yolonceler | [ 7 ] open commentlog

[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.]

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[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.]

[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.]

[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.]

[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.

[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.]

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.

[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.

Edited 2012-07-19 00:47 (UTC)

[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.

[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.

[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?]

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

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

[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?

[She only knows how she feels, and how she feels right now is...strange. So strange that she doesn't want to think about it any longer.]

That's a wonderful idea.

Yeah! Yeah.

[Phew. Now he just has to diffuse all this tension and they'll be good to go.]

Sooo, what about?

[She ponders a moment.]

Maybe...the Keep? [Something simple?]

[Tension diffused? Subject change successful?]

A safe bet, and a good one. Definitely no shortage of inspiration there. [He strums a chord or two, then pauses.] ... You never really think about how cool the Keep is until you wanna write a song about it.

[A little bit. She feels a little better, anyway.]

That's true. We could write about...simply being here. What it's like, maybe? It's...not always so bad, is it?

[CHEEEEERFULNESS.]

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replying to this anyway

EXCUSE ME MISS U R ON HIATUS

SHHHHHH

IM TELLING ON U

NO DON'T