Chapter 12: Risukuma & Witch: One Harpy Customer by kirbymanx/huskynator
F2 - "Hang Out Room"
It was Friday! Yay! Meaning that students only have to attend classes if they want to (still highly encouraged that you do so!)
"So with who should we try and pair up the pumpkin student?" Ally asked sitting at the table with her plans. "Also how?" She scratched her head.
"Good question." The only other person at that table, Risukuma, said after taking a sip from his beaker. "The school doesn't seem to have another plant as a student at the moment, and most mammals and fish aren't into vegetables."
"But is he not a ghost of some sort?"
"I have no clue, I read her student file. It answers nothing."
"I see. But if he's a ghost maybe we can pair him up with Akuma's daughter." Ally did her best to figure this one out.
"But Pumpkin is a trouble maker." Risukuma told his love loving student. "Mr. Akuma wouldn't like his daughter dating a trouble maker when his kids are already trouble makers."
"Hmm…" Ally sighed and picked out an eraser and made some changes.
"Also Pumpkin is a girl." Risukuma pointed at many of the incorrect pronouns on the paper.
"Oh, really?" Risukuma nodded to affirm it. "My bad." Ally started to change them. "Let's try adding some non-romantic love in her life first and see what happens from there. The things that happen in the pursuit of love, right?" The redhead sheepishly smiled.
"Indeed. It happens. Don't feel too worried about it. She's a plant… Or a ghost possessing a plant. I'm not too sure. Love is so complicated." He calmly spoke.
"Yeah… But finding the right one for them makes it all worth it. EVERYONE DESERVES LOVE!~"
"I'll drink to that." Risukuma chugged what's left of the fluid in his beaker. And then they continued strategizing, whether they should or shouldn't on their next plan.
About a minute later two figures enter the room. "There he is, Harp." Panotty said a little annoyed as he pointed at Risukuma with a plastic water bottle with green liquid in one hand and Harpy's hand in the other.
Some people left the room because Harpy entered.
"Yo! Mr. Bearguy[?]." The elf approached, interrupting whatever the agents of love were doing, seeming a little distressed. "Why ain't cha in computer class?"
"I have long breaks on Fri-"
"Well, whatever! Yer a chemist guy right?"
"I am." The bear(?) nodded. "An alche-"
"Then I need yer help! Harpy drank this suspicious-looking drink she bought off that blonde-haired girl in my class who calls herself a witch at the School's wall." Risukuma's ears(?) perked up in shock.
"She was so nice, and it tastes delicious." Harpy said like an airhead while she very well could've drank some poison.
"You don't know what it was!"
"Stop worrying, 'Notty. It's just a potion that makes my voice sound even betteeerrrrrrrr~" Harpy's voice made non-magic folks' ears like Risukuma's and Ally's wanna stop functioning. No one noticed a difference.
"And do you know what that's made off?"
"Out of juice that makes my voice even better?" The angel said like it was a "no duh". She was ignored by her musical buddy.
"Please! Find out what's in this bottle! Mrs. Wish is deep in lessons for the next 50 mins or so, she won't help!" Panotty slammed down the bottle on the table.
Risukuma picked up the bottle. He inspected it. It's green but also very see-through. "Ally, wrap things up! I've gotta check this. I don't recognize this at all!" Risukuma flipped.
"I'm coming with you." Ally quicked rolled up her plans.
"C'mon, Harp!"
"Woah!" Panotty tugged on Harpy's arm again.
F2 - Chemistry Class (Please be quiet!)
Risukuma swiftly, but quietly, opens the doors. "Wish." The human-sized squirrel(?) coldly commanded the chemist professor's attention away from like the 3-4 students there.
"Oh, Mr. Enneé." The silver-haired Professor teacher pointed at a set of everything his colleague needed.
Professor Wish (Chemistry)
Kindhearted and Stern Granny
"I deeply apologize I couldn't tend to the li'l harpy myself. But these children need to catch on their chemistry." The woman stressed.
