Mutants in the Haunted Hotel
Part 2
A/N: And now the real story begins! Don't forget to review. Reviews=Happiness=Inspiration=New Chappies! Everybody wins!
Disclaimer: We own nothing. Except my Buffy tapes. And KW's stuffed animals. That's it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rogue shoved the last bag into the trunk of Scott's car and slammed the trunk lid down with enough force to make the car wobble.
"Hey! Be careful," Scott called from the driver's seat. He didn't know why he had volunteered to drive Kurt and company to his haunted hotel weekend. It probably had to do with Jean's coaxing.
"Come on, a little slamming won't hurt it," Rogue rolled her eyes and turned, staring back at the Institute, looking for Kitty. Honestly, she had said she only needed a second to do her hair. How long did it take to make a ponytail?
"Too much stress on the…" Scott began to lecture on automobile care but everyone had tuned him out already. Kurt appeared with his customary discharge of smoke in the backseat.
"Isn't Kitty here yet?" he asked, looking around.
"Obviously not," Rogue grumbled under her breath. There was a slamming of doors from the mansion and Kitty's voice soared out over the grounds.
"Hey!! I'll be right there guys, just hold on a sec!"
"That's what she said the last time," Rouge grumbled.
Kitty raced down the steps, clutching her pink suitcase. "Ugh. Can't you ever have anything that isn't pink?" Rouge complained. Kitty scowled.
"Hey, like, Kurt," she said turning from Rouge and smiling at Kurt. "Who was the other person you invited?"
"Bonjour, mon cheris," said an annoyingly familiar voice. The girls froze, then turned to glare at Kurt.
"Heh, heh, hi Remy," Kurt laughed nervously and scooted away from the girls' intimidating stares.
"You invited the swamp rat?" Rogue asked an incredulous and disgusted look on her pale face.
"Remy is pleased to see you as well," the mutant in question laughed slightly at the girls' unhappiness.
"Well, you see, I waited until the last minute to send in my entry so I needed to send it overnight mail and I had no money, and Remy paid for it and I promised if I won he could come with," Kurt got out on only one breath and was forced to inhale deeply so he wouldn't pass out.
"Are we getting going, guys?" Scott asked from the driver's seat, eyebrows once again climbing. As long as the thief didn't try to steal anything from his precious car, he didn't really care who he was transporting.
"I'm not going anywhere with him!" Rogue protested, starting to climb out.
"Come on Rogue," Kurt's eyes were pleading, "It will be fine, he won't bother you…"
"The hell he won't," Remy inserted cheerfully.
"Come on, it's a full weekend of creepy fun," Kitty started too. She wasn't much happier about spending a weekend with Gambit, but she really wanted to go. And it would be much harder to ignore Gambit if Rogue refused to stay. Rogue glanced at Kitty and Kurt and glared at Remy before sitting back down.
"Fine. But if he does anything to annoy me, consider him zapped."
"You need not worry cheri, Remy will be a true gentleman," the Cajun gave Rogue a mock bow and she snorted.
"Shut up, Swamp Rat."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I say it's my car, so it's my rules!"
"Can it, Scott, we are not listening to 'smooth jazz'," Rogue rolled her eyes.
"I still say country is the natural choice-" Kitty was interrupted by Kurt.
"How about polka?" The incredulous stares he got squashed that idea.
"Just switch on the rock station and crank it up," Rogue suggested.
"No way, come on Remy, polka, right?" Kurt appealed to the only person who hadn't brought up his own music choice. Remy shook his head.
"Sorry friend, but Remy will have to side with the bossy fil on this one."
"So there," Rogue said with a smile then scowled, "What did you call me French boy?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Whoa." Scott's comment pretty much summed up everyone's reaction to the 'Rusted Gardens Hotel'. It was a beautiful Victorian mansion, with a gabled roof, a gorgeous sprawling porch, huge windows, and even a turret! But as beautiful as it was, there was something decidedly eerie about the way the smooth white paint looked so brand new and how the drapes in the windows moved ever so little in the light wind.
