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

Mom

[whichwayyoulean]

Unless. It happens after your time. The Lorax left it.

[And casually breezing past that because he knows the Lorax is not a welcome topic]

Hmm. Maybe you forgot someone in the family. Do you remember Brett and Chet? Aunt Grizelda? Uncle Ubb?

[Once-ler]

[mom_ler]

[She narrows her eyes a bit at the mention of the Lorax, but otherwise lets it go. She doesn't feel like dwelling on the hairball right now, as satisfying as it would be to complain about him.]

Of course I remember them! [She says that like it's obvious, but secretly she's relieved that she recognises all of those names.] I remember everythin' up to finishing a meeting, Oncie, and then... I went back to my desk...

[She trails off. And then, distantly-] It feels like so long ago.

Mom

[whichwayyoulean]

For me, it was. It took five years...and then there's another added onto it here. Long time.

[Not as long as he'll have back home. Not by half. Not by a quarter. He's quiet, thinking]

Maybe you can't drive any more. [There's the tiniest sliver of amusement in his tone]

[Once-ler]

[mom_ler]

You've been here a year? [Dismayed:] Oncie, I don't wanna be stuck here that long.

[...]

That can't be it, Oncie, don't be silly. My drivin' skill is second to none. [8|]

Mom

[whichwayyoulean]

That't nothing. I have a friend who's been here for nearly six years now.

[Mother you take out city blocks. Mother you are frightening behind the wheel. Mother no]

I guess it could be a memory then, if it's not obvious.