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xp_logsPaige, having reclaimed a television and run out of things to do, is allowing herself some Batman time when Remy happens upon her. He makes a rather surprising offer.
The rec room was curiously deserted. Remy had seen the odd student ghosting between the kitchen and their rooms, the occasional trainee in their mini-X leathers bustling about on some task, but otherwise, silence. It was as if whatever the mission happening had assumed a 'bunker' mentality back home.
Remy slipped into the room, lit by the glow of the television, outlining the figure sitting on the couch. She'd been the only one to try and offer some kind of information about what was going on. Made sense that he'd talk to her.
Having ushered most of the kids into their rooms where they would pretend to sleep, Paige finally had the room to herself so she might watch her old Batman cartoons. Kevin Conroy was her hero, pure and simple, so it made sense for her, having exhausted her Power Rangers supply and saving her CSI DVDs for school nights, to retreat to the broody Dark Knight. The few kids who had rebelled against her insistence that they sleep had wandered away, trying to find something useful to do in a house that was only waiting, so she had the place to herself.
"Why hello there," Paige said, hearing approaching footsteps and turning around. She threw a sweater clad arm over the back of the couch, having opted out on the whole uniform experience. "Remy."
"See you remember." Remy said, taking a seat on the edge of the couch. "Got your message, chere. See dat all de babysitters are gone for de night. Figured you bunch would have broken out de booze and unlocked de porn channels."
"You're hard to forget," Paige replied with a lopsided smile. Reaching down, Paige picked up a blanket, tossing it over his lap. "We're trying to pretend we're mature and wise and other things we're not. Doing a good play job, though, I must admit. Have you tried one of Rahne's oatmeal bars?"
"Not much of an appetite right now, but I appreciate de thought." Remy lounged back on the edge of the couch, eyes flickering between her and the television. "Dere are worse thing den to be dealing wit' whatever's happening. Be nice if de Professor would tell me, rather den looking pained like he's got hot tea up his nose."
Paige laughed as Batman punched Joker in the jaw on the television. Some thing never changed at least. "I wouldn't exactly call any of this charade dealing. Perhaps a few, yes, but most of us are either pacing around trying to look important so that later someone higher up will pat us on the back, or sulking in our room secretly hoping that someone will notice we're gone." It looked as if Paige's mood hadn't improved much in the last couple of days. "As for the Professor, well. And what? Ruin his mystique?"
"Remy get de feeling dat dis sudden burst of self-awareness is not entirely due to de X-Men being gone." LeBeau had the same crooked smile as always, but there was a questioning look in his bizarre red on black eyes. "Anything in particular?"
"Ah, March just doesn't seem to like me much," Paige said ruefully, absently picking at the hem of her blanket with her sharpened nails. "Much like the people at this school." She shrugged, trying to laugh again. "But hey, I've got Batman and oatmeal bars and now you, as well as this very nifty little phone so that Doug can beep me about seventeen times an hour making sure that he's doing a better job than me, so how is life not awesome? I must be low on sugar or something."
"People not like you? Guess Remy missed de memo dat was going 'round den." Remy finally slid down on to the couch. "So, is it 'cause you pretty, smart or something all mysterious and related to hygiene dat dey hate you for?"
Paige actually smiled at that, sticking out her tongue at him. "I smell very good, thank you. Apple cider, I've been told," she said, raising her nose in the air in a very good impersonation of some of the, shall we say, 'less nice' students at the mansion. "Well, I tried out this whole truth and honesty thing that everyone demanded of me, and it ends up that it wasn't well met. I suppose I should have been nicer, I admit it, but she ticked me off and did I mention I have a bit of a temper? And of course, the person who it was not well met with has a very large circle of friends. You see how it goes."
""mazing how often dat happens." Remy actually smiled. "Dis mystery person got a name, or should we just blame it on someone at random?"
"I would prefer if you didn't loathe me too," Paige said quietly, turning away from the television to look at him.
"Remy picked up dat thing called free will a little while ago. Has something to do wit' being able to make decisions and everything. Even got a sticker." Remy chuckled. "Not going to push you, chere, but looks like you could use someone to talk to."
