Twenty Seven Truffula Trees

[whichwayyoulean]

[The Once-ler really wanted to avoid the journals and talking to people in general for a while. But, Paradisa being what it is, he's now going to have to speak into it. After all, there are people he needs to check up on]

Okay, so I haven't run into them yet on this spooky ship of spooky, but I know everyone's busy having their own personal issues and whatever so I'll make this one quick.

Is Ted with any of you guys? If he is, don't let him do anything. I'm serious. Ted, if you're listening to this, you need to find an adult and stay with them, okay? No...being you and getting into an adventure.

[Then...because he has to ask, even if he could happily avoid talking about her...he takes a deep breath. He's worried about her, and he's annoyed in himself for worrying about her. After all, he doubts she's worried about him...but ask he will anyway]

Has anyone seen a woman anywhere? She's a new resident, big blonde hair, glasses? You'd probably hear her before you see her. Just...let me know, okay?

[Then, almost as an afterthought] You guys stay safe too. [He won't even use filters, his friends know he means them]

Comments

[whichwayyoulean]

[It happens once in a blue moon, cherish it. Still, at least he isn't being yelled at, so the Once-ler relaxes a tiny bit. He certainly doesn't cheer up any, but he at least is a little less on edge]

You know me, Zelos. I always see the bright, sunny side of everything.

[wilder]

[There's a laugh. It's a slightly nervous laugh, but it's a real one none the less] Yeah yeah, always Mister Optimistic, I know.

But hey- we can talk about it later okay? When we're back at the castle. Don't worry about it til then.

[whichwayyoulean]

[He's glad, really, to have some breathing space. To know this isn't monumentally ruined for good. And this is one less thing to worry about. He knows they can at least talk it over when this mess is over - a small beacon of hope (though he won't call it as such) in the distance. For now, he can focus on being stuck here]

Yeah, sure. We can talk later.

1/2

[wilder]

Hahaha yeah! You count on it!

[He states with with a sense of bravado he's forces out of himself. The truth is, he's scared. The last time he was in space, it was Welgaia. That place, those lifeless faces, they still come up in his nightmares. They sure have the small bits of sleep he's been able to get since it started. ]

[But he was never one to want to openly show his fears, to reveal how cowardly he really felt. The true reasons why when things went bad, he could never be found far from Lloyd. A Chosen afraid would only make it worse for everyone else, they were supposed to be beacons of hope after all. As much as he disagreed with the teachings, they were so hard to shake. Especially right now when so many seemed to care]

[wilder]

[But even so, there's a nagging sense of things being left undone. So...]

[In a much less over the top and quieter tone, but still with a sense of hope]

But hey-

...Thanks for saying it.

[whichwayyoulean]

[The Once-ler finds himself glad to hear that tone. He shouldn't be. He'd given Zelos a perfect reason to get away from him. ...But maybe, just maybe, he's starting to need these people in his life more than he would admit to himself. His mother showing up has only cemented this plain and simple fact: Zelos, Ino, Tsuna, Martel and Gale?

They're his family. They're not related by blood or even by worlds for the large part. But his family they most certainly are, and he's beginning to realise he's lost without them]

It really needed to be said.

[Then, after a moment, and an attempt to be brighter] So. How much do you bet something will try to eat us in a day or two?

[wilder]

[Bright, bright is something he can do. When you act cheerful, it's easier to pretend things will be alright- no, to believe in it. They'll get through whatever the castle throws at them, and then after maybe things will start to go back to normal. Well- normal for them anyway.]

Hahaha, oh I'm not betting against that. That sort of thing always happens.

[whichwayyoulean]

[Yes, let's pretend we're not on a ship covered in gore waiting for bad stuff to happen]

I wonder if it'll be the people on the other ship? You know, like that whole [you can probably sense the air quotes] 'Space Olympics' mess?

[wilder]

Is that what happened on there? I missed out on that thing.

[whichwayyoulean]

We had to deal with space again...it was less creepy than this but still pretty cruddy. And then on the last day a bunch of our friends, who had been turned into...aliens, I guess? Well, they attacked us. With laser guns.

[wilder]

Oh. So that's what it was...

Well, I hope nothing like that happens. I got friends on that other ship.

[whichwayyoulean]

So do I. And a lot of people are asleep on it, it sounds like.

[Still, it's not a comforting thought]

Maybe whatever it is is something bigger. Something that can do...well, what was on the walls.

[wilder]

Hm, I dunno...wouldn't we have seen something like that by now?

[whichwayyoulean]

Maybe there's a room we haven't found yet. Like a cargo hold.

[wilder]

Haha, maybe.

Anyway, I should probably get going. I gotta help Colette finish checking places for any survivors.

[whichwayyoulean]

Okay. Let me know if you find any of the guys. [And by guys he of course means the Ohana] Be safe.

[wilder]

[Yep he can guess what he means]

Yeah, you too.

[And he'll shut his journal]