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staytinyweeniebeanie · 3 months ago

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Han's Moving Castle (Part 2)

Pairing(s): Howl!Han Jisung x Sophie!reader

Content: Howl’s Moving Castle AU, fluff, found family vibes, idiots falling in love

Warning(s): suggestive themes, some explicit language, brief mentions of war

Word Count: 8.2k

Summary: Your adventures with Han the wizard continue! But things are heating up, in more ways than one.

A/N: Please heed the updated warnings! We’ve bumped the rating of this tooth-rotting fluff into something slightly steamy~ read at your own risk. Additionally, I’ve deviated from the original story line a bit more to make certain plot points work better! Happy reading

Part one | Part two

My masterlist 💕

All credit for the fan art in the cover image to the amazing artist (captioned)!

Cobwebs and dust bunnies the size of real bunnies rain down from the ceiling as you angrily sweep your broom as high as you can reach. You were channeling your anger over the whole aged-50-years-and-can’t-even-complain-about-it situation into cleaning every nook and cranny of the disgusting castle, heaven knows it hasn’t been cleaned in years, if ever.

“I’m sick of wizards, and aching joints, and being treated like some timid old lady!” you grumble as you aggressively clear out pile after pile of junk scattered throughout the living room.

Amidst all the clutter you uncover a family of mice and the fact that the living space has been neglected to such an extent that there are critters and bugs makes you sweep even more aggressively.

Clouds of dust escape through the open windows and out onto the busy street below. You barely catch Jeongin muttering something that sounds like, “I’m not paid enough for this” as he rushes outside with his disguise and a thick book. It would seem he’s got a table set-up just in front of the shop to avoid your path of disinfecting. At least someone in this place has some sense.

Dusting, mopping, scrubbing, organizing, rearranging – you flit around the first floor completely immersed in your tasks. A couple hours must have passed when suddenly, whining from a very small looking Minho reaches your ears.

You glance over and see that Minho’s flame has dwindled significantly, you figure this is the perfect time to clear the ashes out of his hearth.

“Hey! Hey lady! Y/N, you gotta help me, you need to get me more firewood and quickly” his eyes are big and pitiful looking as he complains, but you just roll your eyes and grab some tongs.

You pick up the last bit of firewood Minho’s clinging to and plop him into a metal canister. Minho’s still being dramatic, fussing that he’s going out, but you pay him no mind, humming as you start to clear out the ashes onto a waiting sheet on the floor.

If you were paying closer attention to the little fire demon, you’d see him clinging to the last nub of wood, desperately trying not to let go. Minho calls for help, begs you to hurry up, but you’re so close to finishing up!

He can wait a minute more, you think as you tie off the bundle of ashes and go to dispose of them outside.

The bit of wood crumbles and Minho falls into the canister with a yelp. A small ring of smoke drifts up and just for a moment, Minho’s flame goes out.

When you walk back in you’re surprised to see Han bent over in front of the hearth. He’s got his hand extended over Minho (who’s sitting on two fresh logs you notice) and seems to be coaxing his bright orange flame higher.

Han stands up tall and turns to you with a tight smile, his body language is full of tension. The warning look in his eyes freezes you to the spot and you anxiously twist your fingers up in your apron, suddenly feeling like you’ve overstepped.

“Yah! I’d appreciate it if you didn’t torment my friend,” Han says. It sounds like he was going for a joking tone but it fell flat.

You hear Jeongin coming back inside through the door behind you, but your attention is fixed on the wizard walking purposefully towards you. While Han hasn’t been cruel or even a little bit mean towards you this whole time, maybe you’ve exhausted his patience and he’s coming over to punish you…

You gasp and quickly stumble back, but Han breezes past you and down the stairs to the door.

“Master Han, are you going back out?” Jeongin asks.

Han turns the dial to the black color and looks back over his shoulder with that same closed-lipped polite-but-strained smile and dull eyes as he addresses his apprentice, “Make sure the cleaning lady doesn’t do too much, yeah Innie?”

Without waiting for an answer, he opens the door and flies off into a pitch black abyss, and the door slams shut behind him.

Jeongin is giving you major side-eye when you turn to him and he asks, “Y/N… What did you do now?”

“She almost killed me!” Minho butts in immediately, “If I die, Han dies too, I hope you know that, lady!”

You sigh at the theatrics, surely the fire demon is exaggerating. You could probably just light a match and he’d be back to his annoying self.

“Oh hush, you were fine!” you remind him and shuffle over to grab your bucket and scrubbing brush. “Anyways, I’ve got a job to do.”

As you head towards the stairs to start on cleaning the upper levels, Jeongin darts past you and spreads his long limbs out to block you from continuing. “Hold on! You can’t come up here yet!” he shouts, and looks nervously over his shoulder, up into the hallway.

“Whatever you don’t want me to clean, you better take care of it now~” you sing, raising an eyebrow expectantly.

Jeongin squawks “Save my room for last! Han-hyung’s room and bathroom will take forever anyways!” He trips over his feet as he turns to run the rest of the way up the stairs, and you just chuckle to yourself.

When you make it to the next level, you’re dismayed but not surprised that it’s just as dirty up here. You open the first door to your left and discover an equally dirty bathroom, only, it looks as if a paint bomb went off inside. There are streaks of color everywhere: the walls, the sink, the tub (that is still full of steaming hot water), and even the toilet, which the state of that particular fixture makes you gag.

