imeeji_frontstage | (no subject)

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.

So it could already easily become a race.

[ Don't tell her that. ]

[ She considers what he says as he says it - looking up before looking back down at the phone in hand. And maybe it would have been wise to sit down, but she's Astrid and slightly stubborn. She thinks she'll handle it no matter what that she looks through the shop. Then without letting herself have another moment of indecision hits the purchase button. ]

[ Of course, there's no real way to prepare yourself for a first memory of any kind, but the memory projects is of course no dragon left behind ~~i'll write out a write-up properly later~~. While she hadn't expected memory to exactly be so long there's a lot to unpack there. ]

[ And maybe - She'll be quiet for a long moment after it just to process. ]

It could, yeah.

[Listen, he's not gonna discourage her. Races are fun.]

[He's noting that and shakes his head in bemusement. He supposed he should have expected that.]

[And...oh. Oh, that is a rough first memory.]

[He can't help the jerk of worry when she decides to punch the Sliterwing dragon, even though he knows she must survive, knows Stormfly must as well, but its hard to fight the kneejerk need to want her and her dragon to be safe.]

[And as to be expected, they're fine. Which is good. Still...it was a lot.]

...you okay?

[ It is a lot to process. Maybe she's not so surprised at intentionally poisoning herself to save a dragon as she should be but it's just still... Nice to know he's not lying to her, honestly. For one. She trusted his earnestness, but seeing him there and the trust she had in him is helpful even if it's -

Certainly a lot in other areas and she's not necessarily embarrassed (but she will punch him if he brings up the fact she cried). But there is a loss she wasn't exactly expecting in her heart, left over from how intense the memories and bond with Stormfly was. ]

I'm fine... I just miss her.

Which is stupid because I didn't remember who she was a minute ago.

[ But Stormfly is her good girl and that just rings true in her heart now. ]

[He chuckles at that, a kind of sad sound.]

...I actually had a similar experience. My first memory, Toothless had been poisoned with a Dragon Root arrow, and I was running around trying to get a cure together in pretty dangerous circumstances.

[He pauses and reaches out, squeezing her shoulder.]

Its...kind of reassuring, in a weird way. Like our minds refuse to forget them that long, so the first thing has to be just how important they are, and at least some idea of how far we'd go for them.

Edited 2022-09-28 09:02 (UTC)

[ Astrid glanced up when he chuckled, brows furrowed from confusion. Then he goes on and she huffs a breath of a sound, ]

Well, it does sound like we lead some pretty dangerous lives.

[ That doesn't exactly scare her, but it's something to think about - Between his leg and poisoned dragons. Still, maybe it's how she's choosing to trust him or the rust she felt in the memory. She doesn't tense when she feels his hand on her shoulder and the small smile she shoots is grateful, if fleeting. ]

You're right, it is kind of nice. Like, maybe I don't know everything, but I know she's an important part of it. A part I don't want to lose. [ Which will suck later, but she doesn't concentrate on it as she glances away. If she feels a tinge of guilt now, she won't admit to it; ] You guys, too.

[ as in the other riders, because of course - ruffnut, fishlegs, and hiccup have their own impacts ]

Yeah. But we're vikings. Its an occupational hazard.

[Hiccup can admit to himself that part of himself unwinds at the look she gives him. Its familiar, something he's used to, at least a little bit of it.]

[He's missed it.]

[He lowers his hand, nodding along.] Yeah. Its a relationship that little can compare to. Its a lot easier to go forward, remembering them. [Even if it games not having them hurt even more.]

[The smile turns...undeniably soft at that.] We do a lot together. And as much as they can drive us up the wall, and they will...I wouldn't trade them away for anything. [Then he gives her a teasing look.] But I think you can see why I sounded like a serenading yak when I saw you. [Getting blindsided by the rush of emotion was A Lot.]

Hm.

[ It's a quiet sound noncommittal in its essence as she moves to brush a strand of hair behind her ear while she listens. Like she wonders how much of it is a hazard or by choice, but won't say as much yet. ]

You'd know better than me when it comes to that. [ Because right now all she can think about is... What's happening to Stormfly now, dragon or no. But she refuses to let herself linger on that either. ]

Oh, I can tell already - [ She made Tuffnut cry after all. But when he turns teasing she raises a brow and crosses her arms: ] A serenading yak? [ Incredulous ] Try a bleating baby goat who's lost it's mother.

