#he lives in Ingary so he acts like someone who lives in Ingary

[nadiajustbe]

I also found it pretty interesting how Howl is seemingly more less adapted to the world of Ingary compared to Suliman. Not because he doesn't have an ability to do so, but because he doesn't want to.

When Suliman made a decision to go through the portal to Ingary and never come back, it also looks like he's made a decision to blend with people there, to understand their culture and their life, to become a part of it. He doesn't have any noticeable accents, Sophie doesn't describe his clothes or overall look as something unusual and he's fully used to funny situations like being in a half of a dog's body for a while. You wouldn't even tell he's not from Ingary If mrs. P didn't tell Sophie about about it or the whole situation with ms. Angorian never occurred.

Howl, on the other hand, does really stands out. When he made a decision to go through portal to Ingary he has just... decided to live his best life. He doesn't care about all of this new culture stuff and seems to adopt it only when it suits him or he founds it cool, like Ingarian fashion choice or magical practice as a whole. But he feels absolutely no problem when using all of the comfortable things 20th century has given him and absolutely refuses to relearn almost anything. He's not going to write with a quill because it's uncomfortable and old-fashioned, he's gonna bring a ballpoint pen! He's not going to use all of this hard beauty spells which takes incredibly long to make, he's gonna bring some cosmetics through the door and only the use some spells to make them work faster! Because it's easier! Because WHO CARES about medieval times norms?? And it stands out so much everyone around him immediately notice that, even his overall vibe feels incredibly different because he still acts like a modern man when he can. He's not running away from his culture and origins, he's not giving them up! He's even proud of it and is not scared to show that he comes from some far mysterious land!

And I found this difference fascinating.

[eloquentgifs]

DWJ Reading Project. Part II

As I said here, my 2021 resolution is gonna be READING EVERY DIANA WYNNE JONES BOOK I CAN FIND, and due to my love of making lists and taking notes, I’ve decided keeping track of this reading project here in this post, which I’ll keep updated as I make progress. It’s mostly for my own pleasure, but maybe it helps someone who wants to give it a try to this amazing writer and doesn’t know where to start.

Part I (1970 - 1976 & The Dalemark Quartet)

Part III (1984 - 1992 & Land of Ingary Series)

- The Chrestomanci Series (DWJ’s suggested reading order): · Charmed Life (1977): I couldn’t fully enjoy it because the main premise of the story is the codependency Cat has with his AWFUL sister, and how her abuse shapes everything on his life. He has such a low self esteem and needs so much a hug, it just breaks my heart every page. In any case, the worldbuilding, the magic system and the general vibe are just amazing. If it keeps like this, I totally understand why so many people love this series

· The Lives of Christopher Chant (1988): Ok, this is the good shit. I don’t even know how to describe it in few words. Let’s say that there’s also a kid being abused by his relatives, and there were parts where I wanted to throw the book against the wall, but Christopher is such a fascinating character to read about that you just can’t stop. And this universe, OMFG. Also, is the Asheth thing some kind of homage to The Tombs of Atuan?

· Conrad’s Fate (2005): I’ve binge-watched Downton Abbey a few months ago, so finding out this book is basically DA with magic was just a delight. Christopher and his new BFF Conrad arrive to this big ass manor to work as lackeys, while both having secret agendas of their own. There’s everything one would expect and more: Rich Family Drama, Upstairs/Downstaris antics, crime solving, forbidden loves, scifi-ish reality bugs, and of course abusive relatives (at this point, if I were DWJ’s uncle I'd think she was trying to tell me something). I read it in a day and a half. The only negative thing I can say is that I missed Christopher POV of things. 

· Witch Week (1982): This is about a bunch of pupils and teachers in a deppresing boarding school. Everyone is a little bit of an asshole at some point, but it's understandable because this world must be the worst in Series 12. Not only they keep burning witches in modern times, but witches aren’t even a minority, so you can imagine the amount of hypocrisy. It’s interesting how the witch thing can be considered a metaphor for lgtb kids: everyone is scared of being called a witch because they’ll get bullied (and maybe arrested and burnt), but every time a character find out they’re in fact a witch, they just feel confident and happy because they’ve found themselves, so they can’t even hide it. Also, there are more secret witches around than they would expect.

· The Magicians of Caprona (1980): Two families of famous spell-makers keep hating each other through generations, to the point they put Caprona, the city-state where they live, in danger. Sometimes the Italian stereotypes were too much and took me out of the story, but not gonna lie, I really loved the opera spells, the large families living all together in a big house and being loving and supportive with each other, and BENVENUTO.

· The Pinhoe Egg (2006): This one is also about confronted families of magic users, but this time they’re in the villages near to Chrestomanci Castle, and no one really knows there’s a feud because their spells are based on herbs and plants, not in singing opera on the streets. Cat comes back and shares the spotlight with Marianne Pinhoe, and as always I would love more Christopher Chant, but I can´t really complain.

·  Mixed Magics (2000): Four short stories settled in the Chrestomanci Universe, more or less linked to the main characters. My favourite is the third one, Carol Oneir’s Hundredth Dream, mostly because the idea of a kid selling her dreams as stories is brilliant, but also because I loved that little moment where Christopher reviews Carol’s dreams and everything he says is the kind of critique that Diana always received on her books.

- The Homeward Bounders (1981): There are some misterious powerful people who seem to be addicted to Age of Empires, but they play it using actual worlds and actual people. When someone from these worlds find this out, they got exiled and doomed to jump from world to world, only able to stop when they manage to get back to their original world.  The first act remind me a little of those stories from Arabian Nights where the main character keeps arriving to weird islands and getting into the most bizarre troubles but always manages to survive. Due to life circunstances I couldn't focus 100% on the reading, but I did enjoy the characters, mostly Helen, and Jamie eventually grew on me too. I must confess I got kinda lost with the final explanation about the game and the nature of this multiverse and what it's Real and how Hope acts literally as an anchor that keeps the system going (although I find the notion really interesting as an allegory, and once again a really cool message for kids: hope can be your prison)

- The Time of the Ghost (1981): Ok, this one was a dark trip. I can’t really say that much because everything is a spoiler. Let’s say it’s about an amnesic ghost who’s drawn to their family, and there’s a lot of sadness, pagan blood rituals (one chapter in particular has A LOT OF BLOOD for my taste), abusive relationships, and a little bit of the theme in the previous book: the negative side of hope that makes us cling to things in an unhealthy way. Also, I’ve read this book is kinda autobiographical, and it explains so much about the way DWJ used to depict families in her books, it’s heartbreaking. It has its moments of fun and sweet melancholy tho. It’s never 100% depressing with Diana. I think that’s what make it feel so realistic.

