ㅤㅤㅤ# 𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐍 . ㅤ there  was  a  drifter  passin'  through  that  little  valley  .      he  had  promised  he  was  comin'  back  to  town  .      they  didn't  know  him  by  his  face  ,      or  by  the  gun  around  his  waist  ,      but  he'd  come  back  to  burn  that  town  to  the  ground  .      first  there  was  fire  .      then  there  was  smoke  .      then  that  preacher  man  was  hangin'  by  a  rope  .

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ independent  ,      selective  ,      private  . ㅤㅤ 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐫  𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧    from  rockstar's    𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟐  . ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ honored by kat .

ㅤㅤㅤㅤheavy bounty on my head . they said they want me dead .

Art by Eldar Akmanaev

boops you over here , boops you boops you

what's your absolute dumbest conspiracy theory ? i'll go first . howl's moving castle was published in 1986 and j krap r.owling didn't start writing h.p till after that , and i think she was fully aware of the book and even read it and decided to steal howell j.enkins' initials for her own wizard protagonist . fortunately there's no room for the two of them in this world and howl's name is better . thanks for coming to my ted talk .

Love Me, Love My Voice 很想很想你 · 2023 28 | I’m cooking. It’s hot here. This is too easy for you. I have to add something for you. I’m increasing the difficulty for you. Hurry up and focus your attention.

They are already selling data to midjourney, and it's very likely your work is already being used to train their models because you have to OPT OUT of this, not opt in. Very scummy of them to roll this out unannounced.

Childhood crush, now adulthood crush

wizards can eats stars, i wouldn't recommend it tho its bad for your indigestion

geralt glanced at ciri. and almost howled with anger, seeing streaks shining white as silver in her ashen hair. he controlled himself. it wasn't the time for anger.

CRZRL ! HIGHLY PRIVATE WRITING BLOG FOR CIRI OF THE WITCHER SAGA. BOOKS & GAME BASED. RE-EST 0623.

❝    magical contracts are very fickle things,    ❞    is howl’s answer,   which he utters quite airily and nonchalantly despite the very sticky situation surrounding it.   despite the very worry that simmers inside of him,   settled at the side of his abdomen and somewhere beneath the side of his jaw,   prickling uncomfortably.    ❝    believe me,   i’ve tried.   both calcifer and i have tried to take this off of us.   neither can do a thing.   it is  …  more powerful than either of us.    ❞    though,   perhaps,   not as powerful as the fire demon’s full potential.   but he is a fallen star now,   and requires the life of a mere human heart to live :   a sad existence,   and a worrisome one.

her voice quavers with uncertainty.   she must truly want to help.   desperation is a pitiful look on the queen,   but it makes howl no less endeared to her.   he keeps his chin rested in her hair,   watching the uneven stone of the wall next to them.    ❝    there are ways to break it.   but i can’t help you there.    ❞

❛ Then he must know, ❜ she begins, and for all that she is a monarch and a woman of power, she feels her confidence crumble to dust. Right now, she is none of those things. She is a girl, impossibly in love. ❛ That I've felt this way for some time. ❜

She should have guessed that Calcifer and Howl shared some emotional connection. How often had a kind word to the former garnered a flush on Howl's cheeks? How did Calcifer know things she had said in Howl's presence? Tied together, in heart and in spirit. She tightens the arms around his waist. Beneath her cheek, his shirt is wonderfully silky, perfumed with the soft florals he prefers. Daenerys breathes deep.

❛ Howl... ❜ Trepidation raises the hairs along her arms, prickles her neck. She's both afraid of voicing the question — and of what the answer may be. ❛ Is there a way to break the curse? ❜ And if there isn't? Daenerys knows that neither of them will ever be free.

❝    … oh …    ❞    he doesn’t mean to sound as if he’s judging her,   but he comes across as if he is anyways,   presented naturally in the way he stares at her with his glassy gaze and pulls his hands across his abdomen to play with one of the few rings on his fingers.   it certainly makes less sense to him,   this ‘bitten by a spider that gave her powers’ ordeal,   than does his magic.   his power comes from an explainable source,   something toward which entire schools of study are dedicated.   but he’s never heard of any phenomenon involving radioactive spiders.   before he can think,   he blurts out :    ❝    isn’t radioactivity supposed to be a bad thing ?   you don’t seem bad off.    ❞

then he quits that line of topic,   finding it crude to ask a complete stranger.   still  -  he sniffs,   deciding to come no closer,   but also taking no steps back.   he’s still genuinely in a wonder about it all.    ❝    so  …  you’ve taken it on yourself to fight for an entire city,   now that you’re strong and can stick yourself to walls ?   you do know these ordeals are dangerous ?   how old are you ?    ❞    truth be told,   it hardly makes sense to him,   nor would he ever want to put himself into any position similar to hers.   his magic allows him to help,   but never in any of the dangerous ways.

