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

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

🧙 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!]

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Want to be my slave, huh?

( ... KATHERINE. but the half-smile she shoots him isn't nearly as unsavoury as her words. it's just an easy thing to fall back on when talking to others. stupid quips and innuendo, words that mean nothing but fill silence. )

Sure. Let's go.

( take your darts, Darin, you're up first. )

And what makes you think you won't be mine?

[Darin takes his darts and steps up. His first dart hits the wall beside the dart board. His second? Doesn't even stick. It just drops impotently to the floor.]

[His third dart at least gets him two whole points.]

...I'm obviously warming up.

I don't bottom.

( it helps that she's not wasted, really. there's a soft exhale which almost sounds like a snort at his attempts to throw the darts, and soon enough she'd standing there, hitting a 16 and a neat double 10, before finishing off with a 4.

eh. good enough. )

Where'd you learn to play?

Eh, picked up from some fishermen back home. It was actually good practice for learning to control my strength.

[Darin steps up and really aims this time. At least this time he hits the board! He manages to walk away with a double 12, an 8, and a 2...though that 2 was awfully close to the bullseye.]

I had to hide my abilities back home or they'd run me out of town. And with my strength, I could have blown through the board, the wall, and probably someone's head with a dart so...

How about you?

( that's better. and... interesting. she tips her head to one side as she considers that information before standing up to the board. )

Military academy. ( okay, so they had one of those play dart boards at home when she was a kid. she doesn't think that counts.

16. double 7. ) Used to go to the pub with the lads. Were convinced it'd help with throwin' knives.

( and a treble 9. not bad. )

Military?

You were a soldier?

[That little bit catches his attention before he starts throwing.]

( shrug )

Aye.

( she doesn't say it with pride, or distaste. it's simply a fact. she was what she was. that's where she started, for good or bad. )

What did you think I were?

( though, she did tell him about the job she moved into. kinda. )

I dunno...a merc? Bounty hunter? You kinda give off that vibe and gods know I've spent enough time around the sort.

Besides, you're way more fun than any soldier I've ever met. Threw me off with that.

( that... actually gets half a smile, a huff of laughter exhaled through her nose. she isn't going to turn down the idea of not seeming like a soldier, because all things considered, it was a shit job. a fact of her life, sure, but one that largely sucked to do.

but one point; )

Plenty of bounty hunters're former military. ( at least they were back home. )

That's fair. Honestly, my dad was in the military before he became a merc.

[Darin takes his turn and throws, but it's clear his mind his elsewhere. The points hardly even matter at this point, since it's likely he's lost. Not that he minds.]

Sometimes I wonder what he'd do here in Avalon. Gods above know I don't really know what I'm doing.

( well.

that hit home.

not the dart (obviously), but the words that make it miss. Kate snorts, arms folding as she glances over at the board. )

Does anyone? ( there are some people who have plans, or businesses, or whatever the fuck. something that makes their time in Avalon look like a life, which makes it look like they know what they're doing, but isn't the truth that they're all playing blind? ) What're we s'posed to do? Just killing time until we're done being useful.

( because, really, if they fix this and that means all these worlds are saved and they can go home, nothing else they've done here matters. not the bonds they've formed or the money they've earned. it's all just killing time until they leave or everything's destroyed.

one way or another, their life in Avalon is inconsequential to them. )

I wouldn't say I'm killing time so much as...trying to find my place here. I mean, I have no intention of ever going home. I want to live here.

[With his drink done, Darin motions to the bartender for two more, one for him and one for Kate.]

Then again, when I say that, most people look at me like I've got three heads. Fact is, I'm way better off here than I ever was at home. My world's better off without me too.

( she doesn't so much look at him like he has three heads, but there is a pause, a blink as she digests the information.

better here, huh?

... she's not fully sure she can say she doesn't feel the same way, even if she knows she shouldn't. shouldn't because she can't let herself stay here. she'd be a terrible daughter if she did, and she's already disappointed her parents' wishes in so many ways. )

You think?

( her tone doesn't sound judgemental, just curious, without specifying what part of that she's questioning. )

Well...yeah. I actually have a shot at a life here. Back home...

[He takes a swig of his new drink as he sets Kate's down.]

Well...let's just say I'm a bad omen for my world. As long as I'm here, nothing can happen to anyone there.

[Not that this world is exactly spared his curse.]

