#But like.... Camicazi is best girl and I love writing her

[cosmicabsurdism]

No one:

Me writing a httyd books/twoo modern au chatfic at 1 am: but,,,,,, what if Camicazi was a weeb-

[oseytorvan]

A strange paradox: every time I try to give other couples with Hiccup a chance, I stumble upon...

"Astrid was always a little rude to me, but I let her do it, mainly because she scared me, and I didn't know how to confront her about it" Mericcup

"Hiccup, Elsa's best friend, is in love with Astrid, but when he finds out that Astrid is a monster, he starts falling in love with Elsa" Hiccelsa

"And also how Astrid reacted when he rejected the idea of just SPARING the dragon. He narrowly escaped death from the thoughtless throwing of the axe " Heatcup

"Astrid and Hiccup broke up two years ago. When Astrid turned sixteen, her body became more lush than it was before. In just eighteen years, Astrid has slept with a lot of men" Ruffcup

"Astrid has never been an overly sympathetic girl; she couldn't understand that Hiccup had to slow down for a few weeks after his injury—another thing that helped drive a wedge between them. She immediately began to tap him on the shoulder and drag him along as if nothing had happened. Camicazi knew. She knew because she had the good sense to follow Hiccup in his hour of weakness. In Viking society, you hid your pain, and those who showed it soon learned not to. It was a lesson that Hiccup refused to learn. Camicazi knew that Hiccup hated being beaten; that it brought back too many memories. Pulling the hair, scratching the back, biting the shoulder — yes. But no fists. Astrid didn't know how Hiccup liked to dominate—that if he was pushed away, it would be because he chose it. Astrid didn't know how Hiccup could move his tongue like a damn snake" Hiccami  

"Why don't you want to marry me?!" Astrid angrily shouts at him, threatening him with her big axe" Hiccup and OC

I am glad that there are more shippers in the fandom who respect Astrid and her relationship with Hiccup. But there are still a lot of similar stories. Many authors just cannot write fan fiction about their favorite couple without offending Hiccstrid. And that's the real problem. I am very sorry that for a long time I lacked the determination to raise this topic.

Please stop. Let's put an end to this

[kingofthewilderwest]

I've seen a lot of posts about Hiccup's kid, who he hooks up with, yada yada, but when I heard Hiccup had a daughter, my immediate thought was "oh, I bet she's adopted." Because 1) I can't visualize Hiccup in a committed relationship, he seems like too much of a lone soul in that regard, and 2) it would be just like Hiccup to find an abandoned baby girl and raise her himself. It'd feed right into the books' "found family/do the hard but necessary right thing" themes as well.

You know, I keep fearing Cressida Cowell is going to go the route of "hook up with Camicazi," which I'd distinctly dislike. But it also seems like something she'd write.

I've always loved the fact that we had an entire adventure, start to end, where Hiccup and Cami were friends. This was a story about children, and we didn't need children to have a locked-in central romance. Any crushes that happened with the young generation were appropriately youthful, awkward, short-lived, and far from end game, Fishlegs-blushing-from-afar affairs. The romances that had substance, passion, tangles, etc. were characters in age-appropriate positions, our adults. I love how Cowell wrote that.

Now, that said, since Hiccup is a child throughout this series, I don't think we can get a good measure for what his adulthood self would be like romantic-relationship-wise. A young childhood adventurer is hard to pin down, whether he'd be a lone soul like you say, or someone taking great comfort in the closeness of people who care for him. It's too early to say. We change lots from our younger years.

I absolutely adore found family themes. They're my happiness, and there's reasons why I'm a nerd for franchises like Voltron or the DreamWorks HTTYD universe. There's reasons I infuse found family, pair-friendship, and group-friendship dynamics in my original writing. I will preach to the ends of the earth how friendship dynamics can be just as fulfilling and engaging in narrative. At the same time, I think tumblr has a biased inclination toward labeling, desiring, and fanoning everything to be found family to an idealized scope beyond what many creators intended. That's awesome for fandom and fun, but it means I don't bear fandom interpretations in mind when guessing what Cowell might be up to! Taking from the same sentiment that led her to pattern HTTYD after her childhood, Cowell is a mother who I think would place high value on a story of a father with a biological daughter.

But all that is Doylist speculation. We don't know what Cowell will do yet, sure. But we aren't restricted by Cowell. It's free reign for fandom imagination! And boy howdy howdy, let's have ALL the fun! And what you have: GREAT fun.

Personally, I see Hiccup as a biological father who cherishes his family, taking the imperfect yearnings from childhood (Mom not around, etc.), the lessons from past Hiccups (ex: Hiccup the Second being abandoned by his father), his abilities to keep those he loves close (ex: his value for Fishlegs and Cami), and his generous spirit... and infusing those into the next generation. History is two steps forward, one step back, but here, he can invest in the next generation and make a step forward.

But my headcanon is no better than your headcanon. It's extraordinarily adorable to imagine Hiccup as an adoptive father! I think this is cute, and it makes me want to toss an extra adopted child or two my headcanon's way XD (I have a thing for big famblies <3 ). Beyond the themes you connected it with, my brain goes to Fishlegs, if you like, who was raised without family, but who had Hiccup as someone to grow up with: Hiccup understands what his best friend experienced, and upon coming across an abandoned little girl, feels compassion. AKA: Your ideas are WONDERFUL and I am all for it.

[afriend410]

Give me a character: I’m just super curious, Hiccup and Astrid :D

Give me a character and I will answer: Hiccup

·         Why I like them

I honestly relate to him. I was just like him in the first movie where people either picked on me or were a bystander doing nothing. I felt alone and so did Hiccup. Then in the later movies, he grows into himself and is happy and proud of what he has become. He also doubts himself at times too. So to keep it short how Hiccup grows and how I can resonant with him.

·         Why I don’t

I don’t know if it was because of the show or fandom pieces, but he does get arrogant even though he doesn’t realize it. Some episodes point this out and I like how it is always Snotlout to do so.

·         Favorite episode (scene if movie)

The scene where Hiccup smiles at his parents in HTTYD2 there’s another scene where he does it with Toothless too and gosh my heart melts. It is just so pure.

·         Favorite season/movie

Toss-up between the first, GOTNF, and second movie.

·         Favorite line

“Thank you for nothing you useless reptile” and “Da Da Da we’re dead.”

·         Favorite outfit

If shirtless Hiccup was a thing I would be all over that. His second movie outfit was pretty cool though. (pain in the ass to draw, however. WHY DID YOU GIVE HIM SOO MANY DETAILS DEAN!!!!)

·         OTP

Hiccup with anyone else besides Astrid. Never liked Hiccstrid in the first place. The fandom of Hiccstrid shippers did not help convince me to like them. Hiccstrid also became too, I think the word I am looking for is redundant and forced down your throat. And the only way I would write or draw them is because someone asked me too or I “sell out” and just want the idea for my story read so I make it Hiccstrid.

·         Brotp

Duh, Hicctooth. Hiccup and Toothless are the main reason for the franchise. I ignore the fact that the third movie forgot about this.

·         Head Canon

Hiccup has a lighting scar up his arm and it's another reason why he wears long sleeves.

·         Unpopular opinion

 I don’t like Hiccstrid and I don’t think Hiccup needed to get the girl at the end of the first movie or any of the movies.

·         A wish

Wish they introduce another night Fury so were could have gotten Steven Irwin Hiccup.

·         An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen

I would say the concept of the third movie but that has been done so…. A fourth movie? I don’t need any more Hiccstrid in my life.

·         5 words to best describe them

Talented, hot, inventive, courageous, willful, and kind

·         My nickname for them

*sighs* I don’t have one.

Give me a character and I will answer: Astrid

·         Why I like them 

Her Character arch would have been great if she wasn’t reduced down to being the hero’s girlfriend.

·         Why I don’t

She was only made into the story because the producers wanted Hiccup to “get the girl” at the end of the first movie and that’s what she was turned into. Or people make her out to be a bitch when that is not her character at all if they paid attention to her in the first movie. There is also this hint that she is never fully supportive of Hiccup but the creators want you to believe she is so it all feels forced.

·         Favorite episode (scene if movie)

I kind of liked her in the GOTNF. She was passing a genuine and almost relatable.

·         Favorite season/movie

I like it when she was mad at Hiccup in the first movie and she saying “curse words”. It’s the first time we actually see her not in Hiccup or even Snotlout’s perspective of her being this perfect warrior Viking. Like she lost her cool because someone is messing her up and what I love about it is that it really didn’t have to be Hiccup that caused her to go that far. It just happens to be him because of story purposes.

·         Favorite line

“Would you rather taste a punch in the face?”

·         Favorite outfit

Don’t really have one for her.

·         OTP

You can read the Hiccup section for the reason but anyone but Hiccup with her is better in my opinion.

·         Brotp

Go figure this is Hiccstrid. I actually do like them as best friends with one another.

·         Head Canon

Her Axe was given to her by her mother because she kept stealing it.

·         Unpopular opinion

She was made to be the trophy girlfriend/ wife of Hiccup

·         A wish

Wish they didn’t use Astrid in the movie but instead, try to incorporate Camicazi.

·         An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen 

It did and now I have to live with it but she really did become a trophy wife and one where she really isn’t all that supportive of her husband (at least movie/ show wise. Fanfiction at least tries to help with this not being the case)

·         5 words to best describe them

Strong will, fierce, tactical, trophy girlfriend/ wife (sadly), and brave

·         My nickname for them

Again no nicknames for them.

[ctoaurn]

So my first Tumblr post may as well be httyd books appreciation

In the spirit of doomsday, here are some headcannons/opinions/general gushing about the httyd books bc the shaped my childhood and are criminally underrated. I hope this is cohesive.

- Fishlegs 100% visits Eggingarde regularly after the books, and has since been adopted into her family. Grandmother is outwardly cold towards him but will curse anyone who so much as looks at him wrong. Y'all can pry Fishlegs's adopted family out of my cold dead hands, honestly

- More on Fishlegs, have some angst! While he was in the slavelands, Alvin probably singled him out as being Hiccup's friend and treated him extra poorly because of it. This leads to trauma, some gnarly scars, and an insanely guilty hiccup when he finds out.

- Valhallarama is a terrible mother, even if she is a badass, and we need to stop acting like she can't be both at the same time because that takes the complexity out of an incredibly well-written character and ignores some seriously neglectful and abusive behaviors from her

- She and Hiccup probably fight a lot, but still care for each other (I can't imagine Hiccup finding out that she was just kinda standing by while he got tortured by Alvinsmen and not getting at least a little upset, even if she had a reason to not intervene)

- I had some problems with the last book (particularly the amnesia part), but hot damn if that moment where Hiccup sees toothless and remembers everything didn't make me bawl my eyes out when I first read it.

