Chapter Text
“I’m begging you please join the gardening club!!!” “No, that doesn’t sound correct, I sound too desperate. Let me try again” Ororon took a big breath and cleared his throat. “Uhh… Hi. Have you heard of the gardening club?...No?.. Well right now there’s only… me. Bu-but I’m working on it, which is why I’m here asking yo-you. So what do you say?”
“….”
Ororon stared at his reflection in the mirror while holding up a hand drawn poster for the supposed gardening club. “UGHH! Who am I kidding this is never going to work, it’s impossible”… “Some encouragement would be nice, you know” he said looking at a flowerpot placed next to the mirror on a small table. He always felt safe talking to plants more than talking to people. It’s not that he didn’t want to, he just never mastered up the courage to have a normal conversation with anybody. Whenever he tried to talk to someone, other than his grandmother or his childhood friend Ifa, no words would come out of his mouth, whatever he had to say just flew out the window. So now, making a speech for the gardening club feels like hell to him. How he wished he was a social butterfly just like everyone else.
“Alright, let’s try again”. He took another deep breath, but before he could open his mouth, his grandmother yelled at him from the kitchen. “ORORON COME ON YOU’RE GONNA BE LATE FOR SCHOOL I AIN’T GONNA WAIT FOR YOU” “Oh, Uhh, coming!” He shouted back.
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“GOOD MORNING!!!!!” Mualani exclaimed as she entered the music club, wearing that stupid smile she always wore.
“Ahh. Look who finally decided to join us. Tell me, guitarist what was your reason for being late this time” Mavuika, the lead singer and leader of the club teased. Despite having graduated almost 3 years ago, she still likes to come back and visit some old teachers as well as create her own club. Who said she couldn’t, teachers are allowed to create their own clubs so why couldn’t she do it too?
“She overslept… again” Kinich, who was standing a few feet behind his girlfriend replied, his tone calm as always
“Nichi!! C’mon you said you won’t mention it” Mualani pouted
“I never promised anything”
“Oi lovebirds, are you too done? We don’t have much time you know.” Chasca said while stringing her bass.
“Chasca’s right, there’s only 20 minutes left until the ring of the bell so we must hurry up and at least practice the song once.” Iansan replied
“Alright then. Everyone in your places.” Mavuika clapped her hands together. “Xilonen, is the DJ booth ready?”
“Yep”
“Ok. Chasca, Mualani are both your instruments stringed?”
“Yes ma’am!” They both replied in unison
“Kinich, did you finish setting up your keyboard?”
“Mhm”
“Iansan, you ready?”
“Like always”
“Okay people, let’s ROCK ON!”
Before anyone could start, the club’s door flung open. “Sorry I’m late” Varesa said trying to catch her breath. “I missed the bus so I had to run all the way here” The members were staring at her annoyed. “Ohhh. Sorry were you guys about to start?”
“Yeah”
“By the way Varesa have you found the other bassist we are looking for?” Iansan asked her voice kinda distant as she was stationed at the back of the room
“Not yet unfortunately. But don’t you worry, as your guys’ manager I swear I’ll find one in no time!” Varesa beamed.
“Who even put you as our manager?”
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As the bell rang, each student one by one started heading to their assigned classes. Ororon was by his locker getting ready for miss Citlali’s English class. “Huh? Where’s my homework? Don’t tell me I forgot it at home” He searched his bag once again managing to find it. “Ah, thank the Archons, it’s here” Pulling the worksheet out of his bag, he noticed the flash cards he had prepared the day prior attached to his paper. “You got this Ororon, just don’t make things awkward … or cringe. It’s the only way you can save the club!” Taking a deep breath, he headed to his class.
Upon entering the classroom, miss Citlali called him gesturing him to get closer. “ Did you find all the required members for the gardening club yet? You do remember that you need at least 3, right?”
“No, not yet” he answered defeated
“Well, you can make an announcement if you want. I see that you made some flash cards as well” she pointed out
“Yeah, just in case my mind goes blank”
“At least you came prepared, unlike those other morons” miss Citlali muttered pointing at the rest of the students using her eyes. “Did you do the homework I gave you?”
