#Moomin attempts life

[moomin279]

Someone asked who reece shearsmith is today and i said hes my muse

[writers-in-moominvalley]

I'm going to reply to you here as to not spoil the poll but Moomintroll was considered an orphan in the first comic (Moomin and the Brigands) and the start of the second comic (Moomin and Family Life)!

The context is that he was separated from his parents since very early childhood (it's implied he wandered off through a fence gate) and didn't remember his parents until their incidental reunion.

Of course, this backstory was never brought up again as far as I know/remember. Moominpappa tends to take up the majority of the backstory currency in the comics.

(The... The comics are an utterly different timeline from the books, just to clarify.)

[moomstersnuffer]

GUYS. LISTEN UP.

I fell down a rabbit hole on the internet today and I found something. Freaking Taron Egerton(Moomin's voice actor) and Edvin Endre(Snufkin's voice actor) acted in the same freaking movie

The parallels are crazy; I've been bouncing off every wall in my room I'm so happy

Basically, for the ones who don't want to watch the movie, Taron plays a guy named Eddie who's only dream...is to be a star. An Olympic star. He discovers the sport of ski jumping when he watches...wait for it...Edvin(aka Matti), the greatest ski jumper of his time.

So now Eddie is hooked and he's got a new idol who he absolutely admires. Long story short, he goes to Germany to learn and casually starts being coached by Hugh Jackman(not his name in the movie) which I was not prepared for.

Now he learns all this stuff and gets really good so he gets into the Olympics and he's about to make his mark in the world by attempting his biggest jump and who walks into the elevator on his way up? Matti, Eddie's ski jumper idol.

OMG it's literally so wholesome though because Matti gives Eddie like a pep talk because Eddie is nervous but all I was hearing was Moomin and Snufkin and I was practically screaming my head off because what the actual—

Anyways, today has been a good day. Unless you count the fact that the guy I am hopelessly in love with let me borrow his ID before ID checks because I forgot mine. Then it becomes an absolutely perfect day. Yes, yes, I am very delulu. What else is new?

Back to the movie, I understand what life is like. It's busy, it's stressful, it's lowkey depressing, etc. I, myself, had more urgentthings to do with my time todaybut as you can see, i did the opposite(i regret nothing). So, for you guys, Imma share just the Eddie/Taron/Moomin & Matti/Edvin/Snufkin convo below.

Thank me later. Here you go

[m3r1m4r5u333]

I feel like many people misunderstand us, the unhinged, insufferable people with OTPs so. Here's a quick guide into the mind of an rabid buddie shipper.

I'm not clinging to buddie because I fail to see how awesome Buck's bi growth is. I AM BI!!! You think I don't get how awesome this bi character, this story arc, this bi representation is? Get out. Don't tell me, a bisexual how I should watch and experience a bisexual character. I drive my own brain, thanks.

And I know that it's possible to multi-ship. You don't need to tell me that!!

People need to understand that multi-shipping isn't some grand, epic personality trait that always comes with maturity, that the people who don't multiship are just wee dumb babies.

I may sound like I'm 14. I am not. I am very much not. I'm OLD. So old. And guess what that means? I know myself!!! That's maturity, too. And who I am... Is someone who falls hard, and obsessively.

I know I am just not built to be a multi-shipper. I have tried, sometimes. I have tried so hard. And realised, that's just not me. Multi-shipping is never as fun, and interesting or rewarding to me as focusing on my One True Pair. It just makes me feel suffocated, to attempt to like something I don't really find much joy in.

That doesn't mean that I hate the actors or characters who are "getting in the way" of my ship. Nope. I actually often adore the characters and actors, and the writing. I can also see and appreciate what some other character means for my OTP's growth.

Like in this case... Lou, playing Tommy? Not only do I love his acting choices (so funny, so skilled) but he also, he sounds like a lovely guy. I'm a fan!! Also, damn he's fine, I need a bucket for my drool.

And Tommy, the character...? I think the character is interesting - and don't get me started on "problematic", the shaming is futile. I am all in for fucked up, problematic characters. If you don't get why, you should really read some literary classics. Fucked up, problematic characters are art, they make you think, they broaden world-views. My best educators have been the monsters, and I will take this stand to my grave.

Demand for "unproblematic" is demand for censure, and censure is just another form of oppression. Want characters without flaws? Go watch Teletubbies. Ffs, even moomins have flaws. (Of course they do, Tove Jansson was a freaking amazing writer.)

Anyway. The point here is.

I am a mono-shipper. And I love slowburns, I love the romance of them, I get attached to ships. And I'm queer.

But where are the queer slowburns? I have been waiting for a slow-burn queer romance for so long. I CRAVE IT. Getting that, truly, would be queer history, a revolution.

And I see the potential for it in buddie!! The spark, the history, the journey. It has the potential to be the greatest queer slow-burn I've ever experienced.

You think I'd just abandon a ship like that, a slowburn like that, for some fast food, cooked up in what... Two episodes? Pffft. I invest. I am waiting for my roast to cook.

So yeah. I'm not going anywhere. I will watch, and let my freak flag fly, and I will have the time of my life. If buddie never becomes canon? Well so what. I can deal. It's not my first rodeo. Disappointment isn't actually deathly, you know. Trying to avoid disappointment kills hope, and enthusiasm. So yeah, I refuse to manage my expectations. I'm all in, and enjoying this mad ride.

"Well, I'd still take you."

"You think so?"

"I KNOW."

