InsaneJournal

PLAYER
Name: Samma
Age: 21
E-Mail: samma-chan@hotmail.com
AIM: WeekendRenee
Other Contact Method: N/A
Role-Playing Experience: Tabletop D&D for thirteen years, online role-playing for eight years – starting in the usual wolf and Neopets role-plays, and moving on to AvidGamers about two years after that, moderating several role-play sites there. Role-played at one InsaneJournal-based role-play for several weeks about three months ago, so I’m still really new at this system, but Torie helps me along all the time.

CHARACTER

Name: Remy LeBeau - Gambit

Played-By: Chace Crawford

In-Character Journal: cajun_spice_

Age/Birthdate: 17; August 19

Team: X-Force

Powers: Gambit has the ability to tap into the potential energy of inorganic objects and turn this energy into potent kinetic energy with a touch – in plainer speech, he can charge up things that aren’t living and make them go boom. He often applies this to playing cards, partially because they’re flashy, mostly because they’re quick to charge. The larger the object, the bigger the explosion – but the longer it takes to energize.

His ability to manipulate potential energy seems to go beyond the inorganic within his own body, a trait which has upped his dexterity and, to a lesser degree, his strength. It also creates a static in his mind that makes it difficult for inexperienced telepaths to shift through his thoughts, but as he does not control it, it presents no trouble for a trained telepath. He has charm by the ton, but it’s tough to say whether this is another manifestation of mutant power or simply his ridiculously charismatic personality.
Sexuality: Remy is as straight as they come, proud of his self-applied title of a real ladies’ man. He’s secure enough his sexuality to play at gay for a good laugh if the need arises (and to wear a bit of fuchsia).
Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana

PERSONALITY

Synopsis: Born to shine, Remy craves the spotlight and knows just how to find it. Larger than life with his enthusiasm, he’s dramatic and over-the-top, but no one can deny that he has flare. Something about the Cajun draws people in, and he has an addicting charisma. Unconcerned about tomorrow, he loves fast and lives hard. Beauty and passion are of utmost importance to him, and he’s a self-described ladies’ man – and, as described by others, a hopeless flirt. His relationships aren’t known to last long, as he requires constant reassurance of love or else he gets bored. That’s not to say some relationships don’t happen multiple times, however.

Born on the streets, he’s something of a delinquent even after a year of school. He can’t fully kick his nicotine habit, and he won’t avoid a good drink. He’s easily bored and restless, constantly seeking new people, places, and situations to keep himself stimulated. When he can’t find that, he does whatever he can to liven up the place – which often includes breaking at least one rule.

Intensely proud of his Cajun heritage, he wears his feelings about his hometown on his sleeve, and refuses to take any slack for it. He’s slugged more than one person for being called domestic when he cooks. He’s always seen with a grin on his face, and he’s the definition of *joy of life* - with his Cajun upbringing, it’s really hard to bring him down.

Positive Traits: Remy knows how to bring life to any room and enchant just about any person. He likes seeing people smile, and can be generous with some things – namely food and his time, especially if it’s a pretty lady – to that end. When he feels upbeat, which is often, he loves to share his joy of life. He has an enchanting personality that draws people in, and his charm comes in bucket loads. He can justify his outrageous actions to himself and anyone who asks – he does so merely to shake people out of their complacency, convinced he’s doing them a favor.

A huge ball of dynamic energy, he can brighten any room. It can be exhausting seeing him always on the go, but he rarely seems run-down from everything. He’s driven to make an impression on others. His confidence can be as contagious as his smile, and despite having a dim view of morality, he can easily boost the morale of his friends and teammates. When someone earns his loyalty, that is a bond not easily broken, and he fights hard to protect those he considers his close friends.

Negative Traits: Remy may be enchanting and outgoing, but he doesn’t know where the boundaries are. He rarely takes no for an answer, and is relentless in his attempts to get introverts to be outgoing. The compelling need to do things his own way often wins out over his desire for approval, leaving him unwilling to bend to the rules – he’d rather bend the rules himself. Growing up on the streets and in the Thieves Guild has left him with his own morality, leaving morals a gray area for him. He rarely bothers with rules and social conventions if they don’t suit him.

