Timelined before Rest in Pieces
<Rogue> Rogue picked up the giant 20-sided pillow die and squeezed it in both hands like a stress ball, "Will ya please just sit down an' listen instead o' tryin' ta get out? Ah know ya been avoidin' me. An' Ah know ya usurped mah authority in front o' our team. Ya cain't tell me that didn't happen. It's like all of a sudden Ah got tha plague'r somethin'!"
<Bobby> "Maybe I decided I just don't need any more crazy rubbing off," Bobby muttered and stopped trying to just step by her. He sighed and turned around, flopping back onto the ratty geek lair sofa and picking up the game controller.
<Rogue> "Ugh!" Rogue walked around to the television and switched it off. "Bugsy. Listen!" She squatted down in front of him and tried to get him to look at her, "Ah had ta do it! Ah made sure it was tha right thing ta do first! Ya cain't tell me ya didn't enjoy doin' it ta Vertigo. Ya know it was right. That's why we made this team, Bobby. 'Cause we know they won't stop! Tha second we let 'em go, they come back harder!"
<Bobby> He just stared at her for a second. "Enjoy it? Are you on crack? Are you seriously saying this to me right now? I can't fucking close my eyes without seeing her face! Without seeing her-" Bobby moved sideways out of her immediate range. "If you're enjoying this, then you're farther gone than I thought."
<Rogue> "Yes! Enjoy it. Ah did enjoy it. Know why?" She moved to sit on the table in front of him to give him a touch more space. At least he was talking to her now. "Ah enjoyed it b'cause Ah know they won't come back ta hurt more o' us. They won't be able ta be cronies f'r Essex anymore. Ah know Ah shoulda let 'er go'r somethin', but Ah knew she wasn't gonna! Ah made sure of it, Bugs! Ah swear it!"
<Bobby> "But you can't enjoy killing people! That's... that's crazy! I fucking killed Vertigo right in front of Lorna and you know what she told me when I said I didn't regret it because Vertigo was a bad person? That this was how people like Vertigo got started. And she's right, she's absolutely fucking right."
<Rogue> Rogue just stared at him for a long moment as she took in what he said. "Y'all think Ah'm gonna be like them? Ya think Ah'm gonna turn inta a killer... Just 'cause Ah don't regret makin' us safe?"
<Bobby> Bobby rolled his eyes and dropped the controller, giving up any semblance of normalcy. "No, I think you could because you say you enjoy it. I don't regret making us safe, but I regret that this is what it's going to take. I regret that this is fucking changing me as much as ... well, anything that Essex ever did to me. I hope I never stop regretting that this was necessary."
<Rogue> "If there was any way they woulda stopped without this happenin', Ah woulda done it... But Ah ain't gonna say Ah regret this bein' necessary 'cause Ah know there ain't another way. We hafta make sure they stay gone, Bobby!" She ran her hands through her hair, "What're ya gonna do if ya get Lorna pregnant one day? Sit back an' say 'Ah regret that Ah had ta kill those people even though they'd kill mah baby'?!"
<Bobby> Bobby shook his head, making a confused noise. "Bwuh? What does that have to do with you saying you get off on killing a woman who's begging for her fucking life? I don't care if she's goddamn Hitler, when she surrendered it was over."
<Rogue> "Ah never said Ah got off on it! Ah told ya Ah made sure first!" She ripped off her glove and flashed her bare hand at him, "Ah. Made. Sure! If Ah'd let her go, she was gonna run off ta Essex an' warn him but not 'fore callin' in reinforcements! Ah couldn't take tha risk!"
<Bobby> "But didn't you just say 'yes, ah enjoyed it?'" Bobby mocked her accent, eyeing her bare hand with a frown. "As much as I enjoy these circular arguments, I'm trying to beat my top score here."
<@Lorna> "Probably down here somewhere." Lorna could be heard from the hall as she continued her search for Bobby with Scott. "I know he didnt head back home so it's either here or down in the DR more than likely."
<DrSummers> "Probably. Then we need to find Rogue," Scott said, following her. He hadn't been to the Geek Lair in a long while.
<Bobby> Bobby heard Lorna's voice and sat straight up with a curse. Scott too. "Fucking hell." He scrambled for his game controller and shot Rogue a look. "See if you can keep your sucky grabby hands to yourself while they're here."
<Rogue> Rogue's hands balled into fists and she fought not to deck her best friend. "Below tha belt, Bugs, really?" She mumbled before slipping her glove back on and picking up a second controller, pretending to know what the hell she was doing.
<@Lorna> Lorna's head popped in soon after her and Scott's voices had filtered in. "See? I told you. My tracking skills are only paralleled by ferals and they're totally cheating. We even have a bonus Rogue." Lorna waved her hand as if she was going to be Vanna White's replacement before stepping in and flopping down on the old sofa.
<@Lorna> "So, how'd you get Rogue pulled down here, Sweetcheeks?"
<DrSummers> "Hey, guys!" Scott grinned, and went to sit on a beanbag chair. "I ran into Lorna, and thought having an adult night - no students - would be fun. Now that the lab is outfitted with a ready room, I need a break."
