[OPEN] It's the lightning I feel inside

[thisisamazing]

Who: Hiccup Haddock III & You
When: All of November
Where: Around the city, outside the Bright Wall.
What: Catch-all log for the month! Quests, forge things, and more.
Warnings: None at the moment.


i. Out to the Forge
[On the path from the city gates out to Hiccup's forge, it's unusual to spot Toothless by himself, pacing in short circles back and forth over the cleared ground and letting out the occasional roar of distress. Actually, it's unusual to spot Toothless without his rider period, unless he's around the barracks or lounging on the Coven grounds. When the Night Fury spots someone approaching, maybe to check on an outstanding order with Hiccup or just to visit, he lets out a screech to catch their attention, looking from them to a spot in the distance, off the path, where the woods are thicker and the foliage more tangled.

The cause of his distress becomes pretty apparent as fire flashes through the air several yards from the path, followed by a grunt of what could be pain and the sounds of a fight. Hiccup's shout filters through the air, and Toothless' ear fins flatten in irritation.] Stay on the path, bud, I mean it! I've got this- ah, Thor- [Alright, maybe he doesn't got this.

Shades aren't totally uncommon out here, but he's never run into a three-headed snake shade before, let alone one this big, and it's an angry noodle.]

ii. Business as Usual
[Pretty much since he arrived, Hiccup has tried to forge connections the way he forges weapons. He knows himself well enough to know that he's no lone wolf, and it's generally served him well. He's taken up trading a few of Toothless' shed scales to a blacksmith in the more upscale area of the Shopping District for scrap metal and materials to work with in his own smithy, along with selling them to a few other blacksmiths for cunes whenever he might get low. Cunes aren't a problem today, but he's looking for more metal, having been spending more time in the forge to take his mind off missing his roommate, but today...

He knew, logically, that anti-everything sentiment has been up since the mist spread through Aefenglom last month, but it hits him pretty hard today. Before he can say anything upon entering the shop, he's being escorted out by a burly man a good half a foot taller than he is (which is considerable), meaty hand gripping his skinny arm. The things the smith is telling him, they seem ridiculous, and the pair cause a bit of a disturbance in the street.]

What do you mean you can't trade with me anymore? What- What does my being a Mirrorbound have to do with anything? You know me, we've been- we've been doing this for at least four months!

iii. Lending a Hand (Many Mans' Trash)
[Apparently a tradition for Samuin is to dump all your crap in the streets. Hiccup cannot comprehend how the wealthy especially think it's perfectly fine to leave their broken things in piles all over the poorer, less well-kept districts. He's been doing a lot of helping out lately because of it, tinkering with things that are only lightly broken to try and fix them up for someone in need, volunteering with the donation drive.

And, like today, passing out the fixed-up items salvaged from the 'trash', out in the Slums. He seems to be a regular in this neighborhood; a few of the older residents, human and Monster alike, stop to greet him by name and see what he's got in the cart he's pulling. Toothless is notably absent - he doesn't bring him out here, due to the risk of infection being higher in dragons.]

Hi, everyone! I'll be bringing by a boar later, it's still being bled right now, but I've got a bunch of stuff from a donation drive someone was running in the city. Mrs. Ashcroft, you were wanting a new iron, right? Oh, and Mr. Hamish, I've got some pants that I think are right about your size-

iv. Friendly Sabotage (Collectables)
[Anybody who knows Hiccup might have found it suspect when he signed up for this particular job. Capturing animals out of the wild to sell as pets as part of a big trend? Yeah, that's not even remotely like him. Newt has adopted three petalwolves, but that was different - they're young, and were likely to get themselves killed by creeping too close to civilization. Newt wants to protect them, not domesticate them.

So, to anybody who knows Hiccup, it's probably no surprise that, when the rest of the collectors have long moved on, he looks around like he's trying not to get caught, and stops at a trap they've passed over. There's a young petalwolf caught in it, autumn foliage blending into the leaves on the ground. It snarls when he comes close, but he kneels down, reaching out a hand to it slowly, unafraid.] It's okay. It's okay, I want to get you out of this snare. Can I come a little closer?