Letting out a groan of exasperation, you march over and throw open the windows.

You stick your head outside to huff the fresh air but instead find yourself dazzled by the amazing view. The physical castle is still lumbering through the Wastes, but the mountainous area you’re in is beautiful. Currently, the moving castle is travelling along the edge of a steep cliff and you can spot a meandering river way down below.

“This is incredible! Minho? Minho!” You shout in the direction of the stairs, “Minho, is it you moving the castle?!” You turn and rush towards the top of the stairs to hear his answer.

“Of course it’s me,” He shouts back from his hearth, “ No one else does any work around here!”

You lean over the railing, overflowing with amazement and you grin widely at Minho, “Well you are one impressive fire demon and I like your spark!” You wink at him and giggle as you skip back to the bathroom.

You don’t see the way Minho has taken on a pink hue and how his flames shoot higher and spark wildly as he repeats your words with glee.

You take it upon yourself to explore the rest of the upper levels of the castle, stumbling upon the hallway that contains Jeongin’s room and he rushes through piles of clothes on the floor to close his door, shouting “Not ready yet!” You pay him no mind, yanking open another door to find a small balcony.

The wind whips your hair and clothes around as you step outside to take in the view and after a few minutes, Jeongin joins you.

He’s leaning on the railing in a way that slightly concerns you, because you just met him, but already know about his penchant for clumsiness.

However, he just gives you a big toothy smile and his eyes turn into little crescents. The sight is so cute that you set aside your nagging and just enjoy the moment.

Jeongin is telling you about the lake off in the distance, Star Lake he called it, when you both notice a big branch sticking out of an opening to the castle below the balcony. A very familiar looking branch.

“Oh dear, help me with this Jeongin?” You grunt and lean over the railing to get a good hold of the branch, and together, you and the apprentice manage to get it unstuck and turned upright.

“It’s a scarecrow!” Jeongin’s eyes are wide as he takes in the elaborately dressed figure.

You shake your head fondly, and dust off your apron. “I’ve taken to calling him Turnip Head, and somehow he always manages to get stuck upside down.”

Looking closely, you swear the scarecrow’s smile grows wider and it gives you that characteristic twirl before hopping off and jumping in place on one of the castle’s large steel pipes.

“He keeps following me everywhere, like a stray cat,” you comment to Jeongin as you both watch Turnip Head hop around. “Seems to have taken a liking to me,” you finish and shrug.

Jeongin looks at you consideringly, “That’s weird, are you sure you’re not a witch?”

You cackle and ruffle his hair, “Oh yes, I’m the worst kind of witch! The kind that cleans!”

The castle settles close to the edge of Star Lake with many clanks and creaks of settling parts, and you, Jeongin, and Turnip Head spend a peaceful afternoon together.

You do load after load of laundry and Turnip Head is full of energy as he helps set up drying lines. You think the scarecrow is still trying to find ways to repay you.

Once that’s done, you and Jeongin set up a table right by the lake and have lunch. You're feeling deeply content, sipping tea and relaxing in the sun.

You and Jeongin chat about whether Turnip Head is a demon or not (you decide yes, but definitely the good kind, like Minho), and what chores you still have left to do, and Jeongin’s interest in fashion, hence all the clothes in his room.

It’s getting late by the time Jeongin convinces you to come back inside, the sun is setting and all the laundry has been folded and put away. Even Turnip Head is ready to go in his new favorite spot on top of a pipe sticking out of the castle. So you amble inside the warm castle, and settle in for the night.

It is the early morning hours, just before dawn breaks, by the time the dial over the door switches to black and Han creeps inside. His once pristine outfit is gone, replaced with deep midnight blue feathers and talons.

He falls into the chair in front of the hearth with a heaving sigh, drops his head back, and props his taloned feet up.

“Jisungie are you okay? You stink,” Minho looks over the wizard with concern.

Han groans and the feathers recede slowly until his regular body is back.

“You shouldn’t keep flying around like that,” Minho continues to scold him, “Soon you’ll be stuck in that form and won’t turn back human.”

Hearing no reply, Minho decides to let up on the nagging for now.

His eyes land on the neatly stacked firewood nearby and he grabs a log and smiles, “Isn’t this nice? Y/N put these here for me and I didn’t even have to threaten her.”

This seems to get Han’s attention, he sits up and grunts in pain, adjusting his jacket to hold his aching ribs.

“This war is awful,” Han begins, “They’ve bombed all the way from the southern coast to the northern border. It’s all in flames now…” His voice wavers at the end, thinking of all the destruction the pointless war has brought.

The whispered debrief continues, Minho offering commentary here and there, but also keeping an eye on the way Han seems drained of all energy and life. Minho tried to warn the wizard against flying off and interfering with the war ships’ bombing but no one ever listens to him.

“Wait-” Minho interjects as he tunes back into Han’s tirade about wizards sacrificing their humanity for the war, “aren’t you supposed to report to the king, too?”

Han avoids his eyes and stands, waving his hand dismissively.

“I’m tired,” he claims and starts to walk off, “make some hot water for my bath please, Jagi.”

Han ignores the predictable complaining from Minho and walks over to the drawn curtain on the alcove under the stairs where the daybed sits.

