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[angelfirstclass]

Rogue's Rooftop Rumble

Here is my submission for today's Rogue/Gambit Week 2024! Today's prompt is Rooftop/Steampunk so it's got a bit of both. Hope you Romy shippers read and like it!

Anna Marie was walking around the Lensherr manor late at night.  She had commissions from her mother to take a package from Erik Lensherr and transport it to her uncle Charles Xavier.  Anna Marie had traveled from her farm in Virginia to the Lensherr manor in Washington, D.C.  

At the moment, Anna Marie could not sleep.  She knew it was late from all the clocks that Mr. Lensherr had around the manor.  They were the most beautiful and interesting clocks that Anna Marie had ever seen.  A large clock in the living room took up a whole wall and it was telling her that it was almost half past two in the morning.  

Maybe because of sleeping in the carriage or because of her mission from her mother she was not tired at all.  She walked around the upstairs of the manor and was thinking about reading a book in the library when she heard a sound.  

Maybe it was a creak or a thud, but it sparked Anna Marie’s curiosity.  She scurried closer to the sound which she thinks she heard coming from the roof.  Maybe it was Mr. Lensherr experimenting in the attic, she didn’t know.

Anna Marie was close to the door leading out to the roof when she was shoved aside by a tall man.  

“Mon dieu!  What the hell?”  A cajun tinged accented man.  

Anna Marie was so shocked that she did not even react or scream.  She was hurt and all she could do was quickly take in the man and what he held in his right hand.  He tried to conceal a package quickly, but Anna Marie spotted him putting it into his breast pocket.  

“Give me that package!  It’s my mother’s.”  She gasped, a little afraid and nervous.

The man gave her another shove and ran out of the door up to the roof.

Anna Marie was no coward and wasted no time following the man up to the roof.  He had seconds on her and was nowhere to be seen at first, but then she spotted him.  The roof here was curious and extremely tall.  Somewhere else or in New York City, the man could have easily jumped to the next building already, but Mr. Lensherr had put curious wire and fences all around the building as if he was expecting intruders.  

The man had tried to explode the fences, but was blasted by a steampowered ray machine for his troubles.  He felt the sting on his arms, but powered through.  This man was Gambit, thief for hire.  A mutant from the deep South who was traveling up and down America picking pockets and doing high stakes burglaries.  This mission was important because he had been hired by a man named Sebastian Shaw.  

What this package was Gambit didn’t know, but knew that it must be important or Mr. Shaw would not want it.  Mr. Shaw was a slippery character that had all sorts of political dealings and so it wouldn’t be surprising if this object was dangerous at all.  

Gambit was so distracted by the ray machine and all the wiring that he did not notice Anna Marie at first.  She saw him and stood between him and the door back downstairs.  She knew from her conversation at dinner with Mr. Lensherr that his manor was like a fortress and guarded by all sorts of machines and gadgets.  

She didn’t really have a plan, but acted on pure adrenaline and instinct.  “Give me back that package!  You have no way of escape!”

Remy cursed.  He was trying to figure a way out and now had to contend with this girl.  He squinted at her and laughed.  She was a young debutante without any weapons, this was going to be too easy.

“Just calm down, mademoiselle.  I don’t know what you saw or thought you saw, but Remy just came in for a stroll and look around and now he would like to leave.”  He started slowly approaching her ready to use his psionic charm powers on her.  

“No.  You stay where you are.”  Anna Marie called out, but he approached nonetheless and she didn’t have anything on her.  She slowly started taking off a glove as he approached.

He started coming closer and closer to her and suddenly realized how beautiful she was.  She had auburn hair with a curious white streak in it and dazzling green eyes.  Her cheeks were flushed due to all the excitement and Remy admired her spunkiness for even daring to follow him.  Usually his experiences with debutantes were that they were all spoiled, boring girls.  

His plan was to go back down the way he came, but there was one obstacle in the way- her.  He was now close enough to look directly in the eye and so leaned forward and caught her gaze.  

“Hello, cher.  I admire your spunk and attitude, but I think we got off on the wrong foot tonight.  I would like to just move past you and leave, so if you would be so kind…”  He looked her right in the eye and did his best to convince her to be appeased and move aside.  

“Not until you give me back the package.”  Anna Marie said with her arms crossed over her chest and a defiant expression on her face.  This man had some nerve coming in and stealing her mother’s package and then sweet talking her.  She could see that he had a good figure and was handsome, but had one thing on her mind.  Recovering the package.

The psionic charm was failing.  Damn.  Remy was shocked and a little caught off guard at first, but soon recovered.  This was just a girl after all and he was a trained burglar and assassin.  He was ready to shove her aside again when she surprised him by stepping closer to him.  

“What were you doing with your eyes anyway?  They turned all red.  It was quite the sight.”  

Remy did not know what to think now.  This girl seemed aware of mutants and unafraid, another point to her.  He probably should have assumed this girl was aware of mutants being in the Lensherr manor, but it was still refreshing nonetheless.  

“Uh- I was just trying to convince you that this is all pointless, we’re in a lot of danger being up here and it’s best we all just go downstairs.  What’s your name by the way?”  

As if on cue, a security system on the roof apparently was aware that there were people on the roof and had started scanning and letting off steam cannons at them.  

Anna Marie took this opportunity to run towards the door, but also reached forward to grab his hand.  Remy instinctively took the pretty girl’s hand and immediately regretted it.  He felt energy draining out of him and he looked shocked at Anna Marie’s face.  

She let go of his hand and let him slip to the floor unconscious.  “My name is Rogue” she whispered and recovered the package.  

She dragged his body down the stairs using his strength and got glimpses of his dealings with a man named Sebastian Shaw.  She saw his life story and the fact that he was raised an orphan on the streets of Louisiana.  

Soon Erik Lensherr was up and went to go check up on his guest.  When he discovered what happened and the body of Remy LeBeau he was furious, but was convinced by Anna Marie to talk to him and only lock him up.  That he was a wayward youth and had only known thieving as a way to live.  

