you're only as tall as your heart will let you be;

[fantasies]

Who: Henry and YOU
What: Saying hello to the horses.
When: This afternoon!
Where: The stables.
Rating: G for kidlets.

[It seemed like the logical next step, even without Charming to teach him. Go to the stables, learn about the horses, maybe learn how to ride one. He didn't suss through all the steps, but the first one is the most important, right?

Now, though, standing on tip-toe in a front of a stall with his hand outstretched and a horse ignoring him, he realizes it probably would have been good to have a better plan.]

Come on, I just want to say hi.

Comments

[fantasies]

[Any other time, he'd be enthusiastic about Lucrezia teaching him anything, but...]

I don't know. Maybe.

[a beat]

I don't really want to bug her, though.

[secondchances]

Why not? I'm sure she'd love to teach you how.

[Though she can suspect why Henry's hesitant.]

[fantasies]

I dunno, I just... [He chews his lip, thinking.] I know what it was like for me, when my family left.

[secondchances]

[She tightens her hold on him a little, reassuringly.]

She misses her brother a lot, that's true. But I think she could use a distraction, too. You can always ask her to teach you when she feels better. She can have something to look forward to.

[fantasies]

Yeah, maybe. [He sounds a little more hopeful, now. He also remembers how much better it was when he was with friends after Emma and Charming left.] Okay, I'll ask her.

[secondchances]

Besides, Lucrezia likes you a lot.

[fantasies]

[He beams.]

Yeah, well, she's really, really great.

[secondchances]

I agree! And she's a good teacher, too.

[fantasies]

Then that's perfect!

Maybe one day we can all ride together.

[secondchances]

I'd love that. But, until then, we can pet horses and get you all friendly with them.

[fantasies]

I'm okay with that. [He reaches out to pat the horse's nose again.] They're not scary at all, even when you're up close with them like this.

[secondchances]

Nope. They're just really big. And kinda smelly, but I guess they can't help either of those things.

[fantasies]

[He laughs!]

They have to be smelly! It's part of the experience.

[secondchances]

Who said that?

[fantasies]

Nobody! It's just a thing. Like how you have to get all grainy from sand getting in your sunscreen at the beach. Horses have to be smelly.

[secondchances]

That's ridiculously logical. You're smart.

[fantasies]

[He laughs and taps the side of his head.]

You gotta know this stuff.

[secondchances]

I'll try to remember. Do you wanna sit on the horse?

[fantasies]

Do you think it's okay?

[secondchances]

I don't see why not.

[fantasies]

Then yeah, definitely!

[He reaches up over the horse's back. As long as he has permission, it's fine.]

[secondchances]

[Steph sets him on the horse, keeping a hand on him JUST IN CASE.]

There we go. Pretty high, isn't it?

[fantasies]

It's not so bad. [He's gripping whatever he can very tightly, though. He wobbles.] I just have to, you know, stay balanced.