Presumably, this is where you are sleeping as there are no other beds besides his and Jeongin’s in the castle and while you’ve been very bold and unapologetic with him so far, he doesn’t think you’d dare to intrude on his bed and Jeongin doesn’t like to share. Han makes a mental note to procure another bed for you soon as he carefully parts the curtain to take a peek.

Sure enough, you are curled up under a thick blanket, but Han is frozen in place at the sight of your young and achingly familiar face instead of the wrinkled face of his new cleaning lady. As you take deep and even breathes, his eyes trace greedily over your features.

Each detail is just as he remembered: your pretty eyelashes, your cute nose, your soft-looking lips. And your hair, longer and not silver, is splayed across your pillow, loose from its usual braid.

His mind races as he connects the dots that in the time between dropping you off at the bakery, and you wandering into his castle, you’ve had a curse put on you. One that has turned you into an elderly version of yourself, and it’s probably a curse you can’t speak about.

The moment stretches on and Han feels guilt well up inside of him that you were cursed for associating with him for just a few moments. But he also feels something warm and tender, unnameable, because all this time, you’ve been right under his nose. The girl he’s been dreaming about…

A sharp pop of burning wood snaps Han out of the spell you’ve unknowingly put him under. He gently lets the curtain fall closed again, and retreats upstairs, avoiding Minho’s penetrating gaze once again.

The next day started off well enough…

Despite being jolted awake by the roaring sound of water rushing into the tub upstairs in the early morning, you’re cheerful and upbeat as you drag Jeongin out onto the bustling streets of Porthaven for the morning market.

Not even his grumpy mood and petulant comments about the ocean looking “the same it always looks” or pretending to hate vegetables and fish bring you down.

Everything is normal until a broken down battleship appears in the harbor, drawing all the townsfolk to the docks.

Market stalls now closed, you and Jeongin wandered over to see what all the fuss was about.

Just as you were about to give into Jeongin’s pleading to get a closer look, you spotted the Wizard of the Waste’s henchman in the crowd and your heart rate ratcheted up.

As if that weren’t enough, bombs from an enemy airship were dropped into the harbor, flyers fluttering in the wind behind the ship, and panicked people running through the streets.

Not sparing a second, you snatched Jeongin up and began running as quickly as your old bones would allow, leaning heavily on your cane. You don’t stop until you’re both inside the castle, the door shut tight and locked behind you.

You’re panting and leaning on the wall for support, who knew you could move that fast in your old age?

“Are you okay, Y/N?” Jeongin looks so worried for you and he tries to help you up the steps, it’s surprising and sweet how much he seems to care about you.

“I just need a glass of water,” you wheeze and hobble over to the chair.

Just as you plop down, an ear-splitting shriek comes from upstairs.

Terrified that something happened to Han, you jump up and Jeongin rushes over to you.

Thunderous footsteps and then a bright orange-haired Han is leaning over the railing, not a stitch of fabric on his steaming, dripping wet body besides a little white towel around his waist… Did Minho bump the temperature in the castle up a few degrees while you were out?

“Y/N! You’ve ruined me!” Han wails, and rushes down the stairs, “Look what you’ve done to my hair!” he demands, gripping his hair tight in his fists as he darts over to you.

Han basically shoves his head right into your face until all you can see are the tangerine-colored locks and you think it looks quite pretty on him. It’s a similar shade to Jeongin’s but much more vivid.

“What a pretty color,” you say truthfully, but Han is having none of it.

“It’s hideous!” He cries, big pouty eyes boring into yours, all shiny with the start of tears as he sinks to his knees.

Your foolish brain can’t help but note how tempting Han looks right now, on his knees and pouting at you. All honeyed skin, and broad chest with the most grabbable waist…

“You completely ruined my potions in the bathroom!” He accuses, and a startled laugh slips out of you as you forcefully drag your mind out of the gutter.

Your face feels hot and flushed but you smile fondly at the wizard. “Han, I just organized them! Nothing is ruined, I promise!”

A truly pitiful whimper is all Han offers and there are definitely tears now.

“I specifically told you not to get carried away and now look!” Han flops into the chair you were just sitting in, in front of the hearth, and drops his head into his hands, “I’m repulsive, I can’t go on like this.”

You’re trying to find the words to reassure him (it truly doesn’t look that bad!) when the strands of hair start to rapidly change color. The orange fades into burgundy red, then deep brown, and finally settling into a glossy black shade.

“You should look at it now, I think this new color is even better!” you offer, but it’s like Han doesn’t even hear you, head still resting in his hands in a defeated hunched over position.

“I give up,” he whispers dejectedly, “what’s the point of living if I can’t be beautiful?”

Shadows start to creep up the walls and slink across the floor and the castle seems to be warping into something sinister. All of the light aside from Minho’s flames is sucked away and an awful howling sounds starts up.

Minho is yelling at Han to stop whatever it is he’s doing and you fearfully grasp Jeongin’s arm as the shadows fill the room.

“Hannie-hyung is calling the Spirits of Darkness,” Jeongin whispers to you, holding you just as tightly as you’re holding him.

“I saw him do this once before, when he couldn’t get the lyrics right for a song he was writing”

You scoff, yet dig deep to try and find some patience for silly, dramatic wizards.

