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

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I think about you a lot...

[For a moment, it looks as if he might want to say more but back peddles.]

U-Um...could I get you anything else...? Another drink maybe?

[Or him]

[patchricide]

[She quirks her brow. ... is he not going to give her that gift, then?]

Certainly, a drink sounds nice.

[It'll help her wait out the suspense.]

... and how much is a lot?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin freshens up her drink, suddenly wishing he had a little something harder to steel his nerves.]

...Enough that I really put my all into making this.

[He leaves the table and moves to a small end table by the couch. He reaches into the cabinet under it and procures...a stuffed toy. It's a lion...well, a space lion to be exact. In as much as Darin would believe a space lion to look. It's got blue fur, a pink mane and, you guessed it, pointy ears like an Altean.]

[And also two tails. It's space. What do you want from him? He doesn't know!]

[But it's got cute button eyes and a blep expression and it's very very snugly looking.]

...I don't know what lions look like in space or on Altea so I kinda used my imagination.

[There's also a small box tied in a ribbon to it. It's longer than it is tall...but it looks like this gift has a second part.]

[patchricide]

Really, you made this? Just for me?

[She almost laughs when she sees it. Look at it! Look at that tongue! It's adorable!]

That's quite all right. I think I like your creative interpretation. [And she holds it up, to give it a small hug — small enough to suit its own size nicely.]

[But then, she turns her attention to the box.] Say, Darin, is that also for me to open?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[He laughs sheepishly.]

I don't know. You tell me.

[He has no doubt that she's going to open the box, and when she does, she'll find a white gold necklace with a clasped locket dangling from the chain. Engraved on the front of the pendant is Juniberry flower and, when she presses the button to pop the locket open, she'll find an identical image of a Juniberry flower...only this one is made using the same technique as the paintings they viewed in Celliwig; the picture is formed by tiny shards of prismatic crystal that change color depending on the light and the angle with which it's viewed. The blossom itself switches in hue from pink to blue while the stem shifts from green to a deep purple.]

[Truth be told, this was the gift Darin wasn't sure about. He was afraid it might be too forward. He attempts to break the tension he's feeling with a little aside.]

I did owe you something sparkly, after all...

[patchricide]

[Allura had been stunned into silence when she lifted the necklace out of the box by its chain. No, not just stunned — her attention was immediately absorbed by the elegant trinket, which she turned this way and that in the light to see it glitter and gleam. When he speaks up, she replies, but her voice is quiet and breathless:]

Darin... did you make this for me? How did you learn how to do it? We only learned about this sort of art when we were in Celliwig...!

[She looks at it again, as if to check that she saw it right, before staring at him with wide eyes, shining with admiration.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I did some studying...spoke to the gallery owner...

I...[He clears his throat.]

Do...you like it?

[patchricide]

How could I not? It's utterly beautiful, the most stunning piece of jewelry I've ever seen!

... ... ...

I'm just... a little embarrassed now...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Ever? I doubt it's that good...

...Wait, embarrassed? Why?

[patchricide]

Because as it so happens, I actually brought a gift for you as well...

[She reaches into her bag, and pulls out another small box. In fact, the size and shape are fairly similar to the one he gave her. ... surely, it's just a coincidence, right?]

But I'm not nearly so skilled as you are.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

You...brought me a gift...?

[He looks baffled.]

I...

...why...?

[patchricide]

Open it.

I think once you see it, you'll understand why.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

... ... ...

[Well, he does as he's told and opens it.]

[patchricide]

[The first thing that's likely to catch his eye is something he's seen before: Darin's Pure of Heart Crystal, which he never turned in. Instead, he had given it to Allura, telling her to turn it in for the reward.]

[Clearly, she never did that.]

[However, it's in a pendant setting now, of a sort. Having no access to a forge or anything like that (really, she's more accustomed to something akin to a 3D printer), she's had to make do with... wire. Metal wire, carefully wound around the top and bottom of the crystal, and with some extra parts curling and coiling around the sides like... well... maybe like a leaf? Or a lick of flame? It's almost art nouveau in appearance, were that a thing in either of their worlds...]

