Fennec_Genesis

| Multi-Fandoms | Including Fanworks | She/Her | I'm over 18 years old | Fan of Art, Music, History, Zoology, etc.

[andrewthefox]

Hi!

Question: how did Rocky react when Freckle told him that he had basically yelled the truth at Aunt Nina that it wasn't Rocky who was responsible for her husband's death, but her own son after he had taken off for New York to save Mordecai??

Was Mordecai present for that reveal?

It would have invoked a moment of panic for sure. With a hint of 'what are you doing, why why why why' delivered in that awfully Rickaby way when he starts babying and being a bit condencending to his cousin. Thankfully, he would be smart enough to realize that even after all that, Nina was still not being antagonistic to her own son, so clearly, something had to have gone right. There would have likely been a request for story, as well as a cup of syrup and tuna sandwiches to discuss above.

Mordecai would probably there for the reveal. I'd imagin Freckle bringing this up once Rocky notices how much more open Nina acts, and he'd bluntly reveal the truth. Mordecai would be probably be around, depending on the place, yeah.

[teal-blue-genesis]

Okay, now I'm curious...

How DID Mordecai first interaction with Dear Aunt Nina go??

Feel like if it would have been before the third act he would have perhaps gotten into an argument with her over how she treats Rocky.

[no-129]

🎨color study note

[bee-ina-boat]

HELOOOOO EVERYONE!!!! i came up with this super silly idea for an oc challenge!!! MAKE A EUCLYDIAN OC :D!!!!

if you draw yours PLEAAAASE share it!!!! i wanna see your freaks!!!!!!!!

[teal-blue-genesis]

Square; purple🟪, monochrome (dark purple or plum), three eyes.

Professional, wears a Beret, and has short limbs.

[cainesbluescreen]

Hi!! I have two more questions for the Caine Show AU! And a bit of a headcanon for one scene/detail.-

What is Caine "job/occupation"? Like in the Truman show, Truman had the "job" of being an insurance salesman if I'm correct.

Does abstraction exist in the AU, and if so is it an illness?? Who does it affect, the npcs, the real humans/characters, or both???

Headcanon - In the Truman show, Lauren character is supposed to be 'studying/learning' Japanese during the high school years, I feel like Pomni would be 'studying/learning' Russian, this would fit since 'Pomni' in Russian means 'remember'. What do you think?

hi again!!

1. like the truman show, caine is also a life insurance salesman! this job is meant to try to make caine risk adverse, and overall keep his life predictable. i was going to give caine a little bit more of a creative job, but i think being put into mundane work better highlights the manipulation and control the creators secretly have over his life. (he still gets to do creative stuff as a side hobby, though. i’d say his favorite things to do outside of work is creating board games; developing video game concepts; making art; and writing fictional stories).

2. no, there isn’t any abstraction in this au! the only thing similar to it would be death, since this is the real world and they have flesh bodies. well, except caine (and npcs). but he has a programmed death date since the creators want caine to replicate a physical human’s life cycle to a near perfect degree (which i think is pretty ironic).

• OHHHH YES I LOVE THAT HEADCANON!! that headcanon is canon now, it’s so perfect and makes so much sense. thank you for the idea!! i love it so much 🙏🙏

[teal-blue-genesis]

Yayyyy!!! I thought it make sense with what I knew of tadc lore and from watching scene clips of the Truman show.

[cainesbluescreen]

Hi!!!! I am really liking, and enjoying your au so far! Two questions:

One: Are npc characters going to make an appearance, or become a background character within your au?? Such as Gummigoo, Ming, or Princess Loolilalu??

Two: Are some of the creative liberties your taking going to be combining the episodes/plots of tadc into your au (aka the adventures that the cast go on)???

heyy!! thank you so much!!

yes, they will be making an appearance! unlike caine, npcs will not be sentient at all. they blankly complete daily tasks/ routines imbedded in their code. their only purpose is to directly serve the creators in the control room, or to act as obsolete roles in the background to fill empty space. the creators don’t necessarily like using npcs on the set, though, and they’ll avoid utilizing them for roles that directly interact with caine (reason: the disappearing guy incident). plus, the audience is compelled by the show because of caine’s interactions with real humans and his blind belief that he is also a human. the only exception of npcs that regularly talk to caine would be martha mildenhall, baron mildenhall, and their child. their family cheerfully greets caine at the fence every morning (but he of course doesn’t know that they are fake). (i also want to mention that pomni and gummigoo have had an interaction in the au very similarly to the one in tadc. this would be another big motivator for pomni to fight for caine’s freedom and self-realization. i’ll definitely be drawing or writing about this interaction at some point).

kinda? in the best way i can put it, the major events of the story (with creative changes to extend the timeline and have more character interactions) will mainly follow the truman show. but specific lines and character moments will be directly taken and reframed from tadc. in my mind i’ve created like a weird mesh between the two medias, so i’m sorry if it’s confusing. but there isn’t an episodic adventure structure like tadc for this au, because adventure is what caine wants but can’t have. ughh i’m sorry if it’s confusing, it all makes sense in my head but i’m not sure if i’m communicating it very well. 

i think to help my point i’ll explain my last post a bit (or else i won’t be able to sleep at night lmaoo). in tadc episode 4 gangle talked to jax through the tv screen. i took one of the lines she says in that scene word for word, but re-contextualized it to fit into the caine show. that way she can instead be secretly telling caine to give up on his dream to leave the island, similarly to how in the truman show the man on the tv was trying to tell truman that he should stay in seahaven and not explore. this is just an example of how i meshed the two worlds together to create a merged scene.

sorry, this was definitely overcomplicating the question you asked, but i feel as though it’s important to at least try to explain lol?

[teal-blue-genesis]

Ooohhh! I like the worldbuilding so far!!! Ngl, I wondered if the idea of Kinger and Queenie adding in the script of Gummigoo being Pomni boyfriend or possible romantic interest to discourage Caine from trying to continue to pursue her during senior year would be likely to happen. However I enjoy on how her still meeting Gummigoo does give Pomni another reason to be motivated and fight for Caine.

No, it's alright. I was wondering if I should have asked more specifically when typing out my ask, however I get what your saying. And it would make sense, both because the Truman show itself wasn't episodic (even if for us it was a movie), and how the point on why the Truman show was created was for people to view reality television so closely to the real thing.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Alternate History Fiction

Alternate History Fiction - a style of fictional narrative where the author changes one key element or elements about established history and then concocts a story that results from this change.

Common Themes in Alternate History Fiction

In alternate history fiction, authors isolate one element of history that, if changed, would alter all events that follow. The resulting setting is termed an “alternate universe.” Some common questions and themes in alternate history novels include:

What if the Confederate South won the American Civil War?

What if Nazi Germany had prevailed in World War II?

What if North America had been industrialized by its indigenous people?

What if Einstein’s observations on relativity immediately led to human space travel at the speed of light?

What if Leonardo da Vinci had invented time travel?

What if the United States had aligned with the Russian government to embrace communism?

What if flying, fire-breathing dragons were among Earth’s living reptiles?

What if Victorian British industrial design sustained all the way into the contemporary era of fashion and technology? (This particular alternate universe is known as the steampunk subgenre.)

Writing Tips: Alternate History Fiction

Many of today’s writers are interested in dipping their toes into the fertile world of alternate history fiction. To achieve the most effective alternative worldbuilding, there are a few key guidelines to follow.

Focus on one specific change to historical events. Make that single change the impetus for all the action that takes place in your novel. If you change too many elements, it may cause your story to veer too far from reality, which can drain your reader’s interest. Even the biggest fans of speculative fiction want some degree of groundedness in a storyline.

Do a ton of research that goes beyond the single event you are altering. The best alternate history novelists know voluminous details about the era they are altering. If, for instance, your novel alters the outcome of the Civil War, it is not enough to merely know the history of particular battles like Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Antietam. You must know the surrounding context of Union and Confederate life away from the battlefield. You must know the political events that preceded and followed the war.

Remember the same rules of standard fiction writing apply. You can have a brilliant idea for an alteration in the historical record, but it won’t matter if you don’t have textured characters and a compelling storyline. In the hierarchy of story, character, and world building, story and character still come first. If those two elements aren’t stellar, readers will check out.

