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[Hiccup is working, as usual. It's been good to take his mind off of what's been going on lately, and how he's gone for a while without a Bond now. It's not at a dangerous level, but he's already felt some of the insomnia that leads him usually out here to the forge, day or night, to indulge himself in the comforting feeling of heat and the tang of hot metal as he pours and pounds.

He takes off his gloves as he heads to the window, but Toothless pokes his nose out ahead of Hiccup, rumbling a purring greeting. Hiccup laughs as he leans his forehead against the side of his familiar's scaly head, and then turns to Vex, smiling.]

Percy's out I think? But, uh, I'm here. What's up? Wow, you're bigger than last time I saw this form! That's good, right?

[ There's a happy noise for Toothless as his head emerges to greet her first. There'll be a point where understanding the language of other dragons might become second nature (or, arguably, first), but she's gotten good enough at reading his expressions and body language that Vex is pleased he's still welcoming while she wears this form.

The feathers along the side of her face fan wide, and she can't help a wink at the compliment to her size. ]

I think something in the magic around Dorchacht might have upset whatever balance is involved in the physical change? [there's a shrug of her shoulders, meaning wings rise and fall too] I like it more than being the size of a cat, even if that form was very portable in the right circumstances.

[there's no disappointment to hear Percy is not in, but she can't quite help herself in glancing into the forge anyway, on the off chance he steps in at that moment. (He doesn't. But there might have been a chance..!)]

Well, I'm just glad someone's here. [she sits] I know its the last day of the holiday here, but, do you know why there's a number of carts being dragged out of the inner city? Folks living outside the wall seemed quite upset about it as I was flying over.

Edited 2020-11-03 14:50 (UTC)

[Toothless bobs his head, accompanied with short, guttural sounds and a wide, gummy 'smile', before Hiccup fondly nudges him out of the way to lean halfway out the wide window, taking the opportunity to get some fresh air.] As long as it's more comfortable, I guess it doesn't matter why, huh?

[He's never experienced those kinds of changes himself, so he doesn't know much about how it must feel, but he likes Vex - she deserves whatever the better option is.

He laughs a little, leaning to the side so she can glance around him into the forge. He's worried a lot less about Percy ever since those two Bonded. But- the mention of the last day of the holiday, and carts, have him blinking, expression going slack with confusion. He ducks around to leave through the door, glancing up at the sun and toward the Outer City like he can see anything. He can't.]

Is- Is it the last day of Samuin already? Is it- Thor, I didn't even know it had started... [He mumbles to himself, frowning, wondering if he's lost track of time that badly.] Oh, they- yeah, uh, last- last year a lot of the people in the Aristocratic District just... dumped all their broken junk in the Outer City? I guess they're doing it again.

I suppose that's one way to look at it. [agreement, with a hint of amusement] Some advance warning that sort of thing impacts moon cycles would be nice, though.

[ Dinky dragon in Dorchacht isn't something she'll forget happens any time soon.

Bonding has been-- good. Vex thinks, anyway. Turning feral is no longer a concern she need to keep in mind, and knowing she helps Percy deal with magical energy run off gives her some peace of mind too. Plus, he's clearly been sleeping better as of late, which is always a win in Vex's book.

Hiccup, however, looks like he's far from well rested, and Vex turns to watch him thoughtfully as he emerges into the sun. He's never struck her as, scattered, exactly. But there's a frenetic air that is far too familiar, too close to home, and her tail flicks back and forth thoughtfully. ]

It is. I even marked it on the calendar. [Fireproof wall scroll, by the door to her side office, no less.] That sounds... That's gross. And wasteful. People live there!

I- hah, I don't think we get much advance warning of anything around here. [He hadn't expected any of Dorchacht, actually. Maybe that was naive of him.

But he laughs nervously when she mentions the calendar, a hand coming up to rub through the sweaty hair at the back of his neck. He's been working for a while now, probably; it's easy to fall into those unusual patterns these days, without Newt to chide him into bed or to come home for dinner like he'd always done. The most routine he has is making sure the dragons are fed and taken out for exercise.]

Ah, you- you did, huh? [He definitely didn't notice the date. But it sounds like there's going to be work to be done in the Outer City, and he's all about doing something useful.] Yeah, it's- it's really not great... They don't seem to care that they just, pile a bunch of junk around these people's homes. And some of it last year wasn't even really junk? Some things were just in need of repairs and then they were okay.

[ For a moment, her feathers fan flatten back in clear displeasure, this behaviour displeasing her. She's been in the city long enough to recognise the attitudes between those inside the walls and those beyond them, and the contempt the rich had for the poor. It reminds her of the sneering looks given her and her twin by the elves of Syngorn, contempt for their Human blood that marked them as below their station to treat with dignity.

Then they rise again, as gold eyes widen. ]

Repaired, you say? All just dumped out in the open? [her tail flits back and forth, tapping the ground with its feathers] Well now. If they don't want it, then they can't object if others claim them, correct?

[ But first: ]

When was the last time you had something to eat, Hiccup?

[Hiccup's expression definitely says he does not disagree. The way the aristocratic folk treat the people of the Outer City is something he's well familiar with by now, after over a year in Aefenglom. He passes through the slums every day, knows some of the residents personally, and it had been awful when this happened last year too.]

