rivalsweetscent | 000// Phone Post-O

[Vinnie nodded again. He was fairly confident he could do good in the subject as well - when he applied himself, he had the diligence, and a fair bit of intuition to help him out. He had never been hopeless with most academics, even before.

There was no way that it could be anything as gruelling as the past two years of physical training he'd put himself to. Having accomplished as much as he had already, Vinnie definitely wasn't a stranger to hard work.]

I want... t'be able to do something I couldn't as just a Venusaur. Or just a human, either. I always knew how to use both through fighting - I think... I could use it t'contribute more than that.

[He paused, lowering his gaze for a moment.] I know I can be more than just a trainer's Pokemon.

[It was an interesting thing to consider, really, applying both pools of knowledge to accomplish something that just one could not. To go out and actively put it to use was not something that had ever crossed his mind as something he himself would ever do. Becoming more of his own person had not entirely branched past his own trainer pokemon status.]

… You know, that's really admirable. I never really thought about it much… If there's anyone that can do it, it's definitely you.

[Bulba leaned up to nudge his nose against Vinnie's neck with a small sigh.] You absolutely can. I think you're probably more than that already, really.

[The corners of Vinnie's mouth twitched into a small, tentative smile upon hearing Bulba's words. This was the right thing to do, he told himself. He did the right thing. Everything he was feeling right now was just another process of starting to move forward again.

Having a direction, his own direction, it felt good. Better than what anyone else could give him. The Venusaur's face softened as he closed his eyes and pressed his nose against Bulba's hair.

Quietly, he muttered a simple but appreciative:] Thanks.

[Bulba hummed a bit in response. All he could do right now was back Vinnie up in the things he decided he wanted to do. This one was easy to get behind.

He eased under Vinnie's touch. His anger was all but set aside for now, to be picked up and re-evaluated when the right time came. Now it was just the gentle sounds of the lake and Vinnie's breathing as they moved together. Bulba lowered his gaze a bit, not looking at anything in particular as he spoke up in a soft voice.]

I'm... I'm really glad you were planning on sticking around.

You'd miss me, right?

[That Bulba had become more comfortable saying such things made Vinnie feel, well, pretty pleased as an advocate for saying whatever was on your damn mind, and as a someone who held him dear. There were things that were unsaid that still needed saying, sometimes.]

I'm not that easy t'get rid of.

Thank goodness for that. [He said it with a small laugh.]

I really would though. Miss you.

[Far more than Vinnie probably thought he would. Bulba had grown far too comfortable and accustomed to the Venusaur simply being there. Even when he was just a friend in his heart, Bulba had missed him terribly when he was gone, and that was even when he was pretty damn sure that Vinnie was coming back. If Vinnie left now, there probably wouldn't have been very much to keep the regrets that Bulba had been trying to avoid from eating him right up.]

... There's, mm, something I'd like to tell you, actually...

[A pause and a slight frown.]

Maybe now's not the best time though.

[Vinnie blinked and lifted his head. He hadn't expected Bulba to have news, but... maybe that was why he asked to hang out after prom in the first place? Well, the Venusaur rather ruined that plan, in that case. It was an unfortunate clash of timing.]

You sure? What kind've thing?

Yeah, it's fine. It's not really anything important.

[Bulba had never been very good about giving his own feelings any sort of importance, but he felt they especially paled in comparison to what else Vinnie suddenly had going with him. Besides, he thought as he wiggled up just a bit closer, if waiting meant he got to stay this close for just a while longer... then it was fine. This sort of thing wouldn't last afterwards, he was sure.]

It can wait.

[Well, this was Bulba, he reminded himself. It usually took a while for him to muster up how to say something - so Vinnie would just have to be patient and let him pick his own pace to reveal what was on his mind. Even though the Venusaur had calmed down a bit, he couldn't shake off the rattled feeling entirely. That would probably take a good night's sleep at the very least.]

Al'right. But, y'know, if it's bad news, might as well get it over with and lump it all together.

[He lifted his head to look at him, picking up a small smile of comfort.]

It's not anything bad. [At least he really hoped not. He didn't like entertaining the idea that maybe it was.]

I'll tell you later, when things are a little more settled, ok?

Okay.

[Fair point. Vinnie sighed as he realized that actually, the headache wasn't quite over yet. He scratched the scruff of his hair with a grim sense of forboding.]

Shit, I'm gonna have t'tell the rest of my te...

[My team. He caught himself on the words, unaccustomed to having it not fit. Hrm. Well, Bulba knew what he meant anyway, so Vinnie didn't bother correcting himself.

He did, however, shoot the Ivysaur an uncertain glance that begged the question, was this something Green's team had to know about too? What exactly was the protocol here?]

[They already hadn't been rivals in the real sense of the word for a long while, so it had taken a while for the rest of the implications to catch up with him but... with the mention of teams came the small dawning that he wasn't sitting next to a rival anymore. Something he knew, but hadn't quite registered. Vinnie was simply Vinnie now.

How this was going to affect Red team, Bulba really couldn't say. He dully wondered how they were going to deal with Red afterwards, a bit bitterly.

