xp_logs | Nathan and Ororo, the Danger Room

No, they're not training - quite. For people with particular interests, the DR is just about the Best Toy Ever.

"What the hell was I thinking when I programmed the Room to give us a 5.15a climb?" Nathan frowned up at the entirely fake rock wall, shaking his head slightly as he looked for a handhold. The Danger Room's new holographic systems made using it for climbing a lot more fun but it was maybe too tempting to go wild with the programming. "Hey, on the bright side, the scenery's great," he called down to Ororo. "I haven't been to the Dolomites in ages."

Huffing out a breath, Ororo clung to the wall precariously, not even bothering to crane her head up to see Nathan. He is probably grinning like a fool, she guessed, sliding a hand a few inches to one side and then up the wall to the next tiny crag in the rock. "I am glad you are enjoying it, then. Perhaps I would be too if I were not situated below you." Even with the distance between them he could hear the teasing note in her voice.

"We can both fly, Ororo, don't be such a baby," he shot back cheerfully. They were free-climbing, something Ororo had only just started to do in these evening 'excursions' of theirs. She seemed to like climbing, which was still a cause for glee for him. Slowly, I'm converting them aaaaaall....

"And that is how you can justify calling this 'additional powers training'?" she replied. "I already know how to keep myself from falling. One of the first things I learned, actually." There was a story behind that - she didn't talk often of her time spent in Africa when she was younger, discovering her powers entirely on her own - but maybe she would tell him when they reached the top. If she reached the top. "I think you just enjoy being faster than me at something, old man."

There was an audible laugh - partly at Ororo, partly because he'd just seen the route upwards. Nathan moved smoothly up the rock wall, proving her point. It had started out as one of those sore and creaky days - damn, I am getting old - but this still felt fabulous.

More slowly, Ororo followed, taking frequent breaks as she tried to find the path (a funny name for a near-vertical route up the rocky wall). She wasn't able to 'see' it yet, like Nathan, and had to go from handhold-to-handhold sometimes as her trembling muscles protested.

She was greeted with a hand as she reached the ledge where Nathan had paused for a brief rest. He pulled her up to the spot beside him, grinning crookedly. "You're getting better at this, you know."

Once she was securely on the ledge (or as secure as one could be on a tiny shelf of rock many, many feet above the ground) Ororo allowed herself a few deep breaths before responding. "I still think flying is faster."

"Yes, but the point is not the summit, the point is the climb. Unless you're climbing something really big, in which case it's all important." Nathan swung his legs as if he was five years old sitting on a piece of playground equipment, staring out at the holographic view of the Dolomites. "It's not quite the same."

"Mm." She followed his gaze; it wasn't quite the real thing, of course, but it was still nice. And relaxing. "I can see the appeal, certainly. Even if my manicure cannot." She cracked a smile to show she was joking. "Why is it that our hobbies always lead us to things that must be conquered? Weeds, distances, mountains..."

"I suppose it's something very fundamentally human. One of the core impulses. Conquest and creation," Nathan mused, his posture more relaxed than it had been in nearly two weeks.

"I suppose there are worse ways to spend one's free time."

"I just... I have been spending twenty-odd years trying to put into words why I do this," Nathan said finally, smiling almost absently. "I've never quite managed to do it, and I don't know why."

"I think perhaps it would be a bit like trying to describe the sensation of flying," Ororo replied, creating a few idle breezes to blow past them as if they were truly outside. "Or the color blue to someone who cannot see. There are just certain things beyond our reference if we have not already experienced them ourselves."

"I have to wonder if part of it isn't everything that you leave at the bottom. You don't make it through the ascent if you carry too much baggage." His shoulder muscles were letting him know that they were there, but they felt less tight than they had, oddly enough.

"Why would you ever go back if you knew it was just waiting for you at the base?" she asked then, curiously. Shifting carefully, she wedged herself against the wall as best she could and tilted her head to get a better view of his expression.

"Because it's not, really. The big things are, the things you can't escape, but all of the smaller problems and issues and annoyances... they fade away." Melt away in the sunlight. "And you're clear-headed enough from the ascent and descent that even the big things don't seem quite as crushing."

"I will have to keep that in mind, then," Ororo murmured. Not that she was relying on the activity providing her exactly the same outlet as it did Nathan, but it would be nice to have the option. Goddess knows big things seem to tumble down to crush us far too often. "Now," she said, reaching over to prod Nate gently in the side, "I am beginning to suspect all this philosophizing is an old man trying to keep from exerting himself. Is that so?"

Nathan leaned away from the poke, grinning. "That sounds like a challenge. Haven't you learned yet?"

"Apparently not. Come, back out to the wall and I will let you show me how it is done."