History of Alternate History Fiction

Alternate history fiction took off in the twentieth century, but literary scholars often cite 1490’s Tirant lo Blanch by Joanot Martorell as the first published work of alternate history fiction.

It imagines a world where the Turks were prevented from seizing Constantinople.

Works of alternate history fiction trickled in during the 19th century and early 20th century, but a true bloom of the genre sparked during the Cold War era.

Alternate history fiction continues to thrive in the 21st century, particularly as film and television adaptations are created from alternate history books.

Famous works of alternate fiction include:

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick (1962)

The Alteration by Kingsley Amis (1972)

The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling (1990)

Fatherland by Robert Harris (1992)

Making History by Stephen Fry (1997)

1632 by Eric Flint (2000)

The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson (2002)

The Plot Against America by Philip Roth (2004)

His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Navik (2006)

Farthing by Jo Walton (2006)

The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon (2007)

Alternate History vs. Other Speculative Fiction

Alternate history fiction is part of the broader genre of speculative fiction, which includes science fiction.

However alternate history has defining elements that differentiate it from science fiction and other speculative subgenres.

Whereas sci-fi often concerns itself with future developments, alternative fiction is rooted in a change in historical events.

This point of divergence from actual history creates alternate timelines that affect all subsequent events.

Therefore, alternate history novels can span into the future, but that future is altered by some change in the established historical record.

Source ⚜ More: Writing Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[halfabouros]

Run away Hiccup AU but It's just before the Red Death. Hiccup manages to sneak aboard the ships and in the fog, carefully frees Toothless before flying away.

Hiccup and Toothless do stop the Red Death, given it's too late now to stop the Berkians from finding the Nest anyways with another dragon. Hiccup still loses his leg, but the other dragons help them flee to another island.

All the people from Berk see is a Very Large Dead Dragon and signs of Toothless and Hiccup being there.

They travel for a while, with the dragons helping Hiccup by trying to bring him items they think he'd need. Finally, they realize he needs a forge and slowly begin to steal whatever they can - working in tandem to steal whole portions of whatever they can to actually make a makeshift forge. Plenty of metal and weapons to work with too. (This is baffling to everyone but it works!)

Slowly but surely, Hiccup is able to make himself a new leg, and make a more disguised tail for Toothless. And as soon as they're ready to roll, they fly further away (because it's incredibly easy to find this "Nest" now. And they did steal a lot of things trying to help lol) leaving behind a hoard of random things that leave everyone who finds it confused.

Hiccup Toothless and the other dragons slowly start to split up when they find more and more habitable islands for free dragons, but with a majority sticking with our duo as they finally find a place close enough to check up on the others and also be hard to track themselves without a dragon (The Edge)

With their help, Hiccup builds the place to look completely normal to an outsider and from far away - camouflaging everything possible from the sea side, building underground and making their way into caves, having "tree houses" that are hard to notice when you have many dragons willing to lend a claw to help you move around. With many defensive constructions and traps he helps keep the dragons away from. Even early warning alarms using vines and seashells if someone does come onto the island.

Years with almost nothing but the dragons to keep him company, he has had a lot more time to experiment with his contraptions and hone his skills. He's maybe a bit stronger than canon Hiccup by the time of Rtte and has gone on way more dragon saving expeditions. But Stealth and Speed is their thing.

With Hiccup and Toothless there to help guide the dragons, and with Toothless being able to dive down, fire, and land so Hiccup and jump aboard while they cower, they can free a lot of dragons and do a lot of damage.

Ofc the word gets around about how Smart the Night Fury must've gotten. And Hiccup himself is almost a rumor - a Viking working with the dragons, maybe. A dragon tamer lurking in the shadows. Even the idea that Night Furies can hide amongst Vikings and hide away as one of them has different villages up in arms

Except, for one. Which has remained dragon free for years outside a lone Deadly Nadder that never gets too close to the village.

[teal-blue-genesis]

Yes!! I LOVE this au idea!!!

I'm guessing the Deadly Nadder is Stormfly. Curious to see on how you grow and expand this AU!

[problematicprocrastinator]

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I hope this kit is helpful to all you writers out there! You can find this kit and lots of other creative writing resources at my shop Spilled Ink Workshop

[ayy-junipei]

I was today years old when I realized the one who made the yarn slurper art and the creator of one of my fav tfa fic is the same person and boy it is giving me feelings.

Anyways, questions, how do you feel about people still coming to you about Missing Perspective? How do you feel about the work itself, anything you feel proud of or would tweak? It is a fic that still brings me great joy today, but I understand it’s probably been a long time since you finished it for you, so you don’t have to answer the questions at all if you feel kind of over it.

Honestly it's been a while I get the occasional comment and my ass always forgets to go back and reply to them on AO3 so oops if that was one of yours. I knew it was the best ShockBee fic on the market but I didn't think it was that influential on the TFA section of the fandom tbh.

It's a great fic and I am proud of it. Took a LOT of planning and I went the extra mile to please the readers by adding in the multiple endings for everyone when I really didn't have to. I had one ending planned you might be able to tell which one it was.

The main thing I would change going back to it would be the grammar as that's probably the biggest bar to people enjoying the fic. Your boy juni circa 2017 making 76 word long sentences because they don't understand what a clause is.

I'm 30+ ass years old, got a C in English and I still don't understand what a clause is. I don't have as much energy to write as I used to. I feel old, I'm old, I'm a grandma. I envy 27yr Juni they was working minimum wage and living in a single room on a diet of eggs and they delivered more writing in a month than I do in a year now.

Anyway, other things I would change I'd probably add a few extra bonus scenes like DVD extras. Having a proper intro to Sari would be one I kind of just said "she's here now" in chapter 3 didn't I?

Thanks for letting me know on Tumblr dot com have a good day

[teal-blue-genesis]

Ooh! I'm curious!

What are some of the bonus scenes that you would have liked to add??

[twinterrors29]

Jedi Padawans have the classic sitcom bag-of-flour baby assignment to ensure they're prepared to look after young ones in emergency situations

this assessment is not one of the many canceled or postponed during the war

which means that when Ahsoka is abruptly deployed dirtside along with her Master, Grandmaster, and the 501st, she had to scramble to find an appropriate babysitter for her sack of flour

desperate, she tossed it to Commander Cody, who was staying aboard the Negotiator to oversee the campaign, with only a frantic list of the required steps to take care of it while she was gone

when she returns several days later, Cody has painted the sack 212th gold and constructed a sling to carry it around on his front while he keeps his hands free for work

judging by the rank pins attached to the front, the sack of flour is now a lieutenant

once Obi-Wan's heart eyes abate enough, though, it becomes clear to him that Cody and the 212th troopers have not understood that the sack of flour is not, in fact, a literal Jedi tubie

and none of the Jedi or their siblings in the 501st have the heart to correct them, so they let them keep the thing, stomping on the feet of anyone who tries to ask too many questions about their new mascot

once the war ends, Obi-Wan discreetly replaces the sack with a Jedi chrecheling in the middle of the night, having resigned himself to raising another too-young-Padawan

Reva, for her part, is all to happy to gleefully coat herself in flour for the occasion

[vintacha]

for all the artists out there, here are my favorite resources i use to learn!

Files

The Complete Famous Artist Course

Art Books and Resources

Art, Anatomy, and Color Books

PDF Files of Art Books

Morpho and Other Art Books

Mega Folder

Internet Archive

YouTube

My YouTube Playlist of Tutorials

How to Draw Facial Features

Drawing and Art Advice

Drawing Lessons

Art Fundamentals

Anatomy of the Human Body

2D Animation

Perspective Drawing

Websites

Pinterest Board for Poses

Another Pinterest Board for Poses

Pinterest Boards for References

Reference Angle

AdorkaStock

Figurosity

Line of Action

Human Anatomy

Posemaniacs

Animal Photo References

Humanae - Angélica Dass

Fine Art - Jimmy Nelson

Fashion History References

Fashion Museum

The Met Collection

Character Design References

CDR's Twitter Account

iamagco's Twitter Account

taco1704's Twitter Account

takuya_kakikata's Twitter Account

EtheringtonBro's Twitter Account

Drawabox

Color Wheel

Color Palette Cinema

Free Images and Pictures

Free Stock Photos

FILMGRAB

Screen Musings

William Nguyen Light Reference Tool

SketchFab - 3D Skeleton Model

Animation References - sakugabooru

Animation Screen Caps

Animation References - Bodies in Motion

[kotori-mochi]

Can't afford art school?

