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

[wizard_redfive]

...A what now?

[Clearly "everyone" does not include Dairine.]

[whichwayyoulean]

A Thneed. Wow, you must be really new to the planet.

[wizard_redfive]

It's possible. We certainly don't have fuzzy trees where I'm from.

[She says casually, like it's a normal thing to question which planet you're on. But back on topic...]

So what is a "Thneed?"

[whichwayyoulean]

[He looks up at the few remaining Truffulas]

They only grow here too, so that's not surprising. It's called Truffula Valley for a reason.

And a Thneed is a fine something that all people need...you have seriously never heard of it , because I'm pretty sure my marketing team got everywhere.

[wizard_redfive]

["Only grow here..." Well, THAT screams conservation problem like nothing else.]

So these... Truffula... are unique to this area.

Not once. [She answers honestly.] So it would be greatly appreciated if you gave me a description, not your marketing jingle.

[whichwayyoulean]

They sure are. That's how I control the processing of them all.

[He arches his brow at her. It's ridiculous, a kid not knowing what a Thneed is. It was on the top of their Christmas list, every year, without fail] It's a product that can do the job of a thousand. You can make it be pretty much whatever you want it to be.

[wizard_redfive]

[Ah... Corporate greed, how she loathes loves thee.]

And you make them out of trees. [Dairine is skeptical. The only products she knows which can do so many things tend to be made of silicon. i.e. Computers.]

[whichwayyoulean]

Tell the tufts of the trees. [He Once-ler wanders over to one of the standing Truffula, pulling off a piece of tuft and handing it over]

Nothing like it in this world. Softer than silk, and smells of fresh butterfly milk. That's how you know you have a genuine Thneed.

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine rubs the tuft between her fingers. It does feel nice, soft and high quality. (Though whether it smells of butterfly milk, whatever the heck that is, Dairine has no idea). She can see how this would be a highly sought after resource.

That doesn't make this any more right.]

It feels like a material used to make clothes. [Super soft cotton.]

[whichwayyoulean]

Exactly! And that's what I'm doing. They're going to make my Thneeds.

[wizard_redfive]

Hang on -- Thneeds are clothes?

[And here he was going on about what a fantastic invention they were! How anticlimactic.]

[whichwayyoulean]

A Thneed is more than just clothes. Clothes are just the tip of the iceberg of what a Thneed can be.

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine suspects she'll regret asking this but...]

So what else can they be?

[whichwayyoulean]

Well, a Thneed can be

[He'll take a deep breath]

A Sock, a Suit a glove, a parachute, a butterfly net, a reusable diaper, an exercise belt, a Runny Nose Wiper. It can be a slingshot, a muzzle, a tightrope, a jump rope and a hat. It can be a Colourful cat sweater, or a carpet, a pillow, a sheet, or curtains or covers for bicycle seats, a swimsuit...

[Yeah, if you don't stop him he will NEVER STOP]

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine holds up a hand, cutting him off.]

I think I get the picture. [Why would you even NEED some of those.]

[whichwayyoulean]

[But he didn't even get to the part about it repelling vampires]

So you see, they're really cool.

[wizard_redfive]

[That is useless to her. There are no real vampires in Dairine's world.]

Debatable, though I've never been big into trends. [She rubs the Truffula tuft between her fingers absentmindedly.] So one Truffula tree makes, oh, how many Thneeds?

[whichwayyoulean]

[Well she can use them here gosh]

A Thneed is not a trend, it's here to stay. [He gives an absent minded shrug] One.

[wizard_redfive]

That's what all the advertisers say. Hint, unless it's sliced bread, they're wrong.

[One per Thneed. Wow, she takes back Truffulas being a good material, that return rate SUCKS.] ...And how are you continuing your supply?

[whichwayyoulean]

Actually I'm pretty sure you can make Thneeds slice break for you. We're still testing that.

[The worst kind, the Once-ler doesn't seem all that concerned, giving a shrug] There's plenty, there's a whole forest out there, and it's not like we're cutting down the saplings. [Yet]

[wizard_redfive]

[She's not even gonna touch that one. Crazy Thneed man.]

But how many are you planting?

[whichwayyoulean]

None? Why would I be planting any? [That just crazy, silly little girl]

[wizard_redfive]

[Judgmental stare.]

Are you kidding me? So you don't run out of trees! [He can't be THAT dumb, can he?]

[whichwayyoulean]

[He smiles and patronisingly pats the top of her head]

Awww, don't worry, we'll never run out of trees.

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine ducks and glares up at him. Dude, she's THIRTEEN. That's not young enough for head patting!]

Yes, you will. And soon, if you keep up the rate you're chopping them down.