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

[noteful]

It seems to be going well, in Meg's opinion.

Which means she can relax a little and talk to people.

(Though she's still going to occasionally look over to make sure they aren't running low on garlic bread.)

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[smallestopener]

Maybe Ingress has seen Meg around and maybe not. In any case, she seems very nice.

"Hi. I'm Ingress. Laura's my friend, too."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

Laura has mentioned Ingress.

Meg remembers the hair.

"I'm Meghan Ford. Meg.

"It's very nice to meet you, Ingress.

"I'm glad you could come."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[smallestopener]

"Me too! Does X teach you how to fight, too?"

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

". . .um, no. No, she doesn't."

Meg is just slightly startled by the question.

"Does she teach you?"

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[smallestopener]

"She does," Ingress says, clearly proud of the fact. "I picked her as a teacher instead of Tom and Door. I've had lots of different teachers for weapons training, but I never picked my own before."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

"Oh."

Meg . . . well. Meg has been introduced to a lot of new and strange-to-her ideas since she came to Milliways. But, um, Ingress seems a little young to have had "lots of different teachers for weapons training."

So if Ingress could just give her a second to process . . .

"I bet Laura is a good teacher," she says.

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[smallestopener]

"She really is. I've learned a lot. And when I go to Valdemar next, the weapons master will be impressed. I'm going to go to school there soon, so I can be a Herald. That's a kind of soldier for the Queen."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

"I'm not surprised. Laura's good person to know."

Pause.

"Valdemar," Meg repeats, carefully. "Is that where you're from?"

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[smallestopener]

"It's not where I'm from, but it's where I'll live as a grown up. It's kind of hard to explain."

She's starting to become aware of the confused looks on people's faces when she tries to explain Megwyn.

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

"All right," Meg says.

"You can try to explain, if you want. I'll listen."

Meg will try to understand.

"You don't have to, though."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[smallestopener]

"Oh, well, Megwyn found me in Milliways. She Chose me to be her Herald. She's a Companion of Valdemar, you see. Um, she looks like a white horse, but she's not a horse, really. It's all magic."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

Honestly? The part of that that Meg finds oddest is that the not-a-horse almost has her name.

"So you'll go to Valdemar and be a Herald, because Megwyn . . . how did she choose you?"

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[thursdays_angel]

Castiel, much like the guest of honor, finds himself drifting to the fringes of the party.

It provides a better vantage point for observing.

And then there are the balloons.

Castiel is examining a purple one with great interest.

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

Meg has come over to say hello, but she's also learned that when Castiel has found something new to examine, sometimes all you can do is wait till he's done.

(It's okay; she could use a moment's break, anyway.)

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[thursdays_angel]

Castiel does not appear to move his eyes away from the balloon.

Emphasis on 'appear.'

"Hello, Meg."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

"Hello."

She smiles.

"No balloons last time you were corporeal?"

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[thursdays_angel]

Castiel glances sideways at Meg with a slight smile.

"No."

He pokes one of the balloons experimentally.

"These are much different than the ones used for travel."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

"Smaller and much more fragile," Meg says.

Also, lacking a heat source. And sand bags.

"Have you . . . have you been in a balloon used for travel?"

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[thursdays_angel]

"No. But I have seen them."

Castiel leaves off examining the party balloon.

"Humans seems to find them peaceful."

"Have you?" he asks.

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

"No," Meg says. "I haven't.

"I've seen them, but never been up in one.

"Maybe someday."

Maybe not. It's not anything Meg has on her List.

"Are you having a good time?"

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[thursdays_angel]

"As someone once wisely told me, it is good to try new things."

He might be teasing. It can be hard to tell. But he might be.

"I....believe so," he says.

He certainly isn't having a bad time.

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

She grins.

"Good. And it is."

That was a somewhat hard learned lesson for her. She's earned the right to pass on that advice.

"This is a pretty low-key party, really. It's good one to start with."

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[thursdays_angel]

Castiel's eyebrows climb.

"To start with?"

He appreciates being included, but he can't imagine that he will be invited to all that many human celebrations.

As a guest.

Re: Mingle with the other guests

[noteful]

Meg shrugs, and then grins again.

"Well, I think it's the first party anyone's ever thrown for Laura. And I hope it won't be the last. So it's a start."

And Castiel never knows. He might find himself set to save Ibiza one day.

In which case, this party probably isn't going to be much help, as a frame of reference.