[Comm] Vanilla Vs Gardening

The Heavenly Embassy and Cherubuns were truly the greatest mystery of Burrowgatory.  While everyone had seemed to just accept that there were these holier-than-thou buns now coming and living in tandem with their precious world of sin Vanilla couldn’t help but wonder what made them tick.  She hadn’t ventured up that elevator into the clouds to step inside those white buildings and greenhouses.  With an affirmative nod to herself, Vanilla decided today would be the day.

Pacing around her apartment she found an empty notebook, several pens, and a magnifying glass, shoving them all inside a crossbody bag.  Better to be prepared if something ends up being incredibly curious and needs further investigation.  With one more cursory glance to see if there was anything else she should bring, Vanilla made her way out.  Locking the door behind her before hitting the streets of Burrowgatory.

The walk through the city, all the way to the outskirts, where that mysterious building floated on its mysterious clouds, was long and gruesome and completely boring.  In reality it wasn’t even a whole thirty minute walk, but Vanilla was over it on multiple occasions.  Was the mystery of the Succubun adjacent species really enough to justify walking all this way?  Was it really worth putting off the work on her book series?  A few times Vanilla stopped thinking that no, maybe it wasn’t and very nearly turned around to go back home and rejoin the comfort of her bed.

But no!  The investigation must go on!  And it couldn’t go on if she didn’t even start it.  So Vanilla continued to trudge her way to the outskirts.  Thinking long and hard about what she may uncover that could change everyone’s perception of the Cherubuns.  Thankfully being lost in thought made the last leg of the journey so much easier.  Finally stepping foot under those pure white clouds, excitement filled Vanilla to her very core.  Pressing the up button on the elevator tower she was almost bouncing with anticipation, stepping into the carriage, watching the doors close and carry her up, her time was now.

The elevator dinged when it reached the top, doors sliding open to allow Vanila to step out onto that cloud.  For a brief moment she held concern that she'd fall through, very thankful that wasn't the case.  Taking in the new sights of the Heavenly Embassy she was slightly overwhelmed, but also elated to finally be here, to finally be conducting her own investigation.  Pulling out a notebook and pen she began slowly walking alongside the building, eyeing the architecture.  Standing dead still every time a Cherubun appeared in her vision.

It was a slow process. But one that had to be done.  Vanilla had found that most of the buildings were apartments, a few shops scattered here and there.  Much like the way Burrowgatory was.  The architecture was different, rounder, softer, the stone something she couldn't place.  Deciding it had to have been brought down with the Cherubuns and not that she just didn't know what stone types there were.

Finally she found herself in front of a large glass building. Inside she could make out hundreds of flowers, yet no one inside tending to them.  Perfect.  She would slip inside undetected, investigate these flowers, possibly procure one and then be out before anyone was the wiser.  Vanilla was incredibly proud of her plan.  Reaching for the door, as soon her fingers wrapped around that handle set to pull it open she was interrupted by the sound of somebunny clearing their throat.

Turning her attention to the noise Vanilla found herself looking up at Cherubun who was very much looking down at her.  White ruffled shirt sitting below a sneer framed by golden hair all topped with a halo.  Something kind of ridiculous.

“Welcome to the Heavenly Embassy.”  The tone is cold despite the words being something that should probably be warm and actually welcoming.  Words that felt like they should have been coupled with a smile and maybe a cup of tea or coffee.  But none of those things were coupled with those words.  That look only grew colder the longer Vanilla took to respond.

“Yes, thank you.”  Vanilla blinked up at the other, his cold stare sending a shiver down her spine.  The urge to take notes about the oppressive stare and the way even the air seemed to stop moving in this moment with this supposed sin-free creature.  

“What is this building?” Curiosity won out as Vanilla gestured to the glass that she had just been peering through.

“That is our greenhouse, the flowers inside are from the heavenly meadow and we use them to brew our ambrosias.” Gold eyes raking over Vanilla one more time.  “Since you made the journey here it would be impolite for me not to give the tour.  My name is Primrose and you are?”

“Vanilla.”

“Vanilla.  Follow me.” Primrose pulled open the doors to the greenhouse, leading Vanilla inside.  The floral smell hitting her senses like a ton of bricks.  Immediately she was pulling out a notebook, writing down the previous thoughts on Primrose quickly before turning the page to make notes of the greenhouse, a quick sketch of the flowers.

“Here in this garden, our home away from home, we Cherubuns practice one of our virtues.  The virtue of Diligence.  A proper and consistent work ethic is important to Cherubuns.”  Stopping in front of a series of seven statues.

“Diligence, Kindness, Patience, Temperance, Charity, Humility and Purity.  Those are our virtues.”  Turning on his heel Primrose stared down at Vanilla again, a look of contemplation on his face.  Slowly a single corner of his mouth turned upward.

“We are always more than happy to teach Succubuns of our ways.  And we can start right here with Diligence.  Come.”  Making his way past the statues and down the rows of flowers to an empty patch.

“The first step in the journey to make ambrosia is planting and tending to the flowers.”  A gesture towards a neat collection of tools and a jar of seeds.

“Proper care is first checking the soil and making sure it’s well tilled.” Primrose knelt in the dirt, not seeming to care that he was dirtying the white pants he wore, another gesture for Vanilla to get down on the ground with him.  Holding back a sigh she joined him.

Wordlessly Primrose hand tilled the soil a few times before passing the fork over to Vanilla watching her expectantly.  With a scoff she repeated the same motions, gaining a small nod of approval from Primrose.  Still without words he grabbed a trowel, digging a small hole, dropping in a seed, covering it back up.  Again passing the tool to Vanilla waiting patiently for her to repeat the motions.  Giving Primrose a hesitant look she complied, following exactly as he did, and honestly it wasn’t that hard but Vanilla determined immediately she would not want to do this day in and day out.

Moving to hand the trowel back Vanilla found that Primrose wasn’t accepting it, instead gesturing for her to continue.  A long pause as the two stared at each other, Primrose boring holes into Vanilla until finally she began to dig more holes.   Following the process again and again until the Cherubun finally appeared satisfied with her work.  Dropping the trowel into the pile of tools, making an exaggerated show of wiping her brow.

“Hard work I must say.”

“Yes hard work indeed, and there are many of us who diligently do this task and many others day in and day out.”  Primrose’s tone was flat as he stood from the ground, wiping the dirt from his knees.  “Come back in a day or two and I will have another task you can assist in.  I’m sure you can come to appreciate the spirit of diligence.”

With those words Primrose left Vanilla where she knelt in the dirt.  What a peculiar individual he was.  Jotting down a few notes before pulling herself off the ground.  Making her way back out of the greenhouse, back across that cloud born town, down the elevator and slowly back home.  All the while wondering if coming back would be worth the story she could uncover here.