2nd Deck - 1st Card [Voice/Action]

[kineticcajun]

[There were some things in life that Remy LeBeau found he could never get used to. Completely useless wings being stuck to his shoulders, for example. Maybe they looked kind of nifty, but he rarely got a look at them, and he made damn sure to keep them covered up anyhow, but that was another story. Also, people not eyeballing him with clear suspicion in their eyes. That was another thing he still hadn’t gotten adjusted to properly. He was doubting he ever would.

But mainly, the quiet around this damned place was what got to him. New Orleans was never completely quiet. The Acolyte camp had never been quiet either, what with Pyro and Sabretooth kicking around. Here? Here, he had entirely too much time on his hands and not enough to do with it.

Except for, of course, being a thorn in the collective side of the few he could honestly call friends. That never got old, and the added bonus was that he’d had just enough time away from Luceti to lull them back into a state of not quite expecting a thieving Cajun sneaking around and wreaking havoc at all hours of the day and night. He would thank the Malnosso for that... if he didn’t have so many other things he wanted to punch them for.

In any case, he was well overdue for some kind of announcement that he had stumbled his way back into the fishbowl that was Luceti. Waking up stuck in a tree had been enough to keep him occupied for a short time, but now that he stood here with that oh-so-familiar journal in his hands, he was reminded that he had left several strings loose before. Unfinished business, if you would. And that kind of thing rankled. He wasn’t a man to leave things unfinished, if he could help it.

The major question was if everyone was even still here. He turned the journal over in his hands absently. Trying to remember the filtering system would take too much time, and, if they weren’t here, wouldn’t work anyhow.

If they were still here, though, there was something he could rely on to get his message out quickly and effectively. A slow smile twitched across his lips as he let out a low laugh. And, he wouldn’t even have to throw another sofa off a roof, although that had absolutely been a highlight of his last vacation in the land of Luceti. It was too bad that kind of opportunity didn’t arise more often.

He flicked open the journal, thumbing through the pages thoughtfully for a moment. Squashed down the urge to charge it up and throw it into the sky like some kind of cheap Fourth of July celebration. Poked at the options until he was sure it was set to record. And grinned.]

A'ight, I'm back. What'd I miss?

...An' tell me that tribble t'ing ain't still here.

[Well, that's enough of an announcement, right? Now all that's left is to find his way back into the town. He was pretty sure he remembered the way. In any case, he scooped up a handful of acorns - which may or may not end up as burnt husks - to drop behind him as he went to mark the way. Not that he suspected he'd get lost, but still.

Later on, once he's made it back to town, Remy just barges on in to the various shops like he owns the place. Completely unfazed by half-nakedness. Gotta find a shirt, and some shoes, and cards. Oh, definitely gotta find the cards. He may look a little different than when anyone last saw him - unfortunately, his hair is no longer down to his shoulders, and the dorky goatee is back. Sorry, Luceti.

After the sun goes down, it's time for a stop into Good Spirits. Because dammit if another romp in Luceti doesn't call for a few shots of whiskey.]

Comments

[touchofrogue]

Rogue stopped dead in her tracks when he appeared out of no where. Just... no where. How had she not noticed him?

That damn Cajun.

"When the heck did you get back?" she burst out, no rhyme or reason to it, and started stalking over to him. She wasn't sure how she felt about seeing him again in all his... himness, but she was hoping blind indignation would take her through it. She could sort out the muddle of her emotions later.

[kineticcajun]

Okay, so maybe the pleasant surprise of amiable reunions wasn't a trend he could count on. Maybe he shouldn't be surprised. The girl could hold a hell of a grudge. Still, he didn't let it ruffle him. This was Rogue at her Rogueness. It was kind of nice to know that some things could always be relied on.

"Jus' yesterday. Got stuck up a tree. Wasn't too excitin'."

Although it was a mental image he figured she could appreciate.

[touchofrogue]

It was indeed a mental image she could appreciate. A flicker of humor crossed her face before she walked right on over and poked him in the chest. Yes. Rogue. Initiating physical contact in the form of poking someone (not just someone, Gambit) in the chest.

"You get back yesterday an' you greet me warning me about an umbrella? Didn't anybody raise you with any manners?"

