* * *
Funny how things change so quick. Remy took my hand in his an' raised my fingers ta my neck so Ah could touch where the necklace used ta be. Before that Ah hadn't felt any different, but as soon as Ah could feel that thing in my skin the room tilted all kaleidoscope crazy. Ah closed my eyes an' waited for it ta stop spinnin'.
"Get it out," Ah demanded softly, soundin' calmer than Ah felt.
"Don't t'ink dat's a good idea, chére."
Ah thought o' the spikes on the inside o' the collar, thought o' them growin' down into my skin, reachin' for my veins, dissolvin' into my flesh. Ah swallowed with difficulty an' Ah swear Ah could feel 'em pokin' into my throat. "Get it out!" Ah shrieked, clawin' at the bump. Ah imagined Ah felt it sinkin' under my fingers.
"Chére! Chére!" Remy grabbed my hands an' pulled 'em down into my lap. "It's okay, ma petit belle. Ma douce. Everyt'ing fine."
"Everythin's not fine an' you know it! Why even bother ta lie 'bout it?" Ah dropped my head against his chest an' he stroked my hair. He was murmurin' somethin', Ah couldn't make out the words, but the soft brush o' his breath against my cheek was enough ta calm me a little.
Gently, Remy tilted my head back an' touched my throat. "Not far under yet," he said after a breathless minute. His voice sounded choked.
The doorknob rattled, givin' us just enough time ta jump apart. Jubilee poked her head in. We musta looked guilty, because she got a kind of exasperated look on her face. "Aw, man! You guuys!"
"See?" Amara said, risin' on tiptoes ta see over Jubilee's shoulder. "I told you I heard something."
"Okay, yeah. Everyone's real proud of you, Mare," Jubilee said, rolling her eyes. Then she turned her attention back ta us. "Um, so, would you mind making out in your own rooms?"
"Not that you two have any problem with that," Amara added.
"Comment (how)...?" Remy began with a dangerous look on his face.
Jubilee an' Amara giggled. Damn Ray anyway, Ah thought.
Ah put a hand on his arm. "It's okay." Ah rose ta my feet. "Sorry," Ah told the two laughin' girls. "We just lost track o' time."
"That's all right," Jubilee said graciously.
"Yeah," Amara added. "It's probably the most action this room's seen in a long time."
"Hey!" Jubilee punched her playfully an' the two of 'em collapsed into laughter again.
The cheerful noise seemed ta be comin' over a long distance. Under my hand, Remy's muscles grew tighter an' tighter until they seemed like steel cables. Ah could tell he was itchin' ta say somethin' nasty; Ah barely managed ta yank him through th' door.
"Airheads!" he spat.
"Shh!" Ah touched his cheek. It was a little scratchy with stubble. "They don't know what's goin' on. Ya cain't blame 'em for that."
"Guess not," Remy admitted grudgingly. Suddenly, he straightened.
"Ah don't like the look in your eye."
"What look?"
"You've got an idea."
"I do." Couldn't help but feel a surge o' hope at that.
"But it doesn't involve th' Professor."
"Non."
"Or Mr. McCoy."
"Non."
We looked at each other quietly for a moment, an' then Ah knew what he wouldn't say. "You're goin' ta Magneto for help?"
"Not quite. Dr. Moreau helped us before, he..."
"Absolutely out o' the question!"
"Shh! Keep your voice down, beb." He moved ta put his arms around me, but Ah shoved him back, hard as Ah could.
"Don't 'beb' me, Cajun! How's it so hard for ya ta ask people here for help? You're just gonna go off ta get killed! An' for what? If you won't swallow your pride enough ta ask 'em, Ah will! It's not even your damn neck!"
"No, but it's my..."
"Your what?" Ah snapped.
Remy slumped down against the wall, bent his knees an' wrapped his arms 'round his legs. He bowed his head an' wouldn't look at me for the longest time.