So Erik Lensherr took in Remy LeBeau and added him to his many acolytes in the Brotherhood of Mutants.  Rogue got her package back and went on her way to New York with it.  She later found out that the package was an important part for a steam powered way to identify mutants that her uncle and Hank McCoy was working on. 

[angelfirstclass]

X-men and Gay Pride

A little belated, but Happy Pride Month! I have loved seeing all the memes and all the Cherik and Morpherine Pride memes and etc They were hilarious and and I loved them! I may get flack for this post, but I don't really care because I genuinely feel like true X-men fans are accepting people that stand on the right side of history especially because the source material is chock full of Others and is basically a super powered allegory for all those isms.

So here's to canon gay X-men like Mystique and Destiny. To Daken, Psylocke, Ice Man, Shadowcat, and others. To Morph and their representation of nonbinary people!

I don't like queerbaiting or when shows use gayness like a personality or superpower in and of itself, but X-men never did that. From its inception, X-men was written as allegories for racism, sexism, gender issues, and etc. and has tried to include gay characters as well as speak out for those that are different. It wasn't a marketing tool or jumping on the bandwagon, the messages in X-men are still as relevant as ever.

The X-men believe in mutant and human coexistence and the future in which that exists and is peaceful. They haven't gotten there yet and show what happens when hate wins. The X-men is an interesting series that shows that humans are capable of so much hate and horrors, but still should not be given up on.

In its worst light, humanity is fearful and the majority is scared of the Other. In their fear that is hardwired into them, they persecute and attack the different citing their own fears of existence and the danger of the Other. The Other may look different or just think differently, but the Majority doesn't care, it is an existential threat to them and thus should be purged or at the very least controlled.

This is what humans do, what the majority does- tell themselves why they should be afraid and use the power that they have to justify oppression, wars, etc. And what we need to fight against. Not people, but that fear. Not by making people smaller, weaker and less than they are but by showing them that even when they are out, proud, truly allowed to be themselves that it's not an existential threat. Maybe an existential threat to an arcane, backwards way of life, but not for people themselves.

So enjoy Pride Month, Celebrate Juneteenth, and find ways to love who you are and the right to be who you are whether that is gay or straight black or white Jewish or Palestinian having a disability or whatever. In this world, simply being yourself is an act of defiance, so as long as you are a good person that believes in the Charles Xavier way of thinking then I applaud you. I am a straight ally myself, but I think gender fluidity and nonconformity is a power and must be wielded properly. "When an individual acquires great power, the use or misuse of that power is everything"-Charles Xavier. So Professor X says and I believe, please be kind, be yourselves, and use your powers for good!

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Do you have headcanons for rogue?? ALSO I was searching for stuff like her hobbies, likes, dislikes, but I couldn't find anything. Do you have this kinda of info? I'm really curious about her, but almost everything involving her is with gambit included (not hating the guy, but I want to know about her alone,)

Thank you Anonymous for this question! For a Rogue fan, I love this question because I am thinking about Rogue all the time. I have many different Rogues running through my head and definitely my own headcanon of Rogue!

Rogue was born and raised in Mississippi to a poor and religious family. They did their best, but were often neglectful of Anna Marie and also she saw them being very insular and judgmental of mutants, people of other races, gender identities etc. Irene Adler (Destiny) and Raven Darkholme adopt Rogue after Destiny receives a premonition that Rogue will be a powerful mutant and necessary for missions in the future when Anna Marie is about 12.

Anna Marie is raised by Destiny and Mystique in a ranch/farm in Virginia somewhat close to Washington DC where Raven can go to do business and run Mutant/Brotherhood operations. She is raised in a farm and is a country girl at heart. They raise all sorts of animals including horses and Anna Marie grows up riding horses.

She is raised secluded from most people because they are mutants and her mothers are lesbians. They are very savvy and smart women who keep secluded and their private lives very private. Anna Marie is raised to be a warrior doing daily strength training and taught to hone and use her power.

She joins the Brotherhood fairly early like when she is 15 or 16 and trained to fight. She is used by Destiny and Mystique to extract information from rivals or foes and sometimes they get paid for her services. She has been told of the Mutant struggle since she was young and is prejudiced against humans and the X-men, but is not as ruthless as her mother.

She loves Southern food and country music. She loves the outdoors and nature. She was raised wanting for nothing as Raven's daughter, but she wasn't spoiled and raised a down to earth country girl. She does not mind getting her hands dirty and working hard. She loves her mothers and respects them.

The biggest moment of her life was when on a mission she absorbs Carole Danvers powers and life force and that becomes too much for her to handle. She is in psionic misery for a while not knowing who she is and battling with Carole Danvers' psyche in her head. During this time, she loses all control over her mind and body and in an attempt to help Mystique touches Anna Marie and she learns that Mystique and Destiny had that premonition and there was an ulterior motive to taking her in. She also feels Raven's love for her as well and is very conflicted.

She is placed under the care of Professor Charles Xavier and Raven and Destiny reluctantly let her go. Rogue is very lost and conflicted during this time and it takes a long time for her to recover. When she does recover, the rest of the X-men are distrustful of her, but she soon proves them wrong. Her feelings towards her mothers spur her to have a change of heart about mutant-human relations and the X-men, but it's not a fast or easy road to redemption.

I have more head canon things in my head and written down somewhere, but I'll stop here for now!

[angelfirstclass]

X-men 97: My favorite version of the X-men so far

X-men 97 is one of the best Marvel cartoons of all time and certainly my favorite version of a X-men project ever. That is saying a lot since there is the Animated Series, all the movies, X Men Evolution, Wolverine and the X-men and etc., but I stand by it. It is a deep, well written show that speaks to complex, real world issues of racism, gender politics, apartheid and genocide, and etc.

