kineticcajun | 8th Card Dealt [Action - Backdated to August 21]

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8th Card Dealt [Action - Backdated to August 21]

[Today - or at least he assumes today - is Remy's birthday. It might not really be his actual birthday, and maybe that's why he's never approached it with too much excitement, but it's the day decided on by those who raised him. Somewhere, somebody probably knows the real date, but it's nothing he's ever really bothered himself too much over.

That said, he's not exactly celebrating his 22nd year of causing trouble everywhere. The day starts like just about any other, with a jog around town. Then a shower, then tossing together a fairly simple lunch.

From there, his usual trip to the Battle Dome for some "playtime" is delayed a bit by a trip to the clothes shop to get something other than the pair of shorts and tie-dye t-shirt that survived the latest sofa tribble attack. Once that's done, he'll head over to the Battle Dome for a bit.

Later on in the evening, he's having a cook-out, dammit. Burgers and steaks, with a slight Cajun twist on the spices. It is for his own dinner, but he's not a total jerkface - he knows cooking outside is bound to draw someone in this place, so there's extra, albeit not much. After that, it's a trip to Good Spirits for some bourbon and a chance to relax and wind down the night.

All in all, not too bad a birthday. It's possibly even better because he's made it a point not to tell anyone that it is... although the news might have leaked out to a few people.

Feel free to run into him at any point!]

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[Once the farming's done and the few items she feels she needs moved from 44 to 46- Adele can't let herself rest just yet. No. She has to find Remy's stash of cigarettes and steal them. It'd be easier if she hadn't rolled her ankle during the water fight. Still she hobbles along with a borrowed cane all the same, tucks a note where Gambit kept his cigarettes while he was distracted, and hobbles along to the next location to place it's note. Her office at the battle dome clinic- which was locked. Specifically her desk, which was doubly locked. Warm ups for something bigger, she promises. Well. Not really, he hasn't seen her yet, but the point remains.]

[His cigarettes. Really? He knows where he left them, and he knows there were plenty left and they're not exactly all that easy to nick around here where there's smokers and not many smokes. Remy is definitely a little nettled, but the note in their place has piqued his curiosity.

So it's off to the clinic, as the note hints, and the door only takes him a second or two to pick open. The desk takes a little longer, although not much. Lockpicking is something he could easily do in his sleep, and arguably something he already has.

This is definitely an interesting little turn of events, though. Whatever Adele is after, hiding his cigs, she could do a better job of trying to divert him.

...She'd better not be trying to get him to quit.]

[Quit? While that would be on the table for discussion later, right now that's not the game. In the desk is another note- pointing him just down the hall to one of the simulation rooms. It's locked, but not sealed. Remy could get in if he really, truly wanted to do so.

And inside?

Pinned to a simulation tree, one last note.]

If you can get in- you get the prize.

P.S. The key's on the top floor- the vault in the basement.

[Down a short path past a line of trees is a very secure building. Tall fences, motion detectors, cameras- the odd simulated guard with a dog making rounds at irregular intervals.]

[The locks once again don't serve as much deterrence, only making the curiosity grow even more. And then there's the note. And the building.

A wide, bright smile splits across his face. Adele, you know him so well.

Breaking through into the building actually does take him a while, but it's a great show of how patient he can be when it comes right down to it. Making sure to stay downwind of the dogs while keeping out of sight of the guards, clearing the fence, scrambling camera wires with small charges... it all takes a good amount of time to handle it carefully. But Remy is meticulous and he's honestly having entirely too much fun. It's been way too long since he's had a chance to go all-out like this in something that he didn't design himself.

He's got to hand it to Adele, though -- she's made this a challenge.]

[Once inside, well. It's a veritable thieves playground, cubicles on one level, narrow halls on another, a little of every kind of security for every section, door, and floor. The lobby in particular has a unique set of roaming laser detectors that move independently and at random. Retinal scanners, fingerprint scanners, double combination locks, pressure sensitive flooring, no bank or museum has this kind of security. And once he's made his way to the top floor and gotten the key? The entire building shifts from one set of security protocols to another from that room back down to the basement.

It won't be easy- but he'd appreciate it more that way. And once he's done and cracked open the vault there's a box waiting for him on a pedestal with one more note on top.]

This suits you better than the last one. Cake and beer in my office once you're out-

A.

[Nestled inside, made out of warm brown leather, a new coat. Lined in a rich magenta, hidden pockets along the collar and cuffs for cards, lockpicks, and knives. There's even a few pockets sized just right for his staff in it's collapsed form. True to her word Adele will be waiting in her office with a small cake and a cold pack of beer whenever he's out.]

