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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"Yes," Meg says. "And to . . . to ask questions about . . . about things that you didn't even know you needed to be questioning.

"Like . . . like what's normal and what's strange."

"You found a great deal that was strange?"

There were, at the end of the day, few things that Castiel found strange beyond being curiosities.

But he has something of a head start on Meg.

"Yes," says Meg.

Because, if she's being honest, oh, yes.

"But . . . I meant more that I found that my strange was someone else's normal, and vice versa."

Castiel smiles slightly.

"Perhaps we are all sent here to learn things."

"Perhaps."

She smiles.

"I like that better, as an explanation, than just sometimes there's a bar where the library should be."

In that it's less random and more rational.

"Things happen for reasons."

Nothing is truly random or coincidence.

". . . some things, or all things?"

"All things."

"Of course."

Admittedly, he may be a bit biased.

Meg takes a long moment to consider this.

(Not as long as Castiel took to consider the balloon, but long enough.)

"That . . . that seems to be . . ."

She pauses again.

". . . asking a lot, maybe."

And Castiel waits just as patiently as Meg waited while he had examined the balloon.

"Asking a lot to believe?"

"No, more like . . . more like asking a lot of things. That everything happens for a reason. That there's no random coincidence or . . . I don't know that I'm explaining this well."

"That is all right."

Castiel tilts his head.

"The Universe was created, by and large, to work in cooperation with itself. Much in the way individual cells and strands of acids make up a human body."

"Most events....they are as good as random to most people. It is only when viewed from a distance, sometimes over hundreds of years, that patterns form."

Meg frowns, slightly, trying to follow that.

"There's special providence in the fall of a sparrow?" she asks, finally.

"You could say that."

"Has a seemingly random event ever had an impact on your life? One that would seem of little importance, that may not even have happened to you directly?"

"Yes. Of course."

Profound impact, really. In many ways.

"But I don't know that it necessarily follows that every seemingly random event has an impact."

"Many serve simply to hold the fabric of reality together. Some act only as catalysts for others."

"I believe your scientists even have a term for it. Chaos Theory?"

"Something to do with butterflies."

Meg, frankly, looks a little skeptical.

(The theory is around, of course, but it hasn't gone quite mainstream in 1988.)

". . . butterflies?"

"Even more humble than sparrows."

The enigmatic air comes with the wings.

Meg considers this.

"I don't know. Butterflies can be a lot showier than sparrows."

All those colors.

"Some. But not all."

"But ultimately much more fragile."

"True."

Meg is not even really sure she knows what they're talking about anymore.

Castiel does his best.

He's an angel. Not a theological scholar.

He smiles.

"Have faith that there is a plan. But don't let it become worry about each step and every turn. Every sparrow. Don't become so preoccupied trying to see the plan that it becomes impossible to live."

"Men and women have gone mad that way."

Meg's silent for a moment, and then she nods.

"I'll . . . I'll remember that."

Castiel nods.

"I do not doubt that you will."

Meg is reliable when it comes to remembering.

She'll remember it, she'll think about it, and she'll try to take it to heart.

"Thank you."

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Birthday Party for Laura/X-23

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Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

Re: Mingle with the other guests

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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

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