#the---rot---consumes

like, after the storm, leafy and firey emerge from the debris, but leafy goes somewhere else, trying to figure out how to rebuild what was destroyed

that leaves firey alone, for one to just come and snatch him, and make a deal to him (possibly about dream island or something)

OUUUUUUUHH this could work.

Perhaps One going after Leafy is a case of "she'd be easier because she's nice"-- although TPOT 19 clues us in that she was not, in fact, easier. Going after Firey would be a result of One assuming he still prioritizing what he wants over his friends.

Which is where she is wrong. Bringing him in would be a great risk-- but, for her? A great reward.

One is assuming Firey hasn't changed. One has reruns of BFDI to go off of. Leafy and Firey left the public view when BFB ended, planning to spend their lives in a nice little island far off the coast of Goiky.

Leafy going out to gather supplies-- or to fetch something important during the tail end of the storm-- leaves both of them vulnerable. Easy pickings for One.

While Firey can act airheaded, I'm sure he wouldn't take a deal with One.

Firey is independent and argumentative. He doesn't like the thought of owing people, especially a stranger he just met-- a stranger who kidnapped him and is now pretending to be his savior. He sees right through One's facade.

One plays several cards: She saved Firey from the storm. Firey argues that he HAD shelter, he was fine. She offers him a new Dream Island. Firey says he doesn't want it, he already has a Dream Island-- better than the original could ever be.

One tries to sympathize. She tells Firey that she knows the pain of a friend betraying her. She tells Firey about how, after all this time, she can't let go of the pain. Firey calls her petty. One tells him he did the same thing. Firey argues that he's moved on.

"Have you?"

"What-?" Firey pauses, uncomfortable for a split second, then angry. "Yes?? That was nearly a decade ago. We share a home now. We're happy."

"Are you?" One leans in from her seat, eyes sparkling.

"Oh my oxygen... Can you, like, not do whatever that is? Making me second-guess myself?" Firey narrows his eyes. "Better yet, how do I leave..."

One tells Firey that he just has to sign her contract and she'll let him go. He passes up on this and climbs off the couch, now going around and ransacking One's room for a way out.

One doesn't let that go on for very long, using her magic to gently place Firey back onto his seat. She gets right up in his personal space, ticked off, and is about to speak again. Firey promptly shoves himself against her, intending on burning her face.

Ineffective.

Algebraliens are heat resistant, especially ones with strong power. One doesn't appreciate having a bright light shoved up against her eyes like that, but she finds it easy to restrain him as he snaps at her.

The second she released Firey, he attacks her, telling her to LET HIM GO. He puts up a good fight-- but he is in One's domain. She has total control here.

I don't think she can do anything with him unless he signs, so One has no choice but to hold him away in some random area of her domain.

I think things would be similar if I went with Leafy-- although she would crumble and sign if she's locked away long enough. Leafy has a lot of problems with being alone. Lucky for her, 8-Ball will appear shortly after Firey disappears.