this stranger has kinda hit the nail on the head, though andie's not so sure if it's selfishness as much as it's just an extension of her job as lovebug—protecting people. these people just happen to be directly important to her, both the risk to them and her desire to protect so much stronger because of it. the pedantics aren't important, though. she shrugs it off with ease, he's kind and w compliment doesn't do her any harm. "yeah, i suppose. i just want to keep everyone safe and this helps ensure that."

she takes a couple loping steps towards the man, right as he does the same. something about him is authoritarian, not in a commanding way, but in how he moves and talks not just as if the city is his, but as if it's his to look after. or maybe he's just a concerned passerby like she is. "it's kind of a long story." that doesn't stop her mouth from running, in what will likely be the whole thing. "see i got bit by a radioactive spider and it gave me super strength and i can stick to walls. but the swinging's not a part of that, it's a device that was built by a friend of mine." she holds up the inside of her wrist at him, even though the web-shooters are under the fabric of her suit. "okay, maybe not too long of a story. i mean it's a little more complicated than that, but that's the gist of it, yeah."

he sits in one of the many decorated chairs around this foreign castle which allows them their temporary home.   it’s been only a few weeks since he’s lived here,   yet it feels both as if an eternity has stretched in that time and as if it’s flown past in the blink of an eye.   he’d had several qualms against this arrangement,   not the least of which included the very reason that he is not,   in retrospect and current-spect,   a man who marries so quickly.   and he had believed,   since losing his heart,   that he wasn’t one who could catch any affections at all.   but he has found that mana carries their own charm,   and has a presence that doesn’t suffocate him at all.   it’s a nice change.

@giriure. “ they’re hosting a dinner tonight. ” for us. for the wedding that is yet another few days away, plans that howl surely must have been made as aware of as they were. “ and i was thinking of ways— wondering if you’d— ” how we might disappear from it, a sticky thought glued to a stammered question that they are too shy to ask. it was a pleasant surprise to find that it was not in fact, the inability to acclimate to howl’s own company that caused so much tension, but simply instead the eyes that would always bore into the both of them. they press the pads of their fingertips to the curve of their cheek instead of sinking tooth to nail and biting the edge of one’s thumb nail as mana had when presented with the flounce of their gown and its shade. not ugly by any means, but still just as new and immovably present as the reality of their arrangement to stupefy— and there is a hopefulness and care that bleeds through the softened gaze of their eyes. “ there are much better places on the grounds we could explore instead of us being watched all evening. ” // ITS HOWLMANA N THEIR ARRANGED MARRIAGE AU HOURS

when they speak,   he glances up,   as though he’s only just noticing that they’re in the room.    ❝    do you mean to tell me you want to skip out entirely in tonight’s dinner and steal away to the grounds ?    ❞    it is a titillating proposal,   to say the least.   the very thought of stealing away from the dinner they’re supposed to so dutifully attend on account of their arranged marriage   ( that is so quickly upcoming,   almost an impending doom upon them both    or perhaps  …  perhaps howl doesn’t think it a doom anymore )   seems almost blasphemous.   but then,   the wizard has never been one to be anything but,   in the eyes of the people.   and it might be fun,   to see the irritated looks on everyone’s faces when they finally returning after going missing,   unannounced,   looking far happier than they ever could be sitting in their chairs for hours.

he pushes himself off his legs,   straightening up in his seat and sliding down,   just slightly,   so that he’s slumped almost lazily.   he’s gotten used to them now,   by some turn of luck,   to the point that he feels comfortable doing just that.    ❝    why don’t we find something to eat before we disappear ?   or better yet,   we could find somewhere and something to eat while we’re gone.    ❞    he shoots at them one of his scintillating smiles.    ❝    i’d like that much better than being stared at and prodded like a circus exhibit.    ❞

.゜––   SEMI-PROMPTED.  /  𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐.

* steals any hips that don't lie, because they are worth much. *

pictured two seconds later :   howl,   clinging for dear life to a table while felicia tries to steal his entire hips away from him.

give them back !   you can’t steal these !   give them back,   let go right now !

