imeeji_frontstage | (no subject)

[He nods.]

One of the first Wild City's. He graduated a while ago, but he was a pretty big mother hen. He was younger then me, but he could make me feel like I was getting lectured without saying a lot. [Said so fondly though.]

Wow. That must be something. [ Said as she glances away for a moment, towards the streets. It definitely seems like a long time, the more he talks. ]

Not that you probably don't need lecturing sometimes.

[ given his jumping off buildings thing ]

He had quite the presence. [There is much affection for old Wild City.]

Eeeeeh.

I might need them sometimes.

I bet, if he still has such an effect on you.

[ But then, she imagines, in a place like this... She shakes her head. Raises a brow and asks : ]

Only sometimes?

[ That much is said a touch lightly. ]

Hmm, most Wild City who met him would agree.

[He chuckles.]

Well...Toothless does have an array of very judgey faces with some serious nuance. So maybe a bit more then sometimes.

[As does Astrid, BUT.]

Toothless would be my partner back home.

So you do deserve to be lectured, then.

[ That's what she gets out of it, immediately. ]

Your partner... like the other guy?

Sometimes my mind gets ahead of my sense.

[He shrugs.]

No. Partner as in my dragon partner.

Jury's out if I am dating anyone back home. Some of my friends have thoughts, but there's no evidence confirming one way or the other for several people.

Edited 2022-09-28 05:00 (UTC)

Oh, that's different then.

[ She just wasn't thinking of using the word partner for a dragon? But it doesn't sound necessarily wrong so she shrugs it off as she glances at him - the park in the field of view. ]

Well, something like that doesn't really matter around here I imagine. Even if you remember one who's to say you're even together now, right?

It is. [DESPITE]

[WHAT SOME FANMAIL LIKES TO IMPLY]

[Gods, Astrid versus fanmail is going to a whole thing, isn't it?]

[He can only hope his fans will be Chill for at least a bit.]

There is that. A lot can happen in just a few weeks even. I'm not even sure how to tell what the last memory is, unless it involves the trip here.

By the time I even thought they had a point, I was already in a relationship with Miya, so I just kind of...decided to not think about it until I knew one way or the other. Not much point to tear myself up about it when I can't even talk to them, let alone when I don't even know for sure.

[ Astrid versus fanmail is probably going to be setting it all on fire or using it for target practice with an axe yes - ]

[ She is going to note he's brought up yet another name he dated and while she has questions on if he's a serial dater or not decides... It's not her business. Not really. ]

Yeah, it must be difficult. There's no way of knowing for sure anything about yourself beyond the obvious what color are your eyes or something. And what would you even do if you did remember something like that? It's kind of like... I don't know, a different life?

[ Which from her tone is something that does, in fact, bother her a bit as a concept. ]

[Tis a mystery!]

[Hiccup hums at that.]

It...differs. From person to person. Obviously, people are different from how they are at home, but that's just life. As you experience things, you're going to change, and this place has pretty intense experiences.

But some people feel very connected to their life, who they were then, and even if they changed, its still feels more like the natural progression of just being alive.

Other feel extremely disconnected from who they are. Just seeing things out of order can make you rethink some pretty major life decisions. Or, you know, some personality flaws make it hard to come to terms with things.

I felt pretty disconnected from who I was for a while. Its why I chose to used Rye for so long, even though I've remembered Hiccup for a while.

But these days...

These days its been getting easier and easier to feel like Hiccup, even though I know I'm not exactly the same as I was.

[ She's quiet as she listens, which isn't an unfamiliar or strange thing. Intent, even, as she considers his words and feelings. Her arms drop to her sides before moving for one hand to grip another with at the elbow.

Brows knitting together as she considers and then exhales, ]

That's probably why I left yesterday. [ She's not apologizing for it, but she continues. ] I can't imagine being someone I wasn't - I don't want to be. It's not like we come here as completely blank slates... I know that when something upsets me it's easier to take it out on something because that came naturally. [ And she's sure that his curiosity and inventiveness didn't come out over night, or anyone else's. Their personalities don't completely change. ]

But it is difficult when you don't know. Just not knowing my name frustrates me enough I want to hit something. [ She doesn't, it's a point as she makes a face, raises a shoulder and lowers it as she looks away - ] There's still just a part of me... I don't want any other name unless it's mine, you know?

[ Probably not exactly, but it's a point. ]

[ A quiet beat and then. ]

I just don't want to change in such a drastic way as everyone mentions. I won't.

