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Lullaby of the Phoenix
A budding "friendship"

A budding "friendship"

This piece of work is supposed to be structured like a script for a comic book

Text inside brackets describe what will be illustrated inside the frame

Anything outside brakets are speech bubles, thought bubles, sound fx, etc...

1. [Establishing shot of Maltais]

2. [Close up of the window, Adrian can be seen waiting by the window]

3. [Closer shot of the window with Adrian contemplating one of his gadgets and fiddling with it]

4. [He snaps out of it as he hears a loud knock coming from the entrance]

5. [Adrian opens the door to let Eva inside the house]

Adrian: Good morning Miss Eva!

Eva: Good morning to you too my dear Adrian

6. [Adrian helps Eva with her things, he takes her coat and hangs it on the port manteaux]

Adrian: Let me help you with that Miss Eva

Eva: Oh my, that’s so sweet of you… Thank you!

7. [ Adrian pauses to inquire Eva of Neveah’s whereabouts, he presents his gadget in his right hand while still holding Eva’s coat in the other]

Adrian: Hey, Miss Eva

Eva: Mmh? What is it sweetheart?

Adrian: Is Nevaeh with you today?

8. [Eva reveals to Adrian that Nevaeh won’t be around for a bit and might not be able to come, Eva’s coat falls off from the portmanteau and Adrian’s expression shifts to a more disappointed appearance]

Adrian: B-but… T-today is...

Eva: Oh I’m so sorry Adrian, I know I should’ve let your father know and tell you, but Nevaeh won’t be able to show up today sweetie. I know the two of you have had a hard time getting along. But she’s out to do our groceries, and will be doing some chores around the house for the rest of the afternoon. These old bones of mine make it hard for me to get around and do all those things all by myself. The Phoenixes must’ve blessed me to have such a nice granddaughter to look after me, don’t you think so?

9.[He quickly picks the coat back up to try and hang it again, in his embarrassment, he expresses his disappointment, to which Eva replies empathetically]

Adrian: R-really, I had worked all week on this new project and I was hoping I could’ve… you know...

Eva: Oh dear! I know how hard you work on those cute lil’ gadgets, but it can’t be helped.

10. [Eva reassures Adrian that he’ll be able to see her after the weekend when she’ll be back to babysit him, this reveals to us that his Father; Damien, works shifts weekways, and doesn't usually allow him outside the house. Eva, picks up a framed picture near the entrance to inspect it]

Eva: Don’t you worry darling, you’ll get to see her next week, I’m sure she’ll be… err… “Thrilled” this time...

11. [Close up of the framed picture, depicting Damien with his son Adrian, the father is wearing a smile in his work uniform while hugging his son, Adrian looks quite embarrassed in the shot.]

Eva: My, I’ve never seen this one yet! Such a nice pictograph, your father has such a great smile too!

Adrian:  Yeah… I guess...

12.[Adrian returns to the window, pouting in his irritated state.]

Adrian: *Grumble*

13.[With a calm expression, Eva contemplates Adrian while still holding the Frame]

Eva: ...

14.[She lets out a sigh and puts the frame back down, she mumbles under her breath with a smile]

Eva: *Aaah*...Poor Damien, if only you’d let him…

15.[She approaches Damien, holding him by the shoulders gently, she tries to reassure him and lets him know that she’ll be cooking something up for him with the ingredients Damien had left on the counter for Adrian’s lunch.]

Eva: Aw cheer up Adrian! Old Eva’s gonna treat you to some good ol’ fashioned cooking, your father left me some herbs I can use to make us some soup! It’ll warm you right up!