After seeing post like this 👇

And this gem 👇

As well as countless of others from the AI generator community. Just talking about how "inaccessible art" is, I decided why not show how wrong these guys are while also helping anyone who actually wants to learn.

Here is the first one ART TEACHERS! There are plenty online and in places like youtube.

📺Here is my list:

Proko (Free, mostly teaches anatomy and how to draw people. But does have art talks and teaches the basics.)

Marc Brunet (Free but he does have other classes for a cheap price. Use to work for Blizzard and teaches you everything)

Aaron Rutten (free, tips about art, talks about art programs and the best products for digital art)

BoroCG (free, teaches a verity of art mediums from 3D modeling to digital painting. As well as some tips that can be used across styles)

Jesse J. Jones (free, talks about animating)

Jesus Conde (free, teaches digital painting and has classes in Spanish)

Mohammed Agbadi (free, he gives some advice in some videos and talks about art)

Ross Draws (free, he does have other classes for a good price. Mostly teaching character designs and simple backgrounds.)

SamDoesArts (free, gives good advice and critiques)

Drawfee Show (free, they do give some good advice and great inspiration)

The Art of Aaron Blaise ( useful tips for digital art and animation. Was an animator for Disney. Mostly nature art)

Bobby Chiu ( useful tips and interviews with artist who are in the industry or making a living as artist)

Sinix Design (has some tips on drawing people)

Winged canvas (art school for free on a verity of mediums)

Bob Ross (just a good time, learn how to paint, as well as how too relax when doing art. "there are no mistakes only happy accidents", this channel also provides tips from another artist)

Scott Christian Sava (Inspiration and provides tips and advice)

Pikat (art advice and critiques)

Drawbox (a suggested cheap online art school, made of a community of artist)

Skillshare (A cheap learning site that has art classes ranging from traditional to digital. As well as Animation and tutorials on art programs. All under one price, in the USA it's around $34 a month)

Human anatomy for artist (not a video or teacher but the site is full of awesome refs to practice and get better at anatomy)

Second part BOOKS, I have collected some books that have helped me and might help others.

📚Here is my list:

The "how to draw manga" series produced by Graphic-sha. These are for manga artist but they give great advice and information.

"Creating characters with personality" by Tom Bancroft. A great book that can help not just people who draw cartoons but also realistic ones. As it helps you with facial ques and how to make a character interesting.

"Albinus on anatomy" by Robert Beverly Hale and Terence Coyle. Great book to help someone learn basic anatomy.

"Artistic Anatomy" by Dr. Paul Richer and Robert Beverly Hale. A good book if you want to go further in-depth with anatomy.

"Directing the story" by Francis Glebas. A good book if you want to Story board or make comics.

"Animal Anatomy for Artists" by Eliot Goldfinger. A good book for if you want to draw animals or creatures.

"Constructive Anatomy: with almost 500 illustrations" by George B. Bridgman. A great book to help you block out shadows in your figures and see them in a more 3 diamantine way.

"Dynamic Anatomy: Revised and expand" by Burne Hogarth. A book that shows how to block out shapes and easily understand what you are looking out. When it comes to human subjects.

"An Atlas of animal anatomy for artist" by W. Ellenberger and H. Dittrich and H. Baum. This is another good one for people who want to draw animals or creatures.

Etherington Brothers, they make books and have a free blog with art tips.

📝As for Supplies, I recommend starting out cheap, buying Pencils and art paper at dollar tree or 5 below. If you want to go fancy Michaels is always a good place for traditional supplies. They also get in some good sales and discounts. For digital art, I recommend not starting with a screen art drawing tablet as they are usually more expensive.

For the Best art Tablet I recommend either Xp-pen, Bamboo or Huion. Some can range from about 40$ to the thousands.

💻As for art programs here is a list of Free to pay.

Clip Studio paint ( you can choose to pay once or sub and get updates. Galaxy, Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android, or Chromebook device. )

Procreate ( pay once for $9.99 usd, IPAD & IPHONE ONLY)

Blender (for 3D modules/sculpting, animation and more. Free)

PaintTool SAI (pay but has a 31 day free trail)

Krita (Free)

mypaint (free)

FireAlpaca (free)

Aseprite ($19.99 usd but has a free trail, for pixel art Windows & macOS)

Drawpile (free and for if you want to draw with others)

IbisPaint (free, phone app ONLY)

Medibang (free, IPAD, Android and PC)

NOTE: Some of these can work on almost any computer like Clip and Sai but others will require a bit stronger computer like Blender. Please check their sites for if your computer is compatible.

So do with this information as you will but as you can tell there are ways to learn how to become an artist, without breaking the bank. The only thing that might be stopping YOU from using any of these things, is YOU.

I have made time to learn to draw and many artist have too. Either in-between working two jobs or taking care of your family and a job or regular school and chores. YOU just have to take the time or use some time management, it really doesn't take long to practice for like an hour or less. YOU also don't have to do it every day, just once or three times a week is fine.

Hope this was helpful and have a great day.

"also apologies for any spelling or grammar errors, I have Dyslexia and it makes my brain go XP when it comes to speech or writing"

[animalphotorefs]

Boosting this in case any of the programs and books suggested are useful.

All the photos on this tumblr ad the animal photo reference site I run is another resource available for artists to use!

As long as you’re not using AI to create your art, you can reference / trace / draw / recombine / make any sort of art you want, with any of the photos, for free.

[reo-speeddragon]

There's also MORPHO, a really good book series on anatomy by Michel Lauricella, with very clear explanations and sketches!

And for pose references, there's @adorkastock who shares a ton of them for free, with different models and props, and her website is amazing <3 you can also buy pose packs from her.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

How to Create a Character Profile

Character Profile - a detailed portrait of a character you have created for a work of fiction—a novel, novella, short story, film, TV show, or web series.

It is a record of everything you know about your character, from their origins and backstory to their personality traits and physical appearance. You can also note their relationships, daily routines, hopes, fears, and motivations.

They may also be referred to as character bibles, character templates, or even character sketches (although the term “character sketch” often refers to something shorter).

Elements of a Character Profile

A good character profile will include ample information in these 4 categories:

Backstory: In crafting a character profile, you should be able to answer this list of questions: What is your character’s full name? What is their place of birth and birth date? Who are the family members who shaped this character’s life? When you think of key family members, give them their own profile including the character’s name, origins, and backstory.

Physical description: You should know a lot about your character’s appearance and how their looks shape their interactions with others. Physical traits to mention include: eye color, hair color, hair style, physical mannerisms, body type, distinguishing features, coordination or lack thereof, fitness, and key weaknesses (like a maimed hand or an aversion to Kryptonite).

Personality traits: In addition to your character’s outward appearance, you need to know what makes them tick. What is their personality type? Are they funny? Do they have a temper? Are they motivated to protect a loved one—perhaps even an unrequited love? Do they have particular virtues? Bad habits? Any fears or phobias?

Typical routine: As part of your brainstorm, you’ll also want to fill in information about your character’s daily routine. What kind of activities does your character like? Who are their best friends? Their enemies? What’s their marital status? What’s their favorite food, favorite book, and favorite movie?

How to Create a Character Profile

Character creation is part of a writer’s overall world-building process. Consider the process of developing characters to be as important as shaping the plot itself. Here are three writing tips to keep in mind when shaping your character profiles:

Create a character outline. Your book or screenplay will have a plot outline. Why not create a character outline as well? In addition to traits and backstory, create a chronology that shows the changes that your character will experience over the course of the story.

Make a character questionnaire. Create a character profile template by coming up with a fixed set of questions that you ask yourself about every major character in your story. If you ask the same questions about all your characters, you’ll be able to compare them side-by-side and make sure that their character traits are unique. You’ll also be able to predict how they’ll interact once you drop them into a shared story.

