Chapter Text
Hmm... Where could he be? Dandy thinks to himself, peeking out of corners and knocking on doors. The flower had been looking for Astro for a while now, bored from not having anything to do for the day. His toon handler said something along the lines of "day off" and "free time", it mostly went over his head over the fact Dandy could do anything he wanted.
A conversation coming from the lobby catches Dandy's attention, a familiar voice becoming louder as he walks down the hallway. He spots Teagan and Astro sitting on a bench, observing how one toon talks and the other takes a sip of their drink.
Oh, Teagan has a tea party with Astro today. What a shame. I would have liked to join, Dandy hums to himself, turning away. He idly stands in front of one of the lobby elevators when he hears padded footsteps approaching.
"Dandy? I thought I saw you down the hallway," Astro wonders aloud. The flower turns around and pops a huge grin on his face, happy to see his best friend. So the conversation ended while I was waiting for the elevator. What good timing!
"That's me! I was looking for you all over Gardenview. How was that tea party?" The flower asks, pressing a button calling for the elevator again.
"Good… It seems like Teagan got a good selection of tea leaves this time. My iced tea tasted better than last time," Astro hums, shifting on his feet.
Dandy's smile falters for a second. He raises an eyebrow, questioning, "Wait, you like iced tea?"
"...Yes? Is it bad?" he hesitantly responds.
"I thought you'd ask Teagan for chamomile or lavender tea!" Dandy exclaims, hands slapping on his cheeks, "Kinda weird of me mentioning flowers brewed into tea, but we're not going to talk about that."
"Ah, well, she served me that one time... It didn't end well," confesses Astro.
Dandy stares at the moon. "You have to tell me that story."
The elevator dings, catching the attention of both toons. Its doors open for them to step inside. At the press of another button, the doors close and begin to move.
"Well... if you insist..." Astro begins, clearing his throat.
- - -
The moon stumbles in the elevator sometime after dinner, his voice parched from today's recording session. Astro thankfully manages to get a meal from Sprout after going overtime, though he feels a bit more thirsty than hungry. He can hear the whir of the elevator gears as it descended into the diner floor, a slight jolt and a ding! indicating that the elevator reached its destination.
He steps out of the elevator as his eyes notice a figure in a glittery golden dress and a fluffy white boa—Teagan. She seemed focused on doing something on the stove, stirring in a small pot.
"Teagan, are you making tea at this hour?" Astro calls out, catching her attention.
She stops stirring her pot and turns off the heat, waving at him, "Why, yes, I am. Would you like some?"
"I could use tea for my throat..." Astro yawns, quickly covering his mouth when stray dry coughs interrupt.
"I can brew you something different for a sore throat," Teagan offers, but is cut off by Astro's waving blanket.
He coughs out, "It's fine, you already brewed something."
She sighs but turns to the stove and inspects the pot. "It's no bother, but only if you insist. Do sit by one of the booths, I'll be there with the cha... tea soon."
Taking this as a sign to go, Astro takes the nearest booth, losing track of what Teagan said at the end of her sentence. He sits on the side furthest from the kitchen, waiting for her to come over. Only a few minutes pass when Teagan carries a tray with a bowl, a small teapot, and matching cups.
Huh, so she wasn't brewing tea? thinks Astro, thanking her for the cup and blowing it so it cools down enough to drink. He gingerly takes a sip, eyes immediately widening as soon as he gulps the tea down.
"...Teagan, this isn't chai, is it?" Astro asks.
Her eyes look at him in worry as she says, "Astro, I told you it was chamomile?"
"..." Astro looks down at the tea and then to Teagan. "...I was wondering why you said 'chai tea' when normally you just say 'chai'..."
"Astro, are you okay?" Her smile drops to a frown, Teagan nearly standing out of her chair, "Oh dear, I didn't do anything wrong did I?"
He quickly shakes his head, nearly spilling his tea from how fast he put down the cup. "No, no, nothing's wrong! I wasn't expecting this tea… That's all to it, really."
"Goodness Astro, I thought you suddenly had new allergies I wasn't aware of," Teagan sits back down, adjusting her boa. "I wouldn't like to be the cause of a toon having problems, though accidents can happen."
"Mhm..." the moon nods, wondering, I hope this doesn't have any consequences. He takes another gulp.