middaeg | Intro Overflow: May

[It's true that Nessie and Mhairi seemed genuine. Seraphim can't necessarily tell when people are lying, but Mikleo's a long time skeptic too, and he didn't pick up any liar vibes. That means the true cause is still unknown.

His lips press into a thin line.]

I think there's more to it. Of course some people will find any excuse to discriminate against each other, but not everyone is like that. Why not separate us newcomers from the residents, in that case?

I don't like what they're doing. [A pause, and he adds:] Not all seraphim look like humans. This whole thing rubs me the wrong way.

[Hiccup presses his fist to his mouth briefly, thoughtful, glancing back and forth at the people around them.] It just seems like- I don't know, like maybe we shouldn't make snap judgements on anyone here until we know more about this place. [He doesn't want his thoughts to fall into any kind of narrative when he's still so new to the place; maybe the more monstrous here are the victims, maybe it's a mutual dislike on both sides.]

With the Cwyld and everything, life here- it's probably hard. For everyone. That kind of infection, the things I saw in that dream, that's... terrifying, and terror- terror breeds distrust.

[Mikleo isn't one to go off at the drop of a hat, but the discrimination is something he's never understood-- something he's seen people he cared about suffer from. It's one of those aspects of human culture he just can't wrap his head around without sounding more jaded than he is. For so long he only had Sorey as the shining example of what humans should be like, and the rest were dark stories of wars and plagues told like aesops at bedtime. The reality is somehow much worse. Still, it's worth protecting. It's worth trying to help people regardless of how stupid they're being, and that's why he hasn't given up on them entirely.

It's why he hasn't given up on these people, either, though he has every reason to just turn right back around and try to stuff himself back through the mirror. (That wouldn't work, though. He's already tried.)

But he listens. Hiccup might have a dragon, but he's human enough himself, and he's the calm and smart and level-headed sort of influence that Mikleo kind of needs right now.]

... You're right, [he says finally, and breathes out a quiet sigh.] It's not the same, but malevolence on my world... it's similar. It corrupts people and animals into monsters, it destroys nature, it taints the water and the earth. Life can't flourish like that.

[Hiccup always wants to stand up for the downtrodden, the little guy, the hurt and abused. The last six years of his life have been spent bridging the gap between humans and dragons, with Toothless's help. It doesn't happen overnight, unless the son of the village leader nearly dies, or something.] We don't have anything like it on Berk, but we have... Hunters. Dragon trappers. Warmongers. People who don't want to understand that vikings and dragons can live together in peace.

My own village was at war with the dragons for three hundred years, but they could change, they did change. Even trappers can change. But you can't- you know, pass judgement on them without trying to show them first. Everyone deserves a chance. Maybe it'll be like that here too, regarding the treatment of the, uh, 'monsters'.

[Mikleo folds his arms but he's listening. Hiccup has a pure heart-- that's simple enough to see. He believes in what he's saying, and his experiences have given him something more than courage to stand on.]

I suppose that's not so different from humans and seraphim. We've lost our history, but in ancient times, they lived together and worked as one. Maybe it was like that for your people, too.

Why did your people change their tune?

Yeah, something like that. It doesn't have to be history. [He doesn't believe that any society has to be steeped in old prejudices, even this one. If something happens to show them differently, he has faith that they can change.

The question makes him smile over at Toothless, who mimics the expression, 'smiling' a big ole gummy smile.] Because he saved me. Well, most of me. [The leg notwithstanding.] He showed them that their assumptions were all wrong.

Maybe the people here just need to see that their assumptions are wrong, too.

It doesn't. [He likes the way Hiccup thinks, even if he almost can't stand how optimistic it is. That's the sort of thing that grinds his gears when it makes more sense to be pragmatic, but Mikleo's self-aware enough to understand that even he can take it too far sometimes.

And anyway, it's hard to be a wet blanket when he sees the way Toothless grins. Toothless indeed. Didn't he have... teeth? Huh. Mikleo's charmed, regardless.]

