The Priest’s Teatime

With the all too familiar scowl etched into Primrose’s expression and his constant prattling on about the gardens, Blush was more than happy to leave the embassy on an errand. He even imagined he must have ran back down into the burrows, the comforting weight of his hooves when they touched the streets of his home.

If this is what Primrose thought of filth, then Blush reveled in what that pompous cherubun thought and welcomed the dirt to stain his pink fur. A thousand lifetimes in the burrows sounded more appealing than one in the heavenly meadow. A place that grew more and more distasteful in his mind for all the time he was forced to stay beside Primrose and his vanity.

But Blush won’t allow himself to be lost in any thoughts about what lay beyond the burrows, instead he would focus on the job he was sent for. Although, he did have some curiosity to why Primrose sent him on a grocery errand instead of doing it himself. Or rather, was this just a scheme once again to have Blush go out of his way for nothing important. Honestly a bag of tea leaves, that didn’t seem like something to be carried from the embassy at this time of day.

He took a deep breath and set out for Jackal’s home, he did not know much about the envy bun but he had heard about her before from the whispers of other buns and from the Church’s own recording of Jackal having the first cherubun in the burrows to call her home their own. This Dove character, what could they be like? Perhaps a personality that didn’t turn his voice when they opened their mouth?

He wouldn’t hold his breath.

He approached Jackal’s door, his chest still rattling with the speed in which he ran here so far from the embassy. He knocked quickly, his hand aching from hitting the wood too hard.

His expression softened when a cherubun opened the door, there was Dove. He still remembered the first time he saw them, their appearance so otherworldly, but unlike Primrose, there was a lingering softness about them. Understanding for a world unlike their own.

Blush bowed his head, ever the polite priest even in the midst of his upset. “Dove, what a wonder to see you again.”

The cherubun brightened, their smile wide on their lips. “Father Blush, what brings you here?”

Blush sighed quietly, making sure to keep his own smile, “I was given a little errand to run from the embassy. Primrose mentioned he grew some tea leaves for you and asked me to deliver them.” Or well demanded he did, but he didn’t need to bother Dove with any of his whining.

Dove clasped their hands together in excitement. “Really? I didn’t think the leaves would be ready so quickly.”

Blush shrugged, laughing softly, “Well I suppose anything can happen down here in the burrows. As I’m sure you’re aware, our own residential cherubun.” He handed the bag of tea leaves over, giving Dove’s hand a friendly pat. “Now that should be it, I-”

Dove interrupted him with a stumble of words, “You don’t have to leave so quickly, Father Blush, I could make us a cup of tea?”

Blush’s brows furrowed, until he thought to look between the lines of Dove’s words. They were looking intensely at him, as if he had more words to speak than they did. “I… I suppose I can step in for a bit. Will Jackal mind?”

Dove shook their head, “She isn’t here right now, but I swear she doesn’t mind me having guests over for tea.”

Blush nodded, he had very little reason to argue and this just meant more time to keep away from Primrose and his biting tongue. “Of course.”

Dove stepped back to let Blush inside, closing the door between him as they shuffled towards the kitchen. “Please take a seat, this shouldn’t be too long.”

“Of course my dear, I don’t mind.” Yet, he did feel a little squirm of discomfort in his stomach as he sat down. He wasn’t sure why, but he struggled in the company of cherubuns. The thoughts of virtues and vices, it was enough to make his head spin.

Instead, he listened to the calm sounds of Dove in the kitchen. They must have a swift hand for how quickly they moved about, he had barely sat down on Jackal’s sofa before they reappeared.

Dove once again smiled, moving to sit on the seat beside Blush. “The water should be boiled soon, but then we’ll have to steep the tea.”

Blush waved his hand, a kind but dismissive gesture, “Don’t think too much on that Dove, I have no where else to be. At least not so quickly.”

There was a moment of silence between them, before Dove seemed to force themselves to talk, to reveal why they invited Blush inside. “How… how do you like the embassy?”

