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 Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:17 pm
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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 2:48 pm
Taken from Howl's journal. Quote: It was no surprise when Howl was asked to babysit his younger brother again; well, no surprise to everyone except Howl. He was good with Devin, and knew how to keep the toddler entertained. "Watch him," Zee said, "keep him amused while I'm gone," the dark elf was quick to notice Howl's crestfallen expression. He wondered what that was about; he'd be sure to ask once he returned. "Don't look like that, Howl. He'll be good. He's promised." Howl kept up with the expression until his father left; he frowned until he heard the door shut with a click. He looked to his younger brother, a bright smile replacing the look he had worn only a moment ago. "Come on Devin," he said, "I have a book you'll like." "A book?" Devin repeated, looking around. Big golden eyes searched the room with excitement. Books meant storytime. Books meant he would get a snack. He climbed onto the couch and sat next to his older brother; only to be pulled into the elder's lap. Howl took a book off the arm of the couch. It was thin and brightly colored. The title was in black lettering. "The Tale of Peter Rabbit". "I got this at the library the other day, I've been hoping for a chance to read it to you," Howl explained. He remembered a time when he had read the same book to his son, Morgan, but he quickly shook that thought from his mind. He opened the book carefully, and after making sure Devin's eyes were glued to the illustrations, he stared to read. "Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were-- Do you think you can guess their names, Devin?" "Peter?" Suggested the toddler, remembering that Howl had once had a stuffed rabbit who wore a blue jacket. He hadn't seen the rabbit since his brother had grown; he silently wondered what had become of it. "That's right. Their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter. Where do rabbits normally live, Dev?" Devin had to think about this question for a moment. Rabbits lived in cages, everyone knew that. But where did they live when they didn't live in cages? He vaguely remembered having watched a Disney film where rabbits lived in holes. He decided this was what Howl was looking for. "Holes?" "Right. They lived with their mother in a hole under a big tree," he said, knowing quite well that he was simplifying the story for the toddler. "'Now dears," said old Mrs. Rabbit, 'you can go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden." He paused so Devin could see the brightly illustrated picture of a mother rabbit dressed in an apron. "Your father had an accident there, he was put into a pie by Mrs. McGregor." "Poor bunny..." Howl briefly wondered if this story was too violent for the toddler to handle. He didn't like the idea of Devin imagining rabbits being put into pies. "'Now run along, and don't get into trouble. I'm going out." Then Mrs. Rabbit took a basket and her umbrella and went to the baker's. She brought a loaf of bread and some buns." "Peter gonna get into trouble?" Devin asked, predictably. He knew there wouldn't be a story about Peter if he hadn't disobeyed his mother. "He gonna go in the garden," he guessed. "Gonna get a time out!" "That's right," Howl said with a nod and a smile, "Peter's going to get into a lot of trouble." He looked back to the page they were on. "Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail were good little bunnies, and went down the lane to gather berries. But Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight to Mr. McGregor's garden and squeezed under the gate!" "I knew it!" Devin bragged. "I knew he'd go!" "You were right," Howl agreed. "First he ate some lettuce and some beans, and then some radishes. Then he felt sick, so he went to find something to make him feel better; but round the end of a cucumber frame, whom should he meet but Mr. McGregor! Mr. McGregor was on his hands and knees, gardening, but he jumped up and ran after Peter, yelling, 'Stop, thief!'" "Uh-oh," Devin said. "Peter gonna get away?" "You'll see," Howl promised. "Peter was frightened and rushed all over the garden because he had forgotten the way back to the gate. He lost one of his shoes in the cabbages, and the other in the potatoes! After losing the, he ran on four legs and went faster, so he might have gotten away altogether if he had not run into a prickle bush and got caught by the large buttons on his jacket. It was a blue jacket with brass buttons, brand new." "Oooh. Hith Mommy'th gonna be mad if he ruin hith jacket!" "I'm sure he was upset too," Howl said. "I would be dreadfully upset if I ruined one of mine." He grinned at his younger brother, and started to read again. "Peter gave up, and cried; but his sobs were overheard by some friendly sparrows who flew to him in excitement and told him to keep moving." He continued to read, without noticing that Devin was slowly getting tired. The toddler's eyes were flickering open and shut like a candle does before it's ready to go out. "But Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail had bread, milk and blackberries for supper." The wizard yawned, closing the book. Only then did he realize the toddler had fallen asleep in his lap. He gave a smile. "You know, Devi? That's a good idea." He leaned against the back of the couch, careful so Devin wouldn't be woken by his movements, and closed his eyes. One could only imagine Zee's surprise when he caught sight of his two children, sleeping on the couch. He took the blanket off the back of the couch and draped it over the two boys. "Goodnight, you guys," he said. He took the Howl was still holding, and smiled. "So much for not wanting to babysit."
