#the small hemulen

[flowerbloom-arts]

Dearest Bloomsworth, can i request a demiromantic and a pansexual icon for the Small Hemulen or the Jailer?

Of course!

[hemulenish-hijinks]

The Park Wardress

Perhaps the less popular of the park's staff in Moominsummer Madness by an extremely wide margin (but somehow won the last round), the Park Wardress is given slightly more character on screen than her coworker, asking the Woodies which one of them is making the burning rubber smell and parkouring over the fence to get away from the Hattifatteners.

The Small Hemulen

A less minor character from Moominsummer Madness, she is the nervous smaller cousin of the Jailer who keeps her nerves at bay by constantly knitting. When she's put in charge, the prisoners trick her into letting them out by saying they're hungry, she then proceeds to take them to her home and feeds them all sorts of confectionaries. Once she hears out their side of the story, she goes with them to the Midsummer Play to talk to her cousin about the misunderstanding.

[writers-in-moominvalley]

🌌Alternate Moominiverse🌌

A Midsommar × Moominsummer Madness crossover

Moominsommar, if you will.

It's been years since the fire at the theatre which killed the Fillyjonk's parents and uncle. Her step-aunt, Emma, still remembers how her husband's head cracked under the iron curtain as he tried to lower it to stop the fire from spreading further.

Emma and the Fillyjonk aren't too fond of each other, but they're all the family they had left, one might as well keep in contact as there was no reason not to.

A Misabel, small and freckled, made her way into Spruce Creek with a Whomper in arm and cried news of invitation about a once-in-a-lifetime Midsummer festival held at the neighboring village of Moominvalley. Emma was initially very reluctant to go, not being too fond of mingling with a crowd, but the Fillyjonk dragged her there anyway, desperate to actually socialize with people.

They arrive at Moominvalley with some other folks they know from Spruce Creek; the Jailer Hemulen whose interest was piqued by talk of a stage performance, his smaller cousin who nervously clanked her knitting needles at all times, then finally there were the Park Keeper and the Park Wardress, having grown tired of the restrictive prison of Spruce Creek Park and looking for an excuse to break from the routine a little.

They are gladly welcomed by the nuclear family of Moomins; Moominmamma, Moominpappa, and Moomintroll. Moomintroll was also happily in a relationship with a Snork Maiden, planning to wed her in the near future.

The Valley's secrets grew apparent and vile as time passed, sacrificial deaths, strange rituals, odd philosophies, the intoxicating Smell of Spring and all with an unending grin on everyone's face.

The Park Keepers and the Jailer disappear one after another, likely because of the innocuous but anarchistic Snufkin in the Valley's midst.

The Snork Maiden, in an attempt to comfort the very paranoid Small Hemulen after the disappearance of her cousin, said that her brother, too, had gone, but there was nothing to be upset about, she has the Valley to help her through tough times and she barely even thinks of him anymore. Many members have also disappeared throughout the years, though one by the name of Sniff simply moved away, and he was the only one to do so.

The Fillyjonk becomes enamoured with the joys that the Valley exhibited, being showered with love and praise, while her aunt, standoffish as she is, refused to accept the pleasantries of the Valley and tries to convince her niece to leave.

This culminates in Emma's frustration growing to the point of trying to escape on her own, but was caught by the members of the Valley before she reached the outskirts.

Finally, it was time for the bonfire, the center piece of all Midsummer festivals. Signs with rules written on them were thrown into a pile, a pole sticking up from the middle. Now, what was left was a person to become part of the fire.

The Fillyjonk is given a choice to either have her aunt or a member of the Valley be burned. The Fillyjonk chose her aunt to burn for the bonfire.

Screams of agony, everyone echoing it to imitate grieving as was part of the ritual... The Fillyjonk sobbed, the Small Hemulen sat next to her.

The Fillyjonk looks up at the fire and her grief turns into a state of bliss.

