Summer 2010: Remy

[puppygirl]

21st June

Remy: He puttered around in the kitchen, cutting up a bit of banana for Johnny as the coffee perked. Holding it up he gave Rahne a smile. "Y' want any? It's good wit' milk an' sugar."

Rahne: Rahne gave Remy a small smile, "Thanks but no, Johnny'd only try and steal it off me when my back was turned, right blueberry?" She punctuated this by poking the little boy on his tummy to make him giggle, wincing a little as she change position on the seat, she felt really uncomfortable and a bit sore ... maybe it was just gonna be a hot day or something?

Remy: Rahne looked a bit pale and drawn but she'd finally filled out and looked a lot healthier. She just looked like she didn't get much sleep. She arched her back again and he set Johnny in his highchair. "Y're back botherin' y' again?" He'd never really gotten to talk to Talia when she'd been this pregnant - help her out. But he remembered how much she'd mentioned the backache of it. "Y' want a rub or somethin'?"

Rahne: Rahne shook her head, "No, it's okay I just ... feel a bit off you know?" She rubbed her stomach, "It's just ... got like these cramps I guess, probably muscular ... I'll get a hot water bottle if it gets any worse though."

Remy: He gave her a sharp look. "Cramps? Like in y're belly? Maybe y' should go see McCoy, neh?" He knew he was a worrywart when it came to this sort of thing, but with Rahne's pregnancy being high risk...it probably was a good thing to be.

Rahne: "I'll go later, if it's still bad," the hand that was resting on the table suddenly clenched around the edge as she felt a sharp ache like period pain suddenly spiked up, then disapeared, "I ... want me breakfast first, I'm hungry." There was another spike of pain and she winced, "Ow!"

Remy: The frown became deep lines of worry in his forehead. Even Johnny looked up wide eyed at that one. "Dat wasn't jus' a cramp girl." He came to her side where she was breathing through her nose a bit. "Dey comin' on in waves like? When did dis start?" He yelled out for Tante who was doing laundry down the hall.

Rahne: Rahne took a deep breath and put both hands on the table top to steady herself, "A-a wee while ago, just little ones, ah!" There was another one, but it 'felt' lower down and more to the back and she screwed her eyes shut, "They go quickly though, it's probably just those fake ones right?" A small note of worry had crept into her voice now.

Remy: "I dunno. Maybe so, petite. Women are supposed t' have some, oui?" He tried to keep the worry from his voice but a lot of it leaked through. "But we'll jus' go have y' looked at anyways. Y' can be back here in time for bruch. Bet we can get Tante t' make pancakes." He offered his arm for her, wrapping the other around her waist to help her up.

Rahne: "Yeah, pancakes sound good," Rahne took the offered arm and whimpered slightly, it had to be those hicky things, it wasn't due for about another month and a half, she let Remy pull her to her feet and was aware of something ... rather embarassing and very worrying at the same time, she was ... damp, "Oh fuck ..." she breathed, blushing.

Remy: "What's d' matter? Another one?" Tante had come out, giving worried looks to the pair of them as she went to reassure Johnny, who's lower lip was far enough out to set things on.

Rahne: "Umm ... no it's ..." Ohfuckohfuckohshittingfuckheadsfuckityfuckfuck! She could feel it running down the inside of her leg and she bit her lip as her eyes started to tear up, "Oh noooo ..." she whined.

Remy: He ended up half supporting her weight as she sagged into him. A dampness on his bare foot alerted him and he looked down, seeing that she was soaked. "Oh Dieu." He took a deep breath and let it out sharply, scooping to pick Rahne up in his arms. "Tante, call d' doctor an' let him know we're headed up an' dat her waters broke."

Rahne: Rahne started to cry as he said that, letting out high-pitched, paniced sobs, "No they didn't! No they didn't! Put me down they didn't!" She tried to struggle against Remy, "Put me down! I'm not in labour! I'm not! I can't be!"

Remy: "Hush petite." The words were spoken low but forcefully. He couldn't really hold onto her that well with her big with child. "I know y're scared, but y're gonna come wit' me now."

Rahne: "No! Please I don't wanna, I don't wanna have a baby please, I'm not ready!" She sobbed harder, clinging to Remy and her nails digging into his arm as another what must be a contraction came, and she moaned, "It hurts, why're they so close together?"

Remy: Tante was on the phone as he walked as quickly as he could out the door, leaving it wide open as his bare feet hit the path leading up to the school. "I dunno, Rahne. Jus' Relax an' breathe alright? Don' worry - everythin' will be alright. I'm not gonna let anythin' happen t' y'...either of y'."

[puppygirl]

A fair few hours later ...

Rahne: Rahne had pulled up a chair to the side of the incubator and sat leaning forwards, elbows resting in her knee and her chin in her hands, fingers curled up over her face as she silently watched her new born daughter, dry eyed now, there couldn't be any water left in her body she'd cried so much ... so now she just watched, unable to think, just ... looking.

Remy: He slipped through the door at her father's nod, feeling a twist in his gut when he saw her sitting there, face silently focused on the very tiny girl that lay in the big hulking bed. Or incubator he supposed they called them. Seemed like you could fit half a dozen of her in it.

Remy: Crossing quietly to Rahne's side, he layed his hand on her shoulder. "Y' did it petite. An' look at her. Pretty, non?" And she was. Just...so very small. Patently not ready for the world yet.

Rahne: It took Rahne a couple of seconds to realise that Remy had come in, and she slowly turned her head to look at him, moving so slowly she thought her neck would creak, "She- ... she's so tiny ..." she said in a voice smaller then her namless daughter.

Remy: "Oui. But she's perfect." She was doll like really. Thin skinned so you could see all her veins. But undenaibly human. "Y' ok? Dat birth was real quick...I didn't expect dat."

Rahne: "Perfect? If she was perfect she wouldn't be in this box," Rahne covered her eyes, "but she should be ... she's ... she's ... I dunno ..." she moved one hand and gently pressed the palm of her hand against the side of the incubator, the baby inside arching in her sleep.

Remy: "She's alive Rahne. An' she's not got too much..." He waved a hand vaugly at the baby, trying to figure out how to explain it. "Dey haven't had t' mess aroun' with her much, oui? So she's doin' good." He tightened his hand on her shoulder. "She's good. Y're good. Y' both made it through ok."

Remy: He waited till Rahne's eyes opened and stooped down so that he could grab her attention. "An' it's a good thing I hauled y're ass up here. I don' think my kitchen woulda been d' best place for her t' be born, though I'm sure Tante woulda managed somethin'."

Rahne: Rahne looked up at him and let out a small chuckle at what he'd said, "I'm sure she couldda found something in her voodoo spell book, and then complained that I'd made such a mess on the floor," she looked back at the baby, "what am I gonna do Rem?" she asked.

Remy: He gave her a soft smile, even though she couldn't see it. "Jus' do d' best y' can do. What other choice does a parent have?"

Rahne: Rahne rubbed her face "I still don't know ... no ... that's not the right away of putting it ..." she dragged one hand through her short hair and let out a deep sigh, "I ... I mean, look how much I've already fucked up her life and she ain't even a day old ... maybe it'd be better if ... if someone else looked after her after all..."

Remy: He shifted on his feet and thought for a minute, watching the miniture chest rise and fall. "D' y' love her? More dan anythin' in d' world?"

Rahne: Rahne's lips twisted like a dying snake as she tried to answer that, "I ... I dunno ... I just ... I want her to be happy, safe ... she deserves so much better then me I know ..." she ran her thumb across the plastic between her and her baby's cheek, "I thought it was just gonna be easy you know? Just ... push her out and walk away ... a big part of me still wants to but now I-I feel torn ..." she tried to explain.

Remy: He wrapped his arm around her carefully. "Rahne...what y' did - y' didn't know y're were pregnant. An' when y' found out y' stopped it all. Y' can't be held t' blame for somethin' y' didn't know." Pressing his lips to her head he leaned back and smiled. "Dere ain't nothin' dat can prepare y' for how much y' love y're baby. Y'll do jus' fine."

Rahne: Rahne leant into Remy and rubbed her face again, "I-I'm scared though ... what if I fuck up Remy? What if I make a total pig's ear of it and I hurt her or ..." she shook her head, "I ... I can't be a mam, I can't even look after myself properly, nevermind a tiny baby."

Remy: "Y' slipped up. Y' made mistakes. Don' mean y're branded for life. An' y've been doin' good at d' house. No need for dat t' change is dere? Y' two can stay."

Rahne: "What? Stay with you?" Rahne blinked and looked back up at Remy, "Both of us? But ... you havn't got the room have you? I mean I know I've been staying in your room but what about her? You can't just go on sleeping in your office forever and ... I don't even have any baby stuff ..." Rahne bit her lip and looked back at her daughter, she'd been so adamant about not keeping her she'd refused to buy any baby stuff, she'd refused to prepare for the birth at all ...

Remy: "Dere's always d' crib an' everythin'...I kept it in d' attic when we cleared dat room for Tante t' stay in." He gave her a sad smile of aknowledgement. "For a while, I'm imaginin', y'd want her near - how small she is an' all. Plenty of room for it t' go in dat bedroom. An' when she gets a bit older we can either move her into Johnny's toy room or we can jus' add on. If y'd like t' stay dat is. But it should get y' on y're feet at least, non?"

Rahne: Rahne looked back up at Remy, "You ... really mean that? You'd do that for me ... us?" she blinked, "I ... I don't know what to say ... th-thank you ..." wait ... what was it in french again? "Merci," she gave him a small smile.

Remy: "Of course I would." He gave her another kiss on the forehead. "De rien." He turned back to the little figure. "Y' named her yet?"

Rahne: Rahne smiled and then blinked a little at his question, "Huh? Oh ..." she looked back at the baby, "Well ... um ... I shouldn't really untill her father gets here don't you think ..." she bit her lip as she thought of Vic ... oh she wasn't looking forward to that, he was due the day after tomorrow ...

Remy: "Oui. I'm sure y'll find somethin' great for her." The baby inside shifted and screwed up her little face in concernation, one arm flailing a bit. "She's jus' so small. She makes Johnny look like a tank an' before dat I thought he looked small."

Rahne: "Yeah," Rahne said, chewing her lip as she thought about Vic's home comming ... what would he think of the baby, would he be angry at her for being the way she was? "She's too small, looks like she might break or stop working any second ..." Rahne sniffled slightly.

Remy: He nodded to the beeping monitors. "Non, look at her. She's tickin' along jus' fine. Dey'd be in here if dey were worried about her. She's jus' little. An' she'll grow soon enough." There was that whole thing though, the lack of her being able to handle her baby like a mother normally would, walled off from her child like it was a doll on display. "Y' hold her at all?"

Rahne: "For like ... five seconds I think ... when she was born, I don't really remember I passed out ..." she glanced back at the baby, who squirmed again, lettting out a small grunt as her face scrunched up into a heavy frown, it wasn't right her stuck in a box like that, "Think she's waking up ..." she told Remy quietly.

Remy: Smiling he let out a brief snort of amusement. "Oui I'd say so. Dis is where d' fun starts, petite. Y'll manage it though." The baby gave a brief flat blink at the light, even dimmed as it was for her benifit, and duely scritched her face up into a horrible tangle of features, letting out a thin high wail. "Um. So if y' can't pick her up..."

Rahne: Rahne winced as the baby started to screech and automatically brought her hands up to cover her ears, "That's such a horrible sound, and I don't know, I don't know what I'm meant to be doing, surplus to bloody requirements here at the moment arn't I?" She said, becomming angry, the baby was crying and there was nothing she could do about it, "Guess we just gotta wait till she stops."

Remy: He shook his head. "Non, y' can't do dat. She'll jus' get more upset an' feel like she's all alone out here. Dat ain't d' way either." He spotted a gown and some gloves nearby. "Here, put dese on. Y' can reach in an' touch her for a bit while I go ask. Talk t' her." He tapped on the small hole that would allow access without letting the heat of the incubator to fully escape.

Remy: "She's probably hungry, y' know...y' talked at all about if y're gonna. Um. Y' know? Or bottle?"

Rahne: "Talk? But she can't understand me though ... ask what?" She blushed at his next question, "I ... um, didn't think about it really ..." she shifted a bit uneasily in her seat, she didn't feel compleatly comfortable with the idea of nursing to be honest ...

Remy: "Y' don' need t' make sense. Jus' be soothin'. It's y're voice dat she's used to...she's been hearin' it all dis time, non?" The little girl was truely becoming adgitated now, fists balled and red faced as she gave her peircing little kettle shrieks. "Alright. Well. I'll ask." He thrust her hands through the sleeves. "Jus'...get her calmed down a bit."

Rahne: Rahne yelped as Remy bundled her into the paper gown thing, "Okay, okay ... but she'll probably just scream louder," she sighed and picked up the glove and pulled it on as Remy left the room and she stared at the screaming new born, hessitating to put her hand into the incubator, it was ... scarey, she was scared to touch the baby, "Umm ... shush? Please shush?" She asked lamely.

Rahne: The baby ignored her, beating her little fists on the air and Rahne looked around the room, "Umm ..." she very gingerly put her hand through the hole and gently pressed one fingertip against the baby's side, "Please be quiet, please?" She tried stroking the baby's tummy to soothe her, "Bloody hell, how can something so tiny make such a freakin' racket? Shush, please, be quiet, my ears are hurting."

Rahne: Oh God ... I really suck at this ... I'd make such a shit parent ... Rahne though misrably as she kept on stroking and shushing the baby.

Remy: Popping back in with a bottle in hand he smiled. "Well...got some answers at least. Guess she's too little t' try suckin', but dey want y' to..uh, try an' get some out t' give t' her in a bottle when y're ready. For now, she's got dis." He held up a small bottle that almost looked like a toy. "Dey said dey fed her once when y' were out, an' she's due again."

Rahne: Rahne decided she just wasn't going to think of the terrifying prospect of 'getting some out' for the moment and looked at the bottle Remy had, "They want me to take her out? Are you allowed to do that?" She asked over the baby's wails, still stroking her.

Remy: "Oui, jus' watch d' monitors dey said, an' wrap her up good so she stays warm. She's got a hat, see?" He gowned up himself. "I'll help y' petite. Dey said she's really pretty good, considerin' all, an' McCoy'll come runnin' if dere's any change in d' monitors. He's jus' got t' get some experiment stuff done."

Rahne: "O-okay ..." Rahne pulled her hand back and looked around to where a blanket had been left out, "anything to shut her up," she added, trying to cover her fear as she looked to open the top of the incubator. Finding the lid she pulled it back and stood up, okay ... this would be just like when Duncan was little right? Okay she'd never really known him when he was that little but ... yeah.

Rahne: After a couple of false starts she reached in and wrapped her hands around the baby to pick her up, and almost dropped her again when her screaming became even louder, "Fuck! I havn't hurt her have I?"

Remy: "She is a little screetchy thing ain't she? Like a cat wit' a stepped on tail." His hands cupped around hers. "Non. She's jus' lettin' y' know she's damn hungry." He helped Rahne get her settled in the blanket and in the crook of her arm. "So...y' jus' kinda stick it in." He held the bottle out to her.

Rahne: "Wonder where she get's that from," Rahne said icily, awkwardly holding the baby and looking at the bottle Remy was offering. She took it from him and poked it against the baby's mouth, "Come on then," the baby wailed and turned her head away and Rahne huffed, "Or maybe she just doesn't like me, drink the damn milk, you wanna go hungry?" She told the baby sternly.

Rahne: After a couple of seconds the baby seemed to get the idea and latched onto te bottle, suckling noisily, "There ... wasn't to difficult was it?" Rahne said dryly, trying to drowmn out the little this is my baby, my baby all mine I'm feeding MY baby that was running around her head.

Remy: Standing awkwardly as she half growled at the baby, he sagged in relief as she actually took it and something softened in Rahne's face. "She is hungry, neh? Dey said she'll need t' get fed every two hours around d' clock, cause she can only eat little bits at a time."

Rahne: "Every two hours?" Rahne looked up at Remy, then back down at the baby, "Heh, good thing I don't really sleep anyway then isn't it," as the baby drank one of her hands came up to grab at the bottle, and she wrapped her tiny fingers around one of Rahne's, and dispite herself Rahne smiled a little, it ... was kinda nice ... "She's got really, really tiny fingernails hasn't she? It's kinda freaky ..."

Remy: "Oui. It's amazin' t' see somethin' dis small movin' an' workin' like she is. Even her diapers are small." He pointed out a stack of them. "Y' know I'll help y' too, oui? An' I'm sure Vic will as well."

Rahne: The baby wriggled in her blanket and snuggled back against Rahne's arm, eyes blinking open to reveal dark green irises as she looked up at her mother with a soft, unfocused gaze, "Think I'm gonna need all the help I can get," Rahne said quietly, "You ... you really think I can do this Rem?"

Remy: He set his hands over her shoulders, watching the pair of them as they watched each other. "Of course y' can. It's normal t' feel dis way Rahne. Talia felt it too." His hand moved to pet her hair. "An' little whateverhernameis has me for a Nonc, neh? An' a lot of other lovin' family."

Rahne: "I don't even know what I feel," Rahne sighed, "I had it all thought out and now ...." the baby lost her grip on the bottle and it slipped out of her mouth and she squeaked indignantly and it took Rahne a couple of seconds to feed it back into her mouth, "the rest of my family are going to have to go back home soon though arn't they ... unless you mean the people at the school? But I'm hardly the most popular person at the moment arn't I?" A little note of bitterness climbed into her voice.

Remy: "Welll...y've rubbed a few people a bit raw, but it ain't nothin' else others haven't done time t' time. People rally around here when dere needed anyways - an' y' got me an' tante t' help for sure." His hand stole down to touch a red sliver of hair that protruded past the cap. "She's a lot like y' petite."

Rahne: "Yeah ..." though Rahne wasn't convinced, if Victor turned up and decided that he wanted to cause trouble she wouldn't hold her breath to who people sided with, "She does? She just looks like a splogy baby to me ..." the baby wriggled and blinked, clearly enjoying her bottle, "Though ..." Rahne stopped and blushed a little.

Remy: "What?" It was hard to tell what she was thinking right now, though he was seeing a softness from her at least that he'd seen too few these past months. The baby's face when a rather telling red as she squinched it up.

Rahne: "Nothing I ... um ... I just though that she ... uhh ..." this was quite embarassing to admit, "that she looks ... looks like a Marie."

Remy: His grin returned full force. "Would suit her I think." Kissing the top of Rahne's head, he laughed at her expression of surprise as a very loud and definate noise erupted from little maybe-Marie. "An' she's jus' gone an' shit."

Rahne: Rahne's nose wrinkled and she leant back from the baby, "Ugh ... you don't say, smells even worse then Duncan or Johnny ... guess it's the dairy diet ..." she looked up at Remy, "Guess I can't convince you to do the honours can I?"

Remy: "Sure. Y' jus' squashed dis poor thing out y're..." He looked with a grin at her. "...parts. D' least I can do is do dis, neh?" He took her from Rahne, laying her back in the warmer, which made things awkward, but he managed. "She's a keeper, neh?" He said as he tucked her back in, miniture body making his hands feel clumbsy, even though he was used to the most delicate work.

Rahne: "Keeper? You mean you can chose to just shove them back up there and try again?" She tried to joke as she watched Remy tuck the baby in, though she knew what he was getting at.

Remy: He laughed so much that he started the baby, making her yank her arms out reflexivly and squall again. He set to patting her tummy gently. "Well, y' can try shovin' somethin' else up dere an' tryin' again."

Rahne: "Ha, not anytime soon believe you me, I've had it up to here with ... all that shit," she shook her head, looking back at the little girl.

Remy: Chuckling he left her to Rahne to pat and sooth back to sleep, going to dispose of diaper and gloves in the trash by the door. "Yeah, well, dat's good - cause dey make it damn hard t' do much else but look after dem. Y' don' mind it really though. Cause dere more dan worth it."

Rahne: "I'll have to take your word on it ... if it's worth it that is, guess I will be the one who ... has to look after her ... since no one else wants too ..." her tone was still slightly agressive but it had a decidedly sheepish undertone and she looked away from Remy quickly as she tried to settle possibly-Marie.

Remy: He gave her a weird look. He'd known that her and her maman were going at it with everything but the knives, but he'd cleared the hell out when they'd started the row. It was just pure male survival at work there. "What d' y' mean by dat?"

Rahne: "Just that they'd said that they weren't going to look after it-her when it was born ... it was my responcibilty for getting pregnent in the first place, even if I didn't want to keep her ... so guess I've got no choice but to look after her now do I?" Rahne shifted uneasily in her chair as the baby took the hint and started to settle down.

Remy: Well, she did. But maybe it wasn't such a bad thing that she thought that she had to step up. He'd already seen how she held her daughter. With a bit of support... "Y'll do jus' fine. I'm sure dey jus' want y' both t' have each other." Putting his arm around her shoulders he gave her a squeeze. "Congratulations on y're beautiful girl. Y're a mom now."

Rahne: "Yeah ... guess you're right ..." she smiled and leant into him, "Thanks Remy, heh, and your an uncle, sorry, nonc now too ..." her smiled faded a little, "And Victor's a father ..."

Remy: "Oui. Well, y'll manage dat too. An' y' got help as I said. He's not gonna be an asshole t' y'."

Rahne: "Part of me wishes that he didn't care you know," Rahne sighed, "then I wouldn't have to face him ... then again hopefully I'll get some answers on why he just left me like that and why he wasn't the person I thought he was ... did he ever say how he wanted a daughter one day?"

Remy: He looked at her in surprise. "Non...or at least if he did I don' remember. But I expect y're entitled some answers too."

Rahne: "Well ... he did, whenever we talked about it he always said he wanted a girl ... still havn't heard back from him, dunno if he knows yet or if my folks just arn't telling me, and I'd say more then entitled."

Remy: "Well, I suppose it's good dat he can regrow things if y're likely t' want t' rip a few of dem off." He sobered a bit and looked her in the eye. "Jus' keep an open mind, ok?"

Rahne: Rahne met Remy's gaze, then looked away back to her baby, "I guess for her sake ... I'd better."

[Esynthia]

BAAABYYYYY. tee-niney baby

great job yall. I definitely remember the 'whatthefuckamIsupposedtodowiththistinything?!' feeling.

[Elfdame]

Originally posted by Guardian-of-Tears
Rahne took the offered arm and whimpered slightly, it had to be those hicky things, it wasn't due for about another month and a half, she let Remy pull her to her feet and was aware of something ... rather embarassing and very worrying at the same time, she was ... damp, "Oh fuck ..." she breathed, blushing.

The memories ... never had children myself, but after hanging around my friends as they went through it, and being there for several of the grandkids' births ... lots of memories ... but this was soooo how it happened with my first grandson. I had to explain it to her, and thank God I was a pushy mom and already had packed her bag for her ... oy vey ...


"I don' think my kitchen woulda been d' best place for her t' be born, though I'm sure Tante woulda managed somethin'.

"Jus' do d' best y' can do. What other choice does a parent have?"

"I ... I can't be a mam, I can't even look after myself properly, nevermind a tiny baby."

The stories I could tell!

And some first-class writing all through both episodes:

Rahne's lips twisted like a dying snake ...she ran her thumb across the plastic between her and her baby's cheek ... walled off from her child like it was a doll on display ...her piercing little kettle shrieks



Remy: "She's probably hungry, y' know...y' talked at all about if y're gonna. Um. Y' know? Or bottle?"
Such a sweet, old-fashioned guy.
"Well, y' can try shovin' somethin' else up dere an' tryin' again."
But still a guy.
he'd cleared the hell out when they'd started the row. It was just pure male survival at work there.
Like I said...
"Well, I suppose it's good dat he can regrow things if y're likely t' want t' rip a few of dem off."
Yep, all boy.

"Bloody hell, how can something so tiny make such a freakin' racket? Shush, please, be quiet, my ears are hurting."
Oh, the memories ...


McCoy'll come runnin' if dere's any change in d' monitors. He's jus' got t' get some experiment stuff done."
Daily life at Mutant Manor, eh?

the little this is my baby, my baby all mine I'm feeding MY baby that was running around her head.
Awwwww ... how schweeeeet.


Wonderful Instance, folks. Truly well done!

[Slarti]

Originally posted by Elfdame
McCoy'll come runnin' if dere's any change in d' monitors. He's jus' got t' get some experiment stuff done."
Daily life at Mutant Manor, eh?

