Still a little off [ota]

[marauding_miss]

While the mission with Wade was counted as a success, Rogue hoped to hell that they didn't use her for anything like that again. She understood how helpful it could be, she understood how much easier it was, but it was still her head and her mind and her feeling the strain of too many foreign memories. Carol always got louder when someone else

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[movetheearth]

Accustom to his things going walkabouts on a regular basis, mostly due to Martini if he's honest, Ric isn't surprised that his recently re-acquired iPod has gone from his room by the time he gets back from his cigarette up on the roof of Jefferson Dorm. He'd seen Rogue settle herself down on the bottom step of Lincoln House and watched her for a while from his spot high up; arms crossed, leant against the roof edge and cigarette slowing burning between his fingers.

It was easy to see that there was something different about his Ruby, she never wore her hair tied back so neatly or chose to sit in such a location. He jogs down the stairs of the dorm and pushes the door wide open. The air is crisp and cool but the sun is warm enough if you keep still and bask in it. Sauntering over from the opposite dorm, Ric steps past Rogue and sits down on the step directly behind her, legs framing her hips and almost acting like a shield or cocoon from the rest of the world.

He'd mindful not to make skin to skin contact, keeping his sleeves rolled down and hands resting on her upper arms, rubbing up and down in soothing motions across the fabric of her jacket. Normally Ric is all about words, never shutting up and constantly talking but this time he gently presses a kiss to the back of Rogue's head, breathing in her scent and silently thanking whatever higher power watched over his sister and brought her back safely.

[marauding_miss]

Usually, she'd flinch, even from Ric. But there's a warmth in the embrace that Rogue just can't resist. Leaning back slightly, her back to his chest and her head resting against his shoulder. She stops fiddling with the iPod for a moment, leaving it on the utterly horrific Cyndi Lauper song that she doesn't know the words to but knows that Ric does.

"Y' really gotta update y'r music, hun." She recognises that it's possible to tell she's not all there, or more than all there, or something. But Ric doesn't bring it up, and she's a little thankful for it and a little wary.

The people in charge are aware of the situation, and if she loses control or Carol has an outburst, that's on them. "Ah mean, Coolio and the Gang? Darlin' what were y' thinking?"

[movetheearth]

"Sometimes you picture me, I'm walking too far ahead. You're calling to me. I can't hear what you've said." Ric starts to sing along with the tune on the iPod, words murmured softly as he lets Rogue settle more comfortably in his embrace. He lets the insult about his music slide for the moment, instead chosing to belt out the chorus, making sure he doesn't yell in her ear.

The outburst earns them some odd looks from passing soldiers. They're pretty sure that they saw the same guy, who currently has a pretty girl cuddled up with him, making out with a guy a few nights ago and the odd and vibrant red head was getting pretty hands on in the lunch queue only last week. Ric's heard the rumours that he must either be the team bike or a cassanova, something he neither denies or acknowledges. "Don't deny you love it really and there is nothing wrong with a bit of Coolio."

Ric thumbs at his iPod and immedaitely Backstreet Boys 'As long as you love me' starts to play, getting a bright smile from Ric. "See, class music all the way. Anyway what would you load differently to listen to?"

It's easy to see that something has happened to Rogue whilst she was on the mission. Ric isn't going to push and pry until Ruby is good and ready to talk to him.

[marauding_miss]

His singing at least sparked a laugh from her, curling tighter into his chest. Rogue wasn't too bothered about what people said, if they thought she was involved with Ric or if they really were family, or if they just thought Ric was far too friendly. She had enough to worry about.

"Ah dunno, a little R.E.M, maybe some Billy Ray?" Rogue didn't exactly mind the cheesy pop, Ric had enough of a diversity on the iPod thanks to Mark and herself stealing it all the time that it wasn't a big deal. "Y' could always pretend t' have some class and throw on some Bach or Veracini."

Not that Rogue knew what either of those composers sounded like at all. She just had memories of listening to Bach while studying through college medical books, while revising on the subway, while hunched over a desk, inputting data. "But Ah guess if you've got a crush on one o' the Backstreets, Ah can deal."

[movetheearth]

Wrapping an arm around Rogue's waist Ric leans back a little so that they can snuggle more comfortably, content to just keep her close and know that's she's alright and safe.

"Are you saying I don't have class Miss Ruby?" Ric knows full well that his taste in music does tend to leave something to be desired. He loves the kind of pop cheesy beats that you hear on the radio and the kind of music you can dance to in a club. Mix that in with his occasional splurge into tacky rock ballads and music from his home country well... it leaves a lasting impression. Martini and Rogue have both uploaded their preferences onto his iPod at least in an attempt to broaden Ric's tastes.

