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]

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.

[patchricide]

Oh, is that what I am to you?

Should I be posing?

[She rolls to lay on her side. With one arm she props her head up, while she keeps the other at her side.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

If you think you've got what it takes to spark my imagination more.

[patchricide]

Maybe I do. But what will you do with it, I wonder? Did you sneak along something to draw with...?

[Because she'll start slipping a hand between the buttons of her shirt... loosening a few near the midsection, which is so far the least exposed.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Unfortunately, I didn't...so I'll just have to memorize everything now.

Unless...you'll give me another opportunity to draw you some other time...?

[He scoots closer and channels his magic into her now exposed midriff to keep her blood pumping. After all, it's natural to get worked up during this, isn't it?]

[patchricide]

You'll have plenty of opportunities. Maybe I'll even wear something a little more interesting for it... something that drapes nicely, you know?

[She says as if he's not completely enamored with her like this. But still, surely he can see it in his mind's eye, the idea of her wearing something with thin, airy fabric, spread across her skin yet hardly hiding a single detail of it. The sort of things you would expect to see on someone modeling for a statue.]

Besides, do you really want to draw from only memories, when you could reference the real thing instead?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Really? Is that a promise now?

Because you do seem to be enjoying this as much as I am...

[patchricide]

Yes, I swear. It can even be the next time, if you want.

After all, we had discussed the idea of going to the beach, didn't we? Scenery like that could make a nice scene, I imagine.

[And hey, the sea breeze would play nicely with such loose, draping fabric. Can Darin imagine that part?]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...Heh. Careful now. You don't want me to get too excited about some future prospect and lose interest in the here and now, do you?

[patchricide]

... no, I suppose you're right. We'll have to save that conversation for later.

[And just to demand his attention back, she starts unbuttoning the rest of the shirt. She starts with the lower buttons, below where she had been unbuttoning before, but makes quick work of those and starts reaching towards her chest...]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[She certainly has his attention. And he scoots closer as if to shield the world from the sight of her. To keep it private and intimate between them.]

[Even so, he has to ask...]

You're sure you want this...?

[patchricide]

To show you? You've already seen it...

[Though that doesn't make it much better. Especially since she still remembers how he had imagined her with larger... erm, assets. But she tries not to let that anger bubble up and spoil the moment, not when she's taking his feeling seriously.]

Yes, I'm sure. I want to get comfortable with you, and this seems like the natural place to start...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...Are you talking about the Siren? Because I don't really consider that you...

But if you're talking about when you turned around in the bath...I..um...

I-I only got a quick look and I...did my best not to try and think about them...

[But how well did he succeed in that endeavor?]

[patchricide]

You really didn't try to get a better look? Even when you were washing my back? There was, after all, no way I could have known...

[She gives him a suspicious look, just for a moment.]

If you did, you don't have to keep it a secret from me anymore.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I...was definitely was tempted to. I mean...in that situation, who wouldn't be?

But...given the fight we had and...everything...it wasn't right. I wouldn't have forgiven myself.

I mean, it was hard enough not looking at your butt...if I stole a look at your chest it would have gotten a lot more awkward...

[Does she admire his willpower or is she annoyed she couldn't get him to peek?]

[patchricide]

[She shouldn't ask about it, she shouldn't... she's going to ask about it.]

And that's because... you prefer my chest, correct? Not because you might be disappointed...?

[She's going to spare him asking about the enhanced assets of the siren directly. But she can't help but pry into that, just a little.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[How does he answer this tactfully? The obvious answer is yes, but the awkwardness wouldn't have stemmed from any fault of her own. It's because he wouldn't have been able to hide his arousal in the slightest.]

[Even now, with the buttons of her top fully undone, he's feeling that excitement start to bubble up, even though all he can see is the deep valley of her cleavage.]

I-I...Trust me, Allura...I don't think there's any way I can be disappointed...

[patchricide]

You're sure? I've seen what you would want it to look like.

[If it's noticeable how excited he's getting, she hasn't yet realized in the middle of acting sassy... or, quite possibly, she has decided not to call him out in case it makes him shy.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Honestly...he's been doing his best to conceal it...and it helps that his sweatpants are awfully baggy.]

It wasn't how I wanted them to look...! It's how I thought they looked...

The dress you wore to the party was...um...

It was very. Flattering...

[patchricide]

Wait, you actually thought that?

[It occurs to Allura that she hasn't worn the dress since, under the premise of waiting for a special occasion to bring it out again. Maybe she should make up a special occasion, if it's that flattering to her figure.]

So, you really don't mind that they're smaller, then? Because... well, I do have a spell I could try, but... I haven't practiced it. I'm not sure I like the thought of losing control of it...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Why would I mind...? And, honestly, as far as I'm aware they're not...that much smaller...

[Look, he's seen you in your flight suit, Allura. And in your underwear.]

[patchricide]

I know what's more attractive in human culture. As a whole, you're not very subtle about it.

[And it's not too far off from Altean standards, actually.]

... I mean... you as in humanity, not just... you, Darin. The whole culture isn't subtle about it. [She huffs. The more she talks about it, the more worked up she gets.]

... all right. Let me just... [She reaches towards the opening to pull the shirt open the rest of the way.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin shifts as more excitement bubbles up.]

Trust me...there's a lot more to you that I find attractive...

[But even as he says that, he's positioning himself for a better look.]