The Three Strike-Point-Flag System
A Lorax Fanfic Series by Digitaldreamer
IX: How to Play The Game (Or Die Trying)
Annnd another one, whoo. It's really nice to not have school and thus have more time to pump these out, I admit it. Or, you know, maybe I just like writing vaguely depressing stuff all too much, who knows?
So yeah, uh. More CEO Once-ler and Lorax chats and details about the Once-ler's awesome office life of special. Now with more Norma mentions- but there won't be much more than mentions. As much as I love the Norma-ler pairing, I wanted the focus of the story to be bromance and the Once-ler, so that's where this fic is gonna stay. Hopefully you guys don't mind.
Anyway, that's all I've got for this one. Enjoy!
It was going to be a good day, the Once-ler could already tell.
The young man hummed his Thneed jingle as he adjusted his tie, eyes flicking to the specially ordered full length mirror in his office. The little truffula trees etched into the gold frame were a nice touch, he'd admit, but really he just thought it was nice to have a mirror where he didn't have to drop to his knees to get a proper look at his own face. Of course, the fact that his reflection looked damn good was nice as well.
"New suit?"
The Once-ler's shoulders shot forward an inch and he grimaced at the familiar accented tone. "You again? I thought my Aunt told you to stay out," he grumbled, eyes flicking to the orange creature reflected in the mirror.
"Yeah, well, she ain't exactly bright, is she?" The Lorax drawled, tiny legs kicking over the windowsill for a moment before he scooted across the polished surface and dropped to the floor like a sack of orange fuzz. He gave a low whistle as he glanced around. "Damn, this is a big office. It's about what, the size of two of your tents put together?"
At these words, the Once-ler couldn't help but smirk a bit in pride. "Just about," he said as he turned back to adjusting his tie. "Gotta have someplace that looks really expensive for when the shareholders come by, you know? Besides, this finally means I don't have to duck when I go through doors."
"Fair enough," the Lorax drawled as he paced the polished floor, the sound of his paws echoing all the way to the impossibly high ceilings. "I see ya got a new guitar," He observed as he paused next to the stand, reached out to brush furred claws over polished red resin.
"Latest model~!" The Once-ler chirped brightly before his brow furrowed, tongue poking out as he messed with his tie again.
His former friend made a noncommittal sort of hum as he plucked at a string with a furred claw. The resulting sound was something crisper, cleaner, and somehow far more mechanical and processed than the aged strings of its brother. The creature waited for the sound to fade, then gave a huff. "I liked the old one better," he said simply. "Had some actual character to it."
This drew a snort from the Once-ler. "As if you know anything about musical instruments. Anyway, your judgmental hippie comments aren't gonna do anything to bring me down today, so I suggest you stop trying~!" he declared, turning so as to properly stick out his tongue at the forest guardian.
"That so?" The Lorax said as he casually stepped around the long, spindly legs of a new drawing board, green eyes flicking absently over the plans for some new logging machine, "What, d'ya have some big puppy kicking shenanigans t' fit in between your pointless deforestation or is it another talent show t' drown out your sense of crippling guilt? Or is it just that lunch date with other villains from Captain Planet that you've had set since last week?"
"That was so funny I forgot to laugh," The Once-ler piped in response before giving a growl and pulling his tie loose. He'd had quite a bit of practice over the past many months, but he had to admit on occasion ties still eluded him. He chalked it up to nerves, given the scheduled events. "And no, you're wrong, try again."
The Lorax just gave him another hum as he continued to pace around the office, pausing before the glass display cabinet. A number of awards filled the case- Best New Business, Entrepreneur of the Year, Greatest Boss, Most Promising Newcomer, all lovingly cared for and shining next to newspaper clippings and certificates. It was an absurd amount of recognition for a business that had only been running for a short time, but what was even stranger was just how much space was still left in the cabinet.
There was always room for more.
When he didn't get a proper guess, the Once-ler finally spoke up on his own. "I'll have you know, the reason I'm so chipper is because I have a date!" He declared proudly as he finally adjusted the tie properly this time, then gave a nod of satisfaction.
Yellow eyebrows did perk up in surprise a bit at this. "That so?" The Lorax asked as he paced around the two plush, leather visitors chairs, which were sunk impossibly low compared to the absurdly tall desk. "Is it that Norma girl?"
"Yup!" The Once-ler grinned as he buttoned up his pinstriped, green suit jacket. "I'm surprised you remember!"
The Lorax gave a snort at this as he hopped into the high-backed office chair, the red leather squeaking loudly under his orange paws as they scrambled a bit before he settled onto it. "Kinda hard t' forget the one time you had eyes for someone besides you, Twiggy," he said as he paced around the seat of the chair for a moment, tracing a claw against the polished golden arms.
At these words the inventor snorted, adjusting the sleeves of the coat. "All right, I'll give you that one. She really is amazing though! She's super hard working- I mean, yeah, okay, she can be a bit clumsy sometimes, but it's cute! And she always wears these pretty dresses that flow when she walks when she's out of work, and she has those cute glasses, and she always laughs at all my jokes and sure she says some weird things sometimes but it's kinda like she thinks out of the box so-"
"Does she like you for you?"
"Wha?" The Once-ler turned away from the mirror so as to properly meet the Lorax's gaze, expression one of obvious confusion.
The Lorax rolled his eyes as he hopped onto the young man's desk, dislodging a few papers from the orderly, absurdly tall pile of work. "This Norma girl… it's obvious ya like her. And she certainly thought you were the bees knees or whatever the phrase is these days, I could tell. But does she actually like you for you, or does she like the whole… arrogant corporate giant thing you've got goin' on here?" Here he gestured to all green pinstriped, six-ish something feet of him.
