Megaman - Sunday, February 13, 2000, 10:47 PM

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Recreation Room <Hunter HQ> The recreation room is traditionally the busiest idle-time location in Light Labs. Decorated with glass and steel walls and a hard floor, games and idle distractions of all sorts dominate this room, and the noise of games is seldom absent. Several pool tables dot the floor, and other gaming tables reside as well, where games of chance and simple idle chatter can commence. One wall is lined with various console game units, dating from the dawn of video gaming to current. On the opposite wall is a small bar where many kinds of drinks can be made, though the stock is more bare than it would be in a building occupied primarily by humans. A final touch is a jukebox in the corner, filled to the brim with a wide variety of music.

Twila Peterson hmmms and she leads Rock over to the kitchettes counter so he can sit on one of the stools to wait for the beverage if he so chooses. "It's a chocolate mix with real mini-Hershey kisses inside," she says while moving to retrieve the box. She fishes out two of the packets inside and then offers the boc to the repliod to look over while she gets the two drinks ready. Mmmmmmmmmmmm....doesn't the hot coco picture on the front look yummie?

Rock mmms a bit, "Been a while since I had any cocoa." He shuts the box, and sets it aside, moving behind the minibar: he stands up with a box of cookies. "Roll's cookies'll go good with this, Twila. You want some?"

Twila Peterson looks over her shoulder, beaming a smile. "Sure." She reaches out to nibble on a cookie, leaving the water go to a boil. She finishes the tiny morsel, hoping the offer is still open after the coco is done...which it now is. In a few moments' time she's putting the last touches on the two beverages by way of the cream and sets them on the counter. "Best wait a a few minutes for it too cool. Wouldn't want you to burn your tongue. "Say, those are good. What kind are they?"

Twila Peterson then looks back over towards Rock. "And...you can morph out of your armor if you like. You're off-duty aren't you?" There's a collection of cookies, from chocolate chip to peanut butter to mint.

Rock nods, "Um. There's all kinds in here, so just take your pick, Twila." He chuckles, scratching the back of his helmet. "Sorry, forgot." His armor phases away as Spunk enters.

Spunk Raccoon peeks in, checking to make sure that big dog robot isn't around she spots him and decides this isn't the best place to be at the moment and troddles out of the doorway.

Spunk Raccoon has that piece of blue's scarf tied to her neck so she may imitate him. She looks up at Rock and Twila and *chirrips!* a greeting towards them .

Twila Peterson must have taken one she didn't recognize. "You....forget?" she chuckles slightly, knowing he's prone to do that once in awhile. She reaches for another, this time choosing on a chocolate chip, and then spots something. It had already been nibbled on! And the size of the bite leads her to onle one conclusion. "Uh, oh...I think Kyo already found these," she blinks and then gently shakes her head. "Her and treats. She must have a sweet tooth." She glances down towards the doll momentarily and smiles again. "And, hi."

Rock turns his head at the chirrup, and blinks, "It's that raccoon thing from the other night." This is more to himself than anyone else... and he turns back, chuckling. "Kyo has a sweet tooth, no doubt about it." He blows on his cocoa, then takes an experimental sip. "Still little too hot," he states.

Spunk Raccoon jumps up and down, making happy *squeekle!* noises . o O ( Yay! Somebody's finally paying attention to me! ) She suddenly loses her balance and tumbles over onto her bottom, before standing back up again, dusting herself off and looking a bit sheepish . o O (Umm...I ment to do that!)

Rock laughs a bit at the Raccoon, and proffers Twila a non-munched cookie. "HEre you are; it's a peanut butter cookie."

Twila Peterson grins. "You're the one who started her out on the chocolate...not me..." she points out while glancing towards the mugs. "I guess I heat the water too high. Hopefully it'll cool down enough soon." She smiles upon taking the proffered treat and retrieves a stool from the other side before sitting down. "Thanks." After taking a bite she questions, "Feeling any better? Heard you had a 'rough day at the office'."

Rock nods, "You're welcome. And I'm starting too... it's been busy, yeah, to put it mildly; I just hope it's less busy the next few days. I'm getting tired of waking up and having to rush out right then to fight some evil. I'm definietly taking a vacation soon."

