Eleventh Flight. [glitched audio/brief video/action at Mahogany Inn.]

[newberktown]

▒▒or Almighty... Where d▒▒ ▒▒is storm come from all of ▒ ▒udden...?

[That sure is a familiar voice to some people in Johto, even as distorted as it is...

The speaker pauses, unsure not only of the weather, but the strength of his network connection as well. After gathering a breath, he continues on with the reason he started this recording in the first place.]

Er, hey guys? H▒▒▒▒ang stole my leg and took off a ▒▒▒▒▒ ago.

[There's another pause as a loud crack of thunder rolls by, followed by a bout of static.]

▒ ▒▒▒▒ ▒▒▒ink anyone should be outside, but if you can keep an eye out for ▒ ▒▒owlithe carrying something that looks like a foot, I'd appre▒▒▒▒▒ it. I thought h▒▒ ▒ome back, since it's raining, but I hav▒▒▒ seen him...

[Hiccup's face appears briefly as the feed freaks out one last time, looking just as it had three weeks ago when he had vanished without a trace. There's concern there over his current predicament, but he doesn't seem to be aware of his time away from Johto.]

Thanks anyway... I'll be in my room here if anyone in Mahogany finds him.

[ooc note: HEY WHAT'S UP, I'M BACK! Tags might be slow yet for a little while! Also (maybe?) posted early because I don't know what I'll all be doing today.]

Comments

[doitrockapella]

[Hey, Hiccup, speaking of thunder, have you ever heard the thundering footsteps and excited braying of a toddler Deino who just realized that after what seems like years and years of fruitless searching, she's suddenly found her warmthing?

Surprise. Incoming Beatle dragon is currently rebounding off of walls and other assorted hallway fixtures as she rushes down toward her goal. ETA: ten seconds. Assuming she doesn't run into another doorjamb.]

[newberktown]

[At first he thinks the rumble is coming from outside, but as the Deino nears and its cries are registered, it occurs to Hiccup that he knows just what this storm in the halls is. He turns just in time to see the dragon barreling towards him, but even that isn't enough to save him from toppling over, given his already-precarious situation.]

Abbie! [Both sets of fingers automatically move to scritch around the Deino's collar.] Hey, girl. Where'd you leave Carmen?


[He might be all smiles, but the Leavanny previously being used for support isn't nearly so cheered by the sudden emergence of the toddler.]

[doitrockapella]

[SO EXCITING. These relevant inquiries will have to wait a few minutes while Abbie excitedly nudges, nuzzles, and occasionally lightly headbutts Hiccup in her enthusiasm, because OH MY GOD OHMIGOD YOU GUYS THIS IS THE HAPPIEST DAY.

Shortly thereafter, it's Chief's turn to poke his head out to see what Abbie's getting up to, but rather than come down to intervene, he disappears again — and it soon becomes apparent why.]

...found her? Good. The last thing we need is to have her on the loose in a storm like—

[Because now it's Carmen's turn to make her appearance, and her attention quickly goes from the sight of her overenthusiastic dragon to the person she happens to be slobbering all over.]

...this...

[Oh, hi, son guy.]

[newberktown]

[Had Hiccup known he'd been gone for three weeks, the smile he gave Carmen probably would have been more sheepish, guilty. It's the same as ever, though, a little lopsided but bright as he greets her.

sup mom, how's your morning so far?]

Hey. Looks like Hookfang's not the only one worked up today, at least...

[He'd get up, but uh... The missing foot thing really just makes it easier to hang out down here by Abbie.]

[doitrockapella]

[Well uh it just got a lot better, thanks, kiddo.

All things considered, it's not exactly rare to see Carmen smiling. But the one that crosses her face as the realization sinks in — slow at first, and then suddenly pleased and warm — is one that very few people manage to elicit. But of course, Hiccup's always been something of a special case.]

You're —

[But she cuts herself off, because true or not, stating the obvious (you're back) would just be kind of pathetic right now. So instead she'll settle with a more vague, but equally...well, almost relieved, actually: ]

There you are.

[As she proceeds down the hall to investigate this missing foot business, and also to get in position to give him a hand up if he needs it.]

[newberktown]

[Gee, if I didn't know any better, I'd say both you and Abbie are very happy to see me today. That'd just be silly.

The relief, of course, is for finding the baby Deino safe and sound, though.]

