Ninny (or Ninnie/Ninni) is from the Moomin book “Tales from Moominvalley” and the episodes of the cartoon “The invisible friend” and “The invisible child”.
Ninny is a very shy and nervous little girl who was being raised by her aunt. However, her aunt didn’t like the child, only looking after her out of obligation. But obligation or not, the aunt treated Ninny very badly, forcing her to do demeaning chores and other “horrible jobs”. Too-Ticky describes the aunt with;
“It wouldn’t be so bad if she just got mad or yelled at her, but she’s cold and sarcastic, which is much worse.”
Eventually, the aunt’s treatment of Ninny got to a point where Ninny was so afraid of her guardian’s constant criticism and snide remarks, she turned invisible, and lost her ability to speak.
The aunt handed her over to Too-Ticky, saying she had no time or interest in raising a child she couldn’t even see. Too-Ticky brings Ninny to the Moominhouse, believing that if anyone could be nice enough to help Ninny turn visible and find her voice again, it would be the Moomin family.
Moominmama is quick to offer the child support and care, feeding her, giving her a room of her own, and tucking her in, telling her that if Ninny feels scared or lonely during the night to come wake Moominmama up and that she’ll talk to her to help her feel better. Moominmama also makes one of her grandmother’s home remedies (which always work) to help. Moomintroll and his friends also invite Ninny to play with them despite admitting that it’ll be hard to play with someone you can’t see, but they choose things that can easily include Ninny.
Slowly, and with time, Ninny starts becoming visible again and manages to talk in a weak, shy voice, until only her face still remains gone.
However, in the end nothing anyone else does turns Ninny back to normal. It didn’t matter how much medicine she drank or how nice people were to her, nothing anyone else did could bring Ninny’s face back.
While at the beach one day, Moominpapa decides to play a prank on Moominmama and push her into the water. Ninny stops him when she sees what he’s up to, biting Moominpapa’s tail before she starts yelling at him in anger, spurred to defend someone she cares about. Her ability to stand up to a bully is ultimately what makes Ninny completely visible again. Moominmama saying that all it took to cure her, was for her to get angry.
Finally cured of her invisibility and with her voice back, Ninny turns out to be an energetic and strong-willed girl. With her new self-confidence and ability to speak up for herself, Ninny leaves the Moominhouse with Too-Ticky, saying that she’s ready to face anything now. Except seeing her aunt.
But that doesn’t seem to be a problem, as Ninny walks away with Too-Ticky, presumably never to return to her cruel aunt again.
The metaphor here is not very hard to understand. I don’t think I even need to explain anything. It’s a children’s story (and cartoon) about overcoming emotional abuse and regaining your confidence in yourself and reclaiming your power. The story also shows that although support, love and care from others is essential in healing from abuse, at the end of the day the only person who will give you the ability to move past it can only be yourself. It takes time, it takes support from others, and it takes courage on your part, but the person who helps you overcome past trauma is you.
For a story aimed squarely at young readers, it manages to tackle a heavy subject matter without the story itself being dark, unpleasant, or overwhelming, and in a manner where children can recognise the reality of the situation beneath the metaphor without exposing them to the full unpleasantness of abuse.
The story is written with an understanding of Ninny’s situation, and a very clear and open empathy towards her, as well as an honest desire to see things end happily for her.
You know the moment when Ned is looking at the stars? I imagine he was humming Country Road to himself as he did
A shot rings out from the crowd behind him as Ned rushes in to tackle Dani.
Ned… slams into her. And it hurts, that– that hurts. The two of them spiral and crash to the ground, and Dani’s on top of him and she leans backward and starts to dive her jagged teeth down into his neck. And just at the last second, Barclay runs in and yanks her away. Dani isn’t there anymore wrestling him anymore, but Ned doesn’t get up. The echo of the shot is still ringing in his ears.
From the ground where he’s laying, he can see Barclay pulling her away. She is restrained and fighting, and alive.
Good, he thinks. That’s good.
Mama looks at Barclay, and then looks down at Ned.
And then it occurs to him that everybody is looking down at him. Kepler, the town that’s become his home. The people who’ve become his family. Loyalty has never been Ned’s strong suit. But after all the years he’s been here, the kindness Victoria paid him upon his arrival, the trust Duck placed in him to take Beacon, the faith that Mama had in him to recruit him into Pine Guard, the joy Aubrey shared with him in their time together, Kepler’s earned his. He smiles, or tries to. He thinks of the song he’d heard carried through the night air from someone’s porch the night he fled.. his mistake. How wrong everything felt then, but how right it feels now, despite everything.
The lyrics, the tune, carry through the damp night air and land softly, weakly on his lips. It comes out a little broken, but then Ned’s never been known for how well he can carry a tune.
Country roads…
The ground beneath him is wet, he realizes, but the sensation soon fades. It’s replaced by a chill that makes his head buzz softly, like static. It seeps into his vision. He looks up into the crowd, and the only rifle that is still pointed outward belongs to Pigeon. He can just make out a whisp of smoke leaking out of the tip.
She looks terrified. It’s a strange look for her. She’d been so brave when they fought the water abomination so many months ago. She’s just a kid, and fighting something she didn’t understand, but she was so brave. Where has that bravery gone?
Take me home…
She collapses. Ned hears Mama speak, something incomprehensible as she frantically gestures to Sheriff Owens. He nods and takes off running. And then Mama asks Ned something, but he can’t quite make it out. He hears what sounds like his name. She’s shouting, but it’s muffled and fuzzy. And then it’s silent.
To the place…
All he hears is the wind in the air and the song it brings. All he sees are the stars.
Where I belong…
They are… beautiful.
And then they’re gone.
concept: a warlock whose patron is themselves from the future trapped in a time paradox but they don't know it
@probablygoodrpgideas i sent the ask and it was NOT intended as a Homestuck thing as i have never read it
Good.
Fun fact, this actually ISN’T a homestuck thing. As much time travel shenanigans as there are in homestuck, people tend to avoid talking or guiding themselves from another time and anytime they do interact with a past or future self it generally ends with arguing with whose the shittier version.
Here are the inaugural TEN weapons in my ORIENTATION & GENDER ARMORY series! Each weapon was designed using the flag of the orientation represented for inspiration!
If you want to pick up some sweet D&D/weapons enthusiast/not-just-another-flag-on-a-shirt-related pride gear, check out my redbubble here! I also have an Inprnt if you’re interested in that!
Stay tuned for info on new merch soon! Hope you love them as much as I do!
Happy one year anniversary to the LGBT armory and a very happy pride month!!!
I am Silver Tongue, I am an artist. I have many characters and you can check out my art in the art tag. I occasionally practice witchcraft though I don't do anything too complicated. I am girl 2 and don't know what else to put here.
Anonymous