LOL! Indeed. And I love it when Hankypoo runs on NPC autopilot.

He'll probably be coming in to check on Rahne and the baby offering Twinkies and randomly singing numbers from the Pirates of Penzance.

[Elfdame]

I guess I'm dense, but haven't figured out if Possibly-Marie has a tail, etc?

And it is funny to think of Beast doing NICU stuff ... you know, those large-framed intellectuals are often quite cute around wee babbies.

[littlebamf]

Remy: He glanced around at the throngs of people, weaving themselves around like they were wearing gowns and tuxes. They most certainly weren't however. Not that he didn't appreciate the view, but if that one lady bent over she was going to have the girls running free out of that top. He sipped his drink and lifted a brow to Lizzie. "So...dis is it?"

Elizabeth: "Well...It's some of it," she smiled a little as the waiter vanished off, drinks delivered. "This night is a little more, well, interesting than most nights." She eyed the woman Remy was and felt the urge to adjust her top, though there was no danger of her coming out for a peep show seeing as there was barely anything down there. "You've never been to the New York Club?"

Remy: "Non. Never saw d' reason. Get gussied up for enough things in N'awleans." He glanced at Lizzie. "Dis isn't a tie affair though exactly."

Elizabeth: "Oh, it usually is, I just figured you'd probably have more fun when it's like this," she took a delicate sip from her glass and scanned the room a little. Two passing guests bowed their heads a little to her and she tried not to look a little smug. It still felt strange, being treated like that.

Remy: "Mmm. Well...free booze. Good snacks. Boobs. Y' can't really complain." He gave her a grin and made his way over to a pair of leather chairs. "I don' know how some of d' women here can breathe, but oui, I'm more comfortable in dis." He shrugged his shoulders in his loose silk shirt.

Elizabeth: "It's down to lots, and lots of practise," she gave a nod and sat down opposite him, taking the chance for a deft tug at the side of her corset. Damn thing dug in sometimes. "Sadly there's a downside to it, lots of people to be pleasant to, networking, business...There's a lot more than just this room."

Remy: "Oui, well, why else would y' be here?" He looked around. "Jus' a bunch of rich people eatin' all in d' same room otherwise." His eyes drifted again. "Dere's quite d' currents here, ain't dere?"

Elizabeth: "Exactly," she nodded. "Well, most of them are quite happy standing around being rich, while the rest of us like to make the best of our time."

Remy: Settling his eyes on Lizzie he tipped his head. "An' what d' y' make d' best of den?"

Elizabeth: Lizzie glanced away, a slightly sly smile on her face. "Oh I just...Behave as my station in life asks of me, to put it in one very old fashioned, boring way. You should see how I go down here in London where people actually understand who I am..." She rolled her eyes a little at that. "Basically I'm nice eye candy."

Remy: He snorted. "Dat's why y' come here? T' be looked at, admired? Wouldn't think y'd need t' come here t' do dat."

Elizabeth: "There're hardly any options available at the school right now on admirers. But no, that's not why I come here really...It's a lot of things," leaning back, she glanced around the room again. No sign of Shaw. She just hoped she hadn't forgotten about a Circle meeting.

Remy: "No one catchin' y're attention?" He'd not really assessed the availability of anyone at the school and he couldn't call to mind everyone there. "Well, if d' people here make y' happy, den dat's good. Maybe y' can meet some prince, neh?" He gave her a nudge with his foot.

Elizabeth: She rolled her eyes a little. "Last time I checked, Prince William was attached. I did meet Harry, sort of, once, years ago, was drunk so I can't really remember." Lizzie nudged him back, careful of her heel. "I mainly get stuck being hounded by older men though. Never mind sugar daddy, more like sugar grandaddy."

Remy: "Ew. Remind me why y' come here den?" As soon as his drink was empty there was a serving girl replacing it and he gave her a smile of thanks. "I mean, I get business. Dere are alliances t' be made an' things t' be bought an' sold."

Elizabeth: "I'm here because I'm just as rich as a lot of the other members, plus my family have been involved almost since the founding of the Club and I'm certainly the most active member out of my family. It's my right to be here."

Remy: He laughed. "If it makes y' happy, chere, den dat's all d' reason y' need." A woman glanced his way and he lifted his glass to sip from it again, letting his ring show. "So...y' want t' dance or somethin'? What d' y'all do for fun?"

Elizabeth: "There's a dance room, and for fun, I usually kick up some trouble with the little rich bitches who aspire to Paris Hilton," standing smoothly, she handed her empty glass to the waiter who pretty much stalked her. "There's a pool room for the gentlemen. The ladies bathroom is pretty much a lounge that happens to have toilets in it."

Elizabeth: "There's...lots of rooms, really, usually something going on."

Remy: An eyebrow quirked high up. "Somethin'? Dat sounds really naughty." He stood with her and offered her his arm. "So what d' y' want t' do tonight? Bait dem yippin' poodles?"

Elizabeth: "Zap glasses. Announce rather interesting tidbits of information. Turn up with Sebastian," she took his arm and steered him in the right direction. "And as for naughty....Well, look around. What do you think?" she gave him a mock innocent look and tried not to laugh.

Remy: He blinked with her rapid fire list of events. "Well, damn." Shaking his head he clucked his tongue at her. "Look at what y've fallen into. An' y' used t' be such a good girl."

Elizabeth: "Oh, yes, for all of two and a half years? I was hardly a good girl when I started at Xavier's. I just wasn't good at being good, so I might as well be good at being bad. But not in the totally unethical manner at least."

Remy: "So den, Miss Braddock." They'd made their way into a group of people that were dancing and he rested his hand on her hip and held her other hand out for hers. "What does d' club do for money? Dues? Investments?"

Elizabeth: "Ah ah, Lady," she poked her tongue out an inch to let him know she was only teasing and put her hand on his arm. "Now, I remember teaching you to dance, so I hope you can remember so I know my teaching skills aren't that dire...

Elizabeth: She thought about that for a moment as they picked up momentum around the floor. "If you get to know the right people, it's incredibly productive. There's a lot of common goals here, so you'd rarely be advised on a bad investment. Unless you're incredibly unpopular..."

Remy: "Oui, y' did. An' I've had t' practice it a bunch since." He looked at her again. "Common goals, hien? Dey know y're a mutant?"

Elizabeth: "Some people do," she nodded, glancing over her shoulder to make sure anyone who didn't, wasn't too close. "But considering the nature of my mutation, they prefer to be on my good side. Those who aren't mutants themselves, in any case..." Well, those members were few, but not forever.

Remy: "Y' really are a little boss here, neh?" He spun her around on the last notes of the song.

Shaw: Exiting one of the private offices dotting the back halls of the Club, Sebastian parted with Shinobi with a nod of his head and went straight for the bar.

Shaw: The waiters knew better than to interrupt his beeline, but something else did when he saw a familiar flash of purple hair. "Ahhh, Elizabeth." He flowed through the crowd to the dance floor where she and... interesting. "Mr. LeBeau! A pleasure to see you here. Enjoying the evening?"

Remy: He inclined his head. "Mr. Shaw. It's been interestin'. Lizzie's been catchin' me up wit' a few of d' things around here. An' y'reself?"

Elizabeth: About to comment on the boss statement, Lizzie stepped back a little. "Just showing him the basics, really," she smiled, having a reasonably good idea what Shaw had been up to. "We haven't been here long, but no complaints so far."

Shaw: "Excellent, of course." He took Lizzie's free hand for a kiss, raising a brow at her smile, then shook LeBeau's. "Aaah, good. We certainly don't want anyone to come away from the Club with complaints."

Remy: "Well, none so far." He gave a reserved smile back. "So what area is it dat attracts y're attention d' most?"

Elizabeth: Lizzie leant up to give Sebastian a small kiss on the cheek in return. "Well, I do my best to make sure those I bring have a good time."

Shaw: "And you do so quite admirably," he said to Elizabeth. Recruitment was going quite well, in fact. "Area?" He glanced around the room, a conspiratorial smirk in place. "Right now the bar."

Remy: "Dat is one place dat we can agree on at least." There were a lot of things he was getting the feeling that he didn't know in this place. "So...how did y' get involved here anyways, 'bastian?"

Elizabeth: "Well, I suppose it would make more sense to be in the bar then, eh gentlemen?" she tilted her head towards the archway that led back towards the bar area.

Shaw: "An admirable suggestion." He motioned for Elizabeth to proceed them, chuckling at the casual nickname. "I had the good fortune to meet a very charitable elder member, who took me under his wing. Took me from the streets and taught me everything I know. I owe him quite the debt of gratitude, so when he asked me to assist him here - well, how could I deny him?"

Remy: That caught his attention. "D' streets?" His gaze flipped over the very old fashioned shirt that Shaw wore. "Y' did come a long way den."

Elizabeth: Rolling her eyes, Lizzie stopped so that Remy was on level with her and gave him a small nudge with her elbow. "So have you..." she carried on walking for the bar.

Shaw: "Indeed. Pittsburgh. My family was... we'll say below working class." He ordered a drink for himself and Lizzie and looked at Remy questioningly.

Remy: "Oui, well, rags t' riches, d' American dream." He nodded at Shaw's unspoken question and accepted his own drink with a smile. "Well, would seem dis is a good thing for y' den. Y' enjoy d' work?"

Elizabeth: "Oh he certainly enjoys his work," Lizzie said mildly, sipping at her drink, and gave Shaw a look. Wow. He'd probably told Remy as much about himself then, as he had ever told her. It also made her feel as if she was intruding on some sort of street boy club.

Shaw: "Elizabeth would indeed know best." He smiled at her look. "I always look for opportunities to diversify, however. The Club. My interest in Xavier's. Other matters of import to our kind today." Sebastian tapped his cheek near his eye meaningfully.

Remy: "Mmm. Like d' registration act?" He took a long swallow as he watched the pair of them.

Elizabeth: Well he was on the ball...Lizzie was impressed, though really, that was about the most important thing for 'their kind'. "And I do know best, right down to what font you like on your letters," she gave Sebastian a small poke in the ribs, keeping the other part of their conversation masked from any prying ears.

Remy: He glanced between the pair of them again and wondered if she picked out his socks too. They were pretty relaxed together.

Shaw: "Of course. Dreadful thing." He took a drink himself, sliding his arm around Elizabeth at her poke. "It's shameful it passed at all."

Elizabeth: "It is," her face darkened. "Still, there was no way we could have stopped it, really, without drastic measures, so now we're just...making the best of it."

Remy: His brows drew slightly together at that. "An' what is 'makin' d' best of it'? Forgettin' wit' dis sort of play?" He guestured towards the crowd, flirting and snipping and browbeating each other.

Shaw: "Not at all. This? This is window dressing." He took another drink. "The mutants among the memberships are hardly the only supporters of the mutant cause. While our lobbying efforts before the election met with... difficulties, additional efforts are under way, of course."

Elizabeth: "It's a cover basically..." she shrugged. At least now she could stop being cryptic. "Hence I spent so much time here, gaining...Influence and popularity and contacts."

Remy: "Money moves d' world, huh?" He set his drink down. "I guess we all gotta do what we gotta do - an' havin' influential people pro-mutant never hurts." A playful grin lit his face. "So who y' gonna assassinate?"

Shaw: "Oh, come now." Sebastian's grin was just as broad. "Assassination is such an ugly word. Accidents happen every day."

Elizabeth: Lizzie inspected her nails. "I prefer to think of it as subtle suggestions," she joked. "And to add from earlier, this is one of the main reasons I like being here..."

Remy: A line formed in his brow as he remembered what Lizzie had to do once, and he felt bad about it all in a rush. Still, it wasn't like they could talk about it here. "So y' two..." He lifted a brow.

Elizabeth: Lizzie winced, and looked at Sebastian, then sipped her drink. "No..." she didn't really think Sebastian would be joyful if she bounced up and down, giggled or did anything else stupid.

Shaw: "Have an excellent working relationship." Sebastian overpronounced his last word just a bit, his thumb tracing the pattern of the brocade on her white corset. "So, tell me, Mr. LeBeau, have you considered your options in registration?"

Remy: He didn't really want to get wrapped around in the whole 'boss/secretary' picture that sprung to mind, so he took Shaw's question and lept on it. "Oui. An' dere's not much help for it, non? I can't live behind my glasses, an' my son don' even have dat luxury. We're gonna register soon. Jus' been too busy wit' helpin' a friend t' do it yet."

Elizabeth: She squirmed a little at the rubbing, wondering what his deal was with the stress on that sentence. "It's hard...But it doesn't mean you'll be any safer or secure, which makes it worse...At least there's the school."

Shaw: "There is the school, and I believe Dr. Xavier is doing what he believes best, but there are always options." He took another sip of his scotch.

Remy: "Options? Oui, like hidin'." He shook his head. "I ain't gonna bow down before dis thing like some whipped puppy. I got every right t' walk d' street like anyone else does."

WhiteQueen: "There're more options than hiding. They're just...creative."

Shaw: "Yes, hiding as if we had something to be ashamed of is hardly a viable option for the long-term. In fact, there is truly only one long term option, but it will take time to change legislation. In the meantime, I believe the fewer of us on those government books, the better. The Club -- the true face of the Club – agrees."

Remy: He frowned, trying to understand what they were saying. "Bribery den? Usin' y're position t' lean on d' right people? What?"

WhiteQueen: Wow. He made it sound so evil. "If that's what you want to call it. They're hardly pure as snow, so they're not really going to understand any other language...The Club does what it has to do."

Shaw: "Well put, Elizabeth. It's not so uncommon, after all, Mr. LeBeau. It merely provides a temporary fix until we can provide a more permanent solution, but why suffer while we wait for change?"

Remy: "So is dis for members of d' club? Or everyone?" He'd not realized how detailed the club was and now realized why Lizzie was asking him to come so much.

Shaw: "Anyone who we believe we could assist, certainly, though the Club is also searching for more mutant members to aid the cause." It was hard to guage the man's reaction, he had to admit. Those eyes were made for poker. "You're already a member by heredity, after all."

Remy: "Mmm." He drummed his nails against the bar that he'd leaned up against without realizing he had done it. "Member for life, huh? An' so what are y' lookin' for from me, 'bastian?"

WhiteQueen: Lizzie bit her lip. Oh this wasn't going well. She ordered another drink and took a long sip. "Remy...You're not being forced into anything. I personally came to have fun tonight," she gave Sebastian a look that said 'lay off the recruitment drive so much'. "So...can't we have fun. Please?"

Remy: "Ah, no worries Lizzie. It's better t' know things upfront, I figure. Didn't mean t' be upsettin' y' any." He glanced around. "Y' want t' go gorge y'reself on d' chocolate over dere? Or what were y' thinkin' of havin' fun wit'?"

Shaw: "You're certainly not -- and as you said, I just thought it best to be up front with you, Remy." He finished his drink, setting the glass back onto the bar surface with a punctuating click at the use of his first name. "It was hardly my intent to hijack an evening among friends, however."

Shaw: "It was a pleasure to see you, both." He took Elizabeth's hand long enough for a farewell kiss. "I have some business to attend to, but I hope you won't consider my offer a complaint." Sebastian winked at LeBeau before exiting through a back hall.

WhiteQueen: Watching him go off in the crowd, Lizzie sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Well, I could have put that better but never mind. I supposed he'd want to talk to you about membership at some point, but I didn't expect to be pounced so soon, and I know it's important but sometimes...I just like to not think about it too much." She drained her glass, contemplating another one.

Remy: He put his arm around her waist and led her off towards the chocolate. "For someone dat's in a workin' relationship, he sure is friendly."

Elizabeth: Lizzie let him pull her along, picking at one of the treats on the table. "Well, it benefits him to be. The connections aspects, the publicity aspects, the mutant aspects..."

Remy: "So he smooches all of his coworkers?" He asked with a grin, popping a peice of fruit into melted chocolate. "Or is dat all his members he treats dat way?"

Elizabeth: "I wouldn't really call that smooching. He does it to every woman he feels the need to impress or flatter," she pointed out, eating a strawberry.

Remy: "Ahh, jus' d' femmes, eh?" He watched the milling groups a bit longer. "So...what is dis membership thing anyway, Lizzie?"

Elizabeth: "Yes, well, I've never seen him hint he goes the other way..." Oh that would just incriminate futhur. "Membership. Well. the LeBeaus are an old family within the Hellfire Club. Membership can be very laid back, or quite active, depending on what you feel suits you best."

Remy: "I'm not quite sure what it means t' be a member yet, Lizzie. I mean, is dere somewhere I'm signin' a paper wit' my own blood? Or do I have t' be..." He watched another gaggle of people go by. "Uh. Well, like dem?" His face showed his opinion of that idea.

Elizabeth: "Am I like them?" Lizzie asked simply.

Remy: He snorted. "Well. Sorta. Y're not like d' airheads." He realized he was treading on thin ice here. "It's jus'...dese people are all bluebloods Lizzie. Dey all been raised wit' dis. 'bastion exceptin' maybe."

Elizabeth: "Not everyone but you two. More people than you think impress with their made wealth. Of course, being hereditary means you were in before you were born, but you still need to show you're right for this place...The real side of the Club."

Elizabeth: She wondered if she should be going down this road, but Sebastian had started, plus, fuck it, she was the White Queen. She had every right to.

Remy: "So what makes y' 'right' for dis place? Screwy genetic code?" He leaned his hip against the table and plucked up a bit of cake, offering it to her.

Elizabeth: Taking the cake, she held it a few inches from her mouth. "Well, lets see. There's that. There's my name and then there's my determination and dedication."

Remy: "See, I'm gettin' d' name thing. So check on dat one. But determination an' dedication t' what? Makin' y're titties squish out y're top?" His grin showed that he was just ribbing her.

Elizabeth: "To the Club, and what we're really trying to do here..." she pulled him aside in case he pushed this any more. "And I have no tits to squish!"

Remy: "I beg t' differ. I can prove d' point if y' want." His finger hovered above her decollage. "But my point is, what d' hell is d' club for?"

Elizabeth: "Well, you've pretty much been told...To, well, advance is probably not exactly the right word, but to advance those in need of advancing."

Elizabeth: "And please, I'm flat as a pancake and you know that," rolling her eyes she folded her arms. "But anyway...The Club supports the interests of people like us."

Remy: "So mutants. All mutants or jus' d' rich ones?" She'd tucked him in a corner out of the way which sadly meant no booze for the moment. Dieu, he must miss nights out like this. He'd been drinking like a fish. It was better than 'one fish two fish' though, just for sheer variety once and a while.

Elizabeth: "You don't need to be rich. Just willing to commit to the Club," she gave him a slightly devious smile. "It's not that bad. But it is serious."

Remy: "Y're talkin' all cloak an' daggers here, Liz. What do y' mean, 'commit'? What does it take?"

Elizabeth: Waving for her waiter to come over and get them fresh drinks, she chewed her lip a bit. "Basically? Do whatever it takes to keep the interests of the Club going. And don't get caught...Look. A few months ago, I...found out that some of the...higher members, were funding the registration act, which is against our current interests. So I made this information known to the relevant people, and it was dealt with."

Remy: He scratched at his jaw. "Wait. Ok. So...most of dis club is pro-mutant, but a few of dem were anti? What did y' do? How was it 'dealt wit'? I'm assumin' dey aren't in d' club anymore."

Elizabeth: The waiter came back with drinks, thankfully, and Lizzie passed Remy his, taking a sip of her own before replying. "They were expelled. They have no more authority or influence over any of our dealings, and that is rather a lot. And, basically put, yes, most of us are pro-mutant. Advanced thinkers and all that."

Remy: Swirling the drink around, he listened to the musical clink of the icecubes off the fine crystal. "I see. So Shaw runs d' show an' y're what? His second in command? Or how does dis whole power structure thing run down?"

Elizabeth: "More his equal. Think of it like a chessboard. My status is equal to White Queen, since I was promoted for what I uncovered." Oh, Remy was going to think she was a freak, insane, all three, or something worse. It was possible it was also a mistake to tell him all this, as she wasn't even sure if he'd be interested in joining.

Remy: "Queen? So I'm assumin' he's d' king?" He laughed. "Oh Dieu. What is dis, chess? An' if so, who are d' pawns, chere?"

Elizabeth: "There aren't any. It's just the higher pieces. Rooks, Kings, Queens, Bishops. We nickname the bodyguards the Knights, seeing as they are usually around anyway for meetings. And yes, he's the Black King. Notice the colour scheme?" she rubbed her hand over her stomach, stroking the white silk of her corset.

Remy: Oh crap, he'd been joking. "Y're serious?" He looked down at his own black ensemble. "I'm not steppin' on any toes am I?"

Elizabeth: "Not at all. I probably shouldn't be telling you this really...Don't really care," she blinked down at her glass. "Weeell, you did want to know. So, now you do, well, know some."

Remy: He laughed. "Dat I do. An' no worries, I'm not about t' go blabbin'. Jus'...dis seems so..." He shrugged and gave her a smile out the side of his mouth. "Uh, kinda nuts, really."

Elizabeth: "Yes, well, that's me for you. Me and my crazy life," she took a gulp of drink. "Don't worry, now you know, you won't be forced into being a circle member or anything, you can still come and drink and party and everything. The option is there if you want it."

Remy: "Well, good t' know y' aren't bored. I'm sure y' can find plenty of distractions here." He gave her a lewd grin.

Elizabeth: "Actually, you'd be suprised. With my position I'm usually dragged around after Sebastian, playing hostess, attending meetings...I have fun, but not as often as the average member would," she half returned the grin, but her face wouldn't cooperate.


Remy: "An' what d' y' think dat I'll have fun doin' here, petite?" The words were warm, honestly questioning, not grilling as he had been before with Shaw. After all he knew Lizzie.

Elizabeth: "Well," she waved her glass about a bit. "Partying? I'm usually busy taking care of something so I can't just...drink, dance and all that all of the time. I know you have responsabilities and all that but you deserve some time off, away from campus. Vito's can get just as samey as well."

Remy: "Oui, suppose it can. Different sort of crowd, dat's for sure." He put a hand under her elbow. "Y' seem t' have 'gotten down' jus' fine tonight though. Y' gonna be ok in dem heels?"

Elizabeth: "Oh I have practise, it's fine," she grinned, but was still quite glad of the supporting elbow. "And yes, I'm making sure I am, I always make the effort whenever I bring a guest after all...You going to be alright in those pants if you have to bend over?"

Remy: He snickered. "Jus' fine petite. Dese are dat nice worked in soft leather. I'd be curious as t' why y'd think I'd be bendin' over though. An' speakin' of which, it shouldn't be me worryin' about dat." He waved at her corset top.

Elizabeth: "Well it's possible you'll end up dropping something or I fall...And I meant the more...adventurous older ladies might take a liking to the view and want to have a closer examination. And what the hell do I have to worry from this? Apart from aphy - aspiffy...Not breathing."

Remy: "Ah, pfft. I've already had my ass pinched at least five times since I came in here, an' I'm pretty sure it can survive another one. D' ring or y're warnin' seems t' work for anythin' beyond dat point." He frowned a bit. "Did any of dese people meet Talia? Know her? An' if dey did, do dey know?"

Elizabeth: "You're call...there're some very determined old ladies in this place..." she trailed off a little. "Not sure. it was the London branch I took TJ to...But...Being in that certain type of society, they'll know. Word spreads." Lizzie rolled her shoulders a little to shift the corset around as it was starting to dig again.

Remy: Snorting in agreement he downed the rest of his drink. "Well. I'm good den. Y' wanna call it a night or y' want some more goodies or booze or whatever Shaw can offer y'?" His grin returned with a bit of a glint in his eye.

Elizabeth: "Oh he's probably off interested in something or someone else," she kicked back her drink. "I don't really fancy going home just yet to be honest, so whatever you want to do, really."

Remy: "Well...I think if y' can promise me y' ain't gonna bite it off of dem shoes of y'rs dat we can get shitfaced. Not dat dey probably call it shitfaced here. Sound like a plan?"

Elizabeth: "I'm not going to what-?" she screwed her face up and took the shoes off. "That better?" she signalled for her waiter to come over with more drinks.

Remy: "Dere we go." He clinked his glass against hers. "T' memories?"

Elizabeth: "Heh. Ironic seeing as we're killing brain cells right now, but I can go for that." She clinked her glass against his in return.

[Scumfish]

Victor: Vic was walking slowly, Mouthy still in his hand and still in his RAF blues, tail whipping in agitation. He'd helped Anna with his bags to his room and then had come straight down to the infirmary before he chickened out.