- I love how there isn't really a shipping community for the httyd books, because 1) they're kids, and 2) I headcannon Hiccup as ace, so I can't imagine him in anything other than a friendly marriage for diplomacy reasons

- That said, having Camicazi have a crush on Hiccup and get rejected/learn to get over it while still keeping their friendship would be a valuable lesson for children (or adults) reading the series to learn.

- I really like the idea of Fishlegs being an incredibly talented musician and being able to play a whole bunch of instruments. He really deserves the world

- Alvin and the witch are better villains than Voldemort don't @ me

- I have a lot of ideas for how the festival of the black star is celebrated. I'm thinking ugliest-baby competitions, axe throwing, choirs, book club (which is always packed because no one has the heart to say no to Hiccup). Very important is the non-stop shipbuilding. As the grand finale, on dusk of the final day, all the ships that had been made during the festival are set adrift and symbolically burned as a memorial to those who died in the three-way war (this is done a safe distance from town, of course). Then, when the boats are ablaze, dragons that had been hiding in the shops perform a somewhat-choreagraphed (read: they go to one rehearsal and collectively decide to wing it) light show, like toothless did in the first book.

- hear me out: anti-vaxxers, but with potatoes and vorpentitis

- Camicazi is such a fun and wonderfully written character, and I am incredibly happy Cowell avoided the trap of writing a female character as a "strong female role model" before writing her as a little girl who is very talented but also flawed. It is important for everyone, but especially little girls to have role models who mess up and get back on their feet again, and who are allowed to be vulnerable, or petty, or to have fears. I am incredibly glad I got that in Camicazi.

-Thuggory the Meathead is so freaking cool, and a severely underutilized character. I just want him to be a part of the group so bad, he's such a chill guy

- It's interesting how, in the HTTYD books, the "smart guy" is the leader, instead of the one who's best at fighting/the most outspoken (common in kids books like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson). Not that that format doesn't work, but it's kind of refreshing to see it shaken up.

- Toothless is actually my child, and I will fight anyone who says he's not just as cool as movie!toothless.

-Speaking of dragons, Windwalker? Baby.

-Even though I acknowledge that the HTTYD movies are amazing and well written and everything, I can't help but have a bias against them because the overshadow the books so much.

Well, that's all for now, because I have the flu and my brain has slowly been dribbling out of my ear this entire time. Hope everything makes sense and im not screaming at a wall here. I have major anxiety about posting things online, so sorry if I didn't do it right or something.

[wyvernquill]

So, I was tagged in this by the wonderful @silent--sonata, our resident book club cryptid, and now I, too, must answer her riddles!

Rules: Answer 17 Questions & tag 17 people you want to get to know better (though I'll probably tag less, let's be honest here).

Nickname: Wy/Wyv/Wyvern online, Cookie sometimes by my gf, or "you evil, evil, very cruel no good human being" when I've written something angsty, also by my darling Nugget.

Zodiac Sign: Libra. The Tadfield Advertiser tells me a friend is important to me, that help may come from an unexpected quarter, and that I should avoid salads because I'm vulnerable to stomach upsets.

Height: 165cm, I think. Which is... hold on, let me Google that... 5'5''...?

Hogwarts house: Ravenclaw. Very Ravenclaw. So Ravenclaw. (Though, then again, Hermione was sorted into Gryffindor, so who knows what would've happened if I was plot-relevant to a Chosen One?)

Last thing I googled: converting cm to whatever heathen measurement is the alternative, see questions before previous one. But before that, it was some reference images for Jojo's Bizarre Adventure fanart.

Song stuck in my head: Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, Prélude. It's lovely.

Following and followers: following 72, followed by 147.

Amount I sleep: it varies. Usually people tell me it's too little. I can function just as well on 4 hours as on 8 though, so that's fine!

Lucky number(s): 7. (I know, basic.) Also pi. And 42!

Dream job: writing/author, it's what I enjoy like nothing else. As for more realistic dreams... when I was a little child, I wanted to become a maths professor, but now I think literature professor is more my jam. Definitely academia though.

Wearing: my pyjamas with the little hugging ghosties on it. (Yes, at 3pm. Shush.) My 4m Doctor Who scarf I knit myself the autumn before last.

Favourite song(s): ...it's very, very difficult to choose. I generally love every opera I sang in with choir, and have an especially soft spot for Mascagni's "Regina Coeli", from Cavalleria Rusticana. I also love musicals, and can sing the entire opening of RENT on my own - including acting! (And special mention for Bubbles's genius book club OST! It's beautiful!)

Random fact: okay, because this came up yesterday... >gets soap box<

DID YOU KNOW, THE HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON MOVIES ARE BASED ON A WILDLY DIFFERENT (and, in my personal opinion, much better) BOOK SERIES? I ADVISE EVERYONE TO READ IT, BOOK!TOOTHLESS IS A TINY LITTLE BRAT AND CAN TALK, BOOK!FISHLEGS IS HICCUP'S BEST (only) FRIEND, THERE'S A BADASS LITTLE BURGLAR GIRL CALLED CAMICAZI WHO HANGS OUT WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL THE FUN ADVENTURES, IT'S AMAZING!!! THE GENERAL MORAL IS ALSO QUITE DIFFERENT IN COMPARISON TO THE MOVIES, IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THESE BOOKS YOU'RE MISSING OUT!!!

>ehem< sorry for that. I just feel like people should Know about this. These books are a treasure, and however good the movies are on their own, they honestly can't compare. (Sorry, Nugget.)

Favourite Authors: Terry Pratchett. Can't believe I've only re-discovered him recently, after the German edition of Maurice didn't appeal much to 11-year-old me. Cressida Cowell, see previous question. Also Angie Sage's delightful Septimus Heap series, and Jacqueline Rayner's Doctor Who stories. Honourable mention to Erich Kästner's Fabian/Der Gang Vor Die Hunde, which I read back in 11th grade and really want to write academically about one day.

Favourite Animal Noises: anything cats do. Special mention to the little burr-mew one of mine does whenever someone sneezes.

Aesthetic: Hermione. Pretty much. I wear something school-uniform-esque and all, though I also have a hat and a tartan bowtie, so... part Aziraphale, I guess? (My brother will tell you that I'm a gremlin. He's lying. Don't listen to him.)

Well, that's that - let's see who I can think of tagging. (If you don't feel like answering, that's no problem at all! Only if you feel like it! <3)

@sortofsunny, @cafekat91, @thelittleblackfox, @ifeelbetterer, @vodkertonic, @still-not-king, @percyjacksonfan3, @handlebarstiedtothestars, @darkonesdagger7437, @godihatethisfreakingcat, uh... seems like I can't think of anyone else Bubbles hasn't already tagged. Oh well! 10 out of 17 will have to do.

[wolfie-dragon-rider]

Bursts of Light, Day 26: Getting Married

A/N: Hello readers! I'm back with another drabble, Getting Married. Since Hiccstrid's wedding day was covered extensively in Blind Spots, I decided to add a little spin to it. I hope you like it!

-------------------

"Dad? Can I… Can I talk to you?"

Hiccup raised his head despite the fact that he didn't need to 'look' at his son. This was unusual. Clay had a quiet and reserved personality, sure, but it had been years since he had been this nervous about anything. The boy had a combative streak to counter any thoughts others might have about calling him weak.

So sensing his son so agitated, even across the room, made Hiccup frown.

"Of course. You can talk to me about anything, you know that."

Claybones' wheelchair squeaked softly as he pushed himself into the room, placing himself on the other side of the dining table Hiccup had been working at. The wheelchair was something Hiccup had worked on for dozens of hours back when Clay was 13 and it was becoming clear he wouldn't be able to walk all the time anymore.

When he first saw it the boy had been furious, screaming at him and Astrid, accusing them of not loving him, that they just wanted him gone. He'd screamed they were just putting him in a position where he wouldn't be able to do anything. It had been hard, but a few days later Clay came out of his room and apologized in the same hesitant tone he had now.

"There's… You remember how we went to Meathead Island two months ago? Me and Thora and Grandma Kirsten? When I was there I met this girl, and… I really really like her," Claybones slowly said, voice soft.

"And… you want to court her?" Hiccup was unsure why Clay was asking about this. As far as Hiccup knew he didn't have any experience being in a relationship himself, but the boy was a brilliant observer, learning all about other relationships and their secrets, what made them work and what broke them apart. So he just started saying whatever came to mind to reassure Clay he too could find love.

"Look, Son, it's great that you met someone you like, but remember you shouldn't try to go too fast. What does she even think of you? Hell, I thought I was in love with your mother for years while she barely knew who I was. It was only later, after I met Toothless, and… the accident happened, that we really got to know each other and truly fell in love. So maybe try talking to her first, figure out if she likes you back-"

"She's pregnant."

Hiccup stopped breathing for a second, unsure of what his son was even saying. He was in love with a girl who was already with child and would surely marry the father?

"Son… I know it must be super painful, but it's not good to chase after a woman who is already with someone else. It's unlikely she'd leave the other man for some stranger-"

"What are you talking about?!" Claybones shouted.

"What are you talking…" Hiccup started when it suddenly clicked. "Are you the father?" he asked, confusing clear in his voice.

"Yes, dammit! You don't have to sound so… surprised about the very possibility! I-I-I still have the… the equipment, the capability of being with a woman, you know! Girls can still be attracted to me even though I'm in this fucking chair!" Claybones screamed, slamming his hands down on the arms of the wheelchair. Hiccup was sure he had been close to breaking bones with that move. Hiccup could sense his boy was about to jump up, try to walk, before calming himself.

"Sorry. This isn't easy, okay, and your tone is not helping. You're the one who always said I shouldn't feel limited just because I'm in a wheelchair," he continued, voice softer now.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. Of course you're not… repulsive or incapable of being with someone! I just… This is big news. You understand that, right? I just wanted to make sure I understood correctly," Hiccup said, still trying to process this news. Oh gods, this was bad. Clay was only 17, and who knew how old this girl was? Thor Almighty, how was he going to tell Astrid that their son would have a child? Wait, this means he is going to be a grandfather! He didn't expect that to happen for a long time yet.

"Yes, she's pregnant with my child. She sent me a terror mail two days ago to tell me." Clay's voice was calm, almost detached. A sharp contrast to his outburst just moments ago.

"And she's sure it's yours? How did you even…" Hiccup started, unable to process.

"Yes, it's mine. There's no other guy or anything! We love each other!" Clay said, fire coming back to his voice.

