Pursuit of Diligence (Part 4)

Another week had passed, and Aster once again found himself in Burrowgatory's own little slice of heaven - the Heavenly Embassy. As had become the usual, he was in the company of his chaperone, Primrose, and the pair had spent most of the day tending to the gardens. This time, there were no interruptions, no mishaps, and no Furi. Whether or not the other bun truly was his competition didn't matter, but his own opinions on the subject did. The white and red rabbit might think he has a chance, but Aster would surely crush him in the - very one sided - competition. After all, it was Aster who attended his classes, Aster who had run special errands, and Aster who had carefully cultivated - not only rare flowers- but a bond with the cherubun over the last month and some change. What accolades did Furi have?

The fact that he had no idea what they had or hadn't done while he wasn't around doesn't even occur to him. 

Set in his delusions, he carries himself smugly beside the cherubun, watering the last batch of flowers in their section. They really were beautiful - as far as plants went - and soon they would be in full bloom. It was kind of exciting, knowing he was responsible for bringing even more majesty into the world than he was by simply existing. 

Careful sprinklings of the water canister hydrate the ground around the plants, and when both buns finish their plots, Aster is already leading the way back to the supply shed with empty cans in hand. 

"One moment -" 

Aster halts, and glancing back over his shoulder at the cherubun, is surprised to see he hadn't been following. Instead, Primrose hung back, leaning over another bed of plants. These were notably different than the ones the succubun had been working with, and if he looked closer, he could see, "coffee beans?"

"Beanny insisted," Primrose answers as he inspects the plant with a gentle hand. "These do look ready, though..."

Aster finally puts down the watering cans he had still been holding as the other bun continues to investigate the plot of coffee bean plants. He wasn't familiar with tending to this variety of vegetation and waits cluelessly for Primrose's evaluation to come. 

"Would you mind staying around a bit longer?" He eventually asks, looking expectantly to Aster. "I could use the help harvesting, and if on your way out you wouldn't mind dropping them off at the cafe -" 

 "I don't mind," he answers a little too abruptly for his own liking, but it seemed to go over well; he could have sworn he caught the hint of a smile on the other's lips. Not that he was looking there on purpose, it was the motion that caught him, that's all.

"Excellent," Primrose's voice breaks him out of his head. "Let's swap our canisters for baskets, and get to it!"

----- ----- ----- ----- -----

One bean harvest and packaging later, Aster with a neatly tied box, bids farewell to the embassy head and leaves the gardens. He had never taken the time to visit the cafe before, but via a Primrose errand was as good a way as any to do so. The pale bun weaves his way through the visitors in the main lobby, aiming to make the trip swift and easily, and be on his way before it got dark back in Burrowgatory. As he approached the cafe, however, there was a very visible line trailing from the counter out onto the main floor.

Did he...really have to wait through that? That was the etiquette wasn't it? Patience? Wait in line cordially for your turn or it being rude to interrupt workers - something? He couldn't risk breaking whatever rule Primrose had in place, especially not in his own embassy. Fearing the discovery of his lack of actual manners, with a sigh, Aster makes his way to the back of line.

To his credit, the succubun does wait patiently - at the start. As time went on, and the line moved very little, the lust bun grew restless. What was taking so long up there? Aster pokes his head out of line, trying to see past the other buns and into the shop, but with no luck. Standing on his tiptoes doesn't work, neither does crouching down and around. All avenues exhausted, it takes about thirty seconds longer before Aster's impatience gets the better of him. 

With an annoyed huff, he gets out of line - drawing a few wandering eyes - and marches past the line and towards the shop. The buns at the door don't move aside at first, and without so much as an 'exuse me' Aster shoves his way past, much to their outcries. He didn't care, he was in the store now - besides, he wasn't a customer, he was...well, not a delivery boy, but a messenger. A bearer of gifts, and helper of things. That meant he didn't have to wait in line.

Aster continues to ignore the waiting buns, and strides past them to the front counter. At the very least, he has the sense to stand a little off to the side of the register, but he doesn't skip a beat and clears his throat, demanding the barista's attention.

Which he doesn't get.

Puzzled by the non-reaction of the cherubun, Aster tries again, louder this time.

Nothing.

"Excuse me -" 

"Oh hello, didn't see you there," the bun speaks without looking up from her work. 

Confused and a little annoyed, he tries another approach. "Primrose sent me, special delivery."

Upon hearing the key phrases, the barista bun turns her attention on Aster. "Beans? Already? I thought it'd be a few more days for sure!" She takes the box, astounding Aster with how quickly she put together the facts. 

Beanny opens the box of coffee beans, running her hand over them as she examines her mini hoard. "They look great - as usual- and just in time - we're almost out of this roast!"

"Huh, what timing -" Aster comments; it was a bit of a coincidence, wasn't it? Primrose sends him away with beans that just so happened to be ready early? Why him? Was he trying to get rid of him? Was he hanging out with Furi?

"Hey, are you okay?"

Aster looks back up at the barista; she was already on her next customer, creating the drink but keeping her eyes on him.

Going pink, Aster nods his head. "Yes, totally fine," he lies.

There's a thickness to the air between them, and Beanny is the first to break through it. "Ookay, well... thanks for the beans..."

Aster nods, thoughts no longer on how he could better himself, but on how he could stop Furi.

With a short, "you're welcome," Aster is out the door and on the way to visit a certain someone for advice.