[FFML] [Howl's Moving Castle] The Woes of a Whipping Boy (shortfic)

[Aishuu Shadowweaver]

--- DB Sommer <sommert at connecttime.net> wrote:

> While I want to C+C some longer stuff (especially
> nugar's Black Lagoon 
> fic) I only have enough time for this.
> 
Well, I'm glad you took the time.

> Aishuu Shadowweaver wrote:
> 
> >Title: The Woes of a Whipping Boy
> >Author: Aishuu
> >Fandom: Howl's Moving Castle
> >Wordcount: 1,300
> >Note: More strongly based on the book, but I hope
> >
> >
> >*
> >
> >Michael is never quite sure if gaining an
> >apprenticeship with the Great Wizard Howl is a
> >blessing or a curse. Sometimes he suspects it's
> both.
> >  
> >
> 
> Present tense, how odd
> 
I've been experimenting a bit with tense... present
seems to work well for short oneshots, but anything
longer it kinda drags.

> >
> >She's a tough old bat, ignoring the gunk that has
> >accumulated in the main living area, her eyes fixed
> >only on his face. If only he'd been faster slamming
> >the door to Kingsbury shut,
> >
> 
> % Then we would have no movie. While I don't regard
> it as a strong 
> Ghibli work, it was enjoyable.
> 
Definitely not his best - that would be Spirited Away.
The book was a lot better (but I started out as a DWJ
fan when I was ten, so I'm biase), though I will admit
there's a couple memorable scenes.

> >
> >He studies his abused hand, which is riddled with
> >pinholes, knowing he's going to need a bandage.
> >Pushing aside a stack of pans, he bumbles around
> the
> >place, trying to find something to use without much
> >luck. His master could care less about
> housekeeping,
> >and Michael only cleans something when he knows
> he's
> >going to need it. There's no point in cleaning the
> >place up if it's only going to get messy again.
> >  
> >
> 
> % Sort of like dusting. It's at best a holding
> action, not a battle you 
> can win.
> 
Or laundry.
> 
> >
> >"What ever
> >
> 
> % Whatever, I believe
> 
Thanks.

> 
> >Michael can't help but look resentfully at his
> >bandaged hand. This really isn't fair.
> >  
> >
> 
> % Howl is simply teaching him about life. Terribly
> unfair, it is.

Not intentionally. Howl is "slithering out" of
responsibility, as bookverse Sophie would say.
> 
> >Howl digs around the place, looking for something.
> A
> >minute later he settles on a handkerchief, which he
> >fussily 
> >
> 
> % is 'fussily' really a word?
> 
Yep! It's so old and stodgy - fits into the Howl world
well, I think.
> 
> >The one thing that is a sure bet is that Michael is
> >going to end up taking the brunt of whatever the
> >fallout of Howl's latest romance is. Some days,
> >Michael wishes that one of Howl's romances will
> stick.
> >There's a never-ending stream of charming,
> beautiful
> >girls who catch the wizard's eye, but none of them
> >ever lasts.
> >
> >There is no woman in the world who deserves Howl;
> he's
> >not sure if that's a compliment to his mentor or
> not.
> >  
> >
> 
> % It isn't. :)

Nope, it's not - but Michael is somewhat biase in
Howl's favor.
> 
> % Amusing short work.
>
Glad you liked.

~ a,

______________________

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