Life As We Know It

Rated; M for Mature
Pairing; Hiccup & Toothless(Tallon)
Disclaimer; I do not own anything HTTYD-related. Everything belongs to its original creator.

58)

=Normal POV=
(8/8/2019-7:00 pm)
(Archipelago; Isle of Berk)
(Hooligan Village; Great Hall)

Only forty-five minutes had passed since Hiccup was given that first alcoholic beverage by Heather from his modern friends, and Toothless could see why they'd done it. Hiccup was just about fully relaxed; the smile had somewhat returned to his face, he was eating a little, and it seemed to be that he was in a way better mood than before. Of course, Toothless knew it was probably the alcohol that brought all this on and he knew that from the moment the mug was set in front of Hiccup. The others figured out that their only chance to get Hiccup to take part in their idea was to get Hiccup to loosen up a little, and sadly; that's exactly what alcohol was for. Toothless already knew that was the reason they'd even send alcohol Hiccup's way; he just had to give Hiccup a bit of a hard time to help out in letting Hiccup have fun, but make sure the drinks weren't too heavy to just make Hiccup drunk fast and then end up falling asleep. Unfortunately, Toothless knew that Hiccup, while he could handle his alcohol consumption, could not handle a lot of too many hard drinks or he'd end up sick and just passing out. Hiccup had two drinks so far; the second one was also Southern Comfort and Cola.

So right now, Hiccup was still sitting with Toothless and the other leaders at the Chief's table and pretty laid back. However, Toothless could sense Hiccup's hesitation to completely let go. Hiccup knew the drinks were nice to have and made his mood improve a bit, but he couldn't let himself get drunk because he'd give into his feelings for Toothless and end up revealing things in a drunken stupor. Hiccup needed to have some control over things, but he wouldn't say no to being tipsy or buzzed because it was helping his emotional state. A cigarette would have probably have the same effect, but he didn't bring his with him. Hiccup's hesitation also sprouted from the fact he didn't want to be questioned by anyone of the Vikings who didn't understand the things he did. Alcohol would have to do; he just needed to watch himself and he assumed Toothless was too, knowing that Hiccup didn't want to lose himself to drinking because Toothless knew what would happen too. And that was one of the many things Hiccup loved about his fiancé; how he knew Hiccup so well.

Hiccup was just sitting in his seat, eyes closed for the most part as Toothless was with him and most were just talking among the people they were seated with. Dagur and Mala were closest to Toothless and Hiccup as the modern group were wondering if Hiccup was chill enough to start letting himself get taken by music going. They all knew that it could be dead silent, or Hiccup in a bad mood, but if music started when there was alcohol involved; Hiccup would start getting into things and then would feel better once the fun kicked in. However, Toothless was usually the one to let them know when to get that going otherwise Hiccup would just bail or shut down more. So since Toothless's focus was on Hiccup, Heather was signaling her older brother from the table to ask for the group. The question Dagur caught was clear; Is Hiccup relaxed enough for them to go to the next phase? Dagur nudged Toothless a bit.

"They wanna know if he's chill enough to start the music?" Dagur whispered to Toothless, knowing he'd hear it but not Hiccup.

Toothless looked over Hiccup a few times. "Not yet. Not enough alcohol for him to lose his restraint on relaxing fully, but close." He reported quietly.

"What would it take?" Mala inquired.

"Couple shots, harder drink…" Toothless shrugged.

"Tell us what kind. We're not looking to mess him up, Toothless…But-," Dagur tried and Toothless understood. He missed seeing Hiccup so happy and carefree.

Sighing, Toothless looked at them and then to the modern group who were waiting for a response. Hiccup ended up leaving the table to go use the bathroom. "What's it gonna take, Toothless? You know him best. What drink concoction you want us to make to make him loosen up, what would break his hesitation to be himself without screwing him up?" Brynjar asked firmly. The room was kind of quiet, wondering what they were talking about.

"I'm gonna regret this choice…" Toothless sighed. "But I'm sick of seeing him so miserable. Bacardi and Sprite, add half a shot of Everclear in it. Use a solo cup, not one of the mugs." He stated.

"Why half? At least give him a full one." Stoick remarked. "Hiccup said he could handle his alcohol, all Vikings can considerin' we start drinking when were like, thirteen."

