Six Truffula Trees

[whichwayyoulean]

[The Lorax]

[After his conversation with Johanna, the Once-ler has been thinking. Not that he doesn’t think a lot, of course. The things that happened in Truffula Valley are on a pretty much constant replay in his mind. Mistakes he can never live down, never forget. Never make better.

People keep telling him he can make up for it here, even those who don’t know what he’s done. They say he can start anew here, but he’s certain they’re wrong. He can’t do anything here. No one CARES about trees here, and in Truffula Valley... His chance for action came and went back there, and he chose the wrong path.

He leaned the wrong way. He looks at the journal, then, leaving a filter to the one being who might be listening. Even if he isn't listening...it's something he's needed to say, something he may never get the chance to say to the furry little guardian. For all he knows, the Lorax is gone for good, might as well get it off his chest now, to this empty book with the chance that maybe he can hear, then let it fester forever]

What is it that you want me to even do here? And I know you had something to do with me being here. I just know it. Is it supposed to be some lesson? Am I supposed to listen to all these people talking about hope and trust and believing in yourself? That if I do all that, things will eventually get better? Because they won’t. People don't care here and Truffula Valley is gone. It’s ruined. I ripped out everything good and decent about it and left nothing behind. That sort of thing can’t be fixed. You know that, you saw that.

[He takes in a deep breath, his hand moving inside his pocket, closing around and pulling out a tiny brown seed. He turns it between his fingertips, watching the swirling pattern on it for a moment, how it bends around the shell of the seed, how it reaches to the tip. It’s a work of art in of itself, and yet nothing compared to what it came from. What it could become. If the world was a kinder place]

I don’t even know why you left me this thing. Nothing can grow in the valley any more, I dug around, I looked. The ground is too full of ash and goop, and the air and water is even worse. I can’t rebuild the forest there, it’s not going to happen. So what is it? Some sort of horrible, tortourous reminder? Because I think you covered that with the Unless Rock.

[His eyes drift to the room around him, the word ‘unless’ scattered everywhere. Forever multiplying, never leaving. A constant reminder of exactly what he’d done]

Which, by the way, is a really crappy thing to leave a person. What does it even mean? It’s just one, stupid word, sitting there. Taunting me with its...its...wordy-ness. Unless what, Moustache? Unless WHAT?

[/filter]

[Ow. That loud thud was the Once-ler’s fist connecting with his table. Note to self: don’t do that, it hurts. He rubs his hand, glaring down at the private thoughts transcribed on the page, before deciding to dictate into it again. This time, publicly]

If you thought you could start to try and make some good for all the things you’ve done wrong back home here, if you could...I don't know, try to make a difference in a good way, would you?

Even if it doesn’t make a single bit of difference back home, where it all really matters. Even if there's a very good chance when you do go home it'll be forgotten. All that work you did, everything you did to make yourself feel better was just gone.

Do you still think it's worth it to try?

[There's an awkward pause] Just wondering. Y'know?

Comments

dictated

[optimystic]

Yes!

[is she going to say more? ... .... ... nope, apparently that's it]

forever!

[whichwayyoulean]

[Maya that is utterly non-helpful]

Care to elaborate on that at all?

[ino]

[without any hesitation, she answers confidently]

Definitely!

[whichwayyoulean]

Wow, I really should have been more specific. Lesson learned.

Why do you think it's worth trying?

Oops Dictated

[cyan_maid]

I certainly think it's worth a shot.

forever!

[whichwayyoulean]

Even if it might not make a lick of difference?

dictated forever

[lord_wizard]

It is.

Though you can just forget all that about making yourself feel better. It has nothing to do with you. Your feelings are probably what got you where you are now. It's about making a difference for other people. You may not remember it, but there's a good chance that people here will.

[Feelings about atoning in Paradisa, he has them...]

[whichwayyoulean]

[Boy, Felix, did you sure hit the nail right on the head]

I guess I was asking too much for that. [Not that, deep down, he really feels he deserves to feel better about himself. It would have been nice, though]

What if it wasn't exactly people you were trying to atone to?

dictated

[thehangedrose]

I definitely think it's worth a try.

