a_tin_soldier | THNMY: After the Carnival (For Rock)

The chibi LOL had finally worn off - leaving Rockman sulking in the back of Rock's mind - and Rock was about to head home when he remembered he'd wanted to talk to Colonel. Searching him out lead Rock to the plushy mounds that were Colonel and Iris.

"Can I help you two with that?"

"I wouldn't want to impose," Iris says, and then almost loses her grasp on a stuffed white cat nearly the size of a small child.

"It's no problem, really," he chuckles and moves to take hold of the cat for her. "Besides, I wouldn't want you to drop one. It'd be impossible to pick up - at least without dropping more that is."

"I think you're right about that," Iris admits, blushing. "Thank you."

"Heh, you're welcome," he says, taking a portion of the load.

"Though the real reason I came over here was so I could ask something. I've heard a few things about what's going on in your world. Things aren't looking too hot, are they?"

Iris and Colonel exchange a glance over their armloads of plushies at that.

"What part of things do you mean?" Colonel asks.

"Things with the Hunters, things with the way mechanicals are being treated, the whole situation? I don't know a lot but it sounds like something big is about to happen." Rock hopes he's not stepping over any bounds with this topic.

Oh, he hasn't. They're just being cautious. After a moment, Colonel nods. "Things at home are very tense right now due to several factors."

Rock can understand wanting to be cautious about this. He nods, then looks up worriedly. "What do you think is going to happen? Is there anything that can be done to help keep it all from... you know?"

Colonel shakes his head. "I cannot predict the future, Rock. But I do know that things cannot continue as they are indefinitely."

"Rock... If large numbers of Reploids were to start attacking humans, why do you think they would do so?" Iris says softly. "If it happens, it would be because they felt they had no choice if they wanted to be safe. If there is a way to provide them with an alternative to fighting the humans, I think that many of them would take it."

"Being pushed into a corner doesn't give them much choice, but that doesn't make it right. I wouldn't know what alternative could be provided for them however."

He sighs. "I wish something like nonviolent resistance or civil disobedience would work in this situation." But with the Hunters, that could end in slaughter.

"It won't." Colonel says.

"The work that the others are doing, rescuing people and bringing them here.. it's admirable," Iris says. "But they're an underground group. Most people do not even know they exist. And even if they did, this place is a little hard to believe in unless one has actually been here. I wonder how many more would leave if they knew had somewhere to go."

Rock nods at the confirmation.

"It is. Could the word be spread about here without causing to much trouble? Even if it's too strange a place to consider a reality, some would try regardless. Though running away won't solve the problem. There needs to be a way to speak up without putting a target on your head. Or at least a way to dodge the shots afterwards..."

Rock made a bit of a face at his fighting metaphors. That had to be a sign that he'd been doing this too long.

"The best way would be if we were just out of their reach," Iris says.

"But close enough so they can't forget we're still there," adds Colonel.

"But where would somewhere like that be? I don't think there's a place left on earth that you can go that they couldn't follow."

Colonel nods.

"Think over what you just said," Iris says very softly, trying to let Rock know without saying too much aloud.

Rock blinks, then goes over it again in his head. "...wait, you can't mean-" Oh wait, should he not say it out loud?

"But, how?" He could still ask questions, right? They could simply not answer if they needed to keep it secret.

Colonel nods. "There are a few ways. It will depend on other events which is the most likely to succeed."

"So you really think it'd work?" Rock isn't sure himself. Between the two, Roll was more of a strategist.

"Yes, I do." If they could hold off the Hunters long enough.

"Then I guess, good luck? And, if you need any help...?" Of course, he wouldn't be Rock if he didn't offer.

A nod from Colonel.

Iris gives Rock a smile. "Thank you for helping with the stuffed animals, Rock." She giggles and adds, "Zero and my brother were a bit competitive at the carnival games."

He smiles back. Now that they aren't talking about anything serious, things can go back to being fun. Even if it is just for now. "Like I said, it's no problem. And I noticed. Actually, a lot of people noticed."

Iris blushes at that, and even Colonel looks a little sheepish.

Rock snickers a bit. "So, who won?"

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