Yes, the house looked more like a junkyard. It hadn't been cleaned it days and probably wasn't going to be. But what Calcifer didn't understand was why Howl, Sophie or even Markl didn't bother using a little bit of magic to at least clean him out. Howl was in his room, sulking like he had been for the past two days. He wasn't even getting any sleep and he hadn't eaten at all. The came a knock at the door and, for a moment, all he did was groan. When it came again he yelled: "go away!" he knew it was Sophie and he didn't want to see her.
Sophie ignored his comment and entered anyway, smiling at Howl mischievously. He just scowled and repeated his words, turning his back on her and hiding under the bedcovers. She pouted and approached him, leaning on his left arm since he was situated on his right. She pulled the cover from his face and planted a teasing kiss on his cheek. "What's wrong, Howl?" she asked.
"Go away," he stated. He couldn't deny that he liked the kiss but he wouldn't let Sophie know that. "I don't want to… I don't want to see anyone." He couldn't bring himself to say you because he knew his Sophie was in there somewhere and he didn't want to hurt her. His Sophie. Somehow he'd given himself the impression that Sophie belonged to him.
"But you still want to see me, right? The beautiful Sophie?" he cuddled him tighter and granted him a second kiss. "I love you, Howl." Even her voice was different. Usually, Howl would've smothered Sophie with kisses and repeated those three words to her, too, but this wasn't Sophie.
He snatched his arm away from her harshly. Sophie wasn't about to give up; she pulled his left shoulder so that he was now lying flat on his bed and pinned him down. He didn't have any energy to resist since he hadn't eaten or so long. Howl just frowned at her but Sophie swung an enhanced leg over him so that she was now sitting on top of him. She smiled and leant forward, connecting their lips. Howl had to admit that it was nice – this Sophie was gorgeous - but he kept mentally convincing himself that it would be much better if Sophie was how she used to be. He tried to make her get off of him but this Sophie wasn't going to be easy to control.
Howl finally managed to pull his mouth away from hers, gasping. "Fuck, Sophie! Get off!" he yelled. Yet, part of his mind wanted this and that part was starting to take over. Sophie, if you're still there, he thought, please forgive me. I can't stop myself…
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Downstairs, Markl sat at the table, picking at a loaf of bread that had already gone stale. He was trying to figure out how he could make it slightly more interesting but that was beyond even magic. He yawned but the yawn was disturbed, leaving him with his mouth fully open, by Howl's shout. He looked up in the direction it had travelled from. "Calcifer, do you think Howl's alright?" Markl asked.
The flame only heard the beginning of the cry and tried desperately to conceal his giggles. "well, you see, kid… um… they're, um… h-having a pillow fight!" he said, scoffing down a log so he did not burst into a laughing fit, which made him wonder if the log would come out of his nose if he did laugh. (A/N: actually, that was my thought… I've just realized that Calcifer doesn't' have a nose. Oh well.)
Markl looked up to Howl's room for a little while. He titled his head, listening carefully. "It sounds like Sophie's winning."
Calcifer snorted with the effort to keep from laughing out loud so he was doing it silently, making it hard to breathe. Markl looked at him awkwardly. "What?"
He tried to control himself and regain his usual breathing patterns. "Markl, I really don't think Howl minds!" with that, the giggles within him exploded.
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Howl awoke the next morning, completely dazed. He tried to raise his right hand to rub his forehead but found that he couldn't lift his arm. Sophie was sleeping on it with her head resting on his bare chest, her hair flowing perfectly behind her. Too perfectly. Howl dropped his head back down, cursing himself for what he had done. He felt as if he was cheating on the real Sophie. Slowly, he eased his arm free and gently rest Sophie's head on the pillow. He got up, put his pants on and made his way downstairs. Calcifer was still asleep which meant that it was still very early. Howl didn't care, though. All that went through his mind was that how stupid he was. the anger in his was building until it coil his hand into a fist and Howl swung it to the nearest wall, which happened to be beside Sophie's room. It created a gaping hole.
Calcifer instantly woke up, a wry smile growing at the sight of his master. "Sounded like someone was having fun," he said.
He frowned. "Yeah, someone was, but it sure as hell wasn't me." He shut his eyes and let out a very deep sigh. He marched to the door and turned the dial to the colour black, growing his dark wings.
"M-master Howl! What are you doing?!" Calcifer asked, eyes widening.
"If any asks," he told the flame. "Tell them I have to go to a meeting, is that clear?"
