Pursuit of Diligence Chapter 4: Something Called Friendship

"I have a new task for you today," is Temple's greeting upon entering the Embassy, the words coming from a Primrose who somehow manages to look even more vaguely annoyed than his usual standard.

 

Temple, for his part, returns the cherubun's frown with one of his own, crossing his arms and tapping his hooves on the hard tiles decorating the reception area.

 

"Well, hello to you too. Oh, what's that? Why, yes, I am doing well, thank you for asking," Temple says, miming out a onesided conversation that, truth be told, has not ever and likely never will happen between him and the Embassy head. Still, though- it's the principle of the thing.

 

Primrose responds with the expected amount of enthusiasm: none.

 

"You're the one always complaining about being 'forced'-" Primrose does not make air quotes, but Temple can hear them in his tone of voice. "-to be here day after day, despite your position being fully voluntary, and you've made it quite clear what you think of my company. I am simply acquiesing to your expressed desires, Mr. Temple."

 

The cherubun rubs his temples (no relation to the Temple standing in front of the reception desk), and Temple is struck by the darkened circles beneath Primrose's eyes, mostly concealed with makeup, but still visible to the discerning eye. Strange- for as hard as he works, the Embassy head always takes strides to keep himself healthy and present himself as a paragon, an example for others and as one competent and willing to lend aid the moment it's requested.

 

...not that Temple thinks he's a great guy or anything, nope. The man's a tyrant when it comes to directing Temple's work. So what if he shows occasional mercy and gives Temple easier tasks, or helps him out on days when his ball joint is giving him issues, or turned him away and sent him home with tea and some slightly-less-harsh-than-usual words that time Temple showed up sneezing every few seconds?

 

He's self-serving, just like Temple, in the end. His lack of horns says nothing to his lack of greed, and Temple knows that there's no bun without vice in Burrowgatory, not even the saintly ones. He definitely acts the way he does for selfish reasons.

 

(Or so Temple tells himself.)

 

"...you're acting weird," Temple intones flatly, in lieu of immediately pressing for answers.

 

"My apologies," Primrose sighs, straigntening slightly, though now, Temple notes the tired slump to his shoulders. He hesitates, clearly thinking something over, but ultimately decides to voice his thoughts. "The anniversary of Dove's arrival in Burrowgatory is approaching, and soon after it, the anniversary for many of us that followed. It is... ending up more work than I anticipated, organizing everything. And in the wake of All Sinner's Day-" Primrose wrinkles his nose slightly. "-many are exhausted from the festivities and unwilling to offer aid. So I... apologize... for being short with you. I'm just... tired."

 

Wow. Primrose admitting that would be like anyone else begging for a break- the cherubun hasn't ever shown any sign of weakness or exhaustion since Temple's been here.

 

It's the surprise of it all that makes Temple answer the way he does- it's a reflexive thing, see, Primrose playing on his bun instincts to render aid to littermates. It's definitely not because Temple feels bad for Primrose, no, and certainly not because of any feeling of being indebted to the bun.

 

"Ugh, fine, gimme whatever dumb task it is you need done, and I'll be back to do the flowers after..."

 

Primrose doesn't quite smile, but Temple thinks he sees the corner of his mouth twitch.

 

---

 

It turns out that Primrose is sending Temple on another delivery errand. Since his first delivery to Dove, Temple has been by the cherubun's home a couple more times, but this time he's being sent somewhere new. Apparently, Primrose is usually the primary bun in charge of both growing and delivering the coffee that Temple is only now learning the Embassay cultivates.

 

Really, Temple thinks, running himself ragged for something this small? Stupid....

 

It's a much bigger delivery this time, but Primrose is either tired enough or foolish enough to have decided Temple is trustworthy, and lent him a set of keys that go to a old, if well-maintained, van.

 

(Temple is absolutely going to make a copy of the key. And if Primrose thinks anything differently, well, that's on him.)

 

It's so much simpler to find Beanny's cafe- for one, it's on a much more major street, and for another, there's a great big sign right on the front to point it out. If only all cherubuns were so thoughtful as to make things easier on him.

 

After an amount of time Temple is unwilling to admit to, he's managed to parallel park on the street out front, and by the time he's out of the driver's seat and ready to open up the back, Beanny is out there waiting for him.

 

"You're not who I was expecting," she chirps, not trying to hide the amused tilt to her head or the smile on her face. She raises an eyebrow. "But if you were expecting to surprise me, you're about five minutes too late. Really, who taught you how to drive...?"

 

"Self-taught," Temple grunts, throwing open the back of the van. Beanny's other eyebrow joins the first, and Temple huffs when he turns towards her, popping one hand on his hip and giving her his most unimpressed stare. "Do you want your coffee or are you just going to criticize my driving?"

 

"Oh, I was just letting you take your time~ No need to worry, I'll be taking these off your hands," Beanny laughs, trotting over to inspect the van, nodding in satisfaction at the amount of product. Hmph, as if Temple would be that obvious if he were stealing from the stash. "Although... Prim's never sent anyone else to deliver before. He's... ok, right?"

 

Her smile drops a little bit and she adjusts her glasses, the fidget clearly an obvious habit from how it does absolutely nothing to straighten them out.

 

"He's fine," Temple sighs, leaning into the van to tug the first heavy bag of beans closer, Beanny waiting to receive it outside. "Overworking himself like an idiot, but what else is new? I'm just filling in for today, so don't get used to it."

 

The cherubun is suspiciously quiet, and Temple doesn't like it. When he manages to pull the beans into position and catch her eye again, he stiffens at the expression she has on her face. She's smiling, all soft and warm, and-

 

"Oh, I'm so glad that Prim has someone looking out for him... he's always working so hard, and deserves a friend to have his back!" She wipes away a tear that isn't there, sniffling for added dramatic effect, but despite the theatrics, it's clear her feelings are sincere.

 

Which is why Temple flushes, bright and angry, and immediately protests.

 

"I am not!" He screeches, startling a few stray avia hanging out on the cafe's outdoor chairs. "His friend! He's- that bun is a despot, making me work in the dirt, and having me run- stop smiling!!"

 

Beanny, naturally, laughs in response.

 

By the time they've finished unloading everything, Beanny is extremely cheerful, and Temple about as exhausted as Primrose had looked.

 

He's so drained that by the time he drops the van off back at the Embassy and returns the keys... he completely forgot to make a copy. Damnit.