[floralstorms]

Drew one of the Moomins chapter art in Moominsummer Madness because I love that book and this chapter. I also actually drew the rest of the chapter in comic form after drawing this so when I crop the photos of those I’ll probably upload them since I did the entire chapter.

[yousaucygirl]

Moomin rant part 2: Snufkin's tail

Hi again! So something I've seen a lot on here and on other apps is fanart of Snufkin with a tail. Personally, I LOVE IT! One, I think it's just cute. Like, look at this little guy with a little tail! And the artists who draw him with a tail always have such nice art styles (part of why I spend all of my free time looking at fanart is because you're all so freaking talented). I also think it connects him more with how I've seen Mumriks described as cat-like. I'm pretty sure it even says that on the Moomin Wiki page, but don't quote me. It also has a nice tie to All Small Beasts Should Have Bows In Their Tails (or they'll find themselves locked in Hemulen jails). The song is most closely associated with Snufkin and Little My, which SIBLINGS! But it could also be a tie to Joxter. Maybe it was a song that they learned before Joxter left/Snufkin was turned into Moses. Also sad side note, maybe if there is an invisible arc, Snufkin's tail is constantly invisible. It's sad, but also kind of funny because I imagine everyone being like "you have a tail?!" Anyway, thanks for reading my rant! These funky little Finnish creatures are the sole thing in my brain.

[doe-eyed-dreamr]

hi!! would you be able to do a fic of snufkin taking care of a sick regressor? if you could make the regressor aged 3-4 that would be great!! tysm!!!!!!

Of course! I'm so sorry this took so long, I was actually feeling pretty unwell myself so I was struggling to get any writing done. I also have emetophobia so I had to be a little vague with the illness I hope that's okay ʕ`•̥ᴥ•̥`ʔ

I really like how this came out though and I hope you do too! <3

Snufkin Cares for Sick Little Reader <3

It's been a long couple of days. You figured you were safe from sickness as the weather warmed, but unfortunately the Valley had other ideas. Stuck in bed while the others went off to play and seek adventure had you grumbly and moodier than usual.

It just wasn't fair! How come you are the only one who can't get their limbs to cooperate when you try to get up and walk around? And that was without mentioning the fever and icky tummy.

But Moomin has promised today will be different. He and the others have gone into the woodland to find a rare plant Moominmama spied in Granny's notes that will hopefully bring your temperature down and give you a little more energy.

Snufkin had volunteered to stay back and take care of you. When asked if he was sure (he did have the best eye for plants among the group after all), he pointed them in the direction of the Hemulen (who's eye was even better than his when it came to flora and fauna) and said he was needed more by your side today.

You hadn't known what he meant by that until you felt it. That telltale fuzzy feeling in the back of your mind.

Everything is just so hard right now. You're tired and achy and nothing feels good to eat and all you want to do is cry and stomp your feet.

You're regressing.

It shouldn't be a surprise - days of feeling icky and not being able to play with your friends? A recipe for disaster. Luckily, Snufkin had noticed and appointed himself caregiver for the day.

"It's okay to let go." He says, eyes tilted towards the sky as you both lay out on the grass, cushions from Moominmama propping you up and keeping you comfortable while the gentle breeze attempts to wash your fever away. "I'm here. I've got you."

You feel the tears well up as soon as he finishes speaking. Any resistance you might've felt melts away and you allow yourself to feel miserable in the only way a toddler knows how. You let the tears fall with a whimper and soon you're cradled against a soft green coat, rocking in a soothing motion while you wail.

"I know, I know little one." Snufkin coos. "You've been so brave, haven't you? I know it hurts but I just know you'll feel better soon."

He places a small kiss against your head, and keeps talking when the tears slow.

"And when you do, we'll go on as many adventures as you'd like. To the beach, to the woods, even soaring through the sky. Anything you can dream up, angel."

