Twila@M3 - Sunday, December 19, 1999, 11:06 PM ----------------------------------------------

================================Rock's Quarters================================

Rock's Quarters is a well done mix of official and casual, the walls are plain white, in the small spots where you can actually -see- the walls. Awards, certificates, pictures, and posters adorn the walls, all in a mesh of Rock the hero and Rock the fun loving guy. In the corner lies his desk, next to it, a small wastepaper basket. His bed is quite large, and lies in the center of the room against the far wall. The headboard serves as a shelf as well, and on them, several pictures and small toys and models. An entertainment center sits opposite the bed, containing a television (or at least the equivalent of which in this day and age) as well as some game systems and a stereo. A bookshelf takes up nearly all of the free wall, showing Rock's secret love of reading, as well as his love for toys and models, which occupy some of the shelves as well. A large window lies above the bed, allowing light to shine down upon it during the day, and giving him a good look at the night sky after hours. A door leading to the bathroom is located next to the bed opposite the desk, which is also where his closet is located. All in all, a fine meshing of Rock's personality, giving off the same cheerful aura that he himself does.

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As there's a gentle knock on the door of the quarters Rock looks up. "Come in!" he says from his desk.

The young woman takes a deep breath as the door slides open. She enters the quarters slowly before coming to a stop, appearing somewhat timid. "Hi," she says softly.

Rock looks over. "Hello," he states, sorta blandly, not really sure what to say at the moment.

Twila Peterson stands there as if trying to sort through her thoughts. "You...free to talk?"

Rock nods, and leans back in his chair. "Yeah, things have died down a little." he replies.

The girl presses her lips together, attempting to fight her growing awkwardness. Well, she knew this wasn't going to be easy. "I owe you sort of explanation." For what she doesn't infer, but she supposes he can fairly well guess.

Rock shrugs. "Not really," he says softly. "I knew you weren't happy, and I knew something was bound to happen. I will admit, you didn't do it exactly how I expected, but... it wasn't completely a surprise..."

"I...didn't do it exactly how I thought either," she responds, continuing within a quiet tone. "I never meant to hurt you. I just...wanted you to know that. And, I don't hold any blame or fault against you."

Rock nods once more. "I know. I was hurt, yes. But, I also knew it wasn't something I could've stopped had I done anything differently, aside from not being the person I am. And I can't do that, for anyone, which is why I don't blame you at all. How can I devote my life to someone, when my life is destined to be lived in service of the world?"

Twila replies, "I couldn't ask you to be anyone less or someone altogether different than who you already are. Love...doesn't do that." She pauses for a lengthy moment as if considering something. "And I do love you, Rock, with all I have. But the type of love has to change..." She pauses once more, not exactly knowing where there relationship will go from here. "If...you want me to leave the Labs, I'll understand."

Rock again shrugs. "I'd never ask you to leave, you've been here long enough to prove that you belong here, whether or not it's as Twila Peterson, or Rock's girlfriend, and honestly, I think you've become more Twila Peterson than just Rock's girlfriend. People know you now. People care about you. You have friends here, and I'm not taking that away from you. You might not have the acceptance of your real family, but you certainly have acceptance in ours."

"Thanks," Twila responds as her eyes slightly glaze over, grateful more than words can say regarding her ability to stay. She has taken notice of his blandness however and wonders if he's simply distancing himself or dealing with other concerns. After all, since the broken engagement Rock has certainly learned of Wily's escape as well as the opening the so-called Robotroplis.

Rock bobs his chin and smiles. "Forever."

Twila Peterson can't help but smile in return, feeling as some of her fears regarding this discussion dissipate. She may still have concerns, but she'll have to work them out on her own. Who knows with an emotional human female? She then holds out her arms slightly. "Hug?" she questions hopefully.

Rock emits a chuckle and stands up, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "Did you really have to ask? I still love you, Twila. Always will. But we both know that if we stay the way we were, then it's just gonna be too difficult."

Twila Peterson's nod is given within the folds of his shirt even as she returns the gentle, yet firm, embrace. "Yeah. I...I know. And I realize that now. I guess...maybe somewhere I did know. I just...didn't want to accept it."

Rock agrees silently before pulling away. "But, I'll always be there for you, no matter what. Remember that."

Twila Peterson offers another smile in response as she too draws back. "Just as I'll always be there for you. I promise." Some things will more than likely change. But other things will remain the same. "Mind if I still...tuck you in from time to time?" she asks, not fully sure if "tuck-ins" register as one of those things. Although, Twila somewhat suspects the "boy" within Rock certainly wouldn't mind. He never had any sort of mother or mother figure who was able to offer tuck-ins or other assorted perks.

