Intruder Alert!

[Kellin Tuuri]

Kellin had recently returned to New Zealand only a few short days ago. It was late, and the small man was rather tired, but he knew that his friend was here somewhere. They had stayed together at some bed and breakfast place around here, the part-goblin was sure. It was definitely this street, in any case. He was quite sure he remembered those lamps. He paused, looking up at them with squinted eyes. They kind of looked like every other public light he had seen since entering the country, and it was making his tired brain work overtime to try and understand why this was so. The Finnish man shook his head as nothing came to him, and returned to walking. He looked at the doors as he passed, taking in their steps, and their brightly coloured doors highlighted under roof lights, not recognising any of them in his distress. He felt his pointed ears grow red at the realisation that he could not find Henri, and he really wanted to. He had not had any contact with his friend for some time, as the model had gone off doing something, while Kellin went off for further travel with other friends, before realising that he wanted his best friend again. Naturally, he assumed that he was still here, as he had not thought his plans through. The level of impulsiveness he was showing was even beginning to worry him, and that was a strict rarity.

He paused as he saw what he thought was a familiar door, and he climbed up the stairs. He poked his head through the cat flap to see if anyone was awake, but the place seemed dark. He wiggled his nose curiously, and attempted to crawl on through after the door appeared to be locked. He was sure he would find someone, preferably Henri, if he could just slip in. However, the door became a little too tight just as he tried to squeeze his butt through. He attempted to grip the floor, and found a mat and tried to haul his way through. Unfortunately, the mat appeared to be under a table within the hall with a vase, and naturally, the table went tumbling down, along with the vase. An Intruder alarm seemed to be going off, as well, and Kellin was still stuck half-way through the door, utterly confused as to what was happening, and what he was doing. Was he going to be arrested? ​

 

[Artemis Tuuri]

Artemis was already halfway down the hallway stairs when the wards began to bellow at her, and bellow they did. Every mirror in the house, including various reflective surfaces, hollered in various disjointed voices.
"Intruder!"
"You've got a thief!"
"Someone's in the kneazle flap!"
"To the front door!"
"Mayday, mayday!"
"Alright, alright!" shouted Artemis, clapping her hands to her ears. Only the nearest glass pieces kept on with their yammering by the time she'd raced to the foot of the staircase. Occupants of picture frames knocked on their panes to get the mirror wards to stop their yammering.
"Stop, fer Merlin's sake!" The wards had given her such a scare that she'd nearly tripped over her floor-length night dress. Art had only gotten up in the early hours to fetch a crumpet and a glass of water. It had been a long day of mucking out the animals and slicing up various vegetation for their suppers, and she'd scarcely had the time to get her own food. The tips of her ears now trembled with adrenaline, and she began to step softly around the corner to fetch a good thumping stick. Her wand was tucked safely under her pillow, exactly two floors away from being of any use to anyone.
Artemis narrowed her eyes and brought her fists up, approaching the front door with caution. There was an alcove separating it from the main stairs, which meant that she could not see the thief until she opened the dividing door. She did so slowly, and it creaked loudly enough that she gave up all pretense of stealth and leapt upon the Blackmoore house's intruder.
The fool had come through the kneazle flap, which was warded against thieves. Why on Earth had it not barred the person's entry straight away? The wizard was small, likely a child (though oddly proportioned for one), which might explain the squeeze. The explanation for the ward's initial lapse in response became apparent as she took a hold of the person's wrists and pulled them through, their backside squeezing through with an uncomfortable 'pop'. Artemis wasted no time and flipped the wizard over to sit on his chest.
"Ha!" she cried, pinning his arms to the floor. "Serves you right, 'ye sneak! Speak a curse and I'll have yer ears fer a broach!".
The house guardian, the mirror charm, was kind enough to light up the entrance alcove, which immediately illuminated the 'thief' and made Art's eyes widen. The wards had let the wizard through because he wasn't entirely wizard at all. For the first time in many years, Artemis found herself eye to eye with a person only slightly smaller than herself, who appeared to be a fully grown adult. The wards were basic and did not recognise him as a wizard at first, but soon realised their mistake and had lit up the manor cottage like a Yuletide tree.
"Well," she said to him, taking her hands off of his wrist only to slap them onto his cheeks to turn his head from side to side. "You are the cutest thief I ever did see. I wasnae kidding about th' broach, though. If 'ye managed tae nick summat already, hand it over," Artemis told him, giving him her best scowl.​

