Ragecat888

Written for HDG Microfic Monday based on the prompt: Fleeting encounter between an Independent and an Affini.

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Ruch Bastin walked outside the doors of the local branch of the Office of Transitional Neoxenoveterinary Archeobureaucracy. With faer independence established it was time to do everything, anything or nothing. Fae could do whatever fae wanted.

One of faer ongoing projects was trying to piece together a small chamber orchestra and recommit to a hobby fae lost a long time ago. It would not be the easiest task but with the help of literally every single Affini in existence fae figured that it would be possible.

An average floret will likely be too high most of the time to indulge in the hours of dedicated practice required to master an instrument, so the only real option was finding digital sophonts who could just download all the skills required, fae guessed it might count as cheating but really it was just being efficient.

Fae walked down the promenade. What was the name of that Affini that was so knowledgeable about digital sophonts? Once fae figured that out the next step...

Fae tripped and the ground came faster than expected. The Class-E’s in faer system did not help faer reflexes react in time. Fae was going to fall. A faint smell of jasmine hit faer as faer head cracked upon hitting the...

Vine?

“Are you alright there little wildflower?” a voice spoke.

“I uh.. yeah.. sorry I think I tripped.” Ruch let out a small laugh. “Thanks for catching me, that almost went very wrong.” A handful of vines securely placed Ruch on the ground as some of the flowers on the Affinis floral dress opened.

“It was my pleasure dear wildflower. I am Gloriosa Oleaceae, Fourth Bloom, I use she/her pronouns. May I inquire your name and what had you so deep in thought you tripped? Not that you could’ve injured yourself even if I hadn’t caught you”. A vine slapped the place where faers head would have landed, the ground becoming soft upon impact. Of course, the Affini would floret-proof the promenade.

Ruch took a moment to stand up on faer feet before pressing faer left hand to faer chest, doing the slightest bow and introducing faerself. “I am Ruch Bastin, independent, fae/faer, I uh just got declared independent and was thinking about how I could make a chamber orchestra and how I could find sophonts to play instruments and... then I thought about how... digital sophonts could just download... some programs... to...”

Ms. Oleaceae looked at the wildflower in front of her with awe – no hunger – in her eyes. Her plant of origin – something similar to terran jasmine, which covered most of her floral dress - was just a pleasant smell for almost all sophonts. With a few tweaks and some clever bioengineering though, a slightly obsessed Affini might just be able to make an airborne Class-C and E cocktail.

“you... know...?” Faes eyes were not looking, faes head was empty, replaced with the smell of jasmine in faer nostrils.

Vines supported fae as Ms. Oleaceae moved fae to a nearby bench. She then removed one of her own petals and placed it on faer chest. It’s bioengineering allowed it to bond itself to faer skin and remain there without further support. Its white petals looked like a small tasteful floral accessory.

Ms. Oleaceae took Ruch’s tablet and tapped a couple of times. “I have another errand to run dear wildflower, I left my contact on your tablet, and I booked us a table at “Aster’s” at 7:30, see you later!” she walked a couple of steps before returning and lifting Ruch’s chin to meet her gaze.

“Once you feel lucid again you may smell my flower on your chest to return to this state if you wish, whenever you do you will feel warm, safe, happy and blank, just like a flower swaying in a light breeze.” She moved away from fae. “I look forward to seeing you later, little wildflower.”

A couple of minutes later fae regained faer composure, stretched faer arms and legs, took out faer tablet to set an alarm at 7:00 and did the only thing that was currently on faer mind.