Victor: At least....that was the idea....but his steps were slowing even more. Rahne was going to be there. What did he say? What right did he have to say anything? He stopped, leaning back against a wall and pulling off his hat, wiping his suddenly damp eyes. The girl....she'd looked so tiny in Rahne's myspace photo. What did he do? Nothing, nothing could have prepared him for this.

Remy: Remy stopped as he came down the hall, a small cooler in hand, filled with treats from Tante. He'd promised Rahne that he'd be back to help, but it looked like she was gonna get help from another source, which was good. Vic needed to meet her. Clearing his throat, he smiled lightly at Vic as his eyes jerked back to him. "Hey."

Victor: Vic hurridly pulled himself up straight, putting his hat back on and forcing out a smile, concentrating on sorting his sleeves. "Heya, mate." He cleared his throat. "Everythin' alrigh'?" He finally looked up at Remy when he was sure everything was okay.

Remy: "Was gonna ask y' d' same thing." He shrugged. "Guess everythin' went pretty good considerin'. We were hopin' she wouldn't give birth dis early, but..." He shrugged. "So y' jus' get in?"

Victor: "Yeah. Literally abou' ten minutes ago." Vic shifted, tail flicking. "How- how are they?"

Remy: "Well...d' baby's small. She's doin' pretty good for a premie, but she's still gotta get help, y' know? She can't keep her body temperature up or nothin' on her own yet. But she's fiesty." His eyes rolled a bit and he grinned. "Jus' like her maman. An' speakin' of which, y' know how pissed Rahne is at y', oui?"

Victor: "I have an idea, yes." Vic looked down. "I deserve it." He tried another smile. "Good t' hear the girl's doin' good." He breathed out. "Jesus."

Remy: He remembered being in this pinch. "Yeah, not a lot of fun is it? I mean...it's jus' a whole pile of overwelmin'." He studied Vic for a moment. "Y' know...whatever happens she's got a place wit' me, oui? She's been recoverin' better since she found out she was pregnant. Cussin' an' rude as hell sometimes, but she's still come far an' done a lotta work."

Victor: "Recoverin'...?" Vic looked hard at Remy. "Recoverin' from what?" He swallowed. "Thanks, Rem. I jus'....fuck. Should have a place wit' me."

Remy: "What d' y' mean 'from what'?" He was a bit irritated at this. He'd warned Vic, damnit. "From d' drugs." Biting his tongue on the rest he waved a hand at the room they were in. "What did y' think? Didn't she tell y' anythin' about what she an' d' baby are likely t' go through wit' it?"

Remy: "An' as for a place wit' y'...I dunno. Would be better in ways, oui, but where Vic? Y' gonna quit d' army? An' don' forget she's kinda wantin' y're balls on a platter right about now."

Victor: Vic growled. "Remy. I was supposed to fuckin' marry her. I was supposed t' be fuckin' there. I know. I. Do not. Need to be fuckin' told. How much of a fuckin' mistake I made." He closed his eyes, struggling hard not to lose it. "Don't. Alrigh'?" He let out a small sob before he caught it, leaning against a wall. "God. I can't do this. I can't."

Remy: Well, damn. He set the container down and stepped nearer to Vic. "Y're gonna have t' face y're mistakes. Dere's no undoin' dem. Jus' like Rahne has t' face hers. But y' will get through dis - hell, I'm walkin' proof." He hesitated for a minute and touched Vic's shoulder. "Y' know...Rahne thinks y' hate her."

Victor: "God no." Vic took off his hat and wiped his eyes. "No, I don'." Not gonna cry, not in fronta Rem, can't do this. Gotta do this. He shook his head, a tear escaping. "Shit. Look at me. I'm a fuckin' mess. I can' do anythin' for either of 'em."

Remy: "Well...it's a lot t' take in. An' she's...well, she's beautiful, but she's gonna have some problems for d' next bit. So I can understand dat dis is a lot. But Vic, y' have t'. Y' don' got a choice. Y're d' papa."

Remy: "An' y' know...through all dis, I'm here t' help y' both. It's been...good for me too - t' have Rahne an' d' baby." His mouth quirked up to the side. "Johnny's excited as hell. Wants t' meet her - but she's jus' too little yet."

Victor: Vic put his hat back on and wordlessly squeezed Remy's shoulder. "I know. I-I gotta." He pushed himself off the wall. "Y' know, I'd leave th' RAF if I could. F' her. If she asked." He drew in a breath. "Rahne alone in there?"

Remy: "Well her an' d' baby." He gave Vic a quick hug. "Y' want t' go in an' take d' food as an offerin'? Works well wit' moody women, trust me. At least y' can use it t' protect y're more delicate areas."

Victor: Vic gave him a one-armed hug. "Actually....can y'....I can't go in there alone, Rem. Please?" He looked down at the Mouthy that could only be described as 'well-loved'. "Already got a peace offerin'."

Remy: "Yeah, no problem." He plucked up the container and knocked quietly on the door, not giving Vic much chance to double think it. "Rahne?" He peeped in. Ah, she was asleep.

Victor: Vic looked over Remy's head, letting out the breath he didn't know he was holding, not sure if he should feel relieved that she was asleep. "Should I come back later?"

Remy: He gave a quiet but firm snort. "Non. Get y're tail in here." Setting the food down on a table he crossed the room to check on the baby. Vic was still lingering in the doorway and he gave him a jerk of his head. "C'mon. Y' ain't got nothin' to loose an' a whole bunch t' gain."

Victor: Vic edged in, taking his hat off and looking at Rahne. She'd....she'd changed but....he had to look away. Last time he'd seen her was the night he'd legged it. Quietly putting the hat and Mouthy on a table, he looked at the box with the baby in. "That....that her?" Not that he needed to ask.

Remy: He reached a hand out and drug Vic the last few steps over to the incubator. "D' one an' only." Beside Vic's tall frame she looked even more minute, almost unreal. She stretched in her sleep, mouth making sucking movements. "She's amazin', neh?"

Victor: Vic just stared down at her. He could see Rahne so strongly in her. "She's....tiny...." He almost whispered, putting a hand on the side of the incubator. He could probably hold her in one hand. "She's...." Mine. He hesitated and looked at his hand. "I'd break her." Mine.

Remy: "Ah, no y' won't. She's tougher dan she looks. An' I know y' can be gentle." His eyes slid up to Vic and he smiled. "An' she'll grow." Patting Vic on the back he grinned. "I see lots of poop in y're future. Rahne's so sore, it's easier for someone else t' change her."

Victor: "Yeah...." Vic wasn't listening, just watching the tiny baby in the incubator. Without even thinking about it, he reached in and stroked the back of a finger over her stomach, claws automatically sliding in totally. She smelt like his. He didn't need a DNA test. This was his daughter. It hit him, then. "My girl." He didn't realise until a tear hit the back of his hand that he was crying.

Rahne: Rahne frowned in her sleep and rolled over in her bed, making small snuffling noises as she did so ... she was sure she could smell him ... but maybe it was just a dream.

Rahne: Blinked her eyes open there was something on the table next to her, she rubbed her eyes to clear them and frowned in confusion, a military cap and a ... toy mouse thing? And the both smelt off ... she sat up and looked over at the incubator and at the backs of the two men standing next to it .... Vic was here. She chewed her lip, scared to let them know she was awake ... OhGodohGodhe'sherewhat'mIgonnado? ... he was crying, she could smell it ... oh fuck ...

Remy: He heard a rustle of sheets behind him and turned, seeing Rahne looking frozen. Leaving Vic to stare in at his child like a kid with his nose pressed to the candy store window he crossed to her side. "Brought y' some food. Y' get a good rest?"

Victor: Vic was aware of Remy talking. Rahne must be awake, but he couldn't take his eyes off the girl, wiping his eyes and trying hard not to cry. The hand gently stroking the baby was shaking slightly.

Rahne: "... Yeah, I'm okay ..." Rahne said, not taking her eyes off Vic ... he hadn't even looked at her! "You just gonna ignore me then Creed!?" she snapped, finding security in the old anger.

Remy: Well shit. He brushed a hand down her back quickly, trying to reassure her a bit.

Victor: Vic almost jumped. "No." He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and wiping them again. C'mon, Creed. Y've faced worse. He reluctantly turned from the incubator and looked at Rahne. "Hello, Rahne."

Rahne: Rahne took a deep breath herself, "Long time no see," okay ... she had to stay calm for the baby's sake, they had to do this for the baby's sake ...

Victor: "Yeah." Vic couldn't hold her gaze for long. She was trying, but he could smell the anger. He glanced at the baby behind him and took another shuddering breath. "I brought a loada clothes an'....an' toys..." He gestured lamely at the rat beside his cap.

Remy: He gave a smile to the pair of them. At least she wasn't eating him. "Remember t' eat somethin'. Dere's plenty for two. I'll be back in a bit. An' no overdoin' things, chere, y' need y're rest." He gave Rahne an absent kiss on her forehead and nodded and smiled at Vic.

Victor: Vic didn't miss the kiss. That and what Remy had said earlier....things clicked and he didn't like how they were connecting, but he didn't comment, just dropped his gaze. Like he had any fucking right to. If Remy could make her happy....well.

Rahne: "Thanks Rem, i'll do my best ..." she looked back at Vic as he left, hessitanting about what she should say ... and settled for the phrase that had served women well down the ages, "Well?"

Victor: Vic felt the panic spike as Remy left but pushed it down, eyes going back up to Rahne. The patented 'well what?' died in his throat when he remembered what was behind him. "What do ya wanna know?" He settled for instead, putting his hands in his pockets. He was feeling so much that....he just went numb.

Rahne: "I just ... I wanna know why this happened, what your excuse is." Rahne said, trying to keep her voice level and quiet so as not to wake the baby.

Victor: "Excuse." Vic walked over. "Mind if I sit? My plane got in abou' an hour ago an' I ain' slept since...." He looked over to the incubator before sitting in a chair without waiting for Rahne's permission, though staying a good distance from the bed. "My excuse....too many drugs. Addiction, Rogue doin' what she did, an' feelin' like I was worthless I guess abou' sums it up."

Rahne: Rahne shook her head, "That's not a reason for why you left! Why would that make you leave me, we were going to get married, why couldn't you have just satyed with me and we could have sorted it, what the fuck had i done to make you leave!?" She demanded, trying hard not to start crying again.

Victor: Vic swallowed. "Y' didn' do anythin'." He said quietly. "There wasn' anythin' y' could do. Rahne, y' were the one that held me t'gether fer as long as...." He looked away, covering his eyes with his hand. "I was stupid. I though' I could take it, tha' I wouldn' get addicted....I made one fucker of a mistake an'....god...." His voice shook as tears slipped down his face. "Nothin' was y're fault."

Rahne: "Why the hell are you crying?" Rahne wiped her face quickly with her hand, "If anyone should be crying it's me, I ... I thought you loved me!" She wiped her face again, all of the hurt and anger and betrayal spewing out of her now that she was faced with him.

Victor: "Why'm I cryin'?" Vic wiped his face. "Th' reason's lyin' in tha' incubator. Because I fucked up. I did love y'. I still fuckin' do love y'. That's why I left. Wasn' good enough fer ya then an' I sure as hell ain' now."

Victor: He looked up at Rahne then. "Look what I was doin' t' ya. I let y' do cocaine, Rahne. I was takin' ya down a road I promised mysel' I wouldn' let ya go down. Remy was righ'. What was I gonna do next? Give ya pills?" He sucked in a breath. "Everythin' I ever wanted." He said bitterly. "Righ' here, in this room. Only I fucked it. All of it." He leant forward, head in hands as he tried hard to hold in the sobs.

Rahne: "Stop fucking emoing, it doesn't suit you!" Rahne sighed and rubbed her face, taking some deep breaths to try and steady herself and to stop herself from crying, and almost on que from the tiny box a piercing wail emitted, they'd managed to waken the baby, "Oh for fuck's sake ... great," She pulled back the cover and stood up carefully, making her way slowly to the incubator, "Fine fucking lot we are all bawling like this ..."

Victor: Vic wiped his face, sitting back and closing his eyes. "Wouldn' say I was emoin'." He said blankly. He watched Rahne walk to the incubator, so many emotions going through him that he could barely breathe, just watching what should have been his wife going to comfort his daughter. "Maybe we shoul' talk abou' this some other time." He sat forward, pulling off the dress uniform's jacket and hanging it on the back of his chair.

Victor: "Got more importan' shit to sort, eh?" He pulled off his tie too, then picked up the toy rat, playing with it distractedly. "Like I said....I bought a loada stuff wit' me." He looked into the face of Mouthy. "An' I'll get ya anythin' you need. Anythin'. All y' hafta do is say th' word." His voice was almost blank, the tiniest shake the only show of emotion.

Rahne: Rahne put on one of the baby handling gloves and poked her hand through the incubator, stroking the baby to shush her, he was right ... they both were, needed to focus on the baby, she was the important thing here, "Remy's got a bunch of stuff from ... you know ... that he said I could have," Rahne said, her voice a little strained and shakey, "you'll have to figure it out with him, where are you gonna be staying?"

Victor: "School. I wanna be as close as I can." Vic shrugged. "Remy lookin' after ya alrigh' then? An'....this is your girl too, Rahne. Y've got some say." Remy would make a better dad then him anyway. He was a soldier for one and a bastard for another. "I said I wanted t' be involved, as much as y'll let me. It's up t' ya."

Rahne: "Yeah well ... despite what everyone seems to think I'm not so much of a spitefull bitch to keep you from her ... that's if she is yours of course, MacCoy said he can do the test for us when you're ready." That's it ... keep on track, keep to buisness and she didn't have to think about just how confused and angry and hurt and relieved she was at seeing him again.

Victor: "She's mine." There was no uncertainty in Vic's voice. "Trus' me on that." He stared at the rat. "I'll do the tes' but it'll only tell ya what I know." He got up and hesitated, before moving to stand the other side of the incubator - not too close. "She's beautiful, Rahne." He said softly. "So tiny....I didn' expect her t' be so small...." He looked down at the rat. "It's almos' bigger'n her."

Rahne: "That nose of yours eh?" The baby screamed some more, high enough to melt earwax and Rahne grimanced, "Normally she just likes being petted, maybe she wants to be held?" She bit her lip, Remy would know, where was he? She looked around, he'd probably gone back home ... coward.

Rahne: Rahne sighed and opened the top of the incubator, picking up the baby's blanket and wrapping her in it before holding her close and jogging her gently, "What is that anyway?" she asked, nodding towards the toy in Vic's hand.

Victor: "Yeah. My nose." Vic swallowed, looking away. "This? It's....one of my old toys, actually. Mama foun' it an' never got rid of it an'....figured she'd like it...." He trailed off. Why the hell would Rahne want him to give her this? "It's called Mousey....only I used t' have a lisp so it was 'Mouthy' an' it stuck....it's safe, Mama checked it over." It had so many repairs in it the original face wasn't recognisable.

Victor: "Didn' used t' have as good control over my claws an'....well, I chewed it a bit too." Vic shrugged. "It jus'....I though'....y' know."

Rahne: The little girl had quieted down some but was still grumbling and distinctly unhappy, "Mouthy?" She gave a shrug, "Well she's got one of my old bears in there so I don't see any reason why not .. oh will you please be quiet!?" Her attention turned back to the baby, "You can't be hungry and you havn't shit yourself so what's the problem? You normally hate being handled unless there's a bottle in it for you."

Victor: Vic took that as acceptance and put the toy rat into the box. "...Can I hold her?" He asked quietly, almost shyly, not looking at Rahne. "Remy's righ', y' should be restin'."

Rahne: Rahne instinctivly gripped the baby tight for a couple of seconds before shrugging, "If you can get her to be quiet, be my guest," she said, feigning indifference. She hessitated for a couple of seconds before holding out the baby to Vic, "Don't drop her, okay? Be careful." A slight note of worry comming through her abrupt manner.

Victor: Vic looked up at Rahne, showing her that the claws were pulled in far enough to ache before taking the girl gently, carefully holding her close to his chest and looking down at her, tiny in his arms. She looked like all he needed to do was touch her and she'd shatter. "Hey there." He purred down at her. Something heavy seemed to shft from his stomach to his heart and he felt a huge well of possessiveness rise up. Mine.

Victor: The girl hiccuped, tiny arms moving in the blankets as her grumbles quietened to burbles. Vic stroked a finger over her cheek. "Y're so perfect...." He said quietly.

Rahne: Rahne felt a sudden wave of jelousy rise up her throat at seeing just how naturally Vic held the baby, and how happy she seemed in his arms, and she stalked back over to her bed and sat down on it, "She needs a name," she said bluntly, "I figured I should wait till you got here before I decided anything." One hand grabbed the blanket and scrunched it up in a fist anxciously.

Victor: Vic's eyes snapped to Rahne's at the sudden shift in scent, frowning in confusion before looking down at his tiny daughter. "Yeah....she does." He sighed. "Y' got any ideas, then? I....I haven' really thought abou' names....at all, ya know?" Last name would probably be Sinclair. Rahne wouldn't want his any where near it. The little girl yawned, and he couldn't help the smile as she snuggled into him.

Victor: "Well, y' got me roun' yer little finger, ain'tcha?" He swallowed, eyes misting again. God, how many times was he meant to cry today? He swallowed them down.

Rahne: "Well ... I've only thought of one name ... Marie, I think it suits her and i'll keep mam happy, you know the whole scary christian thing about having some form of 'Mary' in the first daughter's name ..." she left off pawing at the blanket and scratched her wrist, "what do you think?"

Victor: "Marie?" Vic looked up at Rahne and then at the little girl as she squinted up at him blearily. "Are y' a Marie, kid?" He smiled. "I like it. She does look like she'd suit it. Marie Sinclair...." He grit his teeth slightly, the girl squirming slightly.

Rahne: Rahne moved to scratch the back of her neck, "Umm ... acctually I was thinking about that and ... well, you know how my middle name's the scottish spelling of Marie? Well ... umm ... since we're both pretty sure she's yours I thought maybe for a middle name 'Jamie'? And we could double-barrel for her last name?" She said slightly sheepishly, she didn't want to dick around when it came to her own daughter's name after all ... that wasn't the sort of th

Rahne: She said slightly sheepishly, she didn't want to dick around when it came to her own daughter's name after all ... that wasn't the sort of thing you should be petty over.

Victor: Vic looked at Rahne in surprise. "Y-y' want....my name?" He swallowed. "I....yeah. Yeah....that soun's good...." He looked down at the little girl. "Rahne, I....I mean....thank y' for lettin' me...." He couldn't finish.

Rahne: "No need to thank me ... if I didn't let you, you'd only make me after all ... so I guess we'd better sort out all the offical crap that goes with birth, Marie Jamie ... Creed-Sinclair, yeah, that sounds better then the other way around, that' her name then?" Rahne said buisness-like, trying not to let the sight and scent of Vic about to start crying again get to her.

Victor: "I wouldn'." Vic said quietly. "It's y're choice." He swallowed. "Yeah....if that's what y' want." His tail whipped then curled as he tried to keep his voice steady. He'd been hit point-blank with machine-gun fire. Why was holding a baby so hard? "Jus' tell me where I need t' sign."

Rahne: "You know, if you wanna be her father you can't be such a bloody pussy, it's about what you want too, it's half your fault you know, and you can't exactly just 'yes dear' me, do you like the name or not." Rahne said pissily.

Victor: "Half my fault? So she's a fuckin' liability now?" Vic snapped back, before closing his eyes. "Yes, I like th' name." He sucked in a breath. "I ain' pussyin', Rahne. I mean it. It's y're choice how...close y' let me be...." He shrugged. "Not tha' I'm gonna be close anyway. Little fuckin' hard when y're thousands of miles away shootin' people." His expression went a little blank as he looked down, stroking the girl's cheek.

Rahne: "You know what I mean," Rahne foulded her arms, "And you are pussying, either that or you think I really am a fucking super-bitch from hell, she's only a fucking baby," she looked down at thier daughter and her face softed a little, "none of this is her fault, and it wouldn't be fair to stop her from having a father, even if he is a compleatly irrisponcible wanker, so you're as involved as you and she want you to be, okay. Never had you down as such a bloody doormat."

Victor: Vic was only half-listening to her, trying not to let the words hurt as much as they did. "Yeah, well. People change." He said quietly, just looking down at the newly-named Marie. His tail curled as she squeaked, a small smile tugging at his lips as he stroked over the tuft of hair. Nothing seemed to matter with her there.

Rahne: "Do they, do they really?" Rahne said archly, before giving a loud, exagerated sniff, "Good party was it? And what was she like, good in the sack, did you tell her you were gonna be a father?" She sniffed again, she reconised that smell from Remy, "Nice thing about your mutation though, means you don't need to worry about shareing needles huh?"

Victor: Vic visibly flinched. Shit, she would have been able to smell it. "Yeah. It was." His voice was blank. "She knew. Old frien' from time on the run. Ended up spillin' my guts to her over a pint. That was before the rave." What was the point in lying? She'd know. "I don' know. I can't remember." He shrugged, keeping his focus on the girl while somewhere inside something curled up.

Victor: He remembered something about what Remy had said. "An' what abou' you? Why's there 'possible problems' wit' Marie? Y' never explained that, Rahne, or why she's prem."

Rahne: "I didn't find out I was pregnent untill I was comming into the third trimester, up untill that point I just carried on as usual, what do you think?" Rahne said defeinsivly.

Victor: "As usual?" Vic did look up then. "What d' ya mean, 'as usual'?" He felt a lead weight drop into his stomach. "From d' drugs. What did y' think? Didn't she tell y' anythin' about what she an' d' baby are likely t' go through wit' it?" Remy had said that before they'd come in. Shit. "Rahne....what've y' been doin' since I....?"

Rahne: "Coke, been living the life of a rich bitch party girl me, really living it up you know? Sex, drugs and rock and roll, though before you phone up your lawyers to take her off me for being an unfit mother I stopped when I found out I was expecting okay?" Her broken heart prompted her to add, "What, did you just expect me to run back home to mommy and cry? Maybe end up a sad old spinster wandering around the house still in my wedding dress, huh?"

Victor: Vic looked down. "I...don't know. Not tha'." He snorted bitterly. "What, take her off y'? An' give her t' an unfit father? Fuck no. Y'll probably do a far better fuckin' job of lookin' after her'n me." He swallowed, not bothering to hide the shaking as everything started to hit him. Marie started to grumble, little face screwing up, and carefully he put her down, hands smoothing out the blanket gently.

Victor: He felt detached but at the same time too close, wishing hard that this was just a bad bloody dream and he'd wake up in Afghanistan or something. Everything, everything about this was wrong. So wrong. He sank into a seat placed beside the incubator and put his head in his hands, forehead touching it. "Oh god...."

Rahne: "Oh God, don't start crying again you'll set the rest of us off," Rahne snapped, looking away again.

Victor: Vic barely heard her. He couldn't handle this, couldn't deal with it, needed to get out of here. Standing up, he grabbed his hat and jammed it on. "I'll be back later wit' the stuff." He managed. "An' I'll talk t' ya abou' shit. I need t' go." He didn't look at Rahne, just turned and went to head out of the door.

Rahne: "Fine, just run away again and I hope you feel better for it! I'm sure there's already a que of your admirer's outside your room anyway!" She called angrily after him.

Victor: Vic stopped at that, looking back at Rahne, hand on the door. "Why? I'm th' bastard here, Rahne. Remember? I'll come back when y' feelin' better." With that he shut the door quietly so he didn't disturb Marie and then slid down it, arms wrapped around his knees and crying silently.

Rahne: Rahne glared at the shut door, almost daring it to open again for him to come back in. All the times she'd thought about what would happen if they'd even meet again she hadn't counted on feeling so hollow and ... unsastified, he hadn't given her a real answer as to why he'd left, and he hadn't reacted! Didn't he care about her enough to get angry at her?

Rahne: He was still outside the door, and she could smell that he was crying and something twisted in her gut, a combination of sadness and grim satisfaction, standing she went back over to the incubator and looked down at Marie, the baby's face twisted in a sullen expression and Rahne felt her heart sink.

Rahne: Going back over to the bed she climbed back in and pulled the covers over her, "So much for being able to put your needs first ... I'm sorry baby."

[steyn]

wow, that was a big instance. Nice one all three.

