Partners! [ Howl bursts out into a spontaneous giggle. He trains his glassy blue eyes down at Calcifer and tosses the log lazily in his hand. ] Partners, Calcifer! I like that. Yes, that's a wonderful way of putting it, isn't it?

[ Calcifer does not seem to agree. He frowns disapprovingly at Howl, as if he's interrupting a two-person conversation, and then looks back up at Liem. ]

...We're only partners if you think it's normal for one partner to exploit the other. [ Huffing, Calcifer crosses his little fire-arms to pout. Howl smiles knowingly down at him, and after a second, places the fresh log directly onto the top of Calcifer. The log does not drop straight through the fire, but appears to actually sit on Calcifer's "head," as if it were not made only of flames, before he hurriedly reaches up, grabs it, and stuffs it into his mouth like a hot dog.

Howl turns to Liem. ] Don't mind his sour attitude. One cannot blame him for it, when he's stuck here in my fireplace pursuant to our contract.