[OPEN] there is a fire that we breathe

[thisisamazing]

Who: Hiccup Haddock & You
When: Latter half of May
Where: Around the city, out past the wall
What: Rich jerks, odd jobs, magic studies, and contemplation, oh my.
Warnings: None atm.

[i. The Housing Dilemma]
[Hiccup isn't terribly surprised when the Coven decides it's time to find the newcomers a more... permanent housing solution. (Permanent meaning long-term temporary, he's hoping, but semantics.) He wasn't expecting them all to be led to a very wealthy-seeming district full of big and fancy houses, though. It seems a little much. A lot much, maybe.

If he's honest, he doesn't want to stay out here to begin with, but that decision feels more right when he and Toothless, on a stroll through the Haven just taking in the scenery on their way to check out the shopping district again, run into a group of wealthy-looking young men wearing angry scowls and carrying palms full of blue flames.

They're clearly not happy at all, jeering to each other.]

Look, boys, it's one of the charity cases we've gotten kicked out of our homes to house.
Is that a dragon? 'Ere, there could be a dragon stomping around your house, mate.
Just wait til it gets infected and goes on a rampage.

[Toothless is crouching now, growling, teeth bared, and Hiccup foresees this going very badly. He settles a hand on his dragon's side and reaches for Infero with the other.] You- I'm sorry you all got pushed out of your homes. I'm not staying here, I don't agree with it either-

Dragons like fire, right? Let's give them both a taste of it, boys.

Come on, we can resolve this peacefully-

[He could use some help.]

[ii. Looking For Work]
[Luckily, his housing situation resolves itself when he agrees to help Keith build up his new place out in the woods, past the wall. They can do some good out there, and Hiccup knows they'll be happier away from the Haven and the Aristocratic District. The only con about having to build almost from the ground up is, they have very little money for whatever materials they can't buy. Hiccup knows he needs to find work and hopefully a forge he can use in the off-hours.

So, he leaves Toothless out at the shack, and ventures into the city on his own to check out the shopping district. While he's looking for a place to work, he can't help but window-shop as well, stopping outside different stores selling jewelry, weapons, and anything mechanical to study the wares in the windows, mentally assessing if he has the skills to produce those sorts of items.] I wonder if anyone will even hire me...

[iii. The Library]
[With everything else going on in his life as well, Hiccup doesn't shy away from attending magic classes at the Coven. If he's got it, he wants to know how to use it - and the more he studies and learns, the more he realizes can be done with it. This viking has big ideas and not a lot of magical skill. He's easy to find in the Library, on his own, browsing the stacks and mumbling to himself,] Let's see, Conjuring? Maybe. Household Enchantments Made Easy, oh that one sounds useful. [He plucks a book from the shelf and moves on, lost in his own little world.

Maybe he's reaching for the same book as you?]

[iv. Atop the Bright Wall]
[Opalescent and lit up in the night, the Bright Wall is an imposing - and impressive - structure. It's still not much of a barrier to a dragonrider. Some nights they can be found sitting up on top of the wall, Toothless a dark shadow against the double moons in the sky, Hiccup letting his feet dangle precariously over the edge as if he's utterly unafraid of the killer drop. Sometimes he just likes to feel the wind in his hair and think.]

[v. The Harbor and The Slums]
a. [In the Harbor District, Hiccup can be found at the docks, tying a net out of a length of rope. Toothless is crouched down at his side, peering at the surface of the water curiously - occasionally his head darts out with a splash and he comes back wet and clutching a wriggling fish between his teeth.] Yeah, yeah, real impressive, bud. Gods, how did dad do these knots? I should have paid more attention when he took me fishing...

b. [Or, later, he can be found out in the slums past the wall, carting a net full of fish after Toothless has eaten his fill, and he's filled a net bag to take back to Wilders' Edge for himself and Keith. The excess catch? He stops in a small encampment of down-on-their-luck people, human and monster alike, and offers it to them.] Here, uh. We had a really good day fishing, there's no way we can eat all this. Maybe some of you could take it off my hands?