It seemed like everyone wanted her to open up these days. Strange, how she couldn't do that with a doctor, or even really well with her boyfriends, and when she did open up to a friend, of sorts, she ended up feeling worse than ever, yet here she was with Remy, whoever he was, and it didn't feel all that bad. "'manda," she said hurriedly and under her breath, darting her eyes away. "I know I shouldn't have, but she was driving me insane and I guess it all just came out wrong. Or maybe too right."
"Now it makes sense." Remy said. One thing that he'd noted was Amanda's unconscious ability to bind people to her. When it went bad, the mob tended to come out, regardless of merit, like in Jubilee's case. "Figure dat de likely answer to dat is somewhere in de middle. What started de fight?"
"You're going to laugh at me," Paige answered sheepishly, blushing a little in the lack of light.
"Maybe. But I promise to feel bad 'bout it if I do." Remy said solemnly.
"My horse liked her." There, she'd gone and admitted it and it even sounded stupider out of her mouth than it did in her head, yet she was still so angry about it. "I mean, there were other things leading up to it, but mostly, my horse liked her. Nem hates everyone but me, and she had him wrapped around her black enamelled nail finger, cooing to him in one of the very few languages that I don't have some sort of grasp on."
"So, it's 'cause you think she's taking over something dat used to be just yours?" Remy's voice held no accusations or judgement; just a simply honest question.
Paige nodded a little, bringing up a leg so she could rest an elbow on it, and in turn her cheek. "Guess so. The girl has so many friends, so many people, and I... don't. And not only that, she has the nerve to say that people are abandoning her left and right and those who aren't shouldn't love her at all!" she explained before sighing. "I'm just repeating myself, I'm sorry. I'm not trying to get you on my side with my pity story or anything, I've just run out of answers."
"Thing is dat, where 'manda comes from, she used to having nothing. Makes her hand on tighter to people when dey dere, and hurts more when dey leave. Dat doesn't mean you have to agree wit' it, but just understand dat." Remy let his head lean back. "Dat's de key to it, Paige. Doesn't matter if dat you agree or not. But if you understand dere motivations, you can start to understand dem. Sure dat dere some people dat think you work in school and on de team is just a cry for attention or an excuse to think dat you better den dem."
"Right," Paige answered duly, giving Remy her profile again as she turned to watch Robin hit someone with a stick. Understanding. All she understood is she obviously must be turning into some kind of monster as she just didn't get it. The excuses, the bending over backwards, the lack of an ability to do wrong; Paige suddenly remembered why she didn't talk to people any more. Occasionally she just needed someone to have her back, and while Kitty was amazing, there was always the knowledge in the back of her head that the chain didn't work that way. She was never the first link. "I'll work on that. Understanding where she's coming from. Thanks, Remy."
"Not where she's coming from, chere. Where everyone is coming from. It's how you understand how to get people to do what you want; how to lead people." Remy said. "Dere's something in intelligence called MICE. All about dealing wit' spies and informers. Know what it means?"
Paige dropped her head back, rolling it over to the side to look at him. Now this was getting interesting, even if she wasn't sure whether to laugh or jump over the couch and run. "Nuh uh. Tell me?"
"De reasons dat someone will betray dere country or organization. MICE; money, ideology, conscience, and ego. Each type requires different handling and watching. De key is understanding what type de person is, and dat tells you how far you can push it." Remy said. "So, in de case of someone like 'manda, her past pain and abuse means dat she expecting it from people, and dat makes dem wary of doing it. Which is why de blame Jubilee and Manuel and de other people when something goes wrong for her."
Paige blinked slowly, thinking about that. It almost made sense, really. "Like how you're dealing with me with this combination of understanding and logic. Good form, by the way. You really had me," she said, voice stealing back. It was just like Manuel, really. That entire conversation was somewhat of a blur to her.