Adopting a comforting tone, you try again, “Now Hannie, you’ll be alright, we can just dye it back–”

The words die in your throat as your hand touches his shoulder because Han’s skin is secreting some weird green goo and you gasp, pulling away quickly.

The goo oozes from his whole body, dripping onto the floor and your patience has officially run out, you’ve had just about enough of this drama!

“You think you’ve got it bad?!” Your voice cracks at the end and you’re ashamed to feel hot, stinging tears welling up in your eyes.

“No one spares me a second glance because I’ve never been beautiful my whole life!” you sob and run over to the door, not even caring about what setting the dial is on.

You have got to get out of this blasted house right this second!

The raining landscape of the Wastes greets you and you run down to the lake edge. Stopping just short of the water line you stare out into the distance and sniffle, trying to hold it together.

But nothing can stop your shuddering breaths and the deep well of sadness that has overflowed within you, so you let go and just cry.

Rain soaks your clothes and tears soak your face as you weep.

Your bawling has simmered down to sniffles and a much slower stream of tears when you notice that the freezing raindrops that were pelting you abruptly stop.

You look up in confusion and your heart melts when you see Turnip Head standing over you with a tattered umbrella and his signature smile. Water dripping from his straw hair and soaking his suit.

“Thank you Turnip Head, how’d you get to be so kind and gentle?” you give him a genuine smile and wish so strongly in that moment that you could hug him properly. You could use a hug from someone that cares about you.

Alas, Jeongin is running towards you and tugging the sleeve of your dress urgently.

“Y/N please come back inside, we need your help!” he begs and starts yanking your arm in the direction of the castle.

You sigh, but put your wallowing aside and follow him in.

The scene is, quite frankly, ridiculous. Minho is holding a half-burnt log over his head while trying to avoid the puddle of depression-goo creeping closer, yelling, “Han Jisung! You better cut it out right now! I’m going to drown!”

Han looks the same as when you fled, pathetically drooped over the hearth in just his towel, limbs all folded up, but now surrounded by depression goo. It’s covering the floor surrounding him and flooding the hearth.

Minho lets out a relieved puff of smoke when he sees you and calls out, “Y/N do something! Help him please, Y/N!”

Jeongin comes through the door behind you and hovers, “Is he dead?” he asks you and looks at Han over your shoulder with a worried look on his face.

You chuckle and shake your head, rolling your wet sleeves up your arms, “No, Innie, he’s just throwing a tantrum like a child. Come give me a hand?”

Together, you and Jeongin push the chair (Han still slumped over in it) over to the stairs, and you tell Jeongin to get the hot water running while you sling Han’s arm over your shoulder and start dragging him up the stairs. The goo is not making this any easier as he’s especially slippery, and you try to prompt Han to help you by walking, his legs aren’t broken after all!

You sigh sadly as you glance back at the trail of slime he’s leaving all over your freshly scrubbed floors but then you spot that itty bitty white towel that should be around Han’s itty bitty waist laying innocently near the bottom of the stairs.

You squeak and determinedly turn your face up to the ceiling so as to not catch a peek at the rest of the great Wizard Han Jisung until you can deposit him in the bathroom.

Jeongin mock salutes you and promises to get him cleaned up and you close the door.

“Now I have to mop again…” you release a big sigh and get to work.

By the time you’ve calmed down after the crazy events of the morning and cleaned the floors (again) it’s midday. Han’s been camped out in his room ever since Jeongin got him cleaned up, so you decide to bring him a snack, a peace offering. At least, that’s what you tell yourself.

There’s no answer when you knock firmly on his door, so you announce that you’re entering anyways and step into the messiest, most maximalist bedroom you’ve ever seen.

Despite teasing Jeongin about cleaning his room earlier, you would never invade their privacy like that without permission. So this was your first time seeing Han’s room and yeah… cleaning and organizing this room would take you three days minimum.

Your wandering eyes finally land on Han, propped up by a couple pillows and tucked in as if he’s on his deathbed.

You shake your head fondly and approach him, “Han? I brought you a little slice of cheesecake.”

One eye peeks open to look at the plate in your hands before closing again just as quickly and you cover your laugh with a small cough.

“Do you want a bite?” you ask sweetly.

He shakes his head, so you shrug and place the plate on the only free spot on his nightstand. You turn to leave, figuring the wizard just wants to be alone, but a hand catches your wrist and gently tugs you back.

“Y/N, wait… stay,” he whispers.

You could easily break free and head back downstairs to be entertained by Minho and Jeongin, but tingles shoot up your arm from where his skin touches yours, and your cheeks heat at the implication that he wants you there.

You take a seat on the edge of his bed, right beside his hip, and note that he is still loosely grasping your wrist, this fact makes you unreasonably flustered and you fidget with a loose thread on the comforter.

It’s quiet for a moment, peaceful, until one of the many decorations hanging from the ceiling starts spinning wildly, bell chiming softly, and Han takes a deep breath and finally opens his eyes.

“The Wizard of the Waste is searching for my castle,” he states, and you gasp, suddenly remembering.

“I saw his henchman at the harbor this morning!”

Han’s face drops into a pout as he looks away from you, “I’m a coward, all I do is hide, and all the magic stuff is to keep people from realizing how scared and broken I am.”