[vi. Wildcard!]
[Throw whatever you want at me! Or for a specific starter, hit me up at nekky.]

Comments

I

[reenforces]

[A voice pipes up from behind the men.]

He said he didn't want to fight!

[Mikleo slams the butt of his staff into the ground. A thin sheet of ice spreads outward, crackling over the cobbles. It's just enough to send this group sliding and slipping should they move a fraction, and-- well, one of them turned to glower at Mikleo, and now he's windmilling his arms to keep from falling, so maybe that's not a good idea.

A short water seraph is not very imposing, perhaps, but he twirls his long staff and assumes a battle-ready position.]

If you're that eager for a schooling, I'll gladly teach you a lesson!

[thisisamazing]

[Hiccup jumps when Mikleo's staff thuds into the ground and spreads ice across the cobbles. It sure does send a couple of the guys ass-over-ankles when they try to move - toward or away, it's difficult to tell.]

You Coven witches are all the same! You do whatever you want and never have to face the consequences! [One of the guys shouts, trying to help up one of his buddies. Toothless is crouched low, still growling, but his gaze flicks warily from Hiccup to Mikleo, unsure of what to do or who the enemy is at the moment.]

Hey, hey, no-! None of us should be fighting, put that up! [Hiccup has turned to Mikleo now, hands out, expression almost pleading.] They have a point, these are their homes, and they were taken away just like that.

[reenforces]

[Mikleo straightens a bit. He might've misjudged a little here but on the other hand, Hiccup was going to be attacked. It's fine.

He addresses the men.]

And I suppose you never face consequences either, or else you'd know not to attack innocent people in the street! If you have grievances then take them up with the Coven. We have no control over any of this-- we're no different from you. Hurting him won't get your house back.

[The seraph looks at Hiccup and sighs. He waves his hand and dispels the ice, still talking to the group.]

Now get lost or else we'll get the authorities involved.

[Now he finally addresses the poor Viking.]

Just because you're sympathetic doesn't mean you can just lay down and let them hurt you. You need to stand up for yourself. What if you or Toothless got hurt?

[thisisamazing]

You just attacked us! And you see how that dangerous beast is growling at us!
Maybe we'll get the authorities involved! You're the ones in the wrong here!

[They help up their fallen comrade and they're quick to leave before anything else can happen, between the witch and the dragon. Understandably, they don't like their odds. Hiccup, on the other hand, looks more frustrated than afraid, especially when Toothless fires off a warning shot at the cobblestones behind the retreating young men, and huffs, puffed out.]

What- There is a difference between laying down and trying to keep the peace! They're angry, I understand why, but attacking them back isn't the answer. They were using fire - Toothless is a dragon. He would have been fine. [Granted, he's not in his armor so he's much less fireproof, but that isn't his concern.] I could have talked to them instead. Maybe I could have made them see that we're just like them.

[reenforces]

[Mikleo looks unfazed. He knows what he saw-- those dumb kids moved first. He weathers Hiccup's temperament similarly. He's had arguments like this before; his best friend is a pacifist too.]

I wasn't-- I was making it harder for them to get to you. Those idiots were ready to toss fire around. Maybe your dragon is fireproof but everything else...

Maybe you could have talked them down. But maybe you couldn't, and you'd end up in a situation you couldn't talk your way out of.

Some people don't listen. Some people respond to actions instead. If you want to prove your point, then why don't you try something on a bigger scale? Like volunteering?

[thisisamazing]

[It's hard being friends with a pacifist, isn't it? Have fun with this one, Mikleo. There is a part of him that will always believe he can change someone's mind. Less so, since Drago, but a bunch of angry kids foisted out of their homes are no Drago Bludvist.

For what it's worth, Hiccup doesn't even seem angry. Just exasperated. Frustrated.] Look, I... appreciate the help, I just can't be in the middle of any kind of fight breaking out in the street. Toothless can't be in the middle of that. We have to leave a good impression, he's unusual enough as it is without being labeled-

You heard them, they already think we're dangerous. I need to prove them wrong. [And here he turns to his dragon, who looks only slightly abashed at the scolding (which comes complete with exaggerated hand gestures),] And sometimes that means being the bigger dragon, alpha.