Don’t censor yourself. Character development is a subset of the larger brainstorming process, and brainstorming is a time to say yes to any idea that crosses your mind. During this stage of creation, allow yourself to make up any sort of reality you want for your characters. Some of your ideas won’t hold up under further scrutiny, but such scrutiny will come later in the process. At this juncture, let your imagination run wild and trust that you’ll refine your work later on in the writing process.

Purpose of a Character Profile

Seasoned authors know that you can never have too much information about the fictional characters that populate your creative writing.

The information that you amass as you fill out a character profile template is useful in many stages of the novel writing or screenplay writing process.

If you’re armed with enough information about your character’s life, personality, and physicality, you’ll probably end up using it somewhere in the writing process—even if it’s just to guide your own estimation of how a character would act under particular circumstances.

Remember, though, that not every trait will make it from your character profile worksheet to the first draft of your book or screenplay—and that’s perfectly fine.

Perhaps certain details will only manifest in subsequent drafts, or perhaps they won’t appear at all.

Your character development work will still prove valuable throughout the writing process. The more you develop at this stage, the more likely you are to create characters who feel like real people.

Source ⚜ More: Writing Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[violet-moonstone]

Re-writing HTTYD 2

I've made posts about this before but I want to write in more detail why I feel like the second HTTYD film is less thematically consistent than the first, and what changes I would make to address that.

One of the reasons I love the first movie is because it always seemed to me to be first and foremost a movie about identity and being true to oneself. The main conflict, or at least one of the main conflicts, is Hiccup having to choose between: A) the life he always thought he wanted, which comes with social acceptance but requires him to reject who he really is; or B) a life where he defines his identity but risks social rejection from his father and his community.

Ultimately he chooses option B, and luckily for him, the people around him change to realize that Hiccup’s real identity doesn’t have to be rejected, but can be accepted and even change how they see themselves and the world. (Which is why I believe this movie appeals so strongly to viewers who are neurodivergent and/or queer…and as a deconstructed Christian/agnostic with strict parents, this movie really hit home for religious reasons as well.)

There are other plot lines in the film too — like the grown ups trying to find the dragon lair (which directly leads to Hiccup being able to show that his way of interacting with dragons can protect the community) and Astrid’s one-sided rivalry-turned romance with Hiccup (which highlights Hiccup’s discomfort with his new popular role and then later on provides him with an ally who can help save their parents and the dragons). These smaller plot lines help to strengthen the main plot and don’t distract too much from it (although I know there are criticisms about the way Hiccup and Astrid’s romance was written, both in this movie and the franchise as a whole. I think a lot of it is valid but IMO it at least doesn’t detract majorly from the main theme of the first movie).

Following that, we have HTTYD 2. We start with a restless, lost Hiccup who doesn’t know what his future holds but knows that he feels stifled by expectations to be chieftain. The movie unfortunately doesn’t go very far with this. We see him have the title of chieftain put upon him before he’s ready, due to Stoick’s death….and there doesn’t seem to be any tension afterwards. In fact after Stoick’s funeral, we don’t really see Hiccup struggle with his role or his grief in the second or third movie.

Another major plot line is Hiccup’s relationship with his mother. There’s a lot of possibility here to explore conflicting feelings of bitterness and a desire to rekindle their relationship…but this also doesn’t go anywhere. Hiccup immediately forgives his mother for not trying to return to him, and their relationship is smooth-sailing for the rest of the movie and in the third as well.

Finally, we have the plot line with Drago, which does three major things. 1) it leads to Stoick’s death (already discussed); 2) it reinforces the bond between Hiccup and Toothless when they overcome the power of the Alpha's control (very powerful and emotionally moving...I love this moment and I think it's a great parallel to the hand scene in the first movie); and 3) it provides a foil for Hiccup (which is also super interesting but sort of lackluster in comparison to Viggo, who was a more fleshed out character)

I think all of these plot lines are interesting, but because they don’t do very much to enrich each other, they sort of just happen sequentially without enough connective tissue to make any of them as strong as they could be.

I’ve mentioned before that I would prefer the plot of the second movie to be extended into two, with Valka being an antagonist (as she was originally planned to be) in the second and Drago being the main villain of the third movie. Here’s how I would do it:

The second movie should continue the focus of Hiccup’s listlessness and search for a new, more fulfilling identity. Meeting his mother should present him with a new choice, somewhat like the choice he had in the first movie. He could abandon his old life and his responsibilities and stay with his mother, living more freely (but perhaps being pressured to do morally questionable things for what she thinks is the greater good), or he could remain with his father and community but feel stifled by their expectations.

I don’t have the particular events figured out, but I think it would be narratively satisfying if Hiccup’s choice is once again a middle point between extremes. Maybe he does become chieftain, but he finds ways to share the pressure with his friends and community so that it doesn’t overwhelm him. Or maybe he abdicates his position as chief to someone else (cough Astrid cough) but still remains part of the community while having time to explore and live life the way he wants to. (Also at some point in there, Valka has a redemption arc? Maybe after Stoick’s death?…Something like her actions put him in danger and then she has to re-evaluate if she can continue to justify the choices she makes, idk still workshopping)

I do think Drago should be alluded to or even appear and cause chaos in the second movie (maybe Stoick's death is still tied to him in some way?), but mostly to build up tension and suspense so that when he’s properly introduced in the third movie, it’s after a lot of anticipation and fear.

Then the third movie could be wholly devoted to two things: Hiccup dealing with his father’s death, and Hiccup dealing with Drago. And these two things should be strongly related. I think it would be really fascinating if in his grief, he finds himself becoming more and more like Drago — more cruel and willing to do whatever it takes to seek revenge. Then he would have another choice on his hands — does he become like the very man he wants to seek revenge against, or does he stay true to himself and find healthier ways to heal from his grief and trauma? Again I don’t have particular events figured out, but Toothless and Hiccup's friends should be an integral part to all of this. Like I imagine Hiccup increasingly putting Toothless and the other riders in dangerous/exhausting situations trying to find Drago…only to realize that he’s mistreating them in a way very similar to how Drago mistreats his dragons and soldiers. I think that would be very powerful.

So yeah, that’s how I would change the franchise. Still three movies, but with more intention in how the themes are explored.

I feel like…I’ve just given myself more fanfiction homework, lol. I do think it would be fun to write these at some point. Once I’m finished the major fic I’m already working on.

[teal-blue-genesis]

I absolutely love this idea!

I really feel that it truthfully sticks to the theme and what httyd 1 is all about, especially the option on having a third/middle option.

[teal-blue-genesis]

Hear me out here... a Httyd x Jurassic park au.

Yes, I know other people have created art and such already of it, but those had the dragons as dinosaurs, which isn't what this au would be.

This AU would technically be a httyd modern yet turned into a dystopia au, since it would be somewhat like the story of Jurassic Park but with Dragons instead of Dinosaurs. Since scientists are already genetically engineering and bringing back species from a long time ago, and the Jurassic universe was using DNA to create new hybrids and whatnot, this au would be a what-if dragons were genetically created, engineered per se by a shady scientific business/organization, that would either advertise trips to take a look at them, and sell others for both civil and even military use, however, it then got out of control. Aka they lost containment/control of the dragons and their fail-safe to regain both control and physical custody backfired. Said company in the modern-day now loosely engineers dragons to raid and attack (cough*red death*cough) for increased military spending to combat the many loose, wild, and dangerous dragons.

Combining the ideas that dragons aren't just wild beasts and monsters that were a mistake that humans created, (in fact now thinking about it, might add in some supernatural and mythology into it, aka Norse Gods) yet at the same time make it clear they aren't pets, or can always be tamed, they are animals, that can be wild and dangerous just as we humans, and other animals are.

Maybe call it... Draconiformers world au?? Maybe Draconidae au?? I'm trying to include what would be the dragon family scientific classification.

[franticfrogs64]

Hi!

Did you know that when Httyd 2 was in development, originally Valka was going to be the main villain!?