[To you, he looks up and says, frowning,] You're not going to tell the others about this, are you?

v. A Hard Lesson to Learn
[Hiccup still attends lessons regularly at the Coven. He has to use his magic on a regular basis anyway since he's Bonded to a Witch (though having a familiar helps - at some point after Dorchacht, he made it official, taking Toothless on as his familiar), so he can often be found on the Coven grounds, in the courtyard, practicing. He's in more advanced classes in some fields now, but in others, he's still trying to grasp the basics.

Like now, with healing spells.

He's sitting cross-legged in the grass, uncaring of the chill outside or the damp ground, focusing hard on a shallow cut on his arm, murmuring the words over and over. It doesn't seem to close up. Eventually, he lets out a little frustrated shout. Toothless, curled up behind him in the dying grass, cracks open one eye, not too concerned - this has been happening all morning.] What am I doing wrong?

[ooc: If you want to do something else, feel free to wildcard me, or hit me up at nekky or nekky#8210 on discord to plot out something different! Hiccup's forge is always open for weapons and armor requests (or follow-ups to things I might have forgotten), and he can be found almost anywhere in the city or just outside it.]

Comments

[closed to Newt Scamander]

[thisisamazing]

[Since Keith left - or was pulled back home, or whatever happens sometimes where people are no longer in Aefenglom - Hiccup hasn't wanted to spend much time at the Edge. Outside of working in the forge, the house is too quiet and too lonely without someone moving around downstairs from his loft bedroom. He's taken to sleeping wherever he falls, basically, usually in the forge over the workbench but the last while, he's also been finding excuses to spend his time at Newt's place in the barracks. He wants to see how the petalwolves are doing, he wants Newt's advice on a spell he's working on, he found some more pages of his dragon guide tucked into the saddlebag and does Newt want to see them? The most honest one so far has probably been "Toothless is lonely without Kosmo around the house, can he hang out with Greg for a while?" The last few nights, he's even fallen asleep there, pretty much wherever.

This evening isn't shaping up to be too different. Today it was that he didn't know what to wear to a masquerade, and after they purchased suits and designed masks, they just went back to Newt's place again. Toothless is curled up napping, and Hiccup is just moving around aimlessly, a little restless but not nearly as manic as he once got during a nasty bout of unBonded insomnia.]

This sounds like it's going to be a lot fancier than the parties I'm used to. Uh, what, what's the dancing usually like? Viking dancing is really just, you know, drunken jigs in the Great Hall where you try to knock into as many people as possible and, uh, I don't think that's going to cut it...

[newtralize]

[Newt can feel it. That ebbing loneliness. The melancholy that comes with it. He isn't sure if it's Hiccup's or his own though. He won't deny that he was charmed by Asra's antics. Perhaps more than he wanted to admit. Asra was gone though. He hadn't seen the other and hadn't been able to get ahold of him. He was sure the other was gone.

And it left a bit of an ache in his chest.

He really didn't want to admit how much he had been charmed by the other.

It takes Newt a few visits from Hiccup to pick up that the melancholy wasn't just him. It didn't take too long for him to notice though. For the time being, he had let them both play dumb though. He wasn't one to throw rocks in glass houses after all.

Newt was seated in a chair. Cross legged with one of the petalwolves laying across his legs. He watches the other pace a bit before he gently urges Doyle onto the floor. He gets to his feet and makes his way to the other.]

Masquerades are pretty formal, I think. Much like a ball. It'll probably be a lot of waltzing probably. Much more precise and must be danced in pairs. A lot of work parties at the Ministry were terribly formal. I can't say I was fond of them, but I am fond of dancing. [Not that anyone would know because Newt was such a wallflower.]

