The Chinaberry Tree outside her Window
By: Ariesque
Last Updated: 8-09-03
Genre: Humor/Romance/Drama
Rated: PG for language
Author's Notes: Another one of those meshes I keep writing about. This one's got general POVs, but the story keeps jumping back and forth through the dates, so if you get confused, compare the dates. Also, at the end of every chapter, there is a small Institute Informative written by Kitty for the week. Hope you like it, and do tell if you get confused! On a lighter note, absolutely adored the episode today because Rogue kissed Gambit [though my sister insists it's because she was under a trance by Mesmero. But how do you explain the fact she went for the lips when everyone else she touched with her hand??? HUH?!] Can't wait for next week's, and don't forget to watch it yourselves!
Chapter One: Chapter One [I'm being really lazy. Can't think of a title]
December 12, 2003
Sam Guthrie jumped off the jeep, both bags in hand. The manor was like it had been when he left for vacation--warm and one way or the other, good for you, like his mother used to say when he was sick and she gave him chicken soup. Nobody expected him back so soon, except Jubilation, who came running up to meet the Southern, black hair whipping wildly behind her head, wearing the excited expression that she only wore when they were going to Magic Mountain two times in a single week. She squealed as she threw her arms around him, the bags obviously hitting the ground before he did.
"Git yur han's off meh, Miz!" he laughed while scolding her. "Da whole mansion'll see us, and y' know, X'vier don lahke no touchy scenes."
"Xavier," she said, helping him back up, "doesn't like anything worth seeing." She insisted on carrying his carry-on, and they walked into the manor, side by side, as they usually did when they came home from a dance they liked or when Logan was calling them in for training.
Then Sam asked, "So, what's bin go'n on, 'round 'ere? Anythin' new?" And of course, there was, especially with Jubilation, who knew everything and everyone.
"Got myself a racoon, Mister Guthrie," she said, pridefully, with the name she automatically dubbed him since he never addressed her without saying "miss" in front of her name.
"Fer reals?" he asked, in disbelief. "Didn't think Logan would let yah have one."
"That's because my racoon isn't a skunk," she teased, making him remember the time he brought home a baby skunk.
"Didn't know his spray worked dat young," he explained, annoyed that she had to bring up the forbidden subject. "Anything else worth talkin' 'bout, or do Ah haf tah ask Kitty?"
"You know Kitty doesn't care about anything since she hooked up with that Piotr guy. He's so sweet and tender, it's like the world is as nice as he is, and you know the world isn't half nice any way you look at it." They had reached the front door now, and Sam opened it for her. "But git dis, Mister Guthrie: Remy's back!"
"Remy LeBeau?!" he dropped his bag in another moment of disbelief. "Yah be pullin' mah dern leg, Miz Jubes! Dat feller jumped off eh building an' done himself in." In her annoyance, Jubilation smacked Sam dutifully across the shoulder.
"I -told- you not to think that! Remy doesn't just go and jump off a building to die! If at anything at all, he was probably stealing." Ororo past by then, and Sam noticed her swelling stomach, underneath a maternity dress. Jubilation noticed his attention diverted and smirked.
"That's gonna be a fine baby," she told him. Sam shrugged.
"It's not that I was contemplatin' on, Miz Jubes. It's who's gonna deliver it, I'm considerin'." Jubilation frowned.
"Well, I have lots to tell you so you could just forget about that baby business. Logan'll be fussing your butt off when he finds you're thinking the way you do."
"Don't remind me, Miz. Just tell me about Remy--oh, and Rogue! Tell me 'bout her too," Sam insisted, for everyone knew that Rogue had something for Remy even if she was secretive. But Remy nobody could understand, so they just let him be.
"Well, Rogue, you know how downcast she was and all, she'd sit by her balcony and sob sometimes, but for what reason and for who were never known (but I think it was because of Remy. But what do I know?). She'd just sit and sob and John'd come and take her out, and then she'd come back, tired and worn and cry some more.
"But then, when Remy came back, she got all excited and dressed nice and did her hair the way she did it before...wear it down, I think. Anyway, Remy gave me Racoon--that's what I named my racoon-- on the same day he came back, and boy did I have a hard time keeping him away from Logan, because Logan loves those crackers...Goldfish, I think they're branded...and when ever he ate them, Racoon'd come and pounce on Logan, and who pounces on Logan except Sabertooth and maybe Ororo when Logan fails to get her pears or apples in opposite seasons, so Logan would shoot up like a firework and scream his death cry, and Racoon would just run away with the crackers, happy and full and delighted."
