On possibly apping to mayfield_rpg and AU ideas

[theboywhointerrupted]

So... let me get this straight.

Instead of letting me go and hear what the Once-ler has to say, you want to take me to this really weird and creepy place where a younger him is there, who... doesn't... know what he did yet? Or - do you even know?

Right. You don't. Great start. And how, exactly, is this going to help get a tree for Audrey?

...Wait, Audrey is going to be there? And we'd be... living together?

Uh.

Well, then.

I still need a tree, you know.

As for that whole dystopia thing, you can just forget it. O'Hare is causing Thneedville enough problems without you helping out. And, uh, being not being hunted down and, uh, you know. Tortured. Or--or anything. That would be really awesome.

Comments

[hairflyingheartpounding]

You'd be living with Audrey and Once-ler?

[theboywhointerrupted]

Well, my mun hopes so, at least. If she doesn't lose interest.

Do you know them?

[hairflyingheartpounding]

I live with them! I'd be your fake mother, then!

[theboywhointerrupted]

Wh--whoa, what?

[Fake mother? What? What?]

But I already have a mom!

[Also this woman reeeaaally doesn't look old enough to be a mom. Like, only-just-older-than-Audrey aged. Sort of. He's not the best judge of age.]

[hairflyingheartpounding]

...Oh! I guess you don't know yet, then.

See, in Mayfield, the town or... Something; someone... Sets people up in fake families. The drones, the people who think Mayfield is home, act like they're real families.

...But don't worry. I'm not going to try to replace your mother; I promise.

[theboywhointerrupted]

Okaaaaay, upping the creepy factor. Great stuff.

But, uh, it's good to know you won't - you know - try to be my mom. That would be kind of weird. As long as you don't dance to disco trees, though, it should be okay.

[hairflyingheartpounding]

It is very creepy, but it's kind of nice. It keeps you from starting out alone.

...I'm not sure what disco is.

[theboywhointerrupted]

[Unbidden, his thoughts flicker to the Once-ler, cooped up alone outside town for who knows how many years. Going crazy, probably only keeping himself occupied with those weird musical numbers and trying to spin out Ted's visits.]

...Yeah. Being alone isn't that great.

And that's definitely a good thing. Trust me on this. Especially when people mix disco with trees and mom dancing.

[hairflyingheartpounding]

No, it's really not... But you'll have us. And I'll introduce you to Lion and Tir and Ilsa and Gumshoe and Jim and everyone else, too!

Um... Well, okay!

[theboywhointerrupted]

Cool. Are they friends of yours?

[Maybe this won't be such a bad deal. It would be cool to meet the Once-ler before he got all old and screwed everything up, and this woman seems pretty cool and Audrey--

Which is about when he realises the obvious.]

...Ohhh. Hold up a sec. Didn't you say that these drone thingies think we're all family? Like, as in, me and Audrey? Family?

[hairflyingheartpounding]

Yes. They're-- Well, Audrey is lovely. Once-ler is... Difficult. But I don't mind that.

Mmmhmm! It's not really a big deal, though, as long as you don't do anything that will make them freak out.

[theboywhointerrupted]

[Normally, he'd be happy to contribute all the evidence he's gathered of the Once-ler being 'difficult' and why she probably should mind that, but right now? CRISIS.]

But what will make them freak out? I mean! It's not like I'm going to be doing anything that would cause freaking out, you know, but it's - uh - good to... be prepared!

[hairflyingheartpounding]

...Are you Ted?

[theboywhointerrupted]

...In a really not committing to any answer way, can I just ask how you knew that?

[hairflyingheartpounding]

Well... Audrey's mentioned you.

[During that horrible, horrible time when their memories were all wrong, but still.]

1/2

[theboywhointerrupted]

She DID?

2/2

[theboywhointerrupted]

[Oops. Maybe a little too intense there.]

Uh. I mean.

She did?

[hairflyingheartpounding]

Well... Yes. She did! Um... I think you're really important to her.

[theboywhointerrupted]

[Excuse him as he just basks in heavenly light and a chorus of hallelujah for a moment.]

Awesome.

...Because she's really important to me, too!

Did she, uh, specify what kind of important?

[hairflyingheartpounding]

It was kind of a strange situation...

[theboywhointerrupted]

What kind of strange?

[hairflyingheartpounding]

I really don't think you want to know...

[theboywhointerrupted]

Trust me, I've had a pretty good share of strangeness lately. I can handle it, especially if I'm supposed to be living in this place.

[hairflyingheartpounding]

Ted, trust me, Mayfield is its own kind of strange. And horrible, too.

[theboywhointerrupted]

[At this point, part of him doesn't want to know. But... He wants to know what Audrey said about him and, as well, he's becoming curious beyond that. What kind of place is Mayfield?]

Yeah, well, like I said, I'm probably gonna be living there, so... I guess I ought to be prepared.