IC contact; phone

[flowerofmtsilver]

You have reached the voice mailbox of ...Vinnie. Please leave a message after the tone.

...

BEEP!

[Or drop him a text, if you'd like to brave his txtspeak]

Comments

[rivalsolarbeam]

I did. I've been keeping an eye on it.

[...He had just gotten to it later than he should have. The fact that it was still there meant... well. Probably that it would be there for longer, even once the redness faded.

His eyes drifted to Vinnie's tail briefly, taking it into careful consideration.]

I don't... think it was about us, per se. [This came with a hesitant, knowing look up at Vinnie. There really wasn't an us, but it wasn't about the potential of one either.]

... He thinks it's my fault though, that you wanted to leave. All the same stuff from the first time, really.

[That much he couldn't get around, because when had any of the starters' recent fights been about anything else but their friendship?]

[punchtheinferno]

[There was a loud slap! of Vinnie's tail against the floor. He glanced to the side, no longer able to keep staring at the red welt on Bulba's face. His eyes were filled with anger instead - at Marie, at himself. Without realizing, his voice snapped much harsher than he normally would've.]

Then he should've fuckin' taken it out on me! Goddammit...

I'm such a fuckin' idiot. You shouldn't've had to get blamed for that. I thought... tch.

[rivalsolarbeam]

[Bulba flinched slightly at the snap of both tail and voice, but quickly spoke up in a firm voice.]

It's not your fault.

[The Venusaur took in a deep breath and sighed.] He doesn't listen. That's not on you. This shouldn't have happened either, I just... got mad at him. For being stupid. That's all this is. [It's all it was, he told himself.]

[punchtheinferno]

[The tail had gone back to a light tapping, but he still couldn't meet Bulba's eyes. There were a slew of questions swirling inside him - if Bulba had told anybody, for one. But that wasn't fair. It wasn't right to place the onus on him, especially considering the unintended consequences of their last fight.

Vinnie wasn't part of the team anymore, and Marie had to fight his own battles. He didn't have that right. Maybe it was just for the best that he didn't know - that he just trust that at least Bulba learned from the past.

So he just nodded, even if he didn't look like he believed the starter's words completely.]

Yeah, he's... he can be a shit. I don't blame you.

[He paused.]

...S'long as you're okay.

[rivalsolarbeam]

[He could tell Vinnie wasn't really buying all of it, but this much would have to be enough, Bulba supposed.]

Yeah.

[Bulba lowered his eyes briefly, sorting through the tugs at his feelings. He was grateful and selfishly a bit pleased that Vinnie cared to the degree he seemed to. He wanted to be honest and say he didn't think he was okay, because he probably wasn't. Not really. He had to be though. He didn't want things to get worse.

So he nodded his head, giving the Charizard's knee a light pat.]

I'm okay. I'm sorry for making you worry.