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

[waterproofed]

Maybe talk to her for a while. Let her get to know you a little.

[fantasies]

Hmmm. What sort of things do you talk to horses about? Since I can't hear her talk back, anyway.

[waterproofed]

Just say whatever you'd say to someone you're getting to know. You want to form a bond of trust with them, so that when you ride you can work together as a team.

[fantasies]

Should I tell stories?

[waterproofed]

If that's what you want to do, sure.

[fantasies]

Like what? [He rubs the horse's side.] What kind of stories do you like, huh?

[waterproofed]

She says you smell like chocolate and cinnamon. Why not tell her about that?

[fantasies]

Oh! [He leans in close.] This might sound a little weird, but I like to put cinnamon in my hot chocolate before I drink it. It's really, really good, everybody should try it. My mom does it, too, and so does my grandma.

[waterproofed]

[apparently the combo of chocolate and cinnamon is a good one, because the mare leans forward to sniff Henry and nudges him with her nose. Percy watches while he feeds the horse in the next stall]

So it's kind of a special thing you share with your mom. My mom and I have a weird thing like that, too. Ours is blue food. Someone once told my mom that there was no such thing, so since then she's made an effort to cook blue food. It makes me feel more at home when I eat it...

You probably feel that way when you have that drink.

[fantasies]

[He giggles a little and reaches to give her nose a small squeeze.

He doesn't look over, but he does get a little more somber.]

... Yeah. Yeah, that's exactly how it's like. We didn't even realize we all did it until later, it's just... how we are. But it's nice. [He fiddles with the horse's mane a little.] Like something that connects all of us.

[waterproofed]

That sounds like a great story. And I think she likes it.

[fantasies]

Really? [His expression lights as he glances over, just momentarily.] That's good. I can tell you lots of stories about my mom, just wait.

[waterproofed]

I can tell just from your eyes that your mom's cool. You've got that same look I do when I think about my mom. How long has it been since you've seen her?

[fantasies]

[He looks down at his feet.]

She was here for a little while. The castle sent her home in September.

[waterproofed]

I'm sorry. But hey, you got to see her for a while. That's a good thing.

[fantasies]

Yeah. And she has important things to do at home, so it's better that she's there than here.

[waterproofed]

What about you? Anything important waiting for you back home?

[fantasies]

I have to help my mom, for one. She can be kinda... [what's the nice way to say this] stubborn.

[waterproofed]

Yeah? Well, it's cool that you're around to help her. My mom's pretty stubborn too.

[fantasies]

Yeah. It's nice, even though it's kind of frustrating sometimes. We're a team.

[waterproofed]

[he smiles; he sometimes thinks of himself and his mom that way too] If she comes back, can I meet her? She sounds cool.

[fantasies]

[He beams. He loves talking about Emma.]

Sure! She's really great, you'd like her. You could help the horses talk to her, too! I bet she'd need to learn how to ride.

[waterproofed]

[Percy turns to the horses] What do you guys think? You want to help her learn how to ride, too?

[they all nod and stamp their hooves] They say if she smells as good as you, they'll be happy to help.

[fantasies]

Perfect! It's a deal. [then, conspiratorially:] She might say no, but trust me, she should still learn. We'll have to work together.

[waterproofed]

Heh, no problem. We'll figure something out.