Chellerbelle: I ran through the list of options and this one provides a nice twist, since her new residence will be in New Orleans. Also, it would seem like a place that Mystique would maintain connections with, her being a terrorist and all. It makes me happy that you can't wait to read more. :D
Disclaimer: I'd be getting paid a whole lot more for my story lines if I did own X-Men.
On Monday morning, Rogue awakens with a plan in mind. She showers and dresses as she mentally runs through the details. Pulling a phone book out of the drawer, she finds many area dealerships. She calls several and finds one nearby. As she leaves, she waves to the desk clerk.
Rogue gets in the car and takes a moment to collect herself before she takes the form of Raven Darkholme. She takes out the paperwork and the ID she had stolen along with them. Rogue shrugs to herself. Mystique has several ID cards, each with a different name and form to match. She shifts uncomfortably in the business suit. She's not used to dressing up like this.
In the car lot, she gets out of the car and a salesman approaches her eagerly, eyeing the expensive car.
"Can I help ya, ma'am?" He asks courteously and extends his hand. "My name's Charlie an' I would be delighted ta assist ya taday."
Rogue shakes his hand. "I'm Ms. Raven Darkholme. I'm looking to trade this in for a new vehicle for my daughter, as an early graduation gift. She will be moving here to attend college and will probably desire to stay afterward, so I will need to apply for Louisiana license plates for her."
"Oh, absolutely! As you can see, we have a wide selection ta choose from, uh...may I call ya Raven?"
Rogue perversely enjoys thoughts of Mystique cringing at Charlie's familiarity. "Of course you may. I am quite interested in that black G6 GXP over there."
"A fine selection, Raven. It's completely loaded with leather, moonroof, 8 speaker Monsoon 6 disc stereo, the works."
"I would like to take it out for a test drive, please."
They take the car out and it runs beautifully, as it is new. Rogue is in love.
"What kind of a deal can we work out, so I can take this car home today? My daughter will love it." Rogue makes the attempt to not sound too eager.
"Well, since this Mercedes is nearly new an' is in excellent shape, we should be able ta get somethin' done for ya."
After some haggling and hammering out the terms, Rogue is cleaning out the Mercedes and transferring the items she wants to keep into her new car. She stops at a McDonald's for some lunch and goes into the bathroom, changing back to herself. She changes into the more comfortable clothes she brought along and sashays out, catching the eye of several young men out on their lunch break. She smiles at them and walks up to the counter to order her food. Rogue chuckles to herself as she listens to the group talk about her.
What she doesn't count on is a deep, vaguely familiar voice coming from directly behind her.
"S' we meet again, cherie. Fate must've dealt me a bon 'and." The silky voice purrs in her ear.
"Fate can also be cruel." Rogue retorts with a smirk.
"Dat's true, but not in dis case. 'M t'inkin' dat maybe dere be some reason why we keep runnin' int' each ot'er."
"Bad timin'?" Rogue quips.
Remy faces her, leaning with his back to the counter and folds his arms across his chest.
"Funny, chere. 'M t'inkin' dat maybe y'r some'ow drawn t' me. Maybe y'r followin' me aroun', non?" He gives her another once-over.
"I'm positively amazed that ya can get through doors with tha size a that big head a yas. An' I thought I tol' ya ta stop lookin' at me like that!" Rogue's eyes narrow.
"Y' know dat y'r tres belle w'en y'r angry, cherie?"
"What's it gonna take ta get ya ta leave me alone? An' quit callin' me cherie!" She suppresses the urge to shout, since she is in a public place.
"Why would a belle femme like y'rself wan' t' be alone? Dat's no fun, 'specially w'en y' could 'ave comp'ny like mine. I could really show y a tres bon time. Again, I call y' cherie 'cuz y' still 'aven' tol' me y'r name." Remy answers suggestively.
A slight blush begins to color her pretty features as she buries her face in one hand and groans. She is saved when the cashier interrupts. "Miss, your order's ready." Rogue takes the bag and makes a quick exit, looking back long enough to send a death glare Remy's way. Remy chuckles wickedly and takes note that the car she's now in is not the Mercedes. "I'll 'ave t' keep an eye out f'r dat one." Remy smirks. "I could 'ave real fun wit' 'er." He takes his own bag and leaves.
Back at her room, Rogue peruses the classified ads in the newspaper. She needs to find housing and a job. She circles a few possibilities in the job section, as she feels that to be the wiser course of action. A thought hits her suddenly. "Why didn' I think a that before? I need ta fin' a new church home! Thanks for remindin' me." She looks upward and smiles. Rogue removes the phone book from the drawer again and this time turns to the 'churches' section. This time, she prays for guidance to be led to the right one. After awhile, she looks again and a name jumps out at her. It is written down on a piece of paper and tucked into her purse. Tomorrow, she will begin her job search in earnest, she decides. Rogue takes out her laptop and accesses her Internet account. Checking the time, she knows that Kitty should be home from school now. She goes into her instant messaging program and sees that Kitty's online.
Hi Shadowcat! You there? Rogue types in to begin.
Hi Rogue. What's happening over there?
I got a new car today. It's a sweet ride.
Coolness! How did you do that?
Disguised myself as Mystique and pretended I was buying the car for my 'daughter'.
LOL! Is it all in your name?
Yep. All in mine, not hers.
Good. Btw, our friends miss you.
I miss them too. Hey, before I forget, I ran into that jerk again.
The smokin' one?
The same.
HA! So, you have a crush on him, or what?
WHAT!!!! So WHAT!!!
