[ forever the afterthought, and hiccup takes it all with the ease of a person Very Used to it. considering the lack of recognition he's gotten, he figures this might be one of those times where someone leaves and comes back--but then again, he'd only talk to dipper a few, scant times.

either way, he can appreciate the wonder in their direction, that cuts in right when he's about to ask if dipper's okay through the silence. he actually hadn't felt awkward at all about that--he's. again, used to it. ]

I guess I can take that as an apology accepted. [ lightly. maybe. ] But... ah, yeah.

[ and figuring dipper might do well with a little more detail, hiccup continues, a hand on toothless' side: ]

Toothless and I've been together for five, six years. It's... a pretty common thing where I'm from, actually--dragons and people. Recently, anyway.