escordvi | New Season Means Change is Coming

Entry tags:

New Season Means Change is Coming | OPEN

Who: Darin Altway and you!
Status: Open
Where: All over
What: Manta board quests and Forge
Warnings: N/A (updated as necessary as always)

-THE STARMETAL FORGE-

[After the events last month with Ganondorf, visitors to the Starmetal Forge might have noticed that the shop was closed for most of a week. But now, Darin's back in business, though he's sporting some conspicuous looking bandages under the short sleeves of his shirt.]

[That's right. Sleeves.]

[Those of you who might know Darin even in passing might know find that he's wearing something with sleeves as odd.]

[Regardless, the Starmetal Forge is open and ready for more clients! Darin will, as always, be hard at work at one of the workstations when someone comes in.]

-INFILTRATE AND LIBERATE-

[When the reports of more missing people started coming down, Darin was apprehensive. Considering what Ganondorf tried to do with the poor victims he'd abducted this was setting off alarm bells in his head.]

[But it was weird that the reports he was hearing kept mentioning Atnam. He hardly knows anything about that particular base but wasn't it neutral? Were they doing something there? Or was there something worse going on?]

[The only solution was to investigate the ships and to do that, Darin had to don a disguise.]

[It took some smooth-talking and more than a few greased palms...but Darin managed to secure a Paladin Officer's uniform. One that...well, given his frame and stature, he fills out particularly well. He hates the damn thing though and it may be obvious from the way he's constantly fussing with the sleeves and collar. As for his hair, he's got it slicked back to accommodate the cap, a few roguish stray hairs from his bangs falling in front of his features. Regardless, he looks the part and actually manages to appear to carry himself with some authority.]

Alright...now, to figure out which ship to search...

-UNDERWATER RUINS-

[After helping Joshua in his research, Darin began getting interested in these Underwater ruins as well. Specifically, he was interested in anything that could teach him about the magic of this world. Why was it mostly underwater? Where did the Leviathans even come from?]

[Since the Manta Board posting mentioned the ruin, Darin figured that it couldn't hurt to check out. Work had already been done to open the hidden chamber and so Darin, with a pack full of notebooks and other exploration must-haves wanders in excitedly.]

...Place sure is dark as hell. Who the hell built this place anyway...?

[He looks around, attempting to will his eyes to adjust to the darkness.]

So...where to start...

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[This is stupid.]

[No, really. Stupid. Anyone with an ounce of sense would say this was the worst plan in the history of plans. Even worse than use a toothbrush to get back in the warship. On the other hand, he had something to prove, dammit. And a brand new upgrade to show off with.]

[Guns aren't classy his scaly ass.]

All right, let's go. [Sorry, Darin, were you busy? Because your buddy is striding into wherever you happen to be - assuming this was arranged beforehand, he's not a barbarian, thank you.] There's jellyfish with my name on them.

To shoot. Because I'm going to be winning this.

[... and maybe take out some long-standing hanar related frustrations. But we don't have to talk about this.]

You're serious about this?

[Darin crosses his arms over his chest, a bemused smile playing at his lips. He really didn't expect Garrus to get this worked up over his assessment of guns but he'd be lying if he didn't think it was funny.]

Do you know what jellyfish even are? You know they're in the water, right? That's kind of giving me an advantage.

Do I look like I'm joking?

[Oh we're doing the arm cross pose? That's exactly what's happening now. He has his beloved rifle's reputation to defend here.]

Yes, I know what jellyfish are. Tentacles, no eyes or face. That kind of thing. [To the "advantage" comment, he just snorts.] We'll see about that.

Unless you're backing out.

Oh Garrus. I don't back out. Just wanted to give you a chance to reconsider.

[He takes the belt with his sheathed dao off of a hanger and slings it around his waist.]

I hear those jellyfish are really making a mess of the port. Works for you, you won't have to get in a boat. Let's head on over.

