A Cruise
"Another AT? Where are you getting these?" I asked Demi.
"Just write the story. People ain't got time for your questioning," Demi replied harshly.
Po was leaning on the railing of the boat. The massive cruise liner sailed silently through the daylight waters. Po and his friend Monkey had been given a vacation by their boss, Mr. Oogway. Working as doctors and Mr. Oogway as their head doctor, the turtle decided that the two needed a break, especially Po. He had the tendency of overworking because he loved easing the pain people had. Monkey decided to save up enough money for a cruise. Po was hesitant at first, but chimed in once their married friends, Viper and Crane joined in. So the married couple stayed in one room and Po and Monkey stayed in the other. Well, that's how it was supposed to go. Po soon realized that Monkey was better suited for the cruising life. On a cruise, nothing really shuts down. There's always something going on. It's like a moving city. So fun-loving Monkey was always seen at the dance parties, the limbo tournaments, and the adult comedy shows. Fortunately for everyone, he was not doing the comedy. However, though Po did enjoy it, he felt lonely most of the time. And it was just their first day at sea.
"You need to lighten up," Monkey said coming behind Po. Po sighed.
"I know. And believe it or not, I am having fun."
"Having fun alone," Monkey mentioned. Po shrugged. "Come on, Po. You need some action and stress-relieving fun. You've been in that office and the hospital for too long. You still smell like the doctor's office."
"You know, I learned that it actually comes in a cologne now. 'Doctor's Office Cha le 25'," Po joked. Monkey laughed.
"That's the spirit. You need to get your head out of the clouds and have some fun. Why don't you party around Viper and Crane?"
"Because I'll be the third wheel," Po replied.
"Okay, then just keep wandering about the boat like you usually do and find someone you like. Who knows, it maybe your first girlfriend," Monkey cheekily smiled. Po grumbled as a light pink hue came across his face. While his simian friend left him, Po began to just browse the ship. And boy, did he browse! He went up to the upper-class rooms and dining rooms, walked the mile long running track, passed through the spa, training room, casual eating center where he had a small bite, went through the ship's garden, looked around the kids area, looked around the teen's area, and then finally looked around the library. The library seemed to be Po's kind of style. Small and quaint, not that many rowdy people like at Monkey's dancehalls. In fact, only ten people were in the library. Then he noticed a small red panda at the side of the library.
"Are you planning on playing with anyone sir," Po asked him. The red panda smiling shook his head.
"You know how to play chess then?" The red panda asked. Po scratched his head.
"A little bit. I know more of Chinese chess than regular chess. Would you mind teaching me some?" Po asked humbly. The red panda smiled greatly.
"I would be happy to."
"I'm Po by the way."
"Shifu," replied the red panda.
"It's good to meet you, Mr. Shifu," Po said shaking his hand.
"Just Shifu is good. Let's play then," Shifu smirked. It was a good game for a while. Po was right when he said he didn't know much about chess, and he could see that Shifu had quite a bit experience on it. The good thing about it was that Shifu would tell him which moves to play and why those moves were better. In time, Shifu found that Po was learning fast. He actually had to try on their last game. But as with many teachers and their students, the student surpassed the master.
"Checkmate," Po said. Shifu looked all around. His king was trapped. Shifu sighed in an unbelieving breath.
"You learn fast, Po," Shifu smiled. Po smiled back. Just then, someone came to Shifu's side. Po's eyes widened at the sight of her coming. She had just come out of the pool, Po could tell that. Her red two-piece bathing suit only seemed to make her entry more dramatic. The female tiger walked over to Mr. Shifu.
"Grandpa, it's time to eat," She told him. "Do you want me to get you something from the dining place?"
"Sure, a bowl of rice will do fine," Shifu smiled. He noticed Po's reaction to her entrance. "Tigress, this is Mr. Po. He's been playing chess with me and I would like you to meet him." Po nearly went into a panic for being put on the spot. He nervously shook her hand and smiled.
"It's nice to eat... I mean meet you," Po recovered. Since they were talking about food, Po had two things on his mind, Tigress and food. Tigress smiled at the blunder.
"Nice to meet you, too," Tigress replied. She found him cute, which has always been working for Po. Kind of handsome, a little on the lean side for a panda. Because Po was working so much, he usually didn't eat much. However on the cruise, he did realize how much he was lacking.