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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 2:55 pm
Taken from Howl's Journal. Quote: Howl was in one of those moods where everyone around him knew green slime would be appearing at any moment. The blonde boy was sitting at the end of his bed, his head resting on his hands. His elbows were using his knees for support. He looked altogether hopeless, but one had to remember that this was the boy who had caught a cold a few days before, and decided he was dying. Still, there was something different about this tantrum. There was an air of unhappiness that hung over the young wizard. It seemed as if something was really bothering him. Typically when Howl was in such a mood, those in the household knew better than to comfort him. They knew that the more attention he recieved, the worse he would get. Devin, naturally, was the first to approach him. The toddler had his sword out, as if to fend off any spirits Howl might summon. He had clearly seen this sort of thing before. "Howl, what'th wrong? Why you thad?" Howl didn't look up as his younger brother sat on the bed next to him. He heaved another sigh. Devin wrapped his arms around him; despite the danger he knew he was in. "Dun be thad, Howl," he said, giving his brother a smile. "Play with me!" Howl responded with yet another great sigh. The vain wizard laid back onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling. Devin didn't move from his spot on the bed, and instead looked down at his brother. "Howl, I not gonna athk you 'gain," he did the best imitation of his father he could manage. "What'th wrong?" Howl opened his mouth to sigh again, but seemed to think better of it. That and his brother was aiming his wooden sword at the feature Howl valued most--his hair. "Dev, even you have something you're good at," he started. "You're good at sword fighting. Joshua can sing; Sammi controls fire, Reiya can pull pranks on the weather man..." he smiled sadly at his joke. "Everyone I know has an ability, or something they're good at... I don't." Finished with his speech, Howl gave another sigh. He was in his self pity mode, or he might have realized that he had a certain ability for magic. "Howl, you gotth a power," Devin said seriously. "You do. Girlth." As vague as that explaination was, it made Howl sit up and stare at his younger brother for a moment. Then he sighed, and rested his chin on his palms. "Great power," he muttered. "Chasing girls away. No wonder they won't look at me. They always reject me. I do all I can to please them, and still they don't accept my undying love. Do they doubt my loyalty? My utter and complete devotion for them must not be enough... Girls are heartless." Devin rolled his eyes. "No, thilly. You athk the wrong girlth," he said bluntly, now taking on a tone their cousin Miles often used. "You notithe," he began, looking to his brother, "that all girlth thept family like you? And even family too--everyone liketh you! You athk the wrong girlth. Dun athk family on dateth. Dun athk Riri and Thammi. Dun athk Auntie or Mommy." He shook his head, as if Howl should have known this all along. "Alome and Natty like you," he told his brother. "I thawed them at pumpkin plathe. They like you. Athk them!" Howl blinked, and stared at his younger brother for the second time that evening. "I make girls like me? Brilliant! Now when I learn how to use this..." Uh-oh. Howl knowing how to control his ability wasn't a good thing, Devin decided. He hopped off of the bed, and waved to his brother. "Dun tell!" he whispered, before hurrying out of the room. Oh, if Daddy knew he'd helped Howl with his ability... Well, he would be in trouble.
