Back from New Orleans (transferred)

[Gambit]

Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 10:24
Gambit returned to New York by lunchtime. His inofficial meeting with the Guild was short but extremely tedious; things weren't running that well there, and he still had no official right to manage the Guild's affairs. The fact that Belladonna was trying to sway everything her way didn't help at all.

Far more productive was his visit to Tante Mattie. She had a good laugh the moment she saw him and understood everything. "For the love of Erzulie, Remy, stop closing your heart!" she chided and continued taxing him for another few minutes.

He sat down on a stool behind the bar counter, put his bike helmet on the counter and dialled Shade's number.

Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 11:00
Shade was sitting on one of the broad window sills in the library, the window open, a book on her lap, a pen in her hand, when the cell phone in her jeans pocket rang. Taking it out, a quick glance on the display told her it was Gambit. A smile spread across her face, then she pressed the button to answer it. "Hey." she said.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 11:15
"Bon jour chere," Remy greeted her. "Am I comin' over t' bring you here, or are you takin' a taxi an' coming over here yourself?"
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 11:18
Shade had a quick glance at her watch. She was almost done with the work she had planned to do but needed a little more time. "I´ll be finished with my stuff here in half an hour or something." she said. "I can take a taxi then. Where´s here? Your place or the Hellfire?"
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 11:29
"Hellfire," Remy said.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 11:31
"Okay." Shade said, twirling the pen between her fingers. "I´ll just finish and be right over."
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 11:40
"Okay," Remy said before hanging up. He had some time to check the club and see how things were going, before Shade would arrive.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 11:44
As she had calculated it took her about a good 30 minutes to finish her lesson planning for the day. Shade closed the book, took her things and left the library.

***

When she arrived at the Hellfire, the club was still relatively empty. It was still early afternoon after all and as far as she could tell, the place was never crowded that time of the day. She entered the club and walked towards the counter, then hopped onto one of the stools by the bar waiting for Gambit.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 12:00
Remy finished talking with the security manager. Things were not looking good; more and more humans had been trying to get into the club, claiming they were cured mutants. Probably it was the right time to set up club membership and make the access more difficult for any outsiders.
He saw Shade by the bar when he returned to the main hall.
"How long ya been sittin' here without anybody offerin' you a drink, chere?" he wondered, coming over. "I have to fire myself for such a mistake."
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 12:02
Shade gave him a smile when he walked over. "Not too long." she said. "So, no need to fire anybody."
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 12:33
"C'est bon," Remy grinned, "wouldn't wanna lose my job..." He leaned to kiss her.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 12:39
A short thought flickered up in Shade´s mind, something he had said weeks ago, shortly before they had left the club together. He had mentioned back then that it wasn´t the staffs business to see who he went out with. Kissing her here therefore came as a small surprise. She returned the kiss, feeling her heart swell a little, happy he was back.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 12:49
Remy turned his back to the counter and pulled himself up to sit on it. "So how's life?"
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 12:51
"Busy in a strange way." Shade said. "So much has happened in a few days, it´s odd. Rogue´s moved in with John, one of the students suddenly has amnesia, a friend of mine is traumatised by something I can only guess...." She shrugged. "so... perfectly normal life at Mutant High."
((Is he still considering to fire himself? *taps fingers on counter* Thiiiiiirsty. ))
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 13:01
On top of Rogue's pregnancy, that was a lot. "Who's amnesiac an' who's traumatized?" Remy asked, preferring to be in the know.
(( he is. Patience, woman! ))
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 13:05
"They´re a couple." Shade said. "I know the boy but not much about him, only that he had a twin brother." she didn´t say more about that matter. "As far as I can piece together, Eaglewing, that´s his girlfriend, went after this other guy... and he caught her. I think she was freed a few days later and she has some memory gaps, but judging from her state..." Shade shook her head. "I think she went through Hell."
(( ))
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 13:26
Remy whistled. He didn't want to suggest anything or meddle otherwise; he was certain people at the Institute would work it out without his help. "Dat sure is a lot for a few days..." he said. After a pause, he swung his legs over to the other side of the counter and jumped off. "Drinkin' anythin', chere?"
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 13:40
Shade brushed the thoughts about all the things that had happened at school aside. She felt she needede a time out from all that. Instead she nodded. "Didn´t try much of your non-alcoholic cocktails yet, didn´t I." she said. "Anything nice and sweet would be great."
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 13:49
Remy nodded and took a high glass. He dropped some ice cubes into it, poured coke over the ice and added a spoonfull of ice-cream on top of it. Putting four licorice sticks on the ice-cream, he placed the whole construction in front of Shade. "I heard it's called Black Widow Spider," he commented.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 13:53
Shade chuckled. "Coke and ice cream all at once? You just made my day." she grinned. "Black widow eh? Like the spiders that eat up their males after sex?"
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 14:05
"I'm not sure, but I think dey're only called that way 'cause dey're black," Remy said. He leaned with his elbows on the counter. "How's your leg doin'?"
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 14:13
Shade wriggled her toes a little. "Perfectly fine." she said. "I used that medicine stuff on it a couple of times, now it´s as good as new."
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 14:19
"So we can do another round at Laserzone?" Remy's brows hopped mischievously.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 14:22
Shade gave him a broad grin. "What? Intent on getting your ass kicked?" she asked jokingly.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 15:00
"An' like you intend to kick it?" Remy looked at her ironically.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 15:04
Shade chuckled. "Well, I don´t know. I might get an impulse all of a sudden." she grinned and took a sip of her drink. "All depends on your behaviour.... and my sugar level."
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 15:06
"Gambit will absolutely not behave," Remy grinned. "I can guarantee you dat."
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 15:08
She continued to grin. "I guess I should say something like ´then I´ll have to kick your but´ but somehow I don´t have too much of a problem with a misbehaving Gambit."
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 15:14
"Don't you, really?" Remy narrowed his eyes at her, as if planning something.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 15:17
"Uh-huh." Shade said. "Normal guys who always behave are just plain boring."

