page six

[fantasies]

[September hasn't been kind to Henry. First Snow, sent back home just to be cursed, and now he wakes up to find their (his, now) room is completely, terribly empty.

Alone. Again.

It's a long while later, but when he speaks into the journal, his voice is composed (if very, very small).]

The castle sent my mom home. Emma Swan. [a pause] I just, I dunno. I thought you guys should know.

[He knows he should be happy, that this means Emma can go back and break the curse like everyone at home needs her to. But he started out in Paradisa with his family whole and intact, and now....

And now he's just right back where he started.

He drags his sleeve at the corners of his eyes, and writes in a filter.]

[ Prince Charming ]

Do you wanna.... [He hesitates.] Can we get dinner?

----

Comments

Dictated

[staggeringego]

[ That... wow... that actually hit harder than James thought it would. It's not like he knew Emma that well, but he was pretty fond of her. ]

She's gone?

[fantasies]

Yeah. She wasn't here when I woke up. [a pause] And her name's not outside the door anymore.

[staggeringego]

[ Shit. He wishes he had more time to get to know her better. ]

Will you be all right, Henry?

[spongetastic]

[he knows the kid isn't okay, so he won't bother asking]

Thanks for telling us.

[fantasies]

Yeah. No problem.

[He seems to flounder for something else to say, and then just... doesn't.]

[spongetastic]

It's probably no fun hanging out with an adult, but... I'll be around.

dictated;

[valuedstrength]

Do you have anyone else looking after you?

dictated;

[fantasies]

My grandpa is here.

[It comes out a smidge defensive. He doesn't want anyone trying to get him to move out of his room, not right now.]

dictated;

[valuedstrength]

Good. It's no fun living alone.

Henry

[persequor]

[ The silence is absolute between her writing in the filter and finally speaking. ]

I've a unicorn now. Would you like to meet him?

Arya

[fantasies]

[Ordinarily, he'd be thrilled. Now, his tone lifts just slightly, but it's something.]

... Yeah. Yeah, that'd be cool. Is he in the stables?

Henry

[persequor]

He is.

Dictated

[imalwaysright]

[... Oh my God. This kid sounds tiny.]

Is anybody looking out for you?

[fantasies]

My grandpa is here. I'll be okay.

[He doesn't sound that okay, but he'll get there.]

[imalwaysright]

[That's definitely better than nobody at all.]

Good. Glad to know you're not alone. [Even if that is definitely not the voice of somebody who is actually okay.]

dictated;

[amiable]

[ Hey, she remembers this kid. ]

Oh... I'm sorry to hear. [ A beat. ] You okay?

[fantasies]

[No.]

She needed to go home. She has something really important she has to do.

[luthored]

[ Oh blurgh. THE ONE KID WHO HAD A PARENT. ]

I'm very sorry.

[fantasies]

It's okay. [It's not okay, but it has to be.] I don't know if she really liked it here anyway.

Henry

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss's lips press together - because she knows all about losing parents. To death, to grief, to drink - and yes Haymitch was the closest thing she had to a father. So when she speaks, it's with firm conviction.]

You're going to be fine, Henry. You'll miss her, and you should. You're going to be okay, though, because you're strong. You're smart. And you care. So you know to take care of yourself.

But if you need anything, you come and find me. Okay?

Katniss

[fantasies]

[He's quiet for a long, long moment, because suddenly it's all been brought back to the surface -- (all he ever wanted was a chance to know his mother without Regina pushing her away) -- and he doesn't trust his voice. Right now, more than ever, he just wants Emma back.

There's an audible sniff, which he tries (and fails) to muffle.]

Yeah. [He takes a second to keep the waver out of his voice. When he tries again there's more steel in it.] Okay. Okay, I promise.

Henry

[willalwaysfindyou]

[He lets the news sink in for a few minutes before putting his brave face (voice?) on and filtering to Henry.]

Of course, kiddo. You wanna eat out or you want to watch your grandfather try to figure out the kitchen?

Prince Charming

[fantasies]

[That gets a small laugh out of him.]

I can teach you if you want.

Dictated forever

[whichwayyoulean]

[Damnit, Paradisa, Do you have to destroy ALL happiness?]

...I'm sorry to hear it, Kiddo. You okay?

[fantasies]

I'm okay. [He doesn't sound sure, like he thinks if he repeats it back he'll start to feel it.] She has a lot to do. I have to make sure I'll be able to help her when I get back.