Chapter Text
General World Stuff
The Oompa-Loompas are a species of mouse-like people that are found all over the world. Their appearances resemble species that exist as a mixture of mouse species found in whatever area they may be. Oompa-Loompas have a tendency to share traits with domesticated mice if they live in urban areas, while they take on a wilder appearance in rural. This includes traits such as ear size, coloration, size, and how timid they are around humans. The average oompa loompa is around two feet in height, however, they can get as tall as three feet and as small as a foot.
They are a communal bunch where they find value in themselves by providing value to their community. Even when they are unable to find a job within their community for whatever reason, they will still contribute by looking after the young and leading song circles.
Music is vital to every oompa loompa culture, and it is the one constant across every tribe. It is how they communicate in diplomatic settings, using the feeling of music to cross language barriers in a way that study would take too long to accomplish. Music is also used for celebration, mourning, and self-expression. However, it is also how they teach morality and tell stories, with all surviving lessons and stories being through song.
They are omnivorous and their diets have a long range. They eat insects, small mammals, fruits, nuts, and yes, beans. Contrary to what English chocolatiers may tell you, they were never forced to eat insects due to circumstances nor find insect meat unpleasant.
Adolescent Oompa-Loompas are called "whipple scrumples." They're born small enough to fit inside teacups.
South African Oomp- Loompas
In a way, the South African Oompa-Loompas are considered a lost tribe. There used to be a population in the country, but if you were to try to find them, you would only find the ruins of a village where beasts have since claimed as their home. It's not because anything bad has happened to them. No, it's because they have left their homeland a long time ago.
The SAOL have taken on traits from both the South African Pygmy Mouse and the African Spiny Mouse. Their fur was brown and they had golden hair adorned the top of their heads. They lived deep in the jungles where human activity was rare, but it doesn't mean colonialism and imports left their culture untouched.
There is nothing that testified to this fact more than their love of cacao beans. When the beans were imported for agriculture, these Oompa-Loompas fell in love at the first taste. They implemented cacao beans into their culture as new traditions, always finding an excuse to enjoy such sweet treats. Whether it was a birthday, celebrating a successful hunt, holidays, or just because the village elder felt sad, they would happily gather beans and indulge. Unfortunately, they did quickly run into a problem.
As they were stealing beans from farms, the farmers quickly found them to be pests and would do everything in their power to deter Oompa-Loompas, with things going so far as hunting down and murdering them. They would have been cut off from beans completely if it wasn't for one brave individual.
Valor the Oompa Loompa
There was one individual widely revered as the village protector. She used her wit and agility to scare predators away from their home, ensuring that they can all live in peace. Valor looked nothing special on the surface. She appeared quite plain. Ordinary, in fact. But underneath the normal exterior was someone special.
When she saw how distraught her fellow Oompa-Loompas were by losing access to the beans, she set off on a heist. She knew it was dangerous, that she may fail and never come back home. However, she also knew that giving up beans was simply not an option.
Late at night, when the farmers were asleep and only dogs roamed the farms, Valor made her way inside. She found a tree filled with beans, scaled it, and gathered as many as she could carry: two. She would only find that getting the beans was the easy part.
For when she made it out of the tree, she came face to face with a large, muscular creature with bared fangs as large as her head, creating a rumbling sound that clearly meant "you will be hurt." A dog tasked with protecting the beans from Oompa-Loompas just like her, but Valor would not be deterred.
With her quick thinking and determination, Valor used her agility to make tight turns that the dog simply could not keep up with. She made it back to the forest in one piece, save for the tip of her tail that the dog managed to bite off at the last second. However, the pain was well worth it when compared to the thrill of the success.
The next morning, the Oompa-Loompas celebrated the win. They shared one of the beans to eat, and planted the other. While it would take a while for the tree to mature and start producing beans, they knew it would be well worth the wait.
Woes Far from Over
But just as Valor feared, that mission would be her last. While the Oompa-Loompas had decent medicine, and they have healed many of her injuries before, they simply didn't know what to do about the mutilated tail. They tried their best to clean it and close it, but it ended up infected, and no treatment was able to save it. They had to amputate her tail, which had a high risk of death, and if she survived? She would no longer be as agile as she once was due to the loss of counterbalance, and she would find her body temperature regulation would simply not be the same.
However, Valor was as she always was: courageous. She figured if death was likely either way, she would accept the surgery that would give her a chance of survival, and she indeed survived the surgery and got to retire. Unfortunately, such sudden retirement quickly saw ripple effects for the tribe in ways they were unable to predict.
Without a protector, predators were able to come in and turn the village into a buffet. The Oompa-Loompas were driven to dwell in the trees, where safety was still no guarantee.