He sees initial relationships as games, and only takes a few relationships seriously. His confidence usually bubbles over to conceitedness, and his assertiveness can easily become aggressiveness, especially when testosterone takes over: not a rare occurrence in this forthright teenager. He likes to one-up others, and humble is not a word anything in his personal dictionary. He is self-justifying with his bad behavior, and as such rarely learns from punishment. He gets aggravated easily with failure – he would much rather cheat and lie than lose or fail.

Likes: Remy enjoys the simple things in life – the attention of a pretty woman, a good smoke (sometimes it’s even better for being against the rules), a little pick-pocketing now and then, and that great adrenaline rush. He also likes whipping up some good Cajun food, and isn’t bad in the kitchen. He likes to practice card tricks and perform in front of an enraptured audience (then again, he likes doing anything in front of an enraptured audience, as he loves the attention). He enjoys gambling, maybe a little too much, and loves playing any card game. Jazz music, a good tussle, a ride on his motorcycle, and a lively party round out his top favorite things to do.

Dislikes: Remy doesn’t like being hurried or dragged away from a good time. He really, really hates bland food and fast food. He avoids both like the plague, and tends to bring a packet of spices to make a boring dinner better. When it comes to people, he dislikes people who take life too seriously, don’t smile enough, and push their opinions on others. He hates anything boring, dull, or quiet, and can’t stand seeing a sad face. He also hates being manipulated, he’s has enough of that for one lifetime. And he’s definitely not a cat person. Making fun his home is the easiest way to start a brawl with him, but by no means the only way.

Talents (Skills): Remy’s upbringing left him with street smarts out the ears: he’s sharp, clever, and quick on his feet. He can sweet-talk himself out of many situations, and his charm helps him convince people of just about anything. He can judge situations well, knowing when to use brawn and when to use cunning. He makes his own luck – the polite way he likes to describe cheating – and is good at avoiding detection. He’s flashy in a fight; his powers do more than charge items. They seem to charge him, and he has remarkable dexterity because of it. He’s over-the-top with his acrobatics, along with everything else. He’s trained in many weapons, taking to bo staff as his weapon of choice, and playing cards as his charged item of choice – he’s got some great marksmanship when it comes to throwing weapons.

Versatile, he has picked up adequate knowledge of an array of skills, things he find might be useful: everything from basic automobile repair to weapons care. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t blown up several transmissions in the process, but he has the passing knowledge – and the silver tongue – to act like he knows what he’s doing in any situation. He’s also great in the kitchen, though only skilled in making Cajun dishes. He speaks French – a little mangled with the accent, but French nonetheless.

Flaws (Lack of Skills): For as much as he knows the streets, Remy doesn’t know books very well. He thrives on spell-check for journal posts. Academically, he’s pretty abysmal, and lacks the desire to do any better. Sometimes, when very practical things come up in class, he shows a spark of interest, but otherwise he’s consistent in failing most tests – he thinks learning to control his powers is just much more important. Even that is something he hasn’t harnessed, however, and his powers sometimes jut out of his control, charging objects when he’s startled. He’s only a team player when it suits him, and never seems terribly bothered when it doesn’t suit him.

Irresponsible to a fault, he needs thrills to feel alive, and as such he still cheats, steals, and lies, even when it is now unnecessary. It’s not rare to have a report of a theft every few weeks in the mansion – bordering on kleptomania, he sometimes pick-pockets just to pick-pocket, and to avoid further trouble, does it only to return the item a few days later. While he may be friendly with just about anyone, he only rarely opens up, and it’s hard for him to find someone he actually trusts. He’s suspicious by nature, but lacks the judgment to avoid most sticky situations, so it doesn’t serve him well.

HISTORY

Family History: Remy grew up not knowing a steady family – his true parents are still unknown to him, and despite spending ten years with the Fagan mob, he considers none of them family – more like a networking of thieves he has to fall back on if needed.

When he was caught in the act by Jean-Luc LeBeau, however, and adopted into the Thieves Guild, he found a father in the man. Jean-Luc raised him more in his current seven years with Remy than anyone in the Fagan mob ever could, and there’s a close bond between the two. Remy is also close to his adoptive brother, Henri, and some of his cousins, considering them blood; he would do almost anything for his family.

