Ambrosial Brews

Grabbing some of the dried flower petals, Kane looks over at Primrose who is already wrist deep into the mortar. “Y’know, I’m really glad I remembered to bring my face mask this time! All the dust we’re making is almost as bad as the pollen was,” Kane mentions offhandedly. He puts the handful of dried petals into his own mortar and then grabs the pestle sitting right beside it.

Primrose glances over at him in response but quickly goes back to his own work in front of him. “Really? Perhaps you’re allergic to the whole plant then…?” He pauses, thinking a bit to himself. “But your hands don’t seem to be affected by handling them,” he muses.

Kane laughs, “Heh, yeah, that IS pretty weird isn’t it?” The pestle makes a grinding sound as he begins to grind the petals into a fine powder. “I’m thinkin’ it might be because I apparently had pretty bad breathing issues as a kid. I don’t remember it at all but sometimes even the Hazeblooms get on my nerves.” He always has to be a bit careful during the Hazebloom Harvest because the sheer amount of blooms at Wonderland always stuff his nose up.

The Cherubun crinkles his nose up a bit at the mention of the Hazeblooms. “Dove once showed me a preserved one that they had gotten from Jackal,” Primrose says. “It threw me into a sneezing fit as soon as they brought it out. The smell was almost too strong for either of us… Once Dove managed to put it back inside its case, they decided to mention that they hadn’t opened it prior.” 

“Oh, man, really? Haha, that’s great!” Kane laughs again, finding the thought of the two Cherubuns being airily attacked by a Hazebloom amusing. “At least I’m not the only one with a sensitive nose.”

Primrose scoffs as he dumps a finished batch of powder into a ceramic container. “Well, it’s only to be expected. Our… palates don’t exactly align with each other. Not that a respectable Cherubun should ever fancy a taste of alcohol but we both know that our respective drinks are toxic to those of the opposite side.” 

Kane nods, knowing all too well about the whole “Cherubuns can’t drink alcohol and Succubuns can’t drink ambrosia” deal. He remembers the poor, sad Succu-sap who decided to try a sip of ambrosia only to be carted off to the hospital. “It kinda sucks though to think about. You guys always seem so happy to drink it, it almost feels like we’re missing out.” He also finishes up his first batch of dried petals and walks over to Primrose with the mortar to dump the powder into the container as well.

The smaller bun looks over as Kane approaches with his batch and Primrose slides the container over a little on the work bench for his convenience. “One could almost say the same about Succubuns and your alcohol. You all do have a bit more variety in flavors and types than we currently have of ambrosia… though I am working hard on trying to expand the Embassy’s stock to newer types.” Primrose sighs as he watches Kane dump the powder and return back to his station. “It’s just rather hard when I barely have enough time as it is to do research into cross pollination, different soils, times of watering, and the like.”

Primrose glances over at Kane who is back to being engrossed in grinding more petals. He manages to smile a little before quickly turning back so that the Succubun wouldn’t be able to see it. “Although, volunteers like you really do help immensely. I can’t deny it.”

Kane’s progress screeches to a halt to blink Gargowl-ishly at the Cherubun… who… seems to have praised him (even if it was a little roundabout)? What is this alternate universe he seems to have made his way into? “Ah… well, y’know the Gardens aren’t too bad as long as you’re not allergic like I am,” he manages to say. “And neither are you, Primrose… I think anybody can see just how much you try your damndest to make Burrowgatory a nice place for Cherubuns to live.”

A sigh emanates from Primrose, who’s halted his progress again to dump more powder off. “Well… I’m glad my efforts don’t seem to be in vain. It’s been hard, adjusting to life here. My work is all that motivates me. So, as long as other Cherubuns continue to migrate here, I’ll keep working to make sure they’re comfortable and happy.” He looks over his shoulder, locking eyes with Kane this time. “I think we deserve long and fulfilling lives. Don’t you?”

A flush creeps up Kane’s neck and he quickly breaks eye contact to grab his pestle again. He has only heard in passing what the Cherubuns’ lives were like in the heavenly meadow. They didn’t live very long nor did they have much freedom. He makes a mental note to learn more about the topic. Later though. Kane doesn’t think it’s an appropriate thing to ask Primrose who might have more… complicated feelings about his fall than other Cherubun’s.

“Totally,” he replies lamely, mentally kicking himself for how crappy it sounds. “I mean, yes! I’m glad you guys have the choice now… I know it’s just how we Succubuns are raised but I think that being a little selfish and choosing what you want to do with your life is how everyone should be able to live.”

Primrose looks away again and sets his mortar aside, having finished his own stack of dried petals. “Selfishness is something hard for us to learn, at least for me. But… as you said, it’s my life. So, I choose to work in the Embassy. Even if it’s hard some days, I feel fulfilled,” he pauses, turning around with the ceramic jug in his hands to bring it over to Kane who has just finished his last few petals. “Just like you chose to keep volunteering, right?”

Kane almost drops the mortar on the floor after he picks it up from what Primrose just said, fumbling to grab it with both hands. “Ah… so you overheard me and Dove?” He carefully dumps the last bit of powder into the nearly overfilled container. 

Primrose shrugs and gives Kane a bit of a sly look. “You were kind of loud,” he teases.

The two look at each other as Primrose places the lid on top of the, now fit to bursting, ceramic canister and Kane laughs heartily. He hadn’t expected any of this when he first volunteered over a bet but… he thinks that he’ll be helping out at the Embassy for a long, long time.