"How was it working with Wade?" It's not about the mission directly, more about the loud mouthed merc that poor Rogue had been forced work with. Ric didn't like Wade all that much if he was honest, and there really was no love lost between the two ever since their punch up [read: Ric's ass kicking]

[marauding_miss]

"You have lower class, y'r like the gutter boy of music." If Rogue really had anything against Ric's music, she'd buy her own iPod, or call her mother and request one. She wasn't really that worried about it.

"It was fine." Wade wasn't really a problem, not a large one anyway. She didn't necessarily like the man, but she could deal with it. The weren't together for most of the mission any way. "He talks too much, enjoys it too much." Which irritates Rogue, because he treats it all like a holiday instead of something serious.

"It was a shit assignment. He could'a done it alone."

[movetheearth]

"Gutter boy of music?!" Ric's idignant squawk is really, mostly, put upon and in-keeping with his dramatic flair. He knows it's only Rogue teasing though because he is well aware that both Rogue and Mark delete his music if they really don't like it and are more than welcome to add their own styles or preferences. But who didn't love a bit of Gloria Gaynor singing I Will Survive or Reach out and I'll be there?!

"Doubt anyone if would have minded if you'd silenced him or left him behind." Ric mumbled to himself, snuggling up to Rogue and squeezing her gently. "Especially seeing as the Captain is obviously more tolerant of you than Wade."

Ric tugs gently at the bun in Rogue's hair, loosening a few strands and letting them hang down messily around her face. "Not that I don't like the hairstyle I'm assuming something prompted it? I've got some churros my Mama sent me in my room, want me to go grab 'em?" Ric knows that he can usually tempt Mark with sweet treats and occasionally Rogue can be lured with similar things.

[marauding_miss]

"Ah'm gonna swap all y'r seventy power houses for queer house remixes, an' Ah know it ain't gonna annoy ya, so don't start actin' it." She figured he'd probably enjoy having a few of the 'scene' anthems for when he really started acting the goat.

For some reason, Rogue did get the impression that the Captain wasn't adverse to her; which was good really, because Stryker had always given Rogue the impression that they were all expendable, not having to cower to a commanding officer -however voluntary her presence, well, that was good. "Yeah, but he's like a bad penny, always findin' his way back."

As the tendrils of hair fell down, Rogue fought the urge to push them back and slick them. She wasn't sure what it was, probably just the foreign annoyance of long hair, which would hopefully fade, because Rogue wasn't cutting her hair. "Jus' a little phase, sugah, won't last." Although the promise of churros was tempting. "Ah dunno if Ah should ruin mah dinner with treats, bet y'r Mama wouldn't approve."

[movetheearth]

Ignoring the comment, for now, Ric just rolls his eyes and sticks his tongue out in a typically childish way. Rogue is right though, he'll pretend to moan now but end up liking whatever she's loaded despite the protests about changing his music and insulting his tastes.

Rolling his eyes Ric shuffles back and stands up, holding his hands out for Rogue to take so he can haul her ass indoors. "Whether you eat them or not these concrete stairs are cold on my ass and the last thing I need it to do damage to my money maker."

Ric wiggles his ass as he speaks, smirking at Rogue and glancing back at the dorm. "Anyway, it's not like Mama is here to tell us off for spoiling out dinner and she did technically send them for us to eat so... y'know, live a little Ruby."

[marauding_miss]

Letting Ric get his way this time is easier than arguing, easier than explaining why she wanted to sit outside for a while. But then, maybe the only thing about being inside that she wasn't too keen on was being alone. "A'right, fine. But Ah'm warnin' ya, if mah waistline ends up like yours, Ah ain't gonna be pleased."

Teasing came easily, even with the tightness in her chest and the mild anxiousness that grew from proximity right then. She always tried to close herself off a little after absorbing too much. "An' mah dentist is gonna hate you."

In the end, she was fine with pulling Ric inside and up the stairs, hauling him into his own room and closing the door behind them like she couldn't get inside fast enough. "Y' got some soda too?"

[movetheearth]

Ric's distracted for a moment by Rogue's comment, index finger poking at his stomach as he peers down at it. He's not fat, he's not even remotely pudgy, he's pretty fit and healthy for a guy who smokes like it is going out of fashion and sure he is nowhere in the leagues of Captain Fitness-Freak Sykes but Ric is happy about his body.