[Running a hand over his face, Hiccup sighs.] Anything on a bigger scale doesn't exactly convince a few individuals looking for a fight. Anyway, I do, just- not in this district.

[reenforces]

[Mikleo relents. He can see how hard Hiccup is trying. And Hiccup's not wrong, exactly, but pacifists need people to fight for them sometimes. He looks at the dragon when Hiccup mentions him. Maybe the Viking doesn't want to draw undue attention, but that doesn't mean he can just turn the other cheek all the time.

What if someone gets hurt? Though that could happen regardless of someone intervening or not. Those kids need to be discouraged and that isn't a simple problem.

Ugh. This is too much to think about right now. He can't even remember why he's on this street now when he lives a couple blocks in the other direction.]

All right, all right. I'm sorry for making things worse. I guess I won't chase them down and put ice in their shirts, but only because you asked so nicely.

[He's only half joking here.]

Do you know how to defend yourself against magic, though? Maybe you should come to the abjuration class with me. If you're not going to fight back, you should at least learn how to deflect. It might not be fire next time.

[thisisamazing]

No, I'm sorry, you didn't- it went okay, as okay as it was probably going to. [It was never going to wind up sunshine and rainbows, he knows that. And Mikleo's desire to protect an acquaintance isn't a bad trait by any means. Everything is just so complicated with his situation right now, with them all being so new. The joke gets a wry little smile out of him.] As warm as it is here, they might enjoy some ice down their shirts, you know.

[Hiccup looks briefly thoughtful; he hasn't really heard much about abjuration yet - he's attending some classes, but mostly things he views as practical.] I guess I don't. Is that- shield magic? That might not be a bad thing to learn. I've only, uh, been attending lessons for enchantment and some of the really basic stuff so far.

[reenforces]

[Mikleo just sighs. Hiccup isn't wrong, but it's still obnoxious that these dumbass kids are trying to fight on the streets. It's obnoxious that they have to deal with any of this. But whining about it won't change anything, either, so he'll just have to do his best to mitigate conflict in his own way... even if that means butting heads with Hiccup sometimes. They have the same goal, at least.]

-- You're probably right about that. I'm all for harmless pranks, though they're much easier to pull off when you're invisible.

[Mikleo nods, confirming that abjuration is in fact shield magic.] There are some healing spells under that umbrella too, which is why I've been looking into it.

It's all pretty overwhelming at first-- but you seem like a pretty smart guy. [Understatement of the century.] If you find a school of magic you really like, I bet you'll have a hard time pulling yourself away from it.

[thisisamazing]

[It doesn't bother Hiccup to butt heads with someone well-meaning. They might disagree on approach, but they have similar goals, and he likes Mikleo regardless. Friends fight, it's what they do. So he doesn't hold any kind of grudge for the altercation; it slips off him like water off a dragon's back.] Can you go invisible? Or was that something you could do, uh, before?

[He offers a smile, patting Toothless again to soothe him after the near-fight. The dragon seems calmed down now, but it doesn't hurt.] Well, you know, you too. What time are the lessons? We could go to the same class. Maybe you could help me with abjuration and I could show you some of the stuff I'm working on! Once I get a forge up and running, it looks like there are all kinds of enchantments you can put on weapons and armor.

[reenforces]

Humans can't perceive seraphim unless they're born with the ability, so aside from my partner and a few other people, talking is sort of a one-sided conversation. [He holds up a finger.] There's something I could do with water that could make us difficult to track but I haven't figured out how to replicate it here. I might just have to use the invisibility spell in the books if I need stealth.

[He folds his arms, not to look unfriendly or anything but to consider the thought. Man, he really likes Hiccup.]

I think abjuration is tomorrow morning. I'm game if you are.

[Wait, what's this about a forge?]

Wait, you're a craftsman? [He gestures to Hiccup's outfit.] Did you make-- all of that?