 

[Kellin Tuuri]

Kellin yelped quietly as he was yanked out from the door, then laid out onto the floor, and had someone sit on him. This was not the greeting he was expecting from Henri - even if his visit was a surprise, and he quickly realised that the person on his chest currently was not Henri at all (as he was sure the 6 foot-something man would have crushed him), but some woman he had never seen before. The Finnish man's head tilted slightly to the side as she spoke, hearing her accent, and finding it rather difficult to understand. He had perhaps heard the accent once before, but he had not spent much time in England, and therefore had no idea what this accent was. Let alone was he able to understand most of what she was saying. However, he was quite sure he made out enough to realise that she thought he was an intruder. Well, she was completely wrong. He was here for his friend and had no intentions of stealing anything. Perhaps she was a friend on Henri's - Merlin knew she was pretty enough. She was very pretty, actually, and it made his ears begin burning as she was sitting on him, thus not letting him move at all, and thus forcing him to stare at her.

His ears burned even more when he realised that she called him cute. This obviously meant that she was Henri's friend - he was outspoken like that too. They were probably together, really. Living here together - even had an alarm set up together. That would explain why he had not been able to contact Henri for some time. "I'm Kellin," he said, expecting the name to ring a bell. he hoped it would, anyway, otherwise he would be rather upset at being overlooked. "I'm wondering if I can see Henri? Is he awake?" He then tried to look at something else other than her to avoid having his entire face go red, but failed to find such a place and so found himself kind of staring at the woman on him. She was like him, and that made him a little excited at finally meeting someone that was like him and not related to him. It was a huge relief. He grinned shyly. "What's your name?"
​

 

[Artemis Tuuri]

The house was utterly silent for one very long minute after the strange wizard asked Artemis her name. He was in the wrong place, that much was obvious, but she had a suspicion that he had some kind of mental disorder. He did not seem at all afraid to be pinned down by a four-foot-three part goblin. The tiny girl was immensely strong, and could take any fully grown witch or wizard to the ground in a heartbeat. This man was smaller than her and had pointed ears, to boot; if he wanted her off of him, he would have been one of the few people physically equipped to do so.

Artemis squinted at the goblin man and leaned into his face, close enough to smell his breath. She gave a distinct sniff.
"Well, ye're not on the bottle, at least," said Art bemusedly. The wizard had smiled at her, and was currently blushing redder than a spanked bottom. They remained in their awkward position for a beat longer, then Kellin was released and Artemis extended her hand to pull him up, after which she folded her arms and looked him up and down.
"No Henri lives here, mate. This is the Blackmoore house, and I am Artemis Blackmoore. If 'ye think ye're elsewhere, then ye're sillier than a stuffed sausage."
Art brushed down her nightdress a bit self-consciously and stepped back to give her uninvited guest some room.
"Shall we have him expunged from the premises, mistress?" squeaked the glass of the front door suddenly. Art jumped.
"Nay," she answered the mirror charm. "I think I've given this poor bugger a scare. A spot of tea might be in order." Artemis looked Kellin up and down, unimpressed. "Well, c'mon then. Ye'll not likely to make wherever ye're going at this hour. Come t' the kitchen,"​

 

[Kellin Tuuri]

