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012// [Video/Action]

([Narration of sorts])
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[The video feed clicks on, and oh hey it's the student kitchens in the background. There's two big pots on the stove and a really big rice cooker over there on the counter and oh hello there's a Bulba in the feed now. He's given up on the effort of trying not to seem really tired, and he seems pretty distracted on top of that.]

In case you were wondering um... Kirby had to go back to Dreamland for a while. Something came up...

[He frowns, looking like he really doesn't want to talk about it and makes a motion towards the stove with his head to switch the subject.]

Oh, uh, if anyone's hungry or whatever, I made some curry and... kind of made too much out of habit... There's both spicy and mild so. People are welcome to it so it doesn't go to waste. It's down here in the student kitchens.

Uh... that's it. Thanks.

[And then the feed cuts off.]

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[Bulba was making busy with the stirring of pots. He set the lid back down on the one as he looked over at the door. He didn't seem all that surprised to see Char there.]

...Hey.

Uh. You hungry...?

Nah.

[And then a brief, uncomfortable pause. Is it too blunt to just... well, maybe he'd better come at it a little sideways. Let Bulba decide just how much he wanted to talk about.]

...How you holdin' up?

The spicy is half for you, so I'll put some away anyway... You should eat at some point though, you look like you've been busy.

[Don't think he didn't notice that you're turning purple in some spots. But he's going to do that right now because it was something to do as they talked.]

... As well as I could be, I guess.

[Char just looked away. Clearly any and all purple was all just in your imagination there was absolutely nothing going on here okay. But he did give silent consent for putting some away for later, if only because he knows how welcome even a little distraction can be.]

This don't gotta be the end of it, y'know. You got a phone, you got email, and I bet Green'd let you visit wherever that kid lives if you asked. Hell, I'll fly you there myself.

Edited 2011-04-05 03:12 (UTC)

Yeah, I know. I just... don't know when it stops being too soon. Oh...

[Bulba leaned against the counter, looking entirely unsure of what he wanted to say. This was suddenly much more awkward than it needed to be.]

We were, um... [A sigh.] He was who I was seeing. I was waiting until I thought you wouldn't punch him to introduce him properly but I guess that's kind of irrelevant now.

[Whoa. Okay. He was not prepared for that. They really hadn't spoken about the whole liking boys thing since their fight; Char was still kind of hovering reluctantly between actually maybe being kind of okay with it (but only sort of) and just... turning a blind eye and offering up neither approval nor disapproval.

It's a reminder that there are things Bulba doesn't think he can be trusted with; for a moment, it itches the exact self-isolating urge he's been scratching with his week-long spree of bad decisions. He can examine that later, though. For now: dear god Char don't make this a horrible awkward Thing.]

...Shit. You guys... uh... are you still...?

[Secret homosexual lovers?]

You gonna try the long-distance thing?

He suggested we take a "break."

[Oh were those... yes the air quotes were coming out. So, no. No more secret homosexual lovers.]

We're still friends but we're... not... [He shakes his head, staring down at his feet for a moment because they are obviously completely fascinating.]

... Sorry. I should try to maybe not randomly dump things on you all the time.

The hell are you apologizin' for, kid? Come at me with whatever the hell you wanna, if that's what you gotta do.

[Bulba your ass got dumped. That kind of gives you a free pass to go dumping stuff in return.]

...You gonna be okay?

[And it's not just breakups that make him ask. Even he can see this basically came at the WORST POSSIBLE TIME.]

... I'll be fine. I've still got you guys, don't I?

[He just wants to sleep it all off but HAHA SLEEP HA... ha.]

I just feel kind of dumb about everything.

[There he goes, sticking the packed up bit of curry in the fridge and writing Char's name on it. He lingers there for a moment because it means Char can't see him getting all misty eyed. That was dumb, nobody needed to see that. There was also a quiet admission made to the refrigerator, and clearly only the refrigerator because it was really dumb.]

... I miss him a lot.

'Course you do, Bulba.

[Oh no, hesitation. He's torn between "Bulba is all about contact maybe a... hand on the shoulder... or something would make him feel better" and "Bulba is trying to be strong, have some respect for that, pretend not to notice he's spending just a little too long hiding his face behind the fridge door". Sorry, awkward touching, but you lose this round. Char averts his gaze once again.]

Give it time. I know it don't do much good now, but the shit that don't break you only makes you stronger.

[And he totally didn't see that eye wiping action either. If he did, then it was simply just a belated reaction to chopping onions. Yes. He shuts the fridge door, hovering a moment longer before looking back over at Char.]

... Yeah. [Wait for it. Waaait for it... There's a shaky smile.]

We'll be even more of a force to be reckoned with once this is all behind us, huh?

[HE REMEMBERS HOW TO SMILE. There's still hope.]

Kid, we're gonna own this school. ...More than we do already, I mean.

[Somewhere in there he's still technically jolly, after all.]

We'll take them all by surprise. Again. Just in case they forgot.

I think I can already hear people weepin' in terror.

[OH MAN LOOK HE LAUGHED sort of. Almost. Kinda. Mostly a chuckle… ish.]

What if that's just because of giant spiders sucker punching them? They haven't seen anything yet.

[OH MAN WE ARE HAVING A JOLLINESS BREAKTHROUGH.]

Sucker punchin' spiders are a pretty tough act to follow. Guess we'll just hafta bust out something real special. Can't let ourselves be outdone by my own spider, right?

Yeah let's not do that. As cool as Rasputin is, that might be a little embarrassing.

Think I mighta taught him just a little too well.

[A wry grin and a shrug.]

Y'think flagpole wedgies are too old? They got some real great impact, but that's ground we've covered before.

I think I'm supposed to try and dissuade you from that kind of behavior.

[See look at that frown.]

...But If I weren't, I'd say that'd probably make an effective re-introduction.

Is that you almost agreein'? I knew someday I'd end up bein' a role model.

As if you weren't one already.

[He made a little pinch with his fingers.] Just a liiittle agreement. Don't get too used to it.

You need better taste in role models, then. [And there's a chuckle!] We'll make a delinquent outta you yet if you don't watch yourself.

Oh nooooo. [Whatever will he do but look vaguely alarmed. But oh hey, there's another smile! It's very tiny, but it's there. Baby steps.] I think I'll turn out just fine.

[You know, once everything else is fine.]

...Yeah.

[Oh, look. There's a hand on your head, Bulba. It's a bit more awkward than when you were a Bulbasaur because your head and Char's head are basically on the same level now, and it's not gonna last very long because what is human contact, but for now, it's there.]

Yeah, you will.

[Oh gosh what. There's a surprised blink, because this was Char and this was Char with his hand on Bulba's head. No matter how surprising or somewhat awkward it is, Bulba is definitely rolling with it. He lift his head against the contact, seeking headrubs on automatic. Habits...]

... Thanks.

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action | THE ICON IS NOW HEADPATS

action | THE HEADPATS ARE NOW DIAMONDS

action | I HOPE THEY'RE IN FIJI

action | THEY MAY ALSO BE ON HORSES

action | SWOON.EXE