Dog of War

Camila could hardly contain her excitement as she sped back to the hab, the local star starting its procession towards the horizon. Princess clutched their bear, secure in her vines. They were finally going to take a step towards her on their own! She felt like she was hurrying home to unwrap a present. 

 

"Is there somewhere you'd like to be for this," Camila prompted as the door slid shut behind them. She already knew where she'd want to be, but it was important that Princess felt like she had control here. 

 

"The couch in the common area sounds good." 

 

Camila set Princess into  her preferred corner, making sure she was comfortable. "Would you like anything before we start? Another cup of that tea, perhaps?" Acaulescent had provided some of her leaves, as well as information about the exact E & D mix. 

 

Princess took a moment to fuss with her dress, adjusting her position and the fabric. Camila took note of how the material sat on her as she settled down and placed the bear back in her lap. "More tea sounds lovely, thank you. We'll be fine alone for a moment, don't worry." 

 

"Okay, cutie, I'll be right back." Camila struggled to keep the excitement from bleeding into her voice. It was practically bursting out of her as she made her way into the kitchen, her flowers in full bloom. What was it, exactly, that Princess was going to confide in her? Possibilities raced through her mind; her plurality, her fears, her wants, her few remaining secrets- maybe even some secrets Camila didn't know she had! 

 

The sooner she got the tea steeping, the sooner she would get to find out. Leaving Princess alone for a moment longer than needed was also best avoided. "Jess, may I get a tea kettle with an infuser full of hot water and a tea cup with a dish? On a tray, please," Camila asked as she pulled out the small satchel of tea leaves gifted to her. 

 

"Of course, Miss Verdun!" Jess chimed, and the compiler dinged soon after. 

 

Camila opened the compartment and placed the leaves into the infuser, closing the tea kettle and picking up the tray. Looking at the tray it seemed... empty. Some snacks could fill it out, but this was supposed to be a serious talk, not tea time. Perhaps when she next served tea it could include the various shortbreads, cakes, sandwiches, and jams typical for a tea party. She returned to the living room, catching Princess gently resting her face on top of the bear's head, practicing her breathing. A precious sight that was gone all too soon as she perked up at Camila's presence, straightening her back. At least she had taken rather well to the bear, that was another positive sign. Evidence that she was already quite attuned to her biorhythm. 

 

Camila set the tray next to Princess, taking her own place in the opposite corner of the couch. "It'll need a little bit before it's ready. Did you want to wait, or start now?" 

 

"Actually, there is one more thing we would like before we get into it." Princess took a deep breath. Camila waited on the ends of her roots. "We need you to actually rescind your order telling us to call you 'Mistress.' It's already difficult enough to talk to you, we don't want to have to focus on calling you Miss Verdun as well." 

 

Camila's vines twitched at that. Order? Oh dear, of course she'd think that way. She wasn't even all that wrong, honestly. With how impressionable she was to hypnotic suggestion it might as well have been an order. That didn't make the prospect of actually removing it taste better. She was effectively her owner! Princess would be hers! She should call her Mistress! 

 

Camila forced the thought aside. The thirst for conquest had already got Princess to shut down once today. She would not repeat that mistake, not when she was finally asking for help. "Okay, little one." She directed Princess' attention upwards, to her eyes. She let her rhythm cascade through her voice and into her future pet, as she began to drop. "You do not have to call me Mistress." Princess shivered, her grip on her bear tightening as the words sank in. Camila released her from the light trance. "Did that help, Princess?"

 

Princess sighed. "Yes, thank you Miss Verdun." 

 

Camila tried to ignore the disappointment, the aching hunger for another 'Mistress' to leave her lips. "Of course, Princess." She smiled, "Now, what would you like to discuss?" 

 

"A couple matters. The first is-" Princess took a long, deep breath. "We wanted to... ask if you could promise us something." 

 

"Of course, what is it?" 

 

"Don't collar us." 

 

The words stunned Camila. Princess continued. "No matter what happens with our wardship, just please do not put a collar on us. We- we know we might... not be declared independent at the trial, but-" Princess paused for a few more steadying breaths. "But we're still determined to prove we can live on our own." 

