newtralize | Aefenglom Inbox

Do please. I would appreciate it greatly. [While he has decided that he had no intention about going for diplomatic reasons, he still wants to be informed.

His smile softens. A little more genuine.] Yes, I know. It's just- I wish to work things out with my brother first. I feel as though it would be a disservice not to talk to him more on it while disclosing certain things to someone less acquainted. [His brother and him had a lot to work through.]

We are on the cusp of a potential war. [The visions that Grindelwald had shown. He didn't know how real they were or if they were just potential, much like these dreams, or what.] The last war I participated in; millions died. If we were to see another one, the casualties would be much higher. [And Newt wasn't exactly what someone would consider old for wizards when they can live passed 100. He would, however, be considered middle aged for an average muggle.

For Newt to already experience one war and potentially be involved in a second at his age...]

I should explain why this is coming up now though. Last month, I experienced half a year of my life in a blink of an eye through the mirrors.

Of course, yeah. I understand. [He does, especially now knowing that he needs to work it out with Theseus first.] Family comes first. It's good that you guys have each other. [Hiccup isn't sure if he should be, but he is glad that Newt's got his brother here and he's not on his own. It gives him hope that one of his friends may show up one of these months.

And whatever it is that's bothering Newt, it's apparently big. 'Millions died' puts an alarmed look on Hiccup's face because for one, that's a lot of deaths, and for two, that's a lot of people in general??] That- That sounds like war on a scale I've never- [He trails off, frowning.

Hiccup looks up abruptly.] You- Through the mirrors? You saw... your future?

Well, I wouldn't say things are going so splendidly at the moment... [Things with Theseus are a little tense right now. Both were stubborn in their ways and it was leading to...well, he won't go into it at the moment.

He shakes his head.] We called it the Great War. It was a global war that basically involved many powerful nations. A lot of people were involved, basically. [Though, he gets the feeling the other hasn't seen a population anywhere close to that number to make a comparison in anyway.]

I experienced it. I cannot tell you how exactly. It wasn't that I saw my future, but it was as though it replayed in the reflection of the mirror and that I somehow had personally witnessed it. [It was strange. Watching so much of your life pass so quickly, but know that you had experienced it also.] I'm not sure how to explain it. Only that it did.

Yeah, well, that- you know, that happens. Family doesn't always get along all the time. [He smiles a little ruefully, remembering all the fights he used to have with his father.] They're still your family.

[The Great War. It sounds horrible to a degree he isn't sure he can really comprehend.] It sounds like. I- I didn't even know there were that many people in the world. War in the archipelago, it's- it's never anything that massive... [He trails off, then looks back up at Newt, expression sympathetic.] I'm- I'm sorry you went through that.

And... that. There's still so much we don't know about the mirrors, I guess. I never knew they could do that, make you- experience more of your life in a moment like that. It must have been disorienting.

Yes, I just- [Newt sighs softly.] I think I've only recently caused him unnecessary stress. [He obviously regrets it, but it was hard to not be stubborn and to try and not burden his brother with whatever he was struggling with at the moment.] He really has enough on his mind.

[Newt shakes his head a little.] It's nothing you have to apologize for. Sometimes, even if we wished otherwise, sometimes things don't get resolved peacefully. It's naive to think otherwise. We can surely try though. [Though he says that, what's to come really has him rather unsure.]

Yes. Quite. [He pauses. Maybe a little longer than necessary.] What is troubling you though? It seems I've gone on and on about my own troubles, but you surely have some of your own. Perhaps talking about it may help relieve some of your troubles?

No, I know. All you can do is try to make things better. Sometimes, it- it just doesn't work. [At the end of it, a year ago, Drago didn't really change, he was just defeated, and only after causing untold damage to Berk. He scratches a hand through his own hair idly, fingers catching in his braids.] Some people don't want peace.

[He cringes slightly when Newt asks about what's wrong with him.] It's fine, it's... It's nothing, really. I just haven't been sleeping well, since the dream. [There is clearly something more, something Hiccup isn't sure he wants to put into words. It seems kind of silly, with Newt facing a war, having to process a new six months of his life back home...] I've been having nightmares about Dorchacht. Regular ones, not- mm. And- a couple of witches at the Coven say me not being Bonded yet isn't helping.

Yes. [He can truly understand that. People don't want peace sometimes. They want to be superior.

Newt gives the other a lopsided smile.] I've spent my entire life observing all sorts of living things. That includes people too, Hiccup. Something happened during the dream for you. [Newt doesn't seem to push it too much though. He can't make the other talk about it if he doesn't want to.] If you don't want to talk about it, then I won't force it. I will say that it is better to talk about it than let it fester. As someone who, well, regrets not talking about certain things sooner. [Newt had been somewhat private about a lot of his affairs and he certainly regrets how he went about some of it now.

