xp_logs | Tuesday morning in Hungary: Pietro and Crystal

After the massive party the night before, very few people are in shape to get up early. Two of the people who are meet for breakfast and talk about what happened.

It seemed as if most people were still asleep after the night's festivities, but Pietro had always been an early riser, and the hotel served a decent breakfast. Things would, he thought, be very interesting in Hungary for some time to come.

Sleeping could be done on the plane, and besides, unlike the people who had stayed up all night partying, Crystal had actually managed to get some sleep during that time. At first, she'd been mildly interested in the street party outside. Soon, the crowds and the noise had made her feel trapped. After that, from various vantage points at safe distances, she had observed the wild festivities every so often for a few minutes at a time, then had returned to the hotel. Now, they would be leaving soon, and Crystal intended to enjoy every moment before she had to return to the insanity of Xavier's.

Pietro brightened on seeing a familiar face. "Crystal!" he called. "Join me for breakfast, if you haven't eaten yet? I've enough for two, I think, or we could certainly order more."

Crystal smiled and floated over to Pietro's table, sitting in one of the chairs. "Are you ready to return to the ever-present calmness and sanity at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters?" she asked him with a grin.

"Oh yes," Pietro replied deadpan. "I miss the quiet." He chuckled. "Not that it was very quiet here last night. At least the people seem happy."

"Yes, and some of them didn't even need alcohol to help them be so loud and happy, although I certainly think it helped some of them along," Crystal replied. "It was relatively quiet in most of the hotel, though. As interesting as it was to watch the participants of the extremely large celebration outside, ten minutes worth at a time was really all I cared to witness from close-by."

"I was down there in it for a while--it was raucous, but they were happy, and I suppose I wanted to soak up the ambience. After a while it just got monotonous, though--after all, there's really only so many things you can say." Pietro snorted. "Dayspring was juggling small children at one point. Telepaths."

"He juggled..." Crystal raised her eyebrows. "Well, that is certainly a rather interesting and unusual way to show that you are happy. I assume that the children and their parents were fine with this unique display of talent, and I suppose it is better than flinging squirrels for fun. I am glad that people were happy and had fun, but it was a bit too loud and crowded for my taste. I managed to avoid being trampled by dinosaurs last week; I did not feel the need to be trampled by people this week."

"The children thought he was a carnival ride, from all appearances." Pietro smiled. "I'm not surprised you didn't find the party to your taste, though. Did you find enough to keep you occupied here?"

Crystal gave a small smile and shrugged. "For the most part, I explored the hotel and just enjoyed the fact that since the party was an outdoor one and, as an event that most people seemed to wish to attend, it was quiet and peaceful inside. There is something to be said for times of quiet calmness, and being a resident of Xavier's does not allow for much time like this, although it was probably much quieter there during the past few days than it was here yesterday!"

"That's certainly true." Pietro gave her a speculative look. "So what do you think about Barath's appointment?"

"I think that it is... fine." Crystal smiled. "It is good that such a thing was able to happen, and it makes sense that such an appointment would be made to a well-known, well-liked mutant who has already been in the public eye as a government official and a proponent for mutant relations with baseline humans. However, Hungary is still a human country, not a mutant one. Mutants are encouraged to become integrated into a human society. I can only hope that Barath does not earn further hatred from humans, or even mutants like the Preservers. Becoming the Prime Minister was step one. Being successful at it, remaining well-liked to the public, and not being assassinated are also very important concepts."

Pietro nodded seriously. "Trust you to see both sides. It's an important step forward for mutantkind--a step that, if you'll forgive me for saying so, your family isn't, quite; the public acknowledgement is important. It'll be interesting to see what Barath does with his new position--and, as you say, whether he can hold onto it."

"It is a very big step to make, and it was already known that Barath was a mutant when he became Hungary's Minister for Mutant Affairs. The royal family of Attilan held the titles of royalty long before it had any mutant members," Crystal explained. "There are members of nobility and people who hold offices who hold their positions not because they are mutants, but by chance of birth or circumstance. It is one thing to announce to the world that you are a mutant and go on to gain public favor and a government position afterwards, and it is another thing entirely to hold a title or an office and then reveal yourself publicly. Even before anyone other than my family knew that Medusa and I were mutants, an attempt was made on our lives because of Attilan's mutant-friendly policies. I can only imagine what would happen if everyone had knowledge of the fact that the entire royal family is comprised of mutants, not just two of the youngest members."

"It could easily be . . . well, 'catastrophic' has perhaps too heavy a touch of melodrama. Dangerous, certainly, for your family and for your people." Pietro opened one hand consideringly. "But perhaps if Barath succeeds, he will end up laying the groundwork of public opinion that will let your family announce themselves. The ripples from this event will spread a long way." >

"Yes, it will be quite interesting to see where those ripples manage to go," Crystal replied. "Regardless of people's opinions about mutants or humans, I am sure that most people will have thoughts on this matter. As for my family," she said mysteriously, smiling slightly, "who knows what the future holds?"

Pietro raised an eyebrow, smiling. "You have a secret. Could I persuade you to tell me, or is it family-only?"

"It is a state secret, sorry, of the 'if I told you I'd have to kill you' variety, and I would really prefer to avoid finding it necessary to do that," Crystal responded with an even bigger smile. Clearly, she was happy about the secret, but wasn't about to spill. "I apologize, it is not my secret to tell. I would if I could, however, it is supposed to remain a state secret, at least for another couple of weeks, and then everyone will know."

"Oh, a state secret, well. I certainly can't blame you for keeping one of those, and I'm at least as reluctant to force you to kill me as you are." Pietro laughed. "I suppose I'll have to investigate this 'patience' idea I've heard people mention."

"We are agreed then; no revealing of this secret at this point, and no killing today," Crystal said, her tone and expression solemn before changing to a smile again. "Yes, consider it an exercise in learning how to be patient; patience is certainly needed at the school."

Pietro covered his ears theatrically. "You're saying the word! I had a few hours yet where I didn't have to think about That Place. Or the plane ride back. Crawling along in a crowded metal cigar for hours."

"I mentioned it earlier, plus you are actually choosing to live there," Crystal pointed out. "You have chosen to live amongst sock sliding, kazoos, Dr. Tran, mutants who need to learn to control their abilities, leather outfits, broken brains, explosions, the possibility of a demonic invansion... really, if you can willingly subject yourself to that, surely you can endure the horror that is a return trip on an international flight by means of Hungary's finest national airline. You will survive it, I am sure."

"I decided that the second mention didn't warrant a polite response," Pietro replied cheerfully. "It's not a question of mere survival. I seem to remember someone telling me that living was not the same thing as being . . .?"

"I meant that you would survive the long, torturous flight back to New York," Crystal answered, looking amused, "although, yes, the idea of needing to survive 'That Place' was intended to be implied as well. Now you have a place to live and not just be at your new chosen residence, but in deference to your wishes we shall now cease speaking about a certain place that is currently more than an ocean away. Instead, let us return to enjoying being so far away from a certain place of insanity and finish breakfast without giving any more thoughts to a certain part of a certain city. Just how many children were juggled at the same time?"