"This is your grandfather, Mrs. Tigress?" Po asked politely.
"Yes, and Tigress is just fine." Shifu, seeing an opportunity, smiled.
"Tigress, why don't you and Po go to the dining hall together. I can tell that Po's hungry and I do want some food," Shifu replied. Po and Tigress looked at the panda with harsh glares. They both knew what he was doing, but he was persistent. "Please," Shifu asked. It was then that Po and Tigress realized how cute red pandas can be. Tigress sighed.
"Okay, if it's no trouble with you, Mr. Po?"
"Just Po is fine, and yes, I would like to get to know more of you," Po paused. "And get some food," He quickly added embarrassed. Tigress continued to smile as they went to the dining hall. Shifu smiled as they went out the library.
"A very sneaky move my friend," said a voice behind him. "It almost reminds me of when you tricked me into happiness." Shifu turned around and his eyes widened.
"Tai-Lung," He smiled. "How's my favorite student?"
"Great, and I see you're still teaching," said the snow leopard. Shifu just smirked.
Meanwhile, down at one of the cafes on the ship, Tigress and Po ordered something and began to talk. "So you're a personal trainer," Po said. Tigress nodded proudly. "So that's why you have the body of a goddess." Po suddenly realized what he just said. "I mean, that's why you look well in shape," Tigress smirked at the panda's blunder.
"Do you always give compliments like that when you're nervous?" Tigress asked. Po nervously chuckled.
"No, not normally. I don't know what's wrong with me," Po replied.
"So what job do you have?" Tigress asked. Po looked worried.
"Um... I'm not really comfortable with telling people about my job," Po answered.
"Why?"
"Well, with this job, they expect me to have a large amount of money on hand but that's not the case," Po sighed. It was true, being a physician was very hard, socially. That's why doctors tended to talk and socialize with other doctors or people who understand the job. That didn't prevent Po from having lower-class friends. He volunteered several times at a soup kitchen and he had a very attractive personality.
"So... you're a stripper?" Tigress guessed. Po laughed.
"No no. The job I have isn't like that."
"Oh, I'm sorry that you feel that way. I guess I kind of understand. People always expect me to be in the best shape and that's not always the case. I love my job but I just wish people would stop watching my figure for me," Tigress sighed as their food came. Po looked around and then whispered to Tigress.
"But between you and me, I'm actually a doctor," Po replied.
"What kind?"
"Physician."
"Oh, then why did you have such a hard time talking to me?" Tigress honestly wondered. Po was wondering that too. He was a physician that saw both male and female and admittedly, the females did look attractive. Po also had the tendency of more women seeing him than men. Why was he so nervous? Po only shrugged.
"Nerves. I've been working so hard at my job that I'm still a little... jumpy," Po replied.
"Well, I actually did think you were a doctor," Tigress said. Po looked at her with a questioning look. "You smell like doctor supplies," Tigress smirked.
"You're serious," Po exclaimed a bit, "Doctor's Office Cha Le 25 is actually on me?"
"What?"
"Never mind, it was some joke someone made," Po brushed it aside. "A personal trainer. Could you help me? I seriously need to get in shape," Po muttered. Tigress looked at him skeptically.
"No offense Po, but you look like you've been starved. You shouldn't be that lean for a panda. Do you eat much?"
"Not really, but I do a lot of running around the hospital. It gets the smell of doctor supplies out," Po joked. Tigress smiled.
"But you should be okay with your weight. Plus, if you lose too much weight, you'll lose your cuddliness," Tigress smirked. Po rolled his eyes but smiled nonetheless.
"Thanks for your concern on my... plushness," Po smirked back. Tigress looked at the food she ordered.
"Well, I should be getting this stuff back to Grandpa. But if you want to talk more, it's barely sunset. We could go somewhere private and talk," She suggested. Po yawned a bit. "Or maybe you should recover from your sleepless nights," Tigress said giving a sideways smile.
"If you don't mind," Po smiled apologetically.
"Of course not, but if you want to catch up with me, I'll be on the top deck," She smiled and walked away. Po couldn't help stare at her backside. He shook his head awake and went to his room to rest. He opened the door, saw Monkey making out with a girl, and closed the door.
"Welp, looks like I'm going to the top deck," Po sighed, but he smiled. He would get a chance to see Tigress again.
Continued...
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