*sweats nervously*
It took me nearly a million years to figure out, but here goes..
I think I need to give some small explanations about the pictures, so I was thinking about how Lalli first thought the expedition was some kind of bad joke, which made me think "Lalli knows jokes?" which led to "Has Lalli ever laughed or smiled?!" which led to some terrifying sketches O__O (which accidentally included a child-Lalli who's possible implications ripped out my heart ;__;)
I hope I got it to work :/ *shuffles away*
Wow, those are amazing! I wish I could draw. I have to say, it took me a minute to get used to the concept of Lalli
smiling. So far, we haven't seen anything beyond the faintest half-smile (or concealed satisfaction at getting Emil's lunch). I'm all agog to see what might break through his impassivity.
As for heart-ripping, I'm bracing myself for the flashback when Minna (or someone talented like you) shows how Onni, Tuuri, and Lalli first came to Keuruu. I'm picturing three hungry, grubby, travel-weary kids with white-blond hair and wide gray-blue eyes.
Onni, at 16, is already almost at his full height though not filled out yet, clearly traumatized because he knows what happened, but trying SO. HARD. to stay calm for the kids (one clinging to each arm, while he has an enormous, lopsided pack on his back).
Tuuri, age 10, has her hair still in the pigtails her mother braided a few days ago and is carrying the stuffed kitty her father made out of old socks. Every time she innocently asks, "But where are Mom and Dad, Onni? Are they going to meet us here?" it's like a knife through his heart.
Lalli, age 8, already has his rifle on his back although he's hardly taller than it, because 1) It was Grandpa's and 2) sleeping with a stuffed animal is for LITTLE KIDS but HEROIC SNIPERS
always have their gun handy. Not that he'd ever come out and say so.
