Öndótt regarded this new person carefully a moment. Now that the vikings weren't trying to destroy them for attacking their village anymore, many of the dragons had become quite tame, and enjoyed spending time with people, but they still tended to be wary of new faces. Öndótt had learned quickly that Astrid was her human, and had wasted no time growing protective of her, but this man with his cloak and dark skin seemed friendly, and Astrid appeared to be at ease. A friend of Astrid's was a friend of Öndótt's, and so the dragon ducked her head a bit to allow for Drizzt to stroke her scales.
"Thank you. She knows it, too," Astrid chuckled when he complimented the nadder. "And she makes quick work of making sure everyone else knows it."
Dot clicked her jaw together at this, then arched her long neck and trilled happily as Astrid scratched the spot behind the spikes along the crest of her head. Then Astrid turned as Drizzt introduced the feline that had been waiting patiently beside him.
"Guenhwyvar," she echoed, much as Drizzt had the dragon's name, and smiled a bit. "She's remarkable; I've never seen a cat so big. Or of that color." Extending one hand slowly, palm down, she waited for Guenhwyvar to sniff her fingertips before carefully stroking the big cat's cheek. "It's definitely good to have a companion," she agreed, marveling at Guenhwyvar's whiskers and big, bright eyes. "I... You're certain there's no way to get home?" She pulled back from Guenhwyvar and frowned at Drizzt. "I have a friend in my village who was badly injured recently. I'm worried about him."
While Astrid was certain she could handle being thrown into a strange situation like this, she didn't like that not knowing if Hiccup would ever wake up came with it.
Pleased, the Drow stroked his hand along the creature's scales, still marveling at how tame and gentle she seemed. Obviously protective of her master, and rightfully so. Even if the girl seemed like she wouldn't need much protecting on her own. She reminded him of Cattie-Brie in a way, being so accepting even after that first bit of hesitation. It was always something he welcomed.
Finally he dropped his hand down from the dragon's head, watching as Guenhwyvar lavished in the attention she was being given, half purring in the process. To which Drizzt simply shook his head and patting the giant cat on the head. At least they agreed on the companion thing.
"I've heard there is a way, but it seems spontaneous to most. Just as we show up here without warning, we leave the same way. That is what I was told at least." he really couldn't offer much more, and he gave an apologetic look toward the girl for it. His gaze hardened slightly at the mention of her injured friend, and he hoped for her sake that they would be alright back in her home world. He never did enjoy other's suffering like the rest of his kind did.
He didn't know what to say, he wasn't very good at comforting people, but he'd try as best he could,
"Perhaps your friend arrived here as well. Somarium is rather large, there is a chance. What is his name?" and now he was pulling out the Dreamberry, remembering that someone had mentioned earlier whomever was in Somarium would be on the contact list. The thing still baffled him in a way, but he didn't have a choice but to use it, especially at times like this.
Astrid wasn't really much for consoling--she would have rather had the truth than something sugar-coated to save feelings, anyway. Even if Drizzt didn't think he was doing a very good job with this, Astrid appreciated his frankness. She wasn't so sure she liked the idea of all this spontaneous coming and going, though. Was there no way to predict something like this? She surely hadn't had any idea last night that when she woke up she would be in this place, so she supposed maybe it was true.
With a soft sigh, Astrid started to tell Drizzt Hiccup's name, and then stopped, gawping at the device in the man's hands.
"The runebox?" she asked, and dug into the pouch at her hip. "You know how to work it? What does it do?" She held the runebox in both her hands, frowning at it before meeting Drizzt's eye again. "I've never seen anything like it!"
He was good at being blunt, as much as he would have loved to say otherwise. At least she didn't really NEED consoling, but the day would come when someone would. Anyway, the main point being that ma--What did she just call it? A runebox? Wow, for some reason he thought that was adorable. Probably because he thought nearly the same thing when he first saw it.
"For the most part." he didn't know everything, but he knew what he needed to by now. How to call someone, or find their name on the contact list. Video calls, the basics that Malik had been kind enough to inform him about.
"Neither have I before I came here, actually. But." He moved closer so they could both look at the screen while he pressed the buttons, "It's some sort of communication device. You can speak with others that have one as well. It also..." he didn't like this part, "Can record your dreams."
Astrid blinked at him, startled. "It... it can record dreams?" She shook her head. "How is that even possible? Sometimes I don't even remember my dreams."
She prodded some of the buttons on the runebox, watching with controlled delight as the square screen at the top lit up and showed her a menu of options. She'd never heard of such things! 'Documents', one said. Well, that one sounded kind of important. Fiddling with the device a moment, she found a pebble with an arrow on it that would allow her to move the words on the little lighted box. The records in the village archives never had so much in-depth information! Why, even the dragon-training textbooks didn't seem quite this thorough!
A bit enthralled (Astrid did so love learning new things, even if she rarely admitted to such scholastic goals), she skimmed through a few pages of information, then looked back up at Drizzt.