[The answer is yes.]

[He shrugs.] Hey, it won't take too long. Probably. They do drive us up that wall a lot. [So hard to say how many of the more Fond memories Astrid will get over the Muttonhead ones.]

[He gasps, putting a hand over his chest in mock offense.] The audacity. And here I thought you would appreciate my singing.

Well, I'm sure I'll find out more about that soon enough.

[ Because she's not going to give up on recovering memories anytime soon - anything she wants to go hard in she will to do just that. ]

[ Astrid crossed her arms, this time more a motion of amusement than the wariness it had in the more recent past. The breath of a laugh in rumbling in her chest: ]

You sure wish. At least, I hope that's not what you equate to singing.

Yeah, that part you definitely will.

[He can't really blame her. He should probably take more of his memories. He just gets Easily Distracted and his memories can either be very calm, or Very Not Calm and it can be a lot to deal with.]

[He laughs and grins.]

Well....

I wouldn't say I could sing much better. I think I'm a little better at getting a tune maybe?

[ She'll let the first part go. It's nothing to dwell on now - Sure, she could probably buy at least one more at the moment, but for the moment it's sufficient. ]

[ Instead she rolls her eyes, good-natured. ]

Yeah. Maybe.

[ She tucks away her phone for the moment with all the disdain/confusion someone who hasn't gotten used to it yet can portray. ]

At least you weren't lying; I was planning to punch you if you were.

[ ...Is that why she asked him to join her? maybe. ]

I'm sure there will be a game with enforced karaoke at some point, maybe I'll wait to show off then.

Ah, was that the plan for bringing me somewhere isolated? [He's joking.]

Why wait? You clearly don't mind showing off already.

[ She means the maid cafe. ]

[ Astrid raises a brow and shrugs one shoulder in a 'who knows' method. ] Hey, you chose the place. So you knew the possibility and accepted it.

[He blushes at that and coughs.] I mean...

The maid cafe was...special circumstances.

Yeah, yeah I did. I know better then to assume I won't get a punch if I do something I know I shouldn't be doing.

Wouldn't have noticed. You definitely seemed going all out.

[ Either she doesn't notice, or she chooses not to - Maybe embarrassing him is still just fun? Maybe it's payback? ]

- Was coming out here something you thought you shouldn't be doing?

I was working with SensitIV. Our relationship is special.

As in if there's blood in the water for half of them, its going to be a full day of teasing and being messed with, so I either don't engage, or I commit.

[Also. To run away from his stress. But that's a whole other thing.]

By that same token, they know to not give me blood in the water either. Its an understanding.

Nah, the lying would have been the thing.

That's a lot of words. I'm not sure who you're trying to convince now, me or you.

[ But she's. Willing to let it be, for now with a roll of her eyes and a short nod: ]

Yeah, you'd have been in a lot of trouble if I decided you were lying.

Honestly, you'll see what I mean if you ever hang out with me and Izanagi at the same time.

[Because its not like its a LIE, its just not the full truth.]

Yeah, I figured. It doesn't help I'm not good at it. [Specifically lying to her. Others, he can sometimes do it if he's prepared, but he's remembered enough to know its never really lasted long with her.]

Yeah, no offense, but I'm not sure I want to be a third wheel around that.

[ Go be gross and cute on your own terms (affectionate) ]

At least you can admit it.

Wow, rude, we can keep the public displays of affection to a non-gross minimum.

Especially when he wants to mess with me. [Because Rye has a type and that type is Bully Him.]

Too earnest for my own good sometimes.

Still don't care and still definitely don't want to see.

[ but maybe they can combine forces in bullying one day, ]

Is that what you're deciding to call it?

So harsh.

Words others have used. I have been told to my face by people with severe trust issues I was literally impossible to distrust and it drove them nuts because it meant they had to start liking me.

[One of them was Izanagi.]

Couldn't they have just ignored you?

[ it works for her! ]