[littlebamf]

Elizabeth: Lizzie flicked her ponytail over her shoulder as she rounded the natural curve in the lake, kicking up the sandy silt with her track shoes. Almost at the boat house. It was times like this she wondered if it would be easier if she just ran round the other half twice as many times. She was sure she'd get a ribbing if Remy, or even Tante noticed her passing too often. And god knows she needed a ribbing after the other week. Not.

Remy: The steps alerted him first, faint regular thumps that he could hear in the distance. Slowly he could hear the sharp breaths that came with long exercise and got up from his seat on the grass, turning to look at the newcomer and glad that it wasn't someone like Monet.

Elizabeth: Rolling her eyes a little as she saw Remy standing up, she gave a little wave and started to slow down. At least she could stop and say hi now he'd obviously noticed her.

Remy: "Hey petite. Stretchin' y're legs again?" He was dressed plainly himself, shorts and a simple t-shirt, glad to be able to ditch the clothes from winter. "Wanna bit of company runnin'? Or y' ready for a rest?"

Lizzie: "I'm sure you'd prefer it if I said rest so you can go grab something fattening to shove down my throat," she shook her feet a little and breathed in. "Unless you really want a run of course."

Remy: "Nah, dat's Tante's job. An' I'm goin' t' d' gym later. Done enough cardio for d' day." A corner of his mouth curled up. "Was jus' takin' a brain break. Restin' an' thinkin' y' know." He guestured out at the waters, rippling slightly with the wind.

Elizabeth: "Never been keen on gyms really, prefer being outside. Or as outside as I can be in the DR..." shrugging, she took a seat on the soft grass. "Now that's one of the downsides of running. I usually end up thinking too much."

Remy: "Oui? Well not thinkin' enough is a problem too. So suppose it's findin' a balance." He retook his spot and picked at a blade of grass, fraying it. "But yeah. Y' can. What's eatin' y' at d' moment?"

Elizabeth: She cast him a sideways glance, then cleared her throat. "Well...You know we went out the other week to a certain place and we had a conversation..." Lizzie trailed off, almost wanting to whistle. Ah, he probably thought she was bonkers. No harm.

Remy: "Ahhh, dat." A small grin appeared. "Which part of dat conversation has got y' tied up in knots, chere?"

Elizabeth: Rubbing the piercing on the back of her neck, she gave a nervous grin. "Nearly all of it? Look...I wasn't really supposed to tell you most of what I did, unless I was sure you were going to commit. And you have enough going on in your own life without adding to it with secret council meetings."

Elizabeth: The Shaw stuff had also been slightly embarrassing but she wasn't going to bring it up if he didn't...

Remy: Laughing he put a mock serious face on. "An' now dat I know all y're secrets...y' have t' kill me, oui?"

Elizabeth: "If I thought you were going to go about and tell people, then I might have to..." she smirked, shifting. "But seriously. It is something that can't really be discussed with anyone else...Other than me, or Sebastian if you really feel the need to...Not that you have to."

Remy: "I won' go spillin' y're secrets - I trust dat y're workin' as hard as y' can t' better things for people." He leaned his arm on an upraised knee. "So other dan bein' royalty, what have y' been up t'?"

Elizabeth: "Got a tattoo," she gave a wry smile and pulled her shorts up to expose the little bat on her hip. "And...Thanks. It's hard to keep it all in sometimes but can you imagine what happened if people found out? They'd think we were some kind of cultish society."

Remy: "Suits y' good." He gave her a grin and raised a brow. "Well y' are kinda."

Elizabeth: Tugging her short leg back down, she stared out over the lake. "Yes but I'm not about to lynch myself for mutant supporting."

Remy: "So y' think it's workin'? Helpin' a bit? It's hard t' know what t' do...I mean, things seem settled a bit, but y' still see things in d' news, neh?"

Elizabeth: "I hope it's working. It's still early days, and what with the undermining of past members, we were given a serious setback," Lizzie sighed. "It is hard, and it won't get easier any time soon either..."

Remy: "Well...guess it's y're chosen job, oui? I'm glad dat y' found somethin'. For a while dere it seemed like y' were pretty unsure about what y' wanted t' do."

Elizabeth: Switching so she was facing him, she gave him a look. "Can I be honest? I'm not sure I am settled. All this just sort of...happened. Sometimes I wonder what I've gotten myself into."

Remy: His expression grew more worried. "Y' want out? Y' know if y're havin' any trouble dat way y' can come t' me an' I'll help." Another thing crossed his mind. "Y' know dat Shaw guy...he's grabby."

Elizabeth: "No, I don't want out now or anything. But I don't know how I'm going to feel in a year when I've finished my postgraduate." Lizzie plucked at blades of grass. "You think so?"

Remy: "Well y' can always leave, right? Ain't like y're obligated t' stay." He fixed her with an odd look. "Well yeah. He was rubbin' y're side an' kissin' y' an' stuff. An' well...I do dat but we gotta different relationship, oui?"

Elizabeth: "I doubt they'd be too pleased and I'm sure I'd be sworn to secrecy, snubbed at events for a while...I suppose I'd survive! But right now, it suits me with what they're aiming for, so at least for the while I'm not looking to leave..."

Elizabeth: Oh god, this was actually harder to deal with than the Club details...."And it isn't even a relationship, we've always been very...clear on that. I think he just likes to put off the golddiggers and have pretty company without the worry of commitment."

Remy: His expression changed. "Oh ho! So y' do have a thing goin'." Nudging her he grinned. "Why were y' worried about dat?"

Elizabeth: "We don't have a thing going," she made a face. "Not how I'd consider a 'thing' anyway. I'm just a convinience. And you're the one who's saying he's grabby."

Remy: "Well define 'thing'. If its that y'all pose infront of everyone t' fend other interested parties off, den dat's a good act. If y're 'convieniently screwin' each other' den d' grabby makes sense too."

Elizabeth: She rubbed her head and sat up. "Christ I should never have gotten into this...Look. He's been here to see me once. And that was because he had free time after seeing Xavier and once he found my room, he was more interested in Selene's side of the room than anything else. Call me selfish but I'd like someone who would care about me and show some interest. That too much to ask with my record?"

Remy: "Non. I wasn't accusin' y' Lizzie. It'd be good for y'." He reached a hand out and took hers, squeezing it. "I'm glad if y're happy."

Elizabeth: "Well, I'm not. But I'm not unhappy either. Guess I'm just settled for it. No reason making too much of a fuss." She gave a weak squeeze back, glancing at the lake rather than him.

Remy: He snorted. "So y're jus' existin' den? Dat don' sound like a helluva lotta fun either."

Elizabeth: Turning round to look at him she gave a lopside smile and shrugged a little. "Well. It's better than nothing, or being depressed isn't it?"

Remy: "I guess...but at least when y're depressed y're feelin' somethin'. Dis sounds more like y're walkin' through life jus' cause it's what y' gotta do. Numb."

Elizabeth: "Well...I'm not numb. I just don't have much of a reason to be jumping for joy or sobbing my eyes out. And isn't that life anyway? Doing what you have to do?"

Remy: "Well t' an extent. But even if y're not havin' extreme reactions y' should be havin' some." He nodded to the lake. "Dis for example. Can y' feel d' simple joy of havin' d' sun on y're face, watchin' d' water move...it's jus' serene. Dat's jus' another form of bein' happy."

Elizabeth: Lizzie rolled her eyes slightly. "I'm not saying it isn't nice and I'm not happy just sitting here. Just with Sebastian, I don't feel anything because he hasn't offered me anything and I don't want my heart broken again. It's simple as that."

Remy: "Ah." He nodded. "Yeah. Well, I can understand dat. Don' know how I'd feel in y're place. I'm jus' not dere."

Elizabeth: "Plus, I'm not ready to love anyone yet. Well, I don't think I am anyway," she gave him a gentle poke in the side. "And no one really knows how they'd feel in anyone else's place. Just don't worry about me too much."

Remy: "I know y' can look after y'reself Liz." He mussed her hair on a whim. "Y're a little spitfire."

Elizabeth: "Well I'll take that as a compliment I suppose. Though really, it would be nice if I had someone to look after me." She shook her head a little at the hair messing, tossing some of the blades of grass she'd ripped up at him.

Remy: "So y' don' know if y're ready t' love someone...but y' want someone t' love y'?"

Elizabeth: She ran her hand through her hair to tame it a little. "I know...I know that sounds silly. But how can I know if I can love someone, unless I know they'll care about me and be honest with me?"

Remy: "Well, yeah, but it's a two way street, Lizzie. I guess y' gotta jus' be particular about who y' pick."

Elizabeth: "And there isn't really anyone right now that I could pick, so I can't consider love for that reason either," she cracked a grin. "I can't go chasing thin air."

Remy: "None of d' hoity toity's at d' club catch y're eye?"

Elizabeth: "God no. They're pretty but either boring or vain."

Remy: "Well, yeah." He grinned. "But hey, y' never know." They sat in quiet for a bit, the sound of the lake lapping against the shore soothing and gettle. "Y' think of Warren lots still den?"

Elizabeth: Her grin faded a little. "You just can't get rid of those feelings. Sometimes I feel I think about him too much, that it might not be normal and I should stop it. But...The link we had, there's still a little bit of me missing with that gone. It's like a hole in my mind that I stumble against now and then."

Elizabeth: "It must be...harder for you though, what with Johnny," she said nervously.

Remy: "Dunno. Think he actually helps in ways, though oui, he reminds me of her all d' time. But in a way it's like dere's dis part of her I still have. So...I'm not sure." He started plucking at the grass again. "I jus'...I feel married still."

Elizabeth: "That's not a bad thing though. Sometimes, not so often now, I wish I had something like that. Something tangible. I guess that's what made me get the tattoo." Lizzie watched him pick at the grass.

Remy: He looked back at her. "Y' mean like bein' married? Or Johnny?"

Elizabeth: "Either? Well, maybe not a child. I'd have fallen apart...." she mused. "I know we were close and commited, but engagement, marriage, a ring, it makes it so real."

Remy: "Yeah, suppose so." He tipped his head. "But more real t' who? Y' or d' other people around y'?"

Elizabeth: "A bit of both really. I suppose to people who didn't know us, it would justify my...reaction. But maybe I'm just an old fashioned blue blood and marriage is nice and proper and...Oh I don't know. Now I'm rambling."

Remy: "Happens t' d' best of us." He winked. "Y' wanna come an' have some coffee or somethin' sweet? Sure dere's cookies or muffins kickin' around d' house."

Elizabeth: "Oh I was wondering when you'd offer to feed me!" she held her hand out to hint for help in standing up. "Though if you don;t have tea I think I'll stick to juice."

Remy: "Oh, I'm sure we can grub up somethin'." He looped his arm around her waist.

[Scumfish]

Remy: He hooked his fingers over the ledge and did a bit of a chin up. "Vic?" Eyes scanning the rooftop, colour washed out of it by the oncoming night, he finally found a lump that wasn't supposed to be there. "Dere y' are." He twisted his body and flung a leg up. "Y' have no idea how hard I've tried t' find y'. Thought I'd find y' down wit' Rahne an' Marie if I waited long enough, but..."

Victor: Vic didn't turn, just hunched up more. What the hell was he of all people doing here? "Hah. Yeah well. Hadn' ya better get back to 'em?" He half-growled. He couldn't help it, just the thought made him....made him want to punch Remy and just keep going.

Remy: "Dere asleep." He frowned at the snarl. Well ok then. "Damnit Vic, I don' have t' be dere if y' are...if y' aren't upsettin' Rahne dat is." He pulled up his own little chunk of roof and sat. "Why are y' up here?"

Victor: "You even hafta ask tha', Remy?" Vic didn't bother looking. "Y' really hafta wonder why the fuck I'm stayin' away?"

Remy: He sighed. "Look Vic. I know it ain't gonna be easy wit' Rahne. Dieu knows, I know, cause I've been livin' wit' her an' I know damn well how crabby she can get, an' it ain't me she's mad at."

Victor: "Yeah." And that was it right there. Vic knew he had no fucking right to be angry, no right at all after what he'd done to her. But that didn't stop the nasty, worming little knot of jealousy that made him want to tackle Remy for making her happy. He would be happier with Rahne after losing Talia - hell, look at what he did when Rahne 'died'. Still.

Victor: "Woulda bin nice to have bin tol' she was on fuckin' drugs when she fuckin' well came back here." Vic managed to growl out. "I had no fuckin' clue what I was walkin' inta there, besides knowin' she wants my balls. That's a fuckin' given. I would have liked some fuckin' warnin' that my daughter coul' have problems there, mate."

Remy: He raised a brow, not sure if he could see it in the dusk, but knowing Vic and his vision... "Vic, I damn well did say. If y' didn' get it cause I wasn't outright bein' an' asshole, den dat's not my fault. I told y' back when y' were fuckin' around wit' dem parties - when y' were still here. Warned y'. So don' get mad at me cause y're reapin' what y' sowed."

Victor: That earned the unoffensive bit of roof beside Vic a punch hard enough to crack it. "Remy fuckin' LeBeau, as far as I was fuckin' aware Rahne had fuckin' stopped. She wasn' fuckin' addicted when I left an' I fuckin' well left FOR that reason! Because I let her do somethin' I swore I wouldn', alrigh'? I didn' know she'd carried on doin' it! I didn' know she was addicted."

Victor: "An' I sure as fuck didn' know she was pregnan'!"

Remy: "Neither did she." He said softly. "Look...I ain't sayin' she's blameless. She made her own choices. Y' both did. D' only one dat didn't get t' make any was Marie."

Victor: There was another punch, another crack. Vic was shaking. Actually shaking. Shit, not now. Not here. No. "Remy, jus'....jus' shut up, alrigh'? Jus' shut the fuck up and go th' fuck away if all y're gonna do is rub my face in it." His voice was shaking too, that nasty shake where you didn't know whether you were going to cry or haul off and hit someone until you couldn't feel your hands any more.

Victor: He rubbed his knuckles absently. They hadn't even split. No damage, no bruising. Hah. Always heal.

Remy: He let out another sigh. "Non. I wasn't comin' t' rub y're face in it. Je suis desole." Scooting a bit closer to Vic he eyed the cracked roof. "Gonna have t' get d' repairmen up here tommorrow, neh? Good thing it don' look like rain. Y' feel any better for it?"

Victor: "No." Vic flexed his fingers, turning his hand over and inspecting the palm, anything to not actually look at the man beside him. Best friend or not, he hadn't exactly waited to worm in on her, had he? No. That wasn't right. He closed his eyes. Fuck. "Remy, jus'....go away."

Remy: "T' let y' sit up here an' ignore y're daughter? Is dat what y' want? Why did y' even come here den Vic?" He was surprised at how much bitterness he was holding. Maybe Rahne'd rubbed off on him some. Maybe it was just regrets for his own lost child and wife.

Victor: Vic didn't say anything, didn't give any warning as he suddenly turned and punched Remy hard in a clean straight hit, knocking the man back. Following him, Vic balled a fist in Remy's collar and slammed him against the surface of the roof. "Jus' shut the fuck up, LeBeau." Vic snarled, baring his fangs in Remy's face, somehow glad that the man was still concious.

Victor: "Quit while y're fuckin' ahead, boy. I don' wanna hear any more, alrigh'? I don' wanna hear how y're so much fuckin' better'n me at lookin' after 'em. I'm sure y're all lookin' forward t' me goin' back t' Afghan or Iraq or somethin', eh? I'm sure y' can't fuckin' wait."

Remy: He was stunned for a moment by the attack, not expecting it. Eyes flaring he rolled to the one side, hearing his shirt tear. Lifting himself to a crouch he stared at Vic, ignoring the bruising and blood running down from a cut on his cheek. "What d' fuck are y' talkin' about? I'm y're goddamn friend Vic. I never wanted y' t' go anywhere - dat was y're choice."

Victor: "Friend? Yeah, thanks a fuckin' lot fer that." Vic spat, already in a crouch, arms wide, claws out and tail whipping. He was snarling more then talking, his tunnel vision concentrated straight on Remy. "How long did it take, eh? How long 'till y' two decided tha' the bes' way fer her t' 'heal' was t' be wit' ya? A month? A week? How long's she fuckin' been here for, Remy? Why didn' ya tell me?" He was yelling now, too angry to cry.

Remy: "Fuck y'!" That tore it. He would have thrown something at him if he could have found something on this damn roof to throw at him. "Y' fucker!" His vocabulary seemed rather limited at the moment so he stood and took a few deep breaths in and out through his nose. "I'm married Vic. Rahne's jus' a friend."

Victor: "Really." The word was as cold as Bobby's ass when he was in snowman mode and dripping with sarcasm. "That ain' what I fuckin' see, Remy. That ain' what I fuckin' smell." Vic flexed his fingers, itching to lay into him. "Tell me what I'm supposed t' be fuckin' thinkin', eh? When y' touch her like y' do? Not that it's my fuckin' place, o' course, I'm the bastard wanker tha' fuckin' left her."

Remy: "Y're bein' an' ass! I can't believe dat y're even sayin' dis shit. Smell what? Y' sure as shit don' smell anythin' dat would take dis beyond friendship." He tore the rest of his wrecked shirt off and balled it and tossed that at Vic's head. "I'm not doin' anythin' beyond dat. An' fuck y' for bein' a suspicous asshole."

Victor: Vic easily deflected the shirt, eyes still fixed on Remy. "Y' migh' not be fuckin' her, Remy, but tell me how I ain' mean' t' be readin' inta this." He said it quietly, taking a step nearer. Something was telling him Remy wasn't lying, but he was beyond caring, savouring the adrenaline of an upcoming fight, letting the white wash over the pain. "What. Am I. Supposed t' see."

Remy: He met Vic's glare with his own for a long moment and then his brow creased deep and he let his hands fall. "I dunno, Vic. Maybe a guy dat couldn't save his own wife an' child. I jus' wanna help her. Dat's it."

Victor: Vic just stood, tail lashing, watching Remy for a second before he crumpled, sitting on the roof with his head in his hands, shoulders shaking as he sobbed again. He was crying so much these days. That one small sentance had literally pulled the carpet out from under him. Oh god, he'd been so stupid. Why Remy? Why'd it have to be Remy?

Remy: He wiped at the blood on his face, muttering a bit under his breath and then hunkered down again. "Dieu. Y' gotta hand on y' dat's for sure." He wasn't sure how volitile Vic was at this point. "Vic - I promise y' - I ain't after Rahne. Not like dat at least. If y' show up knocked up, I promise I'd do d' same for y'."

Victor: Vic took his hands away, wiping his face, trying to stop crying. Just once. "Wasn' even tryin'. Y'd be dead if I had." His claws scratched the surface of the roof under him, not even cracking a smile at the joke. "Promise me, Rem, promise tha' or so help me God I'm gonna break every bone in yer body righ' here."

Remy: "Promise y' which? Dat I'd look after y'? Or dat I'm not out for Rahne?" He looked at his hands, at the band on his left. "Vic...oui t' both anyways. I can't explain t' y' how I feel...but I'm not lookin' for anyone." He gave him an assessing look. "Y' know eventually someone might get interested in her, oui? Kyle...Cessily...dey both shown interest before."

Victor: "I know...." Vic trailed off, pulling his legs up and wrapping his arms around them, leaning his head on his knees so that Remy couldn't see him crying. Emoemoemoemo "I...I can't....handle even thinkin'....I can't....I'm sorry, Rem. I-I can' think righ'. Nothin's workin' righ'."

Remy: "It's a lot t' take in. I know." He felt like he should set everything straight. "Rahne'll stay livin' wit' me as long as she wants though. She'll be under my roof - my protection. If she's not got anythin' else...I gotta - I wanna offer her dat."

Victor: "I know. Now. I jus'. I though'....when I saw....an' heard....I didn' mean t' do tha', I'm sorry." Vic curled his tail around his feet, the tip quivering. "I'm such a wreck....I can' deal wit' this. I jus' wanna run all th' time. I'm doin' it now. I can' handle this, Remy. Y' jus' saw what happens. I can' look after 'em, either of 'em."

Victor: "CO was righ', they shoulda locked up El Tigre."

Remy: "Y' can if y' want t' enough Vic. Y' gotta wanna change." He found his shirt and pressed it to the spot to get it to stop bleeding. "Y' know I'd help y' wit' dis as well as her. She's y're child too." The rest of what Vic had said didn't make sense either. "Al Tiger?"

Victor: "El Tigre. The Tiger. Got it after I wen' feral las' time. Didn' even remember my name f' days after." Vic swallowed. "Haven' felt righ' since. El Tigre an' Corpsy. Heh."

Remy: "Dat don' sound good." Turning he eased down onto the roof, letting some of his guard down. "Dey know why? Are y' mutatin' again?"

Victor: "Dunno. All I know i-is I can' handle this." Vic wiped his face. The tears were stopping, slowly. "Too close t' losin' it there. On y' of all people. After y' done so much. Je suis desole. I keep snappin' like tha', normal t' angry or sad an' then back t' normal." He clicked his fingers. "Like tha'. Feel like I'm goin' nuts."

Remy: "Have y' talked t' McCoy or someone? Dey'd be d' ones wit' d' most information." He finally edged near enough to touch Vic, their shoulders rubbing together. "What happened, Vic? It's like everythin' blew up in jus' a few months. Y'all left, den Talia..." Swallowing he took a hard breath. "I dunno - it's jus' like everythin' went t' shit. Dere anythin' left?"

Victor: Vic leant into Remy, relaxing enough to wrap an arm around him and pull him in tight, able to smell the pain on the man over his own stupid anger and the blood. "I don' know. I really don'. All I know is I got a daughter an' a bitch of a patchup job wit' my ex an' you got a son an' someone t' care for." He leant his forehead against Remy's shoulder. "An' I wanna fix this. So d' ya. But we can'."

Remy: "An' why not? I fixed it with Talia. Y' know dat. An' y' have someone t' care for jus' as much as I do...if not more. She's gonna need y' Vic. Dey both will in dere own ways, even if Rahne don' want y' back. She's still gonna need y' t' be a dad."

Victor: "I can'." Vic bit his lip. "I don' know how. I can't even think straigh'. I'm a soldier, Rem, I kill people f' a livin'. How can I be a father?"

Remy: "Cher, I used t' steal for my livin' an' fuck everythin' dat moved. People change. Y' didn't used t' kill people for a livin' - y' can choose not t' do it again. It'll maybe take time - but ain't Marie worth it?"

Victor: "I can' not go back, Rem. I'll be put inside for AWOL." Vic said quietly. "When I signed up, I signed up lifetime. This is my life now."

Remy: Letting out a rather discusted low sound at that, he nudged Vic. "What d' hell prompted y' t' do dat anyways?" Dabbing at the cut to see if it had stopped he looked thoughtful. "What about gettin' discharged?"

Victor: "Seemed a good idea at th' time. Do somethin' that'll keep me occupied f' years, do somethin' I'm good at - I'm a Royal Engineer, fully qualified - an' do some fuckin' good fer a change." Vic thought about the discharge. He'd never thought about that. After a few moments, he shook his head. "No. Not unless they wanna on medical grounds an' they don' seem to. I jus'....RAF's too much fun."

Victor: "Marie...." He felt a well of possessiveness come up. "She's worth everythin', but I wan' her t' have a dad she's proud of, ya know? I jus'....I want her t' be happy, wan' Rahne to be happy an' I wan' my life. I'm parta somethin' there an'....I jus'...." He trailed off. "I don' know...."

Remy: "Well first, knock dat shit off about y' bein' not good enough. Dat's jus' y' bein' harder on y'reself dan y' need t' be. An' it's full of bull." He tugged on a lock of Vic's hair. "Y' gotta choose Vic. Her or y'. Can't say a parent's glamourous work. Not very excitin'. Jus' same thing day in day out."

Remy: "For all dat - it's rewardin' beyond anythin' else y'll ever do." He felt tense, wondering which he'd choose.

Victor: Vic stared off into space for a while. "I....know." He said quietly. "I'm scared, Remy. I-I can' think abou' it righ' now. I don' know what t' do." He didn't want to move, Remy's scent wrapping around him and reminding him of better times.

Victor: "Well....I-I got a few months t' think abou' it...." He closed his eyes, leaning his forehead against Remy's shoulder again.

Remy: "Few months? Y're here dat long?" He eased into the embrace, feeling the fine tremors that ran through him.

Victor: "Yeah." Vic drew in a sharp breath. "CO figured I could use paternal leave if she was mine an' camp docs chipped in tha' I coul' use cool-down time an' hell, even th' padre threw in his lot."

