ᴵᵀ'ˢ ᴹᴱ ,  𝙨𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙚 ！

❝    i do enjoy working at cesari's. mrs. cesari is quite funny.   ❞ and it's a fantastic place to meet a possible wealthy husband, though she'd keep that bit to herself. 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔 𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗞𝗘𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 she'd brought from the pastry shop, she pours the two some tea. ❝    now tell me, @agecurse how is my future brother-in-law doing ?   ❞

“   ha  !      'future brother-in-law'  ,      indeed      —      howl would sooner colour his hair as red as mine than wed me  ,      i fear  .   ”      it feels odd to be served so  :      no food would find its way onto the castle's table without her hand  ,      though it disappears without her help come mealtime  .      “   but he is well  :      as are michael and calcifer      —      though he still likes to complain about his place in the hearth  ,      as if that is not now entirely his choice  .     i am glad to hear that you enjoy your work  :      are you treated well by the customers  ?   ”      

❀﹒🍚﹒ it is said that the 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡 of 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 is the ᵒᶰᵉ who will make their ᶠᵒʳᵗᵘᶰᵉ in life . ⊹

❝    particularly malevolent ?    ❞    now that makes him laugh :   a dreamy sort of laugh that speaks to his particular distractions at the moment.    ❝    will you quell your overactive imagination ?   bothersome old woman,   unruly sophie.   it has nothing to do with calcifer.   he can take care of his malevolence himself,   as far as i’m concerned.   he’ll survive.   and if he doesn't,   we will both know about it,   and i'll take us there before he can bother to kick the bucket.    ❞    he wants to hurry them both along.   so he does,   tugging at her arm and quickening his pace into a trot,   just slow enough so that he doesn’t have to start dragging her along.   the main road lingers just another block away,   opening into a sunlit square,   where most folks strive to walk or drive their daily commutes.    ❝    you won't pull it out of me.   i refuse to tell you.    ❞

well,   it can never be said that sophie doesn't have an overactive imagination.   he knew that :   of course he's always known that.    ❝    oh no,   no.   nothing as evil as that.   i reserve such evil undertakings only on my own.   i can't have you thinking less of me for that.    ❞    but two can play at that game.   if his imagination weren't as grand as sophie's,   he would never have gotten to where he is now !   still,   he refuses to tell her exactly where he's bringing her,   instead tightening his hold on her arm and guiding her along past the first long row of buildings.    ❝    why does it not surprise me that that's the first thing that runs through your mind ? you have a low opinion of me even now !    ❞

❝    although you flatter me,   i know your ways.   so i will continue to torment you.   i do so love to listen to your guesses.   they are the best part of these evenings.    ❞    he laughs softly,   and rather dreamily,   and leads her towards the door.   a quick twitch of his finger ensures the dial is pointed yellow-down,   toward market chipping.   another,   and the door opens for them both,   and he guides her the rest of the way outside and into the early evening sun.   as they walk,   he makes certain to stay nearly glued to her side,   his face slightly turned toward her,   gaze on the ground ahead.    ❝    you won't hate it.    ❞

[ attention ] for your muse to touch mine as a way of getting their attention  [ sleep ] for your muse to wake mine  [ cover ]  for your muse to cover mine with a blanket or a jacket  [ lift ] for your muse to give mine a hand stepping up or over something etc.  [ kiss ]  for your muse to come up to mine and kiss them without warning  [ run ] for your muse to run their fingers through mine’s hair  [ braid ] for your muse to braid mine’s hair  [ embrace ]  for your muse to hold mine  [ smile ] for your muse to smile at mine from across the room  [ wave ] for your muse to gesture to mine to come closer  [ panic ] for your muse to grab mine’s arm or get behind them in a moment of danger  [ touch ] for your muse to rest their forehead against mine’s [ weep ]  for your muse to catch mine crying  [ eat ]  for your muse to offer mine food [ hit ] for your muse to attack mine  [ love ] for your muse to touch mine as a show of affection or reassurance  [ nap ] for your muse to fall asleep against mine  [ rest ] for your muse to rest their head in mine’s lap  [ look ] for your muse to catch mine staring  [ seduce ] for your muse to touch mine sexually  [ help ] for your muse to lean on mine for support  [ give ] for your muse to offer mine their arm  [ entwine ] for your muse to hold mine’s hand  [ laugh ] for your muse to laugh at something mine did  [ dance ] for your muse to dance with mine  [ sit ] for your muse to pull mine into their lap  [ yell ] for your muse to calm mine down  [ cry ] for your muse to wipe mine’s tears away  [ dream ] for your muse to wake mine from a nightmare  [ surprise ] for your muse to show up at mine’s house without explanation  [ fix ] for your muse to treat mine’s injury  [ sacrifice ] for your muse to get hurt protecting mine  [ guard ] for your muse to step between my muse and danger  [ taste ] for your muse to cook for mine  [ sing ] for your muse to sing to mine 

michael: if you ask howl any questions about sophie or how he feels about her he just slithers out of them. i ask him if he likes her cooking and he gives me more chores to do. i don't do them, obviously. that's sophie's job