[Valka Haddock]

VALKA HADDOCK luthyx The endless amount of people to deny her the location of this boy was painful. How many had said they had no clue who that could be? How many had scoffed upon hearing the name? Was this some young man lurking in their villiage whom no one knew about? Not even her son? Why would someone be denied a dragon! While sorting through papers she had been stunned to find such a document in her boy's posession. This was something that required immediate looking into... in somewhat secret. Not everything she did had to be looked over by the chief, she was perfectly capable of handling buisness on her own. She eyed around as she circled the square, hoping to catch sight of this boy... though she had no clue of what he looked like. She growled under her breath, being the impatient lady that she was, and begun to ask everyone that passed her about the name.

[luthyx]

(Playing as Hallgrim)

-------

Hallgrim flinched when he heard his name. It was uncommon for people to speak of him; even moreso when it was someone asking everyone who passed about him. He could see Valka a short ways up the street, approaching anyone who got too close. Hallgrim visibly froze for a second. If someone was asking for him - especially if that someone was the mother of the chief - his only logical conclusion was that he was going to be in big trouble when caught.

Hallgrim shook himself from his stupor and dashed into an alley, panting. Had she seen him? Was he too obvious in his escape? He tensed, ready to sprint, but curiosity kept him rooted firmly where he was. Valka was still within earshot, and he wondered silently what the villagers would tell her about him.

[Valka Haddock]

VALKA HADDOCK luthyx The boy escaping hadn't caught her eye, she was too busy scolding a villager about how similar of a situation this was. Whether this was a kid or not, this was a boy who lived in their home! This was a person they were talking about, not some stray dog to be oogled at! A few others were met with her ranting, scurring away or rooted to the spot with guilt as she compared one older man to doing the same thing with her son. Finally someone spoke up, and Valka sighed in relief.  "He's a recluse, but he works  buildin' on occasion, or cleanin' the stables." Great. Now this really was a man hunt. "If you see him please tell him to come find me at the stables then..." She waved him off, and every one went about their daily routines as Valka ran her hands over her face and started off towards the stables with hopes of finding this person.

[luthyx]

(playing as Hallgrim)

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

Sometimes, Hallgrim hated his own optimism. Everything he'd learned in life told him that a single encounter was all it took to make someone hate him - for all he cared, that was simply fact. Yet some tiny, whispering voice, burrowed deep in the back of his head, told him otherwise. Valka's words to the village gave him some hope. It wouldn't hurt to try, would it?

At the very least, it would get the encounter overwith.

Hallgrim set off at a brisk pace for the stables. His daily work was done, and he knew that the stablemaster didn't like to pay him overtime, but maybe he could busy himself with something until Valka happened to bump into him. He hoped. He wasn't sure if he had the courage to initiate the encounter.

He walked quickly enough that by the time he got to the entrance of the stables, he wasn't sure who'd arrived first - himself or Valka. He paused, shrugged, and figured that if Valka was here, he'd hear her inquiries echoing off the walls pretty soon.

[Valka Haddock]

VALKA HADDOCK luthyx The mother of the Berkian chief had reached the stabled long before Hallgrim due to her angry attitude, want to see the boy, and the fact her dragon was resting in the stables. Most nights he was uncomfortable sleeping in the house with so many other dragons and people, plus his still healing wounds, so Serana and the other stable keepers had set him up with a stable to himself instead.  "How's my big guy doing?" She asked softly to Cloudjumper as her hands trailed over the patched wounds in his wings, sighing softly. They would never fully heal, but thanks to Hiccup he'd at least be able to fly again. Cloud crooned happily at her petting. Hearing someone outside she peeked out, spotting a young man.  She curiously walked over, her dragon following behind her in confusion. The older woman had her hands tucked behind her back as she tilted her head, smiling and leaning forwards knowingly, "You're Hallgrim, no doubt. You're a hard boy to find." her hands went to her hips and she shook her head, "I've watsed most of the day just trying to find someone who knows you, so you really owe me answers now." Cloudjumper crooned and nuzzled his rider, not caring that she was in the middle of having a conversation. The readhead turned and pet at Cloud's large head, though her eyes remained on Hallgrim.  "Why has Hiccup denied giving you a dragon? That doesn't sound like something He'd do, nor something he has the right to do." She mumbled the last bit, looking the boy over expectantly.