"Da others be there?" You question, one hand rubbing at your eyes and the other clutching at Snufkin's coat as if scared he might disappear.

Snufkin chuckles and takes over wiping away your tears, much gentler than you yourself had been. He produces a pacifier from his pocket and clips it to your own clothes, giving you the comfort of knowing it's there without pressuring you to use it if you aren't quite feeling young enough.

"Yes, the others will be back as soon as they can be. And you know they love to play with you, whatever age you feel on the inside. I bet each of them has an idea for an adventure, we can ask them later if you'd like?"

You nod quickly, then pout when your head hurts at the motion.

"Owie."

Snufkin kisses your forehead with sympathetic eyes.

"I know, sweet one. Do you think you could manage some soup? I made some earlier and it might help hydrate you more than water. I'd hope it'd be tastier too." He adds, noting your scrunched nose at the mention of water. It feels like all you've been doing these past days is drinking water.

You nod slowly, hoping the food goes down well this time. If Snufkin says it's a good idea, you're going to believe him.

You didn't, however, factor in the fact your friend would have to get up to fetch the food.

A whine passes your lips and you cling on even tighter to his coat.

"Nuh uh! Snuf'in stay!" You protest. Snufkin hushes you, stroking your hair till you calm a little.

"Easy, sweetheart." He coos again. "I'll be right back. Count to ten for me, okay?"

You do so reluctantly, counting between shaky breathes the longer Snufkin is away from you. He smiles encouragingly as he emerges from his tent, large flask in hand.

"There." He says, plopping back beside you before you've even reached the number ten. "I'm so proud of you, little one. I know that was hard."

You get another kiss to your head for your efforts and you can't help the smile that overtakes you. Snukin is proud of you!

"There's that sweet smile." Snufkin says, smiling back as he opens the lid of the flask and pours some soup into it. "Now, I'm going to hold this, just sip carefully okay? And we'll see how you feel once you've tried some."

The task sounds simple enough, and you nod your head with determination. Snufkin boops your nose, and then lifts the soup to your mouth for you to take the first sip.

It's DELICIOUS.

Your eyes widen and Snufkin pulls the lid back as you attempt to gulp all of it down at once.

"Ah ah, not so fast." He says. "I'm glad you like it, but you have to take it easy at first, okay?"

You pout, but nod. Snufkin giggles.

"Okay." He says, bringing the soup to your mouth again.

You sip much more slowly this time, basking in the warmth of the food and the ache in your head fading into the background.

When you can't drink anymore, Snufkin closes the flask and rolls it away from you both, pulling you in to snuggle against him again.

"Now. I think a nap is in order, then by the time you wake up the others should be here to help you feel all better. How's that sound?"

At your clear hesitation, Snufkin continues.

"We can take a nap right here beneath the sky. Together."

You smile and hum in confirmation, allowing Snufkin to lower you both onto the cushions. He tucks your head under his chin, curling into one another, and begins to hum.

The tune isn't a familar one, most likely taking inspiration from the wind, the rustling leaves, the bubble of the stream not so far away.

It sounds like home, and you allow yourself to drift, knowing you are safe, and you are loved.

[fizzingwizard]

6) Inside the lighthouse, Mamma's certainly been here. It's very small but nice anyhow. I do think it'd be fun if there was more of a fresco on the wall but. (Psst spot the handbag!)

Another little story booth, and this swan boat from "The Hemulen Who Loved Silence" I'm guessing? been a while since I read it

Bit of the Oshun Oxtra poking out of what is in fact a theater for the skit. Theater is made to look like it's inside the ship too. The skit is only 10 min long, and while very much directed at kids, I really enjoyed it. Mainly because of the lighting effects and pictures on the floor, plus the glowy Amphibian prop which descends to much delight towards the end. It was also the only time we saw Sniff at the park. Bf was totally lost because he doesn't know the story, and what with the show being only 10 min long, it goes through the story at lightning speed. Characters appear and disappear, there's Edward the Booble, then Mymble appears, then there's suddenly a ghost... bahaha. The 3D animation of the characters didn't cut it for me, but what do we expect? It was really cute and a creative way of telling a story, imo. A little more immersive than sitting and listening to someone read aloud.

