voicemail

[oldironsides]

You've reached the voicemail... Forgething... it... yeah... of Anthony Stark, Stark Industries. Leave a message if it beeps?




... how do you tell if it's recorded? Piece of alternate universe crap, you're lucky I don't rewire you into a double-ended vibra--





BEEEEEEEP

Comments

Audio

[oldironsides]

I wanna ask what the hell a dragon was doing in the Viking age, but... yeah. I probably don't really need an answer to that.

Anyway, we can definitely check it out. Send him over to my place some time, and I'll see what he's got right now. Least I can do is a simple redesign and make it more comfortable... more durable.

[and, just to be sure]

You did call him "Hiccup", right.

Audio

[icy]

Awesome. Said he was a blacksmith, he's hardly like what you'd imagine a Viking to be. Sassy as hell, too. And, yeah, I did.

[ Pausing. After what Hiccup told Jack about how he got that name ... ]

Don't rip into him for it, okay?

Audio

[oldironsides]

I can honestly say with all my heart that I've never met a sassy Viking. If this experience doesn't blow my mind, you owe me.

Annnnnd we'll see. No promises.

Audio

[icy]

[ Not wanting to tell Tony about it conflicts with how tetchy he now knows Hiccup to be, so with a sigh he relents. It's not really gossip if it's well-intended, right? ]

His dad called him Hiccup, it means 'the runt of the litter' wherever he comes from; the 'disappointment'. The guy disowned him because Hiccup made him look like an idiot in front of his tribe, he's a total dick. Everyone in Hic's village thinks he's a laughing stock or did for most of his life.

... So, yeah. Ease up.

Audio

[oldironsides]

... seriously?

[Nice, dad. Real nice. Verbally abusive stomper of self-esteem? Yeah, that was something Stark could relate to.]

Sounds like a shithead. Consider me eased up.

Audio

[icy]

Thanks. [ He means it, too. Hopefully that comes through. ] He kept telling me how his dad basically ran him into the ground at every opportunity, but Hiccup kind of just ... took it? I think the worst part was when I asked him if he blamed the guy for what happened to his limb, and he said, 'you lose a leg, you lose a leg' like it wasn't a big deal.

Don't tell him I said any of this, I should have kept my mouth shut.

Audio

[oldironsides]

Yeah yeah, don't worry about it, Jack. I'm not gonna say anything.

[He pauses, mulling over the little spill of info.]

A lot of people are like that... doormats, I mean. They just take it and keep smiling. I'm not sure what it is in 'em that keeps them from growing a backbone. Sometimes they do, most times they don't.

It's too bad.

Audio

[icy]

I know he has a backbone. I'm sure he does.

[ ... Maybe. Hopefully? Sighing, he shrugs and shakes his head though it can't be seen. ]

Anyway, I'll catch you later, let me know how it goes.

Audio

[oldironsides]

You've got more faith than I do.

[snicker]

Yup. I'm sure we'll be able to uncrapulate his leg. I'll get back to you.