1 - [Action]

[snikting]

[It was like blacking out. One minute he was boarding a chopper with Nick Fury, detailing his plan for dealing with Apocalypse, the next moment he had passed out. Now he was waking up groggily in a dark place. It was small, confined, and it smelled like a person he was reasonably sure he was going to not end up liking. After trying to bang his way out, eventually his claws slide out of his wrists and he tears the door down. Bursting out from the closet is a hairy, angry man with a set of three razor sharp claws on both hands. He's pissed and he wants answers. Hi Tony.]

[After getting his answers from Stark, Logan was out on the town. His first job was taking care of his clothes. He found some stuff that fit soon enough, as well as his uniform. He slipped that one first, then a jacket over top of that. After what he'd heard, it was better to be prepared. His next step was tracking down his team. He didn't need directions for them. His nose was keen enough that he could smell them in the air. So he spends his time tracking them down, one by one, to wherever they currently were. At their home or elsewhere. That takes up most of his day, taking in all the information and making plans for their next move. If any.

By the day ends, Wolverine is in a bad mood and makes his way to where heard the bar was. Ordering his drink is more like snarling that he wanted a beer. He's not in the mood to talk and he spends most of his time at the bar scowling. Stuck in Luceti? No way to get out? Fate of the world in the balance? There's not enough booze in Luceti to make him happy.

People can catch him at the bar, or earlier in the day after he's found his uniform. He'll be exploring the place and stop a lot to start sniffing at the air, as if he's looking for something. For the most part his claws will be retracted unless someone threatens him. He's also 5'3. Comment on his height at your own peril.]

Comments

[ action ]

[touchofrogue]

[Here she is. In the Item Shop. Listening to Metallica.

The journal's open on her desk, and she's working in the back, sorting the new stuff.

Yup, another day in Luceti.]

[ action ]

[snikting]

[Okay Wolverine is in an even WORSE mood because he just fought Hulk. And he's glad to see Rogue is enjoying herself. He leans on the counter, turns off her music, and tries not to growl too much.]

Pack up, Rogue. We're getting out of this town. Now.

[ action ]

[touchofrogue]

[I'm sorry, what?

That was, at least, loud enough for her to hear two rooms away - as if someone shutting off her music and thereby touching her Mp3 wasn't bad enough.

But she knew that voice.]

Logan?

[Approaching cautiously, but quickly. Very quickly.]

[ action ]

[snikting]

[GOOD. He didn't want to have to go hunting her. He turned around to lean against the counter, crossing his arms.]

There you are. Where's the others? [Kitty and Kurt. He knew they were here.]

[ action ]

[touchofrogue]

Oh my Gawd.

[Several hesitant steps forward.]

You're really here? It's really you?

[ action ]

[snikting]

In the flesh. [... she's different looking. Older. More mature. Less makeup. No hideous chin cleft.]

[ action ]

[touchofrogue]

[Her heart leaps up in her throat.]

No offense, but - give me a reason ta believe that.

[Too many worlds, too many heartbreaks, she scarcely dares hope.]

[ action ]

[snikting]

[This could be resolved easier. He could offer a simple hand for her to touch. But damned if he thinks she needs another dose of a mind like his running around inside there.]

You asking for backstory? Fine. Ask me what you want.

[ action ]

[touchofrogue]

[She shakes her head.]

No good.

[Too many similar worlds.]

Tell me somethin' about me.

[Like how much she hates talking about her, ever.

Something Mystique wouldn't know.]

...what did I ask you on the plane?

[ action ]

[snikting]

[It takes a moment for him to realize what she means. They're in planes all the time. But then he remembers that scared teenage girl, shivering in the plane, terrified that the X-Men were no better than the shapeshifting monster she just escaped from. He bows his head at that, almost smirking at the memory.]

You wanted to know if I planned to toss you out if you didn't join up.

[ action ]

[touchofrogue]

[...]

Oh my Gawd, Logan!