The storyline was rushed, but well written and interesting and the characters were captivating and fleshed out. I enjoy reading the comics, but for someone who likes to see and hear characters I love cartoons and live action movies. They make it seem more real for me. Hearing an accent or seeing an outfit or fight scene in real time makes things more real for me.

Firstly, the story was about mostly adults and not just about the Mansion as a school. When the focus is on the Institute as a school, it makes things juvenile and centered on teenage mutants and their problems. This might appeal to younger audiences, but I'm 37 so it doesn't for me and I also think adult issues are more interesting in general. In X-men 97, there are young people in the show like Roberto and Jubilee, but they aren't the main focus. This show hit hard immediately dealing with hate groups, race wars, and racial unrest. There was no pussyfooting around with high school problems and teen angst.

The problems that the X-men are dealing with are real and serious. Immediately, we see a hate group out to get mutants with sentinel technology. Even if you are unfamiliar with the comics or TAS you know that's bad and reminiscent of hate groups in the real world. Even the first time time you "see" Magneto, it's a simulation, but it's serious and speaking of being nature's favored children and of mutant-human coexistence which is what the show is all about. That topic alone is a big, complex heady one and that's why I love X-men 97. It pulls no punches, it starts off with big stakes for its characters and holds to that standard until the end.

Secondly, the characters are well written and funny. I read somewhere that the humor in X-men 97 is character driven and I agree. Morph is hilarious and it's not just self referential humor, but one based on knowing personality traits and etc. Teasing Scott will never not get old and Gambit throws in some good one liners. Also, Beast and his nerdiness is hilarious! The writers know how to balance humor with the dark or serious topics they write about without crossing a line or becoming corny.

Thirdly, the storyline is compelling and relatable. My only complaint being that the story was rushed a bit and I wanted more episodes instead of less, the story arc was very interesting. I loved Magneto's storyline of trying to redeem himself, the love triangle between Magneto-Rogue-Gambit, the Jean/Scott/Nathan/Madelyn storyline, Gambit's death, Genosha, and Bastion were all very fascinating. The whole series was tied up by explaining that Bastion was working with all the bad guys the whole time trying to undermine and disable mutants. Even knowing that the finale was three parts, I was left shocked and confused and surprised at what happened in them.

Finally, I love the complex and gray way that the writers handled topics and the very concept of right and wrong. I was very confused and conflicted at points of this show, but looking back I think that was very healthy for me. Life is often complex and gray and this series made me think a lot about oppression, human nature, revenge, and redemption. It often brought up more questions than answers, but I think that's ok too.

In conclusion, I loved X-men 97 and think it was a fantastically written show and will stand the test of time for well written cartoon series. It's up there with Batman TAS and Transformers. It made me think, feel, cry, and laugh and at the end of the day it was a cartoon about mutants. I never thought it would be this good when I heard about it, but it was, it really was.

[angelfirstclass]

Rogue above all else.

This is fan post declaring my love for Rogue and that I love her more than I am attached to a particular ship. For all I know, Rogue can be with whoever she wants to be with and I'm sticking by her. I am an equal opportunity Rogue shipper and have liked and enjoyed Rogueneto and Romy fanfics and art and etc. I don't believe in ship wars and just want to promote my girl.

I love Rogue. I think she is the most beautiful animated character and she is such a complex, interesting character from the comics to cartoons to the movies. Her powers are super interesting with or without Carole Danvers' superpowers and make her an empathetic person.

Firstly, I love that Rogue is the daughter of Mystique and Destiny. What a crazy upbringing that must have been and so unique. I love that she was born and raised in Mississippi and still keeps her roots, but then became the adopted daughter of two smart, ambitious, and strong lesbian women. The backstory of them raising her is super interesting because there is such a conflict of interests for Destiny and Mystique from knowing Rogue was going to be a powerful mutant, using and training her to be part of the Brotherhood, introducing her to people like Magneto, and also loving her like a daughter.

Mystique is such a unique character and such a powerful woman that it makes sense why Rogue is as powerful and strong willed as she is. In my headcanon X-men First Class stuff still applies so Raven is still Charles' adopted little sister and so Rogue is like Charles Xavier's distant niece which makes things interesting. Raven and Destiny hid Anna Marie away while she was growing up, but came to Xavier to help her after her run in with Carole Danvers. They had to reluctantly give Rogue up to the X-men in order to save her, but it was a bittersweet moment that Irene and Raven both regret.

Secondly, I love Rogue's vulnerability and empathy. Her absorbing powers are so unique and bring up a lot of questions about what makes a person. She can absorb powers, memories, and feelings and can even hold on too long and absorb entire psyches and life forces. In the beginning of her story way back in Avengers Annual 10, she is bad and unafraid to use her powers. She not only uses her powers indiscriminately, but she also isn't afraid to kiss people to absorb them.

The Rogue we see in X-men 97 is far more tempered and though has a past, has learned to use her powers sparingly and not want to hurt people. She uses her super strength and flying powers, but rarely uses her absorption power because it is a double edged sword. She may gain powers and drain energy from people, but gets their memories, traumas, fears, etc. which may not be a pleasant experience.

Thirdly, I like pretty much all forms of Rogue. I love X-men Evo Rogue for her gothic personality. I think a teen Rogue would be introverted and different to most girls her age. I like Wolverine and the X-men Rogue for being independent and Wolverine's best friend. I like their dynamic and I like when she is Wolverine's partner and team mate and platonically just gets him because she has absorbed him and they're so much alike. The most vulnerable of all Rogues is Movie Rogue which is a controversial portrayal of Rogue. I personally think Anna Paquin is gorgeous and good actor who portrayed the sweet, vulnerable Rogue to a tee.

This Rogue wasn't raised by Mystique and she didn't absorb Carole Danvers' powers yet. She was a scared teen girl who couldn't touch people and whose storyline revolved around her feelings about her powers and wanting to have physical intimacy. It's not my favorite version of her, but it did beautifully show Rogue's inner angst.

