Voice with possible action. (kinda forward-dated a little maybe?) username: ilikehorses

[shoplifter]

[Well, look. Whenever she gets invited to Alphonse's future birthday, she's got a lot to think about.

She must consider this: there will be cake, that is a certainty. Cake sitting on a table, like in Transigen... in front of a deceptive cartoon painting on the wall; ways to trick outsiders into thinking the place is kind to its patients... She's learned at that facility that cake is a staple of birthdays, or rather, from the nurses. Birthdays involve singing, and they all learned the words for Delilah. All for Delilah. But they weren't allowed to have those parties, not after the first and last time; she never bothered asking about them again, because... she knew there would be nothing beyond the question. It wasn't difficult to tell what blowing out the candles and leading them away meant.

She had whispered happy birthday to Delilah on the way out, though.

Really, she's not sure just how normal those birthday choices even were. Outside of the walls of Transigen, what is a birthday like? Is there still cake? Still the concept of presents, or singing? Did the nurses want to try and do something nice but ultimately fantasy? Like Logan had said, ice-cream for bedwetters. She's curious to learn, though. So again, she uses the network for her own gain: this time, birthday information, instead of school.

(I'm sensing a pattern.)

Her voice is casual, but interested. She's not about to ruin the surprise, but she does need to know what she's getting herself into, here.]

What sort of presents are you supposed to give people, for their birthday?

... Toys, no?

[What the hell do adults like to get, for presents? A long pause, and she's not terribly sure of herself.]

Are there fireworks at birthday parties, too?

[Another thoughtful pause, yet again.]

... How do you tell what day you were born? Is it on a special paper?

[Okay, okay, last question there. She bites back more questions. Easy, Laura, easy.]


[ ADDITIONAL ACTION.]

[If you would like to find her out and about, she is wandering the shops for things that might be nice to give to the birthday boy, especially the department stores. Laura also puts on a cool hat and goes to leave without paying for it, of course, so she can be found getting approached by a very unhappy security guard there who is calling out something about a shoplifter. Look ma, it's my username!

... What? Just because she's getting better at being in the real world doesn't mean she's learned the virtue of paying for things.

Her dad stole cigars. She totally saw him do it. Cigars and a phone charger. 

Or maybe you'll find her violently shaking one of those coin-eating candy machines. Stupid thieving machine - she tried to be nice about this and use real money, and see where it got her? Never fear, she pops claws from her knuckles, long and adamantium-silver, and she slices the top of the candy machine clean off, so she can reach inside and take handfuls for her pocket. Man, living the dream over here. Don't bother asking where Linda is, we all know there's a repeating pattern of juking her.]

Comments

[ action ]

[shoplifter]

[She stares at him with some confusion - some level of surprise in her expression reflected only in her dark brown eyes. Without a moment's complaint or question at the stranger, she darts off with surprising skill, leaping up onto the top of a vending machine, flipping to grab railing, and vanishing off across some second story. Hat, of course, successfully still on head.

That doesn't mean she's gone from the area, though. The trickery had her interested - more than interested, because she wonders if she's finally found another mutant, or if he's actually like Taako the Elfman. When Loki wanders again himself, he'll find the sensation he's being watched from close by. The kid in question is just trying to figure out a proper way to socially... walk over... like a normal person with normal life skills would. It's very hard, you see.

But maybe he'll do another cool potential-mutant-trick while she summons up the right way to interact.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki, of course, can feel her presence. His rampant paranoia would allow no less. But since it was her, he knew he had nothing to fear. His own powers were more than enough to protect him. Plus, he can sense he has earned Laura's curiosity. He stops, considering what he should do before his hand flickers, making another Laura appear, sticking her tongue out at the real one. ]

[shoplifter]

[... Interesting, but also fairly unsettling. They weren't real, right? She points a balled fist toward the illusion, claws sliding back out and simply hovering, pointing the trick's way; looking at the face, she suddenly gets an inkling of what her father must have felt when he looked at X-24. She wonders if it can fight back, or if it's really just a mirage.

Regardless, she shows little fear, not for it or Loki.]

Are you a mutant?

[dothelokimotion]

[ He lets it disappear once Laura appears from her hiding spot. He's a little charmed, but Loki always had a soft spot for wildness of other creatures. He is one himself, after all, though he is cloaked in finery and smooth words. ]

No. I am an Asgardian. Alien, I suppose, in your tongue. You must be a mutant then.