[ Because she's Astrid and stubborn, but him knowing her terrified her approximately because she didn't want to be seen in this way. ]

[He watches her, largely. Only looking forward to make sure he doesn't walk into anything, but he wants to hear her, understand what's going on in her head.]

[He considers it, and it makes sense. Astrid changed her mind, sure, but Astrid didn't really change too much that he could tell. Hating dragons was not an Astrid thing. Pride as a warrior, protecting the village, THAT was Astrid, and she had thought fighting dragons was it. When hating dragons wasn't ultimately the way to achieve those goals, of course she would change her mind. Everything he could remember of her, the core of her was the same, even as some of the details shifted.]

[His hands tap at his thighs, clearly debating something for several long moments. Because he could say that he sees so much of the Astrid he remembers in her. Some differences, but honestly, he couldn't be sure if those were differences in Astrid or simply differences in their relationship.]

Do you...want your name? [He asks, testing. Because that was the reason to be silent. He didn't want to freak her out by showing how much he knew.]

[ Maybe it doesn't really make much sense - She doesn't really know who she is, but she knows what she'd want to be. Strong, someone who could protect others, brave. Those are things that haven't shaken from her and yet. ]

[ He's quiet and she almost wants to say something to break the silence, but then he speaks again and her heart twists just a touch. She tenses a moment and then lets it go in a breath through her teeth - frustrated, not angry. ]

Of course I do.

Astrid.

Your name is Astrid Hofferson.

[He looks forward, eyes trained ahead.] I think...the people here, who disconnect the most from themselves, are people who changed a lot. Not just 'life happens and you change,' but extreme change. Some core stuff stayed the same in me, sure...but the people who knew me at fifteen weren't likely to guess how I'd be at twenty. I certainly wouldn't have.

But... [He looks at her again.] I don't think anyone who knew you at fifteen would be surprised how you turned out at twenty.

Edited 2022-09-28 06:51 (UTC)

[ Astrid. Hearing it doesn't make it sound anymore like her own, but that's just... The memoryloss. There's no real sense of loss at being told it, but it's still funny. How even a name can sound foreign. ]

[ She runs her hand along her elbow before dropping it to her side, turning her attention back to him. ]

That's not your way of saying I didn't change at all, is it? [ Despite the touch grumpily way she says it, there's something in her tone that's more light than irritated.] ... Thanks, though. That's good to know.

[ The gratefulness at that, is evident. Even if for a moment she keeps her gaze away as they fully arrive at the park. ]

[He smiles at that and shrugs.] Maybe. [Astrid changes her mind, but Astrid doesn't change much. He's sure that's right.]

Anytime. [He turns away again, gesturing to the park.]

Welcome to our breath of nature amongst all the weirdly tall buildings.

Really weird, tall buildings.

[ She agreed, slightly exasperated at the idea. She waves a hand as she steps onto the path: ] It feels wrong, there's more buildings than there is nature.

It does.

Supposedly in the future, all these buildings and all these rooms would have people living in them. And just...

Its so many people. I've seen it a couple of times in memories and games, but its always so many. Its hard to fathom as being real.

Yeah, someone told me they'd all usually be filled, too.

[ The fact it's normal for most others to just see dozens of different people a day in a large city like this? It feels wild. ]

It's definitely a lot to get used to.

It is. Some I'm still not used to.

[He walks further into the park, though doing a little turn as he walks and looking at the buildings.]

Though the buildings do make for fun exercise. At least when you're not afraid of heights. [Parkour is pretty great.]

Edited 2022-09-28 07:31 (UTC)

Oh yes, we've been through that one already.

[ Said in the tone of 'ugh, boys' like she has any room to judge. ~~One day she'll remember jumping off cliffs for the thrill of it with Heather.~~ ]

Soo... Is there anything someone should expect?

[ For emphasis, she'll pull out the phone which she doesn't, notably, look the most comfortable with. That's to be expected. ]

That fun doesn't require any abilities. I've gone on runs with others before.

[Okay, maybe there was a little Concrete Jungle for the bigger jumps.]

Remembering will be more intense then you do now. It feels like you're reliving the memory at least somewhat. Intensity can differ some, but it is more intense then normal.

Like when I remembered losing this [he gestures to his leg as he extends it] I passed out for a bit.

We'll see about that. You'll have to take me with you next time.

[ :u because she too is an adrenaline junkie, but an extra competitive one. ]

Hm. [ She glanced down at his leg when he gestures to it, but doesn't linger. ] Then I'm guessing sitting down is probably the preferred method?

Sure. There's even a path set up for the jumps people can't make without abilities.

Yeah, its usually a good idea.