She was going to be a villain that was pro-dragon, yet anti-human, with her at first having a happy little reunion with Stoick and Hiccup, yet then due to misunderstandings, along with finding out Hiccup was the reason why Toothless lost his tail fin, she then turned on them. With the scene of Drago attacking Berk in the final version of the movie at the end, originally supposed to be Valka attacking, with the intent to free the dragons from what she believed was imprisonment and slavery under Berk.

I couldn't help but think as a "what if" in your sons of Berk AU; Villainous Valka, with Valka growing to become a crazy dragon lady, that is pro-dragon and anti-human due to her isolation and view that humans can't change. This would bring much potential for drama and angst to the story of httyd, plus it would be interesting to have a villain that is different from the rest, as all of the villains that httyd had were anti-dragon, and it was about protecting and showing that dragons are more that beasts. Yet, this would be an interesting twist, especially with Valka having her Bewilderbeast which has the power to mind control dragons.

However, even without Valka being a villain, I yes, still see Dagur, being happy that Valka is alive, however he would be hurt to know that she could have returned whenever she had wanted, yet she didn't. He may even spiral or go into a fit of insanity, going further deranged, and having fears of abandonment because Valka did just that to him and Hiccup.

OMG THE ANGSTTTT YESS

Hi!! I did know that Valka was originally the villain of httyd 2, which i think definitely had a lot of potential for drama and angst! As for the au, Valka being the villian of httyd 2 is a fantastic idea omg. I definitely agree that Dagur would be really hurt and very angry with Valka for purposely staying away and abandoning him and Hiccup. Definitely would make him spiral because like he watched her be taken as a child and he lived through the aftermath. And the fact that she could’ve come back at any point but chose not to, that would be hard to handle. Because like she could have prevented Dagur from becoming the way his is, and the way he was treated because of it. But she didn’t. She could have. But she didn’t. Essentially because she gave up (on humanity and her family along with it). So yeah, that would mess Dagur up.

I also feel like Hiccup would try to reason with Dagur (and himself) that Valka had her reasons for staying away, which would probably lead to arguments between Dagur and Hiccup. Hiccup would probably be in more of a state of denial where Dagur is just fully angry.

And Stoick. Oh boy, Stoick. He would have such mixed feelings about the whole thing. I mean like…could you imagine searching for your wife (who was presumably eaten by dragons), raising two boys who just don’t fit in and have a whole range of issues, taking care of an entire village, and it turns out that your wife has been alive the entire time and just chose not to come back because she gave up on humanity and her own family? Soul crushing. And to further twist the knife in, she thinks that you have been enslaving dragons and literally attacks the home and the family you fought so hard to protect? Yikes. Stoick still loves Valka, but the person that attacks Berk is not the same Valka. So yeah, he’d have a lot of feelings about it.

I feel like Valka as a villain would probably be really unsettling as she would probably mimic a lot of dragon mannerism since she had lived with them for so long and rejected humanity. (Apparently ‘unhinged’ runs in the family).

But this is such a fire idea. The potential for angst and drama is ✨

[teal-blue-genesis]

Actually, I see Hiccup as not really knowing how to feel, or it being a mixture of emotions and feelings, such as anger, and wanting an explanation on everything from Valka. Yet, he doesn't want to destroy a chance of possibly having a relationship with his mother who he barely even remembers.

Outside of the "what if" Villainous Valka, I do see the events of the second movie happening differently, as I see the second movie not doing the Haddock family drama, justice. The closest I personally have found, in doing the reveal of Valka being alive yet not an anti-human, crazy dragon lady would be "A Mother Found" by YPM_33_KI on Ao3.

I, myself, am not finished reading and the fic is still being updated, yet it has 26 chapters already. And in it Hiccup isn't someone quick to forgive Valka and isn't happy with finding out she was alive all this time when she was thought to be dead by everyone including him and their family. Plus the damage left in the aftermath of her staying away, I won't reveal too much, however, Valka wasn't all that in love with Stoick to begin with. It also gives a plausible explanation for why Valka didn't see dragons as beasts like everyone else did. Also, it's canon divergence with Drago not finding the nest as early as he does.

[franticfrogs64]

Ooo interesting!! Thanks for the fix recommendation! That sounds really cool! I’ll have to give it a read!

Honestly so fair. I agree that the cannon Httyd 2 definitely could have done a bit more with the Haddock family drama since it kinda got swept under the rug in a sense because of the plot. But I agree that Hiccup probably would have mixed feelings about Valka as well. He would probably still want a relationship with his mother but also still quite upset that she stayed away.

[teal-blue-genesis]

Yeahhhhhh, there is so much potential with the Haddock family drama, that could have been explored and expanded upon!

Thinking about it, Hiccup could be in denial like you say, but for certain reasons, besides wanting a chance at connecting with his mother, I think it would be the similarities and perpendicular, almost parallel ways that he is like his mother. Out of both Hiccup and Dagur, Hiccup is the one that follows Valka in looks, along with personality, and a love for dragons. Also to mention when Hiccup was half-planning to leave aka runaway because he knew he wouldn't be able to kill a dragon. Like he is in denial because he is now thinking what are the consequences on if he went through with it. What damage would he have inflicted on his brother and father, no doubt it would have been the same.

The headcanon or idea that Valka herself was an outcast, and a black sheep when she was still living on Berk. Especially because in the flashback it showed that she actively tried to prevent the village from killing dragons in the raids. I think she may have even tried, or did show Dagur that dragons are more than just beasts. Which may have influenced Dagur in viewing his mother dying by her wrongful judgment, or that certain dragons are far more dangerous that others such as stormcutters, the species that took Valka.

This may influence him when he finds out that Hiccup has befriended the night fury he had shot down. Like him getting flashbacks to the times when his mother would take him out into the forest and he pet terrible terrors or something when she was still around. Like Dagur may have seen Valka in Hiccup, and when it finally comes to him too befriending dragons, Dagur shuts it down immediately, like he won't just let Hiccup follow down her path and be taken by a dangerous dragon too, most probably the night fury.

This would be even more drama and angst fueled if, Dagur was the one to follow Hiccup instead of Astrid after the dragon training session that determined Hiccup as the one to kill the monstrous nightmare, like Dagur finding out his brother intends to leave, run away, all. because. he. can't. kill. a. Dragon.

Just like his mother.

No doubt in my mind that Dagur might spiral in an ensuing argument when realizing this, like unlike Astrid who runs away to tell the village, Dagur stays to get answers and this leads to a argument that ends with yelling and tears.

How Dagur would ease down and be convinced to not just attempt to kill toothles and drag Hiccup away, no idea. Maybe by toothless getting in the middle of it because he thinks Dagur may try to harm Hiccup, or comforts him along with Hiccup when he explains (or shouts) why he is against this. Cue somehow coming to a flight on toothless which leads the brothers to finding out on the red death.

[franticfrogs64]

BROOO GET OUT OF MY HEADDDD that’s literally like exactly how I planned that to go down. Instead of Astrid following Hiccup after training, it would be Dagur since he had been noticing more and more that after Hiccup had claimed he shot down a night fury that he had been going missing more and more. So when Dagur decides to follow Hiccup he finds his brother about to get outta dodge before he has to kill a dragon. And you’re absolutely spot on with Dagur’s thoughts about this, regarding how he doesn’t want Hiccup to end up like Valka. In Dagur’s mind, he saw Valka try to stop the bloodshed between humans and dragons, he saw her refuse to kill a dragon, and where did that end up? She’s dead now. (At least that’s what everyone thinks). So of course he’s gonna think that Hiccup is gonna get himself killed. This is most certainly going to lead to an argument. And chances are Toothless would become more protective and defensive because some random stranger is yelling at his human.

