xp_logs | CHARLIE: Remy/Betsy/Charlie

Backdated to Charlie's visit. Betsy and Remy get a visitor during working hours, and end up discussing family, friends, and life.

"You considered de non-combat simulation notes I sent?" Remy leaned over the desk, going over Betsy's rough drafts for the Danger Room scenarios. Remy liked the basic outline, since they'd really get them working using their powers in tandem in a crisis situation. However, his main idea for the Danger Room training was to hone some of the more random elements of intelligence work, like crowd spotting and escape tactics.

"I did," Betsy replied. Her elbows were propped against the arms of the chair with her hands clasped firmly over her middle. "I've already scheduled time down there this evening. See what I can churn out."

"I'm sure de X-Men are going to wonder 'bout us training to walk slowly through crowds." Remy grinned. In his arguments with Scott over the Danger Room earlier, he'd mostly tried to point out that he thought the actual simulation itself was flawed, but since then, Summers had seemed to hint that he felt Remy was criticizing the Danger Room itself. Remy was looking forward to making the other man puzzle over the goals of the bizarre programs Betsy and he were generating, to test ultraspecific minor things and esoteric areas of intelligence operations that only experienced pros knew. Because he knew to the inexperienced, most of it looked pretty damn silly.

"Especially if someone happens while we're training. Yes...it would seem odd." Betsy commented, the corners of her mouth upturning. "I can imagine the looks on some of the others faces, if they happened upon a session. But, I'd rather see how well we work together in a simulator than out in the field. Which reminds me, I'm going to need some private sessions with both you and Jake."

"Remy and Jake? Chere, dat's a little ambitious of you." Remy grinned wider.

"God, no. And for you to suggest that......" Betsy made a face of disgust. "I meant.....I need time to create a telepathic tether between the three of us. Something a bit more practical than me playing the role of a transmitter radio for the two of you. This way, we'll be able to keep connected throughout missions, if necessary. And I'll be able to show the two of you how to bring the link to the forefront or push it aside, depending on the 'delicateness' of the situation."

"You know, I think I liked de first idea more. Dere's a--" Remy paused at the knock on the door. "Come in."

The door opened, and a young man in glasses and a bemused expression walked in. "Alison Blaire is a teacher here. Man, they played her stuff at my grade eight graduati--" Charlie paused and barely avoided gaping as he realized not only was Remy not alone, but with the stunningly attractive purple haired woman he'd seen earlier.

Remy's grin turned into a smirk. "Bonjour, Charlie. Betsy, dis is my friend from de city, Charlie Plunder."

Betsy stood up, as Charlie entered the room. She offered her hand to Charlie and smiled warmly at him. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Charlie." Her words lightly decorated by her accent. "Have you been enjoying your visit here, then?"

"It's, uh," Charlie tried to get his brain working. Behind Betsy, Remy had his hand over his mouth to prevent chuckling out loud. "uh, overwhelming, er... Betsy." He shook her hand tentatively, as if something bad was going to happen the second he touched her.

"That's one way to describe it," Betsy said, grinning a bit at Charlie's reaction, but tightening her hold on him by placing her left hand on top of their grasp ones. "Are you alright, Charlie? You look a bit pale."

"Alright." Remy got up from his desk, coming to Charlie's rescue. "You got work to do, chere. And 'manda skin me alive if something, like say you, ended up happening to him." He said jokingly, earning a flush from Charlie.

"I truly resent that," sharing a knowing grin with Remy. "But it may not be too far off, either." She slid her hands from Charlie's somewhat shaky ones. "It's been a pleasure, Charlie. Try not to get swept up in what this one tells you. Role-model, he is not."

Nodding in Remy's direction and winking at Charlie, Betsy left the room well aware of the pair of eyes watching her leave.

Both Remy and Charlie watched appreciatively as Betsy walked out of the room, and Charlie weakly took a seat in the silence. "I am never going to get used to this place. She works under you?"

"Remy only wish." LeBeau grinned as he sat down. "Betsy Braddock, supermodel spy. Dat femme used to work in intelligence for de Brits."

"She's really... uh," Charlie said, trying to find the words.

"She's a stiffener, dat's for sure." Remy leaned back, smiling. "So, 'manda dumped you in de mansion? It's a lot to take in."

"No kidding." Charlie nodded, relaxing on the couch. "And, of course, Amanda takes off every five seconds about something and leaves me there. I think I'm an open minded guy, but suddenly appearing purple women can throw a person off, you know?"

"Dat I do." Remy nodded sagely. "Clarice been here long enough, she doesn't think it odd anymore. Dere's one femme, smart as hell, you'd like her. Anyhow, dis one can walk through walls and things. Nearly gave me a heart attack first time she ran past and through me."

"It's pretty wild. I mean, it's cool to see all the powers and things in the open, but I guess it takes some getting used to."

"You right 'bout dat, homme." Remy nodded. "Coffee?"

"Nah. I've had about five cups today. Any more and I'll vibrate right out the door." Charlie looked around. "So this is your office?"

"Dat's right." Remy poured himself a cup of coffee, taking a long swallow. "I know. Impressive."

