hearts can break and heal and beat again

[calcifate]

“-Chieftain?” Hiccups quizzical gaze was returned with one of Calcifers own; he’s gauging whether or not the boy is being truthful. Though, the lad’s been honest thus far, and there’s no reason not to believe his words yet. But, really… Look at him… Can you blame a demon for doubting? “This is all very topsy-turvy.”

‘Topsy-turvy’ was just the tip of this iceberg as far as the spirit is concerned. But at least he gets to chuckle dryly at Toothless again, that’s it’s own game at this point. You’d think he should be more concerned with going back home, but there’s plenty enough reason to take the time to… Enjoy the place. As much as one can enjoy somewhere so cold and damp.

“-Er, your fish looks more like charcoal at the moment, by the by. Taking it from the oven might be wise.”

[slavemarked]

Admittedly, the young chieftain-to-be was not an awful lot to look at, and most definitely not the spitting image of a future leader. In fact, he looked more comparable to a stranded jellyfish than any kind of royalty. Gangly, average-looking, and with an almost completely forgettable face, Hiccup looked more prepared to fade into obscurity than command a populous of hairy, ten-foot men. "Yeah," Came the wry response, Hiccup having apparently read the spirit's expression with ease. "I find it pretty hard to believe, too." “Oh, Thor --” Hiccup started, wide-eyed as he whipped the food from the fire. True to Calcifer’s word, the haddock was black as an exterminator’s hide - and not too dissimilar in scent.  “Still edible, but...”  “S-s-stinky!!”  “Yes, thank you, Toothless.” Replied the boy, numbly slicing their breakfast into three. “We’d better get out of here before father wakes up; it’s far too early in the morning to try and explain Calcifer.”

[calcifate]

“Nothing wrong with a bit of absurdity.” He replied with a small nod, though he questioned just how odd the boys father must be if the Hiccup is implying such.

   Toothless’ antics got a snort and the briefest of eyerolls; but his reaction to Hiccups mild injury was a little more attentive- mostly out of intrigue, but there’s some concern at least. You might think it uncharacteristic of Calcifer to ignore food- but fish is one of the few things he’s less keen on. Marginally tastier than curtains, that’s all the aquatic creatures had going for them.

He looked from Toothless to Hiccup, then back again, brows knit and clearly mulling something over. “Is your father a dragon too? …I doubt he’s that tiny at any rate.”

[slavemarked]

Deep offense coated Toothless’ tone thickly as the tiny dragon let out a heartfelt gasp; paw braced against the smooth of his chest and ears flitting this way and that in alarm. “N-not tiny! N-n-not tiny!” He heckled, flitting up from the hearthstone and being as noisy as can be. “Toothless just hasn’t had his g-g-growth spurt yet! You’ll s-s-see!!” To his dismay, however, Hiccup was far too preoccupied to listen; draconic words falling on deaf ears as the young viking met Calcifer’s eyes with a quizzical look. "Last time I checked, he most certainly was not.” He responded, a thoughtful pause following shortly after. A smirk wormed its way onto his face. “Though... as a chieftain, I suppose the resemblance is uncanny." Fishlegs was such a bad influence.

[madagascargiantdaygecko]

Noms

[calcifate]

A moment was spent squinting incredulously in the dragons direction, even after he had darted off. At least it admitted to being a menace, there’s that.    Being sincere- Calcifer would have happily stayed put, perfectly cozy in the vikings’ helmet… No rest for the wicked. With a quiet, resigned sigh he left the makeshift roost, only pausing to make sure nobody else was watching. The demons exit was nowhere near as energetic as that of Toothless, drifting lazily and just a foot or so above the floor. “Fish for breakfast…” he mumbled mid-yawn. Calcifer thought the boy had only been jesting. Even having (partially) lived next to the coast, it’s not something the spirit’s used to. Fish for breakfast… What harm is there in it though? “You’re an odd lot- meant in the nicest way possible.”

[slavemarked]

"Thank you." Hiccup responded, surprisingly resolute and firm in his tone, as if odd was something he 'd learned to take pride in. Blue eyes flickered up from the cooking fire. "I  mean... odd isn't so bad, right? Odd times calls for odd people, as Old Wrinkly would say.”  Briefly, the topic was lead astray; Toothless’ naughty little gums nipping for the haddock laid across their makeshift oven, forcing Hiccup to snatch away the fish with a short scolding.  “...You should see my father." He finished, shaking out his browned fingers with a sore little hiss, and a glare at the cheeky reptile that had dared to misbehave. Toothless’ tongue flicked from his jaws impudently. The haddock was placed back over the fire.

[slavemarked]

calcifate

“I’m not mad.” Honestly, at best the word would be ‘perplexed’. The dragon was under no obligation to be friendly, and neither was Calcifer. Joy. “If anybody is ‘mad’ here it’s you, friend.”

