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 shakes his head. Hijikata was a pretty by-the-books kind of guy, really. Whatever made him estranged from his family must have cut deep. He knows better than to pry. Wounds like that are best left unopened by anyone but the bearer of the scars.]

Just because you're here, it doesn't change who you are. What matters to you.

[Darin looks over the designs, clearly lost in thought.]

[Then, he takes out his own personal notebook from a pouch on his belt and begins to walk and sketch. He mumbles to himself about some of the meanings that Hijikata explained.]

You're settled on a Zweihander?

[mayoninofukucho]

[Despite the estrangement Hijikata eventually did find his way back to the two people who accepted him in his family: his oldest brother and sister-in-law. But at that point his life had already taken a different turn, and while he was able to mend the broken bond he only stayed in touch through letters afterwards. Darin's words make him rethink his tentative decision to use his family emblem. Much as he'll always love the brother who took care of him when he was small, he should look forward, not backwards, shouldn't he?]

...

You know, now you've got me rethinking it all over again. Maybe I'll stick with Muramasha after all.

[Despite his waffling he smiles a little. It's good to be reminded of what's important to him. Even if things from the past still hold meaning, his eyes are on the Shinsengumi he wants to reunite with (well, and those he had to leave behind on Prismatica). Hasn't the samurai sword protected him well through various worlds now? He may not be willing to wave the Shinsengumi's shogunate-serving banner without his commander at his side - only Kondou turns those hollow virtues into something tangible and real for him -, but he's no longer dead-set on trying to reinvent himself completely for his knighthood venture.]

In that case it'll need a couple of upgrades, though.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Now now...I didn't say I wouldn't make you something.

Hear me out.

[Darin starts to walk around Hijikata as he begins his explanation.]

I've seen the way you fight and the way you carry Muramasha. You're strong, but your sword also relies on speed of the draw. A zweihander won't do anything for you; it doesn't make you stronger and all it'll do is slow you down since you're wasting your strength just swinging the thing around. Some of the best greatsword wielders were literal mountains. They stood on the battlefield and let their opponents come to them.

But that doesn't mean I can't make you something that won't suit you.

[He holds up his drawing of a shield. An odd shaped shield. It's a shield shaped like one of Hijikata's precious mayo bottles. And on the front of it, a small raised shield reminiscent of his badge back home. But instead of the Tokugawa Shogunate emblem adorning the shield, it's the tripe tomoe. A triple tomoe made of what looks like the caps of the mayo bottles, swirling in motion.]

The way I see it, even though you're here and you've been knighted, you still carry the principles of an officer of the law from your world. And a proper officer shields the good people from all of the evils of the world.

And...well, you wouldn't be you without your love of mayo. So, if mayo inspires you to be happy, then it'll serve well in protecting you and those you care about too.

And that's not all.

[He points to another sketch, a look behind the curvature of the shield, where a shortsword is housed.]

The shield can act as a sheathe for a shortblade I'll design. A hidden trick just in case something happens to Muramasha. It'll lock in behind the crest on the front of the shield. All you'll have to do is hit a button with your thumb with your offhand to release it. The emblem on the front will spin, releasing the blade for you to draw in a pinch.

Thoughts?

[mayoninofukucho]

[At first Hijikata simply listens attentively, but the more Darin explains the more stupendously excited and delighted his expression becomes. Once he sees the design he's entirely hyped up. Who cares about Darin's evident care and understanding of Hijikata's fighting style, which he'd really have to relearn completely for a heavy zweihänder? This design has mayonnaise bottles!!]

I've never used a shield or a shortblade before, but I guess I can give it a shot!

[He honestly just wants the cool mayonnaise items!! Even if he ends up struggling to incorporate the shield into his incredibly offensive fighting style, just wearing it on his back would already boost his defence (and advertise his favourite condiment to ally and enemy alike), and being able to give it and the shortblade to a vulnerable person in a dangerous situation would be a great asset.]

