Pursuit of Diligence Part 3

It seemed like there was never a moment to catch her breath. Ellie's hooves raced across the Embassy floors faster than she imagined possible as she rushed about with the different tasks entrusted to her by Primrose. As the holiday season moved on and all the events that surrounded Burrowgatory came to more or less a standstill, she was finally able to resume her duties inside of the Embassy. In all honesty it was less her duties then it was her volunteer work, but duties felt like it had a greater purpose, it made her feel pride and who was she if not a pride bun. So duties it was. Still as she moved bags of soil this way and that, arranged the seeds, and carefully brought water cans from different areas, she felt her breath heaving in her chest. 

It wasn't an easy task to do alone, but Primrose had been busy, saying that there were other things that needed to be attended to and that at the moment it was all hands-on deck. Though she’d yet to see any other hands. Before she'd felt honored to be trusted with this work and she still did, but in doing it almost all on her own, she couldn't help but glance off enviously at wherever he had gone, wishing that she too could be sitting down and potentially sipping coffee with a pretty cherubun. She was no blind woman and was more than aware of the glances he stole in that shop. 

As she sets the next watering can filled with dew down onto a nearby shelf she takes a moment to lean over and breathe. She needs to catch her breath for just a moment so she could continue on. After all, no good would come if she rushed too fast. Maybe it was because of how hard she was breathing but she didn't hear the other bun approach. “Hey do you need some help?” Ellie jolted with surprise at the voice and whirled around with a start, hand clasping to her chest in a feeble attempt to reign the fright back in.

There stood a cherubun she had seen only in passing before. She was hard not to notice, a beautiful mix of pinks and purples and a veil that would put the nuns to shame. They hadn’t spoken before, but it was easy to feel more at ease with a friendly face.

“Oh hi! Yes! If you have a moment.”

“Yeah, I've got time.” The smile she gave was bright and inviting. Refreshing after a lonely day at the Embassy.

 “Great! I'm not quite sure what I should be doing next. I spoke to Primrose and he told me that he needed things moved about but there was such a long laundry list that I'm afraid I'm missing a few things.”

The cherubun looked about for a moment before her eyes caught on the sprouts in the dirt. “Oh! You must have been about to begin watering right?” Ellie glanced over at the sprouts that were rising from the ground, taking in the beautiful green leaves as they seemed to glisten in the light. It was a step she hadn't been sure she should take yet, at least not without supervision. The first time you do anything it should be with supervision or at least with some guidance. Normally that would be Primrose's job but her new friend seemed more than up to the task.  

“Yeah. Sorry, I'm not used to doing all this gardening I suppose. I don't need any sort of additives right? Just pure dew?”

“Yeah, I think so. I mean I've just been trying to do my best with the plants too…Yeah dew water should be just fine.”

“Is this your first time growing the flowers too?”

“No no, I used to help out before.” She paused, fidgeting with an embarrassed look. “I helped out when I was up in the Meadow but it's a little different down here, much quieter. And uh lonely.” She looked away at that, trying to make the statement lighter than the weight it seemed to carry.

Ellie paused and looked around the embassy. For as beautiful as it was, there weren't too many cherubuns wandering about. Those that had chosen to come down were usually out on the town exploring the unknown. Only those that needed a taste of home came here and even then many of them preferred to be tucked away in Beanny’s coffee shop or found themselves relaxing in the quiet corners of the Embassy. Few came here to work, most just wanted to commune with each other. That's why volunteer work was so necessary, she supposed.

“Well that's good! I mean not that you were lonely, but it just happens that I was a little bit lonely too and I could use the company!” Ellie beams at the other.

“Oh-really? I'd be honored, especially if it's with a pretty bun like yourself.” The cherubun giggled, her face flushed. The little wings on the cherubs head fluttered and twitched with what was highly implied to be excitement. Ellie grins and nods, grabbing one of the cans and handing it over to her new companion, the gentle flush on her cheeks no longer just from the exertion. After all she was never one to reject such a radiant lady.

Ellie watches carefully as the cherubun, Amore, went over and began to water the flowers. She watched carefully, making sure to copy the amount of water used as well as she could. No use of overwatering or underwatering after all. Primrose taught her perfection was important in these matters. Though when they got to the second flower Amore used the can for less time than before and Ellie figured that these ‘inevitable truths’ were not necessarily true but more strong suggestions or maybe personal habits of Primrose himself. 

Ellie smiles though, making her way along the rows of sprouts, having idle small talk while the two of them made their way. They chucked as they watched the dew seep into the ground, wondering if there were any creatures in the earth nibbling away at the plants as they would in the burrows. Ellie thought Primrose would be horrified by the idea. 

They spent the next two hours together in this comfortable companionship and for the first time all day Ellie felt at ease. It was a nice way to spend the day, making a new friend. Especially one with a pretty face who looked at her with reddened cheeks. Ellie was pretty sure the color wasn’t just from their time in the gardens. She was never going to say she wasn’t happy to flirt, especially when illusions were made to the idea of perhaps maybe, just maybe if there was time they could “possibly have a lunch date at some point, just maybe perhaps-” if she was interested.

She most definitely was.