Thirty Four Truffula Trees

[whichwayyoulean]

[Learning about Sheena's death has bumped Once-ler's paranoia from a five to a ten. He knows people are hiding out in the library, in that bar in town, in those other safe zones, but he remembers being on the Event Horizon. If something is attacking them, or god forbid if one of their OWN is attacking them, then it won't matter if you're in numbers or not. Heck, being in a big group might just attract attention to them. He's more than content to stay in his tower with all his traps, thank you. But there are two somethings that are missing. He quickly picks up a pen to scribble into the journal:]

[Ted and the Lorax]
It's starting to get bad. You guys should come to my room, I've got enough here to protect us. [Probably. Hopefully]

[He almost leaves it at that, but he knows he can't. Not after the news of today.]

[Friends]

Just give me a sign you guys are still alive, ok?

[There's a tap of his pen on the journal. He's a salesman, he's finding it difficult to get things across without his quick and easy patter. It's very different having to write it all down]

Well, this sucks.

Comments

[fantasies]

We have Bandit and Nymeria and Grey Wind, too. Nothing's going to mess with us.

[whichwayyoulean]

Oh right...the wolves. Yep, you guys should be safe as houses.

[fantasies]

Do you need somewhere to go? You could stay with us.

[whichwayyoulean]

It's okay, I'm gonna hole up in my room. It's safe here.

[fantasies]

[Henry draws a happy face. It's a suitable replacement, given he can't laugh right now.]

Yeah, you have all the booby traps. They're good to have now.

[whichwayyoulean]

Darn right they are. I'll be safe as houses.

[fantasies]

Good! Whatever this is, it doesn't stand a chance against us.

[whichwayyoulean]

We'll send it running.

Or you know, the heroes will send it running.

[fantasies]

Anybody can be a hero as long as they fight back, you know.

[whichwayyoulean]

You really think so, huh?

[fantasies]

Of course.

As long as you fight for good, you're a hero, too.

[whichwayyoulean]

I think sometimes you can go too far one way to really be a true hero ever again.

[fantasies]

[There's a long pause on his end. It's probably good he can't talk, all things considered, because this is something he's had trouble with.

A year and a half ago, he would have agreed. Regina had gone too far. There wasn't any hope for her. She was evil, the end.

And yet--]

I don't think that's true.

[whichwayyoulean]

You've still got some hope in you, huh? [The Once-ler's hope had been quashed a long time ago. Probably before his factory even fell, if he was being honest to himself]

[fantasies]

I have to.

[This is harder when he has to write everything down. Normally he can just say whatever's in his head until people understand, but now he has to actually condense it.

But this is important, so he will.]

[whichwayyoulean]

[The Once-ler lets out a steady breath]

Yeah. I suppose that you do.

[fantasies]

[He doodles a little, small spirals.]

I believe in you, too.

[He doesn't know why Once feels so unfit for heroism, but then, he doesn't really need to.]

[whichwayyoulean]

[Once thinks that's really poor judgement on Henry's part]

I get that sometimes.

[fantasies]

That's because we're smart.

[whichwayyoulean]

Yeah. You sure are, kiddo.

[fantasies]

So you should listen to me, okay?

[whichwayyoulean]

[Softly] I'll do my best. [No promises there. Definitely no promises]

[fantasies]

Good.

[Sometimes it takes a while. He knows that, he's seen it. He's not opposed to giving people time, but he won't let them forget, either.]

Be safe, okay?

[whichwayyoulean]

Sure, I promise I'll stay absolutely safe. Safe as houses, in fact.