"Miz Jubes," Sam said, patiently, "You're drifting."
"No I'm not," Jubilation returned. "It's all part of the story."
September 10, 2003
In Bayville, if you had enough money, you could pay somebody to have your lawn done.
But not at Xavier's Institute. If you had Logan as an instructor, and he was the father of an unborn child whose mother was prissy and angry because she wanted the child and didn't want the child, and you got him angry before he had his cup of coffee for the day, you were in for some serious yard duty.
Which, in this case, was all Jubilation. It wasn't even her fault, too. She was just sitting at the dining table, reading the Funnies she had just stolen from Roberto, while eating her Fruit Loops, when Logan came in, snarling and growling. Then when he found nobody had made coffee on that particular day, he tripped over a chair and Bobby and Roberto broke out into fits of laughter.
Until Logan turned on them and growled, "Who even -dares- to laugh at me, huh?!" And the boys pointed at Jubilation, so guess who had to tend the grass for the next two weeks.
Jubilation, of course, knew she was jipped, and angrily stomped out, rake in hand, vowing that one day she would get back at Iceman and Sunspot for her unreasonable debt to pay for doing nothing.
But just as she started raking the leaves, she noticed a shadow-- or something of that sort, on the roof, trying to get in through a window.
-HER- window to be exact.
It was all too much for her. With enough power, she threw an easy blast that almost hit the person square in the face if he hadn't moved away.
That was when she got a good look at him. And recognized his face...
"Gambit!" she cried, startling the man, who flopped out of the window in surprise, got his foot wedged between the shackles, slid down to the gutter, and basically fell off the roof. And the exact moment he hit the ground, Logan came out, steam coming out of his nose like a rice cooker about to explode--which was exactly what he did...Before he smelled Remy, who hadn't stirred from his unfortunate landing.
"What's -that-?!" Logan snarled, his nostrils twitching. Jubilation knew she needed to cut Remy loose...even if she had to lie in doing so.
"I...reached for Kurt's cologne when I was actually getting my own perfume?" Logan rose an eyebrow, like he smelled her fib.
"Kurt's cologne smells like stale cigarettes and cheap wine?" Jubilation smiled, nervously.
"Well, it -has- been sitting on the shelf for a while..." Then, Ororo saved her butt by sticking her head out of the window and yelling, "Logan! What happened to my raw eggs?"
Which was returned, with "How many times do I have to tell you: YOU CAN'T EAT RAW EGGS!!!" and a cringe. He threw Jubilation a raging eye and snarled once more.
"Get back to work...and get RID of that smell!!"
When he had gone, Remy stood up, dusting himself off and rasping, "Cheap wine?! Cheap wine?!! Cabernet is -not- cheap! The cigarettes I can understand completely, but..." Jubilation interrupted him though, dropping her duty along with the rake, and rushing into his arms.
"Remy, Remy, Remy! I saved your Cajun butt from getting whooped and all you can think about is wine! You goat...I knew you were alive all along!" she cried, as he patted her head. "Did you bring me something back from New Orleans?"
He laughed, whole-heartedly. "Sure did, Petit..." He then drew out a humongous cage from behind his coat--the coat that hides everything-- and kept his hand in front of it, a wisping smile on his brown face.
"Is it shiny, Remy?" Jubilation asked, eagerly. His face dulled, and her with it. "You forgot."
"Completely," he admitted. "But it's better than jewlery."
"What's better than -jewlery-?" she pouted, hopelessly.
"Well, I knew you liked dogs..."
"You got me a DOG!" she cried, getting excited again. He shook his head.
"Think masks, Petit." Jubilation thought.
"A dog wearing a mask?" He shrugged, apparently tired of the game as she was. Unlatching the caged door, a furry creature sprung at Jubilation without moment's notice, and its fur in her mouth kept her from screaming. Her first thought was that it was a squirrel, but then it crawled off her face and unto Remy's shoulders, where she got a good look at it.
"You got me a -racoon-?" she asked, in disbelief. Remy grinned, and so did the racoon.
"Of course," he said, with suave. But Jubilation wasn't impressed. She was...let down.
"But we have racoons in Bayville! How does a racoon from Louisiana make any difference? And Logan'll kill me when he finds I've got myself a racoon! A RACOON!" The creature had jumped from its perch and was now pushing at Jubilation's cheeks.
"It's different, Jubes, it is," Remy insisted, "He's house trained and he don't smell so bad if you give him a bath. He likes crackers, Goldfish especially, and likes pretty things." He grinned again. "Like you."
"I'm so touched," Jubilation replied, obviously disgruntled. But the racoon had thought she was pretty and now wrapped himself on her shoulders, luxuriously. She rethought the situation--the racoon didn't smell so bad, and he was cute, and maybe she could train him to take revenge on Bobby and Roberto for her--the possibilities were endless. Logan would just have to deal.
"Okay, I'll take him." She grabbed the racoon in her hands and smiled. "Rems, why don't you come inside for a spell--Logan's probably out and Rogue's upstairs..." His face turned cold for a second, but before Jubilation could question it, Remy smiled.
"It's all right, Jubes. I just came t' see y' anyway. An' besides, I like de view from outside, down 'ere." Jubes looked up. Rogue, who had moved into Jean's room when she left for Bayville University, was by the balcony window, combing her hair. She hadn't seen them, which was fine, for Remy didn't look the least pleasant: his hair was muzzled, face jagged with stubble from the lack of shaving, eyes dull pommegranates with no fire like they once had. His clothes were torn and the fall didn't help him much, while his face drooped like he hadn't slept for ages. Jubilation was worried. Even his grin, when it did appear, wasn't worth the million dollars like it had been.
"I gotta go, Petit," he said. Jubilation opened her mouth to protest, but he beat her to the last word. "See y' when I can, k'?" He patted her head, shook the racoon's hand, and disppeared like the thief he was. Jubilation, the racoon under her arm, frowned, and went back to the rake.
December 12, 2003
Sam handed Jubilation a peach. She frowned at it, like it was a rock that had no meaning to anything.
"What's this for?" she asked, impudently. Sam smiled, patiently.
"It's a Georgia peach. Thought you'd might lahke it," he said, taking a bite out of his own. Jubilation thought better of it and ate it, thoughtfully. "So, what 'bout Rogue? She jump on him any?"
"How can she?" Jubilation replied, liking the fruit she was eating. "With those powers of hers, she isn't on the right wagon, if you know what I mean." Sam, who didn't know what she meant, nodded, stupidly.
"But did she git tah see Rems?" Jubilation cocked her head sideways at her friend.
"Rems told me to give her a note to meet at Clairemont's." She paused and Sam frowned.
"So?" He asked, his patience worn thin. Jubilation was the best story teller around, but she made too many pauses. "Did she?" Jubilation looked up at him, between bites. The stare she gave him was sweet, which calmed him a bit.
"Well, she had to get through John first."
September 17, 2003 ~ Rogue's Birthday
Rogue quit smoking, and it was driving her crazy. She hadn't picked up a cigarette since she last left Bayville, and even then, she craved it. John had insisted she stay on the patch, and because he insisted, she did. But it cost him the day without her. In fact, she had told everyone that if anyone were to even peep into the keyhole to her room today, she'd have to bash their nose in. Because they knew she meant it, nobody dared to. She didn't want to see anyone today, because today was her birthday, or the birthday that Mystique had given her. She never really knew her real birthday.
So there you have it, she thought to herself, glancing out the balcony window. She had always wanted Jean's room because it separated her from Kitty and it had the best view of the backlot from the second floor. But it was also the loneliest place too--the sun rarely shone and it was across from the room that once belonged to...
She stopped thinking. I'm happy Jean's gone, happy Scott's gone, happy...happy... She couldn't say his name. She had all the strength a person could handle and she didn't even have the courage to say his name.
My heart is solid, but it ain't gold.
Suddenly, there came a knock on her door, and Rogue almost fell out of her loveseat. Tragic, she thought, balling her hand into a fist, there will be some serious explaining after I open this door. She walked--staggered, almost, to the door, in which she swung open. There stood Jubilation, her eyes an innocent fit, face flushed with fear, expressionless. She looked at the girl who stared back, as if wanting for her to speak first. So Rogue did.
"What dah -hell- do yah want?!" She spat. Jubilation stared, her mouth dropping and no words falling from it. "Well?"
Jubilation swallowed. "I...I have here...a note." She handed it to Rogue, who grabbed it, reluctantly, ripped the sealing and shook the paper from its folds.
Clairemont's, she read. 7 p.m...don't be late.
"What kind of -sick- joke do yah take me fer?! Huh?!" Rogue rasped, staring at the letter. Jubilation shrugged. "Who's it from, Jubes? John? Ah told 'im Ah was busy..."
"Oh, okay. I'll take it back now, if you don't want to go," Jubes offered, and snatched the paper away. Rogue, stared, dumbfounded. Jubilation stood back, her eyes blazing with some new courage Rogue had never seen before. "I'll just tell him you won't come. It's all understandable." That was when Rogue was hit with some flurry of confusion.
