The Quite Ordinary and Utterly Unremarkable Guide to Charming Glass

by velvet-sometimes

It is quite a thing, to be the eldest of three. And Sophie Hatter had contented herself with her perfectly 'lovely' and ordinary existence in Market Chipping. But giving in to the temptation of a dusty old tome opens the way to a dangerous journey, where beauty is in the eye of the beholder - and the greatest adventure is learning how to 'see'.

37. Sensual

Disclaimer: I don't own Howls Moving Castle (the book or the movie, sadly), no matter how much i do love both versions so. I'm also not making a cent of profit from this; this is a fanbased work, merely for improving my own writing, and playing with themes.

Sensual

The warm feeling of the fire radiating by her toes was almost sensual to the tired young woman. As if trying to seduce her into letting go of her consciousness and sleep.

It was a tantalizing idea, as Sophie was so very tired, but she forced herself back onto her feet and into motion. She still had questions to ask, and the fire couldn't answer them for her.

Sophie was nothing if not stubborn, and so forced one foot in-front of the other as she made her way to the stairs, eyes lagging in their reopening with every blink.

She did not stop though; no, instead she forced herself up the stairs and down the dark hallway, following the heady smell of cologne and freshly washed male, first to the bathroom and from there to the room she figured belonged to Howl, rapping sharply on the door.

And when he opened it for her, he looked more than a little surprised at her appearance there; eyes looking her up and down before opening the door further so she could pass beneath his arm and into the dimly lit, cluttered space.

"What can I do for you, my darling little mouse? You look as if close to falling over." he asked, leading her over to the bed so that she might sit.

"I wanted to ask you some thing." she replied, folding her hands primly in her lap.

"Of course, of course." he murmured, though he sounded as if he'd not heard her at all. "And I'm sure this conversation should be long and tiring, so how about we get you comfortable, hm? Come now," he told her, helping her to lay back against his pillows. "That's better, yes?"

Sophie covered her mouth as a loud yawn escaped her lips. "Mhmm. Now about that question..."

"Of course, anything you'd like to ask." he whispered in return, pulling the quilt from beneath her legs so he could throw it over her. "But first lets get you settled."

She didn't get a chance to try and ask him again; as she was asleep in the next moment.

Note: My cat looks naked without his Harness on. I just thought you should all know this.