16th bloom; roll away your stone. NOT FOURTH WALL

[punchtheflowers]

[Sorry, but this was an occurrence happening squarely on the evening of Sunday, April 22nd. It was his birthday. And that meant gifts.

Ever since Marie had lost his Everstone, he had been checking out some Sinnoh-based online communities for mining enthusiasts. Getting an Explorer's kit was free, apparently, so he'd signed up with a starter kit. The Venusaur didn't have a whole lot of interest in actually having to go Underground, but the discovery of stones that could grow when buried intrigued him - rocks that acted like plants!

So since he is too freakin' broke for proper presents, he'd give freakin' homegrown glowing gemstones instead. Too bad they weren't large enough to actually be that valuable, but he tried.]

Red: a size 4 Pale Sphere - a mother-of-pearl that gleamed like the rainbow. Grows slower than the rest, so it's still quite small.

Marie: a Bubble Trap - anyone who stepped on this hidden panel would be submerged in a burst of bubbles. Could be used to trick people, delay them, or keep them out of your stuff. Seemed novel.

Chika: a Yellow Shard - not quite as luminous as a sphere, but it had a peculiar sparkle to it that was quite pretty. He'd wrapped a string around it to make it into a makeshift pendant.

Sasha: a size 8 Red Sphere - the center of the stone shone like a warm flame, even when it was cool to the touch. This one also wasn't as large as it could be simply because he was somewhat offput by this fiery glow.

Sonny Moe: a size 12 Blue Sphere - glistened like ice. Perhaps not quite the right element, but the colour fit, and it matched his Blizzard nicely.

Voile: a Flower Trap - this time, a small hidden panel that, when step on, would surround you in a flurry of petals. Could make for an interesting entrance if used on a Beauty Contest stage, he imagined.

Celebi: a size 18 Green Sphere - its light was like that of sunshine peering through new leaves.

Blacky: a Movement Trap - whoever stepped on this tile would just be hurled in a direction until an obstacle stopped it. Might be useful for giving someone a scare. His family ties to Blacky were... pretty distant, but he didn't have a use for it, so why not give it away.

Comments

[truffulatree]

[Let's discuss my appreciation for this.]

SECRET LOGS

[punchtheflowers]

[Sure okay.]

[fullunlifeconsequences]

[Oh gosh she wasn't expecting to be presented with gifts today.]

What's this?

[punchtheflowers]

[Well he hands you this square with a fat arrow on it that he's neglected to wrap.]

Uh, a trap tile. If y'want it.

[fullunlifeconsequences]

[A GIFT IS A GIFT, WRAPPING OR NO.]

I've never seen one of these before... But it certainly sounds promising. What's the occasion?

[punchtheflowers]

Birthday. Or earth day, whichever.

[fullunlifeconsequences]

It isn't my birthday. But, ah, thank you. How does it work?

[punchtheflowers]

I didn't say it was.

[BUT WHATEVER. He put the tile on the floor.]

Anyone who steps on it gets flung in the direction've the arrow - probably 'til they crash into something. Could work for a one-time scare.

[fullunlifeconsequences]

[Vinnie, you are an enigma shrouded in mystery.]

I never would have expected you of all people actually encouraging me to cause a little more mischief.

[punchtheflowers]

[A delicious mystery.]

Well it stands you're never gonna stop, so I might as well try t'encourage you targetin' someone other than me.

[fullunlifeconsequences]

Welll... [Thoughtfully fanning herself with the tile!]

I suppose I could spare you at least a month for this.

[punchtheflowers]

Just a month? Shit.

Guess I'll take what I can get.

[pokemontrainer]

[He sits with the stone in his lap, looking at it curiously. What a strange stone, for the glow was almost hypnotic and pulsing the longer he looked at it. Or was it just his imagination?]

It's nice. Thank you.

[punchtheflowers]

[Vinnie managed a smile.]

I would've gotten something better, but... y'know how my money is.

[pokemontrainer]

[After that post-Max rampage, Red totally understands.]

You put effort into it. It's worth more.

[punchtheflowers]

[HE WAS THIS CLOSE TO PAYING OFF HIS DEBT. THIS CLOSE.]

Ha... thanks. I don't know what you could do with it though. S'not even big enough t'be a paperweight.

[punchwaves]

[The bubble trap is silently accepted, and in return there is a teeny tiny potted cactus on Vinnie's nightstand to replace the one Marie got him for Christmas and then promptly uprooted.]

[punchtheflowers]

[RIP BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS CACTUS that he didn't know about...

This was a lovely plant though. Vinnie named her Akantha.]