[Bulba sat back a little at that look. It was one that said the other knew him too well, and knew exactly what the Ivysaur's intentions had been. His frozen ears still possessed enough ability to flick back, though the unconscious gesture brought a sharp tingling sensation. Gosh. Fine. Bulba lowered his eyes again with a sigh, yielding.]

... All right.

[The unspoken promise that Vinnie would go with him was enough. He knew he couldn't keep the Venusaur out of the cold. It helped him think. He remembered that. Other trips were fine, but this one... This one was different. With the storm of negative emotions freshly released and at its rawest... This one had scared him a little.

He hadn't been alone. It would be okay. Slowly. Bulba would believe it enough for both of them.

Bulba took Vinnie's hand in his, carefully rousing himself to his feet.]