"Are you sure you do? Because you were on Meathead Island for what? Four days? How long did you even know each other before you jumped into bed together?!" Hiccup said, rubbing his face in a hopeless attempt to stop his budding headache.

"We just clicked! I met her on our first evening there, at the welcoming feast. We talked for hours, and then… things just happened. And then we spent the entire four days and nights together," Clay said. Hiccup didn't know what to say. He just sighed and shook his head.

"Come on, Dad, don't give me the silent treatment. That's what Mom does. This is… This is why I went to you, not her! Because… Because you don't get mad. So please don't be mad," his son said desperately, and Hiccup could hear the fear in the words.

Behind his combative facade, Clay was terrified.

"I'm not mad. Not… Not really. I'm just… deeply disappointed in you. You're smart. Like, genuinely genius-smart. And you know all about relationships and secrets and what people do and feel. I know Kirsten explained everything about intimacy as well. So… you should have known better. Look, I get how exciting it can be to find that connection, but I expected you to be more responsible than this. This will impact your entire life. And hers, too! And the rest of us too. How do you think it reflects on Thora if her brother has a bastard child? Not to mention the child itself! Caring for a baby isn't easy. That's a lifetime commitment," Hiccup slowly said.

"You and Mom were my age when you got married!" Clay said heatedly. For a second Hiccup thought he heard a sniff in there.

"And we had been together for three years. And apart from that… Your mother and I went through hell together, okay. We had seen the absolute best and the absolute worst of each other before we got married or even had physical intimacy. And we still had troubles and fights and hard times. It took two years of trying before we made Thora. And even then we weren't really ready to raise a child. Maybe no one ever is. So forgive me for being a little skeptical about your declaration of love for someone you've known for less than a week," Hiccup said clearly. The words came out harsher than he intended, but Clay didn't respond with anger like he expected.

A loud sniff suddenly broke the tense silence, and it became clear Claybones was crying. Hiccup slowly stood up and walked around the table. When he was next to the wheelchair he kneeled in front of his son, before reaching out his arms. It took a few seconds, but then the boy produced a loud sob while flinging himself into his father's arms.

"I know I messed up. I-I-I know I always complain about what stupid shit other people do in their relationships, and now I went and made the exact same mistakes. I just… I didn't see it coming. She was there and she… she listened to me. She is so beautiful and smart and she understood me, the real me. The other teens here on Berk, they never bother taking me seriously, but she… She didn't care that I can't walk, that I can barely move. She likes my art, and my ideas, and she makes me laugh too. She writes stories. Poetry. Beautiful poetry. She wrote a poem right there about how grumpy I was. And… And I just never felt so close to another person before," Claybones managed to say between sobs, his tears wetting Hiccup's shirt.

"What is her name?" he simply asked, knowing his son needed to let all of this out.

"Lucy. Her name is Lucy Henriksdotter. Her father is a wool merchant. He's quite wealthy. People won't be able to say I'm gonna marry below my station," Clay whispered, shaking in Hiccup's arms.

"So that's what you want to do? Marry her? Is that we she wants as well? Did she say in that letter?" he asked, holding his son a little tighter while being careful not to break any bones.

"She does. She said… We have to do it quickly. Her father will denounce her otherwise. If we marry this month we can still pretend…" the boy's voice trailed off. Hiccup sighed.

"You know people will know, right? They won't say it out loud, but they'll whisper it. They'll know what you and Lucy did, especially when that baby arrives just six months after the wedding," Hiccup said. His son's blonde hair tickled his neck when he nodded.

"Of course I know that. I get how rumors spread, probably better than anyone else on this island," he said heatedly.

"There's a difference between knowing it and experiencing it. Look son, I know you haven't had it easy, with your wheelchair and all, but this won't just be about you. People will whisper about her as well. Will you be prepared to defend your wife? Your bastard child?" Hiccup hated causing the shiver that ran through his son, but he knew the boy needed to understand this as soon as possible.

"I… I'll do my best. I love her. I do," Clay said, another sniff escaping.

"I hope you do, son. I really hope you do," Hiccup whispered, wondering how he was going to tell Astrid.

-------------------

As she looked at the dark clouds overhead, Astrid remembered her own wedding day. It had been storming then as well.

Hopefully the marriage would be brighter.

"Are you ready? It's almost time," Hiccup asked their son, who looked like he was about to throw up.

"I… I think so. I don't like being the center of attention like this," he mumbled, looking at his feet.

"Well, you got lucky there because we had to organize this so quickly. Not many people could show up. Camicazi couldn't make it, for example. Thora is not happy about that," Astrid said, taking one last look at the fast-moving clouds before turning to her child.

"Thora isn't happy about any of this. She hasn't talked to me at all since… Since she heard," Clay said, fidgeting with his fancy shirt. He was wobbly on his feet.

"She'll come around. I think she is just annoyed by your hypocrisy. You did constantly analyze and belittle all her suitors, and then this happens. But I'm sure that in less than a month she'll miss her little brother and your exploration trips, and apologize," Hiccup said.

Clay's dragon, Thinker, gently steadied his human as he found his balance. It had been years since the boy had been on his feet this long. But he had insisted on walking by himself during the ceremony.

"I know. I told her I'm sorry! I just… I hope she and Lucy can get along," he said, sneaking a glance at the other side of the square, where his bride was waiting with her father.

Her very, very, very angry father who only agreed to the marriage after the hefty bride price they offered. Before that he had been ready to denounce his daughter and deny her her inheritance for getting pregnant out of wedlock.

Hiccup would have taken her in, had her marry Clay and made her part of the Haddock family anyway if that had happened, but at least this way the girl would still have contact with her siblings and get her mother's tools and clothes.

"I'm sure they will. Now then, it's time. You have the ring and your sword?" Hiccup asked anxiously. Clay tapped his fingers over the sword on his belt audibly, and his father nodded.

"Well then, no time like the present. You don't want to be caught out in the rain. That happened to us on our wedding day, and it was not pleasant. Your father even broke his prosthetic while taking a mud bath!" Astrid said, brushing Clay's long hair behind his ears, and her eyes teared up a bit.

Her son, so young and so grown up at the same time. Did he really have to get married already?

It was strange. A month ago she hadn't even considered her youngest child being in a relationship, let alone fathering a child. Thora had always been the more obvious candidate, with her outgoing nature and many suitors hoping to wed the future chief of Berk. Clay had always stayed in the shadows, content with observing and capturing other people in his paintings.

She didn't think he'd even had friends before he met Lucy. He had always been so… different from all the other kids, both his brains and his bones. And now he was going to be a father.

"Don't remind me of our wedding day. It was… not as I had hoped it would be," Hiccup said, following Clay as the boy walked on unsteady legs. Thinker was right next to him, providing his human with something to lean on when he stumbled.

Astrid moved to the rows of chairs and sat down next to her daughter, who was sitting next to Kirsten. Kirsten looked like she was about to cry, while Thora refused to look at the proceedings, instead staring at her hands in her lap.

"Oh, I remember when you and he were just babies. You grow up too quickly for an old woman like me!" Kirsten said between sniffs, leaning towards Thora. The girl just ducked her head further.

"Doesn't seem like he grew up much if he let this happen," she muttered, making Astrid sigh.

"You know he's sorry, and that he will do everything he can to make it right. So just… try to support him? He needs his big sister, no matter how much he pretends not to. He has always helped you when you messed up," she said, patting her daughter's shoulder. Thora slowly nodded.

"I'll try," she whispered as Clay started saying his vows. Astrid couldn't help but frown. He was clearly nervous, and the bride's father looked at him with barely hidden disgust. Would this marriage fall apart within a year? Had she and Hiccup gone wrong with how they raised their son?

But then her eyes drifted to Hiccup standing nearby. He looked so proud of his son, so sure that this would all work out. And she felt a smile appear on her own face as well. Of course it would be fine. The young couple would have all the support they could ever need, from her entire family.

So even though Astrid wasn't really sure if she was ready to be grandmother yet, it took just one look at Hiccup to know she wouldn't face it alone, just like Clay wouldn't be facing this new stage of life alone.

[lady-alayne]

Hiccup/Fishlegs coffee shop AU cause I'm basic (I have no idea how this would work. so best of luck)

Wow I’m so sorry, I forgot to answer this!

Well Fishlegs would obviously be the blogger sitting there all day with his old laptop writing on his screenplay or something, and Hiccup would be the manager. It’s not his dream job, but the coffee shop belongs to his dad and Hiccup didn’t really have a choice. One day a stray cat appears, and Hiccups adopts him and names him Toothless. Soon Toothless roams through the coffee shop like he owns the place, and Fishlegs is torn between reporting Hiccup to the department of health because of course Fishlegs is terrified of the germs. But he also doesn’t want his favorite coffee shop to close down.

But soon Toothless begins to sleep in Fishleg’s lap and purr, and Fishlegs realized Toothless is actually very sweet. Hiccup takes notice, and the two become friends and eventually decide to turn the coffee shop into a cat café. This attracts Camicazi and her girl gang, and after a while Hiccup decides to open up his café to a weekly band night so The Bogburglars, Camicazi’s indie rock band, has somewhere to play. Friendship, romance, and cat love ensues!

[wilderwestqueen]

wilderwestqueen - fanfic masterpost

Full Stories 

A Pinch of Sugar and a Dash of Spite / tumblr / ao3 / fanfic.net  [In Progress]

Hiccup Haddock's just trying to sell coffee and stumble through presentations about Shakespeare, but one persistent rude customer keeps ruining his day. Astrid Hofferson would be the top of her class if it weren't for one golden boy barista that needs to be taken down a notch. 

Brave As A Noun / ao3 / fanfic.net [In Progress]

Hiccup's struggling. University is difficult, his father is on his back, and he hasn't admitted to anyone just how bad his anxiety is getting. He's slipping right off the edge, and if he's not careful, he's going to fall right off. [Friendship/Angst/No Shipping] 

You’re Everything I Want (And Nothing I Can Keep) / tumblr / ao3 / fanfic.net  [Complete]

"Prove it. Bring her along this weekend, and prove it to everyone." After a little white lie, Hiccup has to do something drastic to avoid embarrassing himself at a family reunion. Lost for any other ideas, Hiccup asks his best friend to pretend to be his girlfriend, just for a day. What could possibly go wrong?

If This Is A Rom-Com, Kill The Director / ao3 / fanfic.net  [Complete]

Hiccup and Astrid are both popular actors. And they hate each other. As luck would have it, they're both cast in a film adaptation of a popular Shakespeare play, and have to face their bad feelings for each other head on. In true Shakespeare fashion, it's going to go wrong before it goes right.