the one that feels like monsoons and heartbreak.   she speaks in riddles and allegories that only slightly frustrate him.   not to the point of anger,   but enough that he is aware of the sudden impatience he has for his little understanding.   this demon is nothing short of an entity cloaked in dark blue puzzlement.   he enjoys her company thoroughly.   even,   and perhaps especially,   when the small bit of wine she’s taken in has been allowed ample time to loosen her inhibitions.   she is not like this normal,   nor has howl ever thought he would get to see her act out so freely.   he doesn’t want to lose the opportunity.    ❝    i’ll try,    ❞    he says,   setting his fingers on the keys in spite of her proximity,    ❝    but it won’t be perfect.    ❞

she sits so close that he swears he can feel the very rhythm of her body,   natural and instinctual in its pulsing.   her body contains in itself a melody that champions the very composers of the past centuries themselves,   endearing howl to the demon herself.   it is much easier to play for someone who cares to listen than it is for someone who judges,   as he’s faced for most of his life.   family crowded round to perceive his progress,   judges sat to grade his signatures and his attention to markings,   all played from memory :   all things that provided him no relief and especially no enjoyment.   but with raven here,   he can forget that for a time,   can listen to her tempo and play from that instead of some fabrication in his mind.   naturally,   he does mess the notes a few times,   but none that cause him to stumble and stop as would a beginner player,   though he does grimace every time it happens.   whatever monsoons and heartbreak she hears in the music is none of his business,   nor does he hear it himself.   but he does try.   and when at least he’s finished,   he drops his hands to his lap,   palms up,   and offers one out to her.    ❝    i’m not as musical as you think,   you know.    ❞

a temple - raised creature,    behaves as a temple - raised creature would.    no matter how evil the blood that crawls through lagoon - blue veins,    the innocence of inexperience plagues her even in adulthood.    the dulling effect is pleasant,    every cell,    both demonic and human,    welcomes the experience in slow and tender open-ness,    without threat of a transformation.    she has no inspiration to make up for loss time,    no extroversion to lead her through parties and vices for fun.    deep down she's always been scared of anything that can shift her instincts, but in the safety of howl’s hands,    she found a cushion for prudent indulgence    tomorrow will still be a day of regret when she remembers how shamelessly she embroidered herself next to the wizard in hopes of proximity.    her penance will be that of agonizing embarrassment,    but for now she thrives sloppily without restraint.    

a gentle nod from the dyad leads them both towards the piano.    she’s not playing,    but prefers to enjoy the music’s aura besides its executioner.    “ how did you learn ? you are amazing… ” eyes now fixated on the keys:    to raven it matters little the perfection of his technique,    she’s mesmerized on how his fingers seem to know where to move and the energy emanating from him ( which in this state, she's unable to define as anything but comforting ).    as she scoots closer,    leaning her head gently on his shoulder,    she seems to be none the wiser on how that could difficult his playing, although she definitely doesn't want him to stop. his music has inundated her with melancholy,.     “ could you please play next the one you played last time ? the one that feels like monsoons and heartbreak ? ” no more identifying information will be given on the song,    in her traditional riddle - like vernacular and strange metaphors, her eyes look for his expectantly, as if he should know.

you know i’ve worked at my workplace for too long when i’m just casually walking around the office with my jacket around my shoulders and a tootsie pop in my mouth while delivering documents

howl with his harpy arms and legs and tail and feathers all over, but every time he gets excited he can't help the excited tail wags.

❝    what a striking name  …  well,   it’s very nice to meet you,   lettie.    ❞    and his eyes do twinkle.   the rumours will do nothing to erode his self-esteem or his pride.   in fact,   he feels all the more vain just knowing that he is the one centered in these rumours.   clearly,   he doesn’t care much at all for how he’s seen.

but he doesn’t let the conversation fizzle out just let.   instead,   he once more gazed upon the pastry shop itself.   it’s not very flashy on the outside,   and perhaps wouldn’t have even caught his eye if not for the past general buzz    and,   of course,   the fact that his reputation is well known throughout the valley.    ❝    i don’t doubt there would be a long queue about this place.   you must sell a great deal every day.    ❞    he pauses for a moment,   and when he finally turns back toward her,   his long blue-and-silver sleeves swaying with the motion,   he is not without an eager expression.    ❝    do you like working here,   lettie ?    ❞

she's not fully confident her distraction tactic worked, but at least he has his eyes on cesari's. a handsome man, no doubt, supporting the claims of young girls seduced and getting their soul sucked. 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗬, 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗔 𝗜𝗦𝗡'𝗧 𝗦𝗢 𝗡𝗔𝗜𝗩𝗘. she'd make her dream of having a family come true before dying by a wizard's hand !

❝    it's quite common for a pastry shop like cesari's. we are the finest in market chipping, after all.   ❞ true words spoken, mellifluous cadence carrying a comfort lilt. this is her place. 𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘 ... 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗛𝗘'𝗗 𝗕𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 if she started going on about cesari's. his gaze is unsettling but she matches to him, lacquered lashes ghosting the grey of her eyes. ❝    lettie,   ❞ though she no longer goes by that name here. ❝    i will be here, yes. the queue is usually long, you best come early.   ❞ or not at all.