Not what you know

[no_eels]

Who: Toothless & open
Where: Anywhere!
When: Anytime during the AU event.
Rating: G for now
Summary: A viking never made friends with a dragon. A harness was never made. (Catch-all!)
The Story:

To Toothless, everything was as it always had been. He woke up in his cave-shaped room, had a drink from the small pool of water in it, and then left to go skulk his way to the kitchen. The Night Fury's tail was finless on one side, as it had always been since his encounter with the Thing That Had Torn Him Out of the Sky. He had survived his being trapped in the small valley by scrambling desperately with his claws for days and days. The Viking had not come back since cutting him out of the Terrible Thing.

While he had been grateful at being set free (Vikings killed dragons; that was just how it worked), Toothless had needed to get back to the other dragons. But that hadn't been possible. He had lacked the ability to fly, and had been stuck on the island. If not for his suddenly appearing in this place, the Night Fury is certain that the other Vikings would have eventually found him and killed him.

One or two Vikings, perhaps, aren't that bad, but he hasn't been willing to risk much contact. He runs by quickly, finds empty hallways, goes into the kitchen for food when no one else is there (not an easy feat). When he's full of fish, he goes outside and wanders. His heart yearns for the sky, and he only returns to the mansion late at night when most of the Vikings are settled for the evening.

He's lonely. But he's not ready to admit it.

Comments

[no_eels]

Toothless lets out a quiet snort of warm air, unsure and slightly derisive at the same time. Is this Viking really wanting to challenge him? Aren't the grounds for all who live in the mansion? The Night Fury thinks a moment longer before, with a rumble, he launches himself over the hedge.

He can't fly long distances, but he can fly over a shrub at least — and he does, landing in the grass, body language alert. Large green eyes look Lin over with a mixture of curiosity and scorn. He isn't in the mood for a fight, but, like all of his kind, Toothless is confident of his ability to win against Vikings.

[longdau]

When it jumps over the shrub, Lin sees the thing for what it is, whereupon he lowers the sword partway in surprise, losing his offensive stance.

"A wyvern?"

A mighty, powerful beast. And here is he, thin and better as a scholar than a warrior. Lin nonetheless tightens his grip on the hilt, should the creature attack. He does not know how feral it is.

"I didn't expect to find one of your kind here. This place is a human settlement by and large," he says, testing for a reaction and watching warily.

[no_eels]

Regarding Lin suspiciously, the Night Fury folds his wings against his body. He's only aware of one other dragon here, and she smells like a baby whenever he catches her scent. It seems that this Viking was expecting something else. A Viking, or... another type of creature. Toothless relaxes just a little, to communicate that he's not raring for a fight, but he watches Lin closely. Just in case.

[longdau]

" . . . Hmph."

Lin lowers his sword to his side. He is no tamer of wyverns, for that privilege goes to the Kitarl tribe, but he gathers that the creature does not intend to fight – yet. It would otherwise be foolish to give away a visible slump. Too, it would be foolish for him to sheathe his blade this soon.

He moves toward the beast in caution, sword still held passively at his side. Just to get a better glimpse. Dangerous and wild creatures, the lot of them.

"You do not appear to be tamed. But you're too calm for a wyvern."

[no_eels]

Toothless makes note of his sword and, slowly, moves in a circle in the other direction, keeping a wary distance. But in doing so he comes closer to the mansion, and the ambient lighting makes his form fully visible. His long tail swishes behind him thoughtfully as he shakes his head.

No, he's certainly not tamed. Being tame is for the woolly hoofed things that the Vikings keep. And their canines.

[longdau]

He stops his approach when the convenient lighting illuminates the thing, brows arched. Although it suits the textbook definition of a wyvern, its appearance is different from that of others Lin has seen. What is it, anyway? Male? How should he know.

"And you understand me. Is this it? The method by which we humans are meant to communicate with wyverns." He adds in a bored tone, which is gradually delivered faster and becomes more scathing: "It's so simple. I wonder what that tribe does when it doesn't have its hands full with your kind."