Nobody to save them
For a long time, they were on their own. They had no beans, and they had to navigate solely by branch with bodies not fit for their new environment. Oompa-Loompas slowly disappeared overtime due to tree-dwelling predators much more fit for where they found themselves. Valor knew this could not go on, and they would be lunch given enough time.
But how can she protect them?
Well, one day, an oompa loompa, Scout, found something interesting. Large footprints like man, fires died out long ago, bodies of predators sliced with a large claw. There was something out there, and Valor knew it could be the key to their safety once and for all.
So, she and Scout set off and followed the trail left behind by this stranger. Valor made sure they stayed hidden, and Scout kept them on the trail and away from predators. Eventually, they found a camp. A tent set up with food strung high. A fire set up with fresh fuel in the center. A fallen log acted as seating, and a few objects laid about. Their curiosity led them out of hiding. They knew it was a risk they were taking. Two Oompa-Loompas alone out in the open. One without a tail, the other merely a whipple scrumple (juvenile).
The gamble proved to be a mistake, as a beast prowled out from the undergrowth and pounced. Valor shoved Scout out of the way and braced herself to take the hit. A hit that never came.
When Valor looked up, she found the back of what looked like a farmer wielding a singular large claw, shouting with a voice unfamiliar to her and waving the claw around. The beast got scared off, scratched from where the claw has dug into its skin.
Valor immediately knew that this was it. This strange farmer was the key she was looking for. The shared fascination between her and Scout led to questions, which this farmer was happy to answer.
The farmer was from a land where monsters don't roam, and his species is called "man." He came to "purchase" beans from a "supplier," and decided to take the "scenic route." (Whatever any of those words meant, neither Valor nor Scout knew.) The beans would be turned into delectable treats he called "chocolate," and they would be distributed across the world. Everything about what they were hearing captured their imagination and left them in awe.
Amused by these two, the man gave them both the chocolate he mentioned and sent them along their way to head back home. However, Valor and Scout believed they were just told of a new home.
When they told the rest of the tribe members their story? They agreed. This distant land sounded a lot more like home than the trees.
A Treacherous Trek
The SAOL followed the man. They all stayed in hiding, but they found that no predator would dare come close. They followed him to the Northern shore and stowed themselves onto a ship that waited there. They stayed hidden the entire time, eating rations as needed and helping themselves to chores and navigation when all the humans on the ship were asleep.
They saw it as no big deal. In fact, they viewed it as contributing to a new community they were now a part of, no matter how temporary that community may be. For when the ship made it to land, the man left it, and the SAOL followed.
It was a while before the man stopped traveling, a process that was far more exhausting for the Oompa-Loompas. But they found themselves in a new town, one that was rundown and clearly in desperate need of help.
A New Life
It was at this point where the Oompa-Loompas faced a disagreement. Some wanted to stay in the town, while others wished to keep following the man. They tried to negotiate and come up with a compromise, but when there was no solution, they decided to part ways.
The majority scattered across the city and found places to settle, typically near residencies or businesses. As they were shy about anything larger than them, they stayed in hiding from humans. This doesn't mean they were simply raiding pantries and shedded fur everywhere.
On the contrary, their communal nature drove them to help out and contribute to whatever human dwelling they happened to be nearby. They would clean, make snacks, repair what was broken, or even just make art for the humans. It was their way to pay respect and prove their keep.
The humans eventually noticed the signs of oompa loompa activity. They would find their chores magically done, and many would swear that they caught glimpses of some sort of mouse-like creature. It started with children. They would keep out old toys and clothing to show their gratitude whenever their rooms got cleaned for them, or their beds were made in time for them coming home from school.
This practice has spread quickly. People left out blankets, homecooked meals, but the Oompa-Loompas took chocolates left out the most. So, chocolate and cacao beans became the most common offering quickly. They were accessible to get, and were a guaranteed hit with their hidden mouse roommates.
Although the mutualistic dynamic made survival easier for these Oompa-Loompas, they still faced the hardships that came with their lifestyle of choice. Their timid nature rendered them unlikely to approach a human for help, especially since they would never know if the humans truly accepted them, or would evict them if they know the true nature of their little helpers. So, most wouldn't take the risk.
Those who were courageous and did meet their host humans are highly respected as a result. They faced a fear that most couldn't bring themselves to, and Oompa-Loompas take such feats in high regard even if a human may view it as small. Such Oompa-Loompas are even highly sought after as mates, as Oompa-Loompas wish for their children to be courageous as well, as courage would make the lives of future generations easier.
Factory Oompa-Loompas
The other group found an old factory. It was barred by a rusted iron gate with some sort of symbol on it, but they were able to slip through and get in with ease. This is the place they saw that strange visitor slip in, so surely it was a safe place for them to call home. Though, when they broke inside, they did not see the strange man. They only saw cobwebs, rust, and broken machinery. All signs of a place that have been neglected for at least two decades.
