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

[forgeabettertomorrow]

🧙 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.]

Wildcard

[Got another idea that you want to thread out? Go for it!]

(OOC: Feel free to threadjack as much as you want during the events of this log! It's going to be chaotic and people should definitely help each other! Got questions! Message me on the journal, my discord, or hit me up at bitterbearface)

Comments

[patchricide]

... aww, Darin...

[Well, it seems the bold and ridiculous is getting put aside for a moment, because Allura's pulling him in for another hug. Except it's a lot sloppier than her other ones, and is halfway to being a fall directly into his lap.]

You knew I made it out in one piece though, didn't you? You were the one who made sure of that! When you did the heal, when you...

[She looks up, and pokes him in the forehead.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I didn't know what happened after and...I know you siphoned energy off of me.

I didn't know what that did to you and I was too afraid to check.

[He's got his hands wrapped around her waist now and he's practically pulling her into his lap as he sits again. One hand rests on her side just below the ribs he'd injured.]

[Likely because putting his hand any higher would certainly be bold. But who's to say?]

I just...remember the sound of the impact. Your ribs. I felt it...

[patchricide]

[She turns her head, resting it against his torso like a pillow. You know, like friends do, right?]

It did turn out fine... mostly fine. I learned how to use the siphoned energy! I was able to use it to enhance my own strength!

[And then, quietly, as if she's expected to get scolded:]

... and... I decided to use that strength to try and stop Caster. After what she did to you...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...Did she hurt you?

[patchricide]

She tried. [And she's going to leave it at that because it hasn't actually been threaded out yet.]

Don't say it though. Don't. I knooow — that you don't want me putting myself in more danger, and you would miss me if I was gone.

But I went anyway. I told her what would happen if she didn't let you go, and she didn't. So it's all her fault.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[He sighs and lets his head flop back. He knows it's useless even bringing it up now. Of course Allura would go on a one woman crusade. Of course things got messier. All over him.]

Well, if you know then I won't say anything. But don't do this stuff anymore! Not over me! I'm not worth it!

Besides, if she hurt you, I would be thoroughly unhappy. And I thought the point of all of this was to make each other happy!

From now on, only do ridiculous and bold things that are fun. Not dangerous.

[patchricide]

Well — what she did to you made me thoroughly unhappy. In fact, it made me unhappier. And even more... thoroughly-er. And yelling at her wasn't enough!

And that is undeniable evidence that you are worth the risk. Or any risk.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[He grumbles.]

Well, now we're both unhappy so what do we do about it??

[patchricide]

... ... ...

What was the last thing that we said would make each other happy?

[It was stripping.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

You wanted me to strip and do something embarrassing, but nothing embarrasses me so you lose.

[Take that.]

[patchricide]

That's right — and you keep saying that you're not embarrassed by singing! But you won't do it!

So why not do it? Just a few bars while you take this off. [She says, casually picking up the bottom of his shirt and lifting it halfway up his torso, exposing his abs. You know, despite the fact that her head hasn't budged from his chest.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Because you were determined to embarrass me! And if you're so eager for it, just take my clothes off yourself!

Or would that embarrass you too much?

[patchricide]

[She huffs, and starts trying to yank his shirt off, aggressively pulling it up over his shoulders, taking him up on Darin's challenge to... um, prove a point about... something. Look, she's a little like a bull, all you have to do is wave something for her to charge at and she'll go for it.]

Maybe I'm eager to hear what your singing voice sounds like, too! [... 'too'?] Ever think of that?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Fine, fine! [He lifts his arms for her so she can take the shirt off easily, exposing his broad chest to her, still smelling of soap.]

But if you want me to strip, you're gonna have to get off my lap. I can't get my pants and boxers off this way.

[Looks like this is really happening for you, Allura.]

[patchricide]

Wait... really? You will?

[There's a moment's delay, as she tries to stop and consider if this is a mistake. Did she ever learn the rules for proper stripping when she was being taught proper etiquette for the royal court? She can't recall anything about any sort of drinking game etiquette. Maybe this is out of the jurisdiction of good etiquette. Just a little.]