His tone is so defeated and self-deprecating, you squeeze the hand that’s still holding you in sympathy. Perhaps all of his dramatics are not solely the actions of a spoiled and immature man like you initially thought.

You decide to ask Han something you had wondered since you came to the castle.

“Han, why is the Wizard of the Waste after you in the first place?”

“We trained together, a long time ago, and became close friends. We were the most skilled students in our class, and the most beautiful,” you roll your eyes at that last part but continue to listen.

“But all the attention made us competitive and we fought a lot. When our instructor chose me to be his apprentice, he was so angry at me that he left… but I was too afraid to go after him. As usual, I hid away.”

Boys, you think to yourself and let loose a weary sigh.

“I can’t hide much longer, though. I have to report to the king as both Han Jisung and J.One,” Han groans and releases your hand to cover his face with a pillow.

You don’t see the big deal though, couldn’t he just refuse the king’s invitation?

When you say as much, Han just points at a piece of paper pinned to the wall by a dagger, “That’s the oath I took when I joined the Royal JYP Sorcery Academy, I have to report to the palace whenever summoned.” he says, muffled under the pillow but you caught enough to understand.

“I think you should see the king, Han!” You cross your arms defiantly and grin when he whips the pillow away from his face to stare at you in disbelief.

“I’m serious! Tell him the war is pointless and that you refuse to take part!” you say passionately.

Han flops back dramatically and sighs like you’re being ridiculous, but before you can argue your point more he jumps up with a huge gasp and brings his face so close to yours your noses are practically touching.

It would be so easy to kiss– you stop that train of thought before it can get too far.

“I’ve got an idea! Why don’t you go to the palace for me?” he practically shouts and you lean back to protect your ears (no other reason).

“Just say you’re my mother,” he leans closer, you lean back, “and that your son is too much of a coward to show his face,” if you lean back any further, you’ll fall off the bed, “maybe then, Professor Chan will finally give up on me!”

Han’s eyes are so big and starry with his excitement, especially this close up, and the proximity has completely derailed your critical thinking. That’s your excuse when the only thing you manage to say spit out is, “Do you have a mommy kink?”

You spend most of your walk to the palace theorizing what disguise Han will use to discreetly trail you.

So far you’ve ruled out crow, pigeon, and foot soldier (you’re still tense after what happened trying to visit your sister). You think he could be one of those flamboyant pilots flying overhead in their little airships with beautiful women giggling behind them, or maybe a well-dressed gentleman having tea at a cafe you walk past.

You twist the ring Han gave you around thoughtfully as you walk, recalling the way his deep voice rumbled in your ear as he slipped it on your pointer finger with a promise that it would keep you safe.

You try not to think too deeply on the fact that it matches the one he wears and what it all means.

The butterflies in your belly speak to how well that’s going.

A short time later, you’re within the outer walls of the palace. You’re heading straight towards the impressive palace entrance across the courtyard when you hear little footsteps and the occasional panting noise behind you.

When you look over your shoulder, you see a little dog of all things, trotting along.

It only comes up to your calves, must be a puppy you think. It has golden fur that’s shaggy in the front, almost covering its eyes, and big floppy ears. It’s an odd but very cute disguise.

You glance around to see if anyone is watching, “Han? You disguised yourself as a puppy?” you quietly ask him. The puppy only gives you a small bark and nips your ankle.

“Ow! You little shit,” you yelp, and consider hitting him with your cane, “I’m just saying! You couldn’t pick something more useful? I’m an old lady after all!”

Just as you face forward, a carriage pulls up beside you, carried by blob henchman you’ve seen before, and dread fills your stomach.

“Look who it is! The tacky doll from the hat shop,” drawls the Wizard of the Waste from the window of his opulent carriage. “Thanks for passing along my scorching love note to Han, how’s he doing by the way?”

Most of his face is hidden behind a fan, but you can see the way he looks you up and down and the edge of a smirk on his lips .

Your temper flares hot and bright and you glance at puppy-Han to gauge his reaction, but he’s unphased, continuing to trot a half-step behind you, so you craft a half-true story.

“He’s acting like a scaredy cat, and he’s working me to the bone as his cleaning lady.” Okay, maybe that story was completely true…

The Wizard of the Waste giggles and closes the fan with a flourish. You can see all of his face now, and it just grinds your gears that he’s gorgeous. He’s wearing makeup that highlights his sharp features, and his long hair is artfully styled.

“So what business do you have at the palace, doll?” The wizard asks conversationally, fiddling with his hair in a small compact mirror.

“Job hunting, I’m sick of working for Han,” you lie, “And what about yourself?” You try to act disinterested.

“I received a royal invitation,” he purrs, looking quite pleased with himself. “That idiot, Bang Chan finally realized how much he needs my powers.”

“If you’re so great, why don’t you break the curse you put on me!” You bite back, but he just laughs again.

“Sorry doll,” you really doubt that, “my talent lies in casting spells, not breaking them!”

He snaps his fingers, and the henchman pick up the pace, taking the infuriating wizard away while you shout after them angrily.

You huff and cut your eyes over to the puppy, “If I didn’t have you to worry about, I would have whooped him!” you grumble. The puppy’s answering bark sounds suspiciously like a laugh.

Soon after, you approach the massive staircase that leads to the palace entrance. You spot the Wizard of the Waste, henchman suspiciously absent, slowly lumbering up the stairs in that heavy looking black fur coat, but pay him no mind and begin climbing the steps yourself.

