01: ACTION and VIDEO taking place IN THE PAST.

[rivalsolarbeam]

Actiony Bits backdated to the 21st.
[So Green and Bulba had come back. Apparently. Where was Bulba though? What a mystery! There's this other guy meandering around campus though who kinda looks like him but he's taller and way more blonde. What a mystery! At other times there's a big Venusaur wandering around that looks kind of like Vinnie but way brighter green and with a big fat yellow flower. The mysteries just never stop emerging.

If you're a member of Green Team, he's looking for you. You too, RA party. He needs to say sorry for bailing on you for a few days. If you're another Venusaur, he sent you a text to meet up sometime that afternoon probably by a fountain or something. If you're anyone else, maybe he's familiar or maybe he's someone new you should greet.]

---

Video bits also backdated to the 21st.
[BUT EVENTUALLY A VIDEO POST POPPED UP ON THE NETWORK. IT WAS THAT GUY. He looked a wee bit nervous, but he was smiling at the camera for the video that was coming from Bulba's account.]

…Hello! There have been a few new students since I last said anything… My name's Bulba! I'm one of the girls' RAs so if you ever need anything, feel free to stop me if you see me.

Most of you already knew me as an Ivysaur but, uh, I'm a Venusaur now! I'll be getting used to it as much as you are, haha… I'm still the same me, though, so nothing to worry about there.

Have a good day, okay?

Comments

[rivalkidneypunch]

Give it a little time before you make up your mind. You gotta get used to it, yeah, but you got time to figure out what you can do now that y'couldn't before, right?

[The head on his shoulder was still a familiar one, even if Bulba had to bend more than he used to. Char reached up to give the kid's hair a ruffle, wings stretching in front to curve loosely around the two of them.]

Like... bein' fully evolved means we could both use Earthquake if we wanted to. Just don't mention that one around Jolt.

[rivalsolarbeam]

[The Venusaur's content ruffle-induced humming was abruptly punctuated by a small laugh.]

Lips sealed. I was thinking about that one, though... There's actually a lot we could both use if we wanted, now that I think about it.

[Admittedly he had been more intrigued by the notion of Pledges.]

At least I'd make a good Earthquake Avoidance Perch, hah.

[rivalkidneypunch]

See, you're already comin' out with perks. Maybe I should be keepin' that in mind in case my wings ever get tired. It's about time I started bein' the one gettin' piggybacks, huh?

[Truly their Charizard-balanced-on-Venusaur strategy would be invincible. Truly.]

[rivalsolarbeam]

[It was only the truest of facts. One that Bulba apparently agreed with, as he excitedly lifted his head and gave Char's nose an eager bump with his own.]

Eheh, ground taxis are at your service!

[rivalkidneypunch]

Well, in that case...

[He folded his wings in and raised his arms -- a clear suggestion that he was ready to be carried.]

Onward to school, noble steed.

[rivalsolarbeam]

[Bulba certainly couldn't deny his brother a ride then, could he? Not when he was so eager to take Bulba up on the offer. Bulba hoisted himself to his feet, looking for a moment like he was maybe about to switch back into a Venusaur.]

As you wish~

[Instead of a transformation, however, Char got an especially mischievous grin. It was pretty much the only warning the Charizard got before Bulba scooped down to heft Char up in his arms, bridal style.]

[rivalkidneypunch]

[Ah yes it was time to WHOA HOLY SHIT.

It was a good thing that Char's folded wings were caught between his body and Bulba's arm, or there'd be a whole lot of startled bird flapping going on right about then.

Okay, it was a total fact that Bulba was pretty strong. Dude worked out. And it was also a total fact that Bulba was tall. (Single tear.) But when you're reminiscing fondly of the days when you piggybacked a little kid around, it's kind of a jolt when said kid picks you up like he's sweeping a princess out of a tower. Seriously?]

Seriously?

[rivalsolarbeam]

[To be completely fair, getting picked up in any fashion was probably going to knock around those piggybacking memories pretty fast. And to be honest, there was a pretty high chance that he probably could have done it a stage ago, too. Probably. Maybe.

Better not to think about it, most likely.

Bulba shifted his arms just a bit, trying to make it a relatively comfortable experience for Char physically, at least.]

Yup.

[rivalkidneypunch]

[Yeah, not gonna think about it. RIP in piece, the days when he could pretend he was the biggest, toughest guy on Green Team.

He tried to accept his fate graciously, but he couldn't keep one hand rising to his poor, embarrassed face as he leaned against Bulba's shoulder.]

Tell no one of this.

[rivalsolarbeam]

[The facts could not be denied that Char wasn't really the biggest member of Green Team, but Bulba would still argue that he was probably still one of the toughest.

He was just easy to pick up now, when his butt wasn't a couple of times the size of his head.