I mean...I think it's actually good to just do something instead of feeling helpless, you know? Even if you forgot everything, even if everything is really for naught...I think I'd be glad that somehow, somewhere, I made a difference.

forever!

[whichwayyoulean]

But how can you be glad that you made a difference if you don't remember making a difference? It's not like you can write yourself a note saying 'hey you, do did a GOOD job!'

[zeke_developer]

[This was something that Huey had given a great deal of thought to, himself. He knew he was going to Hell for the things he'd created, the lives taken and ruined by his creations, but that didn't stop him from wanting to make it right, to at least try to make some good from all the bad he'd sown.]

Without a doubt. I don't know what you did back home, Once-ler, but here, you've got a chance to do things right. There are people here who can benefit from what you've got to offer, whatever it is. You've just gotta put forward the effort.

I can't remember if I told you this, but back home I was a weapons designer, in addition to working as a robotics engineer. The machines I built for Project Peace Walker...and Peace Walker itself were nothing more than weapons of mass destruction...that I built. Millions of lives were put in danger because of my work. I spent every second I could of the second chance I got trying to make it right. I'm trying to do that here, too.

So yeah, I think it's worth a try.

[whichwayyoulean]

[He makes a bitter sound] What I have to offer is a cautionary tale about remembering your actions have consequences.

Wow, that is a pretty contradictory name for a project involving weapons of mass destruction. But you got a second chance to make it right, yeah? It wasn't completely and utterly ruined so there wasn't a chance for a second chance.

[kalinda]

I don't think what I've done is relevant to anyone here, [Well, now that Alicia's gone.] but that wouldn't stop me from extending common courtesy to others.

[whichwayyoulean]

[He chuckles, but there's a kind of sad and bitter quality to it] I'm pretty certain my people skills were part of the problem to begin with.

[heal_theworld]

Of course. Because even if you go home, all the people here will remember what you did. They'll be a record of it somewhere.

[Once-Ler]
Why, what's happened?

[whichwayyoulean]

The Once-ler was here. He didn't completely suck. Has a nice ring to it.

[Martel]

[He falters, for a moment, before frowning, turning his head to look through the slats the wood covering his window]

There was some girl chopping down the trees for fun yesterday.

[moonlightmagician]

Of course it is. Making an effort to turn your life around now could help you to turn your life around back home.

Besides, even if it doesn't make a difference back home it makes you different. It makes you a better person if you want to make up for the wrong you've done.

[whichwayyoulean]

It won't help me if I don't remember it.

I'm not sure it makes me a better person. It doesn't negate the things I've done.

[wilder]

[There's a bit of a pause before he replies. Maybe this guy is still sore from Zelos not remembering or not being the right Zelos- but he can still try right?]

Of course it's worth a try. Who knows, maybe it will matter in ways you didn't anticipate or something.

[whichwayyoulean]

[Wow. That was frightingly optimistic. The Once-ler suppresses a shudder]

In what way, exactly? Suddenly I wake up and this is all a dream and I can go 'oh I know exactly how to fix this horrible mess now, yippie'?

Sory to tag with two but they both have opinions.

[loves_osaka]

It's more than worth th' try. No time like th' present t' turn things aroun'

that is forever cool with me!

[whichwayyoulean]

But what's the point if it doesn't even matter in the long run?

[forgedinbattle]

I think it's the only thing to do. [Oncler, meet Xena, the woman with the biggest atoner complex ever.]

[whichwayyoulean]

Even if you know it might not make any difference? [Sup gurl, how's that going there?]

[foolreversed]

...Maybe.

[god shit, what a complicated question.]

[whichwayyoulean]

[Well, Adchi, at least you've given him a less certain answer. He was getting worried with all the 'for sure!' ones]

Only maybe, huh? Glad someone still has some reservations in this place.

[hard_talker]

Yeah, I would. I ... do it every week. In my own way. Or at least, I try.

[whichwayyoulean]

With the radio broadcast things? I guess those are pretty helpful...