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 well, I'm not so hot with a sword myself," Dinah says. "I'm all unarmed combat."

"I'm a knight," Alanna explains. "It's my primary weapon."

And its absence from her side is perhaps one reason she's been standing around looking uncomfortable.

"I do practice some Shang. Just don't ask me to wrestle."

Uh oh, Alanna just mentioned a combat style Dinah doesn't know. The pricking of her ears is almost visible.

"What's Shang?"

Alanna, meanwhile, is thrilled to have met someone who wants to discuss such things at a party. The answering smile she gives Dinah is bright and pleased.

"Raph says it's not unlike the martial arts on Earth -- karate or taekwondo, I think?" There's a faint hesitation over the names, but she and Raph have talked about it enough for her to remember them. "The emphasis is on speed, kicking ad punching."

"Oh!" Dinah says brightly. "Cool. I'm stilling hoping to find a Karate teacher here; I can box, and I'm learning Ninjitsu and Pankration, but Judo's more about grappling and throws - using my opponent's strength against him."

Alanna looks doubly excited at that.

"Really?" She laughs, holding her arms wide. "My own size is why I've never been particularly good at wrestling. Well, my friend George taught me how to cheat if I need to, but I prefer to fight honorably." Beat. "I could show you some Shang, if you like."

"Really?"

OK, best thing to happen at this party. "I'd love that. And I'll definitely teach you Judo."

She spreads her hands lightly, in a 'look at me' gesture. "I'd never make it if I had to rely on strength."

"Excellent!"

Gaining a new sparring partner is definitely cause for celebration. Especially one who can teach her New Things! Alanna is a sucker for learning new ways of fighting. Which is why she's still grinning like a fool.

"Exactly. Though sometimes it can prove an advantage, if your opponent completely underestimates your skills because of how you look."

Something in her voice suggests she likes it when that happens.

Dinah laughs out loud.

"That happens to me all the time. You would have thought people would know by now."

"You really would."

Alanna shakes her head with mock sadness.

"But we can't be held accountable for their foolishness."

"I guess not," Dinah says. "It definitely makes the job easier."

"Job?" she asks curiously, wondering if Dinah means something beyond the obvious task of fighting the aforementioned foolish opponents.

It might just be a hobby, but then again it might not.

Really, she's not supposed to talk about all this, but Alanna knows Laura.

"I'm a costumed vigilante," she says helpfully.

Alanna is also very, very good at keeping secrets when needed.

Not that Dinah would know this yet. Maybe she will soon.

"Goddess," replies Alanna, looking impressed. Definitely more than a hobby, then. "Like the... X-men?"

Thankfully, she has befriended enough costumed vigilantes in Milliways to accept this without asking too many questions.

Dinah takes a moment to remember who the X-men are.

"More like the Avengers, I think - have you heard of the Justice Society? They're the Avengers of my world."

Brow wrinkled, Alanna looks past Dinah to the food table. She's thinking.

"It sounds vaguely familiar." And her gaze swings back to Dinah. "I wear armor. That's about as costumed as I get." Beat. "Well. Sometimes I wear dresses."

Sometimes she even likes it.

Dinah grins, appreciating the dress remark.

"Armor would be useful. I wear a leather leotard and fishnets. And a blonde wig."

"It can be a bit unwieldy," Alanna admits. "I stick to light mail whenever possible."

Blonde wig?

"But you have lovely hair," she blurts out.

(The leather leotard and fishnets might take another moment to process.)

Dinah makes a motion towards her head which might be the nearest thing she's getting to thank you.

(Alanna is clearly touched in the head. Dinah hates her hair)

"But blondes are more noticeable. That way I can disguise my identity."

That's sensible.

(The part about disguising her identity.)

"Ah. I tried to change mine when I was younger because it was so noticeable," Alanna tells her, gesturing to her own red hair and violet eyes. There aren't many people wandering around Tortall with her coloring. "It didn't work, so I wore a black wig when I went out in the city."

Another look at Dinah's hair, and she grins.

"The same thing in reverse?" Dinah suggests. "The whole point of the costume is so people don't pay that much attention to my face."

Fishnets do fine.

"Yes." Alanna smirks. "That makes sense, and I suppose I did the same thing, in a way. No one expected to see Squire Alan in a dress."

Imagine what they would have said to see Squire Alan in fishnets!

"You were disguised as a boy?"

This, Dinah thinks, is awesome.

"I was, for eight years. It was necessary to try for my shield. Girls weren't allowed."

She makes a rather expressive face to indicate exactly what she thinks of that.

Dinah agrees with Alanna's thoughts on the subject.

"They wouldn't let my mother join the police force," she says, comparing experiences. "So she fought crime incognito instead."

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