Chapter Text
"You're just going to leave? Ha! I can't even take you seriously anymore, Moomin." Joxter laughed and snorted as if he was the funniest man alive.
On the deck of the grand Oshun Oxtra stood two young men. One was a young mumrik, Joxter, and the other a young moomin, who we now know as Moominpapa. However, in these younger days the moominlad was known as Captain Moomin the Great.
Joxter was wearing his green coat and his red hat: his usual attire. It was late and the bright moon in the sky lit up the scene. The hour of the night had put others in the crew to sleep, but not Joxter or Captain Moomin. Captain Moomin was looking a bit disheveled. He was without his hat or coat, only wearing his untidy white shirt and his cravat. He was pacing back and forth on the deck, and Joxter was leaning against the mast as his laughs echoed through the chill air.
"Well, then you'd better take me seriously for once then, Joxter. Listen for once , please ," Captain Moomin suddenly snapped, stopping his pacing to glare coldly at the taller fellow, which immediately made him shut his mouth and quit his laughing.
"You're… you're serious?" Joxter furrowed his brows, then hurried forward and put his hands on Moomin's shoulders. "Moomin! You are the most powerful damn Captain in the near seas, you can't just- just- stop! How could you even consider something so ridiculous?!"
Captain Moomin pulled away. "You've no right to ridicule my desires, Joxter," Moomin growled, then took a deep breath. Sighing it out, the captain seemed to melt into someone smaller, someone more normal. Not physically, of course, but there was something about him that was expelled through that breath, maybe it was the stress he let go of, or maybe it was something else entirely.
"Joxter… I'm… I'm going to be a father . I'm getting a chance that I never had growing up. I had no parents, I had nothing, no one ." The Moomin frowned, looking down. "But now," he smiled, looking up at Joxter with a light in his eyes. "I'm going to be a papa of my very own child and I'm going to raise them and have them know that I will always be there for them. They won't ever be alone like I was."
"Moomin, that's-" Joxter pinched the bridge of his nose and furrowed his brows in stressful thought. "That's very… Good of you, yes, very noble, but have you even given this any real thought?! You are Captain Moomin for the Booble's fucking sake! You-"
"Joxter, you're a father too. How can you feel nothing? How can you not understand the desire to raise your own kids and be there for them at all?" Moomin asked bitterly.
"Hrngh," Joxter grumbled. "That father business isn't my damn cup of tea. I won't settle down for anyone, I'll go where I please and where the ship takes me because I'm a loyal member of this crew." Joxter narrowed his electric blue eyes, staring coldly down at his captain.
"You- that's not…" Moomin groaned and reached up to grip the fur on his head irritably. "Well this isn't my 'damn cup of tea', Joxter. Not Anymore. I'm sorry, I know you're disappointed, but… as your captain I demand that you respect my decision." Moomin said firmly. Joxter snapped to attention, eyes widening. "But…" Moomin softened again, "as your friend I beg for your understanding, Joxter." Joxter's expression softened as well, and he sighed. It wasn't a sigh of relief and growth like Moomin's had been, but it seemed to make him a little lighter.
"Moomin… I'm sorry, you're right, it's your choice." Joxter looked down at the ground. "Hodgkins would have wanted you to follow what your heart says for you to do." Joxter took off his hat and ran a hand through his thick, shaggy black hair. It was a mess, and most definitely not clean.
"Hodgkins would have agreed with this as well," Moomin started as Joxter slipped his hat back on. He lowered himself down onto one knee, taking from his belt his grand sword of dark, beautiful metal. The moon glinted wonderfully on it as it was pulled from its sheath and then held up in the hands of the great Captain Moomin, who now looked so small compared to Joxter.
"What… Moomin- Captain- what are you-" Joxter started.
"I'm asking you to take my place as Captain, Joxter. You've been one of the greatest people I've ever known, and you'd… you'd certainly be the best man for the job, my friend." The Captain's eyes became glassy with emotion.
Joxter stood, shocked, for a few moments. He then blinked slow, his electric eyes watching the sword before he reached and he took the sword from the Moomin, holding it up and looking at it. His lips curled up in a big, excited grin.
"Get your ass up and give me a hug, Moomin." Captain Joxter demanded playfully as his first order.
Moomin looked up at him and grinned, standing up straight.
"Swords suit you, I'd say." Moomin patted Captain Joxter roughly on the arm, and Joxter laughed and put an arm on Moomin's shoulder.
"I hope so, I suppose."
"It's been fun, Joxter. I'm leaving, but that doesn't mean I won't miss this." Moomin sighed, pulling away and looking out at the calm ocean that reflected the sky of stars.
"I still wish you wouldn't go, but… we- I will miss you, you old bastard," Joxter sneered.
"Same to you, you sly devil."
The two of them laughed, and Moomin retired to his quarters, and the Captain stepped up to the ship's helm for the first time.