119.0

[encryptedlock]

((ooc: backdated to this morning. Guess whose third anniversary is today?))

[...York doesn't even know why he's surprised anymore.

Hi, Paradisa.

There's a giant panda and a little red panda curled up in the lobby, looking forlornly at the tower stairs. How were they supposed to ask Carolina for help if they had to climb all of those? And why isn't there any bamboo nearby?]

Comments

[noblefive]

[Walking down the stairs and, woah.]

Well, this is new.

[encryptedlock]

[York holds up his paws in a sort of "not really" gesture, then ambles over to Jorge to sniff at him curiously. Any bamboo?]

[noblefive]

[Jorge smells... Well, of metal, really. He just kinda stares at the panda.]

Uh. Hey, there.

[encryptedlock]

[Aw, no bamboo. York sits back on his hindquarters and waves hi.]

[noblefive]

So, uh.

[It's obvious this thing understands.]

You got an owner?

[encryptedlock]

[York snorts and shakes his head.]

[noblefive]

Resident?

[He's going through a list in his head.]

[alaspooryork]

[Both pandas nod. Yep, got it in one.]

[noblefive]

[Tick.]

True form?

[encryptedlock]

[Shaking their heads. Nope, loss.]

[noblefive]

[Skip to the end...]

That means loss. Got any identification?

[alaspooryork]

[They take long looks at each other. Not...really?

But then Delta skitters up Jorge's armor and taps on his helmet.]

[noblefive]

[That tapping. He turns his head to face the red panda, tilting his head slightly.]

[alaspooryork]

[Delta pops the clasps on the helmet, as if wanting him to take it off. Then again, how would someone know where those clasps were in the first place?]

[noblefive]

[And Jorge is slightly taken aback, before the realisation comes. He reaches up and takes off his helmet, anyway ('cause that's what Jorge does).]

Okay. UNSC or Freelancer. There's only two pairs in the castle, and Naomi's fine.

York and Delta?

[encryptedlock]

[Delta chirps happily and jumps off, skittering back to York with his tail held out. York nods and sits back so he can scritch Delta's ears fondly. Smart little guy.]

[noblefive]

[Jorge is no slouch, either.]

...Why pandas?

[How does this make sense?]

[encryptedlock]

[York shrugs. Because the castle hates him? Seriously, everyone else from the UNSC got to be predators. He has to eat damn bamboo.]

[noblefive]

[Jorge just moves to sit next to the pandas]

So, what're you still doing down here?

[encryptedlock]

[York holds up a foot and points a claw at it. Tower staircases are too narrow to go upstairs and get Carolina, that's why.]

[noblefive]

Why don't you send Delta up there?

[encryptedlock]

[In response he grabs Delta and hugs the little red panda. No, he's not letting Delta go anywhere without him. Delta doesn't seem to object to this.]

[noblefive]

Aright, just a suggestion.

[So, yeah, he's just going to sit there, chilling with the pandas.]

...Don't you need to be constantly eating bamboo or something?

[encryptedlock]

[York tilts his head to one side for a few moments then nods. Well, yes. Eating bamboo and sleeping more or less take over his life when he's like this.

He does get pretty sick of bamboo by the end, but it's pretty low-stress until then.]

[noblefive]

Well, it's better than being something else, I suppose. Pandas are pretty easy-going, from what I've read.