Who: Kurt Wagner & Rogue When: July 12 Where: The library What: Gossip a little, like all good X-Men do
Saturday night, Rogue thought to herself, and all I got are books to keep me occupied.
And myself.
Right. Books and Mystique. She'd been really good lately at ignoring Mystique's words and since she'd been training all the time, her mother had been satiated with that. Sighing, she flipped idly through her book, some French classic that had been recommended if she was depressed. "Tess D'Urbervilles," she sounded out. "Y'all have had a worse life than me, that's for sure."
Kurt awoke with a start, one bright yellow eye peeling open and searching the dimness around him. For a brief moment, he was utterly confused as to where he was. Somewhere high, he could tell that much. High, and dusty. Squinting, he tried to sit up and knocked his head lightly against the ceiling. He cursed softly in German and looked down.
Tables. Chairs. Books. A girl? Good Lord, he'd fallen asleep in the library, and on top of a bookcase! What on earth had he been thinking?
"Fraulein," he called softly. "Please do not be startled!"
Too late. At the sound of the voice, she looked up, completely shocked. Not only had she not even noticed him before, but it was just that she couldn't even begin to imagine why he was up there. So she figured she'd ask.
"Kurt? The hell are you doin' up there?"
"It seems that I fell asleep," he said, with as much dignity as he could muster. He dropped down off the bookshelf with a soft thump, landing on his feet just like a cat. "Though what I was doing there in the first place, Fraulein, I could not tell you." He brushed at his clothing and fur, fastidiously ridding himself of the dust that was trapped there.
She shook her head, smiling. "You are one crazy German, you know that?" Patting at the seat next to her she motioned for him to sit down. "But you make me laugh, so Ah'll forgive y'all. Now sit. Ah haven't had a chance to talk to you since the party." She closed the book and put it aside. Tess could be read another day.
"Ahhh, the party!" Kurt beamed and sat down in the offered chair, dragging the book across the table with his tail and dismissing it with a grimace. He'd read the book years ago and hadn't enjoyed a bit of it. Too depressing. "It was wonderful to dance with you."
She beamed. "Thanks sugar. And Ah really enjoyed just hangin' out wit' y'all. Ah didn't know you liked to people watch as much as Ah do. Nor," she reiterated, "did Ah know you were such a good dancer."
"I am an excellent dancer," Kurt said, feigning hurt. Inside, he was delighted by the compliment, and his eyes showed it. "Unfortunately, there is not much room to show off here at the mansion." Fancy dress parties at the mansion were a silly idea, but somewhat pleasant nonetheless.
She laughed. "Other than the Xavier ball, nah. We ain't big at the whole party thing. 'Sides, we can barely get Logan into a tux once a year, can y'all even imagine th' fight if we did it more often?"
She rolled her eyes and pulled her feet up onto the chair. Scott hated it when she did that, but he wasn't around, so whatever. "And hey, did you hear? Jean got slapped by Emma after you left and Ah guess now, Jean and Scott? Finito. Isn't that just crazy?"
"I had heard," he answered carefully. He didn't like to admit it, but he was fascinated by the gossip of the mansion. Perhaps because he himself was not actively part of it. Since leaving Germany, he hadn't had the heart to try dating anyone. Jimaine still haunted him, he supposed. "It is unfortunate for them."
"And, Emma didn't even know. Can you imagine? He didn't even tell her nothin'." Rogue thrived on gossip, she really did. "He just moved out of their room and has ignored both of them since. Not only that, but lord, that man has a stick up his ass or somethin'. He's been pissin' on Logan even more than usual. Ah'm amazed the both of them are standin', after what happened the other night.."
"What happened the other night?" Clearly, he would have to hang out with Rogue more often. She seemed to know everything.
Rogue sat up straighter in her chair. "Didn't you hear? Man, they were passin' notes to one another, all day, just cattier than two princesses fightin' over a prince. He was raggin' on Remy, hell Logan even got on th' computer and emailed Scott."
She thought a bit more. "Don't really know what happened next, but Ah did see some bruises on Scott that Ah know weren't there the day before."
