Fandom: Howl's Moving Castle
Title: Big News
Disclaimer: I do not own Howl's Moving Castle or any of the characters associated with it or anything else.
--
Howl was slumped on the floor in a pool of green slime; it oozed out as the paint slowly made its way down the plug. He mumbled something.
"What is it Howl?"
"H…h..hair..m..m..my hair.." His voice was raspy. Sophie rolled her eyes. She heard the door click shut and ran out onto the landing; her black boots clomped madly on the wooden floor as she almost tripped up.
"Marcl? Marcl if that's you get up here now!!!" She shouted down the short staircase.
"Sophie, what's wrong?" A ginger haired boy appeared at the top of the stairs. "Oh no…" He sighed as he saw Howl's green arm poking out the doorway. "Give him a ba-"
"I can't, the potion he made in there won't go down the plug hole..."
"Well then just use the second bath!!" Marcl exclaimed. Snapping his fingers he begun to drag Howl across the wooden floor; leaving a snail like trail as he did.
"Wait, Marcl!" Sophie caught up with him. "Second bath? I thought we only had one in the whole castle." Sophie watched as Marcl looked up at her as if he didn't believe her. There was silence for a moment.
"Sophie…Did you really think that it would be sensible to have one bath in the entire castle?! Even if you did sort out a rota for the bath, Howl hogged it all the time. In that time, I discovered this!" Marcl excitedly pulled open a door in the hall way. Sophie had always thought it a store cupboard, but she saw as Marcl pushed back a few coats at the back that there was another door. Marcl opened it and dragged Howl in. Sophie followed into the dimly lit room. It was dusty and the furniture needed a good polish. There was a little wooden cupboard with an array of salts and bath stuff and a big, white bathtub in the middle of the room. She helped Marcl push Howl into the bath and he slid down the side to the bottom; still mumbling words. Marcl pushed up his sleeves and turned the tap on. Hot water streamed out; steam rising up as it did. It washed the green ooze off of Howl's feet and a small pool of greenish water began to build up in the bath. Sophie found some salts in the cupboard and sprinkled a handful of the white grains into the bath.
"Marcl, you can go now. Why don't you go see what there is for dinner." Sophie said finally relaxing.
"Ok, Soph!"
"Thank you." She smiled at him. Turning her attention to howl –who had just begun to start groaning- she rolled hers eyes and walked over. She knelt beside the bath; resting her arms on the edge. "Howl." She said. Howl groaned and turned over; the last bits of green were washing of his skin. He opened his eyes and looked up at Sophie. Smiling his lifted his hand and placed it on her cheek.
"I'm sorry Sophie." Howl sat up and embraced Sophie. She squeaked as Howl was still a little bit slimy but she didn't care. The two of them laughed and Howl finished washing and drying off before Marcl called up the steps. Following Howl, Sophie walked at a steady pace along the corridor. She looked down at her stomach now and saw that it was already in a swollen shape and getting bigger every day. Images of her struggling to do housework while having a big, heavy stomach in her way made her groan.
Sophie sat down at the wooden table; thankful Marcl had cooked, for she was extremely hungry. She quickly ate her meal and started on any spare, surprising Marcl and Howl yet again as Sophie didn't usually eat this much. But they knew she was pregnant and that most people said that pregnant women had to 'eat for two' when they were. Howl wasn't sure he believed this.
"Hey, Sophie." Marcl said half way through the meal. "Have you been to see the doctor yet?"
"Doctor? But I already know I'm pregnant…" Sophie frowned.
"Yeah, but you need to see him so he can make sure you're healthy. Both of you. You and the baby."
"Oh…" This had never come across in Sophie's mind. "Well, I better go see him then shan't I? Shall I go tomorrow?"
"He'll be booked up. Go the day after." Sophie looked down at her belly and placed a hand on it; hoping her baby was safe. Hoping she wasn't doing anything wrong. She put down her fork, she had suddenly gone quiet.
"I'm not hungry anymore." Sophie said quietly while standing up.
"Soph, usually you finish the spare and want even more." Howl said. He got up and helped Sophie up to bed. He came back down and took the plates.
"I didn't mean to scare her." Marcl said solemnly.
"It's okay, Marcl. Don't worry. She's always been worried ever since she found out she was pregnant." Howl finished washing up the plates - or dipping half of them in hot water so he didn't get his hands wet - and put them onto a rack to dry; watching the soapy suds slide off them slowly. "Hey Marcl?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you think…Do you think I will be a good father?" Howl swallowed. Marcl grinned,
"Of course, Howl! You've looked after me."
"I know it's just. I've always feared that I might hurt the child."
"Howl you fear a lot of things. But for one that's a sensible fear." Marcl giggled making Howl smile. "Everyone around here worries too much. It ain't gonna be good for that baby!" Howl nodded his head and sighed. He wouldn't know whether he would be a good father or not until the baby was born, but until then he would be a good person and stop worrying so much. He dried his hands and walked towards the cupboard with big strides.
"Well then. Game of checkers Marcl?"