Her aggravation was sorting into a sort of odd and unexpected feeling of... gladness. Rogue was trying to resist it.

[kineticcajun]

The poke made him raise his eyebrows ever-so-slightly in surprise, but Remy didn't back down at all, either. Instead, he just heaved a dramatic sigh.

"Tante Mattie, she tried. Some t'ings jus' don't stick." A wicked grin started to spread across his face. "'Sides, how's makin' sure you don't get all drenched count as bad manners?"

That should be downright gentlemanly, if you asked him. Almost on par with laying a coat across a puddle.

[touchofrogue]

"Do you have an umbrella in your pocket?" Or are you just glad to see me? the words popped into her mind and Rogue shook them off fiercely. "No? Then you're just bein' a smartass. You're gone for months an' you come back just to be a smartass?"

She poked him again for emphasis, because, damn him, their last conversation had left her hanging in the worst way and she'd missed him, and Gawd, she hated his stupid face and the fact that she couldn't trust him made her heart ache.

Frowning, Rogue crossed her arms and glared at him.

[kineticcajun]

Okay, that was apparently too far. Remy held up his hands in surrender, trying to make it clear that he wasn't here to fight. Joke around, maybe, but not fight. Somehow it seemed fitting, though, that he was getting himself into trouble with her so quickly. Odd talents.

"Désolé, chere. I tried goin' by your shop yesterday to let you know, but you weren't there." Pure truth. That had been part of what he'd been making an effort on before, hadn't it? Telling the truth as much as he could around her? "Didn't expect to find you out here on the road. Start over?"

[touchofrogue]

Rogue looked at him, a long, level stare. Start over. Like it was just that simple.

...no, she realized after a minute, that wasn't the kind of 'start over' he was talking about.

It would be better if she didn't even give him this. Who knew how long he was even going to be here this time?

Damn it.

"Fine," she grumbled. "But only because I've got too much goin' on today to be aggravated with the likes of you."

She started off again, inclining her head to let him follow or choose his line of approach or... whatever it was he had in mind with 'start over.'

[kineticcajun]

All he'd had in mind with 'start over' was to try again on the greeting thing, so Gambit followed along at a respectful distance. It was always better to give Rogue her space to cool off. It was always best to give her plenty of space anyhow.

Hands in his pockets, he was quiet for all of a moment before speaking again.

"I hear I missed out on a lotta stuff. Big wings an' everythin'."

Small talk. An offer at normal conversation, no smartassery involved. Also, a chance to try to fill in the patches of what he'd missed.

[touchofrogue]

Rogue glanced at him. The noise in her mind upped a notch, "Where'd you hear that?"

The thought of telling Gambit about that week was... she shivered.

[kineticcajun]

"Heard it outta the Wolverine an' Kurt both." Not missing the shiver, but deciding not to prod at her about it, he gave her a half smile. "Wasn't expectin' helpful information from them soon's I got back, but there it is."

Although he was pretty curious what happened at this point, but if she didn't want him to know, then she sure as hell wasn't going to tell him. No point chafing over it.

[touchofrogue]

She looked straight ahead, "Guess they must've missed you."

...yup. She actually just. Said that.

Well, maybe he'd take at as she'd meant it: at face value.

[kineticcajun]

He glanced over at her out of the corner of an eye, trying to get a good read on if there was more to that statement than what was on the surface. It didn't seem that way. Maybe hoping that she wouldn't have been angry with him the entire time he was gone was aiming a little too high. Or maybe he was reading this wrong entirely. Either way, he decided to leave it as is.

"Maybe." He doubted it. Although he was curious what was with the positive greetings. Surely card notes weren't all there was to it. "Guess I jus' got all kindsa s'prises waitin' for me, non?"

[touchofrogue]

...he actually didn't tease her about that?

It was stupid, Rogue told herself it was stupid, but she couldn't stop. She always seemed to be willing to give him just one more chance. Maybe it was because he'd read her so well, that one time, or maybe it was because with every messed up, wacky thing he did, every time he tricked her and hurt her... Rogue knew he was doing it from what he believed were the right reasons.

And she knew what it was like to stumble around in the dark, hoping to be able to find what was right.

She paused right there in the middle of the bridge and mounted its side, legs dangling over the edge facing him. That's another change he might notice: Daisy Dukes and cowboy boots, and not a shred of material between them.

