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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

[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?

[medicalize]

I know what medicine is. Cybertronians don't get 'hay fever' as you call it.

[ He rolls his shoulders as he considers this. ]

Why would you purposely subject yourself to allergens?

[yolonceler]

I, uhhh... I just really like being outside.

[He's digging himself deeper and deeper into this lie, isn't he?]

The human immune system can't stop me from enjoying the scenery.