She ran over here after that really loud thunder. I would have called in a bit if I didn't see you soon. [Because he is responsible and totally doesn't disappear for almost a month ever.] Though I think the network's a little messed up from the storm.

[doitrockapella]

[Yes, well, naturally. Dragons > girls. Even when that girl is Thief Mom.]

It is. Zack's having a bad time of it.

[BUT THAT IS HARDLY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW. Because son guy. RIGHT HERE. Eeee.]

What happened to your leg?

[Meanwhile, Abbie is practically sitting on Hiccup in her attempt to garner ALL THE PETTING AND SNUGGLES.]

[newberktown]

[Well excuse him for being clueless about everything. =c]

Oh... Hookfang took off with it, earlier. Usually he just chews on it... [Abbie, you're cute and all, but he sort of wants to get up now! Not that you'll be able to tell, with the continued affection you're being showered with...] I really expected him to be back by now.

[doitrockapella]

[Carmen, being the awesome mom she is, will just take a minute to reach down and half-push, half-pry Abbie off of Hiccup before offering him a hand to help him to his feet. ...Foot.]

Hookfang? Your Growlithe — you have him back, too?

[newberktown]

[FREEDOM. Abbie will be getting one last pat on the hand before he straightens up. He's still a bit wobbly, but there's enough stuff around him to keep him from toppling over, so long as the Deino doesn't feel like charging him again.

Carmen gets a confused look at the question though.]

Have him...? [Jeez, mom, weren't you paying attention?] No, he's...still out in the storm.

[???????]

[doitrockapella]

[Abbie is only moderately distraught about this, less because of the ungraceful push to her nose and more because she really wasn't done laving attention and joy all over her warmthing and it's always a bummer to be interrupted in the middle of your happydance. Fortunately, the Leavanny is likewise interesting, and she can content herself with curiously sniffing and nudging at that. For the moment.

Meanwhile, Carmen's sticking close, making sure Hiccup's got his balance and even then still kind of hovering a little to make sure he keeps it, half-considering just hauling him up and depositing him on Chief's back to make his mobility that much simpler.]

I can't imagine he went far, between the thunder and the rain. I can have Vicky go out after him if he doesn't show up soon.

[But she's considering what to do about the other part, too.]

You don't remember ever being gone.

[newberktown]

[Don't worry, toddler dragon. Hiccup will be receptive to your attention again later. Stoick doesn't seem too sure about what to do with this other pokemon... It does tug at his fatherly instincts, argh. Have an unsure pat on the head? It seems to like those.]

Okay. That'll work, I guess. I still can't believe he'd rather be out in the rain than give that thing back...

[Giving Carmen another odd l--CRAP, BALANCE. Okay, stable. Now he can focus on this important thing.]

I was...gone? [Pause.] But how is that even possible?

[doitrockapella]

[YESSSSSS, HEAD PATS. Best day ever. Leafything is now dubbed interesting, too, but obviously Warmthing will always be first in Abbie's affections.]

I don't know. We woke up one morning and you were just...gone. [A beat.] I'd have been impressed by the disappearing act, if I hadn't been too concerned to appreciate it.

[Oh, but okay, that wobbling just isn't going to do. With a brief whistle, Carmen waves Chief over and motions for him to turn his back to them once he arrives.]

Here. Let's make things a little easier on you until we can get that leg back.

[And, hooking her arms under Hiccup's in one swift motion, she hauls him up and deposits him neatly on Chief's back, who obligingly adjusts his tail to give him a better seat.]

[newberktown]

[Stoick will grudgingly adopt you like Hiccup has, tiny dragon. In the future, he will try to wrap you up in soft blankets. It's better than letting you run into walls, anyway.

Meanwhile, Hiccup is starting to feel guilty. He was used to causing trouble for people, but he was usually at least aware of it when he was worrying others.]

Oh... Sorry.

[sjdghkl, MOM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING.] Hey! What-- [...Oh, this was actually helpful. You didn't have to embarrass him in the process.] Uhmn, thanks. [Hi, Chief.] Are you sure this is okay, though?

[doitrockapella]

[Luckily for Hiccup's guilt complex, Carmen's going to refrain from mentioning how she lost her composure, ran off through a rainstorm, intended to engage in some therapeutic thievery but ultimately punked out, and then sat in the rain despondently talking about poetry until Coop convinced her to come back home.

...She was a little upset, okay.

