A berry friendly tour

Ayabun sighed for the third time at the table, staring at the strawberry sundae in front of her as it slowly melted away into nothing. Her thoughts were so far away that she didn’t actually hear Limon approach her. She was startled back to things by the bun tapping her arm. “What’s got you sighing so heavy? Need chocolate sauce for the troubles?” Ayabun watched Limon put on her best smile as she slid into the seat across from her. It wasn’t until the bun  stuck her tongue out and slapped her thigh that she cracked a smile. “Maybe a good romp in bed instead?” Ayabun burst out laughing then.

“Nothing like that, no, I’m just trying to sort out a new room I want to add to my burrow. That’s all” Limon smiled, a thoughtful finger coming up to her lip as she listened to Ayabun explain about what she wanted, and how most contractors she had spoken to didn’t want to take the job because of the type of door she wanted to have. It would have to be custom, along with most everything else. And all the drafters she had been working with couldn’t get the plans quite right either when they were drawing it out.

Limon waited a little longer until Ayabin was sighing once more. “You know, I think I have the perfect bun for you.” Ayabun sat up straighter in her seat and perked up a little. “Someone you actually kinda know too. Though they may take some persuading to get the job done.”

Ayabun pushed her ice cream bowl aside. “Who is it? I’m happy to pay whatever price they ask for.” When Limon mentioned Ione, Ayabun frowned. “Limon if you’re messing with me it’s not funny.” The other bun just giggled, her tail flicking side to side mischievously for a moment before shaking her head. “Will Ione really be able to help?”

Limon stole Ayabuns abandoned bowl. “Why don’t you give em a call and find out?”

She thought it over for a full day and a half, before finally picking up the phone and calling Ione. The owner of the daily grind could be a hard one to bargain with sometimes, but not impossible. Though it took three calls to get them to pick up.

“Alright. I’m up. What is it?” Ione sounded a little crabby.

Ayabun glanced at the time quickly and immediately apologised. “Oh gosh Ione I’m so sorry I didn’t even think about the time.” A grumble on the other end of the line was her only response and she could hear something creak. Probably the bed as Ione shifted their weight. At least Ione hadn’t hung up, nor had they started in about what she wanted again yet. Clearing her throat she got back to it. “Anyway, umm I’m calling today because Limon-” A scoff on the other end now, and she could almost hear a hoof or a hand going through the other buns hair in slight annoyance.

“Anyway, she said you might be able to help me with an interior build and decoration kinda thing…” There was a long pause now on the other end of the line. And while it was tempting to ask if Ione was still there or awake, she already knew the answer to both. “See I was hoping to add a new room for my growing collection and-”

Ione cut her off. “So you called me super early. On my day off. To see if I’d come over and play house builder?”

Ayabun paused, mouth sitting open while she thought it over carefully. “I…I mean I can pay whatever you ask for it…and it can be whenever you have time. Honestly I just thought maybe you would come look at it first before you decide?” A scoff again on the other end of the line. “Oh and I could always make you whatever you want for meals while you are here and-”

Ione cut her off once more. “Fine. I’ll at least humor you and check it out. Friday after work.”

And excited Ayabun was ready to squeal out praises and thanks, but Ione hung up on her before she could even start. At least Friday wasn’t too far away. She could spend the next couple of days preparing all kinds of treats and getting other things ready in time for Ione’s visit. She even called Limon to chatter about it.

Friday:

Ayabun was super excited. Today Ione would be coming over so she could show them where she wanted to add a new room. The knock on the door was a welcome one. “Ione! Welcome welcome~” She gently grabbed Iones hoof and pulled them inside, closing the door. Through the main room the went as she chattered about how excited she was, into the kitchen past her imps who were looking on in curiosity. Through one hall, and that’s when Ione stopped her dead without meaning to.

“You sure like your strawberries…” It was barely a whisper, an observation. But Ayabuns eyes gleamed. And the moment she made that expression, Ione knew this was going to be a far longer visit than planned. “Oh hell.”

Ayabun swapped from holding a hoof, to clinging to his arm, Excitedly circling back to the kitchen. “You missed all the best parts actually. Look!” Opening the cupboards revealed many strawberry themed dishes. She also opened the fridge to reveal strawberry dessert cups, a strawberry shaped light bulb lighting the interior, and more. Upon closer inspection she showed Ione that even the cupboards all had strawberry shaped knobs.

“I have so much to show you actually, why don’t you come see the living room?” The large strawberry themed couch off the one wall had faux hanging strawberry plants. Ayabun pointed out one of the far bookshelves as they dragged Ione over who was just going along quietly. “This is my strawberry stuffy collection. They all have names. This pink one here is Daisy, and this more red on here is Lilian, this bunny strawberry plush is named Elise, and the cat strawberry is Tomberry-”

Ione looked over the numerous plush toys on the shelf. No doubt it would take a while to actually go through them all. But when they looked over at Ayabuns excited expression, their own softened slightly. “What about that one?” They pointed to a very old and worn out looking plush.

Ayabun’s smiled widened. “That’s Perry. One of the first stuffed animals I ever got, that’s why he doesn’t match. But I couldn’t bear to leave him out.” Ayabun took time naming every strawberry themed plush on the shelf, and then moved Ione to the next shelf. Every single book on it was about strawberries, had strawberry like characters, or featured strawberries on the covers and spines. Ione put up with the tour as long as they could, until finally night was coming and they had to stop Ayabun.

