21st bloom; Retreat

[punchtheflowers]

[It was that time of year again. There was a small gift in the form of a satchel of tea leaves for the people that Vinnie considered family. Red got a strong, black tea; Marie, a sweet berry tea blend; Sasha's had spicy peppercherry as a base. Though not technically a member of his team, Voile still received a subtle, white tea.

However: this year, for whatever reason, Green and Blue's team also got a surprise present. Green tea was reserved for Green (ha ha); Bulba was paired with sweet-smelling jasmine leaves; Char had smoky, cinder horse mix; Jolt's was a refreshing oolong; even Nyx got something, a ginger tea. Blue, on the other hand, was given a chrysanthemum tea, and both Jock and Blake got classic belle tart seed.

Each packet was signed with a scribble of a flower.

Max, on the other hand, got a mug.]

= = =

I'm heading home for a bit t'check up on family. There's some shit I need t'take care of in Vermilion, too. I've got my phone if you need me - it's some sort've satellite thing, so it oughta work even if I'm not in the usual reception range.

M, Sis, you've been through this already. Be careful an' look out for V and everyone else. You'll be fine without me. Red...

...

Be there for them. I'll talk t'you when I get back.

= = =

[Ishimaru, Vivian, and Rick also received private emails. It wasn't as though Vinnie knew them very well, but he felt as though it was still worth saying something to them. A certain empathy spoke to him, as it were, even if he didn't have all the facts.]

I don't know you, and I don't know what happened, but if you did what you had to, then don't blame yourself for what was self-defense.

It'll be okay.

✿

Comments

[Action]

[reservedempath]

[Voile had not forgotten the last time Vinnie had said he was departing, for she'd spent that last day - part of it, anyway - with him. It seemed to be what she had in mind in the present, too.

"Be careful an' look out for V and everyone else."

Her heart warmed. His special name for her. She always knew who he was talking about whenever he said it. With that thought in mind, it was nearly impossible to keep herself from housing a reserved smile.

Whatever the case, she stood outside his door, fairly certain he'd not left just yet. Surely he'd consider it a good surprise. She hoped.]

[punchtheflowers]

[Vinnie had just finished up the business with emails, meanwhile, and was ready to leave. He rarely needed to pack much more than the clothes on his back and the stuff in his pockets, so that was easy enough. If he was slow to leave, it was more to do with wrestling his own feelings than it was for preparation's sake. It was hard not to feel like he was running away.

When he finally opened the door, surprise struck him - but only for a brief moment. No, he actually should've expected Voile there. It felt only fitting that she was, somehow. He blinked, now stuck in his own doorway.]

Hey. You here t'see me off?

[reservedempath]

[She was always there, in one fashion or another. She despised letting him be alone, especially when she knew there were greater forces at work with him. So when he opened the door, her expression kept the same warmth that she always held for him.

And a minute flutter.]

Hello.

[She paused when she thought over his question.]

If you wish to call it that, then yes.

[punchtheflowers]

[Even if his usual response would've been something akin to, you didn't have to, or something similarily self-reliant, he bit his tongue down on the words. No, of course she had to - because she was Voile, and that was simply that.

Vinnie didn't particularly mind. Even if he never asked to be thought of, exactly, he appreciated it more than he let himself admit. It reminded him of what he had to come back for.]

We can walk t'the school gate if y'want.

[tidalwaves]

How long are you gonna be gone for?

[punchtheflowers]

Shouldn't be more than a week or two.

[tidalwaves]

Okay... I can still text you and stuff, right?

hurp and then I editieded

[punchtheflowers]

'Course. That's why I have the phone.

Lemme know if you like the tea, al'right?

[Video]

[rivalsweetscent]

[Sitting near where Vinnie normally did his sleeping thing in the green house was a tiny package with three sour poffins inside. They were a bit smaller than the usual ones though. For smaller appetites? Probably. There's no fancy ribbons but there was a little piece of paper telling him to have a good day in not very mysterious handwriting.

MEANWHILE SOMEONE FOUND HIS TEA PACKET AND... was really very touched. Probably he smiled over it a bit more than he should have.

He was not smiling quite as much as he made an actual reply to Vinnie's actual post. There had been a slight pang of longing at the idea of the Garden, for more than one reason.]

Ah, I hope everyone's doing well...!