“Oh, yeah. Here you go”
Miss Citlali took the handout from Ororon’s hand and rose up from the chair getting the attention from the other students. “Okay you morons, be quiet, Ororon here wants to say a word or two about the gardening club.” Turning to the kid behind her, she whispered: “You got this kiddo” and then sat back down. Ororon was kind of her favorite student, he was the only one who she didn’t get irritated with, at least most of the time. While she called the others morons, she called him by his actual name, which earned Ororon the title of teacher’s pet even tho he was far from one. To say the least, miss Citlali had a soft spot for that tall shy bat kid.
Ororon stood there frozen, not knowing what to say as the eyes of the other kids in front of him pierced right through his soul (more like half soul). “….Hi..Uhh…” Ororon cleared his throat. “Yeah, the ….uhhh….. th-the gard-gardening club… it’s….uhhhh” “No no, c’mon Ororon you worked so hard on this speech, you can’t just freeze now” He flipped the cards in his shaky hands trying to think if something to say, but nothing came out of his mouth.
*BAM* The door burst open at that moment, the silhouette of a pink haired bull girl coming into view. “Sorrryyyyy I’m lateeeee” She shouted in a sing like tone “I was fulfilling my duties as the music club’s manager, hanging up poster for the bassist we need, which you guys can totally apply for.” She said turning to her fellow classmates. “Oh by the way, Miss Citlali, Henry is gonna be late as he is getting cleaned up after my fists met his face” she followed with a proud grin.
Miss Citlali flung up from her chair furious. “Don’t you DARE take another step into my classroom, Varesa. To principal Jean’s office NOW”
“Oh come on”
“I SAID NOW”
“Ugh fine. You’re no fun” Varesa said with an annoyed gaze
“Get used to it kid” the teacher replied, her hands crossed over her chest. She then felt a hand tugging at her sleeve. Turning her head, she found Ororon looking at her embarrassed. “I don’t think I can do this” .She exhaled. “Go take a seat Ororon, you can try another time”
Ororon did the walk of shame until he reached his seat sinking right into it. “Great job idiot, you messed up again” he thought.
“Alright class, listen up. We already lost time, so we have to hurry up and catch up with the other class. So I don’t want to hear any talking, you understand?!”
“Yes miss” the whole class said in unison.
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As the bell rang indicating break time, Ororon found himself alone at the school’s garden on a facetime call with his friend Ifa. “Wassup bro.”
“Hi bro. How’s college?”
“Ah you know, I haven’t slept in two days, and my coffee supplies ran out. Also the campus manager wouldn’t let me keep Cacucu if he wasn’t for “medical reasons””
“So what did you do?”
“I told them he was my emotional support animal and turns out that’s all I had to say as they shrugged it off”
“Same as always bro”
“Hey what can I say. I can’t leave my son alone. Anyways, I heard you’re in charge of this year’s gardening club. How’s that going?”
“Terrible! We don’t have any members, except me, and if I don’t find at least 3 other members by the end of the week the school’s gonna have to put an end to the gardening club.”
“Why don’t you go around and ask students to join?”
“You don’t think I tried, bro. No matter what I do I can’t seem to form a conversation with anyone. I’m not as social and charismatic as you” Ororon rolled his eyes and exhaled. “I guess I’m gonna have to find different hobbies”
“Don’t say that. Okay bro look, just be yourself and I’m sure people would like you and want to join. There’s no need for you to be like everyone else. Just because you’re different doesn’t mean people dislike you. Maybe you just haven’t found people you belong with yet…..Oh, I gotta go, class’s staring soon. Talk to you later bro”
“Talk to you later.”
Turning off his phone, Ororon started mumbling to himself. “Just be yourself bro” .Yeah right, easy for you to say mister popular guy” Truth to be told, Ifa was one of the most popular kids before he left for college and even if Ororon was his friend, he would still be mistreated and forgotten by the other students. It’s not like he hated Ifa for being so well liked, it was far from that, he sometimes wished he was more like him rather that the pathetic kid with health problems he is right now. Ifa was studying to become a vet, while Ororon was still questioning what he wanted to do. His only goal right now was to save the club he and Ifa started when he first entered high school, a club that was dear to him, a club where he could be the vegetable loving bat he was.
““Just be yourself”. That’s the problem! People won’t like me for who I am, I’ll get made fun of again. What do I do when my mind is literally against me? Ughhhhh I give up” he cried out. “How can someone as awkward as me talk normally, especially in front of a club. I guess I’ll have to kiss the cabbages goodbye”
“Hello?” A sweet and melodic voice pulled Ororon out of his thoughts. It was Barbara, miss Jean’s younger sister, the sweetheart of the school.