[sick-ada]

let me tell you all a tale

OEJUNGLE_04. a wonderful room. lots of connections. you will notice that there is an inaccessible ledge above the leftmost pipe. this will be relevant later

there are two scavengers in this room at this moment, with an overseer in between them. the rightmost scavenger, in a moment of unrivaled intellect and foresight, attacks the overseer. the leftmost scavenger has an explosive spear in its hand.

to nobody's surprise, the oveseer dodges. the left scavenger is nailed directly in the skull by the spear. the explosive spear it's holding is somehow ignited by this. there is only a moment before it will explode

"cool" i think, from the far left of the room "awesome. i am nowhere near this so i will be fine!"

enter moomin. moomin is my slugpup. moomin is in range.

i try to rescue moomin. the attempt is already futile. there is no hope, her fate is already sealed

moomin is launched at mach ten by the explosive spear. her short life flashes before my eyes.

you recall when i brought up the inaccessible ledge? yeah it's inaccessible

"her eyes aren't crossed out," i think, naively, "so i can just wait for her to walk off and i can grab her again"

the ledge, the ledge that is *completely* inaccessible in normal gameplay, is covered in worm grass. i watch my daughter be devoured whole. i am a changed man

i drown myself. moomin is safe and fine when i respawn. this haunts me for the next several months

[callmedylan]

I got bored and made a future Moomin valley AU and gave them all little happy families

So my Moomin valley fixation came back after like 5 whole years, and originally these were just meant to be one off little ship kid concepts but I grew attached to them and the idea of it and eventually it kinda evolved into a next generation AU in the span of like 3 days… Hope I’m not too late to the party chat…

I’ve been thinking up a LOT about this AU, but I’ll just give a basic run down rlly fast:

Lumi and Linna are best friends and basically take over the roles of snufkin and moomin, who are now lumis parents, the AU is very slice of life and follows a lot of the main lessons from the original moomin shows (Especially a veeeerrryyy familiar dilemma about a friend feeling sad over one choosing to leave for the winter)

Lumi is similar to Snufkin where she has a big urge to get away from social situations and be on her own, and can really only spend prolonged amount of time with her parents (or Linna in certain situations). Despite looking almost exactly like snufkin, she acts a lot like Joxter and it’s no suprise the two are actually very close especially considering their equal love for sleeping and hating authority. Despite her love for sleeping and her indifference to the idea of hibernation, ever since Lumi was able to choose she’s always chose to go south with Snufkin. Even if this makes Linna sad.

Linna is much more social than Lumi, and doesn’t mind speaking her mind and having fun with others. She takes after Snorkmaiden with her love for Romance, and often fantasizes about her “Prince Charming.” Linna, unlike Lumi, has hibernated for all her life, even after she was given the option to hibernate or not, she often wishes that Lumi would stay for the winter, but Lumi is insistent on traveling, but the two are always happy to meet again during the spring and go on their normal adventures. She usually acts as the “pact leader” and is often the one leading the games and day plans, but Lumi helps take charge when they are going on adventures as she is best at it.

There’s a couple side characters that are turned into more important roles, like for example in this AU the joxter is actually a reoccurring character !! (Let’s just pretend that Joxter and Snufkin met & rekindle their relationship and so now Joxter gets to be a silly grandfather!!)

That’s pretty much the basic rundown, and yes I did choose to ship snorkmaiden and Ninny, it was last minute but I thought it’d be actually rlly cute unironically.

Anyways Here’s some extra doodles I made cause I wanted to attempt to replicate Tove’s doodling style to finish off this post, so enjoy these!! And thank you for reading!!

[jiangwanyinsimp]

An Incomplete (and Very Long) list of thing Edwin Payne missed while he was stuck in Hell

This list emerged because I was talking about how he would have missed the end of World War One and then the list kept going. It is not complete or in order, and is provided simply for posterity

ww2

spanish flu

the hindenburg disaster

the rise of public radio

Irish independence

fast food as a concept

the hinterkaifeck murders

the extinction of the california grizzly

the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb

television

jet aircraft

supersonic aircraft

the moon landing

THE OFFICIAL FOUNDING OF THE SOVIET UNION

the jazz age

surrealism

the first woman to swim the english channel

the BBC

Amelia Earhart

Tintin

the discovery of Pluto

the crash of airship R101

the founding of porsche

the geneva convention

UK abandonment of the gold standard

the discovery of 22 elements on the periodic table

technicolor

Australia starting and losing the Emu war

the creation of the Royal Christmas message

the Great Depression

FM radio

the first canned beer

pre-sliced bread

the recognition of stress as a biological condition

the extinction of the thylacine

the destruction of the Crystal Palace

the first full feature length animated film (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)

the nylon bristle toothbrush

Batman

the last use of the guillotine for an official state execution

Gone With the Wind (the book AND the film)

the founding of Greggs

Looney Tunes

the discovery of the Lascaux cave paintings

Agatha Christie's works

Cheerios

the discovery of nuclear fission and all subsequent nuclear discoveries

the airplane ejection seat

The Little Prince

LSD

the lifting of the prohibition of married British women working as teachers

the disappearance of flight 19

the first formula one grand prix

Mensa

the invention of the magic 8 ball

the Doomsday Clock

the AK-47

the first commercial microwave

the Kinsey reports

the first time Idaho Fish and Game parachuted beavers into the wild

humanity's entry to space

the beginning of the broadcast of the Archers (the longest running present day drama by number of episodes)

the Korean War

the polio vaccine

the first nuclear powered submarine

The Lord of the Rings

Moomins

transistor radio

the TV dinner/ready meal

ICBMs

the entire life of Elvis Presley

Kermit the Frog

My Fair Lady (the film and musical adaptations)

Grace Kelly's wedding

the Entire Life Of Marilyn Monroe

the Beat Generation

Eurovision

Helvetica typeface

the peace symbol

the Cod Wars

computer games

Dyatlov Pass incident

Barbie

Missile Mail

the Declaration of the Rights of the Child

the MOSFET

particle accelerators

the Beatles

the recovery of the Vasa

the first Six Flags

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Catch-22

the Vietnam War

Silent Spring

The Rolling Stones

the night of the long knives

Vatican II

James Bond

the Cuban Missile Crisis

Thích Quảng Đức's self-immolation

the "I Have A Dream" speech

JFK Assassination

the smiley face

Mary Poppins (1964)