Also the barometer and the closed off path up the Lonely Mountain, where there is the planetarium and an outdoor play space for kids. Too bad we couldn't see it

We found Snufkin too. I really enjoyed the walk - his tent is the very last part of the park when you head that way, and round the corner is a dead end. Since the park was so deserted, we were alone with statue!Snufkin, his harmonica song, and the loud, loud insects. I got bit by so many mosquitoes just hanging out here for a few minutes. Didn't get bit anywhere else lol. Really made the area feel isolated and lonely. Inside the tent, a video plays of Snufkin's silhouette. Moomintroll (I believe) visits him. There was more than one video, I got two of them which I'll post next, but didn't feel like sticking around to see if there were others.

[citizenoftmrrwlnd]

∞ :3

"All small beasts should have bows in their tails Or they'll find themselves locked in Hemulen jails If you make a mistake, get ready to pay You can't blame another and then run away" - All Small Beasts Should Have Bows In Their Tails - Ellinoora

every time i hear this song i think about maybe doodling myself with a bow in my tail... i'm a small beast sort of, right?✨

[skruttet]

small hemulens specifically? I guess he means children??

[brandonaguja]

I've forgotten what happens in that episode all of mooninvalley is a blur to me. Would you like to elaborate? You don't have to but personally I love hearing mutuals/my mutuals talk about stuff they like! ^^

Hi! This got So so long so uhm. Undercut, ok? Sorryyyy (^_−)−☆

November is the last episode of season 2, based off of the final book of the Moomin books, Moominvalley in November. I still need to read the books (I’ve skimmed through some and finished the first one years ago) but the story brought me to tears regardless.

It follows the inhabitants of Moominvalley as they wait for the Moomins to return, not knowing that they have decided to stay on a island permanently (well Moomin comes back but not in this episode). Mrs Fillyhonk, the Hemulen, the Mymble, Muskrat, and Snufkin all wait at the home and Toffle comes by. A small creature who imagines the moomins and wants to meet them. So they tell him all about them, bonding over the story of the Moomins. Snufkin all the while is attempting to find a note that Moomintroll never left for him, for he’s certain Moomintroll will come back and has said when. He hasn’t. Toffle also has a big imagination, thinking of deep sea creatures and how they come to life with the sea. He’s convinced one of these creatures is coming to follow him, and Snufkin tells him to stop reading stories. Later on he asks Snufkin if the moomins are real, and it upsets him and he says goodnight.

The current inhabitants of the Moominhouse end up paralleling the family while staying at the home. Fillyjonk as Moominmamma, the Hemulen as Moominpappa, the Mymble as Little My, Muskrat as Moomin, and Toffle as Snufkin in the sense of being an outsider of the family but still welcomed with open arms.

It cumulates to Toffle saying he brought a beast with him, that it will eat the house up and that they cannot leave. And the beast? Winter :) the arrival of Toffle has brought winter, and Moominvalley is covered in white snow. They say that they can meet again in the spring, when the moomins come back. They all go their separate ways, and Toffle and Snufkin decide to leave the valley. The episode ends with Toffle by the sea, saying the moomins are coming home and Snufkin running fast to see them. But it ends there.

Sorry for my badly done but long summarization of the episode. I liked it a lot! I really recommend rewatching Moominvalley if you can, maybe watch it with a friend if it helps you focus. It beautifully weaves a story based on the books and comics done in a unique and stunning way, tugging at one’s heart strings the whole way through. Love it so mich

[flowerbloom-arts]

Cringe fail creature compilation

[hemulenish-hijinks]

The Jailer

A minor character from Moominsummer Madness, he arrests Moomintroll, Snorkmaiden and the Fillyjonk for burning the local park's signs. Once he finds a flier for the Midsummer Play, he remembers back to his childhood of watching plays with his mother and puts his small disappointment of a cousin in charge of looking after the prisoners.

