15314/Little bit of chicken fried...

Little bit of chicken fried...
Date of Scene:	08 July 2023
Location:	Kitchen - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Discussions are held in the kitchen, and an apology is given.
Cast of Characters:	Rogue, Wolverine, Phoenix

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Rogue has posed:
Rogue stands at the stove, a cast iron skillet on the stovetop with about an inch of cooking oil heating up inside. There's stuff out to make one believe that some frying is about to go down in the kitchen. And Rogue specifically? She's breaking down a chicken into pieces. Legs, wings and thighs, breasts - and she's definitely an expert at carving a chicken even when it's raw.

"You know," continuing from a random conversation a little bit ago. "I would say that you should be careful in judging a book by it's cover...but you've been around a while. If I were to ever trust someone's judgment about another person...it'd be you." Course, she says this, and then theres her track record with Sinister. But in her defense, she had been working with Sinister before she got with Logan.

Wolverine has posed:
"Well, that's 'cause I haven't told anyone one a story" Logan offers as a counter to a partcular cover. "In the grand scale o' things how long have I been back? Not too long, right?" Logan asks as he starts setting up the pieces. Sky blue eyes flick to her for a moment. Breathing out, "So, one of my first nights back. I don't know who's here n' who's not," Logan says honestly. "Same goes fer anythin' more complex than that."

"First night, second night back, somethin' like that. Before you n' I talked, Mystique approached me, kinda threw herself at me. Made me a proposal n' I said 'Maybe.' Things happened in our past," he shrugs not thinking anything of it. "Then the next day I see the Cajun wit' his girlfriend. The same one that threw herself at me eight to twelve hours before," Logan says and just leans back in his chair a little bit. "Never mentioned the Cajun once, either. No relationshp talk 'cept the one she wanted wit' yers truly," then he chuckles a little bit. "I thought he coulda been datin' you or anyone really."

Shrugging a little bt, "I pretty much didn't talk to her after that one. N' so when someone says confidently, 'they're the next Mystique' wit' a knowin' conviction," Logan lets his words trail a little bit. The eyes stay on Rogue for a moment. "See my concern?"

Rogue has posed:
Rogue blinks a couple times, and seems to go a bit slower for a moment. Then she decides to hold her tongue and just nods. "I really can't see you with someone like Mystique..." But then again, Mystique could be -anyone- so there's likely some weird fascination with that.

Chicken gets dunked in another tub, this one filled with buttermilk and hot sauce. "It's gonna take about half'n hour before the chicken's ready to be fried... ya can't rush perfection." She grins and then washes her hands before making two glasses of iced sweet tea, bringing one over to him. "But I promise, it's worth the wait...mine's the best fried chicken...and you can tell that to both the swamp rat (Gambit) an' that Guthrie boy after you taste it and agree with me."

Wolverine has posed:
"I wasn't in a good place back then," Logan will admit. Even he knows he should have stopped himself. "I stopped slummin' it recently. Has a lotta perks I'm findin' out," Logan says as he notices that crafty dodge.

"If I have a complaint darlin' it ain't about the food or the wait," Logan admits and then he looks towward hr moving about. Logan doesn't mind sweete tea, but expects a lot of it in his immediate future. "I'll admit the cookin' teacher knows her way 'round a kitchen. But I'm sure ya have some recipe passed down from five generations or somethin'," he says knowing this chicke will -probably- be hard to beat.

Rogue has posed:
"I mean. It ain't my momma's recipe... cause my parents were hippie freaks from a commune... I had to learn it after I ran off. But it IS somethin' I learned and been tweakin' to match my own tastes for a while." Rogue admits this and then smiles at him. "And I'm mostly teasin...aside from tellin' Gambit. Please tell Gambit that my chicken is better than anything he'll ever whip up in this kitchen and I might treat ya to somethin' /really/ special." She winks at him then.

"Do you have a complaint then?" Asking him this while she takes a sip of her tea. "I dunno if that was just a general statement or if you had somethin' to say, but I'm honestly willin' to listen if you do." This much as she hops up onto the island counter since it's clear and it's somewhere to settle herself while they chat and wait for food to be ready to cook.

Wolverine has posed:
Logan will look at her as she talks about the recipe of the origin. Ocean blue eyes just watchng her move around. "I'll tell him when I see him. -If- it's good," Logan says knowing it probably would. However, he still can't let it look like his vote automatically goes to Rogue. So, he'll let his tastebuds genunely do the talking.

"Just a small one," Logan speaks with candor in his words. "Small, minor, mega happy ending type of complaint," and then she hops on the counter. So, he'll whisper something to her.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue lets out a laugh. "If this were a more...private home? Then you absolutely could expect that from time to time. For now... you get a fully dressed me and a made from scratch southern dinner." She offters this much more before shifting to loosely place her arms around his neck. "So...what do you think has Jean all mentally wonky? Aside from the fact that Scott ain't been around..."

Wolverine has posed:
Logan shrugs, but nods. "What can ya do?" he knows she's right. Still, the sentiment is nice. Then Rogue puts an arm around her, "There's been an enemy takin' over the minds of younger students. I can't tell if Jean is fightin' that off from gettin' her or trying to shield everyone," Logan says and shakes his head. "It's puttin' a strain on her n' she's gonna snap like a rubberband," that's Logan's bg concern.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue frowns a little. "That's not good. I mean if Jean is only protecting herself that'd be one thing. If she's straining herself to protect everyone... there's gotta be a way to help her out. Course, she's almost as stubborn as Scott is when it comes to offering her help. She thinks she gotta shoulder it all." Rogue scoots off the counter then to go and pull the chicken from the buttermilk and proceeds to dredge, egg wash, dredge, and place the chicken in the cast iron. "So if Emma had gone any harder on the flirting, what would you have done?"

