16829/Winter Getaway 2024 - No Kids or Wendigos

Winter Getaway 2024 - No Kids or Wendigos
Date of Scene:	08 January 2024
Location:	JFK, London, Paris... and beyond!
Synopsis:	Jean and Rogue take planes, trains, and automobiles as they embark on a holiday vacation. They make it as far as Paris, and make a local taxi driver's night.
Cast of Characters:	Jean Grey, Rogue

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Jean Grey has posed:
Westchester has an airport. But it doesn't really do direct international flights. When Jean was looking them up, some had connections through Detroit or Atlanta! Boo. So, predictably and as in many things, all roads ultimately lead to New York City, with its cluster of multiple international airports. Just be thankful they don't have to go to Newark!

The day of the trip sees them out in front of the manor in the crisp winter air sometime in the early afternoon, leggings and puffy jackets as necessary. It's not precisely a surprise, as there's scheduling involved, and packing, passports to bring, but Jean has been pretty vague, cagey with the details of their trip. The driving route is fortunately pretty direct- they can skip Manhattan traffic, going through Mount Vernon, Pelham Bay in the Bronx, over the Whitestone Bridge into Queens on the Van Wyck, which cuts straight through Flushing to the southern side of the island. They actually get to see one airport out the window (La Guardia, across Flushing Bay) while... driving to a different one!

JFK itself is, well, a huge and busy airport. But there's parking and a MONORAIL. Rogue can make her guesses from the signs. International Departures. Terminal 8. British Airways. At some point, they have to take off their shoes. Ah, the glorious TSA.

Waiting, there are opportunities for Cinabon and Starbucks in the terminal, or to purchase John Grisham or Tom Clancy novels. Jean gets a coffee and a croissant. Is the latter a HINT?

---

Later, the flight is, well, the flight. Jean got them business class seats, a nice upgrade from the screaming children but not full luxury. It's about seven hours - leaving at 3 gets them to the airport by five, on the plane by seven, and there... well, at seven the next morning (the time difference is sending them INTO THE FUTURE, here). There's pros and cons on their afternoon versus a morning departure. Arrive in the middle of the night after spending all day on the plane, stumble to your hotel, and wake up fresh the next day? Or sleep on the plane and do a bit more busywork the next morning. Jean picked number two - they have a tight itinerary.

Which makes day 1 'do predictable dumb tourist shit in London.' See Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge (which is not London Bridge), and other such obvious things.

Rogue has posed:
Once upon a time, back in Mississippi, Rogue's bedroom inside her aunt Carrie's farmhouse, had a number of maps pinned to a board. Upon those maps, Rogue had all manner of thumb tacs dotting all the places in the world she wanted to visit. She, back then, had fancied herself to becoming a world renown archaeologist, and explorer. As things go, the world had different plans for her. Since joining the X-Men, she's certainly done some world traveling, with some of her desired locations even touched upon. the difference there, though, is that those were generally visited 'on mission' and thus yielded less than enjoyable results for getting to really taste a place for what it is.

When Jean pitched this idea at lunch one afternoon, Rogue had perked up at the very notion of it. Since then, things had continued to unravel to lead up to it actually becoming a thing. She was excited, to say the least.

On the day of the big trip, Rogue was up early as ever. She had Jeepers taken to his bestest guardian while Rogue was away, in a young British girl who was a student at the school. Jeepers was left in her care, his little doggy luggage packed to take him all the way across the house.

When they had set off from the school, Rogue was indeed in puffy jacket, tall boots, and comfortable jeans. On the ride to the airport, she spent most of it sending out social media messages, and checking the time. Travel anxiety. "Why don't we just take the Blackbird?" had been asked multiple times over the weeks too. But, in truth, the travel was a big part of the adventure, and she ultimately knew that too. It's funny, when you can physically fly yourself place to place, that taking a much slower vehicle is still a thing, but it very much is. Rogue doesn't want to fly all of her luggage to the airport in the dead of winter, and she sure isn't about to try flying her well toned backside across the Atlantic ocean. She'd been asked many times if she had ever tried, and she'd had to point out to people that even if she did, she would likely get tired, and be left to drown in the water. Not a great idea.

Thus planes, trains, and automobiles.

