Prince Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third wasn't sure what to make of the young man standing before him. It wasn't that the other lord was unsavory, or unpleasant… he was just… odd.

In the most pleasant way possible.

He was charismatic, and athletic, and he had this swagger about him that Hiccup could only dream of achieving someday. He was short, yes. Far shorter than Hiccup's exceeding six foot height. But he was handsome regardless. His skin clear and shining, his eyelashes long, his hair slightly longer than was usually fashionable for men—but perhaps that was just the fashion on Meathead Island. And it was bright gold, shining in the sunlight.

But it was the Duke's eyes that truly captured one's attention. They were a startling blue, and looked like the water in the paintings of a tropical sea.

The young Duke of Meathead Island seemed to gather attention wherever he went, with his charm and looks. For some reason, Hiccup found himself flustered around him. He just had this… quality about him. Feminine to look at, and yet every bit as a man should be. Needless to say the women of Berk were quite smitten with him.

If only Duke Aster Hofferson of Meathead Island was not always in the company of his liege, Prince Thuggory, Hiccup could learn from him just how to obtain that swagger, that confidence, and that assuredness that seemed to emanate from him.

Suddenly, he realized the young duke had spoken—and spoken to him no less. "Sorry?" he asked, blinking in surprise.

"I said," Aster replied, with a patient smile, "Do you often go flying?"

"Oh, yes, well—as often as I can," Hiccup said, finding himself flustered as he always did when the Duke spoke to him directly. "I don't get to fly Toothless as often as I'd like, however."

"Yes, I image so," Aster said, holding out a slender hand for Toothless to sniff. The dragon did so, and snorted suddenly, a look of confusion on his face

"What is the matter with him?" Aster asked, with an amused smile.

"Don't know," Hiccup said, frowning. "I guess you must smell like something that is… confusing to him."

"Forget to take your bath this morning, Aster?" Thuggory asked, slapping Aster on the arm with a laugh. Aster frowned at him, sending a quick glare in his direction.

"So…" Hiccup said, bouncing on his feet for a moment of natural awkwardness. "I can't believe I've never met you before—the son of the infamous Alfred Hofferson… I mean, I always knew he had a son—but a small part of me was starting to believe you didn't exist."

Aster's frown deepened at this. He then smiled widely and pleasantly. "I was often sick as a child," he answered. "My father kept me indoors for my health."

Another confusing conundrum. Aster was one of the most athletic and fit young men that Hiccup had ever encountered. There seemed to be no physical feat the young man had not mastered, or could not master quickly. He seemed, at worst, in the best of health. "How wonderful that you have recovered from whatever ailment plagued you," Hiccup finally said.

Aster's eyebrows rose in agreement, smiling slightly, before turning to face the palace that Hiccup called home. "Your cousin was going to join us, was he not?"

"Ah, yeah, well, Snot got distracted," Hiccup said.

"Distracted?" Aster turned to him Hiccup a quizzical look.

"No doubt some lass gained his attention," Thuggory said. "He's not like you, Aster. He doesn't have women falling over themselves to get to him."

Aster rolled his eyes. "I think I'll head into the village," he said, changing the subject. He headed down the path from the cliffs in the direction of the village. "Come along, boys."

"I'm three years older than you," Thuggory said, hurrying after him.

Hiccup glanced at Toothless, and followed at a slower rate, keeping a safe distance from the two Meatheads. Toothless snorted again, looking at Hiccup with a strange, urgent expression. "What is it?" Hiccup asked him. Toothless merely snorted again. Hiccup rolled his eyes. "So you don't like Aster, big deal, Bud."

Toothless nudged him hard with his shoulder, nearly causing Hiccup to stumble. Up ahead, Aster and Thuggory stopped their banter, turning to give Hiccup worried looks.

"D—don't mind me," Hiccup said, straightening and glaring at Toothless. "He's probably just hungry."

Aster shrugged, and he and Thuggory turned and continued down the path. Hiccup glared at Toothless, who stared up at him with wide eyes. "You're really weird, you know that?" Hiccup asked the dragon. "There's nothing wrong with Aster. He's… well, he's a lot cooler than I am, certainly."

He heard Thuggory call his name, and hurried along the path, Toothless trailing along behind, to catch up to them.

Aster's dragon was a large, female Deadly Nadder by the name of Stormfly. She was vain, and prone to preen herself constantly—looking as put together as her master did. Aster was skilled in flying as well as everything else he did, it seemed, Hiccup soon found out. He could do tricks and acrobatics, further proving to Hiccup that whatever ailment he suffered from as a child could no longer be inflicting him too much these days.

"Excellent job," Hiccup said, thankful that Thuggory had forgone flying with the. Although he did not get as much of a chance to chat with Aster at the moment, with them flying to show off their skills. "That was incredible."

Aster flashed him a grin. "I learned to fly young," he said. "Stormfly and I have been together for some time."

"You'll have to teach me some of those tricks sometime," Hiccup said, as they made their way up from the palace stables. Suddenly, he caught the scent of his own stench, hot and sweaty from their flight. "Dinner is only an hour away—it would be faster if we go to the public baths."

Aster froze, almost stumbling, before catching himself and continuing his brisk pace without any indication he had stumbled at all. "No, thank you," he said. "I don't… Don't like public baths."

