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[laserhawk]

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un: stampede ; Early April

[bountyfull]

[ He doesn't really say or type anything but he does send a picture that he's taken of some local produce seed packets, held in one of his hands. ]

[laserhawk]

[ that makes him smile. ]

Nice.

Want to plant them in the greenhouse? Just come by.

[bountyfull]

That would be nice. You'll help, right?

Could use the company.

[laserhawk]

[ huh. that's . . . unusual. ]

Of course. I'll help out. Not too shabby at it.

[bountyfull]

[ What? he's not allowed to want Dolph's company? ]

Might be fun. ...I don't really have any idea what I'm doing.
But I'll come by in a minute.

[laserhawk]

It's fine. I know a bit. I learned for you.

I'll get everything ready.

[bountyfull]

....??? For me?

[ What. He's so struck by that that it has him feeling a little stupid. He's standing in the middle of the street, staring at his phone. Dolph might not be aware of the effect that simple sentence has on him, but it's one he's still processing.

His chest feels a little tight. ]

[laserhawk]

That was the point of the darjeeling plant. That we took care of it together.

That's why I learned.

[bountyfull]

[ He still has that plant, it's sitting in the windowsill of his tiny little inn room. It has its own dedicated little glass that serves as a water pitcher, a little baggie of fertilizer.

He didn't think to bring it with him. ]

I should have brought that with me. I could go get it, but it might take me longer to get to your place.

[laserhawk]

Just bring it next time.

I'm not going anywhere.

[bountyfull]

Next time. Sure.

[ He's moving again, but still staring at his phone. At least he's aware enough to not slam into anyone. ]

I've liked having it at the inn. It reminds me of you.

[laserhawk]

Then keep it there.

It's yours, after all.

[bountyfull]

No, I'd rather grow it with you. That feels more right.

I can replace it with something else.

[laserhawk]

[ hmmmm. ]

Why don't we pick something from the greenhouse while you're here? We can do it together.

[bountyfull]

Sure.

[ And after a little pause. ]

Hey... Dolph?

[laserhawk]

Yeah?

[bountyfull]

...thanks. For a lot of things.

[ You're always here for me. ]

It means a lot.

[laserhawk]

[ dolph sits there, absorbing the message. he knows there's more underneath. more vash wants to say but isn't ready for.

but that's okay. he's never minded that. ]

You're welcome. Always.

[bountyfull]

[ It's not the full extent of what's going on in his head, but it's close enough, for now. One day, he'll find a way to make things more equal between the two of them. ]

Be there soon.

[ And it really isn't long before he arrives, seed packets having been tucked away in a pocket in his dark purple jacket. (Really, he should part with it, but that's been hard, and not something he's broached with himself.) ]

Dolph, hey.

[ He kind of half jogs half ambles over to where he's spotted Dolph, a smile placed very carefully on his face. ]

[laserhawk]

[ dolph smiles, relaxed, when he spots vash. he has a few watering cans, sacks of soil and fertilizer ready to go. they're all piled in a little trolley. he leans to kiss vash on the cheek when he approaches closer, a hand clasp around his neck, thumb brushing against his cheek. ]

Hey.

I got it all ready for us.

[bountyfull]

[ He'd been about to comment, his eyes tracking over the trolley and its contents but his thoughts are immediately sidelined by the simple show of affection. He exhales a breath after a moment, one he didn't realize he'd held for that brief moment, then leans into the hand touching his face. It's warm, and he soaks it up like a plant left forgotten in a corner, in need of sun and water both. ]

It's like you were waiting for me to ask.

[ He pulls himself together enough to press a kiss to the heel of Dolph's hand, and then to the cheek opposite the one of his own that received one from Dolph. It's a little easier every time to slip into little moments like this without feeling guilty about them. ]

[laserhawk]

[ dolph smiles, the grin in his eye. ]

I said it before, didn't I? I had this ready for you.

[ here, it'll no longer be a castle of ghosts and regrets. vash wouldn't need to feel bad passing by knives' empty room. think about all that is unsaid. here, they'll claim their own peace. their own future. ]

so much for him talking about wolfwood ever i hate this bastard

[bountyfull]

You did.

[ He exhales a huff of air, a half laugh-half sigh. One day he'll feel less guilty for building memories here in this place, when everything he's left behind waits. ]

So... where do we start? There's instructions on the back of each envelope, I think.

[ He steps back from Dolph to start patting himself down, like he's forgotten which pocket he's put those seeds in. ]

oh vash

[laserhawk]

Why don't we head down with all our stuff to the greenhouse?

Then we can pick a pot if we need to and carry out whatever instructions the seeds need.

[bountyfull]

Oh right. Sure.

[ He moves to pocket the seeds again, and then holds out a hand. For the handle of the cart or for Dolph's, either way he'd probably be happy. ]

Thanks by the way. For always being so willing to indulge me.