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

[flapsin]

[Darkwing barely has time to bask in his entrance, wondering how impressed the local smithy must be, before he's pelted by a water balloon.]

Waugh! [He gives an anguished squawk as he falls over!]

Hey, what's the big idea...

[He hops back up to his feet, assuming what resembles a fighting pose.]

Are you an evildoer after all? Forging nothing but evil?! [That would be disappointing, but also really cool. He could use his own nemesis in this world!]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Evildo—

You're the crazy anthropomorphic ghost duck that exploded into existence in my home booming about being the embodiment of terror!

[Darin has another water balloon at the ready with his dao drawn in his other hand.]

You're the one that sounds evil here!

[flapsin]

[He pauses for a moment, looking impressed.]

Now that was a very good sentence, I like that! Aside from the 'crazy' part, I'd replace that with 'charismatic'. Might use that for introductions in the future by the way!

[And then he catches up with why he should be feel affronted by this.]

But hey, I don't sound evil at all! Did you even listen to the speech? I'm the opposite of evil. I'm what villainy's afraid of!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Okay. Wait. Let's examine this line by line.

"I am the terror that flaps in the night?"

You know what else flaps in the night? Vampires. Vampires are evil.

...I admittedly don't remember the rest because when a phantom voice starts booming about terror I don't stick around for the rest.

[flapsin]

You only listened to one line. That - that's a disappointment. Anyway, that argument is invalid because so many other things can flap in the night! Practically any bird, you name it. And if you kept on listening, my intentions would have become clear!

I... think it was something about a butter knife cutting evil's crust off the sandwich of justice? A very powerful metaphor, of which I have many in my arsenal! That makes it clear which side that I stand on. In fact, if you were terrified by me so easily, I would guess that someone might have a guilty conscience!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

You broke into my house! How would I not be alarmed or scared?! And what would I even be guilty of?!

[Honestly? He sounds even more guilty now just by vehemently denying his own guilt.]

[flapsin]

I- I wasn't even trying to break into anything, I thought this was a public area! I happened to come here for business, as a matter of fact! And I don't know, you tell me! What do you feel guilty about?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I'm starting to feel guilty about not putting up a 'working hours' sign, honestly. I live here too, you know! Better than those rooms we have to share at the inn.

And the public uses the door. Do you always explode into existence wherever you want to go? Do you burst into smoke and appear at the supermarket??

[Grumbling, Darin rights his table and grabs a towel, tossing it Darkwing's way.]

Anyway, sorry about that. If you're here for business, what can I do for you?

[flapsin]

A true hero of the night should have that effect! Conventional entrances and exits will only take away from the mystique. [His light magic is a toy that needs to be taken away from him.]

In any case, my apologies about the misunderstanding, allegedly upstanding citizen! Now, as for the work I have for you... Consider this a test of your skills!

[He produces a hook at the end of a rope, which has been bent out of shape. And he throws it onto the ground between them, in an attempt to make it look dramatic.]

Tell me, can you fix this?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[As Darkwing was explaining why it's apparently a good idea to explode and announce his presence everywhere he goes, Darin was holding out his hand for whatever Darkwing wanted him to check out.]

[And then Darkwing went and threw it on the floor.]

[Darin gives Darkwing a look. You know the look. It's the look a cashier gives to a customer when they hold their hand out for payment and the customer throws it on the counter.]

[It's not a good look.]

[There's a really tense silence between them.]

...You're asking me if I can straighten out the hook on your grappling hook?

That's the test?

[flapsin]

[This is a bit awkward. The human's not looking nearly as impressed as he expected! He thought he presented the hook in the coolest way he could. But that look and his questions making him feel a little bit of doubt, and his grin starts to turn sheepish.]

Yes? That - that's the long and short of it alright. Clever of you to catch on! See, this will be your test... your first test. Who knows? Maybe there'll be more to come! But this is the one test I have right now of your skill, o... o smithy.

This is your chance to help out a hero! ...Now that you... understand that I'm a hero!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin sighs and picks up the hook and rope, gathering them in his arms and walking them over to his workstation. He unties the rope from the hook and checks that first before he even bothers with the hook itself.]

[He checks specifically for any frays in the rope, anything that would weaken or compromise its ability to hold weight. With a knife, he cuts off the frayed and worn ends before taking a look at the hook itself.]

So, tell me...What was it? 'Darkwing?'

If you can just teleport into people's houses, what do you need a grappling hook for?

[flapsin]

[Darkwing folds his arms and oversees the boy at work. He tries to look as if he can follow what's going on, which he mostly can't. He just wants to look cool.]