Fortunately, now he is back and she can get back to being a Cool Thief Mom Who Occasionally Embarrasses The Hell Out Of Him By Solving Problems In A Badass Way.]

You're all right, Chief?

[Solemnly, the Kadabra nods, and shifts a little to adjust the way Hiccup's weight is placed.]

Don't worry. It's far from the first time he's given someone a ride. And probably an easier one, too, since you fit better on his back than I do.

[newberktown]

If you're sure...

[It still seemed a little weird, but with the knowledge that Carmen had also been a passenger on the Chief Express, Hiccup accepts his new ride.]

So, uh... How long was I gone?

[He could always check for himself, but... Part of him didn't want to know.]

[doitrockapella]

For the moment, it's a better alternative than having you try to walk. Especially if stairs end up involved.

[For what it's worth, Chief doesn't look particularly fazed by this new development, either. Hiccup is an excellent size for a passenger, and one of the many things phenomenal psychic powers are good for is helping to support theoretically heavy objects. He's got this.

Carmen, on the other hand, goes a bit solemn at the inquiry.]

A few weeks. It's lucky we didn't move; we'd been talking about heading toward Cianwood for a little while now.

[newberktown]

[Hiccup's quiet for a while at this new revelation. Cianwood had been his own destination for so long, but life had gotten pretty cozy, living in Ecruteak, then Mahogany. The small towns were familiar, and he had settled easily with the assorted group of travelmates. Then Astrid had come, making life all the better.

It sure would have been confusing to come back to find that not just the viking girl moved to a different town, but all the grown-ups, too.]

...We should all go, soon. To Cianwood.

[doitrockapella]

[She's always been the driving force in the party, really; it's her nature to want to stay on the move, to travel the world, to avoid being tethered in one place for too long. She gets restless when it starts to feel as though she's putting down roots. She was the one who most wanted to go, this time.

And now, here, she's suddenly stunningly glad they didn't.]

You've never been, have you? [A fond look flickers across her features.] It's a beautiful city. It's on the ocean, too, but with more cliffs and rocky places than Olivine or Goldenrod.

[newberktown]

Not yet...

[For being there as long as he had, Hiccup hadn't really done very much traveling. Even if he had been one to wander off, back home, it still wasn't natural for a citizen of Berk to head out to an unfamiliar place when there was no boat to carry them.

Hearing Cianwood described lifts his spirits a little. He'd heard it was a nice place, but so far, the beach had been all that was mentioned.]

That sounds nice. Almost like Berk. Are there forests there, too?

[doitrockapella]

[Ecruteak is making a fair bid toward becoming her favorite for reasons of history and personal memories, but purely in the arena of scenery, it's hard to beat out Cianwood in Carmen's esteem.

Also because she dumped Cobra Commander's snake throne there after stealing it, so hey, it comes with its own set of personal memories, itself.]

Not around the town, but further up and in there are. Cianwood is on its own landmass, separate from the rest of Johto — that's why it takes a boat ride or flying to get there. The town sits on the coast, surrounded by cliffs, but once you surmount those, there are forested areas farther inland.

[newberktown]

[As if he needed more reasons to head on over there... Getting Fly had been enough, really.]

I bet Astrid would like it there... Might be good to be in a familiar kind of place.

[And then they could go flying on dragons out over the water. Or, uh, something like that. You know, whatever.]

[doitrockapella]

I looked at houses there, once.

[Hiccup, this is a BIG ADMISSION here, bro. No one has ever heard this story before. Not even Coop. FEEL SPECIAL.]

There aren't as many available as in Olivine or Goldenrod, of course — it's not nearly so big a town. But there was one near the beach that I liked. I wonder if anyone's snatched it up since then.

[It's a good thing Hiccup doesn't know about Carmen's thieving habits, or he might be inclined to wonder if she means "snatched it up" in a figurative sense, or a literal one.]

[newberktown]

Really?

[Learning about frands is always special.]

We should look when we're there.

[Even if he couldn't exactly imagine Carmen getting settled down anywhere for too long, it would be nice to check. Besides, he wanted to see the spot special enough to catch the woman's attention.]

[doitrockapella]

After these storms clear up, we'll talk about heading out that way.

[She flashes him an amused smile.]

Though we might pick up another passenger along the way, while we're at it. Another of Agent Cooper's friends arrived while you were gone, though he's still a few cities away yet.

[Pause.]

He's considerably more pleasant than Agent Rosenfield.