Gets to be more ascetic? Not quite (7)
I believe the answer is:
needles
'gets to' is the definition.
(needle can mean to annoy someone or get to them)
'be more ascetic? not quite' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'be' could be 'need' (needing is a kind of being) and 'need' is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'les' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for needles that I've seen before include "Feature of Christmas trees" , "Teases or provokes with knitting implements" , "Where a lighthouse is" , "Sewing aids" , "Conifer leaves" .)