Trolls 3.0

Setting the Mood

Branch didn't need to be told twice.

As soon as a "Take five!" was called out by Tiny Diamond in order to run a check on the caterbus before they went any further, the blue Troll was off, scaling the nearest tree and settling himself on the highest branch. Up there, above everything, he could see far out. From behind him was all the land that they'd covered on their journey so far, and in front of him, all the land that they had yet to cover in order to complete their mission.

Branch was unable to suppress the groan that escaped him as he rubbed at his eyes. The trip itself was not anything too crazy. They didn't have to be as weary as they had been when he Poppy and the Snack Pack had to hide from Troll-hungry Bergens atop Bridget's hair. And they did not have any bounty hunters after them, at the ready to steal their music or turn them into Rock zombies. But somehow, the trip was far more exhausting than those combined. Everything just felt like it was happening too fast. He hadn't seen his brothers in years and now, all of a sudden, they were coming back into his life in the blink of an eye, not even allowing his brain to catch up with it all. The best analogy he could describe it as would be being unwillingly thrown right into a cold pool versus being able to dip a toe and slowly get accustomed to the temperature of the water. Some Trolls could tolerate it, sure, but Branch? He was not one of them.

Definitely not one of them.

What Branch needed was hours upon hours, like he had in his grey days alone in the bunker, so that he could properly ponder this conundrum he found himself in. But this, unfortunately, was time that Branch did not have. All he had to work with was a measly five minutes before he was thrust back into his reality. Well, at least it was something. And so long as those five minutes were not interrupted...

CRACK!

Branch sighed. Too late for that, he supposed.

He turned begrudgingly at the sound of the twig snapping, wondering which hair color he was going to see and the brother attached to it. He was taken off his guard though when that color turned out to be the pink of his girlfriend. Poppy smiled, a little sheepishly he noted, and began to hesitate in approaching him, likely noting how tense he had been.

"Hey," she said softly. "I'm sorry if I intruded or anything..."

Branch gave her a small smile and shook his head. "No, no, Poppy! You're good." To further ensure her, he waved his hand for her to come, patting the place next to him. This time, Poppy did not hesitate, and she quickly made her way over, sidling up next to her boyfriend. Her company instantly eased him some, and he let out a small breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding in.

"You okay?" Poppy asked, looking at him.

Branch glanced at her, eyebrow raised. "Do you want a gray-Branch answer, or a blue-Branch answer?"

"Neither," she said. "Just whatever is your honest answer."

Branch shrugged. "Okay then. In that case... no."

Poppy sighed. She expected this, given the eyerolls and scoffs he'd done so far each time he'd reunited with a brother again. Poppy allowed a little silence between them before she spoke again. "I know it's been hard," she started, tentatively, "but you know... they're not all that bad."

Branch laughed dryly. "Yeah, well, you didn't live with them."

Poppy considered this, and after a moment, grinned a little. "You're right. I didn't live with them." She scooted a little closer and nudged him. "So why don't you tell me something about them, hmm? What's one thing that you remember?... A good thing?" She added the last part in when he gave her a look, that indicated the obvious they-walked-out-on-me-and-never-came-back grudge he held.