[thisisamazing]

[Their Bond is a little bit of a mess of feelings that it's hard to tell where one person's ends and the other's begins. He suspects Newt is upset about something as well, but he hasn't brought it up yet, wondering if he's just projecting, or if he's only feeling his own melancholy reflected back at him. He never really thought Bonding would make feelings more difficult sometimes.

Either way, he's just glad that Newt doesn't seem to want to kick him out back to the Edge any time soon. Spending time with his friend has helped quite a bit. He's always enjoyed Newt's company anyway, and the company of all of his creatures. He watches Doyle jump down, and offers a hand out to stroke over his head as he trots by.

Hiccup breathes out a sheepish laugh.] 'Formal'. Definitely not what I'm... what I'm used to. I've never even seen a... waltz. I'm probably going to look stupid.

[newtralize]

[Newt watches Hiccup and Doyle interact for a moment. He smiles softly at it.

Most weren't quite so fond of creatures back home, so he appreciated being amongst those that were.]

It's pretty simple. The base steps at least. You can make them more complicated, but I imagine that many are going to be in a similar boat as yourself. [He falters a bit before holding his hand out.] It's easy to learn. We could, er, go through the steps if you want to learn. [It's said so shyly.]

[thisisamazing]

[It's one of the biggest things they have in common, really - they're both more at ease with animals than people. Certain exceptions applying, of course, because especially lately Hiccup has felt nothing but at-ease when it's just him and Newt (and the creatures). He's not afraid of embarrassing himself or looking stupid or awkward. He's just... happy in his company, with the Bond a comfortable thrum of emotion between them.

He looks a little surprised, but then warmly happy when Newt offers to teach him. Reaching out, he takes his hand without much hesitation.] I'd love to. If you, uh, if you don't mind. I'll try not to step on your feet.

[newtralize]

[Newt offers his Bonded a soft smile.] I wouldn't have offered if I didn't want to. [Actually, that's a lie since Newt would do things even if he wasn't comfortable with doing them because that's just how he was as a person. He does want to do this though.]

A waltz is a dance between two people. One leads while the other follows typically. Traditionally, a man and a woman will dance together with the man leading. Since you'll likely have to lead, I'll do my best to let you learn as the lead. [Newt keeps one hand entwined with Hiccup’s while he places his other on Hiccup’s shoulder.]

We keep one hand held together and you'll place your free hand on my waist.

[thisisamazing]

[Well, Hiccup hopes Newt wouldn't feel like he had to do anything he didn't want to with his Bonded. It's not like he'd ever make him, but the offer still leaves him feeling warm. Maybe it's the missing Keith that makes him long for that connection he has with his friend.] There isn't much leading and following in Viking dances. [He admits with a laugh, slotting his fingers with Newt's and then settling his other hand a little awkwardly at his waist, perhaps a couple inches higher than actually necessary.]

Like this? [It feels a little intimate, and that has him unsure of the placement of his limbs, second-guessing.]

the forge, eyes emoji

[bitr]

[ the massive black reptile is what gets lagertha’s attention foremost. she too, lives outside of the bright wall, on a farm that needs as much protection as it can get from shades and other beasts— she would not make the same mistake she made running into a near feral turnskin in october. the viking queen has spent most of november training the hounds enough to bring them with her on her patrols around the farm’s vicinity, a pair of petalwolves with lanky juvenile legs but a taste for playing viciously with things that move.

they’re on ropes, at least, attached to the woman’s waist, crying and howling with excitement before toothless makes his appearance in the clearing. imagine the show they give when they see him, yanking at the ropes and bearing their fangs, as being told when lagertha gives the command in norse.

