xp_logs | Remy and Marie-Ange meet.

As Marie-Ange had noted, sleeping for thirteen hours while the sun was up meant that while it was down, she was awake and energetic. Near one in the morning, boredom had set in enough that a fridge raid seemed a good idea, more so since she wasn't sure if she'd eaten at all before dinner. Once in the kitchen, indecision took over, resulting in various small noises as she rifled through the endless variety of microwavable meals that someone had thoughtfully stocked in the freezer.

Remy flicked his butt out on to the snow and leaned back against the wall. The flask was tucked between his knees and the night was looking slightly less threatening. The assault on the mansion had unnerved him more than he was willing to admit. He lit another cigarette and looking over his shoulder at the commotion in the kitchen.

Movement outside the window set an already nervous heart to thumping, and Marie-Ange's first instinct was to go running to see if anyone was still awake. Instinct was met by something slightly like reason, which told her that if it was another attack, that it would have started by now, and that certainly, soldiers didn't stand outside dimly lit kitchens and smoke when someone was moving around inside. Picking up her bowl of noodles, she walked over to the door, and opened it slowly.

"Bonjour chere." Remy said, right at her ear. He look a long swallow from his flask and smiled. "Late night for you den?"

Marie-Ange jumped slightly, rattling the fork in her bowl. "Oh. Oh!. .. Remy, yes? " Shaking her head, and switching to soft, but clear Parisian French, she continued. "Not as late as you would think. I don't sleep well, or much at all, most nights. "

"Chere?" Remy said, tilting his head to the side. He had only caught a word or two amongst her sentence.
The head tilt was familiar. It was the same one that Marie-Ange herself has used on Jubilee and Jamie both many times. "You have.. no idea what I am saying, do you?" She smiled impishly, and continued in the same French. "After the week I have had... I am not surprised. Do you know that you have a very nice bottom?" She then nodded at Remy, and returned to English. "My apologies. I assumed. I was saying that it is not as late as you would think. I do not sleep well."

"Remy don' sleep to much. Might not sleep at all wit' de soldiers coming through de night." Remy tried to keep his tone light. "So what bring a pretty femme like you to dis madhouse?"

"When I first came? A silly pictures power. I can.. make pictures .. ah. it is hard to explain, and easier to show. Now? Dreams of the future, which is why I do not sleep." She ended with a frown, stabbing at her noodles with the fork.

"See de future? Dat's not a bad little t'ing. Read my palm, chere? T'ink you can tell Remy's future?" He grinned, holding out on hand will drawing on his cigarette with the other.

Marie-Ange's frown deepened. "It is.. a very distressing mutant power." She shivered, and looked to the open door. "You should come in. It is cold, and probably going to snow again."

"Never been one t' turn down de invitation of a pretty femme." Remy leered and hopped off the rail. "'specially not t' come inside, course."

Stunned silence met the leer and innuendo, and Marie-Ange backed a few steps into the kitchen, so he could enter the kitchen. She turned her attention to the bowl of noodles, obviously thrown completely off-guard, and avoiding meeting Remy's eyes.

Remy smiled wide at the discomfort. The girl was young, but pretty in a unique way. A speculative gleam lit his eye. "So, in dis place, what do you do when not fighting de forces of evil den?"

"I have classes, mostly. History, Biology, Art, a few others. Starting tomorrow, I get 'Every kind of head scan there is.", according to Doctor MacTaggart. .. .. some of the boys play video games, and Jubilee insists there are clubs in the city, but she is soft in the head. " she paused, to take a forkful of noodles. "Regular things, I think. I .. do not know what the teachers do, except have sword fights and wear leather armor."

"Sound like a club Remy used t' know in de city." Remy leaned on the kitchen island, his red/black eyes capturing hers. "All de fetish folks running around getting de military coming through de windows and causing problems."
A small snort met Remy's last statement. "No fires, insane people with sword, or giants with foul mouths though? I might prefer it there."

"Remy don' mind taking you." He said, eyebrows raised. "To de club, of course."

Marie-Ange blushed. "I am fifteen. More importantly, I do not wear leather. Or any of the other things Clarice brings in from the Hot Topic. " She paused, obviously considering some things, and continued. "If there is no bizarre dress code where I have to wear something embarrassing and horrible, it might be interesting though. It cannot be any worse than the clubs at home."

"Hear dere are clubs round here. Maybe we take a..." Remy thought for a moment and smiled. "a field trip for de students. Learn 'bout life up-close. As for de age, not like de let Remy in without some persuasion."
"Jubilee knows some, but I think that Sarah, or Jono might know better the ones you mean. They posted pictures some time back." Marie-Ange stabbed at her noodles again. "I think that soldiers attacking is life up-close enough for some. It .. might be a good way to forget, though."

