Summer Sun, Something's Begun | July Catch-All | Open

[forgeabettertomorrow]

🧙 WHO: Darin Altway and YOU
⚔️️ WHAT: July Catch-All with Open and Closed prompts
🕒 WHEN: Throughout July
🗺️ WHERE: All around Camelot! Quests and shenanigans ahoy!
⚠️ WARNINGS: Some ridiculousness? Some fluff? Will update as necessary!

🛡️ SHIELD SUMMER FEVER! 🛡️ - OPEN

[Darin always felt bad for the people who could get sick. Back home, his powers prevented him from falling ill, even to such banal things as a summer cold. But he did have experience as a gofer for his town's doctor, as well as doing errands and chores for the people who fell ill. So, this job was right up his alley.]

[One thing he knew for sure, when you're under the weather, nothing beats a good laugh.]

[With the trusty use of the new EmphaSize spell he nabbed from the traders, you'll find him waddling around with huge, oversized feet as he goes from room to room delivering flowers, teddy bears, medicine, fruit baskets, you name it. If he happens to be entering a kid's room, he'll make a big show of his giant, floppy feet. If its an elderly person's room, he'll sit with them for awhile and ask them about their day or let them ramble on.]

[But it's likely leaving one of the rooms is when you'll bump into Darin. Or trip over his enormous, floppy feet.]

Oh, hey! Easy there! You okay? Sorry, I should get a signal or something for these things...

🗡️ LAVAFT BEHIND 🗡️ - OPEN

[This seemed like a pretty easy task, all things considered. Everyone knew slimes were low-level monsters, even if they had the same temperature as magma. And Darin worked professionally around molten metal all day. If there was anyone who could handle this task, it was him.]

[Though, having someone along in case things went awry was a good idea too. Especially since his blood magic wouldn't really do him much good here.]

[So back to the Diamond Falls Darin goes. He's got a pickax and some mining tools in a pack slung over his shoulder examining the hardened rock for any sign of the slime.]

So, since I know how my luck goes, what's the plan for when we free this thing and it immediately attacks us with the fury of a particularly cranky volcano?

AT THE FORGE - OPEN

[With the reconstruction from his rampage doing well, Darin's back at the forge doing what he loves. He might be down an apprentice, but that hasn't stopped him from taking orders and commissions from those who seek him out! Got something you want Darin to make? His consultations are always free so come on in! Got some gear that needs mending or ideas you want to pitch? Maybe you just need some work? Darin's door is always open! When you step in, you'll likely see him working on something or tidying the place up. If there's one thing Darin can't stand, it's a messy forge! So come on in and let's get to work!]

BAR CRAWL - CLOSED TO KATE

[It's been about a month since he tore through Camelot as a terrifying, familiar-fused monster. Barring his (and everyone else's jaunt) to Celliwig, Darin had largely avoided going into town. And when he did, he wore a cloak with a hood that concealed his hair.]

[Now, a month later and the reconstruction mostly complete, Darin is feeling a little more hopeful that maybe he won't be kicked out of town if he decides to hit a bar for a drink or two. He's still wearing his cloak, but when he settles in at the 'In For a Pound' pub, he slowly pulls his hood back to reveal his very obvious blue mane of hair. He gets a few looks, some of which he's not too thrilled with, but orders a drink and sits at the bar.]

[Unfortunately, the patrons on either side of him scoot away. Fortunately, that leaves space should anyone decide they want to pull up a stool and join him.]

MY DINNER WITH DARIN - CLOSED TO ALLURA

[So, it really only dawned on Darin about a day or so before the date that he and Allura had chosen for dinner that this might actually be a...you know. A date. In a panic, he considered calling her to clarify that this wasn't a date...but what if she wanted it to be a date? What if he tried to clarify and they called the whole thing off? That would be awful! And he'd feel terrible too! She was really looking forward to it! But did that mean she was looking forward to a date with him?]

[No, that couldn't be it.]

[Could it?]

[So, after spending a day laying on the floor and staring at the ceiling weighing his options, he decided that, you know what? He could do this! Even if it was a date! Hell, it was only a date! He could handle that! Even though he'd never been on a date before, much less with someone who was so strikingly beautiful and had spent the last six months worming her way into his every though— NOT IMPORTANT!]

