Caged [Hiccup]

[Blind Mag]

It was dark, the streets and empty caravans abandoned and desolate. Wooden carts and stands had been stripped of their goods, carted away for the eve and not a soul traipsed the usually crowded market place...well save for hers. It was strange, to wander so aimlessly with not an eye and a gun set about her back. So long she had been a puppet, a slave to a single mans whims... she had been fully prepared to end her life, had intended upon it the very night she found herself here. It was strange, the concept of freedom, she had forgotten what such a thing had felt like. To have a say in one's own destiny, it was incredible.

She had not been n this rural place long. She wondered if the world had been this beautiful before the epidemic struck... or was this even Earth? Perhaps an alternate reality of her own world? She knew nothing, except for the simple fact that Rotti Largo was not here and for that she was eternally grateful. She had kept to herself for the better part of her time here, the few she had met seemed...put off by the paleness of her skin and the fact that her eyes were finely tuned machinery instead of an actual organ. She frightened many, much to her own displeasure.

She paused a moment eyes glowing in the darkness, sparks of electricity glistening as the mechanics adjusted themselves allowing her to see beautifully into the darkness. This was such an intriguing society, technology seemed near non-existent here, weapons were crude, society as a whole was a bit more brash, she felt out of place in such a bizarre land. It was a chance at a new beginning, a new start, but to what end? If she made everyone she met uncomfortable what was her purpose here?

She had not yet conformed to the dress of this society, instead clinging to the low dress Rotti had asked her to wear at the carnival. Dipping low in the front, nearing almost her stomach and trailing after her in the back...it was scandalous, improper for this time period, but it was the only familiar thing she had to cling too. She supposed the first step would be getting adjusted to the clothes and working from there but she did not have the heart, or the will, to quite let go of her past, but the poor woman had no idea where to begin.

Footsteps, echoing behind her, drew her attention and the woman turned, her head tilting to the side like a curious bird as her eyes glowed. Mechanics shifting and adjusting, trying to pinpoint the source of the noise. "Hello?" Her voice, a honeyed soprano carried softly into the air. In her world, she had been the most known woman that lived. She was a household name. Most everyone wished to be her or to meet her, of course, rarely did they get too. Rotti kept her on a tight leash, but that did not mean she had forgotten her etiquette.

[Hiccup Haddock]

How could get dark so quickly? he had left Toothless moments ago! everything seemed to move so quickly here, Hiccup had a hard time working out what time it was which he could usually tell by looking to the sky and working out the sun's location. All he had wanted to to, was head into town, and get some fish, he knew there were stalls upon stalls had the stuff, and although he didn't have anything to trade the stall vendors, he would of come up with something!

The place was deathly quiet, only the occasional shuffle of the last cart as it was put away filled the air, yet seeing one of those carts. A man none the less, Hiccup ran over towards the man and asked him about the fish, the man however refused him and shook his head. Honestly! the people in this place, why was it so hard just to get some fish?

Regrettably, he'd have to head back empty handed, maybe if he left earlier next time he would be able to get them something? They had already eaten that day, but Toothless ate buckets of the stuff. Even back home his friend had at least 100 or so a day. Well, he wasn't about to give up, tomorrow was a new day, and the saddle was coming along nicely soon they'd be able to fly out of this place.

Lost within his own thoughts, Hiccup wasn't aware of the female he happened to of come across. He was acutely aware of her calling out, and swiftly enough she turned around, looking directly at Hiccup himself. Instantly the sight of her face made him jump back and let out an audible 'argh' in surprise. Before it was too late he realized his mistake and composed himself taking a large gulp of air. She looked as if she could break him in half, or bite his head off faster than he could say hello.

At any rate after quickly gathering himself he spoke. "Sorry! You startled me.. well actually I kinda startled myself too. I didn't mean to sneak behind you." he apologized, well he wasn't dead yet so that was a good sign at least wasn't it?

[Blind Mag]

She was a stunning, gorgeous woman in her own time, but here she seemed to be an oddity, something of a source of rumors. A witch, some called her, a villain, a demon. Her eyes brought with her a source of fear and unease... she did not mean to cause such calamity, but she had no control over it. She was, what she was, nothing more and nothing less. Day and night held no meaning for the woman, on her world disease and death had plagued the earth for so long the skies always seemed black. Perhaps to match the greed of cruel hearts and the agony the earth had suffered under Rotti's reign. She couldn't recall ever feeling the warmth of the sun before coming here.

