#Tumblr messaging can be hecka stressful sometimes lol

[chiscribbs]

Okay so the httyd thing. I've been so excited to share this idea w/ you you have no idea.

So what I've been thinking, is Hiccup seemed to recover wayyyyyyyyy too fast for someone who's been neglected and ostracized from his entire community most of if not all his life. Like when Stoick comes home from looking for the nest in the first movie, and the villagers are saying things like "congratulations" or "out with the old in with the new" and "good riddance if you ask me" and they're "throwing a party to celebrate" Stoick assumes Hiccup is dead and that Berk is celebrating. Berk hated him that much. So what I'm thinking is, Hiccup has made inventions and stuff, he's been trying to do something that will prove he's one of them, a real Viking, trying to make them like him, and none of it worked. The only thing that made them realize he was worth anything was when he started being himself, but what if Hiccup doesn't see it quite that way. What if he thinks that if they can change their minds that quick to like him, then they might change their minds again if he doesn't stay useful. What if no one apologized to him for how they treated him? Because I don't think anyone did. What if his self esteem is still 6 feet lower than the ground and he's walking around waiting for the other shoe to drop. In Gift of the Night Fury we see he feels guilty for Toothless needing him to fly, and so he makes him a new tail that doesn't need a rider. Toothless doesn't want it, but that's not the point. What if Hiccup gives people the option to leave him, because he still thinks its possible that they will. It probably wouldn't be super obvious if he did, but what if he makes them all (Astrid, Tuff and Ruffnut, Fishlegs, Snotlout, maybe even Gobber and Stoick) inventions and things that make it so they don't have to rely on him so much? Leaning a little into Race to the Edge, what if he gives Fishlegs some books he's always borrowing, just as an example. What if they all think he's just being nice, and he's actually trying to make sure they don't need to have him around? This is probably a bit of a stretch, but it's all to say that Hiccup deserved better, and I want the gang to see that and help this boy dig his very very low self esteem out of the hole they buried it in. (Also I like to think that hiccup did this with Gobber when he was younger, because Gobber being the only one who didn't hate him is my emotional support headcannon)

TLDR: What if the gang realized that Hiccup has no self worth and thinks that if everyone could suddenly like him then they could still suddenly hate him?

This might be out of character, but I think all of Berk hating his guts and calling him a screw-up probably did some nasty damage to Hiccup's self esteem, and I want to see that realized and dealt with, because being hated and then suddenly loved might have been a dream come true, but it also probably made him scared it was a dream, and that he will eventually have to wake up.

(Finally getting around to responding to this - sorry it took awhile, I've had my mind on other things and I really didn't want to give a half-brained response when you put so much work into this.)

Ahhhhh, "social outcast genius equating his self-worth to his usefulness in the eyes of others" trope, my beloved.

I will say, my perception of his relationship with the people of Berk was always a bit more on the "he's a nuisance, but he's still family" side of things than out-right hatred. Like the equivalent of a small-town's troubled youth, they don't like him, but he grew up there and he's the village leader's son, so they still have some sense of ownership of him prior to his making them change their minds. If that makes any sense? ...they're Vikings, though, so it's hard to tell the difference sometimes, lol. But, in fairness - it's been awhile since I've watched the first movie, so I'll concede to the freshest memory here. Anyway, that's beside the point-

I wholeheartedly agree with you on this! Hiccup was definitely owed a town apology, at the very least. I understand why they didn't go into that in the movie - limited time, plus the the Stoic-Hiccup relationship was really the core of the conflict, so they opted to focus on that instead - but I agree it would have been nice to see some closure regarding the people of Berk's attitude and treatment towards him. Or some recognition for how it might have affected him after the first movie's conclusion. Because you're absolutely right, that kind of emotional whiplash can be damaging - especially on a teenager who already has considerably low self-esteem.

This does feel pretty in-character for Hiccup, in my opinion, considering the doubts he has in himself as a leader. He neither wanted nor felt right for that job, even when everybody else was sure of his qualifications. So it'd be easy to see him projecting his own doubts in himself on others and assuming they might see things the same way as him. That's the kind of thing that eventually fades as it's repeatedly proven untrue, but it takes time for that reassurance to grow, and the doubts would definitely be pretty prominent at the start. And him wanting to do what's best for everyone else, having the sense of love and responsibility for his community that he has, it makes sense he wouldn't try to hold on too tightly and would instead provide ample opportunity for people to leave if/when they wanted to. (Just like he did with Toothless.)

I think if anybody was gonna pull him out of that, or help him pull himself out of that, it would be Astrid. She'd immediately know something's up - she's always the one to ground him when he's too inside his own head to see things clearly. And unlike his confidence in himself, her confidence in him has never once wavered, she knows he's more capable than he thinks. Astrid also has a much healthier relationship with the rest of Berk, so if anybody can provide some reassurance on the public opinion front, it would be her.

...

