Chapter Text
How many days did it take for me to get here?
The question was a stone in Jolly's mind, smooth and worn from constant turning. A couple of weeks? A month? The passage of time had dissolved into a monotonous rhythm of creaking wood, slapping waves, and that eternal, sickening-sweet reek of tar and brine. He'd long stopped counting the days in his journey while being in his cramped cabin; the effort felt unbelievable futile, like trying to count the grains of sands on an endless beach. but at last, Moominvalley was finally in sight, its mountain over peaking over the horizon as well as its valleys greens that grew sharper with each agonizingly slow of the ship's progress.
He was almost in its grasp. The thought should have brought relief, but all he could muster was a profound sense of being unmoored, a feeling that had been this constant companion since his father's death. He's been getting quite bored on this smelly ship, yes, but there was a strange, solemn comfort in the isolation. Here, he was just the enormous, quiet passenger who paid in gold and kept to himself.
His mind drifted, as it always did when the horizon offered no new distractions, back to his father. The memory was longer a sharp pain, but a dull ache. He could see his father clearly in his mind's eye: Frail and much smaller than himself, laying in bed that seemed too large for his dwindling frame, the scent of his favorite flowers and sound of his mother and sibling letting of tears filling the opulent room in the their villa.
*Live your life* his father voice blarred in his head. *And live it… the best you can.* His voice was dry as autumn.
He never really understood what his father had meant by "Live your life". His father was man of many words and kind soul dispite the wealth. His eldest brother used to tell storys of how they were actually poor, living day by day until he and group created some startup. After that from what his brother told him most of was blur and their father and mother kept adopting kids over years until you show up at their door as new born.
Maybe this valley has something to keep him here. He wouldn't mind staying for a bit, anyway. It had to be better than living his old life. The rich life, It wasn't bad the life of silk sheets and crystal goblets, could be rather daunting. No.. No."Draining" was the better word. there is many he is greatful for no need to be hungry or never cold. The difficulty was internal. He was adopted, a fact that was never spoken of but was always present, an invisble thread separating him from everyone well mostly most of his sibling were in same boat he was. Just all different stories on the same path.
Your family was quite large to boot. Eleven kids, eleven different mouth to feed, eleven unique personally with there own dreams and struggling. As for Jolly himself He was tall. Like comically tall, quiet, and never quite fitted in. Lucky for him his family, mainly father made him feel like he was just a… it wasnt ever sure.
You do miss your family dearly. You started to wonder how your mother is…. The thought crept in unbidden, a pang of guilt sharp enough to cut through the fog of his melancholy. He hoped she was well. He hoped she wasn't worrying.
BBBBRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
The ship's horn blared to life, a deafening, guttural roar that shook the very planks beneath his feet. Jolly stood soild as a wall, unmoving, as the sound ripped though the air. It was a signal. They were getting closer. A signal that he was getting closer to his new, unknown home.
But the violent noise of the horn did knock him out his focus, scattering his already racing thoughts like seagulls before a storm. Maybe he would have enough time to think about everything once, before he had to step off this ship and into the rest of his life.
Down on the main deck, a different kind of drama was unfolding.
"Oh, come on, just do it already" an older, grizzled crewmate with face like a worn leather bag was telling the newbie, a lanky boy who couldn't have been more than seventeen summers old. The boy was shaking in his boots, kis knuckles white where he gripped a coil of rope.
"Why do I have to tell him?" the newbie whined, his eyes darting towards the silent, towering figure at the stern. "I… I mean, look at him! He's huge! I never seen someone so tall. How tall is this guy?"
"He's like Six and a half, maybe even seven," another crewmate muttered, squinting. "He's taller than the our salted-crusted brute we all a captain."
"Whats even this guy's name?" the newbie continued, his voice a franic whisper. "Did you see how much gold coin he gave the captain. Great booble it was more than we make in months. I mean come on guys, its wasn't everyday some random guy comes out of nowhere with bag of fresh coin and tells you to bring him to same far away land" The newbies eyes widened with new found terror. "Oh my god, what… what… what if he's a murderer? what if we helping him escape!"
"No, he's not a murderer, you nitwit" the grizzled crewmate said with weary sigh. "I couldn't care less if he was, as long as I get paid. His name is like Jolly or something, part of that Gee family heard that father passed out to long ago"
"Plus If i am correct, if he was a murderer, he would've easily you know…" Another crewmate added slowly dragging a finger across his throat.
"Ugh i mean… fine, I guess your're right," the newbie stammered "but that still doesn't make him any less… imposing." The newbie continued still lost in his own fear. The rest of the crewmates, who were all different mixtures of seasoned sailors and curious onlookers, looked at the man who was currently in his own world. they were all a kind of mix intimidated and intrigued.
"Ugh fine! I'll do it" The newbie finally folding from the pressure, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "but you guys owe me. Big time" With that, He squared his shoulders and started walking off, his legs feeling like they were made of jello.
As the newbie walked closer, he really started realizing how tall man was. the height difference was insane, and the others were right. This man no… Jolly was his name was taller than everyone here including their hardened captain, but more you drew closer the more you started to noiced how he seemed to be lost in space, his whiskers, long, white, and surprisiingly elegant, flowing in the breeze. It wasn't like you could tell what his facial expression, ether. His face was concealed by shadow from by large black-brimmed hat, that seemed to cast a shadow so deep it seemed to swallow all light. The newbies heart started to race as he drew near. The more closer you seemed to be getting the more larger he seemed to get. He was also wearing a deep navy blue peacoat, it was almost comically large, reaching all the way down to his feet, if you could see his feet beneath the hem.
