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

[whichwayyoulean]

Oh gee. Thanks, Zelos. You're a real pal.

[At least his tone doesn't hold any real malice of any sort in it]

[wilder]

[he grins]

Hey anytime!

[whichwayyoulean]

Now comes the question of how long we have to stay here before...something happens.

[Which is kind of funny given how Zelos might notice he's beginning to fade]

[wilder]

[oh, he definitely notices. His eyes widen a little bit as he looks at his hand- What the hell? Maybe he should mention something---]

[Nah. Let's not freak him out]

Heh, good question...

[whichwayyoulean]

[Yes, let's not. The Once-ler is busy trying to find a way to block the door, to try and keep the smoke from getting in. Meanwhile, yep, you're definitely vanishing more Zelos]

Maybe I can stop it coming in somehow...

[wilder]

[Zelos isn't even listening to what Once-ler is saying, what with the vanishing and all. Most people would probably be freaked out if they started vanishing, what with it meaning you might cease to exist and all. Though for Zelos? That fear doesn't bother him in the slightest. Ceasing to exist is hardly a terrible thing to him. He would even wish it on bad days.]

[What makes him worried is if he vanishes, Once-ler will be left here for who knows how long- just like he will be at home. Left alone in this hellish wasteland that he made, to sit and stew about all his faults and thinking he's got no one in the world.]

[Yeah. That seems much worse than vanishing to be nothing, if that's what's happening]

Hey Once-ler?

We're friends, okay?

[whichwayyoulean]

[The Once-ler is of course resigned to such a fate. Ted told him as much and well...what must be must be. Zelos' statement is enough to make him frown in confusion, turning his head to look at him]

Of course we're... what's happening to you?

[wilder]

[Drat. He looked. But he'll keep up his usual smile as he gives a slight shrug]

Looks like I'm vanishing. Probably some other Paradisa thing.

[Then the look softens a little to be a bit more...apologetic? At least a touch of it]

Sorry...I was hoping to stay longer, moulting or not.

[whichwayyoulean]

[The Once-ler watches for a moment, before taking a breath and glaring at the floor]

Yeah. I figured. I guess this is just how it's supposed to be.

[wilder]

No. It's not- [he shakes his head. Crap, he's nearly gone now. ]

Just...don't forget, okay?

[As for what he's not supposed to forget, Zelos doesn't explain. He vanishes completely instead]

[whichwayyoulean]

[The Once-ler stares at the empty space Zelos resided in moments before, the walls of his Lerkim suddenly feeling cold and dark and miserable. He waits a moment, maybe to see if he'll vanish too, be taken back to the castle, back to the annoying people who'd forced their way into his life. Who become his friends when he'd long given up on having any ever again.

...But he doesn't. He remains where he is, eventually, he heads up to the top of the Lerkim. To the place he'll wait for fifty long years, until someone comes along who cares a whole awful lot and finally brings him out of his self-made darkness.

Time to be alone again. He sits by his boarded up window and lets out a sigh. Then, quietly, to no one but his shadow]

I never forget anything.