"Thank you," she said, venturing a smile. "I don't think I would have known what to do with this thing. Maybe if I read everything carefully, I can find a way to get back to Berk." She furrowed her brow then. That had sounded a bit mean--Drizzt had been so helpful and here she was making it sound like she wanted nothing more than to leave. "If... if I need to talk with you sometime in the future," she amended, looking back at the runebox, "I can find your name here? And vice-versa?"
Maybe he was blue, but he seemed very kind, and despite her tendency toward brusque, abrupt demeanor, Astrid was not quick to forget a kindness. If there was something she could do to help him in return, she would eagerly do so.
"I don't know, but it records them ...and everyone else can see them." He didn't like that part. In fact he didn't like any of it. He hated his dreams, and he knew they would be nothing but nightmares. As they always had been. Nightmares and visions of things he would never want anyone to see.
He watched her, a small smile on his lips. He couldn't contain the amusement in seeing her so delighted and enraptured by the device. To be honest, he had done nearly the same thing when he was alone. It was something different, strange and interesting. And since it didn't try and kill him, obviously he had grown to like it by now.
Drizzt didn't think much of it, honestly, he had already said that this would be his new home. Well, new wasn't exactly the right word considering he never really did have a home. He just didn't want to leave this place. Not after all that had happened in his world. The welcoming citizens of Somarium were just what he needed.
"You're welcome, Astrid. I hope you're able to find your friend and return home soon." he nodded to her question then, "Yes, I'll gladly assist you if you need anything else. Do not hesitate to contact me in the future."
There was a pause, and then, "Have you found a place to stay?" He glanced up at the sky. At least it wasn't dark right now, otherwise he'd be more wary about her walking around. Dragon beside her or not, and even if she seemed capable of handling herself. Blame his protective nature and trauma with kids, "If you haven't by nightfall, I have a cottage close by. You're free to stay there as long as you may need."
"Everyone can see them??" Astrid looked significantly more horrified by this than by anything else that she had been told thus far. She didn't want anybody seeing her dreams! Sure, a good percentage of her dreams involved her having her own island and being chief of her own clan and being the strongest viking that ever lived, but that wasn't anybody's business!
Tugged from her mortification by Drizzt's voice, she looked back up at him, then shook her head.
"I haven't even..." She paused. A place to stay? She... was really stuck here, wasn't she? Blowing a sigh up through her bangs, she slid the runebox back into her pouch and folded her arms. "I'll keep that in mind," she said; "thank you." She furrowed her brow. "How would one go about finding a place to stay, anyway?" She'd never had to do anything quite like this before.
"It seems so." he didn't like it either, Astrid, but you'll have to deal with it. At least her dreams were likely to be far better than his.
He frowned a bit. He knew it must be hard to be thrown into a different world like this without much warning. but he couldn't do much else but offer what he could. "I just took the closest open cottage. If there is no one living there, you're free to take it as your own. It's...odd, but it seems to work for everyone else." and it worked for him.
"That's allowed?" She wasn't so sure she understood how that worked--she could just take an open cottage? "This place is kind of strange, but I guess that's easier than trying to build my own cottage."
It wasn't like Vikings needed to get permits or zoning to build their cottages, they didn't need electricity or gas lines or anything like that, but Astrid had at least been expecting to have to build her own house or something. This at least made it easier--she didn't think she was a very good carpenter.
She gave Drizzt a small smile.
"Thanks for your help," she said. "I'm sure I'll find something. And... I guess maybe I'll see you around, huh?" At least it seemed she'd successfully made a good ally--even if she didn't really know what was going on, it was always easier when you had a few good people you could turn to when you needed advice.
"Thank you. She knows it, too," Astrid chuckled when he complimented the nadder. "And she makes quick work of making sure everyone else knows it."
Dot clicked her jaw together at this, then arched her long neck and trilled happily as Astrid scratched the spot behind the spikes along the crest of her head. Then Astrid turned as Drizzt introduced the feline that had been waiting patiently beside him.
"Guenhwyvar," she echoed, much as Drizzt had the dragon's name, and smiled a bit. "She's remarkable; I've never seen a cat so big. Or of that color." Extending one hand slowly, palm down, she waited for Guenhwyvar to sniff her fingertips before carefully stroking the big cat's cheek. "It's definitely good to have a companion," she agreed, marveling at Guenhwyvar's whiskers and big, bright eyes. "I... You're certain there's no way to get home?" She pulled back from Guenhwyvar and frowned at Drizzt. "I have a friend in my village who was badly injured recently. I'm worried about him."
While Astrid was certain she could handle being thrown into a strange situation like this, she didn't like that not knowing if Hiccup would ever wake up came with it.
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Finally he dropped his hand down from the dragon's head, watching as Guenhwyvar lavished in the attention she was being given, half purring in the process. To which Drizzt simply shook his head and patting the giant cat on the head. At least they agreed on the companion thing.
