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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

[yolonceler]

You do?

[Oh man, he didn't anticipate that. His girlfriend plays the guitar. Really, can Rapunzel be any more perfect? Yes? No? Probably yes. He picks his way across the room, carefully stepping over instruments. Don't want to break anything.]

That is g-r-e-a-t great! Never woulda thought.

[70ftandcounting]

[Once-ler, you have just made Rapunzel's day. She is...so happy that he's excited about that, and she brightens considerably, and nods.]

I do! I had a lot of free time, and...well. I taught myself! I sing sometimes, too.

[yolonceler]

You sing, too?

[This is one of the best days of his life, no lie. As if he needed reason to love her more. Love, wait, did I say love? Like. I meant like. I swear.]

Are you good? Heck, it doesn't matter. C'mon, grab a guitar, let's play something!

[70ftandcounting]

I -- yes! I do!

[She grins at him, and scrambles for a guitar. He just made her day a thousand times better -- as if she ever had any doubt that that was something he could do -- and this feeling? Best. She feels like she's floating on air, and as she settles next to him, clutching that guitar, Rapunzel is the happiest she's been in days.]

[yolonceler]

[The Once-ler has always fantasized about a girlfriend that shared his passion for music. He thought about writing duets and playing in smokey bars across the country - all that chick flick romantic garbage. Here he is now with the girl who becomes more and more like the one of his dreams every day, and everything is splendid. There aren't many smokey bars at the Keep, but there are plenty of duets to be written, and the Once-ler is ready and willing.]

Okay, I haven't played in... years... so... [He plays a few chords. Hmm...] Not sure where to do with this. [He looks to her with a biiig smile.] Any ideas?

[70ftandcounting]

[She ponders a few moments as she leans to tune her guitar, tweaking the strings until they sound at least manageable.]

Why...dont I just start with something basic, and we'll work together from there?

[A few notes later, and she goes into something light.]

[yolonceler]

Right.

[The Once-ler listens for a few notes, then chimes in with a corresponding melody (same as in the vid for convenience). This guitar is a little too small for his fingers (or maybe he's just that out of practice), so he stumbles over a few notes, but recovers quickly.

He simply cannot keep that smile off his face.]

[70ftandcounting]

[The one she's picked seem to fit her just right -- but she's small anyway, little hands and all.

As they get a rhythm together, she speeds up, just a little and she grows more confident in her playing. It's been a while since she's picked it up too, so it's ok if he stumbles -- she hiccups more than once, too.]

[yolonceler]

[He speeds up as she does. It's all coming back to him - countless hours staring at notes, whining about the calluses covering his fingers, saving up for his first guitar. Just because he shoved music aside for business doesn't mean it stopped being a part of him. It never did, and it never will. And now! Now, he gets to share this part of himself with Rapunzel. The Once-ler is the luckiest guy in the world, in every world, no contest.

He ends the song with a lingering chord.]

Wow.

[Wow.]

Thaaat waaas incredible! That was great! You're great.

WELL THIS GOT BURIED. OOPS.

[70ftandcounting]

[Rapunzel smiles broadly at him -- it felt...good to play, good to lose herself in something like this after so many terrible things had happened. She had always known there was beauty in music, and to share that with someone was magical.]

It...was really wonderful.

[She has to laugh, a little bit.]

So are you, Once-ler. [Her fingers strike a few more chords before she pauses, squirming a little.]

Want to...hear something I wrote?

WOW THANKS

[yolonceler]

Something you wrote?

[Ohmygod she writes music too? The Once-ler is beaming. Absolutely beaming. He drums his fingers on his guitar with excitement.]

Yes, yeah, definitely!

NP

[70ftandcounting]

[She nods, turning red, and doesn't...speak. She's afraid that she'll lose her nerve, because she doesn't...sing often in front of people.

She hugs the guitar to her, almost protecting herself, before strumming a few chords, setting a bit of a darker theme than before.

Then, she starts to sing.]

[yolonceler]

[His smile dies on his lips. He wasn't expecting something like this. He was expecting happiness and sunshine - you know, Rapunzel stuff - not something deep and haunting and beautiful and a thousand other things. It really doesn't take long for it to dawn on him that this song is about him. She really feels like this? ... Felt? How long ago did she write this? Wow. Just... wow.

