so full of this adventure;

[fantasies]

Who: Henry and YOU
What: INVESTIGATION
When: Sometime this afternoon
Where: Out in the castle courtyard
Rating: pg for fairytale nonsense

[Henry is doing research.

Between all he castle's changes and Arya's loss, he hasn't had a lot of time to do it. But today he's doing it out in one of the castle courtyards, because the library was stuffy, and the pup Robb gave him was antsy. He has books all around him, and a journal separate from the castle's open in his lap, where he's taking painstaking notes. August wanted to rewrite his book, the book the castle took from him, and he's going to make sure it's as complete as possible.

However, a disproportionate number of the books are open to 'Rumpelstiltskin.'

Henry's wolfdog pup, still full of energy, is running about around him, pawing at dirt and sticking his nose into bushes (and occasionally Henry's lap). But he never wanders too far away from Henry himself.

He comes close to nudge Henry's shoulder with his nose, and Henry reaches up to pat his head.]

Don't worry, boy, I'm almost done. We can race after.

Comments

[ensorceler]

[ Okay she won't say anything this time, waiting for the next part. ]

[fantasies]

Rumpelstiltskin gets angry. So angry, he stomps and he yells and all kinds of things -- but a deal is a deal, and Rumpelstiltskin never goes back on a deal.

So the girl gets to keep her baby, and the kingdom stays safe.

[ensorceler]

And that is the end?

[ She looks surprised. ]

[fantasies]

[He spreads his hands, like 'ta-da']

The end.

[He never said fairy tales were climactic.]

Well, for that story, anyway.

[ensorceler]

It is so rare for any story involving the mischievous fae to end in such good cheer.

[ But those kinds of stories were used to keep kids in line, maybe. ]

[fantasies]

[It's his turn to look confused.]

They're supposed to. Have happy endings, I mean. Usually.

[ensorceler]

Some tales, perhaps... But the fae are mischievous, wicked things. For a human to outwit one is a scarcely heard story indeed.

But nice to hear now and again.

[ Not that she believed in fairies or anything before Paradisa. ]

[fantasies]

[Henry looks down at the book, worries the corner of one of the pages between his thumb and forefinger.]

Good always wins in the end. Even if some of the stories don't make it seem like it does.

[ensorceler]

[ Oh Henry, she wants to slap you. And hug you, because it's nice to see such naiveté. It's too bad it will, one day, be torn to shreds. She mourns for him in advance. ]

If it is such a simple win, then why so many books on the same story, the same man?

[fantasies]

[Henry smiles, though it's a little weaker than some of his others.]

I'm not trying to beat him. [Not yet anyway.] I'm just... doing research. For something else.

[ensorceler]

Do you like fairies? Imps?

[fantasies]

It... depends. Most of the fairies I've met are nice. [And the only imp he knows is, well, Rumpelstiltskin.] That's not what I'm researching, though.

[ensorceler]

Then whatever might you be researching with as much fervor as a scholar?

[fantasies]

[He chews his lip a little, thinking.]

I'm... looking for someone.

[ensorceler]

[ She remains silent, giving him an opening to continue or dismiss her curiosity. ]

[fantasies]

[The problem with silent adults is that it really encourages kids to babble.]

I mean, it's only one story so I don't know for sure. But I thought that if I got a whole bunch of them he might be in one version.

[ensorceler]

What is his name, then?

[fantasies]

[He's quiet for a longer moment, tracing a line of text absentmindedly with his finger.]

Neal.

[beat. He winces.]

No, um. In this it'd be different. Baelfire.

[ensorceler]

[ Her eyebrows raise considerably at the name, if only for how blatantlly pagan it is. But he is looking around in books about faeries, so... ]

I am sorry, I have not heard of a character by that name. But these, as you say, must be from a different world or time.

[fantasies]

It's okay. He's not in any of the ones I've read in my world, either. I just, you know, thought that since there's so many....

[Maybe he'd get lucky.]

[ensorceler]

How does he know this Rumpelstiltskin?

[fantasies]

[This is where it gets weird, for him. Henry steadies himself.]

Rumpelstiltskin is his dad.

[ensorceler]

[ If she was drinking this would be a spittake. ]

A child he stole?

[fantasies]

[He hesitates. He's honestly not sure, but from the way August told it--]

I don't know. I don't think so.

[ensorceler]

But he cannot have his own child, I had thought. That is why he would steal the babes of others. Why is this one of such import, if I may, my little lord?