"It suits you, in the scruffy sort of way." Charlie relaxed a bit. There was always something a little off about Remy to him; something that Remy was hiding from everyone. But Charlie liked him. He didn't make judgments or demand anything of Charlie. He did ask surprisingly penetrating questions, but Charlie was getting used to that.

"Merci." Remy said dryly. "You up here tonight?"

"Until my mom gets me tomorrow, yeah."

"Come out to de boathouse after dinner den. It's cooler down by de lake, and a bit less hectic den up here." Remy said, liking the young man. There was something comforting about Charlie. He was a decent, honest teenager. There was no hidden agendas or plots, the meat and drink for LeBeau for over twenty years. He didn't have to guard himself so much.

"I'll do that." Charlie stretched his arms above his head. "I'm not sure what Amanda's got planned though. She's really attached to Meggan."

"Makes sense. Femme didn't have any family really before she got here. Now she's got her real one and an extended group of friends. Makes her overly protective of them." Remy pointed out.

"What about you?" Charlie said and Remy raised a questioning eyebrow. "Do you have a big family?"

"Non." Remy said finally. "Remy's an orphan."

"Friends?"

"A few."

"Too few?"

"You been talking to Amanda, homme?"

"Busted." Charlie grinned. "She was mentioning how nice it was that we got along, and let slip that you didn't really have a lot of friends or people to relate to."

"Figures dat she'd set me up."

"Hey, I thought you were her boyfriend originally." Remy choked on his coffee. "Mind you, she's got boy model classy European guy already."

"I see dat you met Manuel."

"Downstairs. He seems nice." Charlie said, sidestepping the unease from Manuel. Mostly from his own interest in Amanda, he figured. He just hoped that Manuel hadn't picked up on that, since he might think Charlie was trying to pick her up or something.

"Hmh." Remy made a non-committal noise and covered his opinion with another sip.

"So, is it the job, or 'making friends and influencing people' not high on your list of priorities?"

"You going to wait for an answer, aren't you? Remind me to do something horrible to 'manda later." Remy shook his head and put down the coffee cup. "I used to work for the government, like I mentioned. Used to do things dat weren't nice. Fact, I wasn't a very nice person in any way, shape, or form. A couple of years ago, I got dis, well, I guess sort of amnesia, and only got all my memories and things back a little while ago. So I don't have a lot of experience wit' people, and dealing wit' de memories of de things I'd done makes me think dat Remy not de best person to have as a friend."

"Dark and mysterious past, huh?"

"Oui, something like dat." Remy shrugged. "I'm a little inexperienced in being someone's friend. Manipulation, seduce, intimidation; Remy's your man. But friendship, not as much."

"You sure you're not using it as an excuse?" Charlie said suddenly, rubbing the tip of his nose. "I mean, I hide behind books and things at school because I just want to be left alone. It's easier than chancing even more problems with the popular kids. Maybe you're doing the same thing."

"Probably, homme. I don't like opening up, as you may have noticed."

"Yeah, it didn't escape me." Charlie shrugged again. "I don't know. I'm so the last person to listen to on this. It's just you've been cool with me, and I figured if I could help..."

"I appreciate it, Charlie. Honest." Remy said finally. "So, your mare dropped you off, I heard. I did some research. She's one of de new up and coming lawyers in de city."

"Yeah. She deserves it. Since Dad left, it's been just her." Charlie nodded.

"You don't talk to your pare at all?"

"I think the correct term is that he doesn't talk to me." Charlie sighed. "I guess this is quid pro quo for the friends thing. My dad left when I was eight. He was finishing his degree at university when he met some girl in his program. Ended up leaving my mother for her. At first there were some letters, and then I stopped hearing from him at all."

"Non?"

"I guess he lost interest. Mom said that her getting pregnant was accidental. I guess he decided he really didn't want a kid after all." Charlie reached into his collar, and pulled out a pair of dogtags on a chain around his neck. "But, you know, I remember playing with him as a kid. I was, oh geez, 'bout four when he got back from the Gulf. He was in the National Guard. Drove tanks. Anyhow, he gave me these when he got back, and--" He looked at the pieces of metal. "Sounds pretty dumb, huh?"

"I don't know. I don't think so." Remy said, leaning forward to look at the tags. "Never knew my family at all. Didn't ever have one. It's good dat you have some memories of your pare." The tags read PLUNDER, STEVEN T. Charlie tucked them back into his shirt, and as he did so, Remy's sharp eyes caught the edges of some bruising, on his right shoulder.

"Yeah." Charlie looked away. "So, you live in the boathouse?"

It was an obvious topic change, but Remy appreciated it as much as Charlie did. "Oui. Show you after dinner. Speaking of, come wit' me. You have to meet Lorna."

"Lorna?"

"Lorna." Remy said with great relish. "She one of dose femmes dat make you glad dat you born an homme, neh?"

"Oh god, you've got a crush. You're taking me to meet your crush!" Charlie said in mock horror.

"Quiet. She Remy's friend. If we lucky, she might be cooking right now. And dat means we get to dip into the pot." Remy grinned, ushering Charlie out the door.

"You really are an odd guy, LeBeau."

"Popular opinion, 'round here, homme." Remy said as he shut the door behind them.