noteful | Birthday Party for Laura/X-23

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Birthday Party for Laura/X-23

It's a pretty low-key party, all things considered, and not significantly different than the one Parker or Meg would have thrown in a dorm room for a friend at home, not-exactly-traditional menu not withstanding.

There's music, low enough to talk over (and maybe with a little more folk in the mix than one expects to find a party). Balloons and streamers in purple and blue and red. A place to leave presents. People to meet or catch up with.

And, most importantly, a chance to wish X-23 (or Laura) a very happy birthday.

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Helen is staying on the edges, too, switching between looking uncomfortable and affronted at the mingling going on.

It's not loud, or anything. She just doesn't know anyone. Except Jamie, who is enjoying himself rather too much with the Creema di Leema they brought, and Joris--who is deep in discussion with someone on the other side of the room.

And X-23. Which is why she tilts her head at her slightly, sideways. "May Uquar shed light on your path," she says, voice a little stiff. She's smiling, though.

X flicks a look at Helen, then shifts position to face the other girl.

"Thank you."

Beat.

"You are--"

What is the phrase?

"--having a good time?"

Helen stalls, uncertain.

"It's not bad. My world hasn't got...these. Are you?"

"It is not loud," X says, after a moment.

"And the lights are not flashing."

Beat.

"And the food is good. I like it."

Plus, friends. X likes those a lot.

Helen nods, quickly, and falls into an awkward silence.

"Are these customary in your world?

"Sometimes," X says, after careful consideration.

"I have not had one before."

"Oh. Well, I think they're very silly," Helen says, after a moment. It sounds almost reassuring. "I mean, it's nice, but you don't need a party to know you're older."

"I am not good with dates," X says. Carefully.

"They are not always relevant."

Which is to say, a party can only help X remember that she is getting older.

"No," Helen agrees, after a moment. "Especially with Milliways."

X flicks a look at Helen.

"Time is different? In your world."

Beat.

"Worlds."

"All the worlds run differently, so says the wisdom of Uquar," Helen tells her, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "But the differential between this place and my world is large; I didn't finish my experiment, but it seemed that very little time passed there while I was here. No one ever noticed."

Helen shrugs.

"Oh. Time stops for some people," X offers.

Carefully.

"Usually it does not. For me."

"Does it run differently at all?"

"The months are not the same."

Beat.

"It is not winter, at home."

Helen nods, abruptly.

"We don't have seasons."

X looks a little startled. Then--

"Oh."

Beat.

"Because you are always on different worlds?"

"No," Helen replies, startled slightly herself. "Because my world's climate is broken."

She shrugs, abruptly. "Travelling means there aren't coherent seasons, either."

X tilts her head, studying Helen.

"You do not know who broke it?"

"They did," she snaps, before recovering slightly. This isn't Jamie, who's pushed her a thousand times with questions. "They took our god, and came back and broke our world. Years and years ago."

"Oh," X says.

"But you are trying to kill Them. Now."

Beat.

"You could fix it. After."

Edited 2009-03-04 02:40 (UTC)

"Yes."

Helens mouth is drawn small, chin lifted at a haughty angle. "And I will. I will defeat Them and I will fix my world."

Climate issues can be solved through grumpiness, don't you know.

"I will help," X says.

"I told Jamie. Before."

Helen holds her eye contact for a long moment, the tilts her head to the side in a brisk acceptance.

"Thank you."

"You are my friends."

It seems like--

It is just how things are.

"You are welcome."

That startles Helen even more.

She just nods, again.

Re: Hang out with X-23

cutting_edgex23 - 2009-03-04 02:59 (UTC) - Expand

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