The Moving Castle (Gothicruby)

[LadyLoki]

“How did Sophie put up with this for so long?” Justin asked himself quietly, as yet another crash echoed through the recently reconstructed castle. The young woman had gone home, to help her sister and mother out with their hat business. She did love Howl, but the ever-sensible girl knew where her first responsibilities led. Justin had to roll his eyes when another whiny cry echoed from inside the depths of the castle.

He had stayed, simply because his presence wasn’t needed anymore. Justin found it a lot more interesting to stay with Howl and explore the world, even if the man was prone to fits of pouting and temper. It had only gotten worse with Sophie’s departure. That tantrum in itself had been a force to be reckoned with. Sophie had spent almost two hours calming Howl down before she could even make it to the front door. Justin had been amazed at her patience, considering how clingy Howl could get when he wanted to.

The blond prince slowly stood up with a beleaguered sigh, before looking idly over at Calcifer for a couple seconds. The fire demon looked back at him with an apathetic gaze, before rolling his eyes. “Well? Aren’t you going to do something?” Calcifer asked, as the sounds of the tantrum echoed a little louder. Markl had already fled, since his master’s temperament was not one to be trusted in this state.

“What do you expect me to do about this?” Justin asked, looking down the hallway with a shrug. “I’m pretty sure he’s too far gone as it is…what set him off this time?” He questioned, looking back to the fire demon for answers. Being polite, Justin tossed Calcifer some firewood and let him eat that for a little while longer. “And?”

After a couple moments’ silence, the little ball of fire spoke back up. “The first problem is because Madam Suliman talked down to him or something like that. Making her stupid comments about his heart and stuff…And then he was testing out one of his new spells…and I’m pretty sure his hair did that thing where it changes color without him wanting it to…so yeah, this mess is not very pretty. You know how he gets.”

Justin snorted softly, before nodding and stepping out into the hallway. “Wish me luck.” He muttered, before following the crashes and lamenting wails from Howl’s room. “I swear, he’s just like a five year old boy throwing a tantrum of something or the other. Mess with his appearance or his ego and suddenly the whole world is against him.” Justin sighed, before approaching the door that was the only barrier against Howl’s temper tantrum.

He raised his hand to knock, calling out after a couple of moments. “Howl? Come now, surely it can’t be that bad.” Justin offered, keeping an ear out just in case Howl calmed down or got worse. “Calcifer told me about what Suliman said…and how your hair is black again now?” He ventured carefully, before slowly opening the door and stepping inside.

There was no way he would know exactly what happened unless Howl told him, and at this rate, the man was more likely to throw himself down on the floor kicking and screaming than discuss his problems like the rational adult wizard he was supposed to be. “Howl?” Justin called again, going in a little more an raising a brow at the pouting toddler of an adult sitting in front of him.

“You cannot keep throwing tantrums Howl, when something doesn’t go your way or something happens. Things have been hard, but it doesn’t merit a temper tantrum!” Justin scolded, raising a brow. “Now, are you going to straighten up?” He asked, thoroughly at his wit’s end with the young man in front of him. “And black hair suits you, in my opinion.” Justin offered, since that had been one of Calcifer’s reasons as well.

[Gothicruby]

The young master of the enchanted household was in no mood to pander to Justin's ignorance. Rather than make the effort to cast a glare, or narrow gaze down the point of his button-nose, the wizard merely hunched himself further in to the mess that had fallen over

As of late, these moods had been turning closer and closer together, at lightning speed no less, Howl had developed a sort of...temper to his very own being.
Whereas before he may have dissolved into a helpless puddle of nothing or nested under a pile of ornate trinkets and toys, recent times had called for less patience and more action. Specifically; he couldn't go five paces without knocking something about.

Which, really, would have brought Justin up to speed had he cared to notice. The scene before him was a bomb-site; trinkets, toys and other bits of furniture up-ended, clothes and shoes flung from one end of the room to other, not to mention the general dankness that came the spilled vials and potions that had been so meticulously arranged before Sophie's departure. All centred around the seething form of young Howl, who had taken refuge in the centre of his disheveled four-poster bed to draw his knees to his chest and pout.