"What's understandable? Who's 'him'?" Another shrug from Jubilation. Rogue cringed with irritation. "Why won't you tell me..."
"Hey, you want to go? That's fine. You want to stay? That's fine too. If it's John who sent the note, then that's fine. But if it isn't John...well," Jubilation said, turning to go, "you'll never find out if you stay." Rogue whirled on her, angrily.
"I -hate- guessin' games, Jubes, yah know dat! An' tah tease me on mah birthday--now dat's below dah belt, Sugah," she spat. Jubilation, indigant now, wiped the spit from her face and walked away.
Without a word. Without a single word.
Rogue, furious, slammed the door and sat in the corner of her room, pouting. Jubilation was obviously hiding something. Something so dastardly important, that even Rogue couldn't figure it out. But she was intrigued. If the note proved to be from John, then there would be no telling what she'd do to him. But if it was from someone else...
Rogue looked at her watch. Six in the afternoon. An hour left to get down there. She'd have to hurry.
---
She had finished touching up her make-up when there came a knock on her door. Jubilation, Rogue thought. She expected her to come back. She needed to persuade her to tell her who...She stopped thinking when the door was opened and there appeared John, a dozen roses in his hand.
"John!" she said, staring at him, then the roses. "Wh-What are yah doin' 'ere?"
"Why luv," he crooned, speechless himself. "Were ya plannin' on leavin' tonight?"
"Never mind dat," she rasped, quietly, and accepted the roses. "Ah -told- yah Ah didn care fer yur company t'night." John looked hurt.
"Why not? What have I done so wrong?" he asked, in a voice so childish, Rogue had to look twice to confirm he was still twenty.
"Nuthin', Sugah," she said, hiding her sarcasm. At least Ah know the invitation wasn't from John, she thought, abbrasively. "Ah just thought Ah'd go out alone. But," she said, patting the seat next to her on the loveseat, "since yu're here, y' can have mah company." John, liking her change in character, sat down next to her.
"We can still go out, luv," he said, sweetly. She shrugged.
"Ah don..."
"How 'bout fer some coffee? A small date--yah deserve it on yur birthday," he offered. Rogue furrowed her brow.
"At...Clahiremont's?"
"Sure," he grinned, an arm around her. "It's nice out, no rain, no cloud, nothing to bother us." Rogue tried to look pleased.
"Ah...guess so," she mumbled, a forced smile on her face.
"Terrific!" John exclaimed, giving her hand a small kiss. "Yah still got dat ol' Rogue inside o' yah."
---
"She's not comin'," Remy stated, sitting back in his wicker chair. Jubilation sat across from him, a cup of chocolate in her hand. They were both dressed in coats, his brown, hers yellow, sipping their drinks in the most unconspicuous company. They were silent as they waited, looking like sullen Russians in the fall weather.
"She'll come." Jubilation was apparently more hopeful than her friend.
"She thinks it's from John doesn't she." Jubilation looked at him, scrutinizing his guess.
"Well, Rems, he is after all her boyfriend. You forget the most obvious detail." Remy drank his coffee without another word. He was staring up ahead of him, and when Jubilation followed his gaze, she too turned silent. Coming up the walk way was Rogue, an arm woven through John's, heading through Clairemont's. Remy then stood up, throwing his paper cup into the waste basket.
"Come Petit, we should go," he said, as Jubilation stood up as well. She frowned at his wanting to leave so soon.
"You could still talk to her, Rems," she offered. Remy resisted looking their way.
"It's not a good time," he said, and Jubilation knew he meant it. Without a second to spare, they disappeared from the square, one after the other, heads bent and no notion to turn around.
The Institute Informative ~ September 18, 2003
Hear, Hear fellow mutants of the Institute! Bobby and Amara are holding a balloon fight on Saturday: be there or be...not there! Yesterday, Rogue celebrated her birthday all to herself and was seen strolling by Clairemont's with her beau, John (sorry Rogue). Here's to another seventeen years!
Also, Logan has seemed to have lost his shaver. If anyone has seen it, please let him know because last time I heard, Ororo doesn't like him hairy.
Piotr, my other half, says that Magneto will be coming over for Halloween. Can it be true? An arch rival thinking of gracing his presence in our household? Jumping Xavier's wheelchair: that can't be right! But then again, Piotr never lies.
---Kitty Pryde---
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I got lazy today, sorry. Just hoped it wasn't boring and somebody actually liked it. Liked it? I do hope so. Please review, I do so hate to say it, but right now, I can't think of anything else to say. Except I bet you're wondering why Remy gave her a racoon. But that will come later, as everything always does.
