29 // [video]

[shadowdive]

Private call to Ven

[Vanitas looks rather pleased, despite trying to obviously not smile at the camera.]

Ventus, I got your package today. Carriers apologized about it being late.. [Pausing a moment, he lets out a sighed breath, a small smile creeping onto his face anyway.] It looks good.



[There's a moment with purple streaking across the screen, paws hitting the Gear and unlocking it for the rest of the network to see; Vanitas petting a very affectionate Purrloin on his shoulder with a red ribbon tied around the kitty's neck, smiling a bit more openly.]

Nitas, don't jump up like that. I was done talking anyway.. impatient.

[Turning his attention back to the Gear, he clears his throat.]

Thanks, Ventus.

[.... o o p s, he didn't know the call unlocked. Well, either way, he's hanging up now, so the feed clicks off.]

Comments

[newberktown]

[Hiccup complies, continuing to be silent, and simply setting his gear down on the counter so he can prop his chin on a hand. He wouldn't really know what to say, anyway.

With the slightly different view, the Swablu egg in his lap is a little more visible.]

[shadowdive]

[Clearing his throat, Vanitas takes a few more minutes to regain his composure.] ... How is the egg doing?

[newberktown]

[Hiccup just sits there patiently, being quiet. He's pretty used to waiting out the rants and raves of vikings, so Vanitas sorting out his embarrassment is a cakewalk.

Oh, he's allowed to speak now! While he addresses Vanitas, his eyes are kind of...stuck on that cat. Hi, Nitas.]

It's good. My Noctowl likes mothering, so even if I'm not around for whatever reason, it's taken care of really well.

[shadowdive]

[Nitas takes the staring as her cue to be adorable somemore, licking a paw and proceeding to groom herself from her perch. Vani ignores the motions going on.] That's good. Other birds caring for it will be better than if, say, a dog tries to sit on it to keep it warm.

[newberktown]

Yeah... After Hookfang spends most of his time trying to destroy my foot, I don't think I want to set him near an egg.

[D'awh, look at that. Hiccup likes cats. They remind him of Night Furies.]

[shadowdive]

.... Sounds like you need steel toe boots, for that. [Nitas purrs and meows a little, crawling from shoulder to shoulder..]

[newberktown]

It's...already mostly steel...

[He sure is sounding distracted there.]

Where'd you get the cat?

[shadowdive]

[.. Might as well answer then, though since 'cat' is heard, Nitas turns and meows at the screen as if she knows she's being spoken about. Crawling down his arm and rubbing her face against the gear, Vanitas winds up chuckling a little.]

As a gift today. You'll have to ask Karkat where he got her egg.

[newberktown]

Oh... Okay.

[Do you two always have eggs?

Hiccup can't help placing his free hand against the screen as Nitas nears. Even if he hasn't done it in quite a while, the old habit from his video calls with Toothless would never die completely.]

So what were you thanking Ventus for?

[shadowdive]

[No. Just lately..

Licking the screen, Nitas hops up and pushes a paw on it then, purring louder.]

He made a wooden carving of my weapon from home. It's so I can keep training, even though I can't summon it anymore.

[newberktown]

[Nitas, why are you doing this to Hiccup's and his mun's heart strings?

A thought occurs, and it's just enough to tear the boy's attention away from the cat for a while. Vanitas sure is getting a lot of gifts today...]

...Is it your birthday?

[shadowdive]

[She's really a troll under all that cuteness.]

No. Nitas was a gift for teaching Karkat how to swim, and Ventus made that keyblade so we can spar better.

[newberktown]

Oh.

[Good. Then he won't feel guilty about being so envious of your Purrloin. Hiccup sets his chin on the counter, arms moving to curl around the egg instead, as he focuses again on the pokemon.]

Must just be a good day, then.

[shadowdive]

[Watching quietly from around Nitas' antics, he shakes his head slightly.] Average day, though Nitas was a surprise I wasn't expecting. [Perking at her name, the kitty scoots back up to his shoulder and gets comfy.]

I can ask Karkat where he got the egg, if you want. [He can see that wistful sort of look.]

[newberktown]

You sure looked like it was a good day.

[YEP. It was finally time to comment on that.

Vanitas's over gets a tiny jolt of surprise out of Hiccup before a sheepish smile curls.]

O-oh... Would you? It's just that she's reminding me of an old friend.

[shadowdive]

[He's had time to react better to comments on his smiling; so he just narrows his eyes before snorting.]

It's fine. Someone from home?

[newberktown]

[Whee, getting better reactions than other people~]

Mhmn. He was here for a while, too, but he's gone now.

[And as far as Hiccup knows, he'll never get the chance to see him again--at home or in Johto.]

[shadowdive]

I see. [Tilting his head to get a look at his cat, he just gives her a good look over.. how does a cat remind someone of a friend from home? At least, a really overly affectionate cat.]

You will see him again, probably. If I were Ventus, I'd say something about how once you've connected to someone, you never truly lose them. [He is not qualified to give these speeches gdmit, where's lightstuff, he needs to get over here.]

[newberktown]

[You have clearly never befriended a Night Fury, Vanitas.

...Also, he's decided you're alright and everything, but that was just awkward coming from you. Oh well, at least it keeps him from sadfacing at you.]

So I'm guessing you're not used to saying things like that.

[shadowdive]

[Grunting and clearing his throat, he simply shakes his head.]

[newberktown]

[He shrugs.]

It'll get easier the more you practice. And if you actually mean it, that works, too. [Hiccup grins small.] The "if I were so-and-so" is what makes it sound the most strange, I think.

[shadowdive]

I meant it, but I don't plan on practicing that kind of line. It's because Ventus would say it, but because he's not the one answering.. [...Kind of derping out here, because he doesn't know how to give FRIENDSHIP IS FOREVER speeches.]

[newberktown]

[All this derp around you must finally be getting to you, Vanitas.]

But if you don't practice, how can you expect to comfort people when they really need it?

[Hiccup, you spent years being a social failure. Why are you giving advice.]

[shadowdive]

[No get out why are we discussing nooooooo]

... I'll find a way that works better for me. [Grumbling, Vanitas scratches his chin.] The intent remains the same.