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]

[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.

[encryptedlock]

[He nods vigorously. Yeah, it was maybe less intimidating than just about anything his friends had been, but he couldn't deny that being a panda was very zen.]

[noblefive]

Well, if the castle wanted to turn you into your spirit animal, I'd say it guessed right.

[encryptedlock]

[Whaaaat? No way. York swipes at Jorge playfully. No way is a panda his spirit animal.]

[noblefive]

[It's not very effective. Jorge chuckles.]

Well, you're always going on about them. Why not?

[encryptedlock]

[He points to himself and then holds out his paws in a helpless expression. He's always talking about pandas because the castle has done this before, after all.]

[noblefive]

You're a bear. Bears are far from helpless.

[Besides, pandas are awesome.]

[encryptedlock]

[A bear with dull claws and not very pointy teeth and--okay, he'll admit he has a size advantage. But nobody's afraid of a panda.

He sighs and flops down on the floor.]

[noblefive]

[That's just adorable.]

Hey, hey. No getting down, alright.

[Jorge pats York's back.]

[encryptedlock]

[York makes a grumble sound and rubs his head up against Jorge's leg. He appreciates the gesture, man.]

[noblefive]

[Jorge chuckles, moving to scritch behind the panda's ears.]

Keep the hope up. It's not forever.

[encryptedlock]

[Ahh, those scratches feel good. York relaxes a little and bumps his head up so he can lean into the scritchies.]

[noblefive]

[A chuckle right there.]

You're kinda cute as a panda.

[encryptedlock]

[York swats at Jorge playfully, not that panda claws could really do anything against armor even if he wanted to. He doesn't want to be cute! He wants to be badass.]

[noblefive]

[And you are. A badassly cute panda.

Jorge moves his hand to gently scritch Delta, too, not wanting the little guy to feel left out.]

It won't last that long.