[But there was some etiquette for performances, so she backs off, sits up straight, and folds her hands politely over her lap.]

All right. Let me see it!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin pushes himself up and wobbles to his feet, almost stumbling over himself and hitting the ground. But he catches himself and grabs the hem of his sweatpants.]

[But wait, she wanted him to sing, right? But what the hell song should he sing? He thinks for a minute. He'd bought a random selection of compact discs from a store in Camelot when he got his forge open. Something to listen to when he was working. It was an eclectic selection of music from different worlds, things that appeared here in Avalon from the various Earths before time was frozen for them. He did happen to like this one CD. Something about a group of boys from the back streets...it resonated with him at first, but these guys could really sing!]

[So, sure enough, he starts belting out one of their songs. Something about being Larger than Life.]

[And wouldn't you know it, he's pretty damn good. He gets into it and even dances a little. Don't worry though, once he's done, he kicks off the sweatpants towards her, leaving him in his boxers.]

[patchricide]

[You know, she's not entirely sure what she expected. This is Darin Altway, the man who knows no shame. Maybe she was hoping to have some fun at his expense, but...]

[He is surprisingly good. And she can appreciate that, since she has never heard this song and thus can't judge him for having the same taste in music as a teenage girl at the turn of the millennium. It's fresh and new to her, and as far as she knows he could have written it himself.]

[And honestly, she doesn't have much context for whether or not this is a good striptease, either. But hey, she's going to grab those sweatpants and clutch them close to her, along with the tank top, as if they were ill-gotten trophies. ... or perhaps like she thinks it's her role to keep track of those until he needs them back. It really could go either way at this point.]

[But you know what, she's also going to cheer him on.]

You're doing great! Don't stop now...!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[And he doesn't stop. Because all he's got left are those boxers and, as if to prove he really doesn't care, he gives her a wink before pulling them down.]

[And maybe it's the alcohol, or maybe it's because he's having some fun with this, but it doesn't happen quickly. Allura is treated to a very prolonged reveal of Darin's assets as the waistband of his boxers moves down its length. Until finally, they hit the floor and he kicks them up towards Allura again.]

[And it appears that Darin has every right to brag.]

There! See? Happy now?

[1/2]

[patchricide]

[You know, it says something about just how inebriated that Allura is that she doesn't react to this revelation right away.]

[Because she's staring openly. Eyebrows raised, more than mildly impressed — not just because it's an appealing size, but because honestly, for her? That's not something you see every day.]

[And it takes her a moment. It's not something she sees every day. It's... not something she's supposed to see every day.]

[2/2]

[patchricide]

[And perhaps it's the shock, but there's a moment of clarity where she seems to suddenly realize where she is, and whose privates are no longer quite so private.]

[And flustered, she covers her eyes and the rest of the face with her hands — which are still clutching his discarded clothes. So essentially, she's just aggressively burying her face in his pants.]

[She didn't sober up that much, okay?]

I... I saw it...!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I know? Isn't that the point?

You wanted me to do this.

[He's very confused and still pretty drunk.]

[But hey, he's still going to sit down next to her since standing might be a bad idea right now with the way he's wobbling.]

[patchricide]

I know that, but — but I've never seen one before! Not in person!

[She peeks out from over the fabric, her eyebrows knitting in thought.] ... well... except at the springs, I did see yours... when you showed it to me, and also... from behind, I could sort of see...

But— but that's different! This is the first time...! [That's her excuse for getting flustered, and she's sticking to it.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I could...get dressed again if you really want me to.

[Except she currently has all of his clothes.]

[And he still doesn't seem to care. In fact, he's grabbing another beer and taking a drink while Allura has her little crisis.]

[patchricide]

No... it's already been done. There's no going back.

[And also, these pants are now her security blanket, maybe, because even as she looks up, she continues to hold them to her chest.]

... unless putting clothes back on embarrasses you, the way that taking them off ought to.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Pft...that literally makes no sense.

I was offering because you looked uncomfortable and...I don't want that.

This was supposed to make you happy.

[Technically it was supposed to be to make things even for when she stripped but he doesn't seem to remember that.]