IntelSat

the last British execution

high speed rail

the first time "fuck" was said on british tv

the Moors Murders

the Grateful Dead

the British parliament decriminalizing homosexuality

most of the literary career of Pablo Neruda

Fleetwood Mac

the Parker Morris Standards

the end of steam passenger travel in the UK

Led Zeppelin

Earth Day

the first temporary artificial heart

the first person to row an ocean solo

Woodstock

the Zodiac Killer

the nationalization of Rolls-Royce

decimalisation of UK currency

the first e-book

the first microprocessor

DB Cooper

the first email

the Biological Weapons Convention

Watergate

the start of the Troubles

The Joy of Sex

all attempts to climb Mount Everest and the eventual first ascent

ABBA

the invention of the Rubik's Cube

the Moorgate tube crash

the first Cricket World Cup

the global eradication of Smallpox

Star Wars

the Tenerife airport disaster

the discovery of the rings of Uranus

Red Rum winning three Grand Nationals

the Concorde

the start of the broadcast of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Jonestown

Synthetic insulin

the Thorpe affair

the release of God Save the Queen by the Sex Pistols

Monty Python

the election of Margaret Thatcher

Star Trek

Iron Maiden

the incident where the dingo ate a baby in Australia

the end of iron and steel production in the UK's Black Country

the first London Marathon

Charles and Diana's wedding

the church of England votes to elect women to holy orders

the 1981 UK tornado outbreak

the first child born by IVF

the Falklands War

the raising of the Mary Rose

the invention of ciabatta bread

the discovery of the Titanic

the King's Cross Fire

Top Gun

Lockerbie bombing

[paikothecateater]

Things you'd find in their houses. Make it gradually more cursed PLEASE THIS HAS ME DYING 🤭

Norway makes butter sculptures before he puts the butter in the fridge. Iceland will just open the fridge to see a butter penguin.

Finland has life sized Moomin character cardboard cutouts.

Denmark has a bunch of those fish taxidermy things, but they're just... Fish. They're not framed or hung up. He just has... Fish.

Sweden has a bunch of failed artworks. There's a very ugly attempt at a wax sculpture just in his basement. It will give you a heart attack if you were to walk in without being warned.

Iceland has... Mr. Puffin

Okay I had to.

[flowerbloom-arts]

(this is a reupload of a an ask post that is """mysteriously""" not showing up on my or other people's dashes. The following post exposes the truth about Moominpappa, and after many attempts at reuploading this with screenshots of the post and with the images I used I found that it's the screenshots that are causing problems. The people must know the truth of Moominpappa's lies, and I shall stop at no end to try and educate people on the web of lies that Moominpappa from Tanoshii Muumin Ikka 1991 is created for himself. Tumblr and its agenda to keep 90s Moominpappa's dignity in tact shall not dissuade me any more! Book Moominpappa would be APPALLED BY SUCH SHAMELESSNESS!)

-

@helshdy asked:

Sorry if this is obvious but how did they retcon the moominpappa backstory? Do Hodgkins, Joxter, Muddler, and Fuzzy just straight up not exist?

-

Okay so like... let's start with the stuff the episodes actually tell us.

There's one episode where the Moomin family (Sniff, My and Snorkmaiden included) get invited to Aunt Jane's mansion, which is pretty cool to see tbh, we finally get to see what her living situation is (she doesn't even have a housekeeping staff, she's so goddamn lonely)

And in one scene the kids are cleaning a room and they happen upon a photo album, and the album features... a younger Moominpappa living with Aunt Jane at what appears to be a summer house....

[INSERT SCREENSHOTS OF AUNT JANE'S PHOTO ALBUM]

Now, this is an odd discrepancy that goes unquestioned by the kids but it's not unreconcilable with Adventures of Moominpappa, maybe this is just one childhood summer Moominpappa deliberately left out of his story because it didn't contribute to his story and he doesn't like Jane. That's a minor enough piece of lore to make it make sense.

But then there's Return To Childhood, the episode with Wimsy.

After a mishap with the kids except Moomintroll mistaking Wimsy for an intruder, Wimsy and Moominpappa explain the history of their friendship to everyone, and what they say is uhhhh... (checks notes)

Moominpappa would constantly change schools in his childhood and then he and Wimsy were dormmates at the last school he went to.

...

Now that completely throws AoMP out the window.

We also have real tangible proof of this in the episode, Moominpappa and Wimsy try going on a little adventure together and they come across their old school, it even has the initials they carved on a tree and the same principal is still running the school (AND DOESN'T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THE FILLYJONK PRINCIPAL).

[INSERT SCREENSHOTS OF MOOMINPAPPA AND WIMSY'S INITIALS ON A TREE AND THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL]

And based on the kids that currently attend the school it seems that this is a an elementary/middle school?

[INSERT SCREENSHOTS OF THE PRINCIPAL SURROUNDED BY A GROUP OF COSTUMED STUDENTS]

(they're wearing costumes for a festival here)

And that's like. Woah. Holy crap??? Moominpappa like...... actually lied to us. ATLEAST about the majority of his life. And of course the kids don't question this because of Bad Writing BUT WE KNOW NOW.

Though, with all of this I'd have to backpedal and say that Edward the Booble as he was does in fact exist, there's an episode where the characters get Edward so they can use his tears to heal a mermaid tail, although he doesn't seem... quite as big as he was in AoMP (it could just be the animator's horrendous inability to be on model but this is beside the point)

The Ghost, is also real, we all saw him in the Dame Elaine episode didn't we. It's undeniably him, it has all the references we need without a shadow of a doubt despite the very different appearance between that episode and AoMP.

Allegedly he still lived on the island the Oshun Oxtra were on (but we could also argue that it wasn't necessarily that particular island, or it could mean that Moominpappa did in fact go to That island but the events didn't transpire the way MP said they did)

The fact Moominpappa is lying about his backstory could also explain his utter lack of familiarity with Mymblemamma despite his claims of having been friends with her in his youth (allegedly in the Japanese dub MP didn't actually say she was Little My's mother and that she was just another lookalike like the rest of the parents, but also allegedly in the Finnish dub he did say she was her mom, so which is it??) and we can't chalk it up to the show's lack of continuity because based on the Dame Elaine episode the show was perfectly capable of having continuity that adheres to MP's Memoirs even before they actually adapted it. (Both Dame Elaine and Moomin Builds a House were episodes before AoMP part 1)

And the most damning thing about this whole thing is that if you actually watch the AoMP episodes, Moominmamma explicitly had no way to call Moominpappa out on this, she explicitly doesn't know what his backstory was pre-meeting him. "But surely she'd point something out if she didn't know who the Oshun Oxtra was" WE DON'T KNOW IF SHE'D KNOW, SHE WAS LITERALLY OUT OF THE ROOM WHILE MOOMINPAPPA DESCRIBED THEIR MEETING, AND SHE OBVIOUSLY WASN'T HEARING WHAT MOOMINPAPPA WAS SAYING OR WHAT THE KIDS WERE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE SHE WAS CONFUSED ABOUT THE KIDS STARING AT HER IN DISBELIEF.

IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW

MOOMINPAPPA IS JUST A BAD STORYTELLER AND I DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT THE UTTER LACK OF CHARACTERIZATION AS REAL

IT'S ALL A LIE

JOXTER AND MUDDLER WERE PROBABLY OLD SCHOOLMATES FROM ONE OF HIS SCHOOLS AND THE REASON WHY THEY WERE LOOKALIKES AND PARENTS WERE BECAUSE HE DIDN'T ACTUALLY KNOW THAT THEY HAD KIDS

WOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

[astralprisms]

Close up of illithid!Xa'rok (art by @/greseadraws) because I love them. I'm going to give a run down of their vibes/visuals/transformation mainly for my own purposes but in case anyone else is interested, read on!

I've drawn them myself a couple times before but haven't ever really been satisfied with the results yet. (First image below was my first attempt, shamelessly based on the hobgoblin from the Moomins, except instead of a flying space panther, Xa'rok gets an astral gravity-defying displacer beast. Second attempt was me trying to figure out their outfit design with base and chibi by @theastralprism)

(Chibis also by @/theastralprism)

I've tweaked their outfit here and there but ultimately keep coming back to the same influences: a silver, gem-studded illithid style mantle with a split cape back and a open front. I really want to incorporate the guardian collar spikes into their outfit as a repurposed sort of necklace or belt but I keep not liking the results. But I like the idea of them with a heavy chain across the shoulders - it feels official and status-given and as their endgame career path is "interplanar ambassador" it feels like a nice distinction.

Some outfit inspiration I've settled on:

Mantle and skirt similar to this outfit, though the skirt isn't quite so skimpy. The close-fitting half-jacket and necklace bodice feels very gith and also satisfied my desire for "give them a necklace of chains" plus the openness of the rest of the look accentuates their physique while showing off. Yes they're an interplanar ambassador with a fancy self-given title. Yes their metaphorical tits are out. They can co-exist.

Left is the most recent attempt at nailing down their outfit but it's still a little rough. I think I like the idea of the half-jacket with leather sleeves in place of bracers because it looks a lot like the undersuit of the mindflayer armor, but I also like keeping the residual spots on display. Toying with the idea of a circlet as they always wore one in game and it was a psionic boosting one which wouldn't be out of place on an illithid, but I haven't settled on the design or color yet. I was thinking something between the circle of psionic revenge and the design for the necklace on the elaborate robe which, as per all of the Emperor's clothes, has a bit of a tentacle motif going on. The gem in Xa'rok's Canon circlet is purple but the gems in their armor and their camp robe are a bloody garnet red, so I'm torn on the color there, too.

More rambling and story lore under the cut

Ultimately little has changed from their initial concept design to the current one beyond deciding their bottom layer should be a skirt instead of pants - more freeing and feels more adaptable to both illithid and gith influence in design, and I want them to be a visual mix of the two despite now being fully illithid. They may have left their gith body behind but they carry the history and the legacy of their former life with pride and a renewed hope of mitigating centuries of bloody conflict as a member of both species. (They also default to their gith form when they need a disguise in the Material Plane, though they keep the astral tadpole veins and continue to wear them without shame).

Their illithid form has gith spots because at least in my headcanon, the gith were engineered during their enslavement to become better vessels for ceremorphosis, and as they adapted their psionic abilities in response to this genetic tampering and grew more and more biologically like their oppressors, they were steadily being engineered so that the next ""natural"" step in their evolution was to become mindflayers. And this manifests in the modern gith form - already so alike visually to the shape and stature of mindflayers with their similarly ridged spines and prominent veins, their long limbs and skulls and torsos; the shape of their hips and the longer philtrum between their nose and mouth, where at least in the in-game models, look like a place tentacles would fit perfectly. The wiki already posits that illithid tampering led to the development of gith's psionic abilities and suggests it is also responsible for the reason they asexually reproduce and lay eggs, it only makes sense where such experiments were heading.

All of which to say, these things mean Xa'rok took to Ceremorphosis exceedingly well in body and form, though interference of the astral tadpole and the Emperor's suspended stasis meant their mind remained intact upon transforming, and as a result their new body houses echoes of the old in the ridges around their prominent first set of tentacles, like the creases around the gith's mouth; in the spots that stain their skin and the colors they bear, very close to their old form with additions here and there from the Astral tadpole (in the deepening purple at the tips of their tentacles and the darker purple mask around their eyes).

But though their body succeeded in transforming admirably well, their mind handled it...less so. Partialism was a gift, though as Xa'rok slowly came to terms with their new form, they realized too why it was so often cited as a fault in a healthy mindflayer. There were undeniable limitations. Sentiment and feeling, old attachments that caused new grievances.

They had adapted so well to being half-illithid they had forgotten that it was merely a fraction of true transformation. That to transform fully they would in essence cease to be and become something, someone, else entirely.

What does it mean to become someone else while still remaining yourself?

The transition was long, and difficult, and adjustment was an arduous and painful process, physically, mentally and emotionally. They took solace in illusion, often donning the guise of their former self as a way of self-soothing. They hadn't realized, for instance, just how important the ability to actually play music meant until they could no longer do it. They could play other instruments, yes, but the flute was an extension of themself, as much a part of their own body as their hand or foot. They were attuned to its sounds and moods, knew how to coax what music and magic they needed from it without effort, like breathing.