Finally, Ah dropped ta my knees in front o' him. "Your what?" Ah repeated gently. Those butterflies Ah sometimes got around him were back an' holdin' tapdancin' lessons in my stomach.
"Mon coeur (my heart). C'est mon coeur."
Ah sat back on my heels, stunned. "What did you say?" Ah whispered.
"My heart," he said, sounding as if each syllable were wrung outta him.
Ah covered my mouth with my fingers. "Oh my god."
He jumped ta his feet, pushin' past me. "Dat's why I have t' go! If I can find John he can take me t' Moreau. Den dis'll all be over an' you'll be safe." He reached out his hand, as if he were about ta help me up, but Ah was still in shock an' so Ah didn't act quick enough. By the time Ah'd recovered myself the hallway was empty.
Behind me, the door ta Amara an' Jubilee's room creaked open an' they stuck their heads out. "Did you guys just break up?" Jubilee asked, concerned.
Ah turned, ready ta tell 'em everythin' was fine, but the words wouldn't come out. My eyes filled with tears. Ah tore off down the hallway toward my own room.
"You're too good for him, Rogue!" Ah heard Amara call after me.
Kitty barely looked up when Ah rushed into the room, but once she saw my waterin' eyes, she jumped up right away.
"Oh my god, are you all right? What happened?" She smoothed her hand down my back just like she was my mom or somethin'. An Ah didn't want ta do it, but the whole story came out. Kitty listened silently, for once not offerin' her opinion 'till Ah'd finished it all.
When Ah was done, Ah looked up ta find her regardin' me seriously with a hint o' somethin' else.
"You can't just let him go off alone!" she said vehemently.
"Ah'm in no condition ta go after him," Ah protested.
She shook her head. "Neither of you get it, do you? You don't have to do anything, like, by yourselves. We're all just standing around, waiting for you to realize that we can help! As if we don't have anything better to do or something." The last part was equal parts exasperation an' sarcasm.
"But..."
Kitty held up a hand. "Let me finish, okay? I'm kinda on a roll here. You've got something with Remy, but if you go off alone, even if it's for the best and noblest reasons in the world, you're gonna lose out in the end. He'll be gone and then you'll..." she trailed off an' blinked hard. When she looked at me again, her eyes were suspiciously bright.
"I'll what?"
"You'll regret it more than anything," she finished thickly. It was right about then Ah realized what Ah'd seen in her eyes before was her own regret about Lance.
"Let's go see the Professor," Ah suggested.
* * *
"Need somet'ing like de Bat Signal," I suggested once John called me back. When we'd met de last time, I'd demanded an emergency system, so I could call him. He'd come up with a complicated series of payphone calls, but still, after executing de system flawlessly, I had t' wait in de cold forty- five minutes for his call.
"Y'know I wouldn't go for anything that flashy," John replied. T'ought of his red hair and bright red suit and I had t' smile.
"Starting t' feel like your jilted lover." "Darling, you know you're the only boy for me," he cackled. "But I'm sure ya didn't call up to shoot the shit all day."
"Non. Of course not."
"Well, what d'you want then?"
"I need t' see Dr. Moreau."
"Easier said than done, mate."
"I have faith in you."
"Funny how desperation turns into faith if only you let it sit long enough."
"Y' gonna help me or not? Because right now you're wasting my time," I snapped.
"So I guess ya didn't find out what that lil' doohickey's for, eh?" Met his question wit' stony silence. "Okay!" he protested. "Don't get your knickers in a twist. I was only trying t' lighten the mood is all."
Thankfully, we were able t' make plans t' meet wit'out any more of John's wisecracks. He specified a town, 60 miles away, and a diner and a time. Figured t' let him have t'ings his way.
"Obviously I can't bring Dr. Moreau with me, but I'll tell you where t' find 'im," John promised. "Can't do much more than that."
"Dat's all I need," I said grimly, but John had already hung up.
Swung a leg over my bike and started it. It was going t' take some creative shortcuts t' get dere in time.
