Panda Christmas

[bamboozler]

Who: Panda, Pilouette Bonheur, Shinji Ikaria, and everyone on the Secret Santa sign-ups!
What: It's the first Panda Christmas! Feel free to start your own mingle threads!
When: December 18th at around 2:00 PM
Where: Rec Center
Summary: Well, somehow Panda managed to throw together a Christmas party. This won't end too poorly, will it?
Rating: PG for safety?

NOTE: If you signed up for the Secret Santa, there is a thread for dropping off gifts! Put the name of the person the gift is for in your subject line in a reply to that thread and explain what the gift is, whether it's signed, etc. Any details you want!


For a while, it didn't look like it would pan out. Despite Shinji and Pilouette's presence and ties to the project that was Panda Christmas, Panda seemed to have no interest in the party whatsoever. His interest was even lower when he was caught trying to get everyone to bring a gift to him instead. So, while everyone went to sleep that night...

...Panda transformed the rec center. He brought in stalks of bamboo! He laid out all of the Panda themed candy! He "made" fresh panda bread! He even displayed traditional Christmas decorations like candy canes and mistletoe...but also some not so traditional decorations.

The biggest draw is probably the Christmas tree he's set up in the very center of the rec room for people to drop off their gifts! There are a few boxes underneath it already when the party starts, but the amount will only grow as more people come to drop off their gift.

But why let it end there? There's punch, baked goods, plates of bamboo...a little of everything thanks to Panda and Pilouette and Shinji. Why not stay a while and celebrate Christmas...Panda style!

Comments

For Red Savarin

[happyends]

[ She doesn't know what to get specifically for a person she doesn't know, so.. she just tried making something anyone would enjoy! So Madoka went ahead and baked some cookies all by herself, by hand - they even have a nice Christmas and winter theme with the various shapes. They're wrapped in a matching Christmas package too!

There's quite a lot of them in the bag, so hey, enough to last you a while. Unless you totally gourge on them right away. ]

[savarin]

[ Cookies! Lots of them! Red's pretty excited right now, although a little amused that he'd both give and receive the delicious baked goods. These looked better than his, though, and after one bite he decided that the flavor was better too. ]

Doesn't say anythin' about who made 'em. If I could figure out who, maybe they'd share this recipe?

[ Now he's nibbling on a cookie - better make them last, they're gifts - and looking around the room. Who could it be? ]

[happyends]

[ Well, there's one very obvious suspect. When she saw him opening the present (she was rather curious who exactly it was she was making something for, after all..) she started looking in his direction, so there's one pink-haired girl in the crowd staring at him very obviously. When he meets her gaze, though, she nervously looks away and pretends she's doing something else.

Totally not suspicious. Obviously. ]

[savarin]

[ Ah-ha! Busted! Red strides towards Madoka, popping the rest of that cookie in his mouth as he walks. He'll give her a polite wave, too. ]

I'm guessin' you had somethin' to do with this gift?

[happyends]

U-um, that's-- [ Wasn't this supposed to be secret? Ah, maybe someone will get mad becaue he's finding out it's her! ]

I.. don't know if I can say that..

[ Madoka, it's obvious from just how nervous and embarassed you seem. ]

[savarin]

Well, if ya happen to see who made these cookies, can ya tell 'em that they're way better than mine and I wanna meet this mystery baker?

[Red's grinning almost maniacally now. He knows, so he's just going to have a little fun.]

I'd be willin' to give 'em a nice big reward for that recipe...

[happyends]

[ Red, why..!! Her face actually colors a little at that, she's not too used to compliments, but at the same time.. she still can't admit it, right?! ]

A.. ah, I'm sure they won't need a reward! Whoever made them, I'm sure they would just be happy that you enjoy them..

[savarin]

[He just sighs exaggeratedly, turning away from Madoka slightly.] That's too bad. I was gonna offer 'em a ride in a robot around town, or maybe a little visit to some simulated floatin' islands... but they'll never get somethin' awesome like that now.

[Of course, this is assuming those are something Madoka would want. Which might not be true.] Oh well. Tell 'em thanks for me, will ya?