Her call at the sound of footsteps, was tentative and soft. She was no fighter, she possessed little to no strength she was a caged songbird, who had never had need of anything but beauty and the soprano voice she held trapped within her larynx. Her false eyes fell upon the form of the young child and she blinked, turning fully to face him. The little pieces of machinery spread wide and then focused, zeroing in on him and bringing him into focus. He was young and quite thin, but he wore furs and leather, clothing of someone not of nobility, she would not push fighting past him.

He jumped at her appearence, machinery glowing as it adjusted itself before falling still once more. It didn't phase her, she was accustomed to the response now, but he quickly composed himself, swallowing down a quick gulp of air and speaking quickly. She tilted her head, this way and that, listening too him intently. A gentle smile eased across her mouth as he apologized. She took a few cautious steps forward, closing the distance to a more respectful one for speech, there was no point in them shouting across the market.

"No need to apologize, you have done no harm, I should apologize for frightening you. My name is Mag, might I inquire yours?" Inquisitively her head tilted to the side, shy and unaccustomed to being approached but willing to attempt kindness all the same. She would need to regain her fire if she wished to thrive here.

[Hiccup Haddock]

She was.. hideous! well, her eyes were. The woman herself looked like a woman..but compared to the woman of his tribe, he wasn't exactly the best judge to call on who was beautiful and who was not. Yet there was a certain air about the woman before him, he could see her strength and power as such, it was raw.. not yet finely tuned. Still she did intrigue him, he had never seen eyes that sparkled like that, or seen eyes like that at all for that matter. She looked to him, her head tilting curiously in a way that reminded him of Toothless, someone who was curious and interested about anything and everything. The smile she presented him.. was creepy.. but he had certainly seen worse. Hiccup didn't know if the woman could be trusted or not, but she seemed.. different.

Not in a horrible way, but in a way that would certainly make many people look twice. The woman begun to approach him and Hiccup felt the need to step back yet he resisted, he wasn't dead yet so that was something. Besides he would imagine that she could of easily killed him with a wave of her hand, or something along those lines. Yet he decided to hedge his bet, something he did a great deal and had become somewhat of a habit. When the woman finally spoke, Hiccup's mouth twisted. She spoke in an odd way, one that he didn't quiet understand but he did get the general gist of it.

"Um.. Hiccup. Hiccup Haddock, that's my name." he said and almost wanted to mentally hit himself, he was beginning to sound like Ruffnut. Like he had almost forgotten his own name, which really wasn't the best form of approach. Still he smiled, one of his awkward smiles. Meeting people at night seemed to prove to be quiet the habit recently. What happened to meeting people during the day like normal people? "Uh, sorry. I'm still settling in here, I wanted to get some fish but the stall vendor wouldn't let me." He shrugged, it was no big deal he and Toothless could find something else to eat, as they seemed to manage quiet well so far.

[Blind Mag]

Mag was never, nor had she ever been a judgmental person. She had been born blind for the first eighteen years of her life she had made due without the gift of sight. Preyed upon, teased and picked apart she grew tough, not physically, she had never had a pension for violence, but mentally, emotionally, she became a master at burying her emotions, her feelings. She was nothing, a nobody. Rotti Largo, of course, changed all that. Seemingly overnight she had gone from one extreme to the other. A household name, the most widely known woman in the world. People came from all walks of life to hear her sing. Her eyes only added to the intrigue, she became something of an enigma. Something everybody wanted but no one had the courage, or the balls to stand against Rotti and Mag had been Rotti's slave for so long. That strength had turned to quiet acceptance, she had no power over her own life.

She would speak and he seemed frightened of her, almost leery, she couldn't blame him, it seemed as though she had stepped into the past, several hundred years into the past, her attire, her hair, her eyes... they would probably frighten anyone. She bit her lip silently pondering how to make him feel more at ease, her gaze would land upon the fountain beside her. Gingerly she sat upon the rim, hoping that at least the break in height difference would relax him a little, she had no desire to cause him panic.