Toothless shook his head as a firm no. "Everclear is the one of the strongest alcohols around, right under Polish Vodka, at ninety-five percent alcohol content. Polish Vodka being at ninety-six. Your mead or ale is nothing compared to the modern stuff. Your mead has, at the highest, a content of twenty percent alcohol. And your ale is even lower at about nine to ten percent alcohol. By far comparison, your stuff is on the low range of weak as hell in stance with the stuff we have. Hiccup's already had two strong drinks, plus what I'm telling them to make now. Even adding the Everclear is pushing it, but I know he has a pretty good handle on his drinking and can handle more than what he's been given so far. However, I don't want him wasted or end up sick. Half a shot of that stuff is probably more than enough to push him over the line to relax and start having fun without really caring who sees." He informed. "Stop trying to overstep me just because you're his father, Stoick. Harsh as it may be to say…I know your son better than you do. Remember who has been taking care of him the last, almost, seven years now…Because it hasn't been you. It was me, and before me…It was Gobber."

Unable to really disagree with Hiccup's fiancé and not wanting to waste time as Hiccup would be back any second; Henrik made the drink himself because he didn't trust the rest wouldn't overpour this particular mix and then walked it over himself and set it down on table as Hiccup had returned to see it there.

"What's this?" Hiccup asked. "Have we ditched mugs?"

"It's your usual mid-shift drink, son," Henrik winked. "Now, down the hatch." He added with a smile.

Hiccup nodded with a salute. "Aye, aye, Bossman." Hiccup replied as he took about fifteen minutes to actually get through the drink itself. When it was empty, Hiccup kind of closed his eyes and almost shivered a bit. "Wow, been too long without that one," Hiccup eventually said and sighed a bit with a small smile on his lips.

"What's wrong?" Toothless inquired.

"Miss working." Hiccup replied gently as he relaxed. "Well, the entertainment side of it. Hard to be in a room full of people and food like this and not have music going with everyone having a blast. You know? I'd give anything to have it back for just a night after all this shit that has happened." Toothless felt all the tension leave as he kept his focus on Hiccup, but raised his hand and gave the others a thumbs up that it worked and to move into the next part.

"That's the signal!" Henrik informed as he snapped his fingers and motioned to his workers. "Start us strong, but not crazy. Let's see if he takes the bait."

"Yes, sir!" His staff moved to bring the stuff out and in place, which was the small raised area behind the Chief's table. Hiccup's back was to it, so he couldn't see what was going on.

The tribe was beyond confused, but understood the purpose that this was apparently to help cheer up Hiccup because he was miserable about being stuck on Berk the past five weeks when the barrier sealed after his friends came last week to make sure everything was okay. The tribe supposed it was worth being upset over, especially when you had the plans to get the other back where they were from and all that changed. But picking up on what the modern group was saying, for those sitting close enough to overhear, it seemed Hiccup didn't want to be on Berk. He didn't want to be Chief. But no one was saying anything because it wouldn't be right to assume, or start a problem. Mainly because Toothless has shown that he isn't afraid of anyone, not even the Chieftains or Stoick. So they really didn't want to tick him off by doing anything to upset Hiccup more than he already was.

After a few moments, the others setting things up went to get into the computer to find the music and found they couldn't because it was password locked. Jolgeir looked to Henrik, shaking his head and Henrik motioned for them to bring it over. Henrik tried a couple times and ended up locking them out. "Great…" Henrik mumbled. "Now we need Hiccup to get into it."

"So, let's just ask him." Snotlout said, taking the computer.

"You can't go up there without an invite…" Heather reminded.

"Family, as Hiccup's cousin and Stoick's nephew. Yes, I can." Snotlout moved to get behind Hiccup and set it in front of him.

"Why is my work laptop out, on, and why do you have it?" Hiccup asked, looking at him now.

"I dunno. Your friends brought it out and said it was locked and that you can probably get back in it?" Snotlout shrugged it off as no big deal.

Hiccup groaned as he sat up and fixed the screen a bit to see more clearly. "Multiple failed password attempts…" Hiccup sighed as he patted himself down for his keys and pulled them out; he inserted a small one into the left side and turned it a bit before he started typing a few things, resetting the password box once the computer entered Administrator Mode. Hiccup typed in the password as the home screen loaded fully before he removed the key on the side and handed it back. "There you go."

