Shame I can't wish myself back out...

Anyone know how to leave a magic Labyrinth? I take advice. Currently at: Kat's Lerkrim, the showerhouse. Updates Sundays.

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

Don't worry about saving that spare room for me again. I'll be outta here before I even think about using it a third time. "At least one of us here is optimistic."

"Wait what are you-?!"

"FUCKING HELL, LIFETIME! YOU NEED TO WAIT FOR ME TO GET TO THE LEVER FIRST YOU FUCKING GREEN TWINK!!!"

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

"You know, I thought you'd stay longer than one night." Nope! Couldn't stand the smell. Can't say I slept well! "Woooow. And this is why I run a bathhouse, not a hotel."

Seriously though, thanks for letting me stay the night, Kat. Or whatever time it is. "I try not to think about it. Where are you headed off to anyway? You kinda ran off last time, at least give me a heads up if I should put your room away or not."

Okay, first of all, I'm not a stray dog. Second of all, I'm planning on heading over to that weird round building over there.

"The Looking Glass machine?" Is it actually called that? "Nah, I think that name just stuck. What's over there for ya?" I dunno, maybe a way out? "HAH! I doubt it. If that was the exit, wouldn't people be lining up at the entrance to get out?" I mean yeah sure, but it has to get the images from other worlds from somewhere, right? it could be a good place to look into.

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

"Happy yet? You fill that hole deep down inside you? Or do you still need more?" Any amount of hope that hesitantly grew in Hatter’s chest was quickly popped like the bubble where that voice came from. A quick turn of his head revealed that no, the mossy old Lorax has not come to this junk-filled part of the Labyrinth through the magical means that he always insisted that he had. It was just another bubble, like thousands of other bubbles. A world, like thousands of other worlds. Do you still need more? The targeted question, even if it wasn’t completely targeted at him, made the bag on his back feel like it was going to topple him over. He had collected many things since leaving Kat’s welcoming abode. Trinkets, food, wilted petals, anything he could get his hands on. Because anything and everything he grabbed made that hole in his chest feel almost normal. Like nothing was there. Like nothing was wrong. Nothing at all. Do you still need more? Something uncomfortable grew in Hatter’s chest then, and it only worsened when the bubble flickered from the face of the Lorax to a face he saw in his own reflection. "Look," Started the man that should've been him "if you’ve got a problem with what I’m do-" He didn’t have to hear this again. He didn’t want to hear this again. With all his strength, Hatter threw what he had picked up at the bubble as hard as he could. While the bubble was indeed hit and popped easily under the pressure, Hatter felt it was not enough. His chest was still clenched tightly like something was inside of him threatening to rip him open. Everything he collected to prevent his schism from tearing him opened threatened to be for nothing. The bubble was gone, but the story was still going.  "WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT?!" He screamed at where the bubble once hovered harmlessly over the junk pile. "WHY DOES IT TAKE EVERYTHING TO SPIT IN YOUR FACE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE WRONG IN THE HEAD?!" Of course he knew what happened next. He had seen it in the window of the spare room in Kat's lerkrim. A front row seat view of what would have happened if he had never gone back home after his thneed failed. A perfect recreation of everything coming his way. Back then, when the schism first cracked open, he had ignored it. He ignored, ignored, ignored. He left the Lerkrim and shuffled away from the sounds of another bubble promising his fall over and over until eventually, he had ended up in the junkyard. He numbed himself to the consequences of his others actions with anything he could get his hands on. And it was fine! IT is fine! It’s… Do you still need more? Hatter heaved as the swirl of fear and anger brought back his awareness. His legs felt weak, his shoulder burned in agony, his eyes felt painfully dry. And the schism... the darn thing that spooked him so badly upon it's arrival that he left the protection of a roof over his head to seek a way to get rid of it...it too was brought back to Hatter's awareness. The schism, which once took the shape of a crescent with a single orb inside, had shifted and pulled until it was now a complete circular hole in his chest with two odd orbs floating inside, connected by a pink tang of something that brought to mind an invention that nobody would ever need. And as Hatter stood there in the clutter and the ache, he came to another realization brought up after the numbness was finally pushed away. “I’m not filling that hole at all, huh?” He confessed quietly, his shoulders shaking with the effort it took to force a bitter grin onto his face. “Course. Course not, I…I’m still…” His words failed him. He rubbed his face as exhaustion caught up to him. Who else would he be, if he didn’t ruin himself with his own biggering one way or another? Not a Once-ler, that’s for sure.

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "So, how are things?"

That wasn't- Mustache? How are you...?!

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

~♫♪♬~

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

It's you!! the baby boy! the handsome man! Look at this lil'guy, so proud of his hat!!

I- you- hey-?! Thats just- That's not- Okay yeah nope, that's it. I'm going to bed. Get out.

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

A baby!! just a little guy!!

iiiisssssss the baby in the room with us???

it's not the hat, is it?

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

You're back to normal again!

...If I say 'it looks normal' will you at least pretend to believe me?

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

I'm glad you liked your birthday present, I know I take time to try to send it, it was a bit complicated, ahh yes, I didn't know you make hats!!!

You must be new here. I didn't pick up the name 'Hatter' outta nowhere y'know.

IIIIIIIIIII think I made this one a bit too small...

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

Are you making a hat with this stuff?

That I am, bubble!

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

sending you by vsco girl blue clout sunglasses as I have in my pfp to you:)

These'll work perfectly. Might need to carve a blue one out a bit, but this should still work.

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

🦇- Ohh... Hey you see yourself a little, just maybe this will help you *it makes a stuffed donkey* appear too* to remind you of Melvin<3...

I don't care to see a mirror right around now. I already know my hand is messed up, and my face feels all funny. I think if my reflection looks any weirder 'm not gonna---

*bonk!*

. . . Oh T...thank you.

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

Are you okay? Is there any way I can help you?

Not unless you know how to pull me outta this place. Or at least give me something to-

Wait, I think you can actually. Some of you guys gave me stuff, right? Do you think you could send me sunglasses lenses?

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

Are you feeling okay? Why is your body changing?

I told you about how the schism works, right?

Just because I found a way to slow things down, doesn't mean I managed to stop it.

It doesn't hurt, it's just uncomfortable. You know, the haunting feeling of losing yourself in front of your eyes, being pulled out of you against your will and vanishing to never be seen again isn't really a great feeling. I don't get out soon? I'll keep on leak-leak-leakin' away until nothing about 'me' remains the way it was. I don't know what will happen to me then. SOMETHING will be left behind, sure. I can see it. kinda hard to miss the growing fur. But I don't know if that's still gonna be me anymore.

[hatterofthelabyrinth]

And what are you going to do, are you going to take a nap? Or should we keep talking?

wanna see me down an entire bag of marshmellows in under a minute?