isleofavalon | Feel it right behind you, a grinning monster out to kill

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Feel it right behind you, a grinning monster out to kill

🧙 WHO: Darin Altway and You!
⚔️️ WHAT: Caster has cursed Darin and now he's using Familiar Fusion and going berserk
🕒 WHEN: Right after Caster's declaration against Archer and the aftermath a few days later!
🗺️ WHERE: Camelot and Darin's Forge
⚠️ WARNINGS: Potential Violence/Blood/Gore/Mild Body Horror

[He doesn't know how long it's been since he passed out. He remembers Caster's message. He remembers meeting her at the edge of Broceliande Woods. He remembers...]

[Pain.]

[He comes to in a sweat. Not from pain or nightmares or anything of that nature, but because the forest around him is currently ablaze. He tries to jump to his feet but his senses are off. Skewed. Something was very wrong and he could feel it. It felt like oil seeping into him, slowly gripping the very cockles of his heart.]

[Rationale gives way to panic and he's stumbling away from the treeline. He had to get back to Camelot. He had to get back for...some reason. Something inside of him screamed that he had to.]

[But his footsteps slowly grind to a halt as he crests that final hill. As Caster's dark curses finally find their hold and grip his very being, altering every bit of his perception and reasoning.]

[The witch's curse was a powerful one. In her grief, she hexed Darin to see his greatest fear. And to act on the rage that he spent his life tamping out; the one fire in his soul he refused to stoke.]

[He falls to his knees, staring at a ruined Camelot. Everything he'd come to know, the happiness he was so desperately seeking. You see, if Darin was as much of a monster as he claimed, then his fate should match that of the monster, the witch of betrayal, that he sought to defend. It's only fair, right?]

[There would be no peace. Not while monsters walked among the people of this world.]

A - Transformation (CW: Blood/Mild Body Horror)

[Camelot was gone. Or at least, Caster's curse made Darin believe that it was. And Darin, on his knees, was slamming his fists into the earth with all of his magical given might; each blow sounding like a cannon shot as it cracked the stone beneath his fists. Inconsolable, he screams, believing no one will hear him.]

[However, anyone making their way to the woods to try and stop Caster or the fire she's set might stumble upon him. Calling out to him draws his attention to you, but there's something...off...about his eyes. They're clouded over with a dark haze. And while he might be looking at you...what he sees is something different altogether.]

You...it was you!

[Enraged, Darin pushes himself to his feet, magic coursing through his body so sharply that it crackles in the air. The air becomes stifling. Oppressive.]

You've taken everything from me, Dromas! Everything! So, you want a monster?! I'LL GIVE YOU ONE

[His giant antlion familiar bursts from the ground behind him and latches onto Darin's back. For a moment, it looks like his familiar might actually attempt to subdue him. Unfortunately, those enormous, terrifying mandibles find purchase in Darin's back and, for a horrifying moment, the familiar begins to burrow. Writhing in pain as his magical power skyrockets faster than his body can compensate, Darin lets loose a blood-freezing scream. But just as quickly as it had begun, his familiar disappears into Darin's body as the two merge.]

[Darin slams his hands into the ground as he begins to grow and change. Two horns erupt from his temples, black and glinting in the light of the burning woods behind him. His torso swells; muscles grow massive as chitinous plates form around his extremities like armor. His body contorts, his back arches, until finally he's a hulking beast, towering at over ten feet tall.]

[Green eyes glowing ominously amidst the haze, the newly transformed Darin lets loose a bellow that sounds like it's three voices screaming in cacophonous harmony.]

[And then he rushes to attack.]

B - City Escape (CW: Blood/Violence)

[Believing Camelot to be nothing but wreckage, Darin storms the city chasing...something. In his cursed state, every person he sees looks exactly like the person he believes to have brought about this disaster. Unfortunately, in this state, Darin isn't much for conversing. He's barreling through Camelot, tearing through buildings like they weren't even there. And any person, resident or not, that crosses his vision is likely in for the fight of their lives as he presses the attack. After all, in his mind, Camelot is in ruins.]

[He tears up a chunk of the street and hefts it towards a group of terrified people, all of which scatter. Or attempt to. It might be too late for some.]

C - Lockdown

[It had been several days since Caster's message. Several days since he'd lost control and was set upon the good people of Camelot. He'd been keeping to himself in the forge almost the entire time, only going out occasionally in the evening for food or groceries. When he did, he wore a cloak with the hood drawn to hide his blue hair and he barely spoke.]

[Of course he did his best to help the city recover from the damages. For the first two days, he worked tirelessly to get supplies and forge tools for whatever reconstruction needed to be done. But he would always send then out anonymously or send them to whoever needed them via a proxy. It's clear that he's doing everything he can to avoid going into town himself and he hasn't been spotted in town since the incident.]