Kurt shook his head, clucked his tongue softly. People in positions of power shouldn't act like that, but it wasn't his place to criticize. Besides, he was only hearing this second-hand. Perhaps it hadn't been as bad as all that. "One day, perhaps, they will learn to get along..."
"Oh honey, they ain't never gonna learn that. It's been yeahs and they're still actin' like children." She giggled. "God, we've had some good times, me and the gals, just watchin' those two fightin' over who's the king shit. Course, that was when they both wanted Jean. Wonder how that's gonna turn out now," she said, biting her lip. "Things are gonna be real interestin' soon."
Kurt just shook his head again. It was one thing to gossip, another entirely to speculate. "The mansion is always full of gossip," he said, and there was a soft, chiding note in his tone. "Things will work themselves out the way they work out."
"That's true enough. Ah guess you get enough people in a house, don't matter how big it gets, they'll still all talk bout one another." She stretched her legs out, and smiled. "Even if the people are new, like Paige. Lots of stories on that one too." She winked. "But gossip is bad, right hun?"
"Very bad," he replied gravely. He wasn't quite able to keep a straight face though, and the corners of his mouth trembled very slightly. "We should be ashamed for even considering it, you know. Penance is in order."
"Penance?" She laughed. "Now how do you propose that sugar? Once upon a time, Ah might've been catholic, but Ah'm so lapsed.."
She didn't like to think about that part of her life much. Mystique and Destiny hadn't really observed much religion so from the moment she was adopted by them, she'd lost all semblance of religious thoughts.
"Really?" Kurt raised his eyebrows, intrigued by her revelation. He had thought himself the only Catholic at the mansion, lapsed or otherwise. "I have been attending Mass lately," he offered, knowing that she wouldn't want to come with him but somewhat hopeful that it would open another avenue of conversation. "It has been... comforting."
She wrinkled her nose. "Comforting? Now exactly what is so comforting about the fact that y'all get sent down to hell just for bein' born? Original sin ain't my cuppa tea. Oh, and don't forget the whole purgatory thing. If you decide to repent, y'all gotta spend what was it, like 100 years for each year you were a heathen?" She shook her head. "Ah've got some serious issues with religion, but thanks for offering. Who knows, maybe one day Ah'll go with you."
"Religion is not about hell and sin," Kurt answered gently. "It is about God's love and forgiveness. But I will not preach to you, Fraulein. We must all find God in our own ways." He was content with his faith, and drew great comfort from it, but he understood that other people did not much care to talk about it.
"Well thank you, Kurt. And if Ah suddenly find myself cravin' religion, Ah know who to come to." And she really did mean it. You never knew what would come around the corner, and if religion could be as comforting as Kurt seemed to find it, it might come in handy.
Yawning, she smiled embarrassed. "God, Ah think Ah need a nap or somethin'. Scott's got me on a tight leash lately, trainin' all the time."
"If you like," he offered, face utterly serious, "I will carry you up to the top of the bookshelf. It is quite comfortable, if a little dusty, and I am sure Scott will not look for you there."
She laughed so hard, she almost fell off her chair. "Oh geez, now wouldn't that be something." She looked up to the bookshelf and just shook her head. "Ah don't think Ah'm nearly as dexterous as you are sugar. Ah'd probably roll off and squish whoever happened to be beneath me." Getting up, she reached for her book. "Ah'm gonna go to the solarium Ah think. Ah got Logan to put a hammock the other day, so it'll just be me and Tess. Have you ever read this book?" She shook her head. "Depressing as fuck."
"I did, and I did not particularly enjoy it," Kurt answered, a hint of distaste in his voice. "It was very melodramatic." He stood as well, considering going to the Danger Room to train and perhaps work out some of the stiffness in his muscles.
"Yeah, but man, does it make me feel better bout my life," she stated matter-of-factly. "Ah'll see you 'round, kay Kurt?" She always found it odd how Mystique stayed out of any conversation she had with Kurt, when she was so vocal around everyone else, but it was a pleasant respite. It was also a good reason to talk with Kurt more.
"It was a pleasure speaking with you again, Fraulein," he answered, offering her a courtly bow. If he hadn't been so aware of how little she liked to be touched, he would have taken her hand and kissed the back of it, just to watch her laugh.