Underneath my hands, de engine idled impatiently. Could feel de vibrations t'rough my hands. De natural state of a motorcycle is motion, and de t'ing dat I liked most 'bout my bike was how it didn't give me much chance t' t'ink of anyt'ing else. Usually, I had t' be so focused on de road and maneuvering dat all my problems seemed t' just fly away.
Not dis time. Dis time my problem was about five foot five and blue wit' a German accent. He came outta nowhere and dropped gracefully onto de front of my bike.
"Remy, vait!"
Put away de cards I'd automatically begun charging.
"Kurt! You're lucky I didn't blow your head off!"
Kurt held up his hands. "I know. I know. Never sneak up on you again, right? I've heard zat story before. Mostly from Scott." He rubbed de back of his neck ruefully.
Shut off de engine. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm trying to stop you from doing something stupid." He relaxed a little, or as much as anyone can when they're sitting on de handlebars of a motorcycle. "I overheard you and Rogue. I couldn't help it. And I don't exactly know vhat's going on, but I think zat you're making a mistake."
"Y' followed me here from de Institute?"
Kurt nodded proudly. "It vasn't easy, believe me."
"And no one knows you're here, oui?"
"No, no one..." he trailed off, eluded me when I tried t' catch hold of him. "Hey!"
"Sorry, but y' can't go wit' me."
"And vhy not?" Kurt responded indignantly. "It's not like I've never done anything dangerous before."
I smiled, making Kurt scowl. "You want t' know de last t'ing I did before I came and joined up wit' you? I tracked a killer t'rough Nawlins. Was on de streets for a month straight at lest. Finally, me and de other t'ieves found him down in de sewers, down where it's dark and slimy and de smell's so bad it smells like not'ing." I closed my eyes, before finishing viciously. "Want t' know how I killed him? He didn't t'ink we would do it, but he begged at de end." Dat one, small 'please' echoed in my head.
"Remy, please..."
"Dere was not'ing else t' do. He was a killer, a child-molester, le fou (crazy)." If I t'ought 'bout it I could still feel de blood spattered on my face.
"Remy?" Kurt sounded scared. Good. Dat would keep him away. I opened my eyes. Kurt looked more determined dan ever. He stuck his chin out. "You can't frighten me zat easily."
"Den y' must be stupider or crazier than you look, because it scares me."
"Have you told Rogue?"
"Rogue's got her own problems, but I guess y' know dat already."
"Yes, but isn't that vhat you do with ze people you...I mean, I know zat's not my place..."
"You're right, it isn't."
"All I vant to say is zat people who care for each other don't need to keep secrets."
"Dat's not de way I was brought up."
"Me neither." Kurt looked at me steadily and I shook my head.
"Can see dat I'm not 'bout t' win dis argument, neh?"
"Finally, we agree on something!" Kurt 'ported t' de space in back of me.
"You at least told her how you feel, right?"
Angrily, I started de engine again. "For what dat's worth."
"A lot, I'm sure."
"You know, of course."
"A brother knows."
It occurred t' me, once we were on our way, dat what he'd said hadn't even startled me. Guess den I figured dat dere was not'ing left t' surprise me.
* * * starlightz6: ah, it would be waay too easy to let the necklace do all the work in controlling Rogue's powers. But I would certainly agree with your assessment that its removal won't be simple or fun (hopefully the reading of said solution will be though!)
Freeverse: this is my own little twist on the Genoshan collar (before my comics-reading time too, also it's fun to play with established elements, this is, after all, fanfic). As far as I know they didn't become a more permanent part of the landscape. I think it was just some random part of his motorcycle poking him.
Roguechere: Thanks! Y'know, I think I'll be sad when this story is over because it's so much fun to write. Not that it'll be over anytime REAL soon, but still.
Lace123: Yeah, there's no way the necklace is gonna be a secret anymore. I have such mixed feelings about the Professor--like I know he's a telepath and junk, but does he have to be SUCH a know-it-all?