You’ve only made it up a few stairs when you hear a high-pitched whine from the bottom.

Of course Han chose a form that wasn’t big enough to climb the stairs on his own. He rests his snout on the bottom step and looks up at you with the biggest puppy eyes and you fold immediately with a big sigh.

Dog in hand, you start up the steps a second time, slower now with the extra weight.

“Han! Why are you so heavy?” You grunt and curse him out thoroughly in your head.

When you pass the panting and profusely sweating Wizard, he pleads with you to help him too.

“What was that?” you call over your shoulder, “You remembered how to break the spell you put on me?”

A loud and dramatic groan is all you get, so you keep on climbing.

About halfway up, you set puppy-Han down and catch your breath. You look down at the Wizard of the Waste, so far behind you and absolutely gasping for air, with pity.

“Why don’t you just give up? You’re killing yourself!” you shout down to him.

“I’ve waited too long to be invited back here, ever since Bang Chan banished me to the Wastes!” he growls and brushes sweaty strands of hair from his face.

You almost feel bad for him, but then you remember your old body and harden your heart.

“C’mon Han, let’s go,” you gather the puppy and continue climbing what feels like a mountain of stairs.

Once you make it to the top, you’re absolutely exhausted. You set the puppy down and almost keel over trying to catch your breath.

One of the attendants of the castle politely requests that you follow him inside, but you feel a strange need to make sure the wizard that cursed you makes it to the top. Maybe his story did touch your heart a little bit.

With some encouraging cheers and pep talks (that were decidedly not appreciated) he makes it and you walk in together, puppy-Han right behind you of course.

You notice that where before, the wizard towered above you with intimidating height, now he’s hunched over and small looking, relying on your cane to walk and still dripping sweat.

Your cover is almost blown when the staff announcing your presence call you “Mother of Han Jisung”, but the Wizard of the Waste, who’s name you now know is Hyunjin, is too focused on recovering from the stairs to notice.

The attendant that was leading the way directs you to a fancy room with a single chair, which is claimed by Hyunjin almost immediately.

He quickly plops down and it’s like his bones turned to liquid the way he’s sinks into it, like he’s turned into a big ferret.

But you can’t focus on him because puppy-Han runs off down some dark corridor and he ignores your frantic calling to come back.

With no choice, you hurry after him.

The corridor seems like a dead end, but a secret door slides open abruptly, startling you. Behind it stands a young boy in what looks like a fancy school uniform. He has a pleasant smile on his beautiful face when he says, “This way ma’am.”

You don’t see puppy-Han anywhere, so this must be your only option, you think, and follow him into a huge conservatory. The walls and ceiling are made completely of glass and its idyllic inside, filled with huge eucalyptus trees and exotic flowers that you can’t even name.

The boy leads you to an open area where you spy two chairs, one big and ornate, and the other nice but plain looking.

Sitting in the big chair is a man. Strong jaw, short dark hair, and casual clothes, he’s commanding and very attractive. Is that a requirement to work here?

He chats with the boy that led you here for a moment before the boy leaves, and the man turns to address you.

“So you’re Han’s mother I hear?” he smiles and you notice two dimples pop out, you nod mindlessly.

“You must be tired, have a seat!” he gestures to the other chair.

You thank him and gingerly sit down.

“I am Professor Bang Chan, His Majesty’s head sorcerer and director of the Sorcery Training Academy, but you can just call me Chris!”

As he introduces himself, your eyes wander over to a staff resting on the side table right next to his chair, and they nearly pop out of your head when you see the puppy resting underneath it.

“That’s not… your dog is it?” You cautiously ask.

“His name is Seungmin,” Chris answers breezily, “He’s my errand dog, I had him escort you here.”

You nearly facepalm after hearing that. All the things you said, thinking he was Han! Surely he’ll use his doggy magic to tell on you to the professor.

The man in question lets out a rumbly chuckle and rests his chin on his fist, “I take it Han won’t be joining us?”

Determined to salvage the visit, you tell him the story you rehearsed the whole way over; about how Han is too cowardly to show up, and that he’d be useless to the king.

Chris has a contemplative look on his face as he takes this in and nods along with a sigh, like he’s disappointed.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Han was the first and last apprentice I ever took on. I’ve never seen a more well-rounded and gifted student,” he explains.

You’re shocked to learn that Chris was training Han to be his replacement.

“Until the day his heart was stolen by a demon. He never returned to complete his apprenticeship and has been using his magic for reckless and selfish reasons ever since.” Chris’s voice grows more stern as he speaks and it has you sitting ramrod straight like a student getting scolded.

However, your respect towards Chris’s apparent wisdom and authority starts to waver when he starts to speak about Han’s morality, claiming that he’s “dangerous” now that he has no heart.

How dare he compare him to the Wizard of the Waste!

“Bring him in.” Chris orders, and an identical boy to the one that brought you into the conservatory wheels in a nearly unrecognizable figure.

“What did you do to him?” you breathe out, horrified.

It’s Hyunjin, but gone is the smug attitude, and flashy clothes and makeup. Even his long, inky hair is gone. What’s left is a lean figure huddled up his now too-big fur coat, cowering from you when you go to touch his shoulder, with a buzzed head.