Don’t Tell The Bride / ao3 / fanfic.net [Complete]

Hiccup and Astrid are two broke art school graduates whose only wish is to get married. When the television show 'Don't Tell The Bride' offers them the money to pay for the ceremony, Hiccup and Astrid jump at the chance. Only there's a catch. Hiccup has to plan the wedding alone, and Astrid's not allowed to know anything about it. 

Oneshots

I’ve Got You Now / tumblr / ao3 / fanfic.net

Astrid and Hiccup have a nerf gun war. 

How To Survive Christmas: A Guide By Hiccup Haddock / tumblr / ao3 / fanfic.net

The Christmas season is difficult enough with your father messing with your love life. When Astrid gets invited over for Christmas, Hiccup becomes obsessed with making it the best Christmas ever. 

This Little Game / tumblr / ao3 / fanfic.net 

Viggo's games are dangerous to play, and when it all comes crashing down for Hiccup and Astrid, they have to make the most difficult choice of their lives: only one of them can come out alive.

Poison In My Veins / tumblr / ao3 / fanfic.net

What if, in 'No Dragon Left Behind', the antidote to the Slitherwing poison takes much longer to work? What if Hiccup is forced, once again, to imagine a world without Astrid in it?

A Little Chance Encounter / tumblr / ao3 / fanfic.net 

Astrid doesn't like being set up with people at the best of times, but damn, did it really have to be with the one night stand she'd run away from the night before?

Here Comes The General / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3

If you’ve got beef with the tribe of Berk, remember the golden rule: Never, ever, mess with General Hofferson.

Sing Me A Song / tumblr / fanfic.net

Hiccup serenades Astrid. It does not go well.

Just Pretend I Didn’t Say That / tumblr / fanfic.net

While Astrid seems to be asleep, Hiccup lets something slip.

Worth The Risk / tumblr / fanfic.net 

After the events of Shell Shocked, Hiccup and Astrid have a talk.

In the dim light of evening / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3

After a hard day of responsibilities piling on top of one another, Hiccup breaks down in Astrid’s arms.

Kiss The Girl / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3 

It’s New Year’s Eve, and Hiccup has three resolutions: 1) to spend more time with his cat, 2) to remember to log out of his Facebook, and 3) Kiss Astrid Hofferson.

Moves And Countermoves / tumblr / fanfic.net 

In a bid to save Astrid, Hiccup gives himself over to Viggo.

At Your Window / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3 

In the middle of the night, Hiccup shows up outside Astrid’s bedroom.

Heather’s Helping Hand / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3

After getting tired of watching Hiccup and Astrid dance around each other, Heather decides to intervene and get these two to admit their feelings once and for all.

A Grim Fall / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3 

After being brainwashed by the Grimora, Toothless and Hiccup fall over the edge of the cliff. Toothless escapes from the ocean, safe. Hiccup doesn’t.

Not Gonna Leave You / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3

In the midst of the worst storm the archipelago has ever seen, Astrid rescues an injured Hiccup.

Just Let Me Help You / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3 

Hiccup patches Astrid up after she gets injured.

Just For Tonight / tumblr / fanfic.net

Her fingers hover over the delivery instruction box and then she giggles as she types in: Send the cutest delivery boy you have. OR Astrid’s lonely, and she needs something to go right tonight.

Fifteen Ways To Say I Love You / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3 

Astrid Hofferson’s got the perfect boyfriend. He’s kind, considerate and rather attractive. She’s pretty sure she loves him, and that he loves her too. So why hasn’t he said it yet?

The taste of scotch rich on my tongue / fanfic.net 

It’s late, and Astrid’s sad and drunk. One night, she tells herself. One night to be alone and sad. She certainly wasn’t banking on an equally as sad stranger to come make her feel better.

Winter Might Not Be So Bad After All / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3 

Astrid’s not a winter person, so when she wakes alone on a snowy day, she can’t help but be in a bad mood. But with the arrival of her boyfriend, Hiccup, she finds a new appreciation for the winter season.

Without You / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3  

In the aftermath of Astrid nearly drowning, Hiccup has a realization: without Astrid, who is he anyway?

Make The Good Things Better / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3 

It’s New Year’s Eve, and Hiccup finds himself at a party, next to the girl he’s been pining after for years. If only he could summon up the courage to tell her how he feels…

I Won’t Let You Be Lonely / tumblr / fanfic.net 

‘At some point, she’s going to have to admit out loud that she’s been stood up, and the last thing she wants is anyone’s pity.’ Astrid’s night would have been sad and lonely, if it weren’t for the green-eyed boy who saved the day.

Temporary / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3

Astrid and Hiccup meet on holiday and get on like a house on fire. The only problem is the time limit: when the summer ends, they can never see each other again.

No Tomorrow / fanfic.net 

Hiccup’s in love with Astrid, that much anyone can see. But he’s afraid to tell her - and everyone keeps telling him that he might not always have a chance to do so. They are Vikings, after all. What if there was no tomorrow?

Screaming Colour / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3 

Astrid sees the world in a monochrome cast, nothing but black and white until the day her soulmate comes along and lets her see in colour. Until then, she’s got her best friend Hiccup to describe all the different colours to her. But is that enough?

Rule Number Two / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3 / 

High school is hard enough without having to fight monsters every day. In which Hiccup and Astrid are monster hunters, juggling school with protecting the students from unimaginable horrors. They have only two rules. Number 1) Keep the secret. Number 2) Don’t die.

Girl Talk / fanfic.net / ao3  

A year after Hiccup destroyed the Red Death and united the village with the dragons, the Bog Burglars arrive for their annual visit. Astrid and Camicazi get a chance to talk about their mutual dragon training friend.

Tumblr drabbles/ficlets 

‘When your otp is in an intense argument and their faces get closer together, but then they stop talking and look at the other’s lips’ 

‘the best part of height differences in OTPs: when the taller one lifts the smaller one’s chin so that they can kiss them.’ 

2018 Secret Odin fic: ‘I don’t want to lose you too’

Astrid really hates Hiccup’s beard

@margarethelstone​ told me to write a fic about chewing gum so i did

Ask Prompts

1. “Hiccstrid story strung to the tune of Sparks Fly by Taylor Swift? Like, a song line or two, and then a drabble (a SHORT one) based off of it?” (tumblr) (ao3) 2. “He had your eyes, Hiccup. Look at him.” (tumblr) (ao3) 3. “Hiccup can’t find his favorite shirt and trashes his room looking for it. He runs to the to the living room in a rage to ask Astrid, and there she is, reading a book in his shirt (and looking really good in it, too). He decides to let her keep it.” (tumblr) 4. “Hiccstrid beach.” (tumblr)

5. “Hiccstrid guitar ❤” (tumblr) 6. “Hiccstrid cold :D :D 😃” (tumblr)

7. “Micro-story: Saviour” (tumblr)

8. “Hiccstrid “Can we pretend I didn’t just say that?” (Probably Hiccup after saying that Astrid is beautiful or something)” (tumblr) (fanfic.net)

9. “Can I ask for a oneshot in which Hiccup tries (and fails) to serenade Astrid? Pretty please?” (tumblr) (fanfic.net)

10. For that new prompt list of yours, maybe a 28 or 45? Both sound good ;) (knocking on the wrong door AU) (tumblr)

30 Day Fic Challenge (failed spectacularly) 

Day One: Island / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3

Day Two: Warm / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3

Day Three: Chief / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3

Day Four: Scheme / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3

Day Five: Halloween / tumblr / fanfic.net / ao3

[wolfie-dragon-rider]

Blind Spots Chapter 14: The Burglar Princess

Two horn blows echoed around the harbor, making the Terrors yelp and flutter. Hiccup knew the signal well, though he hadn't heard it in years.

Allied fleet approaching.

Hiccup, Stoick, and Astrid were waiting at the docks for the ships to arrive. The riders were without their dragons, however. Given the fact that this was the first diplomatic envoy to Berk in three years, they decided it was best if they introduced their new dragon-friendly society in small steps.

"I can see the first one. New ship design, I think. Same flag though," Stoick said from beside Hiccup. The heir nodded, not being able to see anything, but trusting his dad's word for it.

"So these are the infamous Bog-Burglars?" Their ships are fast, at least. Faster than ours," Astrid said from Hiccup's other side. He chuckled.

"Better get used to that. The Burglars are fast and sleek in every way," he said, remembering the old days when he helped one Burglar in particular play a lot of swift pranks.

"I don't think I've ever met a Bog-Burglar. How often did they visit?" Astrid asked.

"They used to visit every few months, if not more. But lass, you were always training in the forest when the Bogs visited. I think your father considered them a bad influence, actually," Stoick said.

"Oh, Cami was definitely a bad influence. Always pulling me away from your chiefing lessons to pick locks and spar with wooden swords. She always won," Hiccup laughed, and Astrid chuckled as well. "I guess that probably hasn't changed…" he said, trailing off when he remembered how much had changed since the Bogs were last on Berk. Five years had passed, in which he lost his eyes and a leg, but gained a dragon best friend and a girlfriend. How had she changed? Was she still the same old Camicazi who would drag him along to explore caves and ambush unsuspecting Vikings?

"From what Bertha's letters said, she hasn't changed a bit. You two were so close back then. Inseparable whenever she visited Berk. You know, you told me you were gonna marry her at one point," Stoick said, and Hiccup froze.

"Dad! I was like five! Gods!" he shouted, feeling terrified when he felt Astrid's hand tense in his. "It's not like that, I promise! I love you!" he desperately told her, not wanting her to feel jealous. To his surprise, she laughed instead.

"You... hahaha… why did you never tell me that? You were in love with a Bog-Burglar!" she shouted. Hiccup was sure his face was bright red by now.

"It wasn't like that…" he muttered.

"Oh, me and Bertha were counting on you two marrying, though. You two seemed like such a good match. Politically and personally. We were about to sign the betrothal contract, but then the war got worse, and… they couldn't visit anymore. Until now," Stoick said, and Hiccup felt like throwing up.

"What! But she's… she's like a sister to me! Eww! And… there's a contract? But what about Astrid?" he shouted, wondering if he was about to be shipped off to another island to marry.

"No, nothing came of it. You were too young, and when we communicated again, you were with Astrid, and it was clear no one would make you happier than she does," Stoick said, before leaning in. "Now, don't tell Cami I told you this, but Bertha wrote me that she reacted just like you when she was told about the marriage contract," he whispered, and Hiccup felt a little less mortified.

"So you two were close?" Astrid asked, and Hiccup nodded.