The Oompa-Loompas did not even hesitate. They figured the man would appreciate seeing his home tidy and functional, so they went straight to work. They found instructional diagrams for all the machines and experimented until they found a way to clean rust and polish metal. After some trial, error, and accidents, they managed to get the machinery to work once more. It was by trying them out to see what those machines did when they realized that this was how man turned beans into chocolate.
The factory was in production for a week when the stranger came in to a functional factory. He has heard the rumors, sure. That his factory was billowing steam and creating noise once again, but to see it in action was something to behold. That these mouse people restored a factory that was left to collect dust for thirty years, without ever having been asked to do so.
When the Oompa-Loompas noticed that the man was there, they gathered around him in awe and excitement. It was the collection of little faces that immediately endeared him, and he was unable to help himself but accept them. It amused him even more when he found out how they got here. That they were the ones doing the chores and eating rations on the ship he rented, that he suddenly had a shadow crew right underneath his nose.
So, they struck a deal. The Oompa-Loompas were free to stay, and Mr. Wonka (as it turned out his name was) would provide them shelter and nourishment. All they had to do was contribute to the factory's operations. They can leave at any time, and new oompas can join at any time.
It was rare for an oompa loompa to leave, however, and they never left due to poor treatment. Most of those who left would eventually return. Sometimes with a new friend.
Living Conditions
It wasn't long before an oompa loompa faced a freak accident that left them permanently paralyzed from the spine down. There was anxiety that the poor individual may be kicked out due to no longer being able to contribute, but Mr. Wonka was quick to figure out what he should do.
He changed the agreement. He ensured that Oompa-Loompas only needed to "pull their own weight" and can contribute to their home in ways outside of candy production. Either it be administrative tasks or handling things at their makeshift village along the chocolate river, including planning community events and watching whipple scrumples while their parents were at work. If an individual was lucky, they may even have the prestigious role of being Mr. Wonka's direct assistant! After this one change, the agreement was locked in stone. So that way, if a cruel boss ever came along, the boss would be unable to change the rules so they would be trapped.
Mr. Wonka did everything he can to ensure their safety and happiness. He would step in if they are short on workers and did his best to take his role as a community member seriously. Although there was often miscommunication, as humans are not as naturally communal as the Oompa-Loompas, he still tried his best and learned their ways. He even took care to learn about their culture and made their new home as much like South Africa as he possibly could.
However, factory life was not easy. Especially not for a people so small. Life-altering injuries and early retirement were both common for them. While they knew that future generations would adapt, they still found clever workarounds to guarantee that they can reduce the risk of injury and work for as long as they could. They may invent protective accessories, or they may create new tools to help them with certain tasks, such as carrying sugar.
All in all, though, Mr. Wonka was supportive of them and their efforts. He would make sure they're living their best lives, that they eat enough calories and get enough sleep to keep the workload sustainable.
Healthcare
It's not just general life where they get good treatment, however. Mr. Wonka also ensured they got the best healthcare they can possibly get. He specifically trained a medical team so they can take care of the Oompa-Loompas, and have them on standby in case there is so much as a scratch or a sniffle.
They are known for good wellbeing in both body and mind. Mr. Wonka spared no expense when it came to their care, even letting them have the right to death with dignity along with several other end-of-life options. It is rare for a human to make such a choice on behalf of an oompa loompa, as Mr. Wonka believed that the decision should be up to the oompa loompa or their loved ones. He has only intervened one time, and it was due to the ailment being contagious and spreading. He had to quarantine and make a tough decision for the safety of the factory population.
Dynamic of Factory Oompa-Loompas and Mr. Wonka
Mr. Wonka was considered a part of the community and has taken on a role akin to a village elder for them. He ensured they're fed and housed and made public appearances for community events and holidays. While he did get to have input on rules and adjustments to the agreement that are taken into consideration, he wasn't the official leader of the community (which, according to the Oompa-Loompas, was a good thing as he was known for going too easy on troublemakers and being a doormat, especially if they pout at him.) nor had final say except for emergencies and manners of public safety.
Mr. Wonka and the Oompa-Loompas were fiercely loyal to each other. Mr. Wonka was willing to fight tooth and nail for their protection, while the Oompa-Loompas would happily move mountains just because Mr. Wonka requested it. They trusted and respected each other, with the Oompa-Loompas going so far as to adore their human host.
Mr. Wonka loved the whipple scrumples especially and was happy to watch over them if he needed to. However, he rarely took on the task as he was both a busy man and was known for spoiling them. So, the Oompa-Loompas treated Mr. Wonka like the cool uncle that they only request babysitting duties as a treat to their youth for good behavior.
Mr. Wonka's oompa loompa name is "Kooky."