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[yolonceler]

[The Once-ler emerges from the barracks (accompanied by a coughing fit, as he was running, and running does not agree with his damaged lungs), after a rather amusing freak-out when he noticed that he was not in his office. He is met with the sight of the Green. The Green, with its growing grass and budding flowers and… and nature. It's the landscape the Once-ler used to know, sans the truffula trees—but this is enough.

He glances skyward. It's blue, a radiant blue, with puffy cumulus clouds drifting about here and there. The light is bright, so bright he puts on his sunglasses, but there's… no sun? That makes about zero sense. He shakes his head and turns his attention back to the Green. He crouches down and tugs off one of his gloves. His hands are shaking, just a little bit, and they don't stop even when he commands them to. The Once-ler presses his palm down into the grass. The feeling is giving him some pretty unwanted flashbacks to when the truffula forest was full and lush. The world was a nice place to be, and you could take a deep breath without coughing up a lung.

He might as well be four years back in time.

So, if you want to see a tall, well-dressed man wandering around the Green with tears on his face, this is your chance.]

Comments

[missmimmi]

[In most cases Mimmi would normally just ignore strangers she saw walking by. But he was, you know, crying. Which is usually always a bad sign. So she pauses and takes the time to approach him. She can't help it, okay, it's the mother in her.]

Oh, are you all right?

[yolonceler]

[Oh lord, oh no, someone found him. Once-ler, you idiot, of course someone is going to find you! Just because your suit is green doesn't mean you blend in! The Once-ler hurriedly wipes the tears off his face and turns to face Mimmi.]

Um, yes, I'm fine. I have allergies. [He crosses his arms and glares down at her through his sunglasses.] Tell me where I am.

[missmimmi]

[Oh. It's a new person.

EXPLAINS EVERYTHING.]

You are in Holloway's Keep. You did not read the note?

[yolonceler]

[Holloway's Keep? What a dumb name for a place.

(That's coming from the guy named "The Once-ler".)]

Note, what note?

[missmimmi]

The note that was in your room.

[Pause.]

Though I understand if you missed it. It is rather distressing when you first arrive here for most.

[yolonceler]

Distressing? No, I'm not distressed. I suffer from mild confusion.

[He is so distressed.]

What's in this note?

[missmimmi]

[Oh... fuck damn it. She really doesn't want to be the one to break it to this guy. Especially face to face.]

You were rescued and brought here by Lord Deior. Your home no longer exists.

[yolonceler]

Right. Okay. That's nice.

[The Once-ler makes a show of sweeping off his sunglasses in exasperation.]

Listen, lady. This isn't funny. I don't have time for pranks. And really, what's with the fake grass? Fake flowers? Fake sky, fake nature, fake everything? If you're trying to get some sort of emotional rise out of me, it's not going to happen. There will be no epiphanies or changes-of-heart over here. So please, point me to the door and show me the cameras. Things don't have to get uglier than they already are.

[missmimmi]

I... am sorry. There are no cameras. And as far as I know the... nature, is not fake.

[She's just giving him a wtf are you talking about look.]

[songofura]

[Zia's been avoiding most people around the keep, a combination of her shy nature and general wariness kicking into play. The sight of a crying man however isn't something she can ignore. Carefully she approaches.]

Um.

[Her voice is quiet, but hopefully he'll hear her alright.]

Are you okay?

[yolonceler]

[The Once-ler lets out an exasperated sigh. He's at least trying to stop the tears, but it seems like he's bad at it. What's with these people giving enough damns to ask about his feelings?]

I'm allergic to pollen. Makes my eyes water like crazy.

[That's his story and he's sticking to it. He manages an obviously forced smile.]

So, yes, I'm perfectly okay.

[songofura]

[She smiles back at him, willing to play along if it'll help him out.]

If you say so.

[Small pause. Zia keeps her tone light and friendly. She hates seeing people sad, but often keeping it cool and not doting on people is more an aid than anything.]

But if you ever want to talk to someone about that... allergy, I'm a pretty good listener.

[Her offer stands no matter what.]