"We were best friends, I suppose. Not like you and me, or me and Toothless, but… she never cared about all the things people on Berk cared about, you know? She didn't care that I was small and not very strong. She still chose me to be her partner in crime. I never understood why exactly, but we clicked. I… I hope we still do," he slowly said. Stoick remained silent, but Astrid squeezed Hiccup's hand encouragingly, before drawing a little heart on the back of it with her finger.

"About that, Hiccup. I… tolerated those transgressions when you were younger, but now you've grown up and I expect you to behave as one would expect from the heir of Berk," Stoick said, and Hiccup sighed.

"Sure, as long as the heir of Bog Island behaves according to her position as well," Hiccup deadpanned, unable to imagine Camicazi being quiet and polite for more than a minute.

"Argh, that girl is hopeless, and I don't understand how Bertha raised her, but you know what I mean. And it's not just what you say or do, but also what you look like. So stand tall! Chin up, shoulders back!" Stoick said as he roughly pulled Hiccup's arms around, trying to make him look a bit more impressive.

"Like that matters for Bertha. She saw me covered in yak manure when that prank went wrong when we were eight. I bet she still sees that when she looks at me," he said, blushing when Astrid laughed next to him. "What?!"

"Why did I miss the best moments from your life?" she asked, and Hiccup groaned.

"Probably because I wouldn't be able to handle you and Cami at the same time. In fact, I fear for my life today," he said before smiling. "Seriously, though. I think you'll like Cami. She's a lot like you in many ways."

The conversation then fell silent as the ships maneuvered through the harbor until Hiccup could hear the creaking of the hull and the flapping of sail.

"Hail, Bertha! Did you have a good journey?" Stoick called out as ropes were thrown and knots were tied around them.

"Very well, Stoick! Njordr blessed us with good winds!" Hiccup felt like he was eight years old again when he heard the voice. A wooden gangplank was moved past him, connecting the ship to the pier.

Somehow even Bertha's footsteps on the plank were familiar. And then came even more familiar footsteps, quick and flighty, like she barely even touched the ground.

"Long time no see, Haddocks! It's been too long!" Bertha said, stepping onto the pier.

"I'm still not seeing you," Hiccup said almost automatically, before realizing with horror he didn't know if his father had told them about his blindness.

An awkward silence fell, in which the only sounds were the boats creaking and Cami's footsteps coming closer. Hiccup could tell she was walking right up to him, looking at him closely, and he felt cold sweat run down his back as he awaited her verdict.

"Hmm… So this is why you never wrote letters? An acceptable reason, I suppose. I figured you were just being a stupid boy," she suddenly said as she poked his blindfold, and Hiccup couldn't help but laugh when he realized she still had the exact same sense of humor as when they were kids.

"Oh, like you were much better, you never wrote me either!" he said.

"Well, I figured you'd write me when you got yourself in a mess again and needed my help getting out as usual. I'd never need your help!" she said teasingly, and Hiccup used his hand not holding Astrid's to lightly punch where he thought her shoulder was.

"Oh, you're still short!" he said, noting that the adults seemed to have moved away a bit, letting them talk in peace.

"And you're still scrawny! I bet I'll still kick your butt at swordfighting," she dared him, and he sniggered.

"Maybe, though I've had some training. Cami, meet my combat trainer and… betrothed, Astrid. Astrid, this is my childhood friend, Camicazi," he said, gesturing between them.

"Hmm, why am I not surprised you needed a girl to teach you how to hold a weapon?" she said, before turning to Astrid. "You're an axe gal? I'm more a fan of swords. Quick, precise, in-and-out before they know it."

"You can't throw a sword, though. And I think my axe will punch through armor your little toothpick would just bounce off of," Astrid taunted, and Hiccup felt relieved and terrified at the same time at how well they got along.

"Well, maybe we should settle this the old-fashioned way. I first want to try to duel Hiccup, though. See if he's still as clumsy as I remember him," Cami said, and Hiccup grinned. It felt like no time had passed at all, like those childhood memories were yesterday.

"Hiccup! Why don't you and Cami… hang out for a bit. Me and Bertha will handle the treaty, you two don't have to be there," Stoick suddenly interrupted their conversation.

"Wait, I thought you wanted me to learn about chiefing?" Hiccup asked, skeptical. He sensed Cami nodding beside him, and figured she had expected a boring day of diplomacy as well.

"I did, but… well, I think you earned a day off. Go… have fun," Stoick said, and Hiccup frowned, not sure what that was about.

"How about we introduce Cami to Toothless and Stormfly?" Astrid said, and Hiccup smiled brightly.

"Toothless? Who's that? You already have kids or something? Why are you having kids?!" Cami exclaimed, punching Hiccup's arm.

"Nah, he's my new best friend. Also, he's a dragon," He said, rubbing his arm where she punched it.

"What?! I'm no longer your best friend? Though honestly, I can't blame you, it's hard to compete with a dragon. Let's see who this badass is who kicked me out of your heart!" Cami shouted, before grabbing his free arm and pulling him to the village. Astrid followed, still holding his right hand, and Hiccup felt lighter than he had in years.

------------------------------------------------

"Ooh, pretty good… for a boy!" Cami shouted as she narrowly dodged Hiccup's cane, before hooking her sword around his metal leg and twisting it. Hiccup tried to escape, jumping up and striking again with the cane, but another feint from Camicazi and he was on his back, her sword on his throat.

"But girls are still better," the Burglar laughed. Seeing the fight made Astrid smile. Training with a new partner was obviously good for Hiccup. In fact, just Camicazi's presence seemed to have made him happier than Astrid had seen him in years.

"Oh really? We'll see about that," Hiccup said, wrenching the sword from Cami's hand without warning before pulling her down to the ground with him. Within seconds the two were rolling around the grass, trying to gain the upper hand while laughing madly. Astrid kept dulling her axe, preparing it for a duel with Camicazi. She had been eager for it, but now Astrid figured it could wait a bit. The two friends were having too much fun to interrupt.

"Got you now!" Hiccup shouted as he pulled her over his shoulder and ran off, almost immediately falling again when she kicked his back. Though the kick obviously hurt, he didn't stop laughing for a second. The transformation in Hiccup was incredible, and a small part of Astrid was jealous, though she recognized that there was nothing romantic or sexual between them. It was something purer, more innocent and childlike.

As they ran around the cove, they attracted the attention of the dragons. Toothless seemed confused about who this new girl was, and kept looking between them, though Hiccup's enthusiasm infected him as well. Stormfly seemed hesitant to come between the wrestling friends and stuck close to Astrid.

She was most surprised about Blendin, the Changewing Hiccup had adopted a while ago. Blendin had been very nervous about Berk, and wouldn't really show himself to the Vikings, instead staying in the forest and around Hiccup's house.

But the Changewing took a keen interest in Camicazi, running after her and sniffing her when she knocked Hiccup down and stood triumphant over him. He hadn't done that with anyone, not even Astrid.

And Cami seemed to like Blendin as well, easily adapting to his moments of invisibility, turning to the dragon and 'looking for him' in an exaggerated way, before throwing her arms around his neck. Meanwhile, Toothless pulled Hiccup back to his feet. The boy looked happy, but a little lost when he couldn't find Cami with his cane.

When Cami noticed Hiccup's expression, she gently grabbed his arm and pulled him towards her. Hiccup looked relieved, but then his expression changed to terrified when she threw him behind her before running away, causing Hiccup to chase her. Astrid wondered why Hiccup reacted so well to her, when he'd have shirked away if it had been anyone else pulling him like that.

Maybe it was the fact that she hadn't seen his awkward behavior the last few years. Or that, as much as she threw Hiccup around and obviously took advantage of his blindness during their play, she didn't make bad jokes about it. She seemed to accept his disabilities with an ease no one on Berk had managed.

Maybe it was their shared childhood memories that made Hiccup lower his guard. Unlike the Vikings on Berk, she had never made fun of him or hurt him.

Maybe it was simply the lack of stress. Hiccup was always aware that he'd be chief of Berk one day, and couldn't allow himself to be seen this… irresponsible and childish. As Astrid looked at him charging blindly at Camicazi, she couldn't help but notice he seemed like he forgot all his problems and responsibilities.

Maybe it was a combination of all these things. Astrid didn't want to dwell on it too long, happy to see Hiccup so happy. It was obvious why Stoick had decided to give them more time together. These moments seemed so rare lately. His dark days kept coming and going. She had hoped they'd disappear after a while, but every now and then it still happened. But right now Hiccup looked the complete opposite of depressed.

The pair kept running around the cove, helped and hindered by their dragons. At some point Cami became the hunter, jumping over Toothless to get to Hiccup.

"I win!" she shouted when she caught him, pushing him back against a tree. "And I deserve a prize. How about…" Astrid smiled as she looked at them, it was obviously some kind of in-joke. Then she noticed the Burglar's eyes being drawn to Hiccup's face, and she realized what was about to happen.

Astrid's shouted "No!" came too late. Camicazi had already pulled Hiccup's blindfold off with quick fingers, and even from the other side of the cove Astrid heard her sharp intake of breath when the girl saw Hiccup's scars.

Time seemed to freeze as all sound stopped. No one dared to move as Cami looked in horror at what was left of her friend's face. Hiccup looked pale and nervous, waiting for her verdict.

"You… You look like a monster…" Cami said, the words coming out as a twisted chuckle.

Astrid saw Hiccup break and shatter. By the time she got her legs to work he had already jumped on Toothless and flown away, as fast as he could. His blindfold was still in Cami's hand.

"I… I don't understand… what happened?" Cami asked, her earlier confidence gone. Astrid didn't waste time on her, instead she ran back to Stormfly.

"Come on girl, we've gotta catch them!" she shouted, driving her dragon to fly as fast as she could.

------------------------------------------------

"Hiccup, let me in," Astrid told the locked door in front of her. Hiccup had never shut her out, but now he had holed himself up in his room, more upset than she had ever seen him. And she wasn't sure how to get him out.

"Please open the door. It's just me!" she begged, forcing herself to stay calm when no response came. The only thing she could hear through the door were Toothless' sad croons.

"Hiccup, I know you're in there. I know you're hurting, just let me help you!" she said, leaning on the door. She felt useless. She thought they had made progress. His dark days seemed to become less frequent and intense. But now this. This was worse than she had ever seen him. She had seen Hiccup at his darkest and lowest points, but he had never refused to let her help him.

Astrid considered kicking the door in. It would show Hiccup that she wouldn't let him shut her out. But would it really help? Would it scare him more? Maybe he needed some time alone? Or maybe she just couldn't help him anymore? She wished she could ask her mother, but Hiccup had made her promise she wouldn't tell anyone about his dark days.