The Once-ler is just staring at her. Staring.]

[70ftandcounting]

[Dark, haunting, passionate -- there's more facets to little Rapunzel than you realized, aren't there? She's so much more than this linear sunshine creature that the people here think her to be, but the deeper part -- the pieces that are dark and sad and fragmented and filled with doubt are pushed aside in favor of keeping others happy and smiling instead of herself.

She trails off, cheeks a little wet and she's...not really look at him.]

[yolonceler]

[It was stupid of him to think Rapunzel secreted rainbows 24/7. The Once-ler sometimes forgets that other people exist, that they have thoughts and feelings like he does, and it's a serious problem. Rapunzel does not exist to make him smile.

This is where he's supposed to sing a song of his own, but he doesn't have one. He can't come up with anything on the spot, it's been too long.

So he just kisses her, and it's sweet, and it's gentle, and... the Once-ler didn't even know he was capable of a kiss like this.]

[70ftandcounting]

[Most people seem to think that is what she does -- a ray of perpetual sunshine that is so bright there is no room for shadows or darkness.

Even the sun has it's blackness, though.

A kiss is distracting enough at the moment, at least -- and it's...probably their most powerful kiss to date. IT leaves her trembling and still clutching that guitar, eyes squeezed shut.]

[yolonceler]

[The Once-ler has no idea what to do. His girlfriend is upset and shaking and all he can do is kiss her and hope she stops. Oncie, sweetie, that's not going to work. Think fast. Think faster.]

Hey. Hey, look at me.

[He stares at her very intently.]

You're the one, we're together. You have me on a leash. [Too intense, too soon? Sorry, it's true.] So don't be upset.

[70ftandcounting]

[Is she? Is she the one? Maybe. Maybe not. The last time she'd fallen, he'd vanished without a trace. Others, too -- it was fairly common around the Keep. It was unpredictable.

Her eyes meet his; wide and hazel in color and maybe a little red rimmed, she meets that stare wish a soft noise in the back of her throat.

All she can do is mutely nod.]

[yolonceler]

Right.

[He's about to get really sappy. Are you ready? Are you prepared for this sappiness?]

Y'know, you make me really happy. [For the Once-ler, that is sappy. But wait, there's more!] Happier than I've been in... [Pause. He casts his gaze down and away for a moment.] ... in a long, long time. And that's something to be proud of right there.

[70ftandcounting]

[She watches him carefully, twisting pieces of her hair in her hands as hazel eyes follow his every movement.]

You...you're a wonderful person, Once-ler. [Her voice is quiet.]

You deserve happiness.

[yolonceler]

[Absolute silence. The Once-ler isn't even breathing. Part of him wants to laugh, then cry, and part of him just wants to go catatonic forever. The Once-ler does not deserve happiness. The Once-ler doesn't even deserve to exist. He's just a waste of space.

He considers telling her everything. He considers shouting "I DID IT, I DESTROYED EVERYTHING, PLANTS AND ANIMALS WENT EXTINCT AND PEOPLE DIED" - but he doesn't. He just forces a smile.]

Nicest thing anyone's ever said to me.

[70ftandcounting]

[She finally looks up at him then, and smiles lightly, setting the guitar aside in favor of climbing into his lap and looping her arms around him.]

It's the truth. You do. I...really care about you, Once-ler. I do.

[yolonceler]

[He sets aside his guitar as well and hugs her close. Rapunzel is too good for him, far too good for him. She deserves someone that isn't awful, someone that won't lie to her. He's selfish. She's not his to take. He needs to let her go.

But he can't.]

I care about you more than I care about myself.

[Is that really the truth?]

[70ftandcounting]

[She nestles close, resting her head on his shoulder with a quiet sigh.]

That's... How I feel about you too, Once-ler.

[yolonceler]

[He feels like he has her trapped. Ensnared. This isn't a relationship, this is... What is this? He can't even describe it. Something based vaguely on manipulation.

The intimacy of this moment is frightening him.]

So, uh, hey! Let's write a duet?