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

[patchricide]

... I did ask that, didn't I? [She covers half her face with one hand.] You have a remarkable memory of that evening, don't you?

[Why did he even need to ask, then?]

... and... yes, I suppose we both have that option, don't we...?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...Wait...both of us?

[patchricide]

... yes? Isn't that how this works?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Yeah but...I'm not gonna ask for that!!

[patchricide]

That's fine! I'm not ready to ask for something like that outright, either!

It's just... well, an option. Nothing more.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...Really?

Because you already asked for it. So, how would it be any different for you now?

[patchricide]

... because we're dating now? And... and I haven't been drinking alcohol all evening...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I'm just saying...I figured that since you've already seen me naked it would make things easier for you.

[patchricide]

How would that make it any easier? It's still a huge thing to ask of you...!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

But you know I don't care.

And I haven't had anything to drink so you know I'm telling you the truth.

[patchricide]

That's still...!

Look. If I said I didn't care, would you turn to me and ask me to take off my dress, like it was not a big deal?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Well...no, I wouldn't...

I mean, I'd want to but that's something I'd want you to decide for yourself...

[patchricide]

Precisely! I can't just ask you that! And especially not just for my amusement!

I would rather it be something more... [She squirms, fidgeting around the word.] ... meaningful. I mean, even if you say you don't care...

[She does.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

N-No, really...I get it. It's alright.

I was just...I guess I was just curious in the end. But it's totally fine...!

A-Anyway...we can watch the movie if you want now...

[patchricide]

[Even though he tries to play it off as nothing, she can hear that tremor in his voice, that telltale sign of how nervous he actually is in discussing this. It was probably that very nervousness that prompted him to be so forthcoming in talking to her, wasn't it?]

[She feels something twist in her chest.]

... Darin...

[She gets in close... a little more close than usual, well into his personal space. Close enough that she can reach over and touch a hand to his cheek.]

... it is fine. I don't mind you being curious...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[He jumps a bit.]

W-Well...I'm glad we got that all figured out then...!

[patchricide]

[As nervous as she thought. Is he even looking her in the eyes?]

Well, maybe not. I mean, there's still other things we can do that aren't going so far as... getting completely undressed.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[He does spare a glance. He's nervous but he can't resist the urge to ask.]

...L...Like what?

['Completely?' What did that imply?]

[patchricide]

For starters...

[She scoots closer to him on the couch, close enough that the only barrier between them is his own arm — and if he moves it around her, she'll have a nice place to lean against his shoulder.]

There's simply getting closer to each other.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Oh. Oh...!

[He blushes a bit and moves his arm to put it around her.]

Th-This is nice...

[patchricide]

[Perfect. With the opening created, she doesn't merely lean on him, but nuzzles up closer to him, nearly burying herself in the crook of his neck. It's an incredibly comfortable position, one that many couples are familiar with...]

[But then there's the matter of her own arm that's been sandwiched between them. ... well, surely he won't mind if she rests that on his thigh, right? It's just the lightest pressure of her fingertips against the fabric of his slacks.]

We could watch the whole movie like this...

[Do you think you can keep your cool for two hours, Darin?]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

W-We could...

[And try as he might, with her head resting where it is, she'll feel it pounding away like a jackhammer. They were practically cuddling. And she was soft and smelled wonderful...]

[Not to mention warm. Though...that could have been him too.]

[But...he did like this. So, he holds her a little closer. She was right, there were all kinds of things he was curious about.]

[patchricide]

[Oh, that heat was definitely coming from him as much as her, if not more. Was this arrangement causing his temperature to rise? Hmm?]

Oh... wait. You have to put that movie into a player, right? Did you already do that...?

[If not, that's a problem. She doesn't want to go and let him up right after she got comfortable.]

[Which is why she's not moving to do so.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Oh...no I already put the movie in...

I just...need to turn on the television with the remote...

[Which is out of his reach on the coffee table in front of them.]

I'll get it started.

[After all, she's probably really bored of all of this awkward talk, right? He'll just lean forward to grab the remote...]

[patchricide]

[The problem with that is that she's pinning him in place. And instead of moving — or worse, letting him fold her forwards — she reflexively raises her arm, holding him across his chest, to push him back before he can reach the remote.]

... there's no hurry.

[It's almost like having a big pet cat. She'd rather delay the movie than move!]