[shoplifter]

[Ah, well. It was pretty noticeable from the get go, considering he'd seen her claws at work. She slowly lowers her hand, though the claws remain, just in case. He doesn't seem to be a threat to her (right now), and he did assist her earlier, though she always doubts the kindness of others. Usually there's something they want.

She neither confirms or denies. She just looks where the mirage used to be, momentarily.]

Was it magic?

[dothelokimotion]

It is.

[ He curls his fingers, letting the green glow shower sparks in the air. They vanish immediately. ]

What of it?

[shoplifter]

[She shrugs. Nothing of it, really; she's just interested in the concept of it.

Not a mutant, but can do things mutants do? It's interesting.]

It's not bad. Where did you learn?

[dothelokimotion]

A place far beyond anything you've seen.

[ Loki isn't any different to kids than he is to adults. ]

And I do not think I can teach it. What need would you have of it to begin with?

[shoplifter]

[Oops, you've unlocked a sassy eyeroll.]

No seas tonta...

[It clearly helps evade guards, so obviously there's plenty of use. But...

She shakes her head.]

I don't need to be taught. It's yours.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki replies back in flawless Spanish. ]

I'd be careful of that if I were you. I'm not one of the adults who will treat you like a child. Not with those claws.

Then what is your interest?

[shoplifter]

[Ohooo. Someone else who speaks Spanish; she files it away. Interesting, that someone from another place far away knows the language. She proceeds to speak in Spanish, darkly colored eyes staring. Boring holes, really, though Loki can probably handle a child's unrelenting stare better than some poor citizen wandering by her.]

I'm not a normal child, so you're smart not to.

Does there need to be a reason?

[dothelokimotion]

Yes. Because you followed me for a reason.

[ And Loki can guess what it is. A slow sharp smile unfurls. ]

You want to know why I helped you. What nefarious purpose I might have.

[shoplifter]

Yes. You helped me.

[She considers the smile with a neutral frown. And then, shifting:]

Do you have one?

[dothelokimotion]

It amused me.

[ For Loki, that's a good enough reason to interfere. Loki enjoys chaos. He enjoys it even when he's not causing it. And helping Laura does not hurt him in any way nor will it come to some drastic consequence he'd have to fend off later. ]

I care little for the rules.

[shoplifter]

That isn't so nefarious.

[She clearly didn't care very much herself, either.]

Does magic not have rules?

[dothelokimotion]

[ He chuckles, faintly amused. ]

Magic is like a mutation. There are always higher limits to climb should you find a way.

[shoplifter]

[Huh. She supposes that makes sense. Some mutations are certainly like that.

Hers was.

"... Alright then. Let's test her regeneration capabilities."]

Or should someone else find a way. Do you like being who you are?

... Using magic.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Hmm. Loki purses his lips. ]

I've learned to live with it.

[shoplifter]

There's not many other options.

[She cocks her head to the side, thoughtful, apparently appeased by the conversation. She knows plenty enough about him -- enough that she'll be keeping a watchful eye out. Stepping forward, she pulls out a box of what appears to be gummy worms, stolen of course, to offer him.]

For your work.

I'll leave you to be nefarious, if you want.

[dothelokimotion]

[ His lips twitch despite himself. Since it's such a sincere offer, Loki takes a few gummy worms. ]

If you like. Or the next time you seem to require help, I shall lend it to you.

[ It makes for a good laugh. Loki is always encouraging of mischief. ]

[shoplifter]

Next time it could be me helping you.

[She hardly sounds like she's jesting, either... Though judging by his personality, she's not so sure he'd believe that she could help him out of a jam. Still, might as well offer it. That's what they've been trying to get her to do, right? Make 'friends'. She doesn't particularly find him friendly, but it's better than being enemies.]

I'm Laura.

[dothelokimotion]

[ There's a sharp bark of laughter as the corner of his eyes crinkles. He chews on one of the gummy worms curiously, biting the head off neatly. Loki won't encourage Laura's aid. Self-destructive as he is, Loki has never been keen on involving others on that journey. And while he is terrible with younger people, ]

I look forward to it, little hellion. I am Loki.