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]

[He shakes his head.]

Nah...not when there's people far more deserving. More capable. People that don't run the risk of destroying everything they love and everything they've built when they make a poor decision or lose control...

...I'm not hero material. I just make sure they have what they need to do what they do best. And that they always come home to the people who need them...

[There's a tinge of sadness in his voice. He's long made peace with the fact that he'll never come back from a quest or an ordeal and receive a hero's welcome. People like him don't get parades or celebrations. No one will ever cheer his name. He'll never truly find a place like that...]

[But...he's content to know he'd at least play a part. Maybe he'll forge a sword that'll slay a great evil or make a set of armor that guided the real hero through an impossible battle.]

[He'd be happy with that...]

[patchricide]

[Allura, on the other hand, isn't so quick to accept that the situation might be hopeless. Isn't that one of her strengths? Her boundless hope, never fully tempered by reason?]

You know... none of that means you can't still be a hero. Nothing about power is inherently good or evil. You could end up protecting all that you love, if you use it correctly...

And weren't you bragging about your self-control before?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Mn...

I...guess at the end of the day...I'm afraid.

I don't think I can live up to the image of a hero I have in my head. I don't think I can be that to someone...

[patchricide]

... and why not?

You did save me, after all...

[Her tone lacks its usual confidence, however. She already knows it's a risk bringing that up again. She wasn't exactly swooning over his heroism then...]

[But that was her mistake. He did everything right!]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

... ... ...

[He remembers that. Gods does he remember it. It still stings, even knowing now that she returns his affections for her. But all of that came later. His act of heroism...it hadn't changed anything. It just...made it all the more apparent how he wasn't the image of a hero in her mind. And how could he be? She was a paladin. She was a hero.]

I...only did what anyone else would have. I happened to be there first...

[There's a definite pain in his voice. He doesn't believe he really saved her at all. He was just first on the scene. He was a coincidence.]

[patchricide]

[Seeing the look on his face, and hearing the pain in his voice... she shifts, sitting up on her knees. From that position, she 'walks' on her knees, shuffling over towards him so that she might settle in a closer spot.]

And? Being a hero isn't about doing what no one else can. It's not some sort of rare and special privilege.

[She turns in place, taking a seat beside him.]

At its root, it's about helping people when they need it. No matter what you might have to face... even the cold ingratitude of someone who should know better.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Mn...

I get it...being a good person is, in itself, heroic but...

[He sighs.]

I don't...have that image of myself. In my eyes, a hero is someone who arrives on the scene and everyone around just knows everything will be alright.

[Allura has to know what he's talking about, right? A hero is a symbol. Voltron itself is as much a weapon as a symbol of hope and peace.]

[He shifts slightly, clearly uncomfortable. He can feel himself bringing the mood down but...it was hard to get the energy, the vibe back when all he could think about was how he'd failed spectacularly at being a hero. How his best attempt was met with so much disapproval.]

[And now he felt like twice the failure. So much so that he couldn't even properly recover enough to get the evening back on track.]

Maybe...we should just get some sleep...

[It was a shame, but even with how she was dressed, he couldn't even focus on anything else.]

[patchricide]

All right. I suppose...

[But even as she prepares to lay down next to him, her mind's turning on that last note. It doesn't seem appropriate, does it? This is the first night of something exciting. They should be excited, not ruminating on the mistakes of the past.]

[There has to be some way she can lift his spirits...]

... you know... having you around makes me feel everything's going to be all right.

[How about the direct approach? If nothing else, it's a starting point.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Heh...I appreciate that but...come on. You're a paladin. If anything, I'd be deferring to you.

[patchricide]

That doesn't mean that I should be standing alone. In fact... I wouldn't be half as strong if I didn't have anyone else.

We all need someone's help, sometimes...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Well...I'll give my all supporting you and the real heroes.

That much I can promise...

[patchricide]

[It's not what she was hoping for, but...]

... thank you, Darin. That means everything to me.

[It seems like words are just falling on deaf ears. Perhaps next time there's an opportunity for heroics, he'll see for himself how much further he can go.]

... you're still doing questing, aren't you? Despite having this business now, I mean.

[There's something nice about laying back and talking like this. If she had ever had any sleepovers, she would liken this to one.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Well, yeah. There's still a lot of Avalon left to explore, after all.

[patchricide]

Really? That's why you're questing? Not for the money or the prestige, but to find places to explore?

... ... ...

Now I feel embarrassed. My reasons are so much more selfish than yours...!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Why else would I?

[He's had the credentials to become a knight and even a lord for awhile now.]

I don't need any of that stuff.

[patchricide]

I mean, you do need some money in this world... I never had to think so much about it before coming here.

... but I suppose once you had enough for your business, all your needs would be covered. [Would it be wrong to admit that she's a little jealous? Shopping is fun, but otherwise it all seems like more trouble than it's worth.]

Do you really not want anything more than this...?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

... ... ...

[He'd be lying if he said he didn't want more but...the question isn't what does he want. It's 'does he deserve it?']

[Sadly, he doesn't think he does.]

I'm content with my lot here. I really don't need more than I have.

[patchricide]

[She could swore that she heard it in his voice. Something that was less than confident in his answer...]

[And that's intriguing. She wants to find out what that juicier answer is!]

Well, certainly, the most anyone needs is already provided. We all have a hotel room to go back to, don't we? But...

If you were content with whatever you have, you wouldn't have set up your forge at all. Would you?

[Let's see him talk his way out of that one!]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Well, I'm content now.

That's what I meant. I don't really desire anything else.

[patchricide]

[She exhales sharply in a restrained laugh.]

Now that I highly doubt. It would be one thing if you only meant things you can buy, but...

You haven't been subtle about your desire.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

....O-Okay, well, still! I'm still pretty content!

[patchricide]

There's no need to hide it from me, Darin. I'm interested in your desires, at least in part, because I want to know which ones I can help you reach.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...Well...you're already helping me reach one of them...

[patchricide]

A desire to be with me? ... I'm sincerely flattered, but all I have to do for that is exist.

Surely you have more complicated fantasies than that.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...Using the word 'fantasy' while you're here with me like this makes it sound like you mean something...

...more intimate...