Just waking up and thinking about how Howl is so insecure he needs every pretty girl to fall in love with him, can't commit to the façade once they do, and runs away. Only for Sophie, who's clearly a younger woman under a curse, to fall in love with the real him, flaws and all. And he ends up sharing more and more of his vulnerability with her, to really test the waters and see if she's finally the one. And him realizing she's the one perpetuating her curse, that it must be a disguise... to help her feel safe. He wants her to feel safe with him. As he feels with her. To reveal herself as he's revealed himself (if partly by accident, just on the grounds of her living in the space where he relaxes). He needs to get her the perfect house. And wrap up this plot-nonsense so he can, like, ask her. Something. cough.
I also find it hilarious simply because... dude is such a winner, yet he acts like such a loser. He's handsome, physically fit, clever, kind, well-read, and can do. Fucking. Magic. 🫲 Yet throws tantrums if girls don't fawn over him, tries to slither out of responsibility (though he never truly does, as he himself wants to do the right thing), and can't be bothered to use his fantastical powers to clean his goddamn house, like he's got depression. His blanket creates clouds of dust when he walks around in it! He makes me feel like the Heir of Hygiene! And, gods, he can be so annoying. And that's why we love him! Why Sophie loves him, and why he loves her.
Fuck, it's such a good book. Someone should adapt it. Into, like, a mini-series or something. Animated. I don't think a film could cover enough, and would be too short a run time for the vibe of slow life. The BBC radio drama got vibes rather well, and it still couldn't cover (guesstimating...) 70% of what happens.
And there is no movie in Ba Sing Se. :)
