~*~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

[stillarhino]

theres no way imma do that to ya red
and it aint that i want proof that you can or nothing
i just kinda wanna see cause it sounds hella cool yo

[itsgunnabe_mei]

well I know you won't, you're the cool one here

so I can meet up anytime to show you what it's like. it's not that coo though, so don't get your hopes up that high!

[stillarhino]

its too late yo im already pumped to see it
when ya free?
i can meet u wherever ya want

[itsgunnabe_mei]

i freed up my whole schedule today just in case people asked to see it, so whenever whenever my man

[stillarhino]

[Even if she did spill her secret like that, Beat still takes a minute to think of something place that isn't too open. She had been hiding it for that long after all, so he guesses she might not be too comfortable doing it out in the open right off the bat.]

was thinking by the well but that might be too open for ya
hows the edge of the woods sound?
i can meet u there

[itsgunnabe_mei]

edge of the woods sounds good to me! I'll see you there soon!

> action

[stillarhino]

aight meet ya there

[Before he makes his way out, Beat makes sure to take his newly acquired item from the well. While there were still some remnants of glitter from when it was spat out, he was glad to at least have it back in hand.

When Mei finds him, he has his back toward the village, balancing on his skateboard. It seems that he's busy working on a flip that he doesn't notice when Mei arrives. She might even catch him completing a trick and celebrating by pumping his fist in the air when he completes it.]

Still got it, yo.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ Whoaaaa!!! Mei almost forgets why she was there, running up to Beat all starry-eyed and eager. ]

That was so cool, Beat! You got my heart Beat-ing! Wow, wow, wow!

[stillarhino]

[He remembers the promise he'd made to Mei that night after his dream had been broadcasted. While he doesn't think much about it, Beat had always taken pride in being a man of his word. And now that he had his skateboard, he had a chance to show off.

Still on his board, he makes a turn with it, which is a little difficult on the ground as compared to paved surfaces. Despite it, he's able to keep his balance, his signature lopsided grin on his face.]

Try not to fall for me, Red. Might turn ya into that panda you was talkin' 'bout.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Oh...! Right!

[ The reason they were here to begin with! She backs up, taking a breath. ]

I mean... do you still want to see it?

[stillarhino]

[While he looked cocky only a while ago, his expression softens as he gets off his board. He scratches at the back of his neck sheepishly but still manages to offer Mei a reassuring smile.]

Look, I know I said I wanted to see it, but it's cool with me if you don't wanna either. Ain't like whatever you do or don't do is gonna change what I think 'bout ya.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ She hesitates, then sighs and shakes her head. ]

... I mean, at this rate, it's gunna come out anyway. I really suck at hiding it. Better I do it now while I still have some control of the situation...

[ She takes a few steps back, and presses her hands together, eyes shut...

POOF! Red smoke and sparkles fly about... and there stands a very tall, furry, naked, Red Panda. ]

... Well?

1/3

[stillarhino]

[Well, he's not going to argue with her if she's okay with it. So he steels himself—

[stillarhino]

[But the poof surprises him and he takes a step back and onto his board causing him to wipe out and fall onto his ass.]

BWUUUH!

[stillarhino]

[His skateboard rolls a distance away but seems to be all right. Beat groans in pain after a moment, rubbing at his backside. Hopefully, it's nothing more than a bruised ego.]

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Beat!

[ Horrified, she runs up to him, clearly upset. Mei's normal voice is coming out of the panda, so it's definitely still her. ]

I'm so, so, so sorry! Are you okay? Are you hurt?

[stillarhino]

[It takes him a moment, waving a hand in front of him to reassure Mei. He's had worse falls before, and he's glad it wasn't on the pavement this time around.]

Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna be aight. Jus' didn't really expect that.

[He cracks his eyes open to come face to face with Mei's large red panda form. His mouth hangs open for a second before he lets out a chuckle.]

Damn. You weren't kiddin' 'bout you bein' big, yo.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ She twiddles her paws a bit, bashful and still embarrassed. ]

Uh, yeah... I'm pretty huge. It feels weird, looking down at people.

[stillarhino]

[It was weird, looking up at her like this even if he was still on the ground. He picks himself up and gets back on his feet, still looking at Mei all the while.]

Guess I was right, though. This is hella cool, Red.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ ... Huh? Her ears twitch, and she looks at him, surprised. ]

You... really think this is... cool?

[stillarhino]

Hell yeah it is! I mean, as long as you ain't gonna go Godzilla on us or nothin'.

[Another joke on her size, considering he didn't expect her to grow that big. And, honestly, this isn't the first time he's seen someone transform in front of his eyes, even if Mei was larger than the last one.

He starts giving her a once over, still taking it in.]

You know, it's actually kinda cute, too.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ If the Panda could blush, she definitely would now! ]

Okay, now you're just trying to be nice...

[stillarhino]

Naw, yo! You seen yourself? Kinda reminds me of a prize from 'em crane games.

[He knows if he had seen something like how Panda!Mei looked in a crane game, he would've tried to win it for his sister.]

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ ... definitely the most original compliment she's ever heard! ]

Um. Thanks? ... So you're saying I look like a gigantic plushie?

[stillarhino]

Yeah, that ain't a bad thing, right?

[He starts circling around her, taking her in a bit more, really letting how large she'd become set in.]

You said somethin' 'bout bein' bullied back home, yeah? If any a' them punks show up here, leas' you can deal with 'em this way. And if not, you can call on your ol' pal Beat an' I can teach 'em a thing or two.