Losing it was like losing a limb. Illithids in general are not arcane-saavy, their souls untouched by the divine magic that also governed the Weave, magical cat's cradle of the gods, but the spells Xa'rok would often cast in their old guise were most often psionic in nature and to be cut off from magic as a whole without an instrument to channel it, they grew morose and agitated. In addition, being half-illithid within their old skin was a whole other world of sensation and experience than being full illithid in another body entirely. They had to relearn the world anew, without their favored crutch, while reckoning with the lifestyle changes that came with being illithid. The sun was a nuisance at best and an acute pain at worst in full light; the hunger of course was a worrying adjustment. They were ultimately not much bigger as a mindflayer than they had been as a gith, which was both blessing and curse. Less to readjust to on top of everything else, but something else that set them apart, othered them, weakened them.

They spent a long several months relearning how to exist in the world, and a few more before they could take pleasure in it. They had made the choice willingly, without hesitation, ignoring the Emperor's surprised caution at their decision. They did not regret it, but it takes them a long while to be at peace with it fully.

Eventually, they return to the world and their task. Ambassadorship in a new guise, with a new perspective. They begin composing music instead of playing it, mental symphonies (mostly) for their metaphorical ears alone. They hone their craft and their newfound abilities and marry them to their old in new ways, in the service of their work and their continued existence as living proof of their mission made flesh. Coexistence is possible. They hope to see it through.

They establish an Astral chapter of the Society of Brilliance, to continue the work among their home territory, aiming to mend the rifts between their former people and eventually, hopefully, tentatively reach cooperative agreement with their new people. But in the absence of willing, enthusiastic cooperation, they will accept a simple and definitive end to the continued hostilities. They continue to work towards this progress with set determination and no small amount of optimism.

Sometimes the Emperor accompanies them, when he can be coaxed away from the world of political pantomime in Baldur's Gate, where the Dead Three's bid for domination left a significant vacuum in upper city and ducal leadership. As an accomplice he provides additional proof of Xa'rok's theories along with moral support. It's nice to travel with someone again, though most of Xa'rok's work is largely solitary. They return to Baldur's Gate through a stable portal in the Astral chapter of the SoB's headquarters when they get the chance to rest and miss the company of others. The Emperor is always pleased to see them.

Sometimes the Emperor accompanies Xa'rok in disguise, both of them about the city in the guise of their gith selves (the Emperor takes on the appearance of the githzerai whose face he borrowed to walk in Xa'rok's dreams) and that githyanki/githzerai pairing is in itself its own lesson. Xa'rok may not have intentionally been echoing the teachings of Zerthimon when they were exiled from their creche for treasonous sympathies, but the agree with him all the same. Just as they would see the two halves of their current and former lives arrive at an uneasy but sustainable truce, so too would they encourage the same between the those of the Two Skies.

All in all, their work keeps them busy and sane, and eventually they settle into their role and their new body and look only ever towards the future, as bright as they can make it.

[fizzingwizard]

What I love about Moomintroll:

He's so interested in everyone he meets. He'd make friends with a piece of driftwood if he could. Or a bird that shat on his head. "Meet my new best friend, this tin can-wearing tumbleweed that doesn't speak." Although Snufkin gets the "best friend" descriptor, pretty much every character is closer with Moomintroll than they are anyone else. Snorkmaiden, Sniff, Little My, they're all Moomintroll's best friends - Snufkin is just his best best friend, lol. Part of that is main character syndrome, sure, but it's at least justified because friendliness is in his nature.

Despite that, he's not some kind of extreme extrovert. I won't attempt to label him extrovert/introvert one way or another - I think he has traits of both and can identify, or not, however he wants. But what I mean is, as much as he enjoys a party and likes meeting new people, he also enjoys being alone. He even gets huffy if he feels too crowded. His bar for reaching that point is much higher than Snufkin's, but still lower than Moominpappa's, since the latter generally goes off "to be alone" when he's feeling dissatisfied or disappointed somehow, not necessarily because he really wants to be quiet and reflective. He really likes people, but he also loves having a piece of his heart reserved only for him.

And although you might think these two traits would be in conflict with each other, they actually harmonize together beautifully. Because Moomintroll is friendly, he makes friends will people from all different backgrounds and walks of life. Because he feels so much and looks inward, he sees a part of his own heart in each of those very different friends. It makes him want, or think he wants, different things at different times, and it's the reason he can never be satisfied. He looks at Snufkin and sees his own values of peace, independence, and optimism reflected back at him, and he longs for a vagabond's freedom. But then he looks at Snorkmaiden and he sees his own appreciation for affection, companionship, and mutual reliance, and he wants to go home. Little My influences him to be tough; Sniff influences him to take chances; even Stinky influences him to be a rebel. And his friends don't influence him like that on purpose (well, not always). Their living true to their nature reminds Moomintroll that a part of his own nature is that too. And so Moomintroll is always on the border between being one thing or another, and I think that is what a Moomin is in the end: someone who walks on borders. And I really, really relate to that: the reason I write is to try to live all the potential lives in me. I can only choose one, but I want so many, including many that are utterly out of my reach. Writing lets me walk in so many worlds and be so many people. I love them all and would hate for them to be no more than wasted daydreams. If Tove had continued the Moomin novels, I wonder whether Moomintroll wouldn't have wound up a writer at some point, like his dad and yet entirely different.

[moomin279]

I got 2 A*s and an A in all of my a levels life is good these men aren’t ruining it

[smokeys-house]

So you've seen her around, and maybe you're wondering... What's the deal with Puukko? Who is this mysterious moomin flooding the tags? Or maybe you're just a curious sort. Either way, this post will serve as an updated introduction!

Art by @pink-nubes ❤️

The long story short

She's my moomin oc. I've been writing about her a long while now and if you're reading this you've probably seen some art of her floating around, too!

The longer version

Along the French Riviera, a young moomin girl is raised by two parents of meager status. Her fur is brown and bristly, and she doesn't say much. They call her Pinecone on account of her shape and fur, just until she's old enough to choose a name.

As she got older, she took to working at the docks to help support her mother, who has fallen ill. Sometime after, her father makes his leave, claiming that he'd be back after he struck it rich. He had a plan, but Puukko was never quite sure if he was telling the truth or just couldn't bear to see his wife like this and support a child. He was never seen again, and soon after, her mother passed as well. She took up the name Puukko after apprenticing with a blacksmith at port around this time. She's not sure what drove her to piracy, but she spent the next many years as a pirate during piracy's golden age.