16. [She leaves him by the window and makes her way into the kitchen, Adrian is still annoyed by his situation]

17. [Adrian, fidgeting his gadget in his aggravation mumbles to himself]

Adrian: If only he’d stop treating me like a baby, I could go out and see her, but no~o…

18. [The camera zooms out enough and we see two creature chasing each other outside the house in Adrian’s field of view, he looks at them with a jealous expression]

Adrian: It’s not like anything goes on in this dumb old town

19.[The two cute animals start playing around in the snow adorably, Adrian can only admire them through the window while remaining silent]

20.[Adrian tires from seeing the two little creatures tempting him, he backs away from the window with a grouchy grumble, the two creatures turn around in time to see him leave]

Adrian: It’s not fair…

21.[Eva still preparing the kitchen looks at Adrian with a beaming smile as he climbs up the stairs, she reminds him that she’ll be joining him later to give him his lunch]

Eva: See you in a bit honey! I’ll come upstairs to bring you some soup once I have it ready!

Adrian: ...Thank you Miss Eva…

Eva: You’re welcome! Don’t be shy to let me know if you need something dear.

22.[Adrian goes in his room and closes the door behind him, establishing shot of his room, showing the multitude of knick knacks he made over the years.]

23. [He sits down on his desk and put his gadget on top of the table, he picks up a screwdriver and starts adjusting the bolts on it]

24.[He tires of the activity quickly and puts the tool down, he sighs while contemplating his invention.]

Adrian: *Sigh*

25.[Something catches his eye outside his room’s window, he notices the tiny footprints of the animals he saw earlier, but no sign of them around]

Adrian: Hmm? They must’ve run off somewhere else already, can’t say I blame ‘em, it’s so boring around here...

26.[Adrian looks back at his gadget, one of the tiny creatures pokes its head from the corner of the window and looks at Adrian curiously]

27.[The other creature climbs on top of his friend to get a better look inside, the movement catches Adrian’s gaze, he’s surprised by their appearance.]

28.[He grudgingly closes his blinds on them]

Adrian: *Hmph*, shoo!

29.[Shot from outside the window, the two creatures look at each other, perplexed by this individual]

30.[In the same shot, the two animals hurry along the rim of the window and run off camera]

31 [In the same shot, Adrian opens his blinds to look if the creatures are still there]

Adrian: …

32 [He opens up the window and directs his gaze towards the direction where the footprints go to]

Adrian: Hmm?

33.[He catches a glimpse of the two animals climbing down the house and finally jumping into a pile of snow]

Adrian: What the?..

34.[Adrian catches a stroke of genius, he retracts his upper body back inside and pounds his fist in his palm]

Adrian: I got it! I think I should be able to do it! Yeah!

35. [Adrian rushes to go grab his coat off his chair, he also snatches his gadget from the counter]

Adrian: I’m gonna need this… and this… and then…

36. [Adrian pauses, his happy expression is freezed in place]

37. [His optimism turns to doubt, he thinks to himself for a moment]

Adrian: But, if Eva finds out…

38. [He hears a loud clanking sound coming from downstairs.]

Clink! Clang!

Eva: By the Phoenixes! I’m so clumsy! Don’t worry Adrian, I’ll clean up after myself…

Adrian: Uh, o-OK!

39. [He turns back to the window with an envious expression]

40. [He makes up his mind and walks towards the window while putting his coat on]

Adrian: Maybe I can make it back before she notices I’m gone...

41. [As he readies himself to exit from the window]

42. [He sidles along the rim like the creature he had seen, they same two animals stare at him as he makes his attempt]

43. [Adrian looks down and searches for the snow pile he saw earlier]

Adrian:Alright, here goes…

44: [Adrian pauses as he readies himself to jump]

45:[Another booming noise makes itself heard from within his residence. Adrian jumps from the scare and slips off the ledge]

46:[He lands in the pile of snow despite this, he’s completely covered by the snow]

47:[He pops his head out of the pile]

48.[He gets out and makes a run for it towards the Plaza]

Adrian: (Maybe I should be worrying about the state the house is gonna be when I come back and not the latter...)