"You're awesome, big cousin." Snotlout took the computer back to the friends as Hiccup ended up seeing his friends take it behind him again, but on it's stand to hook it up to all the music things.

What are they doing? Hiccup thought, still watching intently.

"Something wrong, Hic?" Toothless asked.

Hiccup shook his head. "Curious to what they're doing."

"Oh! I let them, son." Stoick interjected, seeing an opportunity to cheer up his son and hopefully get him more open to the idea he's okay with modern in the Archipelago, or at least on Berk. Hiccup instantly eyes his father, surprised and questioningly. "We've all…Been talking about some of the modern things you do. The, uh, cooking and entertainment that is your job with Henrik, The drinking and having fun with friends. Everyone is…Intrigued."

"Really?" Hiccup asked, still unconvinced to the sudden change.

"Yes, yes, lad." Alvin nodded, playing along.

"It's something else, and obviously as we know that there can't be a lot of activity with…Crossing the barrier to see it for ourselves as we'll end up stuck there for some time…" Gunnar continued, catching on.

"And we know you've been pretty…Upset the past week since everything happened," Stoick continued now, with a smile. "Your friends came up with the idea to…Ask me if it was alright to set up the music stuff, like how you have it at the restaurant when you work, and relive it here. While…Also letting us see fully your…Work and fun that you have in Norway. After all, we live in the same world, right? Eventually…We'll end up being brought into the modern age. So, this is a good chance for you to show the Chieftains, and even your future tribe how things go. Right?" He added gently.

"Am I expected to believe that the main leaders, who despise change and still haven't come around to the dragon riding thing, suddenly want to see a bigger change with the world with a little firsthand insight to how things are beyond the barrier in the rest of the world. Or at least what I do in Norway?" Hiccup inquired as they nodded. "Yeah, not buying it."

"No, Hiccup! They're telling the truth." Dagur quickly said as Hiccup looked at him now. "Your friends know you've been…Well, miserable since last week when the barrier closed again. They know you like to kick back with music and stuff and we all saw that when we were there. They…Felt like if they could set things up here to be like it was there; you'd cheer up a bit."

"And it works with the leaders and the Hooligans wanting to see the experience for themselves. Can talk and explain all you want, but they won't understand unless they see it." Mala added with a smile. "They…Just wanted to help you feel better and have a taste of…Home."

"But didn't think I'd allow it, but when Dagur came to me and asked for them; I was all for it." Stoick smiled.

"You…Really don't mind the great hall turning into what is essentially a busy night at the restaurant as party central?" Hiccup inquired.

"Of course, son. I…Know it makes you happy and I told you that nothing means more to me than your happiness." Stoick put a hand on his shoulder, still smiling broadly. Hiccup eyed him carefully, very unsure if to trust his father or not. Toothless sensed the hesitation, and concern as he got up and moved Hiccup off to the side and behind a post where they couldn't be seen.

"You okay?" Toothless asked quietly as Hiccup looked at him.

"Having a really hard time believing my father is allowing this after riding my ass for weeks about adhering to being Heir…" Hiccup admitted, keeping their conversation between them as the others couldn't hear. "I want to believe it, but…"

"I know, it's hard after everything the past five weeks…But, maybe he's trying to show you that he did mean what he said." Toothless offered.

"Should I chance it?" Hiccup wondered.

"Might as well. I don't think he's gonna stop it once it starts and I'd really like to see him try to stop me if this turns out to be a lie. Have your fun, babe. You were just saying you missed this; live it up again for a night. Who knows, maybe the Vikings will end up enjoying it and demand more. You're very persuasive when you want to be when it comes to changing minds once they see it for themselves." Toothless tried with a smile.

"Guess so…Just feels weird." Hiccup shrugged.

"What does? Everyone watching you? Who cares. Be yourself, love. Be you. Our friends have gone above and beyond by doing all this just to see you smile again. Don't be scared to be who you are and blow the roof off this place." Toothless told him. "You know I'm with you, and so are they."

Hiccup found a smile as he hugged Toothless tightly and kissed him while they were hidden. After a few short ones, they returned to the table as Stoick sat straight. "Alright, Dad…If you're cool with me bringing the house down with my friends; then I'm in." Hiccup said to his father.

"Can't wait to see it, son." Stoick nodded. "When are we starting?"

