A/N: The idea for this one shot came to me recently. This is my first oneshot, so I hope you enjoy it.
One hour after opening up the bar, the barman's first customer of the day stumbled inside.
She made her way to the bar on nearly steady legs. She had hair the colour of gold and eyes that the man could drown in. They were red rimmed, evidence she had been crying, but somehow didn't make her look any bit worse.
The girl, no Valkyrie - He decided the name fit better - sat down on a stool in front of him at the bar.
"Hello" He greeted.
"Hi" her tone was filled with a tinge of sorrow. That wouldn't do, he decided.
"What brings your here? Or should I ask what made you so sad?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Fine by me. Anything you want to drink?"
"Whiskey-Mead." She corrected herself after saying the word. "I'd like a glass of Mead."
"Coming right up, Milady."
Setting the glass down near her waiting hands, she took a sip.
"Does Whiskey bring up some bad memories?" The barman asked
She paused and took a deep breath, internally debating on whether or not to tell the barman about it. Finally she nodded to herself, a single resolute nod.
"It was my ex-boyfriend's favourite drink." She said before finishing the rest of her Mead in one go.
"Ok" He decided to refill her glass with more Mead.
She gazed at him for several moments before taking a sip of her refilled glass of Mead. "Not going to ask anything else about him?"
"No. Let's just say I know when it's best to ask and when to keep quiet on this subject."
"Speaking from experience?" She asked.
"Yes" The barman replied honestly. "May I suggest a game?"
"A game? What kind of game?"
"One that involves drinking. I take a sip from my favourite drink and get to ask you a question, and vice versa. I've found it helps to deal with breakups."
"Are you sure you're not just trying to get me drunk so you can have your wicked way with me?" she teased
"You wound me Milady!" He raised a hand to his heart in mock offense. "Utter lies and slander!"
She giggled, and the barman grinned. "Well, in that case, I will play this game of yours."
He gave a mock bow. "Your wish is my command." He turned and picked out another glass, filling it with mead.
"Shall Milady go first?" he said.
"Such a gentleman. Who said chivalry was dead?"
"I aim to please." He smiled again, an expression that his first customer of the day was starting to like.
She flashed him - from his perspective at least - a radiant smile before taking a sip of her mead.
"Ok. What is your name?" She asked.
"Promise not to laugh?" He asked. She nodded, the request piquing her curiosity.
"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third." Despite her promising not to, she burst into a fit of laughter at the absurdity of the name.
"Is that really your name?" She asked after recovering from her laughter.
"Yeah. I have no idea what my parents were thinking, but here we are. What about you?" He asked.
"Ah ah ah. We agreed you drink, then you get to ask a question." She replied.
"That's fair." He took two sips of his mead, making her raise an eyebrow.
"I have two questions for you. First, what is your name?"
"Astrid Hofferson, at your service." She replied with another dazzling smile. "What was your second question Hiccup?"
"Ah" Hiccup blushed, which struck Astrid as oddly cute.
"Would a Valkyrie like you want to join me at the cafe round the corner for coffee after I'm done here?"
"Hmm" she made a show of thinking about the idea for a few moments, before turning his head to the side and pressing her lips to his cheek.
She then rose to her feet. "I don't have many objections to the idea so far, so I'd be honoured to find out more about you."
Hiccup raised a fist into the air in silent celebration when she had left the bar.
A/N: So that was my first successful try at a oneshot. How was it? Should I make this into a collection of oneshots, featuring Hiccup and other characters? Let me know what you think in a review. Constructive criticism is most definitely appreciated.