At the airport, Rogue had happily removed her shoes, and happily wiggled her toes at the pretty young TSA agent who'd been tasked with checking her feet out. She'd cast a grin at Jean then, knowing her flirtation has clearly no bounds.

Throughout the plane ride, she'd just chatted it up with friends online, or shown Jean pictures of what she can dig up about where they're going and what she wants to experience. Eventually she'd drifted off to sleep under a blanket with her head on Jean's shoulder though.

In London, Rogue was eagerly taking in the sights and sounds, listening to Youtube videos about all the things that they are experiencing so that she can get the utmost of information about it, but being adamently against her nose being stuffed in a phone all the time, she actively continues to put it away in her coat, only to pull it out a half an hour later again. Addicts are addicts.

After making sure they visited a specific Cafe, Rogue wanted to stop by a mall named King's Cross, to pick up a specific hat that was sold there that she'd seen in a movie recently. After that, they just had to track down Gordon Ramsey's restaurant for a bite to eat, prior to heading for the train.

Chelsea put them a bit behind schedule, but the food sure was good! And thus, Rogue was apologizing for the detours, as they rushed to catch their train, her arms loaded with her luggage and her new hat bouncing around atop her head as they rushed!

Jean Grey has posed:
There's definitely a 'normalacy porn' element to the whole trip. Rogue can fly. They have the Blackbird. They have the SPACE Blackbird. And, if you asked her, Jean probably couldn't even tell you what the limits are on where the Phoenix could take her. There... may not be any limits. But all of that stuff is always deeply entwined with the struggles of their lives, and so getting to do it the much more 'boring' way definitely has its appeal. This principle also seemingly applies to the budget for the trip, which is pricey, but not... Warren pricey. Because the school has to operate like a legitimate institution, has tax records and paperwork it has to file, she makes a pretty good salary. Probably less than those of the presidents of big universities, but on par with elite private schools and small colleges. She can afford 'something nice,' now and then. But it feels like this trip is an accumulation of a bunch of stored up 'something nices' all rolled into one. She doesn't take a lot of vacations!
r
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London, an international capital to rival New York, also shares a great deal with it (heck, Old York isn't too far away). England isn't exactly pushing boundaries for culture shock. She's been here for 'work' with Betsy, or dealing with the Hellfire Club, which started here. Jean takes them past the building, for a laugh and some disrespectful selfies. Ultimately, it's a busy city and so there's plenty for them to do in terms of the local culture, famous places, the shops Rogue wants to see, but nothing that really pushes the boundaries of the familiar.

Heck, even going to the Gordon Ramsey thing has Jean pointing out: "I've been to a place in Brooklyn they had on Kitchen Nightmares. It's pretty good!"

Point is, fun this may be, but it's... a layover, a pitstop on the way to a real adventure.

Rogue knows they have to make it to the train station, but again, she doesn't know a lot about the plan.

St. Pancras International train station is impressive, almost a worthy tourist destination itself, with its old fashioned red brick exterior and clock tower, and the huge vaulted iron-girder ceilings above the main platforms. Tons of little shops and stores abound, as do a real crush of holiday travelers. "Crap, what platform are we going to... oh, it's over there! I think we better run for it!"

They have to jog the last leg, if not sprint. Maybe Jean helps, a telepathic nudge here or there so that the crowd conveniently opens up around them. She's willing to cheat a little on 'normal' if it means saving the trip.

But they do make it aboard. Again, the signs are clues. Eurostar Snow Train. What the heck is even a Eurostar Snow train?

Whatever it is, Jean got them the best class of seats this time, because... well, it's not nearly as expensive as the airplane, and mostly, as she points out: "Hope you didn't fill up at the other place, cause it's supposed to come with fancy food and we get champagne! The trip isn't that long, though, so no sleeper cars for this leg. The tickets are flexible so we can get off at the first stop, and then hop back on for the next leg."

