DISTRACT Is Super Effective! [Open]

[astridhofferson.livejournal.com]

She sneezed and the fishing rod in her hands briefly jumped in her grasp.

Astrid huffed out a grunt, a hand relinquishing hold on the line as she indignantly rubbed under her stubby nose with the back of her finger while her blue eyes dully leered at nothing in particular off-screen.

That sneeze. Someone talking smack about her?

Disregarding this fleeting suspicion, she shrugged it off, merely readjusting her grip on the handle, and settled posterior more comfortably on the moss-covered boulder beneath her.

Within the encompassing towering stone walls of what appears to be a lost oasis, Astrid engaged in fishing on these familiar grounds taken from her memory of a memorable location somewhere on the outskirts of the Viking's home village -- the exact place she stealthily pursued after Hiccup and discovered Toothless subsequently. 'Course, for Hiccup and his dragon, this secret watering hole served as a base where they established their bond as well.

Today, though it just served as a relaxing getaway for one of the female's less than energy draining hobbies. Or so she thought? There's a sudden reflection of a figure on the waters pristine surface and it was impossible not to notice she now has company.

Astrid blinked a moment, then pursed her lips and turned her head to look up sidelong at whoever approached her with a stare clearly of "Hey, don't scare the fish."

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[teethofneedles.livejournal.com]

There's the sound of a line playing out as Karis casts her own hook out into the water. Yep, she's gonna do some fishing too. She's got a broad-brimmed hat on and she just glances over and returns the stare with a little nod.

Then the zombie goes back to watching her bobber. Because stuff like this happens every day.

[astridhofferson.livejournal.com]

Her body visibly flinched and her face changed instantly upon locking eyes with her new visitor. Astrid's expression must be a little funny right now considering... considering this, like, happens never for her.

Realizing she is staring, she turned her attention back at the water, shifting awkwardly, and throwing glances in Karis' direction every now and then.

A living dead joining her for some casual fishing -- well, this wasn't weird at all. If it wasn't for the ghoul's ridiculous hat and the fact the pods did pop recently, Astrid would almost believe she was being haunted and flee make her exit.

But, hey, this zombie can't be all bad if they just wished to partake in the act of fishing rather than partake on...

Shaking that last thought out of her head, Astrid chuckled somewhat nervously. "Nothing's really biting--" Ack, wait, that's gotta' be the wrong thing to say in this situation. "...ah, I mean, it's almost like.. like the real thing, you know. The fish are awfully stubborn for some reason," she corrected herself, attempting to venture in small talk at the very least.

[teethofneedles.livejournal.com]

"If you get bored easily, fishing really isn't the activity for you," Karis reflects, half to herself. "Besides, half the entertainment is the peace and quiet, right?"

She can still remember days from when she was young, going fishing with her father or younger brother. She'd continued after her unfortunate turning, if only to get a little taste of her life back. It was something she took solace in. And it was, as she said, quiet.

She watched her bobber for a few moments longer. Nope, nothing yet. She'd let it sit for a while. Then again, you couldn't really expect them to start biting on the first cast. She slowly started to reel it in for a re-cast. "Fish don't want to get eaten. Probably more then you wanna eat 'em."

[astridhofferson.livejournal.com]

Alright, so she was admittedly a little wary at first, though Astrid found herself gradually easing as she quietly listened, and really impressed by Karis' words and the meaning behind them.

"That's a shame, because a well-served fish is one of life's greatest delicacies," Astrid added with a nod of her head, tossing out her fishing line again.

[teethofneedles.livejournal.com]

"Ayep," Karis agreed as she flicked her line out again. "...haven't had one in a while, though. 'least that I could taste. Still... it's relaxin'."

About the only real relaxation, considering that she couldn't feel much. At least physically. "So, what's your name, kiddo?"

Yeah, she was feeling a bit friendly today.

[astridhofferson.livejournal.com]

Apparently, fishing can bring out tranquility in just about anyone-- including the dead. Interesting tidbit to know.

She draped an arm over a raised leg. "Astrid," she replied, simply dismissing the 'kiddo' comment. "Don't meet a lot of--" She paused momentarily to find the most polite word. "--people who like to do this kind of thing. It's nice to see someone else gets it."

[teethofneedles.livejournal.com]

Karis let out a little "ffft" through her mouth as she listened to Astrid and turned her head to take her in. She shook her head with a little laugh (which actually a bit nasty). "Don't mince words, 'cause I won't. I know what you're thinkin'. Dead. Zombie. Vitally-challenged. Deceased. Just say it."

[astridhofferson.livejournal.com]

Astrid cracked a small meek grin at Karis' amusement. In her culture, you respected the dead or, well, they cursed you for the rest of your life.

So what came over her?

"Dried up old bag of bones, then," she piped up light-heartedly. Nothing personal and Karis looked like she'd understand the humor.

[teethofneedles.livejournal.com]

"Oh, heard that one once or twice, I think..." Karis scratched at her chin, thinking. "Heard one deader insult, heard 'em all, though..."

[astridhofferson.livejournal.com]

Well, if its any consolation, Astrid wasn't seriously intending to insult Karis. Rather, testing something out -- she's just never openly teased an undead.

"Sounds like you've been around. You get that a lot?"

[teethofneedles.livejournal.com]

"Breathers and me... we usually don't get along," Karis replied with a bit of a nasty tone to her comment, "Usually ends with one of us dead. So far, it's been the other guy."

She slowly starts reeling in again. "Don't see many zombies where you're from, huh?"

At least the kid wasn't being a bitch about it. Small consolation.

[astridhofferson.livejournal.com]

"If they must give you a hard time," Astrid smirked, casually leaning back on one arm, "the least they could do is give you a better challenge."

Something snagged her bait. Momentarily distracted, Astrid blinked and easily won in the tug o' war battle for control, then eventually reeled in an average brim. Eh.

She shook her head, free bangs gently swinging in front of her eyes, tongue sticking out the corner of her lip as she wrested the fish free from her hook. "Not outside stories back home. I'm usually skeptic though, really, so I was a little surprised."

Releasing it, she smiled lightly, watching the fish swim back into the water's depths. "But, heh, apparently anything goes on Stacy."

[teethofneedles.livejournal.com]

"Tell me about it," Karis grumbled, although there was humor in there somewhere, "They wanna wipe us out; you'd think they could at least make a decent go of it, yeah?"

She finished reeling in and cast out again - oh, look. The breather caught something. Well, she wasn't bad. For a breather. Reminded her a bit of an orc or an elf she'd talked to a few times.

"This ship is fucking insane. I keep waiting for the Lich King to pop up or Kael'thas or any of the other bastards we've put six feet under."

[astridhofferson.livejournal.com]

Astrid brushed her hands together then unceremoniously on her lap and plantsuit. Hey, the creepy suits are self-cleaning, anyway. "Lich King?" Don't expect her to try and pronounce Kael'thas. "That name sounds like bad news."