[Naturally, there's a loop at the top, and a chain strung through it.]

I should say, there was another reason for this...

I wasn't able to give you a proper gift on your birthday, remember?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin stares at the crystal for a long moment. Obviously, he knows what it is. But he has so many questions! This couldn't possibly be the same crystal he told her to turn in. That was months ago!]

A-Allura...

What...?

Is...Is this...? From Morganna...?

[Somehow he knows. He doesn't wait for her answer.]

Are you insane?! This was worth one million gold! You could have moved out of the inn! Had a house! A place of your own!!

N...Nevermind my birthday!

[His tone changes slightly with that word. It simultaneously catches in his throat, having never been given a real gift before, and drips with venom. As if the day itself is one he loathes.]

I can't— I-I mean...I won't...ngh...!

[He's flummoxed. Completely and utterly.]

[patchricide]

Come on, Darin. I think you already know: Taking a reward that you earned never felt right to me. If I had exchanged it, the only thing I would want to do with the money would be... to find a way to get it back to you.

But some instinct of mine told me that the money wouldn't matter to you, no matter what form it came in. And I thought that, perhaps, you would appreciate something a little more sentimental.

I hope I wasn't mistaken...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I...

[His tone softens a bit as he turns it over in his hand.]

You...kept it...?

I don't...I don't understand. You had every opportunity to just...give it back. You could have given it to someone else to deliver and I never would have known it was you...

Did you just...keep it so you could return it...?

[patchricide]

It didn't seem as though it would mean anything if I didn't give it back.

And even when we were still feuding, I was under the impression that if it wasn't a meaningful gesture to you, then you would find a way to return it back to me.

... and we would be exchanging it back and forth for weeks.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[So...she wanted to give it back to him. She only held onto it for that purpose, huh.]

[He feels his stomach twist a bit. Why was he so sad about that?]

...I...suppose you've got me there...

[He still looks baffled, but he runs his hand over it just the same, admiring the work of the wire. She really put her all into this...]

...Th...Thank you...

[patchricide]

... ... ...

I did want to say, as well...

I didn't want to return it to you simply because I felt an obligation to do so. That I owed it to you.

It represents something important, I think. And the fact that you didn't want to keep it... that you didn't seem to think you actually earned it... that makes me wish all the more that you'll recognize it for what it is, and accept it.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

You're...trying to remind me that this is proof...

Proof that I'm not a monster. That I'm good...

...That's why you gave me all of those chances, isn't it.

[He should be happy. He really should be. But for some reason...it feels like...he cheated? Somehow? He doesn't feel deserving and, the more he thinks on it, the more he thinks he might have been mistaken. That Allura doesn't like him...that she was only trying to do what's right by him...]

[He stares at the crystal as this indescribable feeling bubbles up inside of him. He suddenly hated himself. He hated that he thought there might have been more there when he should really know better. He hated that he was fighting accepting this because he knew how kind she was being.]

[At the core of it all, he hated himself.]

[But if Darin was a pro at anything, it was hiding that resentment of himself. He knew when to put on a mask. To hide himself and his feelings away until they were buried deep where they couldn't bother him or anyone else.]

[He puts on his biggest, most appreciative smile.]

This...this is really amazing Allura...

I'll treasure it...

[Hopefully, Allura won't sense anything.]

[patchricide]

[Something about his response is bothering her.]

[Maybe he doesn't know how to accept a gift properly? It would make sense. But somehow, even letting that thought settle in her mind doesn't put her much at ease.]

[Is it because...]

... did you forget something, Darin? I was willing to give you chances from the very beginning. I never needed any sort of proof before I knew you deserved it.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

S...Still...

That's really more of a testament to your kindness rather than anything...

[patchricide]

You say that, and yet... right now, I think it's safe to say that I was right to do so. Who's to say that it wasn't me being exceptionally perceptive?

In fact, there's quite a lot of good things about you that can't merely be summed up by a pure heart.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

What...What do you mean?