A Rose By Any Other Name

It was more and more often lately, that Edie had been finding herself wandering back to the Church of Sulfur. She had never been particularly faithful, per se, but there is something about the other succubuns that devote themselves to the demons of Burrowgatory, that Edie finds fascinating. This concept of devotion, the ever burning flame in their hearts, fidelity a red hot iron, unquenchable by temptation. She desired it, maybe not exactly the same, but there was something captivating about their piety. Unsurprising that she made fast friends with Satin. Love is so easy to talk about for Edie, a common desire between the buns, which left the perfect opportunity for “sisterly” bonding. While the two darling succubuns had very different ideas and goals for the love that they each sought, the mutual understanding was deep. They could each swoon, or commiserate- whichever was appropriate, about encounters with other buns or midnight dreams left unfulfilled. Today was no exception. 

Edie was trudging along the path of the church gardens, dragging her feet as well as the most recent bouquet that she received from a fan. She tossed aside the already wilting bouquet of roses, pink lilies, and some kind of large white daisy sprinkled with baby’s breath to fill out the Matentines themed paper wrapping before draping herself over the next bench-turned-chaise lounge. She brought herself here to  whine and moan to a Satin that was hard at work tending to the garden’s flowers, though Satin's task was hardly relevant to Edie's plans for the afternoon. “It’s just frustrating Satin! None of them get it, they just don’t understand, even though I tell them!” The wrought iron bench was nestled along the path between two flourishing rose bushes, almost as if she had placed herself to be painted as a maiden from a romantic renaissance piece. Most of the plants in this section of the garden appeared to be some type of rose. 

Carefully taking her sheers to the bush in front of her, she tenderly snips a branch, then another, before responding to Edie, “I know darling, Your needs are clear as day, yet they continue to disappoint.” She carefully inspects the plant further, making sure that none of the branches are growing downwards, or in unsightly directions. Rose bushes are fickle creatures, not dissimilar to the hearts of succubuns. Love is not a foreign concept to succubuns, in fact, many facets of their lives are defined by “love,” but maybe that word alone isn’t enough to really delve into the hearts of the populace of Burrowgatory. 

Deciding that bush was sufficiently groomed and well off enough for its future growth, Satin moved on to the next, sharing a glance backwards to Edie so that she knew it was time to move on, leaving the discarded bouquet behind. Despite Edie’s currently frustration with her adoring “fans,” she wasn’t so completely enraptured in her own story telling that she wasn’t going to keep up with Satin, besides, what’s a show without an audience. “If it was up to me, I would never look at another rose in my LIFE.” The disgust that dripped off the end of her statement was disproportionate to the actual frustration she felt. Truly, she was happy to receive flowers from her admirers, but there was something about Matentines that made the gesture feel— forced. 

“Well, my dear, I think you may have come to the wrong place for comfort then.” Satin gestured around the two of them, who were still smack dab in the middle of the church’s rose garden. Giggling, Satin returns to her work. At this point she is very comfortable with Edie’s theatrics, and knows that the succubun means no offense to Satin’s work, or to the Church itself. 

“This is no laughing matter, Satin!” Edie scampered on the pads of the feet of her succubun form so that she was around front of Satin. “Everyone knows that the flowers don’t count if you only get them when you’re supposed to get them.” 

“And what gave you that idea? I’m fairly certain that a well meaning gift, regardless of timing, doesn’t hold any more or less weight because it’s been given on a holiday. If you hadn’t been gifted any, wouldn’t you be just a frustrated with the lack of shows of affection?” Satin knew that one might sting Edie’s pride, ever so slightly, but it was worth saying. She moved to take a step around Edie before approaching the next bush that needed its monthly trim. 

Edie plopped her body down on the nearest bench, now that Satin has stopped at another rose bush. “But don’t you get it? I wouldn’t be so upset if they put more thought into it! It’s roses, always roses, and that damned baby’s breath. It’s not like they’re proposing a tie!” With a roll of her eyes and a heavy sigh, she kicked her feet under her, despondently.

Satin was pleasantly surprised. It’s always in moments like this that her matchmaker, therapist mode always wants to kick in, even if it’s not always the best time. She was full ready to launch into a continued lecture to Edie about love in its other forms and how, maybe these buns just don’t see things the same way she does. But she can tell that, for once, Edie has already done that introspection and is thinking wholeheartedly about her needs and them not being met. A vast improvement to Edie’s self-observation compared to when the two buns first met. Still she turned, taking a step towards Edie and taking one of her cloven paws in her own. “‘Tis true that you desire and ask for a specific type of love from your admirers. What types of bouquets would you have like to see?”

Edie looked at Satin with big, sparkly, round eyes. “Well for starters, if they were going to get roses, they could at least get the darkest red roses they could find. I know my call color is pink, but pink roses are hardly the proclamation of desire that I deserve.” With her rejuvenated feeling of being understood, she sits herself up on the bench, recovered fully from her (physical and mental) slump. Satin takes this as her presence no longer being needed as a comfort and returns to her rose bush, dutifully going back to her role as caretaker, both for the plants and for one of the lovers of Burrowgatory. “But you know as well as I, every florist in Burrowgatory could tell them about the language of flowers! Why not try for something with a little more, oomph.”  Edie motions with her little arms as much as she can in her small form. “I always emphasize devotion to my followers, it’s an idols lifeline! Lavender, chrysanthemums,” she pauses, searching her memory for the little bit of flower language she had retained being taught. “Or carnations! Depending on the color they could be a life long proclamation! Can you imagine?” Her little body swayed and she swooned at the thought. 

This was one of the moments where it was apparent that the idea of love Edie desired was much different than that which Satin desired. But the bliss, the hope, the fluttering feelings of excitement that Edie was feeling in the moment as she sways on the bench, were something that Satin knew all too well. “It’s not devotion specifically, but Gladiolus flowers are know to represent fidelity to some. That can be similar, can’t it?” Satin liked seeing her friend like this. Knowing that she was looking forward to the love that she desires, and that she deserves, fills her with her own sense of joy.

“Exactly! Knowing that I’m the one and only idol in their hearts.” Edie is hardy recognisable from the bun she was mere minutes ago, now so vibrant and full of life. She finds herself so inspired that she hops up off the bench and begins spinning and flourishing along the path behind Satin, who can’t help but turn and watch. The motes of light that always accompanied the succubun twinkled as she spun, highlighting her eyes, the plushness of her ears, and followed her hooves as she twirled across her impromptu stage. 

Feeling inspired by her friend’s spontaneous display, Satin waited for Edie to slow to a stop before continuing, “You know, if it were me, the star of the bouquet would have to be the Amaryllis flower. It’s not the common meaning, but it’s said they have origins meaning ‘to sparkle,’ and represent light and beauty.”

Edie, had she not already stilled her movement, would have been stopped dead in her tracks. Led by nothing but the fluttering in her heart, the Lust succubun made a sound somewhere between a whimper and a wail as she launched herself towards Satin, wrapping her in embrace. Pulling her face back, she looks at her beloved friend and says, “You always know the perfect thing to say Satin. Don’t you know?” Before burying her head back into the plush fur of the pink succubun, nuzzling her softly. Eventually backing away, and helping Satin straighten her veil, she asserts confidently, “Alright, now it’s my turn to help you! What can I do, Love?”

A gentle flush leaves Satin’s cheeks after her embrace with her friend, after all, Matentines is right around the corner. She continues to right herself, even after Edie’s assistance, and ponders audibly. “Well, I can’t say that giving you a pair of sheers would be a very good idea. So how about you follow behind me with the watering can?” Satin smiles softly to her friend, knowing that both succubuns feel cared for and loved.