9069/Dear Rogue...

Dear Rogue...
Date of Scene:	04 September 2019
Location:	Apple Park - Salem Center
Synopsis:	Revelations and puppies in the park.
Cast of Characters:	Mystique, Rogue

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Mystique has posed:
    The letter in its flowing script, evolved over decades of changes simply said. "Meet me in Apple Park my darling daughter. I wish to catch up." - Raven

The Park itself is bustling with life from the simple passing of joggers or those taking a walk to that of those being led by their animal companions on a leash. A came go ultimate frisbee is taking advantage of the last straining rays of the late summer evening before they will need to pack it in. The hot dog vendor is cranking out late night food with little choice save for toppings that line the top of his cart. All in all its a quiet night that people should appreciate but all too often take for granted.


An elder woman is feeding birds while sitting at a bench, the pigeons adding a layer of sound in the form of cooing. Another woman, slim, beautiful is having a dire conversation on her cell phone not far away. The bird lady glances over at the rather restricted figure and shakes her head. The sound of skateboards chorus out as a group of teens rush through, making way for themselves amongst the others as they head for the skatepark. The pigeons scatter, taking off in a flurry of chaos that has the woman feeding them shaking her fist at the youngsters.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue had been one of those kids with the skateboard, hell she still has one, though she doesn't use it nearly as often as she used to. When she'd first arrived at Xavier's going on three years ago now, she'd been just 18 and once her head had been cleared up with some therapy from Charles and Jean, she'd eventually made her way to this park and to that skatepark.

Its there that the teenagers at that time got her into skateboarding, and as she learned how to inter-mix her flight power from Carol she got pretty good at it since she had no fear of injury or even falling down for that matter. It was fun, it was social, and she still has several friends in the Salem Center area from it... including the people who own and operate the Music Center just down the street. One of her favorite hangout spots still today.

She'd gotten the message, and after some reluctant introspective thought, Rogue snatched up her Carol-like bomber jacket (only more tendy and sexier than any Carol would ever pick out), Rogue sets out to go stroll through Apple Park.

She arrived outside the park via one of her THREE CARS AND A VAN (where this girl get all these vehicles??) she leaves the car behind and just starts strolling.

Hands in her jacket pockets, jeans on, boots, and a tanktop, Rogue's free-flowing white and brown hair waves about her shoulders as she tries to figure out which one of the people in the park is Mystique... always a fun game, ever since she was in her early teens and first ran off with the woman, ditching her aunt Carrie's place.

Mystique has posed:
    Find the Mystique is nothing like Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego or Where is Waldo. No. This one is a guessing game more than anything. Life goes on around Rogue as she strolls through the park, the woman in her posh suit and expensive phone rises as she ends the call in a huff. She steps out in front of the skateboarders and drops her phone trying to get out of their way. The screen cracks and she goes to pick it up with a low cursing given under her breath.

    The bird lady leans over and helpfully says, "Language, there are children my dear." She offers a smile from her wrinkled lips as the business woman gives her a forced smile in return and starts to head out of the park. This puts her in Rogue's path and as she gets near meets her gaze but does not stop. CLICK CLICK CLICK goes the heels as she heads back towards the businesses.

    The old woman begins to cough, lifting her hand as she covers her mouth and the birds start to settle back in around her. Her voice croaks out, "Want to feed the birds?" She asks in a raspy strained voice, lifting up a small brown bag with its seed inside. "Come come.." she motions her over.

    A taller male down the way in a simple denim set of jeans and a short sleeved plaid shirt is giving Rogue a long look. Intent even before he he slowly starts her way.

    "Come come, m'love. Come join me..the other woman was not interested. Too busy with work."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue continues to just watch the faces of the people in the park and no one is without suspicion, even the skateboarders. Her eyes are watching the woman who dropped the phone, but that seemed a little too klutz-y for Mystique.

The old woman though? That feels right. So Rogue just smirks at her and moves over to sit beside her on the bench. "Aren't ya supposed t'feed these things in the mornin'?" She asks the older lady. She holds out a hand to take a bit of what the lady is feeding the birds, then the man walking toward them both catches her gaze so she looks up at him and just eyeballs him something fierce as he approaches... full-on stink-eye and 'What are YOU looking at?' kind of stare.

But, Rogue breaks it after a few seconds and looks back to the lady. "You from around here, ma'am?" She asks, trying to be as nice and civil as possible, she's not about to accuse this woman of being Mystique, that'd be insane! Give her a few minutes at least...

Mystique has posed:
    The man once enroute gives Rogue a look her stink eye seems to cause his gaze to dart around. Nothing to see here. He veers off for the hot dog cart and waits in. line, pulling out his wallet to fish out money while the couple ahead of him orders. He taps his food and glances back but his gaze never lingers long enough to be creepy - maybe.

