A Book of Strung Together Stories

Revelations and Realisations [Moomins: MV AU]

Snufkin has been coming back to Moominvalley for years now, and in this time - especially now that they're all grown up - he has made himself a home port out of an anchor; a place to return to again and again and always be sure of his welcome there. The creatures there (a few even like him in some ways) he has come to know so well as kind and generous and gentle that slowly his heart has opened up to love; because he is loved there and he loves there, and now he's just learning how to accept and return it.

(Especially when it comes to two very special and very pretty sirens.)

The problem is that, though the creatures here are accepting and kind-hearted, Snufkin is hiding something. Something rather important...

Snufkin sighs again as he stares at his hazy reflection. Being half-werecat means that, although he's also part vampire, he has - no, partially has - a reflection. Enough of one that you can see colour and shape but no details, no features. It could be quite infuriating at times, but mostly just acts as a subtle reminder of what he really is.

Something tugs on his fishing line and his attention is immediately redirected. He pulls the fish in quickly, expertly snatching it from the water and detaching the line. He drops the fish into the water-filled bucket beside him along with the other three he's already caught today. One is fairly big, while the other two plus the one he's just caught are unfortunately quite small.

He'll need a lot more to satiate himself when the hunger kicks in later. Snufkin can feel it coming, the tiny nagging feeling that preludes all of his starvation-induced frenzies. He'll be here for a while if he's to get enough. If only fish had more blood in them. He sighs again before sitting back down on the bank.

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He's been sat there for around an hour, having caught only one (again very small) fish in the mean time, when he hears two sets of footsteps approach. He glances up and has to take a minute to get his silly heart to calm down. Moomin and Snorkmaiden look wonderful outlined by the light of the setting sun, one reflecting the colours off of his white fur and the other glowing a soft pastel pink. When he's gotten control of the blush on his face he looks up at them, smiling. "Hello you two, something you need?" he asks with a calm he's not really feeling. Moomin glances at Snorkmaiden, unsure, and she gives him a small encouraging nod. "We're headed down to the beach," the white siren says, holding up a picnic basket, "to watch the sunset. We were wondering if you'd like to come along?"

Snufkin pauses, looking back at the river. "That... sounds a lot like a date." he says. Again he has to take a moment to get himself under control, in which Snorkmaiden responds with "even so, we'd like you along. It'll be nicer with you there." He bites his lip at that. The two sirens are dating - and properly, with true honest love, instead of the play it used to be when they were all younger - and it would be horrible to be the one to end that. Besides, he needs these fish.

But a quick walk? It's very tempting...

Snufkin makes the horrible mistake of looking up at them again, as he's met with two sets of very powerful puppy eyes. His already very weak resolve crumbles to ashes and he gives a fond sigh. "Alright," he says, pulling in his line and standing, "lets go then."

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Time slips away as they sit on the beach together. The sun has long gone beyond the horizon and the stars are out. The moon is bright in the sky (though thankfully not full) and the night is peaceful. They spread out the picnic, get a fire going and then Snufkin tells them stories about the constellations as they eat. He's leaning against Moomin on one side while Snorkmaiden leans on the other, both of them beautifully illuminated by the light of the moon, and Moomin holds back a blush. It's perfect; just the right kind of night for confessions of love. Moomin is nervous, and he knows Snorkmaiden is a bit too, but with the way the evening is going he shouldn't be. This'll work out.