Gray Heroics #5.3

"I guess you're right. It still sucks, though." Galivinth responds, still embracing Raice within that oddly lingering hug. And just as he was beginning to unwrap his arms from around her, she stops him with just a simple few soft spoken words.

"Just a little longer?" She asks, briefly bringing forth a look of surprise upon Galivinth's face before he obliges.

"...Just a little longer." He speaks just before the both of them re-fortify their cozy hug. A display that draws questioning looks from Qoreman and Naeth.

"Hmm... Well, anyway... We should resume your training today, and maybe prepare a real match on the third day as a means to introduce you to more experience. We should also work on building team synergy around you, too." Naeth advises, once more immersing himself within his thoughts as he looks up at the gray sky overhead.

The two youths, Galivinth and Naeth, do eventually go on to resume their scheduled training focused on improving aim with the two previous spells chosen the other day. An hour and a half passes before they conclude the session and Galivinth is taken back home. However, just as the teen was stepping down to exit the bus, he pauses in his tracks and looks over his shoulder.

"Hey, Naeth?" He calls out. And without hesitation, the mentioned individual rises to lean his upper body into sight.

"Yes?"

"Would you be up for hanging out today? You can stay over for the night too, if you want."

"...Sure. Yes, I'd be more than willing to do so." Naeth answers after a brief moment, initially taken aback by the sudden request. And with that, the two exit the bus.

"I'll arrive tomorrow at the usual time to pick you both up. Enjoy your afternoon." Galelith tells them. Though before he closes the door, his son places a foot upon the bottom step.

"And Dad..."

"Yes, Galivinth?"

"I... I appreciate what you've done and do for me. Thank you for being in contact with me."

"...I'm a tad embarrassed. I wasn't expecting that, but I am glad you're pleased. I know this may have been cultural shock for you, but you're managing quite well. I'm glad you're capable of adapting so well."

"It just took a bit of time. Having you and Naeth around has made me more accustomed to that city, too. Anyway, I hope your day ends well, too. See you tomorrow."

"Indeed you shall." And with that, Galelith shuts the door and heads back home, leaving the two boys alone on the sidewalk. 

Shortly after his departure, Galivinth reaches to pull his wallet out of this pocket.

"Did you ask me to stay, because you seek my counsel?" Naeth asks, watching as the other inspect the confines of his wallet.

"You could say that. Aaaand... This is enough for pizza and a dozen or so games, I think. Let's go." Galivinth responds, shutting and tucking the item back away into his pocket before turning to head toward the corner of the block.

"Go where, exactly?" Naeth asks as he moves to walk beside his relative.

"To an arcade that's not too far from here. It's a place where you can play video games on cabinet machines within a public space. There's a pizza store right across from it, too."

"I see. Though, what sort of goods does a pizza shop sell?" Naeth genuinely asks.

"It's- it's food, dude. Steamy, cheesy, meat covered goodness. Or veggie, or just cheese, if that's you're preference." Galivinth answers.

"A place to purchase cuisine, then. I'm looking forward to seeing it for myself."

The two adolescents make a left at the corner and carry on in lingering silence. It remains as such all through their little trip and until they reach the parallel businesses. The walk-in pizza shop, Mama Jane's, just to their left - and Arcadem Max, the local arcade, across the street to their right.

"Hmm... I think we can play first before grabbing a bite. I'm not too hungry at the moment." Galivinth muses, taking a short moment to look both ways of the street afterwards.

"So this is the location, huh?" Naeth questions as he takes a moment to observe his surroundings, noting the names of the establishments Galivinth informed him of. The two head across once it was safe, as well.

"Yup. Now, let me introduce you to another side of gaming culture." Galivinth responds as he peels open the arcade's front door by its handle, leading them inside to a cool interior with a myriad of sounds filling the entire establishment. It was a fairly busy afternoon, but not too many roaming people around that they'll spend too much time waiting to play the most preferable game machines. In fact, one of the better ones was currently vacant.

"It's... Comfortably cold in here. Though, it's also obnoxiously noisy." Naeth comments with an observing frown on his face.

"Yeeeah... You get used to it eventually. Took me three visits before I did. But uh, follow me a second?" Galivinth requests and leads Naeth over to a quarter dispenser, where he takes a moment to retrieve bills from his wallet and inserts his first dollar. In turn, the machine rattles out an equivalent exchange of four coins into an open pocket where they can be retrieved easily.

"What is the purpose of this device exactly?" Naeth questions.