"Hmph." Risukuma coldly picked up the things he needed. Daggering into the youthful-looking older lady's eyes. Wish was unaffected but Ally certainly got a reminder of how unusually loveless Risukuma felt around the chemistry teacher.
Risukuma motioned for Ally, Panotty, and Harpy to follow him.
"Please remind my dear Granddaughter to stop taking shortcuts. Because if that potion is what I think it is then that's unacceptable."
"We will, Professor Inkwell." Ally spoke for the swiftly leaving Risukuma.
"Thank you, Miss… Hearthwell." She tried to recall the student's name for a second there.
F2 - Teacher's Lounge
Panotty has not stopped worrying about his feather winged friend. "Are you feeling okay, Harp?"
"I keep telling you I'm fine." Harpy kept her thinning patience in check for her best friend. "Mr. Magic Bear[?] guy, please show Panotty there's nothing to worry about. Because I fee-"
"PLEASE NO SCREAMING!" Risukuma quickly shouted at Harpy. "Don't!" He punctuated as Ally slowly removed her hands from her ear holes. "These things are expensive, and I don't want to break them before I can see what this is you've digested!"
The pink-haired, light yellow-winged angel folded her arms, puffed her cheeks, and turned to her sight away from her Computer Science teacher. "Everybody's a critic." She grumbled, not seeing how he's doing this for her well-being as Pannotty tried to calm his friend down. "You're all gonna be blown away at my contest performance…"
…
…
…
"In a moment we'll know what this is." The squirrel(?)/bear(?)/man(?) said in full confidence as they all but Harpy waited in anticipation.
…
A drop of liquid dropped into a flask.
…
Risukuma held it up to the light to make sure he got a good look at it. He gently put it down and slowly turned to Harpy and Panotty. "I have good news and bad news."
"Good news!" Harpy chirped. "I love good news!" She said all fluttery and sing-songy. "Is it a better-singing-voice-potion?"
"I can't identify what this is." The teacher said calmly. "The good news is that whatever it was, that it's been watered down."
"What! My potion's watered-down!? How's that good news?" Harpy frustratedly flapped her wings on the ground. "Then what's the bad news?!"
"I don't know what this is!"
"I know! What's the bad news?!"
"I'm telling you, I don't know what this is!"
"Don't know what's what!?"
"This poti-"
"Risukuma please calm down!" Ally pleaded. She never liked it seeing her teacher this angry instead of the love he always tried to create. "Don't be angry at Harpy! She didn't do anything but drink it!"
"Yeah!" Panotty agreed. "Give that Witch an earful and leave Harp alone! That blondy sold it to her. Make her give a cure and a refund!"
Risukuma's frustration subsided into panting, and the panting subsided into him opening up whatever drink he had stored in his lab coat. After a few strong gulps he was calm again. "Don't think I wasn't gonna do precisely that." Calm but still a little agitated.
F0 - Outside(/East School Wall)
Ris and Co. turned the corner from the well decorated front yard of the school to where the potion seller was located. Located in the school's shadow there was a quaint foldable stand. It has very little in the way of decoration. A glorified bedsheet-fort really, just one housing a mobile shop.
They all stood in front of the counter, looking at the blonde kid's back brewing something in a common household cooking pot on a portable electric stove while reading a recipe book.
"Hrrrrmmm, Ah forgot to get the Chun-Nanian dragon scale off of that Penglai guy… Dang… Guess Ah'll make it borin' ol' hiccup curin' potions instead." She shrugged talking to herself.
witch
Young Aspiring Potion Entrepreneur
Risukuma pressed his paw(?) on the bell on the counter.
"Hm?" The young witch dressed moderately as a witch turned around. "Risukuma!" She beamed as she skipped to the counter looking at the ICT teacher in his eyes(?). "Why, have ya finally come to share your legendary recipe?" The hyperactive blonde hoped in vain.
