Birthday Party for Laura/X-23

[noteful]

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.

Comments

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[the_lioness]

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

Her expression turns fond, if mildly exasperated.

"She has other ideas."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

"Daughters have a way of doing that."

Sisters, too.

"How old is she?" Meg asks.

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[the_lioness]

"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.

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

"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.

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[the_lioness]

Biting back a smile, Alanna nods.

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

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

"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."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[the_lioness]

"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.

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

"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?"

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[the_lioness]

"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."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

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?"

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[the_lioness]

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."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

"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.

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[the_lioness]

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?"

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

"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."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[the_lioness]

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?"

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

"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."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[the_lioness]

"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?"

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

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

Conversational nuances get lost, sometimes, with background noise.

"Older. About nine years."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[the_lioness]

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."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

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.

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[the_lioness]

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."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

"And you were supposed to be a mage?"

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

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[the_lioness]

"No. I was supposed to learn how to be a proper lady and a good wife."

Alanna's lip curls into an unconscious sneer.

"I was bound for the convent and Thom for the palace, but then I remembered that the Daughters of the Goddess also teach noble sons basic magic before they are sent to the Mithran priests." The sneer becomes a sly smile. "So we became twin boys instead, Thom and Alan."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

". . . that sounds . . . I can see why learning to be a proper lady wouldn't appeal."

It doesn't even appeal to Meg, and she's a person who has been known to read ettiquette books for fun.

"So he got to do what he wanted, and you got to do what you wanted? It seems a very practical solution."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[the_lioness]

That's because Meg is obviously a very smart individual! Alanna, clearly pleased with this assessment, nods firmly.

"Exactly what I said. And it worked rather well. What does your sister do?"