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

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Waving a churro at Rogue to punctuate his point Ric swallows his mouthful of food. "Yeah, but why do things the easy way?" Rogue has a point though, he's just making things more complicated for himself than he really needs to after all.

With the four of them at least Ric knows that Mark will listen to one of them, probably Rogue more than him, and she can always pack a punch if needs be. All those times people have accused Ric of hiding behind others when it comes to confrontation were right. If he can someone bigger and/or tougher to fight his battles then why the hell not?!

"Y'know you should take advantage of it more often, technically we could get away with murder in camp and I bet Emma would still cover for us because I'm her favourite." Ric grins, slurping loudly on his soda like a child.

[marauding_miss]

Honestly, Rogue wasn't too bothered about leaving camp. She was concerned with Mark and Ric's safety, and as a by product of that Phe's too. They weren't exactly the least troublesome in the camp so it was entirely possible that they did need a babysitter anyway.

"Well, since Emma ain't gonna say no t' you, Ah guess we can just get planinn' on the trip. Y' sure Phe and Mark wanna go? What am Ah sayin'? Course they will." Loons or not, everyone needed a break at some point, and with Mark and Phe's mutations, it was highly probable that maybe they both needed a bigger break.

"But if Ah head t'words a hospital or medical centre, darlin', y' gotta keep me back, okay?"

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"If I give those two too much of a say they'll be dictating the entire day to us. I'm just going to get them permission and we can surprise them. Anyway give it an hour and Loco will have already picked up on our plans." There was never an easy way to keep a secret from the likes of Martini, he always knew what was going to happen or potentially happen which sometimes was really annoying.

"Medical huh? That's what's going on." Ric gestured at the way that Rogue was more buttoned up than usual. He was accustom to the layers but not the prim and overly proper presentation that just wasn't Ruby. "I pinkie promise alright? Now, you got any preferences as to what we do and see whilst on our day out?"

[marauding_miss]

Ric raised a good point; Martini would probably know before they talked about getting permission and Ophelia, well, Rogue didn't really know just what Ophelia would want to do. "Y' know, maybe we can ask Mark if we get int' trouble, an' maybe avoid it?"

At the gesture, Rogue took the moment to look at herself, her hair was all tied up in a bun, save for the few strands that Ric had knocked free, and her whole attire was properly fastened and buckled and tied -normally she was a mess of layers and disorganised dressing, which was how she liked it.

"Um, yeah. Ah'm pretty sure Ah have a PhD in bio-physics now." Not that it would hold up in any manner, but for a good few years, Rogue would probably make a passable doctor or researcher in the field. "But beyond demandin' ice cream, Ah'm pretty easy. Maybe find somewhere t' pick up some more clothes? Since we're allowed t' wear our own now an' then."

[movetheearth]

"You honestly think you can get a straight answer out of him then please, be my guest." Ric meant that in a totally loving and caring way that not many others would understand. It wasn't that he was annoyed, more he knew that getting Martini to focus for long enough could be difficult.

Arching an eyebrow at Rogue's comment he leans back, swinging on the chair and almost tipping it before swinging back the other way. "Shall I call you Doctor Rogue for now then?" He's teasing a little bit, slurping on his soda. "Good idea about the clothes though, would be nice to get my hands on some new stuff for a change as well as some more things to make this place more personal. We lost so much stuff between here and Russia thanks to the fact so much of my stuff was restricted."

Namely the copious amounts of illegal cigarettes and alocohol he was trying to smuggle in, hidden amongst his comics and such like. It was his own fault really.

[marauding_miss]

That was something Rogue understood; Mark didn't like sharing what he saw at the best of times, focusing enough to make sense was even harder for him. Rogue understood that better than most. "Okay, so maybe we just wing it." It would be better than stressing Mark out, trying to get an answer

[movetheearth]

"Y'know you could pull off the whole white coat thing so easily. Me though? I like the scrubs." And yeah, there is a certain smile on Ric's face which totally says that he is day dreaming about something. Probably Martini and probably in scrubs too for that matter.

Shaking off the though Ric brushes the back of his hand across his pants to shake off the churro crumbs left there by Rogue but doesn't comment on it. "What? You gonna suggest a pot plant next?"

Oh the perks of knowing who he did. Connections make the world go around and all that jazz. "Awwww thank you Ruby. I knew I could rely on you to find another perk to this trip!" Ric is already mentally working out what he could bring back with him to use in non-cash transactions and for those so-called impromptu poker games that are held round the back of the garage ever so often.

[marauding_miss]

"Would'ya believe Ah've done that before?" Rogue was usually pretty much the go to girl for undercover while with the Brotherhood. It was part of the reason she had so many voices in her head. When the touch was brief, she had the advantage of specialist knowledge and just the lingering memories, but sometimes certain memories and voices returned. After Carol, Rogue stopped using her own power against people as much as she could.