“I just removed all the glamors and restored him to his natural state, all his powers are gone now.” Chris says evenly, watching you with a calculating look. “Once, he too was an impressive sorcerer with so much potential. But he fell prey to a demon of envy that slowly consumed him, body and soul.”

You loathe the casual way that Chris is talking about all of this, like it’s a children’s story instead of real people’s lives. Like they are misbehaving pawns in his game of chess.

“If Han reports to me and vows to use his powers to serve the kingdom, I’ll show him how to break from his demon,” Chris leans forward with his elbows on his knees and crosses his fingers in front of his face, his eyes are hard when you meet his gaze. “If not, I’ll strip him of all his powers. Just like that.” he gestures towards Hyunjin.

“That is enough!” You proclaim and shoot up from your chair. Seungmin jolts awake from his snoozing.

“Now I know why Han was too scared to come see you, this is all a trap! You lure people here with an invitation from the King and then strip them of all their powers!

“Han is not heartless! He may be selfish and cowardly, and certainly dramatic, but his intentions are good.”

You don’t notice, so wrapped up in your passionate speech, but the more you speak from your heart, the younger you get, until you’re back to your real age and normal body.

“Han won’t come here and he doesn’t need your help. He can fix his problem with his demon on his own, I’m certain of it!” you finish, full of pride for your wizard.

It’s silent for a second, and then Chris full body laughs.

“Ahh, now I see,” Chris runs his hands through his hair and gathers himself, “You’re in love with Han Jisung.”

You recoil, quickly reverting back to old-lady Y/N, and Hyunjin speaks up for the first time, grasping your skirts and crying about Han’s heart belonging to him.

“Han is not coming here, okay? Stop that Hyunjin,” you try to placate him.

Chris settles back into his chair and sighs, “Oh I think he is, I now know his weakness.”

Outside the glass windows of the conservatory, you both watch a small airship land in the grass. One of Chris’s servant boys opens a door and in steps the King.

This is your first time seeing him up close and your first thought is that he’s jacked; thick arms and thighs, and a chest so buff it’s straining his jacket. He’s also shorter than you expected, probably shorter than Han.

“King Changbin,” Chris bows from his seat and keeps a small smile on his face as they speak. You watch on quietly until the King asks about your presence.

Chris swings his arm out towards you and says, “This is Han Jisung’s mother, Mrs. Y/N.”

The King approaches you and stops just a foot away. You stare at his chin, where you notice a small scar, until you gather the courage to look into his eyes.

King Changbin is just as handsome as all the ladies in your hat shop gushed about. You flush and give him an awkward curtsey.

“Thanks for coming,” King Changbin starts, “but I’ve decided not to use magic to win this war. We have tried using the Professor’s magic to shield our palace from the enemy’s bombs, but the bombs fall on civilian homes instead. That’s the problem with magic, isn’t it Professor Chan?”

Chris still has that polite smile on his face as he tilts his head in acknowledgment, “You’re so eloquent today, Your Majesty.”

“Channie!” A different King Changbin yells and strides confidently over to your group, waving a paper over his head.

Bewildered, you look back and forth between the King that’s standing right in front of you and the one talking loudly with Chris about new battle plans, waving his hands animatedly.

“We’re going to beat them to a pulp and get my Lixie back in no time!”

He suddenly notices the identical version of himself standing by your side and dissolves into a high-pitched laugh that’s so opposite to his overall masculine demeanor.

“Channie this is the best double you’ve made of me yet! Ha! Keep up the good work!” and off he goes, loudly chattering until he disappears into another secret corridor.

Settling back into his seat, Chris crosses his legs and regards you and not-King Changbin with a cool and amused look.

You think your jaw is still somewhere on the floor.

“So nice to see you again Jisung-ah, although that was a pretty weak disguise,” Chan says.

“You’re looking good Professer Chan” replies Han’s voice.

You whip around and see that it truly is Han next to you, in the same outfit the King was wearing.

“I wasn’t trying to trick you,” Han pulls you into his side with a protective arm around your waist and your traitorous heart flutters at the warmth, “I kept my oath and reported when summoned. Now mother and I will go.”

Though it’s not the time, you mumble “I knew it was a mommy thing,” to yourself anyways.

“I think not,” Chris states and claps his hands twice.

Huge waves of water materialize out of the floor under his chair and quickly fill the room, until you’re all submerged.

The waves fade away and now you are suspended in the air, and much like that fateful meeting with Han, his arm is around your shoulders, keeping you steady. Distantly, you feel Hyunjin grasping your dress and trying to keep from being blown away.

“Whatever you do, don’t look down,” Han warns lowly in your ear.

“I think it’s time you show Ms. Y/N what you really are, yeah?” Chris throws his arms out and grins wide.

What happens next, you don’t really understand.

What looked like shooting stars zipped past and scattered balls of light everywhere. It was sort of beautiful. But when they turned into little human-like figures and started circling and chanting, you started to worry.

Hyunjin was so scared, all he could do was whimper and hide his face in your dress.

Then Han started to change.

The arm that was wrapped around you transformed into a huge wing with talons, and Han’s face sprouted feathers. It was like a great winged-beast was taking over him, a huge beast with sharp fangs.

Painful cries escaped Han’s throat, but amidst the chaos, you saw Chris closing in with a big glowing staff raised over his head like a spear.

