the lorax [various x reader]

i.v

quick a/n: (F/C) means Favorite Color, while (F/A) means Favorite Animal. Enjoy this chapter from Oncie's perspective!

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The problem with the Once-ler was not exactly that he wasn't a 'people person'.

Sure, he'd always found it difficult to get along with others. Though having really only ever talked to his small family for the past 22 years, no one could blame how he didn't have much to go off of. Coming from someone who was homeschooled his whole life, he mostly lacked the capability to socialize and failed to see things from others' point of view. Not to mention his inherent fear that everyone was against him thanks to the snide remarks of his family each passing morning.

"Oncie, you'll never make it in the real world."

"Get out of here already so we don't have to see you anymore, ya stick-legged freak."

"Your inventions suck! Burn!"

Ooh, burn, he thought scathingly to himself as he hiked back to his house from the river. Even if they didn't believe in him, he did, and that was what mattered, right? That's what he liked to think, anyway, with his unlimited supply of optimism and eagerness to prove himself.

No, the problem with the Once-ler was that he was a people pleaser.

The one thing he loved the most in the world was seeing his mother smile at him. When he didn't overcook pancakes for the family's breakfast, or when he knitted a rather nice pair of mittens when it began to get cold outside and the frost of the prairie was nipping at fingers everywhere. Most recently, when he aced his Uncle Ubb's tests and forced the man to have to call in a private tutor to continue his education, blossoming his interest in business. Every single time, she had graced him with her smile, and it made him feel like he was on top of the world.

That had all gone a long time ago when he'd announced his plans for his future.

Everyone had laughed and laughed and laughed at him, and oh, it had made his heart hurt so bad! He hated how his uncle tried to hide his amusement behind his hands as he clamped his mouth closed, only the flicker of hilarity in his eyes giving away his disbelief, how one of his brother's arms was wrapped around the other for support as they howled in harmony. How his aunt had simply crossed her arms, tutting, uncaring as always for him. And how his mother had gone up to him slowly like a teacher would a crying child, reaching out to grab both of his shoulders in comfort until he was at her eye level. "Oh, Oncie," she'd cooed gently, "you- you just... can't." And that started a whole other bout of laughter that still rang in his ears from time to time when he couldn't sleep or felt embarrassed or like he could actually get somewhere. That sense of being pushed down to a point where everything seemed hopeless.

It was his mother's smile that reminded him he could.

It also wouldn't hurt to have the rest of his family's approval. Having grown up with Aunt Grizelda's nasty stares and Brett and Chet's punches, their unkindness had pushed him to become the best person he could be, the person he was today. He hoped that one day, they'd finally begin to see him as someone worthy of their love after his business took off. Being successful was sure to make them care. After all, it wasn't like any of them had had much success other than- Well.

He quickly shoved his intrusive thoughts out of his mind as he made his way back home. Though it wasn't cold in the Truffula valley, the Once-ler was wearing his Thneed over his fluffy blue bunny pajamas to keep his damp hair from wetting them. His other clothes were still stained, much as he'd scrubbed at the red blotches of tomato juice like his life depended on it after he'd cleaned himself up, and it would be time for bed soon anyway, thus he'd decided to dress for it. He remembered how the Thneed had taken so much abuse earlier only to absorb any substance, brush off all crumbs. Any part that needed rinsing had come out clean in moments, almost like the rotten fruit thrown at it had never even existed at all, and after wringing it out once it was already in perfect condition to wear again. Briefly he wondered if it would be worth it to begin a clothes line.