[newnitz]

Howl's Moving Castle & the Power Narrative Holds Over Reality

Like most 90s borns, my first anime was Pokémon. I watched the first three seasons diligently, and my tooth fairy gifts were always VHSs of memorable episodes. But like most Millennials and even Gen-X before us, my first real entryway to Japanese culture was Hayao Miyazaki. On the tiny TV screen, behind even for 2002, where my mother would watch her TV shows as she worked out, I watched Spirited Away. Chihiro/Sen's coming-of-age story and the movie's numerous themes deserves their own essay, and one I think better bloggers, vloggers and ordinary people have written before me. But after such a masterpiece, I jumped at the chance to see the next Studio Ghibli movie, Howl's Moving Castle. I rushed to the local library to read the book before it aired in the nearby city's bus station mall's small cinema. 18 years later, too nauseous for schoolwork and mooching off of my dad's Netflix account, I decided to rewatch this film. ***Spoiler alert for both book AND film*** The film itself is a staunch anti-war message, released around the same time as the invasion of Iraq, informed by Miyazaki's own childhood in the final years of Imperial Japan and the horrors inflicted on his home country to set the stage of the Cold War. The exposition includes a bombing of Sophie's hometown with...banners. The citizens of Ingary are terrified of the flying machines descending upon their skies, they expect bombs and destruction and untold death and unspeakable horrors. So when they instead get rained down paper pieces with pictures and words we are never privy to, they treat it with suspicion. They refuse to so much as touch them, since it's of the enemy. And the day after, when Ingary soldiers distribute their own country's propaganda banners, they drink it down without a second thought. Again, we are never privy to what they say. Perhaps it was meaningless. Perhaps, to the common contemporary viewer, the content would be incomprehensible. But for me, it got me thinking: What if this was the "enemy" spreading missing posters of their prince? What if this was a warning for the townspeople to evacuate, as they expect to take point there? And if it was, what the hell did it accomplish, outside of everything BUT what it tried to? The people are too scared. They see it as psychological warfare, whether intentional or not, and therefore the papers become a terrorizing presence, whether they were filled with graphic threats or pleas for cooperation, all it ended up doing is scaring the population into a deeper layer of hatred. I personally disagree with the film's apparent message, but I agree with how much of war is the matter of spinning the truth. No character represents a better allegory for spinning the truth than Sophie Hatter, the main character of the movie. The first thing we notice about her is how intricate and colorful all her creations are, while she sticks to a plain hat with minimal detail. We see her displeasure with her own appearance even when trying it on in front of the mirror. She dresses plainly for she thinks herself plain - wearing a mousy dress in both the source book and the film adaption. The book elaborates on this narrative and its subversion: In Ingary, fairytale tropes are accepted as divine truths. Sophie and her sister Lettie have had their mother die as toddlers, so when their father remarried and produced a third sister(briefly referenced in the film), Martha, Sophie and Lettie were doomed to be wicked, hideous stepsisters. But not only did their stepmother raised them as her own, but both all the Hatters were stated to be beautiful, with Lettie in particular having the entire town's male population vying for her affection in both book and film. In fact, the cunning one is the designated "Cinderella", Martha, who uses her guile to warn her half-sisters. See, another trope specific to Ingary was that the firstborn of three siblings will never find their luck - if they ever dare try, they will encounter disaster after misfortune and end up poor and miserable. According to Martha, her mother wanted to enjoy a life of luxury, so she sent Lettie to work in a bakery where she will surely find a man of her liking to start a life with, and shipped her own daughter off to be a magic apprentice far far away from her. Sophie is the only one she kept close, because she knew she buys into the tropes and will make her fortune for her, preferring the safety of her late father's shop to the dangers of the unlucky life of a firstborn. But in both film and book, this blissful avoidance of any exploration is torn away in a chance encounter Sophie has with the notorious wizard Howl. While her sister(s) are terrified for her safety, Sophie has no fear of the 'heart-eating monster' as "he only eats the hearts of beautiful girls", believing her plainness protected her. But oh, how she was wrong. Or was she? In both book and film, the Witch of the Wastes barges into the hat shop. In the book, she seeks Lettie whom Howl is taken with(like literally every man in town) and enters the shop where an overworked Sophie loses her temper at her, and mistaking the hatter for her sister, she curses the girl to become old. In the film, she's explicitly exacting revenge on Sophie, whom Howl is interested in, and follows her and invades her shop after closing time, cursing her to be ninety years old. This is supposed to devastate Sophie - rob her of her youth, beauty and health, ending her life before she started them. But in both versions, Sophie acclimates to the change rather well, constantly noticing the perks of living as an old lady - she can mumble to herself and be seen as normal, she can be assertive and commanding without being inappropriate and/or bossy, and since she has nothing to lose, she might as well go exploring the world, if only to lift the curse. To revisit this as someone who didn’t expect to have the option of growing old, this is an empowering message on its own - growing old is what you make of it. But despite subverting the Witch's narrative, Sophie remains a helpless victim of her own narrative. Book Sophie is explicitly said to be a powerful sorceress unaware of her own powers, even enchanting her hats into the client's shape with her words alone, while in the film it's only implied. But in both versions she Unconsciously Maintains Her Own Curse: She reverts to the eighteen year old in her sleep, or when something silences her insecurities enough. In the film, she's explicitly shown to de-age as she gains confidence in herself under the role of the household maid, going from the frail ninety-year-old into someone who looks and acts as a woman just past middle age - I don't think this is incidental, as many women are at their most confident at that age, when they no longer feel pressured to worry about trivial matters such as beauty and childrearing, and retreat back into the original cursed form when Howl calls her beautiful - a compliment she can never accept. In the book, Howl eventually comes to the conclusion that she likes being old and gives up trying to guide her out of it. The book takes narrative subversion even further. Remember cunning Martha? Turns out, the Hatters didn't conform to their mother's narrative either - Martha was bored by wizardry while Lettie craved it. The two concocted a plan to glamour as one another, which of course the mentor witch saw right though, and preferred Lettie's genuine interest to Martha ghosting the craft. This stings extra once Fanny is shown to be a caring mother who attacks who he thought cursed her stepdaughter - perhaps she fell for the same sort of thinking Sophie did, and wanted her stepdaughter to have the best life possible for someone doomed to fail, thought extroverted Lettie enjoyed the attention and choice of men and wanted Martha to be a powerful, self-sufficient young woman who led a life more glamorous than she did, as someone who lacked magic? That Fanny was a real parent - a well-intentioned woman who completely misjudged her children and their future? Is it possible Martha’s own narrative has poisoned her relationship with her mother, perhaps beyond repair? As for Sophie, in the book she breaks her own curse by breaking the contract between Calcifer and Howl. But the film gives it more nuance - Calcifer and Howl are clearly in a codependent relationship: In both versions Howl gave Calcifer his heart in exchange for magical powers (as well as saving the fallen star's life, depending on your interpretation of the character), but by the time Sophie employs herself at the Castle, Calcifer feels more like a slave than a powerful demon. Howl himself has his own internal struggles, and many online have made convincing cases for BPD being among them. Calcifer is an essential part of his support system. Each one of them believes that if Calcifer isn't fed properly, or gets dunked with water, they'll both die. And once Sophie does so to stop the wizened, depowered Witch of the Wastes from literally being consumed by her obsessive desire for Howl, she too believes to have killed them both with her rash actions. But they live, because Sophie's part in a time loop led her to think otherwise and refuse to give up on them. Within the film’s universe, this ties into Sophie’s innate magical powers talking reality into her perception. But I know real-life, ordinary people who’s own narratives have changed grim fates.  Now, I don’t live in Ingary. I don’t believe the world around me has literal, reality-warping magic. I’m not a spiritual person. But this is precisely why Howl’s Moving Castle appealed to me - because the characters’ thoughts don’t perfectly dictate reality, but the way they act on their perceptions does. I know a man who is alive because his (now ex-)wife changed the narrative of his deathbed to one of optimism and efficacy. When I stopped trying to have my self-image reflected in the eyes of others, I transformed into a more confident, capable person practically overnight. I’m not delusional - I’m well aware of the Dunning-Krueger effect, of how reality exists whether you live in it or not. I’d like to think I live strictly within the boundaries of what is proven beyond reasonable doubt to be real. 

