xp_logs | Nathan and Sooraya, sightseeing...

Nathan takes Sooraya out to see some of the sights. When they reach Heroes' Square, the conversation turns rather philosophical.

Nathan was visibly cheerful as they headed away from the Metro station and into Heroes' Square. "I love Europe," he said to Sooraya, careful to keep his strides a little shorter than usual so she didn't have to hurry to catch up. "There's just something about the amount of history and the fact that you can see it all around you that appeals to me..."

Sooraya's last 'encounter' with history up-close and personal had not really endeared her to the concept, to be truthful, but thus far the trip to Hungary seemed to be made of slightly tamer stuff. At least, none of the statues she had seen were moving or trying to eat anybody, so that was a bonus. "The... monuments," she said, forming the world carefully, "are many years old, yes? And the building?"

"The buildings, yes. The monument..." Nathan glanced at the guidebook, grinning. "Well, not as old, but what it portrays is very old." He waited until they had reached the Milennium Monument before he went on. "All of these statues," he said, gesturing to them, "are important people in Hungarian history. That one, there-" He pointed to the statue of Stephen I, "is the first king of Hungary, from the eleventh century. Nine hundred years ago," he said, more reflectively.

"This is a long time," Sooraya murmured, tilting her head back to look up at the impressive statue. She had been reading about different cultures as a supplement to her Elpis reading and she knew that though nine hundred years might be a small amount in the grand scheme of things, for one people and one nation it was a very long span.

"Hungary's history is very interesting. Turbulent, but interesting." Nathan started to take a slow walk around the memorial, letting Sooraya follow at her own pace. "You never would have expected a small formerly Eastern Bloc nation to be the one that's both successful and open about genetic integration. Sometimes all you need is the right people at the right time, though..." Nathan trailed off, laughing softly. "Listen to me, I'm quoting the Great Man theory."

"Great Man theory?" Sooraya echoed, glancing away from the statues to give Nathan a quizzical look. "What is that, please?"

Nathan grinned at her. "Part of the philosophy of history," he said. "There are scholars who believe that events are driven by great men, or heros. That they're the ones who make things happen."

"Oh. Like you," the girl stated matter-of-factly. "And Mr... Minister Barath, yes?"

Nathan's jaw actually dropped. "Well," he said, covering with a cough and trying to convince himself that he was not turning slightly red, "like Minister Barath, certainly. And the Professor. When you think about how long they've both been working to make the world better for people like us, you can't help but think that the Great Man theory's got a bit of truth to it."

If Sooraya noted Nathan's embarrassment she didn't show it, merely nodding her agreement and looking back up at the statues that lined the square. "Yes, I think so. Maybe it is because the Great Man is a..." Here she paused, obviously searching for a word that eluded her. "He will make others wish to do things too and make the world better. It is not only him that will do this, but the people who see him."

"They serve as examples," Nathan said, supplying the word for her. "And that's a very good point. There's a reason your teachers run around doing highly visible things in black leather," he murmured more quietly, just so that the other tourists wouldn't hear them. "The rest of the world sees mutants demonstrating that they're committed to protecting people, or even just helping them. Although," he qualified with a softer smile, "it's as important for the world to see mutants living perfectly ordinary lives, too. Which is why I think Hungary's model is so important."

Giving another nod, Sooraya pursed her lips thoughtfully, scuffing a foot along the cobblestones of the square. "Will other countries do this too?" she wondered aloud. "I know it is not a thing to happen today, but soon? It is sad if the teachers will try so hard and then nothing will happen... I hope it will."

Touched now, instead of embarassed, Nathan gave her another smile, one he hoped was encouraging. "I think we change things every day," he said, and although the words might have sounded like a platitude, they weren't meant that way. "Every time your teachers take the jet out, everything we do with Elpis, every conference the Professor attends, every event Forge's HeliX has... I could go on and on. Maybe it's not the Great Man theory that's important here," Nathan said more reflectively. "Maybe it should be the Any Man theory... or any person, rather."

"Yes, I like that," Sooraya told him, smiling back. "It means for us who are not men and are not great that we can still do things too. I think that is most important of all."

He really wished that he could put an arm around her shoulders, give her just a quick half-hug. Instead, he let how he felt show in his expression, and the pride in the smile. "I think you'll do great things," he told her. "I really do."

"Maybe there will be a statue of me one day," she said with the hint of a grin, motioning at the pedestals all around them. "But... not in Hungary, I think."

"You never know."