aefenglom | 2; Video; Open

Entry tags:

2; Video; Open

Name: Aziraphale
Date: 24/11
Format: video

[The last time Aziraphale made his own post, it was rehearsed. Prepared. He had a plan. He still looked like the neurotic, anxious mess he tends to be but he'd managed to keep most of his nerves at bay. This time, though? This time there's no preparation, no plan, no mission.

This time you just get a fairly frustrated (and slightly angry) angel making a post.]

If you are, perhaps, given a book by mistake, a book that doesn't belong to you-

[Breathe in, breathe out...]

Could you, perhaps, let me know? Apparently some of the books in my bookshop were sent through the mirror, but have ended up scattered around and they were- they are quite delicate. I'd appreciate if they didn't get damaged, they are...

Very important to me.

[Taking care of his bookshop is the closest he's ever felt to having a 'home'.]

Thank you very much.

[OOC: Feel free to assume your character found a book! Aziraphale specialized in first editions, so those are the most likely.]

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[This is probably why Hiccup still wears his leathers from home most days. More protection against scrabbling dragon claws. Sharpshot settles on his shoulder like a parrot, and noses against his hair curiously, snuffling.

Hiccup lets out a sheepish laugh and holds out his free arm like a falconer, whistling once. The sharp sound gets the little dragon's attention, and he flaps his wings and takes off, landing neatly on his forearm.] Sorry, yeah, this is- this is Sharpshot. My Terrible Terror. He, uh, came through the mirror recently.

[Nudging Sharpshot up his arm to his shoulder, he presents the book he's been carrying under the other arm, holding it out with both hands.] They gave me this at the mirror house? I... think it's probably yours. And even if it isn't, it, uh, should be.

Sharpshot… what a cute name for a dragon. Terrible Terror, huh?

[He wants to chuckle at that, but the scratches that he got from the little beast trying to climb on top of him tell him that the name is, probably, rather well-earned. But this one is definitely not getting the Toothless treatment of free access to scritches unless Hiccup tells him it’s alright to do so.

And then Aziraphale’s attention gets complete sidetracked when Hiccup mentions the book he brought, because food and his books will always do that as far as Aziraphale’s concerned. He would be doing the grabby hands at the book right now if it weren’t completely undignified.]

Oh, Hiccup! Thank you very much, I’ll see if it was one of mine right away. I had so many it’s hard to keep track, and I don’t have the memory I used to have anymore…

Would you care for some tea? I still have to choose which brand we’ll be brewing at the shop!

They're- scarier in a pack. [Thus the Terrible Terror name. Sharpshot squawks happily at the sound of his name, digging his claws into Hiccup's leather-covered shoulder and leaning forward expectantly.] It's okay, he's well-trained. Has a bad habit of stealing food still, but- uh, that's about it. [Meaning he won't bite or burn the place down unprovoked.

Hiccup seems slightly relieved when Aziraphale takes the book, like it's now out of his hands figuratively and he doesn't have to worry about its safety anymore.] Even if it isn't, you- you can keep it until someone claims it? It's a lot safer here than at my place. The dragons aren't destructive but there's a lot of room for accidents.

[He brightens a little here. Tea isn't something they really have back on Berk, but he's grown to like it a lot, especially since being Bonded to a Brit.] I'd love some. How are things going? Are you opening soon?

I'm more than happy to do so.

[I'm not saying he was going to try to keep it anyway, but he probably was. Aziraphale does his very best to be a good person and to follow every rule of the ones he's supposed to follow, but he sometimes loses his focus when it comes to books. Just ask Anathema.]

Books aren't safe around you, are they, little brother dragon? [He asks Sharpshot with a sweet voice before he turns his attention back to Hiccup. He's not crazy about animals, too messy and they always try to steal his food and damage his books, but old 'love all creatures' habits are hard to break.]

I could probably open already, but I'm trying to gather as many books as I'm able to first. I'm still working on some transcriptions... oh, I'm so excited! I want this place to be truly...

good.

I figured you would be! [Look it's fine, Hiccup would have handed it over without a fight regardless. A blind person could see that Aziraphale is better equipped to care for books. He's got a bookshop! One that... probably won't sell books, but still.

Sharpshot croons happily in return and rubs bodily up against the side of Hiccup's head. At least he seems content to stay put for now. And hasn't burned anything down.]

I think it'll be amazing. It's already looking great! Pretty soon you'll have the biggest collection in the city. [He smiles a little wider.] Let me know if you need anything, more- shelving, or whatever. I'm pretty good with tools.

[He laughs- Hiccup is probably one of the most helpful people he's met, and he was surrounded by angels back home.]

So far I can handle it on my own, it’s still quite small. And some people have already offered to help, so I think I should be fine. But if you’d like to see the collection I have-

[He pauses the, as he thinks of something:]

Actually, I’ve been working on some translating spells and maybe you could help me see if they work?

Well, you know, the- the offer's there. [He's just a helpful person. And he likes Aziraphale, who always seems interested in things and happy to talk, or let Hiccup talk.]

Oh, a translating spell sounds amazing! I'd love to help test it out.

[He grins, apparently quite proud of himself for that one.] Oh, it's just a language-deciphering kind of spell, nothing too complicated. But considering I wasn't able to do anything with magic when I got here, and how much I missed my world's own brand of miracles...

