyes staring out from under stray locks of hair that highlighted her dark winged eyeliner and eyeshadow. But in those eyes was a sadness too, a longing. She was slowly scanning across the crowd, until the woman locked eyes with Athena's, if only for a second before breaking contact and looking away.
It was her, and today was the day. Athena's body nearly vibrated with anticipation and excitement. She had been watching her for weeks, as she visited the club every couple of days and then each time, headed home, alone. And now the woman had seen her. Recognized her - probably not. Athena had flirted with her before at the coffee shop where the woman liked to work, but in an outfit that was almost unrecognizable from the getup she was wearing to the club tonight. That was fine. It was just going to make the next steps all the more exciting.
"Who are you making eyes at tonight?!" one of Athena's friends yelled, the pounding music drowning out all but the loudest conversations. Athena looked back, a sly grin on her face, one her friends recognized instantly. The look of a predator that had identified their prey, and was ready to pounce. "Go get her, tiger," one of them yelled, and Athena slipped away from her circle of friends. She spotted the woman again, this time gazing with that peculiar look at the other side of the room. She's mine, Athena thought, and started maneuvering through the crowd towards her target.
Rosana's vines had started to massage her body as she talked, and Athena felt the words tumble out of her mouth as she relaxed in her owner's grasp. Plant matter coiled and squeezed around her, drawing the tension out of her taught muscles with an expert touch. However, she could feel vines slipping lower down her sides, curling around and under her breasts and ever so gently starting to knead them. She let out a soft groan. "Do you have to tease me while I'm-"
Athena met Rosana's eyes, twinkling with a vibrancy that Athena knew well enough to mean "Yes of course pet, why are you even asking?" And so she didn't - sighing again and continuing her story even as she tried to control her pent up frustrations.
"Hey beautiful, is this seat taken?" Athena asked, hiding the smirk on her face. The woman, having looked up as Athena stepped up close to her, shrugged and shook her head, glancing down at the spot next to her.
"Hey, no for sure, go ahead, I don't-" She started to respond, but Athena cut her off by grasping the armrest of her chair firmly, and lowering herself onto the same chair until she was practically sitting on the woman's lap. The soft skin of Athena's bare legs brushed up against the smooth leggings of the other woman's, and Athena almost had to scream with excitement at the adorable flustered expression that came to her prey's face.
"Second best seat in the house, a cute girl's lap, don't you think?" Athena smirked, as the woman blushed, her hands squirming about a little, clearly unsure what to do with themselves. Athena helped, grabbing one arm - god her skin was soft - and placed it firmly but gently on her own lap. "So, what's the cute girl's name?"
It was a second before the woman's shattered thoughts reassembled themselves into something capable of coherent speech. When she did, finding Athena's other hand slowly stroking her hair, it was almost enough to make her nonverbal again. But she somehow managed to say, in a voice barely audible above the noise of the club, "Jasmine".
Rosana's vines gave a delighted shiver, which - unfortunately for Athena - translated to a soft vibration across her sensitive sides, causing her to clench her thighs for a second. She knew her Mistress would find that amusing. Pets with floral names always amused her. Athena's smile widened. Mistress was going to like this one.
"So you came here, all alone, not even dancing, but you're enjoying the vibes?"
Jasmine nodded, then gave a light shrug. Her head leaned against one of Athena's arms which was wrapped around her shoulders. She had opened up so easily, Athena thought. Not that often prey just jumps into her arms like that - her plan was working perfectly. The noise of the club had faded a bit as it got late, and Jasmine spoke with a soft contented tone as she responded. "It's just... it makes me feel alive, you know? Like I can enjoy myself without having any pressure on me. To do anything, or to perform."
Athena nodded. "Seems like you didn't mind me coming over and chatting you up, though?"
Jasmine let out a happy sigh at that, and snuggled closer to the other girl, her eyes almost closing with how blissfully relaxed she had gotten. "No.. I didn't... I actually really appreciated it."
"Oh, is it getting late?"
"What? No I just... I guess maybe. But if you wanted I could..." Her voice trailed off, and her chin dipped as she looked away. Athena was quicker though, and caught the chin with a gentle hand, applying just a little force to tilt the woman's chin up to meet her own.
"What is it, Jass?"