Remy: "Dat's good...I didn't know how long y' had here. Figured it was more days. An' dey were right. Y' need t' loosen up an' relax. Get t' know y're daughter."

Victor: "An' Rahne again....if she'll let me." Vic huffed a humourless chuckle at that. "Remy....I'm sorry. Shouldn'ta d-done tha'. Not t' ya."

Remy: "Ah well. Y' can pay me back another time for it." He studied him. "Y' still want her? After all dis?" As if he had to ask.

Victor: "I still love her." Vic said quietly. "Jus' 'cause I walked away didn' mean I stopped." He swallowed. "Yeah. I still wan' her."

Remy: "Well fuck." He gave him a serious look. "Dat's gonna be one hell of a challenge. She's pissed. I say 'pissed' cause dey don' make a word for what she's feelin' for y'."

Victor: "Wants t' rip my bollocks off an' wait fer 'em t' grow back so she can do it again." Vic said bluntly. "I know. She ain' the firs' girl I fucked over. I jus'....I wanna....fuck know what I wanna do, Remy. I wanna run away but I can' an' it's tearin' me apart."

Victor: Victor: "Wants t' rip my bollocks off an' wait fer 'em t' grow back so she can do it again." Vic said bluntly. "I know. She ain' the firs' girl I fucked over. I jus'....I wanna....fuck know what I wanna do, Remy. I wanna run away but I can' an' it's tearin' me apart."

Remy: "So what den? What are y' gonna do? Y' think y' got a chance t' do it? She's been though hell - which was some of her doin' with d' choices she made - but still."

Victor: "Ain' got a chance in hell." Vic tried not to let it hurt. "Not gonna try, Remy. All I c'n hope is tha' I migh' be able t' be friends again, fer Marie. It ain' a lot but...."

Remy: "It's enough. If y' two can be parents an' get along...dat's great." He pulled at Vic. "So y' gonna stop hidin' from dem den?"

Victor: Vic, if anything, shifted closer. "....Maybe later. Righ' now I'm good wit' bein' dumb on th' rooftop wit' my best mate." He looked up and smiled a little at Remy. "I migh' try again later."

Remy: He smiled at Vic and shook his head. "Dumbass." He said affectionately. "So did y' give me a black eye? Or jus' d' cut? Y' hit like a truck."

Victor: "I wasn' even tryin', Rem." Vic carefully raised his free arm, turning Remy's head via his chin and looking him over before wincing. "Y're gonna have a beaut of a black eye and....well. At leas' y' ain' gonna have stitches. I gotta make foreplay less violen'."

Remy: He laughed at Vic's joke, but raised a hand to prod gently at the swelling. "Should be glad y' didn't cave my head in den. Make havin' a conversation a bit harder."

Victor: "Yeah." Vic let go of him reluctantly. "What's th' poin' in doin' that? Couldn' get a decen' figh' then."

Remy: "Asshole." He smacked him again. "Y' do owe me for dis y' know. An' if y' need help or have questions, den ask, alright? Don' go assumin'."

Victor: Vic snorted, then sobered, looking at Remy seriously. "I don' think I woulda really cared if y' were or not, Rem. I was spoilin' fer a fuckin' figh', y' bastard, an' ya didn' give me one." He paused, looking down. "I know. An' I will....thank y'. An' I shoul' probably thank ya fer not risin' earlier too."

Remy: "Well, I kinda was." He snorted. "I was angry, Vic. Angry for my reasons jus' as much as for d' facts. I just...I would give anythin' t' have my family back - an' y'rs jus' got left y' know?"

Victor: "Yeah. I know. I know who th' real bastard out of us is, Rem, an' I ain' likely t' forget it." Vic shook his head. "Was a mess. Still am, but that's wha' I'm here t' try an' fix, ya know?" He sighed, running a hand over Remy's back soothingly. It must have been hard, losing his wife and unborn child and watching his best friend just....drop the love of his life.

Victor: For once, Vic could actually see just how much of a selfish prick he really was.

Remy: "All y' can do is try t' fix it. Y' can' change d' past. No point in dwellin' on it. Make up for it, sure, but don' stay stuck on it. Jus' make amends as much as y' can."

Victor: "Yeah." Vic sighed, letting his head rest on Remy's shoulder again. His hand flattened against his lower back, thumb stroking the skin lightly. "Somethin' like that." Absently he nuzzled the shoulder.

Remy: "It'll be ok Vic - I told y' I'd help y'. An' at least she can't crawl aroun' an' get into stuff yet." He teased before he realized that she had a heck of a long way to go till she could.

Victor: "God. Please, I ain' even used t' the idea that I'm....I'm a dad." He nuzzled again. "I though' I had longer t' get ready fer this..."

Remy: He gave a wry laugh. "Yeah, well, I am hearin' y' dere." He laughed and dug his fingers into Vic's hair, giving him a bit of a rub. "Y're rubbin' on me like a kitty, Vic."

Victor: "Rawr." Vic purred deeply, moving to nuzzling Remy's neck as he relaxed against him, clawtips scraping against skin. "Well....y're pettin' me....keep doin' that an I'm gonna get the wrong idea." He chuckled a little to show it was a joke.

Remy: He changed the pets to a gentle smack across the back of Vic's head, laughing. "Dieu, I swear dat y' are jus' one ball of hormones."

Victor: Vic sighed, smiling a little. "No. Jus' want comfort I guess. Sorry. Wan' me t' back off?"

Remy: "I'm fine wit' snugglin' sort of things." He returned to the half hug. "Jus'...as I said. Married, oui?"

Victor: "Oui. I get tha'." Vic let out a sigh. "Though....y' ain' bein' fair. 'Fore I hit Englan' and met up wit' an old friend I had one fling. One. In more months'n I wanna think abou'."

Remy: "Yeah? An' what was dat like?" He gave him an odd look. "Y' know, dat's not gonna endear Rahne t' y' if she hears about dat."

Victor: "An' how many's she had." Vic snorted bitterly. "I ain' no fuckin' fool, Remy. She tol' me as much. I jus' ain' wanted t' or had th' time to."

Remy: "Yeah." He didn't quite know everything, but the rumor mill did fly. "I dunno what t' say about dat either. Guess y' both deal wit' things in a pretty single minded way."

Victor: "Yeah. She deals in th' way I taught her." Okay, the tone of voice was getting a little bitter. Maybe this was a good time to end this before he started getting angry again. "Listen....Rem....can ya jus' shut up fer a while? Don' wan' ya ta go or anythin' jus'....stop talkin'. Please?"

Remy: "Ain't a problem." He dug his fingers back in his hair and just sat offering what comfort he could. For everything...he had hope for them as a family at least.

[Slarti]

Vic's just a wee bit with the crazy pants, eh? Wear a steel-plated cup, Remy!

[fourpawsonthefloor]

Remy: He stole down into the room, seeing that Rahne was sleeping again. Good. She needed to grab whatever rest she could. He hoped that Vic had come down and helped or someone, because he'd not been - by the time he was finished with Vic he'd just gone home for dinner and an icepack. Tante had wanted to put a steak on it, but he'd rather eat the damn thing than slather in it.

Remy: Then there was getting Johnny ready for bed and reading him a story and then he'd fallen asleep in with him for a bit. So now it was close on to midnight, and though it was quiet now, he knew Marie wouldn't keep the peace for long.

Rahne: Rahne groaned and rubbed at her eyes as she slowly and reluctantly came awake ... sleepy eyed she glanced at the clock ... nearly midnight, meant Marie would need feeding soon. She took a deep breath, ahh Remy was here ... and he was hurt- ... what!?

Rahne: She sat up quickly and looked over to him and saw his bruised face, "Oh my God! The hell happened to you!?"

Remy: "Oh hey petite." Marie had jolted awake at the noise and started wailing, little limbs stiff. He picked her up, bundling her up well and carried her over to the bed for Rahne so she didn't have to get up. "What, d' new look not workin' for me?"

Rahne: "What? No! No it is not what happened? You look like you've been hit in the face with a half-brick!" she closed her eyes and took another deep sniff, "I can smell Creed all over you, did he do this!?"

Remy: "Yeah. It's alright though. Got things figured out." He gave her a look. "Y' gonna do dis d' old fashioned way or should I get a bottle?"

Rahne: "Figured out! He friggin' punched you! Why in God's name would he do that?" Rahne sighed and took the wailing baby from him and jogged her to get her to calm down, "get the bottle," there was a pause till she remembered her manners, "please."

Remy: He nodded and went quickly to get it, coming back and finding her and the baby hardly mollified. Passing it over he was relieved when at least one of them calmed. "She's grown. She's still tiny, but y' can tell."

Rahne: "Yeah, she's putting on weight good and she's a bit more ... active, even if all that means is that she just sits there and whines and grizzles to herself," she allowed Marie a small smile as the baby eagerly latched onto the bottle and suckled noisily, "but don't change the subject! What happened?"

Remy: He gave her a shrug and sat on the end of the bed. "Vic punched me." At the gimlet stare he got from that he thought better of his short answer. "He was jus'...fratchety." That, he pretty sure was a word that he'd picked up from one of the brits around here. "Said he was spoilin' a bit for a fight. I was d' first thing dat happened in d' way."

Rahne: "Spoling? Why the hell was he spoiling?" Rahne's attention was drawn back down to the baby snuggled down in her arms, duh, like she really needed to ask, "And why you? The hell've you done to make him haul off and smack you like that?"

Remy: "Well..." And here's where it got awkward. "He kinda thought we were together y' know? Cause we're livin' together an' all."

Rahne: "He- huh!?" Rahne's jaw actually dropped open, "As in like ... a couple? A romantic relationshippy couple?"

Remy: "Oui." He snorted and his mouth curled up as much as it could with the swelling. "So...we straighted dat out pretty quick." He reached out to rub her foot. "Y' know I love y' though Rahne."

Rahne: "Why the hell would he think that? And why in God's name would he punch you for it, even if we were it's none of his damn buisness!" She bristled, before checking on Marie, yep ... still stuffing her face, "But at least you set him straight, but I'm still gonna hafta beat the shit out of that jerk." Her mouth twitched up in a small smile at that and she wriggled her foot at him, "I know, and I love you too, and I know we've got like ... a history."

Rahne: She sighed and looked back down at the baby, "But ... no, it'd feel too much like I was ... going behind her back you know, I did it once and ... yeah ..." she said awkwardly.

Remy: He nodded. "Know exactly what y' mean. Told him dat too. He jus' was bein' all...homonal." He wiggled her big toe. "Don' happen t' know anyone else like dat d' y'?"

Rahne: "Oh shut up, I have an excuse, he didn't have to carry a small person with thier own ideas about how his body was gonna be run in his lower intestines for about seven months." Marie had finished off her bottle and Rahne put it on the side, wiping the baby's mouth up, "You're father's crazy kid, don't know how else to put it to you. Why would he get so upset thinking we were ... you know. Not like he's got any thingy ... say in the matter huh?"

Remy: "He knows he doesn't." He leaned over to see Marie as she blinked and scrunched her face up at the clean up job. "Y' gettin' y're rest? I'm sorry I wasn't around much t' help y' today."

Rahne: "If he knows he doesn't then why'd he do it, unless he really has gone off the deep end ..." she bit her lip, "We were okay, I guess it was good for me, I should start trying to be a bit more independant really ... though there was this one point where she just wouldn't stop crying and I had to call Mam in and went out for a smoke ..." she added, slightly shamefaced.

Remy: "Well, havin' a baby is stressful as hell, nevermind a preemie like dis. Dey have any idea when she can come home?" He continued rubbing, working his way up to her calf, trying to be soothing.

Rahne: "Well, soon hopefully, if she keeps up the pace she's developing they say maybe a week, week and a half at the earliest? Da said that you'd already got the room and stuff ready for her ... oh and over the next couple of days I think Johnny and Duncan should meet her, I think it'll be okay for them to do that and they need to get used to her ..."

Rahne: She jogged her baby, unsure of how and if she should ask, "Um ... did Cre- ... did Victor say anything about why he ... hasn't come down to see her really? Has he changed his mind about wanting to be involved?" she asked in a small voice.

Remy: "Oh dey'll like dat, dey've been riotin' about her anyways. An' oui, it's all set an' ready. Moved d' room around an' all. Tante's been havin' fun wit' primpin' it all over an' over - think it's been forever since she's been around a newborn." He scrinched up his face at her next question and regretted it as it smarted. "Non...he wants t' be involved. He jus' doesn't think he's good enough t' be."

Rahne: "He doesn't think he's good enough to be? Niether of us are, she deserves so much better," Rahne sighed again, "You know ... so far he really isn't making such a good impression, he came back stinking of sex and drugs, doesn't give a straight fucking answer and then beats you up, all the while keeping away from her? Not exactly father of the year material."

Rahne: Rahne looked down at Marie, who currently was looking blankly upwards with the lack of anything better to do, she wanted her to have a father, "You know ... if it's me then he can just have by himself? Joint custody type thing? So she can be with him and he doesn't have to put up with me."

Remy: "Yeah, well, he's gotta get his shit together." He wasn't sure how to explain it better than that. "I'll help him wit' it as much as I can, jus' as I'll help y'." He frowned. "Non. It ain't y' chere. Y' ain't d' problem at all."

Rahne: "No? I dunno it just ... it's so awkward to be around each other, I wouldn't blame him to want to avoid me, I feel kinda like that anyway you know?" She tried to explain, "And at the end of the day, it's Marie we gotta think about."

Remy: "Of course it's gonna be awkward. I know how dat is." Leaning over he half curled around her. "When I first got t' Talia's parents it was hell. An' when she came back here, things were tough. But we still could be parents together. An' eventually..." He gave a half sad smile and looked down at the bed for a moment.

Rahne: "Yeah, but Victor and me ... that was totally different to what happened with you and Teej, I mean ... he dropped me a month before we were due to be fucking married and he can't tell me why he did it," her shoulder's slumped, "and then what's one of the first thing's he says when he fucking turns up? That he loves me ... bastard." She lay back on the bed and curled up around her baby.

Remy: "Yeah." He shrugged. "Well, he don' begrudge y' bein' angry at him - so dat's somethin' at least." He wrapped an arm around her just as she had hers wrapped around Marie. "So what d' y' want? Have y' got dat far yet?"

Rahne: "Are you kidding? I dunno what I want, but I guess I must still love him otherwise this wouldn't hurt so much, and ... there's like ... sit part of me that wants to just take him back and be this happy little family but .. I can't, I can't trust him not to do that to me again. I don't wanna be hurt again I just ... i'm probably just being selfish," she blinked quickly as a precaution against any tears.

Remy: "Oh chere, don' say dat. Y' have a right t' be fearful. Jus' never say never." A small chuckle worked its way out. "An' all in all, it's better dan 'I'm gonna rip his balls off'."

Rahne: "I might still do that you know," Rahne tried to smile but it came out all twisted on her face, "but ... just, not now, not gonna plan or anything, I ... guess I still need to heal and ... stop being such a crazy bitch you know?"

Remy: "Well, y've come a helluva way already Rahne. Remind y'reself of dat." He squeezed her. "An' really...y' know somethin' I noticed? Dis time y're doin' better den last - when y' came back y' know? Y' aren't as dark."

Rahne: "Yeah? I dunno ..." she wriggled around so that she was facing Remy, "I ... wanna thank you for doing all this Rem, for putting up with my shit and just being there for me ..." she looked down at Marie, "well, for us really. You're an amazing guy."

Remy: "Y're welcome." He gave her a smile. "I'm glad dat I could do it. Be dere. Y' two're helpin' me too, y' know."

Rahne: "Yeah?" She gave him a small smile, she didn't need to ask, "I'm glad and you'll always be Marie's favourie Nonc, 'kay?"

Rahne: She looked down at them curled up on her bed, "Heh, you know if Victor came in right now and saw us he'd probably give you another black eye for your trouble," she joked.

Remy: "Think he'd knock my head clean off. But if I can snuggle him, I sure as shit can snuggle y'. Jus' d' same as before Talia died." He leaned forward and kissed Marie's head. "An' I'm glad t' have her."

Rahne: Rahne smirked at him, "First he blacks your eye, then you guys snuggle? Guess he's as kinky as ever then," she stroked her daughter's soft hair, "guess some things do work out after all then ... in a wierd sorta way."

Remy: "Dey do." Lifting himself up he kissed her on the forehead. "I'm so proud of y', Rahne."

Rahne: "Thanks ... really Rem', I couldn't have done it without you," after a moment's hessitation she gave him a quick peck on the cheek, "You've been a Godsend."

Remy: He grinned back at her. "Y' get some sleep. I'll take Marie an' get her changed an' back t' sleep before I go home."

Rahne: "Like I said, Godsend," Rahne gave him a wink, "an angel in a heavy, cajun disguise," she wrapped the snuggly Marie back into her blanket and passed her over to Remy.

[fourpawsonthefloor]

Rogue: Rogue carried the toy for Johnny in one hand and the cookies for all of them in the other as she walked over to Remy's. She had felt bad for missing Johnny's birthday by a few months... But it was better late than never. And she wanted to see her nephew and best friend anyway. Not like she needed an excuse to go over.

Rogue: She put the ride in fire truck on the porch so she could have a hand to knock with. Rogue rapped on the door a few times and picked the engine back up. "Cajun, lemme in, Ah bring gifts," she called with a grin.

Remy: "Oui?" He opened the door and blinked at the huge present, but Johnny'd already seen it and had started squealing and jumping up and down. Duncan, not exactly knowing what had gone down, nevertheless picked up on his buddies excitement and started to yell as well.

Rogue: Rogue winced at the high-pitched squeals, but laughed anyway. "Hey, sugah." She saw Johnny behind him and gave him a big smile, "Lil Sugah!" Rogue set the fire engine down and pushed it his way, "Happy really really late birthday." She looked back up to Remy finally and her smile fell when she saw his face, "What tha fu- heck happened ta ya?"

Remy: Here he went again. He decided for the short version this time, herding the boys infront of him and keeping a fight over front seat from breaking out. "Vic."

Rogue: Rogue blinked at him, not fully comprehending for a moment, "Vic? Vic ha-...." She cleared her throat and followed him in, heading for the kitchen to put the cookies down. "Why?"

Remy: "Cause he was angry at me." He left the boys to Rahne's dad who he could hear laughing at them. "Looks like y're present was a hit, chere."

Rogue: "Great," she smiled. "Glad he likes it." Rogue turned to look at him again, taking a good look at the black eye. "He was angry? That's it? So he just hauls off an' gives ya a huge-assed shiner?"

Remy: "Oui." He was glad the bandaids were covering the cut. "Why else do people clock others? Can't say I've had someone do it t' me cause dere happy."

Rogue: "That ain't like Vic. How many times has he been angry with ya before an' hasn't hit ya?"

Remy: "A few." He gave her a wry smile. "But none of dem when he's stressed like dis about other things. It's actually dem other things dat made him hit me - nothin' I did, so don' go thinkin' I deviled d' guy or anythin'. I did a bit...but not dat much."

Rogue: "What other things?" She touched delicately at the edge of the bruise, "Sugah, he coulda broken ya cheekbone..."

Remy: "But he didn't." He winced as she got to a particularily bad spot. "He jus' had a baby girl dat's a preemie...an' he doesn't know what t' do about dat or Rahne. Dere's enough dere t' make him antsy, don' y' think?"

Rogue: "No, not this bad anyway. Ya said ya didn't provoke him, but, darlin', this kinda thing wouldn't happen with just that bein' wrong an' y'all not provokin' him much." She sighed, "Why's he angry at ya?"

Remy: Giving her a harried look he tugged her out of hearing range of anyone else. "He thought I was screwin' her. Or close enough dat it counted."

Rogue: "Wha-" Rogue caught herself and lowered her voice, "What? Where in tha world did he get that idea? That's just idiotic."

Remy: "Outta his own sweet head really. Jus' watchin' me an' Rahne an' how we acted. How we always act. Dieu, I dunno when he forgot dat I'm jus' affectionate t' everyone, includin' his ass."

Rogue: Rogue blew out a breath and shook her head, fisting her hands at her sides, "So he just fuckin' assumed? Insteada takin' a second ta ask ya? Holy shit, Ah'm gonna kill him."

Remy: "Yeah, well, we figured shit out. He's already said he's sorry for it an' all. He knows he's done wrong. He's goin' through a lot of stress right now, y' know?"

Rogue: "That don't matter, Cajun. Stress'r no stress, it shouldn'ta happened in tha first place." She popped her neck and went back to the cookie platter, debating on picking one up and deciding against it. "That was a stupid move," she murmured under her breath.

Remy: "Well don' get y'reself jus' as upset about it." He rested his hand on her back and leaned forward and grabbed a cookie to wave under her nose. "C'mon. Cookie? It's got chocolate in it. Good for what ails y'."

Rogue: Rogue narrowed her eyes at the cookie then took a bite of it anyway. "Too late. Already just as upset 'bout it. Can ya blame me, though?"

Remy: He supposed in her shoes. "Non. But stop stalkin' around like a cat wit' a stepped on tail. Y' came t' enjoy y're time here, neh?"

Rogue: "Yeah, but Ah hadn't expected ta find ya with a face nearly beat ta shit."

Remy: "I'm alright, chere. Been beat up a lot worse dan dis before." He grinned, it a little lopsided because of the swelling. "Mind y' he's got one hell of a 'one punch'. We should make a boxer outta him."

Rogue: Rogue rested her hand gently on Remy's swollen cheek and sighed, "Yeah, but it wasn't by ya best friend. An' that might be a good idea. Air force has boxin' teams, right?"

Remy: "Damned if I know. I ain't about t' even look at a brochure, never mind sign up." He grabbed a cookie of his own. "An' I still got all my teeth."

Rogue: "Glad ta hear that, f' true. Wouldn't do well if y'all left, too." She snorted a small laugh at that and nodded, "That's true, ya do. An' they're as gorgeous as ever."

Remy: He struck a pose, giving his best and scariest toothpaste grin. "Yeah. Well. Some people get complimented on dere ass - some on dere teeth. Considerin' I didn't see a toothbrush very often, glad I still have dem period."

Rogue: Rogue laughed again. "Ah swear Ah'm gonna kill him though. Y'all makin' me laugh don't take mah mind off it much," she poked her tongue out at him then took another bite of the cookie.

Remy: "Well I'm tryin'." He folded his arms on the counter and leaned on them. "Y're a tough crowd. Should be glad y' don' have things t' throw at me."

Rogue: "Bullshit Ah don't." She broke off a chunk of the cookie and tossed it at his forehead with a grin. "Since when have Ah been an easy crowd?"

Remy: He plucked up the wasted bit and popped it in his own mouth. "Can't say I can answer dat one, on pain if I do answer it either way I'll be in trouble."

Rogue: Rogue laughed and gave him a shove, "That's answer enough, jerk." She tossed more cookie at him and thumped his arm.

Remy: "Ow! Hey! Am I t' get dis right? Y're gonna beat on me for makin' fun of Vic beatin' on me, cause y' wanted t' be mad an' now y' can't be?" He grinned and winked. "Got y' laughin' didn't I?"

Rogue: Rogue blinked at him for a moment, "Ok, that took a second ta process..." She smacked him lightly on the arm, "Maybe so, but Ah am still pissed. Hate how ya can always make me laugh. Ain't rightly fair."

Remy: "It's my talent. Need somethin' t' offset d' tidal wave of hormones y'all put out once a month." He made sure to have the island counter between them when he said that one.

Rogue: Rogue's jaw dropped but she couldn't help the laugh. She picked up a whole cookie and chunked it at his head. "Hey! That ain't even nice!"

Remy: He ducked. "Oh Tante's gonna have you're head for wastin' her cookies." Shuffling a few steps over to counter her movements he grinned wider. "Y' seen what she does t' me? She may be nicer t' y'all, but waste food an' she'll take her spoon t' y're bottom."

Rogue: "Y'all'll eat 'em anyway. Ain't wasted." She smirked and picked up a whole handful, "An' Ah brought enough f' y'all ta refill tha plate. She won't notice hardly." Rogue started tossing them at him one by one. "Tante loves me anyhow. 'Course, guess that means Ah'd get nearly tha same treatment as y'all..."

Remy: He got pegged once, but managed to avoid the rest. Manuvering he managed to snatch up a dishcloth and made a show of twirling it up into a rope.