What're the rules, by the way? Person who takes out the most jellyfish wins? Any imposed restrictions?

Like hell.

[As soon as Darin has his weapon, he turns abruptly, to march off toward the port.]

Most jellyfish win. Loser buys a round or two - and spills something embarrassing. No getting in the water, in the interest of fairness. And I won't use my sniper rifle.

[... because he could theoretically take out jellies a mile a way. And it's not modified yet.]

So, I can't get in the water...but you're not restricting my strength?

Someone's confident.

You haven't seen what I can do.

If you're worried about me, I'll add my sniper rifle back into the equation.

You know what? You're right. I've never actually seen what you can do.

[Fortunately, the port wasn't far from the marketplace where Darin's forge was. Already Darin could see the floating masses of jellyfish clogging up the waterways.]

Damn, they really weren't kidding about this. We might actually have our work cut out for us.

I'd say that's probably a good thing. On the other hand, my judgement might be clouded - war and all.

[He actually pulls a face at the sight of all the jellies. It's not a good face. Those do not look like hanar. Those are nasty. Still, he can kind of see the resemblance.]

All right. I take one side, you take the other. Less chance of picking off one someone else is going for.

[Darin laughs.]

Don't subscribe to the honorable act of killstealing? I was looking forward to racing you to a target.

[Darin drops into a squat and starts to stretch his legs. Then he hops back up and rolls his arm at the shoulder, inadvertently exposing the huge gloom burn on his bicep.]

Like I said, if you're worried, I can always change my mind...

[Uh oh, there's that cocky drawl again. Garrus don't be so confident.]

[Frankly, he just wants to get the man to admit rifles are classy. Winning a bet is just icing on the cake.]

I'm just saying, it could make things interesting! If you see I'm pulling too far ahead, feel free to make it a challenge for me~!

[Stretched and limbered up, Darin steps up to the pier.]

So, we just keep going until they're all cleared?

Just say you want to buy me a round, it'd be faster for you.

[Meanwhile, he'll just go through prepping his guns. The actual guns, not the arms.]

Sounds like a plan. Shouldn't take too long.

Alright then. Whenever you're ready.

[Darin pulls his arm back to the hilt of his dao. If he can't get into the water, he'll have to get creative. And for as long as Garrus has known Darin, he's probably never seen him actually draw his weapon.]

On three.

[Heft up his assault rifle. Deep breaths to steady himself. Line up the first shots... Instead of overheating, it should expend the heat in bursts. Bigger shots. He'll have to compensate.]

One. Two. Three.

[HERE WE GO.]

Edited 2024-09-25 06:09 (UTC)

[Darin might not have the speed of bullets, but he does pack a titanic wallop. He draws his jet black dao in one fluid motion and slashes upwards, vertically with enough force to slice the air. An invisible crescent of force rips forward into the water, slicing a ling of jellyfish out well beyond a normal person's line of sight. The slash weakens the further out it travels, but Darin follows up with a half dozen more, carving vast swaths into the jellyfish population.]

[Anyone watching from the sidelines would be forgiven if they felt that the port had become a warzone. With Garrus' burst fire opening up and Darin's focused slashes causing audible sonic booms, people are simultaneously gathering and giving the pair room.]

How's it going over there, Archangel~?

[That will be impressive, later. After this. After he manages to uphold the honor of rifles. For his part, Garrus' focus is entirely on the task at hand. Once he knows this gun better, its new quirks and such, the whole trash talk thing will be so much easier.]

[Instead, he maintains a steady, albeit rapid, pace. Short, precise bursts of fire, ripping the jellyfish to shreds. No sooner has he eased off the trigger of one burst, then he's on to the next cluster. Smooth transitions from one spot to another - barely moving at the kickback.]

Scoped and dropped. [He retorts.] Keep your eyes on your side.