"Soon as they finish setting it up." Hiccup stated, relaxing and accepting the beer can from Gobber, who brought it over and joined the Chief's table; he always had an invite as Stoick's best friend. "Thanks."

"They wanted to make sure it was cold first, since you hate it warm." Gobber informed.

"Absolutely. Warm beer sucks, it's gross." Toothless chuckled.

"What are those? Didn't you have bottles in Norway for beer?" Stoick asked.

"Comes in cans too, I just prefer bottled." Hiccup shrugged.

"It doesn't taste the same?" Stoick blinked.

"Nah." Toothless shook his head.

Hiccup cracked the can open as he set it in front of his father. "Try it, you'll see the difference." Stoick hesitantly sipped the beverage and put it down.

"Well, cold is different, but I see what you mean. Not bad, and better cold too." Stoick replied as Hiccup smiled and shrugged again before tapping his can to Toothless's when he opened his drink and then the two of them took a sip. Hiccup relaxed again, closing his eyes. He wasn't drunk, maybe buzzed or tipsy despite the amount of alcohol he had. He'd had water, and food so it sobered him up. Probably a good thing if he'd be taking part in all this.

"Hey, Hiccup!" Oivind called to him.

"Hm?" Hiccup glanced over.

"How do you have Descendants 3 music already?" Lys asked.

"It released last week, and you've been here since June…There's no internet here." Eirik questioned.

"I ordered the movie and the soundtrack as soon as they went on preorder. Must have downloaded when Toothless and I went outside the barrier last week to check if it was open or not." Hiccup shrugged his shoulders now. "I also have Frozen 2."

"Oh my God, you asshole!" Natalie, Signy, Lys, and Vera screeched.

"What?" Hiccup asked.

"Frozen 2 doesn't come out until November! How did you get it early release?" Brynjar wondered.

"I'm that damn good at what I do?" Hiccup replied, half-assed though. "Come on, you guys and girls should know by now that there isn't really anything I can't do."

"What else you have on this thing you haven't told us about?" Sigvard blinked.

"Way too much to list. Music, movies, pictures, etcetera." Hiccup informed. "Would ya stop rooting through my stuff? Yeesh. Dig far enough in the files and you'll probably find plenty of me and Toothless in bed." He grinned.

"OKAY! Back to music!" The group of friends shouted in fear. Hiccup chuckled.

"I was kidding, but serves you right for going through my stuff. The only pictures on there are restaurant-related events." Hiccup stated.

"You're such a dickhead." Brynjar rolled his eyes.

"Awe, that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. Be still my wild heart." Hiccup snickered.

"Pervert." The group sighed as the other modern friends just laughed and shook their heads while quietly making remarks that their Hiccup was back.

"What about that sentence was perverted? You all know I'm bisexual, getting complimented by a girl or guy is literally nothing out of the ordinary for me and enjoyable." Hiccup remarked.

"Bi…Sexual?" Some of the Chieftains said together.

"He's attracted to both genders," Dagur said calmly. "Hiccup's into men and women. That's what being bisexual means."

"Like how I'm only into males." Gobber stated. "Or any of you are into just women. Sorry, males if you're female."

"So he likes both?" Alvin questioned.

"That's right." Toothless nodded. "I am bisexual as well. Over in the modern side of things, it's actually quite common and totally accepted among most of the general worldly population."

"Huh, learn something new every day." Thuggory, Mogadon the Meathead's son, said. "Good for you, Hiccup. Nice to see that you're discovering more of yourself aside from being the general peacekeeper of Archipelago." Hiccup shrugged calmly, taking another drink.

After five minutes of still no music playing, Hiccup sighed and finally got up to face where his friends were. A lot of people were shifting chairs and tables to be able to see whatever was going to happen in all this. "Thor almighty, can the lot of you seriously not pick one thing to start with?"

"Hiccup, dude…You have hundreds of songs!" Sigvard reminded.

"For the love of…Get out of the way. This is why no one is in charge of music but me. Now sit down and let the expert work…Oh, and I don't have hundreds of songs," Hiccup paused as they blinked. "I have thousands." Backing off a bit, Hiccup grabbed his computer and brought it back to his seat to file through things himself. If they were actually doing this party thing; he was leading it before his friends did something stupid next time he needed it for work.