Disclaimer: The characters and events depicted in this story are fictional. Any similarity to any actual person, living or dead, or to any actual events, firms and institutions and other entities is coincidental and unintentional. The story is based on Dokyusei written by Nana to which permission to use its plot has been granted by the author. All characters used are the legal property of Marvel and its constituents.


Attitudes & Feelings, Both Desirable & Sometimes Secretive

Chapter III : Crash Course in Polite Conversation


"Hey!" cried Kitty, marching behind the fuming boy as he quickly got into the main building.

'Why that rude, unspeakable…creep!' thought Kitty. 'After putting me through that shouting tirade, now he thinks he can just walk off and pretend nothing's happened? NOT A CHANCE!'

Although her encounter with Pete Wisdom had not exactly been pleasant, Kitty really could not say it had not been interesting.

Pete stopped only when he realized they were starting to attract attention. He whipped around, growling, "Just how long are you goin' to follow me 'round? If it's an apology you want, you may as well not bother: yer not bloody well goin' to get one!"

Kitty could feel the hair on her nape stand on end. "Why you…you…!" She cast around for something really, really bad to say. Finally she settled for – "you…FREAK!!! You insolent jerk! For your information, I'm heading for the cafeteria!"

Pete let out a smirk. "Well if you're not followin' me what're you doin' 'ere? The cafeteria is down the hall!"

"Well, excuse me! I'm NEW HERE!" Kitty could not help but snap.

"Fine. Have it your way," Pete said, his tone growing almost bored. "It's not like I bloody care or anythin'."

He turned away and walked off. Kitty could sense that her breathing had gone all erratic. With difficulty, she forced her balled fists to relax. With as much dignity as she could muster, she turned away and headed back where they came from, her chin lifted in the air.

Pete heard her go, and it was not until he was sure she had turned the corner and disappeared did he risk looking back at the corridor behind him.

'That girl…' he thought vaguely remembering a different time and place.

"Katherine," he mumbled almost apologetic then grimaced. "Bloody hell, I need a smoke," he grumbled.

Half a building away, the bearer of that name was not feeling at all charitable with the guy in question.

'Why that miserable little…jerk!' she thought furiously as she yanked open the door and got into the cafeteria.


"…and wit St. John goin' over dat aspect of possible fallacies de other team might make, we're practically covered," said the boy gleefully, pouring through his notes.

His sunglasses wearing companion sighed. "Remy s'en fiche," he said dully, his chin in his hand.

"But, Remy," whined the younger boy in a high-pitched, wavering voice, "don't yo' find dis excitin'?"

Remy drew out another long-suffering sigh.

"Lapin, if you really want t' do Remy a favor, yo' can start by shooin' these filles away," he said, motioning to his side with great subtlety. There, attached to his left arm seemingly like a barnacle to a ship, was a giggling girl as young as Lapin. Beside her were two more of Remy's more ardent admirers, both not exactly along his line of interest.

Remy struggled manfully to maintain a calm front as they pressed in, thrilled.

'Why do des things have t' happen t' Remy?' he wondered briefly.

A crash of metallic trays drew him out of his glum introspection, and as he saw the cause of the brief commotion among those queuing in line for food, he forgot all about his miserable lunch.

"Who," he asked, pointing, "is dat?"

Lapin adjusted the rims of his glasses as he got a better look. "Hmm…never seen her befor'. Perhaps she's a new student, Remy….Remy?"

But Remy was already gone.


"Sorry," Kitty said, embarrassed as a few people got down to help her with the trays she had knocked aside.

'Oh, jeez! Did I have to spaz out today?' she sighed unhappily as she got into line at the counter. She began piling food on her tray.

'No use getting all worked up over a jerk like that,' she thought, shaking her head. 'But, really, just who does he think he is…?!'

She hardly gave her actions any thought, until somebody tapped her on the shoulder, and she heard a pleasant male voice distinctly say, "Hmm…from de look of things, would Remy be correct in his deduction that you're new here?" said a guy with a Cajun accent.

She turned to see a guy wearing a pair of sunglasses smiling back at her. The boy was a good head taller than she was. A handsome, serene face…and dark shaggy brown hair tied at the back in a ponytail. 'Now where had she seen this guy before?'