[It does take Remy a good amount of time to go through this particular playground. He's definitely impressed with the amount of work and thought Adele put into it, and by the time he finally makes his way to the vault, he's grinning like an absolute fool. There are a few close calls and he has to get particularly creative with skirting around the retinal scanners, but this is the most fun he's had in forever.

The vault itself is surprisingly difficult to break into as well, but once he's got it and has read the note, he bursts out laughing.

It doesn't take him quite so long to find his way back out, but on the way, he's happily investigating the various pockets and trapdoors in the new coat. When he steps into her office, he's beaming like a kid on Christmas morning. In spite of it, though, he does make an attempt at a serious tone of voice as he points at her.]

You got one twisted mind, sis. Them laser traps weren't easy.

Some of my most frequent patients in my world were thieves. I simply took their worst stories of failed or almost failed jobs and extrapolated from there.

[She huffs a soft laugh, flipping up her camera to snap a photo of Remy in the new coat. As she'd thought, it suited him far better than the old leather duster and fit perfectly. Keimi was a miracle worker to have managed this in such a short period of time. Adele makes a mental note to thank her properly later. For now she nods to the small cake with a candle on top and pulls a long neck from the cooler next to her desk.]

If they were nearly impossible for men in my world they should have been more than an adequate challenge for your level of skill, Chou chou.

Oh, it was a challenge, alright. [He combines taking the offered beer with blowing out the candle before he manages to gracefully flop into a spare chair. There's no more attempt to even try hiding his smile.] Y'know it was easier to steal an ancient relic outta a heavily-guarded museum than it was gettin' to this coat? I did that in my sleep. This I had to work for.

[And the contrast is entirely too amusing to him, so he takes a swig of beer to stifle a laugh.]

'preciate the workout.

It seemed fitting that you'd have to earn it...and I knew you'd appreciate the opportunity to show off. You haven't had much cause to use these skills since you've come to the village, have you?

[Adele pops the top off of both of their bottles before handing Gambit his, taking a long sip from her own.]

Not the same as doing it in a real building with real guards but I couldn't quite arrange that so soon.

[Remy takes a long swig of his own beer before answering. Thievery is thirsty work.]

Been way too long. Missions come close, but they ain't the same t'ing. Not by a long shot. Ain't showin' off if you got teammate's lives on the line.

[Although he'd be lying if he said he had no fun whatsoever on the missions. Because they have their moments.]

You do good work, doc.

If you ever need a challenge again, well. Let me know and I will think of something, though it may take some time. This took the better part of a week, if only because I wasn't certain of the programming details. Now that I know it shouldn't take anywhere near as long.

[She smiles, pleased with his praise.]

Happy Birthday Rems.

Merci. Gotta admit, this's prob'ly the best birthday I've had... ever. Even if I am stuck in a guinea pig habitat.

[Not that his past birthdays have put up much of a contest to this one, but hell. You can't argue with having fun in a simulated environment and then having beer and cake with someone who's practically family. Better family than the adopted one back home, too.

He takes another swig of beer, still grinning like the Cheshire Cat.]

I might take you up on makin' another one sometime. Maybe for Christmas. Otherwise I'll owe you too much.

This would be the first birthday of a sibling I've observed on time. Usually we're too preoccupied. More often than not I forget my own.

[A slow swig of her beer and she nudges the cake across to Remy. It was a small, simple chocolate cake. Nothing fancy. That's why he had the coat. It was more than she'd been able to do for her own siblings the past few years. Now she had the time to do something fun and nice for Rems.]

Christmas sounds just about right. [she can't help but grin back, no longer as tired or worried as she'd been before.]

Now why don't that s'prise me?

[Remy starts to reach out for the cake, but pauses, a warm glow lighting in his eyes. She definitely doesn't look as tired or worn down, and it's a change he can really appreciate. It's not often he finds himself so attached to anyone, and he's not in any mood to be subtle about it.]

You really oughta smile like that more often, doc. Suits you.

Because you know me.

[The past few days have been kind to her and there wasn't anything quite like a waterfight with Jedi, a pony, and Captain America. After that she couldn't be anything but cheerful. That and knowing she had something she knew Gambit would enjoy. Adele's proud of the simulation, and the coat, and that she'd managed to arrange this while he was none the wiser.]

I haven't had much reason to smile like this but...I have a feeling I'll have more cause in the months to come.

[She should be proud. He's damn proud of her for doing such a good job with all of it. And he's honestly a little baffled as to why she would put in so much effort for some Cajun fool who's not even real where she comes from, but that doesn't mean he isn't flattered in a way that he's done something right enough for that not to matter.