 

Camila bit back a snide comment. She was finally willing to bare her heart, letting her do so would show her that she was safe to confide in. "Right now though, it feels like you're just waiting for us to mess up, or messing with us until you get bored of not actually owning us. Every time-" Princess paused again, her breathing more ragged. Camila dared not touch her in such a delicate state. "E-Everytime we think about being forced into a collar, it feels like a noose tightening around my neck and we can hardly breathe. Sometimes we can even feel it like it's still there. W-we could tell you about what happened if you need to know, just please promise that you won't collar us. We can't relax, or even think properly with it dangling over us like this, so please- "

 

"Okay," Camila answered. She had heard enough. Their impending florethood had been weighing on the girl even more than Camila had thought. Her fear of a collar had dominated her every thought. No wonder she was so fragile all the time. 

 

There was a sense of disappointment to the agreement. Truthfully, she wanted few things more than to collar her, but one of those things was Princess' happiness. In the end, a collar was just symbol, and one that could be substituted for. Maybe one day, when she had recovered from the scars of her past, she may just change her mind. However, if Princess' happiness required her neck to remain bare, that was something Camila was willing to do for her. " No collars, no matter what." She smiled. "You do not have to tell me what happened, but I would like to hear it, when you are ready." 

 

Princess seemed conflicted over the response, struggling with something internally. Camila took the time to remove the infuser and set it on the tray, pouring her a cup of tea. She took the cup. "Thank you." She hummed with delight as she took a sip, a faint smile creeping into the corners of her mouth. Camila made a mental note to get a tea graft of her own. 

 

Princess set the cup down and sighed. "We're sorry, it's not that we don't believe you, it's just... It's not so easy to move past. Can-" Princess clung the bear to her chest as though it was a lifeline and took a deep breath. When she spoke again, it was just above a whisper. "Can you... make us?"

 

"Make you?" Camila's voice sounded more incredulous than intended as excitement returned in full force. Was Princess really asking for her to mess with her head? 

 

Princess nodded. "We want you to make us believe you won't collar us." Her voice was still weak, her eyes closed, and every breath measured as she continued. "That we're safe from that. Some form of written agreement would be nice, of course. We believe we are both well aware of the power of a contract, although even that wouldn't totally assuage our anxiety. You are an Affini. You have the drugs and the tools. Make us believe you, please.'

 

Camila could hardly believe what she was hearing. Princess was asking for her to reshape her mind. Asking for her help. Asking for a contract , albeit not the kind she had been craving.  She should have brought her to a therapist sooner. "I'll see about drafting some paperwork, I can have it ready tomorrow." The necessary structure of the document was already dancing through her mind. It should be rather simple, the only real trick was wording it in a way that was still binding after she became a pet. As her guardian and future owner, however, that was hardly an issue. She could even fill out most of it herself. 

 

It also presented an opportunity- Princess had more or less already agreed to it, she may not thoroughly read the actual paperwork before signing. 

 

"Tomorrow's okay, there's still some other things we wanted to discuss tonight." Princess fidgeted with the paw of her bear- Stars, she could hardly get any cuter. "Can we do the thing now? W-we're so tired of being scared all the time..." 

 

That was all Camila needed to hear. She had waited too long for the opportunity to strip her of her fear. There would be no begging, no teasing. Not for this. "Alright Princess, I will do that for you." A wave of relief washed over the girl. "However, before I do, I want to clarify a few things. Primarily that this may not fully work."

 

"Huh?! But-" A vine on her thigh stopped Princess' interruption, as another prompted her to drink more tea while Camila finished explaining. 

 

"Yes, we Affini are experts in deconstructing and rebuilding the minds of cuties like yourself. However, I am not fully tearing you down; that's past what I can do for you as my ward." She paused as Princess took another sip. "Additionally, you are asking me to quiet something linked to some very deep-seated trauma. It may not be possible without an implant, or rebuilding your psyche from the ground up. You would have to be my pet for either. I would be very glad to have you, if that's what you want."

 

Princess grumbled. "So what can you do without us being a pet?"

 

It was worth a try. "Well, making you convinced that I will not collar you should be easy enough. You will have legal documentation and protection as well. What I'm saying is that since collars are tied to a lot of your deeply rooted trauma, as well as things you may not even recognize currently, it's more of a bandage than a surgery. It should hold, but it could come undone eventually." There were also a few concerns regarding her plurality, but Princess hadn't mentioned that yet, and Camila wasn't looking to force it out of her. She had insisted that they were both the same person, so it hopefully shouldn't complicate matters too much.

 

Princess hummed as she took another sip of the tea, setting the cup down. "Eventually? But not right away?"

 

Camila shook her head, "No, it would take at least several days or a major triggering event for it to start to falter. Then we could reassess the treatment, or repeat the conditioning, and it should eventually hold." 

 

Princess hummed again, closing her eyes as she considered her options. A long, pregnant pause hung in the air. "That is acceptable. We would like the conditioning."