My favorite version of her is X-men TAS or 97 Rogue who I think is Rogue Prime. She is the daughter of Destiny and Mystique, has absorbed Carole Danvers' powers, is the ex of Erik Lensherr, in an on off relationship with Remy Le Beau, sister of Kurt Wagner, great friend and dedicated X-man, and all around bad ass chick.

She has the Brotherhood/Magneto's ex/Mystique's daughter thing as her background which makes her a complicated character with a dark past which makes for juicy storylines, but she is mature enough to be fully reformed and a good person. Her duality and grey toned sense of the world makes her so well suited to complex men like Erik Lensherr and Remy LeBeau who are not traditional good guys with squeaky clean pasts and morals.

I love X-men 97 Rogue. I love Lenore Zann. I love the sass, the Southern charm and cute accent, I love her no bs attitude, her compassionate heart, and her empathy. Rogue is my Queen and I stan.

[angelfirstclass]

Magneto: A Villain playing Dressup or Reformed Tortured Soul?

This is going to be hard one for me because I don't want to be too negative about Magneto because I think in X-men 97 he isn't the villain, but upon rewatching the show I think this question is viable. I may be accused of being a Romy shipper and Charles apologist, but I'm not really. I like Magneto in the show and he says some of the best lines in the show. But sometimes he says and does things that are kind of assholey am I right?

To start off with, the way that he introduces himself and announces that he's the heir to Xavier's mansion and the X-men. Did he really have to barge into Xavier's office and confront the team as they were bonding together playing basketball? He is so smug in that scene which is something I like about Magneto, his Alpha male strength and directness. It's hot and works when I'm writing Magneto fan fiction, but it is a tad presumptuous. His first reactions from everyone on the team is anger and suspicion and then he wonders why he's not getting a warm reception. He could have been normal and called or rang the doorbell or something, but it wouldn't have been as dramatic or as Magneto to come barging in.

The way that he says My X-men at the end of episode 1 is kind of smug and sinister is not? Maybe it's just the writers wanting tension out of that moment and having the readers shocked by Magneto, a known X-enemy inheriting everything, because at that moment we don't know if Magneto is going to be a good leader or not.

Then we see Magneto in action and he's playing the good guy. He saves a child from a busted ride and the Morlocks from the Friends of Humanity. It is shocking to the X-men but also shocking to humankind because of Magneto's past crimes. He enters leading the X-men tamping down his evil past and his more destructive methods of getting back at anti-mutant groups, but he is still Magneto with all his arrogance and his confidence and his strength of belief in himself.

Something that I actually love is the line that he toes the line between trying to be a good X-man and his feelings about humanity. He has seen so much that he is formed by those traumas and pain which cannot be so easily let go of. When he talks of not harming the Friends of Humanity members, the sneer when he says "sapiens" is pure gold. This Magneto is a tempered Magneto and we have to appreciate how far he's come. If it wasn't for his love of Charles Xavier he would be 1000 times worse.

It could be argued that other people might have made better leaders of the X-men, but for this season's storyline having Magneto play the leader was brilliant. He was just enough of an asshole to make the whole thing interesting and made the twist at the end more believable because he never really lost himself completely. You saw moments of him being potentially selfish, arrogant, cruel throughout the season which made him an interesting, complex character.

"My intentions here was not to cause drama or discord." Lol! Says the man in the cape and big M on his costume and the one who barged into the mansion without notice. Yeah, sure, Jan. He yielded to the UN, but not until after he proves how powerful he could be. A note to point out his that Wolverine talks about people being upset over all the things Magneto has done and "can't say I blame them" for being upset and I take this seriously. So currently he's trying to reform, but in this universe and timeline, Magneto has done some awful things.

The trial scene is really amazing. There are some great lines in it. The speech is probably the most compelling reason to want to trust Magneto. He is a great public speaker and he speaks of his past, how the oppressed become oppressors and that loving or being different will cause you to be punished. He is speaking Xavier's words and attempting to walk his past, but he must also acknowledge his past and the consequences of them. This is where I get confused or conflicted as I don't know if Magneto went too far or just enough or is justified or crazy. I don't know and I don't think it's something that the writers even know- like that is the crux of the show itself.

His sardonic wit is the best! "Oh to play by the rules and still they come for you." Yes. It's all going sideways and Magneto is not panicked in the least. He may be a lot of things, but dumb is not one of them. He saw this all coming and knew it was a matter of time that the extremists broke through and the judges would be deemed traitors of the race. It's like a part of him wanted things to get extreme, so the X-men would get to be on his side and see that humanity is not to be trusted and making nice doesn't work.

When asks if this is the high roads destination and essentially kidnaps all the judges, viewers are justified in thinking he might have snapped and gone back to his evil ways. We are surprised to see that he is walking Xavier's path and applaud him for that. He eventually lets the people go and asks them to not let him let them down and that's so poignant because we see just in episode 2 what Magneto is capable of and what he could do if he wasn't walking Xavier's path.

Magneto did a pretty good job of leading the team from episode 3 to 5, he is concerned about Jean, Scott, and Nathan and coordinates the team. He fights clone Jean or Madelyn and she taunts him with the line about a villain playing dress up as a hero. I think that line is so apt with Magneto because I think that his character arc is at the heart of the storyline. I wrote once saying that his relationship with Xavier was the thesis of the story and I also believe that Magneto's belief of Xavier's ideals and his own is also a pivotal part of the story. Madelyn had the power to delve into the psyche of each mutant and find their weak spots, so it proves here that Erik is self conscious of seeming to play the hero and most likely doubts his own commitment to Xavier's cause.

Then we go to Genosha in episode 5, where Magneto is king, literally. There are posters and statues of him everywhere and this all was his dream. Magneto is a savvy politician and understands making grand speeches or doing publicity stunts. Even other mutants at Genosha understand that he is the handsome face of Mutant kind and especially after joining the X-men and following moderation is liked by moderate mutants as well as humans. Even when he speaks to the group, he acknowledges that this was all Charles' dream and he didn't believe that it would happen. He is asked to be king and then he asks Rogue to be his queen. Episode 5, I think is tragically the peak of when Erik is believing Xavier's dream and thinking that peace is possible and happiness is possible for him as well. He is letting down his guard, accepting the King position, declaring his love for Rogue, trying to walk Xavier's path, be a good X-man, and etc. We know what happens next tragically however.