Hiccup frowned, curious as to why this was.

"If I am late to dinner, so be it. I hope your father will forgive me," Aster continued.

"Well," Hiccup answered, "He won't hold it against you, anyway."

They made their way up to the palace door, Toothless sniffing Aster.

"Why does he keep doing that?" Aster asked, gazing at Toothless with a troubled expression.

"I suspect he finds you interesting," Hiccup said.

"They entered the palace doors, and servants appeared, taking their coats from them. They walked together through some of the palace, before going their separate ways, Aster to the guest wing, Hiccup to the royal family's wing.

When he reached the dining hall, he was disappointed to find that Aster was occupied, talking with a gaggle of ladies. The young man was lounging against the wall, a smirk on his face, while the three women surrounding him soaked in every work he said.

"You get used to it," a voice said from behind him, gaining his attention. Hiccup turned to see Thuggory stop beside him.

"What?" Hiccup asked.

"Girls, falling over themselves just to get to him. I wasn't joking," Thuggory said, "I don't know…. He's just got this… charm."

"Swagger," Hiccup said.

"Yeah, that must be it," Thuggory agreed with a shrug. "Never seems interested in them though—other than conversation."

Aster looked up, noticing the two of them standing on the other side of the hall, and excused himself from the ladies, making his way over. "Looks like we were both ready on time," he said, grinning at Hiccup.

Hiccup nodded, as the gong rang and everyone headed to their seats. During the meal, Hiccup found himself sneaking glances at Aster. He was seated next to a woman from Meathead Island, the only woman that Aster seemed to have much regard for. Aster and the woman were laughing about something, and their conversation seemed so intimate and conversational that Hiccup could not help but feel… inclined to know what they were talking about.

After the meal, during which Hiccup was seated next to his Uncle Spitelout, quite a few seats away from Aster or Thuggory, Hiccup made his way to the ballroom, where music was playing and dancing had begun.

Thuggory and Aster were making their way towards him, when they were waylaid by two young women. After a moment, both sets headed to the center of the grand room, and began to dance at the next number. Hiccup watched, curious as to what it was about Aster that made him so agreeable to the ladies. He was attractive, certainly—or at least, Hiccup could see how he could be seen as attractive to the female view. And he was athletic. And he had that swagger about him. He was, Hiccup mused, a true male specimen.

Finally Aster detached himself from the lady, and while Thuggory remained on the dance floor, Aster made his way to Hiccup. "A fine evening," he said conversationally.

"You dance well," Hiccup answered.

"Yes, well… it's not quite my favorite thing to do, but it's enjoyable at times," Aster said.

"I don't dance very well, myself," Hiccup admitted. "My foot… it's missing."

Aster raised his eyebrows in surprise, before nodding slowly. "So you cannot dance at all?"

"I can dance, I'm just a little clumsy," Hiccup said.

"Perhaps sometime you could test it out and I'll be witness to your dancing skills."

"And who would I dance with?" Hiccup asked jokingly. "You?"

"Why not," Aster said with a nonchalant shrug. "I know both the female and male parts of these dances."

Hiccup stared at him, surprised and taken aback that the young duke had taken his jest so seriously. Finally, Aster burst into laughter, and Hiccup's face burned. "I thought you were going to collapse from shock. Do not worry, I was joking. Though I do know the female part well, and I daresay you and I would make a fine pair on the dance floor." He looked out across the floor, at all the dancers, as if imagining himself and Hiccup dancing together.

Hiccup found he wasn't sure how to answer. "Well," he finally said, forcing words out through his embarrassment. "You dance well, anyway. I would have been honored to have you as a dance partner."

Aster smiled softly, but continued to stare out across the ballroom, as if he hardly heard him. "Ah, there is Lady di Range," Aster said, pointing out the lady he had been talking with during dinner. "I think I shall say hello—we Meatheads must stick together." He bowed low to Hiccup, and continued on, heading towards the young countess. They greeted each other, and then, when Aster bowed and offered his hand, he led her to the dance floor, where they began a dance as the music renewed.

Hiccup watched, suddenly wondering what it would have been like if Aster had not been jesting about dancing with him. Would Hiccup had dared to accept? No… of course not. That was ridiculous. What would the couriers think? Watching the heir of Berk dancing with the Duke of Meathead Island? It would be the talk for centuries.

But as Hiccup watched Lord Aster and Lady Heather laugh and spin each other around, he could not help but feel a twang of jealousy.

Even the ease in which Aster interacted with Thuggory made him feel thus.

It was strange… and Hiccup could only imagine that in Aster he saw a kindred spirit—someone who could be a good friend.

For what else could it be?

To be continued…

Oh yes… I wonder what it could be about the young Duke "Aster" of Meathead Island? ;)

Hi! I can't remember if I had ever posted this story on this site before, I know I did on tumblr…I *think* on ao3, and I have a 'faint' recollection that I may have posted a couple chapters here.

Anyway, all my work-in-progresses are mostly so angsty/serious (for the most part) and I hadn't written a silly fic in SO long that I asked my followers on tumblr what old deleted fic of mine they wanted to see reworked/posted again, and a few people suggested this one :)

So… yes, the first two chapters are somewhat repeats of the last time, if they seem very familiar, but after that I will be reworking pretty much the whole fic.

Thanks for reading!