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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"Good things to remember.

"And I'm glad you had friends to help. Seems like it would be a pretty hard thing to pull off alone."

Not just because it would seem to beg the question of just how non-observant the other knights in Tortall are.

"Has the rule changed? I noticed you said weren't allowed, rather than aren't allowed."

"It has."

Rocking back on her heels, Alanna allows herself a smug smile.

"One of the friends I mentioned, Jonathan, is now king. He and his queen have ushered in several reforms, including a proclamation that noble daughters can train for knighthood alongside noble sons. The conservatives had fits."

Her smile fades.

"None have attempted it yet."

"Friends in high places are good things to have," Meg says.

She notices the fading smile.

"It . . . sometimes people just need time to get used to new ideas. And that sounds like a pretty big one to get used to.

"So . . . maybe some will soon?"

"Maybe," Alanna agrees quietly. "I'd hoped it would be my daughter."

Her expression turns fond, if mildly exasperated.

"She has other ideas."

"Daughters have a way of doing that."

Sisters, too.

"How old is she?" Meg asks.

"Seven," Alanna answers, "though she acts at least ten. I think it comes of having so many adults around. And being the boss of my other two."

She rolls her eyes. Secretly, of course, she finds it hilarious.

"Do you...?" Meg looks young, but it's Milliways. You never know.

"So she might change her mind," Meg says.

And then looks faintly (and possibly amusingly) horrified.

"Oh, no. No, I'm . . . maybe someday, but . . . I'm not ready to even think about . . .

"I'm in university right now. It keeps me busy enough."

She's never met anyone she wanted to have children with, either.

Biting back a smile, Alanna nods.

"Oh, I imagine. What are you studying?"

"My long term goal is to be a doctor," Meg says. "But I just started in the fall, so I haven't really specialized that much yet."

"That's a good goal to have," Alanna replies. "I saw a doctor in London."

She says this like it's a novelty.

"The machines and medicines and huge hospitals -- it's all very different to the healing I do."

But not in a bad way. That's clear in her voice.

"I think it's one of those things that changes a lot, from time to time and world to world."

A slight tilt of her head.

"What sort of healing do you do?"

"I could have done without the needles," she confesses.

A flicker of something like embarrassment crosses her face; for a knight, she's awfully squeamish about them.

"It's called the Gift in my world. Magic."

Needles don't bother Meg, but her mun is in utter agreement with Alanna.

"A lot of people feel that way," Meg says.

"And oh.

"Being able to heal people is certainly a gift."

A pause, because as the daughter of a doctor and a person who plans to be one herself, Meg finds this sort of thing interesting.

"Is it . . . did you have to learn or is it just . . . something you can do?"

Alanna bites her lip, trying to decide how best to explain it.

"Both, to be honest. The Gifted are born that way, but we require training to focus and hone our abilities. I tried to ignore mine for years. I didn't want it."

Having that much power scared her.

"Then a friend died when I was a page, and I realized I might have been able to save him if I hadn't been so selfish."

"I'm sorry about your friend," Meg says. "And I'm sorry I . . ."

A pause.

"I'm not in any way gifted, but it kind of runs in the family. Not, I don't think, a gift quite like what you're describing, but . . . the family stories talk about the second sight. I didn't want it, either."

It's offered as an explantion, or an apology, or . . . Meg's not sure.

Eyes softening, Alanna shakes her head and looks almost apologetic herself. It's a rare expression, usually reserved for her family.

"Goddess, there's no need for an apology. It was a long time ago." She purses her lips and thinks hard on what Meg's just said. "It can be scary, sometimes. But natural talent can only get you so far without cleverness and caring. I think you'll be a very good doctor, Meg." It's meant. "My friend George has the Sight. It helps him pick up on things the rest of us might miss. Is it like that?"

"Thank you."

For . . . well, for all of that.

Meg nods. "Yes, basically. Seeing things that are beyond what can be seen with the eye, or seeing things that haven't happened yet."

A quick smile says You're welcome.

"George can't see the future, but the Doi can," Alanna comments, mostly to herself. "I imagine that can be hard to bear. Have you always had it?"

"Oh, I don't have it at all," Meg says quickly. "I'm sorry, I don't think I explained that well.

"I . . . It crops up, from time to time, in my mother's family. But I wasn't one of the times. I just grew up with the stories."

And Meg is so okay with that. She never wanted it.

"My sister has it.

"I think it's been very hard for her, at times."

"Ahhh. No, I'm sure you did. I can be hard of hearing," she grins.

More like hard-headed. She's entirely too used to thinking of these things in her own terms.

"Is she older or younger than you?"

"Well, there's music," Meg says, easily.

Conversational nuances get lost, sometimes, with background noise.

"Older. About nine years."

Another nod, and she glances around as if suddenly remembering she's at a party.

"I have a twin brother. He was a mage and lived for his Gift." The mix of present and past tenses doesn't seem to faze her. "He used to think I was insane for not wanting mine."

The mixture of tenses isn't that confusing. You don't stop having a sibling, even it they're not around any more.

For whatever reason.

But she won't comment on siblings considering each other insane.

"What's his name?" Meg asks.

Alanna would normally agree, but she's feeling sorry for herself about her brother and isn't at all sure he'd feel the same way.

"Thom."

Beat.

"We switched places when we were ten. He wanted to be a mage, I wanted to be a knight."

"And you were supposed to be a mage?"

It seems an interesting choice, for someone who didn't want to use her Gift.

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