Tentatively reserved at mayfield_rpg.

[hairflyingheartpounding]

Mun? Hello, yes, it's me.

Um... Alright, look, I really don't think this is a good idea. I know you have a lot of doubts about it, too, and... This time? I think you should listen to those doubts.

You can't just take me from the middle of a great adventure and make me part of a family. Especially not if I'm going to be a kid. I'm eighteen now, and I've--

No, I'm not saying I want to suddenly have a stranger for a husband, but...

[Sigh.]

Fine. If you won't listen... I won't let you. If I could handle Eugene, I bet I can handle you, too.

Comments

[hairflyingheartpounding]

Did your mun send you there?

[truffulacide]

Not yet, but she's going to. It looks like a dump, and I bet it smells like one too considering that no one drinks the milk.

[hairflyingheartpounding]

I guess we're in the same boat, then.

My name's Rapunzel.

[truffulacide]

Just two kids waiting for the Crazybus on their first day of Crazyschool.

I'm the Once-ler. Sorry this couldn't have been under better circumstances.

[hairflyingheartpounding]

[A giggle.] Yes, exactly.

The Once-ler? [She mumbles to herself...] Once-ler... I like that name. And I'm sorry, too.

[truffulacide]

So what do you say we play hookie? The day I'm put in a stranger's house and expected to play husband is the day...the day hummingfish fly! [he's pretty sure they can't, but...]

[what what what. is the world ending or does someone seriously think his name isn't weird?]

O-Oh? You do? That's, ah - [really, really nice.] ...Thanks.

[hairflyingheartpounding]

At least you get to be an adult. And what are hummingfish? They sound wonderful.

I do! You're welcome.

[truffulacide]

Heh. Sometimes I wish I wasn't. [a beat.] Hummingfish are pretty cool. They look like giant goldfish, except they can walk on land. And sing.

I hope the town or whoever's running the shots over there doesn't try to get you to change yours. [and added as an almost casual afterthought:] It's too pretty.

[hairflyingheartpounding]

Growing up is hard...

But Hummingfish must be amazing to see. They sound almost as amazing as chameleons.

I hope so, t--

You really think so?

[truffulacide]

Chameleons can't sing, though! All they can do is change colors, which...I guess is pretty awesome, but still, they're not the only animals who can do that!

...Well, yeah. Why wouldn't it be?

[hairflyingheartpounding]

No, they don't sing, but my best friend is a chameleon, and he does a lot more than change colors. Like play chess!

[She shrugs, looking away.] I just never thought about it.

[truffulacide]

Yeah? Well, Hummingfish can play cards. [NYAAA NYAAA!] But that's still pretty cool. Is he coming along, too?

Oh. Sorry...?

[hairflyingheartpounding]

No... I won't have Pascal wit me.

Hmm? Oh! No, don't be sorry! It was sweet of you.

[truffulacide]

...Oh. That's stupid. [god knows even having Mustache with him would be a godsend, but maybe -] Maybe it's for the best. We don't wanna be in this place as it is. How would we feel if we knew that our friends were?

Heh, well. I try.

[hairflyingheartpounding]

That's true. If Pascal was there on my account... [She hangs and shakes her head.]

I'm only starting to the world... I don't want to be taken from it.

[truffulacide]

[he doesn't really know what to say to that. maybe a few years ago he would've been infuriated to be taken away from the world before he got a chance to change it, but right now? after what he did? what kind of world does he even have to go back to?]

...Hey, come on. Don't tell me that you're giving up now.

We haven't even seen the town yet. For all we know, everyone stuck there is winning the fight and the guys in charge are running scared. We can't throw in the towel before the game's even started.

[hairflyingheartpounding]

Heh. Just like back home...

[There's a bittersweetness to her voice that's heavy on the bitter, but after a long pause, she smiles.]

You're right, though. Thank you, Once-ler.

[truffulacide]

And hey, just remember: I'm gonna be there, too. If anything bad happens - and I'm not saying it won't - all you gotta do is call me and I'll kick its butt for you.

[he crosses his arms and allows himself to grin.]

Hard.

[glistens]

[ SLIDES IN HERE OH HECK NO ]

Can you. Change colors?

[truffulacide]

[oh gurrrrrrl, you did not just go there]

I can - well, I could if I wanted to. All I gotta do is put on a different pair of gloves - [wiggles his fingers.] - or, heck, a new suit and boom: I'm another shade of green.

I know it's not the same thing, but it's better than nothing.

[corona]

[ Oh baby but I did, I did! And now she rolls her shoulders in a lazy, nonchalant shrug. ]

Maybe. [ said with the beginnings of a smug smirk ] But it definitely isn't better than being a chameleon. Pascal can also fit into small places - like strawberry jars. He lives in a strawberry jar. Can you fit into a strawberry jar? Or - or stretch your tongue even! Chameleons have very long tongues.

[truffulacide]

[h-huff!] You don't have to be a lizard to stretch your tongue. Anyone can do it.

[guess what time it is? if you guess watch-Once-ler-try-to-touch-his-nose-with-the-tip-of-his-tongue time, you're correct. to his credit it doesn't seem like much of an effort; he's had practice stretching his tongue ever since he was a little kid trying to scrap cookie batter off spatulas.]

Eathsy, asth you canth seeth.

[this would almost be silly if he wasn't so dead serious. goddamnit, he's so superior to a reptile.]

[corona]

[ And all Rapunzel can do in the face such tremendous talent (she's actually a little miffed beneath the wonder; this is one thing she hadn't at all expected to be wrong about!!) is gasp, hands coming up to cover her mouth before she breaks into enthusiastic applause. ]

That's incredible!! [ her grin is wide and slow, but equally as genuine ] I've never seen anyone do anything like that at all! How -- Are you part chameleon? How is that not painful!? Have you practiced? Can people learn? Could -- oh! could you teach me? Though I really doubt I'd be able to... [ Not that it keeps her from trying. Or looking like a moron while trying. ]

[truffulacide]

[gosh, that went better than expected. it never hurts to have your ego stroked, especially when it's as battered as his is. beaming, he does a quick little bow.]

It's not hard at all if you have the right tongue. Oh, and lips of course. Yours are small enough, so you might be able to do it if you relax them like - this!

[he pulls his upper-lip down over his top row of teeth, then bends his tongue over it like he did before.]

Liketh thisth!

[move along folks, it's just a couple of idiots playing with their tongues.]

[corona]

[ Considering the way this script is going, they're likely to draw more people out of horrified curiosity than anything. Frowning with comical concentration, she mimics him and...again, only succeeds in making herself look like an idiot. ]

Ith na woakin! Mebby malipth ah too big afta all... [ no really you can stop now ]