#swynhowl

[labellerose-acheron]

An Echo in the Bone *** [Howelle feat Hades + the Acheron Twins]

@oh-heartlessman, @trip-downtheriverstyx

Belle had never once been nervous about Howl performing magic. They had done so many things for her over the years: from magic bath bombs to freeing Hades from powerful magic, to conducting her wedding to healing her wounds. She had always put her trust in Howl’s incredibly well-lotioned hands. There was no sorcerer she trusted more.

However, she was incredibly apprehensive about all of this. Firstly, because the boys would need to be involved and as eager as they were to help (it was the whole reason they were here) Belle was protective of them. She wanted to keep them safe. The drive to do so was nearly overpowering. It was also conflicting, considering she had no idea what actually was going to keep them safe. They had toyed with dangerous magic and there wasn’t anything she could do.

And, only slightly secondary: this whole endeavor was to find out what had been so horrible, so terrible, so unfixable, that the children had all thought it best to go back in time to try to fix it. She was, if this worked, going to see how she messed everything up. (The way Opal had looked at her, specifically, meant she knew this was her fault.)

She sitting between her two too-tall sons on the couch, fiddling with her wedding ring. Aidan was quietly trying to convince Calcifer to give him a high five, while Bellamy was watching her. She could feel him doing it. He did it a lot. Belle wasn’t sure what he was trying to find.

“How is all of this going to work then?” she asked as cups of tea floated towards all three of them through the air. She took hers grateful and sipped it, hoping the warmth would calm her nerves.

[outfit] [aidan’s outfit] [bellamy’s outfit]

[gem-mohanty]

Freedom, Security, Retribution 🔥 [Growl]

@oh-heartlessman

The wizard’s house was underwhelming. Gem found himself almost disappointed. He had never been to a wizard’s house before. At least, not that he knew of. (The Inn didn’t count because it wasn’t a house, it was an establishment; it was old and haunted and impressive. It also wasn’t owned by a wizard (witch), but by vampires. Completely different real estate.)

The books he’d read had prepared him for a large, crooked tower with only one way in or out. Or a gate with the heads of the dead upon the spikes. Or maybe made out of candy.

Instead, it was just a cottage on the southside of Swynlake. From the angle he approached it, he could see an overflowing garden in the back. Nothing unusual at all. No purple smoke billowing from the chimney. No crows flocking around the squash in the garden.

Gem hadn’t grown up in Swynlake and he’d only lived here for a few years before he was whisked away. Meaning he’d grown up on stories like Cinderella (that was a fairy, not a witch) and Harry Potter (disappointing on so many levels.) It wasn’t even that he was stereotyping, necessarily!

He had seen Howl at events, with his glittering, evershifting midnight capes. Could you blame him if he expected a bit more from his house?

The gate opened for him. That wasn’t a surprise. He strolled up the creaking porch with his hands in his pockets until he lifted one to rap on the door. He hadn’t called ahead, but all the information he had found said that he didn’t have to. Gem liked being a mysterious package delivered on the doorstep anyway. Maybe it would make Howl more inclined to say yes...

[outfit]

[lou-bonfightme]

Fashioning Masculinities || [Houling Like a Wolf]

@oh-heartlessman​

There was supposed to be another member of their group. Toulouse was used to threes, after all. First, it had been him and his siblings. Then, Hades and Belle. Even the children were in three.

Two was far too few.

Especially when the company was a certain Howl Pendragon. It wasn’t that Toulouse didn’t like Howl, except that he did. He had always found the sorcerer to be flamboyant to the point of parody. Garish and tacky, a peacock who didn’t know how to not flaunt his feathers.

Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do for it. Some emergency had come up in Swynlake. Lou hadn’t cared enough to hear passed: I won’t be able to come with you. He had said he would go by himself--when Belle pointed out that Howl still had his ticket.

So, here they were, at the Victoria and Albert Museum and entering into the busy lobby, prepaid tickets in hand. Lou swept right passed the main entrance, businesslike to the west of the building.

“This way,” he called to Howl, who was lingering. “The Sainsbury Gallery is through the Sackler Courtyard.”

[outfit]

[mamabear-elinor]

Fate Be Changed -> [Howlinor]

@oh-heartlessman, @heart-of-dunbroch, @labellerose-acheron

Elinor was not happy with this arrangement. She didn’t trust this sorcerer and she knew that Belle didn’t trust her. She was coming to resent the maroon couches in Belle’s living room. All they every spoke about was magic on them. Nothing else. 

The DunBrochs had arrived slightly ahead of Howl, so they were settling in. Belle had graciously made tea (at least she had manners in one aspect, thought Elinor to herself.) She perched in front of the fireplace, glowing with mysterious blue flame, her back to it and a warm mug of tea in her hands. The babies were no where in sight, which Elinor was not thrilled about, as the babies were a very good distraction form the curse that lurked in her bones. 

There was nothing for that, though, as there was a knock at the door, Belle scurrying over to grab it, wrapping her golden cardigan around herself. The two exchanged suspicious, murmured words before Belle popped up to kiss the wizard’s cheeks. 

Elinor made a little face, even though she was trying to be gracious. A demon, a werewolf, and now a flashy sorcerer? No wonder the Order had been after this girl. Elinor wasn’t saying they were right but--it made sense. (Also, they could’ve   been right, only time would tell.) 

As Howl and Belle came back, Belle went to her spot in front of the eerie fire. “Elinor,” --Elinor was still not used to having her proper named called by such a child, especially because she was sure she could hear sarcastic bitterness. “--this is Howl Pendragon. Howl, this is Elinor DunBroch.” 

“How do you do?” she answered, stiff but with the guise of manners that had been taught to her over decades. “You can cure it then?”

[outfit]

[labellerose-acheron]

Karma Chameleon *** [Belle and the Boys]

“Toulouse, will you get the door?” Belle called from where she was stirring a pot of soup. The chaotic house was full of the scent of boiling vegetables and humid too, from the steam of it. Lou was sitting on the floor, just finishing up changing Aidan. Bellamy crying in the bassinet for no real good reason. Hades was trying to coach Opal through setting the table...not that it was working very well. 

There was music playing from somewhere too. Some French song, so probably Lou’s phone, which he had left somewhere in the house. 

Usually, the chaos rubbed at Belle’s skin like sandpaper, but she was quite sure she had run out of nerves. Her exam was just a fortnight away and she might have maxed out on anxiety. She hadn’t known that was possible, but she was actually rather content. Everything was clattering, a baby was crying, and there was a knocking at the door. 

The chaos was actually an excellent reminder of why Howl was coming over in the first place. 

“Oui, oui,” said Lou as he snapped Aidan’s onesie into place and lifted him onto his hip, moving towards the door. 

“Hades, the soup,” Belle told him as he came towards her again. She nodded at it before heading towards the bassinet, picking up Bellamy, just as Toulouse opened the door. 

“Bon soir, monsieur et mademoiselle,” Toulouse said, quite proper, as he stepped to the side to allow Howl and Magdalena into the house. 

“None of that now,” Belle shushed Bellamy, who began to quiet as soon as he was in his mother’s arms. “Hullo, Howl! Magdalena.” She smiled at their guests. “Dinner is just about ready.” 

@trip-downtheriverstyx, @oh-heartlessman

[toulouse’s outfit which is very important, and belle’s outfit which is much less important but i guess i should include it.]