70ftandcounting

[She's used to long hugs - Kevas gives good ones and so did Flynn. So does Tammy, actually. So the length of the Once-ler's hug isn't even blinked at. Nope, it's just reciprocated, arms tight around him until he's ready to pull back.

Toeing the ground shyly, she clasps her hands.]

Well...they should have.

[Should they have? The Once-ler disagrees. He never thought he was good enough to get a home-made gift that wasn't a macaroni birthday card from Brett and Chet. But... maybe he is? He's good enough for Rapunzel, anyway. God, he doesn't know what his emotions are doing right now. Let's focus on the positives. Something thinks he's worth enough to spend three weeks making something highly personal for him, and that's what matters.]

You - I really don't think you understand how much this means to me. Not even close.

[Rapunzel thinks so.

Blushing, she gestures to her room, indicating he sit.]

...Tell me?

[She'd like to understand.]

[Tell her. Telling her means trusting her. Does he trust Rapunzel? Not entirely, but he doesn't trust anybody. He sits down on the edge of her bed, thinking. Just how much truth should he tell?]

Um, well... growing up, I didn't have a lot of friends, and my family was kind of... distant? I guess? So, heartfelt junk was pretty rare.

[She carefully sits next to him.]

Me, too. To -- all of it, really. [Friends? She had a chameleon. Family? A 'mother' who kidnapped her at birth and used her her whole life.

Yeah. It's safe to say she gets it.]

Yeah. And then even when I was ["Was".] all rich and famous and whatever, people didn't like me for me, they liked my money. So everything "heartfelt" I got was more likely than not completely fake.

[All of that? True.]

[Her head tilts.]

'Rich and famous'? [She acts like she's not quite sure what that means...though she has a clue.]

That's -- wrong. It's not...what's on the outside that counts. It's what's inside. [She presses her palm to her chest.]

In here. And I know that's -- naive. [Everyone is really happy with calling her a little girl, even if she's almost nineteen.]

But that's what should matter, and it's what matters to me.

Uh, it means I was a big deal.

[Let's leave it at that.

What's inside, huh. The Once-ler is pretty rotten through and through, but Rapunzel doesn't need to know that.]

Probably the nicest thing anybody's ever said to me.

Oh.

[Welp. So is she, actually -- but. The way he'd reacted to her hair? She's not really volunteering that info.

She does, however, look as though there's something she's not quite mentioning.]

It's the truth. You're very kind.

[Brief coughing fit.

The Once-ler? Kind? Haha! That's a - Wait, she isn't joking?]

Really?

[She stares at him curiously.]

Well, yes. [A pause.] A little rough around the edges sometimes, but --

You're nice. I like you.

Edited 2012-06-13 03:58 (UTC)

["You're nice." "I like you." Words the Once-ler has never heard before. He hopes he can hide the serious doubt he's feeling. He ends up blurting out,]

Okay.

[then pauses.]

... Thanks?

[Blushing furiously what even was she saying.]

Um. You're welcome.

Right-o, cool.

[This is awkward. All this deep, personal talk really has him feeling uncomfortable and, um, vulnerable. Feeling vulnerable is a Bad Thing. The Once-ler is just going to stand up now.]

But yeah. The cover? Really amazing. I'm gonna go to great lengths to make sure I don't get any tobacco smell in it.

[She watches him stand, then gets up herself.]

I'm really glad that you like it. [And that makes her smile wider.]

Good.

[The Once-ler picks up the cover and folds it neatly. He'll have to stash it somewhere until he can get the tobacco smell out of his room, or at least make an airtight box.

He glances down at Rapunzel and sflgkjfdlg she's smiling. The smile he returns is very, very real. Rapunzel can get him to do all sorts of real things, can't she?]

I won't forget this. Ever.

[... Which is business slang for "I will repay you tenfold." And trust me, he will.]

I'm just glad that it made you smile.

[She doesn't have any idea that's what he's thinking. She doesn't ever expect to be 'paid back' for anything.

She just likes to make others as happy as possible, when she can.]

Trust me, this is more than I've smiled in, uh... a really long time.

[Sad, but true. The Once-ler backs out of her room, hugging the cover to his chest. He might never let it go. Is that pathetic? That's pathetic. Just a little.]

You're... [Adorable. Generous. Perfect?] ... You're a really good, um. Friend.

[Friend. Friend is such a weird word, isn't it?]

[She beams at that. Really, he's rather sweet.]

So are you, Once-ler. I'm glad I met you.

[She's glad she met him? What, really? Is that a joke? I don't know, that's not something you joke about. Out of all the crazy shit the Once-ler has seen here, above the gryphon and the giant robots and the guy with the shotgun, Rapunzel's affection is the most unbelievable. Frankly, it makes him very anxious. That cigar in his room had better still be there when he gets back.]

And I you. You're probably the best person I've ever met.

[What are these words coming out of his mouth.]

Just figured you should know that.

[She beams, and turns a little red.]

Well. Thank you. [What is this feeling so sudden and new]

[Wow, is she blushing? Wow. Oh no now Oncie is blushing too. Oh nooo. That's un-manly. Manly men don't blush. Nooo. Stop.]

Wow I just remembered I totally have something to do, on the other side of the Keep, away from everyone else. And it's important. So, if you don't mind, I'm gonna go now. Because of that important thing.

[....Oooookay.]

All right. I'll see you later, then?

[So hopeful here.]

Yes, right, of course! Hey, you, me, dinner in the Great Keep?

[The Once-ler quickly grabs his pocket watch and flicks it open.]

Gosh, look at the time. Time for that important thing. Later!

[And he takes off down the hall.]

[...She is sort of just...staring at him. Until he flees. That's when she stumbles out into the hall after, wide eyed.]

Wait-! Tonight?!

[WHAT IS GOING ON.]

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yolonceler - 2012-06-17 23:14 (UTC) - Expand

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70ftandcounting - 2012-06-17 23:16 (UTC) - Expand

[voice]

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WRONG ICON

DONT WORRY I DIDNT SEE

IT WAS PORN

SHOULD HAVE KEPT IT YOU KNOW ITS GONNA HAPPEN SOME DAY~~~~~~

OHOHOHO

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