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From what Howl knew about Sophie's family, he had decided that they were rich, royal-like, and altogether frightening. This not being an altogether welcoming idea; he had dawdled on what to wear. This was unusual, usually he had an outfit planned out. Meeting one's father in law was unnerving. The wizard wasn't looking forward to this at all.

"Devin, you want to come with me?" He asked his younger brother almost pleadingly. His father had already refused with the excuse that he didn't want to mess things up for Howl and Sophie. Devin on the other hand, was quite eager to meet the girl who'd made Howl tantrum so often.

"Thure, I come! Wear your blue 'nd thilver thuit, Howl!"

Howl gave a smile, and ruffled his brother's naturally messy hair. "Alright, blue and silver it is." He looked at the clock. He had only ten minutes to get ready.

~Implied hurrying, arriving at the castle~

Howl looked especially spruce in his blue suit; especially next to his younger brother, who happened to be wearing short overalls with a green t-shirt underneath. "Do you want to knock first?" Howl asked nervously.

Devin did; He knocked as only a toddler could get away with. Long and loud.

Howl obviously was oblivious to the fact that Devin's knocking might have offended the family. He gave Adrian a nervous smile before addressing Sophie. "He's my little brother, Devin. My parents apologize for not being able to make it." He knew this was a lie. Zee had made no attempt to come; he had refused completely. Howl hadn't bothered to ask his mother.

"You first, Devi," he gently pushed the toddler inside before following. He looked around and studied the foyer. It seemed like he had been correct. They were royal and frightening. Oh well. "I assume I am addressing my father-in-law?" he asked, looking towards Adrian. "Pleasure to meet you sir. I'm Howell Jenkins." Ah, he was using his proper name. He must have been nervous.

Devin gave Sophie a bright smile; almost rivaling the one Howl typically wore. "Fank you," he said pleasantly. "I like your dreth. It bery pretty." Of course, one could never trust a toddler to be a fashion expert. "Thophie! Howl alwayth talkin' bout you!"

Howl was rather surprised at Adrian's speech. Why did this man seem so polite, and yet the wizard got the feeling he wasn't very welcome here? "My mistake," he muttered. "I figured that since you were her guardian you might consider yourself her father." Honestly, he was rather relieved he didn't have a vampire for a father-in-law after all.

"I cannot say I am known for eating much. I prefer rare things as well," Howl said, frowning slightly. He knew the vampire was poking fun at his last name. "Generally I do prefer to go by Howl, unless I am in Wales. However, if it pleases you, you may call me whatever it is you desire." As long as it wasn't dinner, he was fine with it.

"Howl never thay nothing bad!" Devin assured her with another smile. "He thay you pretty, and nice, and loud--and nothy. He call you nothy all the time. But he thay he loveth you bery much," he added, as an after thought. He followed her into the dining hall. "We don't got a dining hall at home," he confessed. "Jutht a dining room. We gonna have dinner with Howl and your Daddy?"

"Oh no, sir," Howl said, quite seriously. "I would never do anything to upset Sophie. You see, she is quite dear to me. I believe my losing her for sometime will have left a lasting effect on me. You needn't punish me; perhaps the people who brought us here would be more worthy of your undoubtedly splendid punishments? I am but a poor wizard; I want nothing more than to make my family happy." Why did Adrian dislike him so? The boy really was trying his best to make a good impression. Had he done something wrong? Said something wrong? A stake would be useful, he thought silently. If only Sophie wasn't around.

"Sir, if it is acceptable, I believe I would rather stay with Sophie and Devin," he paused, clasping his hands together behind his back. He could see no means of escape; this was one situation he could not run from, and the thought of being this vampire's dinner terrified him. "I don't mean I would not like and appreciate having dinner with you, sir, it would be nice to get to know you better--but--I've only just met you, and you--" He decided against finishing the sentence.

"Poor Howl," Devin said, climbing into the seat "He wath thcared even before we came! I picked out his clotheth." The toddler seemed quite proud of this. It wasn't everyday that his older brother allowed him to pick out what he'd be wearing.

Once Adrian and the cook were gone, Howl's stiffness seemed to vanish. He hurried over to Sophie's side. "Sooophie," he whined. "You never told me your family were vampires! I don't think it's safe for me to visit more often; he's worse than Megan, in a polite, frightening way. I'm certain he wants to eat me--doesn't he know eating guests is considered polite in several countries?"

Howl frowned slightly. Why would she expect him to know her father was a terribly frightening vampire? "Of course I never asked!" he snapped. "How should I have known I needed to ask? I know I would have told you if my father was a terrifying vampire that'd want to--wait, you say he doesn't want to eat me?" he paused and stared at her for a moment. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. "Desert you? Sophie. I already lost you once. I wouldn't let a vampire stand between us."

He leaned closer to her, and winked. "I mean, not even Fanny can keep me away; even if she does try to clean my room while I'm not looking. I must say, she's almost as frightening as your family here."

Howl frowned. Not only was he not especially fond of asparagus, but Sophie was being unreasonable. "Then why does he keep acting like he's planning on making me his next meal?" Howl asked, looking from his plate to Sophie. "I hope you don't expect me to eat that." It seemed he was still a picky eater. "I already told Adrian--I'm not hungry."

"Howl dun eat veggieth," Devin informed Sophie helpfully. "He dun eat green."