And the wind smells slow and sour when it blows

[whichwayyoulean]

Who: The Once-ler and YOU!
What: Nightmares
When: Friday
Where: HIS MIND
Rating: Uh PG/PG13.


[You'd be forgiven for thinking you've entered a pleasant dream, rather than a horrific nightmare here. You've arrived in Truffula Valley, a peaceful, wonderful place that almost puts Paradisa's created beauty to shame. Forest creatures are scurrying about, singing and playing and generally going about their business.

The sky is bright blue, the sun is shining and the waters of the nearby river and pond are crystal clear. And most importantly there are miles upon miles upon miles of Truffula trees. For anyone the Once-ler described these trees to, he wasn't kidding. The touch of their tufts really is softer than silk and that comforting, wonderful smell? Fresh butterfly milk baby.

Nothing good lasts forever, and there's a general unease about the place. A disjointed sort of feel, like someone's putting on a play and you've already been told everyone dies at the end]

[[ooc: Sections: Pretty Valley | Dying Valley | Dead Valley ]]

Comments

[courageous_wit]

I erased my parents' memories. They have no idea who I am, or who they are. And the tragic thing is, that's one of the few things I remember about them.

[whichwayyoulean]

[...Yep. That'd about do it]

...You don't remember them either? [A pause, he doesn't want to pry, it's not right or fair. But he is concerned] Something awful must of happened for you to have to do that.

[courageous_wit]

[she nods, her eyes moist but she doesn't try to hide them] I know it's not the same as this, but... I hope you know I won't think less of you for what happened.

[whichwayyoulean]

You should. I did this [he gestures to the general area of destroyed valley around them] out of my own selfishness and greed. I did it because it made me rich and powerful, and I didn't care who I was hurting on the way up.

[He looks at her, PROPERLY looks at her] I don't think your actions were due to that at all. You're not that sort of person.

[courageous_wit]

[no, the situations aren't the same at all. Hermione knows people who would do this same thing if given the chance. And yet....]

Do you care about what you've done now?

[whichwayyoulean]

Of course I care. [He cares a whole awful lot, but he knows it's not enough that HE does. He has to wait for someone else to]

If I could undo it all, I would in a heartbeat.

[courageous_wit]

See? You've changed from back then. If you were the same you wouldn't care so much.

[whichwayyoulean]

It still doesn't undo what I did.

[courageous_wit]

That's true. Not even wizards are allowed to drastically change the past.

[whichwayyoulean]

[His gaze falls back to the dirty, ruined ground. The ground he can't grow anything in any more]

No. Because magic doesn't work that way.

[courageous_wit]

[she kneels down to touch it. True, the ground is infertile now. But she's starting to wonder about this place]

Is the castle truly mimicking your world, or is this something different?

[whichwayyoulean]

It's really like this. If it's mimicking it, it's doing a really good job.

[courageous_wit]

Something still doesn't feel right. I haven't heard from anyone on the journals. Usually when there's a world change, there's quite the explosion of surprise and irritation from everyone.

Why the silence now?

[whichwayyoulean]

I don't know about you, but I can't find my journal anywhere. It's gone, and I'm pretty sure they're supposed to follow us everywhere.

[courageous_wit]

Hm, maybe I can figure out something in my bag. [she searches around but comes up with nothing] My bag is gone, too! I always keep it on me. There is something very strange going on.

[whichwayyoulean]

Yeah, I call it the Castle Playing Mind Games.

[courageous_wit]

I hate that game. But we can't figure out what's going on by standing around. We should get moving.

[whichwayyoulean]

But to where? [He gestures at the Lekim] We have that or the town about a mile away, and trust me I am not going to the town.

[courageous_wit]

There's really no where else we can go?

[whichwayyoulean]

[He shakes his head] The Valley extends for miles and miles, and beyond that there's grasslands, and beyond that a desert. Assuming they're even still standing.

[courageous_wit]

[she ponders this] But standing here won't do any good. Hmm... If I had my bag I could at least get the tent out for temporary shelter... I really need to start packing an extra bag just in case.

[whichwayyoulean]

The Lerkim is about as good as shelter you can get out here. Usually, anyway.

[courageous_wit]

Can we use it? I worry about breathing in all this toxic air.

[whichwayyoulean]

Yeah. The fan system isn't working, but it's...better than nothing.

[Unfortunately it's where everyone ends up vanishing, but he'll repeat this nightmare regardless, the way a dream always does. He's start to head towards that lonely tower-like building overlooking the cliffs]

[courageous_wit]

[she follows after him, not sure if she should walk too close or keep her distance. She almost feels like an intruder now that she knows this is his world. The tower they're going toward looks a little creepy but if it's the only building around, she will follow him there]