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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:00 pm
Taken from Howl's journal Quote: "Happy Valentines, Howell," Howl muttered sourly. This was unusual; the flamboyant wizard who was known for stealing the hearts of beautiful young girls was not doing what one who knew his story would have expected. He was pacing the floor, as if deep in thought. He should have been happy, he should have been thrilled. Only a few days ago he had been reunited with Sophie. One would have thought, knowing Howl's story, that the wizard would have been celebrating Valentines with his recently found wife. One would have thought he would be giving her a gift as flamboyant as himself. In fancy wrappings, too. Howl did not like anything to be ordinary; at least while he wasn't in Wales. Then he rather enjoyed irritating his sister by being extra ordinary. "I don't see why you had to tell Sophie about those girls," Howl muttered, looking to the fireplace in the living room. "Now she'll yell at me every time she catches me looking at one." "Once you get your heart back, you won't be looking at them," his fire demon reminded him; of course, it was Calcifer hiding in the blaze. "Anyway, telling her about the girls you've seen was the only way to get me out of trouble." "And Sophie calls me a slither outer," Howl complained, raising his hands in defeat. "Now I can't possibly flirt with the girls on Valentines. She'd find out, and then she'd turn me into weed killer." "Or throw some at you," Calcifer put in, trying to be helpful. "Or perhaps she'd go after Prince Justin in revenge; wasn't he the one who said Sophie was his true love in the movie?" Howl was not amused. "King Justin, you mean," he reminded the fire demon. "He married princess Beatrice. I suppose you don't remember your flowery tongued friend." The wizard had never thought much of Abdullah; he had been an ungrateful person who had forced Howl to grant his wishes. "I remember. He taught me how nice it is to be told I'm nice." There was a certain smugness to the fire demon's tone now. "I remember that he very rarely complimented you." "Justin was never interested in Sophie that I remember," the wizard continued in his rant. "He was quite reluctant to marry. Smart man. Pity, pity." The following silence was broken by a silver haired toddler entering the room. He was holding a red paper heart. "Happy Valentineth, Howl!" he cried. "I make thith for you!" He waved the paper heart. One of his hands was covered in drying glue and glitter. "Be my Valentine?" There was another silence, broken only by fizzing coming from Calcifer that alerted the wizard that he was being laughed at. He decided to ignore him and nodded at his younger brother. "Sure, Devin," he said, carefully hugging the side that was not covered in glue. "I'll be your Valentine."
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Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:06 am
Taken from Leyla's journal Devin was throwing a tantrum even Howl would have been proud of--had the wizard not been suffering through it. Devin seemed to have decided overnight that having a younger sister (he wasn't counting Aesica, it seemed) was a fate worse than death. Of course, it probably didn't help things that a certain older cousin had so helpfully informed him that the adults would give his belongings to the new baby once they thought he was done with them. Up to now, Devin had been excited, even thrilled at the very idea of having a younger sibling to play with. "Lexie, can't you make him sleep?" Howl complained. "Dad's going to be home any moment! We can't have Devin screaming the moment he gets home." Unfortunately for Howl, the golden skinned boy was sleeping on the couch, oblivious to his surroundings. The wizard was silently impressed with the other boy's ability to sleep through anything. It wasn't at all fair. "Devi, shh!" Howl had heard the dreaded sound; a car pulling up into their driveway. Almost at once, Devin fell silent. A miracle on wheels, it seemed--until both boys heard footsteps coming from the sidewalk. Howl glanced around the livingroom and went pale. It was a disaster; Devin tended to throw things when he was in a temper--non-breakable things, mind. Stuffed animals and pillows were scattered about the livingroom. Crayons and construction paper littered the dinning table. Howl did the only logical thing; he slumped down on the couch next to Alexei. Devin, on the other hand, ran to the door to greet whoever it was at the door. They hadn't knocked--so the toddler assumed it was their father. "Daddy!" he cried, when he heard the lock click with the tell-tale sound of someone carrying a key. "You're home!" But it wasn't Zee. It was Almira; the sight of whom promptly caused Devin to start crying again. "Shh, Dev-dev," Almie soothed. She had the air of someone who was quite experienced with small children, despite her age. "Daddy's in the car. You have to promise to be very good, alright? He's very tired, and he's not feeling well. The baby's here as well. I bet you want to see her." "Daddy okay?" Devin asked, yellow orbs widening in concern. Who cared about the baby? Daddy was the important one! Almie chuckled. Of course, Devin's priorities were always with their father; and if not with him, with their middle brother. "He'll be fine. He just needs rest. If he follows the doctor's instructions, he'll be back to normal--well, as