i was walking in the forest of truffula trees when i saw a thneed boy wearing tiGHT pants

[fraternal]

[ WHO ]: Garry and Once-ler
[ WHERE ]: at the maaaaaaaaaaall
[ WHEN ]: Daylight hours
[ OPEN/CLOSED? ]: Closed until further notice
[ RATING ]: PG maybe worse later
[ WARNINGS ]: sexy gasmasks

So Garry had taken that tv program seriously, and had went out and got himself a gas mask - Once-ler was being nice enough to indulge his worries by getting one for himself, too.

"Are you sure you can put it on without it hurting? Want me to help?"

Comments

[triggeringbiggering]

His hand closes around a likely looking one - no, batteries. He tosses it back down with a "Tch," and moves along. "At least it'll be along this aisle. Any luck there?"

[fraternal]

"Just batteries..." He'll take a couple AA packages, regardless.

[triggeringbiggering]

He picks up another, tosses it down, and kneels to check the lower shelf. There's smaller ones here, and he checks them out.

"... We might have hit the jackpot!"

[fraternal]

"Grab two for now - we'll get the rest when we can find some bags."

[triggeringbiggering]

Tossing him one, he starts winding up his own. When it refuses to turn anymore, he flicks it on and lets the beam of light spread through the shop. "Good idea, Garry. Got it working?" He looks over to him.

[fraternal]

He'll turn his as well until it starts to get difficult, and flicks it on away from the two of them, closing his eyes, when he opens them, they're fine with the light, and he flicks it around as well.

"All good."

[triggeringbiggering]

"So... we can get a good amount of things in here. Rucksacks first, though. We want them as sturdy as possible." And to take a few back for the people back at the apartments. He doesn't want anyone out without supplies.

He flashes the light at the end of the store, expecting to see the bags hanging up.

There's an empty painting frame with black paint dribbling out of it instead.

"Eeesh..."

[fraternal]

"If we can find clothing, they should be there too."

He tenses up at the black paint - it reminds him of the gallery, and he glances away.

[triggeringbiggering]

Looks... more like... hair?

No, he's decidedly not focusing on that. Nope, no way. He continues looking for the rucksacks, sticking close to Garry. Hell, they're almost back to back.

[fraternal]

The occasional brushes of his blood-slicked shirt are comforting to him - so he makes a point to stay brushing against him with almost every step. As they approach the back of the store, he trails his flash light across signs and aisles until he finds some climbing equipment at the end of an aisle.

"Let's try this one."

[triggeringbiggering]

"Works for me." He heads on over, stuffing the torch under his arm as he reaches it. With his hands free (the axe shoved through his belt), he reaches up to pull down two sturdy looking bags. Surprised at how in tact they are, he immediately kneels, unzips one, and begins shoving things from the pharmacy inside of it.

There are enough bags to do everyone in the apartments.

[fraternal]

Garry starts taking the same route - he'll take the other bag looking like its made for mountain climbing - before he shoves the first aid kits inside, as well as his bag. Its nice to have free hands, and he'll throw the bag over his shoulder as he stands and grabs some other bags, tying them to his own bag.

[triggeringbiggering]

Once-ler lets out a long breath of relief - there doesn't seem to be much of an issue here, and he's so pleased about that. He ties up the bags onto his own, but keeps a few open so he can slip some items in for when they're done.

"Looks like we hit the jackpot!"

[fraternal]

We got 'em. Heheh.

[ Garry smiles, and reaches over to ruffle Once-ler's hair gently. ]

You did great, Once'. Anything else we need to get in here?

[triggeringbiggering]

"Yeah... I'm pretty great. You didn't do too bad either!" He slaps on the last bag and grins at the way they hang off of him. "Heh... to think I'd ever have thought this was a jackpot... Home-Me would laugh himself sick."

[fraternal]

Garry grows silent, and his smile dims a bit - Real Talk time.

"There isn't anything wrong with that, though - I don't think its a bad change. You're helping everyone."

[triggeringbiggering]

"I help everyone back home!" Blustering through the realtalk? Blustering through the realtalk. It veers too close to things he doesn't want to think of and so he ignores it.

"Anyway, there's a few more things we should look for here. Solar powered radios, rope, survival kits..."

[fraternal]

"..."

[fraternal]

"I think I remember seeing some ropes before we came down this aisle."

He'll properly get to his feet and cracks his knuckles as he glances down their aisle both ways. better to be safe.

[triggeringbiggering]

Once-ler sticks close to his side, axe held out in one hand. He feels a little weighed down by the bags but they're surprisingly light.

"Thanks. You're a great guy, Garry."

Thanks for the rope.

Thanks for not pushing me.

[fraternal]

He feels tears well up, and with an almost fluid ease he's closing his eyes, smiling and waving his hand in the air, walking ahead of Once-ler. He shouldn't have noticed a thing.

"What are you talking about? Heheh."

He doesn't want to hear that - he doesn't want him to compliment him. It hurts too much.

[triggeringbiggering]

He shrugs and glances to his side. It's too awkward to try to do anything about this situation now - looking out for things they need is the best thing to do. And as luck would have it...

"Oh, hey, a survival pack? This is definitely coming with us-"

Something goopy, paintlike, grabs his wrist.

"... Er..."

[fraternal]

"What's in one of those anyway?"

When he hears Once-ler's hesitance he'll turn, having controlled himself with the moment to himself. His eyes widen and he's immediately brandishing his fire poker.


"Hey!"

[triggeringbiggering]

He struggles against the heavy oil-like slick, but it just claws further up his arm and yanks him down. He starts to pull away from him and pulls and pulls himself away from it, but no luck.

A silvery sort of laugh comes from it.

[fraternal]

Garry's immediately running forward, trying to sever the grip of the monster by jamming the sharp end of his poker into its arm with a cut down through the air.