"To give you the equal amount of money you put in back as quarters. Quarters that we can use to play anything here." Galivinth answers and hands over all four coins to his cousin.

"Here, try a game or two out while I get more for us."

"Very well. My curiosity is piqued." From there, Naeth ventures off while Galivinth stays behind to finish his objective. The cryonean surveys the entire room and its bountiful selections as he mindful treads through it. There was a sense of indecisiveness within him. At least, until he spots something peculiar to his monochrome eyes. A ramp structure with half a dozen or so orange spheres and a rim adorned by a thin net of some kind. There were two beside one another, with one currently being occupied by someone else. He sees the individual make attempt after attempt after attempt to throw the balls through the open net as many times as he could before his time limit is up. By the time the clock hits zero, he sees the player has obtained a score of 12 points, and hears the machine's fuzzy voice announce that no new record has been beaten. It asks if he'd like to try again, but the individual had already turned his back to it and began walking away. 

Wanting to give it a go, Naeth approaches to take his place. He examines the instructions at the slanting foot of the machine. How to start the game, the conditions of winning, and even the explanation of its built-in leaderboard. Once he finishes, he feels he's ready to begin. He inserts the asking price of twenty-five cents and almost immediately, the machine becomes audibly active again. 

[ "Welcome! Can YOU beat the number one baller?" ] The machine's automated voice asks as the screen above the backboard of the rim momentarily displays the leaderboard, with 26 points being the highest of a list of eight three letter names.

[ "35 seconds on the clock, champ! Ready?. . . GO!" ] The machine exclaims and releases its basketballs into the large open pocket that's easily accessible to the player.

Naeth blinks curiously and reaches to pick one up at his leisure, not too concerned with the time limit at hand.

"I think it's done like this--" He murmurs to himself and lofts the ball at the rim. However, the ball doesn't quite go anywhere near the basket and roughly bounces off the backboard due to the unintended excessive amount of strength he put behind it. The orange sphere ends up flying pass his face and skipping along the carpet floor until it hits the back of someone's calf. 

The individual does his best to keep awareness to his active game while also peeking down to see what hit him.

"Hey, you dropped this, dude." The teen informs. Eventually managing to pick up the ball, briefly turn toward Naeth before tossing it over. 

"My apologies, and thank you." The latter catches it with ease and shifts his focus back to his own game, as well. Eight seconds had been wasted. Still, Naeth uses his time to stare at the rim contemplatively. Calculating the adjustments he'll need to make in order to grasp some form of working method. After another six seconds, he takes another experimental shot. Giving the ball a very careful overhead launch from the palms of his hands -- Just a gently jolt to send it flying and plummeting to his liking.

BRNK! 

Even though the ball doesn't go into the net, the cyonean male manages to at least hit the rim this time.

"Better, but I can do far better." Naeth muses softly to himself, his features still wearing a solemn expression as he focuses. He picks up another ball and shoots.

BRNK!

Another rim contact, another miss. He shoots again, coincidentally just as the buzzer goes off. Yet again, all he hits is the rim.

[ "Only 0 points! Better luck next time, champ!" ] 

"Well, that's absolutely unacceptable..." Words stoically spoken by him. Without wasting time, Naeth grabs another quarter out of his pocket and inserts it. The game starts up the same way as before and Naeth stands ready with a ball in his hands.

[ "...GO!" ] And with that, he takes his first shot of the second round. Which happens to be a complete miss. Nothing but air struck before that sphere lands and comes rolling back down to rejoin the pile of balls. 

He exhales a breath of air and takes his time with the next one. Analyzing his potential trajectory once more, briefly, and then lets it fly--

KWOOOP.

He makes the shot and the ball goes almost absolute cleanly through the net, earning him 2 points on the scoreboard.

"Hmm..." He hums flatly in thought, not entirely convinced he's cracked the formula just yet. 12 seconds pass by. He picks up another ball and let's it go up and down in the same fashion as the last. 

THHMB...

It barely grazes the rim this time. With that result in mind, he makes a little more adjustment to his posture and the positions of his hands. Maintaining that form onward, he takes his next three shots. One after another.

KWOOOP.

KSSSH.

S W I S H !

All three go in without a hitch. A satisfactory grin curves the corners of his lips upon realizing he's found the 'sweet spot' - one that turns into a mischievously smug one just seconds later. Just as he was prepping his next shot, the buzzer goes off. His score was 8 points in total by the end.

"Bah.. Again!" Naeth demands, plucking out another quarter to insert into the machine.

"Why am I not surprised? Should have known you'd go to a game like this." Galivinth banters with a grin, approaching to use the rim beside the one Naeth was using. He inserts a quarter to begin his own game.

