escordvi | The Light is Off But I Still Work

Entry tags:

The Light is Off But I Still Work

Who: Darin Altway and You!
Status: Open
Where: Eltrut and Nogard
What: MANTA quests and general catch-all
Warnings: Will Mark As Needed

-SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THESE-

[Darin sure as hell has no idea where this Tapir plushie craze came from but the markets are absolutely inundated with stalls selling tapir themed wraps and goods. A few days ago, that wouldn't have been a problem. He wasn't all that interested and fads come and go. He's a tradesman, he knows how it is.]

[But then he heard about what the tapir plushies do. And considering that someone precious to him is in some sort of sleep coma, he decided to go out and grab one. How hard could it be?]

[Hard enough that every stall is showing they're out of stock. And when one pops up with stock, they're overwhelmed within minutes.]

[So now, Darin's camping out one of the lesser known corners of the market on Eltrut. He's been out here all night and it's now 8 AM. Someone in this corner of the market is going to have a plushie and dammit he's going to get it. Trouble is...he's not the only one looking to get a plushie here.]

...Is it bad form to use your god-gifted superpowers to snag a plushie ahead of a bunch of crazed, entitled shoppers? That's bad form, right?

[He's talking to himself but hey, you're free to be there to help him.]

[Or compete with him.]

-PAINTED SKULL-O-LANTERNS-

[Coming from a world that usually has harvest festivals this time of year, hearing about all of the spooky happenings and upcoming events doesn't have Darin especially thrilled. He's got enough on his mind as it is! And while Darin might not be the most superstitious sort, he'll tend to try anything once. Especially if it means warding off scary monsters or even death itself.]

[Besides, decorating the forge could be fun.]

[So, he's sitting out front of the Starmetal Forge with a basket of (hopefully) fake skulls. He's got a small table set up and a whole bunch of paints and...a potter's wheel? Darin places a skull down on the center of the wheel and begins to spin it, then selects a color of paint and carefully drips it on the spinning skull, creating wild, circular designs. He's also making a big mess and he has more paint on him than he does the skull.]

[But there's plenty of room for someone to join him! And plenty of skulls and paint to go around. Hopefully you have a smock of your own if you're worried about making a mess. Because you probably will.]

-STARMETAL SPARRING-

[Darin has had a lot of nervous and anxious energy to get out. He hasn't had the focus to work on any projects at the forge. He's got too much on his mind to sit at home and work on personal projects. And with his body healing up nicely after crossing paths with Ganondorf, he's itching to start training. Problem is, how does he start? Well, if there's one thing he's learned is that riftfarers seem to have all sorts of crazy powers. And learning to adapt to their abilities would not only give him some valuable training, but it'd allow him to blow off some steam as well!]

[He's fashioned a small sparring area behind the Starmetal Forge. Nothing inherently fancy but enough room to move around in. He mostly uses it to test some of his projects but...well, today he's repurposing it. Finally, he hangs a sign out front that reads:]

Feelin' Frustrated? Come On In For a Pounding!

[Does Darin understand the connotations of that sign? You be the judge!]

-INFILTRATE AND LIBERATE PART 2-

[After the recovery of the tragic cargo last month, Darin's been keeping abreast of the situation regarding the victims' treatment. Since it looks like the victims can be saved after the crystals are painstakingly shaved off, Darin is currently researching and engineering a way to make the process even the slightest bit less arduous.]

[He's hunched over his workbench at the Starmetal Forge, toying with some precision tools. There's a small pile of elemental stones nearby that he's currently rummaging through.]

Gotta be a way to magically enhance the edge of a knife or scalpel...my first instinct is wind but...ice could work too. Or fire? Heating the crystal might make it easier to remove...

-UNDERWATER RUINS- HIDDEN CHAMBER

[Somehow, checking out these ruins without a certain somebody by his side isn't as fun as he was hoping. How is it he's gone on two expeditions and he's gone alone each time? He heaves a despondent sigh as he wanders into the large chamber. He wouldn't be surprised if someone was already here...these ruins have been around for over a month now. But he had to get off Eltrut for a bit. Even for a day. And being able to examine ruins would at least give him something to distract himself.]

[Darin stops and takes a careful look around the room. All of the mirrors had to serve a purpose, right?]

Why so many mirrors? They're just going to reflect themselves...

[Darin drops to a sitting position and pulls out his notebook. He starts to sketch the room in its entirety as he puzzles out the...well, the puzzle.]

(OOC: Please feel free to top-level with something else if these prompts don't work for you! And if you want to double check an idea with me, hit me up through PM or on

bitterbearface)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Joshua was looking for something in these ruins too. Something to help the Dominants...

[Darin's taking notes of every light and...from his perspective, it looks like a number of combinations can be lit up.]

...I think we can make a bunch of different patterns. Do you suppose only one pattern is right? Or do different patters do different things?

Joshua did, eh?

[Not so surprising, really.]

But I'd err on the side of "could be anything." Of course we should focus on getting one to work first and go from there.

Sounds good to me. Let's set up those lights and see what mirrors are moveable.

[As they work, Darin decides to shift the topic of conversation a bit.]

So...I've been meaning to reach out to you. About your offer.

[Cid will work on setting up those lights and will glance at Darin when the conversation shifts.]

Oh? I was wondering if you would. Have you made a decision?

[And then a wry grin.]

Spoken with your friend?

I...yeah, I did. She told me that it seemed like an incredible opportunity. She was really supportive.

I know you mentioned that she could join too but...she's actually working on her own crew. She wants to set up a relief ship to help people who get caught up in disaster.