[Darin continues to swipe and slash, but he's finding a hard time singling out clusters of jellyfish now that they're scattering. Dammit, he had to do something! Garrus might not be taking them out in huge swaths like he was, but if he keeps plugging away like he's been, he'll overtake Darin easily!]

[He needed height.]

[He drops to a crouch and springs up, launching himself high into the sky where he can get a birds-eye vantage point. Which also meant that his slashes could aim straight down instead of out to sea.]

[He starts to slash, raining down crescents of cutting force right into the water.]

[Oh for - that's got to be cheating.]

[Not important. Focus. Keep mowing through the incoming tides of jellyfish. He can feel the weapon heating up under his hands, the warning flicking across his visor. This would be where he would change out his rounds - "pop" the heat sink, as it were.]

[Instead, he just keeps going. Methodical. Until there's a change in the firing. Until the rapid rattle of gunfire turns to a sudden sharp crack. A bolt of fire lashes out into the water, blasting like a laser further out than his assault rifle could go.]

[RIP jellyfish.]

What the hell is that?! Some kinda beam?!

[Darin lands on the dock near Garrus, slack-jawed at...whatever the hell Garrus was shooting out of his gun.]

[It's just enough of a distraction that Darin might be losing his lead.]

I told you. I can make a rifle dance.

[He's so damn smug. Win or lose the actual bet, he's got that look on Darin's face in the bag. If he weren't searing jellyfish, he'd take a picture.]

[Instead, he keeps the gun braced, as the beam dies down, and returns to normal rapid-fire bursts.]

That's not dancing! What the hell is that?!

[Crap, he needs to move. The Jellyfish are starting to thin out. He needs more precision strikes if he's going to take the lead again. And there's probably a ton deeper under the water's surf—]

[Well, there's an idea.]

[He sheathes his dao and runs to the water's edge. He might not be able to jump in, but a strong enough concussive force should stun the jellyfish to the surface. It's like hitting a rock sticking out of a river filled with fish, the resulting shock created stuns them outright.]

[So, he draws his arms back and swings them forward, clapping his hands together so hard it creates a deafening boom focused towards the surface of the water.]

[Sure enough, jellies start floating to the surface for easy pickings.]

A gun handled by a professional.

[Then it's back to business. Back to picking off the jellyfish as they emerge. Some of them... well. Some of them are dislodged by Darin's whole display over there, too.]

[As they start getting thinned out, close by, he swaps to his other rifle. The sniper rifle. Picking them off further and further out in the water. It's not nearly as flashy as a freaking sonic boom, but it'll get the job done.]

THESE ARE SPECIFICALLY NOT ANSWERS GARRUS!!!

[Dammit, Darin doesn't have any precision attacks in his repertoire! The jellies were thinned out that expending his energy on massive strikes was only going to exhaust him further.]

[Darin pauses and watches as Garrus works. His precision. His form. Definitely a soldier through and through. That focus really reminded him of someone back home.]

[But a thought occurs to him. He's not done yet and he refuses to stop fighting until the last jelly is dealt with! He scans the docks for something he can use...]

[And finds a large metal box of ship rivets.]

[Darin grins wide and seizes the box (he'll pay to replace them later) and grabs a handful. He rushes next to Garrus and drops to one knee next to his friend holding up the rivets in his open palm and "aiming" with one eye closed.]

[He starts to flick them one at a time, firing them like bullets into the water. His aim isn't as precise as Garrus' but the rivets cut into the water like a spear.]

Just keep telling yourself that!

[He is well aware he's not answering jack shit, but that makes it better. Or funnier. Probably funnier.]

[His attention flicks over to where Darin starts rummaging around. If he had eyebrows to raise, they'd be up now. But it's short lived. He has to keep his eyes on the prize, so to speak. Doesn't mean he's not going to shoot out a little trash talk, though.]

I thought you said projectiles weren't elegant!

[But this looks like the last wave. Time to pick up the pace. So, once more, he swaps back to his assault rifle.]

WE'RE HUNTING JELLIES

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