( well that's a lot. there's a pause as she takes a drink, the game forgotten in favour of staring at Darin with an unusual amount of intensity.

a bad omen, huh? people talk about omens all the time at home, but she always wrote it off. bad stuff happens whether or not there's something ominous caught out of the corner of your eye.

that day in October was perfect. sunny and warm, school had been... well. as good as school could ever be. there wasn't a single reason to think anything could be wrong. and yet—

well. suffice to say, omens are bullshit in Kate's eyes. but she knows enough to know that she doesn't know shit about how Darin's world works, or really even how Avalon works. )

You think staying's an option?

( it isn't one for her, could never be one for her as long as Marc still lives, but she'd assumed the reward, so to speak, for doing all this bullshit would be to go back to where they're supposed to be. )

Well, they're going to all of this trouble of allowing us to become knights and lords...why wouldn't staying be an eventual option?

I mean, think about it? People showing up here...some of them have come back from the dead? You think the powers that be in this world are cruel enough to send someone back to their death when all is said and done?

[He sighs and takes his own drink, enjoying a long swig.]

...No, I gotta believe there's more to it. That being here...there's more for us than just...jump-starting the rest of our worlds.

Not that I ever plan on being knighted or anything but...there's gotta be more, right?

( that's a fair assumption, she supposes. titles have been something she'd been ignoring, more or less, even as she quested.

but as for the second part... is it cruel? what do the people here think about death? she's never asked. what do the dead people here think about being back in the world of the living?

what would she think, in their place? she's not even sure she'd want to come back when it's all over. she's been all but waiting for years, expecting as much as soon as she signed up for the military. as long as she knew Marc would be taken care of, that he'd have whatever money she managed to make and wouldn't have to struggle...

well, did anything about her matter? )

No idea. ( she shrugs. they're at the end of the multiverse, trying to piece it back together from whatever Avalon did to it. who knows what rules apply any more? or how much they'll even matter once this is all over?

ugh. she's going to down this whole thing, thanks. )

We're nowt but pawns in this.

Screw that.

[Darin practically spits the words.]

I was literally born in my world just to be a pawn. I'm not having any of that crap here. I might have been plunked down here against my will but I'm gonna make the most of my time here.

I'm gonna live the way I wanna.

( the way he wants to?

Kate's eyes roll before she can stop them, before she can train her expression into something more neutral and careful, those words igniting a fire the drinks she's been downing only stokes further. )

We don't get to choose that. ( just because there's more freedom here doesn't mean she's — that they're free to ignore anything Avalon called them for. )

We have a job to do. ( each word is clear, snapped clean at the end even as they tumble out from her mouth all too quickly, no time to think or reconsider. does she like the job they have to do? no. it's bullshit that they've been dragged into cleaning up another world's mess, that everything is being shoved on their shoulders, but they're the ones stuck here.

they're the only ones with a hope in hell of keeping her brother safe. )

Our freedom isn't the point of this.

( no matter how nice it's been. no matter how easily she's been lulled into it.

all they need to do is play good little soldiers. follow orders and fight. )

[Darin looks a little surprised. Honestly, he wasn't expecting such a cynical response.]

It isn't, but nothing's forcing us to do anything about the problem. I mean, I dunno about you, but until someone has a bright idea on what to do about the calamity, I'm just doing whatever I want.

And even then, if the solution is non-tenable, I'm sure as hell not going to support it.

We always have a choice. It's just up to us to decide on how hard we wanna fight the flow.

( ugh, he's right about that much at least. no one here does know how to fix the calamity, they're just taking stabs in the dark and hoping assisting all the random shit going on here will fix it.

meanwhile, Avalon keeps working like nothing's wrong, and it grates every time she thinks about it.

but as for that last point, she snorts. )

That's bullshit. A choice between saving my— saving people and enjoying yourself isn't a choice.

( only by the technical definition it would be, because ultimately, if you present a person with a really shit outcome and a good outcome, they're always going to choose the latter.

no, thinking outside of the box doesn't occur to her. )

...Yeah, you're right.

I guess, in the end, no matter where I am, I'm still gonna try and save people when the going gets tough.

It's who I am...I can't fight that.

[Was that the answer she was expecting?]

( this is one of those moments where she'll wake up in the morning and kick herself for a million things. letting too much loose. snapping at Darin for something that has nothing to do with him.

being a fool who keeps letting herself get enticed by the relatively normal life Avalon allows her to lead.

Kate knocks back the last of her drink and exhales. )

... I'm going.

( it's a good answer, but the answer she needs? well. that can only come from herself. Darin was just the unfortunate lunk who got caught in the crossfire. )

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

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WOW I FORGOT TO HIT ENTER ON THIS TAG I SUCK

oh man BEEN THERE

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cw: death ideation

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