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[encryptedlock]

[Sup, Paradisa, it's an uncommon sight in the lobby tonight. Having reassured himself that the Meta is still a cat, York is down in the lobby and out of his armor with his four-year-old princess. It's not just Daddy's opinion of her, either; though her mother's been gone form the castle a while, York had once found himself waking up in a bed with

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[inmylight_comdr]

[Loping into the lobby, out of armor as well and looking as harried as if she'd just single handedly taken out a wave of Elites. She's carrying her kid lucked against her waist like a tactical nuke. Carter doesn't seem to mind, he's pretending he's an airplane.]

Mommy! Cookies! Can I have a cookie!

Sure. Why not. [Then, belatedly, setting him down and trying not to drop onto the couch so hard it breaks,] Ask York first.

Who's York?

Who do you think. [She gives a wave in York's general direction, and Carter goes over undeterred.]

Can I have a cookie?

[encryptedlock]

[He beams a smile at the two of them.] Hey Carter, Kat. Of course you can! Do you want to decorate your own?

[Little Laura proudly holds out one with a very Nintendoesque flower drawn on it.] Can have this!

[inmylight_comdr]

Yeah! Cool!! [He takes the cookie excitedly from Laura, and after a brief pause Kat adds,]

Manners.

Thanks!

[She turns to York as Carter alternates between experimenting with the icing and munching on the cookie from Laurah.] Looks like you're holding up alright.

[encryptedlock]

[He gestures at her to sit down if she wants to--there's enough room.]

Yeah, it's not so bad. Just a little busier than normal--good change of pace, if you ask me. How's little Carter been?

[inmylight_comdr]

[She sits, leaning back and crossing her arms as she watches them.]

Screams in the middle of the night, got a hold of my data pad and erased a good chunk of info. I'm glad I had the foresight to back it up, but still ... I still can't figure out how he got past my encryption.

Gary behaving himself, Delta?

[encryptedlock]

[He grins proudly over at little Carter.] Well, he does have the genes that made you. Might have to set it to rolling encryption.

Relatively so, yes.

ONLY BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT GIVE ME TURRETS.

[inmylight_comdr]

Already done. I don't want to risk permanently losing anything. [She's watching him too, frowning slightly. While she's settled into some semblance of a routine, she's still not sure about any of it.]

You have to earn turrets, Gary. With good behavior. [She seems to think of something, and wishes up a piece of paper and pen, scribbles some quick notes, and hands York the basics for marshmellow-armed turrets.]

[encryptedlock]

[He takes the paper and raises his eyebrows. Hmm.] What do you think, D?

Perhaps if he behaves, we should consider it.

WHAT? WHAT? TELL ME WHAT IT IS, FATHER.

Behave yourself and I may.

[inmylight_comdr]

[Crosses her arms and leans back again, smirking. Under her breath to York,] You think it'll work?

[And then Carter darts over and happily drops a decorated cookie in her lap.] Here you go Mommy! [And he goes back to work, leaving Kat to pick it up and try to get some icing off of her pants.]

[encryptedlock]

[York shrugs, though he grins a little. He's thinking it'll not only have to be built out of something Gary can't possibly hijack for another purpose, like maybe wooden blocks or Tinker Toys, but that he should maybe wait until Saturday just in case. He knows the castle won't let residents harm kids, but he doesn't know about the other way around.]

Is pretty! What are you making next?

[inmylight_comdr]

[She'd tried to design something that couldn't possibly be harmful. Unless someone was allergic to marshmallows.]

[She stares at the cookie for a moment, and then leans over to York and whispers.] Am I supposed to eat it, or pin it up on the wall?

I'm gunna make one for Daddy!

[encryptedlock]

Eat it, unless you really don't like sugar. [He keeps his voice low, of course, but there's a grin teasing at his mouth.] And make sure he takes the other one to Wash without eating it himself on the way.

[inmylight_comdr]

[She'll start munching on it, because she does like sugar, and it is tasty, nodding at York's advice.] I have no idea what I'm doing.

[encryptedlock]

Well, your room hasn't exploded yet, right? Means you must be doing something right.

[That's...only said half jokingly.]

[inmylight_comdr]

[She gives her head a shake, but she can't help a little smirk. It's true, nothing's blown up yet.] Don't forget AGent Washington has a hand in this, too.

[encryptedlock]

[He almost makes an inappropriate joke--almost--but then swiftly decides he likes his spine.] He's the one who gets to help with the fun things like potty breaks, right?