[thisisamazing]

Huh. But I guess that doesn't apply here since- well. [He gestures vaguely. This is definitely a two-sided conversation, after all.] It's still strange to hear how differently other worlds work. Strange, but cool, I mean. How did you make it hard to be tracked using water?

Tomorrow morning. I'll be there. [It sounds like it could be fun.

At the question, he smiles a little wider, a little sheepishly.] Yeah. I was the blacksmith's apprentice since I was a kid, and I wasn't exactly- you know, not the ideal of a viking warrior teen. [Meaning he had to use his smarts instead of his twiggy body.] So I made stuff.

[reenforces]

It's about reflection and refraction. There's a touch of magic about it too, but mostly it has to do with the way light works. [Hiccup can probably figure it out on his own, but he's happy to elaborate if needed.]

Don't be late. [Time to see what kind of genius Hiccup is.]

Wow... I don't know what an 'ideal viking warrior teen' should look like, but you seem plenty capable to me. You don't have to have arms like boar haunches in order to swing a sword or a staff. [Mikleo's twiggy too, and about seventy percent leg.] But there's something to be said for ingenuity. Sorey-- my partner-- he was always making whatever he needed since there wasn't a whole lot in the village. Rare things like books and tools had to be brought from outside the forest, and sometimes that took months.

What you do is nothing to sneeze at. But I'd better stop complimenting you before your head gets too big and floats off somewhere.

[thisisamazing]

Oh! That's amazing, actually. If you can- you know, replicate it, I'd love to see something like that in action. [Hiccup is learning about a lot of more advanced scientific concepts here and honestly he's living for it.

A sheepish laugh.] You, uh, you didn't see me back then. I hit a growth spurt around 17. [Hiccup is still twiggy but he was even more of a toothpick at 15.] Making things, though, that's- there's nothing like it. It's useful. Especially in a small village. Are you from your, uh, partner's village too? It sounds a bit like my home. Some things we could only trade for.

[He smiles wryly over at him.] Oh don't worry about that, I'm used to getting the ego knocked out of me.

[reenforces]

You'll be the first person I call. It sounds like the kind of thing you'd be into; you're a man of strategy, aren't you?

[He might be wrong-- but he doesn't think he is.]

Oh. Lucky you. [The sass is palpable... he's been stuck at 5'5" for about eighty five years.] But you're right, it's the only way to be able to survive sometimes. Our village was in the mountains, and surrounding that was a forest that was almost impassable to outsiders. So if we needed something we couldn't replace, we had to send out another seraph to get it.

[He echoes that wry smile after a moment.]

I can see why.

[thisisamazing]

I guess so. Some people would say I'm a man of 'doing something stupid or crazy', but you know, I'm always here to learn something new. [He laughs, shaking his head slightly.]

Yeah, that sounds familiar. Berk is an island in the middle of nowhere, and it's winter for about nine months of the year. There are long stretches where trading ships can't make it through to us. It's been better since we made peace with the dragons, though it's still hard to fly during storm season. [Small town boys hi5.] Kind of makes you wonder what they do here, doesn't it? I haven't even- haven't even heard of any other cities.

[reenforces]

[He snorts.] That's a strategy in itself. As long as you know the risks and can handle the consequences, then it's fine.

[Hiccup is talking to someone who managed to get grounded his first week here. He's impulsive, too, even if he acts like he's so above it all.]

A nine month winter sounds rough. No wonder you had to get crafty. [At the mention of other cities, he ponders, his hand beneath his chin.] I thought that was unusual myself. With the way this place is walled off and the corruption's spread, I could only come to one conclusion.

[He doesn't need to say it.]

There may be cities on other continents, but I don't know much about that. I haven't been able to find a map yet.

[thisisamazing]

You think Aefenglom is the only city here? [It's not a hard conclusion to come to. It was one that he had been reluctant to decide on, though, because of the sheer horror of those implications.] Or- maybe it isn't, but they can't communicate with each other, or reach any other cities.

It just seems strange. Even somewhere as remote as Berk, we had news and trade from other tribes on other islands.