During her adventures, she encounters a young fillyjonk woman named Marion. I won't spoil too much since it's still in the works, but after duelling Marion's father in Marseille for his daughter's freedom from an arranged marriage, she received her classic scar, and earned a name as a pirate figure of legend. Edit: you can now read The Cane King's Daughter & TCKD: A Story for Another Time on my blog and on my ao3!

Marion joined up with the pirate, now known as Captain Whetstone, and spent many years adventuring with her crew. They shared a deep bond, though they never admitted to one another their feelings. Eventually, their reputation would catch up with them, and the king would no longer turn a blind eye to pirates. He issued a proclamation declaring that any and all pirates who surrendered themselves before a certain date were to be given a royal pardon for any crimes committed during their time as pirates, else they be hunted and bounties set upon them. Captain Whetstone, being a particular thorn in the side of the crown, was extended one mercy beyond the pardon that she did not initially accept. Her crew was captured, and Marion along with them, She was to turn herself in or they would all be tried and likely executed. She struck a deal, albeit by force, claiming that any illegal acts committed during the course of "negotiations" would be pardoned alongside her crimes as a pirate.

They sentenced her to punishment by transportation, and had her swear an oath to never board a ship again. She was sent away, and her crew was given their freedom. She found herself in the west, wild as at was at the time, and attempted to make a new life for herself. This was short-lived, and eventually she found herself where she is today.

These days, she's back to calling herself Puukko, and lives in a moominhouse of her own high in the lonely mountains. She plies her trade as a blacksmith, telling stories of the old days and occasionally stopping by down in the valley and elsewhere. She's an old woman now, and rather delights in that fact. She's a little odd and eccentric, but who isn't in moominvalley?

Okay, but why is she brown? Moomin fur is white!

Quite clever, dear reader, and I'm glad you asked! You see, Puukko is a winter creature. A winter moomin, to be specific. What does this mean? Well, you remember this fellow here:

The Ancestor. To my knowledge, they appear in every adaptation of The Moomins (this one's from the 2019 Moominvalley), and I believe every time it's mentioned that they slept in stovepipes. Here's where I diverge from canon and into speculation.

I headcanon that moomins as a species, upon becoming too big to sleep in stovepipes, began sleeping in large huddles to disguise themselves as snow mounds in winter and keep warm. Instead of joining the moominpile as it were, some of them stayed awake during the winter and retained their fluffy brown Ancestor-like fur, but otherwise similarly developed more moomin features. Winter moomins have thick brown fur, are taller and wider than your average moomin, and are ill suited to summer and hot climates. Even though Puukko as a character pre-dates my watching of the 2019 series, I also really like too-tikki's description and characterization of winter creatures during the ancestor episode.

Why does her name mean "knife?"

The knife part is simple. Most folks in the valley are named after what they are, or are known for what they do. A "puukko" is a kind of Finnish general purpose knife, and I thought it well suited her character as well as fit the theme for her pirate name, Captain Whetstone. Which also has a reason, but you should read my stories to find that one out!

When I was first designing her and thinking up stories, I was watching through the 90s Moomin series again, and I had begun collecting screencaps of all the knives. Lots of folks in the valley have them in the 90s series, and they all look well made but handcrafted.

And so I figured my OC would be a blacksmith. She's the one responsible for making all the pretty little knives in Moominvalley! From there on I tried my best to suit her to canon, but at the time I had only seen the 90s series and the Riviera movie. She's grown and changed over time, and I've written lots of things about her!

That's all, folks!

Thanks for reading! If you're curious about her, or have any other questions, or just have something to say, please feel free to reach out! My ask box is always open, and anonymous asks are always on. I love talking about Puukko, and I love talking about moomins in general. It's one of my biggest passions! There's a tag directory in my pinned post (which is probably how you got here if you're not seeing this in the tag or in your dashboard feed) which should lead you to art of her (simply tagged "puukko"), stories of her (tagged "whetstone's whispers), and other information (tagged "capitan's cabin").

❤️❤️❤️

[characteroulette]

Actually, here's a smorgasboard of fic recs because why not --

The Things We Do For Gym Access by Queenychu (ongoing): Klapollo fic where they are fake dating and gym buddies. Lots of cute drama, a slow burn making me chew on my own arm, and describes gender euphoria so well it gives it to me second hand (also makes me want to get back to a Gym lol)

In Pursuit of Justice by StrawhatsandDelibirds (ongoing): Apollo Justice from the view point of Klavier Gavin!! This one gets the Wocky and even Stickler voices so goddamn well it's awesome. Also love to see Klavier being both a wreck and the huge dork that he is, I legit cannot wait to see where it goes.

Your Own Cupid by mngwa (complete): a very very cute Ace Attorney fic where Athena is tired of these pining Narumitsu and Klapollo happening around her and so takes matters into her own hands. Kinda. I have a soft spot for these types of fic where the whole point is to setup the pair I'm into lol

Klavier Gavin and the Case of the Anonymous Letter by apolloyoostice (complete): Klavier is a MENACE I, too, would immediately take back my attempt to confess like that lol.

Tomatoes, laxatives, and other things that don't belong on sandwiches (complete): Klapollo work scuffle in which I sided with Apollo the whole time, but absolutely revelled in Klavier's cowardice. Probs steps over a few bounds I don't quite agree with, but it's still a fun romp!

Tragedy by Verse (complete): Phoenix Wright and his relationship to an outer god who seemingly controls the trajectory of his life while it is present. Absolutely beautiful and, indeed, tragic.

Darling, Oh by bootishbint (complete): Snufkin and Moomin have a day at the beach. I nearly have the summary of this one memorised, I like it so much. The language in here and just the title haunt me so, I'm love it.