  All the huffing and puffing amused the spirit as is; petite things trying to be threatening just felt like home. Who doesn’t like a good shouting match to boot? At least, whilst Hiccup’s gone elsewhere. Usually at this hour Calcifer would be out elsewhere, especially so in a new area but… The weather here is less than desirable- And that’s putting it nicely.

“Enough. I’m no less pleased about this than you are. If you keep shouting you’re just going to land yourself right in trouble again.” 

Adamant, the rowdy little reptile stuck his tail in the air obscenely; content as a cat, but bristling like a wild hound on the hunt. ”T-t-toothless doesn’t care.” He snapped, disgust pricking at his upper lip and revealing his gummy little jaws. “Toothless always getting away with trouble. Toothless c-crafty. Toothless s-s-smart...” A brief pause. “Toothless l-loved by Hiccup.”  “Hiccup would never throw Toothless out. N-never ever!! Only one getting in trouble is C-calcifer.” Grin now lining his smug little face, Toothless decided it was time for him to skedaddle --- the tantalizing smells of half-cooked fish wafting through the building like taunting little claws that niggled and picked at the nostrils. A blur of green, and he was gone.      A beat. ”Did you leave Calcifer alone in there?”

[magic-of-eternity]

[photocosma]

2014

© PhotoCosma http://photocosma.tumblr.com/

[slavemarked]

calcifate:

Thank high heavens the reptile didn’t lie awfully- Or at least entirely awfully; Calcifers own excuse was enough to make him cringe as is! Thinking that would work for a single second was likely an insult to the boys intelligence, too.

  …Or not. Did Toothless‘ cheap tactics actually work? Purple flints blinked slowly whilst this (rather one-sided) conversation went on, perpelexed. A sigh of relief left Calcifer anyways. Limpets are actually better, though. Hiccup was already out of the room before the demon could add anything. Not that he terribly wanted to after feeling so sheepish.

“What?” he fizzed, throwing the look right back. Thing probably just wants to cause some awkward silence. Mayhaps following Hiccup would have been a wiser decision. “…We’re even. That was only for being a makeshift umbrella earlier. Nowt else. Don’t you have a lilypad to sit on elsewhere?” 

Toothless squawked in offense. His wings went rigid, and the reptile almost dropped from the sky like a stone. “Y-y-you’re just mad that I know m-master better than you do!” He scoffed, curls of black smoke puffing from his nostrils and clouding his face; only glowing, greengage eyes now visible through the angry smog. Frankly, Toothless found it quite rude that Calcifer would further antagonize him now. He wasn’t going to pretend otherwise. Dragons were ungrateful, selfish creatures - for him to even think of protecting his combatant was unheard of. Just as easily, he could have called Calcifer out on his bluff; even if he got into trouble (again). It’s not as if Hiccup would ever disown him. “Y-you snobbish, s-slimy, snot-nosed slug!”

[thalassarche]

Common Raven (Corvus corax) - photo by Eugenijus Kavaliauskas

[fuckyeametazoa]

Red Ackie (Varanus acanthurus)

[slavemarked]

calcifate:

For a split second Calcifer believed the gecko was going to pounce on him; it was actually a relief when the thing burst into another tirade instead. There was no getting a word in edgeways, so the demon merely watched with a sly twinkle in his eye- or at least he would have if the show wasn’t cut short.

“…!! Watch it you-” Wait, Hiccup. Not Howl. At least it was Toothless taking the brunt of the fling. Regardless, with that one throw went Calcifers smugness. Thoroughlyextinguished. So much for giving the lizard a verbal burn…

Prior confidence waning, the spirit ducked back into the relative security of the current roost (AKA Hiccups’ helmet). A wary glance flickered between both boy and semi-smothered dragon. “…I-well… Toothless is just very passionate about… Breakfast. Aren’t you, Toothless?”

“I very well know he’s passionate about breakfast,” Hiccup huffed, quietly incredulous.“but that doesn’t explain the arguing.” He pointed out, boasting his early morning wit. Hidden beneath his feather-filled attacker, (in the feeble hope that he would not be noticed) Toothless was a deer in the headlights; ears flared and eyes wide as he kept still and silent as stone. That is, until his adversary began lying – for his benefit, no less! Tentative footsteps revealed his form. “…W-w-well, C-Calcifer and Toothless were a-arguing about what is the b-BEST breakfast. C-Calcifer insisted that l-limpets are better, but h-h-h-haddock is Toothless’s favourite!!” Flapping abruptly upwards, the dragon began harassing the hair on his master’s head, urgent crowing bouncing off of the walls. “H-haddock for breakfast! Haddock for breakfast!” “Okay, okay!” Hiccup chuckled, a smile finally gracing his face as he waved the fluttering reptile away. “Just… try to be a little bit quieter next time you decide to discuss fine dining. If my father had heard you…” The boy trailed off, unsure on quite how Stoick would react to sentient fire. Absolutely bonkers, probably. “I’ll see if we have any haddock.” And then the boy was gone. Toothless looked at Calcifer, nonplussed. 