Kellin was still not realising that he was in the wrong place. Any one else would have probably clued on by now, but not Kellin. Never Kellin. No, now Kellin was still of the belief that he was in the right place, and that this was a misunderstanding on her side, as opposed to his. He lent his head back as far as he could possibly get it when she appeared to want to smell his breath. He smiled meekly, dimples appearing on his cheeks. "It's mint," he said, talking about the flavour of toothpaste he had used that morning. "Do you want some?" It took a moment, but his eyes suddenly widened at the possible implications - he did not want to step on anyone's toes, and quickly tried to retract his statement, but it was all in vein. "I-I-I mean, like, I have some, like, in my bag that's not with me right now - but you can borrow it whenever - from the tube though! I mean..." He fell into Finnish, still rambling and getting redder as time passed before she finally got off him, and he shut his mouth, going so far as to slap his hand across his lips as an added measure.

He looked at her extended hand, and accepted it. He frowned slightly, however, when she stated that there was no Henri. That was impossible. How could Henri not be here? Blackmoore House... Artemis Blackmoore... the names did nothing to jog his memory, but they were quite nice. "Oh!" He got it now. This was the Inn, and Henri had obviously moved on. This was the owner. She was even called mistress - she must own the place. It was very beautiful, in any case, and very much like an actual house. He knew that he would feel very comfortable in this environment, and other than the fact that she had man-handled him (he had, afterall, tried to crawl through her door without permission), she seemed very friendly, even inviting him to tea. He beamed at her, his dimples returning. "I would love some tea, thank you!" He ran his hand through his hair, becoming a little bashful. "I'm so sorry, I must have given you such a fright. I hope I didn't wake anyone up - I thought my friend Henri was staying here. I haven't spoken to him for a bit."
​

 

[Artemis Tuuri]

What a strange man this Kellin was. Artemis was sure that he hadn't been drinking, but a mental disorder was still not out of the question. Perhaps he'd been Confunded? If that was the case, only time would set him to rights, which meant that it was up to Art to see him through. Hopefully the curse was not a particularly powerful one. Some Confundus charms could last years; others were no more than a minute-long bout of confusion. Oh, it was all very worrisome. Suddenly she felt quite protective of him. All that nonsense about toothpaste and someone called Henri (though she supposed, in hindsight, that it wasn't exactly standard etiquette to smell a stranger's breath, but how else was she to know if he'd been drinking?).

"This way, please," Art told Kellin, a little more gently than she'd invited him before. She took his arm very genially and stepped through the alcove, into the hallway and down the flagstones to the kitchen. Their racket had woken various house pets, which bustled about underfoot and cheeped/croaked/meowed etcetera, for attention. A small group of pink guinea pigs crossed their path and began wheeking for salad greens.
"Shoo!" Artemis told them, and was ignored. Art pulled out a chair for Kellin when they arrived in the low-ceiling'd kitchen, all of which were very conveniently goblin-sized and the perfect height for the rough-hewn table. Fuzzy, winged sprites had gotten into the butter pat in the middle of the table and they scattered when she placed mismatching cups down for both of the part-goblins.

"Well, then. Tell me about this Henri," said Artemis to Kellin. Best to keep him talking in case his addlement signaled a blow to the head. Confunded or not, he had the sweetest nature she'd ever seen outside of a Puffskein. His dimples made her want to kiss his cheeks and make him wear a ribbon. Kellin was being climbed by a kneazle kitten while the kettle boiled, which made him look so very dear.​

 

[Kellin Tuuri]

He was impressed by how friendly she was, especially after how he had entered. However, maybe she was accustomed to people just walking in, travellers coming in at all hours. It was not like she had been completely helpless. Kellin knew that he would have freaked out if someone just decided to drop into his house looking for their friend, but then again, he lived in a house and not an Inn. Uninvited strangers were usually criminals, not prospective guests. So, he followed her into the kitchen, and loved what he saw.