. . . she still doesn’t know how to filter her battle enchantments out of her words, so they may look a little more fearsome and frantic the more she uses the word fangs. she grabs one of her axes (she carries two, as a matter of fact), and squints when she realizes the beast was wearing . . . a saddle?

never mind the young man that comes bursting out of the thickets with sharp urgency (if only she heard him say thor amidst all this barking). some few tugs against the ropes and saying yield to the animals only forces their yelps into whines, though lagertha has yet to let go of her ax. she doesn’t look like she’s here for much of a stroll, armor and all— and she does trust the pair when they begin barking again, from the direction hiccup came. ]

Boy! [ it has a move tone, to it. and that is a shade slithering out of the bushes with too many hisses to bring comfort to one’s ears. three heads, an oily texture in its mouth and sickly scales peeling away to expose the blight that filled it from the inside. she makes a bit of a sprint for hiccup first, and cuts the hounds free. ]

[thisisamazing]

[Toothless immediately goes on the defensive when the ones passing by actually turn out to be a woman with a pair of snarling petalwolves. His ear fins lay back, his eyes narrow, pupils slitting, teeth baring in a growl of his own. His body is situated low to the ground, wings flaring out to look bigger than he is (which is still pretty big). The axe definitely gets a reaction out of him as well, being one of the weapons he's familiar with.

The next screech he lets out is a warning one, a dull blue glow starting up in patches along his spine. The alpha is defensive, but not backing down from a potential fight.

Hiccup stumbles back onto the path from the brush, waving Inferno again, the blade alight with dancing flames. It takes him a split second, but when he spots his dragon, distressed, and a woman with a pair of wolves- and yep, there they go, the moment she lets them free. This is going to go badly.]

Toothless, air! [He yells, a little frantic, and with a few powerful flaps of his wings, Toothless goes airborne, hovering over the treeline, sharp eyes watching the fight below and mouth glowing with violet plasma. With Toothless out of the serpent's reach, he tries to push himself in front of Lagertha, get between the serpent and the woman and her dogs. The petalwolves are his next concern.] Call them back, call them back! [He doesn't know how susceptible they are to infection; they suspect Newt's had been pushed out of their original territories by the Cwyld, and he doesn't want to chance it.] They can't touch it or they'll get infected too!

[bitr]

[ the dragon indeed was a friend, then. the way she would speak to saga in her dreams, hiccup speaks to toothless. her attention leaves the dragon completely, if only after a flitting glance as he takes flight.

the norse tongue is quick and thick. she does not ask for attack, and she hopes to the gods that they hear her— it's only fangs she wants, and fangs! she commands. the petalwolves bolt, in front of hiccup and corning the serpent at a comfortable distance. just a show, they only bark, snap, dash back and forth like sheep dogs at the hinds of cattle, and provoke— but at least they don't attack.

just enough for the boy to be safe, a blade alight with fire aside. lagertha can feel the shiver in her chest defusing, an exhale she didn't know she had held with relief. she knew enough of the sickness, knew that she could not afford to lose the beasts she had just taken in— but to the depths of hel, if she would put the lives of the wolves before the child she sees.

a young man, but to her, a child. lagertha is old. ]

Do not test the Gods, boy! If it is not dead yet, flee as you have! [ if he hasn't killed it yet, then he doesn't plan to, from the looks of things, is what she perceives in the haste. the shield maiden speaks with a snarl, running, as fast as she can to the young viking and thor she would drag him if she wasn't about ready to throw her ax. it sparks with magic, not fire, though something like weak static and pops of something that she's trying but can't quite do. to hel again, she'll throw it the way it is, and takes her stance to. ] You are nothing if it touches you!

[ perhaps only toothless was the most susceptible of them all— infected petalwolf or infected boy, they'd all have to get treated. she's just not going to stand for either. not today, loki. ]

[thisisamazing]

[It's a relief when the animals don't go so far as to physically attack the shade. Hiccup wasn't looking forward to having to rush someone else's pets in to find a healer that can handle initial Cwyld infections.

Scowling, he retorts dryly,] If the Gods have something to say, they can say it- [He swings Inferno again to put some distance between it and them, and the serpent hisses, spitting acrid black venom. It misses, thankfully, but he can see the patch of ground it lands on start to sizzle and blacken. Great.] Ah, Thor, that's going to be fun to clean up-

[Toothless screeches again from the air and fires off a bolt of white-hot light that strikes the hydra's side, and it recoils, thrashing.]

