a_tin_soldier

"Oh, that sounds like it would be very helpful. Thank you for the suggestion, Rock. I.. had thought of perhaps finding some charity that would take some of them. There really are a few too many."

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"Ah, that's a very good idea actually. I'm sure they'd find great homes that way."

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"I'm certain someone out there needs them far more than I do," Iris replies, "Though.. I won't want to upset the boys, so I'll have to keep at least some of them."

This sort of comment seems to be as close as Iris gets to teasing her brother.

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"Of course," he grins, though it's a bit of a sheepish one considering he'd probably feel the same if someone gave away something he won for them.

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"Perhaps things did get a little out of hand," Colonel admits, looking at the plushies.

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"Maybe next time you can put a limit in place, and the first one there wins?" Because there is no doubt in Rock's mind that something like this will happen again. Maybe not with plushies, but it'd happen.

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"That might be for the best."

Iris tries not to giggle.

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See, that is two good ideas from Rock so far. He can't help but look pleased as he finishes his tea.

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"Do you visit the Nexus often, Rock?" Iris asks. She's guessed that this isn't the Rock that lives in the Nexus.

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"It depends on what's going on, but for the most part I'm here a lot."

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"Brother and I have only been here for a few months, and we still have to report back sometimes."

"What are your thoughts, Rock," Colonel asks, "on the Wilybots living in the Nexus?"

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"They must get a lot of odd reports."

"Them? I think it's great that they have a place where they can live in peace, where they're no longer forced to fight. And I'm glad I finally have the chance to befriend them, even if they're not from my world."

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"Yes, I suppose so," Iris says. "Though there are a lot of things that we've been leaving out of our reports."

She smiles at the rest. Maybe it would help convince here brother. She suspected he still didn't quite really trust them.

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"Stuff they wouldn't believe or...?"

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"Things that would cause unnecessary difficulties for everyone involved," Colonel says.

Iris blushes slightly at that.

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"Oh." No, Rock doesn't get it. But he does have enough sense that when things were worded in that way, they were best not to be asked about, for whatever reason.

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"I'm certain you can see, Rock, how it just wouldn't do for them to suspect that either of us were becoming too friendly with, well..."

"Wanted fugitives," Colonel finishes, when his sister seems unable to find a polite way to put it. Even if it wasn't justified, it was still the truth of the matter.

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He sighed. "Yeah."

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"I wish it could be different," Iris says. "But it wouldn't help anyone if Brother and I were replaced with someone who.. might be more inclined to solving this matter with violence."

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"I do too. You're doing the right thing, I think. And for taking chances like this, I think you're very brave too."

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Iris blushes at that. "Thank you, Rock."

"I do not see where we could do otherwise." Colonel says.

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"The only option you see is the right one, huh?" He grinned.

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"The only acceptable option, yes."

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Rock's grin grew bigger, then got a bit sheepish. "I should probably get going. Thank you for having me, the tea, and everything." He gave Coco a pat. "And for the warm greeting from you."

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