As a child, Kellin had not been allowed to have pets. His mother had a strong dislike for animals, a trait that carried on to none of her children. He cooed at the kneazle, petting the creature's head and neck, before just giving up and allowing it to climb onto his lap. He would have brought it to the table, but he was not sure that would be acceptable. Although, clearly she had no worries about animals staying in her inn, which he naturally assumed she owned. The kitchen itself appeared to be made for people of their stature, and it reminded him of some areas of his home back in Finland. Everything was built for his father, with regards to the kitchen. His mother was not a very good cook, and so it was built for his father's comfort. It made him smile brighter. Pets, a properly proportioned kitchen, and a really friendly and nice owner. This was definitely a really nice place. However, judging by the sounds underneath them, perhaps he had woken some patrons up? And their animals too - he felt awful. Would she be getting complains because of his behaviour? He had no way to make up for it either.

"Oh Henri," he said finally, still stroking the kneazle. "Well, he's really, really tall. And very pretty - everyone seems to like him." He jumped sligthly when the kettle began screaming for attention, and laughed slightly at his own reaction. "You wouldn't ever forget him, trust me. He talks a lot, and he's a model, and like I said before, really tall. He's also Finnish, like me."​

 

[Artemis Tuuri]

Artemis laughed with him when Kellin jumped at the kettle, and she lifted it off the stove and poured the steaming water into a cup each. While she listened, she frowned at the assortment of teas in tins that she had to offer her 'guest'. I don't think he'd appreciate Gurdyroot, thought Artemis, picking up a blue case of Indian black tea. She seated herself opposite Kellin while it strained, and thought of Audel as Kellin described his friend Henri.
"Sounds like 'ye like him," Art told her part goblin visitor. She wriggled her eyebrows at him, then burst into giggles. Judging by his reaction to her previous proximity, he wasn't at all interested in his Finnish friend, but Art was such a tease that she couldn't help but prod.

"Finland. Near Denmark, aye?" Not quite, but it was sweet of her to try. For a European native, Artemis was astoundingly naive about the surrounding countries. Granted, she'd now spent more time in New Zealand than anywhere else, and New Zealand wasn't close to anything.
The kneazle lost interest in the goblins when no food was forthcoming, and flicked its tail up into Kellin's face as it flounced off. Art rolled her eyes at it.
"Don't mind the fauna. They come and go as they please. I swear, every night I shut the barn, and they all come spillin' out again like an overstuffed cushion. This is my sanctuary," she explained. "Me mam let's me take in all the strays and sick ones intae the house and I nurse 'em till they're better. Unfortunately, they tend not t' leave afterwards." She reached down to pat a guinea pig as it passed, then thought better of it and picked it up to place it in Kellin's lap. He seemed to like the kneazle (and he was so sweet holding an animal that she selfishly wanted to cover him in all of her furry favourites).
"I'm sorry fer jumpin' on 'ye," Artemis began, twisting a dishcloth in her wee hands. She went a bit pink about the cheeks. "I thought ye'd come tae rob us. I wonder ... d'ye have a place t' stay, tonight? I thought 'ye might have asked to use the Floo by now, if yer friend Henri was available."​

 

[Kellin Tuuri]

Kellin smiled slightly, and nodded. "Oh, I do very much," he replied, thinking of his friend Kellin. His father had tutored nearly all of the children in their small town, and so he knew and grew up with virtually every one around his age back home, and the majority of them went off travelling together, the once considerably large group slowly trickling down until it was just Kellin doing one last round, before deciding to find Henry, and then probably return home. His eyes then widened slightly as he realised what she was implying. "Oh, but not like that!" He quickly said, jumping slightly. "Like a brother, it's all very familial, and brotherly!" He then began wishing to bury himself, wondering if he had come off as rude for appearing so desperate to correct her observation. His hands landed on the table. "But not that there's anything wrong with any other kind of love, of course. Oh Merlin." His forehead on in my hand now. He really hoped she didn't think him a horrible person, especially since he rather liked her.

