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

[flowerofmtsilver]

k

u hav fun w/ur family

[rivalsolarbeam]

[you should come. i'll be thinking of you. i lo- A few minutes were spent typing and backspacing and typing again.]

can I see you later?

if it's not too late

[flowerofmtsilver]

u dont need 2 cut ur party short on my acount

sides lets not kid ourslvs ull b totly wasted

[rivalsolarbeam]

haaa yeah probably D:

i hope you have a good night tho.

[flowerofmtsilver]

u poor soul

dont wory bout me

[rivalsolarbeam]

i cannot be stopped

[flowerofmtsilver]

well it IS ur bday

live it up

[rivalsolarbeam]

ok ok i'll live it up

hopefully I'll see you later

[flowerofmtsilver]

in case i dont:

goodnite bulba

[rivalsolarbeam]

hehe

sweet dreams, vinnie

[flowerofmtsilver]

[LATER THAT NIGHT:

Bulba would come home to a small box tied with string on his bedside table. Its contents: a batch of imperfect and clumsily crafted sugar cookies in the shape of flowers, and a note.]



They were supposed t'be cupcakes but you totally ruined the surprise. I'm still learning, but I hope they're all right. You're always makin' stuff for me, so...

Thanks. For everything. Really.

Happy birthday. I don't know what I'd be without you.

✿ Vinnie

PS. The water's for your hangover in the morning.

[Indeed, there was also a large bottle of water by the box. For re-hydrating your hungover brain later.]

[rivalsolarbeam]

[He almost missed them when he got back. His whole head was warm and cottony, and he was so, so tired and wished Vinnie had been there when he walked in to ease the nonsensical thoughts that were eating at his heart. He just wanted to lay there beside him and convince himself that things were ok.

He had toppled into his blankets, and only noticed when he rolled over that there was something more on the table.

Fumbling with the string at first, he had stared into the box of cookies and forgot how to breathe for a moment.

It took a few tries to comprehend what Vinnie had written. His head was swimming and his chest felt tight. His eyes were stinging and his mouth filled with sweetness. It was too sweet, and a bit salty, and Bulba wasn't sure if it was the cookie or not. That there would have been that much effort for him...

How delightfully sweet of him. That's what all that kitchen fuss was about? He would have burst from all the warmth and happiness that flooded him if it hadn't been for the nauseous weight in his stomach.

I don't know what I'd be without you.

Despite it all, he couldn't shake the belief that the answer would have been happier.]