[Gambit]

Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 15:28
"An' Gambit isn't normal?" Remy wondered.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 15:29
"As my definition of ´normal´ goes along with words such as ´boring´ and ´office job´... no, Gambit´s not normal." Shade stated. "Go, see it as a compliment already." she chuckled.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 15:31
"I do," Remy grinned, "merci, ma cheri," he brought her hand to his lips for a kiss.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 15:37
Shade gave him a broad smile. "Fine." she said.
In this moment she felt her curiosity nag at her again. She knew he kept secrets about where he went but she had been thinking about what he had said back at the apartment, about how untypical he had behaved in the shower.
"So...anything new, interesting, exciting happened in the Thief´s life?" she asked randomly unable to keep her curiosity in check.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 15:47
"Nothin'," Remy shrugged, "same old, boring, neverending, eternal family business." Her hand reminded him of something. "But I did get Shade a souvenir."
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 15:51
Shade had assumed he had been away on some kind of business and was a little surprised to get to know it had rather been ´family business´. And she had not been expecting a souvenir either. She beamed. "You did?" she asked, excited like a kid.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 15:56
"Oui," Remy smiled at her excitement. "I had promised ya somethin' about voodoo spirits," he said, taking a bracelet out of his pockets and putting it on her hand, "so here's some voodoo stuff for ya."

Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 15:58
Shade smiled, touching the small stones on the bracelett with her fingers. "This is so cool." she said, leaning across the counter to kiss him on the cheek. "Is it a good luck charm or something protecting you?" she asked curiously.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 16:06
"It's an Ogoun bracelet," Remy explained. "Ogoun is a deity dat protect people, gives strength an' good health. Which I'm sho will work for ya, since dis ain't a plastic tourist junk, but actually somethin' handmade from de most powerful voudun witch in de bayous," he winked.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 16:09
"Wow." Shade said with a smile. "Didn´t know Gambit knows a real voudon witch."
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 16:13
"She's de power behind de clan throne, so to speak," Remy said. "She practic'ly raised me."
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 16:18
Shade smiled at him. It was so nice to hear him talk about things like that. "I bet she had to give little Gambit the one of other friendly slap on the head." she joked. "So you went to her and got a bracelet for me. What a nice thing to do."
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 16:22
"She had... and still has t' do it sometimes," Remy grinned. "But I gotta disappoint ya," he added, "I didn't get really it for ya, she gave it to me to give to ya."
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 16:28
"She did?" Shade asked, curious now. "Have you guys been gossiping about me?" she added with a wink.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 16:31
"No, we been gossipin' about me," Remy replied. "But she decided ya needed some consolation prize for datin' Gambit. An' protection from him, of course. Hence de bracelet."
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 16:35
Shade laughed a little at that. "Seems to be a clever woman." she said jokingly. "But what an interesting definition of gossip. I always thought that gossipping implies talking about people that are not present." She took another sip of her drink.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 16:42
"It wasn't so much gossipin' as it was Gambit gettin' in de neck," Remy made an unhappy face.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 16:49
Shade chuckled. "Oh dear." she said. "what ever have you done?"
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 16:55
Remy got serious as he studied the surface of the counter between them. "I closed myself," he said finally.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 17:07
She had not expected something like that, it was one of the most honest tings he had ever said to her. He was nervous Shade noticed, Gambit - the self confident womaniser she had grown to know - was never nervous. "What did she tell you?" she asked biting her tongue at the same time.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 17:13
Remy raised his eyes at Shade and smiled. "She told me a lot," he replied. "Which basically can all be summarized to de fact dat I'm an idiot. Which ain't really anythin' surprising, 'cause by dat philosophy anybody who closes himself is an idiot. Which, unfortunately, happens t' be a philosophy I been raised by."
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 17:22
Shade returned his smile. So he had done some thinking over the last few days - or he had been forced to think. "You´ve been raised to be an idiot?" she asked, knowing that was not really what he was playing at. But her curiosity wanted to keep him talking.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 18:10
"Of course," Remy said, "isn't it obvious?"
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 18:15
Shade gave him a glance, trying to figure out what exactly it was that he was playing at and hoaw she could best address it. “At times.” she said with a wry smile. “But idiots can learn.”
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 18:18
"Which is proven by de fact dat Gambit has survived into adult age," Remy agreed.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 18:21
Shade smiled a little. "True." she said, before she started to play along the rim of her glass with a finger. "So, did getting Gambit in the neck help then?" she asked.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 18:26
Remy stared at her. "Where have you been de past fifteen minutes?" he asked.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 18:31
She looked at him, stiffling a smile. "No, I´ve been listening" she said. "Some things just sound even nicer when clarified."
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 18:33
"An' I bet dey sound even nicer when put in rhyme?" Remy asked ironically.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 18:35
Counter question, Shade noticed.
"Of course." she said with a grin. "of course I wouldn´t expect you to be able to rhyme." she teased.