Also AWWW DUDE THE VALKA AND DAGUR THING IN THE WOODS AHHH MY HEART DUDE. That is such a cool idea. I definitely have some thoughts about how their conversations would go because Valka would definitely try to show Dagur that dragons aren’t monsters. Of course Stoick would not be too happy that she’s indoctrination their son into caring about their enemy. Chances are more fights would come from that too. Even furthering the reasons why Valka decided to stay away since her opinions were clearly not welcomed even in her own home. Which of course is a tricky situation since in a sense both Valka and Stoick are right. Dragons were attacking Berk and stealing their food (and even though they never showed it in the cannon movie, it wouldn’t be shocking to assume that human fatalities weren’t unheard of, though I do think they mentioned in the movie that dragons had killed hundreds of Vikings.) But that proves Stoick’s point. Dragons are dangerous. You can’t change that. They’re not overgrown puppies. They are dangerous and often times wild. However, to take Valka’s side, they can be trained and trusted if the effort is put in and a bond is created. Dragons aren’t monsters by a long shot, but they are still wild animals. But wild animals are still beautiful. And obviously the bond between dragon and rider is a special thing. So in a sense, both Valka and Stoick are entirely correct, just on the opposite sides of things. And I feel like during these chats Valka would have with Dagur, she would also use those moments to voice her opinions.

Side note, I know that a lot of times Stoick doesn’t really make good choices with how he handles his family life, but I’m definitely not on the Stoick slander train. He is a flawed character who makes bad decisions with good intentions in mind. For example, he is a very stubborn person and often times it’s his way or the highway, but he doesn’t do that out of meanness, but rather he genuinely thinks that his way is the best way to keep the people he loves safe. Even if in the end it actually results in hurting them or pushing them away. Stoick really tries, man. He really does but he’s been out in such a tricky position and a lot of roles to fill. He takes care of an entire village, deals with stupid problems, has to sort out a dragon problem, as well as raising two troubled boys by himself. That’s a lot for one guy. So no, he doesn’t make the best decisions all the time, but he really does love his family and really tries his best to keep them safe. Okay, tangent over.

As for Hiccup’s thoughts about Valka, yeah he would definitely be conflicted. Because on one hand, she left them and never came back. He definitely wants to attempt to have a relationship with the mother he literally never had, but at the same time he’s upset, hurt, and almost in denial that she really gave up on them all. But at the same time, he realizes that literally could have been him. If Dagur hadn’t shown up when he did, Hiccup would have run away too. So yeah, the parallels haunt him, giving him a unique sense of understanding. But he’s still hurt. No amount of understanding why someone acted the way they did changes the fact that they did those things

[teal-blue-genesis]

Great minds think alike, my friend.

However, it just makes sense narrative wise that, in keeping up with the events of the first movie, that it would be Dagur instead of Astrid. As for how Astrid herself doesn't follow Hiccup and find out along with Dagur... maybe an offhanded comment from Dagur during the time that Hiccup is showing skill in dragon training, that in the aftermath of one session Astrid is sulking/mumbling seeing how she is now getting out shined. And heavily questions outloud on where is Hiccup disappearing off to, with her unknowingly pasting Dagur who responds with, "Obviously, trying to find that Night Fury he supposedly shot down, that's why he is disappearing off into the forest." That's what I got that, would explain on why Astrid who would still be fuming, didn't go after Hiccup. However, it may be the same interaction that causes Dagur to become more suspicious, like if Hiccup was still out searching for the night fury, why is he bringing tools out into the forest for??

Also, you are correct on Stoick, he isn't a bad parent, however, due to circumstances being what they are, he is rather stuck between his duties as Chief (apparently the correct term is Jarls, if being Norse accurate) and him being a father and family man. Stoick himself, is all about family, his name is actually derived from a philosophy that perfectly defines his character, and the word Stoic means a person who endures hardships and pain without showing their feelings or complaining.

This is just how I view it, however, I like to see that Dagur was a mama's boy when Valka was still around, which both makes her supposed 'death' and then discovery that she was alive all the more painful. Also in the cut scenes for httyd 2, there was one that featured Valka flinching away from Hiccup after learning he was the one who disabled toothless, just imagining that scene but with Dagur after Valka is hit with the fact, that yes, her eldest son has in fact killed dragons in the raids, that their blood is on his hands. And. Dagur is just soooo, heartbroken by it, he never would have imagined his own mother FLINCHING away from him after learning that he had killed dragons during the raids when he was more grown up, thought that she would know, that abandoning her son's would mean that they would grow up and even get dragon blood on their hands. Yet she does. (Seriously, Valka can be a bit ignorant and naive at times.)

As for Hiccup, him planning to runaway was more of a spur of the moment, half-planned solution that, in reality, I see him going back on. Like, if Dagur nor Astrid had followed him, and he had been able to fly away with Toothless; midway through flying away, he realizes that this isn't a solution that will fix anything, and will likely only cause problems in the end. So, he changes direction, to fly Toothless back to Ravens Point (the little cove) yet he ends up discovering the nest, and red death instead of immediately returning to Berk. This could be a set up for a accidental runaway au, in which Hiccup ends up defeating the Red Death in secret and is thought to be dead because he was knocked out by the red death tail.

Or in a au edition in that Hiccup was able to speak first instead of Stoick when he first returned after freeing Toothless, getting out of dragon training and simply sticking to the forge with blacksmithing, with the promise of no more inventions(this is broken within two days when Hiccup invents the prosthetic tailfin). He still learns that dragons aren't just beast and befriends Toothless still, he watches with Gobber as the others complete dragon training which still informs him on things such as "Dragons always go for the kill" which gets him to go back and investigate on why Toothless didn't when he had the chance. This leads to a long-winded version of events as Hiccup lives a double life, with Dagur still learning on Toothless just a bit later that what he did in original, and ends up accommodating his younger brother on secret adventures, with the bonus of Dagur getting to take a small vessel or ship for certain adventures.

[franticfrogs64]

Ooo yeah. I feel like Dagur would make an offhand comment to Astrid after a training session that maybe Hiccup has more practice killing dragons because he’s been going out into the woods to find that night fury and maybe he already killed it. He says this more in a teasing manner because like what are the odds that Hiccup is actually doing that. But Astrid doesnt take the joke very well and instead is like “if he was doing that then why does he keep on bringing weird tools with him instead of weapons. And this is kinda what makes Dagur go “huh. Thats a good point”. That would be what would push Dagur into following Hiccup and then discovering that Hiccup has been training Toothless.

Also! Really interesting stuff about Stoick! I didn’t know that but thats really cool!!

As for Valka realizing that Dagur had killed dragons and Hiccup had crippled Toothless, i feel like she would be so shocked and so angry/feel betrayed at the same time. (Admittedly, this makes me a little annoyed with her because like what did she expect? That everyone would stop killing dragons after she got carried away by Cloudjumper? Like obviously not. If anything they’d just kill more dragons. I definitely agree that she can be pretty ignorant and naive). She would definitely be upset by this fact and chances are she wouldn’t even be able to look at Dagur (and to an extent Hiccup either) without some look of distain or disgust (which OOF man yikes). Definitely a spot for drama and angst. She could even say the line of like “you’re not my son” as a direct parallel of what Stoick said to Hiccup in httyd 1 BECAUSE AHH THE PARALLELS. Like the same words but on the opposite side of things.

As for Hiccup, I definitely think that if Dagur had shown up just a few minutes later, Hiccup would have run away. Like Hiccup was literally saddled up, on Toothless, and was about to take off. However because Dagur did show up just in time, arguments ensue. However, Dagur doesn’t run off to try to tell Stoick or anyone about Hiccup and Toothless. Instead he wants to deal with it himself because he knows how Stoick would react (very very poorly). Through the argument, it gets to the point where Hiccup is trying to defend his opinion and Toothless has enough of the whole thing and probably grabs Dagur by the foot or something and takes off flying. Essentially doing the same thing Toothless does to Astrid in httyd 1. However, Dagur actually finds the high speeds and adrenaline from everything way more fun than Astrid does. So rather than Hiccup and Toothless showing the cool scenery and showing the softer side of dragons to win Astrid over, instead its more of the dangerous aspect that makes Dagur go “okay this is pretty awesome”. Of course then Hiccup and Dagur do have a more serious and heart to heart moment where Dagur tells Hiccup that he should have guessed that he took after their mom or something along those lines because sometimes Hiccup really reminded him of Valka. Because of both the absolute fun and thrill that Dagur had from riding dragons (realizing that they can match his own intensity), and the reminder of his chats with Valka in the woods where she would try show him the softer side of dragons, is pretty much enough for Dagur to give the whole thing a shot. Granted he is well aware it will make both of their lives far more complicated, but he never played by the rules before so why start now?

