Rogue
Rogue was playing with the fuzzles in the middle of the playground at the school. she had taken her gloves off. She liked the feel of the fuzzles' fur.
In the midst of this, she noticed Jono and Sergei. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should say hi or not. She decided against it. She always got depressed in their company. She did a pretty good job of that on her own without their help.
Jono and Sergei
Jonothon was idly tuning his guitar, making low and mournful sounds. Sergei was getting drunk. It was a form of release, and hey. Didn't he have a right to do so? He'd been through hell. He raised a glass filled with water turned vodka in Rogue's direction. "Nakhuyachit'sya vodkai?" (Come get drunk on vodka?) He turned over, almost knocking the bottle to the ground. Jonothon caught it. "Veh'i, tovarisch." He poured more of the clear liquid into his glass and knocked it back. "I amaze myself." He blinked tears out of his eyes as the alcohol burned down to his stomach.
You're drunk. Jonothon told him slightly disapprovingly but with an edge of longing. The professor-
"Da professor can kurite moju trubku!" Sergei looked back up at Rogue. "So. Wanna come drrrown your trroubles?"
Rogue
Rogue eyed the glass thoughtfully.
"I probably better not," she said reluctantly. "As tempting as the idea is to get completely wasted, I don't think it would be wise."
She looked down, chewing her lip.
Jono and Sergei
"Eh, vise. Vhat is vise? Vise is carrreful, smarrrt. If I was dat, vould I have ended up in a lab? I dink not. So. Sit with me, as I get drrunk out of my mind." Sergei grinned at her, yellow eyes flashing with amusement. "I'll just to drrink yourrr sharrre as well, as his."
Ta, mate. Jonothon rolled his eyes.
"Anytime, tovarisch. Anytime."
Rogue
Rogue considered the matter, then put her gloves on.
"Okay," she said, taking the glass. "But if I end up absorbing one of you, don't say I didn't warn you."
Jono and Sergei
"But what a way to die!" Sergei toasted her. "In the hands of the beautiful lady of death..."
You are really, really odd. Jonothon told Sergei. The onyx skinned youth just laughed and tossed back his head.
"I'm Russian. We're all depressed. It is part of our herrritage. Like getting drrrrunk on vodka! Horrrah for Mother Russia!"
Rogue
Rogue giggled.
"Sergei, I think all that vodka is beginning to rot your brain," she said lifting up her glass. "Here's to... here's to not caring about consequences."
And she drank.
Jono and Sergei
"I am Russian. Therrre is no vodka strrrong enough to do dat," Sergei assured Rogue. "Dis is vhat, Jono? Second bottle today?"
Think so.
"Da. Second then." Sergei poured out more vodka into his glass. "To the revolution!"
Ancient history, Sergei.
"Not if you arrre Russian, tovarisch. Not if you're Russian."
Rogue
"Y'know, Ah hear tha Irish make something from potatoes that's pretty strong," Rogue mused.
Rogue then wiggled as something tickled her.
"Oh! Rosa, no sorry sweetie, but alcohol is defintely not good for fuzzles."
Jono and Sergei
"You have a fuzzle? Trrruly?" Sergei beamed, flashing white fangs. "I have not seen a fuzzle for oh, over three years. Afterrr my father's one died, we did not have enough money to get anotherrr. Fuzzles do not like Russia's cold winters. But dat's what vodka's for! Dat, and Russia is just boring."
What the hell is there to do in Russia?
"Drink, tell tales, suicide, flirt with the pretty Russian girls. Except they all want to leave and go to America. Ptah!" Sergei spat onto the grass away from the people he was sitting with. "Americans!"
Rogue
"And yet, look where you are. America," Rogue grinned. "And no, Ah don't have 'a' fuzzle. Ah have seven. Ah got Liberty from, well, a friend of a friend of mine. My... my boyfriend also has a fuzzle, named Red. And they kinda... had kids."
She giggled.
"This is Rosa. There's also Rusty, Rory, Scarlett, Caleb and Zurina. You... you could have one if you want..."