49.[Illustration to emphasize travelling]

50.[Nevaeh can be seen walking her way towards the bakery]

51.[She notices some icicles hanging from a snowbank resting next to the bakery]

52.[She breaks one off and sucks on it like a popsicle]

*Snap*

53.[She walks her way into the bakery]

54.[Camera zooms out, we can see Adrian hiding behind a wall while peaking out, gadget in hand]

55.[While still staring into the distance, the two little creatures try to take the gadget from him, curious to see what it does]

Adrian:?

56.[Adrian pulls the gadget towards his face, shielding it from the two animals]

Adrian: Hey! Keep your paws off my things!…

57.[He runs up ahead and tries to loose them]

Adrian: Shoo! Go away! Nyeh

58. [He makes it inside the bakery and closes the door behind him]

59.[He looks ahead of him and sees Nevaeh, still sucking on her icicle, staring intensely at the bakery’s furnace]

60.[He approaches her from behind and tries to get her attention]

Adrian: Oh hey Nevaeh, fancy meeting you here

61.[He tries to play it cool and beggins his pitch to Nevaeh, he quickly loses himself in his monologue]

Adrian:So I know you're busy and all that fun stuff but hey…

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

62. [He lingers around, still trying to sell his “product” to the young gal who obviously pay no attention to him]

Adrian: But, you know something? You know when your over your head with work, you lose track of time and stuff...and you start feeling a little bit hot you know... l, and sometimes you just, you know, you feel like you need to cool off right?

63. [He gets really into his monologue, Nevaeh on the other hand, gives her grocery money to the baker who in return gives her a loaf of bread]

Adrian: Well take a look at this thing I made, it’s the perfect thing for ya! I got it right here see? Nevaeh?

64.[She promptly leaves the store and leaves him behind without even acknowledging his presence.]

Adrian: H-hey wait up!

65. [He tries to intercept her at the door]

66. [She pushes him into the door and opens it as if he were part of it]

67.[The door closes behind her and Adrian is pushed back inside the bakery]

68.[Adrian pauses, trying to understand what just happened]

69.[Adrian mumbles to himself]

Adrian: W-What…

70.[He turns back and gets out of the bakery and sees her walking past the snow bank and walk into the brewery]

Adrian: Nngh!

71.[He follows her to the next destination]

Adrian: Hey w-wait up Nevaeh!

72.[He follows the trails which leads to the brewery and awaits for her at the entrance]

Adrian: Now I’ll just wait for her here and catch her as she gets out

73. [As she comes out he tries to get her attention again, he doesn't realize that his gadget was no longer on his person]

Adrian: Hey look at what I-

74.[He looks at his empty palm in shock]

Adrian: Uhh? Where did it go?

75.[He looks down and notices the tiny creatures playing around with it, Nevaeh pays no mind to them and keeps moving]

Adrian:!

76. [Adrian Nabs his invention back from the paws of the mischievous animal]

Adrian: Give that back!

77.[He looks back up only to realize she’s already entering yet another building]

Adrian: Aw now look, she’s gone already!

78.[Shot of him running past the snow bank]

79.[Nevaeh walks past the snow bank]

80.[Adrian runs past the snow bank with his leg stuck in a bucket]

81.[Nevaeh walks past the snow bank, this time, the number of icicles is considerably less than the previous panel, meaning the chase has been going on for a while]

82.[Adrian runs past the bank again, covered with stuff that probably fell on him in one of the buildings, the number of icicles is declining quickly]

Adrian:Just wait for a moment!

83.[One last shot of Nevaeh passing by the snowbank, she snaps the second to last icicle]

84.[Out of breath, Adrian stops by the snow bank]

Adrian:Huff, puff… So, thirsty

85.[He reaches out for the icicle, it drops to the ground and breaks apart before he even gets a chance to grasp it]

86.[Adrian drops his head in shame over his terrible luck]

Adrian: Give me a freaking break…

87.[Adrian perks back up in anger]

Adrian: WHY WON’T SHE LISTEN…

88.[He catches himself as he hears his father calling out for him]

Damien:Adrian? Is that you?

