[Comm] Diligence part 3

It almost felt like they were on a date, holding hands and strolling over the blush cloudbed of the Heavely Embassy. Unfortunately, they weren’t here just to have fun, as Ephemer was leading his husband in the direction of the ambrosia greenhouses. He stopped in front of a familiar looking greenhouse and double checked the address written on the note in his free hand.

“Is this the place?” Velvet asked, taking in the glass building. 

Ephemer nodded. “This is the same greenhouse that Beanny and I planted seed in a few weeks ago.” 

“Beanny, yeah, the coffee bun.” Velvet pushed his bangs out of his face. “So, what now?” 

“Come on!” Ephemer pushed the door open and was surprised to come almost face-to-face with Primrose himself. The Cherubun was wearing a thick apron over his clothes and a more casual shirt than his usual, one that had sleeves he could easily roll up. 

“Hello Ephemer,” Primrose looked up from the flowerbed he was working on and frowned when he saw that Ephemer wasn’t alone. “As far as I remember, I didn’t invite a second Succubun to complete today’s task.” He crossed his arms to complete the picture of disapproval. 

Ephemer was suddenly sheepish, dropping Velvet’s hand. “I… This is Velvet, my husband. We had plans today, and your…” 

“Your summons,” Velvet supplied, taking a step forward. “- came out of nowhere. What’s the big deal? More hands makes a job easier, no?” 

Primrose studied the two Succubuns for a moment, then relented. “Fine. But this is a very important step, so if I deem him a distraction he will have to leave.” 

“That’s fine, Primrose. Thank you.” Ephemer put his hand on his husband’s shoulder and squeezed gently. He could tell the other bun had a retort for Primrose, but this was important to Ephemer and Velvet knew that. 

Primrose nodded at the compromise and turned, gesturing at the Succubuns to follow him to the back of the greenhouse. 

Velvet leaned over, murmuring into Ephemer’s ear. “Is he always like this?” 

“Yeah, but he means well. These flowers are really important to the Cherubuns, like medicine.” Ephemer explained quietly. “Primrose takes his job really seriously because it is serious.” 

Velvet nodded, but stayed silent and looked around the greenhouse as the two Succubuns followed Primrose.

Primrose led them to a strange series of glass tubes that looked like they were sucking water out of the air and collecting it. As expected, Primrose elaborated. “The cloudbed purifies all the dew that collects in it. We use this pure water on all the ambrosia flowers in our greenhouses.” 

Ohh, water from the cloud itself, not out of the air… 

Ephemer almost wanted to stand there and study the contraption for a moment, but was startled back into focus when Primrose thrust a full watering can into his hands. He watched the Cherubun fill two more; one he gave to Velvet, and the other he kept. 

“Alright, follow me.” Primrose led them back to the flower beds that Ephemer had planted with Beanny. He looked over the bed and scowled as he noticed the coffee plants sprouting amongst the ambrosia. 

Ephemer didn’t even see them at first; he was too entranced by how beautiful the rest of the sprouts were. Some of the fresh growth was pink, some black, some even a bit translucent. He glanced over at Velvet to see his husband looking over everything with wide eyes. 

Ephemer had tried to describe the Heavenly Embassy, but there was really no way to properly capture how different it was from Burrowgatory. How beautiful it was. 

Primrose broke the silence. “In doll form, it’s easy to determine if the soil is too dry; simply put your finger in like so.” The Cherubun waited for Ephemer and Velvet to copy him, then continued. “If it feels dry, it is.” He then demonstrated how to water the sprouts properly. “Make sure not to overwhelm them; pour slowly. See how the soil absorbs the water right in front of you?” 

Ephemer was a little taken aback watching Primrose getting his own hands dirty instead of strictly instructing, but there was an almost serene look on his face, similar to the expression Mercy would make when looking down at the baby buns that were currently all over the Bunnery.

“Ephemer, I called you here to help, not just to stare at me.” 

“Ah - yes Primrose, sorry!” Ephemer looked back down at the flower bed and carefully, supporting the watering can with the hand that wasn’t on the handle, began to water the ambrosia sprouts. 

He felt more than saw Primrose nod in approval, then move on to observe Velvet. “Slower,” followed by a begrudging “Better.” as Velvet lightened up. 

Once Ephemer couldn’t see the soil ‘drinking up’ the water as it had been before, he stopped watering and stuck his finger back into the dirt. The soil didn’t feel dry at all anymore, and his finger came back up covered in wet dirt. “How’s this?”

“Good, that looks like enough water for this bed today.” Primrose gestured for the Succubuns to follow him as he moved to the next one. “The greenhouses are all temperature and humidity controlled, but I can’t fully trust technology with something as important as ambrosia, so I try to check every single bed at least once every three days or so.” 

“Every bed?” Velvet blurted. “In every greenhouse?” 

Primrose made a sound that could maybe be called a laugh. “Well, yes. It wouldn’t do to only take care of one and leave the others up to chance, would it.” 

Ephemer nodded thoughtfully. “Okay… Vel’s busy tomorrow, but I could come if you need help again?” 

“Tomorrow?” Primrose looked surprised, obviously not expecting Ephemer’s offer but pleased with his earnestness. “If you’d like…” 

“Great!” Ephemer smiled widely at him. Is he… blushing? “Same time?” 

“Y-yes, the same time tomorrow works for me.” Primrose turned to focus on the flower bed, looking like he was trying to hide his face behind his ear. 

Velvet looked over at Ephemer with a raised eyebrow and an almost smirk. Ephemer just shook his head, still smiling as he focused on taking care of the young ambrosia in front of him.