All that to say - I like this idea! Very well thought-out and well-considered, imo. I'm not quite as well-versed on the HTTYD world as some people - while I adore the movies, I never quite reached fixation levels of interest in the franchise, for whatever reason - so I can't add too much to this. But I like it and I appreciate you sharing your concept with me! Thanks! :>

[delaynarae]

another day another taggo

Tagged by @dana5of5 Thank ya much I love doing these things! Rules: Answer the questions and tag 20 people. - I don't like to be told what to do LAST: 1. Drink: Wata 2. Phone call: just checked it was my dad 3. Text message: my sista and it literally just said "Bloo" 4. Song you listened to: Heartache On The Dance Floor - Jon Pardi 5. Time you cried: It was in the car because my parents and I were talking about college and it was stressing me out (it wasn't like full blown crying though it was more like a frustrated tear or two)

HAVE YOU: 6. Dated someone twice: No 7. Kissed someone and regretted it: Sure 8. Been cheated on: No 9. Lost someone special: Yes and no 10. Been depressed: Sure 11. Gotten drunk and thrown up: No

LIST 3 FAVORITE COLORS: 12. Blue/Navy Blue 13. Dark Red/Maroon 14. Light Red/Light Blue

IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU: 15. Made new friends: Sure 16. Fallen out of love: Nope 17. Laughed until you cried: Obvi' 18. Found out someone was talking about you: umm I mean not really 20. Found out who your friends are: Sure 21. Kissed someone on your Facebook list: No lol

GENERAL: 22. How many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: Like all of them 23. Do you have any pets: One doggo 24. Do you want to change your name: Nope 25. What did you do for your last birthday: I can't remember 26. What time do you wake up: 2ish 27. What were you doing at midnight last night: Watching the Office and scrolling through tumblr.com 28. Name something you can’t wait for: Falll!! I’m all about sweater weather 29. When was the last time you saw your mom?: like 5 minutes ago in the living room 30. What is one thing you wish you could change in your life: I wish my parents didn’t have to work so hard and worry about money I wish I had more motivation to do something with my life so I could actually help them out more 31. What are you listening to right now: My Country Mix playlist on Spotify 32. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: Yep 33. Something that is getting on your nerves: Like everything bruh 34. Most visited website: Tumblr 35. Mole/s: Sadly 36. Mark/s: I have a scar on the right side of my forehead 37. Childhood dream: I always wanted a dog 38. Hair color: Natural Red hair 39. Long or short hair: Shortish 40. Do you have a crush on someone: Umm yes his name is Jim Halpert 41. What do you like about yourself: I'm quirky and funny. 42. Piercings: Ears 43. Blood type: Don't know.. 44. Nicknames: Layna, Deelite, Delaylay, D 45. Relationship status: Single looking for my "T.V. Soulmate" A.K.A. someone who likes all the same television shows and movies as me 46. Zodiac: Sagittarius 47. Pronouns: Dude, Bro, My Friend, Gorl, Gir, Girly like whatever man 48. Favorite TV Show: Currently the Office 50. Right or left hand: Right 51. Surgery: Nope 52. Hair dyed in different color: Nah 53. Sport: Lol As If 55. Vacation: Just got home from vacation up north! 56. Pair of trainers: I rock some pizza converse shoes they're the bomb.com

MORE GENERAL: 57. Eating: Not currently but some pizza would be great right about now 58. Drinking: A nice cold one with the boys 59. I’m about to: Try to finish this hecka long post 62. Want: A nice house out in the country for my family 63. Get married: Yes! I’d love to I’m so glad you finally asked me! I can’t wait to tell my mother she’ll be thrilled to hear the news! What where’s my ring?! Don’t tell me you asked me before you got me a ring?! I can’t believe this! 64. Career: Professional Hugger 65. Hugs or kisses: Umm^^^ 66. Lips or eyes: I myself have large eyes and lips but I like people with kind eyes 67. Shorter or taller: I’m tallish but I’m not tall or short racist I’m friends with people of all heights 68. Older or younger: Around my own age preferably but old people are pretty cool to hang with. Me and my girl Linda hit the town and go out to bingo every Friday night. Hollaaa! B7! Bingoo! Take that Shirley!! 70. Nice arms or nice stomach: I have neither so beggars can’t be choosers 71. Sensitive or loud: Both 72. Hook up or relationship: Dumb question 73. Troublemaker or hesitant: Both

HAVE YOU EVER: 74. Kissed a stranger: Nah 75. Drank hard liquor: Nop 76. Lost glasses/contact lenses: Oh like a ton 77. Turned someone down: Yep 78. Sex on the first date: No thank you 79. Broken someone’s heart: Sure 80. Had your heart broken: Not Really 81. Been arrested: I’m not allowed to talk about it but let’s just say I stumbled upon something that rhymes with “Bearea Nifty Won” and the government may have arrested me on the spot 82. Cried when someone died: Yes (mostly fictional deaths) 83. Fallen for a friend: Sort of?

DO YOU BELIEVE IN: 84: Yourself: Sometimes 85. Miracles: Sure 86. Love at first sight: Why not? 87. Santa Claus: If you don’t believe you won’t receive 88. Kiss on the first date: I think it depends on the person and the situation if you feel a connection why not? It’s just a kiss

OTHER: 90. Current best friend name: Pippa my pupper 91. Eye color: Brown but I like to think they’re a lighter hazel brown 92. Favorite movies: Big Fish, Fried Green Tomatoes, Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging, Ella Enchanted, All of the Bridget Jones movies, both of the Princess Diaries and like a ton more those where just like my top faves

Umm I don’t think I’ll tag anyone since I just did one of these yesterday but if you would like to do this let me know and I can tag you! Thanks again @dana5of5 ! :)