Post by Gambit on Aug 10, 2006 17:31:21 GMT -5
Lookout Point, just outside Salem, New York
Jonothan sped up the highway, letting his mind drift. It was a less oppressive circumstance in which to gather his thoughts, Xavier's school filled with the stale air of a family still reeling from a death. It had been more than a year, and he hadn't had a chance to talk to Storm about it, but it was clear they hadn't been successful in picking up the pieces. The school seemed to be doing well enough, but the X-men were struggling. He hoped they could get their heads together and figure that bit out. This time not in a meeting the day of a conflict with half the school in attendance.
Coming to a stop at the Point, Chamber turned off the bike and pulled off his gloves, looking around for Remy.
The Point had a few people through this time of the day usually, but today there was only one other parked car and up against the railing, the back of a familiar overcoat, a tall, slender man looking out over the view.
Remy had parted company with Jubilee at the airport, telling her that he'd follow on in a day or two, that he had a few things to sort out before he headed into the school. That was true enough. at least one of those things had been sorted out and was in a safety deposit box waiting to be picked up by the man who'd requested it.
The Point brought back a lot of memories for Remy. When he'd first come to the Institute, Jono and he had become unlikely friends, a friendship that had continued over the years despite their leading very different lives.
Chamber wouldn't have defined it as different, but then he always had a certain zen about him. Distanced perhaps. They both were loners, omega dogs. They crossed paths occasionally. Most often when they were licking wounds.
God damn you Cajuns, don't they have coat shops in the bayou?
If he could grin he would have, instead he just clapped Gambit on the shoulder, and nodded out to the scenery.
Coming full circle, it seems.
"Poetic soul, mon ami." Remy turned at the clap on the shoulder and embraced his friend easily. "Good t'see you lookin' so fit an' well. Gotta say it though, you look a bit burned out. You might want t'think 'bout takin' things a li'l easier, non?"
It was an old joke and one that Remy always grinned at. "So what's this 'bout Stormy strugglin' t'hold th' old place together, then? Want t'walk?"
Jonothan nodded, put his hands in his pocket.
It seems to be only her and some other guy. A few others have shown up but like me, I think they've only been there a few days. Some of them looked like they'd never seen action. Not like this. In fact a few of them were only days from knowing what the X-Men were, period.
His dark eyes shifted to Remy as they walked. He was going to say something about Scott and Jean, but he couldn't. So he stayed quiet. It was a pretty common habit. When every word you say echoes in someone's head like a gong, you take care what bells you're ringing.
After a few minutes of companionable silence, Remy opened up to him, as he always had done.
"Got m'self in a bit of trouble in a coupla states in the past four months or so. More so than usual. Seems La Croix's family extends way out past Nawlins, hell, even outta Louisiana. They put a price on m'head like you wouldn't believe. Kinda flatterin' when I look at it objectively - but means that I'm bringin' a whole crock of trouble with me. I don't want t'be makin' things worse at th' school than they are already, but I also need sanctuary for a bit."
He sighed.
"The Prof would've snapped me up like a shot, he always promised me that. But he ain't here t'do th' snappin'. So I don't know what t'do for th' best."
Were it Chamber's decision, he'd take him in no questions asked and formulate a plan to keep them all safe. But there were children thhere, and the game was getting more and more dangerous.
You know I've got your back, Remy. You're right though... it could endanger the kids. Things are a lot different than they used to be. And I'm not sure what we dealt with in Baltimore is going to take into consideration that there are underage mutants at Xavier's.
He rubbed his hands together.
I've been thinking of talking to Storm about moving the base of the X-Men to a location separate from the school. It's not the Xavier would have it but then, if he... well... I think he'd agree.
Jonothan frowned hard, glowering into the treeline.
"Sounds like a sensible plan t'me, mon ami," said Remy surveying his friend critically. "And I didn't miss th' comment 'bout you havin' m'back. I appreciate that more than you'll probably ever know." He reached over and clapped Jono on the shoulder.