And Worship the Trousers That Cling to Him by ladysisyphus (complete): a Persona 4 everyone/Yosuke sorta comedy fic. This made me laugh so hard with a bonus HELLO???? moment with Yu specifically near the end. ""If I didn't have this, no one else would be able to have you."" LIKE HELLO!!! I am HERE for casual shit like that dropped in there, Yu is a goddamn funnyman XD

anyway yeah have fun

[bedbellyandbeyond]

Moomins

(Story Post)

Asger was startled awake. When his eyes opened, they met Tand's again as he perched over him, staring down. For a split second, he thought they were back in the forest, but his awareness reminded him that they were in Tand's room. “Uh…hej?” Asger said, blinking and attempting to look away, although the intimidating face filled his whole vision. “You went to sleep while showing a movie,” Tand stated. “Oh… So I did.” Asger was waiting for him to move off of him but Tand didn't move. “Um, did you want to tell me something?” Tand frowned. “You have your own room. Why do you sleep here?” “It was an accident,” Asger said. “I got sleepy. I can go back to my own room if you'll let me.” Tand let out a huff and then moved to let him up. He watched to the side as Asger sat up and smoothed out his clothes.

“Did you know?” Tand asked. Asger looked at him as he retied his hair. “Did I know what?” “That I have a baby in me?” Tand asked. “Er… When?” Asger asked. “I did after the doctor said so.” “Not in the woods?” Tand asked. Asger nodded. “How would I have known?” “I do not know…” Tand let out a loud sigh. “Then I do not understand.” “What do you not understand?” Asger asked, hoping to be helpful. Tand looked at him with a sudden solemnity. “If you did not know that I was with a baby, why did you not want to mate with me?” Asger was taken aback by the question, but took a moment to consider where Tand's question was coming from. Every stranger he had encountered before Asger must have been nothing less than eager to mate with him. Then Asger comes sauntering into his life, upturns it, but refuses to bed him. He looked around. The kids were fast asleep, all huddled up together on one of the two double beds provided. He continued softly. “Well… That's not something we need to do here in this realm,” he decided to say. “There are so many people around that it’s actually quite inappropriate to try to have sex with the first person you see. There’s already enough people. Too many people, some might say.” “Then you do not mate at all?” Tand asked. Asger blushed. “No, no, we do! I mean, if you mean me personally, um… I have. Not a lot, but you know, who's counting?” “If you do not want more people, why do you mate?” Tand asked. “Well some people do want to have kids,” Asger said. “It’s a matter of finding the right person they want to have them with. And also we have ways of having sex that won't make children.” “What is that for?” Tand asked. “Pleasure. Intimacy. Satisfaction. Bonding,” Asger said. “Whatever you want it to be for. A lot of people like to have sex just to have it.” Tand pursed his lips, shaking his head a little. “I do not understand that. It is quite unpleasant.” Asger frowned, a pang striking his heart. “…I’m sorry that has been your experience with sex. It should not be that way. It can be better.” “I do not believe that,” Tand stated outright. “So… Every time you’ve had sex, you didn't enjoy it?” Asger asked. Tand took a moment to think. “One time was not as bad as other times… It did not hurt so much. But I was stronger that time. They did not do so much.” Asger grit his teeth. “You don't have to suffer that anymore. I wouldn't do that to you.” “I know. Here, you have choice,” Tand said. Asger smiled proudly. “That's right.” “And you do not want me.” His smile broke. He looked at Tand. “Well, I… Um...” “I understand,” Tand continued. “There are many people for you to chose. It only makes sense that you would not choose me. Why would anyone? I am not even of this world.” Asger didn't know what to say. “That's not true at all! You are desirable! Someone would want you!” “But not you,” Tand said. Asger was terribly flustered, and his whispers grew sharp. “I am not saying that at all!” “Then, do you want me?” “Yes!” Tand scowled. “Then why did you not say so already?” “Because! Because…” Asger was still surprised with himself that he'd admitted it. He lowered his voice. “Because I didn't think you would want me back.” Tand paused. He looked at Asger and then rubbed his chin. “I see. But how would you know if I did or didn't unless you asked?” “I mean, I…I wouldn't know for sure, but I figured after what I've done, breaking your trust, taking you from your home… I would believe you hated me,” Asger said. Tand nodded slowly and started closely studying the hems of his clothes. “I understand…” Asger stared at him while the other sat silently, seemingly now completely absorbed in his own clothes. His nerves couldn't handle it. “Tand!” he said, a little louder than he planned. Tand shot him a glare and motioned to the children. “Hush.” “Sorry… Tand,” Asger said more quietly, his face flush. Tand acknowledged him. “Mn.” “Do you like me too?” Asger asked. Tand glanced at him. Then he nodded once. “Mn.” Asger’s heart raced. “Not just like. Do...Do you want to be with me too?” Tand hid his face. “Yes.” Asger’s face broke into a smile. “Really?” Tand scowled towards him. “I have already said it. Do you need me to say it many more times?” The relief Asger felt was incredible. “I thought you hated me.” “I did a little bit,” Tand said. “I do not now.” Asger's smile only grew. “So, then… Can I kiss you?” Tand was taken aback and glanced at the children. “…I do not wish to mate here.” Asger shook his head. “A kiss does not need to prelude sex.” “You just want to kiss only?” Tand asked. “Yes. Only if you want to,” Asger said. It was Tand's turn to blush. “Sure…” They both sat staring at each other for a moment. Then Asger leaned forward, his nervousness making him hesitate. Tand's eyes were on him, waiting expectantly, and it only made Asger that much more nervous. After another moment, Tand got impatient. “You are too slow.” He suddenly took Asger's arm and closed the gap between them, his lips pressing against Asger's with some force. Asger pulled away a little bit, feeling a bit overwhelmed, and Tand eased up a little, but keeping them together. His lips were just as Asger remembered; thin but soft, his actions forceful but not unkind. He had some experience, but seemed to just be copying whatever Asger was doing. Without thinking, Asger bit softly against Tand’s lip. This, he realised all too late, prompted Tand to do the same, and the pain he felt from those sharp teeth was unavoidable. “Ah!” Asger recoiled abruptly. Tand was startled back and he stared wide eyed at Asger’s face. “You are bleeding!” Tand reacted, his expression concerned. “I hurt you.” “No, no, it’s fine…” Asger touched his lip and it stung, but he pursed them tightly to put pressure on the wound. He held up a finger to Tand to signal him to wait a moment while he went to the bathroom and check it. Thankfully it was just a little cut, and after washing out his mouth, the bleeding wasn’t so bad. Asger returned to the bedroom only to find Tand sitting on the bed cross legged, his eyes moist like he was desperately holding back tears. “Don’t worry! It’s fine, it’s fine,” Asger reassured, walking back. “See? I’m fine.” “I know,” Tand said, although a sob left his lips. “You don’t need to cry,” Asger said. Tand shook his head quickly. “I know. I’m not.” Asger smiled and knelt on the edge of the bed, pulling Tand into his arms. “It’s okay. It’s okay.” Tand submitted to his hug, pressing his head into Asger’s shoulder. “I do not know why I cry…” Asger rubbed the back of his neck gently. “It could just be hormones, I think?” “Hormones?” “Yeah… I think your pregnancy just makes emotions stronger sometimes,” Asger explained. “I honestly don’t know. I’ve never really been around anyone pregnant before. Except my dad’s wife, but I stay away from her…” Tand sniffled and pulled away, wiping his eyes. “It is done… No crying.” “It’s alright to cry,” Asger said. “Honestly, I’m feeling a lot of things right now too… But it’s late, so I should probably go to bed.” Tand nodded. “Mn…” Asger walked over carefully to check that the kids were still asleep. Bita and Sten looked to be out cold, but Soppa was squeezing his eyes shut tight, so Asger chuckled and pat his head. “Good night.” “Asger...” Tand suddenly piped up, his tone very serious. Thinking he'd done something wrong, Asger straightened up quickly. “Yes?” “In that one movie, Pippi?” he inquired. “Yeah?” “Her father... He is not often there.” “Yeah, he's not the most present father.” “But the Moomins... There is Moomin Papa and Mama. And they are always there with their child.” “That's right,” Asger said. “Which is normal for people of this realm?” Tand asked. Asger relaxed. “Ah... Well, both happens unfortunately, although Pippi's father isn't the greatest role model. All types of family arrangements exist, but for me, I like how the Moomins do it.” Tand nodded. “I do to.” Asger scratched the back of his head. “Is that everything? I really should get to bed. We both should.” Tand stared at him. “Moomin Mama and Moomin Papa share a bed.” Asger’s face burned. “...Are you asking me to stay?” “Just to sleep,” Tand stated. “Just to try. I do not know if I will like it...” “Um, okay...” Asger nodded slowly. “Can I get my pyjamas and come back? I can't really get comfortable otherwise...” Tand cocked an eyebrow. “You were able to sleep before.” “Yes, but um, if I stayed like that all night, I'd be sore in the morning,” Asger explained. “I'll just be one minute. I'll grab them and come right back. I’ll change here.” Tand feigned lack of concern. “It is fine. Do whatever.” Asger smiled. “I'll be right back. If you’d rather… You could even come with me?” “No, it is not needed!” Tand said a bit sharply. Asger nodded. “I will come back.” “I can trust that you will. You do not need to say so.” “Okay, okay.” Asger slipped out and quickly retrieved his pyjamas, pausing only briefly in the hallway to smile to himself giddily. He was back within a few minutes, pyjamas bundled under his arms along with a small bag of toiletries, and he went to the bathroom to change into them. Tand continued to wait on the bed, trying to act like none of this was a big deal. Asger spent an extra few minutes to brush his teeth and wash his face, but when he came out, Tand was still just waiting patiently. “Just sleeping,” Asger said, a bit more to himself than anyone else. “Of course, wouldn’t be anything more. There’re kids in the room after all…” Tand looked him over. “You wear so much just for sleeping?” “Yes?” Asger looked down at his pyjamas which consisted of a flannel striped button up shirt and tapered pants set. “It’s just comfortable.” Tand just laid down and turned away. “Hurry. I am tired.” Asger slipped under the covers carefully, trying to give Tand his space. “I really don’t usually sleep over on the first date,” he tried to joke. “Date?” “Never mind. Never mind. Good night.” He switched off the bedside lamp. “Good night.” Tand replied.