[He threw himself into his work after that but...he still seemed off. Anyone who stops by the forge might find him struggling; hammering away at something that just isn't taking shape properly or tinkering with, and subsequently screwing up, some detailed work. Finally, in frustration, Darin pitches his hammer across the forge with more strength than intended, burying it into the wall across the work space.]

[Frustrated, he sits down and buries his face in his hands.]

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[He doesn't say anything for a long time. Merely he just...drinks in her presence. How warm she is (when did he get so cold?). His arms move like he wants to hug her back. To wrap his arms around her. And maybe she'll see it. Like he's moving to embrace her.]

[And,believe it or not, he wants to. For some reason, a hug from Allura just felt...right. He wondered how many other people she hugged like this. He certainly couldn't be the only one.]

[But from a combination of exhaustion and fear of being rejected, he refrains. He doesn't embrace her back even though he wants nothing more. To close his eyes and drown in the scent of her shampoo.]

[Finally, he has to ask. Even though he's clearly beginning to concede to her hold, he whispers.]

I was terrible to you for so long...are you doing this because you see someone who needs to be saved...?

[He wants to ask more. A follow up. 'Or do I somehow mean something to you?']

[But he stops short. He clams up, afraid of her response. She was good and kind. Of course she would save him because he clearly needs it. But somehow that answer stung his heart, and he could feel fresh tears welling up.]

No, Darin. Despite what you seem to think, I don't normally involve myself this much with individual problems.

I'm doing it because I genuinely believe that you're better than you give yourself credit for. That if our roles were reversed, that you would do the same for me.

[Maybe it's not the answer he was secretly hoping for. But it's also not the one he dreaded, is it?]

[And the fact that she believes that might say something else, regardless.]

[He snorts and laughs dryly.]

So instead you're going to make me your individual problem...?

Heh...I'm honored...

[It seems like an improvement. All right. She'll take it.]

Yes. Again, I know you would do the same. How many times did you check in with that old man after you saved him?

Now, let's get you back to... [She trails off. Oh, well, this seems like as good of a time to ask as any.] Where did you move to?

Oh, I still check on him. We have lunch together once a week...

[He's...a little surprised that she remembers that.]

Oh...I live here. Downstairs, third level. There's a full apartment down there. Bedroom, bathroom, kitchen...

Wait, really? Then... you've had a bed, a bath, and food downstairs, waiting for you?! You could have gone down and come back at any time, and hardly would have even noticed you were gone!

[And yet he still had expected her to believe that he couldn't afford to stop!]

Right, we're going. Where are the stairs?

I...didn't want to stop.

...Sorry.

[He makes his way over to a hatch that leads to some stairs and slowly starts heading down.]

I don't mean to berate you, it's just...

[But in trying to consider an answer, she just sighs. Right. That's not the right way to teach him to be kind to himself.]

... sorry. [And then, starting to follow him down...] By the way, you don't mind if I see it, do you?

No, you're right. I mean...I have all of this to myself while so many people are still stuck in the inn.

...I should appreciate what I have more.

[He offers a weak smile.]

Yeah, I don't mind. It's not much but...

[He takes her down past the second level which seems to consist of some testing areas and storage. And below that, the apartment he mentioned.]

[Which...while sparsely furnished, it's actually very tidy and cozy.]

Here it is.

The inn isn't that bad... [If it sounds defensive, that's likely because she herself hasn't moved out yet. It simply hasn't seemed all that important to her, not compared to all the work that needs to be done!]

[But her argument loses some bite when she actually sees his own residence. It's humble, certainly, but it's far more comfortable than a hotel room. And besides, she hasn't been much more extravagant in furnishing her own room, so the lack of personal touches doesn't bother her. Honestly, it doesn't even register.]

This is nice, Darin! [It's meant as a sort of compliment, a way to note that he's done well for himself — but not actually saying that, since it would be an odd compliment for what's still a relatively small space.] Have you been staying here by yourself?

Mn...thanks. Make yourself at home. S'just me.

[Even though it's just him, there's enough room for at least another person if they wanted to live here too.]

I figure I don't really need a house so...this was enough.

[He pulls off his glasses and starts pulling off his shirt.]

Feel free to relax. I'll...go shower.

Thank you, but I thought that I might—[And then a high-pitched noise of surprise as she turns and sees him removing his shirt.]

H— hold on! I know you said you were proud of your body, but — you're not planning on undressing right here, are you?!

I was...heading into the bathroom...

It's nothing you haven't seen before.

But—!! [Oh, no. Does this mean that he might start undressing in front of her at any time? That seems like such a dangerous situation for several reasons. Such as, say, the fact that he's undressing in front of her right now, even though they're alone in his apartment!]

That was a very different situation, though! For one thing, we were both in the springs! I doubt you were planning on having me join you in your bathroom!

