|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 12:56 pm
"It's not a date, Cal," Howl assured his fire demon for the tenth time that evening. Honestly, why was it that everytime Howl met up with a girl, Calcifer accused him of going on a date? Scratch that, the wizard knew exactly why. "Really. I'm not that heartless," Howl added, holding up his picnic basket. "Dad told me to give this to Alome. It's 'enemy pie' or something--no idea what's in it. But it's not a date."
Calcifer hesitated. "So she's your enemy now?" he asked, looking at the basket suspiciously. His eyes traveled to Howl's cheek, where there had once been a bruise. "You've resorted to poisoning?" Howl shook his head, pulling out an empty jar from the picnic basket. He was planning on catching fireflies again tonight.
"I wasn't lying to her when I wrote saying I wanted to talk," he said. "Besides, Dad said something about after she tries this pie, she won't be my enemy anymore. Anyway, I know Dad wouldn't actually poison someone. Mom, maybe... But not Dad."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:57 pm
Although most children would be a bit frightened to leave there homes at such a late hour, Alome felt more than fine walking towards the park alone. In her arms was a basket, and she delicately ran her fingers across the top, thinking... This would be the first time she saw anyone besides Irae since the incident at the part... How was she going to be treated...?
Well, at any rate, she knew that if a fight escalated, she could always just fly away.. No, it wasn't as if she was running from the fight, but rather, she didn't want to hurt one of the few friends she had.
Over all, her attitude towards everything seemed to brighten a bit. Seeing the strength that the little vocaloid carried lifted her spirits, and she seemed much kinder than before.
Upon entering the field that was the designated place of meeting, she looked for her friend.. What her eyes landed on was a floating orb of fire, almost like fox-fire that she was told stories about.. That Must be Calcifer!
"Hey You Guys!" She Called out, racing over to meet them. "H-how are you two?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 11:46 am
Howl turned to face his friend, and forced a smile. "I'm fine," he said. "The question is, how are you?" His father had recently explained to him that some females are over emotional and often go out of their way to cause trouble for others because they're hurting and they want others to understand how they feel. It was a strange concept to the boy who had no heart, but his father had seemed to be speaking from experience. He spread out the checker patterned picnic blanket on the grass. "Do you want some pie?"
"Good to see you again," Calcifer said, floating near Alome. He really hoped the girl didn't hit Howl again; Howl was smaller than she was. "Care to tell me what upset you at the summer party?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:35 pm
"It depends on who made it. If it was your mom or your dad, I'll pass. I don't quite trust them since I "hurt their baby"." Alome was more than a bit irritated at Howl after that smile. Wasn't he the one who invited her? You'd think he'd feel a bit more genuinly happy to see her, not looking like he needed to take a crap.
She took her seat on a corner of the blanket, putting her basket down beside her. Like she said, she didn't trust Howl's parent's at this point, so she brought her own food.
"The question is, Calcifer... Do you really care about what made me upset, or are you asking because Howl's too cowardly to do so..?" Her normally bright smile seemed a bit bitter as she shook her wings a bit.
"Ah.. Sorry Calcifer.. I don't mean to snap.." Yeah.. It wasn't his fault that she had felt the way she did.. Granted, it wasn't Howl's fault either, but it just seemed, lately, Howl was just being a big lecturing pansy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 7:25 pm
"Dad made it, but it's perfectly safe," Howl assured her with a more genuine smile. "If it wasn't, I wouldn't have brought it." Howl had made most of the other items in his basket, and one could tell. He wasn't the cook his father was; so the basket was filled with semi-burnt cookies and peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches.
"I'm really interested," Calcifer said, looking down at her. "What made you so upset that you left a party and attacked a friend? I'm not saying Howl didn't deserve it," he added hastily. "He probably did, knowing him. Still, I never thought you'd get that way. You used to seem so happy."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 8:24 pm
Alome's basket was filled with more filling things. She pulled out a few mini loafs of sweet bread, along with individual servings of chicken casserole. She was very good at making food that would last, especially when she couldn't see.. Him for a while..
"Still..." She gazed at the pie suspiciously, not wanting to try it..
Howl was still making her upset. Why the heck wasn't HE asking her anything? I guess I was right thinking he didn't care.. All he worries about is that szuka, Sophie... Her own thoughts were making her upset, so she tried to focus solely on Calcifer..
Alome's sunkissed hands came up to her chest, as she began to fiddle with her crescent moon-shaped necklace.. Her fists balled up a bit, and she took a deep breath.
"I.. Stumbled across something... So evil that I couldn't handle it.. I couldn't comprehend what was happening, and I found myself withdrawing from the world, so that I wouldn't have to see it again.. I was so angry I couldn't help someone; that all I could do was watch as they were mutilated over and over... And no one else seemed to do anything. They didn't want to help him.. Being as I am.. I can't do anything either.." Her hand quickly moved to wipe her eyes before turning to Calcifer once again, smiling the first real smile she had in a long, long time.
"Thank you.. For asking.. Not a single person asked me how I felt, or why I was upset... I just.. I was just so lost, I didn't know how to explain the feelings that were bubbling up inside me, then Howl began to lecture me, and I just.. Snapped."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:33 pm
"I always forget how well you cook," Howl said, almost enviously. Not that he ate much anyway. He took out a plastic knife and cut a slice of pie. "You sure you don't want to try it though?" He asked, carefully placing the piece of pie onto his plate. "It's blackberry. So Lome, what have you been up to?" A look of genuine concern crossed his features for just a moment. He was trying to act like the arguement had never happened. "I hope you've been feeling better."
