Rogue and Garrison -- No one's okay

[x-traction.livejournal.com]

In which Marie and Garrison have a conversation that leaves them both drained.

It didn't matter how old or young she was in her head. There was one thing Rogue could always guarantee -- her appetite.

The kitchen was stocked so there was really only one thing she could make successfully: an enormous, Dagwood style sandwich.

In fact, it was so impressive, she had to take a picture. And then another from a different angle. And then with a filter.

"Why is it that everyone feels the need to document their food online? I swear, all the pictures on instagram that aren't someone's cats are whatever they had for lunch that day." Kane said as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

Rogue didn't even look up until she'd taken a few more pictures. "But then how are people gonna know that Ah made a delicious sandwich? Otherwise, Ah'm sure mah followers would be jus' so worried that Ah'm starvin' mahself. An' that jus' wouldn't do."

Finally she looked up and startled herself. It was him. Kane. Adrienne's current boyfriend and (apparently) Rogue's ex. She tried to remember what Adrienne had said...they were siblingish? Something to that effect.

"Oh! It's you. Hi.....Ah still stand by what Ah said."

"That it is vital that everyone knows you made a sandwich that includes at least three types of mustards?" Kane took a sip from his mug.

"Sure thing," she responded cheerfully. "Ah mean, Ah could've only used one, but why when there's choices an' food is plentiful?" Using both hands she carefully brought her sandwich too her mouth before taking a bit bite.

"Oh mah gawd," she said, her mouth full. "So good. Ya want some?"

"I'm going to pass. I ate my own weight in one sitting for lunch. I'm sure it's online somewhere." He said, although he did join her at the table. "How's the melon doing?"

Rogue looked behind her automatically, trying to find a watermelon before she realized what he was referring to. "Oh! Mah head!" She reached up with one hand, laughing. "That melon." Rogue shrugged. "Same ol', same ol'. Not much ta say. Ah remember nothin', not even you for that matter. Guess ya ain't unforgettable?"

"I consider that more of a tragedy for you than anything else?" He said. "I'm Garrison Kane. We've been close for the better part of a decade. Even dated for a while. I could prove it by identifying some of your more intimately placed moles but that might not be much of a comfort, eh?"

Rogue was in the middle of a bite when he said that, causing her to choke slightly. When she'd cleared her throat, she gave him a wide-eyed stare. "Lordy, y'all are shameless. Do ya talk ta me like this when Adri is around?". With her accent, the name sounded more like Audrey.
"Usually, she's the one making the inappropriate comments."
Rogue nodded. "Ah can believe that.". She picked up a stray piece of tomato and chewed. "So y'all know me inside an' out, huh? Anythin' Ah should know? Ah'm finding mah brain is like some sorta puzzle, an' Ah'm slowly puttin' the pieces together."
"Probably a lot, but lots of it might not apply right now. I'm finding out that a lot of our time up in Canada hasn't necessarily made it into this world." Kane gave her an ironic look. "You might be in the best position right now, not remembering the changes right now."

Rogue gave a wry grin. "Funny. Ah don't feel particularly lucky an' all, but Ah'll take your word for it....although Canada, eh? Ah like the sounds of that. "

"You did." Kane sighed. "That's the worst thing about this. Marie, we love each other. Not in a romantic way these days, but before all this happened, you were one of my best friends. You were there at my Mother's funeral. And now, you don't even remember Toronto..."

He pushed his cup away. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't burden you with this. It's not fair."

Rogue felt torn. She'd been lamenting the‎ loss of her memories as they rated to her. Not once had she stopped to think how it'd affect others.

"Nothin's fair 'bout this, Kane.", the young woman said. She stepped away from her sandwich and walked towards him. Before she could talk herself out of it‎, she tentatively wrapped her arms around his waist, her cheek resting on his shirt. "An' Ah wish Ah could remember ya. Ah never thought Ah'd be surrounded by people who love me, an' it turns out adult me got to have that. That's more than some people ever get.".

It was more than she thought she'd ever get. "‎At least now, we get ta build new memories, in case mah old ones never come back.". She pulled away from him, her arms still on his waist, and raised an eyebrow. "Ah bet there's stuff up on in there that you're relieved Ah don't remember."

"Only that night on the checkerboard floor." His arms were around her. "I'm sorry, Beulah. You don't need this. But it is hard seeing your best friend look at you like you're the sandwich artist at Subway."

"If it makes ya feel better, Ah really, really love Subway?" She gave a grin. "And what's with this Beulah thing? Oh gawd, Ah didn't change mah name, did Ah? Rogue is bad enough."

"I've been calling you Beulah since the first time I met you, and you had this leotard on and I couldn't really say 'hey, hot girl would you mind rubbing yourself against me',"

"What?!". Rogue stepped back and gave him an incredulous look. "Ah would not rub myself against no man, especially one as hot as you. Damn. Adult me has some balls...."‎

"I said I couldn't say that." Garrison sighed. "We used to make these jokes all the time. But now, it's not appropriate."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh stop the pity party. Ah am still the same person, an' whatever was appropriate or not has stayed the same. All's we gotta do is hang out more so Ah can re-get to know ya.". Rogue beamed. "See? Problem solved. Adri said that we are all inappropriate with each other anyways, and since she's mah boss now, Ah gotta listen to her."

"Wait, did you just suggest that you're sleeping with Adrienne and I?"

"Ah received no such orders!"‎

"I can ping her." Kane sighed. "Look... can you at least respect that it's a bit hard for me?"

Confusion. An emotion she seemed to have an endless supply of. "Ah thought Ah was? Look, jus' tell me what ya want me to do. Treat ya like a brother? A friend? An ex? Ah don't want ya to get awkward with me, damnit, but Ah get it if this is too weird." Rogue sighed and backed up a bit more. "Ah'll give ya space if that's what ya want."

"Stop telling me to stop the pity party!" Kane yelled, a little more than he thought. "My best friend has just dropped ten years that includes me. I have an entire world that has changed and a woman that I would die for doesn't know me from Adam!"

Kane stopped and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. That's not fair. I'm going to go."

His outburst had surprised her, and she found herself having to hold back tears. Her hands clenched into fists at her side. "Look,Ah am tryin' mah best heah. Ah may never get mah memories back, an' that's somethin' that Ah'll jus' have to accept. You need time, an' Ah'm gonna respect that but jus' remember: Ah may not have those memories, but Ah'm still Marie. Ah told you mah real name. That tells me more than anythin' else you could say to me. Ah'm willin' to move forward an' build new memories. If you're not, that's fine. Ah'm sayin' mah piece."

Kane wiped the tears from his eyes. "I'm sorry. I just- look, if you need anything, you can count on me."

Rogue was having a hard time fighting her own tears. Hugging her own waist tightly, she looked down and nodded. "Sure. Sounds good. Ya know where ta find me if you wanna talk or somethin'."

"I love you, Marie. You might not remember, but I do. So does Adrienne. You can count on us for anything." Kane said as he left the kitchen. He got about ten steps down the hall when he cracked it with a punch. "I love you."