Work Text:
24nd December 2555
Cornellia Dittum could not believe her own eyes. Under the little, piny tree, a terran was sitting. With a pink ribbon tying up their hands together, behind their back. All asleep, producing a cute, quiet snoring noise. “Is… is this what I think it is?”
Andria, her friend, put a vine on her imitation of a shoulder. “Yes. Your own terran. A feisty little feral to play with. Very lively and ready to fight, from what we’ve seen when we were capturing their ship. As soon as I had them, I knew the two of you would make a perfect match.”
She could still barely believe it. Her own feral to break! “Thank you. Thank you so much.” She hugged Andria. “When will they wake up? Do we know anything about them?”
He looked at the time on his tablet. “Hmm. I’d say in less than 5 minutes. And don’t worry. While we learned some basics, I won’t spoil your fun. You’ll get to have your fun prying any and all info out of them.” He really thought of everything! “Should I leave you two alone, or want me to stick around?” Good question. Did she want their first moment together to be alone? Hmm… no. Andria caught them for her, he could watch at least.
“No, if you want to stay and watch, feel free to. It’s the least I could do.”
“Gladly. Would be the first time I’d get to watch you do it, rather than hear about it afterwards. Admire the artist at her craft. In fact…” he pulled out his tablet. “Why not record it? I’m sure it will make for quite a video.”
“Oh, stop you, before my core starts fluttering.” But the idea was great. She already imagined in her head how she’d later show the recording of this first meeting to her pet, once they were fully broken. Show them how far they’d come. For now, she looked back at my precious, priceless gift. “But really, thank you so much again. The two of us are going to have so, so much fun together.”
“Don’t mention it. You’d kept going on about wanting to handle a feral, it’s the least I could do.”
Speak of the horse, their little guest started to move a bit. Lazy facial expressions, and small movements suggested it was time to wake up. They tried to move their hands, adorable thing was probably so confused right now. But any moment now, when their eyes fully part, their minds would remember what happened, and it would begin. Aaaaand… “Hello little terran. How are you feeling?”
Hearing my voice did it, their eyes started quickly observing the room, body movements getting more and more rapid, until they noticed their hands were bound. “What the hell? This isn’t happening! What the f- You!” They looked at Andria. “You green fucker, you’re the one who caught me!” The destructive anger was palpable. How lovely! “Get me out of this. I’ll give you a second fucking round, and then you’ll wish you stayed in the ground like a tree.” They really were perfect for Cornellia. Nonetheless, Andria wasn’t her, so someone should hold their tongue here.
Cornellia started speaking “You will address Andria with respect, as well as any other sophont, or lose speaking privileges until I give them back to you. Unless your next words to him are gratitude for bringing you here, I suggest you consider silence instead.”
“And who the fuck are you? His girlfriend? What, do you smear each other in fertilizer or- Mmmhmh!” A leaf went over their mouth.
“That’s enough talk. From now on, you will only listen. You will not speak, unless I allow you to, or if there’s an emergency. Otherwise, you will be punished accordingly. Nod if you understand.” Instead of a nod, what came afterwards was a feeling of a bite. Biting her leaf. The angry terran was clearly not only angry, but hungry too. Hungry for a fight. Good.
Cornellia’s eyes flashed a little, a hint of violet colour deep inside. She gave her little fighter a smile. So far, they did not disappoint. “Try and fight back all you want. I mean it. You will never beat me, or escape. But you might as well make it more fun along the way.” Something changed in their expression, barely, but it was noticeable. It wasn’t as sure as before. A small hint of fear, one they tried to hide. “Here is how it’s going to go. I will ask you a few questions. When I say ‘Speak’, you will answer them. If I say ‘Silence’, you will speak no more.” She uncovered their mouth now. “Do you understand? Speak.”
"Yeah, I get you. What do you want from me?"
"Uh uh. No questions, unless I allow it. And I only will if you behave. Next, what's your name?"
"My name? Oh, it’s shove it up your roots. How’s t-” SMACK.
He recoiled from the slap, not expecting it. “If you don’t stop that, you will face the consequences soon.” It did get him focused on what she was saying, though. “Now, once again, and this time you will answer me. Your name?”
