Pursuit of Diligence (Chapter 3)

"So, explain to me again why we can't just - I don't know - use a hose to water these plants?" The white and purple succubun asks his garden chaperone as he totes a large watering can behind him.

Primrose sighs. "Again, these plants need specially purified water to flourish -"

"There's not some holy sprinkler system that can be implemented? It'd be much more efficient," Aster cuts him off, still unjustifiably prickly about their last session being skipped, and sets the watering can down a little too carelessly.

Pursed lips fire back just as quickly, "I'm sorry, I was under the impression you wanted to help in the gardens. If watering the flowers is too much work for you -"

"Why work harder if you can work smarter?" Aster scowls. He knows cutting off the cherubun was only going to make him equally pissy, but that was how he felt, and he didn't mind dragging Primrose down with him. Etiquette and manners be damned.

"Why am I not surprised," said bun rolls his eyes, indeed getting frustrated. "No one seems to understand the care that goes into tending to the gardens. They just want the benefits - the instant gratification - pretty flowers, teas, ambrosias. Why should they put in the effort - the diligence?"

Aster crosses his arms over his chest, he didn't like that the other bun was correct. He was impatient, he did want instant rewards, but he'd stuck it out this long, wasn't that proof enough he was different? Special? At the very least, not your average succubun. "I took your lessons -"

"Yes, solely for access to our gardens, and now that you have it, those lessons seem to be slipping from your memory," Primrose picks up the watering can and turns away, beginning to water the flowers they had planted a few short weeks ago.

The succubun - too stunned to speak - watches on, mouth agape, as Primrose continues the task without him. Like he wasn't even there, like he didn't matter. 

He wouldn't stand for this, and takes hold of the canister in the cherubun's hands. Aster attempts to jerk it out of the other's grip, but Primrose had the same idea. A short game of tug-o-war ensues between the buns until the purple one loses his grip and the watering can goes flying out of their hands, before clattering unceremoniously to the ground. 

"No!" Primrose quickly moves to right the canister before too much water can escape into the ground, but a good portion had already seeped into the dirt beneath his feet. With a frustrated snarl, he snaps back around to face the now sheepish looking Aster, "what is your problem?"

"My problem?" He quickly changes his tune, ready to be just as combative. "You're my problem - I mean -" Aster shakes his head, that didn't come out right; Primrose's expression confirmed that. 

The frustrated cherubun gets up from the ground, arms folded and clearly waiting for some elaboration from him.

Struggling to explain himself, he finally settles on, "I'm trying, okay? This isn't exactly in my nature, you can't expect me to be perfect after a month and a half of work - and I have been improving, not that you've noticed."

Something he said seemed to resonate with the bun, and his expression softens ever so slightly. There's a silence between them before Primrose finds his words. "I don't expect perfection, Aster...but I do expect respect," he carefully selects. "Can we both agree to do that?"

The lust bun stays quiet, thinking. His problems weren't totally being resolved, but how could they if he didn't express them in the first place? He was pretty sure Primrose wasn't a mind reader; he would have to tell him. Just, not today, "yes, I can do that."

"Good, now head back to the supply room and fill up another canister, I'll keep watering with what's left," he picks up the watering can again, waiting for the other to scurry off.

Still not one for grunt work, Aster nonetheless complies and hurries to retrieve the canister. It was a simple enough task and gave the bun time to collect himself in the relative privacy of the supply room. As he lugs the oversized canister back to their plot, he sees an unwelcome sight, another bun chatting up his chaperone. Said chaperone seemed to be enjoying himself - considerably more so than he had been with Aster.

Not being able to control his feet, he finds himself crossing the distance with purpose. Mustering up his best friendly face as he makes his approach, he interrupts their conversation, "-hey Primrose, got the watering can you wanted - oh, I'm sorry, I'm not interrupting, am I?" The bun feigns innocence but is already fast at work analyzing this new rabbit. Where was their chaperone? Aster looks around, but it was only the three of them in this immediate section of garden; did they have special permission to be here? The red and white lust succubun didn't seem so special, but did seem equally unenthused about Aster's presence as he secretly felt about theirs. 

"No, just stopping by to report in," the bun answers flatly. 

"Furi was kind enough to run an errand for me today," Primrose explains, looking quite pleased.

"And now I'm leaving. Later," Furi departs without a second glance back at either of the buns.

There's an odd moment of silence after they leave in which both buns are left staring after them until they disappear towards the gardens exit. Aster was glad for their departure and not bothering to mask it. Cheerfully, he turns to Primrose, "well now that there's no more distractions, let's pick up where you left off -" 

It wasn't hard to differentiate the dry from the watered ground around the flowers, and Aster starts to pour the special purified water onto the parched dirt. It takes a moment, however, for Primrose to rejoin him, and he certainly seems distracted when he does return. The wheels in Aster's head start turning; Sweetpea had mentioned competition...what if this Furi was that competition? Had they been the one Primrose double booked his appointment for last week?  

No, they seemed worse than Aster was - at least he was trying to be polite. This bun didn't seem to give a shit about that. To be fair, neither did Aster, but he at least pretended to be.

"Aster!" 

He looks up at the sudden outburst, only to realize he had been pouring water in one - now flooded - spot in the plot. "Shit!" The bun covers the spout with his hand in a panic and pulls the canister back. Spinning around in search of a trowel, and finding none, Aster shoves his hands in the mud, carving out a channel to divert the water flow.

"Ah! Good thinking - you didn't disturb the roots, did you?" Primrose fusses over the other's work but soon finds there was nothing to worry about. "Everything's still intact, good."

"You worry too much, have a little faith in me," Aster replies.

"I worry exactly the right amount - you almost flooded the plot," The cherubun corrects. "Now let's see if we can finish watering this batch before any other incidents occur."