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

[bamboozler]

Ehh...I think there's something wrong with you if you don't even notice that your friend has a pet for such a long time. He's really smart. Pen-Pen-san probably thinks you hate him. I'm sure he's noticed you.

[ribbonbon]

I never noticed because I've never been in Shinji's apartment...Besides, there's no way he thinks I hate him! Why would he if we've never met?!

...But where would Shinji have gotten a pet penguin anyway? I always though penguins live in colder places... You're not just trying to trick me or something, are you?

[bamboozler]

Hmm...if someone thinks you're avoiding them, then it's only natural they think you don't like them, right? I'm sure Pen-Pen-san knows who you are.

[He shakes his head. He's not going to put Pen-Pen on the camera because that would be evidence that Shinji's still here.]

I'm not lying. We drink coffee together sometimes.

[ribbonbon]

[Oddly enough, she's actually starting to buy into this. After all, a panda would be able to understand a penguin and would probably know better what it feels than she would. If there is a penguin.]

Well, fine. Maybe I'll stop by and introduce myself to Pen-Pen on my way back to my own apartment, later. And we'll just see what Pen-Pen thinks, okay?

[bamboozler]

Ehhh...I'm not sure if I want to let you in. We'll see how I feel, okay?

[ribbonbon]

What?! You're the one telling me that I should introduce myself or whatever! Maybe we'll see how I feel the second you step out of that apartment!!

[bamboozler]

Ahhh...don't wait outside for me! That's not fair! You can't use your vacuum in the hallway!

[ribbonbon]

I can't? But I was just thinking that I might clean the hallway. I don't think anyone has done it in a while!

[She has the upper hand for once and she's not letting this opportunity get away. After all, it's okay for her to be a little mean once in a while, right? ...Just a little.]

[bamboozler]

[............

Wait.]

You said you'll stop by on your way back to your apartment, right...?

[Maybe he can steal the vacuum in time...]

[ribbonbon]

...I might.

[She's not sure if she likes that question or not, especially since she can never tell just what's going through his head.]

Maybe...Maybe I'll start heading back there right now.

[bamboozler]

So you're not here right now...?

[It would be so, so easy for him! But more importantly...]

If you're not here right now, you should bring back some bamboo.

[Need for food > revenge]

[ribbonbon]

Why should I?! You could at least say please, you know! I guess I shouldn't be surprised, though. You just got back or...or woke up or whatever and you're just as lazy as you always were.

[Though...If Shinji's really gone like he says...It does make her a little sad. And maybe he's a little bit sad, too.]

But maybe I'll pick up a little bit. If I see any.

[bamboozler]

I...I woke up from hibernation! I didn't go home!

[He doesn't want to believe it. :(]

Please bring me some food? If you do, I won't leave fur all over your room, o-okay?

[But mentioning going home...he doesn't want to think he's been there and back. He's a bit nervous.]

[ribbonbon]

[She wonders why he's so insistent on having been asleep, but when he mentions not getting fur in her apartment, she pushes those thoughts aside. Even if he did say please, she's not sure if he's really trying to be polite or not...]

Okay, okay! I'll bring you some but if I find even a single panda hair, it's like, Vacuum City, got it?!

[She's joking. ...Kind of joking. A little bit.]

[bamboozler]

Not a single piece of fur! I understand!

[How he's turned this around to getting food...well, even he's not sure this time. But as long as he stays away from the vacuum, he's fed. It's a win-win for him, really.]

[ribbonbon]

Right. And just so you know, I'm not gonna cook it for you or anything like that. If you want anything besides just plain bamboo, you have to do it yourself.

[Even if she's trying to be nice to him, she can't be completely soft.]

[bamboozler]

You still haven't learned to cook with bamboo yet? Ehh...you'll have to learn sooner or later.

[ribbonbon]

No I won't! I'm pretty sure you're the only one who really eats that stuff around here, anyway!

[Hey, wait...]

Do you even know how to cook with bamboo? ...Or anything?

[bamboozler]

Really...? That's probably not true, but that means more for me, right...?

[He raises a paw.]

I know how to cook a little! I can make coffee from beans.

[ribbonbon]

Coffee beans...? Like, grinding them and everything?

[Even she only knows how to make instant coffee. Not to mention she can hardly stand to drink the stuff. It still kind of surprises her that Panda drinks something so grown up...]

B-But I don't know if that really counts as cooking, though, does it? Like, can you really say that making coffee and cooking food are the same thing?

[bamboozler]

Mm! I can make sandwiches and other things, too. I once ran a café for an entire day!

[ribbonbon]

You...You what?!

[She remembers him saying he had a job before, but...]

B-But I bet you had a bunch of people helping you or something, right?

[bamboozler]

Ehh...I can't give Shirokuma-san a day off if I have people help me, right? Don't worry, it's really easy.

[ribbonbon]

[Not only did he have a job, he ran a whole café on his own while she hasn't so much as worked part time. LIFE. RUINED.

Okay, maybe not, but still. It's hard for her to really comprehend.]

Are you serious?! H-How did someone as lazy as you run a whole café all on your own?!

[bamboozler]

Hmm...how did I? I wonder...I certainly don't want to do it ever again.