[Gift] Seashell Search

The sandy beach of burrowgatory was a glorious one. Plenty of everything for every bun with any taste imaginable. The water lapping at the soft sand provided a calming ambiance in the echoing caves. Aster stood on the small wooden walkway that lead to the sand. It cut off promptly from wooden slats to the gentle particles of sand within a few steps, and it was those last few steps that Aster had yet to take. Despite being on the beach, where most buns would be without a worry in mind, Aster was taking his calculated time on how he wanted to approach this. Next to him, his assistant, friend, and sometimes more, Cheri Blossom stood holding a bag with various outfits inside. The much more excited bun was bouncing on his hooves to go run ahead and enjoy the bounties of the sea. Namely flaunting the very expensive designing two piece that Aster had kindly purchased for them. 

"Are you using the changing stands over there to get into your swimsuit?" Cheri eagerly asks, shifting the bag that he held. It was a mesh beach bag, the fancy clothing safely tucked inside the material that was open enough to be rid of any lingering sand for after the days activities. Aster was always one to plan ahead for such things. 

"I suppose I'm left with no other choice, now aren't I? Though, perhaps I will skip out on swimming." Aster hums, his tail swishing in thought. The idea of being wet and sticky in this situation was less than ideal or glorious. He pulls his thoughtful gaze away from the water to look at Cheri through his tinted pink sunglasses. "What do you say about long walks on the beach?"

Cheri scrunches up their nose in thought, thinking about it for a moment, and then nodding with a bratty smile. "If my  hooves get too tired, you have to carry me. Or if the sand gets in unpleasant places!"

"If the sand gets to be unbearable, we're leaving. We can come back for the swimsuit fashion show that I know you'd die over not modeling in." Aster gives an affectionate roll of his eyes. "And I'll carry you if you're cute enough." He teases, before straightening his back and stepping forward into the sandy terrain. 

His hooves hardly sank, and the fine stuff hardly stuck to the keratin. Acceptable. He visibly relaxes, and turns to offer Cheri a hand down for the not even an inch step down from wood to sand. Cheri laughs and takes his hand happily, tail flicking happily. 

"Think of our little walk as a practice for your runway walk. You're letting everyone preview just how cute you are." Aster praises kindly. That earns the bun an overly excited kiss on the cheek from Cheri, the hand that helped them down being gripped tightly and being used to drag Aster closer to the beach. 

"You're SO right! Though if you changed into your swimsuit, we'd look even cuter!" Cheri teases, sticking out his tongue slightly. 

"You really enjoy testing your luck, don't you?" Aster shakes his head, laughing. "Perhaps I'll change into mine later. I can't go on a walk on the beach with you if your knees are giving out from seeing a bit of skin from me." 

Cheri does one of their signature expressions- a pout that could make cotton candy dissipate. "Come ooooon, we're at the beach, on our day off! We can unwind, I can rub some sunscreen on your bare back-"

"There's not sun down here, Cheri." Aster interrupts, trying to sound stern but failing. That pout worked all to well on the bun. "Like I said... We'll see, alright?" That was Aster speak for 'yes but later.' Cheri knew this and beams happily, the previous heart melting pout gone from his features. They've managed to walk to the shoreline, the water not daring reach too close to the fashionable buns. Aster pauses a moment, watching the waves move so peacefully.

What secrets did they keep? where did the seas go, and where did they come from? More importantly, what luxuries did they hide? His gaze is pulled from the body of water to where the sand met the water. Small deposits of fragments of shells scatter the shoreline, and his eyes twinkle with realization. Why, he didn't have to go looking too far in fact!

He shifts, his turn to drag Cheri along to lead the walking along the shore. His eyes are focused on the ground, and he gives Cheri's hand a squeeze. "I think I have a new challenge for you, Cheri... Let's go shell hunting. We can try to find the prettiest shell on the shore. It'll be a lovely accessory for your swimsuit, don't you think?"

Cheri looks like they dislike the idea of touching wet dirty sand to rummage around for the byproduct of the ocean, but Aster's suggestion hits and sticks well. He beams at the idea, clearly already imagining some near impossible shell in that head of theirs. "You're right! We'll have to make sure it's pink."

"Pink is a given." Aster agrees, nodding his agreement. That was one of the many things the two buns agreed upon. It was a lovely color, to say the least. "We'll both look, if you're getting your hands dirty I may as well too. Besides, they won't be for long, the water is right here and we can rinse both our hands and the shells off in one go." Efficiency really was key for Aster. He enjoyed how efficiency could yield him more nice things quicker.  

After about an hour of scouring the beach together, defeat looms over Cheri's pink hair like a cloud. "We're never going to find a perfect shell!" He whines, pouting out at the ocean as if the gesture may earn him what he wants from the seas themselves. Aster felt grimy, despite only his hands only having a tiny bit of sand under the nails, and huffed a bit. He was determined to find what he was looking for. No matter the cost. 

It's in that moment his keen eyes spot something poking out of the sand. He tilts his head and pauses, dragging Cheri back from continuing forward on their walk. "Hold that thought, Cheri." He hums, letting go of their hand to kneel down and get a closer look at the point of the shell he spotted. He takes a pointed moment to make sure that his knees wouldn't get wet from the tides of the water, as he starts pawing in the sand.

He feels silly to say the least, but he can manage somehow. Nice things were worth the work, and that was all this was. With a soft grunt, he yanks the shell out of the sand. A large in tact scalloped shell rest in his well manicured hands and he beams up to Cheri. "There! I think, that our mission is complete." 

The shell in question was absolutely perfect. It lacked any barnacles or blemishes, and the underside revealed a vibrant pastel pink gradient that faded to white. The water that still dripped from the shell made it look sparkling in the light, and Cheri gives his partner an excited round of applause. "Aster! That's perfect! Ohmygoodness, it matches my swimsuit and EVERYTHING!"  

Aster beams, pleased to hear the praise. It certainly felt like a success. Before he knows it, the other buns arms are wrapped around him in an excited hug and kiss, and the wind around them is rushing past the two of them. It's only when Aster's back collides with the sand does he realize that what he had thought had been the wind was in fact him being knocked over by the other bun's excitement. 

Perhaps, any other day, Aster would have been grumpy about his clothes now being thoroughly covered with sand, but... it was a day off, and it really was a perfect shell for a perfect bun. After long moment of kissing on the beach, Cheri pulls back to catch his breath and look down at Aster affectionately.

"I think I know what drink I want from the tiki bar!" He announces happily. Aster can tell exactly what the other bun is about to say. He groans, holding back laughter as he dares ask.
"What drink do you want from the tiki bar, Cheri?"

"A sex on the beach." 

"Damn, here I thought you'd ask for a Sea Shell Martini." Aster teases right back, propping himself up on his elbows before pushing the perfect seashell into the others hands. "Why don't we head back and get you ready for your big swimsuit debut, hm?"

"I think the same could be said to the back of your shirt!" Cheri laughs, happily getting off of the other and helping him up. Aster promptly wipes himself off as best he can as Cheri gently swipes off some of the sand from his shoulders. They take hold of eachothers hands, and make their way back to the entrance of the beach.