    The sweet old lady nods her head, "Here child, take all you want. There is something in feeding birds and helping creatures small than us that puts the soul at ease." She hands off the bag to the young rogue and then pats her hand. "Your mother told me you would be here. Stay. She will be over soon." It is a comforting touch, nothing amiss. Just some old lady who is asked to help.

    Stepping over from a side walk is a taller woman, her golden hair pinned up around her and into place. She walks with a small golden retriever, a puppy really and the small thing bounds on the end of its leash towards the birds, scattering them as it yips yip yips.

    The old lady rises up slowly, groaning as she gets to her feet. "Be well child." As the old woman moves past the rather elegant looking woman with clear blue eyes she touches her hand. The two exchange soft words and the tall matronly blonde pats her hand and offers her something before she continues on her way to join Rogue on the bench.

    "Hello," she says, a rather warm smile. "You met Mildred. Once homeless I have found her a place to stay. She is like us," she leans over close enough as those gold eyes flash before settling back into the grey blue. "Tell me...how have you been?" The puppy is pulling on the leash, sniffing the ground and then rushing back around in a tight circle that brings the cute thing up near Rogue.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue takes a couple handfuls of the bird seed and then glances back over at the man at the hot dog stand. He was just checking her out apparently... your average guy, it would seem after all. Kinda cute actually, might be worth a talk later.

But, she pulls her gaze back to the old woman when she mentions her 'mother' and that makes the Belle realize that this old lady is clearly a connection to Mystique. God, how many are there here? Another look is sent around and Rogue responds to her. "Yeah... I bet she will." She softly says with a sigh added on to it.

Rogue spills some of the seed down for the birds, but they're gone as soon as the blond arrives with the golden retriever! So Rogue just tosses the bird seed onto the pavement and then wipes her gloved hands together. She grins down at the dog because... well... Mystique is wise enough to know Rogue's weaknesses, and she had a puppy like that when she was a little girl. Its not beyond Mystique to use that kind of mental manipulation to mess with Anna-Marie all these years later.

With a big inhale, Rogue looks over and up at Mystique incognito beside her now. "I was six inches tall about twenty four hours ago." She just blurts out in response to the question about how she is. "I got hit with a shrink ray in some stupid crime spree, one'a your buddies was involved. Fred Dukes." Rogue centers her almost-glare onto Mystique and places her hands ontop of her thighs. "Pounded that fat lard inta the ground though... then got shrunk. So I went home, and went t'bed. Woke up and it'd worn off, thank the god damn Gods..."

With a dramatic 20-year-girl sigh, Rogue looks down to the puppet and enthusiastically pats her thighs for him to jump at her!

Mystique has posed:
    "Well good to see you are 'you' size again," Raven remarks, her eyes for the Park at large for the moment until the tug on the leash indicates puppy is nudging and pressing at Rogue. She ticks her blue eyes over towards her companion and smiles. "Though I wonder, how did you get home in such a tiny state?" She shows genuine interest in that answer before she sighs and shakes her head, "Buddies is not a word I would use. Possible associate, yes. But people change, Anna-Marie. Especially me. I do a lot of changing in my life time," she points out, keeping the leash in hand but giving some slack.

    The retriever yips up at Rogue and then jumps, or tries to scramble onto the bench. Claws scrape and pull to try to yank its puppy body up but is likely going to need help. He smells fresh and just groomed. "This is Jester. So he was named in the pound. Sweet thing really..." she explains and then ticks her gaze once more up to regard Rogue. "You are looking well, my darling. I have missed you," she muses and offers a smile. "Seems you are quiet the active X-Man," she says and smooths her pant suit into place, looking large and in charge of her current face and frame.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue seems only so interested in being polite with Mystique, in whatever physical form the woman takes on. The puppy is helping though, damn blasted woman and her mental games! Rogue helps the little pup jump up onto her lap so she can give it a pet assaulting and let it lick at her face--as puppies do--with impunity, especially since animals do not trigger her mutation and the baby dog is safe from her absorbing retribution.

"Thanks..." Rogue says for the compliments on her looks. "I'd say the same thing about you, but that'd be pretty pointless, huh?" Her southern accented words are laced with a bit of sardonic irony there before she just keeps petting the puppy on the sides of its face and neck and super soft ears. "And yeah, well... I spent a year with the Avengers as a rostered member. Not much the X-Men can go up against that is worse than the shit show that the Avengers gotta face on a daily-ass basis around this wild'n crazy world we live in."

"So yeah, I'm pretty busy, stayin' busy. Still in school for my degree too and helpin' as a teachin' assistant." All of this is said as a sort've prideful 'Look how important I am' sort've way. Youthful arrogance!