Darkwing Duck. Let me knows if you need the introduction again! [He then clears his throat.]

My ways are wrapped in mystery and shrouded in darkness. Just know that, sometimes something like that is needed to traverse high terrain. [He won't admit that he can't actually teleport, but he'll talk around it.] I have to pursue every avenue to truly pursue villainy!

[The rope is indeed pretty frayed and worn at some points as well. It has seen some action thus far!]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Right. Darkwing Duck. I'll pass on the intro again, thanks.

[With the rope tended to, he begins looking over the hook.]

[He grabs his pliers and begins twisting the hook back to its original shape.]

You know, this looks pretty well-worn. You thought about a replacement?

[flapsin]

Your loss!

[He nods along, grinning confidently.]

That's not surprising, given that I'm a seasoned crimefighter. [Or a clumsy one...] It's just a bunch of battle scars! ...But, y'know, I have been thinking of adding extras to my arsenal. I'll show villains something to be hooked by instead of crime!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Is there a lot of crime in Avalon?

[If he sounds sarcastic, he doesn't mean to be. It's actually a thought that never crossed his mind. With all of the magically inclined people literally dropping in, it seemed like most people would be able to fend for themselves.]

[But not everyone was altruistic. Maybe there was a side to this Darin didn't realize.]

Well...I will say that this hook has seen better days. I can fix it buuuut...maybe you'd be interested in an upgrade?

[flapsin]

More than you might think! I don't have any figures on me or anything, but rest assured... all towns have a seedy underbelly, waiting to be pruned by a true agent of justice!

[He... hasn't had much luck in actually finding criminals, but he knows there's out there! Especially when he keeps on hearing about this mysterious Dark Web that apparently hires people for acts of evil.]

...An upgrade, you say? [He sounds intrigued, placing his hands together.] Go on.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

So...you're a hero then? Have you been knighted and all that?

[There's a lilt in Darin's voice. Maybe talking about 'hero' stuff is piquing his interest.]

Well...instead of rope, I can give you a spool of high-tension wire. It's weather resistant and easier to spool up and carry. In fact, give me a day or two and I can mount the spool onto a reel that should pull you along instead of you having to climb.

As for the hook, it's probably best if I just make you a new one. We could go for the classic pronged design or I could make it so it clamps down instead of hooks. Think like the jaws of a crocodile.

Though, if we go with the hook design, I can make it spring loaded. Have the prongs retract into the base until it's thrown and then they snap out to hook. Makes concealing it easier too.

Your call, though. What'll it be?

[flapsin]

Well no, I haven't been knighted yet. Haven't really been in this world for long. But true justice doesn't need an official title to act!

[He attempts to brag, propping his hands on his sides. And then, he listens carefully as Darin lays out the options.]

Wow, you... you really put a lot of thought into this.

[He thinks for a moment, then presses his hands together and points.]

I'll go with... the second option! It sounds nice and stealthier, which sounds better for a being who can be one with the night like myself. You've got some pret-ty clever ideas, smithy!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[It's Darin's turn to show a confident grin now.]

A real blacksmith doesn't just concern himself with making weapons or pounding the dents out of shields. A real blacksmith knows his clients' lives are on the line, that it's his work that can make the difference between a hero and a widower.

I might not be a hero, but I know the world needs them. So, it's my job to make sure they all come back. The more, the better.

[Whether he was intending it or not, he probably sounded pretty cool, just then.]

And the name's Darin. Darin Altway. Give me two days and your new grappling hook will be ready, Darkwing.

[flapsin]

[He had wanted to test this guy to see if he really was the right guy to help him out with his gear. But he didn't know what this test actually would consist of - not until Darin aced it with those words. Darkwing grins proudly and presses his hands together.]

Okay, you're hired! [He points dramatically as he does that.] It seems I've truly found a worthy blacksmith for a true hero of justice. I look forward to doing justice with you, Mr. Altway! [A beat.] As long as there are no more water balloons!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Just 'Darin' is fine. I prefer to keep things casual.

And I promise, no more water balloons.

...So long as you can try and resist the urge to scare the living daylights out of me.

[flapsin]

Very well, Darin! You've made a great new ally on this evening! [And Darkwing has as well.]

Of course. I'll be careful with you and try to remember that you have a guilty conscience! [That's still his takeaway.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

... ... ...

So, quick question. If I have a guilty conscience but you still come to me for work...wouldn't that technically make you aiding and abetting a criminal?

[flapsin]

...Well yes, if you feel that way because of having committed an actual crime! That would be really, really bad. That's why I'm hoping this is all just because of something minor, like maybe you took the last cookie from the cookie jar! You don't have to confess, unless it was really bad.