Hehehehehehe......you like him!
DO NOT!
Denial isn't just a river in Egypt, you know.
Drop it, Kit!
Why?
'Cuz I don't want to talk about it anymore.
Okay....okay.
The girls converse for a few more minutes, then Rogue signs off.
Wednesday arrives. A dejected Rogue prepares for church that night. She dresses in a pair of black flare-leg jeans and a deep green top that accentuates both hair and eyes. Satisfied with her appearance, she leaves to attend her first service. Pulling up to a small church with a lighted sign out in front, she notes that the name is the same as on the paper. "Shepherd's Light." Rogue reads aloud. "This must be it." she surmises and exits the car to go inside. A welcoming feeling envelops her as she moves forward to find a seat. Several people turn to smile at the young woman. She finds herself warmly welcomed by several more, including an older woman who sits by her.
"M' name's Mattie Baptiste, but mos' call me Tante o' Tante Mattie. W'at be y'r name, honey chile?"
"I jus' prefer ta go by Rogue. Nice meetin' ya."
"Bon t' know y' t'. S' w'at brings y' t' N'awlins, chere?"
"Oh. I....Well, I guess I'm startin' fresh. Things jus' ain' what they shoulda been at home, so I decided ta come here."
Mattie looks at Rogue with a leery expression. "Jus' 'ow ol' are y' chile?" She raises one eyebrow, awaiting the girl's answer.
"Um....17...." Rogue responds hesitantly, afraid of where this is leading. Her worst fears are confirmed when Tante asks. "Why aren' y' at 'ome wit' y'r mere, petit?"
Rogue knows that this woman is one you don't lie to. She just carries that "Don't mess with me" attitude. Rogue sadly answers "She don' wan' me. Neva did." and turns her head away.
Tante realizes that she is telling the truth and her gaze immediately softens. She reaches out to turn Rogue's face toward her again when Rogue grabs her hand. "Don' touch me!" She warns, wide-eyed. "Whyev'r not?"
"I..I have a skin condition. Ya can' touch me."
Tante's curiosity is piqued by this young woman beside her. More than that, she feels led of the Lord to help this poor lamb.
"W'ere y' livin' petit?"
"At a hotel outside a town for now."
"Hmm....'M t'inkin' y'r goin' t' need someplace else t' stay befo' t' much longer."
"I got some money, but it won' las' fo'eva." Rogue answers truthfully.
"'Course it won', chile. Did y' finish y'r schoolin'?"
"I was in my las' year when I had ta leave. I wanna finish, though."
"Tres bon! Let me talk t' my employ'r an' see if 'e will let y' come t' stay wit' us so y' can finish y'r schoolin' an' such. I could use some 'elp 'roun' de 'ouse anyway."
Rogue immediately protests. "I can' do that! I won' put ya out like that. I'll fin' somethin', it's jus' gonna take a lil' time."
"Non, non! Y' can' finish school if y' got t' work t' make ends meet. Now I insist! Let me talk t' 'im. 'M sure 'e will agree wit' me. Y' ain' puttin' us out, chile. Dat homme 'as mo' money dan 'e knows w'at t' do wit'! Dis argumen' is ov'r! Y'll come an' stay wit' us. End o' story. Now shush, church is startin'."
The service is more than what Rogue expected it to be, although her mind is occupied with the magnanimous offer made to her. If she accepted, then it would solve her problems. She would have a place to stay and she would be able to finish school without worrying about a busy work schedule that would leave precious little time to study. It is true that her stash is dwindling. Tante would also give her 'busy work' from the sound of it, when she had extra time on her hands. Rogue would gladly do it anyway, just as a thank you for their generosity.
After the final song, Tante turns to Rogue. "Give me y'r number an' I will call y' aft'r I talk t' Jean-Luc 'bout dis."
"You're sure about all this?" Rogue asks uncertainly.
"Wouldn' ask if I wasn'." Tante states. "Would y' like t' meet de past'r o' our lil' flock?" Tante inquires with a smile.
"I'd love ta." Rogue replies and walks up front with the woman.
"Tante! So good to zee you. Who do you have vith you?" A young man with a strong German accent queries.
"Past'r Kurt, dis is Rogue. She's goin' t' be movin' in wit' my famille." Tante states firmly, but pleasantly..
"Good to meet you, Rogue. How did you like ze service?"
"Oh, it was jus' great! Like tha church I lef' back home." Rogue smiles at the memory of the services held in that particular church.
"Zat is vonderful to hear. Vere are you from?" Kurt inquires, interested in the young woman.
"I'm from Mississippi."
"Not too far from here, zen."
"Not really." She replies vaguely.
"Vill you be coming back on Sunday?"
"You bet! I like it here."
"Fantastic! Zat is vat I like to hear. I vill see you zen." Kurt shakes her hand and moves to greet a group of youth about Rogue's age.
"I'm gonna haveta introduce myself ta them." Rogue tells herself. A strong hand is felt on her shoulder. "I will introduce y' on Sunday. Y' were goin' t' give me dat number o' y'rs." Tante reminds her. Rogue quickly writes it down and hands it to her. "Bon. I will call y' as soon as I talk t' 'im." Tante reiterates, then on an impulse, pulls the girl close for a hug, careful not to touch any exposed skin. When she breaks it, she gives Rogue a tender look. "T'oug't y' could use dat. I'll see y' Sunday."
Rogue watches as Tante leaves, amazed by what has just transpired. She genuinely smiles, knowing that she's being cared for.
Next up, things get more....interesting, shall we say.