Rogue: "Oh no ya don't." Rogue slowly took a few steps away from him, eyes darting from his face to the towel. She looked back to the counter and grabbed a ladel from the utensil holder, holding it out in front of her like a weapon. "Ah can hit harder'n Tante," she warned with a grin.

Remy: "Oh, y're someone t' talk about Vic hittin' me." He snapped the towel out at the ladel, hitting it with a smack.

Rogue: Rogue's grip tightened on the ladel, but she yelped in surprise. "Oh, Ah won't be punchin' ya an' ruinin' ya beautiful face. Ah'm gonna smack ya ass. That's covered with pants most times anyhow."

Remy: "Y' can try." he stopped and gave her a look. "Wait - y' are only pissed cause Vic 'ruined d' view'?"

Rogue: Rogue gave a shrug, "Maybe..." She lunged forward and lightly smacked at his thigh, "No, ya dork. Ah'm pissed 'cause he had no real right ta do that an' ya mah best friend. As is he... But think that makes me more mad."

Remy: He used her distraction with her explination to lunge for the ladle, but forgot how strong she was as she didn't release it and used his grip on it to haul him across the island, sending cookies everywhere. "Whooooops."

Rogue: Rogue laughed and fell backwards on purpose to pull him all the way off, landing in a heap on the floor. "Whoops," she said with mock-innocence as she grinned at him. She jerked the ladel away and reached around to smack his rear roughly.

Remy: He ooffed and rubbed his abused rear. "Y're jus' plain cruel." He rolled over to go sit up and froze at the sight of a pair of very familiar house slippered feet. Looking up he made a slight face. "Ummm...sorry Tante?"

Rogue: Rogue's shoulders shook with suppressed giggles as she looked up as well. "Hey, Tante..." She finally giggled a bit and had to bury her face in Remy's back to try to stifle them.

Remy: All it took was a look and he was scrambling up from the heap on the floor, knowing he'd just be digging himself deeper if he blamed Rogue, even if it was her fault. "I'll get d' broom." She gave them both a look, but at least there was a thread of humor in her eyes. She liked it when his friends came over because she said he didn't smile enough unless he was with them or his son.

Rogue: Rogue was laughing harder as he got up and she took a minute to calm down and push herself up. "Ah'll start makin' a new batch o' cookies?" She gave Tante an apologetic smile and Tante just shook her head at her, trying not to smile, Rogue thought.

Remy: "Y' can pick up d' cookies though." He swatted her butt with the straw broom once Tante's back was turned.

Rogue: Rogue jerked away and whirled around to smack his rear in retaliation. "Ah thought y'all were gonna eat 'em," she countered but squatted down anyway to start picking them up.

Remy: "Oui, but put dem on d' plate. 'Cept d' ones dat landed on d' floor. I ain't a dog." He stuck his tongue out at her and got caught by Tante as she rounded the corner. A shaken finger and she was back up to her room. "Oh, great. Now I'm gonna get d' treatin' women right talk."

Rogue: Rogue laughed and gave him a smug grin, "As ya should. Ya treat me just horribly," she tsked him, trying to make her face serious as she fought the grin. She tossed some cookies from the floor into the trash and jogged around the counter to swat at him as she went by to pick up more cookies.

Remy: "I'm gonna have t' start. Y' damn pest." At least he'd got her mind off Vic. "Gettin' me in trouble wit' tante. Spoilin' my son wit' d' coolest toy so dat he's all wound up."

Rogue: Rogue snickered and popped a piece of cookie in her mouth, tossing another chunk at his head when he turned around. "Ah try. F' all of it."

[fourpawsonthefloor]

Remy: Remy reclined in the patio chair, eyes closed to the stars above him, fingers tapping along happily to his mp3 player. He was back up at the big house again seeming as Johnny and Tante were gone.

Monet: Monet slipped outside with her drink, sipping on it as she looked at the sky, moving to take a seat on one of the chairs. She stopped when she saw someone already out there and gave a slight roll of her eyes. However, he had his earphones in and his eyes closed. Good. She slipped by him and sat in a chair quietly. So long as he didn't talk to her, she was fine.

Monet: She glanced back at him after a moment to make sure he was still the same and she leaned forward when she saw his eye. Well, well, well. Mr. Perfect isn't so.

Jason: Making his way towads the door, Jason wasn't all that pleased to see people still out. He was less pleased when he was close enough to properly see one of the people who was currently occupying the patio. "Good evening." He smirked slightly, resisting the urge to already start baiting.

Remy: Remy cracked an eye when he heard something over the music and was somewhat surprised to see that there was two people instead of one. "Heeey!" His eye shut again and his toe started tapping. "Jus' at a good part of a song. Gimme a minute."

Monet: Monet rolled her eyes and looked away from the men, highly irritated with Jason. "Hello." She took a drink of her cocktail and set it on the table.

Jason: Tilting his head to the right slightly, Jason watched Remy as he wondered what he was giving him a minute for. He glanced to Monet but wasn't expecting that she was going to be able to give him much in the way of explanation, or wouldn't rather. "Alright then?"

Monet: "Thanks so very much for ruining my quiet, Jason. Now I have to listen to this lunatic speak when his song is over." She cut her eyes to him for a brief moment then looked back across the lawn.

Remy: He plucked out the earphones and blinked, flipping the off switch. "How long y'all been sittin' out here?" He fumbled for his watch before he remembered he wasn't wearing one. It hadn't been that long he'd been listening to the music though, right? He tended to lose track of time. Eyeing Mo's drink he disregarded it and turned to Jason. "Bring any food out wit' y' mon ami?"

Jason: "You're assuming that he wants to talk with you? Oh, how you kid yourself." Jason turned his attention back to Remy who seemed noticabl confused...and apparently hungry. "No, sorry. I'm afraid I'm just getting in. Didn't think to pick up anything."

Monet: "I never said he would speak to me, but he's obviously saying words seeing as how he spoke to you." She didn't even look at Jason that time. "And, Remy, you might want to turn your music down a touch next time. It could ruin your hearing up that loud." She glanced at him, "Or even that of others around you."

Jason: "I wasn't aware that any time we talked we were forcing you to be our audience. My, I have power over you I need to exploit now!"

Remy: He laughed. "Y' two are like twins y' know? Just noticed." He waved his hand managimously at Jason. "It's alright...I'll grab somethin' in a little. Already ate a box of McCoy's twinkies."

Jason: The look on Jason's face was possibly one of the top five most horrified expressions that had ever crossed his face.

Monet: Monet fixed Remy with a flat stare. "Twins? I didn't realize that someone with an IQ lower than 90 was capable of being related to me." She crossed her arms, "And a whole box of twinkies is horribly unhealthy." She watched him for a moment, looking in his eyes as opposed to his wounded face. "How much have you had, exactly?"

Jason: "Well, at least I would be the smart one and the prettier one." Jason snorted as he looked over Remy. "I would think that the box of twinkies would be the least of his worries when it came to healthy habits somehow."

Remy: He watched the two of them go back and forth and snickered again. "Yeah. Sometimes dat's true for sure." He blinked solemnly and reached down behind him, hauling out a smooshed cardboard box. "Think d' whole thing." He peered in and shook it around. "OH! No! Dere's one more." He wiggled his fingers in and manipulated out the smooshed treat. "Y' wannit?"

Monet: Monet arched an eyebrow at the pastry. "No, I'm fine. However, you seem to have an interest in things that come in pairs tonight." She took the twinkie from him and tossed it easily at Jason's head. "And I meant how much have you smoked. Your eyes look horrid. Besides that disgusting bruise." She had an incredible urge to touch it just to see if she could make him squirm.

Jason: Jason picked up the offending pastry and held it back out to Remy. "Apparently she's eyeing you. She'll probably want you to go ahead and eat it so you'll be fattened up for when she needs to feed next."

Remy: Taking the much abused twinkie he ripped the package open and turned his eyes back to Mo. "Nah. Think she has somethin' against Cajun." Licking white icing off the cellowrap he shrugged. "Or maybe she's jus' watchin' her figure."

Remy: "An' my eyes look like dis all d' time, merci. Genetics. An' I don't really remember. More dan two an' less dan five."

Monet: "Around them, idiot. And I would bet you can't hold your eyes fully open for longer than twenty seconds right now." She rolled her eyes and crossed her legs as she picked her drink back up. "Something against Cajun? Oh no. Only a specific one. Don't worry, your inbred family down in Louisiana is plenty safe from my scathing looks and remarks." She laughed though, "I do not have to watch my figure. Sorry to disappoint. However, twinkies are disgusting."

Jason: "Hmm, perhaps if I had realized twinkies safeguarded a person from being eaten by her I would have taken it." Jason took a few steps closer to the door and leaned against the railing, smirking. "And oh dear, bringing up inbreeding into this game? That just seems dangerous."

Remy: "Got some left still." He held out a wad of smooshed goo in sticky fingers. Laughing at Mo he shook his head. "Y' don' know what y're missin'. An' it'd be hard t' give dem looks if dere in N'awleans, non?"

Monet: Monet shook her head and took another drink, "I believe you missed my point. But that's fine." She made a face at the mashed piece of twinkie Remy was offering Jason. "You are truly disgusting."

Jason: "No, that's your twinkie there, Remy. You just go ahead and keep that." Well, his night at least had some entertainemnt to be thankful for. "It'd be quite difficult. She'd break the camera with those scathing looks of hers so no chance of any pictures to send down."

Remy: He snickered again, going back to the twinkie, licking the residue off with big swipes of his tongue. "I think everyone misses y're point, petite."

Monet: Monet made another face at him licking the twinkie goop off. "Not everyone." She looked over at Jason and arched an eyebrow, "Are you going to have a seat, asshole or are you just going to lurk in the doorway?"

Jason: Jason looked up at the sky as he pretended to think. "Hmm, let me see? Would I want to come have a seat with someone who is such a charming conversationalist who seems to think that an invitation to sit down should be accompanied with 'asshole' or would I rather stay closer to the door? I'm pretty confident in my current decision."

Monet: "Well maybe if you didn't insult me so much I wouldn't feel the need to do so to you." She shot him a look then took a drink as she looked away.

Remy: "Awww. It's jus' her form of pet names. I'm hick t'night an' y're asshole. She jus' likes us." He scootched up on the deck chair, wiping his fingers off on his pants. "Y' can come sit by me if y' want Jason. I got goodies..." He dug around in his coat pocket. "What about y' Mo...net." He hastily finished the name, remembering the 'rules'. "Y' wanna get a break from d' wedgie?"

Jason: "Yes, but my insults are funny and I'm not wanting you near me for any particular reason." Jason laughed and took the offered seat. "'Likes us'?...I am going to start locking my door and windows and borrowing my roommates trident now."

Monet: "Oh yes. I like you," her tone dripped with sarcasm and she shook her head, playing with the swizzle stick in her drink. "Oh so very much." She rolled her eyes then narrowed them at Remy, "From the wedgie? Excuse me?"

Remy: "Wedgie. Y' know? When y're underwear rides up y're buttcrack. Whadda dey call dem in europe? Casue y'all gotta get dem too. Unless y' don't wear underwear."

Monet: "I know what you were talking about, imbecile. I was asking why you were asking me if I wanted a break from one." She pinched the bridge of her nose, "Some do, some don't. I would assume it's the same here."

Jason: "Because you obviously have something irritable up your ass. At least I'm fairly sure that's what Remy is getting at." Jason shrugged. "I would have assumed it was some sort of small rodent myself."

Remy: "Oooh. Ok, now y've done it." He lit the joint quickly and shoved it front of Monet. "Here, here. Don' worry...be happy now." He started snapping the free fingers of his hand.

Monet: Monet ignored Jason and took the joint, taking a short drag and passing it back. "Since when did you care if I was happy or not, Remy?" She rubbed at her temple, "And if you start to sing that, I will give you a matching bruise for the other half of your face."

Jason: "Right now, I think he's pretty on board with most everyone being happy." Jason was fighting the temptation to make an auditory illusion of the song and was only successful as he realized just how long he probably would have it stuck in his head if he did. Still, it was tempting.

Remy: He switched to whistling it, keeping the beat half assed with finger clicks. "Oh c'mon. It's good stuff. Y' should be lettin' y're hair down soon." He did keep a fairly close eye on an escape route however. He wasn't about to bow down to this woman, but it hardly meant he wanted to be abused by her either. "How about y' Jason?" He held the joint out.

Monet: Monet closed her eyes and kept rubbing her temple. "That song is horrid. It is far too catchy." She shook her head, "And if I don't want to 'let my hair down'? I'm sorry to disappoint, but I'm not your typical 'get drunk and high so strip and fuck' college girl. Which I'm sure Jason appreciates as much as he makes it plain how hideous he thinks I look." She shot Jason a smirk.

Remy: His fingers stopped snapping. "Um. Oui. Well. Dat's not what I was hopin' for either." He grinned again. "So we're all good! It works." Snapping resumed.

Jason: "Oh, no thanks." Jason couldn't help but laugh at Monet. "You have absolutely no idea how relieved I am. I shall maintain my vision and my sanity to boot. All very, very good."

Monet: Monet's face went blank at the comments and she turned away from the boys, sipping at her drink and trying to ignore the fact they were out there. But it was a beautiful night so she was not going to forfeit it by going inside just to escape them.

Remy: He took a thoughtful drag, holding his breath for a long moment as he watched Mo's face tighten and turn away from them. Well no woman wanted to know she was ugly. And well...she wasn't. "Don' think it's cause y're ugly, petite. Y' ain't ugly. Nice tits. Good waist. Pretty hair. Y're jus' kinda..." He made a claw and hissed.

Jason: Jason had to struggle to snort back laughter. "Cosmetically acceptable but just an ugly personality? There we go."

Monet: Monet refused to look back at them and just quietly sipped at her drink for a moment. "Yes. I am kind of..." She mocked Remy's noise and hand gesture she was sure he made along with it. "It does not bother me what you think of me. Either of you. So feel free to say whatever you would like."

Jason: "And that's why she's watching the lawn intently incase the grass grows without her noticing."
Remy: "Gr...oh right, d' lawn." He snickered. "Oh c'mon. She's jus' gotta get used t' d' gang here." His eyes slid half mast as he stretched. "Though I have t' say, we've not had one of y' before. Y're a tough one t' crack. Don' y' enjoy anythin'?"

Monet: Monet turned to face them again, her face a blank mask as she looked over at Jason. "I'm not looking at the lawn anymore. So say whatever you feel like. I can promise you, it does not bother me one bit. At least I know you're not a full coward. At least you prefer to say things to someone's face." She cut her eyes to Remy, "I am not here to get 'cracked'. And no."

Jason: "If you don't enjoy anything at all then why on earth do you bother anymore?" His eyes rolled slightly but he smirked back at her rather empty expression.

Monet: "Bother with what? Living? Because it is nearly impossible for me to die. And because I'm here to prove to someone I will not be broken." She looked back at Remy, "Or cracked."

Jason: Jason smirked a bit more. "So you at least get some satisfaction out of proving yourself against someone."

Remy: He was happy with his joint, letting the verbal ping pong sail over his head quite happily. He couldn't help but add to her last statement. "Or plowed."

Monet: Monet held her hand out for the joint as she blinked at Remy. "And that is supposed to mean what exactly? And yes Jason. I get satisfaction out of it. But not nearly enough, just yet."

Remy: He snickered hard. "Oh...dat jus' leaves me wit' a line dat I could sail through. I'm bettin' y'd have better luck wit' d' plowin' if y're lookin' for better satisfaction." He grabbed a cushion from the chair for safetys sake and put it in his lap, not that it would be much protection if she did decide to sack him for 'lewd behaviour'. "Not dat I'm implyin' any offer."

Monet: Monet took the joint as he was distracted and took a long, slow drag. "Oh, of course you wouldn't be. I know you imply by giving money. Not to worry, Remy. I don't think anything of you wanting to sleep with me," she smirked, knowing she was twisting things a bit, but it would be fun to mess with his head. "As for your lines? They need work. You're much more handsome when you don't speak."

Jason: "Should I be giving the two of you privacy? It seems Monet is tempted to possibly muffle you there, Remy."

Remy: His hand snatched out to the back of Jason's collar lightening quick and held on. "Don' y' fuckin' dare. Dis woman gets her kicks from givin' dem."

Jason: "O...kay?" Jason felt like he was missing something. Mainly he was missing why Remy's hand was clinging to his shirt collar.

Monet: Monet stifled her laugh by putting the joint back to her lips. "Oh, please. You're just being paranoid, Remy."

Remy: "Paranoid? More like educated. Though, oui, doubt it would be my balls y'd go for." He dropped the hand off of Jason's collar. "Stilllll...think I'm quite fine sittin' here, merci. Y' stay dere an' I'll stay here an' we'll all be happy."

Jason: "Suddnely I don't feel safe." Jason wasn't going to make any sudden moves though. "Happy then, can do."

Remy: That just reminded him of the song, so he started it up again, swaying slightly from side to side with it. "Y' know. D' people from d' islands, dey kinda got some ideas right."

Monet: Monet blinked at Remy, taking one last drag before passing the near stub back. "You never know what I'm after. I could very well be after your balls. But not in the way you would prefer, I'm sure." She couldn't help the grin at him.

Remy: He slid a look to Jason. "See? But maybe I had kitty wrong. Maybe more like a shark. Chomp chomp."

Jason: Jason returned Remy's sidelong glance and smirked. "I bet you've never before felt like you needed a chastity belt like you might now."

Monet: Monet's grin turned into a laugh as they bought it. It wasn't very hard to do though, given her reputation. "I was only teasing. You two are too gullible." She took a drink and set her glass back down, watching them for a moment before looking back out at the lawn.

Jason: "Well we can run with teasing. Though it might be empty threats in your case." Jason rubbed his chin as he thought that over. Yes, definitely fitting.

Remy: "Hey, didn't call y' a cougar, so at least count y're blessin's dere." He gave a questioning look. "What are y' thinkin' is empty on her?"

Jason: "Call it wishful thinking. I like to con myself into some sort of safe feeling once in a while." He shrugged.

Remy: "Well at least y' didn't say her head." He gave Mo an innocent wide smiled look.

Monet: "Even if he had said my head there are plenty of ways I could prove him wrong, so that wouldn't have bothered me much," a part of her wished she had some sort of snack food to toss at Remy's head. Her face went back to the blank mask and she stomped out that instinct immediately. "And a shark is so much better than a cougar?"

Jason: "Well, a cougar in this context would be a good deal less pleasant." Jason smirked more as he imagined cougary Monet stalking young prey. That was a rather disturbing image, even for him.

Remy: He'd started snickering again. "Well. She did admit t' d' 'rorwl'." He made a claw hand again. "Maybe she likes dem young."

Monet: "Ok, now you two are just sick. I bet I'm younger than both of you, so there is no way that I'm a cougar in that sense of the word either." She shook her head slightly and turned back around to face away from them.

Jason: "So remember, any time we see Monet standing outside of an elementary school we might want to alert the authorities." Jason snickered along with Remy, holding back on some of the worse comments he could make at the moment as he wasn't sure he would get away with them.

Remy: "Cher, I already would." He found the mutal snickering wasn't helping him calm down any and he had to wipe the corner of his eyes clear of tears.

Monet: "You two can just stop, alright? All that you are doing is making yourselves out to be asses. Not that it's a difficult job or anything since I already know that you are, but it really doesn't help your cases." She turned around only for her drink, taking a sip as she faced away again.

Jason: "I wasn't aware that I was trying to build a case arguing that I was anything but an ass. I'm quite happy with being an ass. It keeps me occupied and is really a good deal more liberating than pretending I'm not." Jason gave Monet a sweet smile then a look of mock horror. "Remy...where's your son now?"

Remy: He blinked in confusion, then as it sunk through his sodden brain he broke into fresh laughter.

Monet: Monet gave Jason a sweet smile back as she stood and pushed the chair back to the table. She sipped on her drink as she walked over to Jason, still with that same sweet look on her face as she slapped her hand across his face, her drink following in rapid succession. "At least I wasn't drinking coffee. That would have added to the sting." Her smile dropped and she went out onto the lawn, hands on her hips as she looked up into the sky.

Remy: He licked a drip of sticky juice off his noise at he dribbled down, having caught the backspray off of Jason. "Hmm. Well. Good t' know it's not only me."

Jason: Jason rubbed his hand over where he had been smacked slightly dazed for a moment before snorting with laughter, laughing even more when he looked to Remy. "I had been doing so well too. This is only the second time since I started here."

Remy: "Second? How'd y' manage dat? Of all d' guys dat y'd think'd be gettin' smacked." He popped his head over the rail to watch Mo briefly. "Y' know dat's alcohol abuse!" He half yelled and then turned back to Jason. "Huh. She stole my joint too. Maybe if she's dat catty though, y' think d' cat nip would do it for her?"

Jason: "Oh, I meant the drink. I'm sure I've gotten smacked more times than I can recall in the same amount of time." Jason did the best he could to dry his face. "Hmm, now that'd be something to try at least. I doubt she'd be too pleased at that."

Remy: "Oh wait, found it." He produced the joint with a flourish. "Was in my hand. Didn't get wet." His smile was gratified. "An' I didn't set anythin' on fire wit' it, so it's all good." He took a long drag to finish it off and flicked it onto the lawn. "Non, she probably wouldn't be, but hardly think dat y' could do anythin' t' make her smile either."

Monet: Monet heard the butt fly near her and she looked over as it landed softly in the grass a few feet away, "You know that's substance abuse!" She countered and sat down on the grass, leaning back on her hansd with her legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. She could definitely live without men like that in her life.

Jason: "Well, I suppose I could always let her smack me again. That probably cheered her a very small bit. As much as she could ever be anyway. Don't think I'll make the effort though as I'm quite afraid what she'll use in lieu of the drink for the second portion of that act."

Remy: "Oh, y' piss her off enough, she'll stop slappin' an' jus' pound y're ass." He mulled that statement for a moment. "Not in d' good way."

Monet: "You do know that I can hear every word you two are saying about me." She closed her eyes and let her head fall back, face to the sky. "Have you ever seen me 'pound someone's ass' Remy?"

Jason: Jason was just about to ask Remy just where he had gotten his information when Monet announced that. "I'm not really all that certain I want to think of her pounding ass in any way."

Remy: "Eee." He pulled a face. "Now y' know I'm not gonna get dat picture outta my head." He popped his head over the railing again. "Y' have fiendish plots - y' gonna try mind toture now? What d' y' want t' know petite! I'll tell y'. Jus' make it stop!"

Monet: "No. No, Remy, I have no fiendish plots." She stood up and wet to where he was leaning over the railing and gave him a shove at the shoulders, "If you want that, find my brother. And there is also nothing wrong with the picture of me having sex with someone. You both know that if you saw me walking down the street and had no idea about my personality, you would wonder what I looked like naked. All of you men are just alike there."

Jason: "If you keep going on like that I'll just make an illusion of it so everyone will have a good idea what to expect." Jason snorted lazily, leaning back in the lounge chair, too lazy to manage getting up right at that moment.

Monet: "Jason, can you fly?"

Jason: "Hmm, I think I should take that question as a threat."

Monet: "Smart man."

Remy: "Dieu." He frowned at the pair. "Y're ruinin' my buzz."

Jason: "You hear that, we're bringing the party down so no more nudity and violence. Be happy."

Monet: "From what I've heard nudity was what parties around here led to. Hence why I try to avoid them."

Remy: "Don' worry. D' way y' make friends, ain't like y're gettin' invited."

Jason: Jason couldn't help but smile a bit, looking up in their direction. "You know, it is a really bad sign when you've got less friends than I do."

Monet: "I have said from day one that I am not here to make friends." She gave both of them a look. "I do not care who likes or doesn't like me. Not being invited to parties would make my life a lot easier anyway."

Remy: He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "For someone who don't care, y're sure workin' hard at it."

Jason: "Not to mention going on and on about it. Most people, if they didn't care like you say, would have probably not gotten themselves into this conversation in the first place." Jason kicked his heels up on the bottom rung of the railing. "Now, if someone were to be seeking attention I'd say they'd probably follow your plan."

Monet: Monet gave them a blank stare and shrugged before walking inside, leaving them to do whatever and talk about whatever they pleased. She took a deep breath when she was a good distance inside the house. She didn't want attention, she wanted to believe herself or have others believe her. She wasn't sure which at the moment, but it was giving her a headache and boys like that never helped.

Remy: "Dude, I think she wants y'." He offered flat faced, though barely.

Jason: Jason snorted hard. "Oh God. Now there's something that'd end in a murder/suicide if ever anything should."