“Sergeant Andrew Taylor.” The brave sergeant desperately avoided her gaze for the moment.
"You're not a sergeant anymore. Never will be again." He quietly growled under his nose. "I am Cornellia Xxxxxx, 12th Bloom, she/they. But to you, I am your Mistress, and this is how you will address me. I am your owner, from this moment, till the end of time itself." She could predict how he'd react to that.
"Like hell you are! I'll sooner die fighting than let that happen." He struggled not to let the sentence break. The voice in it had quite a mix of anger and fear, now that he realised his future fate. Even if he’d never want to show that fear.
Cornellia stood up, and walked up to him, so that her shadow covered him entirely. She looked down at him. He didn’t dare look her way, but a pair of vines moved towards his head, and sternly steered it up. Made him look at her. "Silence. You will say nothing like this, ever again." Such ideas must be crushed the moment they emerge, before they turn to action and lead to harm. "You are now under my care, and I will never let anything like that happen.”
The room became silent for a moment. It seemed our ex-sergeant had nothing to say back. Or decided against it. Instead, he started to carefully examine the place he was in. At first his look was puzzled, then shocked when he put his head up, and noticed he was sitting under quite a decorated tree. “Wait, is this what I think it is?!” Behind him, he barely noticed what was the material tying his hands up, “This is some cruel joke.” The fire in his eyes was back.
“Hmm? What is that supposed to mean?” Her curiosity made her forget that this time he spoke without permission. Her confusion seemed to annoy her gift even more.
“Oh, playing dumb, huh? I’m a parody of a Christmas present, that’s what! I’m like a pair of socks to you, very funny. What next, you’ll put me in a drawer and forget I exist for the next year or so?”
Andria chimed in, not understanding what was going on, “Socks? I don’t understand. Socks are an item, clothing. Something you get out of a compiler whenever you want a pair. And why would anyone put you somewhere out of sight like that?”
“You’re treating me like an object! A gift to be given to someone! Worth as much as a sweater that’s in one of those other boxes.” Ah, so that was the issue. “Already showing your true colours, anyone you don’t like is an item, huh? Or is it anyone that isn’t you?!”
Andria decided to interrupt, feeling a bit bad for the misunderstanding terran “Andrew, it isn’t like that-”
“Oh, shut up. I’m not talking to someone who won’t even acknowledge me as a per- mmhmh!” his statement brought to an end with “Mhnmh?” Cornellia gave her fellow affini a look. ‘I’ll handle this.’
“Don’t worry. With time, you’ll see for yourself none of that is true. You’ll come to me, begging me to forgive you for all you did today. For all you’ll do while trying to wiggle out of my grasp. Feeling sorry you haven’t given up sooner, at first opportunity even. You’ll never end in a drawer, forgotten, as on every day from now on, you and me are going to play with each other. Starting now. Come on Andria, we’re leaving.” Her friend gave her a puzzled look, but decided to follow along. Cornellia lifter her little terran, back up on their feet. “We’re leaving, and I will be back in exactly one terran minute. You have to hide, somewhere in my hab. When I come back, I give myself a minute to find you. If I don’t, I’ll let you go. If not…”
Andrew looked like it took him all of his restraint to appear brave. “F-fine. I’ll show you yet!”
“Looking forward to it.”
As they left, Andrew looked around the place. The room he spent all this time in so far felt like someone trying to recreate Christmas festivities only from hearing about them. There was a piny tree, one with white bark and dark spots on it, donned in decorations, some electric, shimming with light. At the top of it, a figurine of a terran, wait no. A terran with a bunch of flowers on their bodies? Around the tree, a bunch of other gifts in boxes, some bigger than he was when standing. What the hell was even inside them? There was little time to take in the sights, so he ran around to check the other rooms. Unfortunately, the bathroom provided practically no hiding space. What seemed like a kitchen had a spot or two, but hiding inside a cupboard was too obvious. Shit, he didn’t have much time.
Wait, of course! The answer was obvious. He got to his genius hiding spot right before the time run out.
–
“So, are gonna watch him on hab’s cameras?” The thought did admittedly cross Cornellia’s mind.
