![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Lightning and death (open)
Who: Toothless, and you
When: Day 147
Where: The corridors. Or realistically, anywhere.
What: A Nightfury has arrived in the Science Center!
He goes to sleep next to Hiccup's bed, but that's not where he awakens.
The bed is empty, for one thing, and an unnatural shade of white that reminds him of sheep wool cleaned by rain. So does the rest of the room, for that matter. He stares at it for only a moment before scouring the room for scents. Toothless finds none, aside from his, and starts to paw at the tiny little door. Everything about this room bothers him. It's not right. And why are the ceilings so tiny?
It takes some doing to get past the door. Mostly, to open it, as the door seems to be wider than other doors he encounters. His folded wingspan fits easily enough. This he finds out shortly after escaping, rushing out into the space beyond and taking a sharp look up and down the corridor.
All of this sheep-white is going to make him hungry, soon. But the Nightfury's usual appetite is cut by confusion. Where's Hiccup? Where's anyone? How did they move him while he was unaware? Why does the little black box tucked into his saddle sometimes chirp at him?
Green eyes wide, Toothless begins to move cautiously through the Science Center. Maybe there are answers elsewhere. Maybe Hiccup is wandering. Luckily, the corridors are wide enough that his twenty-foot length can navigate them a fair amount of ease. The leather saddle on his back, connected to a leather artificial fin on his tail, is the only immediate indication that Toothless is no wholly wild dragon.
When: Day 147
Where: The corridors. Or realistically, anywhere.
What: A Nightfury has arrived in the Science Center!
He goes to sleep next to Hiccup's bed, but that's not where he awakens.
The bed is empty, for one thing, and an unnatural shade of white that reminds him of sheep wool cleaned by rain. So does the rest of the room, for that matter. He stares at it for only a moment before scouring the room for scents. Toothless finds none, aside from his, and starts to paw at the tiny little door. Everything about this room bothers him. It's not right. And why are the ceilings so tiny?
It takes some doing to get past the door. Mostly, to open it, as the door seems to be wider than other doors he encounters. His folded wingspan fits easily enough. This he finds out shortly after escaping, rushing out into the space beyond and taking a sharp look up and down the corridor.
All of this sheep-white is going to make him hungry, soon. But the Nightfury's usual appetite is cut by confusion. Where's Hiccup? Where's anyone? How did they move him while he was unaware? Why does the little black box tucked into his saddle sometimes chirp at him?
Green eyes wide, Toothless begins to move cautiously through the Science Center. Maybe there are answers elsewhere. Maybe Hiccup is wandering. Luckily, the corridors are wide enough that his twenty-foot length can navigate them a fair amount of ease. The leather saddle on his back, connected to a leather artificial fin on his tail, is the only immediate indication that Toothless is no wholly wild dragon.
no subject
Nothing in the man's body language is too threatening, and he doesn't seem to have any blades on him. The Night Fury stares for a long moment — because what in Berk is he wearing — before sitting down and rumbling a greeting back to Julian.
He's glad that he doesn't seem to be alone, here, at least.
no subject
"I, uh-- I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that."
With any luck, this creature's method of communication will prove to be translatable. Whether the device that enables translation is his own Starfleet UT or something provided by Cape Kore, he doesn't know, but it might take a while for its matrix to get accustomed to a particular language. That had been the case with unfamiliar languages before, after all. Julian doesn't expect it - the way Toothless sits down is more like a pet than a person, if such distinctions can really be made when it comes to first contact type situations - but it's worth a try, at least. For the time being, he's content to assume a form of intelligence that is perhaps closer to a Terran canine, though of course he'll be polite anyway. Partly because he'd rather not patronise an alien but sapient life form, and partly because, well, he's English. He's even polite to chairs he walks into (unless it's early in the morning, in which case, of course, it is permissible to swear a blue streak).
"Do you understand what I'm saying at all?" Polite or not, the tone of voice is still more like one someone might use for a pet or small child. Maybe that's supposed to be calming.. possibly it's just because Julian has an unfortunate tendency to condescend. "Er, if you could blink twice for yes, please. And three times if you haven't a clue what I'm on about."
As he's been speaking, he's been drawing closer still. By this point, he's within arm's length and, taking something of a risk (but no more than he had been already, really), he kneels down so that he can look Toothless in the eye. It's not just for the purposes of establishing the creature's level of intelligence, of course - he wants to get as good a look as he can, too. Quite a lot of the creature's basic biology is immediately obvious, of course - a reptile of some sort, quadrupedal, with a good sense of smell and what looks like a set of wings (interesting, but not really unusual). Beyond that, there's not a lot he can immediately tell just by looking so, obviously, he reaches out a hand (carefully!) to touch its head. For this, he has no justification, but luckily Miles and Ezri aren't here to yell at him for being an idiot.
no subject
And then nods firmly, once, for emphasis.
