Twenty Eight Truffula Trees

[whichwayyoulean]

[Friends]

[He'd meant to do this yesterday, but the Lorax arriving had thrown him off. Still, the forest guardian had done him some good. It meant he had to try to piece himself together again, or at least start to. But there was something more important to attend to now. After losing Zelos and House (the memory of watching the latter die engraved on his brain and refusing to leave) he needs to know...]

Okay guys, if you could tell me if you got out of that mess now would be a really great time. Don't make me come looking for you, because I'm pretty sure someone in here will drag me back to bed before I can pathetically shuffle as far as the door. We'd be at it all day.

Just...check in.

[Mom]

[He didn't want to make this filter. He'd rather her not know where he is. Perhaps, even, he has the smallest hope her visit in the castle was brief. Enough to shake him up before she went home again. One last wonderful stab in the chest to remember her by.

...But she's still his mother. And he still needs to know if she's okay]

I asked after you. Where were you? Are you still here?

Comments

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[save_the_souls]

[He was banned from the clinic for three days by James, so it will be a dictated answer. At least after some sleep and the world's longest shower, he doesn't sound like he's on the verge of death or psychosis]

I'm fine, thank you for checking.

How are you? How's your injuries?

[......What that doesn't count a work related questions right?]

forever!

[whichwayyoulean]

[As he should have been, the guy needed to do that thing called sleeping]

Just wanted to make sure.

[Pause] Aren't you supposed to be resting? I'm pretty sure that counts as a work-related question.

[save_the_souls]

Eh?

H-Hey, no it doesn't! It's friendly concern!

[whichwayyoulean]

So if I told you that a piece of bone was sticking out of my leg right you would...?

[save_the_souls]

What-?!

No way- how could you manage that?!

[whichwayyoulean]

And lo, I prove my point.

...Allen, my leg is no more and no less broken when you last saw it. Relax, you know, that thing you're supposed to be doing?

[save_the_souls]

[oh. he was being a smartass. right. a 'nnnngh' sound]

I'm relaxing! I slept a full night last night!

[whichwayyoulean]

[It's okay Allen, you'll learn]

And you didn't sleep for what? Three days? There's this thing. It's called 'catching up'.

[save_the_souls]

[...]

I'm fine. I don't think I could sleep more anyway.

[whichwayyoulean]

[He lapses into silence for a moment]

No. I understand that much. I don't think any of us are going to be doing all that much sleeping for a while.

[save_the_souls]

Maybe not...

How about you? Have you...have you been all right besides your injuries? This was your first time with a change like that, wasn't it?

[whichwayyoulean]

Yeah, I mean, I've been through a few chances, but I've only been here for a year.

...It's the first one that was this dangerous and horrible.

But I... [he's not okay yet] I'm pulling through it. One day at a time, right?

[save_the_souls]

Mm...it's been a long time since there was one this bad.

[He can tell he's not doing okay. He's not ever going to say the other times are easier, but being new to these things? Always the scariest]

Right. With how Paradisa is, we'll have some peace for awhile so you can rest up. Take advantage of that, okay?

[whichwayyoulean]

That's what I keep hearing.

[He'll let out a steady breath]

Yeah. I'll do my best, anyway.

...You too.

[save_the_souls]

Good, I'm glad to hear that.

Don't worry about me, I've been through this before. I'll be fine.

[whichwayyoulean]

Yeah, well, the more you've been through something, the more people should worry about you in my opinion. I mean...it's gotta get weighty.

[save_the_souls]

Huh-?

[No that's the opposite of what he wanted]

It's not- [He'll laugh a tiny bit] It just means I know I'll be able to keep going, that's all.

[whichwayyoulean]

[Too bad, you're talking to the Once-ler now. Best get used to that]

So there's some kind of magical formula for that?

[save_the_souls]

Well...no. I'm no sorcerer.

[whichwayyoulean]

...Aww man, you're going to tell me it just takes time and perseverance, aren't you?

[save_the_souls]

Well for most, yes. It's different for everyone.

[whichwayyoulean]

Great. I'll remember that.