Hello! I'm Wolfie, male, 22 years old, Computer Science student. I'm a big fan of How To Train Your Dragon, and the HTTYD fandom.

I have a tumblr called Wolfie-Dragon-Rider, and an AO3 account called Wolfie_Dragon.

I am currently working on finishing Blind Spots, my series of oneshots in my Blind!Hiccup AU. When that is finished, I will start my new long story, a Hogwarts AU with a darker tone than most have. I may post some random oneshots if the inspirations strikes me.

The following is a message about bullying. I don't want to seem preachy or sanctimonious, but this is very important to me, and I would appreciate it if you would take the time to read it and find out what you can do to help people who are bullied.

I was bullied for most of my life. It started when I was four years old in kindergarten, and didn't end until I could leave my hometown to go to university at age 18. Even then, it took more than a year of me being scared of talking to the other students before I mustered the confidence to interact with someone, and making my first friends. Yes, it wasn't until I was 19 years old that I made my first friend. Even now I find it hard to figure out the basics of friendships, because I'm still learning. That's what bullying can do to a person.

Shortly after that I saw HTTYD for the first time. I immediately felt connected to Hiccup, recognizing his struggle of trying to fit in but getting bullied in return. It wasn't explicitly shown in the movie, but I recognized the signs, and I knew the implications. In Hiccup's words, "I looked at him, and I saw myself."

As I neared the end of the movie, I felt incredibly happy for, but also jealous of, Hiccup. Unlike Hiccup, I never met a Toothless to be a friend, and I certainly never met an Astrid who would stand up for me against the bullies when I didn't dare.

That was the worst part of all the bullying. The feeling that no one cares about you. Literally no one in the school or the world who doesn't hate you for who you are. I have to admit that there were times my thoughts became very dark, and I considered ending it all.

Which brings me to the point of this story. I would like to make you understand what you can do to help bullied people. If you see someone who is bullied, my advice is simple.

Talk to this person. It doesn't have to be much, I'm not asking you to immediately become BFF's, but simple gestures. A simple compliment on something he/she made or a congratulations after he/she got a good mark for a test. A simple “how are you?” or “are you okay?”.

It may not stop the bullying (I've become convinced it can't be stopped) but it can mean a lot to this person. To you a "how are you?" might seem like nothing, but to someone who is relentlessly bullied, it can mean the world to have even a single person treat them like a human being. It can mean the difference between confidence and fear. In extreme cases it can even mean the difference between life and death.

So be someone's Toothless. Initiate a 'forbidden friendship'. Show them that for all the hatred of the other 'Vikings' there's still someone who is worth fighting for, to face their bullies for another day.

I understand that you might be reluctant to do so. Social pressure can be harsh, and you might be afraid of getting bullied yourself. Therefore, like I said above, you don't have to interact too much with the bullied person. Try not to become a target yourself, because no one wins in that case. As for social standing, I'm going to say something that may sound pretty ridiculous and patronizing, but I'm going to say it anyway:

None of all that petty high school intrigue will matter in 10 or 20 years. Once you're 20 or 25 years old, nobody's going to care how popular you were in high school. However, bullied people will carry scars for a long time, possibly forever. I promise you: in 10 or 20 years, you won't remember the names of most of your high school classmates.

But if you help that bullied person, he/she will remember you forever. You'll be remembered as someone who helped him/her when no one else would, and you might want to think hard if that isn't worth more than a bit of high school drama.

If you are someone who has been or is being bullied, please don't hesitate to send me a PM. I'm always willing to listen to your problems, no matter how stupid or petty they may seem. I will respond as quickly as I can, and I will try to help as much as I can. And remember, no matter how cliche it sounds, you are a wonderful and unique person. No matter what anyone may say, you have the right to be yourself, and you never deserve to be bullied.

Stuff I would recommend you see, read or play and why:

Literature and Books:

The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R Tolkien. Of course, probably the most epic saga ever written down. from the awesome battles and vast history to the heroics that even the smallest person can be capable of, I consider this one of the greatest books ever written. A truly great story about bravery, loyalty, and fighting for all that is good.

Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling. Probably the greatest series of books of the last 15 or so years, and my childhood favorite.

Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut. I consider this the greatest book about war ever. Never have I seen such an absurd story work so incredibly well in describing the horrors of war and PTSD. A must-read, in my opinion.

The Last Leaf, by O. Henry. A wonderful short story about the power of art and hope. Two young artists live together, but then one of them falls deadly ill and vows to die when all the leafs have fallen from the vine outside the window. As the friend becomes increasingly desperate to convince her to stop thinking like that, they'll find out what it means to make true art.

The Raven, by Edgar Allan Poe. Probably the greatest poem in the English language, expertly telling a story about a man's descend into madness after the loss of his love, tormented by a raven only uttering a single word. I expect I'll read a poem as good as this one, quoth the raven, nevermore.

The Cold Equations, by Tom Godwin. A short scifi story using mathematics and physics brilliantly in metaphors about the futility of fighting against the laws of nature. Aboard a small space ship carrying vital supplies and medicines for a distant colony the pilot discovers there is a stowaway hidden on board, a young girl who just wanted to visit her brother in the colony. But what the girl didn't know is that the ship doesn't have enough fuel to carry an extra passenger. Something has to be thrown into space, or the ship won't be able to slow down enough to land without crashing.