"Figure dat you a femme dat perfers hearing de truth. Remy could lie to you if you like. I'm good at dat." LeBeau said, hearing the wary bitterness in her tone. She was definitely looking to push things away, to a point where they can be controlled. "But dat would be kind of pointless. So, you get de first lesson in how to understand how to handle your assets in de field, or your factors in de mansion. You want lesson two?"
"Sure, why not? I hear there's this newfangled free will thing that will let me disregard whatever you say if it ends up being moronic," she replied, bringing back her lopsided grin.
"Good. Come to my office next week. I'd say bring a pen, but I figure dat's a given wit' you." Remy grinned, a little amused at the teen. It was obvious why people found her so attractive, despite the prickly personality. "Samson and de prof can play councillor if you need it. Me, I'll play de miserable bastard wit' things to teach."
Paige snorted, kicking at the blanket over his lap where she assumed his leg was with her socked foot. "Mechanical pencil, thanks. Otherwise it would be a mess of scribbles and crossing outs as I attempted to correct my own notes when you contradict yourself," she teased easily, figuring that being angry at him for leading her on with the friends act really helped her none in the long run. "Besides. I prefer my people with a bastard streak."
"Good. Seems to me dat we not talked much, femme. Dis as good a time as any to correct dat, you think?" Remy jibbed, swatting away her foot.
"Ah. The sacred bond that is between student and teacher," Paige said solemnly, using his distraction with swatting to poke his shoulder. "Excellent. I expect all A's."
"Remy not a teacher, Paige. Dere's no grades, no assignments. You come, I'll show you what I know." Remy shrugged. "Maybe turns out to be one of dem friend things."
A buzzing at Paige's hip jolted her spine straight, hands fumbling to find her phone. It was a simple mass message, but spoke enough. They were home. "You show me what you know and I'll fix your sarcasm radar. Sounds like a fair deal to me," she said, tossing her own blanket off to stand and make for the door. "Well? Aren't you coming? They're back."
"You go ahead. Remy make an appearance later." LeBeau said, coming easily to his feet and moving out past her. "'sides, dis is a time for X-Men." He said to her surprise, and disappeared down the hall.
The rec room was curiously deserted. Remy had seen the odd student ghosting between the kitchen and their rooms, the occasional trainee in their mini-X leathers bustling about on some task, but otherwise, silence. It was as if whatever the mission happening had assumed a 'bunker' mentality back home.
Remy slipped into the room, lit by the glow of the television, outlining the figure sitting on the couch. She'd been the only one to try and offer some kind of information about what was going on. Made sense that he'd talk to her.
Having ushered most of the kids into their rooms where they would pretend to sleep, Paige finally had the room to herself so she might watch her old Batman cartoons. Kevin Conroy was her hero, pure and simple, so it made sense for her, having exhausted her Power Rangers supply and saving her CSI DVDs for school nights, to retreat to the broody Dark Knight. The few kids who had rebelled against her insistence that they sleep had wandered away, trying to find something useful to do in a house that was only waiting, so she had the place to herself.
"Why hello there," Paige said, hearing approaching footsteps and turning around. She threw a sweater clad arm over the back of the couch, having opted out on the whole uniform experience. "Remy."
"See you remember." Remy said, taking a seat on the edge of the couch. "Got your message, chere. See dat all de babysitters are gone for de night. Figured you bunch would have broken out de booze and unlocked de porn channels."
"You're hard to forget," Paige replied with a lopsided smile. Reaching down, Paige picked up a blanket, tossing it over his lap. "We're trying to pretend we're mature and wise and other things we're not. Doing a good play job, though, I must admit. Have you tried one of Rahne's oatmeal bars?"
"Not much of an appetite right now, but I appreciate de thought." Remy lounged back on the edge of the couch, eyes flickering between her and the television. "Dere are worse thing den to be dealing wit' whatever's happening. Be nice if de Professor would tell me, rather den looking pained like he's got hot tea up his nose."