She still hasn't said where this first stop is, but Rogue may well be on to the plan now. International trains from England basically go one place, through the Channel Tunnel (or CHUNNEL, if you prefer) to France.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue had even laughed a little during the run to the train, since she was a little crazy and it was kind of fun. She knew they wouldn't miss it, and even if they did, the two of them could just fly to catch up to it and sneak their way aboard, or something! She was just having a good time, and rushing through a train station was a memory she'd get to keep for a long time. She apologized to a number of people along the way, and smiled in a flirty way to the train attendee who checked them aboard, and ushered them inside... "Oh, I can definitely eat more, once we settle in a bit." the southern gal in a foreign land had said, a big grin still present upon her features. Once they did get a chance to sit down, and unwind from the adrenaline, Rogue had her phone out to check their status and location. It was soon there-after that she picked up on where they were headed, and she lofted up her well manicured eyebrows. "Paris ? Oh, tu rends cela vraiment special, n'est-ce pas ?" Her amusement, and excitement growing more visibly contained.

"Champagne is indeed in order." She'd said, before flagging down their server for the trip. When the drinks arrived, Rogue made a toast to their trip, making sure to whisper a number of words of appreciation to the redhead she's traveling with. Naturally she had to update some of her social media entries to let those who follow her online know where she was headed, to a number of excited well wishes, since most of Rogue's followers online are well aware of her appreciation for Paris, France and everything there-in.

She whipped out a number of items from her bags, as well, to prepare a whole new list of places they were now going to visit. But halfway through this act, she had to stop, to look up toward Jean and ultimately ask. "Wait, how long are we even gonna be there?" With pen paused on paper, as the Belle was one to still take physical notes with ink and notebook, a dying trait from her days in a simpler world.

Jean Grey has posed:
"Good! Because it's supposed to be real fancy fixins! And I did pay extra!" Jean declares, just a little bit proud of it all. It's fun, for once, to splurge and show off and be a bit fancy with the whole thing, while also getting them a rare bit of time off together.

But yes, the train zooms off on its way. Rogue manages to figure it out before the signal briefly gets interrupted and they lose their view, because the train disappears into the underwater stretch that takes them across the English channel toward their destination. For that part, it can definitely pick up plenty of speed since its a nice safe straightaway there deep under the sea (and ground).

As Rogue goes flexing her tongue, Jean smiles. Interestingly, she doesn't technically speak any other languages, at least, not with any fluency beyond the few bits or phrases people pick up. She may well know Imperial Shi'ar better than French. But the telepathy lets her... cheat, in different ways. She can follow along with the thoughts before they get to the point of words, translating at a more basic level. Or she can just download the languages themselves. But she... doesn't do any of those things here. And in fact, she holds up a hand to suggest that Rogue hold her thought, standing up to reach for her bag where it's stowed in storage above ment, and spends a moment digging around before she turns with...

A little conversational French tourist dictionary booklet thing! Not even a program on her phone. Normalacy porn. Immediately, she cracks it open and starts paging through, her tongue poking out in an expression of thought and curiousity. "Ah! I guess I could have guessed most of that from 'special.'" Big grin.

"And, well, Paris isn't our final stop, but the train goes through there so I figured it would be pretty silly not to take advantage."

Beneath the sea, the relays eventually get them wifi through the train, if not a direct cell signal, so they've got entertainment while they travel. And BOOZE. But it's not a long trip, before they're back out above ground, officially having entered France along the coast of Calais, zipping through the very scenic French countrside while indulging in their champagne. It's pretty fitting (even if the actual Champagne region is on the other side of Paris... close enough).

As far as the schedule goes? "I booked us a couple nights, so we can manage a proper romantic dinner at a suitable fine eatery, and whatever else you might want to do. But like I said, the tickets work for any train, so if you want to extend it a few days longer there, we can stay as long as you want. At worst, the hotel makes us change rooms." She glances out the window, and then back. "I guess secret's mostly out. This train's sort of a commuter thing for ski-people. Last stop is in... Bourg St-Maurice? I've never heard of it, but it's at the foot of the alps. From there, we can bus or drive to a handful of ski places. Our return flight is out of Geneva."