Bunny Angel: I'm always so impressed when people go back and read the other ones. Like, sometimes I'll pull them up just for fun and dayum, they're...um...substantial. I never imagined writing 100+ pages of anything at the beginning.
Lady MR: Well, there's some Kurt in this part, and some angst too. I'm trying to bring in the other characters slowly because I think, at heart, both Remy and Rogue are loners for different reasons and they would be very reluctant to reach out for help. I always love me some Romy. That was definitely a weakness of the old show: too much Jean/Scott/Wolvie triangle- ness (I swear, if I had to hear Logan moan "Jeeean" one more time...)
ishandahalf: I understand what you were saying about them being comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time. I think they're very compatible, but part of the reason that's true is that they're both kind of secretive. So they have that in common (that's good!) but they're keeping secrets at the same time (that's bad!) Who knows, when all this is over, maybe they'll be back in school.
girl4chat86: [holds up 2 fingers in boy scout pledge] I swear to try my hardest to let this end happily. Oh, wait, I wasn't a boy scout at all. Would you take the word of a brownie dropout?
Flyby Stardancer: I was in AP too and the closest thing to Remy I ever saw in ANY English class was this guy in my creative writing course. Sigh. He was totally dreamy. ;-)
Neurotic Temptress: I'm happy that I can still shock and amaze. This chapter is a bit more low key than the last two, but hey, I can't be overexciting these poor kids.
Sujakata: Thanks! I'd say that Remy and Rogue are each pursuing their different paths right now, but rest assured they'll come together sooner or later. Let's say sooner, shall we?
RaVeN*NYC: I also love Ozzy's ramblings. Although I could do with a bit less Kelly if we're being perfectly honest. Sharon's the best--"what if I were Puff Daddy's mother-in-law?" Heh.
Panther Nesmith: Rest assured, I know how the collar got under her skin. You'll just have to wait a bit before I tell all.
Funny how things change so quick. Remy took my hand in his an' raised my fingers ta my neck so Ah could touch where the necklace used ta be. Before that Ah hadn't felt any different, but as soon as Ah could feel that thing in my skin the room tilted all kaleidoscope crazy. Ah closed my eyes an' waited for it ta stop spinnin'.
"Get it out," Ah demanded softly, soundin' calmer than Ah felt.
"Don't t'ink dat's a good idea, chére."
Ah thought o' the spikes on the inside o' the collar, thought o' them growin' down into my skin, reachin' for my veins, dissolvin' into my flesh. Ah swallowed with difficulty an' Ah swear Ah could feel 'em pokin' into my throat. "Get it out!" Ah shrieked, clawin' at the bump. Ah imagined Ah felt it sinkin' under my fingers.
"Chére! Chére!" Remy grabbed my hands an' pulled 'em down into my lap. "It's okay, ma petit belle. Ma douce. Everyt'ing fine."
"Everythin's not fine an' you know it! Why even bother ta lie 'bout it?" Ah dropped my head against his chest an' he stroked my hair. He was murmurin' somethin', Ah couldn't make out the words, but the soft brush o' his breath against my cheek was enough ta calm me a little.
Gently, Remy tilted my head back an' touched my throat. "Not far under yet," he said after a breathless minute. His voice sounded choked.
The doorknob rattled, givin' us just enough time ta jump apart. Jubilee poked her head in. We musta looked guilty, because she got a kind of exasperated look on her face. "Aw, man! You guuys!"
"See?" Amara said, risin' on tiptoes ta see over Jubilee's shoulder. "I told you I heard something."
"Okay, yeah. Everyone's real proud of you, Mare," Jubilee said, rolling her eyes. Then she turned her attention back ta us. "Um, so, would you mind making out in your own rooms?"
"Not that you two have any problem with that," Amara added.
"Comment (how)...?" Remy began with a dangerous look on his face.
