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]

As much as I'm curious to see it... perhaps that should wait until after dinner.

I've seen how you work. If you start really getting into what you're doing, the food might end up burning again before you realized it.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Then, after dinner it is, then.

On that note, I better set the table...

[He gives her a smile and a wink, then grabs some plates before heading out to their table.]

[patchricide]

Hey! Let me help!

[If he's setting plates, then she'll grab silverware. That should be easy enough for even a princess to do it, right?]

[If anything, it's even easier than it would be for a royal dinner. A simple fork and knife should suffice!]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Never gonna let me do anything on my own again, are you?

[He pretends like he's complaining, but really, he says it with a level of fondness that can't be hidden.]

[patchricide]

[She actually pouts a little at that, clutching the silverware like she's trying to hide them.]

You make it sound as if I don't trust you with it. I know it's not the most exciting thing to do, but... is it strange to enjoy doing it with you regardless?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

No, it's not.

I was just teasing you a bit since...well...

Since the very beginning you were always pretty keen on following me around.

[patchricide]

What? That's not...

I mean, I suppose we do run into each other quite often... but that's simply because we tend to be drawn to the same places. Similar interests, and all that.

... ... ...

And while I did follow you that first time, that's simply because you looked like you were having trouble with the cliff. [Because she was spying on him.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Heh...no need to get defensive about it.

At the time I took it for granted but now...?

Well, I mean...I like you so...

[But what version of 'like' is he using here??]

[patchricide]

[Is he making that sort of confession on the first date? On one hand, it would be very like him to say something like that and not realize how it sounds. On the other, it would be very like him to say something like that without realizing how shocking it would be...]

[Perhaps she would wait until he's more direct before she jumps to any conclusions.]

I... I know, but...! I don't want you to think that I've been stalking you, or anything like that!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Are you sure? I mean...you do seem pretty interested in me...

[patchricide]

I wouldn't resort to something like that! All it would do is creep you out!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I dunno...I think it'd be kinda flattering...

[He sets the plates out and pretends that he isn't keeping an eye on her for her reactions...]

[patchricide]

Flattering? To know that at any given time, I could be spying on you, watching your most private moments? Or obsessively tracking every move you make?

[She very sternly sets down the silverware near the plate he just placed.]

I respect you too much for that!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

So you never considered trying to learn more about me without me knowing?

Never ever?

[patchricide]

... ... ...

I mean, I did find myself curious when I found myself sharing that dream of yours, where I saw your history...

But how could I not? I was caught up right in the middle of your life, in a sense!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Okay, fair.

For the record, that's not exactly how that fight went.

He actually beat me. It was the night before I splashed down here in Avalon.

[With the table set he wanders into the kitchen to finish the rest of the prep work.]

[patchricide]

Wait, hold on — he won that fight?

[She turns her head, following him as he walks.]

But didn't people get hurt, then? Aside from you, I mean!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...There wasn't really anyone else left to hurt. The city that used to be there...he already leveled it. It was just me and the woman I was traveling with at the time.

He was proving a point. Showing me that I couldn't beat him and my only option would be to give in to what we were. Eventually.

[patchricide]

['The woman I was traveling with at the time'?]

[That's right. There were moments where she was certain that she was playing someone else's role. Someone similar to her, perhaps. But she hadn't given it much thought after he addressed her directly... not some other person, but herself, Allura.]

[But was it only one other woman traveling with him?]

[Somehow, she finds that idea annoying.]

So afterwards, did he just... leave? Abandon you?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

He left me 'to think about my future' and said we'd meet again.

In other words, he was going to keep on finding ways to push me over the edge.

[patchricide]

... ... ...

[This is... not a very romantic conversation for their dinner date. Maybe she should stop digging into that particular part of his ugly past...]

So, things turned out differently in your dream. Why is that? I didn't change the course of the battle much...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I don't know.

Maybe it's because you believed in me so much. I've never...I've never had something like that before.

[patchricide]

Never? ... but you said a woman was traveling with you. Why was she there, if she didn't have faith in you...?

[Look, it's not prying into the subject, she has a legitimate reason to bring her up again.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

We'd only known each other for a few days. She claimed she was a 'fortune teller.' We got into it and she just...started following me.

Frankly, she was annoying.

[Wow, that doesn't at all sound anything like someone, does it, Allura?]

[patchricide]

... ... ...

Yes, she sounds it. [Though likely for different reasons than Darin found her annoying.]

[While Darin finishes in the kitchen, she decides she's going to take a seat.]

How did you manage to get on her bad side, hm?