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Mother had scheduled a visit with Howl that evening. Such an appointment meant that Howl needed to go purchase a few things for her before she arrived. Flowers for ambiance were never an issue with all the potted plants he kept in his condo. Tea was simple enough since he always kept a bountiful supply for himself. However, his mother enjoyed cakes with her tea, and that was where the lad was severely lacking.

He could have gone to the market to get the cakes, but in his experience, he found that those cakes were rarely fresh enough for his mother. She always seemed to find them dry and lacking in taste. It was only once he had switched to the cakes at a local bakery that his mother had been thoroughly appeased.

His choice in clothing today had been a turtle neck accompanied by a pale blue sweater and a white scarf. The weather had been getting rather chilly with the shift towards winter. Howl was nearly at the bakery when he started to regret not putting on gloves as well.

As the teal-haired fellow approached his choice in bakeries, he saw a child digging through a backpack in front of the bakery window. It wasn't unusual for a child to be outside, scrounging up money to get themselves a treat, but with the weather as it was, the lad couldn't help but speak up.

"I assure you that the bakery does not mind you going inside while investigating your funds."

Howl felt a hair stray from the usual bunching around his eyes, and casually brushed his fingers through the hair to smooth the strand back into place. He couldn't help but feel that the child must have been obstinate, if only because of how the weather was.

Rather than attempt to encourage the lad once more to entering the bakery to keep warm, the elder of the pair moved onto a different topic.

"This is an excellent bakery. Have you ever been here before?"

There was a vague pause as he considered something before he added "Might I ask what were you looking to purchase?"

Howl had to pause rather drastically with a blink to take a look over his current outfit. With as shapeless as the sweater made his upper body, he could easily understand the confusion about his sex. Though his pleasant smile still remained upon his lips, there seemed to be a bit of wear at the corners.

First, he addressed the actual question. "I was raised in a household where manners were key. The expectations did include the use of a more eloquent vocabulary... or in more common terms... 'fancy' vocabulary."

There was merely a pause before he corrected "Also, I am not a lady, I am a sir."

It had been a few years since someone had this reaction to him, and though it was not his first time encountering a gender confusion, Howl couldn't help but blush a bit. Perhaps it had something to do with the less discreet volume the child had taken with him quite suddenly.

"I used to get told this much more in my youth..." he stated as evenly as one could after mild humiliation. "However, I had much shorter hair back then. Probably shorter than yours is currently kept." Using the back of his hand he gestured to the child's red hair.

His hand stopped and his fingers remained in front of him for a moment. "I take great care in my appearance, more so than the typical man I suppose."

He was not about to confess such, but this child's accusation was almost refreshing. Even if in his schooling days, Howl would come home crying from similar accusations, there was still a sort of nostalgia to it all.

Inhaling deeply, the lad aimed to gain his composure again with a good amount of success. His cheeks seemed to lose the rosy tints and he was able to look the child in the eyes again without feeling ashamed.

"I am here to purchase cakes to go with tea. This bakery has an excellent assortment of cakes, and my mother is quite particular about what cakes she has when she comes to visit for tea."

Since the boy was properly equipped with his wallet now, the elder of the pair walked to the door and pushed it open, holding it open so the child could enter. "Perhaps one day I will have to purchase a cookie to sample for myself."

Howl's mind cringed at the utterly disgusting use of the word "bestest" as if that was a legitimate real word. The English language was thoroughly abused, especially by the American-English users. His gut instinct was to correct the use of the term, however, the lad thought better of acting on such an instinct.

It was a parent's place to correct a child's grammar and butchering of the English language. Perhaps even a teacher's duty. A stranger doing such a thing would come across as presumptuous.

Closing the door behind him after the boy entered, the teal-haired fellow nodded to the clerk behind the counter. Howl had a reputation for calling in his orders, and such was true for this day as well.

With a nod of the head, he stated aloud "Would it be possible to add a baker's dozen of chocolate chip cookies to my order? The young sir here has recommended them to me, and I cannot ignore such a passionate recommendation of your fine products."

The clerk chuckled lightly as he easily nodded his head. "It will take a few minutes, will that be alright, Mr. Wickham?"

With a knowing smile, the lad replied "Yes, and would you make certain they are freshest you have available?"

He glanced to the child and apologetically mentioned "I hope you do not mind the wait."

The clerk couldn't help but chuckle at the label Howl had received from the child. "I think I can accommodate the request!"

Howl turned towards the child and extended a hand politely to the child.

"Mr. Wickham is acceptable, young sir. Might I ask what I may call you?"

As the exchange between the two customers continued, the clerk went to the back to tend to the orders.