noteful | Birthday Party for Laura/X-23

Entry tags:

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

"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."

". . . 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."

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?"

There's a slight quirk to Meg's smile.

"She's a doctor. So is our father.

"Kim Ford. She does some work with the infirmary here."

"We haven't met."

Alanna grins.

"Well, I know which family I'm going to see if I get sick."

Meg still finds it a little refreshing to meet people who don't already know Kim.

"She's a very good doctor," Meg says.

And then smiles, too.

"Though I hope you won't have to find that out first hand."

Thom would undoubtedly relate to and appreciate that sentiment.

Laughing, Alanna nods and says, "I've only needed healing once or twice in Milliways. That has to be a record."

She's completely ignoring the whole going into labor experience.

Going into labor doesn't quite count.

"I haven't been to the infirmary here. But I did just spend six weeks on crutches, so I'm probably not in the running, just on the principle of the thing."

Alanna looks horrified.

"Six weeks? What happened?"

Edited 2009-03-02 23:29 (UTC)

"I broke my ankle," Meg says. "Slipped on icy steps."

She got bumped, technically speaking, but slipped works well enough.

"Six weeks is not uncommon for healing a broken bone where I'm from."

"Ouch."

Looking a bit shifty, Alanna clears her throat.

"I used to help mine along, it's true. Otherwise I missed too much training."

Meg grins.

"Well, of course," Meg says.

Again, sensible.

"I hurried mine along as much I could, too. Which, okay, meant strictly following my doctor's instructions. But . . . all anyone with a broken bone wants is to get it healed and move on."

"Aye," Alanna grins. "A healer who follows another healer's advice?"

She raises both eyebrows in a teasing manner.

"That's very rare where I come from."

Birthday Party for Laura/X-23

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests