000// Phone Post-O

[rivalsweetscent]

[Hello you have reached the phone of one Bulba.

You may leave him a VOICE MAIL, TEXT, or just CALL him. Leave the date and time and he will get back to you.]

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[rivalsweetscent]

[I want to stay like this, was the thought that flickered through his mind in the instant where his hand remained holding Vinnie's face and the older saur's was cupped flush against it. Right there. Just a little longer...

It was barely even a moment before it was over, and Bulba felt a shameful pang of yearning. Stop that. You were being dumb again. But even as he chided himself, his eyes followed Vinnie's down to their hands. Vinnie might not have said it, but Bulba would have agreed.]

I'm fine.

[It was a stubborn lie. The unsettling warmth he felt besides Vinnie had been enough to distract him from the nip of the cold for a little while, but it did not make its effects any less real. His fingers were bright pink against Vinnie's, and his breathing had been coming in slight shivers for a short while now. He was not sure if he could actually feel his ears.]

[punchtheflowers]

[Such a lie. Vinnie's eyes flickered up to meet Bulba's, just so the other could see that flat, knowing look in his stare. Of course the Ivysaur wouldn't want to leave him regardless of the weather. Well, fine.]

I'll make you some tea.

[There was some strong insistence in his voice, but it accompanied the underlying reassurance that yes, Vinnie would go with him. That would suit the worried mother hen well enough, hopefully.

The Venusaur could always slip out on his own another time when he longed for the cold and altitude. As long as he was keeping busy somehow, whether it was with tea-making or the holiday season, he could put Red from his mind.]

[rivalsweetscent]

[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.]

[punchtheflowers]

[Looking satisfied with this response, Vinnie rose as well. Their hand to hand contact was finally broken when he unfurled his fingers from Bulba's in order to dust off all the dirt still covering him.

As nice as it was, the moment was gone. With a task in mind now, it was easy for Vinnie to let go and focus away from his illusions - not thinking how the Ivysaur felt about the abrupt release.

When it was clear that wiping off everything was a lost cause, Vinnie straightened himself back up and glanced at Bulba. Though he said it before, words by themselves didn't feel enough for the gratitude he owed. Hell, he was starting to feel a little embarrassed for it. But he said it again, with more certainty, because he needed to.]

Thank you. For finding me.

[In perhaps more than simply the literal sense of the word.]

[rivalsweetscent]

[He hadn't been ready for it. There was a rush of nervous energy grasping his chest tightly as the Venusaur abruptly broke the contact. He wanted nothing more than to grab it back, but he knew very well that even if he did, it wouldn't matter. Reality had come crashing back without warning. The lie was over, and in its wake there was only a dull ache.

Even with all of his own reprimands, he had still let himself get caught up in all of it. He was a fool, and he had no one to blame but himself for the sting.

It felt that much colder now.

But still, Bulba managed to smile for him, small and genuine.]

You're welcome.

[He paused.]

... Thank you for letting me.