#riftdancer (shadow.)

[sentofight]

There’s a tug on Balan’s coat to catch his gaze and once the scientist looks down, Shane holds up a semi-clear semi-pink bag that clearly showed checkered cookies inside and attached to the ribbon which held it closed said ‘Happy Father’s Day’.

"We made these at school the other day..."

f/ather’s day | sure if anyone want to be adopted come here | @riftdancer

Balan was making some coffee for himself when he noticed Shane coming into the kitchen then tugging upon his clothes for attention. Well, that was a pleasent surprise in itself. Shane had been a dependent child, he usually tried to do things on his own until he could not figure it out then he would seek Balan’s help.

It was endearing thing in Balan’s point of view because it means that the child is growing up to rely on himself, having the chance to think, test and solve problems which comes up in his life. Balan would not be able to be all the time around him. True that it often made him feel somewhat useless when Shane figures things out quite fast but again, it only makes him so proud of Shane.

“Yes, son?” Balan looked down at what the child was holding in his hands. It was a bag, cute one, with a note attached to it. He took the bag to read what’s on the note, for a moment, his glasses gave that dramatic shine once he read it. Father day ... ? Father... day. Ohh ... He’s a father. Haha how silly. It almost slipped his mind. That what happens when you are too smart for your own good, you forget the world around you for a second. 

“That you did,” he opened the bag and took one of the cookies, and took a bite of it. Can’t say he is too knee on sweets but he do like a well made peach pie, that’s for sure. “This will go superb with my coffee. Thank you, Shane.” placing the bag on the table, he gently ruffled the boy’s head. “I will do my best to be a good father for you. Well, good is a relative concept, so it should be ... what should it be, indeed. All I know that, you will have my support and advice whenever you needed them, Shane. Now, would you like to do anything today? Would you like to visit the Holdens?”   

[sentofight]

@riftdancer cont. [s.c.]

NEXT, the strange yet fascinating phenomenon that happened around the world all of a sudden. Everyone wanted to know more about it--some wanted nothing of it, others were scared of it, others abused it, etc etc. Humans will misuse the new ‘gift’ that was given to them when they don’t know how to use it properly. 

The same very reason why researches embarked on their scientific journey to figure out what is this phenomenon--NEXT. Balan was one of them, he was simply intrigued by it. To think human beings can over come their limits--whether physical or mentally and things which were considered ‘magical’ and ‘CGI feats’. The wonders of NEXT in medicine and in science! In archelogy, in architecture, even in agriculture! Humans will be prosperous! That of course, if there were researched properly and the fruits of these researches were used in proper projects.

His phone buzzed and Balan picked it up to see a message of the new gifted NEXT kid is arriving today. “Wonderful!” hastily picking up his stuff, he ran down to the first floor to get ready to welcome the new kid. Balan had read his file and he does not need to be a psychiatrist to know how to handle this poor lad. Any child of his age would either go through something similar or have a blessed family who would be thrilled to have a NEXT in their home. Sadly for Shane, he was the former--his family treated him like a monster. Balan knows that his mental health is at its lowest so he better work on that first before anything NEXT related.

Once the child came through the door with his caretaker, Balan was quickly to greet the other. “Hello, Shane.” he reached to pat his head. It was more like a test to see how the other will react--what is his limit to interact with him. “I know it is confusing for you to be sent here and all but know this is a safe place for you. No one will harm you. No one will do anything to you. No one will make you do anything you don’t want to. Think of this as your new home. I hope you can feel comfortable here, Shane. Oh, my rambling mouth. I’m Balan. I’ll be your new guardian--well, if you have me haha. My cooking is decent so I cannot guarantee that we won’t be eating at times lunched boxes from here haha.” 

[sentofight]

Shadow @ Victor [ BREATHE ]

Reassurance prompts | feel free to send | @riftdancer

[ BREATHE ]: sender begins to take slow, deliberately even breaths, encouraging the receiver to copy their motions until their own breathing is back to normal.

Since he was given a second chance, Victor invested all his time to understand his new powers. He was not about to let himself go berserk again and thankfully, Shadow here is going to help him.

Weeks and months passed and he cannot say that he has a full control of his powers. At times, it seems like he is getting the hang of it and sometimes the power feels like it will eat him up. For instance, today. Balan had told him to rest and resume practice after two hours to give his body enough time to rest but Victor being an overachiever especially when he feels like he is on the right track.

Neglecting the engineer’s warning, Victor continued to practice artes on his own. Feeling confident in his abilities, he continued to use his powers more and more until he felt the recoil of overusing them pierce his body like millions of thorns. “--UGH!” a familiar pain struck him all over his body--similar pain whenever he abused his chromatus power, that chocking pain. 

“--Ugh--aah! kk...! ARGGHH!!!” dropping on the ground, he felt the power is about to swallow him, gasping for air all alone in the training room when suddenly Shadow appeared nearby him. 

Damn it! That apathetic Spirit would not probably lift a finger to help. Is he..going to die even after everything? Damn it...! He got this chance and he is going to waste it like this? his pride...his stupid and meaningless pride will cost him a lot--Plum and Elle losing him again.

He didn’t anticipate that the greater spirit would kneel down and start breathing exercises in front of him. What was he doing-making fun of him!? That bastard-- He’ll kill...him...! .... unconsciously, Victor started to follow the same pattern of Shadow’s breathing and surprisingly, whatever was chocking him started to loosen up. 

After a while, Victor calmed down and the pain was gone. He sat up properly facing the Greater Spirit. Eyes scanning the other--actually, it was the other examining the other carefully. He vaguely remember Balan telling him that Shadow can act on his own and when he first was revived Shadow thought of him as a threat source and was ready to eliminate him. Was Shadow gauging if Victor was a threatening force? 

Sigh..whatever was his reason, he is alright now thanks to him. “... Thanks ... Thank you, Shadow. I’m better now.” rubbing his neck, he groggily got up on his feet and stood there for a minute to regain his balance. “Can you..not tell Balan about this? I won’t...do this again.”