[fourpawsonthefloor]

Remy: He guided Cessily along, arm companionably around her waist, making their way through the crowded club. "Would y' like a drink?"

Cessily: "Yes, that would be lovely," Cessily replied, keeping her head close to Remy's shoulder, so she didn't have to shout over the music. "A vodka tonic would be nice." She accompanied him towards the bar, gracefully slipping through the crowd of people surrounding them.

Remy: He put in the order, cozying her infront of him a bit. "Crazy night! Glad we're in d' city an' all - looks t' be a great time, but dey must be pushin' dere limit here tonight." Cessily and his drinks came and he picked up his own after paying the bartender. "But feels good, neh? D' beat of d' music goin' through y'. All d' sheer energy from d' people."

Cessily: "Oh, yeah, absolutely! It's a great feeling to be out and among people." Cessily turned to Remy and took her drink from him. She grinned. "Thanks. But yes, I really love quiet and charming places like the outdoors, but you can't always have only that. Sometimes I just have to get out and party wild."

Remy: He chuckled. "Well, y're good at dat. An' I'm sure y'll find a pretty boy or girl t' play wit'. Y' certainly turn heads. Most people have t' put sparkly clothes on. Y' can jus' wear plain things an' sparkle y'reslf."

Cessily: Cessily laughed and demonstratively swayed her hips to the music. "Thanks again. And no worries. One way or another, I'm going to have a lot of fun tonight." She took a sip from her drink. "Believe me; realizing that most people seem to find my looks actually quite attractive helped me greatly to cope with my mutation. And it helps with self-esteem, no less."

Remy: "Well y're like dat girl on dat James Bond movie, neh? Jus' silver rather dan gold." He moved with her a bit. "Y' know...I love Johnny, but dis is still kinda fun. Not dat I don' want dis back all d' time, but once an' a while it's good t' jus' cut lose." He swirled his drink in his glass. "Tried it at home an' it didn't work so well, so figured dat dis would be good."

Cessily: Cessily put an arm around Remy and slowly danced with him. "Well, silver, and still alive. If I remember correctly, wasn't that girl killed by being covered in gold?" She chuckled and stuck her tongue out at him. "But yeah, I can imagine that you must have missed this. After all, your life changed a lot since you have Johnny."

Remy: "Well y're silver through an' through, not jus' painted on." He gave her a smack on the bottom to tease and gave a sigh. "Yeah, dat it has. An' in ways things've stayed d' same." He tossed his drink back. "Wanna show all dem folks how it's done?"

Cessily: "You bet," Cessily replied with a smirk appearing on her lips. She did the same and emptied her glass, then put it back on the bar to have her hands free. "Wow; great thing I can only feel drunk when I want to. Though, I guess tonight I'd be in the right mood for that." Reaching for Remy's hand, she took off towards the dance floor.

Remy: Laughing in response, he followed her, ignoring the few odd looks. Most the people here were more of the 'wow, cool dude' variety than upstuck pricks that would cause trouble. They found the beat easy enough putting his hand on her hips and following her lead.

Cessily: Cessily relaxed and simply enjoyed dancing with him for a couple of songs. The dance floor wasn't any less crowded than the rest of the club, so other people continuously ground against them. But she didn't mind. Putting her head close to his ear, she grinned and said, "I'm happy to see that family life didn't do anything to your moves."

Remy: "I'm married, an' a papa - not dead." He winked. "An' dancin' is always what it is. Loved dancin' in d' bars in N'awleans. Been doin' it for years." He frowned, trying to remember. "Y' been dere?"

Cessily: "Yeah, with you," Cessily reminded him, giving him a goofy look. "Japh and I were visiting TJ and you down there last summer." She poked his side with a finger and chuckled. "You might not have the body of an old man, but I'm not sure about the mind, any more."

Remy: "Oh riiiiight." He smacked his forehead. "I can't believe I forgot dat. An' don' y' bother sassin' me. I'm a busy guy. Gotta lot of stuff on my mind." He shrugged wryly. "Den again, may be d' pot."

Cessily: "Well, depends on how much of that you're doing." She shrugged. "Although, I can't picture you as someone lying on the couch all day doing weed. So I'm just going for stressed as an explanation." Cessily grabbed him and increased their tempo as a faster song was played. "Another reason to go out and get your head cleared up."

Remy: "Nah. Jus' d' other night. An' d' odd time." He gave her a twisted smile. "Oui. Well. D' last few months ain't been easy. But yeah, it's time t' jus' cut loose a bit. Everyone needs dat." He shifted so she was half twisted against his back. "So...how about y'?"

Cessily: "What about me?" she returned the question, turning her head to give Remy a smile. "I'll manage; as always. Really, I'm doing fine at the moment." She spun around. "I find it easier to deal with things now. It's all a matter of not letting yourself get dragged down by the troubles around you." She laughed. "Enjoying yourself certainly helps."

Remy: "Exactly. An' I have t' say outta most d' people I know, y' deal wit' things d' best. It's good, chere. I'm glad y're so resiliant, even though I know it takes a lotta effort on y're part. People look t' y' for dat, y' know?"

Cessily: Cessily nodded with a smile on her lips. "It's either me getting used to deal with difficult things, or that's something that comes with what people generally call growing up. Sometimes it can get tough if you're used to care about other people, their problems and feelings, and your own issues on top of that."

Cessily: She turned around again, dancing close to Remy with her back to him. "You have to learn how to take care and not neglect yourself."

Remy: He chuckled, holding onto her hips as she dipped a bit, moving with her. "Well y' do a good job of helpin' others dat's for sure. An' I'm thinkin' I know y're copin' method...or d' way y' indulge y'reself. Beats chocolate I think..."

Cessily: "Definitely," she tilted her head back and rested it on Remy's shoulder, so her lips were closer to his ear. "I can only recommend it. That doesn't mean it has to compete with chocolate, though. There are some interesting ways to combine both things."

Remy: "Oui, dat dere are." He gave her a gentle peck to the temple. "I'm glad dat y' have dat. As y' said - y're heart is big enough for everyone, neh?"

Cessily: "I never saw much sense in excluding anyone," she told him with a light laugh. "I'm simply very liberal with my affection. And I like to enjoy myself. To me, these things go together quite easily and naturally."

Remy: "So dey do. Jus' so long as y' don' get hurt." Which...brought another thing to mind. "Y' seen Rahne at all? She's less...stressed now. Well, not stressed exactly - she still is at dat." He pulled a face. "Less bitchy. Unless y're Vic."

Cessily: "I haven't seen her around much, no," Cessily replied, turning again to face Remy. "She mostly keeps to herself, I guess. I've heard the news about her baby, though. Still, I don't want to intrude on her, you know? I'm honestly not sure if she wants me around that much."

Remy: "Well she is pretty busy wit' Marie - dat's for sure. An' I think she'll be better wit' y' once things flatten out. She was jus' hurtin' so damn much an' wantin' everyone else t' hurt cause of it. Prove dat she didn't need anyone. Dat sorta thing." He shook his head and went back to moving his body against hers.

Cessily: "Yeah, I think there's something to that. But I don't blame her. She's not been herself during the past month. By her own fault or not: I don't really care. She's my friend." Cessily put an arm around Remy's hip and danced against his body. "So I'll giver her as much room and time as she wants. But I'll be there for her if she changes her mind at some point."

Remy: "I know y' will be. Y're very forgivin'." He gave her another smile. "So. Who d' y' think we'll be gatherin' dis year?" His face strained a bit. "Hopefully no more 'Mo's'. Think dat's enough for one school."

Cessily: Cessily chuckled. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. If we'd really get another of her kind, I'm pretty sure that one of them would end up dead sooner or later." She frowned. "Unless they'd team up. Then I fear for our safety. But who knows? We always seem to get an interesting mix of people. Personally, I'm hoping for some cute guys and girls."

Remy: He smacked her bottom. "Lookin' t' increase y're little harem, neh? Y' bad girl. Y' know y' could go anywhere an' have people eatin' outta y're fingers. Or offa other things."

Cessily: Cessily showed him a wry smirk. "Hey, is there anything wrong with being a bad girl? I love it; and a lot of others seem to enjoy it, too." Placing her hands on his hips, she pulled him closer. "I'm all for some diversity and new experiences."

Remy: "Translation: Y're kinky as hell, non?" He gave her a wink.

Cessily: "Oh, that's hardly a secret, isn't it?" Cessily returned the wink and gave him an impish grin. "How about another drink? I can get them."

Remy: "Merci. It's hot in here, non?" He did follow her off the dance floor enough to spy and snag a lucky couple of stools at the edge of it. "I'll hold down d' fort. Bourbon, s'il t' plait."

Cessily: "Alright! I'll be back in a sec." Cessily used both her shape-shifting and her smile to quickly work her way through the crowd of people to order the drinks at the bar. She returned to Remy after a couple of minutes, handed him his drink, and sat down on the stool. "There you go."

Remy: He nodded his thanks again, taking a sip. "Whew. Good stuff. Y' doin' vodka again?" He guestured at her glass.

Cessily: "Yep!" She held up her glass and smiled, then took a sip. "If I'd still be organic, I'd be plastered after only three of these. Now that only happens when I want it to." She winked at him again.

Remy: "How does dat work anyways? Y' have t' still drink t' be? Or can y' jus' sorta will it on?" A couple of girls swayed past them, giggling and staring a bit. He hoped it was complimentary rather than 'look at the freaks'.

Cessily: "It's just about willing it be that way, so no drink needed, actually," Cessily explained. She noticed the giggling girls, too, and blew them a kiss, which seemed to confuse them for a moment. "Though, having a drink makes it easier for me to convince myself to feel drunk. It's all about auto-suggestion."

Remy: "So y' hypnotize y'reself into it? Dat's handy." He quirked an eyebrow up and smiled at the girls confusion. "So is dat how y' got all sexed up? Will y'reself all horny? Or is dat a permenant state of being?"

Cessily: Cessily laughed. "Well, one kinds leads to the other. So, yes, that's why I'm actually interested in sex. Or how I develop an appetite for food. I want to be - even subconsciously is enough - and that's what happens then. So, it's not a physical thing, but rather a mental one."

Cessily: She shrugged and licked her lips. "I guess that also explains why I seem to like all kinds of things and that many people. And why I seem to be insatiable. If I want to like something, it's hard to convince myself otherwise, you know?"

Remy: "Insatiable would be one word for it, chere. Y're many a man's wet dream." He took another long sip of his drink. "Maybe it's part of d' thing where y' want t' please everyone, neh?"

Cessily: Cessily slowly nodded. "Sure, why not? Apparently I work quite a bit differently than I did during my time as human. Both in body and mind. So I can see how all of that would affect me in some way." Her smile returned. "However, I'm done complaining about it. In fact, it feels quite awesome."

Remy: He took her hand and squeezed it. "Y're still human chere. Jus'...a newer model?" He shrugged with a wry laugh. "I dunno. But human's have always evolved, oui? We're jus' another step in dat. Still don' strip our humanity from us. Expecially not y'."

Cessily: "You mean we boldly go where no one has gone before," Cessily asked with a chuckle. "But yeah, I could live with that. And I do my best to retain my humanity as much as I can. It's something very important to me. I think I'm doing an okay job at is, so far."

Remy: "Better dan average." He pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "Y're an amazin' woman, Cessily."

Cessily: "Thanks," Cessily replied, smiling sheepishly. "So are you. Uhm, well, except for the woman part, of course. I admire how you're managing your life. And Johnny's. That's what I call amazing."

Remy: He twitched his shoulder. "Y' find dat when y' have a child, y' can't stop. Y' have t' go on - for dem y' know? So it's jus' as much him as it is me. An' everyone supports us too, so dat's great."

Cessily: "Yeah, that makes sense. I guess you have simply no other choice but to tough it out." Cessily took another sip. "Well, it's the least we could do. And everyone loves you and Johnny. Well, perhaps except Mo'."

Remy: Snorting he rolled his eyes. "Don' mean much. Mo don' like no one but Mo."

Cessily: "Who knows if she does even that." Cessily sighed. "Oh well, a part of me actually wants to hug her and ask what makes her so angry. But I'm afraid that this might make her explode or something." She tossed back her drink.

Remy: "Dat's exactly it. Y' know she's got issues - but dere's no give with her. No cracks t' work y're way in. So I'd say jus' let her settle in an' come around." He drank the rest and set the glass on a ledge. "Either dat or we can toss d' ones we don' like t' her t' shred."

Cessily: "Ooh, now that would be extremely evil, wouldn't it? I don't know if I'd want my worst enemy to meet that fate." She chuckled. "Still would be very amusing, though." She set her glass down, as well. "So, wanna dance some more? Come on; I'm looking for action tonight!"

Remy: He took her up on the offer, sliding off the stool and wedging there way to a good spot. "Action, hey? Who y' lookin' for? Or what type?" He scanned the crowd. "Lottsa choice here."

Cessily: "Oh, I'm not biased in any way," Cessily told him with a grin, returning the dance floor to start moving again. "I'll just see what opportunities come up and then go with it spontaneously." She gave Remy a smirk and nestled her body against his as they danced. "And who knows if I'll be content with just one?"

Remy: He laughed and wrapped his arms around her. "Dat's my girl."

[puppygirl]

Rahne: Rahne put down the phone and bit her lip, tugging at her short fringe in worry, crapcrapfuckingshittyfuckGod, at least she knew that her parents had landed okay, they said that they'd let her know as soon as they heard from the hospital about Nana. This was so ... fuck, she wanted to go back too but ... Marie, yeah ... she should probably go and relieve Remy of the piping fiend thinking about it.

Rahne: She stood up and made her way downstairs and looked into the living room and a small smile crept over her face, Remy lay sprawled on his back on the sofa with Marie curled up on his chest and they were both fast asleep, d'awwww. The both looks so innocent like that, heh.

Rahne: She was in two minds about waking them, before settling for sinking down in the armchair and leaning back, closeing her eyes, man ... such a fucking mess, some piece and quiet was to be savoured.

Remy: He heard a small creak and came instantly awake, residue from his past life. He didn't twitch a muscle though and registered the new presence in the room. Hand left protectively curled around Marie's back, he turned his head, giving a smile and half yawn. "Hey. Everythin' go alright?"

Rahne: Rahne's head snapped forwards again, "You're awake? Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," she looked down at him holding her baby and smiled again, though sadly this time, "As well as can be expected I guess, they're back home safe and they're gonna let me know when they get bac from the hospital," Rahne sighed and leaned forwards, covering her face in her hands, "Ugggh, stupid bloody woman,"

Remy: He gave her a half grin, trying to be reassuring and soothing all at once. "Which woman would dat be? Got a few could think of myself." He said quietly, but Marie was well and truly out of it, warm and happy, a tiny weight on his chest right over his heart.

Rahne: "Nana," Rahne rubbed her face angrily, "Stupid woman, only goes and fucking throws herself down the stairs, that's why Mam an' Da had to go back when they got the call from the hospital."

Remy: "Hardly her fault, chere. Dey say how she is?" He could see a bit of that old anger bubbling out of her, but the spells of it were getting less and less, which was great.

Rahne: "I dunno, they were going to the hospital, they're gonna let me know, but she's old and ... yeah ... I wish I couldda gone with them, just incase you know?" She sniffed lightly and took a deep breath.

Remy: "Ah, petite, don' be mad at y'reself. No one blames y' for not goin'. In fact dey'd probably be more mad at y' if y' did, non? Dis little girl ain't up t' dat kinda trip yet."

Rahne: "I know, I know and that's why I didn't," Rahne could feel her voice starting to climb up angrily and quickly reigned it in, "but still ... it's my Nana, she raised me you know," Rahne chewed her lip, "and now I can't be there for her."

Remy: "I can understand dat. But so can she, Rahne. Why put dat guilt on y'rself?"

Rahne: "'Cos I can't help it Rem," she scratched at the back of her head, "and ... what's if it's ... serious or something?" she asked a small voice.

Remy: "Y're parents'll let y' know. An' y've already heaped a ton of guilt over y're shoulders, so I think dat's enough for now, neh?" He sat cautiously up, relaxing a bit when Marie didn't wake up, instead shifting into the crook of his arm like a limp noodle. He held his arm out to Rahne.

Rahne: Rahne looked over at him before wordlessly going over and curling up next to him, looking down at Marie in his arms, "She's been okay then?" she asked, looking to change the subject.

Remy: "Yeah. She was fussin' like she usually does an' I got the thought t' stick her on my chest. Used t' d' it wit' Johnny when he was colicy an' it worked." Wrapping his arm around her he smiled lightly. "An' bam. It sure did."

Rahne: "Apparently guys are better at comfortin' babies, feel free to do it again if you want since she just shrieks the place down for me," she sighed and poked her finger at Marie's hand, getting her to curl her tiny fingers around it, "I guess I'm just not really a baby person, huh."

Remy: "Nah, I just don' smell like food. Trust me, Talia had some of dese problems too." He rubbed her side, cuddling them all together. "It'll be nice t' see Johnny again, though y' can pretty much kiss d' peace goodbye when he gets home."

Rahne: "Aye," she snuggled in some more, "do you think he'll miss havin' Duncan to play with now though?"

Remy: "Yeah, but he's got Marie to be a big brother sort to now, hey? An' while it's gonna be a while till she can keep up t' him, it'll work out. An' Duncan can always come an' visit again again, neh?"

Rahne: "If the American government will let him," Rahne said glumly.

Remy: "More dan one way t' skin d' cat. We got our own jet. Can go anywhere we want, non?" He kissed the crown of her head. "Stop worryin' so much. Y're gonna make smoke come out y're ears. Name me somethin' happy instead."

Rahne: "Worrying, I thought that's what Mam's did huh?" She shrugged, "I dunno ... Johnny's comming back, that's happy right?"

Remy: "Yeah, but not over every damn thing. Y're gonna tie y'rself up in knots." He grinned. "Oui it is. Until he wakes Marie up by pokin' her in d' eye or somethin'." Laughing he bumped his head affectionatly against hers. "Now look who's talkin' down."

Rahne: She nudged him with her elbow, "Hey, don't go stealin' my job, i'm the pessemistic one here after all," she stretched slightly, trying to work out some of the kinks in her back, "Victor been down yet today?"

Remy: "Not yet, but d' mornin' is still young. Think he's plannin' on stoppin' by in d' afternoon. He didn't tell y'?"

Rahne: "Creed's a true cat, comes and goes as he pleases," Rahne replied, "he's got a social life after all."

Remy: "Y' two should work out a schedule of sorts." He gave her a considering look. "Y' feelin' a bit hemmed in by all dis? Y' could go see a movie or somethin' wit' one of d' girls an' I'll mind Marie. When Tante gets back she's been fixin' t' spoil her some."

Rahne: Rahne shrugged again, "I'm sure a schedule would just make him feel like i'm trying to tie him down or something," she considered the idea of a movie theater, the only girl who she could really see herself going with would be Cess, who would probbaly try and have sex with her as soon as the lights dimmed and then everyone else would start throwing popcorn and shit at the two mutant freaks, "no thanks."

Remy: "Well keep it in mind. Maybe wit' Tante back an' Vic over, we could maybe go out ourselves or somethin'. I've been out myself a couple of times after all. Y' should get dat chance too."

Rahne: "Out? Like the two of us together?" At least Remy's idea of going out would probbaly involve somewhere where people didn't throw popcorn, "Maybe ..."

Remy: "Sure. We could go jus' d' pair of us or wit' a group. Up t' y'. Think y're feelin' a bit caged in though, huh?" Marie shifted slightly, making baby groans before she settled back down, the pair of them holding their breaths until they did.

Rahne: "Good baby," Rahne sighed, "I ... guess I am, but after everything I don't really wanna go out where there's like ... normal people you know," she said a bit awkwardly.

Remy: He skewed his face up to one side and nodded his head in reluctant agreement. "Not everyone is like dat. But we could always use d' danger room. Y' can pretend dat way."

Rahne: "Just most people, and I guess you're right, there is always the DR ..." she scrubbed her face again, "I'm sorry, i'm being a real downer right now huh? Guess I just feel like a fat stressed out mom."

Remy: He arched a brow. "Fat? Y' barely gained a pound since y' got back. Y' finally jus' got not lookin' like a skeleton." Dropping the brow he gave her a serious look. "Y' need chocolate?"

Rahne: "Oh for God's sakes," Rahne rolled her eyes, "what is it with men thinking chocolate is this magical cure-all for women. And ... well maybe not fat but non of my old clothes fit right and I'm used to being able to toss a car with one hand and run a mile a minute ..." she shrugged again.

Remy: Laughing he tickled her a bit. "Well, cause it often does. An' y'll get y're wind back soon enough, chere. If y' want t' work out, dat's cool. But don' push too hard too fast. Y're still recoverin'."

Rahne: "Yes mom," Rahne rolled her eyes again.

Remy: "Oh I'll 'Mom' y're ass." Shooting her a mock glare he shook his head. "Should I tell y' about d' birds an' d' bees too or d' y' got dat part down?"

Rahne: "I'd say the wee madam sittin' on you kinda proves I've got that part down at least," she gave him a small smile, "do you think i'm doing okay with her though?"

Remy: "I do. Y've come so far Rahne, since y' came back. An' as hard as it's been for y' an' as confused as y've been - y're doin' right by her."

Rahne: "And you're not just saying that?" She smiled at him, "Thanks, that really means alot comming from you Rem," she tucked a slightly longer strand of hair behind her ear, "I am trying, that's why I'm making such an effort with Victor ... I still ... I dunno what to think there about all that you know."

Remy: "Yeah? Well, I'm imaginin' he's still at sorts. What are y' meanin'? He's still awkward a bit wit' her an' stuff?"

Rahne: "No ... he seems fine with her, it's more us you know, he said he still loves me and ... I still love him," she smiled a little crookidly, "more fool me, so I dunno ... now that we've got Marie too if maybe we should ... give it another go maybe?" She blushed a little, "I know it'll take me a while to trust him again properly, and you've got the whole army thing too, but if we both made a go for it ...?" It worked out for you and Teej after all, she added to herself.

Remy: "Yeah?" His grin joined hers. "I know dat's what he said he wanted. Ain't sayin' it'll be easy...but it'd be good t' see. So what are y' worried about? Tellin' him?"

Rahne: "Well yeah, I mean it's one thing him saying it, but another actually you know ... going for it," she blushed a little harder.

Remy: "So y' want him t' chase y'? Wine an' dine y' a bit? I could talk t' him..." He gave her a eyebrow waggle. "I'll buy y' some condoms."

Rahne: Rahne shook her head, "Oh no, nothing like that, I wanna talk to him properly about this it's just working up the guts too, you know?" At the mention of the word condoms her eyes were drawn back to the sleeping baby, "Uh, feel free but we certainly wouldn't be using them for quite a while I think."

Remy: Chuckling he gave her a squeeze. "Well y're my friends. I love y' both. An' it would be great t' see y' happy."

Rahne: Rahne leaned against Remy and looked down at her sleeping baby, "Yeah, it would be great," she added, half to herself.

[steyn]

what a lovely instance

[fourpawsonthefloor]

Rogue: Rogue gave Tante a smile and Johnny a big hug and spun him around a bit after she got through the door. He laughed at it and hugged her back before she put him down so he could run and play. Rogue went to the kitchen first, grabbing a fresh cookie Tante had offered then snuck to Remy's office, knocking on the doorframe, "Boo."

Remy: He looked up from his paperwork, smiling at her. "Hey! Haven't seen much of y'." Pushing his chair back he stood and gave her a hug. "Y' been alright?"

Rogue: "Mmhmm, been amazin'," she smiled and hugged him back, squeezing a bit. "Wanna take a break?" She pulled back and took a bite of the cookie, offering him some also. "Summer's been kinda busy lately, huh?"
Remy: "Sure." He munched contendedly. "Love d' ones wit' d' walnuts in dem. What did y' have in mind?"

Rogue: "Ah dunno, maybe just talk f' a bit. Go out f' a drink later?" She took another bite and looked around the room and up at the ceiling, trying to act innocent, "Celebrate mah birthday late?" Rogue winked at him and started walking away from the office, towards the deck.

Remy: "Oh, oui, sounds good. Let me get Johnny down first before we go out though. I don' wanna miss puttin' him down." A small shriek started upstairs and he grinned, grabbing her arm. "Why don' we head on outside for now, Rahne's tryin' t' get her t' sleep an' by d' sounds of it, not havin' much luck."