"Shut up!" He snapped finally "Just get out! Go on, go!" with a glare raised to the disgustingly bright-eyed intruder, the wizard once again kicked up his bed sheets and slammed his back defiantly into the headboard.

"You couldn't possibly understand the day I've had! What would you know of suffering?!"

He wasn't going to talk, at first to give the prince the satisfaction of seeing him fall on such hard times, and yet that look on Justin's face just seemed to rile him all the more. Before Justin could blink Howl had leapt from the relative safety of his messy bed and stomped over to the smug, blonde prince.

"This!" He screamed, pulling ferociously at the dark locks "Is just the tip of the iceberg!"

He stomped over once again to one of many upturned vials; kicking it up and over to the other side of the room in the start of another impressive tantrum "She's such a...a bitch! A-A hard-nosed, cold-hearted bitch! First--!" He kicked another vile in the opposite direction "First she called me selfish! Unworthy! Then after I get my heart back! A-And end a war! What does she say! She calls me foolish! Childish! She dismisses me on the spot! Says-Says I can't be trusted! What does she know!" He stormed wildly back "What gave her the right, huh?! And now you! Just barging in here and pretending to care! But you just came to laugh and berate me! After everything I've been through! You're so cruel!"

A terrible cry suddenly tore from the young Wizard's being and without a moment's warning he hurled himself down onto his bed; pounding the plush mattress and kicking wildly against the sheets "It's not fair! It's not fair! First Sophie leaves! Then Madame's so cruel! Then you start being so mean! It's! Not! Faaa-aaiiir!"

[LadyLoki]

Now that Justin was in the room, he could see what a disaster the place had become. Sophie had kept everything sparkling clean, but Howl had managed to make the room look like the poor girl had never in been inside. The tantrum coming his way was clear, but Justin had a sudden revelation. Every single time someone left Howl to his own devices, the moods got worse.

Justin moved closer when the young, irate wizard began tugging on his darkened hair, before raising his hands carefully. “Howl, I think you need to calm down. Yes, Suliman can be a little harsh…and maybe she will come around in the end.” He offered, raising a brow at the flailing form on the bed in front of him. “Howl you’re a grown wizard. You can’t have tantrums like a three year old brat.” Justin scolded sternly, before the first part of the rant registered with him. “You think I don’t care?” He asked in surprise, coming a little closer.

“Howl, why would I be here if I didn’t care? You know better than this.” Justin sighed softly, before running a hand through his blond hair. He paused for a moment, before sitting down on the bed and taking a firm hold on Howl’s flailing hands. “I am not being mean to you Howl. If anything, these tantrums of yours have gone on for far too long. You’ve been a little brat since Sophie left, and you know it.” Justin lectured sternly, tightening his hold on Howl in case the wizard decided more kicking and squirming was in order. “I know it hurts, but she told you she would come back. She has to make sure her mother and sister are all right.” He reminded the young man, before nodding firmly at Howl’s earlier complaints.

“It’s not fair, no. But, you do not deal with it by throwing a tantrum and acting like a five year old!” Justin scolded, before steeling himself and hauling Howl over his knee. The surprise should keep Howl from moving enough that Justin could pin his hands back and prevent the wizard from squirming off his knee.

Justin took ahold of the dark-haired man’s pants and undergarments, before pulling them down sharply. Any kicking would simply cause them to fall further down Howl’s legs.

He raised his palm up and brought it down with a harsh swat right in the center of Howl’s bottom. A bright pink handprint bloomed on the pale flesh, and Justin landed another spank right on top of the first one. There was a sense of satisfaction to it, but Justin knew Howl could use the emotional release…in a different manner than simply throwing a massive tantrum about it.

“It’s been hard, I know. But you have a responsibility to Markl, to Calcifer, and to everyone in this house.” Justin lectured, before landing a few more spanks to each rounded bottom cheek.