Well, I'm quite happy to have advanced so much. I don't think I speak your language, so if you write something down I could try to decipher it.

It's incredible isn't it? I couldn't- I was setting things on fire left and right when I first got here. [And now when he sets something on fire, it's intentional! Mostly. Magic is rough to start learning, but once one starts to get the hang of it... it feels right somehow.]

Yeah, sure! [He goes for the paper and the charcoal stick kept tucked away in his normal clothes, pulling out a sheet and then writing some things down in the blocky, straight runic language of his people. There are some regular, every day words, and some more specialized terms - he's curious if the spell will be able to successfully translate things like "gronckle" and "dragonroot" and "Snoggletog".] Here. I'm eager to see how it works.

[Aziraphale went to retrieve a pair of glasses as Hiccup wrote. They look like you usual pair of glasses, the ones you’d expect someone of Aziraphale’s age who reads as much as he does would wear. But if Hiccup looks closely he’ll see the glasses have a spell written on one of its side, a spell ready to be activated.]

I haven’t been here that long; I still need to practice a lot to get the hang of it. [Aziraphale excuses himself, though he knows Hiccup wouldn’t judge him. He’s the one who first suggested he start taking classes in the coven a few months ago, after all.] Now, let’s see…

[He touches the side of his glasses twice, and then squints a bit as he tries to read what Hiccup wrote. The spell… takes a few moments to translate, he’ll have to perfect the rune. But once it does, he can’t help but smile rather proudly.

He reads the words out loud to Hiccup, but he stops and frowns once he reaches the specialized terms.]

Sorry, those are- Are those real words?

You wouldn't guess. You're- you're doing pretty great. [A translation spell seems like pretty amazing progress to him. It's not the sort of magic he'd find himself good at, so maybe that makes it all the more impressive - his talent lies primarily in enchantments.

He's excited as Aziraphale reads off the right words, even down to the stranger ones.] Yes! Or, well, they are back home. I was wondering if it would translate things that there aren't really words for here. A gronckle is a breed of dragon, dragonroot is a poisonous plant, and Snoggletog is our winter holiday.

Snoggletog!

[He repeats happily, as if now that he actually knows the feeling the word is suddenly full of meaning, magic and wonder. Aziraphale is a calm, quiet kind of person who’s surprisingly introverted for all that he loves humanity. But he also loves any kind of festivities, any excuse for people to be merry and have fun (especially if it has food) has his approval.]

Oh, that sounds wonderful. Perhaps you could tell me more about it- or write, as a test? I’ve got my work cut out for me if I want to fill all the shelves with books, so the more people want to write the better.

And between you and me, I absolutely adore winter festivities. They are all always so full of… warmth!

[Aziraphale's enthusiasm is contagious, and the fact that he doesn't make fun of the name is always nice. (His tribe has weird naming conventions, apparently - what seems normal to him gets glances and comments from people all the time.)] Yeah! It's- it's a good time. The kids put their helmets down at the feet of their beds for Odin to put presents in, and we have a big fish feast for the dragons, and singing and dancing in the Great Hall...

[Which. Thinking of it will probably just make him feel more homesick this year, but... That's just the nature of the beast.

He laughs.] I'd be happy to write some books for your collection. I could probably fill one with just the traditions we have that other people would think are strange.

And I would welcome the chance to read about them. It sounds wonderful.

[The excitement is never leaving his voice, apparently. He adores learning about new things, new cultures, new people- and he adores reading, so this is pretty much heaven, as far as he's concerned.]

But remember, only if you've got the time for it. No pressure in the slightest. Is your forge getting regular work, nowadays?

Our traditions are- unique, I guess. [He says with a sheepish laugh.] Snoggletog is the closest thing to- to a holiday people are familiar with around here. [And then they have a lot of weirder holidays like Thawfest, Bork Week and Stump Day, none of which really have close counterparts here that Hiccup has found.]

I mean, if you- if you can call it work. I don't, it's not really a business? I don't sell anything. [What is capitalism. He only sort of grasps the concept of caring so much about wealth. More important on Berk is the well-being of the whole village, having enough food to last through winter, having enough medicine to take care of their sick. Smithing was always just to arm the villagers, so they can defend the island and each other.] But I always have something going on! I enjoy having projects. It's- it's really no big deal to jot some things down, though. I've got a spell that will write down whatever I'm saying, so I can do it while I'm working.

People didn’t always work for money, you know. They just wanted to give to their community.

[Aziraphale was there, literally, when they invented money. He’s still pretty sure that came from down there- or maybe only humans themselves could have come up with something so complicated when trade was working just fine for them. Either way: he gets you, Hiccup, he understands where you’re coming from.]

I appreciate the sword you made me very much, even though I’m not really a fighter. I should have told you this earlier, but I was a diplomat in Dorchacht and it helped me many times over to bring light, when I needed it.

That sounds like Berk. [They mostly just trade yaks and sheep for goods, and sometimes jewels from other places as 'wealth'.] I guess the future is all about- money, though. [Even Aefenglom feels like the 'future' to a guy from the viking era.

He looks up, smiling warmly.] I'm glad. They- they really needed some light. I was there too, all month. I know Inferno came in handy a few times. [All of his things did, actually, down to his prosthetic leg when he needed to distract some guards in a rowdy crowd.] That makes it worth it. That's why I don't care about money. I just want to help.

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2; Video; Open

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