normal as he ever was--by next month." Howl gave a cough and looked pointedly out the window. "Are you going to help him in?" he asked, when his older sister stared at him. Honestly, the man had just had a baby, and she was going to leave him out in the car? How inconsiderate! "Do you need help?" Almie rewarded him with a smile. "That's just what I was going to ask you, Howl. Want to come help me? Maybe you can hold Leyla." Times like these always had Howl wishing he could have told his older sister how old he really was. She was always treating him like he was doing everything for the first time. "Do you know how to hold a baby, Howl?" "I think I can handle it," he muttered. Several moments and two lectures on how to properly hold a newborn later, Howl found himself holding a bundle of bright colors. Even he, despite having adjusted to Gaia and its inhabitants, had to admit she was a strange looking child. Black hair, blue skin; her eyes were still closed, but his father had assured him that they were golden instead of the normal blue newborns typically had. He watched as Almira lead their father into the house. The dark elf did look how Almie had described him; tired. A feeble smile was tugging at his lips. "So you've met Leyla, Howl? What do you think? Think we should keep her?" Howl was relieved. His father was joking; maybe things really would go back to normal. He was about to answer when Devin interrupted. "No! Take her back!" he cried, coming out from underneath the dining table, where he had taken camp. "Take her back! I don't want her!" No no, it wasn't fair. He wanted to be the baby! He wanted to be spoiled! He wanted the cuddles, the stories, the hugs, the lullabies! Almie and Zee exchanged looks; as if they'd been expecting this. In one deft movement, Zee had taken Leyla from Howl's arms, cradled her in his own, and was making his way towards Devin. "Really, Devi," Zee muttered, shaking his head. "I thought you would want to protect your little sister." He bent down so the toddler could see the bundle. Devin gasped. "Thee lookth like me!" Then, out from beneath the blanket, came a tiny blue hand. It closed around a lock of Devin's silver hair and yanked. Leyla and claimed him; and her claims were forever.
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Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 9:49 pm
Zee had taken to telling fairytales to improve Devin's English; and if Devin was listening, that meant Howl and Leyla were listening to. Naturally, they were a toned down variation; the former assassin did not believe that violence was appropriate for children, especially not his children, who tended to be violent enough as it was. Today he was giving a verbal rendition of Beauty and the Beast. According to Howl, it was a story for girls, and he and Devin should have been allowed to leave the room. No such luck for the two boys.
Of course, Zee had something up his sleeve. Being an elf, and with the reputation elves had for being story tellers, he was bound to change the story just a little bit. "Once upon a time there was a poor elf. He had three daughters, and wanted to give them all presents despite their poverty. Two of the three were selfish, they wanted expensive items they knew their father would never be able to afford (spoiled brats...) the third was sweet, and knew her father meant well. She asked for a single rose, a beautiful rose.
The elf went to search for such a rose, for none could be found in the elven kingdom. He went far into the forest of Lynwood, and eventually got lost."
"The poor elf!" Leyla cried, as her father paused. "Is someone going to help him?"
"Poor elf..." Devin agreed, putting a hand on the wooden sword at his side. "I'll thave him!"
Zee smirked. Time for a little fairy-tale twisting then. "Just then, a handsome and noble elf named Devin came to the elf's rescue, for he was hopelessly lost, and may have been caught by fae or adders if he had continued his search for the rose.
'There's a light over there,' Devin said, gesturing to a light shining in the woods. "Maybe you'll find shelter there.'"
"It's a castle!" Leyla guessed.
"Not jutht a cathtle," Devin corrected her. "A moving cathtle! Like Howl'th!"
Another twist to the story, Zee thought. It was getting better and better; why hadn't the original author decided to write it like this? "It took just a moment for the two elves to notice that the light was getting closer. There were no snapping of branches or other signs of movement. As they drew nearer, they realized the castle was moving. Hovering, and things seemed to move out of it's way as it went. The castle was engulfed in light, full of marvelous statues and a garden full of roses, the most beautiful roses in the world."
"My castle's better," Howl said. It was the first time the wizard had spoken since the start of the story. Devin nodded in agreement; though he had never seen his brother's castle.
"Keep going, Daddy," Leyla prompted. "I think it sounds pretty."
"Devin left the poor elf, for he had more important things to do, such as save sleeping princesses from evil dragons. The elf decided to go inside the castle, where it was even more beautiful than it was outside. Surely he would be able to take the things his daughters wanted from here, and no one would notice? The elf was not only poor, he was also very dishonest. How cruel of him to steal from someone! How rude to enter someone's home without knocking!"
