6
Rogue ended up questioning whether she did dislike shopping or not. She didn't like all the brands and details Merci was throwing at her first thing in the morning, but when they were in the changing rooms of clothing shops, Merci advised Rogue to try things on and then just envision where she'd wear them. A collection of bikini's became a trip to many warm and beautiful beaches with Rogue blushing and giggling when Merci added to these fantasies guys checking her out and girlfriends being jealous of her.
As she promised, Merci took Rogue into that coffee shop with walls of books and that was when Rogue asked her questions about the Rippers she had gained last night. Merci explained how it was a family feud sparked years ago and no one knows the reason now-a-days as to what started it. Everyone had their suspicions. Ripper's thought the thieves stole something of theirs, thieves thought the Rippers killed someone dear to them. Merci's belief was a fight over a woman.
Rogue ended up explaining everything she learned from Remy, leaving out the part about them apparently falling in love at first sight. She wasn't ready to tackle that just yet. But it had constantly been on her mind since he'd said it. What she was prepared to tackle was why she became so hesitant about seeing her family when Remy offered to take her back home.
"Y' sure y' ain't wantin' t' leave 'cause of a certain red eyed someone? He's single, y' know?" Merci said with a huge smirk which was a massive give away.
"What, no!" Rogue flushed, finding the bookshop far too hot all of a sudden. "It's not that! Ah mean, maybe 'cause he knows 'bout mah past, yeah, ah wanna stay 'cause'a that, but… Remy's sayin' there's others out there that know 'bout meh. 'bout mah past. Ah just don't understand why ah ain't feelin' like runnin' towards em."
"Well that's obvious, ain't it?" Merci beamed.
Rogue raised her eyebrow at Merci. She was hoping that Merci might just be able to enlighten her on her relationship with Remy, even though they'd, apparently, not been around his family much.
Merci rolled her eyes at Rogue's response, placing her coffee down.
"Alright, mebbe not dat obvious. Look, I bet it ain't that y' don't want t' see y' family right now. Course y' do. But, right now, it ain't like y' in the best'a minds, is it? Y've lost all y' memories an' I can't begin t' t'ink how overwhelmin' every little thing's gotta be. Doubt I'd be handlin' it as well as y', that's for sure."
Rogue glanced down into her coffee, understanding Merci's theory, but still feeling guilty.
"Look, y' just got comfortable wit' us, right? I t'ink it's fair that y' don't wanna be swept off t' meet another group of strangers where y' have the added pressure of supposed t' know em all. Oui, they definitely be more help dan we ever be, but not if y' ain't ready. If y' need more time t' adjust an' come t' terms with what's happened t' y', then y' need de time. Ain't no shame in dat," Merci finished.
Rogue frowned. It wasn't the answer she wanted, but it wasn't a bad response.
"Ya think Jean-Luc'll give meh that time? Ah mean, he did all he could ta try forcin' ya out," Rogue said, finally voicing what she had been thinking last night. "Why on earth would he think'a helpin' meh?"
"Dat homme loves one thing an' one thing only; power. Whatever went down 'tween y' an' de Rippers last time y' saved their hinds, he was impressed. Wouldn't stop goin' on 'bout it. Kept pesterin' Remy for weeks t' get y' back down here. I betcha any money he's gonna try an' recruit y' or somethin'," Merci said.
Rogue raised her eyebrow at this.
"But, ah don't remember what happened. Or what ah did. What could ah have done that possibly interested em so much?" Rogue asked.
"'fraid I don't know the answer t' that chére. Best person t' ask be Remy," Merci said, finishing her coffee.