"Hiccup?" She blinked, the gears spinning to grant her vision as she blinked repeatedly, what a peculiar name, she had heard worse, but she supposed not often enough. Her smile quickly replaced her skepticism and she smiled, offering him her hand, trying her best to seem as harmless as possible. "It tis a pleasure to meet you Hiccup... I don't suppose you have any idea where we are?" Perhaps she could at least decipher what year this was. His words would reach her and her eyes would narrow, her gaze drifting in the direction he pointed in.

"Truly? How unkind, come I will help you get your fish, show me which stall." She rose back to her feet waiting for him to lead the way, she could at least help the poor child, he hadn't run screaming at the sight of her, she supposed that was a start.

[Hiccup Haddock]

The woman was defiantly different.. although now that he had spoken to her she seemed ordinary.. despite her odd way of speaking.. Hiccup watched as she sat down on the rim of the large fountain, she seemed nice enough, despite her creepy eyes, he didn't instantly feel the need to run like he had with some people that he had met. There was just so many different people around.. people he didn't know and usually if Toothless didn't trust them then Hiccup probably shouldn't either. Just then as Mag commented about his name, Hiccup rolled his eyes.. yeah yeah, he knew how it sounded and it certainly wasn't as 'terrifying' as it was supposed to be. Yet, Hiccup felt the need to explain.

"Yeah..we Vikings are supposed to have names to make dragons, and monsters tremble in our wake.. I was called Hiccup because well.. I'm not your average Viking and therefore classed as a mistake I suppose." He shrugged, he wasn't bother by it, in fact he was quite pleased to be a Hiccup, look at all the things he had done and achieved, and how much he had benefited his tribe with his ideas? No. He was proud of it, no matter what others may say. When she asked where they were Hiccup shrugged.. only to realize she couldn't actually see. "Um.. No, sorry I don't know, I'm trying to find out myself actually." he added calmly, casting his eyes around once more for good measure.

When she offered to help him, this surprised him. "Oh you don't have too.. you probably got loads of other important stuff to do.." He commented, yet she was up and already walking into the direction of the stalls. Running to catch up, Hiccup came up beside her. "Well.. OKAY.. but it's really no big deal, it's the stall with the really old man who smells of fish?" Hiccup commented, yet looked up to the woman with curiosity. "Can you... like.. actually see where your going? I mean your eyes are.. well.. heh different, yet you still seem to be able to see..?" he questioned.. he hoped he didn't sound too rude, he was merely curious and eager to learn.

[Blind Mag]

She would tilt her head this way and that, trying to get the machinery in her eyes to really see the young boy before her, they tiny pieces of machinery moved and twitched, laying a top one another sporadically, unable to find the perfect setting. When finally they settled and the gears stopped grinding against one another she allowed her vision to rest upon her young companion. A soft frown tugging at the corners of her mouth when she realized just how young he really was. What in God's name was he doing out her all alone? It seemed terribly improper. Straight white teeth caught her bottom lip and she worried the sensitive flesh thoughtfully. Mag wasn't much help in a realm of combat, but she was loathe to leave the child alone.

Then of course he began talking of impossible things and her pseudo-eyes widened considerably, her jaw falling open in silent shock. It took her muddled brain a moment to process his words and she snapped her jaws shut, imagining she looked rather ridiculous. "A Viking? You're a Viking? I've only read about your people in books, where I come from the Vikings died out so very long ago..." The other half of his statement seemed to catch her and she paused a moment. "Dragons? Did you say dragons?" Just where in the world was this place and how had she gotten here? He seemed just as lost as she. With a soft sigh she released her bottom lip. "Well Hiccup... it seems were in the same boat, maybe there is a reason we were brought here... I'm from Earth, the year was 2055, what about you?"

She laughed gently at his dismissal of her help and she chuckled, shaking her head. "The last thing I was doing before I woke up here, was preparing for the opera. I don't imagine my boss will be too happy when his lead soprano suddenly vanished." She winced slightly, she did not wish to think of Rotti's wrath. "Do not fret so much m'dear, it's no trouble at all, if this pompous man has no respect than I will teach him a few manners." She winked at him as he pointed out the stall on the far side of the market and as they walked towards it, his inquiry made a gentle laugh fall from her lips.