The Small Hemulen

A less minor character from Moominsummer Madness, she is the nervous smaller cousin of the Jailer who keeps her nerves at bay by constantly knitting. When she's put in charge, the prisoners trick her into letting them out by saying they're hungry, she then proceeds to take them to her home and feeds them all sorts of confectionaries. Once she hears out their side of the story, she goes with them to the Midsummer Play to talk to her cousin about the misunderstanding.

[writers-in-moominvalley]

💡Lightbulb Moment💡

There comes a point where, if you've read enough of the comics by Lars Jansson, or even those handful where he collaborated with Tove as a writer for the "Jansson" phase of the comics (as I like to call it), you notice that the Inspector shows up suspiciously often for a cameo featuring dialog for one or two panels at the very least, and then you hilariously realized that the Inspector is quite possibly Lars' favorite non-main character.

It's so silly, this guy barely had a personality, he was like a different hemulen every comic along with every other police hemulen up until Club Life in Moominvalley where he's finally given his iconic scarf and obliviousness but not much else, and then Lars comes in and picks this guy up by the scruff and decided to make him one of the most queercoded guys in the comic.

I hear Lars had a big interest in detective novels and had experience translating them but I'm not as well-versed with the life stories of the Janssons as I am with their Moomin works so I could be missing something but my word does Lars' favoritism become apparent by the time you realize the first comic he made after the whole strip was given to him established some very major details about the police station's operations and it becomes difficult to name a strip thereafter that doesn't have atleast one panel featuring the Inspector in some capacity.

This isn't a criticism as much as it is an amusing observation because I myself am an Inspector enjoyer, I am glad Lars made him quite the character, he is charmingly silly, he goes against many hemulenish and police conventions of the time and he casually rebels against conventions of traditional western masculinity.

Possibly the first appearance of the Inspector we know was in Moomin and the Martians, where he is the second police Inspector to show up in the comic and is mostly irritated by being a walking lightbulb because of the alien device, then was followed adoringly by the Martian because he reminds him of his electric mother. When the effects of the device wore off, he greets the Martian enthusiastically but the Martian is upset and wants to go back to his mum, and despite learning that this small creature is the Martian that the police has been searching for through the entire comic, he does the kindness of trying to comfort him and takes him to the Moomins via blanketed basket, even calling the Martian a darling when speaking with Moominpappa. I would also like to note he's the first ever policeman who took his hat/helmet off in the whole comic strip.

The first real establishment of the Inspector's interest in roses was in Moomin Winter, where he mentions them as an excuse to not take in the Nibling in fear of any child's ability to ruin them, even insinuating that they're worse than criminals. He's also established as a sweet tooth, a fact that he is embarrassed to admit even to Moominmamma who seems to be a very close old friend according to an earlier comic, Club Life in Moominvalley. He also sneaks into Moominhouse's basement to play poker and drink home-distilled whiskey with Moominpappa and Wimsy whom are established as having very troublesome pasts.

Moomin's Lamp, Lars' first comic, established his "prisons" to be very homely, filled with frilly decorum and motivational quotes amidst the etched wall graffiti and traditional prison bed, and the Inspector would cook meals for the prisoners, and while Finland is currently known to have very humane prisons these days, this comic was published in 1960 when the idea of prisons being a place for rehabilitation wasn't a popular idea.

And this is only to mention the major points of his character development, there are many things to point out about the Inspector between and after these comics. There's points to be made about his taste in interior design, his fixation on roses even above his job, his consumption of detective novels, his less than dignified sweet tooth and tea parties with the other police officers, his minor-to-possibly-major crimes, his ownership of weapons (none of which are firearms), his straight up avoidance of duty in the winter, his status as a bachelor, his leniency, his relationship with Stinky and even the Moomins and his constables, his nephew, so many things about him as so fascinating for me to think about.