<Rogue> "Oh.. Hey yall. How else, Lorna? With tha promise that we'd play t'gether an' beat tha game on tha same side. 'Stead we're fightin' each other..." Rogue looked at Scott with a small grin, "Hey there Westley. Haven't seen ya outta tha lab in a while. Maybe ya do need a break."
<@Lorna> "And we shall provide such breaks! Though not the karaoke bar. I think Darren would be all sad-faced if he missed karaoke time."
<Bobby> "Oooh, adult night. I could use one of those." Bobby leaned against Lorna's shoulder and quickly turned off the game. "Yeah, well, I was winning anyway. I had the high ground."
<Rogue> "High ground isn't always tha right ground. If we'd kept playin', tha tables would been turned an' y'all know it."
<DrSummers> Was it just him, or was there tension between his Buttercup and Bobby? "I was thinking maybe we could go into the city and do something more like going to a nice bar or restaurant."
<Rogue> "Ah love that idea! Get away from tha tight constraints o' tha school... Some tighter than ya thought at first," she cut her eyes to Bobby with a quick glare.
<Bobby> Bobby rolled his eyes and dropped the controller.
<@Lorna> Lorna looked slightly confused towards Rogue, then arched an eyebrow at Bobby. Tight constraints? Was there some bondage joke she was missing? "So, out time, yay?"
<DrSummers> "Anybody have a specific request? I'm in the mood for sushi - maybe a sushi bar?"
<Rogue> "Sounds alright by me." She got up and threw the pillow-die at Bobby, for the roll of the eyes. "C'mon Bugs. Partners in crime, right? Cain't back out now. Tentacles'r not."
<@Lorna> "My pirate nature is somewhat turned off by ninja-fare but it can appreciate the seafood. Lets do this roll."
<Bobby> "Depends on what actual crime is involved," Bobby said, getting up and faking a stretch to throw the die right back. It bounced off the back of Rogue's head and he grinned, offering Lorna a hand up. "Arrrr."
<DrSummers> Scott rolled his eyes. Nerds.
<@Lorna> "Arrrr!" Lorna took the hand and swung up. "Come on now, the California roll be calling my name, maties!"
<Bobby> It wasn't an official function, but Bobby didn't care. The van was handy. He pulled up outside a Japanese restaurant. A giant animated cat beckoned.
<Rogue> "Is this sanitary?" She arched an eyebrow at the cat as it's arm squeaked on rusty hinges.
<Lorna> "You know," Lorna started as she got out of the van, "It's horrible to say but I'm not sure cats are the best advertisemnt for Asian cusine. It sets up for stereotypical jokes way, way too easily."
<Bobby> "Meow roll. Special of day." Bobby got out and stalked up to the cat, mimicking its gesture.
<Lorna> "Meow mix, meow mix, please deliver!"
<DrSummers> Scott snorted. "Funny. Now, let's go inside and see what their raw fish is like." He hooked Rogue around the waist and escorted her inside.
<Rogue> "Eep!" Rogue laughed and let herself be taken along with Scott. It felt nice to be out with people she trusted for once. Even if she and Bobby were out of sorts. She shot Bobby a look at that thought, wishing they could have finished their talk.
<Lorna> "I am all about some wrapped up fishy goodness right now." Lorna practically bounced to the door, glad to be doing something so very normal right now.
<DrSummers> ""So now, table, sushi bar, or tatami room?" He easily switched his grip on Rogue's arm to her elbow, flawlessly going into 'I'm actually blind' mode when he noticed people giving his shades a look. He inwardly sighed.
<Bobby> "Table. I like sitting on the floor. Reminds me of kindergarten snack breaks." Noticing Scott's behavior, Bobby slide his arm around Lorna as well, giving her a peck on the cheek and a smile.
<Lorna> "Plus it means we get to have naptime afterwards, right?" She chuckled, sliding an arm around his back and grinning at the peck on the cheek.
<Rogue> Rogue recognized Scott's shift in behaviour and placed her gloved hand over his on her arm to make it more believable. "Ah ain't had naptime in years. ...Well... That Ah took 'cause Ah wanted ta anyway. Hiveminded naps don't count."
<Bobby> "Mmmm, nap." Bobby smirked over at Rogue's comment. Oh, the irony.
<Lorna> "Naps are the absolute best thing, well, not in the hivemind but still."
<DrSummers> "I nap all the time."
<Lorna> Lorna remembered the hivemind nap incident and she did not approve.
<Rogue> Rogue arched an eyebrow at Scott, "Is that why ya coffee breaks take so long these days? Ya nap 'cause ya know Ah'll sit on mah ass in ya comfy chair 'till ya get back?"
<Rogue> Rogue led Scott to a pillow and plonked him down playfully before taking a seat beside him.
<DrSummers> "Gentle, Buttercup." He added in an undertone, "I'm not actually blind."
<Bobby> Bobby let go of Lorna to fluff her pillow, pulling it out a bit as if it were a chair.
<Lorna> "Why thank you, my dear." Lorna laughed, flopping down on her pillow as she fluffed his as well and patted it.
<Rogue> "Ah know that," she grinned.