Ororon just stared at her frozen, the phrase “I wanna die, I wanna die” repeating into his mind. He hoped that she didn’t see anything but she probably did as she is literally standing oppose him. “Uhhh.. Hello”
“Sorry to disturb. You must be Ororon, right, president of the gardening club.”
“Ummm yes. Don’t worry yo-you weren’t disturbing anything at all” he chuckled nervously
“Well, I’ve got great news for you Ororon, cuz Varesa over here will be helping you with your gardening duties” Barbara beamed pointing at the girl beside her.
“Varesa?” Varesa wasn’t looking at him, clearly mad over what happened in miss Citlali’s class earlier this morning, “She clearly doesn’t want to be here”
“Just to inform you I’m not doing this out of my own volition, miss Citlali and miss Jean forced me into this”
“Hey look on the bright side, you don’t have to stay stuck in a room for 2 hours after school” Barbara replied only to earn a growl from the girl
“A-actually there’s no need for you to help, I-I can manage it mys-“
“It’s not like she has any other choice” Barbara interrupted. “And the best part is you can have her all afternoon. It’s up to your decision on what she’ll work on. Bye-bye.” She then turned to the girl next to her before leaving. “Oh and Varesa, please be nice to him”
“You’re acting as if I beat up everyone in sight” Varesa muttered
With Barbara leaving Varesa and Ororon found themselves just standing, looking everywhere except each other’s direction, not uttering a word. Who knew what was going on inside Varesa’s head, meanwhile Ororon was battling his thoughts. “UGHHHH THIS IS SO AWKWARD! What do I say? Do I introduce myself? There’s nothing interesting to say tho and she clearly doesn’t want to be here so maybe I shouldn’t bother her. But ain’t that common manners, or will she think it’s weird? JUST SAY SOMETHING DUMBASS!!”. Then Varesa finally decided to break the silence by speaking up. “Sooo, what do you want me to do?
“Ummm..Yo-you know how to use a watering can, right?”
“Yeah, who doesn’t.”
“Right… You can water the plants in the greenhouse… o-only if you want of course”
“Yeah sure” Varesa replied picking up a watering can from the corner and filling it up with water before starting her duty.
“Nice job Ororon, great first impression. Of course she knows how to use one , everyone does!!”
Scooping up some soil, Ororon placed a small seed into the pot and then covered it up. “There, now all you have to do is grown into a healthy big carrot……...I guess it’s gonna be us again”
Varesa who noticed what he was doing approached. “Where you talking to that seed?” she asked after clearing her throat to get his attention, clearly startling him
“Ah Varesa, didn’t see you there. Um yeah, I was indeed talking to the plant. You know, studies say that other than water, soil and sunlight, plants need words of affirmation to help them grow faster and become healthier.” Ororon stated out, which earned him a giggle from the pink haired girl. “What?”
“Nothing, it’s just that you started speaking normally at the mention of plants without stuttering once. It’s kinda cute. Oh by the way, I finished watering the flowers over there.”
“Great, you can continue by watering these veggies right here. O-only if you want tho, I’m not forcing you or anything”
“Yeah sure” She was clearly in a better mood that before, which calmed him down. “It’s actually kind of fun and the plants here are so pretty. Kind of reminds me of my orchard back home”
“You have an orchard?” he asked surprised
“It’s not mine, more like my parents’. It’s part of their business, they deliver freshly grown vegetables to big companies”
“Really? That sounds amazing!” Ororon’s eyes glittered with excitement
“Yeah it is but…” She exhaled. “My parents wanted me to continue the family business once I graduate, so when I told them that I wanted to pursue a carrier in wrestling, let’s just say that they disowned me, not really tho, they just don’t talk to me the same way as when I was younger… Sorry for venting, I just wanted to get it off my chest”
“No, I-I totally understand”
“You do?”
“Yeah, let’s just say the same thing happened to me. My granny has always been really strict since I was a child so when I told her I wanted to start growing vegetables and taking care of aphids instead of studying to become a politician or whatever she wanted me to become, she became furious, but we are on good terms now”
“That’s good to hear.”
Varesa getting closer begun watering the radishes while Ororon planted some more carrot seeds next to her. “So does everyone in this club have the ability to talk to plants or are you the only special one?”