By: Ariesque
Last Updated: 8-09-03
Genre: Humor/Romance/Drama
Rated: PG for language
Author's Notes: Another one of those meshes I keep writing about. This one's got general POVs, but the story keeps jumping back and forth through the dates, so if you get confused, compare the dates. Also, at the end of every chapter, there is a small Institute Informative written by Kitty for the week. Hope you like it, and do tell if you get confused! On a lighter note, absolutely adored the episode today because Rogue kissed Gambit [though my sister insists it's because she was under a trance by Mesmero. But how do you explain the fact she went for the lips when everyone else she touched with her hand??? HUH?!] Can't wait for next week's, and don't forget to watch it yourselves!
Chapter One: Chapter One [I'm being really lazy. Can't think of a title]
December 12, 2003
Sam Guthrie jumped off the jeep, both bags in hand. The manor was like it had been when he left for vacation--warm and one way or the other, good for you, like his mother used to say when he was sick and she gave him chicken soup. Nobody expected him back so soon, except Jubilation, who came running up to meet the Southern, black hair whipping wildly behind her head, wearing the excited expression that she only wore when they were going to Magic Mountain two times in a single week. She squealed as she threw her arms around him, the bags obviously hitting the ground before he did.
"Git yur han's off meh, Miz!" he laughed while scolding her. "Da whole mansion'll see us, and y' know, X'vier don lahke no touchy scenes."
"Xavier," she said, helping him back up, "doesn't like anything worth seeing." She insisted on carrying his carry-on, and they walked into the manor, side by side, as they usually did when they came home from a dance they liked or when Logan was calling them in for training.
Then Sam asked, "So, what's bin go'n on, 'round 'ere? Anythin' new?" And of course, there was, especially with Jubilation, who knew everything and everyone.
"Got myself a racoon, Mister Guthrie," she said, pridefully, with the name she automatically dubbed him since he never addressed her without saying "miss" in front of her name.
"Fer reals?" he asked, in disbelief. "Didn't think Logan would let yah have one."
"That's because my racoon isn't a skunk," she teased, making him remember the time he brought home a baby skunk.
"Didn't know his spray worked dat young," he explained, annoyed that she had to bring up the forbidden subject. "Anything else worth talkin' 'bout, or do Ah haf tah ask Kitty?"
"You know Kitty doesn't care about anything since she hooked up with that Piotr guy. He's so sweet and tender, it's like the world is as nice as he is, and you know the world isn't half nice any way you look at it." They had reached the front door now, and Sam opened it for her. "But git dis, Mister Guthrie: Remy's back!"
"Remy LeBeau?!" he dropped his bag in another moment of disbelief. "Yah be pullin' mah dern leg, Miz Jubes! Dat feller jumped off eh building an' done himself in." In her annoyance, Jubilation smacked Sam dutifully across the shoulder.
"I -told- you not to think that! Remy doesn't just go and jump off a building to die! If at anything at all, he was probably stealing." Ororo past by then, and Sam noticed her swelling stomach, underneath a maternity dress. Jubilation noticed his attention diverted and smirked.
"That's gonna be a fine baby," she told him. Sam shrugged.
"It's not that I was contemplatin' on, Miz Jubes. It's who's gonna deliver it, I'm considerin'." Jubilation frowned.
"Well, I have lots to tell you so you could just forget about that baby business. Logan'll be fussing your butt off when he finds you're thinking the way you do."
"Don't remind me, Miz. Just tell me about Remy--oh, and Rogue! Tell me 'bout her too," Sam insisted, for everyone knew that Rogue had something for Remy even if she was secretive. But Remy nobody could understand, so they just let him be.
"Well, Rogue, you know how downcast she was and all, she'd sit by her balcony and sob sometimes, but for what reason and for who were never known (but I think it was because of Remy. But what do I know?). She'd just sit and sob and John'd come and take her out, and then she'd come back, tired and worn and cry some more.
"But then, when Remy came back, she got all excited and dressed nice and did her hair the way she did it before...wear it down, I think. Anyway, Remy gave me Racoon--that's what I named my racoon-- on the same day he came back, and boy did I have a hard time keeping him away from Logan, because Logan loves those crackers...Goldfish, I think they're branded...and when ever he ate them, Racoon'd come and pounce on Logan, and who pounces on Logan except Sabertooth and maybe Ororo when Logan fails to get her pears or apples in opposite seasons, so Logan would shoot up like a firework and scream his death cry, and Racoon would just run away with the crackers, happy and full and delighted."
"Miz Jubes," Sam said, patiently, "You're drifting."
