Oh No! Our Table!(muddler) Its Broken! - Tumblr Posts
Part one to my moomins au
(not sure what to call this au yet but if any one has any ideas please leave a comment)
Chapter one. The last light (TRIGGER WARNING MENTION OF POISONING AND DEATH!) If any ones interested in this au but doesn’t want to hear the extra detailed bits just leave a comment and I can give you a brief summary without all the “gore” and I promise after this chapter there will be no more mention of detailed death at least)
Muddler had been lying in bed, sickly for the third day in a row, sick why you may ask?
Well you see, it first started when he was hoisted out of the coffee can and back on board the Oshun Oxtra, when he was first brought back up he flopped onto the floor of the deck and sat there, hunched over, coughing up all the paint he could. His coughing was moist like it was filled with phlegm, the type of cough you would get with a severe case of pneumonia, he was tossed around in that can like a bouncy ball let loose after all.
After he practically coughed his lungs out he layed there on his side curled up. Looking horrified and tired, his uncle bent down to his side;
“You alright muddler?” said Hodgkins in a deep worried tone.
“I-I’m... ok...” said the Muddler as he curled into a fetal position. “I’m sorry I made... such a fuss for every one...” he said through a congested voice before beginning to cough again. Moomin stood there. Unsure how to react or how to help he stood off to the side lines and Joxter looked at Muddler worriedly. Joxter then looked over to Moomin and said
“... towels?” Replied the Moomin
“Well, yes-! A few of them should be good-“
“Oh, of course...! Uhm, I’ll be right back-“ said the Moomin before going to the lower deck to grab some for the Muddler.
Hodgkins looked over at Moomin walking away then to Joxter, who approached Muddler a little.
“You’ll be alright Muds, we should get you cleaned up though-“ said the Joxter, trying to lighten the load of the current mood. Hodgkins gave a nod in agreement. “Mhm.”
Before picking up his paint covered nephew and bringing him to the make shift bathtub on the lower deck, Moomin was already boiling as much water as he could so muddler could have some warm water to wash off the paint with, he also set some towels down on the floor around the tub and left two folded towels to the side so Muddler could use them to dry off after. After Muddler washed off as much as he could he was still tinted pink, but that was the least of his worries. He luckily got the rest of the day off to rest up as he deserved, his joints and stomach hurt but every one including him thought it was just from being shaken around, things went on as usual, Joxter took a nap not too far from Muddler's can to keep him company and Hodgkins went back to steering his boat.
Things only got worse from then on; Muddler felt even more nauseous than the day before, spending half of his day near the edge railing of the boat to vomit over, he could hardly keep any food down, though it wasn’t like he had much of an appetite, Joxter tried to make sure he ate some thing though, Hodgkins soon became aware that things were only getting worse while Moomin was sure it was just something minor like a stomach bug or maybe just sea sickness. When Muddler wasn't throwing up he was laying down trying to sleep, Joxter tried to stay by his side to keep him company and more importantly keep him awake. Muddler became a bit irritable that day as well, I mean, who wouldn’t with his symptoms? And the pounding headache was worse than the day prior.
“Muds, please eat something- you haven’t kept any thing down all day!” said the Joxter
“Stop trying to give me food! I can’t keep it down and you're just wasting it on me right now!”said the muddler in a very unlike him snappy tone
Joxter went silent for a moment, very surprised at his tone “Okay... okay, I get it-“
“I’m sorry Joxter, I’m just... not feeling my self... I need some rest so please leave me alone, okay?” Said the Muddler before turning the other way and pulling his blanket over his head.
As the day went by and it got darker, Hodgkins went to check on Muddler and so did Moomin, who is now starting to worry about him.
“Muddler...? Are you feeling any better?” Asked Moomin as he went to Muddler's bed side.
“Not doing better at all... I was trying to get some sleep but I can’t even rest! All I can think about is that paint!”
“We can only wait it out.” said Hodgkins as he put a paw on Muddler's forhead to feel for a temperature.
Joxter stood in the door way, not going to Muddler's side just yet, he wanted to give him space because of that outburst from before but he still listened in.
“Moomin can you get Joxaren for me...?” Asked the Muddler rather tiredly.
“Joxaren...? Don’t you mean Joxter?”
“Yes, Joxter, sorry- you know what I mean... I’m just so tired...”
Hodgkins pulled over a chair and sat by his nephew in silence worriedly. Having a pondering look on his face, the Moomin nodded and turned to the door way and waved joxter over, he left as Joxter entered.
“Hey Muddler... you wanted to see me..?”
The Muddler looked as though he was about to cry and nodded 'yes'.
Hodgkins then got up and said “Gotta do something. I’ll be back.” then left the room.
Joxter sat where Hodgkins was sitting before and scooted the chair closer to Muddler.
“I’m sorry about earlier, I’m so sorry...” said the Muddler, about to break down sobbing.
“It’s alright, don’t worry about it! If anything, I’m surprised you’ve never snapped at me til now, after all I am pretty annoying-“ he said before putting a paw on Muddler's shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Jox, I feel like I’m dying...”
“Muds don’t say that-“
“I really mean it... everything... hurts... I’m not even able to eat properly... if... if I do die... I want you to take care of my tin- please-“
“Muds, don’t talk like this, please-“ said the Joxter in a more serious tone.
“Jox... if I die... please promise me... you’ll take care of my stuff... or at least put it to good use one way or another...”
“Oh Muds, you act like your old junk could help someone-“
“Maybe it can for all I know-! Well, I sure wish it could- who knows... maybe one day you’ll want to settle down...“
“Doubt that.“ chuckled the Joxter trying to keep this light “Not without you...“ he mumbled the last part, such a quiet mumble it was more of a thought.
“I want you to be happy even if I die.“
“Muddler for the Groke's sake, stop it! I get it! But you won’t die! Not on my watch! I won’t let you, but if it were to happen I promise I’ll keep your stuff safe, alright?”
The Muddler smiled weakly before moving his paws over Joxter's for a moment and fell asleep. Joxter smiled and was relieved Muddler was able to finally get some sleep, little did he know that sleep would last for eternity, the kind of sleep Muddler wouldn’t wake up from, the sleep that would contain his last breath at the break of the next sunrise. No one seemed to notice for a few hours, they wanted to let muddler rest since he had such a hard time sleeping, and Hodgkins was so close to landing the boat, he stayed up all night checking every map he had and using his telescope to look far across the ocean as much as he could since he had the goal of landing somewhere safe where he could hopefully get help for Muddler. Alas, by the time they landed and tried to get Muddler to wake... it was to late. Hodgkins was devastated, his eyes streamed with tears but no words came out, Joxter yelled at Muddler to wake up but to no avail, and Moomin... he tried to calm Joxter down as Hodgkins went back to his room to process what happened, to mourn a little before deciding where they should land and bury his now dead nephew.
SIDE NOTE THANK @flowerbloom-arts FOR HELPING ME OH LORD I had so many spelling mistakes and grammar mistakes until she swooped in and helped ✨