6th Episode [Video]

[bamboozler]

[When Panda wakes up, he knows right where he is immediately. He has those same wings that aren’t quite cute enough for a panda. He recognizes where he is, too. He’s not far from the same building he lives in. Yep, everything is normal so far...except it’s a bit hotter than normal. Maybe he accidentally hibernated? That would explain why he’s been dreaming about home for so long! Almost like he’s been back for more than a few months. But that would be silly.

Of course, if he needs food, he has to check his room. And when that’s empty, he head’s to Shinji’s place. It’s also empty. He almost goes into Pilouette's room, but that's just asking for a vacuuming and it's too hot for that. That’s when things go from bad to worse and a panda who doesn’t know he’s been gone addresses the network. For those who know him might recognize that he’s a bit quieter than usual. That won't last long.]

...Shinji-kun is gone. It doesn’t look like he left anything behind.

[Translated: Shinji isn’t home right now. There’s no bamboo at all. Despite the video being on, Panda is fixed on something in the distance instead...]

I'm sure he doesn't want us to be sad, even if he looks like he is all the time. Instead, he probably wants us to talk about me. [The panda sighs dramatically. It's so tough, being comforting...!] It's getting really hot really quickly, isn't it...? That's not good for my fur at all. Eh...it's so much effort to be cute sometimes.

[He looks down at the journal recording him...is he sad? It's hard to tell sometimes, but he sure looks sad. Before he closes it, he makes one last confession.]

I'll be in Shinji's bed if anyone needs me. I don't really feel like walking anywhere, so someone should bring me some bamboo, right?

[And then he shuts the journal and turns to look at Penpen-san, a pretty clear indicator that Shinji isn't back home. They can make their own fun now that Shinji is gone.]

[ooc; forward-dated to a sane time on the 5th!]

Comments

voice;

[skaterbrain]

W-whoa, what?! Whatdya mean Squids's gone?!

voice;

[bamboozler]

He's gone...! He's gone in a normal way, and he probably won't be back!

voice;

[skaterbrain]

No! He can't be gone! You gotta be lyin'!

[action]

[shinesbrightest]

[Shinji makes his way back to his apartment a while later, completely oblivious to what awaits him at home. He hasn't looked at the journals so he hasn't heard about his own "departure" and doesn't realize his apartment has been taken over. He just walks up to the door like he would any other day and twists the doorknob.

...but the door doesn't open. That's odd.

See, with Pen-Pen around, Shinji generally didn't lock the door when he went out. It rarely seemed necessary and it just made things easier for Pen-Pen that way. But here he was, stuck outside of his own apartment without a key. God, he hoped Pen-Pen was still inside and just... locked it himself or something. Even though Shinji has no idea why he'd do that.

Awkwardly, he knocks on the door and calls out:]

Um... Pen-Pen?

[bamboozler]

[Wow. Someone's knocking at the door. At first, Panda sits up on his bed and looks over at Pen-pen. At first, he's excited. The bamboo's here! Then...Pen-Pen-San is called out and the panda just shakes his head. He doesn't even bother leaving the room for this voice because there is clearly not food waiting for him. Geez, Shinji.

At least Panda's voice kind of carries, though Shinji might have to strain to hear it a bit.]

Ehh...don't answer it. It's probably just a salesman. Or did you order cafe mocha, Pen-Pen-san?

[shinesbrightest]

[There's something familiar about the voice, but Shinji doesn't immediately recognize it. He's more concerned with the fact that there's a voice coming from his apartment and it doesn't belong to Pen-Pen.

If someone had broken into (or, well... walked into) his apartment, they wouldn't really be so stupid as to talk that loudly, right? He doesn't even have anything valuable, so why...?

He's a little nervous, but he decides to try calling out again. Maybe whoever's there will be afraid and escape through his window or something. He sounds a little more stern this time.]

Hey, who's in there?

