8 Truffula Seeds

[findatree]

Hey, Grandpa! Is it true that you went up into space? Like... where the stars are and everything? How come you get to do all the fun stuff? All I got to do was get stuck in a movie theater...

Oh! Oh, guess what, Grandpa? It's spring now! That means we can plant the seed!

[psshhh he doesn't need filters. He's Ted Wiggins]

Comments

[whichwayyoulean]

One day I am going to teach you how to use filters.

And mostly it was cruddy cardboard food and cramped sleeping quarters, followed by an alien attack. Trust me, you were better off right here.

[And because the Once-ler needs filters]

[Ted]

So. It's that time, huh? [He knows he has to do it, and he WANTS to do it, but good lord is he afraid of all the chances this can go horribly wrong]

[findatree]

You fought aliens? Wow! [he's impressed]

[Once-ler]
[fine you get a filter, gramps]

You said we could when it was spring.

[whichwayyoulean]

[Actually he ran around screaming while his friends fought aliens] ...Yeah sure. We'll say I did that.

[Ted]

[Yes, better]

I did. Okay, I guess we'll have to find a good spot for it. Somewhere safe. [Safe from people like him who'd mess it all up is the unspoken line here]

[findatree]

I can't believe I missed it.

[Once-ler]
But it has to be where everyone can see it, too! That's what you told me.

[whichwayyoulean]

I'm sure you'll get plenty more chances to go into space and nearly die while you're here.

[Ted]

I did? [Thanks a lot, future me] I guess we'll just have to find other ways to keep it safe.

[findatree]

I hope so!!

[Once-ler]
We should ask one of those giant wolves to guard it!

[whichwayyoulean]

...Nope, never going to understand that need for adventure.

[Ted]

The- You mean the direwolf? There's more than one of them now?

Once-ler

[findatree]

I heard some howling earlier. I thought that's what it was... [or it could've been a werewolf]

Ted

[whichwayyoulean]

[There are too many Howling Things out there in the Once-ler's humble opinion]

Hoooow about we skip the wildlife idea and stick to good old man-made ingenuity.

Once-ler

[findatree]

You mean like a wall?

Ted

[whichwayyoulean]

...

Touché.

No, something a little more elegant. Like landmines.

Once-ler

[findatree]

Sounds a little too crazy. What if some animal came by?

Ted

[whichwayyoulean]

[Oh. ...Right]

How about one of those tiny electric fences farmers use for sheep? [Once-ler, Ted has never seen a sheep] They give a tiny electric charge if anything touches it, not enough to hurt, but enough to make them back away. That'd work on people, too.

dictated;

[nukeoleptic]

[ Well, you've caught someone's attention. ]

What sort of seed?

dictated;

[findatree]

It's a truffula seed! They're a kind of tree in my world.

dictated;

[nukeoleptic]

I don't think we have those in my world! What are they like?

dictated;

[findatree]

Their tufts are as soft as silk and they smell like butterfly milk.

dictated;

[nukeoleptic]

Whoah. Definitely let me know when it sprouts! I'm Jade.

dictated;

[findatree]

Okay, Jade, I will!!

[heal_theworld]

[It takes her a moment to realize what tree he's talking about, and who 'Grandpa' is, which makes her giggle.]

Oh, you're planting the tree?

[findatree]

Yeah! Can you help us keep it safe? Grandpa's worried people will hurt it.

[heal_theworld]

Of course I'll help keep it safe! I'll even help take care of it too, since I know Once-Ler thinks he's terrible at taking care of plants.

[findatree]

You will? Thank you! I've never taken care of a plant before... I really want to learn to do it right.

[heal_theworld]

Of course. I'll teach you...both of you.

[findatree]

That sounds great.