"Umm," he thought about the distance between Finland and Denmark, and decided that he would not quite describe Finland as being near Denmark, although it was nearer to Denmark than New Zealand, by a considerable amount. Maybe that was what she meant. "Close enough." If he were really dedicated, he could take a long, long boat ride there. In fact, he had. His hand trailed over the kneazle one last time as the creature jumped from his leg, and pursed his lips silently as she spoke. Perhaps he had been incorrect? Was this a house? Not an Inn? He happily accepted the next little creature in his lap, and cooed momentarily (before realising what he was doing, and immediately stopping. He was a grown man!) His face grew about as pink as the little guinea pig's nose as he realised that he was a total idiot. He must have terrified her. "Oh," he said absentmindedly, trying to figure the situation out, and what to say. "I'm so sorry for climbing in through the door." He held the guinea pig to his chest as the little creature was attempting to climb up his shirt anyway for a snuggle. "I thought this was an Inn that Henri and I stayed at once. I think it was in New Zealand... but now that I think about it..." He hung his head in shame. "It was in Australia." He released a sigh of utter defeat. He should not be allowed out alone without a carer. "Henri and I split a little bit ago and I was hoping to find him and say hello before I went back home. I haven't been back home for a while now. If... if you've got a spare room, or a couch, I'd be really grateful!"
​

 

[Artemis Tuuri]

The longer Kellin fumbled and flailed trying to explain his relationship with Henri, the harder Artemis laughed, until she was all but howling by the time he lapsed into silence. A few of her animal brood hooted and cawed in irritation at the sudden noise, all except the kneazle kitten who clawed its way up her nightie as if hunting the source of the noise. Artemis laughed until she was hiccuping, then slowly calmed herself down by scritching the happy kitten.
"Ye're a treasure, to be sure," she told Kellin fondly. He reminded her a little of Gregory, her elder brother, who was confident enough with his own family, but fumbling and sweet with strangers. Kellin was not at all like him in other ways, though. Even her gentle brother was faster on the uptake with things such as these.
"I'll forgive 'ye for going through the kneazleflap. 'Twas not such a disaster as we are, shall we say, of a size." Artemis smiled at him, dimpling at each cheek. "For yer assumption that this was an inn, though, I think it would only be cruel to punish 'ye for the oversight. Ain't nothing helping that level of airheadedness," she teased him. She could only tease so much, though, without coming back around to the conclusion that he must have somewhere to stay. He was daring enough to ask for a room here, and by now Artemis was inclined to give it to him, half out of awe for his painful naivety, and the other half a genuine desire to see him in the morning. Kellin was lovely company; the best she'd had in months.
Artemis' mother, Beatrice, was away and staying with her twin sister Bonnie. Con and Bess had moved out the year before, and Simon had a house of his own, now. She was alone with her animals, for now.
"Aye," said Artemis slowly. "I think I can offer 'ye a room. No charge, this ain't a service. I can't guarantee there's not mice in the eaves," she told him, "But they shan't bother you. Drink 'ye tea, and I'll get the sheets set up," Art said, standing and depositing the kitten next to the guinea pig on his lap.
The room two doors down from hers, she decided, Simon's old one. Close enough to keep an eye on him, but not too close as to be improper.​

 

[Kellin Tuuri]

After thoroughly digging himself in, Kellin was glad that she didn't set out to further poke fun at him, otherwise his face would have surely burst into red-hot flames from embarrassment. However, he found himself laughing about as hard as she was, simply because of his own embarrassment, and her laugh - it was infectious, and by time she managed to speak, he was gasping for air with three stitches in his side, and his face covered by his arm on the table in front of him. He did, however, managed to mutter a small thank you, but he was not sure if she heard him through the troubled breathing and laughing. He sighed slowly and looked up, slightly charmed by her dimpled grin, and he mirrored it with his own.

