Twenty Nine Truffula Trees

[whichwayyoulean]

[It has been some weeks since the Once-ler could play his guitar, the broken ribs he'd received during the Event Horizon mess had made it too painful. But now he's healed enough, he's making the most of it. He's sitting on his clinic bed, his journal open beside him, playing one of the many songs he's learned since arriving here. After he's finished, he lets out a satisfied sort of sigh]

I missed that. [Oh right, open journal] Any requests? I'm out of practise. I can't promise I'll know it, but I'll give it a shot.

[Lucrezia]
[He'd asked for time, and it's what she has given him. He can't fault her for that, so:]

I've still got your birthday gift to play for you, you know.

[Alvin and Blues]
I don't know about you guys, but I think we should give our car a test run. And a name, probably. But given my love for lisping syllables, someone else should probably do that.

Comments

[whichwayyoulean]

I know, I know.

You'd be surprised how much one person can change in a world.

[whistles_the_blues]

[Like how two guys have a rivalry that continues long after they die that eventually wipes out all of humanity and replaces them with robots and then the robots start making fake humans?]

Maybe. Unfortunately that'll have to be someone else, I don't function in that world anymore.

[whichwayyoulean]

[...Shit wait]

You're dead? Back home, I mean?

[whistles_the_blues]

Home isn't the word I'd use for it.

...But yes, my core either gave out or I was too close to the ruins I had mentioned.

I am assuming this is the group filter!

[dorkwonder]

[This is news to him.] Oh no, Blues. Are you sure? Is there anything that can be don there?

You are correct. ...Kind of got depressing in here.

[whistles_the_blues]

[Oh right, "Alvin" was included in this filter too, he probably should have made one specifically to Once-ler, but he hadn't intended for the conversation to take this turn. Well... While he didn't usually tell just anyone about this, it wasn't exactly a secret either. There was no harm in Alvin knowing about it. Kara trusted him, the least he could was make an attempt.]

I'm sure. I spent most of my time there knowing what was going to happen.

...I suppose one day I may be found, altered and activated again. But even of that were to happen, the machine may not be me anymore.

But we're here to talk about our vehicle, not me, right?

awww yis

[whichwayyoulean]

[Alvin was good people as far as the Once-ler was concerned. Both Steph and Cass spoke highly of him, and he's seen first hand that the guy was decent]

I guess that's always a chance, yeah.

Subtly changing the subject, okay. We can do that. I've got us a driver, too.

[dorkwonder]

[For the first time since being here, Tim feels a pang of guilt over keeping his identity secret. Once opened up to him about his mother, Blues is talking about dying, and neither of them even know his real name.]

Oh? Who is going to be the driver?

[whistles_the_blues]

Subtle, Right.

And just who is the driver?

[whichwayyoulean]

Ted, he's that kid from my world.

[And, realising they'll probably have some objections to putting a twelve year old boy in charge of driving their precious creation:]

He's really good at it. Back home things are- [terrible] pretty bad. He's able to drive through wasteland, jumping gorges and everything.

[dorkwonder]

Honestly, I'd feel more comfortable driving. Gotham city traffic is crazy, especially around rush hour.

[Plus...Redbird.]

More importantly, should do several test drives ourselves and make sure it is running smoothly before letting anyone else drive it.

[whistles_the_blues]

I can't imagine these vehicles being that dangerous to drive. Either way it doesn't matter to me who drives, but we should test it ourselves before passing it on to someone else.

[whichwayyoulean]

Trust me, I wanted it tested before I let the kid in it. As for traffic, I'm pretty sure that's not even a thing here.

[Come on, Tim, let the kid have some fun gosh]

[dorkwonder]

Let's test drive it first and then we'll go from there, okay? [SAFETY BEFORE FUN.]