Personal History: Remy’s early life reads ridiculously like a bad fanfiction version of Oliver Twist – a fanfiction someone else writes and he merely lives. Abandoned at birth due to his startling eyes, the Thieves Guild took him in before the hospital could get the strange boy to an orphanage. A voodoo priest had previously prophesized that le diable blanc - the White Devil – would reunite the Thieves and Assassins Guilds. With such a grand destiny laid out before him even before he could walk or talk, his early life was heavily manipulated and influenced by forces outside his control.

As a child born well outside the Guild, however, Jean-Luc LeBeau, head of the Thieves Guild, had the boy set on the streets to test him. Remy found himself with the Fagan Mob. The Mob was loose to avoid the cops – once he could run and speak, he was more of a homeless kid trained to run from the cops than anything else, his life accented by lessons to keep him alive. No one could resist a little boy asking for some spare change – and they never saw him lift their wallet after they turned their backs. An accomplished conman at six and a sufficient thief not longer after, he learned quickly, and he learned well. But he never learned to avoid being a pawn. At eight, he came across a young girl named Bella Donna and saved her from thugs – set up thugs. At ten, he got caught pick-pocketing Jean-Luc, who thereafter took him in, swooping in to keep Remy not two weeks before the police finally caught wind of the Fagan Mob.

In the Thieves Guild, Remy gained more mastery over thievery and martial arts, becoming adept in throwing weapons and the bo staff. He continued to see Bella Donna, who he learned to be daughter of the head of the Assassins Guild. Despite the rivalry, the two became best friends. He also became good friends with his cousin, Etienne, to tragic consequences. After turning fourteen and just finding his power, he sought to help his cousin through the coming-of-age trials the Guild set.

It came at a terrible time. Hurricane Katrina was on its way, and the partially evacuated city seemed ripe for the pickings. One of Etienne’s jobs was simple robbery of a string of mansions and warehouses, but one of those warehouses happened to be the hidden headquarters of the Pig, a monstrous dealer in children of exceptional powers and skills. They endured a brief capture as the hurricane drew closer, but Etienne convinced Gambit to fully harness his powers and use them for the first time in battle – though the closest objects were only a few decks of cards from the recreation room.

They were able to fight their way out and found their way back into the city, perused and facing a new adversary – hurricane winds and flooding. The two separated to avoid their pursuers, but wind-carried debris kept Etienne from ever making it home alive. Remy still holds himself responsible for Etienne’s death, and he’s quite reserved when it comes to the subject of his cousin.

Luck befell both Guilds – while both sides suffered heavy casualties at the hands of nature, both leaders survived, and their strongholds suffered minor damages. The hardest hit from Katrina for Remy was Etienne – the second hardest blow was knowing so many of the dead and seeing his home, the streets of New Orleans, in ruins. For the first few weeks, Remy never cracked a smile. Shortly after, he laughed more than he ever had before, striving with all his might to bring smiles back to his beloved streets. He convinced Jean-Luc to allow him to divide his time between Guild work and helping with the rebuilding efforts. He spent some time practicing his powers, but much more time working and thieving.

Remy still hadn’t worked out how to get to his hopeful destiny of master thief, though, and was well-acquainted with New Orleans’ jails. Two years after Katrina, shortly after Remy turned sixteen, he found himself once more in jail, but this time, something strange happened. He was bailed out, not by his father or a Guild member, but an older man, one Charles Xavier. He came with an interesting proposition – become a student at his Xavier Institute. After some talking, Remy agreed, discussed it briefly with Jean-Luc, and was sure to set off before saying goodbye to Bella Donna – like many teen friendships trying and often failing to avoid romance, they were on-again, off-again, and on an off.