"I'm so sorry," he said, chuckling slightly, still not quite over his bout of serious giggles. "My father - he's always telling me that I don't think too much. He says I'm like my auntie, she never thinks too much either." He was surprised that he managed to get away from his parents. His mother was very overprotective, but since the divorce, she had moved back to England, and Kellin still called Finland home. His father just seemed to always find him - he had no idea how - he just would.

Kellin was rather surprised that she agreed to allow him to stay, after all the trouble he had caused. "Really?" He grinned brightly and nodded his head to her gratefully. "Oh, don't worry, I love little animals - I can pick them up and cuddle them!" Unlike some humongous dogs he'd met in his time. They'd always jump on him, and he would walk away covered in slobber. He happily accepted the kitten and clutched both small creatures in his lap. "I promise I won't be a bother, I'll find a proper place to stay tomorrow. Don't you worry!" He wanted to hug her, but thought better of it. Partially because they'd just met and he wasn't sure if it would be appropriate, and because he did not want to remove the kitten and guinea pig just yet. "Thanks you so much, Artemis."
​

 

[Artemis Tuuri]

"Now ye're starting to get it," Artemis smiled. The poor boy had finally bought a clue and realised that he wasn't in an inn or a home stay, but someone's private residence. She couldn't say that she resented the intrusion, though. Truth to be told, Art was rather lonely in her big house filled with all creatures great and small. It had been an embarrassing introduction, especially when she'd leapt on him like a ruffian with no thought to her wand or her dignity, but since that moment, the cottage had been filled with laughter all night long.

Art looked away from Kellin a little shyly and pattered off down the hall to fetch blankets and fresh sheets for Simon's room. She kept one ear out for signs of movement back in the kitchen, but all she heard while she was making up the bed was Kellin's voice chattering happily away with various squeaks and meows for answers. Artemis patted the bed nervously when she was finished, and called for her guest. Goodnights were said while she cracked a yawn and sent the kitten away before retreating to her room, too tired to think anymore about the evening's excitement.

---

Artemis was not yet awake enough to recall what had made her such, but the answer became apparent as the dream-interrupting noise repeated itself. It was a knock, far away downstairs that resonated through the walls of the house. That meant it was the front door. Yawning, Art dragged herself to the edge of the enormous king-sized bed that made her disappear amongst the sheets, and put her slippers on. For the moment, she'd forgotten all about the events of last night, and was thinking blearily of porridge, the ponies, and who-in-the-hell-was-knocking-at-this-hour?
"'Lo?" Artemis greeted her second visitor as she opened the door, tucking her dressing gown in and tying it shut. "Who're 'ye?"

---

​

---

 

[Arvo Tuuri]

Arvo had been thinking about relocating to New Zealand for some time, seeing as the cold did not agree with Elijas. It was a nice country, no where near England where his ex-wife was, and had a good school nearby. He also found himself walking its streets at an hour that he rather wouldn't be. It was seventy-thirty in the morning, and he felt that it was too early to go about knocking on people's doors when his arrival was not expected, but he felt that leaving it any longer would have his ex-wife sending him a scathing letter about the premature death of their son. How Kellin made it to twenty-five was beyond the white-haired man, but somehow Arvo had managed to keep him out of trouble for the last twenty-five years. He wasn't sure whether Kellin's continued existence in the face of so much... impulsiveness was a testament to his parenting, or just horrible in the face of how dependent on others Kellin could be. Kellin's other full-blooded siblings were rather similar in personality - he had just finished speaking with Maire's husband after she managed to break her leg trying to rescue a grindylow she thought was drowning. Her heart was in the right place. Her head just never seemed to keep up.

Kellin was similar. Very similar. He knew that his son was around here, as quite frankly, he had been following him since Kellin announced that he was going to find his friend. Henri wasn't even missing, he had sent Arvo a letter just last month. Not that Kellin bothered to let him explain why Henri did not send him letters, and instead sent them to Arvo. Three times poor Henri had tried to get into contact with Kellin, and three different things happened to the letters. But Kellin never listened to him, anyway. He was old, what could he possibly know? Well for starters, he knew that this was not Australia, but Kellin never bothered to take his advice anyway. And so here he was, locating his lost, but safe, son. He had never needed to babysit his older children, but it seemed that his children to his second wife had absolutely no sense, and this drove him to have to take extra measures, such as knowing where they were and what they were doing. Fortunately, magic helped with this. He had no idea how muggles could live.