Mystique has posed:
    Mystique clucks her tongue and turns her head, watching Rogue with Jester as the little pup plans his personal assault on the mutant. Licking and nudging with so much energy that his little tail just can not keep up. "Ah but Anna-Marie, I still try," she lifts a hand to smooth the blonde hair into place but there is an undeniable predator like gaze she offers the young woman. Her attention turns to regard the crowd, people watching mostly as they talk.

    "You have been very busy it would seem." She makes a thoughtful sound at the back of her throat before crossing her leg over the other and sitting back with a sigh. "I always knew you could do whatever you put your mind to. You should be proud," she says, stroking the ego that presents itself rather readily. "I think he likes you." She lets the pup interact more, wet noses to the neck and cheek as he bath's Rogue's cheek.

    "I would like it, if we could meet on occasion. If nothing more then to sit and talk. I do like hearing about what you have done and are up to. If that is not too much to ask?" Her attention shifts to Rogue, a pale brow raised to accompany that lingering question. "Besides, I have something you might be able to help me with in the near future. Nothing that I think you would find distasteful. But we can talk about that another time."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue is completely enthralled with the puppy Jester. She's playing right along with him and letting white bite and chew on her white bangs that are dangling down on either sides of her face, her hair is extra durable after all... not like the pup can even do anything to it other than slobber-it-up. "Ahhhhh who's a poocha poocha?! You is, you is! Yes you is!" She's quietly saying to the doggie as Mystique talks on beside her and she, of course, listens to it and absorbs it (not like that!).

"I can't work for ya." Rogue says then as she glances over at the blond. "You're wanted for the..." She stops herself, not wanting others to overhear. "You're wanted." She just summarizes it then looks back down at the ground. "The Professah wouldn't like it if I got tangled up with you again, after all he's given me. Settin' me on the right'n straight course, rather than... whatever the hell it was you were tryin' t'turn me inta." She draws in a breath then after those rightfully stinging words said so casually.

"Sides... my dad is back." She states then, taking her eyes off of the puppy again. "My real dad. He came back and saved me from gettin' abducted by the same people who took my mom." A short pause and a digging stare at Mystique. "My real mom." She then stabs as the Puppy lunges at her cheek with licks and nips.

Mystique has posed:
    There is a light tick and tension that enters the woman's jawline as Rogue goes on. "Charles," she purrs out and releases some of the steely set of her frame. "Yes, he certainly has, has he not. You do realize that the only thing I ever wanted was a life where we could all be as we were, without being feared or seen as less than what we are." Her eyes flit over to Rogue, the puppy and then once more back out over the crowd.

    "It is your choice, Anna-Marie. I could not force you to do a thing and we both know it. I ask you to do something for your fellow mutants. Not for me." A simple elegant shrug of her shoulders as her hands spread again and she goes still.

    "Is he." That causes her to go still and tilt her head, "Owen is alive?" That seems to give her pause, the first moment that she is not that calm weathered exterior. That ends quickly when Rogue stabs her with the 'real' mom part. A slow smile spreads across her lips. "How very kind of you to remind me." She reaches in to check something in the thin pocket at her side and then starts to push up, releasing the leash.

    "Nothing is proven, Anna-Marie. Yes I am most likely but sometimes the page turns and you might be surprised by the twist.". The puppy now out of her care remains cuddling up against Rogue, whimpering for attention as Raven dips her chin. "I will reach out again. Until then, my darling. Stay safe."

    She says nothing about Jester, merely turns and walks away as her hands slip into her pockets and the bench is left with just two occupants. One mutant. One canine.

Rogue has posed:
Three's some measure of guilt inside of Rogue for being mean to Mystique, its there and she can't do anything about it. She knows that Mystique trained her and cared for her in her own sadistic way. She does believe that the woman did have grand plans for them that would result in similar goals toward a peaceful life, but another part of her thinks Mystique could never live in a peaceful world... and thats the part of her that is rooted in believing she was really just a tool for Raven.

"Yeah, 'Owen' is alive and well." Rogue says. "I set him up with an apartment and he's workin' on a plan t'get mom outta the same hell dimension that he's been in for the past fourteen years. I'm gonna help'im too. We're gonna fight the madman that took her there, I'm gonna punch his god damn face in too." Mystique probably doubts that, she'd likely think that the 'madman' in question will be a bigger threat to Rogue's safety than she realizes, based on what Raven saw of him all those years ago.

When Raven rises up though, Rogue looks after her, the puppy still on her lap, still running around in circles on it chasing her hands in fact. She sees her start to depart then, leaving her with the dog? Oh boy, another dog? She ends up with a lot of these and only just gave her last one away a few months back...

"Just... e-mail me your 'thing' ya wanna do, or something, so I can think about it." Rogue tells her as she leaves. "And for god's sake, talk to Kurt!" Kurt, in Rogue's eyes, is the child of Mystique that really wants her love, but seems to struggle to actually get it.