Thirteen Truffula Trees

[whichwayyoulean]

[Well, that was an eventful trip, wasn't it? He'd actually been enjoying the world change right up to the point the fake Lorax showed up. Those words had hurt, even if a small part of him was always expecting them. So, the Once-ler is in his room (where else?) idly strumming out a guitar tune. He's not even sure he remembers where he's heard it from. Somewhere in the castle, probably. He continues to strum along as he dictates into the journal]

Okay, I have a question. Did anyone else see horrible illusions when the...whatever they were attacked us? Because I'm kind of wondering. How did they know what illusions to cast? You know, which ones would really get to us. Did they have files on us or did they just go play around in our heads and turn our own minds against us?

[He's not sure why it's important he knows that. It's not exactly going to make him feel any better, but still. That done, he has some filters to see to]

[Jane]

Your Utility Belt is all done. I would have got it done sooner if the castle hadn't decided to throw all those shenanigans at us.

[Phoebe]

Incoming, your ghosts are brining your birthday present. [It’s a scarf. Because it was something he was able to make on short notice, and hey, winter is coming so it’s practical too!]

[Kalinda]

[He’s been concerned about her, really. They haven’t properly talked since that...nightmare mess and he’s not sure if she even wants to see him again or not. Still, she’s been quiet- very quiet. He's trying not to think about those really not subtle at all hints his beloved friends decided to drop concerning her. Carefully:

...Hey.

Comments

dictated

[wilder]

[Hey Zelos actually knows this song thanks to his neighbors and their shower singing habits. He's been hanging upside down from his bed for a good while now in hopes of passing out and finding out the past twenty-four hours was a post death hallucination after dying in some ninja battle- so don't mind as he thinks it's totally cool to sing along]

[...okay he'd do it without blood rushing to his head anyway]

'Cause I'm free as a biiiiiiiird now~!
And this bird you can not cha-a-a-a-a-a-nge~ ♪

forever!

[whichwayyoulean]

[...There's a pause in the playing, because he really wasn't expecting that. But hey, Zelos seems to be enjoying himself, so he'll carrying on playing for a while]

...Huh. So this song has actual words. What's with the bird thing?

dictated

[thehangedrose]

I imagine it would have to do with our minds, really. It's not like I would expect them to have files on us, but...then again, you never know.

[A long pause, before:]

You holding up alright?

forever!

[whichwayyoulean]

Given it's, you know, the psychotic castle of doom, anything is possible.


...I'm okay. I guess.

[heal_theworld]

[And suddenly, there's a panpipe picking up the melody of the song, and playing along with him.]

[whichwayyoulean]

[Awwww yeah. It's a jam session! IS HE FINALLY COOL NOW?!]

[ino]

[hey look who's recovered from passing out and nosebleeding all over the place!]

They didn't know anything about you -- or at least, nothing beyond the obvious someone could have deduced from watching you briefly. The illusion -- it was more like something that would make anyone think they were seeing someone important to them. It just manipulates your brain activity, it doesn't create anything new.

[talk science to me baby ooh ooh. but more importantly:]

[Once-ler]

You okay?

[whichwayyoulean]

[Oh good, he's glad!]

...Oh good. Nice to know how deep the self loathing goes there. Yippie. Thanks, mind, you're a real buddy to have in difficult situations.

[Ino]

I'll live.

dictated

[ftssusstgsetfwe]

My mother.

forever!

[whichwayyoulean]

...I'm sorry. Sounds like they really were trying to get at us.

Once-ler-- 5ever!

[kalinda]

[She'll dictate back into the journal, her voice sounding as if she had just awoken from a very very long nap-- and a deep sleep at that.

And because she is yet another introvert, watch the ideal choice of words to respond.]

Hey.

AND EVER

[whichwayyoulean]

[They are the best at this. Still, at least she answered him, which he really wasn't expecting]

You've been quiet since [the horrible nightmares of death where I was a horrific douche to you] ...for a while. You doing okay?

[not_mafia]

[How about we don't talk about those hallucinations. That sounds like an amazing idea.]

You're really good at the guitar, Once-ler.

[whichwayyoulean]

[Yes, let's NEVER TALK ABOUT THEM EVER AGAIN]

Thanks, Tsuna. I've been playing for a long time.

[courageous_wit]

...It seems I missed it this time.

[whichwayyoulean]

Consider yourself lucky.

[cyan_maid]

You saw illusions? Oh - right! Ino said something about illusions on the battlefield.

Don't worry about it! I'll come right up to fetch it, if that's alright with you.

[whichwayyoulean]

Yeaaaah it was pretty weird.

ANYWAY. [Moving on from that] That's fine, come whenever you like, it's not like I'm going anywhere.

[cheerupemoborg]

Somehow, someway, Paradisa was involved. No doubt about it.

[whichwayyoulean]

I wouldn't doubt that for a second.

dictated;

[hedonic]

Illusions are barely any work—it's like lighting a spark, and watching it grow. It isn't difficult at all to learn and use somebody's worst fear.

forever!

[whichwayyoulean]

[Oh noooo it's you again]

...Why am I not surprised that you know this.

Once-ler

[kungfuwitch]

[The gift definitely makes her smile]

Thank you, Once-ler! It's beautiful. Did you make this, yourself?

Phoebe

[whichwayyoulean]

I sure did. I would have gone with a sweater but you know, ninja village of distraction.

[Nothing unmanly about knitting, NOPE]

dictated;

[ninjainviolet]

I went to the Hot Springs, so I missed that.

Are you okay?

[What a thing to happen after the nightmares.]

forever!

[whichwayyoulean]

Were they any good? The Hot Springs, I mean.

[He pauses for a moment, before sighing]

[Sheena]

I saw the Lorax.

[peacockherald]

It's not a nice thought, but if I had to guess, I would say the last. Dark mages in my world have such abilities, so it is not to far to stretch to say that other creatures of the dark in other worlds might as well.

[whichwayyoulean]

So they can just play about in our heads like it's nothing?

[wishmadeinfire]

Considering Paradisa sent us to that place, and since we have lived within Paradisa, it is an easy enough assumption that Paradisa simply made decisions based on observations of us.

[whichwayyoulean]

Gee, thanks, castle. How nice of you to send notes on who to psychologically break someone.