Beanny's Day Out

Beanny wondered not for the first time why she was here. The blue sky shone, illuminated by the glowing crystals to mimic the blue sky topside. Today was her rare day off from Paradise Café, where she spent most of her time creating unique drinks that granted special abilities. Her mind wandered to images of relaxed sunbathing, refreshing swims, and the rare flora waiting to be discovered along the coastal trails.

She sipped the last of her morning tea and Beanny glanced at her packed beach bag. Towels, sunscreen, a novel—everything for a perfect day of leisure. Beside it lay her leather-bound field journal and a satchel of collecting tools. She knew that the coastal area of Forneus Sea had a plethora of interesting flora that she could use to experiment and concoct new brews for the cafe. She would have invited Primrose but she had already pushed him a bit too far on their last trip exploring a seedier side of the Burrowgatory. He still hasn’t forgiven her after he got hit with a powerful spray of flavored lube.  How was she supposed to know that there was a lube factory there that had an explosive accident of overflowing lubricants. Though after a month of mixed scents that got stuck deep into their fur, she couldn't blame him for being put off from exploring that section of the burrowgatory for a while.

Still, it was a shame. The weather was wonderful for the summer season and she heard that Quince had opened a stall and was selling fruit juices and shakes. As a fellow brewer, she was obligated to try out her beverages. In particular, she heard that the Summer’ploxion shake supreme was a hit with the local buns. So the earlier she went, the better her chances were at getting a taste of the seasonal drink. The light breeze and sound of crashing waves welcomed her as she arrived at the beach. It was every bit as picturesque as she’d imagined, with golden sands stretching under a bright illusion of the azure sky. Beanny found a perfect spot, a secluded area shaded by the rocks. She laid out her fluffy beach towel and settled in. She closed her eyes, letting the good vibes seep into her skin, and for a while, she let herself drift into blissful relaxation. She basked in the moment, content to lounge about until she spotted in the corner of her eye, an interesting fungi formation. Time passed, marked only by the ebb and flow of the tides and the occasional laughter of the buns playing beach volleyball nearby. Beanny felt the tension of her busy life melting away as she carefully extracted pieces of the fungi for study. She still had some space in her satchel to find more samples and decided to wander around for a bit.

"Just a little exploration," she told herself, packing her research journal into her satchel. She walked along the coastal area, enjoying the water crashing gently against her feet. She eventually reached the busier and more crowded area, everyone playing games, grilling food, and loitering around a stage that was being set up for the evening beach rave. She had to go to the beach rave at some point with Primrose, the poor bun needed to relax and let loose.

What with him being so high-strung all the time and constantly in a state of looking constipated. She spotted Quince’s stall, the line not being as long as it typically was giving Beanny the perfect opportunity to wait in line for the drink. She decided to write her notes while waiting, meticulously writing in detail the fungi’s characteristics, the conditions, and the environment it was enclosed. She also lightly sketched its appearance, highlighting specific attributes that she found unique or had a commonality with other fungi she had researched in the past. In no time at all, she had reached the front of the stall. She snapped her journal closed and asked if they still had the Summer’ploxion supreme shake available and was in luck as the employee had told her that there were only three left and she just had to wait at an open table or nearby while they made it for her.

She sat at the table, well, more like flopped onto it. Her feet were sore from walking a long while across the hot sands and seating was a true godsend. She had put her satchel on the table and didn’t have to wait long as her order had arrived. To put it bluntly, it was a nightmare incarnate of a drink. “Drink” was underestimating what the summer’ploxion supreme shake was. It had flower petal ice cubes, slices of assorted fruits, and a generous drizzle of syrup, and it was a neon explosion of fruit and flowers. Quince's harvest never disappointed indeed as the shake was supreme both in flavor and appearance. What a wonderful beverage to end her day at the beach.