And to have all of this be watered down/straightwashed in the 90s series then straight up ignored in the 2019 series feels like a bummer to me. Most of what made his character feel so out of place yet right at home in Moominvalley is his queerness and otherwise general disinterest in his job, and while queer people have had a long history of practically being at war with the police and the law as a whole, I think the Police Inspector being the way he is reinforces the queer fantasy of the Moomins.

(You sound like you're concerned about him finding something in particular out, Mr. Inspector. Even Snorkmaiden is raising her eyebrow)

And to have this characterization coming from Lars' writing when he doesn't seem to put that much queerness into other things is something to consider I think.

Also I got off track from what I initially wanted to say about his almost customary cameos in the Lars comics but I keep laughing thinking about how Lars put what could likely be his grandparent in a time travel comic, the resemblance between them is uncanny despite the different uniform.

[kill0mtr]

writing this down before i forget. (its all incomprehensible word-vomit sorry) (oct. 14 - oct 27)

world

candy world. all people are candy or candy-like things (think peppermint, bubblegum, cotton candy, caramel apples, etc etc) most people teeter on the line of anthro animals vs fully human.

think like moominvalley, how the moomins and hemulen and mymbles resemble animals in some ways, but are distinctly not human nor animal. except its candy... most families follow one candy-type (like how the Pennyroyals are mint-based, the Spiceroots are gingerbread-based, etc etc)

the food here is unlike any human has seen, having no earth-related food. instead, its all magic to us, since the people here ARE the food, they need to eat non-food items. hence, the made-up magical food they eat isnt anything real. (as in, its not REAL to US. the food they eat IS real to them. they cant just not eat anything) (i feel like this doesnt make sense because i explained too much)

what constitutes as candy? well... anything thats "junk" food. so popcorn, caramel apples, popsicles, etc etc, while they arent exactly "candy", they are quite junk-y.

the vegetation and plants in this world also arent like anything we have. the trees bear fruit that the candy people can eat, and the animals are all fantastical creatures.

despite the fact that the animals and plants and stuff arent candy, theyre still named after some. like a peppermynx, aka "a dog made of mint", who isnt actually made of mint, playing on the words of "peppermint" and "mynx", an old word for a domestic dog (now spelt minx, and is now a demeaning word for a promiscuous woman) in our world. i will go more into depth about this worlds animals and plants in a reblog of this. the town names and family names are also candy-based. because themes.

the candy world, which i have yet to name, is very similar to ours, because i have no originality left and earth's customs is all ive ever known. :P if i think of more itll be in a reblog.

characters (designs subject to change)

Cain "Mr. Peppermint" Pennyroyal. he/him, mid-late 20s (25-29) tall, lanky. bunny-like ears flop down to just above his chin, giving the appearance of chopped hair (the colors alternate between red and white, with white being the base color, giving the allusion to a candy cane) has a rounded bunny-like tail that swirls red and white like a peppermint candy. his paws have red stripes around the joints on his fingers. wears a green-brown tailcoat (inside is brown; like a dark brown) wears heels that add about two inches to his already tall height. eyes are quite "big", in the sense of he seems to always stare right through you. green eyes with a red shine on the pupils, making his pupils appear red in some lighting (like how cameras do that red eye thing)

Ginger "G.G" Spiceroot. she/they, late teens to early 20s (18-23) average height, with a bit of chub and curve. mo hawk-like brown "hair" that resembles porcupine quills, with small rounded ears. snout ends on a point, with white freckles. in their spare time, they roller skate. her style is very "punk", with a short cropped jacket, long-sleeved striped shirt, short shorts, ripped black leggings, and white chunky-soled running shoes. their eyes are a mismatched red and blue, with speckles of pink and purple in each respectively. her wrists, ankles, and waist have bands of white fur across them, reminiscent of a gingerbread man's.

