06-10-2016, 12:28 PM
So Cruz seemed to take to the breathing idea much better. There wasn't much for Ivan to do but watch the guy breath, trying to attain a rhythm or whatever. After a while, he let his eyes wander- he still payed attention to the breathing. And more importantly, was waiting for the feeling that said that Cruz had found the power.- but watching some dude breath wasn't exactly exciting stuff and his eyes wandered the room. It was bigger than the apartment he'd grown up in and was filled with stuff that he couldn't even begin to put a price on but somehow screamed expensive. That must be nice, to have anything and everything you wanted.
Then again, given the dynamic between Cruz and Vega, perhaps not. Not like stuff can give you good memories memories anyway. He still had dinner every Sunday night with his family, the small apartment filled with smells that represented his entire life, Ma and Pops and Yegor and Valeriya at the table passing around large bowls of borscht and thick black bread slathered in bacon fat- and the piroshkis! It was his cheat day and boy did he cheat.
They were looking older these days, Ma and Pop. He didn't like seeing that, seeing them with wrinkles or moving around more slowly. But he couldn't do much other than help them out with money or do stuff around the house- when Pops would let him, of course, stubborn old cop that he was. Yegor would be at University studying engineering and Valeriya was off who knew where half the time. Ivan kept an eye out for her, of course. She was his little sister. But she had a wild streak and seemed to gravitate to friends just like her. Ivan wasn't above a bit of snooping to make sure she wasn't getting into real trouble. Come to think of it, she was a lot like Zo, though not necessarily all that altruistic in her trouble seeking. He doubted he'd see Valeriya- sweet as she was- trying to save a bunch of rabbits from a lab.
So anyway, where was he? Oh yeah. He tried to help out around the house with repairs and such, and looked out for his siblings. It was the best he could do for his family. It was what he wanted to do. They were the core of him, the bedrock. And yet they hadn't had money. It wasn't money that made the family.
Still, it was clear Vega loved his son. Obviously. If he was willing to betray a group like the one he described....well. Ivan was so back and forth on the guy. One minute understanding and sympathizing, the next minute ready to expose him and everyone with him. It made for a curious situation. At the end of the day, though, it was about what you did and why. And Vega was doing something out of love for his son. Something dangerous. And despite the irritation that Cruz showed, he had been quick to defend his father. There was love here. And that was a good thing.
Ivan suddenly realized that he had stopped paying attention- or rather, that Cruz's breathing had become so rhythmic as to be hypnotic. That was it! Ivan looked at him, his eyes still closed, and listened, not with his ears but with whatever sense it was that he used for the power, waited for the sign.
And then a knock. It was Vega with dinner. The guy did need to eat. But he had been SOO close! Cruz knew it too. He ignored his dad and wanted to go again.
"You were there, man. In the zone. You can do this. Just remember the wrestling. Once you get it, you have to dominate it. Tiger by the tail, right? Go head.
Then again, given the dynamic between Cruz and Vega, perhaps not. Not like stuff can give you good memories memories anyway. He still had dinner every Sunday night with his family, the small apartment filled with smells that represented his entire life, Ma and Pops and Yegor and Valeriya at the table passing around large bowls of borscht and thick black bread slathered in bacon fat- and the piroshkis! It was his cheat day and boy did he cheat.
They were looking older these days, Ma and Pop. He didn't like seeing that, seeing them with wrinkles or moving around more slowly. But he couldn't do much other than help them out with money or do stuff around the house- when Pops would let him, of course, stubborn old cop that he was. Yegor would be at University studying engineering and Valeriya was off who knew where half the time. Ivan kept an eye out for her, of course. She was his little sister. But she had a wild streak and seemed to gravitate to friends just like her. Ivan wasn't above a bit of snooping to make sure she wasn't getting into real trouble. Come to think of it, she was a lot like Zo, though not necessarily all that altruistic in her trouble seeking. He doubted he'd see Valeriya- sweet as she was- trying to save a bunch of rabbits from a lab.
So anyway, where was he? Oh yeah. He tried to help out around the house with repairs and such, and looked out for his siblings. It was the best he could do for his family. It was what he wanted to do. They were the core of him, the bedrock. And yet they hadn't had money. It wasn't money that made the family.
Still, it was clear Vega loved his son. Obviously. If he was willing to betray a group like the one he described....well. Ivan was so back and forth on the guy. One minute understanding and sympathizing, the next minute ready to expose him and everyone with him. It made for a curious situation. At the end of the day, though, it was about what you did and why. And Vega was doing something out of love for his son. Something dangerous. And despite the irritation that Cruz showed, he had been quick to defend his father. There was love here. And that was a good thing.
Ivan suddenly realized that he had stopped paying attention- or rather, that Cruz's breathing had become so rhythmic as to be hypnotic. That was it! Ivan looked at him, his eyes still closed, and listened, not with his ears but with whatever sense it was that he used for the power, waited for the sign.
And then a knock. It was Vega with dinner. The guy did need to eat. But he had been SOO close! Cruz knew it too. He ignored his dad and wanted to go again.
"You were there, man. In the zone. You can do this. Just remember the wrestling. Once you get it, you have to dominate it. Tiger by the tail, right? Go head.