Bulba, graciously, held back a (manly as hell) giggle as he turned to start walking towards the school. He wasn't going to say so, but even if it was just because of an overly silly situation, it felt nice to have Char leaning on him. If it happened more often in other capacities, well... he could get used to that.]

Not a word. I'll put you down before we get too close.

[rivalkidneypunch]

Thanks.

[He kind of suspected Bulba could have kept on carrying him that whole way, easily.]

Just don't get too complacent or nothing. I'm still big enough to carry you too, ain't I?

[It was kind of mumbled into Bulba's shoulder, half-laughing as he said it. It was hard not to be kinda sheepish about this role reversal, even if Bulba's smile was far too bright for Char to really be able to call this an unpleasant time.]

[rivalsolarbeam]

Totally. I'm definitely booking a ticket for air-taxis next time.

[Though in becoming more connected with the world around him, Bulba had finally become more grounded in his body mass. That might take a bit of adjusting to, but he didn't think it would make things impossible.

But while they were in the middle of being hilariously embarrassing, Bulba went ahead and leaned his head down to plant a quick lick against Char's forehead. Saliva revenge.]

I'll keep this one reserved for bar nights from here on out, heheh.

[rivalkidneypunch]

[Oh no saur cooties oh noooo. Char laughed again, burying his face further into Bulba's shoulder in an attempt to evade further saliva revenge.]

Somehow, I don't think that's what people mean when they say you oughta have a designated driver.

[rivalsolarbeam]

[He laughed out loud that time.]

It's way more legal than crow-barring a car to drive you with, at least.

[One of his lesser used trained skill points.]

[rivalkidneypunch]

Way less cool, though.

["Cool" obviously being a super huge priority for drunken stumbles home.]

[rivalsolarbeam]

[Yes totally.]

I fail to see what part of this isn't the coolest thing ever.

[Besides. All of it.]

[rivalkidneypunch]

[It was his turn to laugh out loud now.]

What, it automatically becomes cool if we're doin' it?

[rivalsolarbeam]

I thought that was a given, seeing as we're the coolest guys on campus.

Though it'd be about 100% cooler if it were Green doing it.

[rivalkidneypunch]

[Every word of that was clear and canon truth, but it got another little laugh out of Char anyway.]

What, the carryin' or the bein' carried?

[rivalsolarbeam]

[Bulba shrugged a bit with another laugh.]

He'd make both magnificent.

[rivalkidneypunch]

Hey, y'won't hear me arguin' that.

[Also a clear and canon truth, you see.]

Bet he's over the moon about your new look, huh?

[rivalsolarbeam]

[His expression softened into a very fond, warm smile.]

Yeah he is. He's way more excited than I am.

[rivalkidneypunch]

Can't say I blame him. There ain't nothing wrong with not wantin' to evolve, but...

[Oh no, sappiness. His one weakness. It was probably one of those things Bulba knew without being said, but Char was already sure that he never again wanted to have that sense of loss that had come when he'd thought of that tiny little Bulbasaur -- a sense of missed opportunities and wasted chances.

So even if it was sappy, and even if saying it while he was being carried across the threshold like some kinda bride did make it seem a bit silly, it still felt like it was important to say it. One hand gripped onto Bulba's shirt for balance, but the other rose up to his head, trying to usher him to lean down a bit so ear scratches could be administered.]

I know he's proud of you, kid. I'm proud of you too.

[rivalsolarbeam]

[It wasn't very hard to convince him to lean down, especially with the prospects of ears scratches. More canon points in that Bulba was a complete sucker for those. Always. Never resist.

A truckload of sap was not expected. Bulba's eyes widened just lightly as he looked over at Char's face, and he blinked. It wasn't really the first time anyone had said they were proud of him, but... But it felt a lot different. There was something inherently special about the way it was being said now, from someone that was built up entirely on the whole notion itself. Maybe that could explain the red creeping across his cheeks or the swell of feeling building up in his chest.

The Venusaur didn't say anything at all, opting to shift his carrying position again and keep leaning so he could make a haphazard attempt to bury his face in the crook of Char's neck the best that he could. It was a really weird kind of hug. It probably looked really bizarre. Bulba obviously didn't care.

He had really wanted to hear it.]

[rivalkidneypunch]

[Yeah, the two of them were probably looking pretty dang absurd right about then, but Char'd had over half a decade to accept the fact that his tough-guy image was fated to take a backseat to little brothers.

He wasn't quite used enough to this level of open affection to keep from looking flustered and red-faced, and if anyone were to ask, he was obviously only holding on tighter because it was a reflex reaction to the shift in position, but there was a shy little smile creeping onto his face and the light on his tail-tip was burning lantern-bright and steady.]

Was it kinda weird droppin' that outta nowhere?