But your spin on reality dictates your life. It can dictate parts of the lives of your close ones. But the message isn’t one of just changing your own view of a situation around you to become happy, oh no. Lettie and Martha didn’t just choose to be happy in apprenticeships they had no passion for. Sophie didn’t just relocate to some quaint cottage to live the few years that weren’t stolen from her as an old hermit. They acted to transform the existent reality within their means, but they could only do so because they felt empowered enough to question their life’s narratives. 

[madamhatter]

Jade/Sophie for the ship meme?

Send me a ship and I’ll tell you... | accepting

Who asks the other on dates:

These two have been on dates before realizing it could be considered dates (and really considered each other's interest in another outside of friendship). During that time, it was equally that Jade and Sophie asked the other out. A lot of outdoor excursions for the Mountain Appreciation Club on the mountain trails/woodlands and also for the Gardening Club, which was focused on working in the greenhouse and tending to several terrariums.

Once things pick up steam, they still do these things together. them getting closer but still not dating, Sophie does the initiative and asks him out to different places. Jade does ask her out too, as well, keen on reciprocating. But, he needs to rely on Sophie actually mentioning things in passing (ie: visiting somewhere in the Coral Sea). Though, still not classified as dates as their dynamic is interesting, to say the least.

When feelings are involved, and neither is really acting on it (yet), Jade actually asks her own on dates. This time, he considered the romantic implications in their movement -- and Azul and Floyd might’ve been hammering in his head to do something before they dared let Sophie getaway.

Who is the bigger cuddler:

Good lord, 100% Sophie is the cuddler. Definitely the more physically affectionate of the two and there is NO denying that. Miss 162cm looks up at Mister 190cm and decides ‘ah yes, perfect.’ She’s way stubborn to even dare be little spoon and Jade is way too amused by how determined she is and doesn’t have a complaint. He could be the cuddler, if not to pester Sophie and get her riled up because he’s cheating with his height + weight versus hers. I think he doesn’t like auto-cuddle or does it alot unless being asked. But, I feel like he would do it some nights or when he knows Sophie’s too tired and she appreciates the touch b/c touch-starved dumbass she is.

Who initiates holding hands more often:

Sophie tries once or twice because her relationship with touch is rather rocky. She needs to develop a new form of trust in herself to feel confident to reach out in her partner...which then means her trust developing between them. In the case of her relationship with Jade, she is way more reluctant and has tried, but shrinks. She grows embarrassed by it but does it mainly when they’re alone. Being less tense and less stress means she feels more comfortable in touch.

Jade does it in public randomly to embarrass the living shit out of her. She will feel his cold glove brush against her, and she’s all fine with it. It’s until she feels his fingers moving against her palm that she will whip her arm away. He has done held it once or twice in the beginning of their relationship. She still had the same reaction -- she holds her hand to her chest defensively and runs off.

You can’t blame Sophie when she’s wanting to keep their relationship on the down-low and doesn’t want people bothering her/targeting her.

Who remembers anniversaries:

Both! It’s practically an insult to either of them if someone insinuates they’d forget their anniversary.

Who is more possessive:

It isn’t possible for a Leech not to be possessive -- it’s of their nature as a moray eel that they are ridiculously territorial and watchful about their claims. Jade happens to harbor this as greatly as his brother, but the ways in which it comes up are vastly different. Anything is easy to hide behind a mask when you take as much pleasure and glee in violence and bloodshed with that same chilling smile you wear everyday. 

As to what he’d do, well, he’s as brutal as his sibling, but not as public about when it won’t be in his favor. He leaves bitemarks and scratches on Sophie that should be difficult to hide (but her make-up skills and magic help her out a lot). If he were pushed further, egged on by people who are knowingly commenting about Sophie/trying to get touchy, it’s gloves off them there and he would have all the more fun in proving his point.

Who gets more jealous:

Sophie gets way more jealous than Jade and it shows may more often from her. Her concerns stem in not feeling adequate and being in constant question about herself. It would of her nature to make blunt comments, deadpanning too, about people who are talking about Jade (while he’s not paying attention/not present in conversation). Depending on the time, she may not admit that they’re closer than most, but she will be as hard with a sharp glare and a frown directed to the person. 

Jade finds it amusing that the jealousy manifests so differently than his own, and especially better when he notices what triggers it and when it’s triggered.

Who is more protective:

Sophie 100% will not hesitate to both defend Jade’s name and literally Jade. It’s hilarious to think that one of the two infamous Leech siblings has his much shorter, if not easier to target, partner who will place herself between him and anyone who tries to get at him. It doesn’t always happen and she’s smart in stressful situations. But, mark her words, she’s not taking any crap about her partner. 

Jade isn’t used to being protected. Rather, he has been a protector ever since he was young to keep his brother, Floyd, safe and sound. It wouldn’t come as much of a surprise  then that he’s as protective over Sophie. He uses his own presence to induce terror to anyone if they ever consider harming her. He isn’t as action-oriented as Sophie (being she jumps into it immediately), but he certainly understands that sometimes all it takes is silence and a flash of his teeth to keep people in order. 

I genuinely pray for you if you ever take advantage of Sophie in anyway and Jade learns this.

Who is more likely to cheat:

Neither! Honestly, Jade would probably drop his partner if he was ever cheated on (especially with how many limited people he’s intimately connected with) AND bring down hell to the person his partner cheated on him with. It’s all a slow-cook process for him, and it’s terrifying to consider he’ll be all smiles while knowing his partner cheated (and they think he doesn’t know).

Sophie’s just more like....she isn’t the type to seek out revenge for herself, but she will give hell to anyone who hurts her loved ones like that. She’s more reserved about it and would call it off. Depending on who, she might come back, but god, is she hurting, and it is one of those very bad :tm: decisions she could make.