 

Camila felt energy surge through her, her leaves shaking as she struggled to keep her vines from wriggling. "I'm going to have to hold you, and drop you into a trance. Much, much further than you've than you've been dropped before."

 

With only minor hesitation, Princess nodded, and Camila could no longer wait. She lifted the Terran into her vines, taking care not to disturb the tea set. A brush under the chin had Princess staring up into her eyes, her own already beginning to glaze over. "That's it, little one. Sink for me." Her grip on her bear loosened; Camila kept it in place. 

 

"Aren't my eyes pretty? Aren't the colors fascinating? The way they pulse and swirl and wash away all your thoughts?" Princess was too far gone to respond with more than a weak affirmative grunt, barely audible even to Camila.

 

"Let them wash over you, let yourself sink for me. " Princess' eyes were becoming glassy and unfocused. She was ready for the dosage. " Deeper now... Deeper for me... Good girl." Camila sank her injector into the girl’s thigh, delivering a strong Class H into Princess. 

 

"I'm going to count backwards from five. With each number, you will drop deeper and deeper. Good girls drop. Be a good girl. Let everything else fall away." Camila helped the girl give a weak nod. 

 

"Five. All you want is to sink as deep as you can." There was a wavering in Princess as conflicting instincts fought each other. 

 

"Four. All you see is my eyes." Her own fully glazed over, and Camila had to keep her face from turning. 

 

"Three. All you feel is the comfort of my vines." Princess sank into Camila's caress. 

 

"Two. When I snap, you will awaken from the trance." Drool started to trickle out of her slack jaw.

 

"One. My every word is truth. Let them shape you, your mind, your reality." The final flickers of light left her eyes.

 

"Zero. Fall." The last bit of tension left her body as she went utterly slack in Camila's vines. She had to keep her bear from falling out of her grip again, folding her arms over it. Princess was ready. 

 

Camila would have to choose her words carefully; the wrong phrasing could have consequences. "You are safe. There is no danger. You can feel the memory of your old collar growing distant, ever more distant. It is almost as though it happened to someone else. Let it fade away. No one will ever make you wear one again. You are safe. You are safe with me. There is nothing you can't tell me. There is nothing that would endanger you to share. You are safe, and you are loved."

 

Camila gave the words time to sink in as she said them, drinking in every microexpression that twitched across Princess' face as they reshaped her psyche. It was a pity she couldn't go further, she could give her the much-needed push to pet hood. A few words and Princess wouldn't even realize she was calling her Mistress, or that she was introducing herself as a floret. It was so tempting ... 

 

It also wasn't right. Princess had put aside her fears of that exact thing to ask for help. She would not breach her trust. 

 

Camila injected the counteragent, waited, and snapped her fingers. 

 

-_-_-_- 

 

They were... Somewhere. It was colorful, and deep . The only things present were the shifting, swirling colors, and The Words. It didn't matter really. It was safe . That's what mattered. The Words said so. Everything felt... so... distant... and floaty... like it was underneath a thick layer of tar, or sap. And that was fine. There wasn't any danger here. 

 

We're ... safe ...

 

The Words had told them that. It was a strange feeling, as odd as it was pleasant. Safe . They were safe. They could enjoy these colors, this nothingness. There was nothing to do, or worry about. All they had to do was exist. They would smile if they had energy, or if the voice instructed them too.

 

A snap echoed through the void, and reality crept back in. Princess blinked as their eyes struggled to regain focus- but touch beat them to delivering the first bit of information to their brain, still rising up through the thick blanket coating it. They were in Miss Verdun's vines, they were safe and loved here. A large hand brushing through their hair undid some of the progress their vision had made. 

 

"There's no rush, little one, take your time and rise steadily," the voice spoke again. It was no longer all-encompassing, nor did it reverberate through Princess' very being, reshaping them. It was no longer absolute and unquestionable. It was a good idea, though. They were safe. There was no reason to hurry. They stopped trying to force their way back up, letting consciousness slowly trickle back in. 

 

The light petting continued, a few light scratches at the base of their skull where it met Princess' neck. Not overwhelming, but still easy enough to get lost in as it gently coaxed them to awareness. Other things began to shift into focus, one at a time. They still had their bear in their arms. The silky material of the dress. The taste of tea, faint on their tongue. Colors began to come into focus next. They bled and blurred into each at the edges at first, then became separated into mostly distinct blocks. The blocks become more clearly defined, taking on rough shapes, then featureless ones, then details started to come into focus. The first of which was Miss Verdun's face. 

