riverviewlogs | [OPEN] we go where no one goes, we slow for no one

[So a viking walks into a hardware store... It's a less a joke and more something that's actually happening. Toothless, he is informed upon entry, is not allowed in the store, and so there is currently a large black lizard with a saddle on curled up next to some shopping carts outside, waiting for Hiccup to finish up.

Meanwhile, he's browsing for materials, studiously comparing some metal rods to a couple of metal rods he brought with him (titanium, platinum, samples Loki magicked up for him to look at). He also drifts back to the selection of outdoor canvas fabrics, and finally ends up in an aisle with welding equipment. The acetylene torches for welding are not up for demonstrations, but he can't help picking up a much smaller blow torch and... trying it out. He jumps when it emits a small, steady flame, though he turns it off sheepishly when a worker gives him a dirty look.]

Sorry, sorry... Wow that's cool. Isn't this cool?

[It's the enthusiasm more than anything else that draws Tony's attention away from the inside of his own head where he's busily mapping out his next project. The smell of burning propane is kind of hard to ignore, though, and he rounds the corner almost curiously to see that, yes, the two things are connected.

And the boy with the torch in his hands doesn't actually look all that sorry. That more than anything might be what draws Tony closer with a look of obvious amusement.]

I mean, yes, in general. Probably less if the store burns down, though I'm sure they've got a system set up for that.

[It gets him an unfriendly look of his own, which Tony deftly ignores.]

[He's a little embarrassed he's been caught out when someone else approaches, looking amused, and he puts the torch back - though somewhat reluctantly, subtly turning it to read the warning labels.] I would have put it out! [He's not an arsonist on purpose! Just. An accidental one. Sometimes. Fire just happens when your home is full of dragons, alright, and it's a small miracle that he's not afraid of it.]

All the equipment here is nothing like what I'm used to back home. This is incredible, though, I wonder if they sell just the fuel for one of these, I'm going to run out of nightmare saliva eventually...

Sure, of course they do. Propane's not that hard to get. [And then he pauses, almost visibly mentally backtracking on that statement a little.] 'Nightmare saliva'?

[It's probably a brand name or a weird description of something. Right?]

Propane. [He repeats the unfamiliar word curiously, still trying to read the back of the canister.] It's a liquid? [And then he blinks, glancing up, realizing he's probably talking about something unfamiliar too.] Oh! Monstrous Nightmare saliva. The Monstrous Nightmare is a dragon, their bodies produce this... sort of gel substance that lets them set themselves on fire. Usually I get it from my friend's dragon, but- well, it's just me and Toothless here.

[He fumbles on his belt for something that looks a bit like a canister or the handle of a weapon, opening up one end of it to show a greenish, viscous liquid inside.]

...dragon.

[Yeah, that's pretty much the only thing Tony picked out of all that. He glances down into the open canister, but it doesn't really explain anything. His eyes flick right back to the guy's face like Tony might be able to figure out if he's being fucked with. Problem is, he looks completely honest.]

You get it from dragons.

Yeah? [He tilts his head slightly, and there's a split second before he realizes that this guy's world must not have dragons. His expression is nothing but earnest, at least; he probably couldn't lie if he tried. He's very bad at it.] We have dragons in my homeland, dozens of different kinds, and they're all pretty different. Toothless is right outside if you want to meet him!

You have a dragon outside.

[This conversation isn't going to go well if Tony does nothing but repeat whatever the kid says, but honestly his brain is having a slightly hard time processing.

At least until he shrugs. He's dealt with gods, is this really so much weirder?

(Yes. Yes it is.)]

Okay, sure. Take me to your leader.

I have a dragon outside. [He repeats, trying not to laugh. The reactions are still entertaining. Some people are less fazed than others but everyone is curious. Hiccup gets it though, dragons are the coolest.

The reference, though, goes entirely over his head. He cocks his head slightly to the left while he puts back the things he'd been looking at and starts outside the store.] Uh? My dad is still back on Berk. It's just me and Toothless. Hey, bud!

[The 1700 pound dragon is indeed outside, sat just around the corner out of foot traffic's way, but he perks up and comes trotting out when he hears his rider, warbling out a noise that somehow conveys irritability. Hiccup grins and reaches out to rub between his ears.] I know, sorry I had to leave you out here.

[And that...certainly is a dragon. Not that Tony had thought the kid was kidding, considering the earnestness he practically radiates. But still. Dragon.

Tony hangs back a little to just watch them interact, and he can't entirely help the small smile curling at his mouth. It's cute, he can admit it.]