[slavemarked]

calcifate:

That brief moment where Hiccup was semi-conscious was when Calcifers toothy grin faltered- but it returned as soon as he resumed his rest. The reptiles incessant huffing & pouting was making it very hard to keep a straight face without having to worry about it’s owner; as nice as the lad is.

“Oh yes, very jealous… You’re right… Being a lapdog would be a dream come true, certain-.”the flame burst into laughter before he could even finish that chiding. Ever trying not to wake his company, the cackling was just a mixture of crackles and wheezing. Not the most dignified sound.

“You… Remind of that one story where the grumpy frog needs a spoiled princess to kiss it.I’m not sure if you’re the frog or the princess yet though.” 

“L-L-LAPDOG BETTER THAN F-F-F-FIREPLACE!” The dragon’s tail flicked savagely behind him, giving off all the likeness of a cat on its last nerve as he squared up against the other. “Toothless a very imp-p-portant hunting dragon... n-no lapdog... n-n-no goody-goody, no f-f-FROG. C-calcifer just a b-big, blazing BOZO... a meaningless, meany M-MEATHEAD! A f-f-fat, fiery FAILU--” Something toppled him. Something fluffy. “Toothless!” Hiccup’s tone was unbreachable, agitated. A granite fortress; contrasted only by soft eyes (and a soft pillow). “And Calcifer. Do you mind explaining why the two of you think five a.m. is an appropriate time to start arguing louder than the gods themselves?” Rubbing circles into his temple, it became quickly apparent that the boy had been far too weary to focus on the conversation itself -- and was actually trusting in them to give him an appropriate answer.

[slavemarked]

calcifate:

There was hushed snickering from the fire before the laughter was stifled completely; though Calcifer made no attempt to similarly hide the smirk. Thank Sol the boy’s a heavy enough sleeper.

“One: You merely sleep on the bed because you’d probably shriek for days if you weren’t on it!” the demon taunted in a harsh whisper, still not looking to wake anybody. He really shouldn’t be winding the dragon up in the first place- but it’s fun.“Two: I sleep on things that are edible… Does that mean you’re going to eat Hiccup? That’s just sick, Toothless.”

Puffing out furious little rings of hot smoke, Toothless had considered Calcifer’s reaction with surprising patience, though it was shortly tried by following comments. How dare he! The dragon’s ears snapped flat against his skull. ”T-t-toothless no eat m-master! I-is DISGUSTING… Toothless has a very sensitive stomach… a very sensitive dragon… only s-s-sleeps on c-comfy things… only eats the b-b-best parts of Hiccup’s lunch…!!” ”Toothless…” Mumbled the boy-lump beneath him, a feeble freckled hand waving at the dragon to move as Hiccup rolled onto his side, radiating dissatisfaction with the morning. Hardly waiting for the child’s soft snores to restart, Toothless took to the air - holding himself quite royally as he flapped ever closer to the antagonizing blaze. “You j-j-j-just jealous.”

[slavemarked]

me: sorry I'm taken

*loud dragon roar in the distance*

me: oh, there's my boyfriend :)

[reptiles-of-the-world-blog]

[slavemarked]

calcifate:

“…Good morning, then.” Impressive how something so cute tiny can be made of pure, concentrated venom.

  In the early hours of morning, even the likes of Calcifer isn’t exactly game for a pre-breakfast glaring match; instead throwing Toothless a roll of the eyes & preoccupying himself with plucking at dried grass.

  The gecko can simmer as much as it damn well pleases. All the gusto is quite entertaining anyway. Though, if he’s going to be like this… Why not give the thing a reason?

“I’m not so sure about that. We’re best friends.” …Clearly, having met just a day ago- “It’s okay though, you’ll catch up. Probably.” 

“L-l-liar, liar!” He squeaked in derisive alarm. Unfortunate as it was to mention, Toothless was not exactly impressive in size -- as a matter of fact, he was quite possibly the smallest hunting dragon anyone had ever seen, before or since! It was precisely why his venom was hard to take in earnest. “P-p-p-pants on fire! Toothless is H-hiccup’s bestest friend forever! Is why T-toothless sleeps on b-bed, and c-cruel Calcifer sleeps on G-G-GRASS!” Almost as though underlining his point, the pint-sized reptile marched on up his sleeping master’s chest, pawing the clothing there and puffing out his chest. Mine.

[slavemarked]

@calcifate

The seemingly distant, flickering light was like an insistent tapping on Toothless’ eyelids; reluctantly dragging the reptile’s mind up from layered states of sleep, and out from the dark of that deep peace. Ridiculously long lashes batted open greengage eyes, staring nasty venom at the source of the blue-green glow that plagued the room. Calcifer. The peace from before was now a distant impression, a misty dream not meant for memory; and in its place stood pure, unbridled irritation at the other’s presence. “H-h-hiccup likes Toothless m-more...” He hissed, quiet voice breaking into quick envy as the dragon stretched its way to its feet.