They won't care what happens to any of it after they've dumped it. It was, was like this last year too. We managed to fix up a bunch of their old junk for the refugees from Dorchacht - they were still brand new to the city then. Ah, I'll have to go see if they need any help...

[The question makes him pause as he tries to... not hide the answer, but remember when his last meal had been. His face heats a little in embarrassment. (Literally, his body temperature is a notch or two higher than it should be due to his fire magic.)] Uh. I had... breakfast? Yesterday.

So it CAN be repaired. [statement, not question] Well. In that case, perhaps we can help again. And make things a little easier on more than just our immediate neighbours in doing so.

[ She'll need to have a look at what's been dumped, but a plan is already forming. Knowing what both Percy and Hiccup can do, and Zewu-jun's assistance, may make this something worth investing in..

But first:]

Yesterday? [Hiccup. The look she gives him is appalled.] Right. Come along, Toothless, and bring your human with you!

Edited (html why) 2020-11-05 12:17 (UTC)

Yeah, some of it. Some'll be good for scrap probably. What, uh, what do you mean by easier on more than just the neighbors? [On them too? Hiccup is always down to scavenge some scrap metal and parts, he's slowly getting into tinkering with more mechanical things lately, but-

Oh.

Toothless perks his ear fins at the mention of his name and seems only too happy to obey - some alpha, he thinks dryly as Toothless snatches his rider up by the back of his apron and dangles him like a naughty kitten as he plods along after Vex.] Is- Come on, is this really necessary?

If, understandably, they don't want those cast-offs that have been so rudely dumped on their doorsteps, and we can make use of them, I think people would find a few cunes offered in exchange for said junk appealing.

Of course, it all depends on what's been dumped so far.

[ Toothless is reliable and good, and likely has an inkling of what she has in mind, and there's a chuckle in her throat as she watches Toothless handle Hiccup. Don't think she hadn't considered something similar before bonding with Percy. (and even now after.) ]

Absolutely necessary. If I told you to go eat something right now, you'd get distracted half way to the door by other things you have in mind. [sound at all familiar?] If you're willing to come along and be fed, I'll treat you. There's a restaurant by the docks that serves to dockside monsters, so they won't object to dragons at the door.

[Vex should know: she asked in advance. And they had no problems with a bear, which of course won her over.]

Edited 2020-11-05 13:47 (UTC)

Oh! More hands to haul stuff here- Yeah, that's- that's a good idea! [Luckily he still has a well of dragonscale money to pull from in these cases.] We could, uh- advertise for Mirrorbound to sort through it and bring us the good scrap or fixable items for a small payment? Then we can just help haul away the useless junk for the residents...

[All said as he's dangling by his apron with dragon drool starting to soak his back. He's fine. Toothless carts him around because he cares.

And he can't deny that accusation.] It's- My mind's been all over the place lately... [He says weakly, a protest or an explanation but a sad one either way.] I- Alright, I feel like, you know, I don't have much of a choice here anyway, haha...

I have some that I can contribute. [she spreads out her wings, and the blue feathers gleam, while silver scales ripple against her hide] But not just Mirrorbound. We should put up signs for locals. Many could use the coin, and we'd be showing our interest in the community.

[ And frankly, the local residents need winning over. ]

But for Mirrorbound, we should allow access to any junk here. There may be other skilled crafters who we should be working with that might find it useful!

[ No choice what so ever, that much Vex agrees with, nodding her head in a sage manner. Still, they should at least let Hiccup have some dignity. ]

Toothless, dear, it looks like he's going to be agreeable. I think you can put him down now. [more comfortable to fly when on his back than in his mouth, too] You should find that you can concentrate better when fed. Though...I'm guessing you've not made much progress in finding a new bond yet. [it's a question, for all it isn't phrased that way.]

Yeah, definitely, it'd be good to make the offer to anyone who needs some extra coin. Maybe some fliers in the Western Residential District? I can put some up at the Phoenix Tear too. [It's really telling that he's able to hold a conversation while being carted around like a naughty kitten by a thousand plus pound dragon.

Who does drop him unceremoniously onto the ground when he's bid, purring out a throaty happy-dragon sound and expecting praise.

Hiccup laughs sheepishly and stands up, dusting himself off.] Ah, no... Uh, no, I haven't, really. It's- I only found a Bond before out of sheer luck, I think. Newt was... I was already close to him.

Both of those sound like excellent ideas. When we get back from eating, we can figure out the message to write up, and then make flyers. Or have them made.. [Vex's forepaws have long clawed digits, but she hasn't tried writing with them. Yet. Better to be humanoid again for that.

There's an approving hum, followed by chuffs as her feathers spread, then resettle. Toothless may be the Alpha, but apparently Vex has at least temporary rule of the roost? Something to think about later, assuming Vex thinks about it at all.

For now, attention returns to Hiccup.]

Hmmm. Well. Luck only goes so far, darling. [her head tilts, muzzle pulling in towards her neck] But if closeness is a requirement, what friends have you made here that would you consider?

I can make them. It's- it's no problem. Faster than trying to find someone else to do it. [Anything for more to do, honestly. He keeps himself busy for a lot of reasons these days.

Some of those reasons being his lack of a Bond, which... he's handling. Maybe not the best, but he's handling it. It's been hard to try to look for someone after Newt went home, knowing it would be so different with anyone else.

A wince at the pointed question.] Well... I don't know. A lot of the people I've known here have... have gone home, you know? And I don't know a lot of Monsters.

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