~*~third entry*~

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Sender: Meilin Lee
To: Everyone
Subject: A Big Confession


Okay I'm not sure how to go about this, but I'd super appreciate it if everyone read this??? Because I have a super huge confession to make and it's important to me. And it'd probably explain a lot about how I've been acting since I'm pretty sure I've weirded a lot out of you out.

Guess the best way to start is with the backstory. So like a super long time ago, my ancestor Sun Yee lived in this village during war time, and all the men went off to fight. But that left the village kinda defenseless, y'know? She wanted to protect her daughters so she prayed to the gods for help. So the gods gave her the ability to turn into a gigantic red panda so she could fight off any invaders and protect her home. Because she really loved red pandas.

Now I know that sounds SUPER MADE UP but I promise it's real because that ability got passed down through the generations - which leads to me. Whenever I get super emotional about anything (happy, sad, angry, you name it) I turn into the Panda. Sometimes just a small trigger will set off parts of the Panda, like ears and tail - so if you've seen me try to head my head or my butt, uh, yeah, that's why. Now some of you may be asking why I've been hiding this because we've got literal animals and demons walking and talking around this world like it's no biggie.

IT IS A SUPER BIGGIE IN MY WORLD. Like, no one thinks gods and magic actually exist??? I sure didn't! No one told me about this "blessing" until it happened to me like a few weeks before I came here! And I freaked out and nearly destroyed my home and temple! I'm already a huge target for bullying at my school, this would be infinity times worse! There is this ritual to seal up the Panda but this place grabbed me before we could do it!

But this world is different. Yeah, obviously. But like... everyone's so nice? And understanding? Plus while the idea of a giant Red Panda sounds super silly, that form of mine is actually really strong, so it could help fight monsters here and stuff. So... I'm not going to try and hide it anymore. As long as I'm here, I'm going to try and embrace it a little more. So, I guess, that's everything.

Wait no one last thing - If my mom ever comes here please don't tell her about any of this! Okay now I'm done.

Comments

[sleightofhans]

Maybe, but I imagine that some people would find that even cuter.

But what's most important is how comfortable you feel about all this. Of course, I'll support you along the way, and it's very apparent that I'm not the only one.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

i mean, yeah, it's amazing how I haven't really run into any jerks or bullies at all here

what are the odds??? how is everyone here super nice???

[sleightofhans]

[Hans has enough self-awareness to know that he's probably one of the more awful people here, but ah well.]

Maybe that's part of the requirements for being here, or we're just very lucky that we don't have anyone here that wants to hurt others. I imagine that they wouldn't get far anyway.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

I think luck can only go for so long! Maybe it IS
a requirement! Like, a magical exam we never knew we took!

[sleightofhans]

It's quite possible. It would be quite silly to believe that magic of that type wouldn't exist here.

Ah, but I can't help but ask, are you really intending to fight monsters? Have you done so before?

[itsgunnabe_mei]

in my world? No, there's no monsters

but like, we keep running into trouble here, so I can't sit back and do nothing

[sleightofhans]

I was mostly wondering if you fought anything in this world just yet. I have no doubt that you can be strong in your panda form, but it's still a frightening concept to put your own life on the line.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

well technically kind of sorta maybe?

I fought something in someone's dream once but a friend got hurt so I don't know if I can count that

And when the dragons grabbed us I got super mad, Panda'd, and beat up some gargoyles but I honestly wasn't really thinking that through because of how angry I was

[sleightofhans]

I see, well still try to be careful. This place has its ways of hurting people, even if they have extraordinarily powers. I'd hate to see something like that happen.

[Guess he honestly means that. It's not like he wants to see Mei get hurt.]

[itsgunnabe_mei]

it's not like I WANT to fight or get hurt

it just doesn't feel like this place gives us much of a choice???

[sleightofhans]

Ah, you aren't incorrect about that, but there are still ways to be careful.

Perhaps having some formal training would help.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Not to worry, I've already got tons of offers to help train me into a lean, mean, fighting machine!

[sleightofhans]

[People lining up to train a young girl to fight... well, guess this world evokes that sort of reaction.]

Just remember to take breaks. But I'm sure they'll keep an eye on that, unless they're completely irresponsible.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

And if they're not, I'll be totally responsible! I can mix it in with all my homework, making sure to exercise my body and brain!

[ yeah. this is going to end well. ]

[sleightofhans]

I wasn't aware that you still did homework here. You're incredibly hardworking, maybe even more when I was your age.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Oh, for sure! I can't afford to fall behind in my grades just because I'm having fun here, so I assign myself several hours of homework per night!

[sleightofhans]

[Several hours per night?? He's not sure whether to be impressed or not.]

I'm certain that you're studying just as hard back home.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

You bet! You can't be in honors classes without it!

[sleightofhans]

Just remember to take breaks from both training and homework.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Of course! Even as amazing as I am, I still need to breathe!