bills, bills, bills...

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Sender: Meilin "Mei" Lee
To: All
Subject: $$$ For Warm Fuzzies

So, sending out a quick question to all my homies and newbies.

How much would you pay to hug a gigantic red panda? Use whatever currency you feel comfortable with, just tell me if it's high or low.

I may have a business opportunity in the works.

Comments

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ Okay, the ghost is a little creepy... still, it's miles above what she was actually expecting! ]

Oh, you guys can call me Mei! It's nice to meet you both!

[ She beams positivity! This is going to be a good day! Hands on her hips! ]

Now, who's ready for some really warm, fluffy hugs!

[ectoherbology]

[Though Wendy was pretty chronically gloomy, Abigail's excited giggling and twirling brightened her spirits, too.]

We've only seen illustrations of red pandas in books before... Abigail is very, very excited.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Okay! Prepare yourselves!

[ She takes a step back, puts her hands together, takes a deep breath...

POOF!

... And there's a small explosion of red smoke and sparkles that quickly dissipates. Now there stands a giant red panda! ]

... Ta-daaaah~!

[ With the same voice as the little girl. ]

[ectoherbology]

[Though the 'volume' didn't increase at all with Abigail, the distant giggling got more boisterous and jubilant, and her ghostly eyes practically twinkled. She didn't waste a moment floating up to the giant red panda and getting close. Abigail was regretfully not solid, but her specter wasn't completely untouchable either - a strange chilly feeling was probably all that Mei could feel as Abigail 'leaned' into the fluffy red fur.

Wendy herself was being polite and patient, though she did have a little smile on her face.]

Abigail says you feel very soft.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ Brrr! Some of Mei's fur stands on edge due to the cold, but she manages. A warm ghost would probably be odd anyway.

Mei shakes her head, and tries her best to actually hug Wendy... and can't. Just keeps going through. Oops. ]

... Um. Hm. I'm... glad she's enjoying it, but I kinda feel bad for... not entirely holding my end of the bargain.

[ Is it really a hug if she can't hold them? ]

[ectoherbology]

[Wendy's smile sank a bit, but at least not into her usual frown. That part couldn't be helped, but...

Wendy took out, from her skirt pocket, a pretty red carnation. It floated, just like Abigail did.]

She's also in this flower... you can hold that, if you're comfortable.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ Don't think she doesn't see that expression slightly change! That flower must be very important! ]

... I don't have any siblings myself, but I can bet you two care about each other a lot. I'm not gunna do anything that would make either of you worry! And since I'm giving hugs anyway...

[ If she can't do a wrap-around for one girl, she can for the other! She gently reaches over to try and draw Wendy into the hug. ]

[ectoherbology]

[Oh! Wendy is a bit surprised - if Mei hadn't been a giant cute panda, she might have avoided it, truthfully. But she was curious enough to feel the warm fur for herself, so she took the few steps forward to meet that hug and pet at Mei's fluff.]

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ Aw, yeah. This is nice. Mei's tail wags slowly, just happy to do this for them. ]

Heh heh! It's really soft, isn't it?

[ectoherbology]

...It is. You're a lot softer than when mister Woodie turns into a beaver or a moose.

[Fluffy! And warm...]

And definitely less bristly than a beefalo. It reminds me of a catcoon.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ ... buh? ]

Wait, you know other people who can turn into animals?!

[ectoherbology]

I don't think it's quite the same... you seem to have your wits about you. Mister Woody is cursed with being a were-beaver. And a were-moose. And a were-goose. On full moons he turns into one of those randomly.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Oooh. Yeah, that's totally different. I'm not cursed... I mean, I sometimes see it as a curse... but technically, it was a blessing by the gods for my ancestor.

[ectoherbology]

Mister Woody also tends to be very ravenous and a bit insane after he changes back. You seem to be much luckier and happier.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ yikes yikes yikes. does she really want to know??? ]

Well... this did take some control, actually. It used to be that I would transform whenever I felt something super, super strongly. Happy, sad, angry... it took me a really long time to control my emotions better.

[ectoherbology]

I see. You must have a much easier time not letting dreammotion get out of control, then, since you've practiced.

[Color Wendy impressed! She looks composed, but apparently that's not common for her.]

Have you been in this dream world long?

[itsgunnabe_mei]

Just a couple of... months...

[ But like with Ken, now that she thinks about it, it's been more than a "couple", hasn't it? ]

It's, um, I've... I've guess been here a while...?

[ectoherbology]

[Ah, she knows that expression. Gently, Wendy pat at Mei's fluffy arm.]

I see. You miss home, right?

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ Her ears begin to flatten down, if her sad expression wasn't obvious enough. She swallows, though, and tries to bottle it up. ]

Well, I... we all do, right? B-But I've got a lot of coo friends here, so it's fine! Like you two, we can be friends!

[ectoherbology]

[Wendy keeps petting her. Abigail had gone from happy giggling to distant 'cooing' sounds, floating in circles around Mei, maybe trying to offer comfort too.]

I understand. This isn't even the first world I've been trapped in. You needn't run from being sad. Sorrow is an important emotion, and an extension of love. Genuine, sincere love.

[itsgunnabe_mei]

[ But sadness won't help anyone, and Mei desperately needs to be of use to others! Look what she's done, bringing the mood down, when these girls were nice enough to help her out!

She takes a deep breath, swallows, and FORCES THAT SADNESS RIGHT BACK DOWN. ]

Aw, you guys are so nice! I'm glad we're all friends now! Hahaha... I changed my mind - from now on, you guys get hugs free of charge!

[ectoherbology]

[Don't feel too bad, Mei, ruining the mood is usually Wendy's job anyway...

Wendy doesn't answer, just petting at her arm and giving her a sympathetic look. There, there... she'd been there for other kids having the same crisis, wishing they were back home instead of the proverbial hell that she and the other survivors were in.]