Can you maybe make the shield fire-resistent? I'm still pretty damn bad at water- and ice magic, so that'd help a lot! If I can contribute to that I will. Oh, and can you make the round part into a cloak clasp or a belt buckle or something, too? I'm not totally sure how much armour we should go for since you've got a point about heavy stuff costing speed, but..!

[Someone's clearly happy with his swirling mayonnaise bottle cap emblem.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Yeah, the clasp is easy. And if you want something flame resilient, I can certainly temper it to make it so.

Better than what you thought it'd be, huh?

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata nods. Darin seriously is making his day here - his week, really, if not his month.]

So it'll be the shield against fire and physical attacks... do you think I even still need any armour at all on top of that? I want a cloak in any case. I guess I'll have to get that elsewhere, unless you can sew too, but I'll have them stitch my emblem into it!

[But wait! There's more! He takes his sword off his belt and lays it on top of all the other stuff on the anvil.]

Now, for Muramasha... I want to get it enchanted so it can cut through ghosts.

[Is he not asking for a little much??]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Actually, I can sew. And if you want a cloak, I can do it. It's the same principle as chainmail; make a mesh of small interlocking rings then line a cloak with it. I used to do it all the time back home.

Beyond that? I think most armor is optional at this point. Maybe we can throw something together for specific quests and missions...

[But it's his next request that has Darin more than a little shocked.]

'Cut through ghosts?!'

That's a bit of a tall order, don't you think?!

[mayoninofukucho]

I don't know. I mean, people managed to enchant items so they'll have healing or elemental or whatever other qualities, right? There's got to be some exorcism spells or simply ghost repellents I can imbue Muramasha with. But I'll probably have to do some more research on that.

[He's going to study his way through the whole library and the archieve in the forest if he has to. While he learned to be less scared and more understanding of ghosts he still wants to turn his unwanted secondary magic against those who would harm the living. He is, after all, a warrior, not a counselor for lost wandering souls.]

You way of making cloaks sounds really great, though! If you can make me one like that, maybe also with fire resistance like the shield, then I should be all set for the moment.

[He's seriously racking up a hefty bill here, especially given that he already splurged on rare potion ingredients and other items in Celliwig. He may only be able to give Darin a down payment today...]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Something seems to strike Darin when Hijikata talks about what other people have been imbuing items with.]

...Death magic.

Of course! It's probably death magic!

A pal of mine is a death magic user. I wonder if it can be used to repel ghosts...! If it can, maybe instead of imbuing Muramasha with it, I can enchant the chainmail in the cloak. Instant ghost repellent shield!

[mayoninofukucho]

Well, yeah! It's just a matter of finding out what kind of death magic spells would be effective.

[He eagerly nods at Darin's suggestion for the cloak. By now they have so many ideas, he feels really like an RPG character who's levelled up enough to get better gear!]

Listen, let's do it like this: you make the shield and cloak with all the accessories, I research the magic to infuse them with. By the time you're done I should have figured it out. If you can make the materials fire-resistant I can just add water- or ice spells ad hoc in battle once I've learned those, so let's focus on the death magic, for both Muramasha and the cloak.

[He'll be an exorcist knight! How cool is that? Even on Prismatica he never got over his fear of ghosts, and now he'll be able to drive them out!]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I think you've got yourself a deal, Hijikata.

[He holds a hand out to shake and seal that deal.]

Can't wait to get started!

[mayoninofukucho]

[He heartily grasps and shakes Darin's hand.]

Me neither! But you better keep making cool stuff for yourself too so we'll match when we next go questing!

[Darin is a main character (no one can convince Hijikata otherwise); he needs to have awesome gear too! Sure, the harpoon he made is already a neat weapon, but it's also best-suited for aquatic missions, so Hijikata is looking forward to what else he'll come up with to match his own personality and ideals. He'll probably also try to talk him into joining the ranks of King Arthur's knights, given that it won't require him to give up his smithhood or anything, but for now he needs to get himself to the library.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

You got it.

[If only Hijikata knew about the baggage Darin had regarding knighthood. But that's another discussion for another time!]