"Ah don't think we should, y'd just forget t' water it. Maybe a little cactus." She wasn't really too bothered with making the place feel like home, no pictures, no keep sakes, no personality. She doesn't even know whose personality it would be decorated with.

It's not like her to encourage him, but sometimes, it just needs to be helped along. "Don't worry, Ah'm sure everythin'll work out nice as y' like." It might be a case of them not getting out again due to missions or on base issues. So they really had to plan and get everything in the one trip. Just in case.

[movetheearth]

"Actually yeah I would. If things were different I bet you'd be an amazing Doctor or Nurse." And by that he meant no mutation, though obviously that went unspoken. Hell a lot of things would be different if half of them didn't have mutations.

Ric stood up from his seat on the chair and moved to sprawl on the second bed in the room, turfing off a pile of laundry onto the floor as he did so. Martini would have a fit later, ranting at Ric about how he always leaves his room looking like a tornado has ripped through it. Thing is though everytime Martini complains he always cleans up after himself so the ranting really isn't required.

Gesturing around him, Ric stared at the ceiling. "I always thought I'd end up some place like this. Conforming to the rules of someone and trying to fit in. Beats the tents of Africa and the shitty snow of Russia don't it." He doesn't mention Japan though, that wound still too raw in his mind to poke and prod at.

[marauding_miss]

If things were different, Rogue would probably have been a house wife somewhere in Louisiana with a dozen children running around and a lazy, no good husband driving her mad. Rogue wasn't about to believe that her life could be so much better without her powers, it could be less dangerous, maybe. But she wasn't completely unfortunate. "Yeah, but Ah don't see me sitting for days with mah nose in a book

[movetheearth]

"But you've got great people skills." Ric lays with his head hanging off the bed, watching Rogue from this off angle and ignoring the rush of blood to his head till it gets too much and he is forced to sit up. "You think so huh?"

She's probably right, Ric would have ended up wasting his time and money on luring the 'beautiful people' in and breaking hearts left, right and centre. It had been the way he always worked before he joined the team and ended up sort of reasonably settled with one person in Martini.

"Really?! I've been to New York, but never seen the sights or stayed more than a day or two. Should really go sometime and do the tourist routine. So what's it like, your place in Harlem? I bet it's classy and retro." He rolled over onto his front, head pillowed on one arm.

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Good with people, her? "Darlin' Ah'm a train wreck. Y' don't remember when we first met? Ah barely said three words t' ya, and it wasn't cause y' never let me get a word in edge ways." Really, she was a lot better now, with the likes of Ric and Mark pulling her out of her shell. Angel was nice to talk to and Remy tried with her. She knew that people were making the effort, so it was safe to say she was starting to talk more

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"Well at least it wasn't just because I've got a big mouth and an inability to shut up." Yes, Ric is well aware that he talks more than he ever listens but then again he has usually is running his mouth off for some reason or another. Like to get himself out of trouble or the such like. But Rogue is right, she used to be far more of a wall flower and now? Well she's getting there and Ric can't help but be proud tohave been a part of that.

"I know the type you mean." It was easy to picture Rogue in a place like that, somewhere that gave her the space and freedom as well as the opportunity to just simply blend in with everyone else. And somewhere like New York? Where else was better to disappear into the crowds and just become another face in a sea of endless nobodies.

"Can't wait to go home. I miss sunshine and the beach, I miss Mexico."

[marauding_miss]

"Yeah, not just because o' that." Rogue knew for sure that she'd gone through a lot of changes. From her boisterous self before Carol, the simpering girl after Carol, scared of her own shadow and what it might do. But now, mostly thanks to her friends, she was starting to come back to herself, personalities and minds inside her aside. Since she had people who actually cared about her.

Her place wasn't very her. It was simply where she occasionally resided. She wanted somewhere more uptown, wanted something more brownstone, wanted something more free for her to decorate. And someday maybe she would.

"That where you boys are plannin' on settling?" Mexico wasn't far, she could fly to Mexico in a few hours, from New York to Mexico, it was nothing. Distance at all would suck, but surely that was a little while away anyway, she still had her time then.

[movetheearth]

When it comes to leaving team and finally moving on with their lives Ric has already given it some thought. He's invited Mark to move with him to Mexico, already deeming his home to theirs if that is what Mark wants. That said he is also pretty aware that his time manipulating boyfriend has probably glimpsed ahead to their future and the fact that Mark isn't adverse to the idea is good enough for Julio for now.

"Eventually I'd like us to but that's not completely up to me, you know Mark can be about these things." Not to mention Ric wouldn't mind touring the world and seeing the sights with Martini as well before they settle down. He wants security but there is no harm in having fun before right?

"You'd love it I bet. Could get you a place down there too if you wanted, I know a great real estate agent." If Ric had his way he'd move everyone of importance within ten minutes of where he lived. But life isn't like that and he is startign to learn that, all be it slowly.