Jubilee an' Amara giggled. Damn Ray anyway, Ah thought.
Ah put a hand on his arm. "It's okay." Ah rose ta my feet. "Sorry," Ah told the two laughin' girls. "We just lost track o' time."
"That's all right," Jubilee said graciously.
"Yeah," Amara added. "It's probably the most action this room's seen in a long time."
"Hey!" Jubilee punched her playfully an' the two of 'em collapsed into laughter again.
The cheerful noise seemed ta be comin' over a long distance. Under my hand, Remy's muscles grew tighter an' tighter until they seemed like steel cables. Ah could tell he was itchin' ta say somethin' nasty; Ah barely managed ta yank him through th' door.
"Airheads!" he spat.
"Shh!" Ah touched his cheek. It was a little scratchy with stubble. "They don't know what's goin' on. Ya cain't blame 'em for that."
"Guess not," Remy admitted grudgingly. Suddenly, he straightened.
"Ah don't like the look in your eye."
"What look?"
"You've got an idea."
"I do." Couldn't help but feel a surge o' hope at that.
"But it doesn't involve th' Professor."
"Non."
"Or Mr. McCoy."
"Non."
We looked at each other quietly for a moment, an' then Ah knew what he wouldn't say. "You're goin' ta Magneto for help?"
"Not quite. Dr. Moreau helped us before, he..."
"Absolutely out o' the question!"
"Shh! Keep your voice down, beb." He moved ta put his arms around me, but Ah shoved him back, hard as Ah could.
"Don't 'beb' me, Cajun! How's it so hard for ya ta ask people here for help? You're just gonna go off ta get killed! An' for what? If you won't swallow your pride enough ta ask 'em, Ah will! It's not even your damn neck!"
"No, but it's my..."
"Your what?" Ah snapped.
Remy slumped down against the wall, bent his knees an' wrapped his arms 'round his legs. He bowed his head an' wouldn't look at me for the longest time.
Finally, Ah dropped ta my knees in front o' him. "Your what?" Ah repeated gently. Those butterflies Ah sometimes got around him were back an' holdin' tapdancin' lessons in my stomach.
"Mon coeur (my heart). C'est mon coeur."
Ah sat back on my heels, stunned. "What did you say?" Ah whispered.
"My heart," he said, sounding as if each syllable were wrung outta him.
Ah covered my mouth with my fingers. "Oh my god."
He jumped ta his feet, pushin' past me. "Dat's why I have t' go! If I can find John he can take me t' Moreau. Den dis'll all be over an' you'll be safe." He reached out his hand, as if he were about ta help me up, but Ah was still in shock an' so Ah didn't act quick enough. By the time Ah'd recovered myself the hallway was empty.
Behind me, the door ta Amara an' Jubilee's room creaked open an' they stuck their heads out. "Did you guys just break up?" Jubilee asked, concerned.
Ah turned, ready ta tell 'em everythin' was fine, but the words wouldn't come out. My eyes filled with tears. Ah tore off down the hallway toward my own room.
"You're too good for him, Rogue!" Ah heard Amara call after me.
Kitty barely looked up when Ah rushed into the room, but once she saw my waterin' eyes, she jumped up right away.
"Oh my god, are you all right? What happened?" She smoothed her hand down my back just like she was my mom or somethin'. An Ah didn't want ta do it, but the whole story came out. Kitty listened silently, for once not offerin' her opinion 'till Ah'd finished it all.
When Ah was done, Ah looked up ta find her regardin' me seriously with a hint o' somethin' else.
"You can't just let him go off alone!" she said vehemently.
"Ah'm in no condition ta go after him," Ah protested.
She shook her head. "Neither of you get it, do you? You don't have to do anything, like, by yourselves. We're all just standing around, waiting for you to realize that we can help! As if we don't have anything better to do or something." The last part was equal parts exasperation an' sarcasm.
"But..."
