The Once-ler flexed his hand a little after the handshake was broken. “Quite a grip you’ve got there,” he commented. Firm handshakes had been something of a mainstay in meetings, although never quite as strong as Lingormr’s. Subtle ways of intimating power, but psychological, really. Actually using physical force was a surefire way to be landed a lawsuit.

Of course, that was in the boardroom. The rules were different here.

He mirrored Lingormr’s shrug. “I’ve always been more of a set-you-own-goals kind of man, but there’s always going to be something unpleasant you have to do. Might as well give it your best, especially if you really don’t have any choice in the matter.” Determination; seeing things through to the end; both of these were extremely familiar to the Once-ler.

“Actually, I was more referring to your attitude. But you’ve got a point. Dress properly and carry yourself the right way, and people will know you mean business.”

It was a little disturbing just how easily he was able to discuss (or even think about) matters of interactions in the business world, when he had used those tools to build himself the tower from which he had ultimately fallen. But that wasn’t business’s fault, no more than it was the Thneed’s. Everything he’d done was on his own head.

Admittedly, it was nice to be able to just talk to someone.