The Tale of a Bun on a Boardwalk

Aphrodite tended to be spotted near the Forneus Seas’ area, but not merely to go walking about the beach. No, there was a nice little café with a bookstore close enough to the beaches that a bun needing some cool air and good reads could stop by at their convenience. Truthfully, Aphrodite tended to make his way to the café after a long day at the beach before making his way back home, and today was no different.

As he entered the café, a pastel pink bun perked up, looking over at him. “You look tired, Aphrodite. Take a seat and let me get you a cupcake to start.”

“Is it that obvious, Lani, dear?” Aphrodite quipped, sliding into one of the booths with a sigh. Next to him was a shopping bag that contained several items, the reason why he was so worn out. “Remind me not to go shopping on the boardwalk…or at least save my shopping for a cooler time of year.”

“Shopping at the boardwalk?” Faolán, known as Lani to most, walked over with a plate with a cupcake sitting atop it. As Aphrodite preferred, it was a chocolate fudge cupcake, with extra chocolate chips. “It’s not for your work, they’d have you shopping deeper in the city.”

“No, no, it’s for…” He paused, before chuckling. “Well, there’s this envy bun...back when we were littermates, I was constantly trying to get his attention, trying to give him the affection I knew he never got from Gremory.”

Lani tilted his head but didn’t inquire anything yet. This was normal, as Lani was a good listener, and familiar enough with the industry that Aphrodite could speak to him about his struggles with it. The only thing new was the topic at hand.

“We met again recently, and…I want to show him how much I care for him, how I…” Aphrodite paused, before taking a bite of his cupcake. He ruminated on his next words before swallowing. “I love him, Lani. He’s oblivious, he’s reckless, he’s so damn stubborn, but…I love him to bits.”

“And he’s oblivious.” Lani gave a nod, before moving to get a pitcher and glass. Aphrodite appreciated the other bun’s intuition, perhaps sensing that Aphrodite would be here a while.

However, to Aphrodite’s surprise, Lani returned with two glasses, and joined him in the booth. “Slow crowd today?”

“Slow enough to enjoy a drink with a regular.” Lani smiled. “Now, tell me about your shopping trip. It was for your littermate, but how did it go?”

“Well…”

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Aphrodite’s day at Forneus Sea’s boardwalk had started well enough. The morning could only do so much to improve the warm environment that Forneus Sea lent itself to. As the waves brought some water to the boardwalk’s edge, Aphrodite took some comfort in the sensation and the feeling of the cool water against his feet.

However, this wasn’t going to be a vacation like usual. No, he was going to do something that he typically did quite often, just in a new environment: shopping.

The earlier vendors of the day were quite surprised to see him poking around. Aphrodite could recognize they were being polite and restraining themselves from asking him for autographs (or, Murmur forbid, connections or job opportunities), so he remained polite and courteous. They asked him some questions, he answered them, while also posing a question of his own.

“What would you dears suggest as a gift for a particularly stubborn envy bun…? Especially one who’s been living a rather risky lifestyle before?”

Burrowgatory had no shortage of buns who sought corruption and deprivation, but it was clear that Aphrodite was being especially considerate of his options. A piece of jewelry here, a knife with a pearl handle there, and even a coupon for Dan’s Dango. Each item was thought about carefully before he selected it.

As the temperatures around Forneus Sea grew warmer, and more buns began to arrive, it was clear that there were far more options. There were also, simultaneously, several less options, as the early-morning buns closed shop and moved to their next locations.

Still, Aphrodite continued his errands. It was getting tricky to figure out what else Ares could desire, especially since the envy bun had lived a life so differently from his own. That didn’t hinder him too much, though; several more items were gathered and put into the bag Aphrodite was carrying all the items in.

As the boardwalk began to fill with passersby and buns who wanted to window-shop, though, he soon realized he should be departing soon. Not merely because of the crowd, although it was his biggest reason; no, the increasing heat of the beaches certainly contributed.

And so, Aphrodite decided to make his way to one of the cooler places in the area.

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“…and that was why I’d stopped here,” Aphrodite concluded.

Lani nodded sagely. “You’ve been busy. All morning, most of the day…all for him?”

“Even Gremory was quite annoyed.” The brown bun chuckled. “She still thought of me highly, I remember that much, but she was certainly bothered by the fact I would escape her clutches just to see him.”

There was a silence that hung over them, before Lani nodded toward the bag. “What did you get him? You know him best, so I’m sure he’d enjoy everything you bought, but you have me curious.”

“Right, right, let me see…” Aphrodite brought the bag up to the table, before plucking items from it and setting it down between them.

In addition to the items Aphrodite had mentioned earlier, there was a simple-looking ring and cord, as well as a few more coupons to different vendors around Burrowgatory. There were a few more knives, as well as directions to a store that sold high-quality swords.

However, Lani didn’t comment on anything until the other bun revealed a journal and a set of pens. “That might be the best gift for him.”

“Hm? You think so?”

“He might not want to speak about his thoughts to you yet, so giving him an outlet will at least allow him to process everything that’s going on.” Lani gave Aphrodite a stern look. “From what you mentioned about annoying Gremory and all, you probably just grabbed him and brought him to your place without letting him get a word in, right?”

“Ah…well, being fair, he protested. A lot.” Aphrodite blushed a bit, before adding, “But he…he did agree after a bit!”

Lani sighed, shook his head, then patted Aphrodite’s arm. “Aphrodite…you’ve probably overwhelmed him.”

“Do you think so?”

“The feeling’s pretty strong.”

“Goodness…I owe him an apology, then.” Aphrodite frowned, slumping. “I wanted to help him, to bring him out of that dangerous life he’d been stuck in.”

“So give him the journal first, and say it’s an apology gift,” Lani said. “Say you’re sorry for being inconsiderate, that you understand he might be overwhelmed, and give him the journal first. Stagger out the rest for little milestones.”

Aphrodite’s pink eyes practically lit up. “You think that’ll work?”

“I’ve got a good feeling about it.”

“Lani, darling, you’re the best.” Aphrodite grinned, even as he began to put the items back into the bag. “How about we have another round of tea before I head back?”

“Of course.”

After the two talked some more, Aphrodite made sure to leave a large tip, as well as a hand-written thank you for the advice. When Lani looked over the note later, he would notice that Aphrodite even went to the effort of adding a little doodle on the note as well.