Calcifer was going to nod but before he could, Howl had jumped out and was already gliding. Just as soon as he had gone, he heard footsteps from the top of the stairs before Sophie emerged, holding only a blanket to cover her. "Calcifer? Where's Howl?" she asked. "I woke up and he was gone."
"Uh…" he still wasn't used to this new Sophie and found it hard to remember what Howl had told him to say. "… He, uh… h-had to meet someone, I think." It was only after the words left him that he realized that she may take it the wrong way.
"Meet someone? Who? Why?"
"Oh – not a girl! Honest! He loves you, Sophie!"
Sophie sighed, a dreamy smile creeping to her lips as she leant on the banister, thinking of him. "Of course… I knew he'd love this…" without saying anything else, she rushed back upstairs to get dressed.
Calcifer watched as she left with a very awkward look. For some strange reason, she reminded him of how Howl used to be. Okay, still is. But this was strange for Sophie – she was supposed to be the modest one but now… now she was just as bad as Howl. He shrugged, reaching for another log. No one had bothered to give any to him so he had to try to do it for himself. Well, he outstretched his arm and that's as far as he'd planned. He was just hoping the rest would come together on its own. So far it wasn't working as well as he'd hoped.
Markl yawned, rubbing his eyes as he travelled downstairs very drowsily. "Hey, kid," Calcifer said. "You alright?"
"No," he mumbled. "I didn't get much sleep last night. Howl and Sophie were making too much noise."
Usually, the flame would've burst out into laughter but he knew this was serious now. Sophie was getting too headstrong and unreliable, Howl was being moody and Markl was suffering for it. Plus, Calcifer was still doing all the work. Sophie ran down to her room, still clutching the blanket to herself. She slammed the door behind her and, less than a minute later, she emerged again carrying a bag with her. "Calcifer, would you heat up the bath for me?" she asked, rushing up to the bathroom.
He groaned. There was a burning desire to shout a few curses at her but knew that it wouldn't be good while Markl was still around. He just mumbled a few things about her becoming a lazy so and so. "Markl, you hungry?"
Markl nodded. He had sat down and tried to sleep on the table. He was muttering something but Calcifer couldn't quite tell what. The flame sighed feeling helpless for the boy. "Don't worry, kid. Everything will be back to normal soon, okay? It won't be long until Sophie's back to her old self." Though he found it hard to believe even himself in this situation. Things weren't looking good and he knew it. "Oh, by the way, could you pass me a log, please?" he asked as nicely as possible.
The boy smiled at him and got up to hand him the piece of wood. "Calcifer, you're running out of logs. Isn't Sophie going to get you some more? Or Howl?"
Calcifer shrugged, taking it from his hands. Howl was far too angry to get anything done. Sophie was too busy trying to look her best to even care anymore. They could both hear the hot water run upstairs and the splash of her getting into the bath. Markl grunted. "I don't like this new Sophie. She's horrible."
"It'll be alright. This can't possibly-"
The door burst open and a Howl with wings trudged in, slamming the door shut behind him. He didn't say anything as he walked up the dusty stairs, grabbing a chair and dropping himself in it. His feathers had trailed behind him in a line, showing his wavering path. He slowly merged himself back to his human form and threw his head back in a deep sigh. Howl's ears suddenly picked up the sound of the bath running, making him immediately sit upright. "Who's in the bath?"
"Um… that would be Sophie," the flame answered as if he was afraid of his reaction. The running water sounds suddenly stopped and drenched footsteps could be heard hurrying out of the bathroom, dripping water all the way.
Sophie stood at the top of the stairs yet again, this time wearing a new white silk robe. Very short at that – the top half was fine but it didn't even reach the end of her newly shaped thighs. He skin seemed to shine because she was still wet and her hair looked positively divine shimmering in Calcifer's ruby light. "Where'd you get that robe from?" Howl asked her, still not believing Sophie would wear anything that didn't cover her ankles. She may as well have come out naked since only part of her was covered and the parts that were clung to the silk.
She smiled. "I changed one of the old dresses you got me. Isn't it wonderful?"
Howl grimaced. "What was wrong with the dressed I got you?" the robe she was wearing, to him, made her look like a prostitute.
"Oh… uh… no offence, Howl, but they've gotten a little old fashioned." Sophie said as if it didn't matter. But it did – Howl was actually hurt and covered it up with anger.
"They were the kind you used to love!" he began to yell.
"Used to. But this is the new me. No more boring Sophie."
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I had nothing better to do than write. I really need to get a social life.
Ah, well. Review if you like, flame if you don't. Hugs and kisses all around!