Risukuma points at Harpy. "You sold an alleged potion to her." He slammed his paws(?) angrily on the counter. Making everyone around him jump around him due to how unexpected it was. In one of his claws(?) was the mystery bottle, now standing on the table.
Ally felt really concerned. For both Risukuma and the little witch for different reasons.
"Now tell me, No. 424. What's in it?" He nudged his head in the direction of the bottle. "Because it's certainly not what you advertised it as! If you foolishly try to earn your name like this, you'd end up in a lot of trouble, missy, false advertising is a no-no."
The witch cackled. "Ah thought it'd be a li'l ol' funny joke. Because she doesn't seem to be the brightest bulb in the box if ya know what Ah mean." Harpy sure doesn't.
"What's in it!" The impatient Panotty yelled. At which the blonde witch laughed harder and harder, having a hard time getting her words out she's laughing so hard at the prank he pulled.
"Ahahahaha!" She took a big breath. "Ya'll really wanna know what that li'l ol' angel drank? Heeheehee!"
"Yes!"
"Please."
"JUST SPIT IT OUT!"
Risukuma, Ally, and Panotty said respectively.
The little witch walked to her giant witch tool filled backpack in the back of her tent and pulled a long tin bottle from behind the counter and showed it off. "Heehee~ Jus' some li'l ol' glass of pear lemonade." She shook the tin syrup bottle.
"Oh! I thought it tasted familiar!" Harpy chirped. "I love pears." She swooned. "May I have another bottle?" She asked while pulling out her purse.
"Ah even poured it right in front of 'er face! Pffffufufu~" She just couldn't not grin at that. "Jus' to prove mah innocence ya can have another 'ne on the house." The witch started pouring another bottle.
"You? Doing something for free?" Risukuma held back his scoff.
"Well, a responsible entre-" Riskuman did scoff at the responsible part though. "A responsible entrepreneur, like Ah aspire to be, does need to correct her mistakes even if it'll cost li'l ol' me."
"That's correct. Never forget that." Risukuma said in a warmer tone. "Now if you just made potions the right way, or even better yet, take up my offer, you'll be responsible yet."
"Nah, Ah'm good." The witch shot down as she gave both bottles to Harpy.
"Please tell me it's the same thing, Harp!" The forest elf just wanted to stop worrying about his friend already.
Harpy tasted and swallowed. "Hm~ So tastYYyyYYyyyYYy!" Everyone covered their ears but the magical creatures like Panotty.
"But is it the same?"
Harpy drank out of her first bottle again. "I think so. This one is a little less sweet, but that's about it. Both are juicy peary goodness~" Harpy got some happy shivers. Thinking how it would taste with real pears.
"Oh, good." Panotty's worries were laid to rest. Risukuma and Ally's too to a lesser extent.
"That's good to hear." Ally said with her hand over her heart. Glad this matter got resolved, and the love between these two returned to normalcy.
"Indeed." The witch spoke. "No refunds." She quickly laid out there.
"No, you will give Miss Harpy her credits back." Risukuma sternly demanded.
"Actually, Mr. Bear[?]." Harpy spoke happily. "That potion did make my voice better AND it was pear lemonade!" Her wings flapped once out of the happy thought of its taste and once more from another gulp. "I think I've found a new favorite drink, so she can keep my money."
"Why, thank ya, kind angel." The witch just politely took it. "Yer're always welcome."
Panotty begrudgingly accepted that Harpy didn't want a refund and took her to a fun activity to do for the rest of their Friday at school.
Once they were gone that left just Risukuma, the witch-in-training, and Ally. The latter was just curious what Risukuma and the witch's history was like. Because clearly, the Squirrel Bear(?) and the human have a history together that preceded the latter having become a freshman.
"No. 424. M-"
"Please, Ah'm the only witch in school. So just call me Witch. It's shorter."
"You're okay with that?" Ally asked. "By number or by what you want to be?"
"Well it's written on mah legal documents that's what mah legal name is."
"What?!" Ally needs a little time processing that. "Your name's Witch 424?"