Blush froze, his hands twitching against his robes as he smoothed them over the material. “Well it’s a beautiful building, the greenhouse gardens are fascinating.”

Dove bit their bottom lip, before shaking their head. “Not the building.”

He sighed in acceptance. “You mean what do I think about the cherubuns.”

They nodded.

Blush took a moment to speak, before he rolled his shoulders carefully. “I will not say I truly understand your kind Dove, but I will say I can tell some of them are truly trying to understand my world and I’m thankful for it.”

Dove frowned, the expression misplaced on their delicate face, “Then there are some you are not thankful for?”

Blush was quick to disagree. “It’s not like that, not really, it’s just,” he laughed awkwardly, “Well I know you must be a friend of Primrose and I won’t speak badly of him. We just have trouble seeing eye to eye when I’m helping him with the gardens.”

Dove exhaled softly. “Oh that’s what you meant. No don’t worry, I know Primrose can be a lot for succubuns. It’s why I try not to have him and Jackal in the same room.”

“Yes I imagine Miss Jackal wouldn’t be very fond of him.”

“He just has a big personality.”

Blush bit back a scoff, a big personality was putting it lightly. He was still keeping a running toll of how many times Primrose kept insulting him without realizing he was being insulting. “That’s one way of saying it.”

Dove sighed, reaching for one of Blush’s hands. “Please don’t think badly of him, Father Blush, he hasn’t gotten used to the burrows yet. I think he’s still having a hard time.”

Blush gave Dove a kind smile and patted their hand with his other. “You are a very sweet soul Dove, I won’t refuse the chance to try and understand a cherubun more. I just hope my temper agrees with me.”

“I think you can manage it, I’ve heard about you from the Church, no one really ever sees you without a smile. I’m sure Primrose and you can become friends.”

Blush had to give it to Dove, that cherubun was an earnest optimist, and even if he could not see what they meant about Primrose, he could not deny he would try. “I suppose it wasn’t so bad to plant seeds with him. He may have an attitude I’m not fond of, but it is impressive that he’s willing to go so far for his fellow cherubuns.”

Dove nodded, their bright smile truly returning, “Primrose really cares about the cherubuns here in the burrows, he wants to make sure we have everything we need.”

Blush laughed quietly, “Yes he does seem like the hardworking sort, that sort of bun that you can trust to get things done even if you’re not sure others would have the same conviction. Now if only he could be kinder to me for what I am.”

“Maybe it’s a trial and error kind of thing, Father Blush, maybe he just needs to learn he can trust you.”

“I suppose I can’t ask him to understand me completely when I still don’t understand him.” He gave Dove a teasing look, “Also you could just call me Blush, we’re not in the Church of Sulfur after all.”

Dove flushed, bowing their head, “I’m sorry, I thought it would be more respectful.”

Blush took pity on Dove, if only because he did like the sound of being their friend, “Don’t worry so much about those things with me. I’m not the type of priest that would get angry over something like a title. Besides I’m technically not a priest at the moment, I’m off the clock.” But only technically, given the Church sent him to help with the embassy’s gardens, but he didn’t like to overthink the details.

Dove seemed relieved, slumping against the couch. “Then Blush it is, that actually makes me feel better to say. Father Blush seems so… informal?”

“It can be, yes, even I like being able to exist outside of being a priest.”

Dove opened their mouth, as if they were about to say something, when the loud whistle of a kettle sounded throughout the room. “Oh! That should be the water, here I’ll pour us some cups and bring some tea infusers out. I would have some bags but the leaves aren’t ready for that yet.”

Blush shook his head, “Oh no, anything you do will be enough Dove, please go ahead and serve the tea exactly how you want to.” He wasn’t picky and he honestly wasn’t sure if he even liked tea, it was much easier to grab coffee on his way to the Church.

Dove looked grateful. “Thank you, I promise I won’t be long.”

Blush once again waved them off, watching them leave as he relaxed back against the couch. He still didn’t know what to think about cherubuns, but he wouldn’t deny that they were usually very kind souls. He even had some worries he’s sure would tickle Primrose about cherubuns will do with the vices of the burrows.

