she sells seashells

"Aster, I'm tired."
"I know, Cheri, but we're nearly done."
"When is nearly done going to be done?"
"When we have enough shells to get your pretty little self whatever your heart desires."
"Hmph. I think we should go faster." Cheri whines.
"I know, hon, and I'm digging for shells as fast as I can, but we have all day, and the weather's nice. Why don't you try to enjoy it?" Aster asks.
The bun is bent over in the heat, digging for shells in the sand. His arms are filthy with grit and sea debris, but his hands look like this so Cheri's can look like that; perfectly manicured, without a drop of dirt or filth on them. Aster would never ask Cheri to get dirty, especially when Aster was less afraid of hard work. Did it mean getting dirty? Yes. But Aster would be damned if he wasn't a good provider for his precious Cheri.
"I'm trying to enjoy it, but I'm hot, and tired, and you promised me yummy drinks and nice prizes."
"I did, didn't I? And you've been very patient." Aster coos. "You can be patient for me for a bit longer, can't you?"
"I can try," Cheri huffs. "But I've been patient all day, and the day before that, and the day before that.... and the day before that..." They try to count on their hands, but math was never their strong suit.

"You've been a very patient bunny, I know." Aster agrees. "But that just means you can keep being patient. Good things come to those who wait."
"And what are those good things, hm? What are you going to buy me with those seashells?"
"I don't know yet, hon," Aster hums. "You need to be -"
"Don't say patient, I'll bite you." Cheri threatens. Aster laughs. Cheri couldn't be intimidating if he tried, but Aster would never say that to them out loud.
"My deepest apologies..." Aster purrs. "Look, one last shell; you ready to go spend my money?"
"When am I not?" Cheri giggles. Aster moves to the ocean to fully clean off his arms of sand. Cheri wouldn't touch him, otherwise, and when he returns, he's holding the seashells just out of reach.
"FIrst, have you earned it?"
"I have, I have!" Cheri argues, jumping up and down, tugging on Aster's shoulders.
"What do you say?" Aster asks.
"Please? May I please have some?" Cheri pouts harder.
"And?"
Hmph. Cheri gives him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"There we go. Good bun." Aster handed the cleanest of the shells to Cheri, dropping them into his eager hands. The bunny cheered in delight, racing off towards the market stalls to browse. Aster, at least, could keep up with them decently well, and made sure that their eyes weren't bigger than their wallet.
Aster could never be mad at Cheri, though. Cheri had a lot of needs, and Aster was happy to provide for them. Besides, there were some cute necklaces for shells that would look really nice on his special bun....