Jono and Sergei
Sergei sat up and pointed a finger at her. "I am *not* in dis country by choice. I was *kidnapped* by khokhols, f*cking scientists, and I was a goddamn labrat for two goddamned years. Do not talk to me about this F*CKING COUNTRY!" He took the bottle and drank deeply, finishing it off. "Na khu'yu vertet'."
Ok, calm, Sergei, calm.
"Idi na khuy." (Go to hell.)
I have no idea what you said, but I'm sure it's insulting.
"And you would be right, mudack."
God, you're a nasty drunk.
"Perrrhaps." Sergei got to his feet and looked around for a water tap. He found one and made his way over to it. He filled the bottle with water and tapped it morosely. "I am so sick of dis. I get the hell out, and vhat? Life is still bad."
Rogue
"Mmm... could be worse," Rogue replied cheerfully.
She stood up and wandered over to him.
"If you ever go back to Russia, can Ah come with you?" she asked suddenly.
Jono and Sergei
Sergei looked at her in surprise. "I do not know if I will everrr go back. My family dinks I am dead. I have no reason to go back." He transmuted the water into vodka and poured it out again. "Drink, for tomorrrow, we die."
Well, you're just full of cheer.
"Sukin syn." (Son of a bitch.) Sergei drank down the full glass of vodka in several deep swallows. "Damn, I'm good. Vodka?" He raised the bottle in Rogue's direction.
Rogue
"Please," Rogue replied.
She looked over at Jono.
"Why are ya so hard t' talk t', Jono?" she mused. "Brooding, brooding, brooding, all the time."
She sighed and then giggled again.
"Maybe Ah should absorb ya and find out?"
Jono and Sergei
I can't do anything most 'umans can do. 'Ell, I can't even kill myself. Don't have na 'eart anymore, no lungs, no one knows why I'm still alive. I just am. Can't drink, can't get stoned, can't get 'igh, can't have a girlfriend in case my psifire blows her into the side of a building the way I did my last one. I can't do what I always wanted to do, which was star as the lead singer in my own band. Gee, you tell me Rogue, wot do I have to brood about? Jonothon stared wistfully at the bottle of vodka. What I wouldn't give to be able to drink myself into s stupor.
"Life, she is a bitch. And den you die. To life! May it always be so." Sergei raised his glass.
Rogue
Rogue considered this as she took another swig of vodka.
"Well, Ah guess we're both screwed," she replied, the alcohol beginning to get to her. "Ah can't touch anyone. Ever. At all. One little kiss and Ah now have Remy walkin' around in muh head for the rest of muh life. Probably kill anyone Ah have sex with, so may as well forget about that idea."
She sighed.
"Once upon a time Ah wanted t' be a mother. Guess that's never gonna happen."
She held back the tears and sculled her vodka.
Jono and Sergei
"Just cos ya can't have sex doesn't mean ya can't be a mother," Sergei slurred. "I know for a fact that you can these days. IVF. Things like dat."
He's got a point. Jonothon said. He whispered a chord out on his guitar.
Lady, lady
Sweet eyes
Dark like poison
Sweet red lips
Bright with my blood
You destroy me
You consume me
I die happy
In your arms.
He looked back up at Rogue. I bet you could kill me. You could 'old on...and just forget to let go.
Rogue
Rogue looked at Jono.
"Ah could... but then Ah'd have to live with that for the rest of muh life. You'd live on in me, y'know. Always would Ah remember the boy Ah killed."
She stared at her empty glass.
"Ah'd have to be a lot more drunk than this t' go through with it."
Jono and Sergei
How drunk? Jonothon asked. He strummed another few chords.
Truest is the friend
Who helps when it is nessacery to die
Would you ease my final burden?
Would you help me slip away?
Would you lead me to the angels?
Would you help me die?
"You are one truly scrrrewed in da head man, tovarisch," Sergei told him seriously.
Beloved night fever
In a pool of blood
I fall inside forever
Lost into the abyss
And dying to be dead.
Rogue
Rogue stumbled onto the bench.
"Oh man... Ah think Ah need another drink."
Her head was already spinning, but not from the alcohol. She had talked about being able to kill someone if she held on too long... but she had never actually been asked to do it.