"Oh gosh, I uh, if you weren't busy or something, you know, if you're also down you could come home with me?"
Athena outwardly smiled, but inwardly was shaking and jumping for joy. Right where she wanted her! Be calm, she steadied herself. "I'd be delighted," she said, drawing the word out and giving her bottom lip a slow, deliberate, lick with her tongue, enough to make Jasmine's cheeks turn pink as she stared back at her. God, the girl was easy, and Athena couldn't wait until she was back in Jasmine's bed, making her moan and scream and beg and-
Athena suddenly noticed the vine that was sipping between her legs. The other collection of vines curled around her thighs which unable to close as... oh sod she was actually grinding for her Mistress. Her hips suddenly stopped their gentle movement as Athena raised a hand to her mouth, cutting off her retelling. Rosana's eyes found her own and stared back with a knowing expression.
"She sounds absolutely delightful, pet. And what, pray tell, do you plan to do with this charming independent sophont? One who doesn't even know you're mine yet?"
Athena fought back a rising wave of arousal at the suggestion of what her plans were. She had plenty. Most of them involved some variant of sitting her crotch on Jasmine's face and keeping that cute mouth trapped between her legs as she licked and sucked and looked up at her looking all submissive and floaty and-
Athena let out a groan as her building arousal was once again stymied by the drug cocktail flowing from her implant through her body. She bit her lip, hard, and for that was rewarded by a pair of vines slipping past her lips, pressing at her mouth, and forcing her jaw open. Athena let out a guttural groan, something that was in no way interpretable as human speech but Rosana understood all the same.
"No, pet, I won't allow you to hurt yourself, even superficially. That's my privilege, remember?"
Athena grumbled, pulling at the vines wrapping around her arms. For her struggles she was rewarded by another set of vines wrapping around each arm, the soft plant matter slipping down to her fingers and individually prying them away from the plant matter holding her jaw open. Not even allowing her to clench her fist as her arms were slowly pulled apart, elbow rotating until her arms were spread wide.
"Your body is so incredibly flexible, petal," Rosana cooed, her head leaning close to Athena's face, even as the floret stared back at her. Her Mistress's vines coiled around her elbows, rotating the joint just to the point where Athena's joints started to resist, and the girl let out another involuntary noise.
"And I wouldn't have you any other way," Rosana continued. That was true. If Athena had thought the life of a floret was always filled with plush comforts and being a lap pet, she was sorely mistaken. Her flexibility, her ability to take what her owner wished upon her, was as prized a possession as she herself was. And as a result, as Rosana pushed and pushed her joints up and around her back, contorting into a delicate hold, she endured the position with only a few gasps of pain escaping her lips.
"It's okay pet. I won't hurt you... too much." Rosana's eyes glittered with mirth as the affini bared her needle like teeth. "Might be awkward explaining to your... prey... where all these beautiful marks came from." The way Rosana's voice lingered on the word "prey" made it very clear to Athena that the prey at this particular moment was her. She pulled, fruitlessly, at the vines holding her splayed out, open and vulnerable. The strength with which they held her was comforting, and Rosana could feel the effort of her struggle working up a sweat, a heat which built up in her head, and chest, and crotch.
Rosana's disembodied face swung around, out of Athena's view. As it did, Athena felt a bough of dense leaves slip over her eyes, contouring to her face and blocking out her sight. Leaving her with one less sense to focus on, one less sense to distract her from the building, frustrating pressure in her loins.
Unable to see, Athena flinched when she heard - or rather felt - Rosana's whispered voice tickle her ear. "Of course, I can be gentle when it's necessary." As she spoke, Athena felt vines that had been sliding smoothly across her skin extend their thorns, dragging over the skin in a series of scratches all over her body at once. Athena's thighs clamped together tightly - the only limbs she could still move, as the rest were held torturously still as the thorns scraped over her skin, just enough to leave faint white trails which quickly vanished. However the phantom sensation of the thorns all over her arms, her breasts, her torso - that didn't fade as quickly.
Athena couldn't help but let out a long, drawn out moan, her body shivering, straining against the vines that held it tight. Shaking with what little movement she could still make, as all that energy had to escape, had to go somewhere, it couldn't just be bottled in her, not with the drugs keeping her from being pushed over the edge. It was maddening.
