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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X does not drift Alanna's way. She moves there purposefully.

Even if Alanna is short, X is good at recognizing scents.

And she wants to make sure Alanna is okay. It has been a while.

"Hello."

Beat.

"I did not know you were back."

X tilts her head, studying Alanna.

"You are okay?"

"Hullo, X."

Alanna chews on her lower lip.

"Well enough. I'm not very good at attending parties," she admits, as if it's a skill or accomplishment. Then, awkwardly: "Happy birthday."

"I am not, either."

X offers a one-shouldered shrug.

"I do not mind. There are no hats. Or games."

This pause is longer. And then she addresses Alanna's last sentence.

"Thank you."

"Hats?"

Alanna looks momentarily hunted.

"You're welcome. Not all games are bad," she adds. "I suppose it depends on who has done the planning."

For example, games at a party planned by Lilly are never as straightforward as they might seem. She knows this from experience.

"Parker and Meg. They are my friends."

Beat.

"Meg is Canadian."

Which, given that Wolverine is also Canadian--probably doesn't mean that much.

"I like chess."

"I don't know them."

The Meg she knows is definitely not Canadian.

"So do I," she says with mild surprise. "I play with my father. He usually wins." Beat. "But here... well. I once played a strip card game with Lucifer."

And now that the words out of her mouth, she realizes that means she played strip bullshit with her Father-in-Law. And her brother.

WHY did she tell that story?

"Oh."

Beat.

"But you are not allowed to be naked. In the bar."

X is confused. Slightly.

Oops?

"No."

Alanna slants her a crooked smile.

"That's why I made sure I didn't lose."

"Oh."

X thinks about that for a second.

"Lucifer is not very good?"

X has no idea who Lucifer is, really. Go figure.

"Or you are better?"

Edited 2009-02-28 05:51 (UTC)

She'd been better than some, and it turns out that's all that mattered.

"There were others," she says. "I think Alex wanted to lose all his clothes. To be honest, I don't remember much. Except hitting Anthy in the head with my boot. I remember that."

Good times!

"Oh. I do not know Anthy. Or Alex."

Beat.

"You were playing poker?"

Sometimes it takes X a while to clue in to the obvious. Or what would probably be obvious to other people.

"Bullshit," Alanna replies.

She bites her bottom lip again.

"Oh. That's the name of the game. Apparently."

X doesn't quite flinch, just looks a little startled.

"I do not know what that is."

"You have to lie, trick people convincingly so they don't call your bluff," Alanna explains.

Thinking back to the game in question, she wrinkles her nose.

"No, I wasn't actually any good at it. Maybe I was simply wearing more clothes."

It's one defensive strategy, anyway.

X considers this. Carefully.

"People have tells."

Beat.

"Scent is difficult to mask. And heart rate."

"True." She smiles. "You'd play well."

Should the opportunity arise.

"Are you enjoying the Security work?"

"I like being useful."

Beat.

"And I am good at it."

She's not hesitant at all about either of those.

"The paperwork is okay, too. It is relevant?"

Edited 2009-02-28 06:22 (UTC)

Alanna snorts.

"So they keep telling me. I avoid it whenever possible." Which hasn't been often, lately. "Stormwings attacked the palace."

There's a logical chain of thought in her head, honest.

X goes still, nostrils flaring very slightly.

"You drove them back?"

It's an obvious question, but maybe Alanna retreated here. To buy time. For ideas.

X has done that before.

A quick nod.

"We fought back and killed many, but the queen-commander escaped."

X frowns, very slightly.

"You cannot track her?"

"We've done our best," says Alanna, lifting her chin. "But we can't fly, and can't always follow where they go."

The last is just a suspicion.

"And you cannot keep them from leaving."

It seems logical.

"She will come back?"

"I think so. She wants vengeance on young Daine and Onua. They took her eye."

Alanna sucks in a breath through her teeth.

"Mel was there. I think she had fun fighting them." It's said with a bemused smile.

"She is very good," X says, after a moment. "Mel."

Beat.

"They could not kill her? Daine and Onua."

She pronounces those names very carefully. They are new.

"Or they did not try?"

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