[ Video, Action ] Deuce of Clubs

[touchofrogue]

Who: Rogue and you! Yes, you.
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: Saturday afternoon

[A is for Unintentional Broadcasting (or action, if anyone's there)]
[When Rogue wakes on the Marvisa, the video picks up on her suddenly convulsing. It has been months since she has experienced her powers in full, and her mind is thrown into sudden, loud, throbbing pain. She is surprised that the internal chaos is not as bad as it has been, and after a moment she realizes why: she only has three psyches left, and they are all more or less friendly. After taking a few moments to settle down, Rogue sits up. She is woozy, distracted and disoriented. She goes to stand and overbalances, the missing appendages on her back throwing her off enough that she trips on a sheet and falls gracelessly to the floor.]

Oh for the love of -[she can hardly believe it, she reaches to her back to confirm: her wings are gone.]- what in the Sam Hill--

[At this point, the Network decides that further following Rogue Walking Around to Get her Bearings will be boring, and shifts to something else. Later, she comes back to the communicator not only to answer any return comments that her embarrassing swan dive might have drawn, but to address the fleet as a whole.]

[B is for Delibrate Broadcasting]
[While the communicators aren't set up like Luceti journals, Rogue gets the general idea. She sends out a video post.]

Uh - hi. My name's Rogue, an' I guess I'd like ta speak to the Welcoming Committee. I'm hopin' to get a little bit more than the 'Lost in Space' vibe up here. Speakin' of... anyone have any idea how to turn this music off? I swear it's killin' brain cells.

[A pause. Her gaze shifts downward, and she seems to be bracing herself before she looks back up and addresses the camera with a small smile and a wry, if slightly hopeful light in her eyes.]

Guess I should throw some names out there, just to see if anythin' will stick. Anyone ever hear of... a group called X-Men, say? [A gloved hand reaches up to wrap around a deep green crystal pendent hanging from her neck.] Or a place called 'Luceti'?

[Another awkward pause. She's got a LOT OF EMOTIONS right now, okay, and she's not sure what else to say or do. She kind of hates throwing her hopes out to space like this, but what other choice did she have, really? She gives the camera another quick, small smile.]

Thanks.


[Rogue stretched. She was standing on a narrow railing in the Hospitality Deck - just standing. She hadn’t tried walking yet. She was still not used to this strange feeling of being without her wings. Her balance was off when she moved, when she stood… it would take her a few days to get used to it, maybe longer. She’d get used to it, though. If there was one thing all her experiences had taught her, it was that you could adapt to anything.

Her wings. Her wings were gone. She'd been left with two narrow scars running a lurid red down her back. She could access Logan and heal them, easy, she thought. But right now they were a physical reminder that she hadn't lost her mind completely. She could use that. She felt… oddly adrift (ha ha, and she couldn’t even blame Kurt for that). Even when she’d come into Luceti, Kurt and Kitty had been there. She didn't know what to do. She was alone and afraid... and already lonely.

She took her first step forward and wobbled, much to her frustration, and then another step. She didn’t fall - not yet - but it would be all right if she did. Rogue knew how to fall. She’d just take it one step at a time.]

Comments

B - voice;

[redactions]

[ There's a lot of worlds here and a lot of languages, but it's the little touch of the familiar that draws him. ]

Don't think there's a Welcoming Committee here, or if there is, they ain't doin' their job.

Did you just get here, Miss?

B - voice;

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue blinks. That's... a face she thinks she recognizes from years ago, but... it was pretty clear that he didn't know her. You didn't forget someone who was on a Draft like Vaska with you. She had plenty of practice letting go previous incarnations and forming new impressions from her time in Luceti. She decides not to make an issue of it, not for him or for anyone else.]

I did. [That drawl sure is pure Mississippi, and it's a little thicker now with relief - there was someone out there. She wasn't just stuck on a space ship surrounded by silent machines.] It's too bad about the Welcoming Committee. I was hopin' for cookies an' fruit juice. Maybe a brochure.

[She gives a quick smile and shakes her head.] Mind if I ask how long you've been here? An' the name's Rogue.

[redactions]

[ His own drawl, all old-world Brooklyn charm, thickens as well. ]

Pleasure t'meet you, Rogue, wish it were better circumstances. James Barnes. [ there's a pause, just for an intake of breath ] Call me Jim. I've only been here a month; other folks'll prob'ly be more helpful.

[ A beat. ]

If you walk down the corridor, there should be a mess hall. Food's fresh, at least.

action;

[zessica]

[Zessica's found herself stuck on the Marsiva as well, only awake for a day or so longer than this wobbling newcomer. She gives an amused sigh before casually making her way over.]

