[ text | un: trickster ]

[dothelokimotion]

What kind of stories did you grow up with?

What kind of myths and fairy tales were you told?

Comments

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki peers closely at the drawings. ]

So perhaps it is the wing structure that matters rather than the overall density. I assume the tail is necessary to maintain balance and to cut through the air pressure. Perhaps the ridges at the top would do the same.

[thisisamazing]

I know with Night Furies, the fins are important for flight. [He points to one of his early sketches of Toothless from above, the smudged out left tail-fin.] Toothless was injured here. He couldn't get any altitude or steer himself until I built him a new one. It's different for every species, though, since they don't all have the same physical structure.

[dothelokimotion]

You built it? Impressive. How well does it operate and work in the air?

[ He doubts Berk has many technological advancements. ]

[thisisamazing]

I was apprenticed in the forge when I was young. There wasn't much else I could do. [He rubs the back of his neck idly, a little embarrassed.] It's not that impressive, there's a cord that runs along his tail and body and connects to a pedal on the saddle that opens, closes, and shifts its position. It was a lot of trial and error, but works pretty well. One of my diagrams for the saddle and tail rig is in the note book somewhere.

[dothelokimotion]

Ah.

[ There's a knowing tone in his voice. ]

There is no merit to a person who is not a warrior. According to most.

[ He moves on immediately, gesturing to the fin. ]

There are lighter metals here that you can use. More durable as well.

[thisisamazing]

Something like that. [Loki seems to get it, so Hiccup is glad he doesn't have to elaborate. It's easy to shift the subject, because he lights up with a craftsman's curiosity when Loki mentions lighter metals.]

Lighter? Like what? That would open up a lot more possibilities, for the tail-fin and for my flight suit... [It's hard to tell if he's talking to himself or his conversation partner at times.] Oh. But I haven't seen a forge here.

[dothelokimotion]

We've moved past the days of iron forges and heated fires. Which metals are you familiar with?

[ Loki might have an idea, but this is a world with dragons. He cannot take his assumptions for granted. ]

[thisisamazing]

Really? Then how do they make things out of metal? There's a ton of it in the construction around here. [He's slowly catching up to Riverview's technology but. This just hasn't come up yet.] Iron, mostly, and Gronckle iron if we need something really strong. It's a kind of iron Gronckle dragons can spit up after eating the right proportion of raw materials.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki frowns faintly because he was not entirely familiar with the methods they use in the current age. ]

Then we shall see about finding titanium. And perhaps speak to someone more knowledgeable with metalwork. It has been a few centuries for me and I do not recall how mortals do it.

[thisisamazing]

['We' shall see sounds like Loki plans to help him on that little quest, and Hiccup brightens a little.] That would be great. I might try the library too, they probably have books about it, right? [Honestly the process of learning something new and doing the research is exciting for Hiccup.

Toothless, meanwhile, is rolling his eyes and huffing out a little roar at him, because once Hiccup gets started on something, he's on it for days.]

C'mon, bud, we need to rebuild your spare tail-fins here anyway. What if that one gets broken?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki hasn't noticed. He gets caught up in the details and often lets certain truths slip by. He glances at Toothless briefly with a click of his tongue before turning to Hiccup's desk. With a flick of his fingers, he creates a few rods of platinum, titanium and inconel. ]

Try those. Let me know what you think and we will proceed from there.

[thisisamazing]

[He looks over the rods of different metals, picking one up to test the weight and feel of it, critical and discerning. Having a project is nice.] We'll have to test out the heat resistance, see if any of these can hold up to dragon-fire, and it's too bad I don't have any changewing acid with me...

[He looks up at Loki then, setting down the metal sample, and his smile is genuine, heartfelt. Honest.] Thank you. For the insight. This is really helpful.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki blinks, quizzical. He barely did anything beyond step beyond personal boundaries to indulge his curiosity. ]

It is helpful if my ideas have been proven to hold merit, not before.

[thisisamazing]

[Hiccup is grateful anyway.] It gives me some new ideas to go on. Things to look into more. Perspective is important, and I'm having to adjust mine since everything is so new here.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Hm. Loki tilts his head in acknowledgement. ]

No doubt it'll be a sharp adjustment. But the people here are always . . . accommodating.

[thisisamazing]

They've all been really nice so far, yeah. It's made things easier, I guess, though it's still a big adjustment.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki nods. This kind of conversation doesn't suit him. He doesn't know how to make small talk and it sets him on edge. ]

You will manage.

[ Hiccup is . . . pleasant. Riverview has room for pleasant people. ]

[thisisamazing]

Yeah, I'll be alright. I've got him. [He glances back over at Toothless again, immeasurably fond of the scaly creature.] Anyway, if you wanted, I could make you a copy of my dragon research. So you could read it, you know, at your leisure.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki eyes him, trying to gauge how genuine that offer is before nodding. ]

If it is not too much trouble.

[thisisamazing]

Not at all! Just give me some time to get the copies made and I'll let you know when they're ready.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki inclines his head in acknowledgement as he leaves, magic shimmering in his wake. ]