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."

Beat.

"Food is useful. Sometimes. And he likes movies."

"Movies, huh?" He wonders how you get Stitch to stay still long enough to watch. "How'd you find out?"

"He asked me. To watch movies."

Beat.

"There were pod people. And aquatic aliens."

Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Faculty, to be precise.

"Sci-fi the way to go, then? I really need to watch more movies from other worlds. I mean, how often do you get that chance?"

Sometimes Duo forgets how plain awesome Milliways can be.

"I do not know. I have not watched many."

Beat.

"I like Westerns. And--action movies."

She says that carefully.

New terminology is useful.

"Action's pretty awesome. It's fun watching big explosions and cool fights when you don't have to be anywhere near them, huh. I don't think I know Westerns, though."

The 'west' doesn't really exist as an idea when you're busy colonizing Mars.

"Cowboys," X says.

Beat.

"The Man with No Name. There are gunfights. And horses. In the desert."

"Desert, huh? Sounds a little like some of the stuff they did about colonizing Mars, and the Moon station in the old days. Oh hey- deserts in the Western United States, right? I get it! I think."

X has to think about that a minute. Then she nods.

"Yes."

Beat.

"They have hats, too. Like Logan's."

"I didn't notice the hat. But I think I know what you mean, the whole cowboy thing." 'Thing' is accompanied by a gesture that seems to encompass the outfit you might wear, were you a cowboy.

X thinks about that for a little while.

"I have not ridden a horse."

Beat.

"You have?"

"Oh hell, no. Horses are big and heavy and can't actually understand what I'm saying to them. I don't need that on my foot or chewing on my hair."

(He may or may not be a little scared of horses.)

"Heero has, he's pretty good, apparently."

X looks slightly puzzled.

"You cannot dodge?"

Really?

He gives her a look. "Horses run faster than people. I could dodge 'em stomping on my foot, but not if they decide they really don't like me."

X just looks back at him.

"Dodging is not running."

Beat.

"And you are small."

Compared to a horse, anyway.

"Fine, fine, rub it in." He looks more amused than annoyed, though. Even that flat toned sarcasm is a huge improvement over any previous sense of humor she might have had.

"I might grow some more." Pause. "Maybe."

X considers this.

Carefully.

"I do not think I will."

Beat.

"It is okay."

"'s true that girls get their growing done quicker than guys do. I might have another few centimeters in me if I'm lucky, and don't get banged around much."

Breaking bones and getting shot tend to use up a lot of energy!

"And if you do not drink coffee."

X may have done some reading.

Just in case.

...

Duo shrugs. "Ah well, can't win 'em all.

"So tell me, how do you feel about fish?"

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Birthday Party for Laura/X-23

Re: Hang out with X-23

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Re: Hang out with X-23