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]

[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!]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Well, now she has a hand on his chest and he's not only confused but she can definitely feel his heartbeat spike.]

N...No?

Is there...something else you'd rather do...?

[patchricide]

[Her hand doesn't move. There's something nice about this, too, holding onto him as if in an embrace...]

... nothing in particular, but... that's sort of the point.

I think I would like to simply stay here with you. Like this. Just for a little while...

[She says, her body curling into his, those blue eyes of her staring up at him. There's a term for what the two of them are doing, whether Allura has heard of it or Darin has realized it's happening. They're cuddling.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

... ... ...

I...In that case...

[He snakes an arm around her narrow waist and almost pulls her into his lap.]

What about...this...?

[patchricide]

[She lets him guide her, and given that particular cue... well, she takes it as a sign to go the rest of the way, and take a seat on his lap. Which is a surprisingly comfortable fit, given her slender built.]

... I think I like this seat.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Oh. Oh wow. If there's a darker shade of red Darin's face is absolutely turning it. From the look she's giving him to the tone of her voice he can feel something stirring inside of him. And if he wasn't hyper conscious of her body before, he certainly is now with her rear in his lap and his arms around her waist.]

[But more than that, he can't seem to stop staring into her eyes. That half-lidded gaze she's leveled on him that's turning him to jelly by the second. They're close enough that they can feel each other's breath and still he can't tear his gaze away from her eyes.]

[And with her hand on his chest, she's likely enjoying the feel of his muscles nervously tensing and his heart racing.]

... ... ... Gods above you're beautiful...

[It's literally one of the only cohesive thoughts in his mind. There are others, of course there are others. Urges that he wants to acknowledge but it's telling that that is the thought he chooses to voice. Albeit accidentally. He was too caught up in that smouldering look to register that he said that out loud.]

[patchricide]

[If it's her eyes that he's staring at, he might find himself briefly deprived of them because of that remark. She's turned her gaze down and away, bashfully.]

You don't have to flatter me, you know...

[Even though she has plenty of reasons to believe it's not mere flattery, there's a part of her that's come to expect that these compliments always have some sort of ulterior motive. And that part is going to need to get used to the idea that maybe it's something more simple and pure.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I'm...I'm not flattering you.

There's just...so many things about you that I'm finally seeing. Things that I think people miss...

[How can he put this into words without sounding corny?]

You know how they say you can see an entire world in someone else's eyes? I see so much more than that with you. I just...see all of these wonderful possibilities...

And...I feel like you're like me. Searching for something...

It...makes me want to help you find it. Your happiness. Because when you smile at me I feel like I'm...

Like...Like I'm...

Like I finally have a place where I belong...

[patchricide]

You do, don't you? Here in Avalon...

[But she understands what he's getting at. Belonging isn't merely about living in a place that you like. It's about being accepted by the people there. Her fingers flex, as if to grip his chest so slightly...]

We both have a place where we belong.

But you know... if you want to keep searching more for than just that with me... I would gladly welcome the company.

We could start our own adventure together.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

..Yeah.

Yeah, I'd...I'd really like that...

[He keeps hold of her with one arm but reaches up to place his hand over hers on his chest.]

I can't wait to see where it goes...

[patchricide]

[With that, she leans forward... and once again rests her head against his neck. However, this time she's approaching him from the front, meaning she's up close against him, closing the distance in the embrace.]

[It's a comfortable position, getting all cuddled up close to him like this. Even with the arch in her back, the warmth of being held like this is the sort of thing could lull her to sleep.]

[But that would be rude, wouldn't it? Passing out right in the middle of a date night.]

Mm... so, if I might ask... where would you like it to go first?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Oh where he wouldn't want it to go. They're so close now...he could just lean down and...]

[In fact, she might notice the distance getting smaller. And when he speaks, it's barely above a whisper.]

Heh...do I look like someone who plans the adventure out...?

I think I'd rather be surprised...

[patchricide]

['Might' notice? How could she not notice? It sends a chill down her spine just to hear his voice. ... and feel it, since she can feel his breath on her skin.]

Well... no. You do seem like someone who makes things up as he goes along. [No offense.]

But there's nothing wrong with having dreams, even small ones...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[He laughs a bit and considers the moment. Where they are. How cozy this all is.]

In that case...if we're talking about 'dreams...'

...Maybe I could tell you in the morning?

Over breakfast...?

[He moves to brush a strand of hair out of her face gently.]

[patchricide]

[She lifts her head up. Her expression is... surprised, but not alarmed.]

You're inviting me to spend the night?

[Or is he inviting her to do far more than that? She's not so naive as to not realize what the implications would be with such an arrangement — but it seems like quite a leap from just their first dinner date. And considering what a great deal it was for Darin to get to this point...]

[She's not about to assume that he really just wants her to sleep over. But it's a possibility.]