He might be more evasive, were he in Berk, but this is a strange new location and he can't take too many chances. The Viking might be trying to sneak up on him with some sort of concealed weapon, but Toothless trusts his reflexes enough to get him out of danger if this proves to be a volatile situation. For now, he'll concentrate on communication.
It isn't his fault that Vikings are so infuriatingly precise.
no subject
"Excellent. And I take it you can't speak? Or don't want to, at least... my kingdom for a medical tricorder!" He sighs, melodramatic, but it's evident from his expression and general aura of excitement that he's not too disappointed. "I don't suppose you're familiar with any kind of sign language? Or, er-- Morse code, perhaps?"
In this respect, Julian's definitely not the best person for the job. In terms of sheer unbridled curiosity (and even now, a certain level of inadvisable trust in the universe's good intentions) he's excellent for this kind of first contact, but when it comes to communicating without speech, well, he's a little too talkative. If his assumption about Toothless's lack of verbal communication is correct, that's an awful lot of questions to be asking to someone who can only answer by nodding or shaking his head.
no subject
Since Julian is so close, Toothless leans forward a little to sniff at his hands and get his scent down to memory. And to check for Hiccup's, but that doesn't seem to be anywhere near here.
no subject
"Now, don't be like that, I do keep them clean." It's a joke, whether it comes off that way or not. He files away the sniffing for reference anyway, though - developed sense of smell, yes, typical of reptilian lifeforms; perhaps indicative of poorer eyesight, a good tracker and so presumably a predator of some kind, possibly similar to the dinosaurs of Earth's prehistoric period or even, if those wings are real, a Maravel dragon - and, since Toothless is clearly intelligent, decides to risk being rude in order to satisfy his curiosity. "Er, if you don't mind my asking, I couldn't help but notice you seem to have, well, wings. Do they work? I mean-- can you fly?"
It's not just curiosity, of course. Julian had spent quite some time at first trying to get out of the Science Centre, with no success. A creature capable of flight might have a bit more luck.
no subject
No. The young Viking has to be around here somewhere. He's hopeful.
Partially to also assuage his dignity, Toothless nods. Of course he can fly. Damn those technicalities, in a place suddenly devoid of weedy Viking inventors.
no subject
"Wonderful. You know, I've always wondered what it would be like, being able to fly. Under my own steam, I mean."
Not being able to talk around Julian is a big, big problem. He could go on for hours - and probably will, with no one to shut him up. Luckily (or not?) he doesn't need or even really expect a reply. He's happy more or less just talking to himself.
"Oh!" But... not entirely. "How remiss--! I'm sorry, I should have asked at first, but you know how it is, so easy to get distracted, but better late than never I'm sure. Is there any name you're, well, presumably you don't actually use a name as I would think of it, but-- well, have you got one? Something you'd prefer to be called? And - oh, damn - if you do, a method of, er, communicating it?"
He almost wishes he hadn't brought it up. Or at least that he'd figured out that question in his head before trying to ask it.
no subject
Thinking of Hiccup deflates him, a little, but then the subject of his name comes up.
Vikings and names. Vikings name everything, good grief.
The Night Fury nods a confirmation. He has a name! But how to communicate it... Hm... Perhaps Julian will come to it the same way Hiccup had? Toothless opens his mouth, exposing his pink gums, and retracts his short white teeth into them. All he has, now, are gums.
And very fishy breath.
no subject
"Er-- O? That's... sort of an 'o' shape. In the Terran Latin script, anyway. I suppose you don't really use that. Um. Mouth? Gums? ...tongue?"
The expression is that of a man with very little faith in any of his answers.
no subject
He pops his teeth out once more, and then back in, making a show of not having them.
no subject
"Gums?" No, Julian, you've tried that one. "Uh. Tooth gap? Dentist's nightmare? Oh, I don't know. Well, look, I'll just... avoid using a name, I suppose. You don't mind, do you?"
no subject
no subject
He feels a little bad but, well, what can he do?
Besides guess correctly.He sits back on his heels, looking a tad frustrated at himself (he'll be guessing names all night), but then switches back to responsible adult mode... or, well, to his closest approximation of it."So! Er-- are you alright as far as everything else is concerned? Have you got a room - no health problems? enough food? I mean, appropriate food - this place seems to supply the sort of thing humanoids need, but is the sort of thing you eat here too?"
no subject
He'd like Hiccup, and to be able to go outside. But in the meantime, he supposes he won't starve. And he has a place to sleep.