Rogue has posed:
While Jean makes her translation of what Rogue had said, the Belle just looks on with a sparkling mirth in her emerald eyes. She sips her drink, waits for Jean to piece the puzzle together, and then laughs lightly. "I promise to go easy on it, so as not to make you have to do that too much. But the fact that you're holding to this 'reduce phone' rule I put in place for myself, is quite endearing. I bet it falls pretty quick, at least when it comes to translation, once we actually get there and the French starts flying left and right." She states cheerfully, but with a grin she shakes her head from side to side, her white bangs a little frazzled after the run to the train. "I'll be your translator. Don't worry one bit." She tells the redhead, her voice filled with that flirty, sultry, undertone that she excells at.

She takes in a deep breath then, and her shoulders raise up inside of the soft knit sweater she's wearing. "Skiing and Paris... It's kinda unreal, really." She says as her stare goes to the light outside a nearby window, with the train moving across the terrain beyond. "It was what my mother always talked about. I can remember her teaching me to speak French, and the subject matter of what she was teaching me was heavily involving the places she wanted to go, the food she wanted to eat. I was literally taught the language on the vibe of a tourist." She admits, grinning lightly with one hand raising her drink glass up for another sip. "I think a couple days will be enough to get everything done though, and on to our main goal. Skiing in a fashion that doesn't result in a town being attacked by a giant ice monster."

Of course, that last part is voiced a bit lower, so as not to let her voice carry beyond where she and Jean are seated in their fancy seats.

With a little flutter of her lashes, Rogue does that thing she does to build up her protective barrier... against herself, and she leans over to place a kiss on Jean's right cheek. What follows is a sultry whispered line of French, detailing thanks for this trip, and a desire to makeout in all the most romantic Parisian locales. Clearly the Mississippi native is quite pleased with this trip thus far!

When she leans back, she does give a momentary glance toward her phone. "I heard there's a great Convention in Geneva too, maybe we can pick up some nerdy European comic book stuff for some of the kids."

Surely she's joking.

Jean Grey has posed:
"Reduce phone, reduce brain whammies!" Jean declares. "Plus, we've got a real French expert here with us. So I figured I'd let you do most of the talking, help navigate us, while I play dummy American. I'm sure they'll be impressed with you while I'm all clueless in the background." Somehow this is very appealing to her! Who knows. Maybe a bit of reducing her usuual degree of being in charge of everything, the level of responsibility on her shoulders. And also just cutsie tourist couple stuff.

The quick kiss and saucy whispers don't hurt either!

They do have an hour or so to do speeding through the French countryside, and then eventually, the Paris suburbs. France isn't all vinyards and castles! Although there are a couple nice national forests that the train route passes on the way into the city. And then, eventually, they reach their destination: Gare du Nord, the equivalent massive international train station in Paris that sits as counterpoint to their departure in London, with similar grand scale and large ironwork ceilings.

It's evening as they arrive, and there's no rush in the station this time. "I guess we should find the hotel and drop off our stuff. I really wanted to get us a place with an Eiffel tower view, and there's a couple, but they were all sold out. But... I think you'll like what I found instead." At least in this case, she's willing to use her phone, just to pull up the reservation that also has the address, which she shows to Rogue: 'Maison Souquet, 10 Rue de Bruxelles.' "I'll leave it to you to get us there, Ms. Expert!"

This ultimately proves pretty simple: after a quick trip to a convenient booth to exchange some dollars (and leftover pounds) for francs, there are taxis in abundance near the station. Telling the driver the address is sufficient. Jean still makes Rogue do it, even if she could easily read the address to him, or even hold up her phone to show him. But the Parisian driver knows the hotels and it's not a problem. The only oddity, when Rogue relates it, is the man's reaction. He smirks rather suggestively, for some reason.

The reason turns out to be thus: Maison Souquet is named for Madame Souquet... the proprietess of a house of pleasure. Located in Montmartre, the bohemian district that hosted many cabarets including the Moulin Rouge, the center of the decadent pre-war era of Paris known as the Belle Epoque. Today, it's been converted into a romantic boutique hotel, albeit one that plays heavily on its history and reputation. Downstairs, the entry lounge is flavored like an Arabian harem, with access to a piano lounge and mixed bar-library. Everything is dark and seductive, with draping crimson and purple curtains accentuating dark hardwood features. Upstairs, they find their suite, not numbered, but named "La Paiva" after a famous French courtesan of the era.

"... we ate on the train, so I figured we could spend the first night in." Ooh la la!