[Gambit]

Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 19:16
Remy stared at her for another few moments. The fact that she so quickly agreed to his reluctantly confessed self-criticism and turned it against him, hurt a lot. Considering that he had found her to be very perceptive about his behavior while they had been in Tunisia, he couldn't believe that she didn't realize what she was doing. His only conclusion was that she, indeed, thought him to be an idiot. Not an encouraging thought - after all he had said.
"No, I guess you wouldn't," he agreed.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 19:29
His stare was one of disbelief and she thought to read in it that he was hurt by what she had said. Shade tried to rewind the conversation, trying to think what she had said to cause this, then it hit her. He had just made a large step, he had opened up to her more than he ever had and in all her enthusiasm about it, she had digged deeper, trying to get to hear more, totally ignoring how much he had just jumped over his own shadow.
No, it wasn´t him who was the idiot, it was her she thought. All of a sudden she felt a huge urge to slap herself across the face. How could she have been so insensitive? She closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them again she had to fight back a tear.
"I´m sorry." she said. "I shouldn´t have said that, I..." she didn´t know what to say. "That was cruel and I didn´t even notice I ... think I was so irritated by all the terrible things that happened at the mansion this week that I didn´t ..." she broke off, looking at the counter.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 21:07
Remy couldn't think of anything to say or do. She had thrown him completely off balance, both by her lack of support for him earlier and by her reaction right now. It wasn't like her - but then again, he realized his confessions hadn't sounded much like Gambit, either. So it probably meant they were even here.
He put his hands on the counter, stretching them forward, and leaned his forehead on the counter surface. "It's alright," he said. "Never mind."
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 21:16
His body language told her about helplessness, maybe a little resignation and she felt even worse for what she had said. She should have rewarded his confessions instead of all the digging and nagging. She slowly reached for him and softly stroked his hair, hoping he would not shrink back, feeling angry with herself.
"I didn´t mean that." she said in a low voice, then couldn´t help a little smile keep on her face. "And you may be an oddball... but no idiot."
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 21:34
She was doing it again, he noticed. So much for his first attempt to open up. Wasn't too encouraging an experience. But he trusted Tante Mattie, she obviously knew what she was saying, and he would have to get a grip on himself and try it again. Some other time.
But it was enough of that for now.
"Birds of a feather..." he chuckled.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 21:50
Shade hadn´t mean to insult him about the ´oddball´. As he had called her so once, too, she rather considered it as something affectionate. Nothing negative. But maybe, she thought, it would be better to keep such words in check from now on, at least for a time, judging his sensitive he was reacting to it.
She was majorly relieved to hear him chuckle.
"Birds of a feather?" she asked, unfamiliar with that expression.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 21:53
"Two of a kind," Remy glanced up at her. "Me an oddball, you an oddball, we could wreak havoc in this world."
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 21:57
Shade had to smile at that. "That we could." she agreed and kept stroking his hair almost absent mindedly. He seemed rather smitten and she felt the huge urge to just give him a hug and again and again tell him how sorry she was. She didn´t because this was a reaction he might think difficult to cope with again and giving him more things to feel bad about was the last thing she wanted.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 22:01
"Which, considerin' we've got no common interests, would be somethin' to do," Remy remarked, shrugging.
(( breaking the fourth wall? ))
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 22:08
Ah, she thought, that might just be another thing that had been nagging him. "Well...." she said looking at him. "I could say something like: ´opposites attract´." She propped her chin on her arms. "but I´d also have to say that I can´t recall the point when I thought: ´I´m so bored, we have nothing in common´. We both like travelling for once."
((I know that expression... where exactly? ))
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 22:13
"Opposites do attract," Remy said. "Question is, for how long. Would you seriously agree to go on another trip wit' Gambit?"