"Evil?" Calcifer repeated with slightly morbid interest. "If you had told him," he gestured to Howl, "I'm sure he would have offered to help. Lazy as he is, he is, regrettably, a force for good."
Howl seemed to have been listening. He stared at Alome with a new respect, concern shone in his eyes. "Were they okay?" he asked. "I didn't lecture. I was trying to understand why you were being so... strange. What set you against the idea of love anyway? Seeing your friend get hurt?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:23 pm
... Pie? He was still asking about that stupid pie?
"Howl, I said I don't want any. Besides, Pie is supposed to be eaten after a REAL meal." Her voice.. it wasn't as harsh as it was before. It seemed gentle, almost.. Afraid. Howl was ignoring what she had said.. So... So that must have meant he really didn't care..
"Yeah.. Evil.. I don't think even Howl could have helped..." Her gaze came to rest on her knees, which were tucked under her...
Wait.. Now he was asking about it...? What the heck was happening..?
"No.. he wasn't okay.. He was dead.. Lifeless.. And.. And there wasn't anything I could do! What kind of mother does that to a baby! Why?! I just.. I don't understand!!" She didn't even hear whatever else Howl had to say, she was stuck in a rant of her own.
"How.. how did he even get that way... And.. My powers.. they didn't work on him.. I couldn't help.. I couldn't do anything!!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 11:42 pm
Howl was in an awkward position. Part of him wanted to do his usual, slither out and leave Calcifer to the crying girl, and part of him wanted to comfort her. He scooted closer to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, I didn't know," he said.
Awkward. He wasn't at all used to comforting crying girls. He usually left that to Calcifer and Michael while he left out the back door. He looked at Calcifer for help. "Maybe healings don't work on him... I've heard of people like that." Maybe the boy she had been trying to heal was unseelie... or something else. The wizard couldn't be certain.
The firedemon had moved away, lest he be dripped on. He was intent on letting the wizard deal with it this time. He enjoyed watching Howl squirm. "You said he's dead?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:54 am
"N-no.. He's alive.. We took him to a mechanic, then a doctor.." Alome seemed to smile, just a bit, as Howl placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yeah.. I know you're sorry.. And.. I forgive you.."
She wiped her eyes, looking down at her hands again. "You.. You both actually know who the person is... My little cousin, Irae.. His mother... " She trailed off..
"No.. I don't want to talk about it anymore.. It.. Was nice that I could get it off my chest.. To have someone actually listen to me.. But.. I shouldn't say anything else.. I came here.. To have fun, not cry.. And I'm sorry for doing so.."
A wider smile adorned her. She really did look so much prettier when she smiled. Sadness just didn't suite her, no, not at all..
"I.. Um.. I am rather hungry... Can I please Have some pie now..?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 11:43 am
"I'm glad he's okay," Howl said, swallowing the lump in his throat that had formed. Irae's mother had done that to the poor infant? "Couldn't someone help him? Adopt him or something? I know Dad would if he knew what was going on." The wizard would have taken him himself, had he been old enough. "Maybe Irae could be my apprentice when he's older, or something. I could help."
Calcifer floated just above Alome. "It's fine. Someone should have asked you before now."
"I should have asked," Howl said, rather guiltily. "I thought you were upset about something petty. You kept saying you didn't believe in love, and so I thought... I thought maybe someone had hurt you romantically."
Calcifer made a fizzing noise quite like clearing one's throat--had he had a throat to clear. "So how about that pie, Howl?"
Howl nodded and handed her the slice of pie he'd cut earlier. "Here, I'm sure it's good." He cut another slice for himself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 3:28 pm
"He.. Because of what he is.. And Gaia's disdain for robots.. He doesn't fall under the laws of child abuse or anything.. And If we tried to save him, his mother could sue us for theft.."
Alome's head snapped up at Howl's comment. "I'm not so weak as be hurt that badly by a romantic event. No, I wouldn't get sad at that."
"Thank you.." She took the pie, and nibbled it a bit. "Oh! It's delicious! Would you like some, Calcifer?" She held up her spoon with a good size piece of pie on it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 5:27 pm
Howl nodded in understanding, but didn't believe Gaia had a disdain for robots. After all, weren't many of the shop keepers robots? He didn't know; he rarely went shopping. "His mother sounds cruel. Like the Witch of the Waste. He's not an item that can be stolen. He's a child. Like Morgan. Or Devin."
He ignored her next comment; was he weak? He knew if a certain someone left him while he had his heart, he'd be devestated. "You like it?" he asked.
Calcifer bent down to take the bite. As always, the firedemon was impolite while eating. He didn't even thank her. Instead, once he'd swallowed, he opened his mouth for more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 11:21 am
"Tell that to the government.." She sighed, breaking off another piece of the pie and feeding it to Calcifer, giggling. "You could say think you, you know."
Yeah, sure she thought that being in tears over a romantic love was stupid. Why should you hurt if it wasn't your fault?
"So.. tell me.. What are these jars for?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 12:34 am
"Maybe I will," Howl mused, half teasing. "I used to be good at telling the king things." Would the government listen as well? He wondered. He had very little experience with government; even when he had lived in Wales, there had been a principality.
"Thank you," Calcifer fizzed with his mouth full.
"I thought we could catch fireflies," Howl explained. "They're like tiny firedemons. Calcifer likes them. You know, catch them and let them go."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