Adrian:*Gulp*

89.[Adrian quickly jumps behind the snow bank]

Adrian:(Yikes! If he finds me here, I’m boned!)

Damien: Hold up boys, I think I just heard my son over there…]

Other guard: Alright, just make it quick ok?

Damien: I will.

90.[Adrian is still hiding behind the bank, Damien steps into the shot]

Damien:Now I could’ve sworn I heard that sound came from around here…

91.[Damien looks at the snow bank]

Damien: mmmh, must’ve imagined it

92.[The snowbank shakes just enough from Adrian shifting about in the back of it]

Damien:…

93.[He gives the snowbank a good kick]

Damien: Hmph!

94. [The snowbank crumbles into pieces and reveals Adrian hiding behind it]

95.[Adrian is frozen in place]

Adrian: Uuuh, I can explain…

Damien: That you will, indeed

96.[Damien pulls him out of the rubble by the arm]

Adrian: I-I’m sorry

Damien: That you are, indeed.

97. [Adrian and Damien walk into the sunset back home, the shot also illustrate Adrian’s gadget laying on the ground behind them]

Adrian:Am I in trouble?

Damien:I think you know the answer to that already young man…

Adrian: Ch!…

98.[Shot illustrating a flower budding under the snow]

99.[Adrian and Damien, walk along the last stretch of road before arriving to their home, Damien has already started to scold Adrian for what he did]

Damien: You know, that was very disrespectful of you towards Eva.

Adrian: I know..

Damien: Then why did you do it?

Adrian: I dunno…

Damien: You don’t know? Then who will?

Adrian:...

100.[Damien continues to scold him over his actions]

Damien: I’m very disappointed in you Adrian, YOU KNOW we have rules and laws for a reason

Adrian: I know, for my safety and to keep order and prevent chaos, you told me that already...

Damien: Well apparently that message hasn’t gone through your thick skull now has it, boy?

101:[He opens the door and points inside]

Damien: Now, I’m gonna be back after my shift, I want you to apologize to Eva befor I-]

102:[Eva can be seen under a pile of tin pans and cauldrons, the kitchen is a complete mess]

Eva: Eh he he… Well Damien, you’re home early, was just doing some cookin for the lil one...

103:[Camera points back to Adrian and Damien, both expressing their shock at the scene before them]

Adrian and Damien: Uuuuuhh….

104: Intermission

105: [A couple of hours later, the kitchen is completely cleaned up, Adrian wipes the sweat off of his forehead]

Adrian:Well, now that’s taken care off

Eva: All done! Thank you so much Darling!, Oh someone’s coming…

106:[Damien enters the front door]

Eva:Welcome back home Damien! Sorry about earlier… We got the whole place spick and span for ya

Damien: Don’t sweat it Eva, I should be the one sorry for the boy’s behavior

Eva: About that…

107.[She brings the already halfway in Damien outside to talk with him in private]

Eva:Come now

Damien: Eva, Eva please we already went over this

108.[Eva expresses her dismay towards Damien]

Eva: Don’t talk to me with that tone, Mister! Right now I don’t know if i’m upset towards the boy, or his old man who keeps purposely ignore the elephant in the room here…

Damien: Hey, easy now… I just...

109.[She goes in full force, she’s no letting him away, not this time]

Eva: I’ve been thinking about it this afternoon… I understand your reason for keeping him inside like this. But what happened today is telling me that he can no longer be contained this way. He had his taste of freedom for today, and he’s gonna want to go back for some more the next day, and the next and the week after…

Damien:...

110. [She keeps monologuing him]

Eva: You can’t keep em in forever Dear, your gonna have to realize that someday, your boy, your son is going to be a man someday and face reality on his own, maybe his old man won’t be around anymore when that happens too.

Damien: He will be ready when..

Eva: LISTEN to me..