"Got any thoughts 'bout another base?" Remy pursued that line of conversation, considering it was probably a little less flammable than his coming to the school and endangering kids.
Jonothan looked at his friend, shaking his head.
Not one. I haven't been in the area in a few years, and I'm not sure of Xavier's assets. It could be there's a perfect location already. Haven't brought up the idea to Storm yet. Something tells me she's not going to be happy having anyone suggest any changes to her just now. Otherwise those changes would already be made. But she trusts me, so maybe I can get her to turn around. But until then... it's the wrong time to come in with notoriety, but then, that's not something you shake all that well eh friend?
"Remy Le Beau comes wit' lots of strings attached, he always did." Remy grinned his charming grin. "Think how dull I'd be if I were just another Cajun swamp rat wit' no thoughts beyond th' next plate of gumbo." He stopped walking and sat down on a bench, scratching at his chin thoughtfully.
"If ever there were a time t'change somethin', now's th' time. Heard 'bout Baltimore. You guys must've taken quite a poundin' out there. Maybe it's time I stopped chargin' 'round th' countryside and actually stepped in t'offer whatever help I can."
That's about what I was thinking. Not sure how long it will last, but.... well. We should have been there in the first damned place, Remy.
His old friend's trademark temper echoed in his words. Hard to stoke, but once the fire was going, good luck putting it out. It seemed Jonothan had been poking at the coals since he first heard the news about Jean and Scott and Xavier.
"Chill, Jono. You an' I know th' score. We weren't cut out for th' discipline of workin' in that team. You an' me? We're wildcards." Almost absently, he pulled a playing card out of his inside pocket and turned it over in his fingers a few times. "An' sometimes, they're what you need."
He flipped the card into the air where it detonated quietly with a soft WA~CHOOM before reaching back into his pocket and taking out a cigarette. "Still ain't given up," he said, ruefully.
Yeah, well, smoke one for me.
He looped them back towards the bike as they walked, somehow dreading going back to the school.
I'd say we could hook up at an apartment or hotel in town, but if your friends are any good at what they do, they'll inevitably follow you back there. Still, it might slow them down until you can talk to Storm and figure out what you should do. In the end you'll be with us, I wouldn't let them turn you away. And I don't think they will, besides.
"I'm kinda hopin' I got away from them somewhere back in Louisiana. We stopped off there on the way. Damn fool thing to do, I know, but thought I'd pick up a few things from Pops." Remy's face darkened momentarily and he drew on the cigarette viciously. "That went well, as I'm sure you can imagine. Don't worry 'bout my sleepin' arrangements. I've been movin' round since Henri died. I'll sort somethin'. Maybe leave it a couple days, see if any of La Croix's family followed me here, then come in t'th' school."
Chamber nodded, leaning on the bike and crossing his arms.
So what have you heard, about what's gone down in the last few years.
He wanted to know if it would square with what he'd heard. God knows he hadn't talked to anyone about it.
"Well, know 'bout the death of the Prof, of course." Remy rubbed at the back of his neck. "FELT it more'n anythin' else. Thought the President's li'l eulogy was rather..." He paused, looking for the right word. "Hypocritical, really. All that stuff 'bout 'Charles Xavier forged th' links of a chain t'bind humans an' mutants together' made me wanna throw."
He rolled his eyes skyward.
"Read 'bout Alcatraz. Sounds like we missed one hell of a scrap there. Looks like th' Brotherhood took one hell of a poundin', too, mind. Ain't heard no word on what happened t'Magneto."
It was no secret between Chamber and Gambit that Remy had once considered joining Magneto's cause.
"An' I did hear tell of Scott an' Jeannie," he added, sorrowfully.
Between you and me...
Chamber stopped. Looking down at the ground, her chose his words carefully. He didn't want to say it wrong, didn't even want to *think* it wrong.
I think the time has come for them to quiet down. To stop trying to save everything. I'm all about defending what needs to be defended, but...
He shook his head yet again, rubbing the back of his neck.
