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

[Once-ler]

[rose_of_battle]

[Sheena's is also dictated, though her voice is tired and rough from crying. She had seen him in the clinic the day before from a distance, but had fallen victim to exhaustion and sought out her room before she could see him--which makes that visit the first thing on her list today.]

I was just coming to see you. How are you feeling?

Sheena

[whichwayyoulean]

Still like I've been through a crazy ship destined to hell.

...But I'm still here, so there's that.


You?

[Once-ler]

[rose_of_battle]

Same here--on both counts.

So, are you up for a visitor?

Sheena

[whichwayyoulean]

Sure, it'll starve off some of the boredom.

Once-ler

[rose_of_battle]

Okay. I should warn you, though, I won't be able to stay too long with all the patients there.

Sheena

[whichwayyoulean]

No problem there.

Once-ler

[rose_of_battle]

All right. I'll be there in a few minutes.

Sheena

[whichwayyoulean]

Sure thing, not like I can go anywhere.

[Action] Always

[rose_of_battle]

[She shows up a few minutes later, her eyes concerned and her greeting quiet.]

Hey.

[whichwayyoulean]

[He gives her a small wave in greeting. His leg in s cast but he doesn't look too worse for wear. More tired than anything]

Hey yourself.

[rose_of_battle]

[His tired appearance only reaffirms her promise not to be long, and she moves quietly over to a nearby small chair and gestures to it.]

May I?

[whichwayyoulean]

[He shrugs a little in response]

Sure, it's a free chair, last time I checked. How're you holding up?

[rose_of_battle]

[She takes a seat and shakes her head.]

I'm doing all right. The better question is, how are you holding up?

[whichwayyoulean]

Aside from the mind numbing boredom of being stuck here, you mean?

[He's not okay, and he won't lie and say he is. He lost far too much for that]

[rose_of_battle]

[Her tone is quiet as she answers.]

Yes, aside from that.

[whichwayyoulean]

[He shrugs, trying to remain nonchalant and failing a little]

I'm surviving.

[rose_of_battle]

[She nods and is silent for a moment.]

Did they say when you'll be able to get out of here?

[whichwayyoulean]

It'll be a few weeks yet. Apparently it takes a while for broken bones to heal.

[rose_of_battle]

[Maybe it won't be that long... Until then, though:]

Is there anything I can get for you?

[whichwayyoulean]

Actually, I'd love to get my drawing board down here. I'm going crazy just sitting here, I need something to do.

[rose_of_battle]

Your drawing board? You mean that huge flat thing?

[whichwayyoulean]

Yeah, it's where I plan everything, you know. It's something to rest my blueprints on.

[He doesn't see the problem here, gosh Sheena]

[rose_of_battle]

[Her expression becomes one of worry.]

Don't you think it's a bit big for here, though?

[whichwayyoulean]

[He glances about himself, considering]

I'm sure I could balance it on a couple chairs or something.

[rose_of_battle]

[She looks with him, her expression thoughtful, then brightens.]

I think I've got an idea. Instead of that, why not a pad of paper [She shapes her hands into the size of a large sketch pad] and a pencil?