Who initiates sexy times the most:

Now, this one is kind of a mixed bag. Jade initiates a lot more intimate moments when their relationship was in the ‘friends with benefits’ stage but they were already emotionally taken by another and didn’t acknowledge it.  He has the prior experience and knows how to push forward with something -- and he only did because his antics with Sophie spiraled to a point of no return. These are more friskier and revealing to his true ‘bastard’ energy that his brother also has -- as Sophie seemingly has the power to flip that switch on for him.

Sophie takes on more initative for romantic approaches like making out during the same stage. Her focus is pretty much romantically backed without her realizing that it is her acting on such delicate and personal emotions -- which Jade follows with, before it leads to a deeper, physical encounter. She is also the person who’ll initiate introducing more things into their love life, which she does to ‘tease’ Jade, but it only backfires on her.

Sophie, though, does initiate it when she’s pent-up/frustrated OR she really, really wants to have a moment of vulnerability with him. It happens once or twice during that earlier stage. But, once they’re dating, she’s more outspoken, if not terribly shy and refusing to look at him (most of the time) at the suggestion. 

Who dislikes PDA the most:

Sophie, Sophie, Sophie. Good lord is she prickly and too attentive of public views to be intimate in public. She is already too nervous about how others see her and the thought of so many people looking at her, receiving any attention, makes her skin crawl and makes her want to hide. 

Jade isn’t as outwardly affectionate in general. Most of his acts (with other people) are as fake as his smile; his acts of service are only meant to be a part of his facade and maintain his identity. Though, he doesn’t shut out the possibility of PDA with Sophie. It’s just more slower, if not quiet, and takes a while for Sophie to get comfortable.

In spite of this, it would be Sophie trying to produce PDA when she feels the courage. Ir would only be smaller gestures like squeezing his fingers for a moment or leaning the side of her head against his chest when they’re standing close enough. Jade is much more using his PDA as a guide -- like keeping an arm around Sophie or putting his hand on the small of her back. 

Who kills the spider:

Neither! Sophie doesn’t see the purpose of killing spiders when they keep maintain and keep out as many other busg that she doesn’t want. Jade, meanwhile, finds them intriguing and sees it purposeless to kill a spider when it’s harmless to him. Though, he is more likely to kill a spider if someone else were to ask him to (or he’d shoo it away).

Who asks the other to marry them: 

So, this one has me kind of stumped. If the circumstances are right and, if he spends more nights thinking about how much he has literal wife material sleeping next to him, I think Jade would. It’s within his nature to concoct his own plan about how to bring up the question. It’ll be around he’s finishing his fourth year at NRC (and Sophie already graduated (and has her curse completely broken) and moves back to Ingary to reunite/catch up further with her family). 

Both of them are still in constant contact and she visits as MUCH as she can as she’s still a former NRC staff member. ..And to be honest, Crowley would want her back as much as possible for him to give her the work he doesn’t want to do. 

Listen, Jade was sorted into Octavinelle for a reason and he isn’t holding back anything to get the setting right. Hell, I could see him getting Floyd and Azul in on it as these three always seem to pull in the other into their schemes--. 

Sophie would also want to propose, but she is still hesitant and thinks she might be doing it too soon. 

Who buys the other flowers or gifts:

Both! Jade has the expenses available to him to purchase her gifts like clothing (which she has severely limited amount of thanks to him) and flowers. After all, what gentleman doesn’t routinely spoil their beloved with a surprise? Her reactions are worth it as she’s very sensitive and grateful for them -- she’ll get misty-eyed over certain ones ad she’d hug him, very sentimental over the matter. It’s those parts of Jade that he overwhelmingly appreciates, even if he doesn’t say it. It’s nothing exactly something he’s used to or he really gives.

Sophie tends to go in the same route when it comes to clothing and plants -- but she can make the clothes herself (or accessories like certain ties) and plant the flora herself. She rarely makes purchases and prefers making it herself. 

Who would bring up possibly having kids:

A point in Jade and Sophie’s relationship, even before anything developed, was the fact that neither of them would refuse a challenge. After Sophie bothers the Leech twins with purposely opening her mouth (while in her Simeon disguise), which is known as a mating gesture for moray eels. Jade enthusiastically took the opportunity to exploit the meaning. He has and will mention having children to watch everyone (including Sophie) squirm, much to his pleasure.

However, the SERIOUS thought of having kids came from Sophie. It is probably one of their many late-night conversations when she blurts it as a question. He will, no doubt, look at her and make reference to his own jokes -- before she carefully knees him in the stomach, as a sign that she’s being genuine about their future and settling down. Jade is quiet about the matter, never really considering it as a real possibility,  but quickly warms up to the idea the longer they talk about it.

They’d probably have a mix of having their own and adopting. Sophie has issues getting pregnant/carrying to term/birthing, as guess how Sophie’s late mother died, and they’ll be open to any opportunities they have.

Who is more nervous about meeting the parents:

Neither. The Leech twins’ parents, as well as Sophie’s biological parents, are all no longer in this world with us. Sophie’s stepmother, Fanny, is alive and well...but Jade wouldn’t at all be nervous. If anything, he wouldn’t break a sweat about meeting new people and leaving a good impression. That’s what his gentleman’s facade is for, after all.

In the realm of possibility that Jade and Floyd’s parents survived and were alive in the current time, Sophie would be the most nervous person in the room. She’ll go hard in rehearsing and learning as MUCH as she can about merculture as she thinks she’ll make a blunder out of everything and embarrass Jade.

Jade’s primary concern is the unspoken aspects of how Sophie’s relationship with her stepmother works. She is one who refuses to speak about things or may have even normalized certain behaviors/actions from her stepmother. The fact that (once her memory returns) most of her conversations about her family has to be forced out, it’s safe to say something is up. He is all smiles, acting as usual, but he keeps his eyes peeled.

Sophie’s nervous more about how her sisters and how Jade and Floyd are going to interact. It’s only because her sisters tease/bully her, as the Leech twins already do, and it’s literally the worst :tm: because they get on swimmingly.

Who sleeps on the couch when the other is angry:

Jade ends up sleeping on one of the many couches available in the Octavinelle dormitory whenever he’s really messed with Sophie too much. It isn’t even like they live and share that room. She got to the point where she’d take the key to his room and keep it on her while he isn’t paying attention. Though, Jade would be quickly aware of the culprit once he finds his pockets empty...and as he knows her so well, he knows she’ll come back out of guilt in the middle of the night to return the keys.

Who tries to make up first after arguments:

Jade. As much as Sophie can be mature and straightforward, she is still prideful and spiteful to the point that she will need time to separate and cool off. It affects her more easily, depending on what the topic is, and she prefers being reclusive and hiding (in the case she feels overbearingly guilty and doesn’t want to confront it). 

Jade is not at all tactiturn like this partner and speaks with a clear voice and what’s on his mind. He will need time to separate too, leaving himself to better thought. But, he’s as well very good at reading Sophie (as she can read him sometimes. but not better) and will approach her during the times she’s hurting herself way more than she should be. 

It’s a nice and quiet resolution -- where Jade approaches Sophie and they talk it out, apologies exchanged, and they go on. 

