page twenty-three

[fantasies]

[ Emma ]

[He lays face-down on his bed with the journal open for a while before he actually writes this filter. August is gone now, too -- it feels like being squished from all sides.]

Hey.

[His voice is a little muffled by his arms. He has to lift his head to speak better.]

Um, can I ask you something?

----

[ Friends ]

[Some time later, this filter appears. Written, in a child's blocky, scratchy handwriting.]

What are you doing this weekend?

----

[For a while after that, there are just doodles on the page in pen. They're mostly innocuous, pictures of flowers and clouds and swirls, but there are a couple he puts more time into, like a dragon and a dog. They're not particularly good, but it's mostly just so he can think.

Abruptly, he speaks into the journal, his face close.]

Um, I know it's cold out right now, but I think Bandit wants to play. [It's a thinly veiled excuse, and it shows in his voice.] Does anyone want to come?

[Not being alone would be nice right now.]

Comments

[saviourswan]

Yeah, of course you can - what's up?

[fantasies]

If I invited some people over for dinner, would that be okay? I can help cook! I learned how to bake. Sort of.

[This is how Henry dances around the topic of not-Thanksgiving.]

[saviourswan]

Sure, I don't see a problem with that -- [except the problem that is her cooking skills, but psh details] -- so go for it. What were you thinking of wanting to bake?

[fantasies]

Well-- [pause] Okay, I really only know how to make pie. Kind of.

friends

[secondchances]

As in Friday-Saturday-Sunday, or are we including Thursday, too?

friends

[fantasies]

[Caught]

Um, it doesn't have to be Thursday. I know people are probably gonna be busy.

friends

[secondchances]

A little bit, yeah. But I'm all yours after that.

[Though...]

What are you doing on Thursday, kiddo?

friends;

[ensorceler]

Which day in specific, little lord?

friends;

[fantasies]

[a long pause]

Maybe... Thursday. [beat beat beat] But other days are okay, too. The day isn't really important.

friends;

[ensorceler]

I will be present whatever day you and your lady mother decide upon.

[ She may end up doing two things in one day, but hey it will feel like home! ]

Friends filter forever

[whichwayyoulean]

Depends on the day, I know I got a meal at some point, but the rest I'm free as a bird.

[fantasies]

[There's a small laugh on his end.]

Your dinner's gonna be on Thursday. Probably. Just so you know.

[whichwayyoulean]

Sure, I think I can make that one.

[freeslider]

Who's Bandit?

[fantasies]

Oh! Sorry. I forget that I have to introduce him.

Bandit's my dog. [There's a yip in the background.] Sorry, he's a wolfhound.

[freeslider]

A very noble wolfhound, I'm sure. What games does he like to play?

written;

[dgaf]

[ Effy doesn't write anything, just shades the clouds he drew and adds raindrops because she's a fun sponge like that. She also doodles fire spouting out of the dragon's mouth to burn a human stick figure. ]

[fantasies]

[The journal picks up a faint giggle on Henry's end, and he draws another stick figure with a sword to stab the dragon.

It is a lady stick figure, apparently, going by the swooshes on her head intended to be hair.]

[dgaf]

[ Pardon her as she doodles boobs on the lady knight and big red lips. But then she also draws an armor for her and even dusts it with some glitter. ]

Dictated

[sugarwaffo]

I'll play!

[Not that she knows who Bandit is, but she's open to new friends any time.]

Where do you want to go?

[fantasies]

We can just go out front. I think he wants to run around.

[sugarwaffo]

Okay! I'll see you there!

[And she will be there at the front of the castle, hovering in the air. The cold does not seem to be bothering her, since she's still wearing her short sleeved dress.]

Dictated

[the_effect_she_has]

Hunting.

[Because that is what Katniss did, after all.]

[fantasies]

[He sounds incredulous.]

Not the whole time.

[beat]

Right?

[the_effect_she_has]

Well ... there will be running the shooting range. And sleeping. And eating, at some point.