I was working on it, trying to keep it contained-! [Okay he was having some issues, but he doesn't want to seem incompetent, living out here.] It's too far gone, if you can take it out then go ahead.

[closed to Percy]

[thisisamazing]

[The announcement this morning had been a surprise. Stuff coming through the mirrors sans people? He'd never imagined something like that was possible. Sure enough, he'd taken off for the Looking Glass House early in the morning, but looking around the mess and the barely controlled chaos had turned up nothing familiar to Hiccup. He'd left empty-handed, a little disappointed, and spend the rest of the day in the city taking care of some miscellaneous business, like any other day.

Returning home now, it's early evening, but he still goes straight for the forge, tying on his leather apron as he walks in. It certainly doesn't keep him out of there, now that Percy's around more; Hiccup enjoys his company and that much has probably become obvious just from the sheer amount he talks, delighted to have an actual conversational human in the room rather than just a dragon that will only purr and flick his ear-fins.

Tonight isn't different, he immediately starts up talking while he gets out his projects and designs to start on a few hours' worth of work before he turns in tonight.] Well, today was a bust. There wasn't anything I recognized at the Coven, so I guess not everyone's mirrors were working. Did you find anything from home? I guess others have. It seems weird, things coming through without- without people.

[gunsmithed]

[ It's been an interesting day for Percy. He'd been vaguely curious about this new mirror problem, only to find something shoved unceremoniously into his arms. Which was how he came face to face with...well, less dragon than pseudodragon. Even if he had been tempted to be slightly worried about the thing's very chromatic coloring, it was a bit difficult to work up too much concern over a creature that had stared at him for a long moment before proceeding to lick it's own eyeball.

When no amount of attempting to politely explain that this thing definitely did not belong to him had any effect, Percy had done the only thing he could think of and brought it back to the forge. There are a very small number of people he knows with any sort of connections to dragons, it's not the worst idea to start there. The little lizard is surprisingly well behaved as well, sitting mostly quietly in his arms as he heads out into the woods.

Only once he gets there, it's easy enough to fall into old rhythms and mostly forget about his passenger. At least until Hiccup turns up, sounding oddly disappointed by the whole thing. ]

Er. Nothing from my home, no.

[thisisamazing]

I wonder how it happened. That some mirrors- did that, and others didn't- [He's taking some things down from a shelf when he spots it. The cat-sized green and brown lizard that scuttles over the workbench, and drops a wrench in front of Percy, then stares up at him with wide, unblinking eyes. Did Percy ask for a wrench? Who knows. Sharpshot has taken it upon himself to help, apparently at home in a forge like this.

He lets out a croaking little roar and Hiccup jerks, the box of tools he was reaching for thunking into his head and spilling across the stone floor.]

Ow-! What the- Sharpshot?

[gunsmithed]

[ The clang of the wrench dropping pulls Percy's attention and he sighs a little. ]

Thank you, that isn't--

[ And then is immediately cut off by the sound of Hiccup dropping things. Percy's head whips around towards the other man, but it only takes the barest glimpse to register the recognition on Hiccup's face. ]

Ah. This one is yours, then? [ He's honestly not sure why he's surprised. Though he does find himself pausing a second. ] Sharpshot?

[thisisamazing]

[Sharpshot squawks, his roar noticeably more birdlike than Toothless' and throaty. He blinks slow, and then scurries off into the toolbox again, coming back with a screwdriver. That's what Percy wanted, right? Obviously!]

Yeah, uh- He's my, my Terrible Terror. I first trained him when I was sixteen... [He's slightly stunned, watching Sharpshot scramble over the workbench fetching things like nothing is wrong. It's always harder to pinpoint what other dragons might be thinking; Terrors are quite a bit less intelligent than Night Furies.] He, uh, he seems to like you.

[gunsmithed]

Yes, we're getting along marvelously.