Astrid sighed deeply, hoping Hiccup couldn't hear it through the locked bedroom door.

"I'll give you some alone time, okay babe? If… If you decide that you… you want me with you, you can always send Toothless to get me. I… I'll come back later to check on you, okay? I love you," she eventually told him, waiting for a few seconds for a response that never came. Removing her hand from the door, she turned around and walked down the stairs, feeling exhausted. Just as she reached the bottom, the front door opened.

"Astrid! Is Hiccup here?" Camicazi asked as she walked through the door, Hiccup's blindfold in her hand, and Astrid froze. Suddenly she was overcome with anger at the girl who had hurt Hiccup so much.

"I know Hiccup probably doesn't want to see me, but I just wanted to tell him I'm sorry. I brought his blindfold, and…" Astrid didn't let Cami finish the sentence.

"You're not sorry," Astrid said with barely concealed fury.

"What? Of course I am, why wouldn't I..." Cami started, but Astrid wouldn't let herself be stopped.

"You can't be sorry for something you don't know you did. You have no idea what you've done, do you? He trusted you! And now you've broken him, and he's worse than ever!" she shouted, and Cami took a step back.

"Astrid, I… I didn't mean to… I didn't know… I should have been more careful..." the Burglar stuttered, but it just fueled Astrid's anger.

"That's right, you didn't know! None of you know! None of you understand what your jokes and insults and gasps and pity do to him! I don't even fully understand what it does to him! And he doesn't want your pity! He just wants to be treated like a normal human being, instead of an abomination! He's up there, probably having a waking nightmare, unable to do anything other than cry and curl up into a little ball, because one of the few people he trusted called him a monster! I worked for years to help him! Every time he'd get a breakdown, I was there, telling him he's not weak. And we had progress! He became a little more confident. But now you've destroyed all that! Months and months of encouragement, gone!" Astrid screamed as she unsheathed her axe, not caring about the fear in Cami's eyes.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know..."

"Shut up! Don't bother apologizing! Stop wasting my time! I have to figure out how to get Hiccup to come out of his own dark mind again. Do you know how to do that? Do you have any idea how I can get Hiccup to open up?" Astrid asked as she turned around, unable to look at Cami anymore.

The Burglar didn't say anything, and Astrid found that she couldn't stop talking.

"Because… Because I have no idea anymore! He won't even let me comfort him. And I don't know how to help him! I keep thinking we're making progress, but then a week later he's as sad and broken as ever. It's like no matter what I do, it just keeps getting worse," she said as she dropped her axe, keeping her back turned on Cami. Her anger was flowing away, but it was being replaced by something Astrid couldn't quite identify.

"H-Have you talked to Hiccup about this?" Camicazi softly asked, and Astrid's head whipped back when she remembered she wasn't alone. She wanted to take it all back, to deny the vulnerability. But what was the point? Cami had seen it all now anyway, and maybe she could be someone to confide in.

"No, of course not. It would only make him feel worse if he knew what his breakdowns do to me. And I haven't talked to anyone else about it either. Hiccup made me promise not to tell anyone about his breakdowns, so I can't ask my mother without breaking my promise," she admitted between as she turned away from Camicazi again and faced the corner. She was quiet for a while, trying desperately to collect herself, but the flood was too much. A minute later the words were pouring out again.

"But I sit there, holding him, talking to him, day after day, night after night, and he's just… he's in so much pain, and I can't do a damn thing to help him! It hurts. It hurts so fucking much to see him so scared and anxious, and I hate the gods for torturing him like that, and I hate myself for not being able to find the right words to help him. I hate myself for maiming him and causing all this," she continued to talk, all the frustration flooding out in an uncontrollable wave. Tears escaped from her eyes, even though she tried not to let them fall.

"And I'm tired. I'm so fucking tired, Cami. I'm tired of comforting Hiccup, only for him to get another episode a few days later. I'm tired of walking on eggshells every time he has a breakdown, not knowing if my words will help or just hurt him even more. I'm tired of seeing him struggle so much," she said, not caring how weak Cami would think she was. It was like a dam in her mind had collapsed, and now feelings and thoughts she wasn't even aware she had were all pouring out.

"And he's so strong! That's the thing, he's so strong, all the time, that it only hurts even more when even he can't handle what's happening to him. So I try to be strong for him. I try not to show how much it affects me. But it's hard. It's so hard to just keep myself from screaming in frustration and pain when he breaks down again. And I don't know how much longer I can handle it. We're engaged, for Thor's sake. We're going to be married for the rest of our lives. But if I can't handle staying strong for him for two years, how can I do it for decades?" Astrid asked out loud, not surprised when there was no answer.

"It's not that I hate doing it. I love him so much, and I want to help him, and I'd hug and comfort him for a dozen hours each day if that's what it takes. But it's just so… It all feels so pointless. It sometimes feels like during such an episode, Hiccup is in a dark maze where he can't even hear or feel me anymore, and I have to find him and get him out. But every time the maze becomes more complicated, and I'm running out of things to say to guide him. I feel like my words have less effect with each passing day, and I'm scared. I'm so scared that one day, I won't be able to find him anymore. That he'll be too far away and I can't reach him. I just don't know what to do anymore. I thought I knew what helped him and what didn't, but now I'm becoming more and more unsure," Astrid said, still sobbing, crossing her arms to hug herself.

"I watched you and Hiccup play earlier, and I thought he was so happy. He seemed so cheerful, more cheerful than he had been in months. I mean, he has happy moments, but with you it was like he was a carefree child again. Like he had nothing to worry about for once. He's been so stressed out lately. And I thought that maybe Hiccup needs a vacation. Maybe he could go with you to Bog Island for a week or two. Away from all the responsibilities and pressure he has here."

"B-But… But now I don't even know if that would help him anymore. I'm scared that he'd just be more confronted with his blindness if he traveled to an unfamiliar location, and that would just make everything worse! I just… I just don't know anymore. I don't know, Cami. I just don't know," Astrid exclaimed as she buried her head in her hands, more tears running down her cheeks.

------------------------------------------------

Hiccup was cold. That's the only way he could describe his current state. Despite being literally surrounded by Toothless' warm belly and wings he was too cold to even cry.

These were the worst dark days. Normally they were just… pain and fear. Life would be too much, and he'd shelter himself from the onslaught. They were painfully hot episodes, filled with blazing anger and burning shame.

They were horrible, but Hiccup had power in them. Agency. He could still move, react, respond, even if he often chose not to.

The cold days were different. It was like falling in a freezing ocean. It starts with a huge shock, a change he could barely even comprehend. Followed by a flurry of panic and movement. He had to run, swim, flee, even if there was no escape from the horrible discovery.

And finally, when his strength had run out and his arms were too heavy to move, the cold came. The nothingness. Freezing him in place, unable to think or move. Unable to even panic. His only movement were shallow breaths. Anything deeper and he'd drown.

A stable island had been under him just minutes before. He'd never realized how much he had trusted Cami. Maybe even more than he trusted Astrid. From the moment she had stepped off the boat this morning, Cami seemed to have accepted his blindness, dealing with it better than anyone on Berk did. She didn't patronize him for it, like changing the rules of their sparring to make it easier for him. But she didn't pretend it wasn't there either.

It had been the perfect blend of acceptance and acknowledgement he'd unknowingly been craving for years. And it had been too good to be true.

Toothless crooned sadly, and his gentle licking of Hiccup's hair somehow registered in his numb senses. He might be floating in a freezing ocean, but Toothless was right there with him, a rock to hold on to.

Somewhere, far, far away, he could hear Astrid's voice talking to him through the door, but he was too numb to listen. It was all he could do to not shatter. Footsteps down the stairs, followed by shouts. A tinge of panic deep within said he should pay attention, but it froze almost immediately.

The voices changed, became softer. Footsteps on the stairs again. This time softer, lighter. Scratching and clicking from the lock. His breathing quickened even more. The door opened softly. Astrid's voice reached his ears again, echoing from downstairs. It was different. Fragile. Sad. Scared.

Toothless opened his wings, and Hiccup drifted into the ocean again, away from his rock. But before he could scream, someone grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet. He knew that scent. Those hands.

"I don't know what's going on with you, but you need to listen to Astrid," Cami said, dragging him towards the door with a gentleness he didn't know she had. Her hand was warm, and the warmth spread through his limbs. When they reached the door, he heard a sniff from downstairs, like someone was crying, and his frozen mind suddenly jumped into action. Was that Astrid?

Everything was too crazy to make sense of, and Hiccup didn't resist when Cami slowly led him down the stairs, nudging his legs to take the stairs one at a time. They creaked slightly, but the only thing Hiccup heard was Astrid's shallow breathing. He hadn't heard her like that in years, not since just after he lost his leg.

Then she suddenly started talking, about the things they had never talked about. The dark days, the endless cycle of panic and calming.

The things he never noticed. Her pain. Her exhaustion. The cold disappeared, replaced again with burning shame. How had he not seen it? Considered it? He wanted to step in, interrupt Astrid's painful monologue, throw himself at her feet and beg for forgiveness. But he was still too shocked to get his legs to move. As she kept talking, the numbness disappeared, replaced by pain and regret.

Then Astrid's words dissolved into nothing but sobs, and Hiccup couldn't take it anymore. He stepped forward, being careful not to startle her. When he was sure he was only a foot behind her, he quickly put his arms around her and pulled her towards him, her back against his chest. Astrid made a shocked sound, before going stiff in his embrace.

"It's alright. Just let it out. I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere. This doesn't make you weak," Hiccup whispered the same things into her ear she would normally whisper in his, things that always made him feel a little better.

Astrid made a sound that sounded like a mix between a laugh and a sob, before turning around in his embrace and burying her face in his neck.

"It's gonna be alright, I'm right here, and I'm never gonna let you go. Let me comfort you for once," Hiccup said, and Astrid put her arms around him as well, tears soaking the fabric of his shirt. He heard the front door opening and closing, and he knew Camicazi had left them alone.

"Y-You heard everything, didn't you?" Astrid eventually asked, and Hiccup could hear the fear in her voice.

"Pretty much," he answered, hoping she wouldn't shut off on him.

"Oh gods, Hiccup. I'm sorry that you had to hear that. I'm sorry…" Astrid started, but Hiccup interrupted.

"Don't apologize. I'm the one who should be sorry, I locked you out. I shouldn't have done that, I was just… in a very dark place. And I'm sorry I didn't see that you were in pain. I'm the most useless boyfriend ever," he said, doing his best to stop his voice from trembling. Astrid was always so strong for him, he had to be strong for her now.