“Umm, I’m actually the only one…I’m the only member.” He grinned shyly
Varesa was dumbfounded by his answer. “What?! So all of this work was done by you?!”
“Yep. Me, my friend Ifa and some other kids his grade where in charge of taking care of this garden, so after they all graduated I was left behind tending to the garden by myself. I don’t really mind it tho. It-it’s pretty peaceful. I could spend all day working in the garden if I could. Heh, I’d even live in the dirt with these little fellas if I was small enough.” All Varesa did was shot him a smile of affection. “Sorry if that sounded weird, I don’t usually talk to people”
“You’re fine, there’s no need for you to apologize”
“Sorry” Ororon upon realizing his mistake, quickly sped to cover his mouth in order for the girl next to him not to get mad.
At that Varesa’s whole mood shifted. “There’s no need to be on edge around me. Look, I know that everyone calls me the pink haired bull or whatever other bullshit name they gave me, but that doesn't mean I go crazy and hit people whenever I feel like it,… I only do it when necessary.” She said, muttering the last part
“I-I know. It-it’s not you, it’s me. Well you see…uhh..nevermind. Just ignore me”
“Uhh, are you ok? You seem really nervous”
“I’m fine. It’s just that, I’m not really good with people.. or social interactions in general.” Ororon replied scratching the back of his neck.
“That’s not a problem. To be clear, I’m not good either. It was the music club that helped me come out of my shell. I wouldn’t have any friends if it wasn’t for them”
Ororon tilted his head in confusion lifting an eyebrow. “The music club?”
“Yep that’s my club” Varesa exclaimed almost immediately. “I’m the club’s manager. I’m in charge of the promotional aspect, specifically I’m in charge of the club’s social media accounts. Aaaand I sometimes help with the music too, on the lyric part tho, I suck at playing instruments” she chuckled. “Anyways, you should try to find some members. There are bound to be some other veggie loving people in this ginormous school.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah. You just need to make it known to others. Ya got a poster or something?”
“Uh, yeah , actually I do.” Running to his stuff stationed inside the green house, Ororon grabbed the poster he had prepared and handed it to his new temporary helper. “Sooo, what do you think?” Varesa just stared at it in disbelief not believing what her eyes were witnessing. “It’s bad, isn’t it? Ugh I knew this wasn’t going to work out. Bad at speaking and at art, I’m useless” he cried out
“It-it’s not that b-bad” Varesa said, trying not to hurt the boys feelings. “I mean you have talent at drawing, you did a far better job than anything I could draw. It’s just that-“ she paused not knowing what to say next that would no sound too mean. “Hey, my friend Mualani is really good at making posters. Maybe I can ask her if she’d like to help.” Varesa offered, something that didn’t quite reach Ororon’s ears as he was still crying about his skills. “Wow, and I thought I was emotionally unstable”
“I suck at everything, I couldn’t even do a simple class announcement this morning” he continued
“Wait. Is that what you were doing in class today?!” She froze. “Shit” “I’m really sorry for messing up your speech”
“Don’t worry, I was doing a terrible job anyways. I knew I couldn’t do it….”
“Ororon look at me!!” Varesa shouted, gripping his face and turning it to face her while shoving the poster in his face. “ We are going to get your club back. I don’t give a fuck what’s holding you back, you are not going to give up, okay?!” He just stared into her big lilac eyes not knowing how to reply
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Xilonen was strolling thought the hallway listening to the bands music video meanwhile quietly humming to it. She entered the music club stretching out her hands. “Alright, it’s time to make some musi- What the fuck?!” That’s when she noticed Varesa hanging upside down from the white board. “What are you doing, are you trying to become a radish or something, cuz you for sure are starting to look like one”
“Thinking.. Ughhh come one stupid brain think!!! How can I make watering and picking up weeds sound fun?”
“Okay you lost me there. What do u mean by watering and weed?” If Xilonen wasn’t confused seeing her friend trying to imitate a bat, she was one hell of a sure now.
“It’s for the gardening club. The dude running it is having a hard time finding members and his club is gonna get closed down if he doesn’t find 3 more members by the end of the week. What’s a good way to advertise it tho?” She questioned herself
“I mean-“ Xilonen chimed in. “If you want to lure people in you can always try a pizza party. I’ll sure be there” she proudly said
“Yeah as if there will be any pizza if we’re both attending” She then noticed the leopard girl pull out her phone from her pocket and starting to take a video of her. “What are you doing?”