<Bobby> Bobby bowed and plopped down, but unfortunately he was right across from Rogue now. "Well, isn't this cozy. Boy, girl, boy, girl."
<Rogue> "Yes. Girl, boy, girl, boy."
<Bobby> Bobby had to grin at that and looked down.
<Rogue> Rogue saw the grin and narrowed her eyes, he wasn't as mad at her if he could grin at something so simple as her quoting a movie they both knew. Or... She hoped he wasn't. "So... What's good here?" She turned to Scott, "Shall Ah read tha menu f'r ya, Westley?"
<DrSummers> "I want tuna, and california rolls. And those weird little egg ones."
<Rogue> "Eggrolls?"
<Lorna> "Mmm, it's California roll time!" Lorna didn't even need to look at the menu; it called her name.
<DrSummers> "No, the cooked scrambled egg on rice. I like those."
<Bobby> "Tomagotchi? No, wait... tamogoyaki!"
<Rogue> "What's a tomagotchi?"
<DrSummers> "A little video game of a virtual pet in real time. My cousins collected them like crazy."
<Lorna> "I remember those!"
<Rogue> "...That's ridiculous." She perused the menu and decided on a sampler platter of their 'most ordered' sushi rolls. "That's like havin' a pet rock. Won't do ya any good."
<Bobby> "I tended to kill them." Bobby realized what he'd said and sniffed loudly, picking up the sushi list.
<Rogue> Rogue's eyes flicked up to Bobby quickly at that. "And did ya regret it ever?"
<Bobby> "Of course." He didn't miss a beat and kept his eyes on the list. "Their little virtual eyes were big and cute."
<Lorna> "It was a pocket-sized tragedy." Lorna nodded mournfully.
<DrSummers> "I hated them. So annoying."
<Rogue> "So then if they were annoyin', why'd ya regret killin' 'em, Bobberz? They had ta make ya life a livin' hell, right?" She glanced at Scott for confirmation.
<DrSummers> Scott rolled his eyes at Rogue. She was pushing something...she'd gone all tense. But he had no idea what was going on. He tried to nudge Lorna's leg under the table.
<Lorna> Lorna glanced up at the nudging, also wondering what the hell Rogue had against poor cute little pocket pets even if they were digital. Yeeeep, definitely weird.
<Bobby> "I'm not the one who said they were annoying." He gave her a bland smile. "I just tended to forget about them, until I found them a week later. You know, I don't know where else you'd order an eel. Mmmm. Gimme that eel. Or octopus.... I have too many flashbacks from Megatokyo there."
<Rogue> Rogue frowned back at him. Forgetting was easy when it was a toy. It wasn't so easy when it was a band of people coming to kill your friends and family. "Eel? Yech." She glanced at Scott, "Y'all ever had eel?"
<DrSummers> "Once. In italy. Not my favorite. Very fatty."
<Rogue> "Fatty? Really? Ya think it'd be less so... What with all tha slime an' everythin'." She shrugged and leaned back as the little old Asian woman brought over the green tea.
<Bobby> "Mmm, slime. We're right back to the tentacles." He shut up when the woman came and gave her his best innocent grin. He even thanked her.
<Lorna> "To tentacles!" Lorna raised her drink, laughing. "Oddly enough one of the few meats I don't feel squeamish about after the incident with Michael."
<DrSummers> "You guys are so weird." He did lift his glass, though.
<Bobby> "You like us this way." He raised his cup of stinky tea.
<Rogue> "Did ya ever feel squeamish 'bout tentacles, though, Lorna?"
<Lorna> "After the whole inky monster thing, yeah, but now that I've went through enough exploding cow for a lifetime I'm okay with them."
<Rogue> "Ew. Point taken."
<DrSummers> "So, let's not talk about all that...um...the lab's back in ship shape condition."
<Bobby> "How's things going with Michael and, ah, the Legacy stuff?" Bobby didn't look at Rogue, leaning on the table to focus on Scott. "Has to be hard... with Hank gone..."
<DrSummers> "Slowly. I think he's hiding something, but I can't ascertain what. I want a telepath to have a bit of a rummage in his mind to make sure it's all good in there, but cornering him with one is tricky."
<DrSummers> He also leant forward. "How's classes going?"
<Rogue> Rogue looked down into her cup, focusing intently on the pale green liquid as they talked about Legacy. She never got used to anyone talking about it so casually... And then the fact that Bobby thought she had had something to do with the tests that Reed had been working on...
<Lorna> "I'm sure things will come around." Lorna smiled encouraging, sitting back as the food was on it's way. "You let us know if you need any kind of help down there. Might not be sciency but I'm sure there's something we can do."
<DrSummers> "I've got m own sciency team, but yeah, nay time you all want to come down and help, you're welcome!"
<Rogue> "Y'all have a sciencey team now? That sounds fun an' official."
<DrSummers> "Well, it's my team, but most of them are bent toward the sciences. It's kind of like a madhouse when we're all together." He sipped his tea.
<Lorna> "Well, pretend to be sane for just a bit, here comes the waitress again." Lorna put on a smile and got ready to order.
