sixthiterationlogs | open | we always are together

WHO: Kamala Khan
WHERE: House 6
WHEN: Dec. 13th; late afternoon aka KAMALA'S BIRTHDAY PARTY
OPEN TO: residents of house six, assorted cr of Kamala and the other house six residents - basically everyone who knows Kamala, Frank, and Jessica and is on good terms with them. It's basically everyone.
WARNINGS: Possible mentions of horror settings or past trauma since Kamala does live with Frank Castle and Jessica Jones who are their own warning. Honestly this is a rated G birthday log.

She wakes up super stoked to be alive. It's not unusual for her honestly. Kamala is more excited than usual if only because it's not every day you get superheroes coming over for your birthday. Granted she's seeing them more as ordinary people who do incredible things sometimes. That's a positive change as far as she's concerned. It doesn't change the fact that Kamala from like age seven and up would have seen this as a dream come true. Who is she to question the wisdom of tiny Kamala?

She spends a decent portion of the day (following breakfast) getting ready for guests. She styles her new, shorter hair cut as elegantly as she can, dresses in the hunter green dress and pants outfit given to her by the Observers because screw them it's pretty and they can't ruin it with what they pulled after.

By the time she finishes, it's time to greet guests and see what Frank's done with the rest of the house while she's been hiding out in her room to obsess over her appearance. She'll go around greeting whoever shows up, shoving food at them, and generally be grateful they came. It's her seventeenth birthday. She's away from her home, childhood friends, and family. Having anyone here today means a lot more than she lets on. It's about the only thing allowing her to feel happiness instead dwelling on what she's missing.

(ooc; ~~top levels will be posted by Frank in like five minutes for setting info. please hold for those!~~ feel free to tag those or make your own starter ~~once they're posted~~. I'm flexible.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Kamala takes his hand into hers and shakes. It's always weird meeting people essentially from the internet in person. It is her birthday and all are welcome. She thinks it's a good sign he showed up to offer this much to her today. "Yeah, it's kind of silly now. I wasn't really sure if anything would change." She lets go of his hand and scratches her cheek in embarrassment.

"The fact that it matters to you makes it change," Nida smiled at her. "You're the same person today that you were yesterday, but at the same time? You feel older and more responsible. Or you want to. So grab that feeling, hold on to it. And, I don't know, get the giant intimidating guy with the dogs to give you more responsibilities around the house? Unless you don't live with him, but I sort of think you do."

Yes, Frank is intimidating, everyone applaud the guy. Speaking of birthday though, Nida shoved his fists in his pockets and sighed. He should have brought a gift.

"Is there... maybe something you guys need? I'm trying to take up wood carving, and I haven't been here long enough to get anything done to serve as a present. But presents are sort of standard for birthdays, right?"

Kamala has to laugh. It's almost like a bad joke how few people seem to have caught onto the fact the big, scary man is living with the tiniest teenager in the village. Kamala is also kind of grateful for it since she's not sure how many would approve of a kid living with the Punisher and doesn't care to find out.

"Yeah, we definitely live together. Trust me he does not lack me slack off too much around the house." There are always moments where she'll try to get away with stuff and he lets her. It's never anything too big. She shakes her head to protest the rest. "I mean... yeah, but you don't owe me anything! I promise. Just enjoy the cake and company."

“I can’t. Enjoy the company that is. Well, except for yours,” Nida admitted. So clearly he had an obligation for a gift, right? That is how birthdays work. Right?

Don’t ask him, he has never been to one. Not that he knows at least.

“If you want I can help you do more adulting. Not sure how but, just let me know if you think of something?”

Kamala has to smile. He really is overthinking this. Apparently he messed up the part of his brain that holds memories, if she understood him right, using magic so it makes sense he'd get caught up on the little things. Who knows what other vital life experience just isn't there to fall back on?

"I will, but seriously stop worrying! Just because I look like a little kid doesn't mean I'm shaking everyone down for gifts."

“I didn’t mean to imply you’re a kid. Just... I’ve never been to a birthday party before.”

Which meant the specific etiquette of parties like this were lost on him. For one thing he was looking at his goodie bag. That in particular confused him.

“Do people on your world give other people gifts for their birthdays? I read a book like that once.”

"I actually wouldn't be all that offended if you did. I am... and I'm not. I'm basically living out an old Britney Spears song." Kamala reassures him before realizing that if birthday parties are new, pop music references will be beyond him. "She sang about that weird in-between time girls have between being a kid and becoming a woman. Way deeper than she was given credit for at the time." She's gonna lose him again. Getting back on track!! "Anyways, that's what people on my world do for the most part. Every culture has their thing, but most do this."

"Really not too familiar with music, and since we're from different worlds, I can't even say if we had pop music," Nida laughed, reaching up to run his fingers nervously through his hair.

That made sense, and he nodded as Kamala spoke. He could understand the whole thing if it was supposed to be a tradition. Traditions were good. Beyond good. Maybe he should take his to see what's in it. So if Rinoa wants to have a party for someone at some point, he can help make it better.

"Alright then, anything else about birthdays I should know?"

"You really are an alien." Kamala laughs gently. It's true, but also kind of new? She knows things are complicated here. They all come from different dimensions if not different planets altogether. He's the first person who ever really drove that home for her. It's weird, but not in a bad way. She doesn't mind teaching him something that's brought her a lot of joy over the years.

"Okay so we always sing a song before we eat a cake with candles burning on it. The candles part isn't so easy to come by here, but we still do the song always. I can sing it for you if you want."

"Aliens are small, blue, with bulbous heads and big eyes and a yellow pompom on their heads," Nida countered with a smile. Of course he was working off of a children's story.

But the singing songs thing makes him smile and shake his head. Okay, candles and 'happy birthday' are two things he does remember, however faintly.

"Does it go something like 'happy birthday to you'? Because I'd be really interested if our worlds have that sort of cultural overlap. Oh, I know candles happen for us too. Just... don't know if I've had a cake."

"Hey! That's a hurtful stereotype." Kamala points out playfully. She's never actually heard of real aliens fitting that description so it's fine.

She snaps her fingers. "Yep! It goes, Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear insert-name-here! Happy birthday to you." She pauses to catch her breath before tacking on, "You know this means we're going to have to make you a cake for your birthday, right?"

“It’s really okay. I had cake for your birthday,” Nida assures her.

In part because no one needs to know when his birthday is. Not really a concern for people like him. No family to celebrate with, no major milestones, and not like Garden could afford them for everyone.

That makes her smile. He does have a point. That is technically one goal scratched off the list. "Okay good point, but we're still partying on your birthday. I've decided." There's an edge of humor to it because she's a ridiculously tiny girl. No one should be following her orders.

“Yeah, we will,” Nida agreed, smiling softly.

Advantage was that she didn’t know when it was and he wasn’t going to tell her. Of course he could not foresee that a party would happen regardless of his cunning plan to avoid telling her when it was.

“Happy birthday Kamala. Have a great one.”

She waves and moves to head back inside. Kamala does have a party to get back to even if she appreciates the visit. "I will. Goodnight, Nida." She heads back to the party.

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