[And so, it was the evening of the big-but-maybe-not date. He'd agonized over whether or not he should dress up and finally he decided on an off-white polo shirt with pink piping around the collar and sleeves (hey, pink goes good with blue, alright?), and some tan slacks. With a menu all set (he did promise it would be an amazing meal) he sets out to begin cooking, listening intently for the door to the forge to open so he could go up and greet her.]

[Everything was set for the evening. Nothing could possibly go wrong, right?]

[...Right?]

WILDCARD

[Not seeing anything that catches your fancy or want to do something else? Go ahead and top-level! And if you're not sure and want to hash it out, hit me up on Discord @ Ant#0062 or on plurk @ bitterbearface!]

Comments

[sighsheavily]

That'll depend on the questions. [guess we're just gonna wheel on down this hallway to the laundry room huh.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

You mentioned that the me that you knew overcame this.

...What was he like? When you knew him, I mean?

[sighsheavily]

[she doesn't reply right away, and not until she's gotten the laundry room door open.

while pulling the cart in behind her:] What are the reasons you want to know, exactly?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I don't...I don't need specifics. I guess...

I'm kinda at a crossroads right now. And while I know there's no guarantee I'm gonna end up the same way...

I wouldn't mind something to shoot for. To keep in the back of my mind...

[sighsheavily]

[while loading towels and sheets into the machine:] You want a benchmark, is what you're saying. As opposed to a parent or other role model, you want it to be some version of yourself whose path is set apart from your own.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I want to be my best self but...I'm not sure how I want to do that. What I want to do here.

After what happened last month and you telling me that another version of myself got through this, even went on to beat it...

...I want to know what he was like. Maybe even find a way to surpass that version of me so I'm not so...

So, I'm not so scared all of the time.

[sighsheavily]

[bluntly, not stopping her task:] I refuse.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

What?! Why?!

[sighsheavily]

Because what I told you is enough. I know exactly what you'd do if I gave you much more.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Oh yeah?! What would I do then??

[sighsheavily]

You mean besides claw your own face raw as you agonize over whatever ceiling is impossible for you since you're preemptively decided you're not destined for such heights? [italics emphasized by slamming machine door closed.

now she turns to glare at him.]

No. You have what you need. You are farsighted enough as it is.

1/2

[forgeabettertomorrow]

2/2

[forgeabettertomorrow]

W...Well, what if I do think I can reach those heights, huh? What then??

[sighsheavily]

[airily:] Then you'll do it without the benchmark, simple as that. Setting barriers up for yourself is only sensible if you mean to stay within your limits.

You [she pokes him in the chest to push his floaty form out of her way.] do not do that.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

... ... ...

Can you at least tell me what you thought of him then...?

[sighsheavily]

Such a thing has no bearing on your pathway here, now does it?

[she opens up the drier to pull out the clean items.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

No, it doesn't.

But you obviously had thoughts about him. Me. Whatever.

He left an impression.

I guess I just want to hear what that impression was, at least.

[sighsheavily]

That impression would be, in of itself, a benchmark. Which I said you've no need of, correct?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin drags a hand down his face.]

Anything can be a benchmark, you know! Geez, the other me's diet could be a benchmark! Do you realize what it's like to have someone know about this version of you that somehow existed in another world? Whether you like it or not, comparisons are going to be drawn! At least if you tell me what you thought of him, I can at least figure out something. Like, maybe you thought he was a complete idiot! Fine! At least now I know I didn't start taking myself too seriously or something!

Gods, I'm not asking for his life story or every step he took.

...I just want to know if he was a good man.

[sighsheavily]

[the tips of her ears start to grow pinker, but she keeps her head down and her hands busy.]

Imagine me wasting my time on someone I didn't deem at least decent...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

That's it? For a poet you've suddenly become very sparse with your words.

[sighsheavily]

Why do you suppose that would be, Darin Altway?

[she straightens up with a folded armful of sheets to glare at him, her eyes moist.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

... ... ...

I guess...it's because sometimes there just aren't words...for how we feel about people...

[sighsheavily]

In part.

[she piles up the cart, maneuvering it and herself around him, but not quite leaving the more private threshold of the room.]

But the other part is something you will simply need to take my word for when I say that time, even vast expanses of it, does not separate one from everything as one would think.

Especially when one was not made to endure such expanses.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...Are you referring to my longevity or yours?