Taking his cue from her confused look, he pointed to her tray. "You wouldn't be pickin' dis vegetable if you've stayed 'ere longer," he said simply. "Practically indigestible."

Kitty blinked. 'It's that debate team guy. The one Rogue had her knife into.' He followed her over to a vacant table and sat down across her.

"And do you always spot new people like this – through their choices in cafeteria food?" Kitty asked, smiling in spite of herself.

"Well, not really," said the guy thoughtfully. "But Remy could swear he knows all the belle filles 'round 'ere."

He smiled when Kitty's faded, to be replaced by doubt and disbelief. 'He, like, really is lech, isn't he?'

"Remy Lebeau," he said, sticking his hand out and catching hers easily. "And you must be…?"

"Katherine…" Kitty was not sure she would want to say anything further.

"Katherine. A heavenly name. Welcome to Xavier Institute," he said seriously enough. "Remy realizes dat dis is pretty soon, but he haves a question – rather a request — pour toi t' consider…"

Kitty felt his hand tighten around hers. Katherine, would yah like t' go out with Remy sometime?" he asked.

Kitty's eyes grew round and wide. Before she could pull away, he rushed in, "Remy knows it's really very sudden, but even if it's just once…"

"Ya sure know how tah charm a girl with your question, swamp rat," remarked a voice dryly from behind them.

Relieved, Kitty whipped around to find Rogue there, a tray in hand.

Remy blinked. Without missing a beat, he got up to say, "Ah! Remy has t' admit dis is a day for new faces. You're a new student as well, chère?"

Kitty had to stifle a smile as she saw Rogue's eyes narrow dangerously. Without taking her eyes off the lecherous creature, Rogue said coldly, "Kitty, if ya lahke there are OTHER tables where we can have a nice, peaceful lunch."

They left Remy looking almost mesmerized.

Lapin soon rushed over. "Remy!" he said.

"Lapin," said Remy thoughtfully. "Who dis dat fille over dere?"

Lapin turned to see Kitty and Rogue laying down their trays on a nearby table. "Yo' mean dat girl with the ponytail?" he asked.

"Remy means dat fille with her," said Remy, and Lapin looked up as he noted the deceptively idle tone his boss was using.

"Oh, her, Rogue?" Lapin rummaged around for his notes. "Not much on her, sophomore, belongs t' the track team. What do ya want t' know about her exactly?"

Remy smirked. "Everythin'," he said.


"Ah'm sorry, sugah," Rogue sighed, shaking her head as she sat down.

"Sorry about what?" asked Kitty in surprise.

"Him," Rogue made a small, derisive toss of the head to indicate Remy Lebeau. "Ah mean, a few minutes a new girl gets left 'lone here an' all the weirdos of this school just come rushin' in…"

'Weirdos of this school,' she murmured. 'Which reminded her…'

"Rogue, do you know anyone named Alvers?"


To be continued…
Read & review!

- Swing


Chapter Track: Crash Course in Polite Conversation - Gameface (Four To Go)
French Lexicon

chèredear

fillegirl

bellepretty

pourfor

toiyou

s'en fiche – don't care (usually je m'en fiche (I don't care) and is a more impolite way of expressing it)


Many thanks to the reviewers so far…anyone interested in being my beta for the story? The position is up for grabs.
Star Glad you like the story. I hope that I have improved somewhat on the British accent (you were right, I was going for Cockney), I don't want to be too stereotypical but I find it becomes unavoidable when you are trying to get it across on paper that they are speaking with an accent. I've only been to England once, so you must forgive my ignorance, the only contact I have now with British accents is PBS (I miss 'Coupling' & 'Red Dwarf' so much) and re-runs of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (and James Marsters wasn't even British). I wish I had an accent although when I travel people find I have accent…do Canadians have accents? I know some from Atlantic Canada do…and some from the Prairies but unless I am speaking French I don't think I do…hmm…anyway…I tried to do a Cajun accent. I had half a mind to write all of what he said in French which would have been pointless. He'll probably be caught saying a lot of Quebecois sayings, but I'll research some Louisiana ones.

gambit-rogueBelieve me, more Romy is on the way in the future, see they actually met in this chapter! They are by far my favourite couple in X-Men, I am a sucker for that love/hate relationship.