"Agreed. Just because someone lives in a castle doesn't mean he won't miss his things," Howl said.
"But he's rich," Leyla pointed out. "He lives in a castle, so he can buy more stuff."
Zee ignored his daughter, and continued the story. "When the man stole from the castle, the beast who lived within became very angry. Reasonably so, too. He wasn't being entirely cruel, he had every right to be angry with someone he had provided food and gave shelter, and then had stolen from him. So the beast told the man to bring him his youngest daughter, warning him that if he did not do so, he would kill him. Leyla, don't worry. I'd rather die than give you to a beast."
Leyla smiled. "But the beast is a prince, isn't he? I think he's just lonely. He needs a friend."
Zee grinned. Another way to change the story, then. "The beast asked for the man's daughter not to punish the man, but because he was in truth a very lonely beast. An evil witch had cursed him, and who could ever love a beast? No one ever went to his castle to visit, for fear that they would kill him. The witch's curse was that if he didn't find someone he could love, and in return, love him, despite his looks (she must have been a very egotistical witch, to think that this wasn't possible), by the time he turned twenty one, he would remain a beast forever."
Leyla gasped. "That horrible witch! I hope the beast gets back at her!"
"Me too! That mean witch!" Devin agreed instantly.
"This isn't the way the story goes..." Howl groaned.
Zee ignored Howl. "When the girl arrived at the castle, the beast was waiting for her. She was very frightened of him, because she had heard the lies her town told about him, saying he was cruel and heartless. The girl was really rather rude to the poor beast, who had provided her with one of the finest rooms in the castle, and everything she would ever want. The beast would sit for hours, watching her."
"That's creepy," Howl stated. "You make him sound like some kind of stalker."
"No, he loved her!" Leyla corrected her older brother. "She was mean to him, but he still loved her!"
Zee nodded at Leyla in approval. "He loved her, yes. The beast would say kind words to the girl, and eventually, she enjoyed keeping conversation with him. They slowly became friends."
"But she was so mean to him!" Leyla protested. "Doesn't she know you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover?"
Zee sighed. "No, because the girl was very stupid, you see. The beast asked her to marry him, but you know? She said no, because she thought she could never marry such an ugly creature. The beast wasn't at all offended by her refusal, he knew she could never love him, she was far too beautiful. The beast gave the girl a magical mirror, where she could view anyone she wanted from the world outside his castle."
"He's so nice," Leyla said. "She really should have married him."
"Thould have married him," Devin agreed.
"The girl wanted to see her father, because despite his selfish and dishonest ways, she loved him. Her father had made himself sick with worry. The girl knew he would die if she didn't go to him. The beast, kind as he was, allowed her to leave, asking her to make sure she came back within seven days. She promised she would return before the sunset of the seventh day."
"She didn't, did she?" Leyla asked. "Poor beast... Did he cry?"
"I think he did," Zee agreed. "Fourteen days passed until the girl remembered her promise to the beast. By that time, her father was completely well. One night, the girl woke from a terrible nightmare. She dreamt the beast was dying and calling her name."
"Oh no!" Leyla cried, horrified. "He can't die!" Zee loved telling stories to children. They always reacted in the best possible way.
"'Come back! Come back!' the beast pleaded in the dream. Once she woke, the dream caused her to leave home and return to the castle."
"It's her fault if the beast dies," Leyla said with a frown. "You shouldn't make promises if you're not going to keep them. Why can't she die instead? She's as bad as the evil witch who cursed him!"
"Promitheth not 'pothed be broken," Devin agreed with a nod of the head. "Might end up killin' thomeone."
"The girl hurried to the castle as fast as she could, afraid she would be too late. She almost was. She found him in the garden, on the ground. She thought he was dead, and hugged him tightly. 'Don't die, don't die! I love you!' Those words made something wonderful happen. Instead of the beast's ugly face, there was a face of a handsome prince. And so, not even a day later, they got married."
Leyla looked disgusted. "He's going to forgive her and get married, just like that? To someone who treated him so badly? What if she runs off on him again? She probably agreed to marry him just because he's handsome!"
"Thee wouldn't marry him while he wath ugly," Devin said, agreeing with his sister. "Thouldn't have married her. Thee a meanie."
"No, sillies. They lived happily ever after."
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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 11:20 am
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 9:58 pm
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 10:47 am
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