driftfleet | .06 you give love a bad name

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.06 you give love a bad name

Who: Rogue
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Yup, in a station bar and back on the Vanquish
When: Forward-dated to Valentine's Day

[It dawns on Rogue slowly that it is actually Valentine's day and her romantic feelings have been completely unaffected. When it does, she can't help but let out a whoop and rush to celebrate. Find her (a) in a middle-range bar on the space station, getting a little tipsy and flirting with basically everything that moves just to go NOPE and walk away, because SHE CAN, TAKE THAT.

At some point, she even makes a video post:]

Best. Valentine's Day. Ever.

[She holds up a hand, and in that hand is a glass of champagne. She toasts to the network.] Thanks, Atroma, for makin' this Valentine's Day kiss free.

[After all, the Malnosso had never let a February 14th go by without experimenting egregiously with Luceti's inhabitants.

And so, (b) later on and feeling a bit tipsy, she is back on the Vanquish. She has purchased chocolates and roses for everybody. She is setting them out in the kitchen with little cards, hoping she's got everyone's name right because they have approximately a zillion more people right now.

Much, much later, probably around the time sobriety starts, she'll remember something about 'tempting fate' and wish she'd kept her mouth shut -- but right now? Best. Valentine's Day in years.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ you gave my team a crumb of hope after scott summers threatened to see fiery justice rained down on the scarlet witch just doesn't sound chill enough for a conversation of this caliber. so kate can be seen weighing her options. ]

Sometimes, I see you in the crowd. You know -- during meetings. Parties. You're [ oh god this is embarrassing, especially for kate freaking bishop ] cool. Like, too cool.

[ out of her league. ]

[...]

Okay, she. Flatterin' as all that is, an' cool as I think I am, I definitely ain't too cool, okay?

[So take that as you will, but Rogue hopes you will take that in a 'You are not alone, there are hands you can take old of here including mine' - figuratively speaking, anyway. Actually, screw figuratively speaking:] I know ya heard the platitudes, but believe me when I say: We are all in this together.

Right. She.

[ it's said with the finality of someone who doesn't miss the mark twice. or, at least, tries very very hard not to. kate's a born and bred perfectionist; failure is not an option, and that includes pronoun mishaps. ]

Nice to meet you, Rogue. [ so let's start fresh. blank slate. ] Happy Valentine's Day.

You too. I mean, at least there were no giant teddy bears, right?

[But okay, Rogue has a suspicion that she's not going to just let go.] So, Kate Bishop, hero for hire? You run a solo act?

[Meetings. Parties.]

Kinda depends on which day of the week you catch me. [ she admits. and a lot of what she's about to say isn't exactly free information, so she takes a moment to check the broadcast feed. it had seemed like rogue had done something and -- yep, locked. coolio. ] But, uhm, don't suppose the Young Avengers ring any bells?

[ and now that she's saying it aloud to rogue of all people, it sounds more than a little juvenile for a 21 year old woman to be part of a team called the young avengers. but that's easier than explaining her association with clint. ]

[...] Actually, yes. In the place I was before this, I met two of 'em. They're fine - went home long before I was sucked in here.

[ now we're cooking with gas. ]

Who?

Billy an' Teddy. [A pause as she considered.] Tommy too, every now an' again.

[Your team have something with names that end in 'y'?]

[ billy. teddy. tommy, too. oh -- there's a visceral sort of reaction. like realizing you're a ship that just passed another at midnight. ]

Sounds like something of a boys' club. [ she tries to play it off, cool-like. ]

[They didn't seem to mind that -- except well. Even a little tipsy, Rogue's emotional IQ ain't that stunted.]

They did alright for themselves.

[So, let's redirect this a little--] So you're on their team.

[ it would be totally classless to respond that she might as damn well 'lead' the team, right?

right.

so, instead, kate settles for whole-hearted agreement. ] That's me. [ is she miffed they never mentioned her? maybe. just a little. ] You might as well call me a founding member.

[ except she totally wasn't. but kate likes to think the team was in pretty sorry shape before she and cassie joined. ]

[Rogue nods.] Then I think Logan's from your world.

[Just assuming she'd get that much info from him as they continue to talk...

Also, Billy and Teddy had been through some serious trauma. That meant, depending on timelines, that this Kate Bishop girl could probably handle herself. Which would be great, if that was needed, except it wasn't because this was the most boring space tour ever, and long may it continue that way.] Lotta the time, the Fleet is just driftin' through space. There ain't much ta do -- once you get shuffled, make sure ya pick up a few things on the station that'll keep ya from bein' bored.

[ wolverine is from her world -- and kate figures even she doesn't have the cojones to call him 'logan' at any point. but he didn't recognize her either. not right away, at least. he's more clint's wheelhouse, which is just fine... ]

If I even get to step foot the station before we start a-drifting again, right?

Mmm. [A point. Rogue considers.] Tell ya what, why don't ya give me a list? If you make it on the station, ya can pay me back once ya earn somethin'. If not, you can pay me back once our salaries start comin' in again.

[Rogue didn't really care that much about the payback, honestly. Her bank account was quite healthy, and she found easy ways to earn what she needed -- well, easy for her. But she didn't think Kate would want charity -- she knew that she wouldn't. Easier this way.]

Think on it, an' I'll pick the stuff up for ya tomorrow.

[ huh. charity isn't the easiest pill to swallow. not by a long shot. but kate can't help the smile that tugs at her mouth. it's nice to be met with the kindness of mostly-strangers, and this interaction stands out like a lovely little beacon of genuine goodwill between a sandwich of stale platitudes. ]

Yeah. Okay. I'll think on it. [ it's a funny feeling, because it's not like kate hasn't been in rogue's shoes before. she's the one who initially bankrolled the young avengers, after all. charity or not, it's impossible not to acknowledge all the good a small good-faith loan can do. ]

Cool. [Rogue considers for a moment more.] There's mostly anythin' ya could want on this station in terms of fashion an' luxury items. Practical things are harder ta come by and more expensive.

I can survive with a couple shirts and a pair of jeans. [ for the time being. eventually, the fashionista will catch up with her. but kate at least has the sense to prioritize. ] If I could lean on you for at least that much, I'd be so grateful.

[ everything else would have to wait. ]

I don't need the whole list right now. Think on it. [Seriously, this was not a place where you wanted to be bored.] Then ya can send me your list ta this number. Encryptin' is easy, there's even a button.

[...] I'll need your sizes too, but I solemnly swear ta keep it secret.

[With a little bit of a smile.]

Deal. Ordinarily, this is where I'd call in the lawyers and draft up a non-disclosure but -- hey, I figure a woman named Rogue probably knows a thing or two about keeping stuff out of the tabloids.

[ she's joking! mostly! and the tabloids probably already have her measurements, dammit. ]

Edited 2016-02-14 16:15 (UTC)

[Amused, Rogue's drawl intensifies slightly.] I do my level best ta encourage folks ta mind their own business, true.

Not a bad business to be in. Still -- can't help but figure it must be kinda tough, here. [ a whirl of her finger, perhaps to indicate all the CAMERAS? ]

Eh. [Rogue shrugs.] They get a lot of things, sure, if we wanna believe they're really watchin' our every move.

[But five years as a science experiment has kind of inoculated her to that.]

Not what really matters, though.