[Darin takes a step back and looks at the way the mirrors are aligned, trying to take a mental snapshot.]

But...she definitely said I should join up.

[Oh? He turns around for a moment to fully face him.]

A relief ship? Could certainly use more of those around.

[But he knows the real trouble he's having, and a wry grin forms.]

And you're thinking of joining her.

... ... ...

[Darin stops what he's doing, his back to Cid.]

[...That's what the uncertainty was, wasn't it? He didn't want to leave Zelda. Not that he didn't think she could do it. Quite the contrary, actually. If anyone could do it, it was Zelda.]

[It wasn't a matter of helping her. It was a matter of where he wanted to be.]

[But he doesn't answer Cid right away.]

...I feel bad. I wanted to ask you, Benedikta, and Joshua to help me.

I wanted to ask you guys to help me train my powers.

...I wanted to help you guys. I still do.

[He watches Darin, arms crossed over his chest, and while he can't see the younger man's face, he can take a guess. So there's just a quiet smile as he shakes his head.]

You do know that my offer was just that—an offer. And it was one made in consideration of your situation. I thought you might feel comfortable with others who you could relate to, but if you already have people you wish to be with, then that's better for you. Rather than isolate yourself, it's better to expand your horizons to grow.

Besides, even if you refused it would not change anything between us. You can help us, and we can help you—even without any transactions or obligations to the other.

[Darin turns around, clearly surprised. He's not used to people being so...accommodating of him. Of wanting him and wanting to help him.]

I do feel comfortable with you guys! Gods, Cid...the only person I've ever known who knew what it was like to be me was my brother and he— ...

[He sighs in open dejection.]

He's...changed. He wants to be something terrible. Something I'm not.

And you have no idea how happy I was, that I still am that you asked me! You and Benedikta...a-and Joshua! Clive! Jill! You guys...

[He starts to pace and he runs a hand through his hair. He knows he doesn't have to explain himself to Cid but...well, he wants to. Because Cid's given him such a generous offer. No, more than that, Cid helped him realize that he wanted to be more. That he had to stop hiding from his powers.]

You were right, Cid. About how not using my powers is just foisting my problems on someone else. I almost got myself killed and if I'd just been stronger then maybe I'd —

[He stops and takes a breath. He's getting ahead of himself.]

I wanted to say yes to your offer. I was going to ask you all to train me. But this whole time I've been scared and at first I thought I was just...mistrusting. That good things don't just happen to me but...

...I...I think I belong somewhere else.

Edited 2024-10-19 06:59 (UTC)

[He waits for Darin to speak his mind, to work it all out. And once he does, he just grins and swims over to pat him on the shoulder.]

Then I'll take that as your answer.

Cid, I'm...

I still want to help you. I want to help you find a way to stay here and to help you all figure out...whatever it is you want to figure out. I want to help you as a smith and a friend but...

[Darin sighs.]

Zelda is...strong. Stronger than I think I've ever seen someone. And she doesn't need me at all but...but I still want to help her. I want to forge a path for her to walk down with my own two hands. I want it to be me. No one else.

I want to be her smith...

[He's...well, he's apologizing because he's never been asked to be a part of something before. And Cid? Well...he likes Cid. He respects Cid. Cid is the entire reason he even thought to begin to train his powers in the first place.]

[And he can't help but feel like he's letting him down here.]

[Cid can't help but chuckle and shake his head before what was once just a friendly pat on the shoulder now turns into a more firm hold.]

Darin, you needn't say more. It's fine, truly. Whether you accepted or not, I have no intentions of severing our relationship.

And it's clear you're smitten with this girl, and it would be poor form to separate you from her.

[Griiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin.]

Good because I was really hoping you and the other Dominants on your crew could help me figure out my what did you say?!

[Darin's eyes go so wide they look like they might fall out of his head.]

Sm—

I'm not—

Cid, she's my friend! I'm not...smitten?? Smote??

[Cid just continues to smile in that annoying elderly knowing way.]

Ah, yes. Just a friend.

[Said in that annoying don't believe a word you say way.]

I'm serious! Zelda's important to me but she's got a life and a home to return to!

I just want to support her the way she's always supported me.

Aye, I understand, don't worry.

[Oh he definitely still has that tone and expression that no he does not believe it for a second. But he'll just chuckle, knowing he's teased him enough.]

So you'll be joining her crew...what kind will it be?

She wants to be able to offer services to people regardless of faction. Doctors, support, rescue...you name it. She wants to be on the ground helping people when disasters strike.

It's...well, it's a good idea. And if anyone can do it, it's definitely her. She's in the planning phases now...or...

She was, before she fell asleep.

[He was nodding along with approval on this idea. They could certainly use more healers and medics that could reach others quickly.

But he pauses at that last part.]

Fell asleep?

Yeah she...she's been asleep for a couple of weeks now. She's fine near as I can tell but...she won't wake up.

It's driving me crazy.

[There's a deep furrow of his brows at that.]

Have you checked if she's under some sort of spell or curse?

I mean, as much as I'm able to? I'm not really knowledgeable about magic or curses and it's hard to track down books on the stuff.

...She's not surrounded by a large bubble, is she?

...Wait, how did you know???

[Ah ha...]

Happened to my daughter. Was the first time I heard of it so it's a good thing someone on my crew did or there would have been hell to pay.

[Perhaps another appearance from a certain long beared thunder god—]

But she'll be fine. When she wakes up she might feel disoriented but none the worse for wear.

[Darin stares like he doesn't know how to process this.]

You're...you're not screwing with me, are you?

Cid, she's really gonna be okay???

[Wait.]

Wait, you have a daughter?!

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