She hiccuped between her tears, before punching lightly on the arm. "Y-You weren't supposed to know! I… I thought you'd be… angry, or… you know…" she softly said, and Hiccup just sighed. He lowered his hand and grabbed hers, lightly squeezing it.

"I'm not angry. I couldn't be angry with you. I'm just… I don't know… I'm not angry you feel this way. I'm just… disappointed you didn't tell me, I think. I… I want to help you, Astrid. Just like you help me! I won't think you're weak!" he exclaimed, and he could feel Astrid shake her head.

"I didn't think you could help. I still don't know how. I'm just… I'm tired, Hiccup. I'm tired of being unable to help you. And how can you help me with that?" she whispered, and Hiccup slowly moved out of their embrace and grabbed her hands, trying to smile even though his heart was aching from the pain he could hear in her voice.

"Astrid, listen to me. You help me. You help me every single day. You're my light. You make everything brighter just by being there. And… in those dark moments, you do help. You help me more than I can ever explain, and I don't thank you often enough for that. I see that now. But tell me, are you feeling better now? Did talking help?" he asked as he pulled her down with him to sit on the floor.

"I… I suppose it did. I feel… lighter now, like I was wearing heavy armor, and now it's gone and I'm free again," she slowly said as she grabbed his hand, and he squeezed it again.

"That's what I feel every time you do that for me. And more. It's just… You keep me connected, and I don't know what I'd do without you. I'm sure that, if I didn't have you with me during those… breakdowns, I wouldn't be able to come out of bed anymore," he explained, and he could hear her breathing calm a little. It was nice to finally talk about those dark hours. Normally they never mentioned it, it was just something that happened, and he thought they were both dealing with it as well as they could. But he now saw that they did have to talk about it, and about what it did to Astrid.

"Maybe, but… what's the point if it… doesn't solve anything? Why can't it just get better? I love you, Hiccup, blindness and scars and metal leg and all. And I don't think any less of you for having dark days. But… But… But why can't it just be simple for once? Why can't we be like other seventeen-year olds? The others, like Snotlout or the twins, they seem to have it so… easy. Why can't we have that? Why can't we just play and prank and train and… sneak into each others rooms to make out instead of cry, and… do whatever normal teenagers do, instead of just… dealing with all this shit? It's not fair!" Astrid said heatedly, and he couldn't stop his wistful sigh.

"I wish it was that simple too. But Astrid, I want you to understand something. I didn't have these dark days until after everything. The blindness, the Red Death, the leg. Before that I never cried. But I am infinitely happier now anyway. Astrid, you and Toothless bring so much happiness to my life, that I'd rather lose another leg than go back to that time before. I'm so happy you're with me, and that you'll be my wife one day, and… maybe I'm just not allowed to be that happy all the time. Maybe the gods need to balance it all out, so they send me nightmares and dark visions, but it's still worth it, Astrid! Don't ever doubt that you're not helping me, because you and Toothless are the best damn things that have ever happened to me!" he exclaimed, before releasing her hands and putting his arms around her again, resting his chin on her head.

"You asked what the point is of comforting me if I'll just break down again a few days later? The point is those happy days in between. Those bright days I probably wouldn't have if you didn't convince me to get up and face the world again. It's worth it, Astrid. Life is worth living, even if it's dark sometimes. It just makes the rest brighter."

Astrid slowly nodded against his chest, and he held her a little tighter. He rubbed her back and pressed kisses against her hair until she stopped crying.

"So, you feel a little better? Are you ready for another bright two years now?" he finally asked when she moved out of his embrace, and Astrid snorted, before squeezing his hand.

"I guess so. Thanks, Hiccup. We… We should have talked about this a long time ago," Astrid eventually said, before pulling him into another hug.

"We should have. But we did now, and the next time you feel this way, just tell me, okay? I want your days to be as bright as mine are," Hiccup said, and he could feel her head nodding on his shoulder.

They sat there for a little while longer, both of them calming down from their dark moment. Finally, Hiccup slowly pulled out of the hug and stood up, before offering his hand to Astrid.

"Shall we find Cami and talk to her as well? I think we owe her an explanation," he said as he pulled her to her feet.

"Yeah, I think we might have traumatized her with our tears. But she left your blindfold here. And… she wanted to apologize to you. For earlier. And… And I want to apologize to her as well. So… are you ready to face the world again?" Astrid asked, and a moment later she was tying his blindfold around his face again. He smiled, before grabbing her hand and leading her to the door.

"I'm ready for another bright day."

Thanks for reading! I'm sorry it took so long to update, school started again. But there's only 5 or so chapters left to the wedding you've all been waiting for!

[Link to masterpost]

[kingofthewilderwest]

hey haddock whats your take on why camicazi was cut from the movie? all this time i'd assumed it was bc that name is potentially controversial (kamikaze) and that astrid was intended to replace her role for the most part. the two characters are completely different however, i feel like the movie interpretations of the vikings have been molded a whole lot from books but otherwise do resemble their old selves to a degree (1/2)

however Astrid and Camicazi i cant really compare. i love them both a lot and they’re clearly intended to be counterparts but they’re so starkly different, the presence of camicazi isnt essentially there at all. have you given thought to why she was essentially totally written out of any movie interpretations? (2/2)

I do believe that the inspiration behind Astrid’s character was Camicazi. The writers started with Cami and then built Astrid. These two girls have a lot of common aspects... being fierce warrior blondes who become Hiccup’s closest companion and support and own dragons named Stormfly and things like that. So Astrid would have begun as Camicazi’s shadow when she was first conceptualized, and then grew into a three-dimensional, unique, rather different personality that has a lot to bring to the world of HTTYD.

I feel there are several understandable, logical reasons why Astrid diverged from Camicazi. I talk a little about Astrid’s personality morphing from Camicazi here, and also in a more general sense talk about how the HTTYD movies got derived from the first HTTYD book. In essence, I think these factors shape why Astrid was developed and Camicazi simultaneously disappeared:

Camicazi’s name. I agree with you that Camicazi’s name might have been intentionally unused because it could be uncomfortable to some audience members. It’s probably the same reason why Snotlout’s father got renamed “Spitelout” instead of the eyebrow-raising “Baggybum.”

The first movie takes place on Berk and Berk alone. Camicazi is a Bog-Burglar and a character that does not arrive until the third installment in the novels. Since the first movie takes place just on Berk, Camicazi would never appear. Therefore, the writers might have felt comfortable creating a character that evokes Camicazi’s spirit, but leave out the name, because technically she wouldn’t be there on Berk. Especially since they might not have known how far or in what directions the franchise would go, it makes sense to leave the unaltered Bog-Burglar character out of the picture where she technically doesn’t appear.

A strong female character was still needed for the movie. I think #3 is more of a definite factor than #2. The thing with having no Camicazi in the first movie means that there would be a void of strong female characters. HTTYD would have been a story of just boys. The writers would not have wanted that. They intentionally added girls to Hiccup’s dragon training class by giving Tuffnut, Jr. a twin and bringing in Camicazi/Astrid. The initial drafts of the movie might have had a character almost exactly like Camicazi or named Camicazi... essentially... someone meant to be, in one way or another, Camicazi. They probably initially transplanted Camicazi from the Bog-Burglars to the Hooligans. The writers regardless probably decided to insert a Camicazi-inspired character into the movie to give us gender representation. Maybe also they liked the idea of inserting in “Camicazi” early into the events of the first movie (back when they were only in the stages of planning/making one movie) because she’s so memorable in the stories and “should” be a part of their HTTYD movie adaptation.

When they upped the stakes to make HTTYD better suited for film, the role of the main female lead changed... and with it came the need to change her personality. The original drafts of the HTTYD movie were much closer to the first book by Cressida Cowell. However, as they developed the film, they probably realized the movie would be a lot better with changes. The thing with different storytelling media is that they have different strengths and weaknesses, and different types of stories tend to go better with each medium. The HTTYD books are cute, but the first book as it is is not strong movie material. The writers upped the stakes and action of the DreamWorks production to make it better suited for film. In the process, this meant making the Vikings at complete war with dragons, Toothless being rideable, and Hiccup’s dragon training being about fighting rather than training dragons. This also means that the roles of different characters got altered to adapt to this logical new direction.In order to demonstrate Hiccup’s conflict between wanting to be a proper Viking (like his dad and peers) and wanting to befriend Toothless, the writers adapted the main female personality. As mentioned in the filmmaker’s commentary, Astrid is intentionally created to represent the model Hairy Hooligan Viking. The fact Hiccup can change her mind to protect dragons instead of fighting them is a large deal because of what she represents and first believes. This means that, instead of a ridiculously adventurous, upbeat personality... they chose to alter the main female character into someone more serious and determined to fight dragons. Camicazi’s original role of a disguise artist adventurer would not fit in this new narrative structure, but a butt-kicking fighter like Astrid would deepen the narrative and create a more meaningful, powerful plot.

The focus on Hiccup and Stoick’s relationship meant cutting out book!Hiccup’s friendship circle. There’s another reason why Camicazi’s role in the books would not fit into the movies. In the books, Camicazi and Fishlegs are Hiccup’s circle of friends and support network. However, what the movie focuses on is the disjunct relationship between Hiccup and Stoick. Hiccup feels out of place in the books and wants to have a good relationship with his father; to emphasize this even more in a movie (which has very little time to gets its point across), the writers cut out Hiccup’s friendship circle. This helps us make Hiccup look more out of place and helps us understand why he’s so determined to take down a dragon. It helps us focus on the relationship between Hiccup and Stoick and feel the emotions behind it. If Hiccup had Camicazi and Fishlegs right there beside him, the impacting story of father and son, and of Hiccup’s struggling loyalties, would be less effective in the film form. So the main female lead could not start as Hiccup’s friend. She had to start as someone who didn’t believe in him and didn’t associate with him. Since Hiccup is bullied in the books by his peers, or at least looked upon askance... it makes sense that the newly-formed Astrid would be skeptical - even a little hostile - to Hiccup before they come together.

They decided to add the tropish romance. I’m not saying “tropish” in a negative form. I’m simply acknowledging that they chose to use the trope of “hero gets the girl” - they even say that outright at the end of the filmmaker’s commentary. Since Hiccup is now estranged from the main female character but still respects her abilities, it makes sense for him to idolize her romantically. Now their relationship develops in a romantic route as Hiccup learns who he is and that he is okay for his uniqueness. And the the ideal Hairy Hooligan character falls in love with that uniqueness. This again alters the main female character’s personality... you now are working with a story of “I-don’t-like-you” to “I-love-you.”