Im not sure if immediately after that if they would find the dragons nest like Hiccup and Astrid do in the movie, but one way or another they will find it (chances are both Hiccup and Dagur would find it together).

HOWEVER! This still leaves Hiccup in a pretty tricky spot. Hiccup has to kill a dragon the next day. And i feel like Dagur (as always) resorts to violence to solve the problem. There are two options. Either one; they come up with a plan to get Hiccup hurt (not majorly) so that he could at least delay killing a dragon because Stoick is not gonna make his toothpick son fight and kill a Monsterous Nightmare with like a broken arm or something. Or maybe they sneak into the arena and free the dragons the night before (so that way Hiccup doesn’t have to fight the dragon because there literally are none to fight). Chances are with option two the dragons would run off into the forest so that the gang could find them again when the time came to fight the Red Death

[teal-blue-genesis]

I absolutely love this.

However, there would come the question of how Stoick finds out. Which would lead to him taking Berk's best warriors to go and try to take out the nest. Like I still see the fight with the Red Death best happening in a OH GODS WE HAVE TO DEFEAT THIS THING AND PREVENT DAD FROM KILLING HIMSELF AND THE OTHERS!?!??!! Type of deal. Like Stoick needed to see the dragons running away, being faced with this Mountain-sized dragon, and witnessing Toothless save Hiccup to be both convinced and accept that dragons weren't what he thought they were.

Also, by being told by Hiccup in the original first movie, the truth, which is that the dragons attacked to get food for their queen, else they be eaten themselves. Which is proven correct when after the Red Death being slayed, the dragons don't raid or attack, if so it's for a reason that can be solved such as trying to find their parent or child (e.i. Screaming Death, the typomph- I can't spell it's name but that one episode in DoB when they had to return the baby dragon they named Torch to his mother or she would have rampaged Berk trying to find him, etc.)

Also, how would you say that Dagur ends up befriending his own dragon, like was his first the Skrill or was it another dragon first??? I like to think that each member of the Haddock family has two dragons at least;

Stoick with Skullcrusher and Thornado. Valka with Cloudjumper and her Bewilderbeast. Hiccup with Toothless and a terrible terror (the most popular name I have seen is Sharpshot). So... if Dagur has a Skrill, he has to at least have another to complete it, maybe like in the series he bonded with Shattermaster, a gronckle first, then he ends up bonding with a Skrill, which becomes his main dragon companion.

[franticfrogs64]

Hi!

Did you know that when Httyd 2 was in development, originally Valka was going to be the main villain!?

She was going to be a villain that was pro-dragon, yet anti-human, with her at first having a happy little reunion with Stoick and Hiccup, yet then due to misunderstandings, along with finding out Hiccup was the reason why Toothless lost his tail fin, she then turned on them. With the scene of Drago attacking Berk in the final version of the movie at the end, originally supposed to be Valka attacking, with the intent to free the dragons from what she believed was imprisonment and slavery under Berk.

I couldn't help but think as a "what if" in your sons of Berk AU; Villainous Valka, with Valka growing to become a crazy dragon lady, that is pro-dragon and anti-human due to her isolation and view that humans can't change. This would bring much potential for drama and angst to the story of httyd, plus it would be interesting to have a villain that is different from the rest, as all of the villains that httyd had were anti-dragon, and it was about protecting and showing that dragons are more that beasts. Yet, this would be an interesting twist, especially with Valka having her Bewilderbeast which has the power to mind control dragons.

However, even without Valka being a villain, I yes, still see Dagur, being happy that Valka is alive, however he would be hurt to know that she could have returned whenever she had wanted, yet she didn't. He may even spiral or go into a fit of insanity, going further deranged, and having fears of abandonment because Valka did just that to him and Hiccup.

OMG THE ANGSTTTT YESS

Hi!! I did know that Valka was originally the villain of httyd 2, which i think definitely had a lot of potential for drama and angst! As for the au, Valka being the villian of httyd 2 is a fantastic idea omg. I definitely agree that Dagur would be really hurt and very angry with Valka for purposely staying away and abandoning him and Hiccup. Definitely would make him spiral because like he watched her be taken as a child and he lived through the aftermath. And the fact that she could’ve come back at any point but chose not to, that would be hard to handle. Because like she could have prevented Dagur from becoming the way his is, and the way he was treated because of it. But she didn’t. She could have. But she didn’t. Essentially because she gave up (on humanity and her family along with it). So yeah, that would mess Dagur up.

I also feel like Hiccup would try to reason with Dagur (and himself) that Valka had her reasons for staying away, which would probably lead to arguments between Dagur and Hiccup. Hiccup would probably be in more of a state of denial where Dagur is just fully angry.

And Stoick. Oh boy, Stoick. He would have such mixed feelings about the whole thing. I mean like…could you imagine searching for your wife (who was presumably eaten by dragons), raising two boys who just don’t fit in and have a whole range of issues, taking care of an entire village, and it turns out that your wife has been alive the entire time and just chose not to come back because she gave up on humanity and her own family? Soul crushing. And to further twist the knife in, she thinks that you have been enslaving dragons and literally attacks the home and the family you fought so hard to protect? Yikes. Stoick still loves Valka, but the person that attacks Berk is not the same Valka. So yeah, he’d have a lot of feelings about it.

I feel like Valka as a villain would probably be really unsettling as she would probably mimic a lot of dragon mannerism since she had lived with them for so long and rejected humanity. (Apparently ‘unhinged’ runs in the family).

But this is such a fire idea. The potential for angst and drama is ✨

[teal-blue-genesis]

Actually, I see Hiccup as not really knowing how to feel, or it being a mixture of emotions and feelings, such as anger, and wanting an explanation on everything from Valka. Yet, he doesn't want to destroy a chance of possibly having a relationship with his mother who he barely even remembers.

Outside of the "what if" Villainous Valka, I do see the events of the second movie happening differently, as I see the second movie not doing the Haddock family drama, justice. The closest I personally have found, in doing the reveal of Valka being alive yet not an anti-human, crazy dragon lady would be "A Mother Found" by YPM_33_KI on Ao3.

I, myself, am not finished reading and the fic is still being updated, yet it has 26 chapters already. And in it Hiccup isn't someone quick to forgive Valka and isn't happy with finding out she was alive all this time when she was thought to be dead by everyone including him and their family. Plus the damage left in the aftermath of her staying away, I won't reveal too much, however, Valka wasn't all that in love with Stoick to begin with. It also gives a plausible explanation for why Valka didn't see dragons as beasts like everyone else did. Also, it's canon divergence with Drago not finding the nest as early as he does.

[franticfrogs64]

Ooo interesting!! Thanks for the fix recommendation! That sounds really cool! I’ll have to give it a read!

Honestly so fair. I agree that the cannon Httyd 2 definitely could have done a bit more with the Haddock family drama since it kinda got swept under the rug in a sense because of the plot. But I agree that Hiccup probably would have mixed feelings about Valka as well. He would probably still want a relationship with his mother but also still quite upset that she stayed away.

[teal-blue-genesis]

Yeahhhhhh, there is so much potential with the Haddock family drama, that could have been explored and expanded upon!

Thinking about it, Hiccup could be in denial like you say, but for certain reasons, besides wanting a chance at connecting with his mother, I think it would be the similarities and perpendicular, almost parallel ways that he is like his mother. Out of both Hiccup and Dagur, Hiccup is the one that follows Valka in looks, along with personality, and a love for dragons. Also to mention when Hiccup was half-planning to leave aka runaway because he knew he wouldn't be able to kill a dragon. Like he is in denial because he is now thinking what are the consequences on if he went through with it. What damage would he have inflicted on his brother and father, no doubt it would have been the same.

The headcanon or idea that Valka herself was an outcast, and a black sheep when she was still living on Berk. Especially because in the flashback it showed that she actively tried to prevent the village from killing dragons in the raids. I think she may have even tried, or did show Dagur that dragons are more than just beasts. Which may have influenced Dagur in viewing his mother dying by her wrongful judgment, or that certain dragons are far more dangerous that others such as stormcutters, the species that took Valka.

