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 Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 12:27 pm
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Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 9:40 pm
A letter carefully written by hand, carefully here meaning that the wizard's scrawl was bolded and had been written so one could actually read it. It was clear this letter meant more than the ones he had written to friends before. Quote: Dear Sophie, Hopefully this does not up in the hands of your father, but if so--I bid him good-day and ask him kindly to deliver this letter to his charming. enchanting, beautiful, and most lovable daughter, Sophie. I also must ask him if he would quite kindly teach me the language of romance, French. I in turn, will teach you something you desire to learn. That is, if you are reading this. If not, and this envelope has followed my instructions, it has found its way into your room, Sophie. Please ignore all that was previously said, excluding the compliments to yourself. Though you may want to ask your father not to make me his breakfast. I would have come to see you personally, but things came up, and I felt it better to stay at a distance. My voice and magic have been acting up; I've been told it's hormones. I don't think we should see each other until I find a way to fix it. I think I might be catching a cold, my voice is scratchy and cracks constantly. I don't want you to catch it, Sophie, so I suggest you avoid coming to my house. Still, I want to see you soon. I haven't seen you since the ball on Halloween, and that was brief. When can we meet up? I miss you. Calcifer wishes you to visit as well, and wants you to bring him a log. He says he has a hint for you, I'm not sure what he means by that. He says you have to ask him something, but when I ask him what you're supposed to ask him, he goes mysteriously deaf and mutters about it raining in Barton. I love you, Howl
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Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 1:29 am
Letter to Sophie Howl was trying and failing to write neatly. He was bent over his desk, an expression of absolute determination on his face. One didn't have to be a wizard--or a genius to realize he was writing a love letter. What else would the great wizard Howl be working on so dilligently? The letter seemed to be asking questions; though if one read between the lines, one might have realized the wizard meant far more than what he was saying.
He paused from his writing for only a brief moment, to study a small, square, velvet covered box. He had gone through this process before--infact, with the very same person he was writing to. Dear Sophie, You see, there's this fairly important holiday for couples coming up in Febuary, and I was wondering if we could spend it together. It wouldn't be nearly as fun if we had to spend it alone; and I have missed spending as much time with you as I feel I should. I have a present for you. I do hope you'll like it. Calcifer said that you would when I showed it to him. Of course, he said he would have given you something far better-- There was another pause, in which Howl took the box and opened it. Inside was not gold, but a silver ring. Two stands of beautiful silver enbedded with diamonds twined together. A larger stone had been carefully set in the center. The silver's intricate design spoke of a master's work. It was clear that Howl, though he claimed to be greedy, believed Sophie to be worth more than any amount of Gaian gold. If we do meet up, Sophie dear, Valentines Day might be a good time to--you know. Ask Calcifer how to get my heart back. Hearts are often a symbol of the holiday, and I thought--well, it would be rather romantic, wouldn't it? Another pause. The wizard dripped his quill into his ink bottle and snapped the small, velvet covered box shut. He wasn't sure Sophie would like the ring, even. His wife had always preferred the simple things. Perhaps he would do better with a ring with less complexities? Perhaps a ring with just one diamond, rather than the many the one he had already purchased bore. No matter; if worse came to worse, and Sophie did not like the ring, he would simply transform it and give it to her again.
Quill hit paper, and the wizard began to write with a renewed vigor. I have an important question to ask you when we meet up, and I do hope you will say yes. You see, the question is quite important to our futures. The answer to said question is even more so. When I get to asking you that question, you should say yes. Our happily ever after depends on it, you see. If you are to say no, we cannot possibly live to have a happily ever after; or at least, I won't. You may, however. Please say yes? Please, please, please say yes? Please? I suppose you can't say yes if you don't know what the question I'm going to ask you is. Unfortunately for you (and perhaps me) I am not going to tell you. You will have to guess until then. I think you will be able to guess the question I have for you; you being the clever, nosy witch I married. And will marry again, of course. In case anyone but you happens to get their hands on this letter, I hope that Adrian knows I hold him in the highest form of admiration. Lie.I needn't go on about how much I admire him, for surely it is clear to him that I do. Lie. Lie. Lie. As long as he doesn't plan to make me one of his meals; which I am sure, are well refined and--not at all unrespectable like myself. I daresay he would find me rather tasteless. Assure him of that, won't you Sophie? I have good news for you, as well. Calcifer's been dropping more hints. It seems Morgan will soon be joining us. If that witch of a--no offense darling, I should say Witch of a girl even attempts to get her hands on him, she'll find herself a warty, speckled toad. Or perhaps something even more disgusting. Do you have any suggestions on how to rid Gaia of that trouble maker? Honestly, I ask about Morgan and she goes deaf. You'd think I'd asked about the end of the world or something. No matter. I have decided; as soon as Morgan as returned to us, that girl, and her entire family (except Jaella, I'm rather fond of the girl), are being turned into toads. On that note, I think it is time for me to say goodnight. If all goes well, this letter will come to you in the morning. I love you, Howl
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Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 9:35 pm
Letter to Sophie Howl was busily writing another letter to Sophie; she seemed to be his focus lately. He was absolutely determined to make sure she knew he loved her--or perhaps it was the other way around, and he was convincing himself that he loved her. It was almost Febuary after all; almost Valentines. The most important romantic day of the year with the exception of anniverseries.
