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47
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The next production day had not been until some days after the horrible incident had taken place. Howard came into the production studio, silent. Ed was anxious to know how everything was doing, but he certainly would not be one to pry into other people's lives. So he would have to wait until Howard came forth on his own with the juicy details Ed wanted to sink his teeth into as soon as possible.
But, as Ed had feared, Howard never did come forth with any juicy details and such. He kept his silence throughout the entire shooting except for the occasional yelling of 'cut' every now and then.
Werewolves ran out and about the set, chasing frightened humans. The craving of flesh of these werewolves, convincing to anyone in observation of the scene. But alas, when cut was yelled by Howard, they halted and the fine actors which bore the werewolf apparel removed their false fronts and stood as normal human beings just as they were when they came into the studio.
The shooting was going fairly well, with the exception of a few minor eyebrow-raising situations, which went away as quickly as they appeared. But Howard seemed entirely indifferent to his surroundings.
Every so often, Ed would throw a glance at Howard, wondering what quandary plagued this man's mind. He bit his nails down to the end, and finally during a break Ed could take no more.
As casually as he could being as anxious as he was, he cleared his throat and looked at Howard. "Uhh... so how are things at... home?"
Howard slowly turned his head to look in Ed's direction. He studied Ed for a moment, regarding a man that had a wife while he did not. A man that was partially the reason behind his loss. He continued to stare at Ed, his eyes becoming slitted, angry and scrutinizing. Then the clouds hindering his judgement cleared away and he realized that it was as much Ed's fault as it was his own.
He offered Ed a sort of crooked smile, then opened his mouth to speak. "She left me," he said simply.
Ed's mouth dropped open, gaping with a foolish look upon his face. "What!"
But Howard did not offer anymore information about the complexities of his life. He had already given too much.
Ed struggled to keep in his chair, he was slipping out and pawing around frantically for support, for the shock of what Howard had just divulged was too great of a thing to handle. And when it came to handling, Ed was about as able as a monkey handling antique china with his fingers covered in slippery soap.
At last after pawing away at the air around the chair, he slipped out and fell flat on his bottom. Ed looked up at Howard from his spot on the floor, still gaping.
"But-- Why--? Why would she--? Huh? But you... why would she leave you?" Ed finally managed to get out after so much fumbling.
Howard remained silent.
"I don't understand," Ed continued, as though Howard had said something.
Howard patted his right breast pocket, which now served as a home for his precious note Nadia had left him, offered the crooked smile once more. Then he stood up and walked away, off to the drink cart.
Ed was left alone on the floor in front of his chair, gaping after Howard, and completely puzzled at everything.