Kitty held up a hand. "Let me finish, okay? I'm kinda on a roll here. You've got something with Remy, but if you go off alone, even if it's for the best and noblest reasons in the world, you're gonna lose out in the end. He'll be gone and then you'll..." she trailed off an' blinked hard. When she looked at me again, her eyes were suspiciously bright.
"I'll what?"
"You'll regret it more than anything," she finished thickly. It was right about then Ah realized what Ah'd seen in her eyes before was her own regret about Lance.
"Let's go see the Professor," Ah suggested.
* * *
"Need somet'ing like de Bat Signal," I suggested once John called me back. When we'd met de last time, I'd demanded an emergency system, so I could call him. He'd come up with a complicated series of payphone calls, but still, after executing de system flawlessly, I had t' wait in de cold forty- five minutes for his call.
"Y'know I wouldn't go for anything that flashy," John replied. T'ought of his red hair and bright red suit and I had t' smile.
"Starting t' feel like your jilted lover." "Darling, you know you're the only boy for me," he cackled. "But I'm sure ya didn't call up to shoot the shit all day."
"Non. Of course not."
"Well, what d'you want then?"
"I need t' see Dr. Moreau."
"Easier said than done, mate."
"I have faith in you."
"Funny how desperation turns into faith if only you let it sit long enough."
"Y' gonna help me or not? Because right now you're wasting my time," I snapped.
"So I guess ya didn't find out what that lil' doohickey's for, eh?" Met his question wit' stony silence. "Okay!" he protested. "Don't get your knickers in a twist. I was only trying t' lighten the mood is all."
Thankfully, we were able t' make plans t' meet wit'out any more of John's wisecracks. He specified a town, 60 miles away, and a diner and a time. Figured t' let him have t'ings his way.
"Obviously I can't bring Dr. Moreau with me, but I'll tell you where t' find 'im," John promised. "Can't do much more than that."
"Dat's all I need," I said grimly, but John had already hung up.
Swung a leg over my bike and started it. It was going t' take some creative shortcuts t' get dere in time.
Underneath my hands, de engine idled impatiently. Could feel de vibrations t'rough my hands. De natural state of a motorcycle is motion, and de t'ing dat I liked most 'bout my bike was how it didn't give me much chance t' t'ink of anyt'ing else. Usually, I had t' be so focused on de road and maneuvering dat all my problems seemed t' just fly away.
Not dis time. Dis time my problem was about five foot five and blue wit' a German accent. He came outta nowhere and dropped gracefully onto de front of my bike.
"Remy, vait!"
Put away de cards I'd automatically begun charging.
"Kurt! You're lucky I didn't blow your head off!"
Kurt held up his hands. "I know. I know. Never sneak up on you again, right? I've heard zat story before. Mostly from Scott." He rubbed de back of his neck ruefully.
Shut off de engine. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm trying to stop you from doing something stupid." He relaxed a little, or as much as anyone can when they're sitting on de handlebars of a motorcycle. "I overheard you and Rogue. I couldn't help it. And I don't exactly know vhat's going on, but I think zat you're making a mistake."
"Y' followed me here from de Institute?"
Kurt nodded proudly. "It vasn't easy, believe me."
"And no one knows you're here, oui?"
"No, no one..." he trailed off, eluded me when I tried t' catch hold of him. "Hey!"
"Sorry, but y' can't go wit' me."
"And vhy not?" Kurt responded indignantly. "It's not like I've never done anything dangerous before."
I smiled, making Kurt scowl. "You want t' know de last t'ing I did before I came and joined up wit' you? I tracked a killer t'rough Nawlins. Was on de streets for a month straight at lest. Finally, me and de other t'ieves found him down in de sewers, down where it's dark and slimy and de smell's so bad it smells like not'ing." I closed my eyes, before finishing viciously. "Want t' know how I killed him? He didn't t'ink we would do it, but he begged at de end." Dat one, small 'please' echoed in my head.
"Remy, please..."