Howl had decided his and Sophie's would happen on May first, if all went well. They would get married on May first in honor of the day they had met--as long as Sophie agreed to the date--and accepted his proposal, naturally.
The cowardly wizard still worried that his wife would reject it entirely; perhaps Adrian had tricked her? Perhaps the evil, vile vampire that was her guardian would force her to refuse the proposal? No matter, Howl was determined to woo and win his wife over. And he would do so. Quite grandly. Dear Sophie, People say that love hurts, but the only pain I'm feeling is the pain of not being with you. When I'm with you, there are no clouds, even on the darkest of days. The hours I spend with you are enchanted--quite literally. Your beauty has always outshone those around you, but now even more so. If I were to wish for the most beautiful woman on Gaia, you would undoubtedly appear in my room. Words cannot describe how I feel about you; at least, none in English. You are my sun; my beautiful, nosy, constantly cleaning Sophie. No light can match the sun's radiance, no matter how hard they try. You are my sun. The most dazzling star in the sky. The light that makes everything look better. The might that when let in, reveals the dust in the air. It reveals flaws, and them compliments them. If you reply to this letter saying which flaws you have, I will not hesitate to remind you that together, we are perfect. Apart, we are terribly flawed, like a puzzle that is missing pieces. We fit each other perfectly; as if we were made for each other. Maybe we were. If that is in fact that case, all the more reason for me to marvel at my wonderful, beautiful, opinionated wife. I still wonder at the transformation you went through before we were married. When we first met, you were so timid--my little gray mouse. As soon as you came to my castle, you became a fierce cleaning lady. And even after that, you became someone I fell for quite willingly. Continuing my previous thoughts, if you are the sun, I am the sea. Unpredictable, dangerous and beautiful. Cunning and constantly moving. In my current state, Sophie love, I may not be the most devoted; but I assure you that I will always be yours. Just as the sun always rests on the waves as it sets. I love you, Howl
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 7:28 pm
Sophie Hatter was no fool.
Sophie Pendragon, on the other hand, was an idiot.
As she strode down the granite hallway, every step of her boots was another nail in the coffin. The witch was furious! Of course she had known Howl to be a philandering, womanizing, spendthrift, but this? She knew all too well that in this world they were not yet married, so why did she feel liked she’d been cheated on?
The Stitch Witch tossed open the door to Adrian’s study, not bothering to answer his flurry of questions. The vampiric King barely had time to close out of the live conference he was holding before his ‘daughter’ started in on him.
“How long have you known?” Sophie rounded the desk, stray hairs flying out of her bun like lightning from a cloud.
“There are many things I know that you don’t, Sophie, so you’re going to have to be more specific.” Adrian scooted back into his desk chair, which was an amazing stunt indeed, considering his height.
And just like, the back of his chair fell out, dropping him onto the floor. Like magic…
Sophie was on him in an instant. She looked over her fallen guardian, one finger wagging in his face with the other planted on her hip. “Howl! About Howl seeing other women. Regularly.”
Adrian’s mouth made a perfect ‘o’. “Sophie, don’t…You’re only going to get yourself in a tizzy if you keep down this path…”
“What path? As far as I’m concerned, I’ve been cuckolded. For all I know, he could be falling in love with a different girl instead of me.”
The pause afterwards was long enough to allow moss to grow. Adrian slowly rose up on his elbows, bringing himself around to stand on his knees. He took one of Sophie’s hands in his own, being careful to stay gentle, lest she pull away. “Would that be such a bad thing?” He murmured.
“Wha…what do you mean? Of course it would! We’re married!”
“But you aren’t. In this world, you don’t have a child, a castle, or a marriage to hold you to him.” Adrian looked up into her deep eyes; his own filled with cool logic. “Don’t you see? You could start fresh. You are the daughter of a noble Vampire family. One that can give you the best, should you only ask for it. The least you can do for yourself is experience what the world has to offer before settling down. Again.”