[Video] I MISS HAVING ICONS

[punchtheflowers]

I've got no reason t'think they're not, but it's been a while since I checked up on them anyway. Just...

[He paused, a feeling of guilt lingering in the momentary silence. Something conflicted lingered there.]

Trying to think of family today.

[Video] 8'|

[rivalsweetscent]

[He could guess at the issue. Bulba nodded and offered him a little smile.]

It will be a good trip.

[Video] WAHHH

[punchtheflowers]

[Vinnie didn't smile back, but his eyes softened a little.]

You're always welcome t'visit too, y'know. But I get it if you wanna stick by Green for the next little while.

[travelingbelle]

[Blue... Blue didn't know this was the day he chose for birthdays. If she had known she certainly would have said something but she didn't.]

Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on all of 'em. You do what you need to do!

Um... But who's V?

[punchtheflowers]

[Such a mystery. It must be international tea-giving day.]

Oh, that's Voile. She's a Gardevoir 'round here.

[travelingbelle]

[Gosh!!!]

Oh...! I don't think I've actually met her. I'm going to have to fix that.

[punchtheflowers]

[Y u p]

I'm sure you'd like her. She's... very close t'heart for us.

I hope you're al'right with the tea, by the way. I didn't know what kind you liked, so I just went with a flowery one.

[THE MOST DERAIL-ASS ACTION EVER ha ha hhhaa]

[rivalkidneypunch]

[Char, meanwhile, neither knows nor gives any amount of shits when Vinnie's birthday is, so is very confused by what he assumes must have been Bulba giving him surprise gifts. When he heads down for breakfast, he brings said mystery gift along so he can ask the kid about it.]

Uh, kid...?

[APPROVED AND ENCOURAGED]

[rivalsweetscent]

[There were probably some extra poffins getting made since he was already in the mood, along with the usual breakfast fares.]

Uh-huh...? Good morning.

[rivalkidneypunch]

[Ooh, poffins. He might be kinda hovering a bit, Bulba. Are they spicy. Are there spicy poffins.]

Mornin'. Look, uh, is today some kinda team anniversary or something?

[rivalsweetscent]

[Maybe there were. There were certainly spicy berries on the counter.]

Hmm?

[Bulba gave him a quick, slightly confused look before he looked back at his batter pot.]

Not really? Its just a good day for them. [You know. Assuming you were asking about poffins.]

Private

[throughthefireandflames]

Thanks for the tea! [Aww yeah with Dojo training she actually knew how to brew her own cup using her own tail. Delicious bitter taste.]

I got a request! If you're gonna go see your family, I wanna see some pics with that phone!

[A bunch of little baby bulbasaurs maybe...so cuuute.]

[Actual Video Now i am so sorry about that massive derail]

[rivalkidneypunch]

[No "Happy Birthday." No "have a nice trip" or "why are you leaving" or "when will you be back." Char does not actually care about any of the above. He has nothing to say about Vinnie farting off to Kanto; he could make a few choice comments about the timing, but he also does not care about the safety of Red Team (except for Sasha, who's got a Dojo to cover her ass). Anyawy, as a guy who's also fond of farting off, he really can't get on Vinnie's case about the act itself.

No, there is really only one purpose to this outreach. One really super important and deep purpose. A burning question that must be answered:]

Why the hell did you give me tea?

[e-mail] TAGS BELATEDLY

[forgetbeam]

[Ishimaru stared at the e-mail for several minutes, lost for words. He thought he was finally safe from the endless phone calls and messages on the network, which he'd only seen as a nuisance adding to his stress at the time, but it was these words from a stranger that finally made him realize...

He had support.

From friends, from faculty, and even from people he didn't know. He'd been so stubbornly shouldering all the problems he could on his own because that was what he was used to, that he didn't even notice the support for what it was. If he kept turning everyone away, the weight of it all would surely break him.

Of course, he still wasn't sure what the proper response to all of this should be. Opening up to a stranger particularly seemed difficult. But he had to respond somehow, so:]

I sincerely thank you for your encouraging words.
I believe that everything will turn be fine soon enough. For now, please be cautious wherever you go.

-Kiyotaka Ishimaru

[tank_rockarms]

::This is a good mug. Max appreciates his mug.::

[silentchamp]

Okay, Vinnie... Take care of yourself.