- Pinnates - florets that are bonded and can't be separated, such as but not limited to romantic partners
- Cotyledon - the first florets of a species, and research subjects for developing compatible xenodrugs and Haustoric Implants
- Connivents - 2 (or more) florets who share the same owner(s)
- Pluribus - sophonts who share a body, some or all of which can be florets
Florets are any member of any pet-species which has been domesticated by an affini (or more than one!). Strictly speaking lack political rights in the Affini Compact, but are guaranteed wellbeing, including physical comforts & enriching lives. The level of independence a floret has is unique to each Affini-floret pairing. Collective noun is “garden”.
Affini implant florets with a Haustoric Implant to keep the little cuties happy, healthy, and safe! Haustoric Implants, or their digital equivalents are used in almost all cases as it is the easiest, safest and most comprehensive way an affini can fulfill their obligations as an owner to ensure the wellbeing of their floret. It extends the life span of the floret giving the affini far more time than they would otherwise have with their beloved pet.
Florets in Terran Space are generally named “<Given/Chosen name> <owner's surname>, <nth> Floret” Pluribus and Pinnate often get added to the end where applicable. Naming and numbering conventions for florets owned by many affini have a lot variance in terran language translations.
¶ Pinnates
Florets Pinnate are sets (or more) of florets who cannot be ethically separated, usually for emotional reasons. Often taken in by an affini simultaneously. Often seen in the case of pairs of people who are dating and want to be domesticated together. Generally categorized as “Name & Name, First & Second Florets Pinnate”.
¶ Cotyledon
“Sort of. Cotyledons are the first batch of any pet species. There’s… usually complications amongst them. In her case the haustoric implant overgrew it’s intended bounds and interfered with her muscles.” Implant? Autumn’s confusion must have been visible as Solanum quickly added “I can explain the implant later. It’s much safer these days.” A soft snap resounded through the air. “But we do our best to ensure every cotyledon can still live a comfortable life.”
- Solanum Vitis, in Abscission Chapter 10, by Fluxom
The first members of a species domesticated by the affini. With hostile spacefaring species like Terrans, cotyledons are typically taken in secret from shipwreck rescues, plus unsafe pirate and military vessels at remote fringes of expansion, before contact is made with the rest of the species. Collective noun is “crop”. Considered an almost-revered subset of florets.
The Cotyledon Programs seek to understand each species' unique physiology, psychology, culture, needs, etc; as well as developing appropriate xenodrugs, haustoric implants, and assorted medical technology for them. This sometimes leads to unforeseen issues which necessitate placing cotyledons on Class-O regimens with greater frequency than the general floret population.
While complications of the haustoric implant development process are once-in-many-blooms rare, they do unfortunately happen from time to time. In the Terran Cotyledon Program, destructive implant overgrowth was the cause of a condition known as sunset syndrome. During initial implantation trials on the Baiera crop of cotyledons, a design oversight led to tragic outcomes when the implants overgrew important brain and other vital systems causing long term health issues for the sophonts. Some of these most severe cases required the use of a class-O xenodrug. While some of the damage was eventually fixed, allowing the sophonts to be carefully taken off class-Os (albeit with lasting cognitive changes), many of these cotyledons still require ongoing special assistance from loving Affini caretakers.
¶ Pluribus
"Our term for such sophonts is Pluribus. In your crude medical terms, it's something called dissociative identity disorder or multiple identity disorder, again in crude terms that do not recognize the fullness of those sophonts who experience it."
- Rimu Phinophyta, Fifth Bloom, in Pluribus Chapter 9 by Unknown_Placidity
The definition of a Sophont or Floret/s pluribus is several beings, which covers a range of expression and separation from each other, that inhabit a shared body.
While rare, sophonts pluribus represent a large number of individuals and potentially species of beings that the affini have encountered and subsequently learned to operate with.
With this experience and possible instances of some affini also being able to be classified under the term Pluribus the concept is seen as a normal thing within the Compact, simply requiring a somewhat different approach to medicine and other social supports to affirm and care for those sophonts pluribus in the compact.
Florets pluribus are one or more beings in a pluribus system that had been domesticated and become the floret of an affini. Generally most pluribus systems will be all florets, however this is the general trend rather than a rule. Systems exist with a mix of floret and independent members.
Haustoric implants are able to be configured for the system they're attached to so they can react dynamically and apply xenodrugs/other features or restrictions depending on which florets are fronting, in headspace, etc.
In some pluribus systems the haustoric implant itself may become or be represented with a new introject member of the system. This will depend on a variety of factors both external and internal to the system.