Though when the other mentions difficulties and not being Bonded.] Oh. Is that why... [Right. He had a temporary bond twice, but only because he had wanted to participate in some of the research on night creatures some time ago.] I hadn't really thought about the bonds at all, honestly speaking.

[Well. He can't really argue with that. Hiccup admits, with a rueful little smile that doesn't reach his eyes,] Yeah. Something happened in the dream. [He goes quiet, for a long moment, as if he's weighing the words in his head, trying to put it all together in a way that makes sense of the roiling feeling of anxiety in the pit of his stomach.] ...I got caught up in one of the protests. I, um. I was trying to hold the guards off, until the protesters could get away, and. [He swallows.]

They dragged me down a side street, and, and put their hands to my head- it was like being struck by lightning. [He died. He knows he died. They killed him without a hint of remorse.]

Mm. I guess. I hadn't, uh, thought about it either, I thought... Toothless would be enough. They, they call him my familiar here.

[Newt really can't hide how aghast he is. The other didn't have to say he outright died while in the dream, because it's easy to figure just on the details alone. How awful that is, even if it seems temporary at most.

He can't imagine the feeling of dying to be pleasant in anyway. Even if he didn't feel too much pain, dying was dying.] That's terrible...

Their way of doing things. It's quite barbaric. I really can't say that their methods if they decide not to kill you are any better either. [Newt's voice becomes quieter as he speaks.]

I- Well, it just never occurred to me really because I don't exactly easily make friends with most. I thought that as long as I actively pursue my magic, it would still be fine.

[Hiccup scrubs a hand over his eyes, falling quiet for a moment. He knows how bad it sounds. It was bad, honestly, and that's why he keeps having nightmares about it, why it almost seems better to just not sleep and spend all his hours in the forge.] It's- they're brutal. It's not right. [And then he looks up, frowning.] 'If they decide not to kill you'. What- what else do they do? [He's struck with the feeling that he wants to know, but he also desperately does not want to know at the same time.

He shakes his head, frowning.] I thought so too, but I guess- even that doesn't help after a while.

Some just believe to rule with an iron fist. [Not that he believes in such methods, obviously. It isn't unfamiliar to him though.

He chews at his bottom lip for a moment.] They consider it and call it reeducating. I can't say that I would call it such though, but it makes sense as to...as to why people think the way they do there. [He shakes his head.]

I'm not particularly, er, comfortable with most here. [And he thinks Theseus can agree that them bonding would be disastrous.

It does make him fret a bit though.]

"Re-educating." [He says it like the very word, and all that it implies, is one of the most disgusting things he's ever heard. It's ominous, and he doesn't exactly know the details, but he can guess.] They- they tried to brainwash you? [Do the horrors of Dorchacht ever end? It seems like he's hearing about something new they did in that Dream all the time.

Hiccup frowns slightly down at his hands, letting out a breath.] Yeah, it... it seems like a really personal thing to do with someone. Bonding. It... I'd want it to be a friend, at least.

[Newt doesn't reply. Doesn't even look at the other. His brows just furrow as he stares down and off to the side.] It- Well, I can't say it was particularly pleasant. [He's glad that Theseus didn't have to go through it, but it was hard on Newt; someone who was rather empathetic towards Monsters.]

I agree. I don't think I could consider someone I wasn't at least fond of at some capacity. [Newt was obviously far from being a social creature and his friendships weren't many.] Though, that's probably not many people and I have no intention of bonding with my brother. I can't say I'm very friendly with most others passed you, actually.

[Well, that's as good as a confirmation. It's nauseating, knowing what kinds of lengths they'll go to to silence dissent in the Black City. He scrubs a hand over his face, breathing out a quiet, disbelieving, humorless little laugh.] Master of understatement.

[And then he falls quiet for a few minutes, staring into his tea, listening to Newt. They have a similar problem here; Hiccup likes plenty of people, but he isn't... close, to many of them. Or they're already bonded. Or they've just never brought it up with him. But if he's feeling this way due to a lack of a bond, then Newt will eventually show symptoms too, won't he?

When he blurts it out, it's mostly due to lack of sleep and not much of a filter, but he isn't sure if he regrets it.] Maybe- Maybe we should, then. Just- It wouldn't have to be permanent, but as a- a stopgap measure, maybe it wouldn't... be so horrible...

[Newt can't help but laugh a little himself.] I've tried not to dwell much on it. It's, uhm, put me and my brother at odds for the time being. [Newt hasn't had a great time at all since the dream. The dream itself was horrendous, but fighting with Theseus was also terrible.

He is taken aback though. It isn't exactly because he's against bonding with Hiccup, but Newt was in an odd mindset where he didn't think anyone would be interested to do so with him. Perhaps self-deprecating, but he had never gotten along well with others.] Oh- I- Well, I wouldn't want to force your hand if there are others you would have preference to bonding with. [Newt. Hiccup was the one who suggested it, you dimwit.]