"First name: No. 424, Surname: Witch. But yer're close enough."
"I'll fill you in later, Ally, let me handle it."
"O-Okay?" Ally's immediate judgment was that witch's parents are horrible. She went quiet to let the others speak. Trying to see if she could pick up on more.
"No. 42… Witch." Risukuma correctly spoke. As he returned to his normal friendly temperament but a hint of disappointment in his voice. Witch being unflappable to said disappointment. "Please, just because you're born into this doesn't mean you have to play along with this."
"Meh." The hyperactive kid shrugged.
"My offer stands. I'll give you any name you want if you leave this cult and I'll also do anything else you need to adjust."
"Ah'll get mah name changed the right way sooner th'n later. Unlike you ya filthy cheat." She playfully teased, but Ally noticed Risukuma was visibly insulted and his student uncontrollably cackled in his face. "Ohohohoho! Don't take it too harshly. Heeheehee."
"Hmph." The teacher turned his back to her. "Just remember. There's no love in this cult. You'll realize that sooner or later. I'll always be there to bail you out." He said.
"Ya sure always expect the worst of us, don'tcha?" Was all that witch said as she turned back to her overcooked brew. "I'll earn the money mahself!"
F0 - Outside(/Entrance)
"RRRrrrgrWishrgrgrgrPoorChildggrmrBrainwashersrrmrgrgr." The squirrel(?) grumbled with his arms flailing about.
Ally walked anxiously behind him. "Um… Risukuma?" She managed to get out, she got the attention of her friend.
Risukuma's side faced Ally, and the bear(?) turned his glance to her. "I suppose I owe you some context." He sighed.
"Not really…" Ally fidgeted. "But it'd be nice."
Risukuma sighed once again. He nudged his head to the nearest bench on the school's front yard that's far out of the freshman witch's sight. Ally followed his signal and they sat down on the bench.
"You're a smart girl, Ally. You've already figured out my heritage, haven't you?" He asked in a neutral tone.
"You were a witch like… Witch?"
Risukuma didn't say anything, he didn't nod. But to Ally it's all implied.
"There's no love in that cult. Believe me. They brainwash their little kids to make dubious potions, to earn enough money to get their legal names changed."
"What!?" That confirmation shocked Ally's system. "That's so cruel!" She frowned and gritted her teeth.
This time Risukuma did nod. "Correct. What do you think will happen if the kid's a natural failure at making potions or if they make money any other way besides alchemy?"
"Um…" Ally rather didn't want to think about it. "The first witch would be stuck with that placeholder of a name and be a disappointment, and the second witch would be shunned?"
"Correct."
The noise Ally made was one of pure disgust. Risukuma agreed.
"Better the second scenario, where she can be free. I've been urging her to do that for some time now. Because from what I've observed, she's destined for failure…"
Ally didn't know what to say.
"The best she can do is the very basics… Even with the teachings of her very own grandmother who earned her name…" He pitched his elbows on his legs and held up his cheeks(?) on his paws(?). "Please, don't ever hook up with a witch like them, whatever you do, don't do that. Your kids will have to live by that code."
"G-Gotcha."
"Also, stay away from her potions. I'll make them for you if you need one."
Ally nodded.
Risukuma's posture slumped a little. He let go of his face(?). "Why couldn't I have gotten custody over her? She's gotten herself indoctrinated…"
Ally held the big teddy(?) to comfort him.
Authors' Notes:
HUSK: Thanks to Evalellion (JelliPuddi) for giving me a description of Wish's personality.
Anyway. I'm taking a week break at most from writing! What will that mean for this fic, you say?
The next 4 chapters are Ware's. But he's returning to his fic "Bonds That Last" which you can find on an Archive of Our Own and near you. Go read it, he shares notes with me. It's good.
So when my break is over I'll go back to "Silvana, From Clone to Clown" for a bit. Because Ware got the next 4 chapters and his own story. That's also on the websites "Bonds that Last" are on.
Way too proud of the title.