Spunk Raccoon troddles on over to the others where they are currently at near the table, looking curiously at them both . o O ( Why are they pushing those objects into their face? Maybe those are disks full of information they're consuming! Maybe I ought to read these disks too...I could always use more information for my databanks! ) She then sets off to try and climb on top of the table.

"Lemme know when and I'll bake you some goodies of my own," Twila offers.

"Uprise in activity. Actually...wouldn't be surprised if it had anything to do with the present visitors. Any...word progress regarding helping them get back to where they came from?"

Rock shakes his head, "Nothing that I've seen. And, actually, if you want, I'd like you to come with me on my vacation. I hate going alone." He glances down at the doll, and blinks, "D'you think it wants a cookie?"

Twila Peterson flicks a glance down towards the reploid doll there. "I...maybe. Either that or...maybe she doesn't even know what one is." With that Twila reaches over for a mint cookie and offers it to the doll. "Here...maybe you'll like it..." She watches for a few moments before sitting back up within her seat. "Where were you...thinking on going?"

Rock shakes his head, "Maybe to New York for a week; see the sights, enjoy some plays on Broadway..."

Spunk Raccoon takes the cookie . o O ( Oooh, this looks interesting ) She presses the bow on top of her head and twists, suddenly her head pops open to reveal a CD-rom type device inside, and sticks the cookie in there . o O (I can't wait to see what information might be on this thing!)

Twila Peterson nods more slowly towards this, then refocuses on her mug of hot coco as a destraction. She bends over and carefully tests it, sighing in relief that it's now at a drinkable temperature while gathering her thoughts. "That...sounds like fun..." she gets out in almost a mumble. After some silence she looks back up again. "Have to admit. The last week has been getting me to thinking about a few things and all. Especially...after having a talk with your older self."

Rock nods lightly, taking a sip of the cocoa. "Much better," he comments, not noticing the CD-ROM the doll is trying to eat the cookie with. "Oh? What have you and my future self been talking about?"

Twila Peterson shifts her weight on the seat slightly. "Just talking. I wasn't really altogether 'with it' the night he and 'Junior' arrived. But, I guess that was pretty obvious." She fainted! "Basically Kyo made her way in and he was trying to explain how he was trying to keep his future from ever happening here when I found them." The girl gives a small shrug, speaking quietly. "I guess it just dredged up some things. Ever since we first met I've noticed one of your biggest fears was...being left alone. It...scared me seeing him like that."

Rock nods softly. "I hate being alone... it's something that scares me to no end. Especially if you weren't anywhere around." He looks down into his cocoa, "X is what I could become... something I don't want to become."

Spunk Raccoon eerrrrrps! She falls over flat on her face as pieces of crumbs shoot out of the CD-Rom hatch as she tries to eject the cookie . o O ( What kinda data is that? It's going to pieces on me! )

And Rock turns, stifling a chuckle at the doll; getting off the stool, he attempts to remove the offending article of food from it's data drive. Twila Peterson turns herself within the seat an regards Rock silently and remains that way as he tends to the animalistic reploid, sitting there watching. "I know," is all she replies until said cookie is removed from the drive. A breath is drawn in before she continues, "And, it would brake my heart to see that happen," Twila then states, starting to feel awkward again. "We can't go back to where we were. But....I have to admit I'm confused on where we ar and where we're headed."

Rock nods softly, his back still to Twila, "I know... we had this discussion before... and it didn't help a bit." He rights the raccoon, and gathers up the cookie chunks, depositing them in the trash. Turning back, he regards Twila with his sapphire eyes, "So what do we do? We're both confused on this..." "I--I don't know..." the young woman muses, her eyes of emerald meeting with his sapphire. "I really don't. Guess I should ask how you feel about me."

"I still love you," is his answer, probably something she half-expected, "And I know we can't go back to how we were..."

Spunk Raccoon looks as if she's breathing a sigh of relief as the cookie chunks are removed and the crumbs dusted out, she *chirrps!* happily in thanks to Rock.

And indeed it was something she expected. "And...I still love you." The young woman bites her lower lip as her gaze his briefly cast downwards. "Going back would mean we would be unknowingly placing demands on one another that neither of us would be able to meet. I would start inwardly blaming you for your duties again, just as I would blame me for laying blame. Just as you would be upset with yourself for not being able to set aside your duties."