... Maybe. I don't know if you can change everyone's mind, but... [He smiles a little.] I admit he's charming.

[That's Hiccup for you. Even in grief and loss, he hasn't completely lost his optimism in the last year. He's only worked harder to make his dream a reality and create a place where humans and dragons live in harmony.] Things can always be made better. Always.

[Hiccup scratches under the dragon's chin, and the grin only widens as he thumps one of his scaly legs.] By myself? Probably not. But maybe we can all show them together. [His grin turns knowing. Toothless is a pretty incredible dragon.] You can pet him if you want. He likes being scratched under the chin.

[Yeah... humanity needs people like him.

Mikleo watches this whole scritchy exchange with curiosity and fascination in equal parts. He's aware Toothless is a dragon, even a different kind than the ones that he's familiar with. And that... intimidates him, a little. He's worried that he'll touch Toothless and suddenly feel himself overflowing with malevolence. And then--

Okay, okay, breathe, it's fine. It's fine. There's nothing to be afraid of when it comes to this giant scaly catdog.]

Are you sure it's okay? [He holds his left hand close to himself, as if he wants to reach out but he's afraid he'll get bitten.] He won't really won't mind a stranger?

[He bites his bottom lip, glancing from Hiccup to Toothless' cute green eyes and then back. At last he edges closer with his hand held out for the dragon to sniff. Please please please don't take his hand.]

Yeah, just- yes, offer him your hand first, like that. [He keeps his tone encouraging and bright; the hesitation is normal and not really surprising, especially after his reaction earlier.] Let him come to you. [Not that Toothless would lash out and hurt someone unprovoked, but not all dragons are as used to people.

Toothless tilts his head to the side a little, watching Mikleo for a moment. After a minute or so, he steps forward, nudges his nose against his palm, and... licks across his hand and probably part of his arm with a large forked tongue, sitting back after and 'smiling' a big gummy smile.

Hiccup tries hard not to laugh.] I don't think he minds.

[Mikleo doesn't realize he's holding his breath until Toothless presses into his hand, and it all comes out in a rush. He only gets to enjoy that moment for, well, a moment, until the tongue comes out and leaves his arm sticky and wet. He's so shocked he doesn't even register that he should be offended.

He got licked by a dragon. Imagine Sorey's face when he finds out.]

He--

[... Wait, he got licked. By a dragon. He looks down at his hand and his expression twists into one of disgust.]

Ugh! What's with all the drool?! [Time to do a (probably familiar) wave of his arm as he tries to shake it off in a direction that isn't towards somebody else.]

Does he do that to everybody?

[Hiccup can't help it anymore, he bursts out laughing, which gets Toothless 'laughing' - short, delighted little barks of sound, settling back on his haunches and looking pretty pleased with himself.]

It means he likes you! You get used to the drool. He's pretty incredible, right? [He's grinning widely here, knowing exactly what's probably going through his head.]

[He can't believe he's being made fun of by a dragon. This is... crazy, but it's crazy in a way that makes complete sense with Hiccup involved. They're like peas in a pod.]

I don't think I can get used to drool, sorry. I draw the line at bodily fluids.

[Once he's mostly free of the drool, though, he settles down enough to give Hiccup a little smile.]

He's amazing. But-- so are you. I didn't think I'd ever meet anything like a dragon rider, yet seeing the bond between you two...

It's really something else.

Fair enough. [Hiccup laughs, unbothered. He's pretty aware he's like the only person in the world who gets used to Night Fury spit being on everything he owns.]

What, me? No, it's- it's all him. I wouldn't be here like this without him. [Toothless thumps back onto all fours, and wedges his head under Hiccup's arm, until his rider is stroking his scales.]

This is- this is what dragons are like, though. If you earn a dragon's loyalty, you have it for life.

Intro Overflow: May

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httyd music came up on my spotify when i opened this tag

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