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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"I do not like alcohol," X says, very clearly.

"But it is okay."

This pause is longer.

"I do not know when I was born."

"So how did you choose today as your birthday? Or decide about your age, for that matter?" He relates, since he marks his birthday from the day he was found at the orphanage.

"My mother said. In her letter."

She shrugs, one-shouldered and quick.

"How old I was. When things happened."

She just--does not have the exact dates. Not even close.

"I used the postmark. From the letter she sent. To Logan."

X's own letter was pretty bloody. She could not read it.

"I think there is something you haven't told me about your past. I would be interested in hearing it. Though it might not be the day for it." It's her party, she can tell her secrets if she wants to?

X tilts her head a little, studying him.

"You can ask."

Beat.

"I do not mind."

Specific questions are easier. X is not loquacious by nature. Not that Charlie didn't know that already.

"Who's your mother? And why did she send a note to Logan?" He seems to recall something about her being a clone. Which means he might end up a bit confused.

"Dr. Kinney was my mother. She wanted him to help me."

Beat.

"She made me."

Explanations are still not X's greatest skill, apparently.

"As in she cloned you, right?" One step at a time should work.

"Yes. She was responsible for fixing the damaged genome."

Beat.

"Dr. Rice made her carry me. As a surrogate. I do not know why."

"But once you were born, you grew at an accelerated rate, or are you really around 18?" He's starting to find this fascinating.

"I am eighteen."

Beat.

"I was trained. At the Facility."

Sometimes Dr. Kinney read her Pinocchio. Mostly it was other things. Like The Art of War.

"Sorry if I misunderstood." It would make more sense if she weren't really 18 for her to be this way. But he now does recall some of the details of her rather poor upbringing by science.

"Do you like being 18, Laura?"

"It is okay," X says. "I do not mind.

She falls silent then, considering Charlie's question.

"It is not different. From before."

She shrugs a little, looking up at him.

"It is supposed to be?"

"It's not really supposed to be. But it's a day that matters in American culture. You're old enough to vote, to serve in the military, and to be treated as a full citizen. It's also the age when most people go to college. So it has significance." Which he knows is also a bit of nonsense.

"Oh."

X weighs that, frowning slightly.

And then--

"I do not want to join the military. Or go to college."

She already has a lot of stuff going on.

"Then I guess being 18 isn't relevant to you." Somehow, he can't see Laura voting.

"No," she says.

"But I like the party."

It's probably the closest she's ever sounded to an actual kid. Teenager.

Both.

"As I say, parties are good. And I haven't been to one in a very long time." Do parties after made for TV poker matches count? Charlie thinks not.

X tilts her head slightly, considering this.

"You like football?"

Beat.

"SARAH has parties, sometimes. When the game is important."

X pronounces that last part very carefully. It is a relatively new concept!

"I used to watch it when I was younger. But it started to seem a bit silly. And unduly violent. There are better sports." When, he wonders, did he become a snob about such things?

X doesn't quite frown.

"The better ones are the ones you like?"

She does not think 'better' and 'like' are synonymous. But maybe they are.

Asking is useful.

"For the most part. I find track and field more intelligent and worthwhile to participate in, but a bit dull to watch. But I like golf, soccer, and baseball on occasion and when played in the National League." He finds that the designated hitter removes a lot of strategy.

"There is a lot of waiting," X says.

"In baseball."

She does not know about golf. No one tell her.

"Yes. That is part of what I like. You have time to think."

X considers this. Carefully.

"That is important? In sports."

It's never looked that way to her.

Not that she's seen much. Just the occasional football game. And sometimes pickup basketball or street hockey. While she is--walking around her neighborhood.

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