5th Card Dealt [Action]

[kineticcajun]

[Gambit is back from his mission today, and, much as he hates to admit it, he's exhausted. It's not often that he gets worn out, but this mission definitely managed it. But still, tired as he is, he's got a few things to attend to before he heads back to his apartment. He just means to knock them out as quickly as he can so that he can knock out as quickly as he can.

And so, early afternoon finds him slipping into the Item Shop, careful not to make a sound on the way in, so he can leave a card - a joker, to be specific - on the counter as a sign that he's gotten back safely. His way back out isn't quite as quiet as he'd been hoping, though, and just before the door shuts, the bell goes off. Merde. So much for that.

Once that's done, it's off to the grocery store. Food. Food is definitely needed before he sleeps. Too hungry not to eat.

After nearly ten minutes of staring blankly at spices - he suspects he may have fallen asleep on his feet - Gambit shakes his head and decides to just grab a can of soup and some instant cornbread. Nevermind cooking. Easy stuff. Quick.

He hates cooking this kind of stuff, but pride be damned, he's too tired.

Eventually, he finds his way through the town and back to CH1 to make aforementioned soup and lurch his way into his apartment to sleep, but it's very slow going. Feel free to run into him anywhere on his journey~]

Comments

[kineticcajun]

[Smirk.] An improvement? C'est cruel. These fingers got their merits, y'know.

[So yeah, he can totally chop ingredients.]

[touchofrogue]

[She sets out the ingredients on the counter.] Knives are over there.

[And then she moves to start browning the meat in a large pan.]

[kineticcajun]

You got it, chere.

[He'll just go ahead and get a knife and cutting board and get to work chopping up the vegetables. The motions are slower than usual, but he's still quick and practiced and making short work of everything. Your very own kitchen Cajun.]

[touchofrogue]

[She watches him as she works, wary of him doing something crazy. Like falling down. And she can't help a grudging admiration for the way he's still so damn graceful, even if he's tired.]

When you're done, you should go sit down.

[kineticcajun]

[The chopping slows for a moment as he fights down a yawn. With a shake of his head, though, he's right back up to speed. Almost done.]

You sure?

[He means that on several levels. Sure that she doesn't need any other help making this, sure he's not going to be setting off Scott/Kurt/whoever, sure that she really doesn't mind if he ends up passing out asleep in a chair...]

[touchofrogue]

[A nod. If Scott/Kurt/Whoever have a problem, she'll deal with it then. She doesn't bother saying things if her mind's not made up, at least enough to see it through, he should know that.]

Go on.

[The meat browned, she pours the water into the pan.]

[kineticcajun]

[He figured that would be the answer. And in a way, he's tempted to argue that he'll be fine and he doesn't need to go and sit down, but she's seen through that already. There isn't much point in fighting it when he knows she's just as much - if not more - stubborn as he is.

Finishing his chopping, he gives a small nod.]

If you insist.

[With that, he'll head out to the living room and actually obey the request to sit. Now the trick is staying awake now that he's settled down.

...That effort probably won't be lasting long.]

[touchofrogue]

[Once he's out of the kitchen, she'll let him rest until the curry's done. It'll probably be about an hour or so, which gives her enough time to make rice and chop up some fixings to put on top.

Part of her wonders just how lightly he's sleeping, if he's sleeping at all. But she puts the essentials on a tray and carries it out to him and hesitates before waking him. She sets the tray down first - there, that's better - and then says his name.]

Gambit.

[kineticcajun]

[Luckily, Gambit is a light sleeper. Unluckily, he's just tired enough that being a light sleeper isn't quite enough for his name alone to wake him this time. His eyelids flutter a little, his nose wrinkles a bit as he starts to wake up... aaaand then he just falls back asleep.

The downside of really comfortable chairs.]

[touchofrogue]

[She wonders if it's even worth waking him. It's rare to see him so open and vulnerable like this...

And as soon as she sees this, she calls out his name again, a little louder.] Gambit. Remy.

[Because she won't let herself share in that vulnerability. She's in enough danger of him.]

[kineticcajun]

[That'll do it. There's a slight jump at the "Remy" - the last time anyone woke him with his real name was before he left New Orleans - and he cracks one eye open. The bleary look falls away once memory switches back on and he stretches, trying to smoothly recover from the slip in his guard.]

You finished everythin' already? That was fast.

[That couldn't have been more than ten minutes.]

[touchofrogue]

[She looks away from him, giving him a chance to put his mask back up. She's not sure he'd do the same, but she remembers how things were when she'd had the ceiling fall down on top of her and... maybe he would.]

Not as fast as ya think, ya layabout. Get some food in you, an' then go fall asleep in your own bed.

[kineticcajun]

[He does appreciate her giving him that chance to get his wits about him again. Shaking his head to clear the grogginess, he sits up straight and. Food. Rogue, you really are a lifesaver.

Usual mask securely back in place, he grins at her.]

Southern hospitality stops at lettin' people nap all over your couch, huh.

[touchofrogue]

Nah, suit yourself. You wanna risk fallin' asleep around Kurt an' Scott, that's your call.

[And don't forget to actually eat, and potentially tone down the wattage of that grin. It'd be greatly appreciated.]

[kineticcajun]

[What's odd is that he's not so concerned about Kurt as he is Scott. The fuzzy one has already proven trustworthy in a pinch. It's Cyclops he doesn't trust worth an inch.

As he gently pulls the tray closer and tries to decide where to start, he chuckles.]

Non, I'll head home. Since you asked so nice an' all.

[touchofrogue]

[Snort.] I could throw ya out by your ear if you prefer. You still look like ya couldn't fight your way outta a paper bag.

[kineticcajun]

[He pauses, the curry momentarily forgotten, and quirks an eyebrow at her.]

I t'ink I'll let that slide, chere. You an' I both know I ain't ever that bad off.

[touchofrogue]

[This look? Is a skeptical, skeptical look. In fact, she looks him up and down with that same skeptical look and then shakes her head to the side very slightly. Skeptical, skeptical Rogue.]

[kineticcajun]

[This is a very flat look he is giving in return. In a way, he's taking that as a challenge. In another way, he's sure it's just an attempt to rile him up. There's a short pause before he just turns his attention back to the curry.]

You're bluffin', river rat.

[Nevermind that she never said a thing. That look was clear enough.]

[touchofrogue]

Jus' eat up, Swamp Rat.

[Smirk. Someone is less than intimidated.

In fact, she drawls, tasting the words and pushing a little bit more.] Wouldn't be fair otherwise.

[kineticcajun]

[Tone calm, he goes for a gentle jab back at her.]

Guess I oughta be flattered you're so concerned 'bout me eatin' right.

[And with that, he'll just get started on this here curry.]

[touchofrogue]

Guess you oughta be.

[And, since sitting across from him and watching him eat is weird, she'll just get up and go into the kitchen to start cleaning up. It is, however, an open area between the kitchen and the living room, so it's not as if she's gone too far.]

[kineticcajun]

[Let it never be said that a dramatically hungry Cajun can't make short work of a plate of food. Once he's finished, he'll bring the tray back into the kitchen, and even have the decency to rinse the dishes off if the sink is unoccupied. He's not a completely terrible guest.]

Compliments to the chef.

[touchofrogue]

[She ignores his compliments. She's good at that. If just because she knows it frustrates him.

And hey, look, it's a Tupperware. She picks it up and hands it over to him.]

Here. Take it an' get some rest.

[kineticcajun]

[Yeah, it's frustrating. But it's a battle he's not sure getting into when half asleep is the best idea. He just accepts that Tupperware with a nod.]

'Course, chere. 'preciate it.

[And he really does mean that.]