xp_logs | Remy, Amanda - Saturday afternoon

In the wake of these conversations, Amanda tracks Remy down.

Nothing was as peaceful as a cemetery on a summer's afternoon, but Amanda felt anything but as she stalked through the small collection of headstones towards the plain white marker she'd already visited once this week. The last time, she'd been the only one there. This time... well, she knew what she was hoping for.

On the little bench in front of the gravestone sat LeBeau, hands folded and chin resting on the top of his cane. He was silent, regarding the name inscribed in the stone, letting his thoughts drift. He picked up Amanda as soon as she appeared on the periphery of his senses, but made no acknowledgement until she was right up to the bench.

"How did you find me?"

"Your cane was gone." Amanda took a seat at the other end of the bench, eyes on Charlie's headstone and refusing to meet Remy's. "You only ever bring it here, so I figured I'd give it a shot."

"Think dat Remy trained you too well. Need to watch dat." Remy paused. "How did you know dat my cane was gone?"

"I broke into your apartment." It was said matter-of-factly. "Nice bit of renovation you've got going there - I thought Angie was the only one who liked knocking holes in her walls. Some nice frilly curtains, it could be downright homey."

"Remy was thinking of putting in a breakfast nook." He said dryly. He tapped the bottom of the cane against his chin, a gesture that she knew was his version of being contemplative. "See dat you replanted de rosemary. Dat's good."

Instead of flowers, Charlie's grave bore a very small herb garden, left to flower in tiny blue blossoms against the white stone.

"Needed extra this year. Got more people to remember, and I figured Charlie wouldn't mind. He and Forge got on." She raised her hand to her mouth and started nibbling at her thumbnail absently. "Busy month for you. Been hearing all sorts of interesting stories these last few days."

"Hmm." Remy muttered in reply, still looking directly at the stone in a considering manner. "'fraid dat de stories don't always tell de whole picture. Gets a lot more complicated at one end, and a whole lot simpler at de other."

"Everything's complicated. Or we like to think it is. Makes us feel better about not knowing what to do." She still hadn't looked at him, following his gaze fixed on the simple headstone. "I was there for the start of the story, I think. Back in my kitchen? So how about you just cut to the end and tell me your version? From the horse's mouth and all."

"Horse's ass sums up my part." Obviously Remy wasn't in the mood for a point by point summary, but he plunged on. "I made a few plans 'bout some of de people responsible for de hijacking and de other things de Selene cult set up. None of dem were very smart, and fortunately, Wisdom and Sarah managed to point out dat if I'm not going to be Gambit, I need to act like it even when it's hard."

"Then thank fuck for Pete and Sarah." It was said almost under her breath. Finally turning her head to face him at the other end of the bench, she continued: "I know why you wanted to do what you were going to do, but... I'm glad you realised what it was gunna cost." She bit her lip a little - she hadn't wanted the responsibility of her safety being the thing that prompted him to throw away his humanity. "Sorry I wasn't here to help you figure it out."

"You couldn't have. Amazed dat anyone could have, really. You might have noticed dat Remy tend to be able to focus pretty narrowly when I want to." He shook his head. "What a waste of six weeks too. Dere's a mountain of work waiting for me after dis. Still, Remy see dat you boy is back, which means dat I'd better head up to de mansion and talk to 'Ro, assuming she doesn't want to take my head off by now."

"Um." There was an awkward pause as Amanda tried to figure out how to frame things. "'Ro's still in Wakanda. Something about there being more work there to be done. And..." She hesitated. "There might have been an invite from the local king-type for her to stay a bit longer. Apparently they got on." Amanda gave him an apologetic look. "Or that's what Angelo said. Might be he's wrong?"

"Hmm." Another muttered non-response, but behind the calm look, Remy's mind was working furiously. He'd pushed 'Ro away following the hijacking, in part from the sheer pain of guilt she had shown at being involved in the lead up to the incident. Since he'd been the one to convince her, he only assumed that she'd blamed him for it. Her disappearance right after without a word with Nate had left him to believe he deserved it. Now, in Africa, the place that she loved so much and he'd sullied for her, she found some peace and drew the attention of a King, no less. It was hard to consider that she didn't deserve it.

So, what has he going to do? Ororo deserved much more than him, and anything he could provide. Like Lorna, the best thing that he could do for her was to stay out of her life, and let her find the person that would make her happy. Give her a chance to have the social life she didn't need to be ashamed of, with a man who was barely more substantial than a plume of smoke. That was the right thing to do. And yet...

"Know dat dis is you day off, 'manda, but I've actually got some work for you to finish before de end of de day."

There wasn't even a hint of a pause before she replied. "What do you need?"

Remy tapped the tip of his cane against the underside of his chin, still staring at Charlie's grave. "A ticket to Wakanda."