[happyends]

[ It's not something she's been particularly waiting for, but even so, presents are always nice-- and rejecting them would be rude too, right? .. Ah, it seems she'll do something rude no matter what..!! ]

.. Um! .. P.. please don't tell anyone, but.. [ She leans towards him, whispering now. ] I'm.. the one who made those cookies..

[savarin]

Ah-ha! Don't you worry, kid, your secret's safe with me!

[He leans in a bit, grinning again.] I'd still like to get that recipe. Just write it down or somethin' and I'll take ya out for a spin on Dahak! Unless you wanna stay at the party, then I can write ya an IOU.

[happyends]

No, it's okay! It's Secret Santa, after all, so.. um, I don't need anything in return. [ She smiles. It's a little thin and awkward, but there's honestly something genuine about it. ]

I can give you the recipe anytime though. It's nothing too special..

[savarin]

Well, as long as you're sure. By the way, ya probably know this, but I'm Red Savarin. [He holds out a hand for Madoka.] Who're you?

[happyends]

Oh, I'm Madoka! [ She stares at the hand a liiittle shyly, but then she slowly does grab it, shaking it a little weakly. ]

Madoka Kaname. It's nice to meet you, a-and.. I'm sorry I couldn't give you a more personal present, it's just that I didn't know you before this..

[savarin]

Hey, that's fine with me, Madoka. Cookies are always a good gift.

[He seems a little embarrassed, scratching his muzzle gently.] Uh... I really would like that recipe, though. Just write it down on a page from your journal or somethin'.

[happyends]

[ She gives a nod, and she does get out her journal, quickly writing something on it.. a.. ah, wait, is it okay to just tear it out?! Well, she'll try.. there we go, handing it over. ]

Um.. here you go, I hope it'll work out for you.

[savarin]

[He gladly accepts the paper, folding it and stuffing it in a pocket.]

Thanks! By the way, you enjoyin' the party? Gotta say I'm startin' to like this Christmas thing!

[happyends]

Hmm, it's a nice party-- [ .. wait, she stops in her sentence to blink at him curiously instead. ]

Do you mean you've never heard of Christmas before..?

[savarin]

Can't say I have. It's not a thing we have back home... we don't really have the winters or the religion for it. I think the Anjalists might celebrate somethin' close, but I ain't really religious anyway, so don't take my word for it.

[happyends]

Ah.. even back home it's not really always religious though. I think it did start out that way, but even in Japan a lot of people celebrate it now even though a lot of people have a different kind of religion.. it's just for fun!

[savarin]

Huh, alright. Didn't know that either.

[It's definitely sounding more interesting, Red thinks. If he remembers any of this back home, he might try to bring Christmas there.]

What about winter stuff? Christmas is supposed to be about snow and cold and those kinda trees, right? [He points to the big Christmas tree.]

[happyends]

Yes! I think that came from somewhere else.. [ Some other tradition, probably? She doesn't know though, so she ends up frowning. ] I-I mean, I'm sorry that I'm not sure how it started, but I do know that a lot of people get Christmas trees and decorate them all nicely!

[savarin]

Alright, so maybe the weather doesn't really matter. I'm guessin' it can be any tree too, otherwise some people couldn't get the right kind. This is soundin' pretty good!

[He's looking over the tree now, admiring its decorations.]

It definitely looks nice.

[happyends]

Hehe, I think so too. It really brings some sort of nice atmosphere with all the lights.. [ She's still looking at him at first, but she can't help but glance over towards the tree at the end as well, really. It is pretty, after all. ]

[savarin]

[Red doesn't really notice. He's still admiring everything; even though it's all unfamiliar, the spirit of the holiday shines through. He feels... happy.]

Hey, merry Christmas, Madoka. I hope the rest of it's as nice as this is.

[happyends]

[ Well, at least he's kind. It's nice, and.. it makes her smile a little. She's glad she got to make a present someone that nice liked, honestly. ]

Hmm, the same goes to you! I hope the entire upcoming year for you afterwards will be good too.