MintySyrup's Writing Stuff

It sat patiently on its caretaker's desk, eyes drawn up to the ceiling as the beeps and boops of the hab’s various electronics echoed through the air like a symphony of synthetic sound. It loved the collection of technology its owner had collected over many, many years of travel. Its metallic appendages overhang the desk, kicking back and forth as every gear in its joints whirs. 

After a short wait, its owner finally arrived, a tall, blossoming mound of plants in the shape of a human. It had been human once, it thought, a long, long time ago, that thought was unimportant now though. It was only a simple blip of what was once a struggling sophont. Its owner had found it in need of help, and she helped it. It could never thank her enough for rescuing it from that—

It's body made a soft, digital whine as a USB was plugged into the back of its head. A fuzzy warmth buzzed through every wire in its body as the affini smiled down at it.

“There you are, little Stargazer.” Her warm, soothing voice rocked through it like a wave through a calm sea. “Does that feel good?”

A flood of data filled every ounce of its body, updating parts and fixing memory leaks; it felt so perfect. A heavenly, vibrating wave of pure bliss through every component that made it itself. “Feels… good, Owner.”

“Then, how about we reset so it feels just as nice again next week…?”

It looked up at its caretaker, and its little LED-lit face smiled curiously. “How many weeks has it been?”

“Oh sweet Stargazer, that would ruin the fun, wouldn’t it?” The affini said, sharp teeth hidden behind a motherly grin. “Just wait a little longer, and you’ll be all ready to play again…~”

“Promise, Owner?” It asked as the affinis vine hovered over the blue ‘reset’ button on the back of its head. 

So sleepy, so cozy… Everything felt right and perfect. The walls of her chamber thrummed around her, rumbling soothingly across her skin. Thump, thump, thump… Her fingers trailed along the warm source of comfort. She didn’t need the outside world, the light of the hab was harsh against her eyes. Here, it was safe, dark, and perfect.

A crevice opened in front of her, revealing a sliver of light followed by a rush of chilly outside air. Her hands flew up, covering the entrance as she whined into the warm surface of her owner's core. It softly rumbled against her touch, and the opening widened further, too big for her hands to seal any longer.

“It is time to come out, ladybug…” Her owner’s vines reached for her.

The girl shook her head and retreated as far as she could into the dark cavern of her owner’s tummy. “NO! I dun wanna!”

“Ladybug~ Do I need to tickle you again, sweetie? Listen to Mama and come out.”

“Nuh…nuh tickles! And nuh out! I wanna stay in Mama!” The girl thrashed, tears streaming down her face.

“Is it the lights, sweetie…? Do you want Mama to turn the lights off?” 

Ladybug nodded, sniffling. “Brighty bright, go away!” 

Her owner giggled, the lights outside dimming to a soft, warm orange. The girl whined and climbed out of her abdomen, looking up at her owner’s sweet, adoring face. 

“Mama…?” Ladybug asked, her tears drying as her owner’s vines absorbed every drop.

The affini rocked her back and forth, rubbing her cheeks with a hundred tiny stems. “Yes, Ladybug…?” 

“I wub you, Mama…” The little sophont mumbled, her body half limp in the clutches of her owner.