"Excuse me? As long as I don't end up with an ass like yours we'll be fine little lady." He is only joking, letting Rogue drag him upstairs and into his room. It's surprisingly tidy, for a change, though it's pretty obvious that both Ric and Martini share it at times from the clothing and items dotted around. Rummaging in the kitchen area Ric tosses Rogue a can of soda before he straddles his desk chair the wrong way round. Using the back of it to prop his arms on.

"I don't know why I'm so nice to you when all you do is insult me."

[marauding_miss]

"You know for a fact my ass is fantastic, Ah know mah ass is fantastic." One thing Rogue's been her whole life, regardless of whose mind she shares her body with, is vain. Raven didn't discourage it with her constantly taking on ridiculously attractive forms and faces and Rogue always feeling like it was obvious she wasn't Raven's biological daughter because she never looked like her Mama was appearing.

"Besides, y'r hips are wider than mahn." Teasing aside, Rogue catches the can, smirking slightly, "Y' know Ah'm jus' foolin'." It was like no one in the camp could be unattractive. Not even the new kids were hard on the eyes.

"Alright, so y' got me up t' y'r evil lair, what'cha wantin' t' ask?" Sitting on the bed, Rogue crosses her leg over her knee, not even remotely like she'd normally sit at all, but not noticing enough to change it.

[movetheearth]

"I know, I know." Ric isn't taking offence the the comments in the slightest, anyone else and he might have been throwing a hissy fit and kicking up a fuss but with Rogue, it was all fun and games really.

Ric notices the change in her posture but puts the comment about the mission being fine and this thing being just a phase together and connects the dots with ease. At least the new voice in her head isn't giving Rogue too much grief but Julio is also well aware that there will be repercussions later on down the line if Rogue isn't made to feel safe and secure now.

"I've been thinking about taking the Captain up on his offer with a trip into Midway and maybe further afield to Spokane, just wondered what your thoughts were on the matter and if you'd want to come with me, Phe and Martini?" Ric knows that he couldn't really handle both Phe and Martini on his own in a place like Spokane, there would be chaos and drama left, right and centre before they'd even been in the city for more than five minutes.

[marauding_miss]

Heading out of camp again, well, Rogue wasn't thrilled about the idea, but then, it wasn't a mission with a kill order and it wasn't with talk a mile Wade, so maybe it wouldn't be horrible. "Y'r wantin' t' take the loons for a day trip?"

It was said with love, because Rogue really did adore Mark, and you really couldn't dislike Ophelia unless she wanted you to. Maybe something like a trip would be a good idea. "Y' think he'll okay all four of us leaving for a while? Ah mean, Ah know they said we could, but it ain't like they said we could have field trips."

Not to mention, Rogue didn't exactly require the permission, since she could ultimately just fly off for a while and then come back. Not that she did it often. "Well, if they say yeah, Ah guess Ah'm good with it. Gawd knows someone'll hafta babysit you three."

[movetheearth]

"Well I reckon they deserve to get out of this place for a few hours at least. Crazy they may well be but... well y'know." He finished the comment with a shrug of his shoulders. How could Ric explain how he felt about Phe? About Mark? Sure they bashed heads, yelled, fought, bickered and fell out all the time but that was just one tiny aspect of their relationship.

"I was thinking of playing the I got injured angle with him and then adding in that you'd be coming along to bolster my appeal. I'm pretty sure he'd be happy to have us out of his hair for a few hours. If not we'll go to Emma." When in doubt Ric knew he could trust Emma to back him up no matter what, they had an understanding and a friendship that others couldn't always understand.

Slurping loudly at his soda Ric opens up the tupperware box of churros and sucks on the end of one. He knows Rogue will spend half her time keeping an eye on the three of them to ensure no trouble is caused and the other half getting into trouble with them.

[marauding_miss]

Rogue wasn't against it, not at all. Most of them had been nothing but confined to the base since they arrived, and it wasn't exactly helpful, least of all to someone like Mark or Ophelia. "You know, you could always just say we're all goin' nutso here, wanna let us out? Ah mean, if they really are lettin' us have some leave, we shouldn't really be justifyin' nothing."

Not to mention, maybe having all four of them go was a better idea. After all, no one really understood Mark enough to let him go off on his own, and Rogue doubted anyone trusted Ophelia's sanity enough to let her go off on her own. With the four of them, all four of them would at least come back.

"Well," taking one of the churros, Rogue slid from the bed to sit on the floor, legs out in front of her, "least y' know y'r back up plan'll work. Ah knew you havin' an in with the boss lady would benefit me at some point."