riverview | video, @hiccup

[The camera clicks on at an awkward angle at first, but soon the young man in a tunic and leather armor manages to right his device and set it on a table. He takes a few steps back to address it with a sheepish smile.] So, uh. Hello, everyone. Wow, this place is something else. A box that allows for instant communication... It's faster than terror-mail! I could really use some of these back home. Uh, anyway.

I've heard a lot about the Perimeter Guard, namely that you guys, uh. Kill monsters. [There's a slight, involuntary cringe at that, as if his soft heart can't quite take the thought. It's startled off him and back into a smile, though, when a large black creature stalks into the room, wide green eyes fixed curiously on him, and then the device.] This is just a little, you know, public service announcement. [Suddenly, the screen blacks out - or, more accurately, becomes filled with the shiny black scales of a Night Fury as Toothless leans in to sniff at the camera.]

C'mon, bud, I think you're- Toothless, don't-! [Toothless makes a sound almost like barks of rumbly laughter, and- then a pink tongue fills the screen. Hiccup wrestles the device back, and now the video is... a little bit watery. The dragon is back on his haunches, 'smiling' a big, gummy smile. Hiccup's voice is dry as he continues.] This is Toothless. He's my dragon, and my best friend, and he's not dangerous unless you threaten him, so if you see him around the city, you know, he's... he's not a monster. [As he fumbles with it, trying to wipe off dragon drool, Hiccup mutters just before it cuts out,] You know this doesn't wash out.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I know I want to learn everything I can. There's so much here that's new to me! It's really hard not to take apart all the appliances to see how they work, haha.

They're four-footed reptilian dragons with spines and small horns. Like this.

[With the next message he sends an image attachment, a photo of a sketch on yellowish paper.]

I know the feeling, but don't try to take apart the comm---the phone. There's a library here that has a lot of information. You could visit that when you have the chance.

[ ...how is this creature terrible? It looks adorable more than anything. ]

They don't look to be terrors, more like little pets.

Did you draw this yourself?

I hadn't planned on it, if I take apart the phone, I can't ask anybody for help if I break something on accident. I'll definitely have to look at the library, though. They also gave me a pamphlet for a 'university', I might take some classes.

Haha, well, they got that name before we knew much about dragons. They do breathe fire, and they used to come in packs to steal food out of our winter stores. But yeah, it's from my note book.

Exactly. Not unless you buy another phone and tinker with that, or an older one.

They can breathe fire? That's incredible. Better than shooting out acid. Well, they would terrible for stealing your food but they look...not as terrifying as other things. But, it's a nice drawing. Better than what I've seen.

There's an idea. Though phones might be a little complicated for me to start with.

Most dragons do! Different kinds of fire, depending on the species. Toothless' blasts are more like plasma, but some breathe normal fire, some spit lava, some have flammable saliva or breathe a flammable gas. Some even do have acid, like Changewings.

Yes, start smaller--less complicated and then work your way up.

...Flammable saliva? [ Okay, one of the strangest things she's ever heard, but still fascinating. ]

How would keep yourself from being lit up like a torch?

Your world sounds very interesting. Are there any dragons that can fly into space?

What would you suggest? Keep in mind that practically everything is new to me. We don't even have electricity at home.

Most dragons have some degree of immunity to heat. Monstrous Nightmares have the flammable saliva, they actually set themselves on fire on purpose.

Into space? Like, way high into the sky?

I would start with very small appliances--you don't have electricity? Oh wow. Then, I would suggest buying gloves first so you dont hurt yourself--and goggles.

Now that I can understand why you would give it a name like that. I wouldn't want to face something like that.

Yes, space or interplanetary travel or travel to different star systems.

Gloves and goggles, check.

Wait, there are other planets? I mean. Besides this one, I guess. Different star systems... you can really go to all those? How? Do you fly there?

Yes, there's other planets with other people living on them.

You could travel from one planet to another using a ship, one that go lightspeed at least.

[Sorry Rey, he's imagining boats that fly right now. Vikings haven't exactly discovered sci-fi.]

Wow, that's amazing! The world is so much bigger than I ever thought. Back home, we've only gotten as far as the outer islands in the archipelago.

[It's okay, she hasn't exactly seen a water based vehicle..so lost in translation?]

Yes, it is. And depending upon the planet, you might see more green than you ever thought could exist in the galaxy...or be as barren as a desert.

That sounds incredible. How many different planets have you seen?

Just 2, but there are others who've traveled to different planets and stars.

How fast can your dragon go?

Wow. I never even considered someone could do that before.

Oh, he's really fast. A Night Fury has the highest speed ranking out of any dragon. The only species that comes close is the Skrill, the last one we met actually gave Toothless a run for his money.

It's possible, if you have the right equipment and maps.

How fast though? Like..over a given distance, how fast would he be able to get there?

[Sorry Rey, they don't exactly measure things in miles per hour or anything convenient.]

I guess that's hard to say. I don't know how to compare it to anything you might be familiar with. We could give you a demonstration, though!

[Well, to be fair, if he does give her a measurement, she'd have to figure out if it's convertible to what she knows. So a demonstration would be amazing.]

If you have time after settling in, sure.

Any time that would work for you is fine for us. My schedule is pretty open right now.

video, @hiccup

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject