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?

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Comments

[fantasies]

I can meet you halfway, if you want.

[amiable]

Sure! How about at the fountain?

[fantasies]

Yeah, okay. I'm pretty sure I still know how to get there.

I'll see you soon, okay?

aaaction

[amiable]

Alright!

[ And she will be waiting in about fifteen minutes by the fountain. :) ]

forever and ever!

[fantasies]

[It takes him a bit longer, just because he took a few extra minutes to splash his face (over and over and over) and wait for the redness in his eyes to fade a little.

When he does show up, though, it's with his very best effort at a smile. It's only partially convincing.]

Hey!

[amiable]

[ She can sort of tell, but she's not going to press at the time being. It's not easy when people you love leave the castle. She can remember a certain little boy losing both parents a long time ago at once.

So Uru grins and waves, hoping the smile will just be contagious. ]

Hi! It's been a while since we spoke the first time, huh? [ Especially for her... ]

[fantasies]

Yeah, I guess so. I promise I'll try not to be as confusing this time.

[amiable]

[ Laughter. ]

I can forget how different everyone's worlds are...

[fantasies]

Do you not have magic in your world?

[amiable]

[ Uru shakes her head. ]

No. My world doesn't have that or anything like I've seen here. Ghosts or demons or magic users...

[fantasies]

Mine doesn't, either. Technically. I know what you mean, though. It's different when you see it for real.

[amiable]

It's not a bad kind of different, though. [ She offers her hand to him. ] It was surprising... but amazing too!

[fantasies]

[He takes it! This conversation seems to be putting some of the chatter back in him.]

Yeah! Yeah, that's how I felt, too. I mean, I kind of knew what it would be like... but it was still amazing, anyway.

[amiable]

[ Excellent! She'll be leading the way. Uru adores kids and thinks Henry is cute. :( But she also can't stand to see them (or anyone) feeling sad. ]

What sort of magic did you see? The kind a witch or wizard can do? Or something else?

[fantasies]

Well, I guess the castle magic kind of counts. But I also saw somebody make a light out of thin air.

[It was basically awesome.]

[amiable]

Light out of... [ She draws random circles in the air. ] How do you mean?

[fantasies]

I don't really know how to explain it. He just held his hands out [he mimics the motion with his free hand] and there was a ball of light.

[amiable]

Seriously? I'll never understand how magic works...

[fantasies]

It's okay. I've been reading about it for ages and I still don't even know how it works.

[amiable]

Can you use magic yourself?

[fantasies]

Oh, no. I only read about it.

[amiable]

It'd be really cool to be able to, wouldn't it? And it'd be so useful, too! I could use it to hang my laundry.

[fantasies]

Yeah! It'd be great.

You'd have to be careful, though. Magic is tricky. At least, it is where I'm from.

[amiable]

Sort of like Paradisa, huh? You need to be careful with wishing now...

[fantasies]

Yeah. [He grimaces.] I learned that the hard way.