8th bloom; departure

[punchtheflowers.livejournal.com]

[The time is early Christmas morning. If you were too busy last minute wrapping gifts and the like, maybe you missed this message. But Vinnie's been pretty scarce all month, and now... well, he's going to be even more scarce.]

= = =

I'm leaving for a bit. Dunno how long.

It's not anyone's fault, I just... need some space to sort my head. I think I lost touch of something important, and until I find it again, I'm only gonna get worse here.

I'm counting on you guys to keep Red safe while I'm gone. And Red... I'll always be yours, no matter where I am.

Thanks for everything. For being my family. If I find my way back, I'll try to get a present that sucks less, okay?

Don't ever doubt that I love you all. ✿

[On his bed is a large collection of Berries to share. Other than the clothes on his back, it doesn't seem like he took anything with him for the trip.]

= = =

Sorry for missing so much work. I'm gonna have to miss some more on top of it.

I can kind've imagine your face right now but this is something I gotta do. At this rate I'm either gonna kill someone or get myself killed. So I'm leaving to figure some stuff out.

Dunno when I'll be back. Yeah, I know I still owe you, I'm not gonna forget. ✿

= = =

You can tell Char he won or whatever. I'm leaving.

I think I used to understand everything better before... Feels like I'm losing myself, if that makes sense. I'm not really sure where I'm going, just that I need to go.

I guess if I'm meant to find my way back, then I will. Sorry I wasn't much of... an anything, really. ✿

= = =

Sorry I haven't seen much of you since, you know. I need to get out've here to do some recovering of my own, but... well, I dunno what humans use to get better. I think herbs might work for humans and Pokemon? So maybe this'll help. ✿

[Inside the envelope is a small Energy root.]

PS. It's really, really fuckin' bitter.

= = =

Public: There's something I need to take care of back home. I might be a while.

If I'm not back, then... everyone have a safe new year.

[Consider this a hiatus for Vinnie. He'll have a thread in the mistletoe log later for anyone who might run into him as he leaves, but apart from that he's going to be having himself a good ol' solo soul searching adventure.]

Comments

dammit

[rivalsweetscent]

[What. What what what. He had to read it twice. Sure he's seen a lot less of Vinnie lately (and it bothered him) but what. He might have taken the fact that Red was there for granted. The idea was that as long as Red was still there, Vinnie would be too. That just made sense. And yet... and yet he was going. Bulba couldn't help feeling a little left behind again.

Do you ever think about leaving Green? Even for a little while, for yourself?

There wasn't a whole lot of time to get bundled up properly when he was afraid of missing him. Bulba hurried out into the early morning chill, searching for the out of place sweetness in the winter air to guide him.]

puching hiatus with my angst

[punchtheflowers.livejournal.com]

[The air was clear and fresh in the cold of winter, making it much easier to pick out that hint of flora floating about. It wasn't too long afterwards that a set of footprints were found too - though instead of heading towards the train station to Kanto, the tracks led straight into the forest. And as Bulba followed them, there was no doubt that the Venusaur was wandering off in the exact opposite direction of all civilization.

Flowers against the smell of pine, mud and snow, it took a lot of running to catch up with Vinnie's head start. But eventually, the man was visible.

He had the sense to wear a winter jacket at least, but lacked the usual glaring pink. Vinnie was going about his way, hidden in mostly earthen tones. It was obvious that he'd wanted to take his leave as inconspicuously as possible.]

it is super effective

[rivalsweetscent]

[By the time Bulba caught sight of him, his face was flushed red from the run and the cold. Feeling a bit more assured now that he had a prominent splash of green in front of him, the Ivysaur took a moment to catch his breath. He moved to follow him soon after, the crunch of snow under his footfall making it plainly obvious that Vinnie wasn't on his own.

Today was not a day for getting away so easily.]

Vinnie!

