So I decided to do a little author's note here.
First of all - I'm sorry! I know I've kept you waiting a little while, this is a longish chapter to make up for it.
And thanks for the reviews! All...one of you! That's ok, I just like to brush up on my style when I write, so any suggestions are welcome. Now news is good news, amirite!?
So, if any of you are like me and thought that Markl was just a cute little 10 year old boy in the movie, and would probably grow into a super hot ab-ulous ginger, high five and this is for you!
March 23rd
Howl's still looking for someone to replace me, and I guess I need an apprentice, too. I've looked through almost all the files, most of them have too much potential, which is dangerous, but there is a witch I'd like to see, that is, if Howl lets me have her. I mean, he wouldn't take her - he doesn't want to do anything to scare Sophie - she's still really insecure. Howl's her first boyfriend, ya know.
Markl looked over today's diary entry.
Don't tell her I said that
He closed his eyes in disgust, he wasn't turning into one of those people who expected their diary to walk up to the next stranger and blurt out his darkest secrets, was he? Well, to be honest, it probably could. With a flick of his fingers, he sent his treasured journal walking to his topmost shelf. It wouldn't stop Howl's prying eyes, but it'd stop Sophie's.
"Hoooooooowl!" He bellowed. "I'm going to work!" It was unnecessary - Howl and Sophie both knew that every Saturday at 2pm, Markl walked out to the harbor to work at the magic shop. After all, after finishing his apprenticeship, if he wanted to stay at the house, he'd have to pull some weight.
The walk to Danni's Bips and Bops was long, but he didn't mind. It gave him time to think about apprentice he would take on.
There was Jake, a kid no older than 9, about the same age he was himself when Howl took him in. Then again, Howl was nearly 28 when he took on Markl, but Markl himself was now 19 and, to be honest, didn't know whether he could deal with an ecstatic infant making fireworks with his fingers. Then there was Milly, a 6 year old with clinical depression. How her parents deemed teaching their narcissistic kid magic as "safe" was beyond him, but the only other available was the witch he'd been thinking about. She had a decent amount of experience, with her mother brewing potions for most of her life. However, Markl thought, there wasn't much to work with. She only had a moderate level of ability, at best, but he still felt she was the best choice he had.
Ducking his head to fit in under the doorway, Markl made his way inside Danni's shop. Markl didn't know what would happen if he didn't have Danni. Even though Danni was secretly gay, there was no tension whatsoever and the two had been mates for a while.
"I'm here!" He hollered, grabbing an apron and making for the counter.
"Great! I actually need to you shelve some of these imp disinfectants. I'll handle the counter." Came a voice from the choir room. Markl sighed in anguish. He hated shelving - he wasn't some teenage unemployed slacker!
Well, at least not everyday.
"Fine!"
