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: Hang out with X-23

[noteful]

Then Laura may consider herself hugged, lightly and very briefly.

"Thank you.

"And I hope this the first of many wonderful birthdays."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

X's return hug is very belated, and more like a careful pat on the back.

But she doesn't flinch. Or stiffen up. Much.

"I am hard to kill."

Obviously this is what Meg meant.

Re: Hang out with X-23

[noteful]

Obviously.

(Meg is used to this, though.)

"And that's a good thing."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes," X says. Firmly.

"You will have a lot of birthdays, too."

It's halfway between question and not.

Re: Hang out with X-23

[noteful]

"One a year," Meg says, cheerfully.

No way to know how many year, of course.

(Meg is not as hard to kill as Laura is.)

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes," X repeats.

"I remember."

Meg just had hers, too.

But X will not remind her of it. Meg did not seem very happy.

Re: Hang out with X-23

[noteful]

Meg just needs to not try to observe birthdays at the end of the universe. They don't go well.

"And Parker's is in May."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

"I will not forget," X says.

"You know what she likes?"

X is good at mission objectives.

Re: Hang out with X-23

[noteful]

"I have some ideas," Meg says.

"You and I will have to plan something for her, when the date gets closer . . ."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

"Okay," X says.

Then--

"You are good at reconnaissance?"

Re: Hang out with X-23

[noteful]

"Um . . . not especially.

"But, um, I think we can work something out without a whole lot of recon."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

X tilts her head a little, studying Meg.

Then--

"Oh."

Beat.

"You have known Parker. For a while. It is useful."

Right?

Re: Hang out with X-23

[noteful]

"Yes.

"And it's very useful for planning birthdays."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

X nods a little.

"Yes. And other things?"

Maybe?

Re: Hang out with X-23

[noteful]

"A lot of other things," Meg says.

"It's very, very good to have friends."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

"I did not have many. Before."

Beat.

"It is easier. Now."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[noteful]

"Easier to have them? Or things are easier because you have them?"

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

"To have them," X says.

The rest--the rest she is not sure about.

Yet.

She worries.

Re: Hang out with X-23

[noteful]

"In my experience, the other's true, too."

For what it's worth.

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

"They worry. About me."

X has no idea how to deal with that.

"I worry, too."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[noteful]

"Well, that's part of caring about someone.

"But not all of it."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

"Sometimes it is confusing."

Beat.

"I do not mind."

It's not really a lie.

Re: Hang out with X-23

[noteful]

"Well, interacting with other people is often at least a little confusing.

"So don't worry about that."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

"Okay."

Beat.

"You get confused, too?"

Re: Hang out with X-23

[noteful]

"Yes, sometimes.

"Especially here."