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

[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.

[triggeringbiggering]

The force of the momentum sends the Once-ler buckling forwards. The creature, whatever it is, doesn't seem to mind too much. It does give a little groan of pain - almost identical to its laugh from before. Another arm comes up to grab the Once-ler and drag him down.

He frantically waves his axe in Garry's direction.

[fraternal]

Garry lurches forward to grab it, focusing on getting those arms away from Once-ler as fast as possible.

He brings down the axe on the arm with all his strength.

[triggeringbiggering]

[The Once-ler staggers backwards into the shelf behind him as the arm is severed.]

Oof!

[fraternal]

Garry doesn't relent, going after the monster if he still can with the axe.

[triggeringbiggering]

[It slithers off under the shelves. Once-ler pushes himself back up, his breathing harsh.] Sh-sheesh...

[fraternal]

[ when it's out of sight, Garry curses, kicking the shelf before he turns to run back to Once-ler's side, a hand on his arm. ]

Once-ler- are you alright?

[triggeringbiggering]

Yeah! [He swallows, straightens down his shirt. He isn't really, though - too nervous.] Just gave me a fright was all. Heh.

[fraternal]

Are you sure? Let's go back-

[triggeringbiggering]

No way. [He's pretty firm about it, even in his nerves.] We have to get the stuff we came in for.

[fraternal]

...-okay. Stay close, alright?

[triggeringbiggering]

[He nods. As he stands close, his hand brushes Garry's, his pinkytip raising up to hook close to his.]