1.1 Bao's Behest

New Bao City, the place where baos go when they want to be somebody. Zeester finally made it out of his hometown to go to bao college in the big city. The bao loved the ocean and beaches of his home, but he couldn’t handle living with his strange brother any longer, and took the road to independence the first chance he got. It seemed like his older brother Seastar knew Zee wanted to go to bao college and had been saving an impressive amount of beans inside his mattress for Zeester’s college fund. Zee didn’t know that running an ice cream stand could make that many beans… unless his brother had other ways to procure them, which honestly wouldn’t surprise the younger bao. 

The bus trip had been long and tedious, lugging around his baolongings and a surfboard made travel difficult, but he could finally see New Bao City approaching. His eyes lit up at the sight of all the skyscrapers, he had never seen such big buildings before! Zeester was so entranced in taking in the surroundings that he didn’t notice that the bus had stopped. The bus driver cleared their throat to pull Zee out of his trance. “We’re here!” the bus driver yelled. 

Zee flinched at the sudden yell and almost fell out of his seat, “Okay! I’m getting off!” He responded quickly grabbing his baolongings and rushing off of the bus. Accessing his surroundings, Zeester found himself right in front of the Welcome Center. This is where he’d take his first steps towards independence! Where he’ll finally be free from his brother’s constant insane shenanigans!

He opened the door to the building to find it strangely empty. Maybe everyone is on lunch break? Yeah that had to be it… Unless it was a zombao situation like Zeester had seen in those late night horror movies… Zee shivered just thinking about it. “U-um… Hello…?” He hesitantly called out to check for signs of life… or zombaos.

“Grmm… So hungry….” A voice ominously responded.

It was a zombao?! Zeester thought frantically, he armed himself with his surfboard and made his way towards the voice, ready to swing if anything popped out. Zeester really didn’t want to get zombao guts all over his beloved surfboard, he spent an entire year saving up for it! But this was a do or die situation, and sacrifices must be made! 

Zeester made his way to the voice ready to swing, until he looked down to find a white baobear in formal clothing passed out on the ground. Zee quickly put the surfboard down and rushed to the bao’s aide. He was a certified lifeguard after all, it’s his job to help people! Even if he assumed they were undead. “Are you okay?” Zeester asked calmly, at the other bao’s side, checking for any signs of injury.

The office bao suddenly perked up at the sight of Zeester “Oh you must be the new resident! It’s a pleasure to meet you! My name is Bao!” The office bao smiled and aggressively shook Zeester’s hand. The ocean bao was about to speak when he was suddenly cut off by the other, “Let’s get you an ID card made! So I can show you all the delicious sights to taste in the city! I’m starving!” Bao’s tummy grumbled.

Bao dragged Zeester along to get his id photo taken with hasty speed. “Just fill out these forms here, hurry! I’m dying!” The baobear whined, handing Zeester some paperwork. 

The surfer bao sighed as he filled out the forms as best as he could when being watched by a hungry, pleading eyed baobear. Everything all felt too familiar… This was just like his brother’s shenanigans! He had traveled miles to escape getting caught up in zany schemes, but they still found him! Was every baobear as crazy as his brother? Was Zeester the weird one?!