[luthyx]

(playing as Hallgrim)

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

Hallgrim flinched, unable to meet Valka's eyes.

"I, uh. Hi," he started. "Hiccup, uh. Well. Pretty much everyone hates my guts, or at the very least ignores me."

He looked at the ceiling, quizzical, and started counting on his fingers. "I've been called naive, too young, untrustworthy, a thief, a liar, an orphan beggar, a coward... Y'know, the usual."

Hallgrim looked back to Valka and sighed. "I've been trying to get somewhere in my life for YEARS, but nobody ever lets me. No, I'm too immature to handle such things... I mean, I guess I could go try to find a wild dragon, but I, uh... I've had bad experiences with them, let's put it that way."

He instinctively put a hand on his right forearm, trying to hide the long-healed scars that decorated it.

[Valka Haddock]

VALKA HADDOCK luthyx The woman looked furious at the reasoning. Her son, her son who had once been called names similar to this was now listening to rumors and denying ownership of a dragon over it! Her smile remained in place, and she kept herself calm as she could for the moment. This young man needed a gentle approach, that was for certain, much like how she often had to treat her own son. She gently pushed Cloudjumper's head away, who took the hint and stood straight while his rider approached this smelly young human.  "You're in a rough spot then, with no experience in dragon taming." She reached out and lightly took hold of his arm he had tried hiding, clicking her tongue against the top of her mouth, "My son can be hard headed sometimes but I think his skull has grown thick permanently for him to think this is okay..." She gently pat Hallgrim's shoulder as she let go of his hand, nodding to one of the benches in the room.  "Have a seat and spill it out, it's time for someone to hear your story." She prodded with a soft motherly tone, lightly urging Hallgrim towards the seat.

[luthyx]

(Playing as Hallgrim)

--------

Hallgrim sighed and sat down on the bench, still rubbing the rough scars.

"I don't even know where to begin," he said, baleful. "I... well. I guess I'll start at the beginning.

"My parents, they... they were fishers. I was expected to join them when I got older. Sometimes, they'd take me out on fishing trips. They... they died when I was five. I don't remember their faces. People say I was lucky to simply escape those Scauldrons alive," the boy mumbled. "After that? I took to the streets. Nobody really wanted to take me in, so I just... fended for myself, I guess.

"Sometimes I got desperate. Sometimes... I'd take things that I needed. Things that nobody was using, things that nobody wanted." Hallgrim glanced back up, trying to read Valka's expression. His gaze fell back to the floor. "But I never took anything too important! And I'm older now. I'm a bit more useful."

Hallgrim sighed and tapped his feet against the ground. "Nobody's ever really trusted me, or cared about me. I.. I remember someone once commenting that I wasn't tough enough to handle anything because I didn't have a 'proper' upbringing, whatever that means. Pah! I'd like to see them spend their nights underneath a rotten boat hull for years."

He trailed off, glaring bitterly at a crack in the stone floor.

[Valka Haddock]

VALKA HADDOCK luthyx Valka's gaze remained gentle, and she took every word in, growing more and more angry with every second. Had she come back to Berk sooner... Not only would her son not have suffered so much, but other young men like this wouldn't have either, because she'd have been damned before she let this go on under her nose. her face scrunched finally, she couldn't hide the digust. "Sometimes I wish I could punch the entire villiage with one swing." She sighed sharply, "Sorry, I shouldn't say such things about the people, but it's true. They enjoy having someone to pin all the blame on." She reached a hand over and rubbed his back soothingly. "Starting tonight I can make you a better sleeping arrangement... It won't be a fancy room, probably here in the stables, but I'll get you a bed and get a few friends of mine to bring you some things." She continued the soothing petting, a smile slowly forming on her flushed cheeks from the fiecre anger slowly ebbing away to be unleashed later.  "I'll get this dragon thing sorted out too." She pat his head and stood. "I'm sorry I didn't come sooner, I didn't realise our villiage wasn't past abandoning people." Rather than angry she now looked heart broken. The villiage her husband had created was so hateful, towards the cheif's son, towards eachother... How could they let themselves come to this?

