[Hana] Tea Time

Hana remembered the first time Envy Succubuns first came to Burrowgatory (she had been part of the stakeout for those Hazeblooms, after all). It was a surprising discovery at first, to be sure, but time quickly proved that they were buns, just like them. They engaged in the same vices, had figuratively dirty mouths, and often just needed a little more loving or were at times pricklier than others. While it didn’t take long for stereotypes to form, much like how there are generalizations for all the other horn types, individuality was definitely evident with them. And once the Church extended their help with finding homes and jobs, they pretty much fit right in.

The Cherubuns were a different story.

It was an event that attracted pretty much all eyes in Burrowgatory. When she, Jackal, and Dove made it back from the overly bright garden, the Cherubun was certain that there were others that were going to follow them, away from Melangel. That meant that they needed all the assistance they could get to help them settle, much like the Envy Succubuns. Hana heard much of what occurred from Jackal and Hops, but Dove got to work the next day, introducing themselves to the Church and what they wanted to do.

Hana could only imagine Mercy’s expression with the reappearance of the missing buns.

“Oh, but the original buns you discovered last month have likely passed by now. Our lifespans were shortened significantly while living in the Heavenly Meadow, and I do not know how many generations have passed since.” Dove informed before taking a sip of their own blend of Chamomile tea.

“Uh…oh. Condolences?” she wasn’t sure why she felt more awkward around Dove now compared to when they were Misty. Was it the prominent halo that adorned their head that threw her off? The newly found confidence they carried?

They showed a smile at the starry bun’s expression of sympathy, “Thank you, Hana. How do you find the tea?”

“To be honest, it might be a lil’ too mild for me? But I do get what you mean about pairing them with the banana muffins. Your muffins are really good.”

It was Dove who invited her to tea, and who was she to refuse? The invitation felt a little out of nowhere, but it turned out that Jackal was busy with some part-time jobs and they thought it would be a good time to talk. They were friends too, weren’t they? Hana wanted to think so, but again, this whole meeting felt different from all of her friend hangouts that she had in the past. Those were much more…casual. Loose.

She took another sip of her tea, trying to like it. Maybe it’s an acquired taste. A soft instrumental played in the background, notably classical. Very piano.

“Jackal and the other buns like them too. I’m glad that I can still bake for other buns here and try out new recipes.”

Their smile is genuine, surely. Quaint and soft like the feather they found and where everything started. It made Hana all the more nervous.

“Is there something wrong? Oh no, are you unwell?”

“Ah! No, I’m…I’m good. Really.” she fiddled with the cute porcelain teacup. This looked expensive, but fitting for Dove’s aesthetic with its little ribbons. “I guess…I’m not sure if I should be here?”

Notably, their expression grew more concerned, “What makes you say that?”

She really shouldn’t have said anything, but the Cherubun took her awkward pause as an answer.

“Oh Hana, please don’t feel like you need to act differently around me. I’m not going to…” they mildly and vaguely gestures with their free hand, “Be like Melangel, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Oh no no, I know that you’re definitely not like them…” There was an unsaid “but” that filled the space of silence. She then scrunched up her face briefly before looking a little more resolved, “I just don’t really know what I should be looking out for that might, y’know, make you uncomfortable? And I don’t wanna do that, ‘cuz…y’know.”

While the starry bun was rather flustered, Dove seemed to look a little more relieved. The piano continued to droll, moving up notes before settling.

“I appreciate it, Hana. If anything, I should be expected to adjust to you all, since I am in Burrowgatory. But I have also seen that many of you have an open mind and are very kind, so I look forward to learning about each other. And learning,” they took one of the small biscuits from the plate, “does not always come with success.”

“Hm, well, I guess that helps? Just lemme know if I’m being too, IDK, rough or something?”

“I would like to believe that I am not as delicate as you think.”

Hana let out a small laugh, “Right right, that’s true. You’re real brave, Dove. Much braver than me, that’s for sure.”

With the starry bun feeling more relaxed than before, the pair began to meander through different topics, conversing like friends that have not met for weeks or months on end. There were a lot of stories exchanged, such as those from the Heavenly Meadow and those from Hana’s work and leisures (somewhat filtered). Hana wondered if the Cherubuns that would follow Dove were like them, but she supposed that they must be all brave in their own way, to leave home for not only an unfamiliar place, but one that they had been told was hell (literally) all these years. If Hana were in a situation like that, would she have stayed, or left?