"Ugh, really? Could you get more boring?"
"Either do it or you lose."
Crisp summer night allowed them to be outside when sun was not and they barely needed the fire for any other reason than some light, which wasn't too vital. After certain 'truth' stories, they could use a few hours not being able to see each other's faces clearly. Ruff glared at Snotlout, which she doubted he saw but his face was oddly sober for the game they found themselves in.
"I have nothing."
"Nothing!? Not one thing?"
The question came from Astrid, who was tipsy already. Her round cheeks were bright red, whether it was because the flames or the mead. It didn't matter. She had a glare saved for her too which Ruff used immediately before pursing her thin lips.
"He asked for three."
"Oh come on now." "Either do it or drink." "You canfind three good things to say about him."
"Whatever!"
She quickly reached for the bottle and chugged the booze back; burning sweet alcohol in her throat felt better than the words she was requested to say. She avoided looking at Snotlout any longer than a second because something hiding in their shadow was unsettling but Snotlout just shrugged -"Whatever,"- sounding too careless for the indirect insult he just received. Ruffnut quickly asked Astrid the truth about their secret dirty hideaways without listening to the answer too carefully. Rest of the game was not going to be easy on her nerves.
*
Couple hours before villagers started to wake up for the day, when it was the most quiet in Berk, a sleepy Snotlout found his way to his house, trying to make no sound.
His heart nearly jumped out of his chest when a hand grasped his shoulder to stop him dead. Keeping his squeal down in his throat, he tried to turn back and see the intruder but all he could catch the glimpse of was a thick blonde braid, longer than anybody else's he knew.
"You don't need my compliments. Your ego is enough for the entire village as is."
He didn't know how to answer, so he didn't. Her words were not spoken to comfort him, they were spoken because she was angry, for some reason. She continued without waiting for a reply.
"You know you're capable, you know you are important. You know you matter to Berk, to us. You don't need me to pat your back." Of all things said and done that night, a silly question like that was the last thing he thought he'd get scolded for, the confusion remained. Ruffnut spat like she had no more time for the young man standing across her:
"I don't like you when you corner me with your sham kindness. I don't like you when you do me favors I don't need. I don't like you when you force me to like you!" A brief pause followed, which Snotlout used to wet his lips. A dragon attack right now would have been fine, he cursed at stupid Hiccup for ending the war. And yet, voice of the girl had lost its sharpest edges, despite still being cold.
"I like you when you are brave. I like you when you show you care about Hookfang. I like you when you see me a challenge enough to compete. There, three you asked, three you get. Do with it what you will."
She turned around to leave, irritated and disappointed. Snotlout let her; the pounding in his chest had not faded and he had nothing to add to her words.