Wow it's been awhile.

Since we last spoke, Anna Paquin mentioned she isn't in the Gambit movie as of now and X-23 was announced as the new Wolverine and is probably still with Angel. We are going to ignore these things. In related news, comics frustrate me.

Anyway, thanks for still being here.

Mystique calls another gathering in the morning. Gambit theorizes that her tall stature merely serves as a permanent soapbox to stand on. With everyone gathered around her, she reiterates their mission of vengeance or whatever, and then adds a new bit.

"It's come to my attention," she says, "that some of you are experiencing resurgences in your powers."

Nightcrawler, Rogue, Gambit, and X-23 all stand beside each other in the crowd. Rogue feels Nightcrawler tense up beside her.

"This is the moment we have been waiting for," Mystique announces. "If you have experienced returns of your powers, no matter how slight, please alert me. Effectively immediately, I intend to begin a training regimen to allow you to harness your powers again, and then strengthen them. After that, we will take our fight to the humans, to the sympathizers, and to anyone who has ever dared to get in our way!"

Whoops and hollers of approval sound off from the crowd. Several push forward to alert her of their returning abilities. Pyro barges past the group of X-Men associates, grinning. He turns to face them while he approaches Mystique, walking lazily backwards in a fashion he probably assumes makes him look cool and aloof.

"The time has come, X-friends," Pyro jeers. "Time to start training."

"You dropped out of school to let Mystique be your teacher?" Rogue frowns.

"With my skill? Of course not!" Pyro exclaims. "I'm a teacher."

Pyro turns and rushes off, delighted at having left Rogue so dumbfounded.

"Training mutants to use their powers," Gambit muses. "Where have I heard that before?"

"I doubt zey vill stick to Charles Xavier's course schedule," Nightcrawler grumbles. He's bent over his bed, packing a bag full of clothes and books.

"Why do you have so many Bibles?" X-23 asks, perched at the head of Gambit's bed.

"In my line of faith, you just kind of end up having several," he shrugs. "You can take one if you'd like."

Rogue approaches his bag and picks one off the top. "This place could use a good smite."

"Zat's not really what it's is for," he scowls. "What are you going to do, just throw ze book at them?"

"It might do 'em some good," Rogue shrugs.

"Judgment is not our job, Rogue," Nightcrawler warns.

"Maybe not. But aren't yah judgin' this place, too? You're packin' to leave, after all."

"Knowing where I shouldn't be is different from condemning zese people. I don't belong here. I'm going back to the X-Men."

"Hey! We'll come, too, mon ami!" Gambit pipes up hopefully.

"No, we won't," Rogue rejects. He pouts about it.

"I'm sure you would all be velcome with the X-Men whenever you decide to come. That's kind of zeir thing. Unlike some people we know of."

"'Judgment ain't our job,' ya said?" Rogue teases.

"Sorry. I've a lot of work to do before my character is up to par with what I aspire to be."

"I feel you," X-23 interjects.

"Since when do you use slang?" Gambit teases.

"Well, I'd better be off," Nightcrawler zips his bag and hoists it onto his shoulder. He addresses to the three of them. "I hope to see you all very soon again, meine Freunde."

"Hey, one request, though," Rogue begins in hushed tones, "you wouldn't mind not tellin' Storm, or Bobby, or anyone else that Ah'm here, would ya?"

"Promise me you vill not join my mother's revenge crusade?"

"'Course not," she smiles. She holds out a pinky to effectively confirm her promise. Nightcrawler brings up his hand up to complete the gesture.

Rogue squeals. Instead of a regular hand, Nightcrawler holds out a three large fingers turning blue at the tips. She draws her pinky away in surprise.

Nightcrawler laughs at her reaction. "Sorry! It seems my mutation is returning a bit quickly."

She apologizes hastily. "Ah didn't mean to shout, Nightcrawler. Ah don't think yah're appearance is squeal-worthy."

"Please. I saw how you looked at me when you first saw me on the blackbird."

"How did ah look at ya?"

"The same way Pyro did."

"Ooh. Ah'm really sorry."

"It's in the past, mein freund, I assure you. And I guess I'll just have to take your word on that promise."

Nightcrawler brushes past her, patting her on the shoulder as he does. She makes a point to not flinch when the three-pronged hand touches her.

"Au revoir, monsieur," Gambit calls after him. X-23 echoes the sentiment with a small wave.

"Bye, Nightcrawler!" Rogue calls after him as he leaves.

"Goodbye," he calls back. "You can call me Kurt, by the way."

Kurt Wagner leaves on this note. Mystique has started up a training session in a corner of the warehouse, and he's sure she notices him leaving. He doesn't even glance back as he exits the warehouse.

"He's a nice guy," Gambit muses, lounging on his bed with his hands behind his head. Laura perches on the metal top of the cot, somehow seeming comfortable there.

"Yeah, he is," Rogue agrees, sitting on the edge of her own bed facing him. "Ah don't see how Mystique could be his mother, though."

"Maybe he's adopted?" X-23 suggests.

"Ugh. Ah'd hate to be adopted by Mystique."

"Enough about dat femme," Gambit pleads. "She's all we talk about, and dey's not much else t' say. She got a bad plan dat's gonna turn out bad, and dat's dat."

"Well what would ya like to do instead? Train?"

"Ha. De runaway got jokes," he smirks. "I'm stuck hearin' about this mission I don't believe in 24/7, hearin' about it and it's leader and why humans are scum. It gets dreary, y'know."

"What would ya rather do, then?" Rogue poses.

Gambit sits up straight, perking up. "Let's go out on de town, chere," he suggests enthusiastically. "I don' know dese parts. Show me de place."

"Ah don't know these parts either," Rogue says.

"Well, den we can discover it together. Whaddaya say?"

Rogue muses on this for bit. "This isn't a ploy to get me back with the X-Men? Yah're not just gonna take off with me?"

"Thief's honor," Gambit promises.

"Doesn't that imply no honor at all?" X-23 poses.

"Shhh, m'petite."

Rogue giggles at the exchange. "Alright fine. Ah'll ask Mystique if she lets people leave this place at all."

"Don't be ridiculous, chere," Gambit shakes his head. "We is sneakin' out."