111.[She sticks her finger in his face]

Eva: This whole town is deserted Damien, you know this, ADRIAN knows it too, he’s SEEN it already! What are you keeping him safe from? From himself?

Damien: It’s not like that…

Eva: “It’s not like that”? Not like what Damien? I’ll tell you what it’s like, Adrian isn’t stupid-

Damien: I never said he-

Eva: Then you should know full well that from this point onwards that if you keep him inside, he will grow to despise the ones holding him back.

112.[Damien remains silent with a pensive expression]

Damien:...

113.[Damien let’s out a sigh and expresses calmly his understanding of the situation]

Damien:*Sigh* I knew this day would have to come eventually…  I can’t say I approve of what he did today, don’t get me wrong, it was very disrespectful… But to think he did it all on his own ,with no one there to tell him what to do, that makes me, one proud father.

114.[Damien opens up the door and signals Eva to follow him back inside]

Damien: C’mon, you’re gonna catch a cold staying outside at a time like this…

Eva: Hmph! I can look after myself, thank~you! Mister!

Damien: Aw c’mon, you know I didn’t mean it like that.

115.[Damien gets an idea]

Damien: Tell you what, I can go get Nevaeh for you back at your place and bring her here and we can have souper here together, how about it

116. [Eva remains there silently, perplexed by his sudden proposal.

117. [She chuckles at his advances]

Eva: Psh! Poor Damien, you should know by now that my little Nevaeh has only ears for me! She won’t listen to a single word a big old oaf like you has to say.

Damien: Is that so?

Eva: Heh! Without a doubt! She’s just like her old nany here, she’s got attitude and an unbreakable spirit!

118.[She gives him a quick wink and heads out to get Nevaeh]

Eva:Well, See you boys later, you better be on your best behavior, you hear?

Damien: Likewise!

119.[She slams the door behind her]

Eva: He he, looks like you’ve outdone yourself today Eva… I hope this will be worth it! Don’t let me down!

120.[Shot of Adrian and Damien cooking super, the other half of the shot is Eva dressing up Nevaeh with a scarf]

121. [Later that night, the two adults are talking over their dinner, the two children now finnish their share of the feast]

Damien: -it’s just as I said, the ether tank was busted up and we couldn't heat the house…

Eva: My, how unfortunate…

122.[Adrian drops his spoon in satisfaction over his meal, Nevaeh does so as well]

Adrian: Aaah! Well I’m full, thanks dad!

Nevaeh:*hic*

Damien: Well I’m glad you two liked it!

123.[Damien points to the ceiling while looking at the two kids]

Damien: Well, we’re gonna be doing some “adult chatting” here for a while, so why don’t you too have play around upstairs while we're at it? I’m sure there’s a couple of toys you can share with Nevaeh, right? Adrian?

Adrian:They aren’t toys Dad…

Damien: I know, I’m just teasing ya

124 [Eva turns around to Nevaeh and signals her to follow Adrian]

Eva: C’mon now, don’t keep him waiting darling….

125.[Adrian gives Eva a wink as the two kids run upstairs, she returns it with an approving smile.]

Damien: You two play nice okay?

Adrian: Copy that

Nevaeh:...

Eva: Be careful when walking up the stairs sweetie!

126.[Adrian shows the way to his room to Nevaeh. She looks around while he guides her towards his desk]

Adrian: C’mere I got something cool to show you!

Nevaeh:...

127.[Nevaeh looks somewhat disinterested in what Adrian has to show her]

Adrian: Here, have a look! This one’s my favorite, I know you’ll like it!

Nevaeh: what is it?

128.[Nevaeh feings her interest in what he has to show her and her gaze wonders in another direction]

Adrian: Look at this! It can do this!

Nevaeh: Uh huh…

129.[Her gaze locks onto something off camera, Adrian is still looking around to find something he wants to show her]

Adrian:Hold on one second, I got something else here, let’s see…

Nevaeh: Hunh?

130.[Nevaeh points at the corner of the room]

Nevaeh: What’s that over there?

