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[yolonceler]

[If you know anything about the Once-ler (aside from the whole herbicidal dick thing), it's that he loves music. His childhood dreams of being a rock star were crushed a long time ago, but he never truly gave up. Music was more than one of his various career ventures. It became a part of him. Then the Thneed happened, and music was shoved aside. His muse died, and no number of fancy guitars could bring it back.

So he gave up.

At the Keep, The Once-ler isn't busy at all. He's never had more free time in his entire life. He's been aware of the bower for quite some time now, but has made it a point to avoid it. Sometimes just thinking about music is enough to upset him, and taunting himself with the sight of instruments is extremely counterproductive. But now he's forced himself into the bower, forced himself to tune an acoustic guitar and strum a chord or two. Or four. Or six or eight or ten. Maybe an obscene amount of free time is all you need to get your muse back. If you'd like to stumble across a guy that seems far more giddy than any man should, this is your chance.]

Comments

[dalen]

[Merrill is a terribly curious creature. Perhaps a little too curious for her own good. But she can't seem to help herself. There's so much in the world that's new and exotic and exciting. She wants to see it everything.

So the Bower is the next stop on her list of Let's Visit Every Building in the Keep. She hasn't noticed anything particularly exciting yet. That is until she hears the chords of a guitar being strummed. Now she must find the source. Shemlen instruments were intriguing.

She peers into the room and there's that guy with the tree. So she'll just come right on in, because hey they're friends right? Hope you don't mind the audience Once-ler. Though she's far more interested in the instrument than your actual playing.]

[yolonceler]

[Yes, they're definitely friends! Anyone that puts up with his nature feelings is a friend of his, especially if they share his enthusiasm. The Once-ler doesn't mind the audience at all and doesn't even falter in his playing when he sees her standing there. He might even try to play something more complicated! Good impressions are important.]

Hey there Mmmerrill, how are you this fine day?

[dalen]

[You have no idea, Once-ler. Nature is an important part of being Dalish. They have a couple of gods dedicated to it and everything. And my is she impressed with your playing.

Pssst. He's talking to you, Merrill. Time to wake up.]

Aneth ara. I'm fine. What are you playing?

[yolonceler]

Uh, just some random chords. Don't remember the last time I wrote an honest-to-god song.

[She can't possibly mean the instrument itself, right? Everyone knows what a guitar is.]

[dalen]

[Well of course she means the instrument. You think they have guitars in the alienage?]

You write music? That sounds exciting.

[yolonceler]

Yeah! I mean, I used to. Then I stopped. [He plays a few notes idly.] Got too busy, y'know? Waaay too busy.

[dalen]

[Gosh Oncie, Merrill wants to know your whole life.]

I understand. It's easy to get distracted from the things you love if you've become too busy to notice them.

[like her clan. She misses them.]

[yolonceler]

Yeah. [It's a depressing thing to think about. So he doesn't!] But here, I'm not busy! At all! I'm the polar opposite of busy. Might as well use the time to catch up on old hobbies, right?

[dalen]

[Merrill brightens. He's right. Of course he's right.]

Would you play a song for me?

pretty much gonna use this guy for all of oncie's songs

[yolonceler]

Oh! Yeah, yeah, sure!

[A mini concert! How exciting! The Once-ler searches his brain for something to play. Singing, he's not going to sing. It's been waaay too long, and he's not sure if he can make something up as he goes (yet). No matter, instrumental is fine. He settles on one of his old songs and starts to play. He makes a myriad of mistakes and fumbles a few notes, but it manages to come out the way he intended.]