[boxingmidget.livejournal.com]

[He read the note and completely GOT Vinnie. It...all made sense. Finding yourself and doing your own healing. It actually sounded like not such a bad idea. Yeah, he hadn't seen much of Vinnie since he landed in the hospital. But this was about Vinnie and not him right now. Mac had to see him off with a smile, even if it was possible Vinnie might come back.]

Well, take real good care of yourself, Vin.

Hope you find what you're lookin' for.

I'll miss you, you oughta write when you're out there.

[punchtheflowers.livejournal.com]

[To be honest, Vinnie hadn't been planning on writing at all. But now that Mac had raised the point, it did bring to light the handy fact that... it would be a good way for people to know he wasn't dead or something.

It couldn't hurt, he supposed.]

Thanks.

I'll try. Maybe if I run into a city an' find a post office.

[boxingmidget.livejournal.com]

If not, you got a phone too, right? Just a way to keep in touch is all I really care about. What you do out there's for you...so, uh, I guess you can do whatever if it ain't trouble.

GOSH, MAX, YOU SURE DO CARE.

[tank-rockarms.livejournal.com]

I have half a mind to take your Christmas bonus back.

YOU SOFTIE

[punchtheflowers.livejournal.com]

That's fine.

BECAUSE YOU SUCK, VINNIE

[tank-rockarms.livejournal.com]

At least keep your phone on you this time. Check it sometimes.

what a nice sister you have, vinnie

[punchpokeballs.livejournal.com]

Asshole.

why you break my heart chika

[punchtheflowers.livejournal.com]

...I know.

Oh I sure am hiatusing right now.

[temporalness.livejournal.com]

You... you are?

I am a hiatus-murderer

[punchtheflowers.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Can't be helped...

A few minutes later from the note, if that is okay and he hasn't left quite yet?

[punchvolcanoes]

[There is a knock on Vinnie's door.]

she wakes up at the buttcrack of dawn anyway so she'd be likely to catch him

[punchtheflowers.livejournal.com]

[The door opened. It was, as advertised, one Vinnie who had obviously been doing some last minute plant maintenance and tidying. He looked pale and tired.]

...I'm surprised you knocked.

[punchicebergs.livejournal.com]

Do take care of yourself, Vinnie.

[punchtheflowers.livejournal.com]

Whatever happens, happens. I'll do my best.

[text message!]

[punchwaves]

for a sec i thought u cared

oops...

[punchtheflowers.livejournal.com]

[Oh... what was that sound. It was his cellphone beeping. (1) new message received.

Too bad it was... still back on his bed.

And Vinnie didn't bring it with him.]

Sonny doesn't really have any SAD icons. Because it's hard to make him sad.

[punchtheflute.livejournal.com]

[[BUT YOU MANAGED IT. GG.]]

[How did he manage to sleep through Vinnie announcing he was going and then him leaving and people visiting and... argh. At times he hated his eighteen hour a day habit - and because it was so cold, it was often longer lately.

Well. He'd just have to cut that right out. With Vinnie gone, that was one less strong person around to help the team at a kind of challenging time. He would have to step up and try to fill that void. He'd take up drinking coffee so he could try to be more available for his family.

And he'd look after the little tiny potted connifer he got you for Christmas, Vinnie. Because he would give it to you when you came back.]

YOU DO NOW

[punchtheflowers.livejournal.com]

[Oh look there was also a tiny note that had been slipped behind your ear while you slept:

]

[punchmtsilver.livejournal.com]

[Red smiles softly at the note, before closing his eyes and folding it. He understood.]

[punchtheflowers.livejournal.com]

[That's why you were the best trainer, Red. You understood everything that wasn't said.]

[reservedempath]

[You know she knows where you live, right? Right?

And you know she's going to be outside waiting for you, right? Right?

Because she is. Arms folded over her chest and everything. But Voile's one of the most patient people in the academy.]

fuc, hunted down by all the ladies

[punchtheflowers.livejournal.com]

[Dammit, how did everyone know where he lived?

He saw the Gardevoir standing in his path, but the Venusaur would not be swayed from his purpose. He was leaving. He was totally going to leave.]

...Voile.