Sixteen Truffula Trees

[whichwayyoulean]

[Filtered to Ino forever and ever]

[He's still annoyed with her for that whole nutcracker mess, it's there in his voice. But he's backed himself into a corner, and needs help getting out of it. And he knows she's the most likely out of the people he knows and trusts to be able to do it. Man, he really needs to learn to see the flaws in his plans before he acts on them.

Oh who's he kidding? He's the King of Screw Ups. That'll never change]

So. You enjoy meddling in people's love lives. I've got a project for you.

Comments

[ino]

[... well, she's surprised to hear from him, she was kind of expecting him to avoid her forever and ever after that kiss. but hey, she's not complaining!

... the opening line is a little weird, though]

... Huh?

[whichwayyoulean]

[That was his initial plan. Or rather, keep away from her as long as she'd let him, which probably wouldn't have been all that long]

Because you know what, I really don't want to get involved in this kind of thing, but I've been dragged into it anyway.

Sheena and Zelos. Thoughts?

[ino]

[LMAO she just stares at the page]

As a couple?

[whichwayyoulean]

No, as an amazing new juggling act. I'm making them little costumes with jingly bells and glitter on them.

1/2

[ino]

Okay, I'm sorry, but this is a really random and sudden conversation!

[ino]

What, do you think they like each other?

[whichwayyoulean]

Yeah, well. I wanted to cut to the chase.

And yeah. But when I told Sheena to go and talk to him, they got tangled in that nutcracker mess and now I think she wants to kill him.

Uh. More than usual.

[HOW DO YOU FIX THIS INO?]

[ino]

What happened? When they kissed, I mean.

[whichwayyoulean]

As far as I can guess, judging how angry she was, he was himself and he said something stupid.

[ino]

[a sigh ... thinking about it, zelos did talk about sheena some before ... but there's still the matter of what sheena said to her before]

... Are you sure she likes him?

[whichwayyoulean]

She doesn't seem to think so, but I've watched them interact.

I'm not completely unobservational.

[ino]

I'm just asking, because ... [she hesitates] She's explicitly told me she likes someone else.

[whichwayyoulean]

[...Oh noooo. No he told her not to put her hopes on him. He TOLD her he was no good for her]

...Please tell me you're joking.

[ino]

No? [doesn't realize he thinks she means him ... LMAO] Why would I joke about that?

[whichwayyoulean]

[This will end up a horrible mess]

I didn't think she'd start talking about that.

[ino]

... Huh? What do you mean?

[whichwayyoulean]

...

What do you mean?

[ino]

I asked you first!

[whichwayyoulean]

Yeah, well, I'm asking you now.

Who has she been talking about? [Pleasenothimpleasenothimpleasenothim]

[ino]

I can't tell you, that's between us.

[UNINTENTIONALLY MAKING THIS WORSE WHOOO]

Now tell me what you're talking about!

[whichwayyoulean]

[B| INO]

No. I don't want to talk about it.

[ino]

I don't know how you expect me to help you with this if you can't be forthcoming about all of the details.

[whichwayyoulean]

[Groan]

You are so difficult.

She kissed me, okay? Because of those stupid nutcrackers. And...I don't know, she wanted to know if it could be anything more.

Not magically induced more.

1/2

[ino]

[DEAD SILENCE.]

[ino]

Ehhhhh--?!?!

[whichwayyoulean]

Yes. Welcome to what living in my head is like for the past few days.

[ino]

[muttering, now:]

But that wasn't what she said to me ...

[whichwayyoulean]

[Wait. Wait what]

...What do you mean?

And this time I asked first.

[ino]

She told me she liked someone else. Not you.

[and now she's feeling a little mad/protective. she doesn't like the idea of someone who seemingly can't decide who she likes making a romantic play on once-ler]

[whichwayyoulean]

[And yet, he sounds relieved]

Well, she sure didn't mention that. Good. She can go after that someone else, then.

[ino]

Well, that person wasn't Zelos, either. [that's said a bit irritably, but she pauses, thinking] But you're sure he likes her?

[whichwayyoulean]

I figured as much.

Pretty sure. But let's face it, it;s always hard to tell with Zelos. He isn't exactly the King of Feelings.

[ino]

I know. [she's unsure about this, too, because she doesn't want zelos to get hurt, either ... but after a moment:] I'll see what I can do.

[whichwayyoulean]

...Thanks. [Anything to keep Sheena away from HIM, that's all he wants.

Oh and now he'll just lapse into awkward silence because you inadvertently messed with his head back in his room, missy]

[ino]

[hahaha yeah ... about that, let's not talk about that]

I would have never expected you to get involved in that sort of thing ...

[whichwayyoulean]

I wouldn't normally. But I don't want her setting her sights on me. So, here I am. Being involved.

You know she actually wanted me to talk to Zelos about this?

[ino]

Wait, she wanted you to talk to him for her?

... Isn't she, like, our age?

[whichwayyoulean]

Well, after she tried and she got mad, I guess she thought someone who had a more level head could do it.

But that is so not me.

[ino]

That's not even the point. It's not you that's the problem. They have to be able to talk to each other.

[whichwayyoulean]

Then lock them in a padded room together.

[ino]

Forcing them to sit around together isn't going to help either. They have to have a reason to talk. And unless we suddenly get a conveniently timed honesty loss from one or both of them, that's gonna be tough.

[whichwayyoulean]

They just have to make things difficult.

Ugh, is this what it's like to be you? Being frustrated by this sort of thing?

[ino]

[hahaha oh no that last bit was kind of adorable, onceler]

Yes, welcome to my life.

[whichwayyoulean]

[Lies he is never adorable]

And this is exactly why I'm leaving this sort of thing to you. I haven't got the patience for it.

[ino]

Well, unfortunately, I can't just wave a magic wand and make them together, either.

[whichwayyoulean]

I gotta admit, I feel a little disillusioned by that.

[ino]

Hey, I said I'll do what I can, right? I'm pretty good at this stuff. Zelos is gonna be a tough nut to crack, though ...

[whichwayyoulean]

I wouldn't expect anything less of him.