“What room was it you wanted me to build again?”

Ayabun paused. “Oh Right!” Pulling Ione into a storage area, she gestured at some boxes. “I need a room with a secret door that I can fit all this into.” She watched as Ione went to open a box, she considered for a moment stopping the bun but, regardless Ione would have to look at that collection while designing the room.

Ione opened the first box. Closed it. Looked at Ayabun with a raised brow. “Secret room.” She repeated. Ione sighed and pulled out various adult toys themed strawberry, including the strawberry themed plug, flog, and other new items Ayabun had picked up recently at the Toy Fair. Ione did however pause on a strange one. It resembled the kind of ball or egg things one would get with or for an ovipositor but Ione couldn’t find a single thing to actually push these strawberries out. Did Ayabun only get them because they were shaped like strawberries? “Oh those! Give one a sniff.” The look Ione gave her now almost made her laugh. “Oh gosh no, it’s not what you think. They haven’t been used. But they are scented! Display only!”

Ione shook their head. Ayabun moved instead to another box. “How about you look at these first instead then? These aren’t for the room I know where I want them, but they are so pretty.” She opened up the box with the Strawberry Crystals, the ones that sit on the lights. “Aren’t these so pretty? The way the light reflects on them is gorgeous and they spin a little on these bases. I want to line them all up in the other room. The one with that open ledge by the ceiling.”

Ione remembered Ayabun talking about that before. A much smaller project than the one she had in mind now. Also courtesy of Limons ramblings of course. “Your collection is pretty big, did you want a basement room for this?” That would give Ayabun the space she needed and the soundproofing. Ione didn’t actually wait for an answer, as they looked up and around. “Would you mind showing me other rooms that you keep your collections in?” Oh god that smile, maybe Ione should have split this over a few days.

They spent the next hour, flicking from strawberry filled room, to strawberry filled room, only pausing again in the kitchen for snacks. Ayabun had shown Ione the bathroom, fit with floating strawberry flowers for the bathtub, and strawberry themed soap dispensers, the huge strawberry light cover. It was like the entire house could have been one hundred percent strawberry if she wanted. The most interesting thing Ayabun raved about was the latest add-on. Strawberry bead curtains. She had already installed two that led into what she was calling her hobby room. The curtains were floor length and made up of thousands of beads tied onto strings, they made a heck of a sound when walking through them.

Strawberry stickers littered the walls and a half painted mural of a strawberry field filled the only sticker free wall. As far as ‘collections’ went, Ayabuns whole house was a display of her love of the sweet fruit. By the time the tour was done, Ione had a good idea of what to do.

“Alright, I’ll draw up a plan and get back to you on my next day off.” Ione said as they stole another cookie from the strawberry tray on the counter. At least the counter was a very normal wooden surface. “I like this wood. What’s it made of?”

Ayabun smiled. “Strawberry tree wood~”

Ione paused. “That’s not a thing. Strawberries grow on bushes…”

Shaking her head Ayabun pulled out her phone. “Nope, look at this ‘Arbutus Unedo’ commonly known as the strawberry tree, it is an evergreen shrub or small tree. They produce fruit that appear similar to strawberries. They reach full maturity and height around 25 years.” She showed Ione some pictures and got into how the countertops had to be made of several thin planks all lined up and glued together, then sanded, stained and covered to be safe and usable.

Ione was surprised. First over the mini lesson that was completely unexpected, and again at the fact that the bun had somehow slipped something strawberry related into such a normal thing. What else was made of that strawberry wood? Was anything else made that way? Come to think of it, some of the wooden carvings Ayabun had showed off were a similar color to the countertops… were those carved out of strawberry wood? Was anything inside the burrow not featuring strawberries in some way or another? With that final thought in mind, the two bid each other farewell.

The next day, after a well earned rest from dragging Ione all over her house, Ayabun woke to her imp Alch pawing at her. “Mmm? What’s up big guy?” The little creature paced for a moment before hopping off the bed and heading for the door. Ayabun followed and heard a knock at the door.

Opening it up, there was Limon. “Good morning~” Limon giggled and shook her head, mentioning it was almost noon. “Would you like to come in?” Showing the bun in however she noticed Limon was hiding something behind her back as she slipped by. “What’s that?” Limon smiled wide and acted like it was nothing. Showing Limon to the kitchen so they could have snacks while Ayabun woke up, Limon suddenly pulled the item out from hiding and placed it on the island counter.

“Ione sent me this.” Limon chimed as she pushed it closer to Ayabun. It was a handmade plush of a narwhal, done up in strawberry red, leafy green, and fitted with hand stitch yellow berry seeds. The green leaves settled over the blowhole of the narwhal making a lovely little hat or water spray depending on the viewer. It was picked up with great care and Ayabun could feel how soft it was. She would have to call Ione later and thank them. Maybe slip a little extra into how much she’s gonna pay for their work.

“It’s adorable.” She barely paid Limon any mind for a long few moments as the bun chattered about other things. Randomly in the middle of one of Limons tales, she finally spoke up again. “I’m going to name them Mauve. Little suave narwhal.” Limon smiled, Ayabun smiled, and the two friends enjoyed snacks while they got back on topic. The little narwhal stayed clutched in Ayabuns hooves for most of the visit. Only leaving her when she placed it gently on her strawberry bed to rest while she headed out with Limon to the ice cream parlor.

Who would have guessed that Ayabun would end up with a shiny new toy today.