"You two okay over here?" Stoick walked up behind Hiccup.
"Uh, yeah." Hiccup turned around. "Just a bit of heart to heart, you know?"
"The kind of heart to heart about what to do next? Or maybe unsure of yourself?"
"You were listening weren't you?" Hiccup got a bit offensive.
"Not a word." Stoick put his hand over his heart. "Honest. It's just easy to tell when you've stood in that spot before. I had plenty of those moments with your mother." The large man looked around and found a spot to sit. "It's draining isn't it?"
Hiccup took a moment for himself and then sat down as well, with Toothless taking his spot behind Hiccup.
"Yeah. It's draining. I know we need to push forward but I, we.. Feel like things are going to get worse. Our people know what's coming. There's something out there. Why it hasn't reached us yet is beyond me but there is something. And whatever it is, it's taken our people with it. No word from any of them, not even color. If anyone was to come back it was her. But nothing. And now, introducing humans into the mix at a time like this. How do you tell a group of people that they need to get real friendly with an enemy they've had their whole life. 'Oh hey by the way I also need you to fight with them and try your best to distinguish friend from foe, when all of them look the same to you.' And probably always will. Which is a concern for some more than others.
Astrid will learn. She's always been smart. She'll be able to tell the difference eventually. And Fishlegs will too. He's always liked dragons. But the twins? Are they going to learn? Are they even going to care? And everyone else, I barely know and don't know enough to determine yes or no. I know that we're just going to have to trust, but… I don't know."
"Well first of all son, take a deep breath. Next, remember that they're going to see what I've seen. They'll see the comradery, they'll see the loyalty. I'm sure some will even see them fighting. You've taken a big chance letting us in here. Made your people very vulnerable. Especially with unrestricted like this. But letting us. Letting me, see everything. My people, much like yours, listen to me. They may not believe it, but they will listen. Plus it'll be hard to ignore when the thing you're talking about is as big as a house.
Son, you have my confidence. I'm behind you all the way.
Then the whole pending war. That's a little more tricky. You, or well Hel, all of us, have to take it in stride. I know and understand your concern but there's clearly more to it than what we're seeing here. Besides if that fight does make it here, we were raised on killing dragons. Even you. If it comes we will fight. You're right about there potentially being mishaps but you've got some of the best to do it here now."
"Great, just what I needed, a bunch of people who kill dragons inside where my flock nests."
"Har har, son. They know the rules. How well they follow them…, eh, they'll follow the rules." Stoick shrugged. Hiccup rolled his eyes. "Either way, right now focus on what you can control. Get them settled in and interacting with your dragons. Once they get hands on it'll be easier for them to see and accept that our old way of thinking about these guys was wrong. Worked on me at least." Stoick paused and looked at the group of humans. "It's going to be a lot harder to get through to some of them. Fishlegs easy. The twins, show em' a party trick and they'll fall in love. Astrid, she's gonna be a different story. She's been holding in a deep anger ever since what happened with Spitelout's son."
"Snotlout, dad." He reminded him.
"Snotlout, thank you. Well ever since what happened with Snotlout, she's never been the same. More angry, shorter temper. She feels responsible for what happened. She's a leader, like you, like me. And she lost someone she was supposed to protect. Not just someone, a friend. Something we've all experienced. But she hasn't really had something since to help her move forward. Now I'm kinda hoping that she'll find something here to help her. Maybe having a dragon friend will somehow make her realize that you did what you had to do."
"Well I haven't had the chance to apologize for it. I'm going to make it a point to do that. I want them to know that I didn't want to hurt Snotlout."
"That would probably be a good place to start, son." Stoick praised. "And don't worry about their willingness to fight if we need to. I say the word and they'll mount up. Even against their better judgment. But it would be easier if they got their own like everyone else."
"Do you think everyone actually likes having a dragon or is it just a necessity around here?" Hiccup asked.
"Well I can't speak for everyone, son, but I've personally liked it a lot. I haven't really made a new friend in a while and Skullcrusher and I seem to be getting along. Gobber clearly likes the ones that follow him around. Probably more happy that he finally has new helpers in the smithy. Not to mention that new metal that the Gronckles spit up for him. I bet he's having a great time with just being able to use that stuff.
For the others, some are adjusting better than others. I think it's mostly having to forgive them. Which can be hard for anyone who was affected from before you took over here. It was just a few years ago that the attacks stopped. But up until then people were losing family and friends to them. And I know it's the same on the other end. But it seems like death is more accepted among your kind. Not that it isn't painful or impactful. But it seems like to die as a dragon is to live like one. If that makes sense."
"I suppose it does, yeah."
"Good. Now for the most part. Just continue to let them get closer to their dragons. It's obvious that both sides are skeptical but those who have created those bonds you talked about are clearly benefiting. In the case of Astrid, I think it's gonna have to be you who does the apologizing. As much as what happened wasn't your fault, and I take full responsibility for it. She doesn't see it like that. Give her some time to settle in and try to speak when she's alone. Start somewhere else and slowly bring it up and apologize." Stoick explained.
"That worked on mom huh?"
"She was a sucker for it. But she knew that when I did that, it was the truth. Didn't have to do it often mind you but it worked when it needed to." Stoick paused. "Oh, actually one more thing. When she starts yelling, let her yell. Don't try to stop her. If you do it'll just make it a lot worse."
"That from experience too?" Hiccup asked.
"Look son, I'm not the smartest man." Stoick paused again. "Actually." He leaned over a bit and looked at Toothless. "You'll have to stay behind." He looked at Hiccup again. "Just trust me on that one."