Space walks not that routine for you?

[touchofrogue]

[Brooklyn! Brooklyn was good, actually, and it's the sound of something solid as much as it is the familiar name (though...he wasn't 'Jim,' to her before, that just makes now easier) that has Rogue genuinely smiling for a moment.]

Nice ta meet you too, Jim. [A pause again as she casts about a little. She has a million questions and she doesn't know where to start. Her natural inclination would be just to say 'thanks for the tip' about the food and talk to him again later, but... she was on her own here. She needed to do more than that.] Mind if I ask you a few questions anyway? I figure a lot could happen in a month, in a place like this.

[She begins to walk - wobbles a bit - down toward the mess hall as she speaks.]

action;

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue, engrossed in a whole new way of walking (it's been 5 years with wings, this is all really weird right now) and in keeping the voices in her mind quiet, actually 'eeps' and whirls about when Zessica approaches. She hadn't heard the other girl at all.

...no, Rogue is not making her best showing right now. It's okay, though, she's only about 30 pure embarrassed - the rest of her is just so relieved to see someone else on board this ship who isn't a machine.]

No. [An almost too-quick laugh and she shakes her head.] It's been a while since I've had ta do a thing like this. I reckon you ain't from around here either? Or - is this your ship?

[redactions]

[ He hasn't gone by Bucky since defrosting. It belongs to Steve, and to another, easier life. ]

Not at all, sweetheart. What's on your mind?

[touchofrogue]

[Pffffff, 'sweetheart.' It's so - so not what she expected to hear in a sterile place like this that she almost laughs. Almost. Gosh, the days of scaring people off with just her Goth make-up and her glare really were over, weren't they. (Not that she'd been glaring at him, but well. Details.]

Well, 'Where the heck am I?' comes ta mind. [And 'what the heck happened to my wings,' is another. But she doesn't think that he'll know the answer to that, and isn't sure she wants to get into talking about the wings... and all that game with it.] The droids up here ain't very talkative.

[zessica]

[She catches herself mid-chuckle, not really bothering to hide that fact, and it dissolves into a friendly smile as she shakes her head.]

You were right on the first count. It doesn't look to be anywhere near home, and I've got no idea whose it is, aside from what I've been able to dig up on the consoles. It's nothing comforting, I'll say that now. [She gives a soft hum.] I only really woke up yesterday, anyway.

[touchofrogue]

[At 'It's nothing comforting,' Rogue gives a resigned sigh.] ...well, I didn't really think people who'd kidnap ya an' operate on ya while you were sleeping ta be the kind, friendly type.

[...of course, Rogue doesn't know if her wings were surgically removed or if they were torn off and just.... fixed. Either way, the kidnapping bit stands.

She holds out a gloved hand.]

My name's Rogue. I just woke up - I guess about a half hour ago?

[redactions]

[ Even if she had, it wouldn't have made any difference. His best friend used to be five feet tall and full of fierce rage. One learns not to judge by appearance. ]

You're on a spaceship called the Marsiva. The rest of us have our own smaller ones, I'm talkin' t'you from mine, the Heron. If you touch your neck or your ear, there might be somethin' under your skin there. That's the augment; it puts a lot a'stuff in your brain. Seems harmless so far, but they didn't exactly ask before puttin' it there, did they.

[touchofrogue]

[There is an odd, grim, decidedly older note to her voice now. It's a tone of pure, tempered metal.] They didn't exactly ask before bringin' us here, either.

[Rogue feels a cold, hard knot in her stomach. She remembers years of experiments, of loss. She remembers enduring, loving, fighting despite it all. This is at least familiar, if entirely unwelcome ground. And it's 'us,' not 'me.' She wasn't sure when that shift had taken place, probably wasn't aware that she'd made it yet... but there was something about the way that Jim was speaking which reminded her that this situation was much bigger than just herself.

There's a pause in her walking as she reaches up to check... and there it was, just off to the side behind her right ear, toward the back of her neck.] What kinda stuff does this put in our heads?

[The idea that someone would mess around in her head makes her flatly and instinctively furious. It's better than being scared.]

[zessica]

Well, at least we're in the same boat. Or ship, if you want to be technical. [She grins wryly and takes the hand.] Zessica. Nice to meet you, I guess.

[After a moment, she lets go, and nods towards the main area of the Hospitality Deck.] Come on, I was just about to get lunch.

