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

[smallestopener]

"Then it's okay to have dress. I had a princess birthday one year. Everyone wore fancy dress and it was a lot of fun."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

"Oh."

This is something else that is a little bit outside X's experience.

"But you are not a princess."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[smallestopener]

"No, I was just pretending. Because it's fun. And I am a Lady of the House of Arch, and that's sort of close to being a princess a little bit."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

X tilts her head a little.

"How?"

She's curious. You don't have to pay attention to royalty to kill them, so what she really knows can be listed on the fingers of one hand.

Re: Hang out with X-23

[smallestopener]

"How am I a Lady of the House of Arch? I just am. My family is an old one, and we've always been kind of important in the Underside. So we're Lords and Ladies. Door is the Lady of the House of Arch. She was the oldest of us."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

"And that is why you are like a princess?"

Well, at least it makes sense.

Re: Hang out with X-23

[smallestopener]

"Yes!"

Then she cocks her head to one side.

"You never got to pretend fun things, did you? When you were little, I mean."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

"I have been on missions," X says. Carefully.

"Roles are useful. For that."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[smallestopener]

"But not fun. Maybe I should teach you how to pretend for fun."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

X seems--dubious.

But--

"Maybe."

Beat.

"Okay."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[smallestopener]

"But not now," she says, giving X a big hug. "It's your birthday and you get to do whatever you like on your birthdays."

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

X, who had no warning of the hug, stiffens. Very briefly.

Then she pats Ingress' back. It is kind of like a hug.

She's trying.

"I like talking. To people. It is good practice."

Um.

Re: Hang out with X-23

[smallestopener]

Ingress is oblivious to any discomfiture. It's a birthday, and you should totally get hugs.

In fact, she gives Laura another one. It's good for her.

Re: Hang out with X-23

[cutting_edgex23]

X suffers for her friends.

A lot.

But at least this time she is un-surprised enough to actually hug back.

It is--not that bad.