S W I S H!

"Ah, glad to see you've finished. And I'm not quite sure what it is about this game--" Naeth begins his response, briefly pausing to take another shot. Simultaneously, Galivinth takes his first one, as well.

S W I S H.

THOOOM.

"But I find it compelling. The natural competitive aspect of it is one of its qualities that draws me in." Naeth finishes after making another shot. Galivinth, however, grazes the rim with a miss.

"Makes sense for sure. When you're invested in something, you do get pretty competitive. It's something I find admirable about you." The latter replies and picks up another ball.

"It's pretty inspiring. It makes me want to do better."

"Oh?" Naeth pauses completely for a moment and looks over at the Galivinth with a faint look of surprise on his face, watching as his relative takes another shot. He grins again, fond of the notion. His attention shifts back to the game at hand afterwards.

"That's good. Truth be told, I see it when it occurs. How you step out of your passiveness and comfort to face adversity. It makes me feel as if our camaraderie could conquer anything or anyone that stands in our way." He continues, tone radiating with a sense of pride before he takes another shot.

KOOSH.

. . . . .

S W I S H.

Both adolescents make it into their respective net this time. 

"I feel that, dude. It's a mutual feeling, and one I couldn't have worded better myself." Galivinth responds with a toothy grin and a following soft chuckle. With both having under 17 seconds left, they shift their focus onto scoring. Landing as many shots as they could before the buzzards went off. 

At the end, Neath achieves 18 while Galivinth hits 12 points worth.

"I'm already getting close. I'm determined to beat the top performance of this machine." Naeth speaks to no one in particular and proceeds to slip in another coin. More do in synch this time, Galivinth does the same.

"Go for it, dude. I think you got this." The latter encourages before they both pour all of their attention into trying to earn a high score.

It initially seems like a back and forth, but partway into it, a gap forms and continuously grows. Unlike Galivinth, Naeth doesn't miss any shots this time around. The two match pace the entire time and until the machines give off a dual buzz. Naeth ends up with 26 points, while Galivinth barely manages to make 18 points.

"One more time... I've matched the top scorer's record, but I can still do better. I'll just have to be much faster." Naeth reasons to himself, retrieving the last quarter in his pocket to feed into the machine's coin slot.

"I already beat my usual score, so I'm good. I'll watch you, though." Galivinth informs before moving to stand off to the side a few feet from the other. However, it's almost immediately then that someone approaches him from behind.

"Galvin? Is that you, dawg?" A masculine voice addresses him, drawing his attention. Turning his head to look over a shoulder, it's there he sees a lean redhead male approaching to stand beside him. He squints, staring as he tries to recall who the individual is.

"...Shurman?" He asks after a moment.  

"Yeah, boy! Big Red is in the building to-DAY. How ya been, G?" The latter answers with a toothy grin. In turn, Galivinth couldn't help but to stare with a wide-eyed dumbfounded look on his face.

Shurman, who typically went by 'Big Red' around the neighborhood, had undergone a mind-blowing transformation. He wasn't chubby anymore, and now was comparably built like an athlete. If it wasn't for his height of 6'2, the nickname wouldn't quite fit, but now the ginger had flipped the concept behind it to something quite admirable. The guy wasn't skinny, but sculpted. Broader than Galivinth in physique in a healthy way. 

Shurman is an individual who is a year older than Galivinth. A young man with an ivory complexion, hazel eyes, low trimmed bright red hair, and an outspoken nature. A guy Galivinth knew to not let the weight of other's words drag him down.

Shurman's attire is made of a white sleeveless jersey with 'Dungun' and the number 96 below laid out on the torso and back in bold blue characters. A white sports wristband on his right wrist, and a blue bandana tied securely around his left. Black loose jeans held up by a red belt, shin high socks, and a pair white & blue high top sneakers make the rest of his outfit. His head of red hair is low, but it looks as if the last time he had a haircut was about two months ago.

"I've been pretty good, but maybe not as good as you, man. Just look at you." Galivinth responds with a grin, extending a hand to share a mutual hand shake with the other.

"Yeeeeeeaaah, buddy! Been working on myself for a little while now, and now I'm almost cut enough to be a diesel motherf***er." Shurman responds while taking up the hand shake, giving an added shoulder bump in the midst of doing so.

"Yeah, no lies detected at all. I'm happy for you, man."

"Appreciated, bro. Also, that dude right there, that a friend of yours?" Shurman asks, motioning a pointing finger at the male who was currently taking shot after shot without missing. 