He knocked on the front door of the home he was sure he saw Kellin entering. He tried to not meddle in the affairs of his children, but he knew for a fact that this was a private residence. He could tell just by looking at it, and considering its location. But this was Kellin. After he felt he waited a sufficient amount of time, he knocked once more, and removed his black hat as it was opened by a young woman. If he didn't know Kellin so well, he would have thought that Kellin's sneaking in was on purpose, as she was quite a lovely looking young lady. But it was Kellin.

"My apologies," he began, before clearing his throat. "My name is Arvo Tuuri. I believe my son is here currently - Kellin Tuuri?" Hopefully she would understand why he came by - surely a couple of hours with Kellin would have told her his purpose. "I do hope he's caused you no grief."​

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[Artemis Tuuri]

"Eh?" said Artemis, wrinkling her nose in confusion. Who on Earth was this old guy, and how could he possibly think that she had his son in her- "Oh!" blurted Art, spluttering. "Oh, right! Yes, yes, of course, come in, come!"
Well, that was embarrassing. How late had it been last night, that she'd forgotten all about that very cute Finnish man in her bed? No, not her bed, in her brother's bed. Unoccupied! Yes, she'd put Kellin up for the night, and they'd had a reasonably pleasant, if not confusing evening, and now he was still abed. This must be his father, then.
Now that she was completely awake, Artemis was mortified. She was starting to doubt Kellin's supposed adulthood since he'd had his own father track him down because he was in the wrong country. She could see the similarities, now, especially since it was obvious where his part-goblin ancestry came from. She and Arvo were of a height, although Kellin was a little shorter, and she felt very strange seeing eye-to-eye with a person, again. Artemis stepped back to invite Kellin's father in, feeling very self-conscious in her dressing gown.
"No, he ain't caused me no grief," she told him, shutting the door behind him. "Well, I nearly caused him grief. He crawled in through the kneazle flap, can 'ye imagine?". By the look on Arvo's face, yes, he certainly could. "Nearly gave 'im a good walloping. He's fine, sleepin' in me brother's bed now. Don't mind the 'pigs," she told Arvo when her group of guinea pigs came tearing down the hall to sniff at the visitor's feet and wheek for food.
"Shoo!" she had to tell them again. "Feeding's in an hour! Ach, they don't let up!". It was going to get awkward if Kellin didn't come down soon, so Art lifted her head back and bellowed in a way that would wake her siblings every morning.
"Kellin!" she hollered. The guinea pigs scattered. "Yer Da's here!". Artemis gave Arvo Tuuri an impish smile and beckoned towards the kitchen. "Breakfast?".​

 

[Kellin Tuuri]

Kellin jolted up when he heard his name called as if the owner were yelling out to the ocean trying to get him to back from where ever it was he had gone. A kitten ran here, a guinea pig there, and numerous other creatures ran through the room, and jumped on and off the bed at Artemis' yelling, though he wasn't sure whether it was from the surprise of her voice, or in a very successful attempt to make sure he didn't throw a pillow over his head and roll back to sleep. "What time is it?" he asked himself, to which a kitten replied by yawning and rolling all over him. The young Finnish man rolled out of bed, before he realised what Artemis had also told him. Da? Dad?! His father was there? What on Earth was his father doing in New Zealand? He turned to his new friend, a kitten he named Snores through the night because of how loud he was. "He followed me from Finland!" Like a true friend, Snores appeared equally horrified.