[luthyx]

(playing as Hallgrim)

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

Hallgrim sighed and nodded. "I.. thanks. I'm not used to this much.. generosity," he said, waving his arms in the air as though to illustrate his point. He tapped a finger nervously on the bench, then stood awkwardly, turning to face Valka.

"Well, it was, uh, nice talking, yeah?" the boy said, shooting her an awkward smile. He shot a glance over his shoulder, looked back, and pointed to somewhere behind him with his thumb. "I... I should get going. See you soon!"

With that, he backed up a couple feet, his nervous grin widening, before whipping around and sprinting off into the village. "I'llseeyoulaterhavefunthanksBYEEEEEE!"

[Valka Haddock]

VALKA HADDOCK luthyx Valka didn't expect the reaction she was greeted with, but it wasn't entierly unexpected either. Offer some confused boy the world and what else do you expect? She stood and left, taking off with Cloudjumper to a few people she knew would help her, not telling them why or what was going on, and by the next day they had a room made inside the stables, since there was always at least one empty stall, with the stall keeper's permission of course, they had replaced the wooden beamed gate with an actual door and moved a bed and a dresser in, though nothing was in it yet, she was planning on changing that too. It was hardly a room, but from what she knew it was a great improvement to sleeping outside. Now she was by herself, sitting with Cloudjumper and waiting for the boy to show up, assuming he even would.

[luthyx]

(Playing as Hallgrim)

--------

Valka's words were still fresh in Hallgrim's mind the next morning. He'd had a hard time falling asleep - for as run-down and derelict as his current hideout was, it held memories. Hallgrim knew that he was being stupid and sentimental about it, and he probably should've just been grateful for Valka's kindness, but it was still hard for him to wrap his mind around.

Gladios's friendship was one thing - that, at least, he could understand as a kindred spirit. But Valka? Hallgrim's head was left spinning. It felt so unnatural, and at the same time, so incredibly predictable. He sighed. Alas, as far as he was concerned, today was just another day in the grinder. Today's task was back at the stables.

When he walked in and spotted Valka there, he jumped, surprised at her being there and, at the same time, surprised at himself being surprised by such a thing.

"Hi," he choked out, stopping in his tracks and glancing around awkwardly. "Valka. Hi. Hi hi hi. What... what are you doing here? And why is there a door on one of the stables?"

[Valka Haddock]

VALKA HADDOCK luthyx She beamed immensely as the form of Hallgrim entered the stables, and upon his inquiry about the door, she swung it open, revealing the bed and dresser, and grabbed the young man, pulling him closer, looking at the boy with sudden shock. "You're freezing! You boys are always so stubborn, never wanting to let someone lend a hand. I don't care how tough you are, or how many times you've done it. No more sleeping outside." She placed her free hand on her hip, leading him forwards with her other hand, though she stayed where she was.  "I already talked it over with the keeper, and he said it was fine if you stayed, so go on. Give it a look."

[luthyx]

(Playing as Hallgrim)

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

Hallgrim took a moment to register what Valka had just said. He shot her a sheepish smile when she reprimanded him for sleeping outdoors, and took a tentative step inside of the makeshift room. It wasn't the largest, but it was certainly better than what he had - a proper bed, no musty smell clinging to the walls, and it was fairly warm and well-lit for a room of its stature.

"You... you really got all of this? For me?" Hallgrim balked, a slight smile forming on his face. Without waiting for an answer, he investigated the dressers, the bed, every little thing he could find. After a moment, he took a step back and observed it all, muttering excitedly under his breath about where he could put all of his little trinkets and possessions.

He turned around and looked at Valka, a big, sheepish smile on his face. For once in his life, he actually had the urge to hug someone.

[Valka Haddock]

VALKA HADDOCK luthyx Valka stood back and let Hallgrim explore the small space as he saw fit, standing in the doorway with her arms over her chest. It was a good sensation all around her. Whenever she was able to help out someone like this. It had been the same when she showed Gustav howto properly handle weapons , or when she told stories to the villiage children in the mornings. When he finally stopped sooping and turned back to face her, Valka smiled and opened her arms. "I know that look, bring it in." She said with a good natured laugh, making a rolling guesture with her hands to signal she was sincere.