However, he would rationalize it to himself as there will always be good buns and bad buns, this was a fact of life. There was no use in upsetting over it and he should know better, at this age, to accept others as they are and not to question their motives. If he was betrayed by someone close to him, then he could allow some anger, but until then he would continue to be a bleeding heart. Cherubun, succubun, and anything else that might creep into the burrows.

Blush paused, realizing he had been so lost in thought that Dove already returned with their cups in hand. He did admit that soft scent of tea filling the room was welcome to the thought he had racing through his head. “That smells lovely, my dear.”

Dove looked flattered, their shoulders relaxing as they sat the cups down on the coffee table, but not without a plush coaster underneath. “I’m glad you think so, I was hoping the batch from the embassy would be flavorful.”

Blush nodded, until he was quick to pause, “Say Dove, is this alright for me to drink? I know it’s no ambrosia, but I do wonder if there is something different about it.”

Dove hummed in thought, before they gave Blush a bashful look, “I… well I’m not sure. It should be fine, but they were grew in the gardens.” They deflated. “You don’t have to drink it if you’re worried.”

Blush laughed, “Nonsense, better to find out now instead of pushing the question away. I’m sure I’ll be fine. We succubuns are pretty hardy, you can trust that.”

Dove snickered, “Oh I know, Jackal tells me something similar.”

“I’m sure she does.” Blush agreed, even if he had a stray thoughts about the relationship between Dove and Jackal. He knew better than to ask. “Well shall we see what’s the flavor of this tea?”

Dove looked delighted by the thought. “Of course.”

The pair exchanged another smile, before they both picked up their drink and took a sip.

Dove was the first to speak, their excitement obvious from the way they wiggled in their seat. “Oh it’s perfect! I knew Primrose is good at gardening, but this really is exactly what I wanted.”

Blush had a more subdued reaction, but he did have to agree. “It is really pleasant, isn’t it? I can’t say I drink much tea so I’m not sure if I can judge the flavor but it does taste good enough to drink doesn’t it?”

Dove grinned, “I’m glad you think so, I know not everyone likes tea, but I thought you might be able to appreciate it. You seemed so willing to try.”

“Of course, it also helps to know someone that thinks so highly of the drink. I can’t resist when I see someone enjoy it as much as you.” And that wasn’t flattery, Blush often did try things just based on the way it made the others around him react. He was a simple bun and liked to go for the things that made others happy.

Dove gave him a soft look, “That’s a very wonderful thing to think, Blush.”

“I don’t know about that, dear Dove, but thank you. I do try even if it’s not always obvious.”

“I wonder if it’s only not obvious to you.”

“How do you mean?”

Dove shook their head, a slight mischievous light in their eyes as they continued to drink their tea. They changed the subject, “Do you have to leave soon?”

Blush allowed them their topic change, by chuckling lowly, “I suppose I will have to leave soon enough, I dread how Primrose will act if he thinks I’m being lazy.”

Dove gave him a sympathetic look and reached out to pat his shoulder. “I don’t think it will be too bad, you can always say I stopped you for a few hours.”

Blush grinned, “Oh I don’t know, I think he still wouldn't accept that. Although that does make me want to stay for a bit longer, it would be nice to have a chat even at the expense of his ranting.”

Dove snorted, moving their hand quickly to cover their face. “Careful Blush, I think he wouldn’t be happy to hear you say that.”

“I dare say I’m sure he wouldn’t like it.”

The pair laughed and settled more comfortable on the couch as they began to talk about other things. Mostly the burrows and the embassy, but sprinkled in with notes about their own lives and the people they shared them with.

Blush might not exactly enjoy every moment with Primrose, but Dove was a welcoming reminder that all cherubuns were different and that some would be the type he could easily befriend. He just needed to wait and see all that the heavenly meadow gave them. To meet the friends he hasn’t seen yet and to teach them about the burrows they could one day love as he did.