 

She was smiling down at them, her loving gaze jumpstarting Princess' heart and awareness flooded back. They had worked up the courage to ask Miss Verdun for help and she had.

 

Something is definitely missing.

 

Princess felt so much lighter now, like a weight had been lifted. There was no constant worry eating at them, no fear. They were safe , and they would never have to wear a collar again. Something else pushed its way to the surface, both hot and cold at once. A wave of relief like they had never experienced crashed against them, pushing against their eyes. 

 

The vines pulled them closer to Miss Verdun, and that invisible heat, that soundless song grew, offering comfort. Vines gently stroking along their back to help soothe them. "It is alright, I have you. Let it out."

 

Princess wept. 

 

The tears dripped, then flowed, then streamed down their cheeks. They were safe and they didn't have to be afraid anymore. They were safe , they were safe , they were safe . They didn't know how long they had been crying once the rivers of tears began to slow to a trickle. It didn't matter. For the first time in their life, they were safe. 

 

A scratch on the head got their attention. "Feeling better?" Miss Verdun's voice was so soothing they had to keep themselves from nodding off before they could answer it. 

 

"A lot better, thank you." Princess smiled. 

 

They felt Camila's joy radiating off her and through them even before she gave her actual reply. "I'm very happy to hear that." Her soft smile was more breathtaking than it had ever been. "Would you like me to put you back down?" 

 

The prospect was... unappealing. It was so safe here, in her vines. 

 

We can't stay here forever.

 

Well, no, they couldn't, but a little longer wouldn't hurt. There was no danger. 

 

We still have a few things to talk about, don't we?

 

That felt familiar. It took a moment for what those things were to emerge through the viscous surface coating Princess' mind. It would be difficult to discuss the remaining matters if they were drifting off in her vines... It also had been, uh, how long was it since Miss Verdun asked them the question? They should answer already. "Down, please."

 

Princess' body cried out as the vines set them down and shivered as they pulled away, fixing their dress as they went. They adjusted the bear to sit in their lap, holding it to their chest with their left arm, so its heat warmed their heart. It helped quell the burning need for touch. "Thank you, Miss Verdun."

 

"It is my pleasure, Princess. Here, you need to replenish yourself." A vine offered a glass of cool water, and another a berry. They tried to take the water, only to find Miss Verdun holding it steadfast. "You're still recovering from the effects of the Class H, I only want to help you keep from spilling."

 

They did feel off-balance, and it would be bad if they got all wet... There was no danger in letting Miss Verdun help them drink. Princess gently pulled the glass towards their lips, the vines keeping the cup steady as their hand wobbled. They sipped the water, taking a small mouthful at a time so as to not overwhelm their parched body. Just how long were they entranced for? The tea in their cup no longer had steam softly wafting off it, but that could mean anything from minutes to hours. They didn't feel hungry, so it was unlikely it was all that long.

 

They drank about half the glass, the water clearing the remaining vestiges of fog that clung to their mind. Accepting the berry, they couldn't help but moan as it burst in their mouth. 

 

How are they always so good ? 

 

Its sweetness gave Princess a needed boost in energy. As if sensing this, Miss Verdun spoke. "How are you feeling?"

 

"Better." 

 

Princess' answer came before she realized the word had even left their lips. Yet it was the truth. "Not sure if we've ever felt this good actually. We... feel safe?" They giggled; it still felt unreal. Yet the feeling was there- they were safe. Not 'safe for now,' or 'safe enough.' They were safe. 

 

Princess could feel the joy radiating off of Camila. It was so perfectly warm, like a thick blanket on a cold day, or the way a hot drink warmed you from the inside out. They had to fight the urge to laugh again as it tickled them. "That is wonderful! I am so happy to hear that, Princess. I couldn't be prouder of you for asking for help. That took a lot of strength." 

 

Ah. The feeling in their chest intensified and they couldn't help but grin as they fidgeted with the paw of the bear. "I wouldn't blame you if you didn't feel like continuing, but you said you had a few other things to discuss?"

 

Princess nodded. "We're fine to continue, thank you." Talking was easier now, if anything. They were safe, and there was nothing they couldn't tell her. "We realized we are a girl today, or at least, we enjoy being feminine." Miss Verdun's vines began to lash about with excitement and they held a finger up to indicate they weren't done. "We also decided on a name."

 

That made the Affini brighten to a point where she almost matched Miss Dawnbloom for luminescence. "Oh?" Her voice was saturated with a sweetness that rivaled her berries. "What is it?" 

 

"Princess."