Jono and Sergei
Sergei looked up at Rogue. "I wouldn't do it, tovarischa. You'd rrregret it." He turned and looked at Jonothon. "Shame on you for asking of her such a thing!"
Jonothon looked at him bitterly and strummed a few more chords.
Don't tell me to live my life
You wouldn't want it
So why should I?
I'm wrapped in pity
Burning me like fire
A heart of stone
And a soul of night...
Rogue
"Mmm... ya probably rrrrright."
Then Rogue hiccuped. And burst into giggles.
Jono and Sergei
"You, are making fun of my accent," Sergei said with dignity. "You Americans...you're all the same." He shook his head slightly, then fell over. Jonothon caught the bottle. "Ebat'-kopat'." (Oh, shit.) He rolled his head around so he was looking at Jonothon. "Veh'i, tovarisch."
Rogue
"Ah'm no makin' fun o' ya... Ah'm just a widdle drunk," Rogue giggled. "Drunk is a funnnnny wooooord."
Sergei
"Ahigehdehiyskeho is a funnnny language," Sergei said as he sat up. (English.) "Pravda. Funny, funny language." (Truth.)
Rogue
Rogue giggled and fell off the bench. Then she giggled some more.
"Oooh, the world is spinnin' round and round and round..."
Jono and Sergei
"Vodka! Da best ding to everrr come from Motherrr Russia!" Sergei sat up and took the bottle from Jonothon. He poured himself a shot and drank it quickly, before pouring another one.
The two of you are as pissed as newts.
"Dat is one of da oddest dings I haf everrr hearrrd."
Rogue
"Ah've neber seen a newyt get dwunk," Rogue slurred. "Wha' 'bou' ya, Sewgei?"
Not waiting for an answer, she continued.
"Hey, Jonononono... whaddya look like underneaf all dem bandageses? Ah alwayssss wan'ed t' know..."
Jono and Sergei
It's a hole filled with fire. Jonothon said briefly.
"Sounds interrresting. I bet the doktora would just looooooove to get theirrr hands on you. Take my advice. Don't go down dark alleys," Sergei told Jonothon seriously.
Rogue
"Yesh," Rogue agreed. "Dark aweys are bery bery baaaad... Ah member going in one once... dere was baaad men afta me, dere was. But Ah pu' 'em inta comas. And now dey's wandering round in muh head. Ah hates mutan' haters Ah does."
Jono and Sergei
"Join da club, krasotka." Sergei toasted her with his half empty glass of vodka. "Sing something, tovarisch."
Lonely days and lonelier nights
Lying here thinking of you
Smelling your perfume
I lay and wonder
How it all fell down
I don't see why
The screams don't stop
It's the,
Blood trickling down my wrists.
It's the,
Sting of the pills as I swallow.
It's the,
End of life without you...
Rogue
"Ya always sing sad songs..." Rogue said. "Ah like your singin'. Ya habe a nice voice..."
She giggled insanely.
"Can Ah be your groupie?"
Her giggles increased.
Jono and Sergei
Jonothon raised an eyebrow, amused. Sure you can be my groupie. A muscian always needs his groupies.
Sergei laughed before pouring out the last of the vodka and sculling it. "Be rrrrright back, tovarischi." He wandered off to the tap.
Jonothon strummed his guiter. I can do lighter. I think. Been a while though...
Love, love, love
I've heard that all you need is love
It's a fine sentiment
And love, when I'm with you.
I believe it.
Your eyes
Your kiss
Your smile
I fall in ever deeper
I know I'm falling
Don't know where I'll land
But as long as it's with you
I find I don't care...
Rogue
Rogue smiled and wriggled over to Jono, where she promptly rested her head against his legs (she was still on the ground).
"You good singer..." she murmered, closing her eyes.
Jono and Sergei
"She's rrright. You're good." Sergei collapsed back onto the ground.
Ta.
"Sing something else."
I always wonder
What heaven is like
It must be something like
What I see in your eyes
So I won't have to wonder anymore.
Rogue
Rogue sighed contentedly and curled up next to his legs.
"La la laaa..." she sang along vaguely.