He raised his knee to begin landing spanks to the sensitive area where bottom met thighs. “I think you know better. Sophie would expect better of you, and I do as well.” Justin said, before leaning over and grabbing a hairbrush that was laying on the ground in front of him. He raised the new wooden implement and brought it down a sharp swat. “Tantrums are not acceptable. You should know better Howl. Suliman was being a bit cruel, I agree, but you need to work on keeping your temper in check.” Justin scolded, every other word accompanied by two stern spanks with the brush. The rounded pale bottom was now a bright pink color, and Justin began focusing his spanks on Howl’s thighs. “And from now on, every time you throw a tantrum you are going to get a spanking from me.” He informed the brunette, before lightly placing the brush on Howl’s red bottom.

“We’re almost done now, okay Howl?” Justin asked, his voice softening slightly as he patted the wizard’s bottom. “All I need is for you to do is count the last ten spanks, and for every two spanks I want you to give me a reason for them.” He informed, before raising the brush and landing a firm spank to Howl’s undercurve. “Almost there.” Justin encouraged, before landing another firm spank to the crown of Howl’s bottom.

[Gothicruby]

As far as Howl was concerned, Justin could try to sugar-coat things as much as he bloody well pleased, but he was not going to be hearing any of it. The young wizard pointedly ignored the prince's soft words and snippy remarks and would have been quite happy to continue if not for Justin's stubborn nature.

"Hey!" He almost squealed, scrambling suddenly for grip when he felt his entire being lifted "What're you--What'dyou think you're doing!!" Much to his dismay, the demand seemed to fall on deaf ears; his undergarments had been shed and, by the looks of it, Justin cared very little about just how undignified this was!

In some respect, Howl had been a very sheltered child under the wing of Suliman; punishment came in the form of magical restrictions, bargains and such; he hadn't been 'raised' as much as tutored during his time with her. What Justin was doing seemed completely foreign, and if he had even the faintest clue what the blonde prince had planned, definitely wouldn't have agreed.

At first, he could only squirm and thrash confusedly at the odd circumstance, which was no small feat considering how his hands were pinned back and all but useless to his aid;

"O-ow!" He squeaked, jaw dropping in utter shock "Y-you-! You just-!" He was so indignant that there weren't even words!

Justin had struck him. In his own room. In his own house.

"You-you can't do this! You don't have a right!" The young wizard suddenly began to yell out before squealing once again at the second swat landing across his backside "Oww! I-I-! I'm in charge! I make the rules! An-And I say you can't keep hitting me, Justin!"

He was so adamant that this wasn't happening, that this was so unfair, that he didn't even bother to feel even remotely bashful at being chided like a naughty child; this was his house and therefore he was always in the right!

The line of Howl's lips did pull, though, thin and tight when Justin mentioned Sophie, and suddenly he found himself battling a stubborn stinging at the back of his eyes. He missed Sophie, Justin knew how much he missed Sophie; how could he be so cruel as to say something like that!

The arch of his back suddenly gave a heave "Y-you're cruel..." he accused, though, far more pitifully than when he'd first come to such a position "L-leave Sophie o-out of th-this--"

He couldn't bear to think of Sophie seeing him like this; tipped over Justin's lap like a helpless little boy while they both scolded him for the rotten day that he'd had. It was only a few seconds, less if you counted just how hard he struggled to push that horrible thought away, yet enough of his guard had been let down for what happened next.

Justin landed the flat of the brush against his backside, and all at once Howl found himself sobbing fiercely with the impact "Owwww!"

Oh it was horrid, simply horrid! It stung worse than anything the young wizard had ever experienced before, and yet it landed again and again and again across his plump and pinking backside. Before long, Howl's entire rear felt like it was on fire and yet, despite his sobbing, Justin still wouldn't let up.

"N-Noo-ooo!" He sobbed pitifully, his feet kicking wildly once again at the thought of having to count out even one more spank, let alone ten! Raven hair flailed from side to side; but rather than scream out another slur of curses and insults, the young wizard looked quite desperate to just be let go and put as much distance between himself and the brush and humanly possible "No-ooww! No! Ow! No more!" He was pleading now; staring remorsefully up through wide, watery blue eyes "I-I'm sorry! I-I'm sorry! No mo-Oow-re! I-I'm sorry Justin! So-oow-rry!"

