[001; video/action; open]

[perceptum]

[ It's not certain at first whether the video has been switched on intentionally. There isn't any direct addressing of the network. There's just the spinning image of a hallway (the fifth floor, for those of you playing at home) the occasional glimpse of long, brown hair and the unmistakable sound of delighted laughter. It slows down, eventually, comes to a complete stop and the laughter abruptly cuts off. Instead of the walls, the feed shakes and jerks as she turns it around and River's face is visible, peering directly at the little device. ]

Curious name and curious nature. The walls have secrets and she doesn't know what they are.

[ She frowns a moment, then turns to eye a window with a clearly suspicious look. ]

They're hiding something.

[ She stares for a moment or two longer, then starts to skip off down the hallway again. It takes a while for the feed to cut out, in the end it only happens because she decides to sit down outside a door in one swift movement, and drops the little tablet thing in the process. ]

Comments

[perceptum]

[ Clearly she's pleased by that, because it earns a little giggle as she covers her mouth, and once he's risen back up again she leans in closer. Her hand stretches out towards the dragon, hovering almost hesitantly for a moment, but well...he doesn't seem like he's about to bite her hand off. ]

Lizards aren't polite, but this one knows his manners. If only he could speak, she wants to know what thoughts dance around in a mind like that.

[ The brief hesitation is just that - only brief, and then she moves past it quickly in favour of reaching out again. Ever so carefully, she gently touches his head, all the while eyeing him closely for a reaction. ]

[no_eels]

[Toothless looks pleased with the hand, and raises his head ever so slightly so that it applies more pressure. Pets. Yes. Pets are very welcome. He watches her right back, wings folded at his sides, but doesn't otherwise move. Wouldn't do to frighten this Viking. He likes her quite a bit already.]

[perceptum]

[ Now that's exactly the reaction she was hoping for, so when he doesn't move away from the touch River grins a little brighter. She still doesn't know what exactly he is, but she can find that out later. Those sorts of details aren't important. ]

He likes that? Kindest lizard she's ever met. [ The first, but that's hardly relevant right now. ] Look, he's being such a good boy.

[ She really is quite enamoured with him already, honestly. It helps that standing near him doesn't result in a bombardment of loud, unavoidable thoughts and feelings. She steps a little closer, a clearly content look settling on her face as she continues to pet his head gently. ]

[no_eels]

[Toothless rumbles out a contented, pleased purr at the attention. He doesn't even mind being called a lizard. Hiccup had done it, anyway, and many people in the mansion probably thought he was.

He leans his head into the petting, sniffling at her lightly to memorize her scent - as he did with any new Viking he encountered.]

[perceptum]

[ She lasts all of a few seconds before she lets out another delighted laugh. The sniffing just makes her grin even more, and it's so rare that she's ever this lucid, this happily carefree. River isn't worrying about the quiet whispers in the back of her mind, is ignoring the emotional bombardment that comes from being surrounded by so many people.

Leaning in, she rests her head against the side of his gently before she takes in a big deep breath of her own. She can sniff too, see? That bright smile is still there when she pulls back. ]

So strange and so beautiful. How did he ever end up here all alone?

[no_eels]

[The Night Fury's eyes are wide and amused as he takes this in, saucer-shaped. He misses Hiccup, of course, the boy who had given him flight again and was responsible for the harness on his back, but he's made plenty of new friends here to help fill the void somewhat. Including this one.

Toothless is pleased to see her smiling and happy, blissfully unaware of this being unusual. He gives her cheek a quick lick, or tries to - and, well, some of her neck, because he has a big tongue. Then he sits up again, so that they can be at eye level.]