inbox;

[capforthat]

VOICE; VIDEO; TEXT; E-MAIL

"Hi! This is the CereVice of Bulma Briefs. I'm busy right now, but if you leave a message I'll get back to you soon.

Unless you're Vegeta. If you're Vegeta, you can just forget it. I'm still mad!"

[beep.]

Comments

[bigbingoattack]

Nothing irreversible, [came the all too casual response for a man talking of his prolonged confinement, arms uncrossing to allow one of his hands to rest at Bulma's knee. Not out of comfort, of course, but to put a stop that maddening fidgeting she so often fell into.

Unfortunately, that was likely the most Vegeta would expand on the nightmares he'd been forced to endure during his stay with CERES. Bulma didn't need to know the rest of the unpleasant specifics, especially not the role that she and Trunks had played within them. He didn't need her concern. Or her pity.

--And he certainly didn't need her banging down the Research Tower's doors to scream death threats in their faces either.]

It's done. All of it. [Though it sounds more like a reassurance to himself than to her, the Saiyan's gaze going distant briefly before it swept right back to Bulma, catching her eyes within his intense gaze.]

I'm not asking for your forgiveness, Bulma--[Because that was utterly pointless to him. He didn't deserve her forgiveness, nor would he accept it.]--but know that I will not dishonor you like that again.

[capforthat]

[Bulma's knee bounces once beneath his palm and then grows still. Her mouth twists unhappily, as if she might spit out a demand for more than the exactly zero Vegeta is willing to tell. With an effort she lets it go. It isn't a fight she wants to have. Not tonight, but later, maybe.

Her fingertips drum rapidly against the side of her mug--so much for stopping her fidgeting--and if she could have read his thoughts she might've laughed.

The only thing stopping her from marching on CERES Tower right now is the suspicion that the CEO and her little toady Mosley aren't at home. If there's ever a chance to burn the cursed place to the ground she'll gladly provide the lighter.

Her eyes are arrested by his, for a moment, lingering concern for him and simmering anger warring in their depths.]

I know. [She touches cheek, lightly. Her hand falls away as she turns to retrieve her CereVice from the table.] If you really want to make it up to me you can hold some choice CERES employees still. I owe one or two of them a slap.

[Or five.]

[bigbingoattack]

[It was done.

Vegeta can't help the mirthless smirk that twists across his face at the imagery, the Saiyan quickly stretching forward over his small wife to grip at the offending mug, gently wrestling it out of her hands.]

Accepted. [And once she is finished with her slapping, he will rip them to pieces. Sounds fair.] Trust me when I say that none of them would last against you for long.

[capforthat]

[And for once she (probably) won't take issue with him indulging his homicidal side. It's a win-win.

Bulma lifts an eyebrow and shoots him a puzzled look, her freed hand taking to tapping on the underside of her CereVice. It's that or she starts pacing. Which is more irritating, Vegeta?

At least the tapping pauses for a moment when a short, surprised laugh pops from her mouth.]

Charmer. [The smile she shoots Vegeta's way isn't as sunny as it might've been, but it's a start.]

[bigbingoattack]

[Will this torture never end?

The hand against Bulma's leg suddenly rises, fingers subtly brushing against her thigh and bent knee before he traps her free hand within his own. The action could almost be considered playful and sweet, if it wasn't Vegeta initiating it.]

I say that only because the sound of your shrill shrieking will either have those men running for their lives in absolute terror or they will slaughter you where you stand.

[this is your husband]

[capforthat]

[Annnnnnd there it is. She knows her husband far too well to expect him not to immediately turn anything remotely positive he has to say into a backhanded compliment.

... it's just one of his many qualities that she finds bizarrely endearing. No one ever said she was certifiably sane.]

Ugh, jerk! [How's that for shrill? Her free hand balls into a fist and slams into his shoulder with all the force she can muster.

It makes her feel better, even if it is ineffective.

She sticks her tongue out at him for good measure.] Geez. Remind me again why I put up with your rude ass.

[Well, at least she's not wasting energy worrying about him anymore.]

[bigbingoattack]

[Considering his hands are currently preoccupied, Bulma gets that free hit in with ease, Vegeta obviously unflinching in the face of her pitiful strength.

He grins meanly in return, that overconfident smirk curling his lip enough to reveal a flash of teeth beneath.

--At least that biting comment seemed to be enough to distract Bulma from her maddening fidgeting for now. There's at least some improvement.] I have my moments.

[The dainty hand trapped within his own is given a gentle squeeze before being released, Vegeta shifting to rise up onto his feet, the emotional conversation already so far into the past. He turns back towards the kitchen. His stomach is already rumbling and Kami knows he needs a shower just as badly as Bulma had after the last few days.]