sirenspull | [Video: 005] Morning:

[The Great Outdoors! Well, whatever was left untouched within the city's perimeters. Still, it works. Beautiful. Just beautiful.

As the ~~rock~~ NV sits somewhere off to the side, Hiccup is seen in view with Toothless. He leans over the dragon, checking the saddle and the tethers attached to it and the prosthetic tail fin, tugging it a few times to make sure it's secure.]

Check. Check. Everything looks good! [He claps his hands together, stepping back as he does so. And after he takes a moment to approve of how well everything has held together, the boy easily swings a leg over one side, patting the scaly black flank.] Okay, buddy. I think we're ready to go–

[Go indeed- "go" is the magic word as Toothless eagerly bounds forward, wings stretching out from either side as the black dragon rushes towards the ledge of a cliff. Oh. Boy.]

–waitWAITWAITTOOTHLESS NO–

[They plunge.

A very high-pitched scream is heard, fading into the background.]

[ SOME TIME LATER: ]

[The scene stays the same, much like one of those computer screensavers used for peaceful default ambiance settings. But it isn't long before it's disturbed again, a miffed black dragon and his bedraggled boy entering in from the left side of the screen.]

I said I was sorry!

[Toothless glares flatly at Hiccup as he snorts. He shakes off the excess leaves and twigs before tromping off.

Hiccup sighs, letting his hands drop to his sides as he returns the look, watching the dragon go.]

We can try again– oh. Yeah! Okay, fine. Iii see how it is. [Pause. He suddenly looks offended.] Oh, you did not– !

[Excuse him as he chases after the dragon for a bit.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I wasn't really thinking at the time?

Okay, fine, I can't really say anything about that but you try thinking of some other name for a dragon that has retractable teeth.

That's easy!

[Anders grins because clearly he is awesome at naming things ~~Hiccup may regret asking~~]

Lord Chompy! Or Ser Teeth-Gnasher!

[...

~~He really does regret asking.~~]

...Those are very descriptive names!

A little more time and I could probably come up with something better, like Ser Pounce-a-lot's name!

Ser Pounce-a-lot?

He's my cat, aren't you, Ser Pounce-a-lot?

[And indeed, Anders has a ginger kitten that mews as he's lifted up, then wiggles free to climb the mage's shoulders and chew the feathers of his robes.]

The cutest little kitty ever!

[The boy tilts his head partly because there's a kitten and partly because he's never seen a grown man act this way toward such a cute creature.]

He's so small. And fuzzy! [Pause.] But, uh, yeah, I think Toothless is fine for...Toothless. I mean, I've been using it for a while and changing it now would be so sudden.

[It probably doesn't get much easier to take as Anders reaches up to scratch the kitten behind the ears, cooing as he addresses the cat.]

He has the softest fur, don't you, Ser Pounce-a-lot? Yes you do! You're such a clean kitty too!

[He doesn't seem the least bit embarrassed either as he glances back at the boy, still smiling and rubbing Ser Pounce-a-lot's ears.]

I suppose changing Toothless' name would be like changing Ser Pounce-a-lot's or mine. And I can think of worse things for a dragon to be called, as well. Toothless isn't so bad. I'm Anders, by the way. And you are?

[He laughs, nodding.]

It's funny how some of those names just fit after a while...

–Ah. Oh yeah. I'm Hiccup.

Hiccup? And I thought some of the apprentices in the tower had it bad. Do you ever think of getting a nickname?

That never actually crossed my mind! I just figured I had no choice and went with it.

There was a mage in the Circle I was part of who picked a nickname for himself after the other apprentices started calling him Flora. He goes by Finn now. Maybe you could do the same, if the name bothers you?

Flora. Actually, that makes me feel a little better! But I'm good with Hiccup. It's not that big a deal.

[Anders grins, seeing no problem at all with poking fun of mages he grew up with who aren't here.]

His real name was Florian Phineas Horatio Aldebrant, Esquire. I think Hiccup is a lot better compared to that!

[Okay. He has to smile at that.]

Yeah, no kidding! That's a really fancy name!

His parents got carried away, I think. Although it sounds like yours has a history too. Or do parents always name their children after bodily functions where you're from? That could be awkward.

Not all the time. Just something scary or strange enough to foil evil spirits and gnomes.

You mean demons and things? The ones I know don't much care what you're named. I think I like yours better. I could stand going through life called Burp or something if it meant being safe from demons!

Well, it's been working for us, yeah! I guess since there's different worlds, not all demons are the same...

Well we could always compare notes, if you like. What do yours look like? Do they attack people normally, or does someone have to bring them out first?

Oh. Well, they...come in all sizes. Big, small, really small. They mostly do things out of mischief, so it's not always something hugely terrible happening. Whatever their interest, they go for it.

Uuh. What about yours?

I think I like your demons better. In Thedas, demons will possess mages like me so that they can get a foothold into the mortal realm. They kill and torture humans for fun or to feed off their emotions and things. A mage possessed by a demon becomes a horrible abomination, and most of the time there's nothing human left in them at all.

They're a bit of a worry for all mages, and the Chantry uses it as justification to lock us up and kill us if they think we're possessed, among other things.

[He makes a face.]

Yeah, I think I like mine better too! That's just too much to deal with, possessions and everything.

That's not a very good reason, either. Really unfair. Is there, like, no way to get rid of them?

You're telling me! Still, if I'm lucky, I won't have to worry about anything like that in the future.

[He shakes his head in answer to the question.] I've heard rumours of people being able to go into the Fade and convince the demons to leave somehow, but it's difficult, not to mention dangerous. The templars generally just prefer the easier, more fatal method. Hard to be possessed when you don't have a head any more.

Oh. [Fingers tap his lip in thought as he visibly droops.] No wonder they choose the more violent option. I can see why they do, even if it's messy. And gross.

[video]

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