[Meanwhile, in the apartment, Pen-Pen tilts his head at Panda. He didn't order anything!

...salesman sounds pretty legit, though.]

voice;

[entreats]

[ .. Shinji? The name sounds vaguely familiar, even if she has to think about where she heard it to begin with.. but slowly she manages to connect a name to the face. ]

Are you sure that would've been his final wish? [ It doesn't sound like she believes it. ]

voice;

[bamboozler]

Mm. I'm sure that would have been his final wish. Shinji used to love talking about me. It's how we should remember him.

[entreats]

You were really that close with that guy? When I was talking to him I thought he was the type who would prefer the most to be around normal people..

[ A panda doesn't come anywhere close to "normal". ]

[Video]

[savedtheworld]

[Time to cue all the squinting.]

Panda? You're back? [There's a frown too, at the news he bears, but then again... Aang's talked to Panda enough before to be a little unsure about his statement.] But... Are you sure that Shinji's gone?

[Video]

[bamboozler]

Mm! I've been hibernating for a long time...! Isn't it great to see my cute face again? [He headtilts. Cutely, of course.] Mm...I got here, and everything was empty. [At least...his bamboo hiding spots were.]

[Video]

[savedtheworld]

It's... good to see you, too, Panda. I thought you'd went home. But... what do you mean? Everything's empty?

[video]

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette is out and happens to be checking the journal when she sees a familiar looking black and white bear on the feed. No. No way. This has got to be a different bear. A nicer bear. A less annoying bear.

Then he starts talking.

Nope. Same bear.]

Omigod, this cannot even be happening right now...! W-what do you mean, Shinji's gone?!

[Having Panda show up while having another friend leave is not something she's sure she can deal with right now.]

[video]

[bamboozler]

[It could have almost been Pilouette. If Panda had gone into her room, he'd have made the same assumption and complained about how she'd gone home to everyone.

...Of course, that would be scary.]

Ehh...isn't there anyone else I can talk to?

[video]

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouete scowls. Not even five minutes into this conversation and he's already getting on her nerves. Of all the people(?) that had to come back...]

All that time away and you're still as totally rude as ever! A-And how do you know that Shinji's gone?! Like, where do you get off telling people things like that when you just got back?!

voice;

[contaeoro]

[... Aaaah. There's no reason to even question who this guy is.]

... I see you haven't changed, Panda-Bear. Is Shinji really gone, now?

voice;

[bamboozler]

Ahhh...! It's Mozza!

[Well, here's someone Panda is happy to hear from for a change. Sorry, Aang]

Mm...I went straight to his room, and everything's gone. It's too late for goodbyes.

[Video]

[tailasoldastime]

You again.

[Of all the visitors to come back, it had to be the annoying bear again!]

[Video]

[bamboozler]

Ahh...! I've never seen an animal like you before! What's your name? Probably something scary, right...?

[??? who is this????]

video;

[precipitous]

[ Okay Luceti or no, talking animals are still weird. ]

Your friend went home, and you're worried about looking cute?

video;

[bamboozler]

I think we all know that's what he would have wanted.

[revolutionarygirl]

[Oh, hi Panda. Don't mind your neighbor, here.]

Are you... sure Shinji's gone? [Because Utena doesn't look very convinced.] ...if he is, I guess I owe it to him and Misato to help you out. [Because Misato's gone for sure. She has been for a while...] Where can I find bamboo?

[bamboozler]

Mm. I'm sure. This is all too sudden... [And it reminds him of something else, but at least he's fortunately fooling himself into believing this. So he can't be too sad.] You can find bamboo in the grocery store. There's leaves, juice, stalks...ahh, if only I had time to go get some...

[Voice]

[knightofratatosk]

Shinji went home?

...

Wait, what's a bear doing in his house anyway?

[Voice]

[bamboozler]

I'm not a bear! I'm a panda bear! Shinji-kun is my friend.

[Let's get the facts straight first.]