Han saw Chris too but it was like he was frozen, just growling and staring at him.

“Han, please listen to me! It’s a trap!” You begged, scrambling to cover Han’s eyes.

It must have worked, Han shot up like a rocket. Just in time too, Chris’s staff pinned your hat to the chair you were sitting in earlier.

You all flew up rapidly and burst out of the magic-scape and through the ceiling, sending shards of glass raining down everywhere.

Han’s huge wings protected you from any damage and they disappeared by the time he carefully deposited you and Hyunjin on the mini airship parked outside.

He started the ship in a second and pulled away, but not before a certain dog came running and launched himself into your lap.

“Baby, come sit up here!” Han had called, and you shifted Seungmin into Hyunjin’s lap and took the pilot seat. He ribbed you about your stowaways, but what were you supposed to do? Kick them off the airship?!

It was harrowing, flying an airship for the first time with only a bit of reassurance from Han before he departed to draw the palace’s airships away.

You know he was just trying to distract you, saying all that stuff about you giving him the courage to face Chris, about you saving him, but it worked. You successfully navigated the three of you out of Kingsbury by following the glowing light of the ring that pointed to Minho.

Which brings you to your current situation.

It’s dark, you’ve flown (through rain mind you) all the way past your town and into the Wastes, and finally you can see the castle up ahead.

“The castle is coming to meet us!” You yell over your shoulder to Hyunjin, who is bundled up in his coat and replies with “nice doggy”, and Seungmin, who pops his head out from inside Hyunjin’s coat to woof at you.

Only, as you get closer, you realize something very important: you don’t know how to land this thing!

Jeongin shouts your name and waves from his balcony and you grip the steering wheel of the airship tight.

“Jeongin!” you shout back, “Innie, help me! I don’t know how to land this thing!”

It’s no matter, the mouth of the castle opens wide and you crash land it in its belly, which happens to be the living room. Bricks and beams of wood and furniture go flying.

Jeongin rushes down the stairs, wading through the rubble and dust to get to you, but he stops short when he sees the Wizard of the Waste and a dog pop out first. “What the fu–”

“Innie, I’m home~” you sing and carefully pick your way over, tossing the now-detached steering wheel carelessly behind you. Jeongin holds his hands out to help guide you down and then yanks you into a hug, “Are you hurt? I missed you!” he cries and squeezes you tight.

You cradle his head close, “I’m okay and I missed you too!”

You rub your cheek against his until he pulls away with a whine, and it’s true, you’re so happy to be back home.

I really hope you enjoyed this chapter!

We got to see some new characters, maybe learned the identities of previous ones 👀, and my my my things sure are developing with reader and Han…

And surprise! This story will have 3 parts!

I just couldn’t fit everything into a second part unless I wanted to make it like 4x the length of the first part, and I want more time to flesh everything out properly.

Anyways, thanks for reading and see you for the 3rd and final part soon! 💗

This is a reimagining of Howl’s Moving Castle, in no way am I claiming the plot as my own work, only the reimagined characters belong to me (@staytinyweeniebeanie). Additionally, I do not consent to my work being reposted on other platforms without permission!

Reblogs and Comments are always welcome and highly appreciated!

dividers by @sweetmelodygraphics

#shameless self reblog #han jisung x reader #han jisung #skz au #skz imagine #skz fanfic #skz fluff #stray kids #skz #howls moving castle #studio ghibli #beanie writes!

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staytinyweeniebeanie · 3 months ago

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Wooyoung just posted this clip to his IG story. "Into The New World" by Girls Genertation became a protest anthem for thousands of South Koreans rallying for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.

WOOYOUNG I LOVE YOU!

#my outspoken #standing on business #opinionated KING #I LOVE that he speaks his mind and is unapologetically himself

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staytinyweeniebeanie · 3 months ago

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ੈ♡Falling For | Seungmin

A/N: First post after being gone, I hope you enjoy it! I thought this idea was so cute! Had to have my first post back be Seung!

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💙 If you’d like to read more of my stuff you can find it Here: Master List . Thank you for reading and if requests are open or you just wanna talk feel free to send me something🩵

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Taglist: @satosugu4l @do-you-remember-summer-127 @xines16 @minh0scat @troublemaker02 @tr-mha-fan @lunearta @velvetmoonlght @minghaosimp @ldysmfrst @felixleftchickennugget @0omillo0 @jellymochii @stilltrynafuckingtumble @catlove83 @delulkpopstan143 @my-neurodivergent-world @lezleeferguson-120

#very very cuteee #text fics are usually hit or miss for me #this is most certainly a hit!#bookshop owner!seungmin save me 😩#step into my library #fic rec

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staytinyweeniebeanie · 3 months ago

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One last thing before I slip into the deepest sleep...

Happy birthday to our brightest star 🌟 our Seonghwa! I hope all of your dreams continue to come true this year!

But what's up with that birthday MD though??? Is he trying to take the title of "Most Delulu" from Yunho by proposing to atiny?

Also, happy belated birthday Yunho!!! I am so sorry I missed it during my little hiatus, I'll make up for it with some toe-curling smut soon!

-Beanie 🌱

#beanie yaps #and beanie wishes the Aries babies of Ateez a very happy birthday #I've been so focused on skz lately #I must rectify this immediately

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