Scott pulled up the long gravel drive and felt his shiny sports-car was distinctly out of place. They all stepped wordlessly out of the vehicle and just stood there, staring wonderingly at the huge, seemingly deserted, hotel. The silence was broken by a loud, jovial, if somewhat nasal voice tinged with an Appalachian drawl.
"Kurt Wagner, I presume?" Everyone looked towards the porch where a small, scrawny man with dark hair greased to his skull was waving energetically. He strode over to them, a huge grin plastered on his face, "It's a pleasure to meet you Kurt, a real pleasure." He shook Kurt's hand wildly and looked extremely overexcited.
"You're the operator?" Scott asked. The man turned to him and surveyed the others.
"Kurt is only allowed three guests," he said, smile never dimming.
"I'm just the transportation," Scott reassured him. The man nodded rapidly.
"Good, good, everything's good. By the by, I'm Des Carlson. Founder and manager of the Rusted Gardens Hotel and creator of the Rusted Gardens Haunted Weekend, which is a registered trademark by the by," He turned to look at the other teenagers who were watching him as well, "Well hey there kids looks like we'll be spending the weekend together. I already know my contest winner over there, but I'm afraid you'll have to introduce yourselves to me."
"Kitty Pryde," Kitty offered her hand as well and felt jolted when he finally let go.
"Remy LeBeau," Remy nodded to him, but didn't bother getting his arm yanked out of it's socket by the hyper little Mr. Carlson.
"Rogue." She said shortly, arms folded defensively across her chest. Her stance provided the dual services of keeping Mr. Carlson from commenting on her gloves and making him wary of her. She didn't like him. He looked like a weasel to her.
"Swell to meet all of you, swell indeed."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Like, Rogue this place is , like, totally awesome," Kitty squealed as she unpacked her suitcase.
"Yeah, it is pretty cool," Rogue replied staring around their room. Two huge windows were partially covered by thick scarlet velvet curtains. The two four-poster beds were decked out with beautiful sheets and even had curtains. Plush carpeting covered the floor and there was a large, ornate mirror with a gold frame. There were also some potted plants, and Impressionist paintings were scattered over the walls.
"Forget 'pretty cool', it's completely unbelievable!" She raced over and threw herself on one of the beds giggling as she bounced, "I feel like a princess!"
"Whatever," Rogue tried to roll her eyes, but truthfully, she was fascinated by the room as well. It was so much nicer than anything she had been in before. She had thought the Institute was elegant, this was an entirely new level. She headed over to the dresser to put away some of her own clothes and noticed a sheet of paper lying on it.
Guests are advised that Dinner shall be
Served promptly at Seven o'clock
In the Dining Room
Your Presence is Requested
"Dinner is at seven," Rogue commented, replacing the paper and pulling some black nail polish out of her duffel bag and placing it on the dresser.
"Seven? That's barely an hour! Ohmigod, we have to get ready! What am I going to wear??"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"This is nice," Remy nodded approvingly, looking around the room, "tres jolie."
"Umm…right," Kurt said, finding himself uncomfortable at his lack of knowledge in French, "It's really pretty."
"What Remy said mon ami." They both laughed shortly and Kurt smiled. It was good to know his roommate didn't think he was an idiot. Their room was nearly identical to girls', although they didn't know that. The major difference was the color scheme for their room focused around royal blue instead of red. The beds were also moderately less fancy.
"This place is really neat. I'm glad I won that contest. More than ever."
"How could you lose? No offense, but with a blue face…" Remy trailed off and both of them laughed again.
As they quickly emptied their suitcases into the drawers Remy found the sheet of paper inviting them to dinner. "It seems that Remy and yourself will be attending dinner at seven." The Cajun announced.
"Okay," Kurt replied, busy bouncing on his thick bed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well that's all folks! Remember reviews=chappies! Advice and ideas are appreciated! Byers! RR!
-Kitty Weasley