And what about his team? Blue's? Bulba met Vinnie's glance, his mouth thinning into a thoughtful line accompanied by slightly worried brows. Abandonment issues were things that brought Green team together, but he didn't think anyone ever fancied the thought that anyone would actually get kicked off a team. At least not any of theirs. This was really messed up.]

... I can tell mine, unless you don't want me too. I don't think it will take too long for them to find out anyway though.

[Vinnie thought on this. He really didn't want this being a bigger deal than it needed to be, honestly, but in terms of how Green's team might react, he had even less of an idea than Bulba as to how that would go.]

I guess you can tell Green, an' he can decide however he wants t'deal with it.

[Bulba nodded. He spoke a bit softer, but felt the need to be honest about it:]

I was probably going to tell him anyway. But you know... I mean, I know you probably won't need it but... if you do need anything, he'd probably have your back, for what it's worth.

[There was still a fair chunk of pride in the Venusaur that he really didn't want to rely on Green for anything, just out of principle. Simply being his starter's friend shouldn't classify Vinnie as deserving of special treatment or charity.

It's not as though he was especially reliant on his trainer before anyway. He hadn't been for a long time.

Still... Vinnie's stare drifted over to the water again.]

...I'll be okay. I mean, once I get over the shock. After everything else, this... it doesn't hurt that much anymore.

I'll wait a week t'see if Red's still the same. These things... usually don't last longer than that. [Uncertainty coloured his voice. He was more worried for Red than he was for himself, if this really was some trick of the school. The amnesia had lingered a long time - how could he say for sure that this was impermanent?]

[He wasn't so sure that the fact that this didn't hurt as much was actually a comfort. Bulba's gaze fell, and he leaned his head against Vinnie's shoulder one more time. It was the only sort of comfort he knew he could offer at this point.

Bulba nodded again at the proposed plan.]

That's a good idea... [That probably meant he should probably wait to sock his lights out, didn't it? Bulba frowned with a vague wrinkle of his nose. Man.]

... You'll definitely be okay though, yeah. [He sounded very sure about that part, at least.]

[Vinnie, in turn, leaned his head against Bulba's by way of acknowledgement. For while he said nothing, comfortable in the silence between them as he counted the offset in the tempo of their breathing.

All things considered, this... was nice. It was better than if he'd turned down the offer to blow off steam in the weight room, or if he'd holed up in the greenhouse to brood. He had Bulba, and Bulba had him. After Green's incredibly awkward talk earlier, the Venusaur dimly realized that this improbable bond that had formed between them had grown beyond anything he could've asked for. If he was lucky in nothing else, he was still staggeringly fortunate to have such a relationship.

Closing his eyes, Vinnie smiled and told him:] ...I'm really glad you're here right now.

[Bulba was monumentally glad for the cover of night as he felt his face turn three shades pinker. He seriously knew exactly what to say to get the Ivysaur to flutter all over without having a single idea of it, didn't he? Gosh and dang. When Bulba spoke it was somewhat hushed with how honestly touched he felt at the notion.] ... That makes me really happy. I'm glad that I could be...

[Once again, Bulba briefly entertained the notion of simply leaning up and kissing the older saur right then. Of simply blurting it all out anyway. It was different this time, it had been the plan. But no. No, no, he put a cap on that right quick. This moment didn't need that. He had enough to think about. Stick with the new plan.

Staying true to that, however, was not going to stop that extra mystery sweetness in the air.]

Thanks for coming out anyway.

[Was Bulba smelling sweeter again? Vinnie was probably just imagining it... Still, his own face was turning just a little bit pink as well, reacting to the message in his scent.]

...You know, it's too bad the city's filled with curfew robots right now.

Yeah, kind of...

[WAIT WHAT WAS.]

Did you have something in mind?

[WAS HE ASKING HIM OUT.]

[He gave a small shrug. Maybe it was all this staring at the lake. Or maybe Vinnie had been avoiding the punch so he was actually a little parched.]

A drink'd be nice. I could always just make some tea, I guess?

[NO HE JUST WANTED TO HANG OUT, DINGUS.]

Ah... [And what was the tea that they would normally get in the city?]

Now I'm thinking about bubble tea. Why would you do that.

[You did this.]

So you can suffer with me.

It'd take too long to cook the pearls right now. Would you settle for plain almond milk tea?

[How about it? Sitting in the dirt was probably ruining your dress pants.]

[Not as much as yours.]

I guess I could deal with that alternative.

[Honestly it sounded really good. Bulba moved away slightly so that he could get up, giving Vinnie a rosy grin as he did so.]

I'll follow you.

[What was he thinking with this white suit. Vinnie stood, and no amount of dusting himself off was going to get rid of the dirt smeared on his butt. Dry cleaning, awesome.

His smile was more confident now, even with the uncertainty that lingered over him. That feeling was simply the absence of a weight that had been on his shoulders for long, long time - if he was still shaky, it was because he wasn't used to feeling untethered and light.]

000// Phone Post-O

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