(( "was the last thing we wanted". Clearly the authors' opinion ))
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 22:16
Shade looked at him, pondering. They had had their difficult moments, during their vacation and just now, but this seemed necessary. And the answer to that question was not that difficult. She nodded. "Yes, I would." she said and meant it.
((whoa, that was a truly spooky typo))
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 22:29
"Dat's nice to know," Remy grinned, straightening up. "What are your plans for tonight?"
(( taipos will eet our breins samdei *nods* ))
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 22:32
Shade wondered whether his question about another trip with him had be a sort of test, but figured it didn´t really matter because her answer had just been what she felt about it. Any other answer had been a plain lie.
When she saw him grin, she at once felt a whole lot better. "None at all." she said smiling broadly. "So I´m up to whatever you feel like." she thought for a moment. "Group sex excluded."
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 22:34
"Damn," Remy said, feigning utter disappointment. "Well, now I have to phone people an' cancel everythin'."
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 22:35
Shade grinned at him and shrugged, then raised an eyebrow and feigned interest. "Sexy people?" she asked.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 22:38
"You bet," Remy winked.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 22:40
"Just girls or guys as well?" she asked, stiffling a grin.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 22:44
"Both, 'course," Remy shrugged, "why would we limit ourselves?"
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 22:45
"True." Shade said with a small smirk. "Ah well,... not today."
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 22:48
"Ah bon," Remy said, "let's go someplace. I ain't really got any bright ideas right now."
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 22:52
Shade guessed for herself this might be another hint about how much her reaction minutes ago had effected him. Really now Shade, that was cruel, a tiny voice in the back of her head told her. She would make up for that eventually, she thought. That just hadn´t been fair.
"All right." she said. "Some place as in getting some food someplace or lazying around in a park someplace?" she suggested.
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 23:01
"A park would do just fine," Remy nodded. His head was absolutely empty of any ideas, which made him worry for his mental health, since usually he was always able to come up with some stuff to occupy himself and his companion on a date.
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 23:07
She noticed this had been the first time he had asked her for a suggestion where to get. Not what kind of food to get, that he had asked before, but where to go in general. It made her wonder. He had changed in the last few days since they had started their vacation. She was feeling responsible for that change in a way, she didn´t want him to suffer from it and recalling their vacation and this day... she noticed there had been quite a number of moments when he had known nothing to say - and this was something that wouldn´t have happened to Gambit a few weeks ago. And you´re so hard on him, well done, Shadey, she thought.
"Okay." she agreed with a smile. "Let´s go catch some sunbeams then."
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 23:14
Remy threw a quick glance over the club. He missed that place. He would definitely return there this night. But there were still many hours before that.
He jumped over the counter and walked to the door, tossing his bike keys in the air and catching them again. "I hope you can do without a helmet," he told Shade, "I wouldn't want your head to boil up in dis heat."
(( anybody wanted to see emo Gambit? there ya go, folks. ))
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 23:19
He wasn´t smiling and grinning as much as he usually did and her conscience stung her again. Shade vowed to herself to very carefully listen to everything he said from now on. He had told her not to worry about it, but she did. She had made him feel bad, it was her fault.
"Yep." she said. "Will do."
(( And Shadey feels so bad for it ))
Posted by Gambit on Jun 6, 2007, 23:48
Remy sat on the bike and switched the ignition on. "Let's grab a bite to go somewhere," he suggested.
(( methinks she's overreacting. anyways, I'm off good night! ))
Posted by Shade on Jun 6, 2007, 23:50
She climbed onto the bike behind him. "Yeah let´s." she agreed. "Not had anything since breakfast."
((I know. Well, she´s like that.. *shrugs* Sleep well ))
((move to: The Human World / New York City / Playing in the park))