A hand scritches the doll's head, then Rock stands, walking across toward Twila, though stopping a bit away from her. "I know," he states, with a sigh, "And I can't just up and quit the hunters; not with things the way they are now, and not for anyone's good conscience."

Twila Peterson lifts her gaze and refocuses it back on Rock. "And that's something I could never ask or expect of you. True love for a person wouldn't ever ask someone to be anyone other than who they are." Her continence once more displays her confusion over the matter at hand.

Rock's expression displays the same confusion, with a little concern. "Love is also about making compromises..." he says softly, looking up at Twila.

Twila Peterson nods rather quietly in response. "You're right...it is. But...what kind of compromises?"

Rock frowns. "That, I couldn't say... but they would be major." He reaches out lightly, taking Twila's hands in his. "Which is why I'm afraid. I want to try and make this work a second time... but I'm afraid if it doesn't, we'll have greater problems."

And in that ever so slight way that fate plays its hand, it's about now that Rick begins to walk into the room, having retrieved his jacket and put it on. His side must be healed up enough now that he's even more mobile than usual. He doesn't quite see Rock and Twila -yet-....

Twila applies gentle pressure to his fingers through hers. "Rock, we would be in danger of falling into the same pitfalls as we did the first time. And I don't want to even risk that. I wouldn't even want to think on what would happen if it wouldn't work. Neither of us would be able to recover. And...I think you know that..."

Rock nods softly. "I know..." He returns the gentle pressure, with a small smile, "At least... at least we're keeping a close relationship, even if it's not the one we both wish we had..."

Rick Morgan blinks as he hears voices, and unmistakable words. He pauses and tilts his head to the side, not really -meaning- to listen in but.....when it involves Twila, he can't help but get a bit curious. Or worried in such a case. As he hears the last bit, he rubs his chin lightly, pondering whatever thoughts are in his head, before slowly backtracking the way he came in, and making -noise- this time with his entrance.

*CLUNK CLUNK*

Rock almost starts, letting his hands slip from Twila's as he glances in the direction of the noise. "Hmm?"

The young woman opens her mouth to respond but is somewhat startled by the sudden clatter and pulls back just about the same time as Rock does. She flicks a glance over towards where the heavy steps originated and sees her brother from where she sits. "Uh...hi, Rick..."

Rick Morgan glances in for a second towards the kitchen area, and gives just a slight wave and a small smirk. "Hey guys.." he offers. "Don't mind me." And with that he moves on to where the couch is and out of sight again. But at least they -know- that he's there now.

Rock gives Rick a light wave, and says, "Y'know... we didn't drink any of that cocoa..."

Rick Morgan eases back onto the couch, and blinks as he glances towards the raccoon. Again. "Sheesh, gettin worse than cabbits all over the place...." he muses.

Twila Peterson glances over towards her mug and takes a sip of her drink. "Um...sez who?" she questions with a small grin. She then tosses her twin a glance. If she didn't know any better she would have thought he had almost *decided* to come in right at that exact moment.

Rock half-smirks, and takes a sip of his own lukewarm drink. "I'm glad you decided on this one; it's good."

Twila offers a nod in agreement. "I was thinking of trying out the white chocolate next actually." She then lowers the mug enough to ask, "Zero going to be alright? I know this wasn't a good past week for anyone...including him." Seeing him running around in Black Armor may add some style, but does nothing for mood.

Rick Morgan props his feet up on the footrest in front of him. Hey, as if -he- has eyes in the back of his head for situations like that...right? Not like he has some sixth sense to clue into a certain situation.

We hope.

He continues to stare at the raccoon for a few more seconds, before finally sighing and turning himself to laying lengthwise along the couch, crossing one foot over the other. "I think the whole thing with everyone lately has got him going in circles. Which I can't blame him for..." he offers. Rock nods a bit, glad for the change in subject, "Sounds good." And, at the Zero question, he nods again, "He's taking it harder than anyone... to him, Viris is Iris and he wants to fix her..." He looks up at Rick. "Noone can, really."