Three of us gone, man. And look what they have left. Nothing. Storm's a great woman, but she's no Xavier. How many more are they going to feed to the effort before they realize dying for it doesn't help it get anywhere?
A quick nudge of his foot kicked a rock off the edge. Jonothan listened to it tumble down, down, down. He was beginning to remember why he didn't stick around anywhere for too long.
In Baltimore, if they'd hung back, helped the non-mutants, and gotten the hell out, we wouldn't be in half the mess we're in- and I tell you what Remy, I'm putting money on them having NO idea just how MUCH of a mess it is.
The surface of Chamber's eyes reflected the storming energy within his body, and he shoved his gloves in the inside pocket of his jacket, sulking.
Remy put on a shocked expression. "Now THAT ain't th' Chamber I remember. Time was, mon ami when you wouldn't have cared. You goin' soft?" His words were joking, however and he continued. "Know what you mean, though. Watchin' those news reports - th' Brotherhood's a ragtag bunch of yobs without Magneto's guidance. It's gon' take them time t'build up a decent force again - an' Stormy should be takin' that time to settle her people, keep them alive."
Jonothan was appropriately set in his place, in the same jovial way Remy'd always had.
Soft? Don't know. Seems more likely I'm tired of the people I love biting it when I'm not around. And I'll I'm saying is they need a little strategy. You should have seen it. Zombies. Zombies and giant plants. It was chaos. If they'd have slowed down and looked for the individuals who BROUGHT the zombies and the plants, they could have taken them out, secured the innocents, and looked like the heroes.
He stood, picking up his helmet from the handlebars.
Enough of that though. Why don't we go for a ride.
One dark eyebrow lifted over an even darker eye. Damn but it was hard to stay in a bad mood with Remy around.
"Now you're talkin' my language," said Remy with a laugh. "Let's not talk 'bout Attack of the Revenge of the Sons of the Night of the Living Plant Lifeforms With Extra Zombies for a bit an' just get out there where th' air is clear an' you brake round every li'l bend jus' like y'always used to."
Jonothan sped up the highway, letting his mind drift. It was a less oppressive circumstance in which to gather his thoughts, Xavier's school filled with the stale air of a family still reeling from a death. It had been more than a year, and he hadn't had a chance to talk to Storm about it, but it was clear they hadn't been successful in picking up the pieces. The school seemed to be doing well enough, but the X-men were struggling. He hoped they could get their heads together and figure that bit out. This time not in a meeting the day of a conflict with half the school in attendance.
Coming to a stop at the Point, Chamber turned off the bike and pulled off his gloves, looking around for Remy.
The Point had a few people through this time of the day usually, but today there was only one other parked car and up against the railing, the back of a familiar overcoat, a tall, slender man looking out over the view.
Remy had parted company with Jubilee at the airport, telling her that he'd follow on in a day or two, that he had a few things to sort out before he headed into the school. That was true enough. at least one of those things had been sorted out and was in a safety deposit box waiting to be picked up by the man who'd requested it.
The Point brought back a lot of memories for Remy. When he'd first come to the Institute, Jono and he had become unlikely friends, a friendship that had continued over the years despite their leading very different lives.
Chamber wouldn't have defined it as different, but then he always had a certain zen about him. Distanced perhaps. They both were loners, omega dogs. They crossed paths occasionally. Most often when they were licking wounds.
God damn you Cajuns, don't they have coat shops in the bayou?
If he could grin he would have, instead he just clapped Gambit on the shoulder, and nodded out to the scenery.
Coming full circle, it seems.
"Poetic soul, mon ami." Remy turned at the clap on the shoulder and embraced his friend easily. "Good t'see you lookin' so fit an' well. Gotta say it though, you look a bit burned out. You might want t'think 'bout takin' things a li'l easier, non?"
It was an old joke and one that Remy always grinned at. "So what's this 'bout Stormy strugglin' t'hold th' old place together, then? Want t'walk?"