Who tells the other they love them more often:

Sophie! So much of the ‘I love yous’ are from her. She hasn’t really heard it much in her life (pre-curse included) and it’ll always be a part of her to say ‘I love you’ and show her emotions to someone she fully trusts and connects with. It isn’t like it’s super recurring and happening every minute, but I bet you that she’s the reason gets Jade comfortable about being emotionally open with others -- at least, with someone like her, who is probably the handful of people who may get as close to him like Floyd and Azul.

Jade’s ‘I love yous’ are way more based on action and quiet. Like they’re the real sentimental moments where you longingly gaze at your partner and softly smile at them when they’re not looking because, wow, I love you, how did I end up here? I feel like as he gets older, he’ll also get used to saying it as I don’t really think he heard it a lot in his life too -- but he wouldn’t find a real reason to even say it. 

[i-breathe-therefore-i-read]

Howl's Moving Castle Series by Diana Wynne Jones

"How about making a bargain with me?" said the demon. "I'll break your spell if you agree to break this contract I'm under." In the land of Ingary, where seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, Sophie Hatter attracts the unwelcome attention of the Witch of the Waste, who puts a curse on her. Determined to make the best of things, Sophie travels to the one place where she might get help - the moving castle which hovers on the nearby hills. But the castle belongs to the dreaded Wizard Howl whose appetite, they say, is satisfied only by the hearts of young girls...

*What I thought: 4 out of 5 stars

read: 8/19

This was a fun book to read! Loved the sass master that was named Sophie. lol It sucks what the Witch of the Waste did to Sophie but it sure made her life more interesting! She probably wouldn’t have experienced or learned much staying at the hat shop! 

Loved how dramatic Howl could be. Like when he was sick, sticking up for the spiders, his messy tantrum! 😂

I would like my own Calcifer! Who would have thought the flame would be such a cool little thing!

I like how Howl’s house was different on the outside at each place it was at. Of course my favorite in the moving castle! 

I like how all the weird things were connected. Like the scarecrow that would keep following Sophie and the dog. I kinda confused me a little when it was explained because it didn’t seem very logical. But I guess it is what it is.

The ending seemed a little rushed but I still like it. So now, I’m going to rewatch the movie. 😊 

In which a humble young carpet merchant wins, then loses, the princess of his dreams Far to the south of the land of Ingary, in the Sultanates of Rashpuht, there lived in the city of Zanzib a young and not very prosperous carpet dealer named Abdullah who loved to spend his time daydreaming. He was content with his life and his daydreams until, one day, a stranger sold him a magic carpet. That very night, the carpet flew him to an enchanted garden. There, he met and fell in love with the beauteous princess Flower-in-the-Night, only to have her snatched away, right under his very nose, by a wicked djinn. With only his magic carpet and his wits to help him, Abdullah sets off to rescue his princess.... 

*What I thought: 3.4 out of 5 stars

read: 8/19

It was an alright book. I didn’t like it at first. I think I started to enjoy it more when Abdullah found the genie. Things sure did get more interesting after that! Can you imagine as traveling partners, you had a magic carpet that liked compliments, a moody genie, a thieving soldier, and two cats? lol

I liked how every time Abdullah talked to someone, he came up with the most longest and nicest compliments. Shoot even when he didn’t like someone, he was so nice about it. lol I really liked how determined he was to rescue Flower-in-the-Night. 

I liked how Howl and family made an appearance in this book. Totally not what I expected! 

Though I liked how everything ended, it was too happy for me. lol I guess for it being more for middle grade I shouldn’t expect any dark endings. 

Charmain Baker is in over her head. Looking after Great-Uncle William's tiny cottage while he's ill should have been easy. But Great-Uncle William is better known as the Royal Wizard Norland, and his house bends space and time. Its single door leads to any number of places—the bedrooms, the kitchen, the caves under the mountains, the past, and the Royal Mansion, to name just a few. By opening that door, Charmain has become responsible for not only the house, but for an extremely magical stray dog, a muddled young apprentice wizard, and a box of the king's most treasured documents. She has encountered a terrifying beast called a lubbock, irritated a clan of small blue creatures, and wound up smack in the middle of an urgent search. The king and his daughter are desperate to find the lost, fabled Elfgift—so desperate that they've even called in an intimidating sorceress named Sophie to help. And where Sophie is, can the Wizard Howl and fire demon Calcifer be far behind? Of course, with that magical family involved, there's bound to be chaos—and unexpected revelations. No one will be more surprised than Charmain by what Howl and Sophie discover.

*What I thought:

read: 9/19 - 11/19

I found this a little better than the second book but not as good as the first. Charmain I didn’t like most of the time. She just acted like to was too good to do things and couldn’t be bother to do anything but I guess I can’t expect much from someone her age. I mean I like to read too but she just wanted to be lazy and blame it on her mother for how she is. Like how did they recommend her to watch over someone’s house? She’s not responsible enough at all. 

I like the idea of this magical house and how confusing it is to navigate but I would hate to live there! Just give me Howl’s place, that seems easier to live it! Spiders and all! lol 

I loved that Calcifer, Sophie, Howl, and their child was in this. Howl is too much!! lol I died laughing when he first appeared. I also like how Jamal and his dog from book two was in here. 

I like the idea of the Lubbock's but I didn’t feel like they were a main part of the story. More like back ground noise even though it’s mention throughout the book. It was weird. I hoped there was more of a plot with that than what I got. 

I liked the way the story ended even though it went by very quickly. Everything resolved in like 5 pages. Overall, first book the best...the rest were just okay. 

[spellbccks]

«♡» ─────  I N T R O D U C I N G … *✧｡⋆

        a  pretty  little  mess  of  monsters,  if  i  do  say  so  myself  !  these  will  be  much  shorter  than  the  last  two  intros  i  posted,  so  keep  reading  to  find  4 / 18  introductions  under  the  cut  !  ^♡^

        PERCY  PAN  . . .

                     . . .  the  boy  who  won’t  grow  up

name:  percy  pan    nicknames:  n / a    age:  eighteen    gender:  cis male    pronouns:  he/him    date of birth:  may 21st, 2001    parent(s):  peter  pan    hometown:  neverland    occupation:  student    hair colour:  dark  brown    eye colour:  green    height: 172cm    tattoos:  none  !    piercings:  both  lobes  pierced  !    scars:  a  long  scar  across  the  right  side  of  his  abdomen,  a  scar  on  his  right  knee  !    faceclaim:  hwang  hyunjin                                                           ♡  ♡  ♡

born  in  neverland  as  the  biological  son  of  peter  pan,  percy  is  a  wingless  fae.

from  a  young  age,  he  sort  of  took  on  the  role  that  his  father  had  abandoned  upon  growing  up  ---  percy  took  on  the  role  as  the  sort  of  . . .  ‘  lead  lost  boy  ‘  with  a  whole  new  group  of  lost  boys.  of  course,  this  role  of  ‘  leader  ‘  really  only  meant  that  percy  took  care  of  them  all;  made  sure  they  had  food  &  shelter,  with  the  help  of  his  own  father,  of  course  !

