[Comm] Pursuit of Diligence: VI

It turns out that to make the actual ambrosia, Ashes needs to boil the stems of the flowers that he planted to get the sap out. At least it’s more interesting than actually planting more of these things, Ashes supposes this can be educational as Primrose observes his progress. Yet to Ashes, it does suck that he can’t taste what he’s making unless he wants to get poisoned. Really, it’s as if he’s making food that he can’t taste because it’ll make him sick.

“Don’t worry too much about it,” Primrose reminds him. “It’s not my first rodeo having to do this. At least it means I get to ensure the flavour is right.”

“That’s not learning though,” he finds himself pointing out as he spins the flower stems in the pot once more. “That’s the exact opposite of learning if I have to eyeball it.”

“Well, you can eyeball it, there’s a low floor to hit if you want it to be drinkable,” Primrose replies without missing a beat before testing the ambrosia once more only to add more ingredients in.

“I did never ask what type of ambrosia we’re making,” Ashes then finds himself prompting. Really, he didn’t even know that there were types, much less how there’s specifics for whatever season it is.

“Frosty ambrosia,” Primrose answers quite easily without looking up. “It’s supposed to be sweet and frosty but I think this one is leaning more sweet than it should be.”

All of this is reminding Ashes of the fact that Hops is very particular about alcohol. Apparently ambrosia is no different and Cherubuns have as many preferences as succubuns with said drinks. It’s the most fascinating thing ever and Ashes wishes he could actually taste it because seriously? What’s the appeal? He wants to know but he’s also not a big fan of poisoning himself to do so.

Maybe he’ll badger some other Cherubun for more details and if there’s a thing for preferences. Really, he’s heard of the seasonal ambrosia, and part of him is honestly quite interested in just how popular each of those drinks are specifically.

“That’s not a bad thing,” Ashes remarks. Primrose only looks at him funny when he says that because apparently having it lean too much in one direction is a bad thing. And here he thought that range in drinks was a good thing, though he’s certain that there’s more variety amongst the alcoholic drinks rather than ambrosia.

“There are standards,” Primrose simply tells him before adding in more ingredients. Now, Ashes has only done scientific experiments and all of this feels awfully familiar albeit in a different way. “And we are expected to uphold them, unless you’re making coffee.”

Ashes can definitely believe that with how Beanny is with their coffee. Really, he thinks that ambrosia can learn a thing or two with said coffee or even Hops’ drinks. Some variety never hurt anyone.

“I don’t know, I was just expecting something more variety than this,” Ashes points out, sheepish. “But I never grew up with Melangel so I don’t know if they allowed you to experiment around like here in Burrowgatory.”

The Cherubun doesn’t answer. Meanwhile the ambrosia’s scent is all in the air, something close to a soft winter morning with that tinge of sweetness. It’s comforting if anything else and Ashes wonders if Cherubuns would be interested in making these into candles or something like that.

“It technically depends and some of us are still quite old fashioned,” Primrose eventually explains. “I know I have preferences and this is sometimes the closest thing that some of us get to feeling back at the Heavenly Meadow.”

Ah, Ashes can understand that in a way. He can’t quite understand the feeling of being far away from home with how Burrowgatory is and how it is his home but he’s definitely heard a rumour or two about how some cherubuns miss the Heavenly Meadow regardless of how they were raised.

“Do you miss it though?”

“A bit,” Primrose deflects. Apparently he gets asked this question a lot if this is his answer. “It’s still better here though even if some of you are annoying to deal with.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Ashes replies as he finally takes out some of the ambrosia with a spoon. Somehow, the two of them need to fit it into bottles that he sees in the Heavenly Embassy. What he doesn’t comment on is the price of these drinks, they’re horribly out of his budget in a way that hurts. “Though I was wondering if you’ll ever do a sale on these at some point–”

Primrose blinks. “I thought our pricing was pretty fair.”

He opens his mouth and then closes it. Four hundred carats is not cheap and part of him wonders if every Cherubun has a hoard of carats that they’re not telling anyone about if this is what they drink– or maybe it’s because this is the only place where you can even get ambrosia in Burrowgatory.

“I mean, I suppose with how there’s not that much demand,” Ashes deflects. Technically it makes sense if there isn’t that many Cherubuns in Burrowgatory so the pricing would make sense since they’re drinks rather than food. “I guess it’s fine. But how many do you think this batch of flowers can make?”

“A couple bottles of Ambrosia,” Primrose answers as he takes out his own spoon to fill up the bottles. “It’s a good harvest.”

Really, it’s fascinating to know that Cherubuns seemingly do this every couple weeks without ever feeling that it’s a burden. Part of him is envious at being able to do exactly that consistently but at the same time, being able to pick his work schedule as a researcher is also quite nice. Ashes is grateful for that and this is a learning experience more than anything.

“And in a couple more weeks you’ll do this again.”

The Cherubun nods. “There’s still a few others I’m guiding along this whole thing too so really it doesn’t end. At least I hope it’s educational.”

Oh, it’s definitely educational. Ashes decides that he doesn’t want to do this again anytime soon actually. “I did learn a lot, like the fact that I don’t have a green thumb.”

“We get that a lot.”

Yeah, Ashes is sure that Primrose hears that a lot as he finally leaves the Heavenly Embassy with the scent of ambrosia still around him. It’s comforting to know that this whole journey was worth it.