Chip "Biscuit" Baker. he/him, late 20s (26-29) short, chubby, and stout. curly brown hair that extends about an inch or two past his shoulders. wears a suit most of the time. looks like if freddy fazbear from fnaf1 got humanized <- im getting lazy sorry

[ashes-of-ailell]

Today on OC stuff probably only I care about but I wanna throw out into the world anyway - songs that Lunaris learns from his friends / other people, and tunes he hums.

Luna really enjoys music and singing in general, so he likes learning new songs. His support chain with Flayn has them teaching each other songs and getting to know each other through them as one of the plot points.

However, outside of this, he's also learnt a few songs from Max, Lucien and Tyler, as well as people he's overheard while travelling and at the monastery itself. Luna can be found humming various songs very regularly.

'All Small Beasts' from Moominvalley - Learns this song from Max. Max says he got it from a storybook he read and really likes. He has since let Luna borrow the book in hopes he likes it too (he does).

"All small beasts must wear bows in their tails or they'll find themselves locked in Hemulen Jails. If you make a mistake get ready to pay, you can't blame another and then run away..."

'Solar Waltz' and 'Linger Longer' by Cosmo Sheldrake - Learns these songs from Lucien. It isn't made clear where Lucien learnt these songs specifically, but it's safe to assume he likely just heard them in passing. Overhears Lucien singing them a lot over the course of the trip to the monastery and memorises them.

"And work they must and work they shall, for all the things to grow. And if they don't, as time, she knows - they'd wither on the bough..." (Solar Waltz)

"Ring the bell, sound made crystalline - ring out for the cause of all notions. April's dew becomes Autumn's wine, leave everything always unbroken." (Linger Longer)

'Constellations' by The Oh Hellos - Learns this from Tyler. Apparently, Xander would sing this for her when she was a kid. It also worked as an effective lullaby (like. a gentler version of the song). She sings this for Max one night and Luna overhears it, asking her to teach it to him later on.

"The shapes that you drew may change beneath a different light. Everything you thought you knew will fall apart but you'll be alright."

'Song of The Nabataeans' - Learns this from Flayn in return for teaching her a song.

(We know how this one goes)

'Heritors of Arcadia' from FE Echoes - Learns this from a resident in Abyss. This is mainly here because I wanted him to know a song from another FE game and I happen to like this one lol.

"The seasons they turn, winter to spring, dulling the pain and erasing the sting. The seasons turn, summer to fall, time's warm embrace begins to heal all."

Also hums Snufkin's Harmonica Melodies from the 90's Moomins series, and the Song of Storms from Ocarina of Time.

[moominpapasfanficblog]

Boyle’s Odyssey

On finding your way around

The following morning, Boyle and Snusmumrikken were the first ones up. Boyle made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the three of them as they waited for Switchblade to wake up. They sat across from each other at the table in slightly uncomfortable silence.

“I’m sorry that I’ve been ignoring you since we found Switchblade, but he….is the reason why I came to Tornio. Why DID you decide to come with me? Cities aren’t your thing at all. I’m grateful for your company, but what are your hopes for this….adventure?”, asked Boyle.

“I’m not entirely sure. I came to Moominvalley to try to undo….a lot of things in my life. I wanted to be a Mumrik like Snufkin, to reset the Moominvalley village so that I could reset my life, but I found out that nothing was what I thought it was. I came along to find out if I could find a path different from the one that I started out on. You need to concentrate on what you came here for. Don’t worry about me. I’m beginning to realize that I need to observe you sorting yourself out to help in sorting myself out. I will always be your friend, just not like Switchblade is.”, said Snusmumrikken.

“Well said! The first order of business is to explain how we got this building to ourselves and remodeled. Feel free to tag along, Snusmumrikken!”, said Switchblade as he casually ate a sandwich.

