Rogue and Adrienne - High School Hijinks

[x-adrienne.livejournal.com]

Around a conversation about money, employment, and putting jello in peoples' beds, Rogue gets (very awkwardly) hit on in a club and decides she needs shoes to go with the purse Julian gave her.

The purse sat on the table in front of them, almost working as a centerpiece. Their drinks were on either side, almost circling it.

"I just don't know what to do," Rogue exclaimed, breaking the silence. "Do I keep it? Do I give it back? Who gives a three thousand dollar purse as a present? I give kinder eggs as presents because you get chocolate AND a toy." She sighed heavily. "It doesn't match anything I own...."

"I think you'll come to find there are many people at the mansion who give expensive presents," Adrienne replied sympathetically. "Wade Wilson gave me a car for my last birthday, and we're not even especially close. You'll get used to it." She took a sip of the soda water she was drinking and watched the dance floor for a few moments. "Would you feel better if you got something that matched it?"

Rogue raised an eyebrow, still studying the purse. "I guess it couldn't hurt....but I still don't know what to do. And a car? Really?" Her eyes widened as she shook her head furiously. "I can't even begin to understand that. I grew up so poor compared to all these people, and just when I think I've gotten used to living in a MANSION, this happens. Like, don't people help each other out, just for helping? I tried to tell him this was crazy, and he reminded me I asked for it. I was just teasing....man. I'm gonna haveta watch what I say around that kid. He's got too much money, and not enough accountability."

She took a sip of her drink, and sighed. "Shoes, maybe? That would work right?"

"It's funny," Adrienne shrugged. "Sometimes when you grow up rich, you never pay anyone for anything because you assume you're entitled to get everything for free. And other times, you learn really early on that everything in life has a price tag. Clearly Mr. Keller grew up with the latter approach." She tried not to make eye contact with two men who sidled up to the bar next to Rogue and were clearly checking the woman out. "Shoes work for everything," she grinned.

"I didn't even think about that," she said, looking up at Adrienne and away from the purse. "That's really sad when you stop and process that. Poor Julian." She sat up straighter and firmly nodded. "Guess I just have to show him what real friends are like, and how I don't have a price tag." She paused a little before continuing. "That sounded wrong, but you know what I mean."

"It would sound less wrong if he wasn't supposedly dating my ward," Adrienne murmured, rolling her eyes as the two men turned to Rogue and one began speaking to her.

"Excuse me," the man said, leaning over to them. The intrusion into her personal space immediately jolted Rogue, causing her to knock over her drink in the process. "I'm sorry," the man said quickly, getting napkins. Rogue took them and dabbed at the mess. "It's okay," she responded, glad her drink hadn't ended up in her lap.

The man continued talking "This wasn't how I wanted to say hi, but at least it's a start. I'm Brian.".

Rogue just looked at the man and blinked. "Really?"

Clearly, this wasn't the reaction Brian was expecting. His smile faltered and even though Rogue knew she should say something, she didn't know what to.

"Anyways," he hurriedly added, "I'll be at the bar. It was nice meeting you."

"Sure," she responded, watching as he scurried away. She turned to Adri, a confused look on her face. "What just happened?"

Adrienne tried to call after Brian to work as Rogue's wingman, but the nervous suitor had already scurried away and her voice was lost in the noise of the club. "Uhh, I think that guy just tried to pick you up. Really, really feebly. I mean, wow. That was, like... I've seen eight year-olds pick up chicks better than that. Probably for the best you didn't encourage him. That would have been some really awful sex, I'm guessing."

"How can you tell something like by looking at someone," Rogue asked completely confused.

Although she'd been in long term relationships before, her mutation necessitated so many steps that she'd really never been all that into it. It had been fun, but nothing she'd call 'amazing'.

"Am I missing something?"

Adrienne drained the rest of her drink and cocked an eyebrow at Rogue. "Maybe the part where I used to be the Queen of Skankytown? Or, maybe the Treasurer of Skankytown. My sister would probably be upset if I didn't give her the Queen title." She poked at the expensive purse on the table idly. "I dunno," she shrugged. "Maybe I'm wrong. That's why I was guessing. It's been many, many years since I resided in Skankytown. I moved to Nunville and lived there for a long time. I'm probably rusty. Do you want me to go fetch him back so you can make a date with him?" she suggested curiously, waggling her eyebrows now.

Rogue's eyes widened. "No,no,no!". She raised her hands in front of her and shook her head. "I'm terrible with people I don't know. Did you know that I have only ever dated guys I was friends with? Logan, Doug, Kane..." She ticked their names off with her fingers. "Three. That's it. And really, only one went further than I thought possible. I don't know how to date, or what to say, or anything. I'm kinda a hot mess," she confessed. "There should be classes for this kind of thing."