"No I'm not," Jubilation returned. "It's all part of the story."
September 10, 2003
In Bayville, if you had enough money, you could pay somebody to have your lawn done.
But not at Xavier's Institute. If you had Logan as an instructor, and he was the father of an unborn child whose mother was prissy and angry because she wanted the child and didn't want the child, and you got him angry before he had his cup of coffee for the day, you were in for some serious yard duty.
Which, in this case, was all Jubilation. It wasn't even her fault, too. She was just sitting at the dining table, reading the Funnies she had just stolen from Roberto, while eating her Fruit Loops, when Logan came in, snarling and growling. Then when he found nobody had made coffee on that particular day, he tripped over a chair and Bobby and Roberto broke out into fits of laughter.
Until Logan turned on them and growled, "Who even -dares- to laugh at me, huh?!" And the boys pointed at Jubilation, so guess who had to tend the grass for the next two weeks.
Jubilation, of course, knew she was jipped, and angrily stomped out, rake in hand, vowing that one day she would get back at Iceman and Sunspot for her unreasonable debt to pay for doing nothing.
But just as she started raking the leaves, she noticed a shadow-- or something of that sort, on the roof, trying to get in through a window.
-HER- window to be exact.
It was all too much for her. With enough power, she threw an easy blast that almost hit the person square in the face if he hadn't moved away.
That was when she got a good look at him. And recognized his face...
"Gambit!" she cried, startling the man, who flopped out of the window in surprise, got his foot wedged between the shackles, slid down to the gutter, and basically fell off the roof. And the exact moment he hit the ground, Logan came out, steam coming out of his nose like a rice cooker about to explode--which was exactly what he did...Before he smelled Remy, who hadn't stirred from his unfortunate landing.
"What's -that-?!" Logan snarled, his nostrils twitching. Jubilation knew she needed to cut Remy loose...even if she had to lie in doing so.
"I...reached for Kurt's cologne when I was actually getting my own perfume?" Logan rose an eyebrow, like he smelled her fib.
"Kurt's cologne smells like stale cigarettes and cheap wine?" Jubilation smiled, nervously.
"Well, it -has- been sitting on the shelf for a while..." Then, Ororo saved her butt by sticking her head out of the window and yelling, "Logan! What happened to my raw eggs?"
Which was returned, with "How many times do I have to tell you: YOU CAN'T EAT RAW EGGS!!!" and a cringe. He threw Jubilation a raging eye and snarled once more.
"Get back to work...and get RID of that smell!!"
When he had gone, Remy stood up, dusting himself off and rasping, "Cheap wine?! Cheap wine?!! Cabernet is -not- cheap! The cigarettes I can understand completely, but..." Jubilation interrupted him though, dropping her duty along with the rake, and rushing into his arms.
"Remy, Remy, Remy! I saved your Cajun butt from getting whooped and all you can think about is wine! You goat...I knew you were alive all along!" she cried, as he patted her head. "Did you bring me something back from New Orleans?"
He laughed, whole-heartedly. "Sure did, Petit..." He then drew out a humongous cage from behind his coat--the coat that hides everything-- and kept his hand in front of it, a wisping smile on his brown face.
"Is it shiny, Remy?" Jubilation asked, eagerly. His face dulled, and her with it. "You forgot."
"Completely," he admitted. "But it's better than jewlery."
"What's better than -jewlery-?" she pouted, hopelessly.
"Well, I knew you liked dogs..."
"You got me a DOG!" she cried, getting excited again. He shook his head.
"Think masks, Petit." Jubilation thought.
"A dog wearing a mask?" He shrugged, apparently tired of the game as she was. Unlatching the caged door, a furry creature sprung at Jubilation without moment's notice, and its fur in her mouth kept her from screaming. Her first thought was that it was a squirrel, but then it crawled off her face and unto Remy's shoulders, where she got a good look at it.
"You got me a -racoon-?" she asked, in disbelief. Remy grinned, and so did the racoon.
"Of course," he said, with suave. But Jubilation wasn't impressed. She was...let down.
"But we have racoons in Bayville! How does a racoon from Louisiana make any difference? And Logan'll kill me when he finds I've got myself a racoon! A RACOON!" The creature had jumped from its perch and was now pushing at Jubilation's cheeks.
"It's different, Jubes, it is," Remy insisted, "He's house trained and he don't smell so bad if you give him a bath. He likes crackers, Goldfish especially, and likes pretty things." He grinned again. "Like you."