At these words the Once-ler blinked in confusion, then gave a slight laugh. "Nooot sure what you're getting at, Meatloaf, unless by arrogant you mean I'm, y'know, actually successful. Y'know, talented businessman, entrepreneur, face of the company and all that." As he spoke, he reached for his gloves, which he pulled on in a flourish of green material.
"Oh yeah, and if you keep talkin' yourself up I'm sure she'll enjoy all eight feet of your stupid ego," The Lorax said dryly before rolling his eyes. "Seriously Beanpole, what are you doin'? This whole get-up looks ridiculous on you."
"Hey man, don't go insulting the suit! My stylist tells me pinstripes are totally in right now- besides, I look fantastic in it!" The young man declared as he scooped his top hat up from its resting place on a lovely little green pillow, then placed it on his head with the same care ordinarily afforded to a crown.
"Just 'cause a costume looks good on you doesn't mean it works," the Lorax pointed out. "Come on, ya had the whole innocent farmboy get-up going for ages and it worked fine. That suit don't fit ya, and it looks uncomfortable besides."
"Innocent farmboy doesn't sell thneeds," The Once-ler said with a roll of his eyes. He turned back to the mirror and began to fiddle with his tie again, brow furrowing. "Besides, like my mom said, innocent farmboy can't run a company. Innocent farmboy looks like he doesn't have a dollar to his name… innocent farmboy doesn't inspire confidence. Innocent farmboy is nobody, and I'm not going back to being nobody. Never again." Again those words were coming out like bile hidden in his chest, leaking out in harsh words and a dark gaze directed at himself.
This was interrupted by an abrupt, violent cough, something which shook his thin frame and sent him doubling over. After an instant the spasm passed and the Once-ler grimaced as he thumped his chest, then shook his head and reached for a glittering silver box. He snapped it open, brow still furrowed, then shrugged and shoved it into his pocket. "Norma may have a point," he mumbled.
"Were those cigars?" The Lorax asked, his own brow furrowing. "Didn't know you smoked."
"Not really," His former charge replied as he gave another cough and winced. "It's just everyone else on the Board does and mom wanted me to fit in. I think I'm gonna stop though- Norma says they're bad for me and she doesn't like the smell."
"Well, she's right on the nose there," The orange creature murmured as he put his claws on his hips. "That bein' said though, shouldn't you be quitting for you? Ya can't just do everythin' to please others, we've been over this."
The Once-ler turned away as he pulled a pair of glittering sunglasses from his pocket and unfolded them. "I'm not sure what you're talking about."
His former friend gave a sigh. "Dun' give me that, you know what I mean. Your mom likes this, Norma likes that, the public likes this, the board does that. What do you like?"
At these words, the Once-ler blinked, then gave a snort as he plucked a fancy green bottle of cologne from the table and gave it a squeeze- Larger Than Life, easily over a hundred per bottle but totally worth it. "Well, this, obviously!" He exclaimed, then gave another cough thanks to inhaling at the wrong moment. His eyes watered and he gave a wheeze and another cough, then shook his head and adjusted his coat lapels. "I mean, come on. I look better than I've ever looked, I've got more money than I ever dreamed, the public adores me and I've got a date tonight. How can it get much better than that?" He chuckled as he glanced over his shoulder, then wagged his eyebrows over the sunglasses. "What, is little Mustache actually showing some concern for the big bad Once-ler?"
The Lorax let out a strangled, choked sort of noise and bristled, every strand of orange fur puffing out as his claws clenched into fists. "'Scuze me?" He sputtered, and with it came the smell of ozone and a stirring of storm that did not match his tiny frame. "That's not what I meant, you arrogant, money-grubbing corporate dirtbag! It's not about you, I just- I - ya cut down the section you promised to leave alone! If that ain't a strike, I don't know what is!"
"Yeah yeah, save the trees, I'm a horrible person and you're mad that I don't care about your strikes anymore, that's more like it!" The Once-ler rolled his eyes as his shoulders dropped a fraction. His eyes only had to flick to the mirror before his bravado was back, however, along with a fresh clover to tuck into the suit. "Look, whatever, I already told you nothing's bringing me down today- hot date, remember? Now if you're done jabbering at me, I need to go: I have a press conference before dinner and I'm already fashionably late," he drawled as he walked toward the door, head held high.
His former friend bristled for another moment before his claws dropped, the movement accompanied by a softer sort of breeze from the window. "…Fair enough. No use reachin' ya when a girl's involved, is there?" He rolled his eyes, and there may have been a hint of a sardonic smile that didn't quite reach that sad something in his eyes."Lemme give you some advice: Jus' be yourself. Girls prefer that, trust me."
The Once-ler blinked in surprise at this, then snorted as he turned to face the Lorax again. "Please, this is me. Besides, what would you know about…." He trailed off as he turned to face the now empty desk, face falling. After a moment, however, he gave a shrug. This wasn't the first time the Lorax had appeared or disappeared out of nowhere, and he doubted it'd be the last.
His gaze flicked to the mirror a final time, taking a last sweeping look at his appearance. "Be myself?" He muttered. Then he gave a chuckle, turning for the door again. Because yeah, sure, he was supposed to be himself… and that was the man who had changed the world, the man who had created thousands of jobs and changed the whole economy, the man who was adored by his family and his mother and did he mention a girl?
The Lorax had said to be himself- and well, he could certainly do that. After all, he was the man who gave the world whatever it needed.