also,  he  renamed  the  lost  boys,  so  they  are  now  “  the  skull  bois  “,  because  . . .  he  doesn’t  think  they’re  lost  and  also  ‘  bois  ‘  is  more  gender - inclusive.

he  grew  up  under  the  stories  of  his  father’s  own  adventures  and  his  time  with  the  darling.  so,  as  a  child,  percy  used  to  come  down  to  the  mainland  a  lot  ---  he  liked  to  dance  around  the  moon  and  with  the  stars  !

he  would  sometimes  poke  his  head  into  open  windows  or  sneak  into  bedrooms,  or  even  just  have  his  shadow  slip  into  an  open  window  !

he’s  basically  . . .  peter  pan  2.0  . . .  leave  me  alone  . . .

also  peter  ?  a  grade - a  father  !  the  only  problem  is  that  he  could  be  a  bit  too  playful  and  childish  sometimes,  and  so  percy  isn’t  really  too  . . .  accustomed  to  serious  situations  and  topics.

he’s  always  been  very  independent,  too  !  has  a  very  “  i  can  do  whatever  i  want  and  get  by  on  my  own  !  “  sort  of  attitude.

he  doesn’t  really  . . .  want  to  be  in  auradon,  doesn’t  want  to  be  going  to  uni,  but  he’s  decided  that  majoring  in  humanities  could  help  him  somewhere  down  the  line.

doesn’t  . . .  take  school  that  seriously  ?  like,  he  does  his  work  and  gets  good  grades,  but  it’s  not  the  end  of  the  world  if  he  does  less  than  perfect  at  something  !

. . .  also  he  has  lowkey  ?  trust  issues  ?  trusts  . . .  the  skull  bois  . . .  the  end  . . .

also  . . .  lowkey  doesn’t  like  the  pixie  hollow  faeries  !  unless  they’re  skull  bois  somehow  !  lmao  !

also  !  he  doesn’t  age  !  well  . . .  not  after  a  certain  point  . . .  i’m  thinking  . . .  18 - 21  is  when  he  stops  ?

uh  . . .  his  shadow  . . .  does  what  it  wants  . . .  please  don’t  get  mad  at  it  . . .  it  just  wants  to  be  friends  . . .  it  also  gets  lost  a  lot  . . .  it  stresses  percy  out  when  it  gets  lost  . . .  but  it  be  that  way  sometimes  !

uh  . . .  gimme  . . .  skull  bois  . . .  the  end  . . .

        CADELL  PENDRAGON  . . .

                       . . .  the  boy  with  the  mismatched  eyes

name:  cadell  pendragon    nicknames:  cain    age:  twenty - three    gender:  demiboy    pronouns:  she/they    date of birth:  february 5th, 1996    parent(s):  howl  jenkins  pendragon  &  sophie  hatter    hometown:  ingary    occupation:  student    hair colour:  naturally  silver;  dyed  black    eye colour:  mismatched;  right  eye  is  red,  left  eye  is  silver    height: 164cm    tattoos:  a  dove  behind  his  left  ear,  a  lotus  flower  on  the  back  of  his  neck  !    piercings:  both  lobes  pierced,  forward  helix  on  his  right  ear  !    scars:  a  scar  on  the  left  side  of  his  chest,  right  over  where  his  heart  should  be  !    faceclaim:  min  yoongi  /  suga                                                         ♡  ♡  ♡

born  in  the  land  of  ingary  as  the  biological  son  of  howl  &  sophie,  cadell  is  a  wizard,  though  he  much  prefers  the  term  ‘  witch  ‘.

cadell  takes  after  his  mother  more - so  than  his  father.  while  his  father  tends  to  be  charming  and  flamboyant,  cadell  tends  to  be  more  reserved,  more  refined  and  minimalist  in  the  way  he  does  things.

just  like  his  father  though,  when  cadell  when  young  and  naive,  he  came  across  a  fire  demon  similar  to  calcifer,  but  whose  intentions  were  far  worse.  this  fire  demon  tricked  the  young  boy  into  giving  him  his  heart  so  that  he  could  live,  and  has  since  been  using  his  own  heart  against  him.

by  giving  up  his  heart,  cadell  lost  some  piece  of  his  humanity  ---  or,  at  least,  that  much  is  suspected.  as  he  grew  older,  he  developed  some  sort  of  apathy  to  him,  some  sort  of  numbness.  he  claims  that  he  doesn’t  feel,  at  least  not  as  much  as  he  wishes  to.  whether  this  be  due  to  the  lack  of  heart  is  a  mystery,  but  entirely  possible.

the  fire  demon  who  owns  possession  of  his  heart  may  also  use  it  to  take  control  of  cadell  by  speaking  into  the  heart  ---   à  la  once  upon  a  time  ---  and  uses  the  bind  that  they  have  to  inflict  pain  upon  him,  even  if  doing  so  means  inflicting  pain  upon  itself,  as  well.

now  that  he’s  in  auradon,  his  main  goal  is  to  find  some  way  to  retrieve  his  heart,  to  steal  it  back  from  the  fire  demon  who  so  possesses  it.

he’s  immensely  skilled in all  sorts  of  magic,  though  he  always  took  a  special  liking  to  the  magic  he  inherited  from  his  mother  ---  being  able  to  speak  life  into  things. this,  along  with  potions  of  all  sorts,  had  always  been  his  specialties  and  what  he  excels  best  at.

due  to  his  lack  of  heart,  he  doesn’t  believe  he’s  capable  of  love,  even  though,  realistically,  he  knows  that’s  not  true  ---  he  doesn’t  see  himself  as  entirely  human  and,  thus,  doesn’t  believe  he’s  deserving  of  love.

his  eyes  are  mismatched.  why  ?  because  he’s  cursed  !  also,  they’re  marble - like,  once  again  due  to  the  lack  of  a  heart,  and  if  he  were  to  ever  gain  his  heart  back,  they  would  look  less  marble - like  and  far  more  real,  once  again.

his  curse  !  the  curse  that  was  placed  upon  him  is  called  the  touch  of  death  ---  it  makes  it  so  that,  whereas  he  used  to  be  able  to  speak  life  into  things,  he  now  only  has  the  ability  of  speaking  death  into  things.

the  curse  was  placed  upon  him  by  a  witch  in  ingary,  as  this  witch  believed  that  cadell’s  habit  of  speaking  life  into  things  was  messing  with  the  balance  of  life  and  death  that  their  must  be  on  earth.

he’s  very  reserved  !  used  to  refrain  from  leaving  the  walls  of  the  castle  !  distances  himself  from  people  at  all costs  !

he’s  magical  !  he  can  help  sometimes  !

someone  help  him  get  his  heart  back  !  he  will  be  forever  in  your  debt  !

he  prefers  to  be  called  cain  !

and  . . .  scene  . . .

        PENDULA  CHRONOS  . . .