This may influence him when he finds out that Hiccup has befriended the night fury he had shot down. Like him getting flashbacks to the times when his mother would take him out into the forest and he pet terrible terrors or something when she was still around. Like Dagur may have seen Valka in Hiccup, and when it finally comes to him too befriending dragons, Dagur shuts it down immediately, like he won't just let Hiccup follow down her path and be taken by a dangerous dragon too, most probably the night fury.

This would be even more drama and angst fueled if, Dagur was the one to follow Hiccup instead of Astrid after the dragon training session that determined Hiccup as the one to kill the monstrous nightmare, like Dagur finding out his brother intends to leave, run away, all. because. he. can't. kill. a. Dragon.

Just like his mother.

No doubt in my mind that Dagur might spiral in an ensuing argument when realizing this, like unlike Astrid who runs away to tell the village, Dagur stays to get answers and this leads to a argument that ends with yelling and tears.

How Dagur would ease down and be convinced to not just attempt to kill toothles and drag Hiccup away, no idea. Maybe by toothless getting in the middle of it because he thinks Dagur may try to harm Hiccup, or comforts him along with Hiccup when he explains (or shouts) why he is against this. Cue somehow coming to a flight on toothless which leads the brothers to finding out on the red death.

[franticfrogs64]

BROOO GET OUT OF MY HEADDDD that’s literally like exactly how I planned that to go down. Instead of Astrid following Hiccup after training, it would be Dagur since he had been noticing more and more that after Hiccup had claimed he shot down a night fury that he had been going missing more and more. So when Dagur decides to follow Hiccup he finds his brother about to get outta dodge before he has to kill a dragon. And you’re absolutely spot on with Dagur’s thoughts about this, regarding how he doesn’t want Hiccup to end up like Valka. In Dagur’s mind, he saw Valka try to stop the bloodshed between humans and dragons, he saw her refuse to kill a dragon, and where did that end up? She’s dead now. (At least that’s what everyone thinks). So of course he’s gonna think that Hiccup is gonna get himself killed. This is most certainly going to lead to an argument. And chances are Toothless would become more protective and defensive because some random stranger is yelling at his human.

Also AWWW DUDE THE VALKA AND DAGUR THING IN THE WOODS AHHH MY HEART DUDE. That is such a cool idea. I definitely have some thoughts about how their conversations would go because Valka would definitely try to show Dagur that dragons aren’t monsters. Of course Stoick would not be too happy that she’s indoctrination their son into caring about their enemy. Chances are more fights would come from that too. Even furthering the reasons why Valka decided to stay away since her opinions were clearly not welcomed even in her own home. Which of course is a tricky situation since in a sense both Valka and Stoick are right. Dragons were attacking Berk and stealing their food (and even though they never showed it in the cannon movie, it wouldn’t be shocking to assume that human fatalities weren’t unheard of, though I do think they mentioned in the movie that dragons had killed hundreds of Vikings.) But that proves Stoick’s point. Dragons are dangerous. You can’t change that. They’re not overgrown puppies. They are dangerous and often times wild. However, to take Valka’s side, they can be trained and trusted if the effort is put in and a bond is created. Dragons aren’t monsters by a long shot, but they are still wild animals. But wild animals are still beautiful. And obviously the bond between dragon and rider is a special thing. So in a sense, both Valka and Stoick are entirely correct, just on the opposite sides of things. And I feel like during these chats Valka would have with Dagur, she would also use those moments to voice her opinions.

Side note, I know that a lot of times Stoick doesn’t really make good choices with how he handles his family life, but I’m definitely not on the Stoick slander train. He is a flawed character who makes bad decisions with good intentions in mind. For example, he is a very stubborn person and often times it’s his way or the highway, but he doesn’t do that out of meanness, but rather he genuinely thinks that his way is the best way to keep the people he loves safe. Even if in the end it actually results in hurting them or pushing them away. Stoick really tries, man. He really does but he’s been out in such a tricky position and a lot of roles to fill. He takes care of an entire village, deals with stupid problems, has to sort out a dragon problem, as well as raising two troubled boys by himself. That’s a lot for one guy. So no, he doesn’t make the best decisions all the time, but he really does love his family and really tries his best to keep them safe. Okay, tangent over.

As for Hiccup’s thoughts about Valka, yeah he would definitely be conflicted. Because on one hand, she left them and never came back. He definitely wants to attempt to have a relationship with the mother he literally never had, but at the same time he’s upset, hurt, and almost in denial that she really gave up on them all. But at the same time, he realizes that literally could have been him. If Dagur hadn’t shown up when he did, Hiccup would have run away too. So yeah, the parallels haunt him, giving him a unique sense of understanding. But he’s still hurt. No amount of understanding why someone acted the way they did changes the fact that they did those things

[teal-blue-genesis]

Great minds think alike, my friend.

However, it just makes sense narrative wise that, in keeping up with the events of the first movie, that it would be Dagur instead of Astrid. As for how Astrid herself doesn't follow Hiccup and find out along with Dagur... maybe an offhanded comment from Dagur during the time that Hiccup is showing skill in dragon training, that in the aftermath of one session Astrid is sulking/mumbling seeing how she is now getting out shined. And heavily questions outloud on where is Hiccup disappearing off to, with her unknowingly pasting Dagur who responds with, "Obviously, trying to find that Night Fury he supposedly shot down, that's why he is disappearing off into the forest." That's what I got that, would explain on why Astrid who would still be fuming, didn't go after Hiccup. However, it may be the same interaction that causes Dagur to become more suspicious, like if Hiccup was still out searching for the night fury, why is he bringing tools out into the forest for??

Also, you are correct on Stoick, he isn't a bad parent, however, due to circumstances being what they are, he is rather stuck between his duties as Chief (apparently the correct term is Jarls, if being Norse accurate) and him being a father and family man. Stoick himself, is all about family, his name is actually derived from a philosophy that perfectly defines his character, and the word Stoic means a person who endures hardships and pain without showing their feelings or complaining.

This is just how I view it, however, I like to see that Dagur was a mama's boy when Valka was still around, which both makes her supposed 'death' and then discovery that she was alive all the more painful. Also in the cut scenes for httyd 2, there was one that featured Valka flinching away from Hiccup after learning he was the one who disabled toothless, just imagining that scene but with Dagur after Valka is hit with the fact, that yes, her eldest son has in fact killed dragons in the raids, that their blood is on his hands. And. Dagur is just soooo, heartbroken by it, he never would have imagined his own mother FLINCHING away from him after learning that he had killed dragons during the raids when he was more grown up, thought that she would know, that abandoning her son's would mean that they would grow up and even get dragon blood on their hands. Yet she does. (Seriously, Valka can be a bit ignorant and naive at times.)

As for Hiccup, him planning to runaway was more of a spur of the moment, half-planned solution that, in reality, I see him going back on. Like, if Dagur nor Astrid had followed him, and he had been able to fly away with Toothless; midway through flying away, he realizes that this isn't a solution that will fix anything, and will likely only cause problems in the end. So, he changes direction, to fly Toothless back to Ravens Point (the little cove) yet he ends up discovering the nest, and red death instead of immediately returning to Berk. This could be a set up for a accidental runaway au, in which Hiccup ends up defeating the Red Death in secret and is thought to be dead because he was knocked out by the red death tail.

Or in a au edition in that Hiccup was able to speak first instead of Stoick when he first returned after freeing Toothless, getting out of dragon training and simply sticking to the forge with blacksmithing, with the promise of no more inventions(this is broken within two days when Hiccup invents the prosthetic tailfin). He still learns that dragons aren't just beast and befriends Toothless still, he watches with Gobber as the others complete dragon training which still informs him on things such as "Dragons always go for the kill" which gets him to go back and investigate on why Toothless didn't when he had the chance. This leads to a long-winded version of events as Hiccup lives a double life, with Dagur still learning on Toothless just a bit later that what he did in original, and ends up accommodating his younger brother on secret adventures, with the bonus of Dagur getting to take a small vessel or ship for certain adventures.