Thirty Truffula Trees

[whichwayyoulean]

[Cass]

[He's been worried, since the cruise ship. He knows she's needed to sort it out herself, talk to Alvin and Steph on her own terms, but he feels the need to at least check up on her. After all, it can#t be easy, knowing the castle has taken a memory away from you, and have the people you trust try to cover that up. He can't imagine how she's feeling right now. But check up on her he will]

Hey. How're you holding up?

Comments

[hellofist]

[All things considered, things could have gone worse. Things are still tense between her and Stephanie and much worse with her and Tim, but he isn't an issue right now. She doesn't have to see his face, and hopefully she won't have to for awhile.]

I'm okay. [Mostly.] How's your leg?

[whichwayyoulean]

How'd the talk go with Steph and Alvin? Do you know any more about the person you lost?

[The concern is there in his voice, he even sounds surprised she's asking after his own well being]

I'm all healed up now. Can walk and everything. Go me.

[hellofist]

[Alvin. God, she just wants to punch him all over again. How many lies does Tim actually have to tell, to expect people to be okay with?]

Probably... could have gone better.

[Talking about other people and helping them with their issues is always better than having to look at her own, that's all.]

Yes, very go you. No more breaking things, please.

[whichwayyoulean]

...That bad, huh? Want to talk about it?

[He'll make the one and only offer, he understand not wanting to discuss things, if she wishes to leave it quiet, he will]

I can't promise anything, what with my flailing limbs and ability to get into danger all the time, but I can promise you I'll try to avoid it.

[hellofist]

[There's a few long moments of quiet before she sighs quietly. This isn't easy, thinking about it at all makes her heart ache.]

Her name is Barbara. Has red hair. Not dead. That's... as far as we got. I can't-

[She stops here, trying to keep hold of her temper.]

I get mad. Have to... change topic, before fighting starts again.

[whichwayyoulean]

[He makes note of that, committing it t memory in case the castle takes even THAT away from her]

We don't have to talk about it, it's fine. I wanted to make sure you're okay. I was worried.

[hellofist]

Not mad at you. At them, for... hiding things. They promised, no more secrets. Then, just lie more.

[And it's incredibly annoying to watch someone lie to you with the knowledge that they know you can tell it's a lie. Empty promises that get broken don't mean much, when they promise now it's hard not to just laugh in their faces.]

Stephanie said, it was to... protect me. Don't need protection, I protect myself.

[whichwayyoulean]

Yeah, you really do. I don't know anyone who can do it better.

[He exhales softly] Okay, look. I'll make a deal with you. No secrets, no lies from me, okay? So you have one person you know who won't do that to you.

[hellofist]

You don't... have to say that. Everyone should have... things they keep. It's bad enough... I see everything anyway.

[whichwayyoulean]

But I want to say it. I don't want to keep things from you. You mean-

Well, you just mean a lot to me, and your deserve some honesty in your life. Something someone willingly gives, y'know? To show they trust you with that information regardless if you can read it or not.

[hellofist]

[If she were feeling a little more charitable toward Tim and Steph, she might try to defend them now, tell him that they don't lie about everything, but... well, there's a reason she's avoiding Tim the best she can and trying hard to keep conversations with Steph focused on positive things.]

Thank you. People don't... usually feel like that.

[whichwayyoulean]

I guess I'm not most people.

[After a moment, he circles one of the unlesses scrawling on the page]

And if I'm doing this, I might as well start with that. You've seen this thing follow me around, right?

[hellofist]

Yes. Tend to... just ignore them, though.

[She's gone out of her way to not try to read them, though. From the beginning his body language told her they weren't something he was pleased to have around, that he was glad she couldn't read them, so she doesn't try now either.]

[whichwayyoulean]

It's my loss. After I... [Pause. Breath. Try again]

After I destroyed the valley, the Lorax left that word carved onto a rock outside my home. It was there as a reminder, I guess. A message to carry with me for the rest of my life. I guess Paradisa didn't want me to escape from it either.

It says unless.

[hellofist]

Once-ler...

[She sounds so sad for him and if she was there, she'd be hugging him right now. Since she can't, she just sighs sadly. Poor Once.]

Unless what, though? Do you know?

[whichwayyoulean]

I didn't. I couldn't work it out until Ted showed up.

[His fingers trace the letters, even if she can't see him do it]

It means 'unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not'.

[hellofist]

Well, you do care. So things will get better.

[There's not a hint of doubt there, her belief in him is absolute.]

[whichwayyoulean]

They will, but not for a long time.

[He finds her faith in him both touching and worrying at the same time. He certainly doesn't have it in himself]

[hellofist]

But they will. Try to... focus on that, okay?

[whichwayyoulean]

I'll do my best.

[He lets out a breath]

And there we go, no more secrets. You got all of mine. [Well...almost. Zelos told him not to admit his feelings for her if she's going through trouble, and he's sure this counts as trouble]

[hellofist]

I still... have a few. They're big, though. Might... ruin friendship.

[And she really doesn't want that, who else would she talk to about bad families and mistakes and friends who lie?]

[whichwayyoulean]

Cass. [His tone is gentle. As if anything she could say to him would make a lick of difference. As if he had any right to judge anyone]

You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to, but I promise you, nothing you say will ever get rid of me. You- you mean a heck of a lot to me and I wouldn't let that go for anything.

[hellofist]

[Maybe this is best done over the journals, she won't be able to see his body language if it is too much. If he closes himself off and she loses him forever, it would be better not to see that.

But he deserves better than that.]

I do. I just... It's long, will take forever. Not really... fun company, right now.

[whichwayyoulean]

You say that like I'm ever fun company myself. [His tone has a forced lightness to it, trying to make her feel better, perhaps. More at ease]

But hey, any time you want to, I'll be ready to listen. One thing I've got right now here is forever.

[hellofist]

You are, trust me.

[After that there's more quiet from her end, but finally-]

Okay. Where are you?