Adrian:? Oh that, that’s a pile of junk

Nevaeh: No not that....

131:[She walks over to it and pulls a crudely made wooden sword]

Nevaeh: I like this one

Adrian: W-wait, y-you like that dusty old thing?

Nevaeh: Yes, it looks like a sword…I like swords, so I like this too…

132:[Adrian tries to play it nice, Nevaeh swings the sword around to try it out]

Adrian: Well uh, yeah! Swords are pretty cool I guess, but you know what makes em even cooler?

Nevaeh:What’s that?

133:[Adrian runs over to the pile of junk and searches for something]

Adrian: Hold up one second, I know I left it there here somewhere, hmmm….

Ha HA! Got it!

134:[Adrian holds up a wooden shield of his own make]

Adrian: There it is! A shield

Nevaeh: Oh…

135:[Adrian hands the shield and instals the shield on Nevaeh left hand]

136:[Adrian steps back to contemplate his work being worn by Nevaeh]

Adrian: There! You’re all set for battle now!

137:[Nevaeh wants nothing to do with the shield, she accidentally throws it back to Adrian, smacking him in the face…]

Bonk!

Adrian:Nngh!

Nevaeh:Meh, too clunky, it’s stinky…

138:[Adrian tries to keep his cool but lets Nevaeh know his displeasure]

Adrian: Hey! Watch where you throw that thing! That really hurt you know?

Nevaeh: Sorry… I guess…

Adrian:Ugh, that one’s gonna leave a mark…

139:[Adrian gets an idea and asks Nevaeh if she’s down to play with him]

Adrian: Hey I know! How about we play knights! You can be the goodie two shoes and I’ll be the baddie!

Nevaeh: But you don’t have a weapon…

140:[Adrian chuckles menacingly, his eyes covered in shade and let out a small sheen.]

Adrian: Why I have one right here

Nevaeh: That’s a shield, that’s not a weapon…

Adrian: That’s where you’re wrong! Don’t you know the saying? The best offense is a good defense!

Nevaeh: Isn’t that the other way around?

141:[Adrian readies himself for battle and points at Nevaeh]

Adrian: That doesn't matter! For I the great shield… Er, Guy, I mean knight… Will defeat yoooouuu ooooooh!...

Nevaeh:...

142:[They both pause for a second]

143:[Adrian whispers to Nevaeh]

Adrian: I’m role playing ok? C-could you try to do your part please

Nevaeh: But I don’t wanna be someone else, I want to be Nevaeh

Adrian: Well have it your way then, Nevaeeeeeeh! (Man she’s making this so awkward)

144: [Adrian taps the front of his shield]

Adrian: See if you can get through my impenetrable defense, you are no match for me Mwahahahaha!

Nevaeh: You talk too much…

Adrian: Hmph! Well so do you! How about you try doing something about it! HAHA!

145:[Adrian schemes behind his shield with one of his gadgets while Nevaeh prepares herself to attack.]

Adrian: (Heh heh, she won’t even see it coming, then after that, we’ll be even!)

146:[Nevaeh charges at Adrian, he’s caught off guard by her speed]

Adrian:Yikes! (She’s a lot faster than I expected, I gotta act now or else...)

147: [He busts out his gadget and in an over the top fashion, he declares his attack]

Adrian: Ha HA! You’ve fallen into my trap! Now take this, Super Destruction disc! *Pew!*

148:[Nevaeh is caught off guard by the projectile, she leans her head to the side and barely avoids getting hit by it]

Nevaeh: What the-

Adrian: H-HOW?

149: [The disc bounces off the two walls in the corner of the room]

150:[It bonks Nevaeh in the back of the head, but the projectile’s speed is much less that it was initially, she’s practically unfazed by it, she keeps charging towards Adrian]

Adrian: It connected! Aaaaaand it dosent mmmMMMMAAATER AAAH PLEASE DON’T KILL ME!