"Dere was not'ing else t' do. He was a killer, a child-molester, le fou (crazy)." If I t'ought 'bout it I could still feel de blood spattered on my face.
"Remy?" Kurt sounded scared. Good. Dat would keep him away. I opened my eyes. Kurt looked more determined dan ever. He stuck his chin out. "You can't frighten me zat easily."
"Den y' must be stupider or crazier than you look, because it scares me."
"Have you told Rogue?"
"Rogue's got her own problems, but I guess y' know dat already."
"Yes, but isn't that vhat you do with ze people you...I mean, I know zat's not my place..."
"You're right, it isn't."
"All I vant to say is zat people who care for each other don't need to keep secrets."
"Dat's not de way I was brought up."
"Me neither." Kurt looked at me steadily and I shook my head.
"Can see dat I'm not 'bout t' win dis argument, neh?"
"Finally, we agree on something!" Kurt 'ported t' de space in back of me.
"You at least told her how you feel, right?"
Angrily, I started de engine again. "For what dat's worth."
"A lot, I'm sure."
"You know, of course."
"A brother knows."
It occurred t' me, once we were on our way, dat what he'd said hadn't even startled me. Guess den I figured dat dere was not'ing left t' surprise me.
* * * starlightz6: ah, it would be waay too easy to let the necklace do all the work in controlling Rogue's powers. But I would certainly agree with your assessment that its removal won't be simple or fun (hopefully the reading of said solution will be though!)
Freeverse: this is my own little twist on the Genoshan collar (before my comics-reading time too, also it's fun to play with established elements, this is, after all, fanfic). As far as I know they didn't become a more permanent part of the landscape. I think it was just some random part of his motorcycle poking him.
Roguechere: Thanks! Y'know, I think I'll be sad when this story is over because it's so much fun to write. Not that it'll be over anytime REAL soon, but still.
Lace123: Yeah, there's no way the necklace is gonna be a secret anymore. I have such mixed feelings about the Professor--like I know he's a telepath and junk, but does he have to be SUCH a know-it-all?
Bunny Angel: I'm always so impressed when people go back and read the other ones. Like, sometimes I'll pull them up just for fun and dayum, they're...um...substantial. I never imagined writing 100+ pages of anything at the beginning.
Lady MR: Well, there's some Kurt in this part, and some angst too. I'm trying to bring in the other characters slowly because I think, at heart, both Remy and Rogue are loners for different reasons and they would be very reluctant to reach out for help. I always love me some Romy. That was definitely a weakness of the old show: too much Jean/Scott/Wolvie triangle- ness (I swear, if I had to hear Logan moan "Jeeean" one more time...)
ishandahalf: I understand what you were saying about them being comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time. I think they're very compatible, but part of the reason that's true is that they're both kind of secretive. So they have that in common (that's good!) but they're keeping secrets at the same time (that's bad!) Who knows, when all this is over, maybe they'll be back in school.
girl4chat86: [holds up 2 fingers in boy scout pledge] I swear to try my hardest to let this end happily. Oh, wait, I wasn't a boy scout at all. Would you take the word of a brownie dropout?
Flyby Stardancer: I was in AP too and the closest thing to Remy I ever saw in ANY English class was this guy in my creative writing course. Sigh. He was totally dreamy. ;-)
Neurotic Temptress: I'm happy that I can still shock and amaze. This chapter is a bit more low key than the last two, but hey, I can't be overexciting these poor kids.
Sujakata: Thanks! I'd say that Remy and Rogue are each pursuing their different paths right now, but rest assured they'll come together sooner or later. Let's say sooner, shall we?
RaVeN*NYC: I also love Ozzy's ramblings. Although I could do with a bit less Kelly if we're being perfectly honest. Sharon's the best--"what if I were Puff Daddy's mother-in-law?" Heh.
Panther Nesmith: Rest assured, I know how the collar got under her skin. You'll just have to wait a bit before I tell all.