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!

[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?

voice;

[skaterbrain]

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

voice;

[bamboozler]

It's true. There's nothing here. What am I supposed to do now...?

[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;

[skaterbrain]

--!!

[Shinji is gone? Really gone? Another of his dude-friends has left Luceti and now Beat's all sad.]

....I-I dunno. How'm I suppose to know?!

voice;

[bamboozler]

He was really plain...and really boring a lot of the time...but he always kept his door open for me when I was bored and wanted to use his things.

voice;

[skaterbrain]

Squids wasn't borin'! Why--

[Wait, he just saw the picture in the journal.]

....

HOLY CRAP YOU'RE A PANDA!

[bamboozler]

[This is a real pain. Panda wants to lay back down and go back to reading whatever he's picked up and leaving his fur all over Shinji's bed. Instead, there's a pesky salesman at the door. It's almost enough to annoy him, but Pen-Pen-San's presence is reassuring. So this is what a responsible penguin is like!]

Ehh...I should have ordered some for you. Next time, alright?

[And then he raises his voice:] Now's not a good time. We're grieving.

[There. That'll definitely get this salesman to go away. No bamboo, no cafe mocha, no service! Or...well, no opening the door.]

voice;

[bamboozler]

[!!! Here's his chance for an all out cute-attack! He tilts his head, giggles a little, and nods.]

That's right~! Aren't I looking especially cute today?

voice;

[skaterbrain]

....Are you some kinda robot?

Why're you talkin'?

...

AM I GOING CRAZY?

voice;

[bamboozler]

I'm not a robot!! I'm a panda! Pan...da...! Can't you see how cute my trademark black and white fur is?

voice;

[skaterbrain]

You ain't gonna fool me, Robopanda! I know pandas can't talk!!!

[shinesbrightest]

[Truthfully, Shinji doesn't really expect an answer back, so he's surprised to hear the murmuring voice again. He's even more surprised, though, when the voice seems to be addressing him specifically. The look of surprise on his face only worsens when he suddenly realizes why the voice sounds familiar.]

Grieving...? [He shakes his head, calling out louder this time:] Panda?! Is that you?

[He actually sounds a little annoyed now. What did he do to deserve this?]

voice;

[bamboozler]

[Panda was in Luceti for a while. And now he's back. And Beat is the first person to make him kind of angry so quickly.]

I'm not a robot! Maybe you're a robot! It takes one to think they know one.

[bamboozler]

[Oh. This person knows who it is. Panda rolls on the bed for a second before springing to his feet. He raises both arms above his head in a "yay" stance and nods at Pen-Pen-san. That means to follow him. It's time to investigate this more closely.

He walks to the door where Shinji definitely isn't. Yep. Not Shinji on the other side. Hmm.]

Right, right. Just a second.

[He walks to where he remembers Shinji keeps the paper, pulls out a sheet, and inks his paw. After that, he presses it against the paper and signs his name.]

I'm coming, I'm coming...

[And then he slips the paper under the door. It now reads "To my #1 fan" and "Panda" on it.]

Let's go back to reading car magazines, Pen-Pen-san. Don't you think I'd look cute in a Volkswagen?

voice; 1/3

[skaterbrain]

[Beat is a special flower like that, yup.]

W-!! I ain't a--

[Wait, what if the crazy talking panda was right?! He has to think on this.]

voice;

[skaterbrain]

Well....

[It does take one to know one, so that's good logic. Even if it's coming from a panda.

But does that make him a robot? He thunks his head once with his fist and it sounds normal and not like metal at all.]

voice;

[skaterbrain]

[WAIT NO, HE'S GOT IT.]

HA! I can't be no robot 'cause I'm dead an' robots can't die!

[shinesbrightest]

[Shinji starts to feel vaguely relieved knowing that it's just Panda in his apartment. ...of course, he's also kind of annoyed that it's Panda in his apartment, but at least it's not some weird thief or something. He waits impatiently at the door, thinking that it's going to be unlocked...

...but then he sees the paper slide out from underneath the door. He makes a face, but picks it up anyway, and frowns when he realizes he just got Panda's autograph and nothing more.]

Wait, don't go anywhere! Open the door already!

[Pen-Pen, though, ever the good friend, just follows Panda away. It's not that he doesn't feel bad, it's just that... well, he knows Shinji will be fine. And it's not often he gets to hang out with other animal friends!]

voice;

[bamboozler]

[Wait. That's really weird. Panda stares down at his journal for a long time before shaking his head.]

I'm very sorry for your loss.

voice;

[skaterbrain]

Naw, it ain't no big. We gonna win the Game an' come back t'life 'cause Phones is damn good at his pins and then I'm gonna punch the Composer in the face. So it's all gonna be coo'.

[bamboozler]

[Ah...his fan wants him to open his door? He's already so far away from the door and it would be a hassle to turn around and walk back. Hmm...he stops, looks back at the door, then back at Pen-Pen-san.]

I don't think it's a good idea. This fan doesn't sound like a cute girl, does he?

[But, through some twist of fate, Panda walks back to the door and presses his ear against it. Maybe there's a cute girl outside? Does he need to make his autograph again? More importantly...]

Hmm...if you want to come inside, you'll have to bring me some bamboo. [There's a pause. Panda is a good friend.] Pen-Pen-san would also like some cafe mocha as we grieve. Hey, have you heard? Shinji-kun's back home in his world.