You are here own, with some of your crew watching you and your heart ready to burst out your chest you must speak up like the man you are. "Sir" the newbies voice whisper, cracking away that new found confidences. "We should be arriving at the nearest dock in moominvalley shorttly"
Jolly the towering figure turned slowly, his massive frame shifting with an unsettling grace. His face was stll wrapped in shadow, but the newbie could feel the weight of his gaze. it was silent for a moment, a pocket of stillness so profound it was like the world around them stopped for a beat.
"I am aware" a soft, deep voice could be heard. It was so unexpected, so gentle, that newbie nearly jumped. "Thank you."
And with that, Jolly walked off, leaving the newbie stunned. They weren't expecting his voice to be so soft. It was like hearing a lullaby from a mountain or even a warm set of freshly cleaned silk sheets.
And with that, the ship's crew began to stir, the final preparations before landfall needing to be made. They scrambled to secure lines and lower the anchor, their shouts and activity a stark contrast to the single passenger aboard.
THUNK!
Came the gangplank as it lowered. Jolly didn't wait as the upper deck was filled to brim with its crew getting ready for their time finally getting off sea, but as for jolly he didnt he left as quick as he came to the ship before. He made suprisingly little sound walking on the weathered wood. As he finally walked on pure soild ground, he simple took a deep breath, it was sweet and earth. It was best describe as damp earth, wildflowers, it had the feeling of walking into a room filled to brim with warm freshly baked bread.
He stood there for a long moment, a solitary giant in all his glory. He father's words echoed in his head once again: Live your life the best you can..
Picking up his bags if they weight like nothing more than pebbles in pocket he made his way to small builded beside the docks, he imagined that where he checks in to make sure he not doing anything illegal. He would almost likely have most info changed just in. IF he is staying here.
Jolly pushed opened the simple wooden door of small building. A small bell tinkled softly overhead. The interior was cozy, smelling of old paper, pipe tobacco, and hint of cinnamon. Light provided a soft glow to the room that added beside the single window off the far right that looked out to the harbor and a bit of sea. In the middle of room sat furry creature with a kind face and spectacles perched on his nose as well desk cluttered with many to long to name.
"Good afternoon" the creature said in a deep voice. "Welcome to Moominvalley. You must be new here. I'm the Hemulen but i liked to be called Harbor, strange? Being in charge of harbor and its registry office building.
Jolly ducked his head slighty to avoid hitting the doorframe, as he enterd his hat covered the ceiling light casting the room in a deep shadow. "Jolly" he rumbled "I've just arrived. I just wanted to make sure this is customs?"
"Customs? My, my, that's a word I haven't heard in a good long while" Harbor rumbled, a faint smile on his face. "No, this isn't customs, not in the way you're likely used to anywhere else. We don't have much in the way of contraband here, Unless you count an overabundance of preserves or particlarly philosophical creature. But No sir this is harbor registry, my job is to see who comes and goes.
Jolly remained in the doorway, his large frame blocking most of the light from the outside. "Hmm I see. I should register?"
"indeed, You should! Though could've just walked by this is Moominvalley you can be as free as the sea. i doubt anyone who really care" Harbor added, while gesturing to a simple wooden chair that looked absolutely to small someone his size. "This valley is full of many creatures of all shapes and size's.
As Harbor as talking, Jolly looked a chair. It was too small for him. His mind began to wonder if it could even hold him. The image of him shattering the little thing flashed through his mind, another reminder of how he didn't fit.
"Now then" Harbor said knocking jolly right out his thought's "You seem busy man, well lets finish this quicky so you time enjoy your time shall we? Name please.
"Jolly"
"Jolly" Harbor repeated, writing it down quickly so he doesnt forget. "A fine name. And where do you hail from, Jolly?"
"Riviera" Jolly said, His voice flat.
Harbor paused his writing, looking up over his spectacles. "A long ways from home are we. What brings you to our quiet little valley?"
"To many things to name" Jolly replied
Harbor leaned back in his chair, which creaked in protest "That's alright young man. We all have reason to go or be somewhere. Try not to worry about it much. You have plently of time to enjoy the beauty of the valley. Like they always say its not the journey, not the destination. Will you be staying long?
Jolly wasn't really expecting Harbor to get all philosophical, He wasnt lying on the overabundance.
"Not sure" Jolly said flatly "I guess I would stay, it took way to long to get here" Jolly said thinking about weeks spent out at sea, almost made him realized how much he missed a luxury, at the time.
"Hey, hey its all in due time. But we almost done anyway. where will you staying? I'll need to put an adress down."
"I haven't arranged anything yet," Jolly admitted. "I was hoping to find a room to rent"
"That is all good. After we are done here I will send this down post office, so whenever you get settle you have finish there." Harbor happily added "We also have plently of Inns they are a little futher out. But hey, the creature's moominvally are kind to leave a door open for a weary head or you can enjoy the rest night air."
"But if I were you go to a Moomin house. The Moomin family live there, sweeter than suger type of familly. Just thinking about them my teetch ache. Harbor said.
"I will keep the noted. Thank you" Jolly felt some type of relief
"Your're welcome. but don't thank me. just yet… Welcome to Moominvalley, Jolly. I hope you enjoy yourself however long you stay here.
Jolly turned to leave the office "Likewise" he added before leaving, the bell tinking softly as he closed the door behind him. He stood for a moment on the dock, the scent of valley mixed with nearby sea filling his senses. he had some type of destination now, and a glimmer of hope that non of this wasn't bad as started. He adjusted his bags and started up the path, heading where? He wasnt sure? It was all about the journey? right?.
Written by a human in Ellipsus.