Chapter One - Stalling before dinner

Moomintroll had never seen Snufkin quite so nervous before tonight, of course, Moomintroll knew he couldn't relate to Snufkin's situation, as Moomintroll had never had to worry about setting a good first impression for his parents. Papa's old friends from his memoirs had arrived so suddenly, and Papa was full of so much joy he decided to throw a dinner party to celebrate the parents reuniting with their children. Moomintroll saw Sniff sharing stories with his parents the Muddler and Fuzzy all afternoon while everyone helped prepare for the party, but here in Moomintroll's room, Snufkin was too nervous to make conversation after the initial euphoria of being reunited wore off, so Moomintroll watched Snufkin stand in front of the mirror, trying to figure out what way was best to tie the ribbon around under his collar. Everyone was dressed a little more than casual tonight, and Snufkin wore a casually fancy white collared shirt with poofy sleeves, a flower-embroidered blue vest, pants to match, and the ribbon he kept tying and untying around his neck. Moomintroll hadn't seen Snufkin in many outfits other than his green coat and worn pants and nice green hat, but Snufkin looked very handsome tonight anyways.

Moomintroll tried to lighten the mood with a joke. "Snufkin, I'm wondering how you keep your laces tied, seeing as your having so much trouble with your tie." Snufkin laughed a little nervously.

"I think I may just be stalling for time. I've no idea what to say to the Joxter and Mymble. Do I share stories of my travels? Do I tell them how I grew up? What don't I tell them? What do you, Moominmamma and Moominpapa talk about?"

"Well we usually just tell each other how our day has been going and what we've been doing, but it's not really the same, is it? I've never had to meet my parents before." Moomintroll said, trying to tie his own bow tie around his neck, but with no luck as he couldn't look to see.

"Yes I suppose you're right Moomintroll," Snufkin said. "Sorry, do you need the mirror?" Snufkin moved to the side to share, and with a thanks Moomintroll moved off from the bed and to Snufkin's side. It was still terribly hard to see his neck past his own nose. Oh, but he didn't wish for a smaller one. A Moomin snout is a snout to be proud of, after all.

"Need some help?" Snufkin said, just finished untying his own ribbon tie again.

"I don't know, considering your skills tonight." They both laughed, and turned to face each other as Snufkin tied Moomintroll's tie into a perfect bow.

"Guess it's stalling then," said Snufkin.

"I know what'll help," said Moomintroll. "I'll be right back, unless Little My hasn't gone through all the alcohol by now." and Moomintroll left, and the room was quiet. Snufkin tied his bow one more time. It was a little uneven but not uncharmingly so. It was a bow fit for a snufkin, and Snufkin smiled. As he looked at his barren head, he wondered if he should bring his hat with him to dinner. It's bad manners to wear at the table, but if he hangs it on the side of his cahir it might fall and get stolen or damaged by one of his many younger siblings.

"So, stalling you say?" Came a sudden voice that made Snufkin jump.

"Relax, son, it's only me!" said the Joxter (for it was he.)

"Oh. Sorry. How can I help you.. Dad? Father? Papa? Which do you prefer?"

Joxter shrugged. "Whichever is most comfortable to say. Now, speaking of stalling, you look a little on edge, my boy." The Joxter held out his pipe, offering a smoke.

"No thank you," Snufkin declined. "I only smoke a special brand on Sundays, but I've left my tobacco pouch in my tent."

"Special brand?"

"Raspberry leaves."

"Now that must not taste very good."

"No, but it's what I smoke on Sundays. The pouch was made for me by a few children I looked after one midsummer."

"A few children?"

"Well, twenty-four."

"Oh jolly! It runs in the family I see!"

"Papa!"

"Nothing to be ashamed of, Snufkin! Children are wonderful things to be in the company of! I remember when Little My was born, you should have seen her. She gunked up Hodgkins' engine with porridge as her first big spectacle!" The Joxter laughed reminiscently, and Snufkin smiled.