Paige laughed as Batman punched Joker in the jaw on the television. Some thing never changed at least. "I wouldn't exactly call any of this charade dealing. Perhaps a few, yes, but most of us are either pacing around trying to look important so that later someone higher up will pat us on the back, or sulking in our room secretly hoping that someone will notice we're gone." It looked as if Paige's mood hadn't improved much in the last couple of days. "As for the Professor, well. And what? Ruin his mystique?"
"Remy get de feeling dat dis sudden burst of self-awareness is not entirely due to de X-Men being gone." LeBeau had the same crooked smile as always, but there was a questioning look in his bizarre red on black eyes. "Anything in particular?"
"Ah, March just doesn't seem to like me much," Paige said ruefully, absently picking at the hem of her blanket with her sharpened nails. "Much like the people at this school." She shrugged, trying to laugh again. "But hey, I've got Batman and oatmeal bars and now you, as well as this very nifty little phone so that Doug can beep me about seventeen times an hour making sure that he's doing a better job than me, so how is life not awesome? I must be low on sugar or something."
"People not like you? Guess Remy missed de memo dat was going 'round den." Remy finally slid down on to the couch. "So, is it 'cause you pretty, smart or something all mysterious and related to hygiene dat dey hate you for?"
Paige actually smiled at that, sticking out her tongue at him. "I smell very good, thank you. Apple cider, I've been told," she said, raising her nose in the air in a very good impersonation of some of the, shall we say, 'less nice' students at the mansion. "Well, I tried out this whole truth and honesty thing that everyone demanded of me, and it ends up that it wasn't well met. I suppose I should have been nicer, I admit it, but she ticked me off and did I mention I have a bit of a temper? And of course, the person who it was not well met with has a very large circle of friends. You see how it goes."
""mazing how often dat happens." Remy actually smiled. "Dis mystery person got a name, or should we just blame it on someone at random?"
"I would prefer if you didn't loathe me too," Paige said quietly, turning away from the television to look at him.
"Remy picked up dat thing called free will a little while ago. Has something to do wit' being able to make decisions and everything. Even got a sticker." Remy chuckled. "Not going to push you, chere, but looks like you could use someone to talk to."
It seemed like everyone wanted her to open up these days. Strange, how she couldn't do that with a doctor, or even really well with her boyfriends, and when she did open up to a friend, of sorts, she ended up feeling worse than ever, yet here she was with Remy, whoever he was, and it didn't feel all that bad. "'manda," she said hurriedly and under her breath, darting her eyes away. "I know I shouldn't have, but she was driving me insane and I guess it all just came out wrong. Or maybe too right."
"Now it makes sense." Remy said. One thing that he'd noted was Amanda's unconscious ability to bind people to her. When it went bad, the mob tended to come out, regardless of merit, like in Jubilee's case. "Figure dat de likely answer to dat is somewhere in de middle. What started de fight?"
"You're going to laugh at me," Paige answered sheepishly, blushing a little in the lack of light.
"Maybe. But I promise to feel bad 'bout it if I do." Remy said solemnly.
"My horse liked her." There, she'd gone and admitted it and it even sounded stupider out of her mouth than it did in her head, yet she was still so angry about it. "I mean, there were other things leading up to it, but mostly, my horse liked her. Nem hates everyone but me, and she had him wrapped around her black enamelled nail finger, cooing to him in one of the very few languages that I don't have some sort of grasp on."
"So, it's 'cause you think she's taking over something dat used to be just yours?" Remy's voice held no accusations or judgement; just a simply honest question.
Paige nodded a little, bringing up a leg so she could rest an elbow on it, and in turn her cheek. "Guess so. The girl has so many friends, so many people, and I... don't. And not only that, she has the nerve to say that people are abandoning her left and right and those who aren't shouldn't love her at all!" she explained before sighing. "I'm just repeating myself, I'm sorry. I'm not trying to get you on my side with my pity story or anything, I've just run out of answers."
"Thing is dat, where 'manda comes from, she used to having nothing. Makes her hand on tighter to people when dey dere, and hurts more when dey leave. Dat doesn't mean you have to agree wit' it, but just understand dat." Remy let his head lean back. "Dat's de key to it, Paige. Doesn't matter if dat you agree or not. But if you understand dere motivations, you can start to understand dem. Sure dat dere some people dat think you work in school and on de team is just a cry for attention or an excuse to think dat you better den dem."