There is a loud clink as he returns the sword to its sheath, the hilt rebounding off the scabbard's metal edge.

[no_eels]

The Night Fury snorts softly, eyeing Lin with bemusement. What's he talking about? Tribe? Hands full? Is he talking about the Vikings of Berk? They certainly had their hands full... Or they must — Toothless has been here so long, he isn't sure anymore. His fellow dragons must be keeping them busy...

While he doesn't sit down, he cocks his head to the side and rumbles in a questioning way.

[longdau]

As a bizarre token of appreciation for the creature's curiosity, Lin elaborates with an idle shift of his feet, his stance far removed from the stiffness of before. Though he is still tense around the shoulders, with a hand resting on his side.

"There's a tribe known to tame beasts through a peculiar ability: the gift to communicate with those creatures in a manner that outsiders are incapable. They tame wyverns, as well," he explains in an academic tone. But the neutrality soon fades, replaced by a glower. "Or so I was told. Perhaps it is merely as simple as talking to them. In which case they have greatly exaggerated their tales and deceived me.

"A grave offense – and a crime which I will make them pay for, I assure you."

[no_eels]

Toothless listens to this with interest, sitting down. Vikings who can speak directly to dragons? How would that work? Dragons could understand speech... Unless the Vikings speak like dragons? He snorts with amusement at the thought of a Viking making draconic noises. Perhaps not.

[longdau]

Ah, the wyvern sits. It must be a sign of growing interest.

"Indeed, communicating with a wyvern appears far simpler than the tamers have boasted," he continues with the slight, contemplative tip of his head. "Still, you strike me as different from the rest of your kind. You're more . . . responsive." He squares his shoulders, as they had slumped while he had searched for the right word. "Intelligent, even."

[no_eels]

The Night Fury looks downright smug for a moment. He certainly is intelligent. In fact, he acknowledges it with a firm nod. Much like Vikings, certain dragons are more intelligent than others. Toothless is, he thinks, near the top of the pack, if not at the head of it. He sits up straight and puffs his chest out a little.

[longdau]

"And proud," he says lightly.

Lin takes a few deliberate steps toward the creature. He does not go far, merely intends to test the reaction he may cause. It is dark and quiet outside of his talking; the flat of his boots drag almost noisily against the ground.

"Are you strong, too?"

[no_eels]

The Night Fury regards him carefully. He's still armed, and Toothless isn't sure if he likes that. But his chest puffs out again when Lin asks if he's strong, and he nods. Few creatures can match him in the air, even much larger creatures. He and Hiccup had proved that.

[longdau]

Lin stops. His dominant hand flies to the hilt of his sword.

"Care for a test?" He pulls out the blade in one smooth motion and spins on his heel, the momentum setting the position of his weapon. The creature has declared its strength, and Lin is more than eager to compare.

[no_eels]

He remembers the gleam of a knife, right by his face, held in the trembling hand of a Viking — him, a Night Fury, at the mercy of a Viking — and skitters backward when Lin draws his sword, baring his teeth as a cautionary measure. What does he mean, test his strength? Does he want to fight? He growls uncertainly, tail lashing behind him like a cat's when caught between two decisions.

[longdau]

A warning. Does the creature not get it?

"Surely," he starts, sword still ready, "you understand what I meant. What better way is there to test our strength but through arms? You bare your fangs as I bare mine."

The question, then, is whether he or the wyvern will make the first move. If the creature insists on hesitating, Lin will honor the challenge himself – by dashing forward and swinging his blade in a wide arc before him.

[no_eels]

He was too young to participate then, but Toothless has seen other Night Furies fighting for dominance. For mates, nesting space, and food. It sounds as if that's what the Viking is talking about — a test of strength — but what's the point? He's fought countless Vikings and come out on top.

Toothless is still puzzling it out when Lin begins moving, and instincts take over from his smarter-than-the-average-dragon mind. He snorts, snarling, and lunges to the side, cutting around to the back of the Viking. As he goes, his tail sweeps with him — attempting to knock Lin off his feet.