IC Contact | Battle Post.

[newberktown]

"Er... Hi, you've reached Hiccup Haddock. Or not, I guess. Leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can? I think I d--"

[Feel free to have pokemon battles with Hiccup played out here, too!]

Comments

[audio]

[tapestodiane]

_{[Well, yeah. In fact, Albert might be the closest friend he has. But that doesn't mean he doesn't approve of what Hiccup did, and if he listens, he'll probably hear that in his voice. Really, if anything, he sounds both approving and amused, not in the least displeased.]}

He did. He wouldn't admit it, but you did quite a number on him.

[audio]

[newberktown]

I did? [The surprise is clear--even if he had wondered, given the short, simple question Albert had posed to him after, he had also entertained the idea that it had been Albert brushing aside his opinion.

...Still, he probably shouldn't sound too eager about that.] I didn't know it was his birthday.

[audio]

[tapestodiane]

He doesn't tend to make that kind of thing widely known.

_{[Which is true for the both of them. Coop hadn't announced his own birthday for years - the only reason he'd gotten a gift this year is because his Chatot is a little chatterbox. So now he's curious as to when Hiccup figured out that today is Albert's, but for the moment, that can slide.]}

Do you regret it?

[audio]

[newberktown]

[He has to think about that one. He did feel bad that he had basically lashed out in his defending of Carmen on a day that, even if it wasn't celebrated outright, was supposed to be happy. But he wouldn't take the words back, even if there was a sinking feeling in his gut if he thought about it too long.]

...No. I still think that what he was saying is wrong.

[audio]

[tapestodiane]

Then I'm glad you told him as much.

_{[Speaking your mind? Very important. And Coop appreciaties it whenever it's done.]}

[audio]

[newberktown]

You are? [ALL THESE REVELATIONS.] But...

[If Hiccup's counter truly was as effective as Cooper said, shouldn't this conversation be going a little differently? Then again, Coop always was a little more difficult for the viking to get a read on.]

[audio]

[tapestodiane]

I think it was something he needed to hear.

_{[But as true as that is, he'll also be sure to defend Albert as well. Because while he might not always understand exactly what is happening in that man's head, he understands better than most where his prickly nature comes from - and in this particular regard, especially well. So his voice softens as he carries on.]}

But don't think too badly of him if you can. He might not usually be the kindest person in the room but he is one of my closest friends. And his heart, believe it or not, is in the right place.

[audio]

[newberktown]

Hmn.

[Really, Hiccup didn't think Albert was so bad--until Carmen had been brought up, the conversation had been surprisingly civil. Maybe friendly. Even now, he didn't hate Albert, just kind of...thought he was incredibly wrong.]

It's not that I can't get along with him... It's that Carmen can't. [He sighs, because all the other adults are dumb, Coop. =c] I just want them to at least see there's another side to both of them.

[audio]

[tapestodiane]

_{[Adults are kind of ridiculous aren't they ... and Coop has to smile a bit on his end because you're right on the money there, Hiccup. That, and aw.]}

I'm sure they will, in time. But until then we'll just have to keep working on them.

_{[Sounding probably surprisingly cheerful about that.]}

[audio]

[newberktown]

[Cooper might be cheered by that prospect, but Hiccup most definitely is not.]

Yeah, because that sounds like fun. I doubt Mr. Rosenfield would even listen to me, now.

[audio]

[tapestodiane]

_{[It's not that he's cheered, precisely, more that he's being optimistic. He believes in the goodness of people! And so on.]}

Don't be too sure about that. He already did listen to you, after all.

[audio]

[newberktown]

[Yeah, optimism is just something Hiccup lacks most of the time.

He does seem to perk up a little (mostly out of curiosity) at that, though.]

...Yeah? [Hmmn.] Then I guess maybe it won't be too bad...

[Gotta think how to reconcile with Albert now, hmmn.]

[audio]

[tapestodiane]

In my experience things don't always turn out to be as bad as they first appear.

_{[A piece of advice there. ...you know, other times things are a lot WORSE than they appear, but we don't have to talk about that right now, it doesn't seem relevant.]}

[audio]

[newberktown]

[Hiccup takes a deep breath, as if to prepare himself.]

Alright. Thanks, Cooper.

[Time to try this optimism thing, maybe.]