rivalsweetscent | 012// [Video/Action]

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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[...Ah. Well, that answered his suspicions on closeness. So yeah, Vinnie wasn't surprised by that subtle coming out - really, he was more surprised that they ended it.

His face softened in a look of genuine sympathy. Was it empathy? Who knew.]

...Sorry t'hear it didn't work out. He was a good kid.

You two can still keep in touch, right?

[There was some glum chewing going on here.] Yeah, I'm sorry too.

[He turned around, leaning his elbows on the counter and poking at the other apple slices.]

... Yeah. I just don't know when it wouldn't be kind of awkward.

[Now he's frowning.]

It shouldn't even be awkward at all. It's stupid.

[Well, Vinnie was out of apple to bite on. He sighed, crossing his arms in thought.]

I'm not gonna pretend I know 'bout steady relationships, but...

It seems t'me that he'd want you t'find happiness while he's away, instead'a being forced to wait fuck knows how long.

[Knowing that people could leave the school for a year and come back to find it was only weeks after they'd gone, it wasn't an unreasonable measure. The city had a weird way of twisting time. Idly, he wondered if Dana was the cause.]

You might think it'd be awkward, keeping contact... hell, you're right. It'll be awkward. It won't be what you want. But it's better than never knowing.

[Relationships he didn't know, but it seemed like he was familiar with separation.]

[It made sense. He could understand all of that and agree but... it was just too soon to actually feel okay about it.]

I guess...

[Poke poke poke the apples. Bulba stayed quiet a moment, and then he gave Vinnie a cautious, curious glance.]

... Is that from experience?

[That was understandable. As long as Bulba heard the advice and listened, that was fine. ~~Vinnie stop giving lectures.~~

He glanced at Bulba's curious expression for a moment, before hesitantly falling back on a veil of vagueness.]

Well... I am older than you. I'm allowed t'be a bit experienced sometimes.

[Aw what that wasn't a satisfying answer at all.]

Sage Venusaur advice, huh.

[Bulba wondered vaguely if he'd start dropping helpful tidbits everywhere when he was a Venusaur too. The thought made him smirk a little and he picked up another slice, quietly pushing the cutting board closer to the other saur if he was interested.]

[Too bad. And yes, it's a move you learn when you evolve. Not that Vinnie really saw himself as being all that wise yet.]

Naw, being sagely is Kojiro's job. It's just the normal kind've advice.

Regret's a fucked up thing, that's all.

[Oh why yes he will take another slice of apple.]

[Aww yeah Worldy Advice. Bulba blew a strand of hair out of his face.]

You can say that again.

[Nom. He pushed back from the counter and stretched. It was time to give the curry a stir before it decided to go making itself all gross. He kind of felt like a topic change. He dipped the spoon in, giving Vinnie another glance.]

... How have you been?

[With the Max training. With your leaves. With your own sleep issues. With all the things he didn't know about yet. That really could have applied to anything.]

[Vinnie blinked slightly, a little surprised to have the question turned on him. But he quickly softened, maybe even smiled the tiniest bit. There was an air of determination in his words.]

...Better. Trying to get my act together. I'm always either busy or exhausted these days, but it feels better than just waiting.

Most nights I just pass out. I'm remembering the dreams less cuz I just don't have time t'sit around and think about'em.

Edited 2011-04-10 00:29 (UTC)

[Bulba nodded, looking back towards the pots. Stir stir stir.]

... That's good. Glad to hear it.

[He might have sounded the tiniest bit jealous.]

You've got some kind of new training thing with Max, right?

[Vinnie made an halfhearted snorting sound. It felt weird admitting this to another kept Pokemon, since he basically accepted another human to train him. But whatever, he kicked out his pride when he signed up.]

Sort of... I owed him a debt, and he gave me a job.

It's basic training. For Orange Star.

[Whoa wait what. Big eyes coming your way, Vinnie.]

You joined the army?

[He was kind of expecting that response.]

Pretty much.

That's... huh.

[Completely boggling is what it was. He refrained from asking if Red was okay with it, since he clearly must have been if Vinnie had actually signed up.]

What the heck did you do to get into that kind of debt with Max of all people?

[Shrug.] Wrecked his tank.

[Vinnie looked like he'd rather not talk about the hows and the whys. Because there was a whole can of worms that would follow, and he really didn't want to open it.

And because opening it would mean that he was basically admitting to remembering everything he did that one crazy week.]

You... wrecked his tank.

[He sounded rather disbelieving. Vinnie you are basically crippled how the heck did you wreck Max's tank. It's a tank. And so Bulba is giving him a rather deadpan stare despite how much he could tell Vinnie didn't want to talk about it.]

[Okay, that look of disbelief had been noted, thanks. Just cuz he was a cripple didn't mean he was totally useless. Although technically that week he had his powers again, but that was besides the point.]

Tank treads. Still costs a fuckload to repair.

[Dude still. THAT WAS NOTHING YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING.]

Why the... Nevermind. I don't think I want to actually know.

[You were pretty much an okay guy now he didn't want to ruin this image with some sort of weird tank wreaking habits or whatever the reason was. It was probably. Something dumb. Don't be dumb.]

Ehh, it's probably best you don't.

[Soon to be ruined by Max. Thank you, Max.]

I'm just trying t'own up and fix whatever I can. Even if I don't get better... I'll climb back up anyway.

Edited 2011-04-10 06:33 (UTC)

Hmm.

[That is enough curry stirring.]

For what it's worth coming from me... I'm sure you'll be just fine. You're too stubborn not to.

Well... likewise.

Except for maybe the stubborn part. I'm just thick-headed, so s'probably a good thing.

Heheh. Maybe, if it's not getting you into too much trouble.

[T-trouble, you say. How much trouble would you define as 'too much'? Because he's sure that getting into fights all the time sort of count.]

That's... kind've debatable.

[Your moe face cannot save you.]

Oh geez.

[What about this face.]

...

[Awkward clearing of throat.]

Anyways, you'll be fine. Things'll get better.

012// [Video/Action]

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THIS THREAD COMES BEFORE MAX'S OR IT WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING

MAX YOU KEEP RUINING MY LIFE

FRIEND TO ALL SAURS

SPILLER OF ALL SECRETS

PUNCHER OF ALL THINGS

DEVOURER OF WORLDS

KEEPER OF BICEPS

WAXER OF CHESTHAIR

SCHOLAR OF MUSCLE

ABUSER OF STEROIDS?

NO THAT'S ALL NATURAL

I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT

WELL WHEN YOU GO THROUGH 4 PUBERTIES, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

MAN NOT EVEN POKEMON GO THROUGH 4 EVOLUTION STAGES

I KNOW IT'S CRAZY

IT'S UNFAIR IS WHAT IT IS

BUT WHO REALLY WANTS TO GO THROUGH FOUR PUBERTIES

THAT'S... TRUE...

I MEAN REALLY THIS ONE IS BAD ENOUGH

SOB

THE MOST AWKWARD OF SPRINGS

WORST SPRINGTIME EVER

SOOOB

YOU'RE GOING TO BE SO UPSET THE NEXT TIME I SEE YOU

GONNA COMPLETELY FORGET THIS CONVERSATION IN LIKE AN HOUR