Rogue: Rogue snickered as Remy led her outside, "How's tha baby doin'? Still ain't gotten ta meet her yet... Ain't so sure Rahne'd be real fond o' that idea." She grabbed the plate of cookies on the way by and cradled them to her body as they made it to the deck.

Remy: "Ah, Rahne'll come around." He gave Tante a kiss on the cheek as he passed her and she gave him a kind pat in return. He opened the door for Rogue, following her out to the far end of the deck. Stripping his socks off he plunked down at the far end of it, dabbling his feet in the water.

Rogue: Rogue sat on the deck next to Remy, legs crossed and the plate nestled in the hollow between them. She leaned back on an arm and looked out at the water, "Yeah, Ah doubt that. But it's alright. Ah don't mind her blamin' me or bein' mad at me anymore. Ain't nothin' Ah can do ta change it, might as well not let it effect me." She smiled over at him and took up another cookie.

Remy: "Worry ain't gonna change anythin' so dat's good. Y' should jus' chill an' be easy about it. As y're doin'." He took his own cookie. "So how was y're birthday anyways? What did y' do?"

Rogue: Rogue smiled to herself as she looked away from him, wondering what to tell him and what to keep from him. After a moment, she looked back at him, a bit thoughtful. "It was really good. Tha best Ah've had in a while. Sam had set up a picnic on a secluded beach he'd found while flyin' up here ta visit."

Remy: "Oh yeah? Sounds nice." He titled his head at her, noting that she was a bit solemn. "Y' been down t' see him too, oui?"

Rogue: "Yeah. He took me ta a barn dance. It was fun." She smiled a bit again and took a bite of the cookie. "Don't like his ex much though. Met her there." Rogue glanced over at him, "Ain't been seein' y'all're Vic enough. Or Bobby even... Or Rae. Damn... Ain't seen much o' anybody. Been too busy with him an' workin' when he ain't 'round." She smiled again to herself and took another bite. "What've y'all been doin'?"

Remy: "Dat's life, neh? Never enough hours in d' day." He shrugged. "Bit of dis an' dat, but mainly helpin' Rahne wit' Marie." His eyes slid to hers, full of amusement at the name. "She's a bit of a handful. Got a chance t' go dancin' wit' Cessily an' other stuff while Johnny was gone though. I'm glad t' have him back though."

Rogue: Rogue's eyes twinkled to match his, "Yeah, with that name, who wouldn't be a handful." She laughed a bit and leaned over to bump him with her shoulder. "That's good. Glad ya got ta go out. Miss hangin' out with y'all though. Gonna get a bit jealous soon," she teased, "Ain't got enough time f' Anna now an' days?"

Remy: "Of course I do. Y' jus' gotta wait in line I guess." He sighed but with a warm smile. "Y' know it's jus' gonna get crazier in ways when we got stuff t' add t' it like school work. But Rahne's feelin' better wit' Marie an' Tante's helpin' too - so it's good." He nudged her back. "So what can I get y' for y're birthday?"

Rogue: Rogue mock glared, "Ah shouldn't hafta wait in line, damnit." The cookie received a ruthless bite until she couldn't hold her seriousness anymore and smirked at him. "Ah dunno. Don't hafta get me anythin'. Didn't last year," she poked her tongue out at him. "Ah'm just teasin', sugah. Ah don't want anythin' though. Already got tha best present Ah coulda asked f'."

Remy: "Oh? An' what was dat?" He reached up and flicked her nose. "I could get y' a pony. What's better dan a pony?"

Rogue: Rogue flinched at the flick and jerked her head away from him slightly, "Rem, don't." She got her smirk back as she looked at him, "Y'all would not get me a pony. Wouldn't have anywhere ta put it. An' Sam's better'n a pony an' a lot easier ta take care of an' he fits in mah bed."

Remy: He raised a brow. "Ride a cowboy an' save a horse?"

Rogue: Rogue laughed and lay back on the deck and looked up at the stars, "Somethin' like that." She glanced over at him, her green eyes shining with a hint of delight.

Remy: "I'm glad y're happy wit' him. Y' must be missin' each other." He plucked another cookie up and broke a bit off it, crumbling it between his fingers. "All ready for everyone t' come back?"

Rogue: "Yeah, Ah guess so." She sat up and put her hand over his that was crumbling the cookie. "Hey... Ah know tha sayin' goes 'that's tha way tha cookie crumbles', but Ah don't think they meant literally, sug." She took the plate and set it aside so she could sit on her heels and face him, "Ah do miss him. But it's bearable..." She stroked her thumb over his hand, "Know y'all're gonna say no, but that offer still stands."

Rogue: She put her half eaten cookie on the deck to free up her other hand and brought it to meet the other on top of Remy's, "Ya don't have ta shoulder it alone."

Remy: It took him a minute to realize what she meant and he gave her a smile. "Non, but merci. I'm doin' a lot better. Y' just get moments now an' den y' know?"

Remy: He looked out over the water and flicked the crumbs out into it, before popping the rest of the cookie in his mouth, realizing he should have taken two bites of it rather than one. Chipmunk cheeked on the one side he ate it, giving her a smile. "See? Things are good when I can look like an idiot an' still smile about it."

Rogue: "Yeah, Ah do." She gave him a smile and reached up to brush some hair from his eyes, tilting her head a bit to look into them, "Just don't go off tha deep end randomly one day, 'kay? That'd kill me." She winked then sat back, picking her cookie back up. "But moments are ok. S'long as ya ain't gettin' clinically depressed'r nothin'." Rogue couldn't help but laugh at his face, "Y'all're nuts in tha good way then."

Rogue: She was quiet for a few minutes, looking at the water where the crumbs had scattered. "Sam thinks Ah should talk ta Hank 'bout makin' sure Ah cain't get pregnant," she said quietly. "Ah don't want to."

Remy: "Pregnant? Why?" He gave her another look. "Y'all did it, didn't y'?" He grinned. "Well damn girl. Guess it's d' real thing."

Rogue: Rogue felt her cheeks flush and she couldn't look at him, "Ya didn't think it would be?" She chewed her lip a bit, finally getting up the courage to look at him with a teasing expression, "Ah couldn't wait on y'all f'ever, darlin'. Ah'm so sorry." She couldn't help the snickering that followed, but she looked back at the lake with a small sigh, calming herself some. "What'd ya think Ah meant by Sam bein' better'n a pony f' mah birthday?"

Remy: His brow creased slightly at the 'waiting for him', confused, but he widened into a grin. "I knew y'all were foolin' around. I didn't know dat." He got a bit more serious. "So why don' y' wanna talk t' Hank?"

Rogue: "Ain't nothin' he can tell me Ah don't already know f' mahself. But hearin' it come from a professional makes it definite." Her face grew solemn and she looked down at the cookie in her hand. "Ah don't wanna hear voiced by a doctor that it ain't possible f' me ta have kids. Ah know Sam wants me ta get checked out 'cause he thinks there could be a chance Ah could eventually, but Ah just don't think so."

Rogue: She shrugged one shoulder, "Sometimes Ah think he's a bit too bright an' shiny when it comes ta tha world an' how things work. Ah love him so much an' Ah know he means well, but think it'd just break me a li'l ta hear Hank say it."

Remy: "I can get dat." He shrugged. "So jus' be careful for now den. Until y're ready t' discuss it." Wrapping his arm around her shoulder he hugged her close.

Rogue: "Yeah, but here's tha kicker," she leaned into him, "Ah told him Ah'd go. So now Ah'm in a bind. Break a promise'r break mahself." Rogue laughed a bit and rolled her eyes, "Damn, sometimes problems seem so small compared ta others." She pulled away enough to look at him but scooted close enough for their hips to be touching, "Ah'm sorry."

Remy: "Jus' go on d' pill or somethin' an' say dat y're not ready. Ain't dat y' gotta break a promise. Jus' explain things." He patted her leg. "Y're gonna be jus' fine."

Rogue: "Remy," she arched an eyebrow at him, "Do y'all really think it's necessary f' me ta take a pill ta prevent 'gainst somethin' mah body prevents automatically? Seems like a waste o' money an' resources somebody else could be usin' ta me."

Remy: "Well, sounds like its dat or talk t' McCoy. Or dere's condoms." Shaking his head he made a face. "When did I get t' be Annie?"

Rogue: "We use condoms," she thumped his leg. "We ain't stupid. Ah had just wondered out loud what was tha point in 'em, not sayin' we shouldn't be usin' 'em though." Rogue snickered and bumped him with her shoulder again, "This second, Ah guess."

Remy: "Y're a naughty girl." He tutted. "Remind me t' leave y' alone with Johnny when he's got d' flu. Y'll be clingin' to dem condoms."

Rogue: "No Ah wouldn't," she said with a slightly serious, yet sad tone. "But it don't really matter anyhow." Rogue cleared her throat and looked at the rest of the cookie in her hand, tossing it out to the water. "It's better'n Ah thought it'd be," she admitted with a shy smile on her face, trying to get off the topic of babies, but not able to get her mind to anything beyond Sam at the moment.

Remy: He cupped the back of her neck in his palm and pulled her close so that he could kiss the top of her head. "I'm glad for y'. Glad y' got dat."

Rogue: Rogue closed her eyes and the smile grew a tiny bit, "Thanks." She slid her arms around his middle and hugged him close to her, "Ah promise Ah'll make every moment count," she whispered, almost afraid to say it too loud, not wanting to make him hurt.

Remy: "Good girl." He gave her a tight squeeze and let go. "Ok. So no ponies. Y' want a saddle or a crop?" He waggled his brows.

Rogue: "Remy!" Rogue laughed and smacked at his arm, "An' ya called me naughty." She made a 'tsk'ing noise, "What would Tante have ta say ta that." Reflexively, she looked over her shoulder to make sure the woman wasn't watching them. "How 'bout a night out with mah best friend where he buys tha drinks?"

Remy: "Dat sounds fair. Wanna throw dinner in it too?" Eyes darting to the house he made a small noise. "Tante knows how I was. Mind was always corrupt."

Rogue: "Sure, why not. We can go all out. Dancin' too!" She laughed and pushed to stand, picking up the plate then offering him a hand. "Don't think y'all'd be tha same if ya weren't corrupt, Cajun. But it's good. Means ya have stuff ta teach me. Got a willin' student on mah hands now," she gave a wicked grin and waggled her eyebrows.

Remy: He laughed. "Oh dat face on y'. Man, I've let loose a monster. If it wasn't such a good thing, I'd feel sorry for Sam."

Rogue: "Ya know y'all love it," she laughed with him. "Ya should at least 'pologize f' any unbearable pleasure he'll be gettin'," Rogue winked to show she was teasing.

Remy: "Chere I doubt I'm d' one he'll be wantin' t' connect t' dat sorta thing." He gave her a smack on the butt. "Go on in an' take dat plate into Tante before she gives me heck for losin' it."

Rogue: Rogue laughed again and shook her head, eyes lit with humor, "Ya right, Ah'll take all tha credit f' y'all's ideas." She went in and set the plate on the counter, giving Tante a hug before going back out to Remy, "Gonna put Lil Sugah down 'fore we go?" She chewed her lip and gave him a cautious look, "Can Ah help?"

Remy: He gave her an assessing look, seeing that buried desire in her for contact with a child. Generally it was a him and Johnny thing, but it'd be cool. "Yeah. Sure. Y' good at readin' d' same story three times over? It's what he wants." He chuckled.

Rogue: "Sugah, mah job in Baton Rouge was readin' ta kids in a library... Got tha readin' things several times down pat." She gave him a small smile, "Ah'd be content ta just sit in a corner an' watch though... Thanks, Remy."

Remy: "Nah. C'mon in. Y're his auntie, an' he always loves spendin' time wit' y'." His words were underlined as 30 pounds of solid toddler hit his knees.

Rogue: Rogue's small smile got broad instantly as Johnny crashed into Remy and clung to him. "Ain'tcha glad he ain't any taller?" She had to stifle a giggle and reached down to ruffle Johnny's hair, "Y'all do what y'all do. Ah won't disturb ya any. Promise. 'Less'n tha Lil Sugah says he wants me ta do somethin'. Then, how could Ah refuse? Ah mean look at that face an' those charmin' eyes. Watch out, Rem, he'll beat ya on tha gal count one day."

Remy: "Don' even give him ideas. An' it's bedtime. So only bedtime sorta things. Calmin' down time." He picked Johnny up. "I don' wanna have t tell two people t' behave."

Rogue: Rogue held up her hands in a surrender motion, a smile flashing across her face, "Hey, Ah ain't tha one who has tha kid with tha charmin' face." She smirked and gave Johnny a wink, "G'nite, Lil Sugah." She blew him a kiss and followed where Remy was going. "Ah promise. Quiet as a mouse." She 'zipped' her lips and smiled as Johnny laid his head on Remy's shoulder.

[littlebamf]

Remy: He leaned against a cement column, keeping an eye on the turnstiles and where the people would be coming through while keeping a fairly low profile. He had his glasses, but he just didn't feel like anything today. It took a while for him to spot her, blocked as she was by the taller people infront of her, but when he did he smiled and pushed off the column, heading to intersect with her.

Elizabeth: Lizzie bounced along, slightly struggling with her trolley of cases. Spotting Remy, she waved, dropping her handbag and the fan she was holding on to for dear life. Sighing, she bent down and scooped her things up, dumping them on top of the trolley...She'd really bought too many presents and new clothes...Oh well.

Elizabeth: "Thanks for meeting me," she grinned as he ambled up. "I didn't want to get a taxi with this little lot and leaving my car here the whole time? No thank you!"

Remy: "Y' look like a little girl with her arms full of toys." He patted her on the head with a silly grin. "It's no problem. Be a good girl an' maybe we'll get y' icecream on d' way home."

Elizabeth: "Awesome! Oh! Don't let me forget, I have a present for Johnny," Lizzie went into one of the bags on top, pulling out a very soft toy macaque and held it out, a grin plastered on her face. "Isn't he adorable? I had to handle them for one shoot. Ooh I swear I wanted to bring 'mine' home! There's a present in there for you too. And just about everyone..." she shook her head, sitting the monkey on the top of everything.

Remy: He blinked at the rapid fire yabbering and chuckled. "So it sounds like y' had a good time..."

Elizabeth: "Well, some of it wasn't really that great, and I missed my birthday here but..." she shrugged with a grin and opened her fan with a flick of her wrist. "It was nice, overall. Think I'm a lot more happy with myself, my body, you know?" Lizzie smiled as she arranged the monkey. "Just...Yeah. Happier."

Remy: "Happy is good. Glad y're finding peace in y'reself." He gave her a look. "About time y're content wit' how y' look." He tossed her the keys and took over pushing her cart.

Elizabeth: Catching the keys with her free hand, she spun them around one of her fingers by the ring. "I know, I know. It really is and I know now why you picked on me about it. Can't say I'll be perfect from now on but I really...saw myself in a different way and I am happy I'm me. Past drama's aside of course."

Remy: "Mmhmm." He studied her. "So what caused dis little revelation? Not d' monkey?"

Elizabeth: Lizzie winced. "I sort of...acquired a ninja stalker, was going to mindbolt her and ended up in her mind by accident and really, she had a horrible body and I could see my nice one zonked out on the carpet and...yeah. I didn't say that too loudly, did I?" Lizzie winced and looked over her shoulder. Thankfully the nearest people - two men - were more interested in her rear.

Remy: "What?" He toned down his own words."How d' hell did y' manage dat?" He hustled the bagged out the door and her with it. "What d' hell did y' do?"

Elizabeth: She gave him a nervous grin. "Well...I didn't mean to. I was trying to get a grasp on where she was, so I could knock her out so I could get out of the room and I sort of partially ended up in her head. The bitch had been following me and causing me grief for days and I just...Got angry and distracted. I cleared out of her head as soon as I could though and she left in a hurry."

Elizabeth: Ooh, he didn't seem happy. She played with her fan a little, biting her lip. "I don't intend doing it again. But it made me feel so happy that I have this body and everything...I wouldn't ever change that."

Remy: "Why was she followin' y'? Did y' find dat out? She wasn't like...some anti-mutant person, was she?" A thought suddenly occurred to him. "How did y' get out? Or back. Or whatever."

Elizabeth: "No, her boytoy wanted her to convince me to do some work for him and they make Shaw twitchy. I showed her I was more than they had bargained for, so she scarpered. She really wasn't happy when I was threatening to make her body go and get several tattoos and a clit piercing. I suppose in the end they didn't feel it was worth the hassle of trying to get one over on Shaw."

Elizabeth: "And I just got back by...going back. I was in principle reading and well...controlling her mind hence I could see through her eyes, so it was just a case of settling my mind in its proper place, not that I ever really left my own body properly."

Remy: He shook his head. "Dis sounds all sorts of crazy, chere. How did y' do y're work if y' had all dat goin' on?"

Elizabeth: "I nearly didn't, missed a shoot in fact," she stifled a yawn. "And as you might guess, missed out on some of my sleep. It's alright, I played a sick card and smoothed things over. And it was crazy, but what happened in Japan is staying in Japan and away from me, so it's cool."

Remy: He shook his head and stopped by the trunk of her car, waiting for her to pop the trunk before putting them in it. "Well. Heard about getting inside of people while on vacation, but dat takes d' cake."

Elizabeth: "Well I am a telepath," she screwed her nose up, opening the boot up. "And this was barely a vacation. I did have a better time in Osaka though, it's just Tokyo where I have problems."

Elizabeth: "I got a beautiful kimono there. And this," she gracefully fluttered her fan through the air and took a few steps to the side.

Remy: He laughed. "Oui, I see y're toy." He opened up her door for her after putting the cart back in a rack. "Dat y're favorite? An' clit peircin's? Y're kinky as well as inventive."

Elizabeth: "Just a tad," she winked, folding her fan up with a snap. "The woman really didn't like the concept of it though, or the fact 'I' bit off all her nails - that's to say I made her bite them off..." she climbed in the car, trying not to flash in her breezy dress and shut the door.

Remy: He wrinkled his face up and got in his own door, putting his seatbelt on. "Ew, Lizzie. No gettin' in my body, bein?"

Elizabeth: "Piercings not your thing?" she snickered, rooting through her handbag for her phone. "Really. And I can't anyway. Your sheilds are too good. Plus you're a friend."

Remy: "I'm fine wit' some peircin's...but y' can leave anything d' do with my happy place alone." He gave her a smirk. "Y're d' one dat likes t' jingle each step y' take."

Elizabeth: "Oh I'm not getting my clit done. Though I do want my nipple done again though, that one was nice and it certainly didn't jingle. I'm not Rudloph!

Elizabeth: " She slid down in her seat. "Anyway, gential piercings are supposed to enhance the sexual experience. Apparently."

Remy: Chuckling he gave her a wry look. "Lizzie, I ain't never needed any help enhancin' dat. For another, ain't much of a point to it for me anymore, neh?" He studied her. "For y' though...dat may be a thought."

Elizabeth: "Like I said I'm not getting it done," she shrugged and made a small gesture with her hand. "Plus it's just what I heard. I really don't see how having a long bit of metal through..." she trailed off and shook her head as a mental image settled. "Bet it'd chafe as well."

Remy: "How did we get on dis topic again?" Looking at the trees pass by he drummed his fingers lightly against the door. "So anythin' else other dan possessin' people?" It reminded him of Talia - but in a different way.

Elizabeth: "Because we're both slightly pervy and like talking abouy this sort of thing? And just working, buying presents for people, went to the Tokyo Hellfire Club, discovering a guilty pleasure in wearing velour tracksuits," she nodded down at hers. "My twin sent it for a joking birthday present but I actually like it to my mild horror."

Remy: "Lounge wear. Can't go wrong wit' things dat feel comfortable. Dat's why it's jeans an' t-shirts for me." He grinned at her. "At least I don' have any holes in dis pair."

Elizabeth: "But it's so...pink," she checked the mirror as she made a turn, pulling into a smaller road. "But it is comfortable. But it does remind me one thing I didn't do was anything for my birthday."


Remy: "Oh? An' what d' y' want d' do for it? Strippers? Big thing at y're club?" He brought his foot up to the opposite knee, sprawling comfortably in the seat.

Elizabeth: "Hmm, always had a slight aversion to strippers. I don't mind having someone strip for me, but someone who's just there to take their clothes off for me to shove money in their tightys...It's so false. Something at the Club maybe, hell even Vito's. I'm done with work so now I can party."

Remy: He snorted. "An' d' people at d' club aren't false? But oui, maybe y' could get y're own private show dere. An' dere's still enough people around dat y' should be able t' round some people up."

Elizabeth: "True, but there are people there who aren't false. A couple. And yes I quite likely could get my own show," she smirked a bit, thinking that was something else she had missed while in Japan. Lizzie yawned a little. "Though it'll be a day or so before I do any of that."

Remy: "Need t' sleep some of d' excitement off, eh? I imagine y'd be tired jus' from luggin' around all d' crap y' brought back."

Elizabeth: "I do! I'm stunned you let me drive! But yeah, I need some catchup sleep. And dinner. Big big dinner. Been living on sushi, miso soup and rice stuff for ages."

Remy: "It's y're car. If y' want me t' drive I can do dat for y' chere. Jus' pull over." Chuckling he shook his head. "Y're a brit, neh? Y' need y're weird stomach bits an' roast beef, neh?"

Elizabeth: "I'll pass on stomach but a nice roast beef dinner would be lovely," she smiled, pulling over and stopping the car. "Thanks, she passed him the keys and got out. "If I hadn't trusted you with my car I wouldn't have said you could have driven it down in the first place."

Remy: He circled around to the drivers seat and waited for her to get in and buckle up before he pulled back out. "Oui, but y' weren't with me an' watchin' how fast I was goin' den."

Elizabeth: "You scratch it you can fix it," she settled down in the seat, slipping her flipflops off so she could pull one of her legs up under her. "But no, I trust you. Just about!"

Remy: "Mais oui." He opened the engine up a bit on a straight stretch. "As y' should. Been drivin' since I was...twelve I think."

Elizabeth: "Longer than I've been flying," she nodded. "You can put the seat back if you like, I only have relatively small legs. So I miss anything at school important? You been keeping alright?"

Remy: "Did when I got in." He winked. "I'm sneaky." Slowing a bit to take a curve he nodded. "I've been doin' jus' great. An' I don' think so. I mean d' typical stuff. Bit of drama but mostly happy. Rahne's doin' good. Marie's been keepin' everyone busy for such a little thing."

Elizabeth: "Great," she smiled. "I've been torn about getting a card or a present. Rahne is pretty headstrong - in a good way - so I don't want to seem pushy, I'd rather give her some time to get used to it." Lizzie yawned again, rubbing the side of her nose and up on her eye on her left side.

Remy: "She's in love wit' her now. I know she was really pissed when d' fact she was pregnant came up...but she jus' had t' spend some time wit' Marie an' dat's it. Not sayin' it's easy for her...but she's a momma for sure now." He frowned. "Damn. I never thought. Y'all usually have girly showers an' stuff for dis sorta thing don' y'?"

Elizabeth: Lizzie shrugged a little, wriggling in her seat to get comfy. "Think it's more of an American thing, baby showers. My sister in law just got christening presents for Felix. But that's really good to hear things have worked out. She really desverves it."

Remy: "Oui. She's been through enough. An' Marie is jus' pure innocent." He rolled his eyes. "Tell Johnny dat though. He's half in love wit' her, half can' stand her. He don' like it when she screeches."

Elizabeth: "Well, I've never been so keen when babies screech myself. Kids are lovely and all, espeically when you can hand them back to their parents. Just don't think I have it in me to pop one out, but good for those who do."

Remy: "Well so far none of dese babies been planned Lizzie. Jus' keep dat in mind."

Elizabeth: "I'm on the pill and use condoms. I'd be really fucking unlucky if I got up the duff."

Remy: Laughing loud at that he turned to the road that'd lead them home. "Good job den. An' it ain't a problem if y' go for d' women either, hein?"

Elizabeth: "Very true," she nodded, yawning deeply. "I don't go for women as often as men. Suppose that while I escape the babies dream, I still have that old fashioned Prince Charming one somewhere going on and just want some nice guy to look after me," she blinked sleepily.

Remy: "Mmmhmm." He didn't both mentioning that it was a fairy tale for a reason. She knew that as well as him. "Jus' rest. We're nearly home." She didn't respond to that and he turned his head to find that she'd already fallen asleep. He chuckled and put his foot down again.