Everything he believed gets snatched and beaten out of him in Genosha. He tried to walk Xavier's path and it did not work out for him. He was already scarred, but this time was too much. He was kidnapped, tortured, and saw many deaths. He was already toeing the line before and felt justified in a way for committing crimes and atrocities and Genosha set him back to that way of thinking.

When we see him later, trying to persuade X-men to join him, EMPing the planet, attacking members of the X-men trying to stop him, he is traumatized and reacting poorly to Genosha. I don't justify his behavior, but I understand it. This is an Omega level mutant that has a track history of hurting humans for hurting mutants, so when a massacre hits it is not surprising that the mutant in question flexes his powers and gets angry.

What I don't know and am still on the fence about is how dedicated he truly was to Xavier's cause. Was he really a believer and dedicated to being a X-man or did it just take one incident for him to return to his ways? Also, how far is too far? Who is allowed to seek revenge or retribution? And to what extent? It is these questions that I think are so fascinating and I'm glad I don't know. These questions about Magneto are what made the show so interesting and complex and wants to make me see Season 2.

[angelfirstclass]

Another Romy fanfic.

A little Romy fanfic where Rogue sits and remembers all her Remy memories. Meeting him for the first time, becoming friends, etc.

Rogue had been through a lot these past few weeks. Genosha. Magneto’s disappearance and return. Leaving the X-men to join Magneto. Fighting against Bastion. Time traveling to Apocalypse’s youth. But the worst pain she went through and was currently undergoing was losing Remy LeBeau.

This was not some distant memory or absorbed pain that came from taking someone else’s memories, this was personal, it was raw, it was hers and hers alone. Remy LeBeau was her best friend and despite everything that had happened between the two of them leading up to his death, she never forgot that or broke that relationship. Now more than ever she also felt the pull of something more, something deeper than skin, something deeper than friendship. It was ironic that it came after his death, but their relationship was never smooth or easy. Remy LeBeau loved Rogue and she knew it, felt it deep within her bones and knew that she loved him back. Not as a martyr or her savior, but as her best friend, her love, something that she knew while she was kissing another man and feeling something different. Remy LeBeau was her air, her heart, and she couldn’t imagine life without him. She was attracted to Erik and felt a deep connection, but she couldn’t live without Gambit. His love for her wrapped around her like a blanket and his connection to her was deep and real.

In some private time to herself, her thoughts return to one thing- Remy. His eyes. His touch, light and not invasive. His sense of humor. It hurt her so much, but it was also the one thing that was keeping her going. She lived now for him, for revenge of his death, for his memory, for keeping his dream alive. She closed her eyes and remembered. Back to the beginning, back to when they first met…

[angelfirstclass]

A little Rogneto fanfic

Please click below to read my Rogue/Magneto fan fic. This is set after ep 2.

Here is a little snippet:

Rogue had always been so understanding. Whether she had super empathetic powers or it was a product of her absorption powers to be empathetic, Erik did not know. All he did know was that Rogue had a way of saying and doing the exact right thing, the thing that he needed, but wouldn’t ask for. Erik rolled over in his bed and closed his eyes trying to picture Rogue again. The look of her eyes, the tilt of her head. Erik then remembered the younger Rogue and falling in love with her. Some people, even and especially her mothers were against the relationship citing Erik’s advanced age and the fact that Magnus was meant to be her teacher. On paper, it was as they said and it was a bit wrong, but Erik would not let others dictate his or Rogue’s life. Rogue was a grown woman who made up her own mind. She was over 18 and he had not tricked or groomed her into a relationship. That kind of thinking was sick and it did not give any credit to Anna Marie who was a strong, independent thinker even as a teenager.

[angelfirstclass]

Cherik- the heart and soul of X-men 97.

So whether you ship them together or think of them as brothers or whatever, the relationship between Erik Lensherr and Charles Xavier is the heart and soul of this show and dare I say the entire franchise in whatever form. We see their friendship and being nemeses and relationship in pretty much all versions of the X-men and Xmen 97 is chock full of Cherik gold.

The series starts out with Magneto inheriting the X-men and Xavier's entire estate which says a lot about their close relationship and Xavier's trust in Magneto. He trusts and relies on him even above his precious X-men as they are caught off guard by this news and are even hurt by it like Scott. In this act, Xavier follows his heart and feels that by doing this he gets Magneto to come to his path and for the X-men to lose an adversary and also be less burdened with leading the team.

Going forward, Magneto loyally follows Xavier's path honoring his memory and legacy. Even reluctantly and with gritted teeth his restraint is "proof of (his) desire to honor Charles Xavier's dream of mutant human coexistence". To see how far he was before as a X-men adversary to one who truly wanted to honor Xavier was very extreme and a testament to Erik's love for Xavier. He goes through a lot in the series even undergoing a massacre and even through that event continues to try to be a X-man and show restraint and be a leader, but eventually it becomes too much for him.

The scene in episode 2 is very telling of their relationship when Magneto speaks of the helmet and how he could always sense Charles as a presence. "I was in his thoughts and he in mine." Romantic or not, this line highlights just how important the two of them were to each other and that's love is it not? Then Rogue hits the nail on the head by stating that Magneto was worried about if he felt how much Xavier still loved him, Magneto wouldn't be able to go through with his crusade. Magneto canonically lays out that he knew/knows that Xavier loves him.

At the end of ep 2, Magneto is seen looking at a picture of Charles and himself when they were young that is kept framed on Charles' desk. Whether that was Charles' picture (which I suspect) or put there by Erik, the implications are clear the two are important to each other despite the past or their differences. Storm is talking about finding connection and pans on Rogue and Magneto and Morph and Wolverine, but also stands for Charles and Erik.