"Like t'inking of it as therapy, den. Makes sense t' Remy." Remy cracked his knuckles and flexed his long fingered hands. "Been a while since I put together decent fake id."

"Whatever works, yes?" Marie-Ange frowned. "I have not been having the best night. My apologies, I never even told you my name. I am not thinking well. I am Marie-Ange, sometimes Ange, or Angie, if you ask Doug or Jubilee. They are both quite intent on giving me a nickname." She paused for a breath, and a bite of noodles. "As many shocks as we have had, I think a few more cannot hurt. anyone."

"Wasn't thinking of a shock, Marie. Move of a... gentle push into de world of emotional balance. Plus, a few drinks and a night out dancing is good for anyone. What do you say, chere?"

"I .. say its a very good idea. When did you have in mind?"

"Not sure. Next week, perhaps? See what de other inmates here t'ink about dat idea." Remy said. "How about you, chere? Up for a big night on de town?"

Marie-Ange blushed, and nodded, the expression saying more than any answer could. "Oui.. yes." Her eyes met Remy's for a moment, and then jumped back to her bowl. ~Oh, yes. Very articulate. Talk to the pretty boy in a language he doesn't speak and then act like you forgot all your English.~

Remy leaned his chin on the palm of his hand, and gazed over Marie-Ange. She was pretty enough, even if young. and the red hair always brought the same speculation. The sprinkling of flushed skin across her cheeks made him smile, enjoying her obvious discomfort.

Marie-Ange absently poked her fork into her dish, trying to build up the courage that let her flirt back in the first place. ~If he was going to be unkind, he would have already. You are not Doug, don't be stupid.~

"Cat got your tongue, chere?" Remy said. "Or someone else have it? Where have you been putting it den?" He enjoyed watching her squirm, and decided he would probably like to watch her squirm in more intimate settings.

Remy's question threw Marie-Ange off guard, and she darted her eyes from her bowl, to the kitchen doorway, and the door out, hoping for anyone to interrupt or wander through on a fridge-raid. ~Stupid. If he was going to make fun of you, he probably would have already~ "Ah. no, no cats. I am just .. thinking."

Remy nodded solemnly, adding to her discomfort. "Remy agree. No cats. Can be trusted anyhow."

"I.. suppose so. I did not have pets growing up, and I think here, Sarah would just eat them." She smiled, managing to look confused in addition to the discomfort.

"Ah, dats not nice to say 'bout de pretty monster. Remy knows what it's like to feel all alone, chere." Remy leaned forward, obviously enjoying this. "So, pretty redhead from France, find herself in de States wit' a bunch of mutant oddities? How do you handle dis place?"

"It is okay. Not home, but not bad either." Marie-Ange stopped, almost cutting herself off. "Well, it is not bad when we are not being invaded, but it is here or a regular school, and here, no one tells me that I will get in trouble for wandering the halls at night." She tapped her forehead with her free hand. "Insomnia is much more forgivable here, although it has yet to get me out of homework."

"Remy managed t' avoid de homework. Somet'ing about not showing up at de classes." Remy grinned. "Big change wit' out de wine, I bet."

"You don't have classes? Did they ask you to teach something, or are you helping Mister Marko?" Marie-Ange wrinkled her nose, looking quite puzzled.

"Non, Remy more of a... guest. Dat's it. Sides, I don't t'ink de Professor much like what Remy can teach..."

"Ah. Yes, the not drinking is odd. Especially when everyone is having dinner. The casual meals I could overlook, but, the dinner in November? That was distressing." Marie-Ange waved her hand in a gesture of dismissal. "Professor Xavier was not amused when I said I thought a glass of wine would help with the insomnia."

"Really? Maybe de Professor not know everyt'ing." Remy smiled and flipped open a cupboard, rummaging around for a moment before a triumphant look dominating his face. "Ah! Excelliment!" As he came up with a bottle of red in his hand.

"Oh. OH. You.. are a devil." Marie-Ange grinned, openly, for the first time that night. "I know that was not there before, where did you get it? Or, is finding bottles of red wine your mutant power?"

"Remy find de 'locked' wine cellar. Shame dat de Professor don use de same kind of locks like he uses up here. Must have forget about it. De lock practically fell apart as Remy get near it." Remy uncorked it with a flourish. "Taste of home, chere?"

"Absolument. There are likely proper glasses here, somewhere. I am sure that those are not locked away."

Remy flipped through a few cupboards before grinning and handing down a pair of wine glasses. "Make a pretty good team, chere. Have t' keep dat in mind, oui?" He grinned, and poured both glasses full.

Marie-Ange picked up the glass closest to her, and looked over the wine before drinking. "If you insist. You did the work, and should take the credit."

"Wouldn't have happened without de pretty redheaded femme t' inspire me." He said, taking a long sip of his wine.

