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]

[Darin lies down next to her with a smile.]

I...I'd be okay with that. I really am.

As long as you're okay with...just that much too...

[patchricide]

Yes, I think so.

... I would answer with more certainty, but... [She clears her throat.] You do amazing things with those hands of yours.

It's going to be a challenge not to let my imagination get carried away.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[That does give him a pretty nice confidence boost. So much so that he sits up with a grin.]

Then...should I continue the massage from before...?

[patchricide]

[She spreads her body flat on the ground, arms to either side to keep them out of his way...]

Please... I would love it if you did.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...Hoh?

Seems like you want me to move away from your back if you're going to lay like that...

Is this some kind of challenge?

[He laughs a bit and begins cracking his knuckles, limbering up his dexterous digits.]

[patchricide]

Well, personally I was just making myself comfortable...

But I also do think that you shouldn't have trouble working on other areas. And even if you did, I know you're strong enough to flip me over.

[Because why roll over when she could make him get hands on?]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

You're right, I should focus on other areas...

But I do enjoy subverting expectations~

[A few more audible pops as he stretches and cracks his knuckles...]

[And then he moves down to her feet. He takes one in his hands and begins to knead them with his powerful grip.]

[Admittedly, this does give him a better look under the shirt she's wearing and she probably knows it. But will she care given what he's doing?]

[patchricide]

Wait, that's not—

[But her protests stop almost immediately. Because while it's not stimulating in the same way as other areas...]

[With how much time Allura spent on her feet, she never let them rest for long, certainly not enough to mend all the wear and tear that they accumulated over time. They had been so tired for so long that she had stopped noticing the discomfort.]

[So, no, she doesn't really take notice of where he's looking. She's too busy melting at his touch.]

... that's... that's amazing... not what I had in mind but... a little longer, please...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Oh, did you think I was stopping here? This is just the start of the course...

[He really digs his fingers into the soles of her feet. Yes, he works both of them. And when he can feel the tendons loosen up considerably, he moves up her ankle to her calf. He uses a gentler touch here, but his grip is no less powerful as he works the muscle from the back of the knee to the ankle.]

[patchricide]

[It's like magic. As if he's hitting some secret pressure points, and making all the muscles in her feet and legs come alive. Occasionally, there will be some uncomfortable pressure as he digs into a sore spot, but for the most part, it's such a relaxing process that she feels as if she could fall asleep to him doing this.]

[But it gets interesting when he starts feeling around her knee. Because it's a far more sensitive area than she realized, and where the very tips of his fingers brush against the skin, the whole area feels electrified, similar to when she had been getting tickled but far better.]

[It's enough to draw a sharp sound from her. A soft but surprised noise, one that could easily be confused with the sound of recoiling from something painful. Surely Darin will be able to tell the difference, right?]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...You okay?

I didn't hurt you, did I?

[The sound does alarm him and cause him to look up at her, to search her face for any indication of her being uncomfortable. Because he's sure she'll say she's fine.]

[patchricide]

N— no, I'm fine!

[Way to prove his point, Allura.]

It didn't hurt at all, it just — well, it tickled. [That's sort of true, right?]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...Tickled?

[To test this, he lightly runs his calloused fingertips gently along the backs of both of her knees, moving between them and watching her.]

[Which, at this juncture, is likely quite the view.]

[patchricide]

[Oh, it is. Especially since she's shifted enough that the shirt's exposing most of her midriff, and when he touches her...]

[She writhes, as if she can hardly keep still when he teases her there.]

A—ahmmhnn...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Okay...that sound is encouraging. And he continues to stimulate the areas behind her knees as he moves further between her legs. Finally, she'll feel him working her thighs, starting from the outer, then slowly moving to the inner. And as he does, his touch softens further. It's still a stimulating massage, but the change in pressure from when he started on her feet to now is altogether a different beast.]

I think I'm handling your challenge quite well...

[patchricide]

[She's reduced to being non-verbal for a moment longer. Handling it? He's doing more than that. Honestly, everything from the hip to the knee seems to feel so much better than any sort of back massage ever could. And unlike both the back and the feet, none of that seems related to the relief that comes with treating sore and tired muscles. It's all sheer, pure pleasure as he kneads such tender areas.]

... this is magic. You're using some kind of magic.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Oh, I'm allowed to use magic?

I wasn't aware. Because...there is something I can try...

[patchricide]

Wait, really? You do?

... is it something for massages, specifically? [Look, she's very taken in by these, okay.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

It is. Something I just thought of since you brought up magic...

So...just relax.

[He closes his eyes and focuses. Since it's been several months now, Darin has learned to tune out his blood sense. It's almost entirely too distracting. But now, he focuses on her heartbeat and, most importantly, her bloodflow.]

[It's funny, he used to think it was a cruel joke that he was given blood magic; like it was a portent of bad things to come. He'd never considered that it could be used to help people...to make them happy.]

[She'll feel a pulse of magic wash over her. He begins to knead his hands along her hips and thighs again, but this time, an incredible warmth rushes through her body as he uses magic to improve the bloodflow throughout her body. She might even feel a little flush and maybe a little more excited as he uses his magic to really get her blood flowing, like he's physically guiding the bloodflow through pressure points; like accupuncture without the needles.]

How's it feel...?

[patchricide]

It feels... my whole body feels so warm, as if I had just stepped out of the springs. And I can feel my heart pounding...

[Which is probably why she sounds breathless as she talks, as if she's trying to control her breathing and get her body back under control.]

How are you doing this? Is this the blood magic that you used before...?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Actually, yeah. It is...

I never considered using it like this before. It always seemed like such a horrid, creepy power but...it can be used to heal and make people feel better too...

I never would have figured that out if not for you.

[patchricide]

Well, any power could be used for good or misused for evil... I thought the same about my own cognitive magic, but I've found ways to have it help others in ways that nothing else could.

But I am curious about what I said that... [She pauses, and then cants her head slightly in thought.] Wait, is this based on what I told you about channeling?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

A little bit...yeah. But honestly, it's more your trust in me that made me realize I can do good things with this power.

So...a little of both, really...

[patchricide]

[Hearing that brings a warm expression to her face... though, with how she's laying flat on her back, it might be hard to fully appreciate it from where Darin's sitting. And really, it just looks like she's smiling fondly up at the stars.]

Even knowing how you feel about your power, it does impress me that you never came up with it on your own. You seem to be quite inventive with your strategy... and when strategy alone fails, determined enough to find another way.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Yeah well...I am a creator, in a way.

Sometimes...I just need a bit of inspiration.

A muse.