Jonothan nodded, put his hands in his pocket.
It seems to be only her and some other guy. A few others have shown up but like me, I think they've only been there a few days. Some of them looked like they'd never seen action. Not like this. In fact a few of them were only days from knowing what the X-Men were, period.
His dark eyes shifted to Remy as they walked. He was going to say something about Scott and Jean, but he couldn't. So he stayed quiet. It was a pretty common habit. When every word you say echoes in someone's head like a gong, you take care what bells you're ringing.
After a few minutes of companionable silence, Remy opened up to him, as he always had done.
"Got m'self in a bit of trouble in a coupla states in the past four months or so. More so than usual. Seems La Croix's family extends way out past Nawlins, hell, even outta Louisiana. They put a price on m'head like you wouldn't believe. Kinda flatterin' when I look at it objectively - but means that I'm bringin' a whole crock of trouble with me. I don't want t'be makin' things worse at th' school than they are already, but I also need sanctuary for a bit."
He sighed.
"The Prof would've snapped me up like a shot, he always promised me that. But he ain't here t'do th' snappin'. So I don't know what t'do for th' best."
Were it Chamber's decision, he'd take him in no questions asked and formulate a plan to keep them all safe. But there were children thhere, and the game was getting more and more dangerous.
You know I've got your back, Remy. You're right though... it could endanger the kids. Things are a lot different than they used to be. And I'm not sure what we dealt with in Baltimore is going to take into consideration that there are underage mutants at Xavier's.
He rubbed his hands together.
I've been thinking of talking to Storm about moving the base of the X-Men to a location separate from the school. It's not the Xavier would have it but then, if he... well... I think he'd agree.
Jonothan frowned hard, glowering into the treeline.
"Sounds like a sensible plan t'me, mon ami," said Remy surveying his friend critically. "And I didn't miss th' comment 'bout you havin' m'back. I appreciate that more than you'll probably ever know." He reached over and clapped Jono on the shoulder.
"Got any thoughts 'bout another base?" Remy pursued that line of conversation, considering it was probably a little less flammable than his coming to the school and endangering kids.
Jonothan looked at his friend, shaking his head.
Not one. I haven't been in the area in a few years, and I'm not sure of Xavier's assets. It could be there's a perfect location already. Haven't brought up the idea to Storm yet. Something tells me she's not going to be happy having anyone suggest any changes to her just now. Otherwise those changes would already be made. But she trusts me, so maybe I can get her to turn around. But until then... it's the wrong time to come in with notoriety, but then, that's not something you shake all that well eh friend?
"Remy Le Beau comes wit' lots of strings attached, he always did." Remy grinned his charming grin. "Think how dull I'd be if I were just another Cajun swamp rat wit' no thoughts beyond th' next plate of gumbo." He stopped walking and sat down on a bench, scratching at his chin thoughtfully.
"If ever there were a time t'change somethin', now's th' time. Heard 'bout Baltimore. You guys must've taken quite a poundin' out there. Maybe it's time I stopped chargin' 'round th' countryside and actually stepped in t'offer whatever help I can."
That's about what I was thinking. Not sure how long it will last, but.... well. We should have been there in the first damned place, Remy.
His old friend's trademark temper echoed in his words. Hard to stoke, but once the fire was going, good luck putting it out. It seemed Jonothan had been poking at the coals since he first heard the news about Jean and Scott and Xavier.
"Chill, Jono. You an' I know th' score. We weren't cut out for th' discipline of workin' in that team. You an' me? We're wildcards." Almost absently, he pulled a playing card out of his inside pocket and turned it over in his fingers a few times. "An' sometimes, they're what you need."
He flipped the card into the air where it detonated quietly with a soft WA~CHOOM before reaching back into his pocket and taking out a cigarette. "Still ain't given up," he said, ruefully.
Yeah, well, smoke one for me.
He looped them back towards the bike as they walked, somehow dreading going back to the school.