It's encouraging, odd as it is.]

Sure seems that way, don't it? Well... [And here he holds up his beer in a toast.] Here's to that feelin' comin' true.

[After their initial meeting Adele had honestly stopped thinking of Gambit as a character, it was just easier for her that way. There was so much more to him besides that niggling detail. Not real, well. In his world the odds of her being real are fairly slim as well. It didn't change how she looks at him. An exasperating younger brother that causes just enough trouble to be endearing.

She lifts her bottle in turn.] To being stupidly optimistic. May we not fall on our faces for it.

[Her wording makes him chuckle, but he clinks his bottle against hers gently.]

To stupid optimism.

[Not something he's ever really put any faith in before, but hell. Just this once.]

[A nod and a deep swig of the beer, finishing the bottle. The rest was for Rems, now or later, a brew she noticed he enjoyed well enough.]

Any other birthday wishes I might grant, Chou chou?

You kiddin'? This already beats anythin' I'd ever expect. You gone above an' beyond, doc.

[And he really appreciates that she did. Having someone who actually cares makes a huge difference.]

LeBlancs do anything for family.

[Something oft quoted in her household, rarely spoken here. There's only a handful she considers to be family, and of them? Remy is the first.]

Well... LeBeaus usually don't, but I can make an exception.

[He's usually the one making an exception, come to think of it. Henri might sometimes, but the rest of the clan isn't much help at all. But he can just gloss over that idea with another grin and a swig of beer.]

You don't have to Rems. I'll appreciate it if you do, but you don't have to. Let me be the doting elder sibling, mm? Get in trouble, bother people, make mischief. Find a way out.

[She salutes him with her bottle.]

You are far more likely to manage that than I.

[That evening at the Good Spirits, Remy receives a visitor wearing a green dress, long gloves, patterned black stockings and boots with laces all the way up to her knee.

She doesn't make any pretense about it, just glances around the room and heads towards him. She's carrying a bag.]

[She may not be making any pretense about it, but Remy still can't help a smile. He definitely hadn't expected to see her at all today. And so, he lifts his drink in a mock toast.]

Maybe I oughta come by here more often if you're gonna be wearin' these dresses every time.

[It was a nice dress, wasn't it. Her official excuse was summer. Her unofficial excuse was: Read 'em and weep.

Though she hadn't really expected to be affected by any of his smooth lines, for some reason that honest appreciation got to her. It had her taking on a little more receptive body language than she'd planned, subconsciously opening to him with the tilt of her hips and slant of her shoulders.]

I'd hate ta become predictable.

[And she reached into the bag...]

Ain't predictable if I don't know which one it'd be.

[Which is the kind of mystery he is totally cool with. The kind he could live with easily. But that is beyond the point, because she is a) not glaring at him and b) actually seeming to open up a bit again. And that takes priority.

It almost means that he doesn't notice her reaching into the bag, although he catches on to that with only a little delay.]

...I really hope that ain't a pie in there you're gonna hit me wit'.

[What. Totally a legitimate concern.]

[An amused huff.]

It was a thought.

[But instead she draws out a white wrapped box about the span of a hand tied with a red ribbon into a big floppy bow on top. She plops it on the table in front of him.]

Happy Birthday, Swamp Rat.

[Remy stares blankly for a moment, not sure how she knew, but then realizes that this is a stupid thing to wonder about. There's any number of ways she could have found out, and in the end, the hows and whys don't really matter. Because this is a gift. From Rogue. A completely unexpected gift from Rogue.

...He inwardly hopes she hasn't gotten Stark to rig up this big floppy bow with some kind of explosive. Although that thought doesn't exactly remove the slow grin from his face.]

'Preciate it, chere. [So very curious. What fits in a box this size, anyway? Other than a watch. Which doesn't seem right at all. He glances back up at her with a spark of amusement in his eyes.] Can I open it or is it gonna go boom when I do?

Please. You want me ta tell ya what's inside it too?

[Shaking her head with a faint smirk on her lips, Rogue turns to go.

In the event that this actually works smoothly and he lets her go, once he opens up the box he will find, wrapped in tissue paper, his very own piece of coal.]

[He'll let her go. Honestly, seeing her at all was more than expected, let alone being given a gift. She might not be entirely out of the building yet, though, when he gets the box open.

There's just a moment's pause before he bursts out laughing.

Girl, you really do know him a bit too well.]

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8th Card Dealt [Action - Backdated to August 21]

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