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]

...But...y-you wouldn't...!

I mean...this is all...hypothetical, right??

[patchricide]

Well, I would say that depends on you...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

... ... ...

[...She's bluffing. She has to be!]

[Even so, Darin's competitive spirit is flaring up.]

F..Fine! If that's the case, I'd say okay! And I'd even wash your back again, if you wanted!

[Or anywhere else, though he won't admit as such yet.]

[patchricide]

Now that's more like it. But you're still so shy about admitting it!

And here I thought you weren't ashamed of me...

[That's clearly not the problem, and she knows it.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I-I'm not ashamed of you! What's there to be ashamed about? You're beautiful!

L...Look, I might be shameless when it comes to my own body but...that doesn't mean you have to...I-I mean, if you wanted to, I'd be really happy...but...!

...Dammit, I'm rambling.

[patchricide]

... you're not wrong. I really don't quite understand it, how it doesn't seem to bother you in the slightest. Meanwhile, even after our earlier encounter... the thought still gives me pause.

So, is that the only reason you seem so shy now? For my sake? Because it really isn't what I expected of you. I thought you would be barely able to contain yourself!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

W-Well...Don't get me wrong...if you really meant it I'd be excited as hell but...

I just...don't want you to think that all I care about is your body or anything like that. I don't want to seem like a creep. I hate guys like that.

[patchricide]

The thought never crossed my mind, Darin. In fact, after everything we've been through up to now, I'm surprised I even have to say that.

After all, if you only cared about my looks, why would your opinion of me have changed so much?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

S...Still...

I mean...there was the form the Siren took and then what happened after...

I can't...really deny how attracted I am to you so...

[patchricide]

So? I don't have a problem with that.

Look, you're right in that it would bother me a lot if that were the only thing you cared about. Or if you were so entranced by it that you never got to know who I am.

But I don't think I need to worry about any of that. Especially not if that Siren was based on your thoughts.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Hoo boy. That smirk. That smirk was really attractive.]

S...

Soooo...what...are you saying...?

[There's a slight eagerness to his voice that he can't exactly hide.]

[patchricide]

You don't have to be so nervous around me.

[And as she says it, she reaches towards his arm, to touch him reassuringly.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

O-Oh! Oh, yeah! I guess you're right!

[He still laughs nervously. Damn that smirk of hers!]

[patchricide]

[She hears it in his voice. That didn't take in the slightest, did it?]

Let me ask, then... what would help you relax around me? There must be something I can do that would ease your nerves.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...I...honestly have no idea. I think I just need to find a way to get out of my own head more...

[patchricide]

Then perhaps we should be doing something to unwind together. Not necessarily returning to the springs...

[Not yet, at least.]

Oh, I suppose watching the movie together counts, doesn't it?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

O-Oh! Yeah...in all that talk I kinda...forgot about it...

[patchricide]

How could you forget? [She picks up the movie's case again, just to remind him what a fantastic premise it has: Mice! Solving mysteries!]

Mm, perhaps it's my fault, though. After all, I'm sure I've given you quite a lot to think about...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Y...Yeah. You definitely did. And you're a lot more distracting for sure...

[patchricide]

Am I really? Or is that just... you know... our change in circumstances?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...A little of both?

Let me...see if I can explain. I think that I was always drawn to you but I couldn't figure out why. I...admit it was hard for me to even admit to myself that I found you attractive but that all changed after...

Well...you know...

And now that our relationship has...changed...I'm suddenly really really aware of how attracted I am to you. And not only that, it's that you want me to feel these things and now I don't know what to do with all of...this. These thoughts.

Does...that make sense?

[And then it dawns on him.]

Wait, what about you? You've been grilling me all this time and I haven't heard a single thing about how you feel about me or the things you want to do with me.

[patchricide]

Erm... me?

[It's true. She's gotten so caught up in teasing him, and drawing a reaction out of him, but she hasn't said a word about it herself... and having the focus put back on her makes her feel incredibly self-conscious.]

Yes... well, that is...

Honestly, it's been a little... strange. We started out on such awful terms — and then, as if out of nowhere, it all started to melt away. And now that you aren't throwing candy apples at me...

I'm... really enjoying spending time with you. Not just for the sake of spending time with someone, or even because I've grown to trust you...

[She goes quiet, thinking over what she wants to say, and how she wants to say it.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

But...there's an attraction there too...right?

Do you think maybe we're just...um...

What I mean to say is there's...tension...of a certain kind...on both our ends...

...Right?

[patchricide]

... I mean...

[Why must he be so straightforward about it?]

I must admit... despite your concerns about your appeal at the masquerade only being the mask's power... I'm enjoying your company as much as I did then.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[But isn't that what you wanted?]

So...there's nothing more...

...Physical...

That you're interested in...?