[Watch out - you have a nearly twenty-year old mutant who normally avoids being touched barreling into you as fast as she can. At least she's fully covered from head to toe today.

/sob.

You don't even know, man. You don't even know how good it is to see you, she almost - but doesn't, of course - cries. He'll be able to smell the tears, though, hot in her eyes and denied any form of release.]

[ action ]

[snikting]

[Rogue is the last one he expected to ever go launching into hugs. So he's bewildered at first. Sure, Tony had given some hints on the situation, but he didn't actually believe the guy. How could he?

But things were definitely different here. And not in a good way.]

... you sure you're Rogue?

[ action ]

[touchofrogue]

You know I am.

[Sure. Rogue. Both.

She pulls back quickly. No excuses. No reasons.

It's been almost two years.

Kurt's gone.

I'm a mess, Logan.

I hate being in charge of us.]

Gawd. I don't know how you're gonna stand it here.

[ action ]

[snikting]

[Good thing that's over with. He's still confused, but he's crossing his arms (set some distance) and trying to get a handle on the situation.]

Seeing as I already went a few rounds with big green and ugly, probably not too well.

[ action ]

[touchofrogue]

...Hulk? You tussled with Hulk?

[No wonder you turned off your music. She does your sensitive hearing a favor and doesn't turn it back on, taking a few steps away again and leaning against the counter.

She glances him over, concerned.]

You all healed up, or did they slow that down too?

[ action ]

[snikting]

Slowed down? [There's a thoughtful pause for a moment, before he's growling under his breath.] I thought something was wrong out there. And not just with the new feathery decorations either. [Fighting the Hulk is bad enough, but landing on your back after getting hit by him is excruciating.]

[ action ]

[touchofrogue]

I know some people I trust who can help - with magic, believe it or not.

[Blathering. She's blathering, and she recognizes this, but. At least it's purposeful blathering.]

Unless ya wanna wait an' see how long it takes.

[She doesn't bother asking if it's bad. She knows he's as used to pain as she is.]

[ action ]

[snikting]

[Magic, huh? The only encounter he's had with magic was those weird guys from Africa. That was just weird. Not something he would welcome for a second round.]

I'll pass. [By now it's just bruising. By the time they're done talking, he'll be more or less in good shape.] Where's the others?

[ action ]

[touchofrogue]

It's just me an' Kitty now. [Flat out honesty with Logan.] We're livin' with a girl we met here - Mia. She's a healer.

[That's not a hint, just information.]

An' a fighter. Uses water like Bobby uses ice.

[ action ]

[snikting]

[Living, huh? That fits with what he's heard. But given he'd seen Rogue and Kitty hours ago, planning on taking on Apocalypse, it's hard to imagine. For the moment, he focuses on their new friend.]

She's a mutant?

[ action ]

[touchofrogue]

[She shakes her head.]

Different worlds, different rules.

[Hell, the first guy I touched here was a plant!

But she manages to bite that back. Even her relief over seeing him can't get her to talk about other people's lives.]

Don't suppose you glanced at the guide between gettin' here an' gettin' in a fight with Hulk.

[ action ]

[snikting]

I looked. Assigned reading ain't exactly high on my priorities. [Step 1 - Find the X-Men. Step 2 - Escape.]

[ action ]

[touchofrogue]

It's a clear cage, Logan. Kurt an' Kitty tried BAMFing an' phasing out when they first got here - but it's no good.

[ action ]

[snikting]

[Yeah. He heard about the inescapable part. But she should know better than that.]

You know that ain't good enough for me, right? [Until he goes to the barrier and smashes his claws against it, he won't be satisfied.]

[ action ]

[touchofrogue]

Yeah. I know.

[If she thought there was the smallest chance of it working, she'd go with him. But as it is, it's New Feather season, and she's needed in the Item Shop.

And her heart goes through the complication calisthenics of just having him here to having him gone - that's what happens when you open up, Rogue - can't trust him to make it all alright when no one can make it all right.]

Ya want gear for the trip?