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

[fantasies]

That's it? Those are the only movies people show you?

[whichwayyoulean]

There's the only movies I've heard about. I really don't want to watch the deer one.

[fantasies]

What about superhero movies? Has anybody told you about those?

[whichwayyoulean]

No. What are those like? There aren't any deer killing in them are there?

[fantasies]

No. [a pause] At least, not one that I've seen.

[Okay, no, he has to explain because this is a travesty.]

Superhero movies are like.... There's somebody, a hero, who has special powers and uses them for good. They protect everyone from villains or criminals or an invasion, or whatever. They're about doing what's right and helping people.

And having really really cool powers.

[whichwayyoulean]

...So basically half the people who keep forcing their company on me, got it.

Okay, that might be interesting to give a try. [And more importantly, take Henry's mind off the more depressing fact of his mother leaving]

[fantasies]

[A small laugh.]

Yeah. There's a lot of people like them here. I can try to find one that's really different if you want, though.

[whichwayyoulean]

Yeaaaah, something that won't give me a speech about the virtues of friendship and banding together would be swell.

[fantasies]

So you want to see something about an anti-hero.

[whichwayyoulean]

I have no idea what one of those is, but if they don't have speeches about rainbows and whatever then I'm in.

[fantasies]

No problem. I can get one of those easy.

[whichwayyoulean]

Really? Okay, sure. I can live with that.

[fantasies]

Gimmie like fifteen minutes.

[whichwayyoulean]

Can do!

[fantasies]

Okay!

[There's the sound of him trotting away from the journal--

-- and then five seconds later he's back again.]

Do you want me to come up to your room again?

[whichwayyoulean]

Well, I#m sure not going to go anywhere else. [ALWAYS HENRY]

[fantasies]

Okay.

[And he's gone again!

And he's back again!]

Do you have a DVD player?

[whichwayyoulean]

Do I have a what?

[That would be a big fat no, Henry. What's a DVD player?]

[fantasies]

[A pause.]

Do you have a TV?

[whichwayyoulean]

...No. [He has NOTHING]

[fantasies]

[bro. BRO.]

Then how are we supposed to watch a movie?

[whichwayyoulean]

...Oh. Good point. [This is what you get for your hermitry, Once]

[fantasies]

Are you sure you won't go anywhere else? Not even if it's just down to my room?

[whichwayyoulean]

[There's a very long pause here and the Once-ler weighs up how much he doesn't want to leave his room in relation to how much he wants to make sure Henry remains calm and content in this difficult time]

...I guess I could come spend a few hours out of my room.

[fantasies]

[He seems to realize that wasn't a kosher thing to ask, and backpedals accordingly.]

You don't have to if you really don't want to. I mean, I don't want to make you.

[But he does sound like he'd be disappointed if the Once-ler changed his mind.]