Jono and Sergei
Jonothon reached down and ruffled her hair briefly, careful not to touch her skin. Yeah. La la la bleeding la.
Sergei seemed to find this immensely funny and laughed hysterically.
Rogue
Rogue giggled just because Sergei was laughing. Then she spotted someone comingtowards them from the shadows.
"Hewooo," she called. "Ya want some vodka? Da vodka is weally goooood."
Logan, Jono and Sergei
"Vodkai!" Sergei lifted the bottle, eyes flashing with amusement. Logan stared at them, frowning. "Hey, tovarisch. Don't dink I said thank you for helping me before."
"Marie...what are you doing?"
Sure, worry about 'er. Me and Sergei are just window dressin'...
"You, don't drink. Sergei is used to it."
Rogue
Rogue giggled.
"Ah'm sittin' nex' t' Jonononono... He can sing weal gooooood... Can you sing Logie?"
Jono, Sergei and Logan
"I don't sing," Logan said flatly. Jonothon's eyes crinkled in his version of a smile, and then started to sing something.
It's the thing I always wonder
When the teachers were young like me
Did they do the things I do?
Did they,
Get drunk on the weekend
Wake up in someone bed,
Oh, I'm sorry baby,
But what's your name again?
Sergei snickered.
Did they,
Find out that their car
Was totalled on the weekend
Was burned out and dumped and
They had no memory of the weekend?
I know I do shit like that
I bet they did too.
Logan's face was like stone.
I know,
My teachers get drunk on the weekend
And wake up in the bed of
Their best friend's wife.
I know,
My teacher's car was totalled,
Burnt out and dumped,
And ya wanna know why?
That's what I did on the weekend.
Rogue
Rogue giggled hysterically.
"Which teacha's carrr didja do dat tooooo?" she asked.
Jono, Sergei and Logan
Mr Hennessy. He was an arsehole. So, me and me mates, we totalled his car. Ne'er got caught neither. Jonothon said proudly.
"I hope you don't decide to do that here," Logan said sternly, but a hint of laughter danced in his eyes.
Oh, never! Jonothon crossed his heart. Cross me 'eart and 'ope to die, guv!
"Vhat is a toast, Rrrogue?" Sergei asked her. "Ah, I know! To Dangerrrmond, may he rot in hell." Anger crossed Sergei's face. "He deserrrves to."
Rogue
Rogue threw her fist up in the air.
"May all da baaaaaaad evillll people ebrywhere die looooong, slowww an' oderwise painful deafs!" she declared.
SHe paused for a moment, then wrapped her arms around the closer of Jono's leg (fortunately no bear skin nearby to touch).
"Sing me anudder songy pwease..."
Jono and Sergei
You are *so* pissed, and yer gonner 'ave the 'angover from 'ell when you wake h'up. Jonothon shook his head slightly, then let his fingers fall across the strings.
It's another day
I wake up and go out the door
Because it's just another day.
There's blood on the shower floor
And shattered glass near the door
But it's just another day.
Spilled whisky stains the carpet
And I know you didn't mean it
I hide the bruises
Hide the pain
When the people ask, I say
Fell into the door again.
Smile, shrug, and keep on walking,
Because,
It's just another day.
"Can't you sing something that ain't depressing?" Logan asked. Jonothon shrugged.
I write what I feel. This is what I feel.
"Join da club, tovarisch." Sergei rolled over onto his stomach next to Rogue. "Life, she is a bitch."
And then ya die. The two boys grinned at one another.
Rogue
Rogue gave a little sigh and fell asleep.
Jono, Sergei and Logan
Logan bent down and picked her up. Rogue's head lolled loosely and he bent his arm to support it.
"Sad to see a girl who can't hold her vodka."
Not everyone has your cast iron constitution, Sergei.
"True, true."
Logan looked at the two of them. "Don;t scare the children. Stop drinking, at least for today."
"Sure ding, tovarisch."
"I'll belive that when I see it, bub." Logan went to put Rogue to bed.
Sergei looked at Jonothon. "Vhat say we take dis inside?"
Da.
"Have you speaking Russian in no time, tovarisch." They went to Jonothon's room.