Somehow I can't say I blame him. [He says it with utmost fondness, if not a little exasperation too. He can only imagine how that conversation might have gone. If Theseus knows about it, it makes sense that he'd be upset.

Hiccup certainly is.

And now he's a little sheepish, a little nervous, letting out a humorless laugh and dragging a hand through his hair.] It's- That's just the thing, though? I- I don't know who else I'd be comfortable Bonding with. You're a good friend, and, I mean, so is Keith, but his Bonded - his really special Bonded - disappeared and there's no way he'd want to-

I- I think it could work. With us. We, uh, we have a lot in common.

[Aha, it was Newt taking the fall so Theseus could avoid it, so Theseus was extra upset for good reason.]

Oh. [Newt seems to be honestly surprised by that.] I mean- I- Yes. [he can't help but let out a breathless little laugh. You'd think they were confessing their love to each other or something. It's nothing like that, but the idea of Bonding was still an intimate act. At least, that's how he feels.] Yes. I think it could work. Between us.

[He can't help feeling nervous for some reason. It's stupid, it's not like when he asked Astrid to be his betrothed. A Bond isn't a wedding and doesn't have to be romantic - he's heard of plenty of platonic Bonds between friends, it's not uncommon in Aefenglom. And he and Newt are friends, good friends even, he'd say. They have similar interests, their morals are generally aligned, and Hiccup, at least, thinks Newt is easy company, even when he doesn't want to be around people.

It makes sense for them to Bond, but he's still anxious about possible rejection anyway. It's stupid.

But- he doesn't. Even though it is an intimate thing, something that isn't meant for just casual acquaintances, he agrees, and Hiccup lets out a startled little laugh of his own, delighted.] You think? I- I mean, I think it could- And, and if it didn't, it's not like it's permanent. I know they don't, uh, recommend witch and witch bonds so much, but... We both have really strong bonds with animals, and familiars count to some degree, I think, so- It should be fine.

[For Newt, it was the matter of just any amount of intimacy with others. He struggled to make fairly close bonds with others and he only had a handful of friends that he would consider friends and not merely colleagues or acquaintances. Hiccup was most definitely a friend though and someone whom he cherished their company.

It was a lot for someone who strayed a bit from being close to his brethren.]

Well, it's still probably better than not having a bond and it sounds like neither of us are any closer about it with anyone else. [He laughs nervously.] Yes. I- Bonding. I'll accept a bond with you.

[Hiccup laughs too, in something like relief and nerves all at the same time. The sleeplessness is getting to him, and he hopes this will help. Hopefully it will help both of them. It can't be terrible, at least.

His smile is the most genuine it's been all afternoon. Hiccup isn't used to being on his own so much anymore; this proof that he's connected to someone here, it's- it's a weight off. A comfort.] Great! That's- yeah, this- this will be good. There's, uh, there's no one else I'd rather do this with, I think.

Do-... Do you have any idea how we, uh, go about this?

I need to point out how utterly embarrassing what you just said was. [Those are things you say to someone you fancy, he thinks. Than again, this was a certain level of intimacy that they were suddenly breaching. It's a little awkward.]

Hiccup, I am absolutely the worst person to ask that. I didn't really pay much attention at all about the bonds and how to establish them.

What? No, that's not- It's not embarrassing, we're friends! We're good friends! [And there really isn't anyone (currently here in Aefenglom, at least) that he'd rather give this a go with. He's all by himself except for Toothless, and Newt is the closest friend he's made, besides Keith.] This is- [He drags a hand down his face.] -okay, maybe it's a little weird.

I guess we, uh, head to the Coven and ask someone, then? I know there's... some kind of ceremony.

[Newt just laughs.] I can't say that I can take this as casually as the natives here probably take it. [Because this is odd to him. The idea of bonding and to consider it something more casual when it sounded so intimate. It'll take him a bit to get used to.]

Ceremony? Merlin. [Ceremonies definitely makes this harder to take casually.] Well, we don't have a choice do we. Neither of us know how to go about this. [The idea of having to ask though. Perhaps they should have paid attention.]

I- I don't want you to feel like you have to do this with me, if it's a big deal to you. [He frowns slightly, knowing that Newt has already agreed, but he's sleepless and overthinking everything, his thoughts running too quickly ahead and overanalyzing every word.]

Yeah, it's- I mean, I don't think it has to be huge. There's an officiator and a spell, or something. [And vows but he doesn't remember that part of the Bonding process. He's just going to wind up winging those.]

It's- [He wrings his hands for a moment.] I just always struggled with, er, socializing. Being around others. Most found me annoying more than anything, so- [It's odd. For someone to want his company.] This. It's- I suppose it's a little surprising for me.

I would hope it doesn't have to be huge. This is something fairly common for them, isn't it? [It's much less of an event than getting married, right?]

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