"The eyes I was born with were surgically removed long ago. I was born blind, a man named Rotti Largo invented a cure for blindness. Mechanical eyes comprised of tiny bits of machinery. They allow me to see amongst other things. I apologize if they make you uneasy." Her tones were soft, soothing, gentle. Her world was a disaster, ninety percent of the population, vanquished. Organ failure, rampant and unstoppable, swept the world in a tidal wave of utter hopelessness, Rotti Largo had saved them, she had been the man's slave, the contact she had unknowingly signed in blood, the price for her vision. But the young boy didn't need to know that. He didn't need to know that she had been on the precipice of gauging out her own eyes when she had been brought here.

The stall vendor grumbled and turned to look at the two of them, taken a back, but quickly recovering from Mag's odd appearance. "Whatdya want?" He grunted angrily, and Mag's vision narrowed. "I believe the young man wanted a bit of fish, tell me why you have denied him." Her words were quiet but sharp as a whip, demanding. "That runt? Why the hell would I give some street rat some of my produce hurm?" Mag's eyes would drift shut and she would take two steps backwards, muscles tensing and eyes locking upon the cart vendor. Memories of Rotti Largo swirled in her head and she choose one of the most terrifying. her eyes lit, the mechanics swirling and they projected a hologram. Rotti Largo driving a blade again and again into one of his scientists, screaming at another that such would be his fate if he did not start obeying. Her eyes swirled once more, the hologram vanished and the man, unused to such technology, seemed to almost want to pee himself. "T-take all the damn fish you want, j-just get outta here!" Mag smiled her triumph and motioned to Hiccup to choose whatever fish he wished.

[Hiccup Haddock]

(14 year old Hiccup)

A Viking? You're a Viking? I've only read about your people in books, where I come from the Vikings died out so very long ago...

Mag had said.. she seemed shocked if not surprised by such a statement that it left Hiccup confused, yes he was a Viking, yet why was it such a surprise? In books? They were in books? the only books he had ever read did of course date back to their ancestors where they the Vikings she was speaking of? Hiccup was pretty sure they weren't in any books, no one could even write properly... the only one who could was him. Then she seemed yet even more shocked about the mention of dragons.. had he gone to far? had he said too much? Pausing, Hiccups face twisted in thought and he begun to think of a reply. "Um.. yes.. Dragons..we have Dragons.. they aren't at all as horrible as everyone says though! Everything we knew about them is all wrong" Hiccup commented, determined to defend his friend and the entire species of dragons. "People are just afraid of things they don't understand." he added as an afterthought, and he knew it was true.. his father had jumped to conclusion.. everyone he met had. Their approach had always been, kill first and ask questions later.

The question she asked next caused Hiccup to raise his eyebrow. "Um.. well I'm from earth too.. from the Isle of Berk.. we don't really have uh.. years?" He commented, it was true. They didn't date their years, they just went by different names. When Mag commented about helping, Hiccup managed to keep up with her as they walked. "Well.. it's not really for me so much.. but for Toothless. He eats A LOT of fish.. I'm finding it hard to feed him at the moment.. but I don't need to eat as much so.. he usually has mine." He commented then paused. Why? Why was he telling a complete stranger all of this? Was he mad? was he finally losing it? he might as well shout, ' I need to feed my dragon' From the looks of the people within this place.. the very idea of dragons, Hiccup had a hunch wouldn't go down to well. Yet what surprised him more was the fact that Mag seemed willing to share her story too. A story that was certainly and interesting one at that, the fact that her eyes were machines from what he understood was ingenious - creepy - but very clever.

Soon they approached the stall, Hiccup came to a stop and his hands came together in display for his awkwardness. As soon as Mag started talking, Hiccup had a bad feeling "Uh.. okay never mind.. I can do without the fish.. really no problem, we should just.. you know.. go?" Hiccup hinted yet Mag was determined to remain where she stood and continue to address the man, whom had replied with a response Hiccup had expected.. besides, Hiccup hardly looked like anyone special what with his earthy colors, covered in grass stains and flecks of mud. What happened next had Hiccup stunned, the woman simply stood there staring.. and Hiccup watched as the man before her seemed to crumble, all color drained instantly from her face. What had she done? Gaping in awe and slightly freaked out as he was he watched as the man literally threw his cart of fish towards Toothless. At that moment Mag looked to him and Hiccup almost forgot, shaking himself out of the state, he jumped forward and picked five fish out. It was no where near enough but it would have to do.. he couldn't afford a 100 fish.. nor did he even know where he could get them from in such a place.