Twenty Six Truffula Trees

[whichwayyoulean]

[Now the expedition has stopped inside the dead zone for the night, the Once-ler is sitting outside his collapsible cottage, flicking idly through the journal pages, catching up on what's been going on in the castle.

It's not until he gets a few pages in that he even realises what date it is]

Huh. Looks like I've been in this place a year now. Sure doesn't feel like it.

[It's better than what he's got to face back home, at least. Here, he has people to talk to, and isn't left alone with only his own personal demons to keep him company. Still, it's not exactly what he planned, being trapped here. It forever feels like a temporary stay of punishment, that could end at any time]

...Not sure how to feel about that. I mean, how are you supposed to feel, knowing a magical possibly evil castle has decided to keep you around for a whole year?

[Hermione]

Hey, while you're still in the castle, can you do me a favour? There's a tree in the gardens, can you just...check up on it once in a while? Make sure it's doing okay? Until I get back.

Comments

Once-ler

[courageous_wit]

A tree...? You mean from your world, don't you?

Hermione

[whichwayyoulean]

It's a Truffula, yeah. It's important that it's kept safe.

Once-ler

[courageous_wit]

I can perform a few protection spells. It'll be safe, I promise. Just you be safe, all right?

Hermione

[whichwayyoulean]

Oh wow, really? That'd be great.

[That solves the electric fence thing]

Don't worry, I have my army of people watching out for me. I'll be fine.

Action

[not_mafia]

Eh... come to think of it, I've been here a long time too! It'll be a year in... about two months for me, I think.

forever!

[whichwayyoulean]

[He'll glance over]

Really? Time sure does fly when you're trapped in a magic castle, right?

[not_mafia]

I guess so. I'm not sure if I should count myself lucky or not...

[kalinda]

Let me just grab the party favors.

[whichwayyoulean]

Keep them on hold for me for when I come back. We can celebrate it with our good friend Jack Daniels.

[kalinda]

That'll be one hell of a celebration. [She's rather celebrate with Señor Jose Cuervo, but Mr. Daniels is a strong runner-up.] I accept.

[fanstheflame]

No wonder you didn't want to move into our house. [Gale wanders up, hands in his pockets, and looks up at the cottage] I forgot you had one of your own.

[whichwayyoulean]

[The Once-ler smiles up at his creation]

Yeah, it's pretty cool. I mean, it's only really good for expeditions, but it does the job it needs to.

Get settled in okay?

[fanstheflame]

Yeah, definitely. .... So, who dragged you out kicking and screaming this time? [he smirks]

Action

[cyan_maid]

[Guess who overhears you and wanders over, Once-ler.]

You've been here a year already, Once-ler? Oh, wow!

forever!

[whichwayyoulean]

[He offers her a smile]

Yeah, I can hardly believe it myself. I'm kinda glad I'm out here, it stops the castle from doing anything weird to me.

[cyan_maid]

Do you think it does something weird to most everybody who's hit their yearly landmark?

[heal_theworld]

Only a year, Once-Ler? [Martel comes over and sits down next to him.] I've been here for over a year now.

[whichwayyoulean]

Does it feel like a year for you?

...Wait what do you mean only a year?

[heal_theworld]

Not really. Time does seem to fly here.

And a lot of people have been here for longer, you know.

dictated

[kungfuwitch]

A year, huh? You're right, it really doesn't feel like it. [It's been a year since she turned him into a toad. Ah memories]

I felt about the same way on my one year mark. It's strange. Time moves so fast without us even realizing it.

forever!

[whichwayyoulean]

[Not mentioning the toad thing. NOPE]

They do, don't they? One second you're here, panicking about how everything is suddenly weird. The next? All the weird is actually pretty normal.

[kungfuwitch]

So you're saying that people turning into animals is pretty normal, now?

[What was that about not mentioning it?]

[Action] Always

[rose_of_battle]

[Have one ninja coming up, and although she's overheard him, that's not the topic of her first sentence as she looks at his cottage.]

I don't think that will ever stop impressing me.

[whichwayyoulean]

[He always loves appreciation for his work]

It is pretty cool.

[rose_of_battle]

[And she's a horrible liar, so he knows it's true.]

Yep. It is. It would have been nice to have while traveling.

Do you mind if I join you?