[ It's dry, so dry, but Percy regards the little lizard for a long moment before letting out a long sigh that might have just a hint of amusement in it. He delicately accepts the offered screwdriver, despite no real idea what to do with it, but he's getting the sense that the strange creature will just keep doing this dance until something comes out right. ]

Thank you. [ This directed gravely at the tiny dragon. Terrible Terror. Honestly, he's not really seeing it. ]

[thisisamazing]

[It's a shock, but that also fades into a kind of relief, knowing that if Sharpshot had to show up like that, at least Percy's had him instead of someone else. He'd trust Percy with his dragons any time nowadays, and the little guy does seem enamored with his new friend.

Sharpshot seems happy when he takes the screwdriver, and sits back on his haunches, tilting his head to the side. And then he's off again, this time going to dig in the box of iron nails. Nails go with screwdrivers, he's pretty sure.

Hiccup has to stifle a laugh.] I actually didn't train him to do that. He usually carried letters for me back home. Has he been much trouble? Did they just- give him to you, out at the Looking-Glass House?

ii.

[silentsavant]

[The man's hand tightens around Hiccup's lean arm like a vice, like he could squeeze his point into him by way of sheer force so that he may remember this painful lesson and remember it well.]

It's bad for business, is why! [He gestures widely to the streets of the Shopping District.] Mucks up our good name. Four months ago is like comparing a summer morning to a winter's night. People were suspicious of you misfits at first, but now they're well aware they shouldn't associate with you. They see us cutting deals with you and it's raising eyebrows... as well as complaints.

[And maybe it's the irritation simmering beneath his skin that finally reaches a boiling point with all the low levels of mistreatment and scornful looks he's received when all he's trying to do is go shopping for clothing solutions to deal with the humiliating turns his transformation had taken, or maybe he's just all out of sorts after the rude and abrupt severance of his Bond, but Soren decides he's had enough of this sort of attitude. From a short ways behind, the small dragon bundled in a long cloak intervenes with his voice.]

What sorts of materials do you trade in?

[The man jerks his head to meet the monster, having been abruptly pulled from the tirade he's been pounding into Hiccup's skull. He's never seen this one around before, and the black scales and the growing horns seem to suggest he might be a dragon. The cloak covers his leathery wings, but the shape still protrudes just a little. They way Soren speaks in such a level voice almost seems like he's asking to do business, but there also seems to be a catch that makes the smith suspicious. It might be the exasperation lingering behind his tone Soren has only just barely managed to cover up, or the way his sharp gaze almost seems to pierce right through him.]

Scrap metals an' the like. Should be obvious; we're a smithy. He gets 'em in exchange for scales. Why do you even ask?

Scales? What kind?

[He jabs a thick finger at Soren.] Like those you've got on your face and hands. [snort] But I don't suppose you're a dragon, are you?

And if I am? Would you do business with me instead? Or would my being a Mirrorbound force me to conduct my business elsewhere? It is my understanding that dragon scales are a priceless commodity, so it would be foolish to cut ties with such a reliable supplier who only wants scrap metal in exchange. If it were me, my asking price would be far steeper.

[thisisamazing]

[Scowling, Hiccup pulls his arm back from the smith's hand. This is quickly turning into an argument - and not one he wants to have in the middle of the street, in front of passers-by and other shopkeepers. Mirrorbounds' reputations are tenuous as it is, in the wealthier, more human-centric districts of Aefenglom, and he doesn't want to make them look even worse by causing a scene. There are other smiths in the city, other magitech crafters that will take dragon scales that have been sourced properly.] Then good luck buying enough elsewhere to do any scale armorwork-

[And then someone else is stepping in, a Dragon from the looks of him. Luckily, for now his tone sounds calm, and Hiccup forces himself to take a breath.]

Hey, look, it's- this guy isn't worth it. I can do business anywhere else in the city. I know a bunch of other smiths. We should go, before we draw any more attention.

