[COMM] Makoto Diligence 6

Word count: 1012

With the warm light reflecting off the windows of the Heavenly Embassy’s kitchens, Makoto found himself standing idly at a counter so blatantly cluttered in freshly picked flowers. Their scent seemed stronger here than the garden, it pricked at his skin, his nose twitching as he waited for Primrose to give him some sort of direction.

The cherubun was good at that, telling others what to do at his exact instructions and boldly complaining if he thought they were doing something wrong. The thought was enough to make Makoto’s lips twitch upward. After all this time, all this work and conversation, he found himself almost fond of the other. Primrose may be the prickly sort, but Makoto was starting to believe that was just who the cherubun was.

The loud clearing of a throat broke his thoughts and Makoto was quick to look to his side.

Primrose was frowning, his hip popped to the side with one hand loosely grasping it. “Finally back? I’ve been calling your name for the past minute.”

Makoto quickly bowed his head, “Forgive me, I didn’t hear you.” He continued on, before he could he lectured, “It’s time for us to begin making ambrosia isn’t it?”

Primrose gave him a look for cutting him off, but ultimately decided against saying anything. “Yes, I’ve decided you will help with medicinal ambrosia and other drinks.”

“Not the seasonal ones or divine?” Makoto questioned, curious as he finally looked away from the flowers.

“I have my own special techniques for those ambrosias and I will not be sharing them with you,” Primrose stated matter-of-factly, and yet his expression tensed, “This is nothing against you, I would not share my secrets with anyone.” 

Makoto shook his head, “I’m not offended, Primrose, and behind that, I’m still making ambrosia at the end of it all. Medicinal ambrosia sounds rather important.”

Primrose nodded, “Without access to the meadows, we have had to learn how to take care of ourselves.”

Makoto wanted to make a comment about whether cherubuns had known how to help themselves in the meadows without the angel that reigned over them, but he thought it was better not to say anything. “How do I begin?”

Primrose moved towards the countertop and picked up a bundle of stems, moving to one of the stoves where a pot of water sat. “One method for medicinal ambrosia is to boil the stems.” He gestured to another counter, “Another is to grind dried leaves into powder. I already prepared the leaves, all you need to do is grind them.”

True to the cherubun’s words, baking sheets were laid out with leaves dried in parchment paper. Makoto appreciated that he would not have to wait. “Of course.”

While Primrose set the stems to boil, Makoto picked up a mortar, filling it with leaves, before he used a pestle to grind the plant. The resulting powder had a deep scent, almost similar to sticking your head into tall grass. It was remarkable that something so simple could be used to help cherubuns.

Once Makoto was done grinding the leaves, and after pouring the powder into a large tin, he glanced at Primrose. The cherubun was calmly standing beside the boiling pot, his eyes sharp as he watched the water.

Makoto tried not to speak too loudly, “I’m done Primrose.”

Primrose would deny being startled, but he did move faster than he usually did to look at the succubun. “Now that you’re done with that, you can move along to making pulp of the flowers.”

“Pulp? Is that also used in medicinal ambrosia?”

The cherubun shook his head, “It’s not for that, it can instead be mixed with water, sugar and other flavorings for drinks.”

Makoto seemed surprised, “It’s more for leisure drinks then?”

Primrose hesitated, he didn’t want to claim cherubun had moments of laziness, not like the succubuns, but what were these drinks if not for slower times. “In a way, just go on and make the pulp.”

Makoto only made a sound of agreement as he approached another counter. There the petals were in a large bowl, but beside them on the counter was a muddler. A muddler? “Primrose, where did you get this?”

The cherubun completely turned towards Makoto, “Hmm? That was something Beanny gifted me, she said it would help with ambrosia making.”

Makoto had to wonder if the cherubun understood what a muddler was usually used for, in terms of bartending, but it seemed pointless to ruin something that was helping the other. “I see, it looks like it’s very helpful.”

He picked up the muddler and began to crush the petals, effectively turning them into a pulp. Makoto wondered what his mistress would think when he returned to her home smelling so heavily of flowers. He imagined the scent would be difficult to remove. “Is this all I need to do?”

Primrose quickly answered, “Yes, this is most of the processes I need done today. However.” He looked around, his cheeks slightly flush as he tried to be polite, “If you wanted, you can help me pour the ambrosia into their bottles when I’m done with the divine and seasonal ones.”

Makoto was impressed, it must have taken quite a bit out of Primrose to offer something like that. He was right about them becoming somewhat friends, otherwise, he couldn’t imagine the cherubun just offering such a thing to any succubun. “I would like to.”

Primrose seemed satisfied with that answer as he once again stood in front of the boiling pot, not bothering to respond.

There had been plenty of ups and downs with this entire ambrosia process, but Makoto was glad for his time spent in the embassy. He had learned far more than he expected and in the end, he thought he made a true acquaintance of the embassy’s leader. It seemed no matter their differences, in the end all buns were similar and they tended to stick together unconsciously.

Makoto only hoped the camaraderie between them continued long after all the ambrosia was brewed and shelved.