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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"Oh yeah, he's good," Dinah says. "The Travelling Wilburys?"

X looks blank.

"The Heartbreakers."

Beat.

"I do not know the Wilburys."

X is deprived. Clearly.

"He left them in my world," Dinah admits. "They're good, though."

"Oh."

X has already committed the band name to memory.

"I will look. For them."

Or music by them, rather.

"Do so," Dinah says. "They're not bad."

Only... they've exhausted Dinah's ability to talk about popular music.

Um.

"Okay. I will remember."

X's ability is similarly exhausted.

She does not fidget.

"You are okay? At home?"

"Yeah."

Cheerfully. Everything's okay in that boring way. "..oh, I'm going out with Tommy now."

"Billy's brother."

X does not seem surprised. Maybe scent comes in handy sometimes?

"I have met him. Here. Not at home."

Beat.

"He likes poetry."

"Does he?"

Dinah's not going to even think about smell.

"What kind of poetry?"

"Frost. But not Emma."

Beat.

"It was about woods. And traveling. And sleep."

X has a very good memory, but metaphor leaves her in the dust. She's trying, though.

"Robert?" Dinah brightens. "I know him! I had no idea Tommy liked him."

She's slightly worried this means she fails at girlfriend.

"I do not know what else he likes," X says, "About poetry. That is the only one he talked about."

She is trying to help!

But--that's really all she's got.

"Dating him is good? For you?"

Dinah nods.

"He's really sweet," she says. "And it's nice to do something that's normal. With someone who understands the non-normal things."

"It is good," X offers eventually, "that you like normal."

Beat.

"He does, too?"

"Yeah," Dinah agrees. "For a given value of normal.

"He likes me, so that's enough."

There's a momentary silence.

Then--

"You do not fight?"

"Of course we..."

Oh wait.

"...not with each other."

X doesn't laugh. If she were someone else, maybe she would.

"That is good."

Beat.

"Not fighting."

"Yes."

It is. Dinah can't stop grinning.

"How are you at home?"

"I am okay."

Beat.

"I have been helping clean up. The city."

She hesitates, just for a second.

"My neighborhood. It is not hard."

Hard work, yes. But not--not complicated. X can go with it.

"Good," Dinah says. "If you need any more help, let me know."

"I will remember," X says.

"And you can tell me, too. If you need help."

Beat.

"You are my friend."

"I know."

After a beat Dinah's smug face gives way to a bright, flattered smile.

"Thanks, Laura."

"You are welcome," X says.

And maybe the relaxed set of her face is close enough to a smile to count.

Who knows?

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Birthday Party for Laura/X-23

Re: Hang out with X-23

Re: Hang out with X-23

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Re: Hang out with X-23

Re: Hang out with X-23