“Please don’t do that! You’re way too quiet when you try to be!”, said Boyle, breathing hard after Switchblade’s sudden appearance.

Switchblade lead the pair of them back down to the first floor of the tenement and to the apartment in the center of the hallway. He knocked politely on the door and the door was immediately opened by a twenty-eight year old Fillyjonk dressed in a very tidy business suit with a tie and wearing circular glasses.

“Ah, Switchblade. What can I do for you and your….companions?”, they asked in a very formal tone of voice.

“Wilhelm, this is Boyle, the enterprising young Hemulen who’s really responsible for starting all this (at this, he waived his right arm around at their surroundings), and his traveling companion, Snusmumrikken. I brought them to you so that you can explain how you made it possible to make it all real.”, said Switchblade.

“Very well! Please, do come in!”, said Wilhelm, his expression and tone brightening considerably as he ushered his guests into his apartment. Like all the other apartments, it was a small studio. Unlike most of the other inhabitants of the tenement, Wilhelm had crammed furniture and accents into every available inch of space. His bed was a well appointed twin bed set against the wall nearest to the door. There were two tall four drawer filing cabinets against the right hand wall topped with tasteful doilies under two small lamps with colorful shades. Between the two windows on the back wall was a small kitchen table with a luxurious tablecloth and four cushioned chairs. There was longer, heavy, ornately carved wooden table across from the small kitchen area that was clearly used as a food preparation area as it was furnished with a cutting board, a well stocked spice rack and knife and kitchen utensil caddy. On the floor there was a very large, elaborately decorated area rug. There were small, framed paintings on every available space along the walls. Boyle and Snusmumrikken entered slowly, gawking at everything and hardly daring to think of touching anything.

“Switchblade is exaggerating. He’s the one who brought me here in the first place, long before he inspired all of you to do all of this. He’s the one who inspired me to go beyond the letter of the law to help him free all of the young beasts from the detention center. But, please tell me the story of how you came to be here and became part of the effort to restore this building.”, said Boyle, blushing brightly.

“When I first came to this building,”, began Wilhelm, “I represented the Tornio Housing Authority and I was sent here to inspect this building to write up an official recommendation that it be demolished. Naturally, I was very surprised to find Switchblade and his band of street urchins working on it and beginning to make progress rebuilding it. Instead of treating me like an enemy, Switchblade immediately perceived that I wasn’t comfortable with what I was doing. He made me an interesting offer that quickly became irresistible. He could easily guess all of the unjust things the Housing Authority was doing and suggested that I ally myself with him and his gang. I saw that I had a chance to redeem myself. I forged paperwork at the Housing Authority to deed the property to him and his compatriots. I also….redirected city funds to the rebuilding of this tenement. I moved here permanently and began smuggling evidence of the innumerable shady real estate deals perpetrated by city officials here. The filing cabinets that you see here are full of damning documentation that I plan to use to dissuade anyone from stopping the progress that we’ve made here.”, said Wilhelm.

Boyle opened a drawer in one of the filing cabinets and chose a folder of documents at random. As he read the papers within it, his expression became more and more grim and serious.

“That was a wise precaution. But, if city officials found out about just this folder alone, they’d panic and send in the Hemulen Police to destroy all of this evidence and arrest everyone who lives here, and that would be the end of all you’ve accomplished. We have to spread this information as widely as possible, let everyone in Tornio know what’s been done in their name, with their tax money. Switchblade, I know what I want to do here, but I’m going to need all of your help to do it. We’re going to start a newspaper. The city authorities won’t dare touch this place if it’s the location of a legitimate business. Knowing that we have all the goods on them will be a safeguard against them instead of a liability. We’ll have to act surreptitiously and quickly, so they won’t realize what we’re up to until it’s too late.”, said Boyle.

“I love the idea already! Just tell us what we need to do, and we’ll make it happen!”, said Switchblade.

To Be Continued