Video. "Welcome Back Hoi Hoi" Not an outdated pop culture ref at all.

[throwsdown]

Who: Takeshi, baby Hoi Hoi (aka a panda version of baby Groot) and you!

Broadcast: Fleetwide

Action: SS Goldstone

When: Now

[When the feed opens up, Takeshi is in hysterics. Tears streaming and face all twisted up and splotchy and deep sobs heaving in his chest.

At first, extremely concerning — but then, you see what he's bear hugging (no pun intended) against his bosom. It's a panda, soft and babyish, still big enough that he's a handful for a boy who looks six or seven, but also very small for a panda bear. He's in a little black suit, round eyes peering around with some confusion at Takeshi's... very emotional outburst.]

IT'S MY HOI HOI!! HE'S BEEN G-G-G-GIVEN B-BACK TO ME — I did the trial and he was there, he was alive, and it's him; he's here, even after I lost him, he's back...!

HE'S ALIVE AGAIN, AND HE'S HERE AND REBORNED, AND HE'S — HE'S — HE'S JUST SO BEAUTIFUL.

[He rubs his cheek against Hoi Hoi's fuzzy cheek, leaving a wet spot there, and he heaves a sob.]

I l-love you so much, Hoi Hoi. I'll protect you now, I'll always keep you s—safe...!!

[Hoi Hoi yawns, unaware of just how important this reunion is. Takeshi and his panda friend can be found in the captain's room; he's got him on his bed and is feeding him some of that synthetic milk from a bottle kindly given by a local. Near Hoi Hoi's foot is a half-destroyed fish plushy. Or maybe you find him in the kitchen, Hoi Hoi sitting on the table while Takeshi writes a thank you note to place in that temple later.

His best friend is alive, and everything is so good.

If you're passing back and forth you may find your leg suddenly clung to by said panda baby.

... And if you're interested in why this is a big deal for the lad, just read this completely awful and terrible thread featuring pet death from his last game.

God help you, though.]

Comments

action

[robitussin]

[She wanders into the kitchen in the early afternoon, holding some food that she found on the planet to put in the pantry... But of course, she's distracted by the fact that there's a panda on the table.]

Oh no. Oh no, it's going to get so big...

action

[throwsdown]

Oh, don't worry!

[Takeshi waves an arm, as if trying to fan the don't-worry-ness to her.]

Hoi Hoi just likes to eat and sleep! He won't cause nobody no trouble, I promise.

[The panda yip-yaps, and Takeshi picks him up and hugs him because it makes him happy.]

action

[robitussin]

It's going to get, like, full panda sized at some point. We have no room for a fully grown panda. Oh my god.

[She has concerns??]

video.

[athru]

That's... Cute.

[ That's the right word, isn't it? ]

video. 1/2

[throwsdown]

[SNIFF, SNIFF, SNOT. SNIFFFFF.]

He's so cute, huh? He's the cutest b-bear there is.

Re: video.

[throwsdown]

[Also, the panda seems very interested in trying to chew on the communications device.]

video.

[athru]

[ Ugh... She's not sure how to deal with tears!! ]

Make sure he doesn't eat anything he shouldn't.

[hollystrike]

[Aw, Takeshi. She can certainly recognise the breakdown for what it is, so Katie does nothing to step in and soothe it. Get it all out of your system, kiddo :c

It does occur to her that a panda is going to be more difficult to look after than a cat in space. Takeshi obviously has prior experience, but...]

What a cute panda he is. [Softly.] Was he this young before?

[throwsdown]

[Takeshi shakes his head, tear-stained but calming.]

No! I always knew him as a bigger bear; I used to sit on his back!

Now he's — he's so small. I gotta make sure nobody ever hurts him...!

[hollystrike]

Do you remember how I helped your arm, Takeshi?

video

[touchallthebooks]

Takeshi-

[That is an adorable sight. And he has never seen a panda before but he's cute!]

