la_belle_rogue | [Video]

[Hello, Barge. There's another new face here, one with green eyes and brown hair with white bangs. She smiles, and it's friendly and warm. The voice is all magnolias and honey.]

Not much in the way of orientation 'round here, is there? S'all right. Ah'm no stranger ta jumpin' in the deep end right off. Sorta reminds me of the first day of school.

Mah name's Rogue. Ah'm here as a Warden. Ah'm still settlin' in, but Ah figure Ah'll take a full look around the place here in a bit, get mah bearin's. If anyone feels like playin' tour guide, Ah wouldn't object either.

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[It definitely gives him serious pause, although he doesn't seem that bothered by it. It's just strange, to think that what they'd done almost by accident had evolved into something like this.]

I take it from the uniform that you're with the X-Men?

[Well, the giant white X symbol on her chest would be a very obvious cue. She reminds herself that whenever and wherever this Charles was from, he had a right to not be bombarded by her own experiences of him.]

Ah suppose Ah am sorta advertisin' it a bit, aren't Ah? Ah hope you'll forgive me for starin' earlier. It just took me by surprise is all.

It's alright, I know there's quite a few differences. [He's mostly just relieved you haven't started yelling at him or trying to kill him. He's had both things happen more often than he'd like.

Still, better to be safe than sorry. Who knows what things are like in her timeline?]

If you're not comfortable with it, I'll understand if there's someone else you'd rather show you around.

[When it comes to you, Charles, things are sad. Very sad. But it's because of that that she is not interested in changing partners at the moment.]

No no, this is more than fine with me. It isn't the first time Ah've dealt with interestin' realities. Probably won't be the last either.

[He's gotten good about keeping his mind to himself unless he's got permission, so he doesn't pick up on that and won't unless it becomes more obvious, or if she tells him it's okay to make psychic contact. So he just smiles a little apologetically, because, well.]

I think I can say fairly confidently that it won't be. There are quite a few people from worlds like ours on board, but from different points in the time stream and with fairly different personalities and histories.

[She actually really good about keeping her psyche from screaming out internal thoughts. Though she does know how to send out a pretty loud S.O.S. when the need arises. Her team is so awesome when it's not falling apart at the seams!]

Really? Ah'd love a list, if ya'd be willin'. Just so Ah can get the surprise outta the way.

Certainly. We used to have a fairly diverse collection of "Avengers" on board, most of whom were from the same universe, but they'd never heard of mutants or the X-Men before, even though I wouldn't be shocked if that's because we've been living in secrecy versus we don't actually exist. The only ones left are Natasha Romanoff and Dr. Bruce Banner, who's one of the wardens managing the infirmary. Peter Parker has been recognized by a few people as a familiar name, but similarly he doesn't seem to know anyone outside of his time here.

There's Wade Wilson, Aaron Stack, Jean Grey and Pietro Maximoff - Pietro's the one who seems to know the most about alternate versions of the people on board - a young woman named Anya Lehnsherr who's from a universe that's very different from most of the ones I'm familiar with, and then there's Alex Summers and Erik Lensherr, both of whom are from my world.

[He always feels weird, bringing up Erik in situations like this, because it's not like he doesn't know how things were "supposed" to play out. He half expects any new arrival who's heard of them before to panic and rage about them being here, and he knows it could be difficult to convince her that Erik wasn't the enemy here.] ... I know this might be difficult to believe, but we've found that Erik - and I, actually - are generally very different from our counterparts. I know there's an excellent chance that you've been fighting Magneto for a long time, but he isn't that person, and he isn't going to be.

[She's taking the rundown in stride for the most part. She'd already said hello to Wade, who'd recognized her off the bat.

And then he started talking about Magneto. Of course, there would be a version of Magnus here. It wasn't enough that she was blindsided by a young Charles Xavier and then a hefty chunk of other folk she knew. It would have been really great if she'd been told before hand that her very very recent ex-lover was going to be here, in some form or other. No this wouldn't be awkward at all.]

Ya don't have ta put out any fires with me concerning Magnus - Erik. Back home we...get along just fine. [Mostly? He wasn't exactly thrilled with her when they'd parted.]

[He frowns a little, if only because the awkwardness is kind of blaring very, very loudly, but he ignores it like a pro. If she wants to elaborate, she will, and if she doesn't, she won't.]

Magnus? That's a new nickname.

It's his middle name. He usually goes by it with the [Why is this so difficult? Probably because it felt very much like talking about a secret boyfriend to her father. Not that it was secret from the Charles Xavier of her world, but they certainly never talked about it.] people he's close ta in mah world.

[Charles just continues to look a little puzzled, because it's just another little detail that's different.]

It's not his - the one from my world - middle name. [But he doesn't sound all that bothered by it, and smiles sort of self deprecatingly.] But I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by any differences at this point, considering I've been told supposed to have lost all my blonde hair years ago

[She smiles, appreciating his attempt at levity.] Ah promise it looks very dashing.

[He chuckles good naturedly.] Alright, so, this is the deck, obviously. The greenhouse and gardens are over there, [He's pointing them out.] They're generally managed by Ivy and Hikaru Sulu. The chapel is that building, and there's a wardens only area on the next level. Would you like to head there next?

Sounds like a plan.

[It was surreal, talking to a younger version of Charles Xavier. But she couldn't complain either. It was rather comforting to be standing in his presence, clearly alive. At least in one unverse, he was alive and as true to form as anyone could hope for.]

[He starts heading to the upper level and looks over at Rogue curiously.]

So, what brings you to the Barge? If you don't mind me asking.

Mah world just went through some pretty intense times. Ah was asked ta help and figured it'd be a bit more mellow way ta acclimate and process all that happened, and still do some good. That's pretty much it. [It's not the whole story, but she really doesn't want to say why she wanted the working vacation.]

Well, I hope it works out. [Because Charles is very much of the mind that this place does more harm than good for some people, and he hopes Rogue's not one of them.]

Do you have a Danger Room in your world?

[She hoped so too. But life rarely worked out the way anyone plans.]

We do. Gonna be a li'l strange not havin' one, ta tell the truth. Regular gyms just don't compare.

[He unlocks the door to the warden only area and steps in, immediately indicating the CTS.]

From what I've been told, the CTS is actually fairly similar to the Danger Room. It adapts to the participant's skill set and provides hard light projections to fight.

[She's impressed. She'd never have expected something so close to home to be on the Barge.]

Ah take it ya don't have one of those yet where you're from?

Not yet. We seem to be from fairly behind most other versions of our world.

[He keeps walking, and gestures to the buildings as they come into sight.] There's a pub and a spa, and the CES, which is just about the only place you can actually get fresh air, here. We're not quite sure how it works, but basically it generates natural environments that are seemingly limitless, and come stocked with plants and animals, but no man made structures.