"I've heard there is a way, but it seems spontaneous to most. Just as we show up here without warning, we leave the same way. That is what I was told at least." he really couldn't offer much more, and he gave an apologetic look toward the girl for it. His gaze hardened slightly at the mention of her injured friend, and he hoped for her sake that they would be alright back in her home world. He never did enjoy other's suffering like the rest of his kind did.
He didn't know what to say, he wasn't very good at comforting people, but he'd try as best he could,
"Perhaps your friend arrived here as well. Somarium is rather large, there is a chance. What is his name?" and now he was pulling out the Dreamberry, remembering that someone had mentioned earlier whomever was in Somarium would be on the contact list. The thing still baffled him in a way, but he didn't have a choice but to use it, especially at times like this.
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With a soft sigh, Astrid started to tell Drizzt Hiccup's name, and then stopped, gawping at the device in the man's hands.
"The runebox?" she asked, and dug into the pouch at her hip. "You know how to work it? What does it do?" She held the runebox in both her hands, frowning at it before meeting Drizzt's eye again. "I've never seen anything like it!"
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"For the most part." he didn't know everything, but he knew what he needed to by now. How to call someone, or find their name on the contact list. Video calls, the basics that Malik had been kind enough to inform him about.
"Neither have I before I came here, actually. But." He moved closer so they could both look at the screen while he pressed the buttons, "It's some sort of communication device. You can speak with others that have one as well. It also..." he didn't like this part, "Can record your dreams."
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She prodded some of the buttons on the runebox, watching with controlled delight as the square screen at the top lit up and showed her a menu of options. She'd never heard of such things! 'Documents', one said. Well, that one sounded kind of important. Fiddling with the device a moment, she found a pebble with an arrow on it that would allow her to move the words on the little lighted box. The records in the village archives never had so much in-depth information! Why, even the dragon-training textbooks didn't seem quite this thorough!
A bit enthralled (Astrid did so love learning new things, even if she rarely admitted to such scholastic goals), she skimmed through a few pages of information, then looked back up at Drizzt.
"Thank you," she said, venturing a smile. "I don't think I would have known what to do with this thing. Maybe if I read everything carefully, I can find a way to get back to Berk." She furrowed her brow then. That had sounded a bit mean--Drizzt had been so helpful and here she was making it sound like she wanted nothing more than to leave. "If... if I need to talk with you sometime in the future," she amended, looking back at the runebox, "I can find your name here? And vice-versa?"
Maybe he was blue, but he seemed very kind, and despite her tendency toward brusque, abrupt demeanor, Astrid was not quick to forget a kindness. If there was something she could do to help him in return, she would eagerly do so.
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He watched her, a small smile on his lips. He couldn't contain the amusement in seeing her so delighted and enraptured by the device. To be honest, he had done nearly the same thing when he was alone. It was something different, strange and interesting. And since it didn't try and kill him, obviously he had grown to like it by now.
Drizzt didn't think much of it, honestly, he had already said that this would be his new home. Well, new wasn't exactly the right word considering he never really did have a home. He just didn't want to leave this place. Not after all that had happened in his world. The welcoming citizens of Somarium were just what he needed.
"You're welcome, Astrid. I hope you're able to find your friend and return home soon." he nodded to her question then, "Yes, I'll gladly assist you if you need anything else. Do not hesitate to contact me in the future."
There was a pause, and then, "Have you found a place to stay?" He glanced up at the sky. At least it wasn't dark right now, otherwise he'd be more wary about her walking around. Dragon beside her or not, and even if she seemed capable of handling herself. Blame his protective nature and trauma with kids, "If you haven't by nightfall, I have a cottage close by. You're free to stay there as long as you may need."
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Tugged from her mortification by Drizzt's voice, she looked back up at him, then shook her head.
"I haven't even..." She paused. A place to stay? She... was really stuck here, wasn't she? Blowing a sigh up through her bangs, she slid the runebox back into her pouch and folded her arms. "I'll keep that in mind," she said; "thank you." She furrowed her brow. "How would one go about finding a place to stay, anyway?" She'd never had to do anything quite like this before.
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He frowned a bit. He knew it must be hard to be thrown into a different world like this without much warning. but he couldn't do much else but offer what he could. "I just took the closest open cottage. If there is no one living there, you're free to take it as your own. It's...odd, but it seems to work for everyone else." and it worked for him.
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It wasn't like Vikings needed to get permits or zoning to build their cottages, they didn't need electricity or gas lines or anything like that, but Astrid had at least been expecting to have to build her own house or something. This at least made it easier--she didn't think she was a very good carpenter.
She gave Drizzt a small smile.
"Thanks for your help," she said. "I'm sure I'll find something. And... I guess maybe I'll see you around, huh?" At least it seemed she'd successfully made a good ally--even if she didn't really know what was going on, it was always easier when you had a few good people you could turn to when you needed advice.
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