Toothless? [He echoes after it seems like they've had a moment to bond or whatever. He's more looking for confirmation than questioning the name -- he's got a robot called Dum-E, after all.]

Retractable. The name just stuck. [Toothless certainly looks toothless right now, reluctantly smiling a gummy dragon smile at the affection he gets. The two are close, that much is obvious; even their movements sometimes seem an unconscious mimic of the other.]

You can get closer if you want. He's harmless. [Well, as harmless as a huge plasma-blasting dragon can be. Toothless glances over at Tony, tilting his head, ears twitching, and he warbles out a noise like a question. His tail thumps gently on the asphalt, the prosthetic tail-fin clanging.]

[Anything Tony might have said immediately takes a backburner at the sound of metal, eyes zeroing in on the...dragon's tail. He studies it for a moment before it registers that it almost looks like it's meant to replace...huh.

Tony eyes it a moment longer, then lets his gaze trail over to the kid himself. The one who's obviously incredibly fond of the dragon. The one who was one hundred precent geeking out over a hardware store. And Tony can't help but make a logical jump there, to nod his head towards the metal tail fin.]

Your work?

Yeah, the tail-fin and the saddle. That's what I was looking at materials for. I don't have a replacement for his fin with me, so if this one got damaged when we're out past the fences, I'd have to fix it... somehow. He can't fly without it. [He's pretty proud of the design, the thin metal rods and pins and cording that attach the foldable tail fin to his tail, and in turn is hooked into the saddle, which has a pedal mechanism that his prosthetic foot slips into perfectly. It's a very purposeful design, a little rustic in the materials department, but well thought out.]

[And that's enough to overcome any of Tony's wariness, and he ambles on over to crouch down next to the dragon to get a better look.]

'Scuse me, Puff. [It's a genial comment as he braces a hand right next to the dragon's body and leans in.]

Huh. Clever.

[The nickname makes Toothless snort a few purple sparks in gentle indignation, and he huffs, but he lets Tony lean in to look at the saddle and tail configuration.

Hiccup moves to join him, leaning bodily against Toothless and stroking his scales as he beams in pride. It's always nice when someone appreciates his inventions instead of rolling their eyes at him.]

Thanks! Building things was about the only thing I was good at when I was younger.

Yeah, I know how that goes.

[It's an almost absent agreement, most of Tony's attention still fixed in on the design itself. It's pretty ingenious, for what it seems like the kid had to work with.

The thought makes him huff a little to himself as he straightens up.]

What kinds of materials are you looking for? I've got a fair amount, but I can also help you find what you need.

[He nods back at the store as he says it. It's taken him a while to work out, but not everyone just wants things handed to them. For some reason.]

Oh, uh. I'm not sure, exactly? Things are so far advanced here compared to what I'm used to. I don't even have a forge to work in right now. I guess I was just looking at what my options are, for when I do find a place. [He's never even heard of half the things that are in common use these days. Hiccup's been reading up, and taking an engineering class at the local university, but it can still be overwhelming.]

The first thing I'll need to do is make a spare tail-fin, and then I wanted to make some modifications to my leg... So I guess I'm just scouting some good metals right now.

[Leg? Tony can't help but glance over at him, eyes trailing down. And oh hey, look at that. Explains some of the saddle modifications.]

Well, metal is definitely a thing I can do. If they don't have it here, I can probably source it.

[If he's talking forges, then it's probably iron or copper. Tony idly wonders what'll happen if he introduces the kid to steel.]

Anyway, the first step to good engineering is ideas, and you seem to be doing fine there.

[Even his leg, despite being made of wood and iron, is a more advanced design than someone might expect from a viking, though it's hard to see the mechanism that changes out the foot - he's just on the walking foot right now.]

It's hard to imagine them not having something that would work here! There were way too many choices, I'm just used to iron or copper, or gronckle iron if weight isn't an issue. [Steel would probably blow his mind.]

You seem to know a lot. Are you an inventor too?

[Gronkle iron? Tony isn't sure if he just shouldn't ask or if he should launch into non-stop questions. Seems like wherever this guy is from, it's very different to what Tony calls home.

Though from the sounds of things, he he plays this right, he might get to find out whatever he wants. It seems like engineers wanting to babble about their work is pretty universal.]

Amongst other things, yeah. [He holds out a hand, mouth curving into a little half-smile.] Tony Stark.

[He would definitely have no trouble getting Hiccup to talk about anything and everything. The kid doesn't seem to have a lick of wariness in him, eager to share discoveries and information.

He shakes his hand with a wide smile.]

Hiccup Haddock. It's great to meet you.

[OPEN] we go where no one goes, we slow for no one

CLOSED to Tony Stark (MCU)

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