"Yeah, that's my cousin Naeth. He's from Canada, I think." Galivinth answers as he returns to spectating the mentioned individual. Around the 16 second mark, it's then Naeth drastically changes up his method. The Cryonean goes from taking traditional shots, to using a hand under 'water splashing' motion, lofting ball after ball, back to back, at an absurd pace. Not a single one misses, either. 

"Goddamn... He is going HAM right now. I don't think I've seen him hit a brick yet." 

"Yeah... It's.. It's... I don't even know. I didn't know someone could do something like that." The two comment as they stare all the way through, unable to look away from the display. When the buzzard finally goes off again, the scoreboard shows Naeth had not only beaten the previous old score, but also belittled it tremendously. NOW Naeth was satisfied.

"You actually hit 46 points. I'm honestly amazed."

"Yo, for real. Big respect right there, man."

"Nothing beyond what I was capable of, but the praises are definitely welcomed. Are you an acquaintance of Galivinth, by the way?" Neath asks as he settles his attention toward the new face.

"That's right, we go way back. Like, back in Kindergarten. Name's Big Red, but you can call me Red. Good to meet you, homie." Shurman greets, extending a hand to offer a handshake. One that Naeth indulges almost immediately.

"Homie, you say? That is an endearment, yes?" The cryonean asks curiously.

"Yeah, it's a friendly acknowledgment. Anyone G. is cool with, is cool in my books, too. He's the closest thing we got to a boy scout around these parts." Shurman answers, grinning as he gives Galivinth a light push of his elbow.

"A boy scout? Hardly, man. I just prefer not to fall into those kinds of lifestyles." Galivinth responds.

"I know, and same here. But you're unfazed by all of it. On top of that, the way you... You know, uhh-- Articulate yourself. That reaches people, man. It helped me, too. I was sort of on the fence about it. The street sh*t, I mean. But after listening and hanging with you, I gave up on all that noise. I hold a bit of a rep down, but I'm chill. Ain't messing with all that negativity too much." Shurman goes on to explain.

"I'm glad for that, Red. You seemed way too smart for that stuff, anyway." Galivinth comments approvingly.

"As I said since the day we met, there's great potential in you. Seems like it's just as easy for anyone else to see, as well." Neath chimes in.

"You guys are killing me here... Enough about me, alright? We came here to play video games, not start a support group. Let's play something." Galivinth promptly changes the subject at hand, his wry expression making it quite clear he was over being at the center of discussion. 

"Very well. What other machine here would you recommend?" Neath asks.

"I'll just tag along with you guys and play the winner." Shurman cuts-in with an informing statement.

"In that case, I think we should  introduce Neath here to King of Iron Fist 3 next." Galivinth announces and heads for the cabinet immediately.

"3? We have KIF Tag and 4 here now, you know? You don't have to take the man that far back." Shurman jokingly points out.

"Ah, it'll be fine. Besides, he'll have a chance to learn the basics before playing versions with game changing elements." Galivinth reasons as he plucks out two coins and inserts one into each slot below the pad table. 

"By the way, I'm going to give him two turns to let him learn the ropes, if that's alright with you, Red." 

"I ain't gotta' issue with it. Go for it, man." Shurman replies as he proceeds to lean against the cabinet behind him, lifting and folding his arms as he does. By then, Neath steps up to stand beside Galivinth.

"What sort of game is this?" Neath asks.

Before answering, his relative pushes the start button on his side. Resulting in a sound of confirmation as the screen jumps to the game's character selection.

"It's a fighting game. One of my favorites and probably the only one I'm actually somewhat good at. It's pretty fun. Go ahead and hit that white button on your side." Galivinth instructs while taking a moment to point at it. Upon Neath doing so, a second cursor and character display shows up on screen.

[ "Kin Jazama." ] The in-game announcer calls out upon Galivinth's selection. 

"You've got about 50 seconds. Take a look over the characters and pick whichever that stands out to you the most." Galivinth tells Neath. And so the latter does just that - cycle through a horizontal list of various characters. It takes nearly the entire countdown for the Cryonean to choose, but he makes the choice with absolute clarity.

[ "Raunhwao." ] 

"Interesting pick! He kind of reminds me of you, too." Galivinth comments.

"Oh? He seemed stylish and disciplined in nature. Of course, I'm just going by his facial expression and hairstyle." Neath responds as the match loads up.

"I see, I see. Alright, so the top left button is for left punches, the top right is for right punches. Bottom left is left kick, and bottom right is for right kicks."