In the course of her thoughtful pause, Adrian rose to his full height, and slipped his arm around her petite shoulder. “Come. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
(Teen journal entry 1; 444 WC)
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 7:53 pm
It wasn’t the macabre atmosphere that gave the priestess away, but the putrid stench of snake that permeated the air. To Sophie, it was as thick as any magical spell might have hoped to be. The elderly woman was nestled deep into a worn down couch in the back of a molded living room, that just to happened to reside in what would once have been called a beautiful home in the day. Now it was just an eyesore some odd miles from Adrian’s castle.
The priestess herself gave Sophie the chills. Her blind eyes roamed over the teenager as she took a long drag off her cigar. When she breathed, she could have sworn she saw the old woman smile.
“If you keep that up, you’re curtains will stain.” Sophie blurted, unable to handle the silence any longer.
The priestess laughed. “You were right, Adrian.” She wheezed, leaning to the right to flick her ashes onto the floor. “This one has spunk. I can tell that you have a backbone of steel, child, but your heart…it is fragile. You would have cried long ago, if given the chance.” She took a deep breath, rolling her eyes to the ceiling, then back down to Sophie. “Howl keeps you busy, does he not?”
Sophie stilled. Just how much had Adrian told her over the phone? It had been a brief call, so she didn’t suspect much, but then how…? “No more than usual.”
The priestess chuckled. “What you be needing, child, is love. “
“But I-“
“Don’t interrupt! It’s rude.” She flicked her salt-and-pepper hair away from her face. “The heartless man must love you before you can love him again. Right now, you cannot help him regain what is lost, let alone help yourself.”
“What do you propose we do?” Adrian piped in.
“Yes, what can I do? I love him more than there are stars in the sky, I know I do, but I’m having trouble believing it.” She admitted with defeat. Best to get it out in the open, lest the priestess hold anything over her head.
“Then love him in the body of another. Fool him as he does so many others. Trick him into finding the beauty within, and seeing the value of what he is so closing to losing.” She stood from her seat, reaching for a handful of cigar ashes. In a flash, she tossed them onto Sophie. “Hair the color of strawberries, for a sweet tart, eyes the color of the moon, for clarity, and a voice so pure that Angel’s weep. When next you wake, the spell will have taken hold, and the only way to break it will be with true love’s kiss.”
“You mean I’ll look like that until Howl kisses me?” Sophie looked partly horrified, and a little disappointed. If he had his way, it wouldn’t be long at all.
“It could be Howl, or it could be another. You’re heart will be the judge.” She poked Sophie’s chest with a gnarled finger. Then she turned to Adrian. “I assumed the both of you have discussed the plan?”
Adrian nodded. “Sophie will fake her death. We’ll have the beach house burned to look as if she died in the fire. If Howl is the one, she’ll come back, and if not, she’ll live away from us forever.”
Sophie shook her head. “Faking my death? Adrian, you never told me about this.”
The priestess laughed cryptically. “Too late for that now, dear. It’s time for you to sleep. When next you wake, you’ll be in my nephew’s home, so try not to make him clean too hard.” When she waved her hand over Sophie’s face, darkness claimed her.
(Teen journal entry 2; 618 WC)
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:16 pm
Dear Diary,
It’s been almost a month since Terra moved in with me, and I can safely say that my house has never been cleaner.
She’s a house keeper, you know? One of those ‘oh God, there’s dust!’ types. Doesn’t bother me none. She can clean all she wants to; not like it’s going to do a damn thing since we live over top a bakery. There’s constantly flower or dough making its way into the rooms.
Eudora gets along great with her, like I knew she would, since their both bossy and opinionated busy bodies that can’t stand to let gossip go unnoticed. You’d think Terra was her own daughter instead of some stray we took in.
That being said, she seemed a little overwhelmed when Aunt Voodoo-b***h dropped her off. I guess she was expecting her own place; not shacking up with an elderly couple and their five foster kids. She didn’t complain much, though. Just sidled on in with the kids, and made them wipe up their boogers.
I think her name was Sophie at one point? At least, that’s what she told the youngest. She doesn’t like it anymore, though. Wants to be called Terra Stryker; not that I give a damn. If she wants a weird new name, let her have it, so long as she keeps doing the windows.
Since she’s a fan of homeschooling at night, we put her to work in the salon during the day. My wife’s salon, mind you. She’s a shampoo girl, and seems to fit right in with the ladies. And when she’s not doing that, she’s running errands for that goofy kid who works at the magic shop. Real magic, none of that card trick bull s**t. She spends a lot of time down there. Maybe they’re seeing each other?
Which isn’t all that weird, considering how much of a boastful witch she is. It’s like her head is the size of a balloon! ‘watch this’ and ‘look at that’, she says. She’s not even that good, I don’t think, and she still can’t resist strutting her stuff like she’s born to walk the red carpet.