“Recording ya. I’m gonna show everyone on Teyvatgram that we got a batcow in our room, maybe that will make more people join our group”
An idea flashed through Varesa’s head that moment. “That’ it-” The board couldn’t handle her weight anymore flipping over and making her eat her face on the floor.
“You good?” Xilonen asked concerned
“OW”
“Oh for Archon’s sake, Varesa. What did I tell about using the whiteboard as a climbing frame” Iansan complained seeing the mess in front of her as she entered in.
Xilonen still talking to her Teyvatgram audience said: “Don’t copy the batcow at home peeps”
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It was art class time, as mr. Kaveh instructed everyone to pick up a prop and paper and start working on today’s work. Ororon took a seat at free table in the corner. He was lost in his thoughts and he didn’t notice a peculiar set of twins sitting oppose of him.
“Hello” Lyney greeted with Lynette following suit. “Morning”
“Oh uh hi” he greeted back. “Act cool Ororon, don’t fuck things up again”
It was silent until Lynnette spoke up. “Hey Lyney, are you excited about tonight’s cat show?”
“Wait it’s airing tonight?! Hell yeah I am!”
“More than the magician documentary airing next week?”
“ :O I completely forgot about that! Oh man, Christmas did come early this year.”
A loud thud was heard as Varesa placed her prop hard on the table, scaring the living Archons out of Ororon. “Hey Ororon, guess what? I found a way to advertise your club, no talking to anyone needed. My friend Xilonen agreed on helping out. Ya free tomorrow after school?”
He simply nodded. “Yeah, I’m.. free, pretty much any time this year”
“Good. Cuz get ready to create the best video advertisement this school has witnessed!!!! Way more people are gonna get interested rather than a dumb poster, no offense btw”
“Yo Varesa, what’s ya working on?
“Oh nothing. Just advertising the upcoming gardening club Ororon over here is running. Why are you interested?” She asked wiggling her brows.
“Oh so you are in charge of the garden? Tell me, have you seen any spiders while working there?” Lynnette’s eyes sparkled up, something unusual to happen to that feline as she never truly showed any emothion, and her tail started wagging.
“Spi-spi-spiders?!”
“Calm down sis, you are scaring the poor guy. Sorry Ori, mind if I call you Ori?” “Uhh sure” “My sister has an obsession with spiders, a trait she got from Father.”
“Says the guy that has an obsession with pulling roses out of people’s ears” Lynnette shot back rolling her eyes
“Hey, it’s all part of the show”
“What show, you mean flirting with everyone you see”
“I-I don’t flirt with ra-random strangers!” Lyney shot back offended
While the twins started picking up a fight in the middle of class, Varesa leaned closer apologizing to her seatmate. “Sorry for sticking them to you. I can make them leave the club if you want”
“NO!” Ororon spat out sounding a little bit desperate. “Don’t do that. I-I mean, they seem like cool people.” That comment earned him a small grin from Varesa.
“Oi you too!” she said trying to get the twins’ attention. “Are you two gonna continue fighting about unimportant shit or are you gonna listen to what Ororon has to say”
“Sorry” they both apologized in unison. “We might have gotten a bit carried away” Lyney chuckled. “Yeah, sorry about him. Now will you tell us more about the gardening club?”
“Yeah of course. Hmm where to start, oh yeah……”
The rest of the class went by pretty fast as everyone on that table were focused on what Ororon had to say completely forgetting about the work they were supposed to be doing. With the ring of the bell, students got up from their seats ready to head to their final class of the day. “Bye Ororon! Bye Varesa!” the twins exclaimed
“Bye” “Wow. I had a full on conversation with Lyney and Lynnette. I feel amazing!! Maybe I can do it after all” His internal monologue was cut short tho as he sensed a pair of yellow sharp eyes staring at him. Looking at their direction from the corner of his eye, he found Xiao staring at him menacingly, which totally scared poor Ororon to death.
“Are you going back to the garden after last period?”
“Oh yeah”
“Great! Me and Xilonen will come with. We need to brainstorm some ideas for the shoot tomorrow. God, I hope Xilonen brings those tasty chocolate covered fruits she makes or….”
They both made their way to history with Varesa still talking about food. Damn she must love food (honestly same). Ororon was peacefully walking with the comfort of his new friend listening to her rambling about Xilonen’s treats.