Movies:

The Lord of the Rings. Again, a great movie adaptation, featuring flawless CGI, incredible acting and meticulous detail. I've probably watched it over 20 times now, and I'm still impressed every time I see it.

How To Train Your Dragon. Of course, for the reasons I specified above, as well as great CGI, hilarious jokes and a level of grittyness where the makers don't shy away from showing that even the greatest victory has a price.

Inside Out. An instant classic, I'll be incredibly pissed if it doesn't get nominated for Best Picture Oscar this year. A film that's as close to flawless as you can get, showing recognizable actions from your own head, complex psychology and neurology and depression in a way that a five year old can understand. Truly shows what the magic of cinema, and animation in particular, can do.

Jurassic Park. The old-time classic, I watched it for the first time recently, and I was surprised by how incredibly well it holds up, even after nearly 30 years. The CGI still looks as good as any modern blockbuster, and the story is chillingly tense and fast paced. The Dark Knight. The creepiest villain I have ever seen, in this scarily accurate portrayal of terrorism and its impact on society.

The Shawshank Redemption. One of the most touching films I have seen. A great tale about imprisonment, guilt, regret, crime, and above all, hope.

The Green Mile. A beautiful touching tale about an innocent man on Death Row with an unusual gift. I guarantee this will make you cry like a baby, but in a good way!

I really enjoy Film Noir, such as The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep. I also really like the old Hitchcock films, particularly Rear Window, Dial M for Murder, and Strangers on a Train.

Videogames:

I play a lot of videogames, but I only really enjoy them if there's a good story in there. Here are some of the ones that convinced me that games can be a form of art just as strong as, or even exceeding other media:

To The Moon. Literally the best and most touching story I have ever experienced. It's about two doctors who can implant memories in dying people, in order to make them experience their greatest wish. However, their job becomes hard when they meet Johnny, an old man whose wish is to go to the moon, although he doesn't know why. A truly brilliant story about childhood memories, regret, love, and obsession. I cannot recommend this enough. I guarantee it will make you both laugh out loud and cry until your eyes hurt.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War. Based on real letters from WW1, this puzzle game follows four people through the trenches of the Great War. A game that shows all aspects of warfare, from chemical weapons raining down on the frontline to the struggles of the civilian population in bombed out towns, never before have I seen a game that portrays war in such a simple, yet realistic way. If you are in any way interested in WW1, this is a must play.

Heavy Rain. A game about four people who are all trying to find a serial killer. A father whose son is kidnapped by the notorious 'Origami Killer', an insomniac journalist, an FBI profiler with a bad habit and a cold private detective all have their own reasons for seeking the killer. A splendid example of so-called 'interactive story', the game is build up like a film noir movie, but your actions and choices impact the rest of the game. The best game yet that really uses the interactive medium of gaming itself to build up and dynamically change the storyline.

Dragon Age: Origins. The only game I've played that I would truly call epic. A story about heroism, sacrifice, and ethical issues with no easy answers. I was particularly impressed by the various moral dilemmas you encounter, where there is no simple 'right' and 'wrong' choice.

The Cat Lady. The best and most honest portrayal of depression and suicide I've ever seen, this dark story doesn't hesitate to shock you. Depressed cat lady Susan Ashworth is sent back to Earth by a strange entity after she has committed suicide. She is tasked to kill five 'parasites': sinners, murderers, rapists, horrible people. Until she does this, she can not die, the most horrible curse for a suicidal person. But within all this, there is a ray of hope, and maybe Susan can find ways to overcome her horrible depression. The

Bioshock Series. Featuring a city build under the sea, where the greatest minds could live without being limited by laws or morality, these games are one of the best commentaries on various political ideologies, such as objectivism and collectivism, out there. I'd particularly recommend Minerva's Den, a DLC for Bioshock 2, which features one of the best and most touching endings I have ever seen, while also giving a new perspective on artificial intelligence and the power of computing.

Alan Wake. This horror game features a popular thriller author who is overcome with depression and writer's block. He and his wife take a holiday in the little town of Bright Falls. But there, his wife disappears and Alan finds that there is much more hiding in the shadows. A game that uses foreshadowing, time changes, amnesia and other tropes brilliantly to create the best horror game I've played, and one of the most brilliant stories in gaming.

Rakuen. A story-driven game in the spirit of To The Moon, but much more expansive and longer. It is about a chronically ill boy who lives in the hospital. His mom reveals to him that his favorite storybook hides a parallel world, where the boy can earn one wish by helping the other patients in the hospital and learning their stories. Probably made me cry even harder than To The Moon.

Webcomics:

The DM of the Rings. A simple premise: What if a group of D&D players played out the events of Lord of the Rings, without ever having seen the movie or read the books that arguably inspired Dungeons & Dragons? Even if you've never played or heard of D&D, this is a must-read if you like LotR. Featuring hilarious jokes, observations on plot holes in the story, and a fresh perspective and satire on fantasy as a whole.

The Order of the Stick. The best webcomic I've ever read, starting as a gag-a-day strip on Dungeons and Dragons, but quickly sprouting it's vast and unique story, with unforgettable characters. Inbetween the funny jokes there are also various moral dilemmas, observations on what it means to be evil or good, and a narrative spanning 5 books by now, with 2 more coming.

Other Stuff:

Norse Mythology: A worldview so unlike the modern western viewpoint, yet logical, in a way. I find the unique perspective on fate and death particularly interesting.