"There really should be," Adrienne nodded. "I'd take that class. But I wouldn't worry too much about it," she added, waving a dismissive hand. "Everyone's awful at dating. I've only dated three guys myself. It seems like people being good at dating would be anomalies. Because if you were good at dating, why would you need to keep dating? Right? I'd say what you need to find is someone who's the same level as hot mess as you," she grinned. "But more importantly I'd say you need to find some shoes that match this purse."

"I can live with a hot mess," Rogue stated, nodding in agreement. "And good point on the dating -- I just think that if it happened on my terms, like if I went up to someone, I could cope better. I just need to stop being afraid...which is absolutely where the shoes come in."

She finished her drink, and pushed the glass aside. "Also, can I just say how glad I am that thinks aren't all weird between us? I'm so happy Kane has someone as amazing as you, cause if you were a total cow, I think i'd have to put jello in your bed or something."

"Well, c'mon then, let's go get you some self-confidence-boosters. And I'm glad they aren't weird either," Adrienne agreed, throwing money onto the table to cover the drinks and rising from her seat. "I wonder what it says about me that I'm actually friendly with all the mutants I know Kane's had sex with, save one." Damn Brand ruining her streak. "If you were being all jealous ex or pining ex or scheming ex or something, though, I'd have to put something in your bed. Maybe jello. That's a really good one," she praised. "Would you do like, a mold? Or a bunch of those little cubes or something?"

"If I could find me a horse's head mold, that's what I'd use." She gave a confident nod before continuing. "Although, it'd be cool to spell out something in Jello. Maybe something that says "Kane and I never had sex sex....". She mumbled the last part quickly, surprised that he'd never told Adrienne the full extent of it.

"Maybe they have whole horse molds and you could bite the heads off to use them later and eat the bodies?" Adrienne suggested, holding her hand out to help Rogue to her feet. "He mentioned that. He wanted to be honest about his sex life," she explained with a shrug. "I was just using the word as a sweeping generalization. C'mon. Shoes await."

Taking Adrienne's hand, Rogue felt an odd sense of relief. She really liked Adrienne, and she was glad Garrison had been honest. "Alright, alright, but if we can't find shoes, let's buy jello molds. I think he needs a Hello Kitty jello salad."

"Can't we buy both?" Adrienne asked with a pout. "I work, like, seven jobs, for the express purpose of being able to buy both shoes and things to prank people with in their beds. Don't make me choose one or the other."

"I work zero jobs, girl," Rogue quipped. "Jello molds don't grow on trees! Shoes, now that's a necessity, I absolutely agree with that expense. Seriously though, I should probably get my cute li'l ass in gear, and find me work. I keep waiting for the Professor to hand me a rent invoice or something...although he never did before, so I'm not really sure why I expect that?"

"Yeah, that guy's got money to burn," Adrienne said of Xavier, leading Rogue down the street towards eVolution. "I guess that's why. I could give you some part-time work at this clothing store we're heading to if you want? Or... how are you at teaching math?"

Rogue raised an eyebrow. "Why? I mean, I'm no mathematician, but I do know my multiplication tables. Besides, don't you teach math?". She stopped suddenly and looked at Adrienne. "Wait,are y'all leavin'?"

Adrienne nodded. "Yeah," she admitted. "Well, I'm leaving teaching. I'm not leaving town. Or the mansion, even," she added with a wry chuckle. "I'm going to go run X-Factor Investigations. Act as a kind of regent, I like to think," she smirked. "The current owners do a lot of out of town jobs, big ticket cases. But a lot of the chump change stuff, the little jobs that add up to keep the lights on and the internet flowing, is falling by the wayside. Annnnd, add that to me having a newfound desire to use my powers as a force for good, and there you have it. Hey, maybe you could come work at X-Factor," she suggested, unlocking the door to eVolution and gesturing Rogue to go in.

Rogue took the lead, looking around the clothing store approvingly. She didn't answer Adri right away, as she was still processing the information. She stopped in front of a mannequin and admitted the outfit before speaking. "So really, you're not just changing careers, but changing your lifestyle too? That's huge! I don't know if I'm interested in either as a permanent thing but if you're stuck, I'm happy to help."

"Thanks," Adrienne nodded, switching the lights on so Rogue could see better. "I'm hoping it won't be such a big lifestyle change. You know, I don't want to be going around hugging people or helping puppies or things of that nature." She parked herself in front of the wall of shoes and did a Vanna White gesture.

The only appropriate response was "Oooooooooooo!" It was truly beautiful to behold. "Lord, if I could pay for shoes in hugs, I'd have a pair for every day of the year...maybe even one for my right foot, and one for my left." She looked at the wall, and then stuck the purse out in front of her. "Alright. Let's do this. Show me your magic."