[silentsavant]

[The smith's ghost-white face fills with color again as his lip curls in contempt.] Bah. Off with ya, then! I know a buncha other smiths, too, and you can bet all the scales off your dragon's hide they'll be hearing about this!

[Soren understands the situation and decides that extracting themselves from the conflict would be better than proving any points or having the last word. His fellow Mirrorbound would prefer it that way, too. And yet, he tacks on a curt rejoinder anyway, scarcely able to control the indignation frothing beneath his fracturing composure.]

Your loss. Let's be off, then. [Nodding to the smith respectfully, he adds] Apologies for the commotion.

[...that he probably caused himself. Soren is not the least bit sorry. A bit of politeness goes a long way in painting better impressions of both the Mirrorbound and of monsterkind, and humans are watching. He keeps the roiling chaos bottled up, avoids glaring at the stares he knows are in part attributed to wondering if he really is a dragon or not, and leaves in the same direction Hiccup heads. Teeth clenched, he gripes on a low, disgruntled voice once they're out of earshot, restraining a sort of bitterness that runs deep.]

Go right ahead. Let prejudice blind you to the fact that about the only dragons left are the ones that came from mirrors. I doubt everyone in his network is as foolish as he is, passing up such a lucrative trade arrangement. He'll come crawling back once the whispers die down and they outcompete him. And then you can bargain for more.

sorry things got busy with end-of-month nonsense at work!

[thisisamazing]

Then we'll see if they care more about their own profits or you throwing a tantrum! [Hiccup can't help but shoot back tersely, rubbing his upper arm where he'd been grabbed with one hand. It stings a little, but he's stung emotionally worse. So much for friendly business relations. He knew things were getting bad, but not quite this bad.

He's eager to leave, though, not wanting to draw any more attention than they already have. He can't burn all his bridges within the city; selling scales is his main source of income, and he uses some of it to help Newt fund The Phoenix Tear.

He shakes his head once.] I'm not worried about it. Losing one buyer won't ruin me financially. [Losing more than that... maybe.] And it's- I can get metal elsewhere.

I won't be going back to that shop, I'll tell you. [He scrubs the heel of his hand over his face.] You, uh- you really didn't have to step in, but thanks.

you're fine! i definitely understand!!!

[silentsavant]

Think nothing of it. He was starting to irritate me, that's all. I couldn't tolerate even one more attitude like his.

[Soren's sharp tone supports this admittance. It's rather fortunate that they ended the confrontation there, for his moods have been dangerously unpredictable, his growing pains unusually harsh, and if provoked the wrong way, he could have exacerbated things. If he were naturally hot-headed to begin with, it would have ended in disaster... though perhaps far before that particular exchange had even begun. At any rate, he'd rather leave them behind and forget about the regrettable blacksmith and the gawkers. While Hiccup is a complete stranger to him, he finds affinity here with him as a Mirrorbound faced with similar setbacks. He draws his focus toward his unexpected company, curious about him.]

So, you trade in dragon scales, do you? [He's a witch, not a dragon, so he must be getting them from someone else.]

[thisisamazing]

Have I got some bad news for you. [Hiccup says sardonically, casting his gaze backward just once toward the shop. It's not the only time he's been accosted for being a stranger to this world, and he doesn't think it'll be the last. It's one of those things they'll all just have to deal with to get by.

His expression turns a little sheepish when Soren asks about dragon scales; clearly he is a dragon, and he's wondering just what assumptions the other is making. He's quick to try to clear it up,] My dragon from home. He, uh, he's not- like the dragons here. He sheds like crazy, though, they're all over my workshop. It's... you know, a lot of money just lying around, when I'm not using them for armor or fireproofing.

[silentsavant]

Oh... I see. [His first assumption had indeed been that perhaps he had a dragon friend (Mirrorbound, most likely) who didn't care much for making his own profit and didn't mind that his scales were being traded off. This also makes sense, though. Maybe even more sense.] How lucky that he came with you. He must be more of a... personal mount?