[redactions]

[ His voice drops to a similar note, less a mirror of hers and more of an echo of shared experience. She has a right to be angry, seeing all this again on top of God knows what else. At least he knew what he was getting with the War... well, more so than others. ]

No, they did not. [ a breath, softer, ] I'm not sure. Mine tells me how to — fix things, like the ship. I know there's one that tells you how to fly, and another with security. You can tell what's there, just breathe real deep. It's not mixed in with our memories or anything. It's kinda... there.

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue gives a wry glance up at the ceilings.]

Is there less elevator music where there's lunch? [Because what she wouldn't give for some Metallica right now.

She follows along and, well, she doesn't quite move side to side with her walk, but it's evident her gait is off. It feels strange to walk like this, and she isn't pleased with her lack of balance.]

[touchofrogue]

[Breathing actually sounds like a really good idea right now. She hasn't taken the necessary time yet to fully integrate her psyches since the shake-up, and goodness knows her anger never does anything but stir up the chaos in her mind. And she can't afford to waste time being angry at what she can't control.

She takes a deep breath and focuses on that slightly foreign, humming presence in her mind...]

...recipes? [Her voice brightens, incredulous.] I'm a cook?

[The idea of something so... so... civilian is preposterous and ridiculous and she's not sure if she loves it or hates it.]

[redactions]

[ He stifles a laugh at something so completely normal as cooking. ]

Seems like it. [ a pause, letting her adjust, listening carefully for her footsteps and her breathing (super soldier hearing is good for something) ] Are you doin' all right?

[zessica]

Sadly, I don't think so. But by all means, if you want to make a drum set out of kitchen wares, go ahead, I won't fault you.

[She glances back, clearly taking note of Rogue's weird gait, but she doesn't say anything. There's no reason to be rude right away.]

[touchofrogue]

Oh sure. [Her voice is still incredulous. In fact, she slumps one shoulder against the wall, leans on it hard.] I woke up on a strange ship with my wings gone in the middle of Gawd-knows-what with a piece of tech stuffin' things into my brain and instead of it bein' something useful I know how ta make protein mush taste like... fried catfish. Just another Tuesday, right?

[And she laughs, because what else is she going to do? She's not hysterical, it's just that the whole thing is so entirely bizarre and - and - oh, for goodness' sake, wasn't Luceti enough? And by all the announcements, they had been so close to going home.]

[touchofrogue]

Figures. [Rogue walks along, keeping up but not at all normally. Ugh, this was going to get old fast.] So. You said you found some information out on the consoles? What did ya find?

[No one has ever accused Rogue of beating around the bush.]

[redactions]

[ Okay wings, not the weirdest thing that's happened to him here, so he's going to roll with it. At some point his yardstick for weird gave up and left for New Jersey. ]

[ Gently, ] Cooking's useful. You never know if we might encounter somethin' on one of the stations out here that might need a chef's know-how.

[zessica]

[With a sparing glance back, Zessica reaches the cafeteria area. She grabs a tray and begins to select her food.]

Let's get some food first. It's not as much bad as it is weird. [A slight pause.] The news, I mean. Food's decent.

B

[savedtheworld]

[A cheery monk waves over the video feed.]

Hi Rogue! I'm Aang. I don't think there's really a welcoming committee here... but I'll try my best to help you feel welcome!

[Then his face scrunches up in thought.]

Sorry, I never heard of X-Men or Luceti.

B - video;

[unbearablynaive]

[The background of this video is a rather stunning beach with black sands he's exploring down on the planet, and the subject himself is, well, maroon. Alas, if he was from a slightly different universe he would have known about the X-Men.]

Hello, Rogue. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with those names, but I welcome you nonetheless. I am the Vision.

[touchofrogue]

[When she thinks back on this conversation, she'll be very grateful that Jim didn't mention the wings back to her. She wasn't ready to talk about that, at all.

Right now, though, it was his gentleness that cut through her 'what the hell is my life and my luck' laughter and brought her back to herself in the present moment. Rogue was humbled by his kindness, and she began to feel almost shy. She tried for a joke, but tucked one strand of hair behind her ear in an insecure gesture that had almost disappeared.]

Sure. I can rescue us all from - from an attack of protein paste souffle. [Pause. She reevaluates that sentence and the knowledge that prompted it.] ...are y'all really just eatin' things made out of protein paste?

[Yes, this is Important, okay? Ridiculous as it was, Rogue actually loved to cook; she loved eating. Maybe it was those years of being deprived completely of one sense that made the others so much more relevant, and taste was huge.]