Life on the Edge

1.09 Quake, Rattle, and Roll

Ragnar and Astrid stand back as they watch Hiccup hammer away at a newly built telescope.

"Alright," he says after one last hit. He looks at Toothless. "I think one more plasma blast should do the trick, bud."

Toothless croons and shoots at the telescope to bind the metal pieces where Hiccup needs.

Hiccup coughs as he waves away the resulting smoke. "Great job," he tells him.

Astrid steps over to test the new instrument. "Nice," she compliments, slowly panning the lens. "I can see straight to the horizon."

"Well, that should definitely make it harder for anyone to sneak up on us," Hiccup points out.

Ragnar sighs and runs one hand over the shaved side of his head. He's do for a touch up. "I hate how necessary that is."

Hiccup hums in agreement. "Now, I wonder how the twins' lookout tower is coming along."

"I can only imagine," Astrid says dryly.

Ragnar clicks his tongue and turns to Hiccup, eyebrows raised. "Remind me again why you trusted them with that job to begin with?"

"I- I wouldn't really say trust," Hiccup says slowly, "but I'm sure they'll, you know, manage."

"Uh-huh," Ragnar says, trading a skeptical look with Astrid. "And when they prove you wrong?"

Hiccup sighs. "You can say I told you so."

"Good to know."

Snotlout eventually joins them and, just as Hiccup starts working on the telescope again, the twins come by on Barf and Belch.

"Hiccup, drop everything you're doing," Tuffnut tells him. "And bring your face."

"Prepare to be rubbed," Ruffnut adds.

Hiccup stops swinging his hammer and stares at them for a long moment. "N-no," he stammers. He shakes his head and turns to look at Ragnar. "I don't- what does that even mean?"

Ragnar tilts his head in thought. "I think they're saying they want to rub your face in something which, I assume, must mean they built the lookout tower."

Snotlout scoffs. "Yeah. Right," he says sarcastically. "This I gotta see."

They all follow the twins to the place they were supposed to build the tower and stand there in boredom while they begin their- very dramatic- presentation.

"Dragon riders!" Tuffnut says grandly. "You asked for it. We built it! Presenting you..."

Ruffnut plays an imaginary instrument with her hands.

"...with your new rock lookout tower!"

"Yeah!" Ruffnut cheers.

Barf and Belch fly away from where they'd been supposedly covering the tower. Somehow, none of them are really surprised when there's nothing there.

"You guys never disappoint, do you?" Snotlout asks with a smirk.

"What?" Tuffnut cries, mouth open as he stares at the empty space. "No. Wait. It was here a minute ago!"

Ragnar gives them a doubtful look. "Was it?"

Tuffnut ignores him as he turns to his sister with an accusatory point. "What did you do with it, Ruffnut?"

"What?" she spits indignantly. "I didn't do anything with it!"

"You lying she beast!" He turns away, hands on his hips. "You were always jealous of my rock tower."