The Curiosity Shop

Chapter Two: Howl the Heart Eater

Once Howl is gone, the customer hurries out of the aisle and over to the counter where the shopkeep is sitting. "Y/n?" she asks nervously "Why was he here? He didn't hurt you did he?" Y/n looks up from their project at her "Sorry?" "Did he hurt you?" she asks again, her voice a bit more intense this time. "I, honestly don't know what you're talking about Lucy. Am I missing something?" Lucy puts her basket down on the counter "That was Howl Y/n! You're lucky nothing happened to you, he could have stolen your heart and what would have happened then!". They look towards the door "That was Howl? The blond airhead who didn't know that a crystal ball could light his house on fire if he wasn't careful? Are you sure you're not mistaking him for someone else?".

Y/n is rightfully skeptical. After all you'd think that a famed and feared sorcerer would at least know a bit about light refraction. Lucy shakes her head "No I'm sure it's him. My aunt was in Penrith a few months ago and spotted him. She wrote me a letter describing what he looks like, I'm sure that's him.". Y/n stares at the door blankly, trying to make sense of that in their brain. Somehow they always imagined Howl as, well, not that. "What did he buy?" they look back at Lucy in confusion "Excuse me?" "What did he buy Y/n?" Lucy looks serious and worried "He was holding something under his arm when he left, he didn't buy anything cursed did he?" they shake their head, no "No, it was just a crystal ball. The one with the red stand, made of goshenite. It's not cursed or inchanted,".

Lucy sighs with relief "Thank the gods. Maybe you should stay at my house tonight? I don't like the idea of you being alone when he knows where your shop is...". They scoff a bit "You worry too much, he doesn't know that I live upstairs or that I'm alone." "And what if he comes back and eats your heart?". Lucy is flashing back to all the rumors and stories that had been repeated over and over again, to white teeth sinking into freshly removed hearts, blood dripping down long slender fingers. Y/n thinks back to how Howl had said he'd like to come back to the shop if he has time, "Well, he did say that he might come back to talk more,". Lucy looks horrified but Y/n cut her off before she could say anything "Oh please, he was alone in the store with me for what had to be at least half an hour if not more. If he was going to steal my heart wouldn't he have done it already?". Lucy opens her mouth to protest, then closes it, then narrows her eyes at Y/n, "I hate how calm you are about this. Why aren't you going crazy? Your life could be in danger you know!" Y/n smiles "Because then there would be two crazy people in the room and this conversation would get nowhere.".

"I am not-!" Y/n raises an eyebrow at her Lucy stops mid-sentence, then laughs slightly "Ok maybe I'm going a little crazy. But I've got good reason! I'm worried about you Y/n... You spend all day locked up in this shop alone and now there's a dangerous wizard out there...". Y/n nods "I understand why you're worried, and hey, if you wanted to be in the shop with me more often until Howl leaves town I wouldn't complain.". "Y/n..." Lucy moaned, then shakes her head "Nevermind, we can talk about this more later, we've got something more important to do!" Y/n tilts their head a bit, confused "More important?" "Mhm!" Lucy walks around the counter, grabs Y/n's chair and pulls them to the other end of the counter away from their project. "Hey!" Lucy quickly grabs a second chair and pulls it over at the other side of the counter. Lucy's always been a fan of surprises, so at some point Y/n learned to just play along with her antics until what the heck was happening was revealed. Lucy uncovers her basket and a sweet smell fills the air. 

"Lucy... what is this?" Lucy pauses awkwardly "Well..." she pauses again, seemingly trying to find the right words "Look I know you're not the biggest fan of your birthday,". Y/n blinks, in all honesty they had entirely forgotten that it was their birthday today, Lucy continues "But I also know that you and your dad always get something sweet together just to mark the occasion and, well since he's not here this year I didn't want you missing out!". Lucy reaches into the basket and pulls out a small cake, placing it on the counter between them. "So I bought a few things and thought that since your dad's not here, then I could celebrate with you instead, because," she removes 2 plastic wine glasses from the basket along with a rectangular container of lemonade that Y/n could only assume she had to lay flat at the bottom of the basket and put things on top of it to even consider fitting it inside. "Even if your birthday's not your favorite time of the year, you still celebrate it! And anyone who does that shouldn't miss out just because the person they usually celebrate with can't make it one year".