                         . . .  the  girl  with  the  cuckoo  clock  heart

name:  pendula  chronos    nicknames:  penny    age:  seventeen    gender:  demigirl    pronouns:  she/her    date of birth:  april 22nd, 2002    parent(s):  time    hometown:  underland  /  wonderland    occupation:  student  &  time    hair colour:  black    eye colour:  bright  blue    height: 152cm    tattoos:  none  !    piercings:  both  lobes  pierced,  helix  on  her  right  ear  !    scars:  a  scar  along  her  left  shoulder  blade  !    faceclaim:  wang  yiren                                                           ♡  ♡  ♡

born  in  underland  as  the  biological  daughter  of  time,  pendula  is  a  sort  of  deity  !  as  a  deity,  she  has  an  abundance  of  magical  abilities,  all  which  she  inherited  from  her  father  and  serve  to  help  her  preside  over  time.

her  father  currently  presides  over  time  and  the  chronosphere,  ensuring  that  it  is  not  corrupted  ---  which  includes  preventing  time  travel  from  occurring,  as  disastrous  things  can  happen  when  one’s  past  or  future  self  sees  their  present  self.

pendula  grew  up  in  the  castle  of  eternity,  hardly  ever  leaving  her  home  as  the  journey  from  the  castle  to  the  mainland  in  underland  is  long  and  treacherous.  thus,  the  life  that  she  lived  was  a  lonely  one  and  she  mostly  entertained  herself  by  playing  with  the  minutes  and  seconds  that  occupied  the  palace  with  her.

despite  the  loneliness  of  her  life,  though,  she  knows  that  it’s  important  that  she  lives  like  this,  for  the  sake  of  the  grand  clock  and  time  as  a  whole  ---  and  for  the  sake  of  her  own  life.

she  has  a  clock  in  her  chest  in  place  of  her  heart  !  a  cuckoo  clock.  and  with  this  cuckoo  clock  heart  comes  with  three  golden  rules  to  keep  her  alive:  one)  never  touch  the  hands  of  her  heart,  two)  keep  her  temper  under  control,  and  three)  never  ever  fall  in  love.  if  she  does  any  of  these  three  things,  her  heart  will  stop  and  she  will  die.

in  the  early  years  of  her  life,  she  had  a  normal  heart,  just  as  any  other  person  has  a  heart,  but  when  she  was  six - years - old,  some  wonderlanders  who  were  still  loyal  to  the  red  queen  stormed  the  castle  of  eternity  and  cut  out  her  heart,  as  they  wanted  to  use  this  to  bargain  with  time  ---  his  daughter’s  heart  for  the  chronosphere,  so  that  they  could  go  back  in  time  and  make  sure  that  alice  never  kills  the  jabberwocky.

time  didn’t  take  this  negotiation,  though,  didn’t  except  the  deal,  and  instead  he  simply  replaced  his  daughters  heart  with  a  cuckoo  clock,  as  he  knew  that  letting  the  chronosphere  out  of  his  possession  could  be  the  end  of  all.

so,  after  this  occurrence  and  upon  replacing  her  heart,  upon  teaching  her  these  three  rules  that  she  must  live  with,  he  decided  it  was  safest  for  her  to  live  an  isolated  life,  and  thus  this  is  when  her  life  became  truly  lonely.

now,  she’s  training  to  someday  take  her  father’s  place  as  time  ---  or  at  least  help  him  to  keep  time  in  order  ---  while  also  studying  at  auradon  prep.

she’s  very  soft,  very  friendly,  though  a  bit  refined  and  reserved  due  to  her  upbringing.

she’s  very  excited  to  make  friends,  because  she’s  never  had  any  other  than  the  seconds  and  minutes  in  her  palace  before  !  and  even  then,  the  seconds  and  minutes  often  act  more  as  servants  than  anything  else.

she  still  tends  to  be  pretty  distant,  though,  as  she  doesn’t  want  to  break  any  of  the  rules  to  her  heart  !

she’s  not  really  sure  of  what  she’s  interested  in  or  who  she  is,  really,  because  . . .  well,  all  she’s  really  ever  known  is  . . .  time  and  clocks  . . .  so  . . .  yeah  !

and  !  scene  !

        ELODIE  ASTER  . . .                . . .  the  girl  made  from  cotton  candy  sunsets

name:  elodie  aster    nicknames:  elo    age:  seventeen    gender:  cis female    pronouns:  she/her    date of birth:  november 23rd, 2001    parent(s):  e.  aster  bunnymund  /  the  easter  bunny    hometown:  the  warren    occupation:  student  &  guardian    hair colour:  brown    eye colour:  green    height: 152cm    tattoos:  none  !    piercings:  both  lobes  pierced  !    scars:  a  small  scar  on  the  palm  of  her  right  hand  !    faceclaim:  rowan  blanchard                                                          ♡  ♡  ♡

we  all  know  her  !  she  hasn’t  changed  !  this  is  going  to  be  pretty  short  !

daughter  of  the  easter  bunny  !  guardian  of  hope  !  pooka  bunny  !

has  all  the  same  powers  and  abilities  as  bunnymund,  except  her  bunny  form  is  small  !  like  a  normal  rabbit  !

literally  . . .  the  embodiment  of  hope  . . .  personification  of  sunshine  . . .

she’s  amazing  at  art  !  she  gets  it  from  painting  easter  eggs  !

her  favourite  colour  to  paint  with  is  purple  !

she’s  a  lot  less  intimidating  than  her  father  !  she’s  an  easy  target  !  someone  be  mean  to  her  !

she  isn’t  too  sure  if  she  wants  to  be  the  next  official  guardian  of  hope,  but  even  if  she  doesn’t,  she  does  know  she  wants  to  pursue  something  that  will  allow  her  to  help  children  regardless  !

okay  . . .  the  end  . . .  y’all  know  her  . . .  whoosh  . . .

[qveensbury]

ch3: the cleaning lady

ch 1    |     ch 2    |     AO3     |     ko-fi

Markl asked Sophie to meet in the Chemistry tutoring center. He needed to be available in an emergency and got called away in the middle of tutoring.

“You can sit at the Howl’s desk. I’ll be right back.”

Sophie reached across the desk and pulled out a highlighter. She underlined some parts of her reading. She began to put the highlighter back when she realized markers, highlighters, and pens were all over the desk. She began to arrange them in a penholder according to color.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Sophie jumped up, straightening her back. She whirled around to the voice.

Howl was bent forward, looking at his desk.

“I was organizing. This makes more sense.”

“To you,” Howl took what was in her hands back, placing them back where they were. “I have a system.”

Sophie bristled.

“Sorry.” She moved out of his way.

“Oh, Howl. Sorry if I knew you were coming back, I’d have ask Sophie to sit somewhere else,” Markl closed the door behind him.

“It’s fine. We’ve come to an agreement.”

Sophie rolled her eyes. In the month of tutoring, she’d barely run into Howl. He kept floating in and out and Sophie couldn’t figure out if she wanted him to stay or go.

Howl found her in the library.