Culture shock does nothing to describe the change. Remy went from being a part of a family of thieves to a well-to-do school. From streets to classes was the first shock, to find himself in a place that wasn’t New Orleans, wasn’t bustling with a multitude of people – and, heaven forbid, a place where some people thought hush puppies were shoes, not the best snack ever – Remy had a lot to get used to. His nicotine habit got him in trouble constantly his first few months. He hasn’t dropped the habit, but he has gotten better at hiding it. He also hit a few walls in trying to find ways to pass time when he didn’t have to steal to make ends meet, and he might be seen as bordering on kleptomania; really, he’s just easily bored. He’s been preached at quite often in attempts to get him to work out a more conventional morality – or at least just follow the rules for more than three minutes. It hasn’t worked too well yet, but those who pay attention might realize he’s a little better behaved than he was a year ago. A tad bit.

He enjoys the company of most of the students, especially the pretty female ones. He hasn’t truly opened up to anyone yet, but he thinks they’re all cool enough to hang out with. He’s as often in detention or facing some sort of punishment as he is breaking rules, so he’s often seen as one of the school delinquents, but that wide grin of his keeps him out of as much trouble as he should be in, and his upbeat attitude and charisma keeps him from always being hated.

Romy Threads

There weren't that many games you could play on your own... - August 16th in the Rec Room, with Rogue and Remy. Remy makes a bet on a game of pool, and is only too happy to lose when Rogue's winning prize is just much more enticing.

Life's a gamble, and it's a joy when you get a winning hand - or a losing pool shot. - August 16th at Le Chateau, with Remy and Rogue. Remy makes good on his losing pool shot, taking Rogue to dinner and asking for more.

She was still unconscious... - August 18th in the Gym, with Rogue, Carol, and Sue. Rogue decides to spar with Carol, but winds up taking a trip to the infirmary.

Not just deuces wild in here! - August 18th in the Pool House, with Remy, Brian, Pietro, Matt, Evan, and Lorna. Remy sends invites to a good old game of poker - with plenty of booze and drugs - and gets the news that Rogue's in the infirmary.

She wasn't sleeping. She was laying on her side, staring blankly at the bedside table, thinking about how much she wanted to run away. - August 18 (backdated) in the Infirmary, with Rogue and Remy. Rogue wants to get up and run from the guilt, but Remy shows up and kills that resolve.

Looking around, she saw Rogue in the corner of her eye, slumped in a hospital bed. Alarmed, she left her seat and ran up to her. - August 20 (backdated) in the Infirmary, with Jubilee and Rogue. Jubilee needs to go in for a check-up, and ends up checking up on Rogue, becoming the first person to learn of their relationship proper.

Remy was under the impression that everybody could manage SOMETHING in the kitchen. - August 22 (foredated) in the Kitchen, with Remy and Rogue. They make it to the second date, and Remy helps Rogue make Tiramisu.

Read more... - August 23 in the Hall and out on the Town, with Kurt and Remy. Remy convinces Kurt to go out with his new found "normalcy" and the two boys go shopping (and shoplifting) for their girlfriends.

She just couldn't risk it... what if her powers were the only ones still hanging around? She didn't want a repeat of what happened to Carol... - August 23 in the Rec Room, with Rogue and Remy. The powers are off, and Remy wins their next pool game. The winning bet tastes very sweet.

The day had been hot and the evening mild, so the water was still warm as the night started to cool down. - August 24 at the Pool, with Rogue, Brian, Remy, and Reed. Rogue can touch and goes to the pool; Brian shows up and shows her just how good touching can feel; Remy shows up at the worst possible time and picks a fight. Reed breaks it up, and Remy goes to show Rogue even better touches.

It was a gamble, all right, but he loved taking chances. - September 2 in the Rec Room, with Remy, Rogue, and Logan. The powers are turning back on, but Remy tries for one more kiss; Logan finds the little predicament.

Links here

Links here

Romy Journals

August 18, 2009 - Rogue's feelings after their first date.

August 18, 2009 - Remy's feelings after their first date; leads to this party.

August 24, 2009 - Rogue realizes she can touch; leads to this fiasco.

August 31, 2009 - Rogue and Remy count down their last couple of powerless days.

September 5, 2009 - Rogue decides they should "talk;" leads to /link/.

September 24, 2009 - Rogue thanks Kurt for their relationship talk.

September 25, 2009 - Remy has to apologize for skipping a date due to detention.

October 19, 2009 - Remy's feelings about the relationship so far.