Wolverine has posed:
"That's why I'm worried. She's clearin' pushing n' pullin' some mental weight. I don't know how, but she looks so damned tired," Logan says and shakes his head for a little bit. "It ain't a matter of help, she's afraid of lookin' weak n' feelin' gulity. Like she failed the kids on -her- watch." He watches her move with the egg wash, "Run," Logan admits and shrugs. "It was at Lucifer's club, place gives me the creeps."

Phoenix has posed:
One can only go so far without food, and while Jean has been keeping a tireless watch out for Scott to come home, eventually something's gotta give..

She makes her way down to the kitchen to fix herself a sandwich, having foregone food for a few hours too long, but she stops as she hears voices coming from the kitchen, steeling herself before stepping in quietly.

Rogue has posed:
"That all circles back to her needin' to reach out for help. She may be the strongest telepath here next to Xavier... but she ain't the only one." Rogue says this and then shakes her head, grabbing a pair of tongs to turn the chicken she's frying over. The next bit Logan says has green eyes looking back over at him. "You know... for all that Lucifer gives you the heebie jeebies... you end up back in his presence a bit often..." She chuckles then before her attention goes back to the chicken right when Jean steps in.

Wolverine has posed:
Logan lets out a sigh, "Because we can't catch him or his boytoy doin' something bad. Heroes take down people -after- they do the crime, not before. Right now, it's mutually assured destruction or understandin' there's bigger fish at the moment," Logan admits all of this candidly as Jean walks into the room. "Jean," he says knowing she came into a lot of conversation.

Phoenix has posed:
Jean Grey tries not to be intrusive, not in the habit of reading minds or eavesdropping on conversations. She smiles softly at the both of them and nods. "Hello Logan, Rogue...Hope I'm not interrupting anything..?" she sniffs the air and smiles, "Mmm something smells good..What are you cooking..?"

Rogue has posed:
Rogue clears her throat gently and then smiles over at Jean. "Heya Jean." Offering that before she motions. "Fried chicken. Personal recipe. Logan ain't tried it yet so I figured now's a good time as any. You're welcome to some as well if you want. I got left over sides in the fridge I was about to warm up. Mashed potatoes and mac'n'cheese."

Wolverine has posed:
"Pull up a chair, Red. We were talkin' bout everythin' from Throuples to Emma Frost flirtin'," he looks back at Jean. "Don't ask," he says advising her that she may not want to talk about some of these topics. Still, he's trying to make it welcomoing. "How's the day been treatin' ya?" Logan asks and he looks back to Rogue for a moment. "Ya said nothin' bout sides," he says, like she was holding out on him.

Phoenix has posed:
Jean Grey arches a brow, peering at the hood smelling food, "Oh, are you sure you have some to spare?" she smiles, "Should gave figured you would be a good cook.."

She arches a curious brow at Logan's comments, biting her lip. "Oh...I see. Sounds like quite the conversation.." she laughs. A bit nervously at that.

Rogue has posed:
"Yeah. I make the time, especially if I know I wanna cook up some good stuff. And sometimes the Swamp Rat and Guthrie help with stuff." Rogue offers before flipping the chicken again. "Should be ready soon."

A moment is taken to turn towards Jean. "Listen..I know this may not be the right time an' place...but...m'sorry about how I reacted that night in the bar." She offers. "An' you're right. I should've swallowed my pride and came to ya. Even if I thought you were too busy for me."

Wolverine has posed:
Smirking at the nervous laugh, Logan remains mum. Just as he's about to open his mouth, Rogue speaks. And so Logan just continues his silence. They need to have this moment in his opinion.

Phoenix has posed:
Jean Grey smiles softly and nods to Rogue as she settles in one of the seats. "Thank you, I appreciate that.." she pauses, regarding her thoughtfully as she apologizes and sighs.

"Rogue..I get it. You had your reasons, you felt that he was helping you..But yes, I would have appreciated if you came to me first, if you had trusted me - trusted us."

She smiles gently, "But I understand..Maybe I just wasn't available, maybe I wasn't busy, heck maybe I didn't understand what you were going through, and I'm sorry too, if I overreacted.." she sighs, "I suppose I was just concerned about you.."

She mostly ignores Logan, for now.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue nods. "And I really do get it. I know Sinister's had his moments, and he can't be trusted far as we can throw him..." She pauses for a thought. "Well, as far as a normal person could throw him.." Cause she could toss him to the moon if she wanted!

"I ain't even told Logan this yet, but I've actually stopped seeing him for any reason. The more I've heard about him and that man he's with...the more I feel like there's gonna come a time when he'll make me choose. And so I made the choice before it even became a thing." She pauses to check the chicken and begins pulling the smaller pieces onto a plate covered with some paper towel to drain.

"I'm an X-Man first and foremost. If he's an enemy of us then it stands to reason I shouldn't go near him. At least not willingly. But this is my home and you all are family...no one's gonna change that. I was blind to that while being a lot selfish with what I wanted...call it the stubborness of a southern woman. I'm tryin' to get better with that."

Phoenix has posed:
Jean Grey smiles faintly, listening quietly, patiently to all that Rogue had to say. "Oh..I see.." she pauses, picking her words carefully. "I mean, I wish you all the best, whatever helps you the mist..Honestly I blame myself for not being there when you need me the most.."

She smiles warmly, "But I am glad that you chose us over the Xmen.."

She nods, "You are right, you steam Xman, and I am glad you chose us over them.."