[yolonceler]

[There's another pause, as the Once-ler doesn't know how to respond to kindness. People are not kind to the Once-ler. People either A, fear him, or B, are family members that just take his money. He narrows his eyes and regards Zia with caution. There has to be a catch to this friendliness.]

Talking about allergies. Sure, I'll keep that in mind.

[songofura]

[So much caution. Don't worry Once-ler. Zia's just a seventeen year old that likes music. She's probably the most harmless thing in the Keep.]

I'm Zia, by the way. You're new here, aren't you?

[Oh, and once you get her talking, it's hard to get her to stop. Good luck with that.]

[yolonceler]

[Excellent, now he has to have a conversation. Can't everyone leave him to have allergies in peace? The Once-ler crosses his arms and reluctantly responds.]

Looks like it. I'm the Once-ler.

[Introducing himself is a formality, really. Everyone knows the Once-ler.]

[songofura]

[You will take this conversation and you will enjoy it, Oncie! Or... not. Either way, he's stuck with her for a little while. At least until she knows he's not gonna cry anymore.]

The... Once-ler? Is that some kind of rank?

[She's never met someone with 'the' in their name. Sorry dude.]

[yolonceler]

No. It's my name. You know - The Once-ler?

[He watches Zia expectantly. This has got to be a joke. It's not like the Once-ler is the most recognizable person in the world or anything. Nope. Not at all.]

[medicalize]

[ Nature wasn't exactly something that Ratchet particularly was fond of. On Earth he'd preferred to stay inside the base, with all his equipment and machines, unless it was absolutely necessary for him to leave. He didn't exactly have the same luxury here. It wasn't really the grass or shrubberies he was interested in-- the executioner block had gained some attention from him. Unfamiliar with human history, he had little idea what it was for.

He strokes a thumb over his chin, considering it, before he turns and spots a human nearby. Normally, he had very little interest in fleshlings, but he'd come to understand that when a human's optics were leaking it was generally a bad thing.

So, a nine foot tall robot stalks over. ]

Human. Why are you leaking?

[yolonceler]

Listen. Like I said to everyone else, I have allergoh my god.

[That is a robot. That is a giant fucking robot, standing there, right there. The Once-ler slowly lowers his sunglasses. Is he hallucinating? Did someone roofie him? Did he drop some acid? He's got to be seeing things.

Give him a few moments to be absolutely petrified.

After those moments pass, the Once-ler raises his hands cautiously and takes a few steps back.]

Uhh, I'm allergic to flowers. Sooo, I'm leaking.

[medicalize]

[ Hn. Terror. Other humans here seemed to deal with his appearance pretty well, so he had just assumed that everyone else would be just as casual. It's a nice reminder why he doesn't particularly enjoy dealing with humans. As if in response to the whole allergies thing, he palms some pollen off his plating and looks at it, grunting in disgust. ]

Then go inside.

[ He places his hands on his hips. ]

[yolonceler]

Uh -

[Well, what does he say to that? The Once-ler didn't foresee such a simple solution to his bad lie. Wait, why is he questioning this? A giant fucking robot is telling him to go inside. Would the Once-ler really dare to defy a giant fucking robot?]

- Actually, look! [He hurriedly wipes the tears from his face and takes off his sunglasses.] See, my allergies are gone! It's a miracle. Guess I can stay outside, then!

[The Once-ler would really dare to defy a giant fucking robot.]

[medicalize]

[ For a moment, Ratchet just gives him a very skeptical look. Then he leans in, cupping his chin as he studies the human's face. Surely he does look better than before. ]

Hn. Yes, it seems so. Fascinating.

[ Lucky that Ratchet really doesn't know much of anything about human allergies. ]

But you should do something in case those-- [ He makes a vague gesture with his hand. ] --allergies come back.

[yolonceler]

[Have you ever been scrutinized by a giant fucking robot? It's awful. The Once-ler barely manages to maintain his cracked facade.]

Right. I'll be certain to stuff my face with allergy meds.

[medicalize]

And that will help.

[ That's a question, actually, even if it sounds somewhat like a statement. Ratchet never exactly did 'friendly' well. ]

[yolonceler]

Yeah.

[It actually takes a moment for him to realize that statement was a question.]

Meds... Medicine? You know, to combat the symptoms of hay fever?