151:[He cowers behind his shield as Nevaeh changes at him at high speeds]

Adrian:Ha! Do your worst Nevaeh, I-I’m not afraid of you!

152. [Adrian braces for impact]

Adrian: (Here she comes!)

153: [He feels the impact and reposts with a shield bash]

Adrian:Take this!

154: [He realizes that Neveah had picked up the disc he had launched and was using it against him as a distraction.]

Adrian: W-wait, what?

155: [Nevaeh fades in behind Adrian, the boy soon realizes what was about to happen]

Nevaeh:...Nothing personal…

156:[Adrian curls up into a ball as Nevaeh is about to hit him, she stops herself from bashing him]

Adrian: AAAAHH! I GIVE, I GIVE,  PLEASE HAVE MERCY!

Nevaeh:?

157:[Nevaeh pauses for a second, Adrian is still bracing for an impact]

158:[She pokes his butt with the sword, he lets out a small wheep and starts rolling forward]

*Poke poke*

Adrian:eep!

159:[Nevaeh, dumbfounded watches as Adrian picks up speed as he rolls back towards the pile of junk conveniently placed like bowling pins]

160:[He smashes through the pins and then crashes in the pile of garbage behind it. Yup, that’s an ace. Nevaeh is depicted at the bottom of the panel with an indifferent expression and a thumbs up]

*POW*

Narrator: ACE!

Nevaeh:niceuh shoto...

161:[The sound alerts the two parents, they show up at the door.]

Damien: What’s...

Eva: What in the Phoenixes’ name is…

162.[The two are quick to realize what was happening, Adrian is dazed under the pile of trash, Nevaeh has her back turned]

Damien and Eva:..Happening here...

163:[Nevaeh turns around to face the two newcomers, she has a big grin on her face]

Nevaeh: *Giggle* That was fun

164:[Damien and Eva are both baffled at the sight of her]

Damien: She’s-

Eva:-Smiling?

165: [Freeze frame of the whole scene]

166: [Intermission]

167:[Later that night, Nevaeh and Eva take their leave into the cold dark night to get back home]

Eva: Well, that was fun, thank you so much for having us over Damien!

Damien: It was my pleasure! Hope to see you two soon!

Eva: And thank you Adrian for your gift to Nevaeh, that’s really sweet of you

Adrian: N-no problem!

Eva: Alrighty then! Until next time, come Nevaeh…

Nevaeh: ok…

168:[Damien prompts Adrian to go and get ready for bed]

Damien: Well, now that’s over, it’s time for you to get to bed young man, it’s getting late! Help me pick up these dishes and I’ll go tuck you in after and we can call it a day.

Adrian:Yesir!~

169:[As they pick up the dishes, Adrian starts talking to Damien about the events that unfolded during that night]

Adrian:S-sorry about all that ruckus we made back there, I didn’t want to make you worry…

Damien: That’s quite alright, I’m happy that the two of you ended up getting along.

170:[Adrian keeps talking with his father as they walk up the stair after being done picking up the dishes]

Adrian: Tonight was a lot of fun

Damien: Yeah I’m sure it was

Adrian:But I think I also learned something from it too..

171:[Adrian sits on his bed and his father kneels over to listen to his son]

Damien: Mmh? That’s interesting, what would that be?

Adrian: Well you see, when I was trying to impress Nevaeh, I was so caught up with trying to impress her and stuff.

172:[Adrian keeps on talking while Damien covers him with his bed sheets]

Adrian: I was so centered on trying to show her what I wanted her to see, it’s no wonder she never had any interest up until now.

Damien: So what did you take from this experience

Adrian: I guess I was acting a little bit selfish, you know… Sometimes we think we know what others want from us, and sometimes that “something” they want happens to be something completely different… It’s kinda like that

173:[Damien’s face lights up with a mellow smile, he rubs his son on the head approvingly]  

Damien: That’s a good lesson, I think we can both take something from this

Adrian: You really think so?