Rock replies, "Every now and then, whenever I'm here to actually sleep. I've got a feeling I'm not going to be getting much over the next few months. I might not even be coming home for long periods of time."

"Yeah...." the young woman muses. "What with Wily and that um...island-thingy he now has up and running." Not to mention the Mavericks have been a bit too quiet lately, which is good in some aspects...very bad in others. "Just make sure you make sure your awake before you get up when you're out there. There's enough imprints of you within walls world-wide as is."

Rock laughs. "I heard they made a few of them into landmarks." he chuckles, "The things people will do to make money."

Twila Peterson rolls her eyes a little at that. "Well, you know what they say, 'X marks the spot'?" she questions with a slight smirk.

Rock groans. "That was a bad one, Twila. Geez."

Twila Peterson giggles lightly at the reaction. "You're not afraid I'm muscling on your turf within the 'Bad Puns' department do you?"

Rock chuckles. "You may have taken over the crown of the kingdom," he says with a smile of his own once more.

A furrow of the girl's brows can't really be helped. "Come to think of it, I'm not certain if that's good...or not," Twila states with a quick blink as if the thought is suddenly striking her.

"You can be the judge of that," he says with a wink as he seats himself back down in his chair.

There is a slight face offered at the thought. "Oh, thanks. But if it's just the same, you can have the crown back whenever you like," Twila quips, feeling herself relax. Well now, the "talk" didn't go as she thought she would. Which is good. It's helping her breath somewhat easier. It helps that Rock seemed to already know what it was she had meant. Looking at him, it's strange in a way. In many ways he's much older that his years, in others he's much like a child. "Anyway, I probably should let you get back to your work."

Rock hmmms and pauses. "Hey... if you want, you can keep the ring," he says softly. "Just, sorta to remember the good stuff..."

Twila Peterson gazes at him warmly. "I'd love to. As a remembrance, and a token of our friendship."

Rock nods and pulls the ring out of a drawer and hands it to her, "There you go," he replies. "Something to remember me by while I'm gone," he says in an eerie type of foreshadowing or the famous last words type of way.

Twila Peterson accepts the ring, but doesn't place it back on her finger. She has another idea for it. "Gone in body, but not in spirit. Wherever you'll be, you'll certainly not be forgotten."

Rock grins. "Geez, sounds like I just died or something."

Twila Peterson quirks her brow, studying him. "Hey, you're the one sounding somewhat ominous. I'm just going along with the mood," she offers with a small semi-playful shrug.

"Well, I don't plan on dying anytime soon," he reassures.

Twila Peterson warns him semi-jokingly, "You better not, or I shall have to kill you. Although, I'll probably be standing in line with your dad, Roll, and all the others." No mention of Bass. But then, who cares about the psychotic Master anyway?

Rock chuckles. "Yeah, yeah, Dad gave me the same speech a few days ago."

A speech he must know by heart then. "Something tells me I'm better off not asking the circumstances for that time...." Twila notes with yet another blink.

Rock nods. "Good idea. I sorta don't want to talk about it right now."

Not surprisingly. "I understand," Twila responds, knowing certain things from the past few weeks are still weighing on his mind...even if he doesn't actively state it's so. "You fairing alright...considering I mean?"

Rock shrugs. "Yeah, I guess so, I've still got a lot of work I need to get done tho."

Which means Twila should probably go about doing what she was about to do before she was briefly stopped, or at least that's what she's gathering. She doesn't mean to keep him from anything pressing if avoidable. "I wouldn't doubt it. Just be wary of 'burning the candle at both ends' if it can helped, kay?"

Rock can only promise, "I'll try, but you know how these things go."

Yep, she does. Usually ends with frazzled nerves as well as a nice stay within repair bay. "Yeah...I know," the girl offers sympathetically with a gentle pat to his shoulder. "Anyway, I better let you return to what you were doing. I didn't mean to keep you any."

"See ya later," he responds simply, and preparing to suck it up and go back to work.

Twila nods in like. Before turning towards the door she offers the top of his head a gentle kiss. "Take care of yourself," she bids...then starts heading the door. As the door opens to allow her passage back into the hallway she emits a, "Godspeed, Rock..." and proceeds to step on through.

Rock offers Twila a wave as she leaves, "Ditto..." he says with a smile.