"Oh, pet, those are such lovely noises you're making. I can't wait until I get to hear them from your prey, as well."
Fuck. That mental image did not help with Athena's out-of-control arousal. Jasmine with her arms held tight within the armbinder, the one that forced the girl to thrust her chest out. Leaving it out in the open for Athena to play with, to torment until she had found every cute sound and expression the girl could make, and then found them all again.
Athena squeezed her thighs together, once again picturing Jasmine's beautiful, messy face between them. Her tongue hanging out, ready to serve. The feeling of the vines brushing up and down her thighs almost made it feel real, as Athena's mind went wild with her own fantasies. She was completely buried in her own thoughts, hardly feeling the vine stroke lovingly down her cheek. Her Mistress's words faded into the background of her imagination taking her memories for a dance. But the hypnotically enhanced voice managed to resonate in her head nonetheless.
"You will be perfect, little flower - my adorable little hunter."
With the words came the feeling of being pushed to the edge and held there. The feeling of pressing her hand against the electric fence and feeling it shock her, but being unable to let go or flinch back. Athena let out a throaty moan, feeling her legs shake from the tension they were being held under, before it was pulled back. The neurochemical dam holding her arousal back didn't break or bend, but the water started rushing backwards, receding rapidly and leaving a sudden clarity in it's wake. Her arousal, the frustrated emptiness between her legs, was left wholly unsatisfied.
"Fuck," Athena gasped, her breathing remembering to restart as she heaved in air, returning back to her baseline. Feeling returned to her limbs, causing her to notice the way her shirt was moistened with sweat with goosebumps quickly forming on her arms. And the sudden strain, the feeling of having been clenching her muscles in anticipation of something that never came. "You're not at least going to let me finish?" she said, her voice sounding weak and strained as if she had just ran a mile.
"No," said Rosana, sounding quite pleased with that decision. "You develop quite a commanding presence when you're pent up. I'm sure Jasmine will enjoy it."
"Did... did you just say I'm bitchy when I'm horny?"
Rosana rumbled, a sound Athena recognized as amusement. "In not as many words, pet, and it was an endorsement." The vines holding Athena's body started to move, as Rosana's disembodied form pulled itself together, coagulating into something vaguely resembling a torso that flowed around their shared home. "You've made plans to see this pet of yours again, I imagine," Rosana continued, her tone conveying how certain she was Athena had.
Athena groaned again, the frustrated feeling between her legs not going away despite how she tried to ignore it. "Yeah, tomorrow afternoon," she added. She pulled herself up a little, looking around and resting her elbows on a soft bed of plant matter, and saw she had been carried through the house to the bathroom. The bath had already been drawn, complete with floating clouds of bubbles and steam rising off the water. She opened her mouth, a half formed sentence slipping out.
"When did you-"
"I'm not the one coming down from a class-N high, petal. I had a minute or two." The light melodic voice of her Mistress came from just above and behind her. All while a collection of vines easily stripped her damp clothing off, leaving Athena naked and still suspended in the comfortable seat of plant matter that now was slowly nestling itself within what would be Rosana's chest.
The sentient bundle of vines descended, and Athena let out a long, appreciative moan as she slipped underneath the hot water. She would let her owner have the last word this time, because the blissful relaxing feeling of being pampered with a steamy hot bath was worth taking a loss over. With the vines keeping her perfectly afloat, Athena let go of her limbs completely, preferring her Mistress to take care of her every movement as she lay on the surface of the water. "You're so adorable when you give yourself to me like this, when you remember your place," Rosana purred in response.
"Mmh tired," Athena mumbled, her eyes slipping shut as she felt vines scrub her body with a soapy smooth substance that left her skin tingling and smooth. But she couldn't help but add, "I have to save my 'commanding presence' for Jass."
Athena's smile widened as she heard the soft amused noise from her Mistress behind her. "I'm sure it will be worth it in the end. You wouldn't let a catch slip through your claws like that."
"No I won't."
Athena grinned, thoughts of Jasmine once again subsuming her imagination. She let her eyes slip shut, let herself be fully preoccupied with her own fantasies. Trusting her Mistress with her body completely, as two words slipped past her lips, putting a caption to the images in her mind.
"She's mine."