[Comm] Two is Better Than One

Beneath the reflective glass of the Heavenly Embassy, under the white columns and stereotypical angelic structures, Marina found herself, with lack of a better word, being lectured.

She stared blankly as she nodded along to whatever the other bun was saying, her brows furrowing as she tried to made sense of what was happening. She was meant to meet Dove here for tea at the cafe, and yet she found herself instantly pulled away by a brightly colored cherubun.

Marina didn’t even think when she muttered, unconsciously interrupting him, “Who are you?”

There was silence for a few moments, until the cherubun’s fur fluffed up and he hissed in an icy tone, “I’m the head of the embassy you stand in, Primrose.” He crossed his arms, muttering under his breath, “But what can you expect of the rabble from down below those burrows?”

Marina decided to ignore that very obvious insult by pretending she couldn’t hear it.  instead she tilted her head, “I’m Marina.”

Primrose scoffed, gritting his teeth as he answered her with strict politeness. “I see.”

Marina waited, but when she realized the cherubun wasn’t going to continue, she quickly asked, “Did you need something? You took me here really quickly.” She really needed to get back to see Dove.

Primrose nodded, “You’re going to help me clean the embassy.” He handed her a feather duster without much warning.

Marina looked at the duster in her hands and back up to him. “Huh-?”

He didn’t wait for her as he grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards one of the nearby offices. “Dust this room, I’ll sweep.”

Marina wondered if she should argue, but she also knew some cherubuns weren’t exactly like succubuns. Some of them still carried the lessons of the Heavenly Meadow and weren’t as understanding as others. She worried if she didn’t agree, she might not be allowed here again. And while she could still visit Dove down at their home with Jackal, she didn’t want to give up one of the places they liked to spend some afternoons at.

She sighed heavily and lifted the duster, moving to dust off one of the desks in the room. “Um, will this take long?”

Primrose looked irritated as he took a broom and began to sweep the floor. “If done correctly, it shouldn’t be long.”

Marina frowned, she couldn’t decide what that meant. What if she did it like she thought she should and he didn’t like it? That seemed a bit unfair. “Do you do this everyday?”

Primrose raised an eyebrow, “Do what?”

“Clean all day?”

“Of course not “ he mumbled, focusing his attention on a tricky corner to sweep. “I tend to the gardens, give etiquette lessons, various other things.”

Marina couldn’t help herself as she whispered, “But when do you have fun?”

The cherubun looked startled, “Fun?”

Marina waved her hand, “You know, like spending time with your friends or leaving the embassy to-”

Primrose interrupted her immediately, “I don’t leave the embassy, where would I go? The burrows.” 

Marina stomped her foot, while she didn’t like to get upset with anyone, she didn’t like the way the cherubun spoke about the burrows. It was enough to annoy even her. “You don’t need to say it like that.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s a bit cruel to insult someone that’s helping you,” Marina replied, pointing the feather duster at Primrose. “If it’s just a horrible thing to be from the burrows, then why did you want me to help?”

Primrose froze, looking away as he took a deep breath, “There was no one else to help.”

“Doesn’t that mean you shouldn’t be mean to me? I could have said no and left, but I decided to help you. And you didn’t even ask me.” Maggie pointed out.

Primrose didn’t know how to respond, but eventually, he took another deep breath. “Perhaps I was… too hasty with my words.”

“You were.” As sweet as Marina could be, she did think it was important to let someone know when they weren’t acting right around her.

Primrose flushed as he crossed his arms, setting the broom against the wall next to him. “If I don’t make another comment on the burrows, will you continue to help me?”

Marina smiled brightly, nodding quickly, “I will! But I can’t promise I can stand a while, I'm meeting a friend at the cafe next door.”

Primrose looked curious. “A cherubun friend? That’s-” He stopped when he saw the look Marina was giving him, he did know when he shouldn’t say something.

Marina seemed appreciative that he stopped himself as she laughed, “My friend, Dove, I’m sure you know them.” She didn’t think there was a single person in the burrows that didn’t know who Dove was at this point, the first cherubun down here sure made an impact.

Primrose wasn’t surprised as he went down to sweeping. “Dove does seem to enjoy the burrows.” He could only imagine the things Dove has seen down there, he didn’t dare think about it. No matter how much the other cherubun tried to convince him to explore with them.

“They’re one of the nicest buns I’ve ever met.” Marina spoke so fondly, it even softened Primrose’s expression for the briefest of moments. He would argue that if asked but the succubun knew what she saw.

She clasped her hands then, “Oh I know! I’ll let them know where I am and they can help us.”

Primrose seemed almost conflicted, before he nodded his head, “Very well, it would probably be for the best if we had more help.”

Marina wasn’t expecting her afternoon to be like this as she texted Dove, but she had a half thought that maybe this Primrose wasn’t so bad. Maybe he just needed some succubun friends to brighten his day and she was sure Dove would agree if she told them. 

There was nothing as lonely as being without friends, even someone grumpy deserved to feel like someone else understood them. Enough to help them clean.