Damien: No doubt… Alright then m’boy, lights out…

174:[Damien walks out the room with a smile on his face]

Adrian: Good night Dad!

Damien: Good night Adrian… You make your old man proud…

175:[Shot depicting the same budding flower in the previous panel, it has somewhat bloomed over the time of these events]

176:[The next day… Shot of Adrian’s house]

Kakarikooooo!

177:[Adrian streches out while walking downstairs, Damien awaits him at the table]

Adrian:*yawn* Mornin’ dad

Damien: Well you’re up early today, that’s good, I’ve made something for the both of us

178:[He sits down at the table with his eyes half closed]

Adrian:Mmm...Smells good…

Damien: Comin right up!

179:[Damien drops a full plate on the table, the food is still steaming, Adrian takes a big whiff]

Adrian:Sniff sniff…

Damien: There! A big meal for my big man! Eat it while it’s still hot!

180:[Adrian wastes no time to start digging in his plate]

Adrian: Mmngh! *Slurp* *Crunch* Thish ish good,*nom* thankch dayd

Damien: What did I say about  talking when your mouth is full?

Adrian:*Gulp*... Sorry…

181:[Damien sits across the table in front of Damien, a steaming cup of joe in hand]

Damien: Wanna know something Adrian?

Adrian: What’s that?

Damien: Today’s a special day, wanna know why

Adrian:How is it special

Damien: Oh you’ll see soon enough…

Adrian:O~ook?

Damien: Make sure you eat everything on your plate

Adrian: Will do! *Nom!*

182:[Adrian puts away his plate and looks at the door]

Knock! Knock!

Damien: That one’s for you boy!

Adrian:Huh?

183: [He walks up to the door]

Adrian: Who is it? Isn’t it kinda early for anyone to be visiting

Damien: Ah, open it up, you’ll see!

184:[With a shy creek, the door opens up, Adrian is stunned at the figure standing before him]

185:[A blinding light enters the room, Adrian’s eyes are not yet accustomed to the light, a tall figure stand before him}

Adrian: Who… I-is that y-you…

186: [Adrian let’s out an excited shout]

Adrian: MOMMY!

187: [The light fades out and the form is revealed to be Nevaeh sitting on  her grandma’s shoulders]

Eva: Aaaw, would you hear that Nevaeh, he called me Mommy, that’s so cute!

Nevaeh: Go get your own mommy…

Eva: Don’t be like that!

188:[Adrian is flustered by this reveal, Nevaeh jumps down from her Granny and bops Damien over the head]

Adrian: Err, I mean… I thought you were… OW!

Nevaeh: That’ll teach you…

Eva: Be careful where you swing that thing sweetie!

189:[Adrian is still confused by their arrival]

Adrian: I don’t mean to be rude, but why are you guys here this early

Damien: That’s because I invited them over

Adrian: But they were here yesterday…

190:[Nevaeh softly nuges him with the wooden sword, she inquires]

Nevaeh: Well.. Are you coming or not

Adrian: Wha? B-but I can’t I’m not allowed to…

191: [Adrian is cut off by his father, he gives him his winter coat]

Damien: Here, you don’t wanna catch a cold while out there do ya?

Adrian: Dad?....

192:[Adrian stares at his father in awe]

193:[His expression changes into a smile]

194:[He grabs the coat and runs outside]

Adrian: Thanks dad! Wait up Nevaeh, here I come!

Damien: Hey! Where’s my hug?

Eva:*Giggle*

Damien: Aah, too late now I guess…

195:[Eva places her hand on Damien’s shoulder]

Eva: Thank you so much Damien.

196:[He place his hand around her shoulders]

Damien: No Eva…

197:[They stand by the door frame, watching the two children play together

Damien: Thank YOU...

198:[Shot of Adrian and Nevaeh playing in the snow in front of Damien’s residence.

199:[Shot of a fully bloomed flower]

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