In ep 5, Magneto is considered to rule over Genosha because of his trial and because Xavier trusted Magneto with the X-men. He mentions the pivotal bar scene we will see later and what a moment it is for Magneto. At this moment, he is seeing his and Xavier's dreams coming true which he never thought possible. It turns out Magneto was right, but at this moment Xavier's dream seemed real and it was Magneto that was leading the way to get them there.

At this point I have to mention Rogue in that she is the only other person that is connected to Erik and understanding of his thoughts. I like Rogue and don't think that it gets in the way of Cherik. Rogue has seen Erik's inner thoughts through her absorption powers or by the time spent talking to him. She is the one who gets the Cherik relationship better than most and understands the love the two have for each other and how long and deep their relationship is. She is not an obstacle to Cherik, she may be the Queen Erik wants (particularly when he thinks Charles is gone), but is also someone who gets the Cherik thing and understands. This leaves so much room for love triangles and Magneto bi loveness galore. Rogue GETS it, she's not going to stand in the way.

Then leading to the finale, there is so much Cherik even a non-Cherik fan is left with no doubt that there is something there between the two. Whether its the salty "Welcome home, cheater" vibes about the Bird Queen, the bickering about Genosha and Bastion and Magneto's response, and the scintillating together in Erik's mind sequences, there is so much Charles-Erik action going on that the writers gifted us.

Granted, I was sort of pissed at Xavier in the first part of the finale for not being on Magneto's side and being so harsh on him after all that Erik had been through as well as thinking that going into his head was a violation. I still kind of feel that way, but I'm more understanding of Xavier's flaws (he's not perfect, not by a longshot) and also of how much he loves Erik despite violating his mind. The fact that he was willing to lose his own mind and also endure the tragedies and pain of Erik despite knowing Erik's tragic history is a testament to how much he loves Erik. Magneto may have conflicting feelings about what happened after season 1, but I don't think he's going to ever forget how Xavier basically talked him out of oblivion and made him come back to himself talking about love and family.

Magneto saves the day, but it must be remembered that Professor Xavier did not have to return Magneto back to his mind or the world. Magneto has been a fierce adversary in the past and is currently causing major mayhem to the planet and still Xavier considers him a brother and encourages him to recognize and become Magneto again. In another storyline, Rogue could have absorbed Magneto while he was down and got the planet up and running, but that's not the direction the writers went with because it didn't highlight the Cherik relationship as well. The writers wanted to focus in on Cherik and so I again repeat that Charles and Erik's relationship is the thesis, the plot, the heart of the show and I can't wait to see more.

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Rogue and Gambit throwback. Look at the date dress so cute! It was so a reference to the Happy Nation dress.

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X-men finale reaction...

OMG, hell yes. This was epic, this was a triumph and looking at all of the ten episodes together, THE best X-men adaptation ever. It did honor to the source material and was the best decision to keep it in the 90s and not modernize it And it took it beyond and super deep. The music was epic- I want the soundtrack or would attend a live concert of the music. Then the plot and fan service done to the viewers was chef's kiss perfection. There may be detractors out there and I may come down from this cloud and be able to nitpick but not now. I'm too excited and thrilled.

Firstly, I love that Disney is promoting X-men on the main page and was the first thing I saw when I opened the app. Yes, Disney! Disney/Marvel, congrats. You helped create a masterpiece of modern storytelling that revived an old almost forgotten piece of comic cartoon history and pulled it into the modern age. It was perfect timing and us old fans who grew up on TAS was thirsting after, but you also brought in new viewers and viewers like my husband who could care less about cartoon superheroes. But the storylines were compelling and the writing was deep, X-men 97 deserves its flowers. (Spoilers ahead).

Secondly, the writing and character development in this episode was fan service, it was perfection, and it was very well written. Starting with Cherik which I had some objections to last week due to feeling that Xavier was being holier than thou and not understanding Erik. But in this episode seeing the lengths that Xavier would go for Erik melted my heart. I still have some thoughts about Erik "making his X-men turn on each other" as I feel that they are grownups with their own minds, but the rest of the episode with Xavier cradling Erik and willing to go down with the ship with him is gold. Then they busted out the Badass X-women and I loved it! I am a huge Rogue fan and they did right by her- she was accepted back into the team no questions asked and she was so fierce. I teared up when she attacked Bastion with the "Remember it" line and I loved the whole team stepping up, working together to battle Bastion. I also loved the Cable/Scott/Jean storyline and we even got some Morpherine!

Thirdly, some of my predictions came true! I predicted in a previous post that the Avengers and other Marvel characters would make cameos in the finale and I was right! It was a veritable who's who of Marvel characters and I cackled in delight when they popped up! Predictably, Iron Man and Captain America were in the White House with the President. I knew that they weren't sitting out on this one! Then we saw Daredevil, Silver Samurai, Black Panther and Dora Milaje, Psylocke and many more!

Last but certainly not least, Apocalypse and more importantly DEATHBIT! As a ROMY shipper, I squeed so much at this! The fans have been dreaming about this since ep 5 as it gives us even a sliver of having some part of Gambit back and now it's confirmed with that Queen of Hearts cliffhanger. Oooh yes! Even if it's not the Real Remy back, just having Deathbit and a glimmer of Remy back in the storyline is juicy and desired indeed. There are a LOT of Romy and Gambit fans out there and this satisfies us and has us wanting more. Even if it's crazy and complicated, fans are going to eat up a Deathbit storyline, so yes please! And beyond Gambit, Apocalypse is a badass villain- kudos for the writers going here. Comic and Cartoon fans alike can agree that time travel is interesting and will come up with many cool, fascinating new storylines.

I can't wait until Season 2, but until then I will be rewatching the finale a million times. I am so glad that the writers understood the assignment and gave us this masterpiece. It calmed my Romy heart, gave us amazing battle sequences, had fun Marvel cameos, and perfectly set up next season.