Sophie frowned at him as he made himself comfortable at her table. He was doing it again: invading her personal space, acting as if they knew each other.

“I’m avoiding a meeting with my advisor,” he mentioned.

“You’ve got to be joking with me.”

“She scares me half to death.”

“Howl, you’re what 23, 24?”

“24.”

“And you’re afraid of your research advisor?”

“I’m afraid I’ll disappoint her.”

Sophie raised an eyebrow.

Howl continued, “She has really high hopes for me.”

“Well, you can’t exactly meet them if you don’t do anything.”

He shrugged, opening his laptop.

“Go to your meeting.” And leave me alone so I can study.

He ignored her.  

“So you’re just not going to go?” Sophie gaped at him. “You have a year left in your program...What do I have to do? Walk you there like your first day of kindergarten.”

“Will you?” Howl bolted up.

“Will I what?” Sophie recoiled back.

“Walk me there.”

Sophie paused, unsure if he was pulling her leg. “Okay,” she responded with hesitation.

He began putting his things away.

She exhaled in defeat, clearing her things. “Lead the way.”

If Sophie thought Howl was lying, the waves of nervous energy coming off of him corroborated his story.

“Isn’t it just a check-in?”

“It is.”

“Aren’t you on schedule?”

“I am.”

“So why are you worried”

“Some stones should stay unturned. I don’t want to be pushed in a direction I don’t want to go in. I chose to go into Chemistry because of how close it was to magic. There’s so much good that can come from unlocking these mysteries, figuring out spells…” His face grew dark. “Somethings should be left alone. The school has this relationship with the Department of Defense and I’ve had professors introduce me to personnel and...I never want to be a part of a plot to take human lives. I’m afraid one day I’ll walk into a meeting and I’ll be up against the wall.” His tone shifted, mimicking someone, “Our most promising student, an asset to our country.”

“Can’t you plead your conscience?”

“In theory.”

“Isn’t theory right up your alley, Mr. Scientist?”

Howl laughed, throwing his head back, “You got me there.”

+

“How was the last meeting?” Markl opened a container of steamed rice and started dividing it between Howl, Sophie, and himself. Sophie and Howl continued unpacking the Chinese takeout.

“Had my good luck charm, so it went well.” Howl winked at Sophie, who snorted and rolled her eyes.

“Oh boy Sophie.” Markl snorted. “How do you put up with it?”

“You guys started feeding me and giving me coffee. I’m impossible to get rid of now.”

“We’d never let you go!” Howl leaned forward grinning.

Sophie had to remind herself that his eyes only sparkled more because Howl died his hair black.

‘My professor take me more serious like this.’

Only because his hair was different, right.

Lettie had midterms around the corner and trusted Sophie’s new friends would be decent fill-ins.

Instead of listening to Business department gossip or what happened at the coffee shop Lettie worked at, Sophie did her art homework to chemistry fun facts and mini research presentations.

This was the latest one about Howl’s compost experiment.

+

Of all the meetings to be late.

Sophie huffed crossing her arms.

She pulled her phone and sent him several texts. Her knees bounced up and down.

She checked both sides of the hallway. She sighed again. Howl was close to being ten minutes late.

Sophie knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

She followed the instructions. “Hello Dr. Sulliman.”

“Yes?” The older woman appraised Sophie.

Sophie felt her corduroy overalls threw a neon “Unpolished” over her head. “Doctor Sulliman, hello. My name is Sophie. I’m Howl’s friend. He’s running late and I didn’t want you to think he’s skipping his meeting.”

Dr. Sulliman pressed her lips together in a line and turned to her computer.

“Howl should be here soon,” Sophie blurted. “He was telling me about his last experiment and I’m sure you’ll find it fascinating. He’s really passionate about plants. I didn’t even think you could make a connection between chemistry and plants but the biochemistry bridge Howl explained really put it all together. What pun did he use again? Something about a blossoming bridge because it was still kinda new.” Sophie chuckled. “I’m sure you know this but he’s really good at, I mean he’s very skilled in breaking down big science concepts. Howl didn’t patronize me because I’m not in the sciences and avoid showing me what he’s working on or discovered. And he makes it super accessible. But it’s still so amazing.”

Dr. Sulliman raised a hand. “Howl’s appoint was actually rescheduled for 2:45 not 2:30.”

Oh. Sophie felt her face burn as the blush marched across her cheeks.

“But, I see Howl has some good friends. We’ve been wondering who has been getting Mr. Pendragon to show up to his meetings. We sort of figured it was a person who caught Howl’s eye he was trying to mature for.” Dr. Sulliman leaned forward and rested her chin on her bridged fingers. “But, I never imagined flighty Howl would enamor such a practical girl. Blossoming, bloom, an apt word for your relationship. I’ve seen your disposition towards Howl change.” The older woman smiled, “You’re in love.”

Sophie couldn’t breathe. Her ears started ringing. “I’m sorry. You must--”

“Sulliman!” Howl opened the office door. “You won't believe what my freshmen did in lab today. Next year we’re going to crush Ingary U in the state competition. Oh! Sophie.”

“I was just leaving!” She shot up clutching her bag to her body. “I mixed up the times. I’ll let you finish. Goodbye Dr. Sulliman.”

“Goodbye dear. Do consider what I said.”

“Later Soph.”

“Bye,” she squeaked.

next >>

[oh-heartlessman]

Lights, Cameo, Action! | Phowl

oh-phineas​:

“Ah, gotcha, man, maybe I’ll give it a try,” Phineas said, in an overly-familiar way that was probably just a little too confident a tone to use with The Great Wizard Howl. But Phineas lived by the philosophy that if you acted like you were supposed to be somewhere, people would just believe you. And if you acted like you were friends with someone, they would probably just go along with it.

He didn’t have much time, though. He knew Howl probably had other places to be. So Phineas had to get to the point. “So, uh, listen, man. I wanted to ask you a favor. I don’t know if you know my friend Mei Qin? She’s a witch– er, not that all sorcerers know each other, obviously, but yeah– she was training with Hera Alexander for a while, if you know her? Anyway. I’m trying to get her a really good Christmas gift. And I was wondering if you’d help me out. Y’know, Hatters fan to Hatters fan.” Phineas couldn’t really think of anything else they had in common. So he’d run with that.

--

Howl wondered what it was about him that kept drawing young people in. He would attribute it to fatherhood, but no, apparently he’d always been like this, sort of just existing and having waves of children come over to him and ask for favors. It’d been Kiki, then Mateo, then Vanessa and Mei with her, and most recently Amity and —

He did not hate it. Not that he liked it. Of course not. He was not some school teacher like Simba Lyons, opening his arms to strange children who needed favors. He was the Great Wizard Howl Pendragon, one of Ingary’s finest sorcerers, a practiced telekinetic who traveled the multiverse and —

Well, it was not as if he were particularly busy right now.”

“Ah yes, I know Miss Qin,” said Howl. “And her sisters. She just had her Emergence, didn’t she?”