and no, i'm not capitalizing. 'cos i'm a lazyass. =D it's 1,213 words long, by the bye. i might end up posting it in sections. in fact, i think i'll do that.
Calcifer was dozing as a low flicker of flame among the ashes and coals of the fire, when the door opened and the overpowering scent of flowers flooded into the room. The smell was so intense it roused the fire demon; he clambered up the logs with green brows furrowed. He thought Sophie had put a stop to Howl’s going off and courting girls!
But, it was Sophie and Michael who staggered through the door, laden with fresh flowers to sell in the shop that day. Sophie, to have something to do, liked to keep the shop going. And since both Michael and Howl were so busy, and since Sophie was less a woman and more a force of nature when she so chose, they didn’t bother arguing. Calcifer, being in and out frequently since Sophie released him, wasn’t precisely sure why the wizard and apprentice were so busy.
But as it would turn out, he’d soon discover why.
“Hullo Calcifer.” Michael grunted as he heaved a large bundle of flowers after Sophie. He waved a hand and the large tub he’d made and it floated in Sophie’s wake, and the young man flopped down into the chair with a puff.
“Where’s Howl?” Calcifer inquired curiously.
“Dead to the world!” Sophie remarked with a touch of temper as she reappeared, wiping her hands on the apron she’d donned for a day in the shop.
“Asleep in a drunken stupor, due to wake with one mother of a hangover.” Michael explained, jerking his chin upstairs. “Can’t you hear the snoring?”
As Calcifer listened, the uproarious hoots and honks were clearly audible from the still-filthy bedroom. He and Sophie had had a rather spectacular quarrel about that room – Howl remained adamant that it stayed dirty, while Sophie was determined to at least make a dent in the grunge now she was a more permanent fixture in the castle.
“The slippery, slithery brat.” Sophie spat from where she was rummaging around in the food closet.
At Calcifer’s perplexed flicker, Michael sighed in resignation and explained. “Since Wizard Suliman retired, the King appointed Howl the Royal Wizard. For good.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?” Calcifer ventured.
“Not for us!” Sophie growled, tossing aside some unidentifiable insect with a violent flick.
Calcifer was taken aback. “Uhruh… how?”
Sophie whirled around, stomping toward the broom cupboard. She snatched her stick out of it and stalked toward the archway, muttering darkly. She went into Market Chipping in a huff, remarking over her shoulder that she was going to restock the food closet.
“No telling what she’ll do in that mood. Last time she threw a bucket of caustic weed-killer at my face.” Said a mournful voice behind them. They turned to see a disheveled Howl standing at the foot of the staircase, his eyes red-rimmed. With a sigh of long-suffering, Howl stepped into the room and went through the archway. “I suppose I should go make sure she doesn’t blow anything up. With my luck she’ll flay me to bits with that stick of hers. Treat my remains kindly, you two.”
Calcifer picked his jaw up off the log. “Did Howl just go out into town, looking like that?”
Michael smiled slightly, but his face soon fell. He fed Calcifer another log with a morose expression, causing a flicker of concern in the demon. “What’s up?”
“Howl and Sophie, of course. Since Sophie realized her fortune and her happy-ever-after lie with Howl, she’s been badgering him to get married. But you know Howl – he hates being pinned down. She almost had him, but then the King appointed him Royal Wizard and he’s been using it as an excuse to slip out whenever Sophie brings marriage up.”
Calcifer nodded wisely – he knew Howl all too well. That sounded just like him. Even though he was honestly in love with Sophie and not like the pointless romances with those countless girls before, his nature was always to eel his way out of an unpleasant situation. Like having to get married.
“And of course Sophie’s really upset about it – she’s awful fond of Howl, you know. As much as they quarrel they’re a good match.”
“Because they quarrel they’re a good match!” Calcifer retorted with a hiss of laughter. “They’re the only ones who’ll put up with each other for extended periods!”
“Well, I don’t know about that…” Michael said with a frown.
“You’re too nice, you don’t count.” Calcifer added with a scathing crackle.
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