04 . action

[calmbeforethe]

[ Storm returns from her week-and-a-half long mission midday on the 12th. Well, she hadn't known it was the 12th when she came back, just that she'd been gone a while. The first thing she'd done when she got back was return to the X-House, but since Rogue had claimed dibs on the only bath in House 16, Ororo decided to indulge herself in an outdoor shower. She needed to find a relatively secluded place for that, so quickly she decides to detour to somewhere high above the flatlands beyond the forests where (hopefully...!) she wouldn't be disturbing anyone.

It'd been a while since she had done such a thing, bathing in rainclouds of her own making, and the mission had been long and tedious despite having Rogue by her side for much of the fighting... So she uses up most of the afternoon for herself and takes the scenic route home.

It's only after she returned to the X-House refreshed and energized that she thought to check the journals and realize belatedly that it was the 12th of January, today. That... gives her pause.

So, thirty years old. Strange; most women gave that number quite a bit of significance. It was supposed to be a milestone (or at least, that's what her sister told her) where by now she should be thinking about whether or not she was ever going to get married, have children or what kind of career she was supposed to focus on. Food for thought, she figured.

In the end, she decides to celebrate it with little fanfare. Evening finds her stopping by Good Spirits for a drink or two, dressed with a little more care than she would have taken on a regular day. She's warm and friendly for the most part, even if towards the end of the night she seems more introspective than normal. Feel free to approach...! ]

Comments

[handing]

[Pepper drops down into a seat, glancing at the bar around them.] Maybe just pretty hard for the place we're in.

So what has you out drinking by yourself? Looking fantastic, by the way. [Because the outfit is worth complimenting.]

[calmbeforethe]

[Well, that earns a brighter smile from Ororo. Always nice to have your outfit complimented when you go through the trouble of planning it out!]

Why, thank you. And it's nothing, really. I suppose you could say that I thought today was worth a drink or two.

[handing]

Of course. [Praise where it's earned, and Pepper is always appreciative of someone with a sense of style.]

Hopefully in a good way. [Days could merit drinks for less than pleasant reasons too.] What's special about today?

[calmbeforethe]

Well, for one thing if the calendar is anything to go by, I turn a year older today. [Ororo chuckles a bit at that.] Of course, it was March when I went to bed last in my own world, and September when I woke here in Luceti. So I suppose the timing is a little bit off...

[handing]

Oh! Happy birthday! [Her smile brightens with the news, even if it technically hasn't been a year.] Well, if you ask me? It not only still counts, but it's also definitely worth drinking to.

[Which Pepper will do, raising the glass she brought with her toward Ororo before she takes a sip.]

[calmbeforethe]

[Ororo chuckles warmly, finding Pepper's enthusiasm infectious, and takes decides to take a drink when her friend does.] ... Thank you. That's what I thought as well.

[handing]

It's definitely a good plan. Especially if you're not one for the traditional party route. [Which Ororo may not be; Pepper hasn't heard news about a gathering, at any rate.]

You are going to have cake though. I'm pretty sure that's mandatory.

[calmbeforethe]

No, I'm not one for the traditional party route. I've always found that to be a little on the excessive side, really. [And way more attention than she was comfortable with, if she was honest!]

As for cake, well, I am not much of a sweet tooth I'm afraid.

[handing]

I can see that. [As opposed to someone like Tony, whose birthday parties tend to turn into events worthy of press coverage and cringing.

Still, she quirks an eyebrow at the refusal of cake.] Really? There are less sweet ones. [In truth Pepper's teasing now; she won't force something on the woman she doesn't like for the sake of a birthday.]

So how have you spent today?

[calmbeforethe]

[At this, Ororo has to laugh a little bit.]

Well, truth be told I hadn't realized what day it was until this afternoon. Rogue and I just returned from a week long mission, combating cultists in the jungle... [She waves her hand in the air dismissively.] And so I spent the day indulging myself in a long bath. [An outdoors-one, but. Details.]

[handing]

[Right. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that a lot of Pepper’s friends here are combatants of some sort.] I hope neither of you was hurt. [Ororo, at least, doesn’t look any worse for wear. No obvious signs of injury, and they’re both smart women anyway. If Ororo or Rogue were in need in medical care, they would’ve gone.]

Sounds like you’d earned a little self-indulgence after that, birthday or not. [And so long as Ororo is satisfied with her day, that’s what counts most, right?]

[calmbeforethe]

Nothing that could not be easily fixed. [One thing Ororo could appreciate about Luceti was the strange but ultimately helpful brands of healing that people were capable of, here. Of course, that didn't mean she or Rogue could be careless; but it was useful when dealing with the inevitable bruises that came with being on the field.]

But yes, that is what I like to think. I do not come to the bar often but, I thought I could make an exception, today.

[handing]

I’m glad to hear it. [The numerous ways to heal are impressive, and even better, people always seem very generous with such abilities.

Pepper, who frequents the bar more often, glances around with a small grin on her face.] It’s got a good atmosphere. [She takes another sip of her drink, considering the woman across from her for a moment, and how she had been when Pepper approached.] Although it might not be ideal if you want to get lost in thought.

[calmbeforethe]

I didn't think anyone had noticed. [Ororo bows her head, hiding a little smile.] I do not make a practice out of it, I assure you. My thoughts seemed intent on running away from me, tonight.

[handing]

Oh, no, no! It's okay. Birthdays can make people contemplative. I know mine have before.

[calmbeforethe]

[Ororo nodded.] Yes. I know I said I do not normally celebrate it, but every birthday that passes reminds me of how many years I have had, and what I've done with them so far.

[handing]

[Oh, but Pepper is all too familiar with that habit.] And then you have the joy of trying to decide whether you're satisfied with your progress or not.

[calmbeforethe]

Indeed. [Ororo chuckles.] Of course, the good thing about having a birthday so close to the new year is that I'm entitled to that line of thought.

[handing]

I think you would be anyway.

[She hides her grin by taking a sip of her drink.]

I guess that brings me back to my original question: penny for your thoughts? If you're up for sharing.

[calmbeforethe]

[Ororo hums thoughtfully for a moment, stirring the little straw in her drink and pondering how to answer that. She wasn't one to talk about her thoughts very easily, after all.

But she liked Pepper well enough. And, she was a woman. Somehow she knew she'd understand.

She takes a sip of her drink.]

Well, a lady does not give out her age, but I think I can trust you with this information, can I not? [She grins a little bit.] I am supposed to turn thirty today.

[handing]

Oh, absolutely. Your secret is safe with me. [And Ororo is right; Pepper definitely understands. She offers Ororo a sympathetic smile as she leans back in her chair.]

One of the big ones. So not only do you get the pressure of another year having gone by, but at hitting a landmark age too.

[calmbeforethe]

Yes. And I have the great pleasure of seeing this day pass in this lovely place as well. [She raises her glass in a sort of toast.]

[handing]

Oh, of course. Especially since I doubt that when you thought about where you would be today, Luceti definitely wasn’t what you pictured. [She lifts her glass as well, reaching across the table to lightly clink it against Ororo’s.]

At least there’s good to go with the bad?

[calmbeforethe]

At least. [Ororo nods, agreeing.] After all, were it not for Luceti, I'm not sure I would have made your acquaintance.

[handing]

Oh. Well, thank you. [Pepper smiles at the unexpected compliment.] I can definitely say the same. I’m very glad to have met you.