"You are teasing me, but for the first glass of wine I have had in months, I should not complain, no?" Marie-Ange was still blushing, and still not meeting Remy's eyes, but had lost the hesitancy in her voice.

"Why would you t'ink Remy is teasing you, chere?' He said, leaning back in his seat. "Don' see much reason t', if it not true?"

"There are other girls here who are prettier." Marie-Ange set her glass down, and leaned on her elbows. "They don't blush, and get embarrassed, and act like little girls."

"Maybe. But dat's not de point, chere." Remy tipped her chin up with two long fingers, making her meet his red on black stare. "De aren't de pretty redhead in front of Remy right now, so don' matter what dey are, does it?"

Marie-Ange shrugged, but did not lose contact with Remy's eyes. Her only reply was "No?", almost a question itself.

"Got it in one, chere." Remy smiled wickedly and held out his glass in a toast. "To de crazy bald messiahs and de pretty redheads dey attract, non?' He said.

Marie-Ange met his toast, clinking her glass against his gently. "And to forgotten wine cellars."

"Course. All about de forgotten wine cellars." Remy said, enjoying his wine. "Dis place... dere are no words, chere. Lots of food, drinks, all de bills paid be de weird bald man, and de most amazing looking group of femmes Remy see outside of a strip club. Sure dat an appearance rules isn't in effect?"

"If there is, it applies to the boys as well. We do not have this many cute men at home... " Marie-Ange finished her glass. "And not the variety either."

"Really? Tell me, chere. Which of dese hommes has caught your eye?" Remy refilled his glass. "Not dat Shinobi, Remy hope."

"I .. had not really thought about Shinobi, but he is attractive, I suppose." Marie-Ange gestured at the bottle with her empty glass. "He is.. to much like some of the boys from home. Too.. ah.. what is the word, polished?"

"Slick, chere." Remy refilled her glass. "Still, he hardly de only one here. I'm sure you got your eye on at least one, non?"

"Not really. There is no one I think I could have, just some that are nice to look at. Not the very pretty ones, though." She shook her head. "The pretty ones are all sleeping with each other."

"Remy notice dat. Big men are like dat, chere." Remy said matter-of-factly. "Is it dem or you dat t'inks you can't have dem?"

"Both, I think. I could probably go out with Doug, if I tried, but he is so just Doug. Everyone else is dating, or older." Marie-Ange took a long sip from her glass. "Or, there is a language barrier. Cannot ask the boy out if you can't talk to him."

"You speak pretty good English for Remy, chere. Better den his rough Cajun." Remy said. "Plus, dere are some t'ings dat transcend language."

Marie-Ange blushed, red coloring her cheeks brightly. "I... " She stumbled over her words, finally just choosing to blink at Remy in confusion and then finish the glass of wine.

"Chere, you been tongue-tied every time Remy mention somet'ing dat not PG rated. You really dat shy?" He said, not mocking at all, but honestly inquisitive.

"No. Not usually, no. I am.. just not used to anyone being so out front about it." Marie-Ange half-smiled. "Private schools at home do not have Americans who use French words and talk about sex. We have nuns who are like demon penguins, who never smile."

"Maybe Remy go change? Put on de habit and run around?" he joked, sipping his wine. Not a bad merlot, his mind categorized it, even as his body merely categorized it as 'more alcohol'. "Dat make you more comfortable?"

Marie-Ange actually pictured that, which was obvious by the expression that came over her face. She stared for several long seconds at Remy, and then doubled over, giggling. "No. Oh, please no. "

"None of dat nun, chere?" Remy grinned ridiculously. "Maybe I'm just feeling all religious today?"

Through a continual series of giggles, Marie-Ange answered. "Oh, I should draw that. I should, you know."

"Remy don' mind dat, or is dis just a good excuse t' get Remy all naked in your room?" Remy said, and Marie nearly snorted wine out her nose. "I knew it. De girl is trying t' take advantage of Remy as a newcomer to dis school!"

"Oh, no. Piotr said we're not due nude models for at least another several weeks." Marie-Ange grinned wickedly, although still blushing bright pink. "I'm sure he would accept if you offered, though."

"Remy don' want t' tempt de gay Russian wit' what he can't have. T'ink more of a one on one situation, chere." He said.

"I .. don't think that is such a good idea. I have roommates, and.. " Marie-Ange paused. "Merde. This is.. not a good conversation to be having. I'm sorry, this is just... "

"It's alright, chere. No need to be upset. Remy was just having fun." He said, holding out a hand. "It not important."

"Still, it is .. " Marie-Ange took the offered hand. "Difficult to explain, and does not make a lot of sense.

"Most t'ings dat important don make much sense, chere." Remy kissed her hand gallantly and finished the last of the wine. "Tell you what? You change your mind, you give Remy a call. If not, well, sure we going to talk more, non?"