"Right," Paige answered duly, giving Remy her profile again as she turned to watch Robin hit someone with a stick. Understanding. All she understood is she obviously must be turning into some kind of monster as she just didn't get it. The excuses, the bending over backwards, the lack of an ability to do wrong; Paige suddenly remembered why she didn't talk to people any more. Occasionally she just needed someone to have her back, and while Kitty was amazing, there was always the knowledge in the back of her head that the chain didn't work that way. She was never the first link. "I'll work on that. Understanding where she's coming from. Thanks, Remy."
"Not where she's coming from, chere. Where everyone is coming from. It's how you understand how to get people to do what you want; how to lead people." Remy said. "Dere's something in intelligence called MICE. All about dealing wit' spies and informers. Know what it means?"
Paige dropped her head back, rolling it over to the side to look at him. Now this was getting interesting, even if she wasn't sure whether to laugh or jump over the couch and run. "Nuh uh. Tell me?"
"De reasons dat someone will betray dere country or organization. MICE; money, ideology, conscience, and ego. Each type requires different handling and watching. De key is understanding what type de person is, and dat tells you how far you can push it." Remy said. "So, in de case of someone like 'manda, her past pain and abuse means dat she expecting it from people, and dat makes dem wary of doing it. Which is why de blame Jubilee and Manuel and de other people when something goes wrong for her."
Paige blinked slowly, thinking about that. It almost made sense, really. "Like how you're dealing with me with this combination of understanding and logic. Good form, by the way. You really had me," she said, voice stealing back. It was just like Manuel, really. That entire conversation was somewhat of a blur to her.
"Figure dat you a femme dat perfers hearing de truth. Remy could lie to you if you like. I'm good at dat." LeBeau said, hearing the wary bitterness in her tone. She was definitely looking to push things away, to a point where they can be controlled. "But dat would be kind of pointless. So, you get de first lesson in how to understand how to handle your assets in de field, or your factors in de mansion. You want lesson two?"
"Sure, why not? I hear there's this newfangled free will thing that will let me disregard whatever you say if it ends up being moronic," she replied, bringing back her lopsided grin.
"Good. Come to my office next week. I'd say bring a pen, but I figure dat's a given wit' you." Remy grinned, a little amused at the teen. It was obvious why people found her so attractive, despite the prickly personality. "Samson and de prof can play councillor if you need it. Me, I'll play de miserable bastard wit' things to teach."
Paige snorted, kicking at the blanket over his lap where she assumed his leg was with her socked foot. "Mechanical pencil, thanks. Otherwise it would be a mess of scribbles and crossing outs as I attempted to correct my own notes when you contradict yourself," she teased easily, figuring that being angry at him for leading her on with the friends act really helped her none in the long run. "Besides. I prefer my people with a bastard streak."
"Good. Seems to me dat we not talked much, femme. Dis as good a time as any to correct dat, you think?" Remy jibbed, swatting away her foot.
"Ah. The sacred bond that is between student and teacher," Paige said solemnly, using his distraction with swatting to poke his shoulder. "Excellent. I expect all A's."
"Remy not a teacher, Paige. Dere's no grades, no assignments. You come, I'll show you what I know." Remy shrugged. "Maybe turns out to be one of dem friend things."
A buzzing at Paige's hip jolted her spine straight, hands fumbling to find her phone. It was a simple mass message, but spoke enough. They were home. "You show me what you know and I'll fix your sarcasm radar. Sounds like a fair deal to me," she said, tossing her own blanket off to stand and make for the door. "Well? Aren't you coming? They're back."
"You go ahead. Remy make an appearance later." LeBeau said, coming easily to his feet and moving out past her. "'sides, dis is a time for X-Men." He said to her surprise, and disappeared down the hall.
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Date: 2005-03-21 05:46 am (UTC)If you want him to beat up Scott, he'll even loan you the cash.
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