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

[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.~~]

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[..... She takes it off very slowly, eyeing him skeptically.

You're not tricking her, are you?

... But she'll give him benefit of the doubt; he'd been helpful to her so far.]

[Keith was actually patient for once, knowing that, if he grabbed at it, she'd likely turn and run with it anyway. He was trying to prevent her from getting caught up in some trouble with that guard, so he'd let her do this on her own terms, but guiding her in the right direction.

He gave her a small smile and handed the hat to the cashier, who rang it up. Once it was scanned, he handed it right back to the girl.]

There you go.

She's wearing it out?

Yeah. [Keith's tone suggested that was final. He wasn't going to expect her to carry it out in a bag, too. Keeping it away from her would potentially just make things worse, so he paid and got a receipt. Just in case.] Thanks.

[He turned to head out, tilting his head again for Laura to follow him back to guard. They'd get this settled right, and he had the receipt to prove it, too.]

[Laura looks extremely pleased, not giving the guard even so much as a glance as she smooths her hands over the bridge of the hat - interested in the feeling of having it on her head, it seems. She's never really had hats before. Ever, actually. She even almost smiles up at it - almost, which for Laura is a decent amount of joy from something.

... Sorry, were we doing something? She's just following blindly at the moment.]

[Keith did the same, actually, though he had the receipt ready in case they were stopped, but the guard had seen them pay, so he let them alone. Once they were out, Keith noticed she was just following him, so he kept walking for a ways until they were out of sight. Then, he stopped.]

So... are you going to at least tell me your name?

... You did not ask for it.

[Duh.]

[Okay... point taken.]

True. So... what is your name? Mine is Keith.

[And people called him literal.]

... Laura.

[She seems unsure what else to say, though, so she takes a moment.]

... Thank you. You did -- a nice thing.

[She's trying to blend in, leave her alone.]

[Keith gave her a small smile.]

Do you have a way to get money for other things?

It's better than getting in trouble too much. Trust me. I've gotten in trouble for it, too.

... I get some from my case worker.

[She shrugs.]

I spent it all to go to the zoo; I like the animals.

Either the zoo is expensive or your case worker isn't giving you enough to do something.

Unless you bought a lot of other stuff while you were there?

[Keith gave her a small smile.]

It's okay if you did. But you should be more careful with how you much spend, alright? I know it's hard.

[She didn't really... tell her caseworker she was leaving to the zoo...

Shhh. She purses her lips for a moment, caught in the act.]

I bought a lot of snacks.

[That got a small chuckle.]

Okay... well, we know for next time, right?

I mean, look... I get it. I really do. I've done the whole buy a lot of stuff and get stuck with no money for a while when I wanted or needed something else. And, yeah... I've gone and just taken it, too. It can be hard to resist.

Just, I don't want to see you get in trouble over something like a hat. It's a stupid thing to get in trouble over. [Keith sounded like he knew from experience.] If you need anything, just let me know, okay? [Shiro had done the same for him as a kid. Laura seemed like someone Keith could pass it on to, and he kind of wanted to. It would almost be like repaying Shiro by paying it forward.]

[A nod.]

I'll remember... Keith.

[She applies the name to memory as she does all new faces, looking a bit more pleased.

She'll consider asking for help if she needs it.

... Consider, key word, but it's progress.]

Okay.

[He nodded.]

You'll be alright on your own from here, yeah?

[She offers a slight nod, and hardly seems uncertain about it.]

I do fine on my own.

[Keith gave her 'a look'.]

On your own, you almost got arrested for shoplifting.

Are you sure?

[He knew.]

[She gives him A Look right back.]

Segurísimo.

Very sure.

[Keith knew that look, and knew when to back off. Alright... but that wouldn't stop him from maybe keeping an eye on her or checking in with her from time-to-time to be sure.]

Alright.

I'll see you around, Laura.

[With that, he'd head off.]

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

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