For the purpose of writing a movie instead of a book... for the purpose of the narrative focuses they needed to emphasize... it makes sense that the main female character Camicazi/Astrid became so changed. It seems likely it was a series of steps that increasingly diverged Camicazi into Astrid. Astrid, with her brave dragon-fighting spirit and later romantic interest, is a lot more conducive to the narrative themes that the writers focused on for the first HTTYD movie. To really get the idea across of Hiccup being an outcast, and of Hiccup wanting to please his father, and of Hiccup being divided between his desire to be accepted and his desire to help Toothless... the original concept of Camicazi was altered.

At some point in time, the writers would have realized that the female character they wrote was no longer “Camicazi.” Then they would have had the freedom to pursue her any which way they liked to make her fit the DreamWorks world best. The writers chose not to equate Camicazi with Astrid, despite the fact Astrid certainly had to have been inspired from the book character. And because of that, their personalities - as you say - are starkly different.

“Now why didn’t they introduce Camicazi into the television series later or something?” someone might ask. “Why develop, for instance, Heather, instead of Cami?” I think that the writers initially did not plan on Heather being such a big role. They meant her to appear in Heather Report Part 1 and Heather Report Part 2 and nothing else. Then, with Race to the Edge being greenlighted, it only made sense to proceed forward with the characters already introduced... Dagur and Savage and Heather and the like. And thus we never have Camicazi (in addition to Astrid) hop into the frame.

So that’s why I believe that Camicazi’s “essence” was almost completely written out of Astrid’s personality. The two characters have diverged to become interesting, different characters, each with their own unique contributions to HTTYD canon.

[kingofthewilderwest]

Hi! Can you do the MBTI personality types for HTTYD book characters?

Related: MBPTI for DreamWorks characters here and dragons here.

As I always do when talking about the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator, I want to start off with its weaknesses. I do like the test and find it fascinating, don’t get me wrong, but I think it’s overemphasized, and perhaps people put too much stock in its results. Bringing this up is not to disappoint people when they talk about Myers-Briggs because I know it’s well-loved by many individuals. My purpose is for the nature of the analysis: to point out where there are gaps in this personality test. That way, we know where a character’s Type fits them well when we analyze their Type, and where Myers-Briggs cannot assess us in determining and understanding their Type.

Personality tests tend to have the results we input - that is, we get what we want because we answer our own questions. They also tend to have a certain focus or parameter that is being measured. They’re not all-inclusive tests that tell us the details of how everyone works. In the case of Myers-Briggs, the focus is on peoples’ psychology in how they specifically perceive the world and make decisions. The last thing to note is that, like all personality tests, Myers-Briggs gives us discrete categories instead of a gradient. Human traits cannot easily be compartmentalized into chunks; we have gradients in how our personalities manifest ourselves. For instance, we can’t just divide people into clear extroverts and clear introverts. There are people who are very introverted, mildly introverted, mildly extroverted, and extremely extroverted. How we respond is based upon a continuum… and it’s to note that categories by nature hugely simplify the extraordinary complexity and multi-faceted behaviors of who we are.

But that said, of course there are reasons why people find Myers-Briggs interesting, and it can be interesting to analyze what Type characters might have. I’ll only pop in for the Big Three in the book series below.

As with all MBPTI analyses I do, I look at each trait individually and assign each without looking at the others.

Hiccup: INFJ

I for Introversion: Hiccup is mildly introverted. He’s not as introverted as I would pit Fishlegs, but he’s a far cry less extroverted than Camicazi. The reason I would put Hiccup as more I than E comes from his recreational activities. An introvert tends to recharge and find refreshment in times they spend by themselves, thinking to themselves, rather than engaging in social spheres. Hiccup seems to legitimately enjoy and spend a lot of time in solo pursuits. He writes his book on dragons. Before he starts training Toothless, he studies dragons by himself. Hiccup is a polyglot and has learned several languages through reading. It seems clear Hiccup spends a lot of time to himself and enjoys this time to himself. The fact that Hiccup also seems to prefer the companionship of just a few people (yes, I know being bullied by the others doesn’t help) supports the idea of Hiccup being more introverted.

N for Intuition: I’m less decided on the S versus N of these characters than most of the other answers I’m putting. But I think that Hiccup as an N makes sense. Intuitive people tend to solve problems by leaping between possibilities and charging out even to things that are new and different. They aren’t bound so much by their hands-on personal experiences, but can think about new possibilities. They tend to think about the future. Hiccup is someone who is always jumping out into the unknown and thinking about new possibilities. He’s trying to pave way to the new future. He’s not someone who just senses in the here and the now. He thinks inside of him about what could be more. I don’t know if he’s got all the N features, though... I’m not convinced that he is someone who puts a lot of stock in impressions, symbols, and metaphors moreso than personal experience, for instance. But still. Hiccup is very good at thinking through a problem without hands-on experience, so I’ll plop him as an N. Sure.

F for Feeling. Hiccup does a lot of thinking, too, but feeling hits the core of why he does what he does. The reason why I think that Hiccup hits on the feeling end more than the thinking end is because of his motivations. Hiccup’s reasons for getting so involved in danger trumps logic and rationality; he would rather do something very daring and dangerous if it has the great, emotion-wrenching result that’s spurring him on. Hiccup is willing to go into a near-impossible war to free the dragons and try to bring peace between dragons and humans. Hiccup wants to do this so desperately because of how much his heart is moved. Hiccup’s choices are oriented toward the human, toward the dragon, toward the individual. Unlike people who are T, Hiccup is someone who bases his choices very integrally on his feeling for the people around him. He also is, characteristic of Fs, idealistic.

J for Judging. I have DreamWorks Hiccup marked as P for Perception. Even book!Hiccup has a lot of P elements. I’m putting him as a J, though. Perceiving characters are loose and casual, keep plans to a minimum, and stay open to respond to whatever happens. While Hiccup is a very good improviser and will often make brave choices on the go, it seems that he prefers to have a bit more time to think things through. Hiccup always gets upset when his schedule gets upset from the norm; he prefers life to be consistent and predictable rather than the wild sorts of adventures he finds himself struggling through. Think of how he bemoans his birthday situation at the start of book six. Hiccup also seems to be someone who rather likes being organized in his day-to-day, what between making a list of strategies for how to train Toothless in the first book, to creating his book of dragons to categorize information.  Hiccup is someone who likes to get his work done before goofing off, he likes to have things decided, and he’s very task-oriented. So I would put book!Hiccup as a J, in contrast to what I give DW!Hiccup.

Fishlegs: ISTJ

I for Introversion: Fishlegs does not prefer to have a large social group, but would rather spend time with just a few key individuals - notably, Camicazi and his best friend Hiccup. Fishlegs doesn’t enjoy being unpopular in the tribe, but he also likewise seems to be content with the small social circle of which he is a part. He doesn’t feel the need to expand companionship beyond this little group. He’s an introvert. Fishlegs also does not enjoy most social interactions that occur in large tribe gatherings - in part because he finds them idiots - but also because it seems he does recharge being by himself and because he seems to enjoy quieter, more self-pointed activities. Fishlegs likes the idea of being a poet. He recharges and finds good times in being by himself. He’s an introvert.

S for Sensing: People who are sensing tend to trust their own experiences and trust words and symbols less. Fishlegs is someone who seems to think in the here and now rather than the future, as well as someone who trusts his past experiences. He knows what dangers are out there and he wants to avoid them because of those experiences. He might miss new possibilities because he thinks so much in the past and present. So I would put Fishlegs as an S.

T for Thinking: Unlike Hiccup, Fishlegs thinks much more about the logic and danger of a situation. He often lets Hiccup know he thinks an idea is irrational or too gutsy through his sarcasm, for instance. He’s not the idealistic go-getter his friend is. The truth is important, and if the truth is that the situation is too dangerous to help, Fishlegs will point that out to Hiccup. Fishlegs and Camicazi are, after all, Hiccup’s opposite helpers: Camicazi will advise Hiccup to charge into a situation, while Fishlegs will advise more logical caution. Of course we see Fishlegs make some feeling-oriented decisions, too, like charge after the Berserkers to find evidence for his family history in book eight, but I would say that by and large Fishlegs fits better into the Thinking category.

J for Judging. Easy for Fishlegs. Fishlegs is not someone who enjoys spontaneity, nor is he someone loose and casual. He likes nice, safe routine, life decided for in advance with no surprises. Of course J is a lot more than that, but I think all of the main traits balance in nicely with how we see Fishlegs in the books. I can see him as someone who doesn’t want to rush to a deadline - that would probaly stress him out - and I can see him as someone who likes to get work done before doing something fun. 

Camicazi: ESFP

E for Extroversion: Camicazi is extraordinarily social and a safe “E” in her Myers-Briggs Type. Camicazi is very chatty and will even endlessly converse with her enemies. She always seems to be hanging amongst other individuals, be it her adventuring companions Hiccup and Fishlegs, or the other Bog-Burglar girls in her tribe. Camicazi seems not to struggle making friends, and she seems to find her greatest energy socializing with other individuals. Camicazi isn’t someone who needs to sit out and reflect to recharge. Instead, Camicazi gets excited going on adventures with others, spending time with friends, and being with other humans.

S for Sensing: Again, I’m not wholly convinced with my N versus S choices for this analysis, not as much as my other choices. But I would say that while Camicazi can think of new possibilities and the future, I also feel as though she is also someone who trusts experiences first and words and symbols less. She is someone who pays attention to the physical reality around her. So I’ll put her as an S.

F for Feeling: Camicazi is not a T, though she has some elements of both Ts and Fs. She is not someone who finds technical and logical things interesting, nor is she someone who looks out for inconsistencies or logical explanations and solutions. The T part of Camicazi is that she might not be tactful or she might forget about all the parties involved in her choices. But while it’s true that she might not entirely think through the people part of the situation in her dangerous gumptions, she is definitely someone who makes choices more by her heart and conscience than by any sort of truth-oriented rationality. That motivates and drives her far more than anything else, which is why I have her categorized as an F. Camicazi’s a Feeler, not a Thinker, even if she isn’t the best communicator in the business.

P for Perceiving: Camicazi is someone who definitely works in bursts of energy; who likes to stay open and respond to things as they happen rather than plan them; and loves unpredictable adventure as versus neat, settled schedules. Camicazi might make plans as an escape-artist, but these often seem to be thought up at the moment. Certainly, a lot of her adventures aren’t thought up far in advance. There’s a lot of improvisation and go-getting to how she acts. Camicazi is stimulated by the situations around her rather than sitting back and trying to categorize and decide things far in advance. She’s definitely a P.