He caught the bouquet at the end of httyd 3 and fucking SMILED.

Eret..

....

So... Eret and Gobber have, if nothing else, an Understanding.

We see that Eret has the chief’s back, he has his ear and his confidence. He’s up there at the head table when they address the village and it’s pretty cool that he’s becoming the Gobber to Hiccup’s Stoick. Maybe a little less crass, a little less blunt, but we can leave those to Snotlout... and Tuff.

Gobber sees this. He sees a reasonable young man who’s capable of speaking some sense into the gaggle of muttonheads Hiccup surrounds himself with (Astrid excluded).

Gobber also sees that Eret has the body of a Norse God. I mean, we all do.

I heard tell of their ‘flirting’ before I saw the movie. There’s eye contact.. in multiple scenes. Usually right over Hiccup’s head. Silent conversations. Eret catches the bouquet Gobber throws... it’s all pretty cute.

I wasn’t really into it---them, as a couple---from the start for one main reason: Gobber’s 56 and Eret’s 26. It’s that thirty year age difference. I know, I know, very agist of me, but it had me frowning before I even saw the movie.

I loved their interactions either way.

We know Gobber’s gay. It’s probably the worst kept secret in the village. If even that. And I’ve always seen Eret as being comfortable with his sexuality, among other awesome qualities. He’s, like, a genuinely supportive, cocky-but-gentle, useful friend to have in Hiccup’s corner. I think Gobber saw that too and, aside from eye-candy, saw how good he was. How good he was for the village and for Hiccup.

...And perhaps reminded him a bit of himself in his youth. A roguish flirt ;)

Lets think to when after Eret settled a little more on Berk and they started talking. I mean before silent eye fuckery conversations, but when they used real words. Gobber’s got some wild stories, and did some exploring, but he’s been settled in Hodunk Berk for ages now. Eret’s got some fresh tales from the seas, and not all of them darkened by Drago’s employment (I cannot for the life of me find my sexpiriences post about Eret). They’ve probably drank too much together and Gobber got to hear loads about what happens on ships that voyage a little too long. He’s maybe not so subtle in his appreciation of Eret six months into their friendship. And Eret isn’t responding, but he’s not recoiling either.

Beyond that, Gobber is mourning the loss of his best friend after meeting Eret. It’s really... nice. Having someone he can relate to, share exasperated glances with, drink late into the night with... He could do this with the current chief, but he half-raised the boy and can’t fully take himself out of that parental role.

Gobber knows Eret’s young, not much older than Hiccup, and maybe something will develop later on, maybe not...that doesn’t matter much. All he knows is that Eret’s getting coaxed into Berk was a blessing Gobber never knew he needed.