"I'm so touched," Jubilation replied, obviously disgruntled. But the racoon had thought she was pretty and now wrapped himself on her shoulders, luxuriously. She rethought the situation--the racoon didn't smell so bad, and he was cute, and maybe she could train him to take revenge on Bobby and Roberto for her--the possibilities were endless. Logan would just have to deal.
"Okay, I'll take him." She grabbed the racoon in her hands and smiled. "Rems, why don't you come inside for a spell--Logan's probably out and Rogue's upstairs..." His face turned cold for a second, but before Jubilation could question it, Remy smiled.
"It's all right, Jubes. I just came t' see y' anyway. An' besides, I like de view from outside, down 'ere." Jubes looked up. Rogue, who had moved into Jean's room when she left for Bayville University, was by the balcony window, combing her hair. She hadn't seen them, which was fine, for Remy didn't look the least pleasant: his hair was muzzled, face jagged with stubble from the lack of shaving, eyes dull pommegranates with no fire like they once had. His clothes were torn and the fall didn't help him much, while his face drooped like he hadn't slept for ages. Jubilation was worried. Even his grin, when it did appear, wasn't worth the million dollars like it had been.
"I gotta go, Petit," he said. Jubilation opened her mouth to protest, but he beat her to the last word. "See y' when I can, k'?" He patted her head, shook the racoon's hand, and disppeared like the thief he was. Jubilation, the racoon under her arm, frowned, and went back to the rake.
December 12, 2003
Sam handed Jubilation a peach. She frowned at it, like it was a rock that had no meaning to anything.
"What's this for?" she asked, impudently. Sam smiled, patiently.
"It's a Georgia peach. Thought you'd might lahke it," he said, taking a bite out of his own. Jubilation thought better of it and ate it, thoughtfully. "So, what 'bout Rogue? She jump on him any?"
"How can she?" Jubilation replied, liking the fruit she was eating. "With those powers of hers, she isn't on the right wagon, if you know what I mean." Sam, who didn't know what she meant, nodded, stupidly.
"But did she git tah see Rems?" Jubilation cocked her head sideways at her friend.
"Rems told me to give her a note to meet at Clairemont's." She paused and Sam frowned.
"So?" He asked, his patience worn thin. Jubilation was the best story teller around, but she made too many pauses. "Did she?" Jubilation looked up at him, between bites. The stare she gave him was sweet, which calmed him a bit.
"Well, she had to get through John first."
September 17, 2003 ~ Rogue's Birthday
Rogue quit smoking, and it was driving her crazy. She hadn't picked up a cigarette since she last left Bayville, and even then, she craved it. John had insisted she stay on the patch, and because he insisted, she did. But it cost him the day without her. In fact, she had told everyone that if anyone were to even peep into the keyhole to her room today, she'd have to bash their nose in. Because they knew she meant it, nobody dared to. She didn't want to see anyone today, because today was her birthday, or the birthday that Mystique had given her. She never really knew her real birthday.
So there you have it, she thought to herself, glancing out the balcony window. She had always wanted Jean's room because it separated her from Kitty and it had the best view of the backlot from the second floor. But it was also the loneliest place too--the sun rarely shone and it was across from the room that once belonged to...
She stopped thinking. I'm happy Jean's gone, happy Scott's gone, happy...happy... She couldn't say his name. She had all the strength a person could handle and she didn't even have the courage to say his name.
My heart is solid, but it ain't gold.
Suddenly, there came a knock on her door, and Rogue almost fell out of her loveseat. Tragic, she thought, balling her hand into a fist, there will be some serious explaining after I open this door. She walked--staggered, almost, to the door, in which she swung open. There stood Jubilation, her eyes an innocent fit, face flushed with fear, expressionless. She looked at the girl who stared back, as if wanting for her to speak first. So Rogue did.
"What dah -hell- do yah want?!" She spat. Jubilation stared, her mouth dropping and no words falling from it. "Well?"
Jubilation swallowed. "I...I have here...a note." She handed it to Rogue, who grabbed it, reluctantly, ripped the sealing and shook the paper from its folds.
Clairemont's, she read. 7 p.m...don't be late.
"What kind of -sick- joke do yah take me fer?! Huh?!" Rogue rasped, staring at the letter. Jubilation shrugged. "Who's it from, Jubes? John? Ah told 'im Ah was busy..."
"Oh, okay. I'll take it back now, if you don't want to go," Jubes offered, and snatched the paper away. Rogue, stared, dumbfounded. Jubilation stood back, her eyes blazing with some new courage Rogue had never seen before. "I'll just tell him you won't come. It's all understandable." That was when Rogue was hit with some flurry of confusion.