I'd say we could hook up at an apartment or hotel in town, but if your friends are any good at what they do, they'll inevitably follow you back there. Still, it might slow them down until you can talk to Storm and figure out what you should do. In the end you'll be with us, I wouldn't let them turn you away. And I don't think they will, besides.
"I'm kinda hopin' I got away from them somewhere back in Louisiana. We stopped off there on the way. Damn fool thing to do, I know, but thought I'd pick up a few things from Pops." Remy's face darkened momentarily and he drew on the cigarette viciously. "That went well, as I'm sure you can imagine. Don't worry 'bout my sleepin' arrangements. I've been movin' round since Henri died. I'll sort somethin'. Maybe leave it a couple days, see if any of La Croix's family followed me here, then come in t'th' school."
Chamber nodded, leaning on the bike and crossing his arms.
So what have you heard, about what's gone down in the last few years.
He wanted to know if it would square with what he'd heard. God knows he hadn't talked to anyone about it.
"Well, know 'bout the death of the Prof, of course." Remy rubbed at the back of his neck. "FELT it more'n anythin' else. Thought the President's li'l eulogy was rather..." He paused, looking for the right word. "Hypocritical, really. All that stuff 'bout 'Charles Xavier forged th' links of a chain t'bind humans an' mutants together' made me wanna throw."
He rolled his eyes skyward.
"Read 'bout Alcatraz. Sounds like we missed one hell of a scrap there. Looks like th' Brotherhood took one hell of a poundin', too, mind. Ain't heard no word on what happened t'Magneto."
It was no secret between Chamber and Gambit that Remy had once considered joining Magneto's cause.
"An' I did hear tell of Scott an' Jeannie," he added, sorrowfully.
Between you and me...
Chamber stopped. Looking down at the ground, her chose his words carefully. He didn't want to say it wrong, didn't even want to *think* it wrong.
I think the time has come for them to quiet down. To stop trying to save everything. I'm all about defending what needs to be defended, but...
He shook his head yet again, rubbing the back of his neck.
Three of us gone, man. And look what they have left. Nothing. Storm's a great woman, but she's no Xavier. How many more are they going to feed to the effort before they realize dying for it doesn't help it get anywhere?
A quick nudge of his foot kicked a rock off the edge. Jonothan listened to it tumble down, down, down. He was beginning to remember why he didn't stick around anywhere for too long.
In Baltimore, if they'd hung back, helped the non-mutants, and gotten the hell out, we wouldn't be in half the mess we're in- and I tell you what Remy, I'm putting money on them having NO idea just how MUCH of a mess it is.
The surface of Chamber's eyes reflected the storming energy within his body, and he shoved his gloves in the inside pocket of his jacket, sulking.
Remy put on a shocked expression. "Now THAT ain't th' Chamber I remember. Time was, mon ami when you wouldn't have cared. You goin' soft?" His words were joking, however and he continued. "Know what you mean, though. Watchin' those news reports - th' Brotherhood's a ragtag bunch of yobs without Magneto's guidance. It's gon' take them time t'build up a decent force again - an' Stormy should be takin' that time to settle her people, keep them alive."
Jonothan was appropriately set in his place, in the same jovial way Remy'd always had.
Soft? Don't know. Seems more likely I'm tired of the people I love biting it when I'm not around. And I'll I'm saying is they need a little strategy. You should have seen it. Zombies. Zombies and giant plants. It was chaos. If they'd have slowed down and looked for the individuals who BROUGHT the zombies and the plants, they could have taken them out, secured the innocents, and looked like the heroes.
He stood, picking up his helmet from the handlebars.
Enough of that though. Why don't we go for a ride.
One dark eyebrow lifted over an even darker eye. Damn but it was hard to stay in a bad mood with Remy around.
"Now you're talkin' my language," said Remy with a laugh. "Let's not talk 'bout Attack of the Revenge of the Sons of the Night of the Living Plant Lifeforms With Extra Zombies for a bit an' just get out there where th' air is clear an' you brake round every li'l bend jus' like y'always used to."