[horrendous-bisexual-showdown]

Poll 18

Nick Riverson (He/Him) by @strangeauthor

Why Should Your OC Win?

He makes horrendous jokes and also is super oblivious to love even though his new friend and neighbor is giving him ALL the clues that he's in love with him. Also he's a literal hothead

What is Your OC Like?

he's a black sixteen year old with a small afro and often wears black, white, and red clothing. pic for rep, made by ErsMicah

Ulyana (She/They) by @orfisheus

Why Should Your OC Win?

She may be good at fighting, but she certainly is not good at living.

Ulyana is the personification of a fish out of water. Released on prison furlough in a foreign country, their basic knowledge of life is: 0. She can barely figure out how to turn on a washing machine, cook anything aside from a quiche, or sit in a chair properly. They have a Moomin shrine in their closet. She is scared of anime. Everything normal that she attempts to do turns out to be an absolute failure. Having never learned basic life skills aside from how to knock someone out cold, they're doing... the best they can, really. At least she has her wife, who she married in Vegas after getting very tipsy.

Also, my friends say she's really pretty, so we love to see pretty women!! She literally has one of the roughest backstories that I've written, so she deserves a win for once.

What is Your OC Like?

Ulyana, after years of being used as a political pawn throughout her childhood, is finally free to live her life! Needless to say, they aren't very good at it. It's tough to learn the basics of life at 24, but hey! No one said they couldn't try. Stern, tactical, yet sweet, and often very anxious, she's found her home living in an old house with three other roommates, not including the one who broke into the attic. They spend most of their days in college classes, or working overtime on weekends in the most boring grocery store ever.

Don't be fooled by her anxiousness and awkwardness, though. Years of military training has made her very capable of kicking anyone's butt. Stay on her good side, and you won't find out what it feels like to be swept off your feet and have three inch heels on your face. You're safe when you find a metal detector. She's probably got at least 50 knives on her at all times (they stole all of them. Just because they are on furlough DOES NOT mean they still aren't committing crimes!! She does crimes for fun!!)