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This is my first post of Archive of Our Own. Please read and comment! I would very much appreciate the feedback!

Rogue yawns and rolls out of bed. Another day without the Professor, she thinks pensively. The X-men have been doing their best to be business as usual, but it was difficult without a Team leader. Scott has tried to step up, but you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Rogue likes Scott and he is a good friend to her, but he can’t fill Xavier’s shoes. He is often too rule following and strict and even more tense the longer the Professor is gone. Rogue is hungry and walks herself down to the kitchen and not surprised to see Gambit cooking up his famous beignets. Remy Le Beau has his back turned to her, overseeing the cooking and nodding his head along with the rock music playing. Rogue giggles at his joy and at his pink croptop. He looks ridiculous, but hot.

Damn him, Rogue thinks as she watches him reach for a pan and expose more abs to her. Rogue had never been the type to ogle and have her head turned by a pretty face, but even she could admit by now that Remy LeBeau had one of the best faces and bodies going and he knew it. His confidence was infuriating, but intoxicating. Remy turned around to face her and his eyes lit up immediately. “Good morning, chère! How do you manage to look so beautiful all the time? It can’t be good for my cajun heart to see such beauty first thing in the morning.” Rogue blushed deeply. See, this is what was so infuriating about the man. He oozed charm and charisma and was utterly unafraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. At first, Rogue thought that he was acting a part and all of this was a game to amuse himself, but then she came to realize that he meant what he said, he couldn’t help himself. He was a hopeless flirt, but also a lover of women and meant what he said about appreciating their beauty and of feeling in love. Rogue was raised in a strict Catholic household and then with two loving, but brusque lesbians so she was very skeptical and unsure about Gambit and his love language which was giving love and admiration in every form. He told her she was his and beautiful and the love of his life, he cooked for her, he bought her gifts, he made her laugh, and he was her best friend. Rogue could not say she was lacking in love when it came to Gambit, the irony was that it was almost too much.

Rogue and Gambit exchanged playful banter for a while, until Scott Summers walked into the kitchen. Rogue knew that he, Storm, and Bishop had gone to a mission at a Friends of Humanity station, so was not surprised that Scott was as jumpy as a cat when he walked in. He launched into his Xavier-like preaching mode and tried to guilt trip them about not being at the mission. Not that Rogue did not care about the team or its mission, but at this point fighting the sentinels and the Friends of Humanity was routine and the X-men somehow always won. It was worrying that the sentinels were still around and that there were pockets of humanity that distrusted mutants, but that was a reality that the X-men had been living with for a long time. In fact, at this point things were looking up for the X-men and they had some breathing room after Professor Xavier’s death.

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Best Rogue X-men 97 set fan fics on Ao3

An excellent fic set after ep 9, very poignant and got me to understand Rogue's POV.

A really good Rogue/Magneto fan fic set in AU where the attack on Genosha didn't happen.

A short, but sweet Romy fic.

A very interesting Rogueneto fan fic set after ep 8. Didn't quite turn out like that in the show, but a juicy read nonetheless.

A really cerebral piece that is deliciously Gambit/Rogue/Magneto all at the same time.

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Rogue: understand her grief, but she's dishonoring Gambit's memory

So, I have been wrestling with the direction Rogue is heading from Ep 9 and am still not sure where I fall and what I feel. All I know is that if Rogue runs to Magneto without any questions and without any hesitation especially after Wolverine and after understanding how many lives are at stake back on Earth, I will be disappointed in her. I don't care to shame her or not understand that she is grieving, but I don't believe that grief excuses all actions or covers all sins. I don't necessarily vilify Magneto, but choosing Magneto I believe dishonors Gambit's memory and is a choice born of reactive energy and not a proactive one which is unlike the Rogue I love and know.

When I see Romy shippers upset and disappointed at this story line, I feel and understand them because Romy was supposed to be DeMayo's OTP. I could even forgive Gambit's death if framed in the way that he died like a Boss and that death gave Rogue the reason to live and breathe for him. Where Romy shippers are upset about is that she wears his jacket for moments before giving it up to Xavier and leaving the X-men.

I wrote a post a few eps ago about how Rogue chose to live the Gambit way and see things the Gambit way which is the X-men way. Of family, of mutant-human coexistence, and of love. Gambit died because he loved Rogue- he didn't want to be the hero, he was just thinking that Rogue just ran towards the sentinels in her anger at losing Magneto and he needed to save her. To him, love was the highest power ever and worth living and dying for. This is the reason we love Gambit and why Rogue chose him over Magneto. Magneto isn't a monster, but he would always choose his mission of Mutant security over love every time.

Rogue knew that choosing Magneto was not what Gambit would have wanted or approved of and that's why she gives up his jacket. If she can't even keep a part of him in her new future, is that the right choice? I wrote a few eps back as well that I don't think the writers would throw Rogue back in with Magneto because it dishonored Gambit's memory, but here they are. Even if Erik and Anna Marie don't get together romantically, her choice to go with him ties them together with no point of return. Her choice to go with him dishonors Gambit because Remy Le Beau was a X-man through and through.

I have written posts before defending Magneto, so this may seem harsh, but not in the eyes of Gambit fans or Romy shippers. I understand Rogue's grief and so it is not shocking for me to see her make this decision, I just don't feel like it honors Remy Le Beau. Her kicking ass and killing Trask, Remy would have understood and cheered on, but leaving the X-men and agreeing to human civilization's demise after working FOR YEARS for Xavier's mission and beliefs???

The only way that this whole thing is going to square up for me is that Rogue is with Magneto to convince him to save planet Earth and knows that due to his love for her and their past that she is the only one that can do that. OR if pushed to it, she touches him while he is weak/dying and takes his powers and turns the energy/magnetism back on Earth. In either case being a proactive person and not a victim of circumstance.

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Damn, I guess I was a Magneto apologist. Is it me or did the writers make me do it?

