Having convinced himself that this fuzzy creature wasn't going to bite his hands off, Psii had taken to just standing and listening to it purr. He was half-crouched to pick it up before he knew it. He shouldn't have let it lull him into a false sense of security; he was in a communal hivestem filled with gladiatorial slaves. He didn't look up until a tall someone was too close to avoid.

At the sight of Initiate, Psii froze too, shoulders tensing. Then, slowly, as if sudden movements would set off a predator's instincts, he bent further and scooped up the furball. His arms circled tight, clutching the fuzzy coo machine to his chest as he quickly rose again. He'd already dealt with one asshole trying to kill the tribble(s) he found. He didn't need another, even if tribbles were technically pests.

"It'th mine. You can't have it. Or eat it."

Upon closer inspection, he'd seen it had stripes. Yep, definitely keeping it. If he couldn't have bees here, this was the next best thing.