[video]

[forbiddenfriendship]

[the video feed turns on, and a giant, curious yellow eye stares back, accompanied by a deep, rumbling noise that sounded a bit like a cat's purr. Off in the distance comes a young man's voice talking in Norse - although thanks to the communicator's translation, there's an easy English text version popping up]

Toothless, what are you doing with that…[there's a crash, as the voice has apparently just dropped something]...oh gods, it's a magic book.

[the giant eye twists away, as Toothless lifts his head up to look inquisitively off at something to the side - the source of the voice, presumably. The angle is strange, and all you can see is part of his head, but it's clear enough that Toothless is covered in black scales, and big.]

Okay, okay…Toothless, just come over here, okay buddy? [Toothless rumbles softly, but takes a step away from the book, and out of view.] That's it, come on…let's get away from the magic, probably cursed book…oh gods, why me…

Comments

audio + text

[akito]

[ oh, gosh. does that ever look like a dragon. he'll speak in semi-modern Icelandic, which is the closest thing to... Norse? that he knows. ]

Hello, little dragon! Your scales are very pretty.


[ and for its companion, Akito sends a text: ]

The book is not cursed!
It is a method of communication.
Possibly magic
More likely some kind of technology though.

[forbiddenfriendship]

[It's out of Akito's view, but Toothless's ears have pricked up. He hears the sounds that humans make!]

Toothless? What is it, buddy?

[Unfortunately, Hiccup can't hear Akito, and having moved away from the book he can't see the text. Getting a conversation going here could be a little tricky, Akito...]

[akito]

Toothless! Is that your name?

The winds say hello, too!

[ and they may or may not feel a friendly little breeze twirling around - toothless moreso than hiccup. ]

[forbiddenfriendship]

[Wind! Toothless turns around in a circle, trying to follow it, while Hiccup yelps. How did a wind get inside? Toothless wants to try and follow it!]

[akito]

[ he laughs, and the breeze picks up. the winds catch on to akito's playful mood and so the invading breeze tries to lead toothless in a game of chase. ]

[forbiddenfriendship]

[More winds! Toothless bounds around, trying to chase them. In the communicator Akito might be able to see the odd flash of Toothless whizzing by. Meanwhile, Hiccup is starting to freak out. Well, more than he was before.]

Toothless! Toothless, stop it! I think it's that book, we don't know if it's safe...Toothless!

[akito]

[ Akito's winds try to get Hiccup in on the fun as well, but mostly focus on Toothless, as they have an understandable fondness for creatures that are built to fly.

he can't help but laugh at the chaos, though he does his best to keep the winds from letting Toothless tumble in to anything. ]

[forbiddenfriendship]

[Toothless doesn't tumble, but unfortunately, Hiccup does. He might have mostly gotten used to his new leg, but he still hasn't completely mastered it. But quick as a flash, the second Hiccup yelps Toothless abandons the winds and rushes over to help steady him]

Thanks, buddy. [Toothless rumbles softly in reply] But I think we'd better be careful about all these strange winds...

[akito]

[ Akito didn't know that the boy would be unsteady on his feet, and after Toothless rushes to aid his companion, he makes sure to send an apologetic breeze to the both of them. or as apologetic as he can manage to convey through air.

since at least one of them can hear him, he'll offer a verbal apology as well: ]

Sorry, little dragon!

[forbiddenfriendship]

[And now Toothless is pricking his ears again, looking over towards the book]

Toothless? Why do you keep doing that? There's nothing...

[Hiccup trails off, but the sound of soft, hesitant footsteps come though. And then...]

Is that...where did that writing come from? That wasn't there before...

[akito]

[ Akito lets out a pleased note as he realizes the boy has taken notice of the communicator again. ]

Hello!

[forbiddenfriendship]

...Toothless, I think the book is talking to me. Oh man, this is crazy.

[akito]

A person talking through the book!
Like sending letters
But instant!

[forbiddenfriendship]

[Finally, Hiccup leans in close enough that Akito can see him. Okay, so only the top of Hiccup's head and his wide green eyes can be seen, but it's something.

And the magic book is talking in...Errlgrazian? Is everything here in that language? Hiccup switches over to 'English']

How are you sending those? [Hiccup paused] You're not going to curse me, are you? Please don't curse me.

text;

[akito]

[ Akito quietly hopes that he's never been quite that nervous around people, while simultaneously holding back a small laugh. ]

If this text is appearing on your book
It is because your book is enchanted to receive messages from other people
Who also have some form of enchanted communication device.
I don't think these communicators can transfer curses or anything through them
So don't worry about that!! :)

[forbiddenfriendship]

[Hey, can you blame Hiccup for being nervous about the mysterious talking book?]

If there are messages being sent through the book...how can you hear me?

[akito]

Messages can be sent via writing (text), voice, or video.

[forbiddenfriendship]

What's a video?

[akito]

A video is a collection of sequential images
Combined together to make a moving image.

[forbiddenfriendship]

You mean like a lot of drawings? But how does that make it move? Or look so real?

[akito]

The reason we can see colour is because when light hits an object the object absorbs some of the light and reflects the rest away in what our eyes perceive as colour!

To record video
You have a device with a lens on it
The lens lets light into the device and focuses it on something that reacts to the light in a way that copies the colours it sees

Or something like that, at least!!

Even drawings can appear like they're moving if they are drawn in sequence
Like if you draw someone running in one picture
In the next you move their arms and legs a bit
And keep repeating the process!
Then when you look at the sequential images in rapid succession
It looks like they're moving!

I don't know how more advanced recording devices work, but the basic principle is just capturing an image of reality and 'drawing' it on something using light.