HtH107 – The Plush Fox Goes Into The Washer… For Science!
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Mistrál and Hikari go to the laundromat. Guest-starring: Pip!
There is a laundromat in Bitsborough, on the corner of Wexley and Nine. There, below the fluorescent lights, rows of washing machines echo resonant hums, while waiting patrons converse lazily amongst themselves,
"I wonder how do these things work without magick..."
"Coin-operated, just like in the Olden Days, I suppose."
Nobody asked what would happen if you operated the washing machines without putting in a coin. This sort of thought simply did not occur to the residents of Bitsborough, or most people in Vespana for that matter. Soon, the surrounding discussion turned to something more important...
"I heard a rumor that there's a specific machine here that changes the color of the clothes you put in."
"Really? Which one is it?"
"That one over there, it's the only one without a coin slot installed."
At the side, a blue-haired girl perks up; she had been kneeling right next to an open washing machine door. Her lab coat trailing the floor, Mistrál's eyes flash with curiosity like a pair of gleaming red baubles. She turns to her companion at the side, the neon diva Hikari --- she too has looked up from sorting the large basket of winter clothing.
“Did you hear what I heard?” Our neon diva's soft footsteps glide over to the abnormal washing machine, inspecting it for secrets and mysterious functions. "Here, an enigmatic contraption is presented - a machine whose purpose is not for cleanliness, but for transformation. A canvas upon which unexpected hues come to life!"
"Indeed my companion, indeed. As with any good hypothesis, Mistrál proposes we conduct an experiment with this device together!"
Not one to let up a chance for exploration into the unknown, Mistrál dives into the basket of to-be-washed clothing. There is a black lace dress that Hikari carefully sets aside out of experiment's reach; then there is a pure-white kimono, a snowy memento of a distant performance; until Mistrál finally reaches the bottom of the clothes pile and finds her prize,
"Look, my esteemed companion! It is Pip!"
There you are!
Long time no see, Pip!
Pip the Plush Fox is held up in both hands raised up to Mistrál's face. This plush fox is the long-time companion of Lumi, and had been missing for some time! Now that he has resurfaced in such a convenient manner, even Hikari had to raise a hand to her mouth to cover her surprise!
The pink fox is completely still in Mistrál's hands.
It is just a plush fox, after all.
Both fox eyes closed in a =_= face, it looks completely carefree and oblivious to whatever is about to happen!
It IS just a plush fox, after all!
"Mistral’s idea is to stuff our fluffy friend into the enchanted machine for our very first test,”
For the briefest of moments, Pip's nose twitched, just slightly, at that notion.
Surely, that was just a trick of the fluorescent lighting.
Plush foxes do not move about.
More sensible minds would come about in support of ---
Hikari’s eyes twinkle mischievously.
"That is a marvelous idea, Mistrál!" Unlike her genmate's thirst for fascination, Hikari seems to be more motivated by curiosity alone. "Let us take a brave leap into this incredible symphony of scientific wonder and fantastical adventure!"
What did the fox say to this?
Nothing, for Pip is just a plush fox.
"That, and he's filthy." Our blue-haired tinkerer pokes Pip's soft cotton underbelly, and dusts off a handful of caked-up garden dirt. The two girls now in solemn agreement, Hikari draws open the portal into another dimension where fabric and color conspire in delightful rebellion against expectation. Pip is placed with great care and upright inside the machine.
A lone pioneer, into the unknown realms of magick!
"Ready?" Mistrál asks solemnly, her tone of voice a mix of ritual ceremony and giddy excitement.
"Wait - we can't do this." Hikari shakes her head while she holds open the portal door.
"We can't?"
Of course not! Cooler minds have prevailed after all, huffed a certain plush fox, if plush foxes could talk!
Hikari reaches behind her... and pulls up a large bottle of detergent.
Without words, the two girls have come to an agreement! Hikari drenches the purifying liquid over Pip's head with deliberate, ceremonial movements. When the both of them are satisfied with their handiwork, the glass door to another world seals shut with a thud, the top of Pip's head covered in a ring of blue liquid.
"Let's go."
The stage is set.
The performance shall now commence!
“Let’s try it,” Mistral says for one final invocation—an echo of their shared purpose as courageous companions on this journey into the unknown where science dances with magic and every fold, twist, and turn.
[Mechanical Beeping Sound]
The great machine whirls, and cleansing water starts pouring into the room of changes; round and round Pip goes, his formerly stoic stand buffeted by the spiral motion of the magical machine! Soon sparkly bubbles fill the inside of the ritual chamber, and Pip disappears beneath the white waves, the great work now completely obscured from outside eyes.
The two girls who witness this from the other side of the portal sigh in awe.
"This was a triumph... for science!"
For once, Hikari nods, smiling and satisfied.
Whatever emerged from the machine afterwards, it would not be quite the same fox that entered.
We are trying something different! This is a simul-posting at the same time as the Scribblehub release! Go check out the entire series at this link!