“I could, but that’s not needed. Maybe another time. For now, finding him will be easy. The poor thing’s body gives so many automatic fear signals, it’s just a case of following the trail.” Something she’d done plenty of times before. The signals were pretty similar between other people, yet each carried just a hint of uniqueness to them. A personal touch, shaped by the given person without them ever realizing. “But you can look if you want to.”
“Sure, but I’m guessing it won’t take long. 10 seconds?” 5 if she really focused her senses, Andrew was already not doing good at hiding his natural body responses before they left.
“No. I could do it, but that’s not about it.” Unless she felt like showing off, but today was not the mood for that, really. “It’s about delaying it, giving them hope. Counting the time out loud. Walking around the whole place. Delaying it to give them hope. Then, when the timer gets close to the end, you start walking around their spot. They know you’re close, but there’s still a hope they might win.
A balancing act, with each second closer to the end, the distance between you gets shorter and shorter. And then, when it’s about to come to an end, well…”
“Crushing their hope at the last moment?”
“It always brings so much joy. Sometimes you can also walk away from their hiding hole, make them think they’re fully safe. Then throw yourself at it in the last moment.” A little timer in her tablet gave a beep. “Oh, I should go in. His time is up.”
–
The box was cramped and dark, there was no time to take out it’s original content. Plus, it being out would make it too obvious. Still beats sitting it out here for a minute than getting caught. Whatever was under him, seemed to be some large machine of unknown purpose. He wiggled a bit to try and get more comfortable, but the voice interrupted him. “Andrew. I’m here. Time to start the countdown. One.” Oh, so that’s how it is. “Two.” She’s trying to scare him “Three.” Well, good luck weed. “Four.” He’s staying still if he has to. “Five.” He’ll stop breathing if it’s needed. “Six.” Anything to win. “Seven.” Anything to avoid that fate. “Eight.” He’ll tough it out. “Nine.” He’s a man, he will endure and not succumb to fear. “Ten.” He will do it, he must. “Eleven.” He will not let her voice get to him. “Twelve.” This tactic will not work, he’s fearless. “Thirteen.”
He covered his ears. He can be fearless without needing to hear it. He tried to do a countdown in his own head instead, his own voice. Except at first his mind defaulted to it being said in Her voice. His stupid head was betraying him. He tried again, he had to know how long he’s got. Only this time, after 5 seconds or so, each tick started getting irregular. Get your shit together soldier.
Lack of any sense of time was not good in the dark, small space. Has it been 5 seconds? A minute already? Maybe multiple? Fuck.
Despite his ears being covered, he did barely hear her voice again, “-ty.” What? Curiosity got the better of him, he had to hear. “Fifty-one.” Oh god. Oh god. “Fifty-two.” It’s almost over! But she’s also here! “Fifty three. Are you here?” Where is here? Where is it? It’s almost over, please don’t find me. “Fifty four. Guess not.” By the sound, it seemed she was close though. Very close. Andrew never in his life before tried harder not to move even an inch. Not to breathe. “Fifty five. Guess not in this room.” Aaaaaaa.
He still didn’t move. Five. She stopped counting. Ha, must be getting nervous. Four. Can still hear her footsteps, or whatever plant equivalent of the foot is. She was leaving the room. Three. Phew. It’s over. Andrew let out a quiet, small sight of relief. Tw-
What happened next was too fast for average terran brain to process, especially one who’s just went from extreme fear, to full relief. Andrew felt like the ground was lifted from under him. “Gotcha!” As Cornellia picked up the present box he was hiding in, tearing through the paper from below and above at the same time, ripping it to shreds in an instant. “Aww, such a cute hiding spot. The biggest box, for my most precious gift.” He tried to move, do anything, but her vines held him tight. This wasn’t supposed to happen!
“Let me go! I almost won, this isn’t happening!” For a brief moment, their eyes met. His being like a mouse that someone chased into a corner. Hers glowing brighter than ever, putting the lights on the little birch tree behind them to shame.
She laughed in his face. “You were never going to win petal.” He felt something different on his left wrist. A red bow being tied to it, and then a vine encircling around. “I’ll always know where you are.”
She never let go of that little bow again.