tushanshu | 001 [video] console café

[The backdrop? One of the console cafés private rooms, with the door open to show a hall crowded with locals, but this particular room seems empty save a pair of large, rounded ears that are twitching minutely to catch the many sounds going around him. Seconds later, half a head peers into the video and a furry brow furrows.]

This is not anything like what I expected once my time came. There is much and everything is complex and-- No one can see me, can they. [A mutter as one elderly red panda holds onto the edge of the console and tries to look at the camera.

This? Is not working. He abandons that technique and kicks back the chair, performing a perfect flip to land balanced on the crux of his staff, the base of which is resting on the floor. Now centered in the video, he smoothes out his robes and clears his throat.]

I understand this is a realm for those who have completed their journeys. [A pause, a steady breath, and a nod.] I am at peace with this.

[The murmur of crowd in the background surges briefly and an ear flicks in irritation. Shifu decides it is better to finish his message before more people arrive.]

If you can just direct me to Master Oogway, I... [A pause as he glances around, borderline frazzled by all the people here.] -ah, I will confer with him and resume my meditations.

[A marginally graceful nod to the camera, then he descends the staff onto the console, searching for the command to kill the feed.]

There are many, many more people than I expected to have achieved the inner peace necessary to attain this state.

[It's one more perplexed mutter before he finds the command and ends it.]

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[ Rikki's in her (extremely) empty suite, elbows braced against the edge of her console, chin cupped in her hands, and looking somewhat dejected. Which is kind of hard to do when talking to a... talking red panda who is totally adorable, but one should never underestimate the power of teenage misery. ]

I don't think inner peace has anything to do with it.

[His ears both perk up and focus on the video -- another strange, hairless ape. It's her mood that catches his attention and he pauses. There's a weakness in him, long suppressed, to help the young and unfortunate, but he has learned to be careful.]

Then what is it that you think this is?

[A careful and confident challenge of her statement.]

[ She shrugs without lifting her head from her hands. ]

Just... dead? I figure this can't be where we're supposed to go, but maybe something went wrong when we died. Maybe we got lost and that's how we ended up here.

[ IDK IT MAKES AS MUCH SENSE AS ANYTHING ELSE IN HER WORLD. Rikki just knows she doesn't want to be dead. :c ]

[Ah, yes. Denial. This is a feeling that he has extensive experience with -- looking at you, Po.]

The only thing lost here is your perception. There is a reason for you to be here, even if you do not know what it is. [A wry smile.] The universe is not one to make mistakes.

[ There's a little snort of disbelief at that, and now she straightens a bit, scowling a little. ] Yes it does. All the time, and...

Anyway, if you had to have inner peace to get here, then I'd definitely be... somewhere else.

You see mistakes only because you do not understand why things happen as they have.

[Blame Oogway for the fact that he can repeat this sentiment until you are blue in the face, sorry.]

Find inner peace and the answers will become apparent. There are many routes that may lead you there, but perhaps start with meditation.

Yeah, I'm sure that'll make me feel much better.

[ ...wait, is she seriously arguing with a panda? Really? Rikki growls under her breath and reaches up to turn off the console before he can respond. ]

[Did that just... happen? Seriously? Shifu actually GAPES at his console when she does that.

Okay, fine. Maybe she doesn't love Kung Fu ~~Fighting~~. And here he thought EVERYBODY did.]