~*~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]

[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.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ That does make her chuckle a little. ]

I guess it could be nice to send him cryin' home to his mama... but I don't think whatever dumb things he has to say would bother me as much here, since I have all of you guys on my side.

[stillarhino]

He shouldn't be saying that sorta shit in the first place, if he knows what's good for 'im.

[And just to drive his point home, he punches his fist into an open palm.]

Aight, so we seen you turn into a panda. How'd you change back?

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Well... I need to calm down. It might take a minute or two...

[ With that, she places her hands together, and sits down. Meditating, lotus style. ]

Hmmm...

sorry for the delay!

[stillarhino]

[Beat just watches her for a second.]

You know, I don't get how ya get calm like that. Ain't never worked for me.

[It doesn't seem like he realizes that his chattering might make it harder for her too.]

no worries

[itsgunnabe_mei]

It helps when I think of my friends. I just picture my besties all around me, and giving me hugs, and words of encouragement... 'cause I know no matter what, they'll always have my back.

[stillarhino]

[Hearing all that, he looks back up at Mei as she tries to calm down, to be able to revert back to her regular form. He may not be her bestie, but she was definitely her friend.

And so, with arms wide open, he wraps them on either side of Mei's panda form to give her a hug. Huh, her fur is a lot softer than he thought it would be.]

You got this, Red.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

...

[ beat you're a good soul

BUT HOLY MOLEY A HOT BOY HUGGING HER IS NOT CALMING HER DOWN AT ALL.

She's very glad the fur is hiding the major blush she's got going on. She clears her throat, deciding not to mention this, and closes her eyes to resume the meditiation.

After a few long, tense seconds - POOF! She's Mei the human again!

... And he's still holding her. ]

... Um. Th-th-thank you...?

[stillarhino]

[He holds on to her tightly, suddenly feeling her fur disappear. Now back in her human form, her smaller stature hangs from Beat's arms, feet dangling off the ground.

After a moment later, Beat releases her and carefully sets her back on the ground. He gives her another once over.]

Whoa... Yo, I guess that meditation stuff works after all.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ Mei rubs her cheeks a bit, trying to get her blushing to stop - without her fur, she can't really hide that! ]

Ahahaha, yeah... I mean, it's not perfect, but it helps...

[stillarhino]

[With the way she rubs at her cheeks, even Beat can't help but notice them.]

You still kinda red though. That kinda thing normal when you transform?