Speaking of strutting; I’ve never seen a girl more determined to wear stilettos in my life! It’s all she’s been wearing since she got here, and I’m happy to say that she can finally walk while looking natural now. Before it was like putting a little girl in her mother’s shoes. Scared the s**t out of me. Thought she was going to break a leg, or something.
Whelp, until next time.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Adams
(Teen journal entry 3; 433 WC)
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Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:33 pm
A letter blotched with tears and something green and crusty came to Adrian soon after Howl had read his. The wizard had clearly been in a poor state, especially judging by the state of the paper the letter was written on. The letter, which was more of a note, was a smudged mess with words barely readable. An obvious effort had been made, however.
Mr. De Launey -
...I will attend. See you at two, Sunday. You can do what you like with the funeral arrangements. I know very little about them, and would prefer not to be involved as much, especially in my current state. Sophie loved flowers. Make sure there's plenty of them. She liked daffodils.
Thank you for telling me, Mr. De Launey. I appreciate it.
Enclosed is the engagement ring I purchased a day ago. You can let Sophie keep it. I've been working at Ari's shop to earn the gold for it. I know you never approved of me, Mr. De Launey, but I loved your daughter very much. Would you perhaps like to have that steak with me some night? If you so desire, you can make me your breakfast. I shan't mind.
- Howell
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Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:24 am
An angry script followed a letter that had clearly been enchanted to find Sophie--where ever it was Sophie was. A sharp contrast from the letter Adrian had received almost a month ago now, Howl's handwriting was no longer shakey and uncertain. No longer were words blurred by tears.
Sophie -
Where ever you are, Sophie, I have accepted the fact that you must be alive. I can’t believe how long it took me to accept this. It was harder than I thought it would be. Where ever you are, Sophie, be assured. I will find you. Calcifer says you are not in danger. I hope you are happy in your new home--whatever they’re calling you now. Your father wrote me inviting me to your funeral. Calcifer says you’re very much alive. He says you’re under some sort of spell, so I understand if you cannot respond to this. Maybe you’ve forgotten who you are--maybe you really are dead.
In case of the latter, please don’t respond. If you’ve forgotten, however--Hello, I’m Howell Jenkins, better known as Howl Pendragon, Royal Wizard to the king of Ingary, your husband. You’re probably confused if you don’t remember me. If you do know who I am, however, and I hope you do, Sophie, I must inquire why you have done this. Are you avoiding me? Did you somehow know about my plan to propose to you and are avoiding our marriage? It’s unlike you, Sophie. When Mr. De Launey first sent the letter, I didn’t want to believe that you had somehow escaped the fire. I didn’t want to believe you were dead either--but believing you were alive, and that you had deceived me in such a way--Sophie... I don’t understand. How could you? This isn’t like the woman I married so many years ago.
If you can, meet me outside my residence. I have finished the castle--and I wish for you to meet a friend of mine. Her name is Kali. She’s the friend I told you about before, the one who’s been helping me with my memory--and to keep my focus on you. She’s getting married soon too--and I know she would love to meet you, Sophie. If you are truly still alive as Calcifer says. He’s never been wrong before... I hope he’s right this time, Sophie. I told you once that you really must let me die before you do. These few weeks I--I haven’t known what to do with myself. Everything reminds me of you. Magic, my name, some pink haired girl at the park. She had your gift, Sophie. When I heard her talking to the clouds--I must admit I thought she was you, briefly.
I told her about us. Wasn't my type; I've never fancied pink hair. Every time I looked at it, I thought of you, and how you once dyed my hair pink. She had a voice that didn't fit her face, and a determination that matched yours. Seemed a bit too much like me. Certainly she was vain; I asked her about her gift, and she dismissed it as nothing. She seemed uncomfortable, somehow, though. Maybe she didn't like me, or maybe I was too much of a downer on her day.
Anyway, enough about the girl I wasn't interested in. Really, I was too busy being upset about you dying to notice whether she was kind or pretty or anything, really. Just that I really don't like her pink hair.
Oh. Before I forget, send my condolences to your father. I hope he likes toads. He's going to be seeing a lot of them from now on. That'll show him for lying to me.
- Howl
P.S. Don't bother with that return to sender stuff. I've enchanted this letter to find you, where ever you may be. So even if you're dead and buried--it'll find you. I know better now, though, Sophie. You are very much alive, and when I find you, we will speak further on this matter. For all I know, I could somehow poison myself--but no. I'm not stooping to your level. I would never try to hurt you in such a way. Wicked as I am, I could not bring myself to do something so cruel. When you return, and find your castle full of toads--know that I am not turning them back.
-Howl
P.P.S. - Please tell me who you are so I can find you. I love you very much, Sophie. I don't know if my love is reciprocated or not--but at least tell me what's going on. Please.
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