"What's understandable? Who's 'him'?" Another shrug from Jubilation. Rogue cringed with irritation. "Why won't you tell me..."
"Hey, you want to go? That's fine. You want to stay? That's fine too. If it's John who sent the note, then that's fine. But if it isn't John...well," Jubilation said, turning to go, "you'll never find out if you stay." Rogue whirled on her, angrily.
"I -hate- guessin' games, Jubes, yah know dat! An' tah tease me on mah birthday--now dat's below dah belt, Sugah," she spat. Jubilation, indigant now, wiped the spit from her face and walked away.
Without a word. Without a single word.
Rogue, furious, slammed the door and sat in the corner of her room, pouting. Jubilation was obviously hiding something. Something so dastardly important, that even Rogue couldn't figure it out. But she was intrigued. If the note proved to be from John, then there would be no telling what she'd do to him. But if it was from someone else...
Rogue looked at her watch. Six in the afternoon. An hour left to get down there. She'd have to hurry.
---
She had finished touching up her make-up when there came a knock on her door. Jubilation, Rogue thought. She expected her to come back. She needed to persuade her to tell her who...She stopped thinking when the door was opened and there appeared John, a dozen roses in his hand.
"John!" she said, staring at him, then the roses. "Wh-What are yah doin' 'ere?"
"Why luv," he crooned, speechless himself. "Were ya plannin' on leavin' tonight?"
"Never mind dat," she rasped, quietly, and accepted the roses. "Ah -told- yah Ah didn care fer yur company t'night." John looked hurt.
"Why not? What have I done so wrong?" he asked, in a voice so childish, Rogue had to look twice to confirm he was still twenty.
"Nuthin', Sugah," she said, hiding her sarcasm. At least Ah know the invitation wasn't from John, she thought, abbrasively. "Ah just thought Ah'd go out alone. But," she said, patting the seat next to her on the loveseat, "since yu're here, y' can have mah company." John, liking her change in character, sat down next to her.
"We can still go out, luv," he said, sweetly. She shrugged.
"Ah don..."
"How 'bout fer some coffee? A small date--yah deserve it on yur birthday," he offered. Rogue furrowed her brow.
"At...Clahiremont's?"
"Sure," he grinned, an arm around her. "It's nice out, no rain, no cloud, nothing to bother us." Rogue tried to look pleased.
"Ah...guess so," she mumbled, a forced smile on her face.
"Terrific!" John exclaimed, giving her hand a small kiss. "Yah still got dat ol' Rogue inside o' yah."
---
"She's not comin'," Remy stated, sitting back in his wicker chair. Jubilation sat across from him, a cup of chocolate in her hand. They were both dressed in coats, his brown, hers yellow, sipping their drinks in the most unconspicuous company. They were silent as they waited, looking like sullen Russians in the fall weather.
"She'll come." Jubilation was apparently more hopeful than her friend.
"She thinks it's from John doesn't she." Jubilation looked at him, scrutinizing his guess.
"Well, Rems, he is after all her boyfriend. You forget the most obvious detail." Remy drank his coffee without another word. He was staring up ahead of him, and when Jubilation followed his gaze, she too turned silent. Coming up the walk way was Rogue, an arm woven through John's, heading through Clairemont's. Remy then stood up, throwing his paper cup into the waste basket.
"Come Petit, we should go," he said, as Jubilation stood up as well. She frowned at his wanting to leave so soon.
"You could still talk to her, Rems," she offered. Remy resisted looking their way.
"It's not a good time," he said, and Jubilation knew he meant it. Without a second to spare, they disappeared from the square, one after the other, heads bent and no notion to turn around.
The Institute Informative ~ September 18, 2003
Hear, Hear fellow mutants of the Institute! Bobby and Amara are holding a balloon fight on Saturday: be there or be...not there! Yesterday, Rogue celebrated her birthday all to herself and was seen strolling by Clairemont's with her beau, John (sorry Rogue). Here's to another seventeen years!
Also, Logan has seemed to have lost his shaver. If anyone has seen it, please let him know because last time I heard, Ororo doesn't like him hairy.
Piotr, my other half, says that Magneto will be coming over for Halloween. Can it be true? An arch rival thinking of gracing his presence in our household? Jumping Xavier's wheelchair: that can't be right! But then again, Piotr never lies.
---Kitty Pryde---
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I got lazy today, sorry. Just hoped it wasn't boring and somebody actually liked it. Liked it? I do hope so. Please review, I do so hate to say it, but right now, I can't think of anything else to say. Except I bet you're wondering why Remy gave her a racoon. But that will come later, as everything always does.