Twila Peterson certainly can't, and won't blame him. "And...then there's the snippet about him turning Maverick within X's timeline...and all that follows..." she muses quietly. "X...told me of that too..."

Rock nods, "He's told me and Megaman, too..."

Rick Morgan sighs quietly. "Just a really, messed up bunch of timelines if you ask me." he then tilts his head upwards. "How's Megaman seem to be handling it anyway? I mean I know it was rough on X but..."

Rock says, "Megaman's enjoying it, I think. He's learning a lot of stuff that he wouldn't have otherwise."

Twila Peterson states, "I...haven't really seen much of Megaman come to think of it."

Rick Morgan nods slowly. "Guess it's sort of an eye opener and all. With what -he's- used to. I mean, add a couple dozen more Robot Masters to the mix, and his head is probably spinning like a top>"

Rock nods. "Yeah. He'd only seen, I think three sets of Masters..."

Twila Peterson sips a little more of her coco before it fully goes cold. "I...just hope he's being careful wherever he is. He seems...young..." Lack of a better word there.

"A little too trusting?" Rick offers in Twila's direction as an add-on.

A nod is given within her brother's direction. "Yeah...that..."

"That too," Rock adds, draining the last of his cocoa.

Twila Peterson states, "Just a bit worried about him." Of course, when she first met the Rock she's near right now, he was a bit too trusting as well. But the previous months have done some maturing.

Twila Peterson adds, "what if someone takes advantage of it?"

Rock shakes his head, "He may be a little over trusting, but he's smart."

Rick Morgan sighs and pillows his head back on the cushion behind him, folding his arm back behind his head at the same time. "That's why we gotta keep an eye on him is all." he mutters, resting his eyelids for the moment. " Just to make sure."

Twila Peterson emits a sigh as the rest of her coco is finished. "Suppose so. Just...hope we can find a way to get them home. Can't shake the feeling I have that it needs to be done...and soon."

Rock nods softly. "With Viris and Vile come through from X's timeline, it makes me wonder if anyone came through from Mega's timeline..." A hand comes to rest on his chin.

Rick Morgan gives the barest of nods, his eyes still drifted closed. He didn't -mean- to get this comfortable but.....now the couch is feeling so good, he's

Twila Peterson furrows her brow. "It's...always possible." She then recalls something. "Oh...did you ever get the message I left you from Blues?"

Rock quirks an eyebrow, "Message from Blues? No..."

Twila Peterson finds that a bit odd. "I...sent it to you over your messaging system...on Friday. Blues...was watching me after I was accousted by everyone's favorite ebony armored Master and then Blues asked me to pass along you that message to meet him on Wall-Street that evening."

Rock frowns, "I checked my messages... I didn't see it at all."

Twila now seems really baffled.... "Oh...maybe...I typed it in wrong or something. Although...I'm certain I sent it. I...even radioed Blues to confirm that he wanted me to do so. Seemed strange he was going through a third party."

Rock nods lightly, "Yeah. I'll ask Blues about it when I see him."

"Thanks. Just...strikes me funny I suppose." Twila flicks a glance over towards Rick's slumbering form, noticing that he is asleep. Is he snoring??? She moves herself off her seat and quickly washes the two mugs and places them away. "Hope your feeling better at any rate. It has been a bit of a long day. I'll prolly be going to bed shortly."

Rock nods, standing and moving his and Twila's glasses to the sink. "I'm going there now, actually... I'm feeling a bit better..."

Twila Peterson dips her chin. "Me too actually. Just...work on making tomorrow go a little better I suppose? I'll tuck you in if ya want." Rock shakes his head, "Nah. I'll be fine." He turns away from the sink, walking over to Twila and giving her a soft kiss on the cheek. "Good night," he says, turning and moving out of the recroom.

Twila Peterson softens her gaze towards the reploid as he departs. "Sleep well," she bids. She's about to take leave herself until noticing the doll there. Getting a mischievous idea she picks up the doll carefully and walks over to her brother's sleeping self. Well, if Rock won't be tucked in...maybe the raccoon would like it! She places the raccoon within her brothers arms. "Best you get some rest too. Watch over him for me will ya?"

Spunk Raccoon chirpps? And nodnods.

Twila Peterson pats the reploid gently on the head. "Thanks. I owe you one. Night..."