Ok, Ok I wrote a rant about how I was disappointed in the X-men and was seemingly Team Magneto, but I have come to realize that it was a step too far if it is leading to planet wide destruction and poles reversing and nuclear fallout and etc etc. If it's THAT extreme, then yes I walk back my blank support of Magneto, but I am still on Magneto's side as to feeling he was right and wondering where the line in the sand is.

Also, me having these feelings is the writers fault- they made Magneto sympathetic and wrote the story line to specifically get people to be on the fence with Magneto and not have him be a cut and dried bad guy. He adopts the X-men, walks Xavier's path at times unwillingly, and was even tempered even during the trial or after Storm lost her powers. He might have been able to be reasoned after Genosha, too, but being kidnapped, tortured, and his fellow mutants threatened by Prime Sentinels was too much.

In the X-men movies, Magneto is less sympathetic because he hurts innocent humans and sometimes neutral and innocent mutants as well in the name of his cause. In the first movie, he almost kills Rogue in the name of Mutant supremacy. It's despicable. That's where the X-men draw the line and are justified in being against him. Even knowing his past and the reasons for the way he is, readers and the audience can not condone him choosing violence. But in this version, it's different- the writers chose to make Magneto an anti-hero and set up his eventual choice as either inevitable or even justified. The previous episode had a character claim "Magneto was right" and made many viewers feel that way, too.

In this version, Magnus is not a monster. He may have doomed the planet, but he offers the X-men sanctuary and a choice. Where I find myself disappointed in the X-men is the way they don't lead a search party to find Magneto before the Sentinel/EMP incident, don't offer any gratitude to being saved by Magneto from the Sentinels, and instantly goes into attack mode. Like I realize what he did was wrong, but as a team member you would think there would be some misgivings or hesitation based on friendship and respect, but no it's immediately Oh, yeah I knew you were awful the entire time and good riddance.

I am waiting to see the next episode and the finale and hope there are things in there to make things make sense, but right now I'm just confused. I realize the world is complex and has grey areas, but I honestly would have been more satisfied if Magneto was a straight up bad guy and met his end or if Bastion was the only bad guy and though they didn't agree on everything worked as a team. This story line currently is one where Magneto is not bad nor good, is meant to be somewhat sympathetic, but in the end if I have it correctly completely extreme and genocidal. It breaks up the X-men and causes a schism when they need to be strong together and is morally confusing for the viewer. Not sure one episode is enough to tie everything together, but I shall wait and see.

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X-men: WTF?

I am shocked, shocked at Episode 9 and mostly because I am confused and disgusted by the actions of the X-men. I wrote a post about hoping Magneto wasn't going too far beyond what he did, but felt that what he did was justified. Are the X-men and the world not going to recognize that Bastion and the Prime sentinels just committed mass murder on Genosha and attacked every mutant on the planet?

Now, because of their mission to be tolerant and X-men and blah blah blah there is no room to see Magnus' side? Where is the line? Where is the outrage? Magneto EMPed the entire planet, if he wanted to he could have done a lot worse. Yes, being in darkness sucks and I'm sure people have had to suffer, but generators and etc exist. Also, Magneto mostly did that act to shut off the Sentinels and didn't go further, he didn't bomb cities or anything. If the humans wanted to bargain or reason with Magneto to turn back the power they could have- Magneto might have listened to them.

Also, I really don't understand the X-men here in going after Magneto after all he declared he wanted was to leave Earth and go to Asteroid M. He didn't say he would genocide people, he was just not turning on the power. And couldn't this have been a conversation, not a bursting in battle? These people were just your friends and colleagues and simply because they didn't follow your beliefs you're going to angrily attack them? The Jubilee attack was gross as was what happened with Wolverine. Roberto stopped and apologized and it wasn't enough and Wolverine was so up Xavier's ass that he did what he did. Wolverine has a murky past with human kind and so I don't get him having no hesitation in understanding what Magneto is saying and believing especially under the circumstances.

I can understand and admire people who sue for peace especially when outside forces or the powers that be want war and it is not justified, but this cowardice disgusts me. This was not a fake or a false flag- Bastion and the Sentinels declared war on mutants and humans and the X-men want there to be zero recourse. Magneto didn't EMP the planet by choice or in anger- his actions saved the lives of thousands of mutants- hundreds of thousands or more perhaps.

This is not my first post on this episode, there will be more because I am very confused and need to work it out. I know there is a third episode, but still...really X-men? really?

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Hab Keine Angst: What Magneto did for love

Honestly, I had written a whole post where I wrote about a conspiracy theory I had that was about how it was too easy to capture Magneto. I rewatched episode 5 and now have come to the conclusion that Magneto turning a new leaf over, living by Charles' beliefs and not his own cost him. In the episode, Magneto is a really good leader of the X-men, someone that would make Charles proud. He gives orders to help protect the Morlocks, delegates to Rogue and Gambit, and takes on the Godzilla Sentinel himself.

In this episode you see him have PTSD flashbacks of his past and him crying. He doesn't seem to have control and when detected by the Sentinel as an Omega level threat is literally surrounded by and hung on to by Leach and the other Morlocks and has Rogue and Gambit not very far from him. This man just EMPed the entire globe, but in Ep 5 seems weary and overwhelmed and why? Because he was trying to do a million things at once. Even as he was battling, he managed to tie Gambit and Rogue up with a metal bar so that Rogue wouldn't go after him and covered them up so that they would be protected. Then he still had to reassure Leach and said those immortal words "Hab Keine Angst" which was what Magneto promised for mutant kind and for Genosha.

Either Magneto's love for others weakened him and made him an easier target than before or my crazy theory that Magneto knew he was getting captured or wanted to get captured may be true or not true at all. Either way, Magneto was right, but maybe not by being a X-man. That's my theory why Magneto isn't in the beginning credits anymore, he's still alive, but he's woken up to see how love weakens him and tolerance is a lie and is no longer a X-man.