@rachelteazer's short fanfic "Can you stay?" inspired me so much, and it also made me think of a few ideas I have for redeemed/thegn Viggo. The scene she wrote is so lovely, and I'm so, so weak for how Viggo was portrayed! I love that flavour of softness, yearning, and pining... soooo I had to combine these ideas and put them down somewhere. I leave it up to your interpretation of whether Hiccup will stay or not, though!
If you liked this short comic and would like to see some comments about details you might have missed, check below the cut 👇
Not sure if it was noticeable, but these are Hiccup's and Viggo's swords! Both of their swords are lying on top of maps, which normally indicates peace-talking, militarily speaking. There's an ale cup completely empty, as well! Busy night.
The maps were aligned in a way that would lead to Hiccup's freckles! The same brush was used for both the little writings and his freckles, too.
Did you notice Viggo's earring? It's a mix of some runes: ᚼ ('hagall', which means "power", "force", generally associated with strength or natural phenomena), ᛚ ('lagu', which means "sea", "flow" or even "home") and ᛒ ('beorc', which means "growth" and "renewal"). "The power to grow and find home." If you're thinking that such a home would be Hiccup, you'd be correct!
These two panels are paralleling each other! They're following the same angle, yet Hiccup is looking away from Viggo, while Viggo's gaze is fixed on him. Hiccup is also looking at the only place in the comic where there are no flames, meanwhile, Viggo doesn't mind the flames! One has a perspective from down below, one from up above. Also, Hiccup's panel is smaller, suggesting he might be feeling insecure.
Lastly, did you notice Hiccup's little scar? Viggo is slightly pulling Hiccup's cheek, which shows his scar: lighter than his skin tone because it's already healed. It contrasts with Viggo's own face scar, which is huge and darker than his skin because it hasn't healed yet!
FINALLY finished w/ this piece augh. Now I can start drawing something else instead of this hell.
Anyhoo, this is a small Viggo redesign if he ended up surviving after the whole Triple Cross episode. Decided to give him more fur aspects, and I added a few more spikes (or at least sharper ones). Also Viggo with gray hair strands omg??
Headcanon: On Berk, the name Grimborn means Grimbirth. A name given to babies that were difficult to birth, resulting in the death of the mother.
It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, tradition states that the child is cursed and should be sent to sea.
If they’re not cursed they’ll live. If they are. . .
Viggo Grimborn introduces himself to Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. The infamous leader of the dragon riders. The legendary dragon master.
He expected many reactions. Fear, horror, anger. But never pity.
The word Grimborn leaves his mouth and the dragon masters tense stance, face contorted in anger, relaxed slightly to allow traces of sorrow and empathy show.
It made him angry.
He became angrier when the dragon masters had the confusing habit of calling him “grimbirth”. He could understand if it was a taunt, but the word came out choked, like it was a struggle to say.
Viggo never comes to learn this until he’s staring at Hiccup Haddock, dragon rider, dragon master, and the young man that saved his life.
Viggo should’ve died. There’s no way he should have survived that night. But the dragon rider was determined.
Now, they’re an alliance. It’s weird. Viggo’s sure Hiccup feels it too. But they’re an alliance, and Hiccup is helping Viggo integrate dragons into his villages culture.
One late night, as they brainstorm ways to get dragons and (previous) dragon hunters to coexist. Viggo asks why Hiccup calls him “Grimbirth”.
The young man stares him in the eyes and says something he knows logically, but could never know in practice.