Carrying his new-found friend, Snores, down the stairs with him, he poked his head into the kitchen, and saw Artemis and his father. Seeing them in the same room was horrifying - in fact, seeing his father in any location other than home was horrifying. He cuddled Snores tighter as he entered the kitchen as pink as an apple, and stared at his father. "Morning Papa," he said quickly. There was no point in asking him why he was here, as that was blatantly obvious. Clearly, he was here to retrieve him. Make sure he didn't go injuring himself doing something silly. He looked between Artemis and his father awkwardly, hoping he had gotten here in time before his father could say or do anything embarrassing. "Um, oh yes. Artemis, this is my father. Um, and Papa, this is Artemis. We met just last night. She's very nice, and not a serial killer.." He tucked his hands closer to his chest, hugging Snores tighter. "So... I'm sure you want us out now, right? We'll just leave and not be a bother - right Papa?" He had to get his father out of here now.
​

 

[Arvo Tuuri]

Arvo smiled slightly at the small woman before him, and inclined his head respectfully as he was allowed into the young woman’s home. It seemed rather nice, though there was some form of smell that he could not as yet identify, before realising that it was the scent of animals. He himself did not keep animals around the house, but that was mainly because he tended to trip on them, and at his age tripping over and breaking anything was never pleasant. He flinched slightly as she called for his son, but returned to smiling soon enough, especially at an invitation to breakfast. How lovely of her. He was not planning on staying for long, however, and had no desire to put her out. "Thank you for your invitation, but I feel I must decline."

He followed her to her kitchen, still admiring her home, before his ears caught the frantic steps of his son. He stared at Kellin as he slinked into the room, cradling a little kitten in his arms. "Morning, Kelli," he responded, using his childhood nickname because he knew Kellin's hated it. He grinned at Artemis as he discovered her name, but soon snorted as Kellin continued, getting a little cheeky. "A lovely name, my dear. As I said earlier, please call me Arvo." He then looked back at Kellin, folding his arms across his chest. His lips turned upwards as Kellin seemed determined to leave. Well, that would just be rude, now wouldn't it. "Kellin," he said disapprovingly. "This lovely young woman gave you a place to stay last night. The least we can do is be polite." He then smiled at Artemis, hoping she would not mind his sudden change in decision. "Artemis, I hope you don't mind putting us up for breakfast. I am famished," he explained, before looking back at Kellin with a devious smile. "Couldn't possibly take another step without something to eat. I'm getting old, you know."​

 

[Artemis Tuuri]

Artemis looked a little sad as Kellin's father declined her invitation for breakfast. She'd not had the opportunity to cook up a storm for a long time; only Simon, Connie and Bess ate as much as she did. The part goblin soon perked up again at the sound of the footsteps of her midnight visitor. Kellin entered the kitchen, looking just as dear as he'd done the night before with a kitten tucked under his arm. Her stomach jolted a little and she blushed, hoping neither of them had noticed her face change when he entered the room.From what little she knew of Kellin, he wouldn't have noticed unless she hit him with a frying pan shaped like that very face, but his father was a sharper tack.

The older man greeted his son and seemed to change his mind almost instantly, which made her narrow her eyes at him. Why that sly old codger, thought Artemis, a grin spreading over her face. Well, it suited her purposes just fine. Breakfast with Kellin and Arvo sounded splendid, and the goblin girl rushed to her cold cupboard without hesitation, pulling out a round of ham and a dozen eggs out just to start with. It was going to be a lovely morning.​

***​

Artemis ate heartily and without abashment during breakfast, talking the ears off both men and playing footsies under the table with Kellin to make him blush in front of his dad. She wasn't exactly being kind, but Kellin got her back a few times (probably unintentionally) by regaling Arvo with the tale of how she'd almost walloped him.. She was happier than she'd been in years; truly happy, and there was no discernible cause for it except listening to the antics of the two in front of her. Snores meowed, the kettle whistled, and Artemis laughed till she had tears in her eyes. Kellin was invited back for tea the following Monday.​