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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]

[He pauses when he hears her voice. Hey, that's someone he's never met before! Excellent. The Once-ler loves an audience. Loves it. He starts to play again, still going through random chords.]

Helloooo!

[morningfeather]

[Te Ata heads the rest of the way inside, smiling at Once-ler.]

Hey. I've never heard anyone actually using any of the instruments in here before.

[yolonceler]

Really? Because there's tons of them.

[He nudges an erhu with his foot.]

... Not sure what some of them are, but they're here.

let's pretend I'm not an epic flake

[morningfeather]

Maybe I just haven't been walking by at the right times.

[Te Ata frowns at the erhu.]

You know, I don't know what some of these are either.

BUT U R

[yolonceler]

It's kind of weird to remember that different cultures have different instruments.

[Asian instruments are weird, let me tell you that. But anyway!]

So, hey, I'm the Once-ler!

FORGIVE MEEEEE

[morningfeather]

Sure is, especially since I don't really pay attention to music.

My name is Te Ata. That's quite an interesting name you have, Once-ler.

NO

[yolonceler]

Yeah, I get that a lot. [Like, a lot.] Pleasure to meet you, Te Ata.

okay /foreveralone.jpg

[morningfeather]

I bet. Does it mean anything specific?

[yolonceler]

Nnnope, just my name. I think my mom wanted me to be number one or something.

[morningfeather]

I guess that makes sense...?

[So unsure about that.]

How long have you been here in the keep?

[yolonceler]

[It makes absolutely no sense. Take it up with Dr. Seuss.]

Uh... two months, maybe. Two and a half. [Wow.] You?

[morningfeather]

Um, I'm not completely sure. Nine...ten months, maybe? I've long since lost count.

[yolonceler]

Wow. That long? How have you survived?

[morningfeather]

I don't even know. I think I've made more clothes and clay pots than I ever have before coming here.

[She chuckles.]

Maybe I should learn to play one of these instruments. I have more than enough free time now.

[yolonceler]

[Clothes and pots. ... Exciting.]

Oh, yeah, definitely. Music, instruments, they're great. I can teach you guitar if you want, no charge.

[morningfeather]

[The most exciting.]

Seriously? That would be really nice of you to do that.

[yolonceler]

Yeah, it's not a big deal. I think if everybody played a little guitar, the world would be a better place. Or at least, more musical.

[LET HIM CONVERT YOU TO THE GUITAR RELIGION]

[morningfeather]

Well, the world always needs a little more music. Especially a place like this.

[Teach her, Once-ler. Teach her everything.]

[yolonceler]

Literally always.

[GLADLY]

Hey, grab a guitar, we can start right now.

[morningfeather]

Alright, let me find one I like.

[Not that there's a huge selection. She picks one out and makes her way back over to Once-ler.]

Well then, where do we start?

[yolonceler]

Strings, I guess. The strings are pretty much the most important part, considering they make the music and all. [Twang! goes the first string.] E. [Twang.] A. [Twang.] D. [Twang.] G. [Twang.] B. [Twang.] And another E. [Twang.] You follow?

[morningfeather]

So far, yeah.

[Te Ata watches Once-ler's fingers closely, quietly picking at the strings after him.]

im just raiding wikipedia,,,,,

[yolonceler]

[Sounds like her guitar isn't really tuned. Whatever, he'll deal with that later.]

These lines on the neck, they're frets, and they represent these things called semitones. Twelve semitones make an octave.

Sounds like a good plan to me

[morningfeather]

Okay...

[Hopefully she'll remember that later.]