[LadyLoki]

It was understandable that Howl was having some problems getting himself to count out the final few spanks, and he paused to slowly rub the heaving back gently. “I know…I know it hurts, and that you want to be far, far away from this brush.” Justin soothed softly, lightly resting the cool wood on Howl’s bright red bottom. “But I believe you can do it. I know you can count out these last ten.”

Letting his words sink in, Justin paused for a couple moments before speaking again. “Now, we’re going to do this together all right?” He asked, before lightly patting the side of Howl’s bottom. “Now, here’s number one.” Justin prompted, landing the first sharp spank and watching the first darker crimson oval bloom on the sore skin. He waited for the count, no matter how long it took, before rubbing Howl’s back as a silent form of praise.

“And here’s two.” Justin said, before landing spanks three and four in short order. Once again he waited for the counts, however tearful, and he kept up his soft encouragements. They were almost halfway now, and Justin firmly believed that Howl could make it through. “We’re almost there now.” He offered gently, before landing two more spanks. “You can say it…just five and six.” Justin encouraged, moving a hand to gently run a hand over Howl’s dark locks.

The prince began to take pity on the younger wizard, and he landed the last four right on Howl’s undercurve in a rapid fire motion. “There we go…all done now.” Justin soothed softly, before slowly putting the brush down and then rubbing his hand over the small of Howl’s back.

Justin then helped the brunette upward, before pulling Howl to settle on his lap. Howl thrived on physical contact and affection, which the young prince had noticed through his time with the odd little group.

Once the bright red bottom was settled between his legs so nothing was pressing against the sore flesh.

“You took that well Howl, I’m very proud of you.” Justin said softly, wrapping his arms loosely around Howl and tilting his head upward. “And Sophie would be very proud of you too. I know she would be.” He added, a small smile creeping onto his face. “We all care about you very much. Every last one of us loves you, even when you’re having one of your tantrums.” Justin smiled, lightly patting Howl’s pale thigh.

He tightened his arms around the slender young man, offering his shoulder in case Howl wanted to cry onto something a little more comforting and personal then his hands. “It’s all right to cry you know Howl…I am not going to judge you, and neither is anyone else.” Justin said warmly, before smoothing the mussed hair fondly.

“But I want you to realize I didn’t do this to be cruel to you. I would never do anything to you out of spite. I would never want to hurt you…not more than a sore bottom when you get a little out of control.” He amended gently, smiling and lightly pressing a kiss to Howl’s forehead. Justin was feeling a little more protective of the young wizard, especially seeing him when he was so vulnerable.

He paused for a moment, letting the moment settle for a moment. “And Suliman was out of line Howl, so don’t take what she says to heart. You have done so much to help the world, and all of us. Now, are we done with being a sulky little brat?”

Justin wanted the smiling, bright Howl back. He missed that version, and he knew the others did as well. “I know Sophie leaving was hard on you Howl…but you have to remember that she loves you.” The prince added softly with a small smile, before helping Howl up onto his own two feet and pulling his underwear back up. Justin left the pants down, in case Howl wanted something else that didn’t press on his bottom so much.

“Now, I think a shower and some dinner would do wonders for you, and then straight to bed right? You have a very busy day tomorrow, and I want you to be at your best fighting form.” He offered with a small smile. “Would you like to me stay for a little?”

He wouldn’t mind in the slightest. Howl could probably use the company, especially after he had just had the emotional upheaval of having his bottom spanked to the point of heart wrenching sobs. Justin knew Howl hadn’t been having an easy time sleeping since Sophie left the group. She had been a solid rock for the young wizard, and her leaving had definitely shaken Howl up.


No matter what Howl decided, Justin was going to continue to stand by the young brunette. “I’ll get some lotion for your bottom though Howl, because you cannot be squirming through that meeting tomorrow.” Justin teased lightly, hoping for even a pouty smile. He had seen too much of the moping, upset young man and he knew that even Calcifer would admit to missing Howl when he was smiling and laughing with everyone else. “Now, go put some pants on to sleep. I am going to get some soup and bread.” Justin left briefly to let Howl redress, before coming back with a lotion and tray of soup, fruit and bread. He patted the bed with a small smile, before setting the tray down. “How are you doing?” Justin asked gently, setting the lotion on the night table.