"So what's the last thing you remember?"

[kineticcajun]

Oh, he noticed the lack of material, alright. And as much as he wanted to say something about it, this was the fine line to dance between infuriating Rogue every few seconds and actually managing to have a conversation. He wasn't sure he was quite up for getting on her bad side just yet.

"'Fore I got dragged back here again, you mean? Same ol', same ol'. You an' your X-Men were headin' on outta the bayou an' I had to try an' straighten t'ings out wit' my ol' man." With a sigh, he leaned back against the side of the bridge, leaving Rogue enough elbow room that she wouldn't have to worry about any accidental zaps. "I ain't even sure if I was home any longer or if they jus' turned right around and dragged me on back wit'out any time passin'."

[touchofrogue]

"...well. No news is good news, I guess," Rogue said. She tilted her head slightly to the side, "I reckon I'm nearly as old as you, then."

[kineticcajun]

He couldn't quite help but give her a lopsided grin. "You sayin' that like I'm an ol' man or somethin'."

[touchofrogue]

She responded to his smile with a small one of her own, "Ain't you?"

[kineticcajun]

"You're woundin' me." Said the least wounded-looking man in the history of the world. "I ain't even hit thirty yet an' here you are plannin' on gettin' out the 'over the hill' balloons."

[touchofrogue]

"I was thinkin' more like a cane," she said, propping her hands casually behind her. "You know. Unless you wanna use your fancy stick thing."

As if she didn't know exactly what it was called and how to handle it.

[kineticcajun]

A soft snort of amusement managed to break out of him, but he otherwise kept up his injured air.

"A bo ain't a cane, chere." Beat. "What if that t'ing collapsed on me while I'm leanin' on it? I'd break a hip an' nobody'd ever hear the end of it."

[touchofrogue]

Rogue - write this down- laughed quietly. "That'd be a right shame," she said. "I guess I'd b etter keep an eye out for a cane after all."

They hada lways had the ability to banter easily. It made it too simple to ignore the deeper issues.

...like thefactthatshe had missed him or that his eyes still entranced her or the fact that before they got off this bridge she was going to have to tell him about Loki. It wasn't any ofhis business, not technically, and the last thing she wanted to do wastry to defend her decisions to Gambit, of all people. But the simple fact of it was... it was Gambit. and somehow, she owed him that.

[kineticcajun]

Counting the laugh as a personal victory, Remy folded his arms and settled back against the side of the bridge a little more comfortably. Maybe it was only a temporary thing, but he was going to appreciate it while it lasted. In any case, he couldn't quite help but smile.

"'Preciate the help." He winked. "I'll try an' keep these ol' bones together 'til then."

[touchofrogue]

Rogue's gaze took a leisurely stroll of Gambit's leaning form, "You look like you're doin' alright to me."

...no. Bad. Was that crossing a line? Hell. She hadn't meant it THAT way... or had she?

In her moment's conflict, her memory presented her with Loki and Jack pressed close together, and she decided she was fine, and fortunately saved from tipping back over the bridge and into the water in order to escape.

"You know," she added on quickly. "For your age."

[kineticcajun]

Remy raised his eyebrows slightly. Adele had tipped him off about Rogue being in a relationship, so a full check-out wasn't exactly anticipated. Not unappreciated, but unexpected. And tempted as he was to flirt right back, he knew he really should just respect the hurried attempt at changing gears.

Dieu, this wasn't going to be easy, was it.

Falling back on joking as his age-old, tried-and-true method of making things easier, he leaned forward a bit to look down at himself as if inspecting to make sure his clothes matched.

"What can I say? Some of us, we age graceful." He glanced back up at her, a mischievous grin on his face. "Unless you're jus' sayin' t'ings to be nice to an ol' man."

[touchofrogue]

"Nah, you should know better than that," she said, noticing that he hadn't called her out on it. And while she was glad for the escape... She met his gaze. "I'm not nearly that nice."

And then she looked away, "Your card ticked me right off," she said candidly, though being angry was not, perhaps, the entirety of the truth. She'd still kept it, after all. She'd still kept both of them. And any e it wasn't the card itself which had so pushed her beyond. "Didn't think I'd be seein' you again. Kinda hard to believe you're actually back."