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 "Welcome Back Hoi Hoi" Not an outdated pop culture ref at all.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

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[throwsdown]

Oh... I guess I know that feeling. I couldn't go back either. To my old house.

Did something bad happen to her planet? Was it other aliens?

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[spacebro]

No. It was just a natural thing. [There may have been ways to slow or stop it and there may have been ways they accidentally accelerated it, but in the end it undid itself.] The core of the world gave out, but she managed to get away in time.

[He's not sure if he should ask this part of a kid. It may be more than he wants to think about. But it also might be something he wants to talk about.] Why couldn't you go back?

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[throwsdown]

[He sighs, smoothing Hoi Hoi's ears back.]

... I got killed... and I got brought back. In the special apartment, I got brought back.

[It doesn't entirely bother Takeshi to talk about, but adults seem troubled when he tells them. He's at least at the age where he realizes it's not normal, how he talks about what happened that day. But a lot of things are different for him than for other kids... He knows that for sure.]

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[spacebro]

[That is pretty intense. His expression softens and he's really at a loss for what to say for a moment. He puts and arm around him.] I didn't know. [And he's not sure how that works. When you're killed that's usually the end. He's heard of people here being from after their deaths but he speaks as if he was in a place at home after death too.]

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[throwsdown]

[A shake of his head.

He expects the soured atmosphere, and he feels kinda bad to make it like that twice now.]

Not lots of people know.

... I don't want them to think sad things about me.

[Even if it's sad, sad shit.]

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[spacebro]

[Mon-El nods.] Then I'll just think about how brave you are because of it and how happy you are despite it. That way no one has to think sad things about you.