I'm so happy for you.

video

[throwsdown]

[He rubs a red-rimmed eye, but his watery smile is by no means a sad one.]

Th-thanks... He's — He's so special. He's my friend! He saved my life before, y'know...!

Re: video

[touchallthebooks]

I'd love to hear that story someday. [And he really would but he's definitely noticing how emotional and important this is to Takeshi.]

For now though, I'm sure you and Hoi Hoi have a lot of settling to do.

action;

[ahappylie]

[Okita was getting his own new friend adjusted to the ship when he ran into Hoi Hoi in the middle of a hallway. Saizou stops, confused, and snorts while Okita stares at it.

That sure is a mythical Chinese beast right in the middle of his ship.]

Well. Hello there, where did you come from?

action;

[throwsdown]

He was reborned!

[Takeshi pops out from his own job of cleaning up baby panda poop, looking very content with himself.]

His name's Hoi Hoi. He's not normally a baby, but... maybe that's good, 'cus pandas can get pretty big.

[Hoi Hoi makes a noise that the pig and Okita. Clearly you have the synthetic milk he craves somewhere, pig.]

action;

[ahappylie]

[Reborned?

Okita tilts his head, a little confused, but if this "Hoi Hoi" belongs to Takeshi, then it's fine by him. Unfortunately, it is not fine by Saizou who is grunting angrily with his front haunches splayed out in front of him. Apparently he thinks that Hoi Hoi is going to attack??]

Ah-- Saizou, no. It's fine.

[Okita quickly scoops his pig up in his arms, from where the pig struggles and waves its hooves at Hoi Hoi.]

But yes, a baby panda? That is definitely better than a full-sized panda. Did you find him in a temple, too?

action

[spacebro]

Takeshi? [He knocks on the door and cracks it open.] What's wrong? [He heard the crying and feels a little unprepared to comfort his tiny captain, but he'll give it a shot. But as he gets closer he realizes that isn't a toy he's holding. He still has a lot to learn about earth. He hasn't made it to pandas yet.] What is that?

action 1/2

[throwsdown]

[He sniffs, wiping at his face with a shade of embarassment. Just a little.]

It's — it's my friend, from the other spaceship I was on... Before the fleet!

His name's Hoi Hoi! He's a panda.

action

[throwsdown]

[Hoi Hoi looks intensely at Mon-El, paws waving in Takeshi's arms.]

Yip!

Action

[onlyanapple]

[Crowley had come to see what all the yelling was about. He absolutely wasn't expecting a panda. That was, in fact, probably the last thing he was expecting. Still, the kis seems overjoyed, and despite what Crowley will tell people he is not, in fact, heartless.

He folds his arms, leaning in the doorway.]

Well. That sure is a panda.

Action

[throwsdown]

[Hoi Hoi wobbles to stare pleasantly at Crowley, and Takeshi's smile follows suit.]

It's Hoi Hoi! He was a member of my team! On Earth. And in space for a while, too...!

... He's a lot smaller than usual, though.

video

[bythewaves]

[ It's so hard to focus on this world, with the planet itself doing it's level best to keep him, but

Child

Child crying.

Tears

But tears of joy, at least.

Maglor smiles gently, eyes clear, for a little while ]

I am glad that you have been reunited. He is very beautiful - what sort of animal is he?

video

[throwsdown]

[Takeshi smiles right back, more excitable.]

He's a panda bear! D'you got any kinda animal like him at home?

video;;

[recipio]

[ Wow that's heartbreaking and really relieving at the same time. If he got someone back that had been lost, he'd probably react the same way. It takes Carl a few minutes to reply to the broadcast, hoping Takeshi has calmed down a little. ]

Hoi Hoi is really cute.

video;;

[throwsdown]

He is, huh? He's so cute.

[He sniffles, rubbing a hand over the panda's head.]

He's a l-lot smaller than I'm used to... But I'm happy to have him any way I can get him!!