No, but...I mean.

... ... ...

Were you...? Planning on...?

[Look, he has to ask. After all, he's not against it...]

[Oh, her face flushes deep, deep shades of red as he misinterprets her point.]

That — no, that wasn't — I was going to go see about food! Set up something for you to eat!

[And then she starts covering her face with both hands.] Look, I may have seen a lot already, but — you wouldn't do this in front of other guests, would you?!

No, I wouldn't. S-Sorry...

[Go ahead and unpack that, Allura, while he heads into the bathroom to shower.]

[And of course he leaves the door open just a bit. Not a lot but...enough.]

[The door doesn't catch her attention right away. She's instead trying not to read into what he just said — it's likely as he said before, that she already ended up seeing him undressed — and start checking what food he keeps in his kitchen.]

[Though what is she expecting to find, really? He hasn't been down here in days, and she's still learning the basics of cooking. It would probably be more productive to place an order for delivery...]

[But it's from a distance that she notices a bit of steam, and her eyes follow it back to the source — the bathroom and its open door. Did he really—?]

[Her curiosity gets the better of her, and she tilts her head, to see if she can catch sight of anything with the proper angle.]

[As for food, there's some bare essentials but nothing really worth eating.]

[As for what she sees...well, he hasn't drawn the curtain on the shower all the way either. He's standing under the showerhead, letting the hot water down his body and...]

[Well, she can see everything.]

[She's not sure what makes her heartrate spike more — having such a clear view of his entire body, or that it's still as fit as she remembers. Which means she does remember from the last time, because she looked at it the last time—]

[She turns around and drops behind the kitchen counter, forcing herself to look away. Wasn't she the one who had just told him that he shouldn't go exposing himself in front of guests?! And this was no time to be ogling him! She was here to take care of him!]

[... in fact, isn't there a benefit to this opportunity that she's overlooking, because she's so distracted by what parts she can see?]

[Slowly, Allura turns around and peeks out from behind the counter. She looks at him again, keeping his lower half covered so she's not distracted. How is he actually doing in there? Is he washing himself, or is he merely standing around as if he fell asleep standing up? And how's his expression, for that matter?]

[He actually is washing himself, but he's taking his time with it. Right now, he's got his hands on the shower wall, bracing himself, letting the hot water his the back of his head, neck and back. She can't see his face but he's doing his best to not fall into a well of self-pity again.]

[Allura was really going out of her way for him here, and he couldn't exactly refute anything she was saying lest they go in a perpetual circle. The arguing was exhausting and, if he was being honest with himself...?]

[He was honestly happy she was here. He couldn't figure out why but...having her here made him feel a little less lonely. Like he might actually believe what she was saying about deserving more...]

[He washes up then turns the water off.]

[A minute later, he wanders out...with just a towel wrapped dangerously low on his hips.]

...Sorry. Forgot to bring a change of clothes in.

[He heads into the bedroom to get some fresh clothes. Bet you thought it was safe, Allura.]

Ah, Darin, I hope you don't mind that I—

[She sure did think it was safe, and turned and saw all of that walk past her. And she nearly managed to trip while standing perfectly still thanks to how startled she is.]

[He must be doing this on purpose, right? To cement the image in her mind? Because whether she wants to admit it or not, it seems to be working!]

[She averts her gaze, and tries to recover her derailed train of thought.]

I— I ordered a few things! Several things that sounded comforting, like — soup! And noodles! [And then, recovering herself so that she doesn't sound as jumpy about it:] Will that help? Because it should be delivered soon, but I might be able to change the order...

[Once more, he doesn't close the door to his bedroom while he changes...but thankfully, his closet appears to be out of sight of the door.]

[A minute or so later, he wanders in wearing comfortable sweatpants and a tank top with his towel slung around his neck. Is this better, Allura? Even though he's not entirely dry and the tank top clings to his chest?]

Soup...yeah, that's fine. Dunno if eating anything heavier would affect me right now.

[He takes a seat on the small couch and looks at her awkwardly standing around. He doesn't seem to notice...well, anything. At all.]

I said you could make yourself at home...

[It's really not much better, no. Besides how much he's accentuating his body, he's also made it impossible for her to object on grounds of being decent in front of a guest.]

... right. Sorry. I had to see to food first...

[There's not much else to sit on around here. The couch is... very small, isn't it? So instead, she opts for the nearby chair. And she sits in it with a very proper, rigid form, as if she were perching on the edge. You know, the way no one in their right mind sits in easy chairs.]

[She might not know how to make herself at home.]

...Allura, get comfortable. You don't need to be so stiff around me.

[A thought occurs then.]

...You're not...still hurt or anything, are you? Your ribs, I mean...from when I...

I could take care of it. If you're feeling sore anywhere.

[Well, Allura?]

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