"Yes, Moominpapa told me about that. He told us all about his adventures with you and Hodgkins and the Muddler. Very interesting!" Snufkin glanced over the Joxter's shoulder to the door. He didn't not enjoy talking to his father but he was at a loss for words. He quite needed that drink. He wished he had his hat, but he was sitting on the stool and it was over on top of the dresser.

"Mymble's distracting him, if you're wondering where he is," said the Joxter, knowingly. "I'd like to talk to you about him, but it's quite rude to talk about someone like they're not in the room."

"It's only rude if you're saying negative things about the person in question. Do you have something against Moomintroll?" The Joxter let out a hearty laugh.

"No! Of course not! He's a wonderful Moomintroll, much like his father."

"Then what are you getting at?" said Snufkin.

"Well, as your father I must ask, are you two.." the Joxter puckered his lips in a kissing motion.

"With respect, I don't think that's any of your business."

"With respect as well, it's 10 bucks of my business."

"Wait, what?"

"Well son it's a thing we call betting. I don't have much need for money but it's still entertaining."

"You bet on me and Moomintroll?"

"Yes. 2 separate bets actually. I bet you two were together to Mymble and the Moomins, who don't think so."

"We're not a couple!" The Joxter looked dejected that he lost. Snufkin sighed. "What's the second bet?"

"Oh! I bet that if I was wrong and you two weren't together, then you'd get together by the end of the night."

"You what?!"

"Sorry for taking so long, Snufkin!" Moomintroll shouted through the door, and came in a second after, carrying drinks. "Oh! Hello Mr. Joxter. Sorry, I didn't know you were up here."

"It's all good my boy, I was just finished telling him how I knew my Mymble was the one. It's like I always say, when a murmik falls, they fall hard." The Joxter knowingly tapped his nose, and left the room with a skip in his step.

"I'll say, your parents are very chatty. Got caught up in a conversation with Mymble, she's always got so much to say," said Moomintroll, handing Snufkin his drink. Snufkin took no time in downing the glass of whiskey. "Bad conversation with dad?"

"Embarrassing is the better word," Snufkin said through a flustered face. "I don't know if it's right to say but.. The parents are gambling."

"Strange, I didn't think our house was a casino tonight."

"Not on poker chips, on us, Moomintroll."

"What?"

"They're betting on whether or not we'll.. be a couple by the end of tonight." Snufkin didn't want to meet Moomintroll's eyes.

"Oh.. Well.. do you know who's betting for it happening tonight?"

"Only my father, as far as I know. What are we to do, Moomintroll?"

"Well, we could tell them to stop. But.. it could ruin the fun."

"What fun?"

"Ours. I'm not proud of it but Little My has been rubbing off on me. I propose we have a little fun to turn them on their heads."

"Scandalous," said Snufkin, sitting more comfortably once again. "I'm sure papa's already told the others that we're not a couple, so what options does that leave us?" Moomintroll and Snufkin thought for a long moment.

"We could try breaking up?" Moomintroll proposed.

"Elaborate."

"Well, it wouldn't be as a couple, but as friends. We pretend to get into a fight and then they won't know what to do!"

"That's devious, Moomintroll. I like the way you think! Though making one big scene randomly would give it away, right?"

"That's why we'll each be making small aggressions that'll all add up to one big fake blowout by the end!" A faint bell rung out through the house. "That'll be our cue." Moomintroll finally drank his glass of whiskey.

"Oh! But I've no idea what to do," said Snufkin, who was starting to have second doubts.

"It'll be fine. Something small enough to only get passive aggressive about. Oh, are you not going to bring your hat?"

"No, it's fine," Snufkin said as they walked out of the room. "It's too precious to let my small siblings get the chance to ruin it."

The two made it down the stairs, as everyone was making their way outside, and just as the others were looking, Moomintroll gently shoved snufkin with his shoulder.

"Oops! Sorry about that Snufkin!" Snufkin only smiled and hummed. The battle had begun.