Promises Are Just Poorly Written Contracts

[forgeabettertomorrow]

WHO: Darin Altway and Allura
WHERE: Darin's Forge
WHEN: Shortly after Darin was discharged from the hospital Post Die-Hard on the Moon
WHAT: Darin promised Allura he'd take better care of himself. He is doing the opposite of that.
WARNINGS: Darin as he is should just be one giant warning.

[It had been a couple of days since Darin was finally out of the hospital. Apparently another Earth holiday was in full swing (how many holidays did they have here? Didn't they just have one?) and Darin really wanted none of it. He was at his forge, as was the norm, burying himself in one project or another.]

[Ever since he had been discharged, he was up before sunrise and making his way to his place of business, and always returning well later than he should. This wouldn't be much of a problem, except he had recently made a promise to someone that he would take better care of himself. He had two apprentices now, surely he didn't have to do all of the work himself? But even so, here he was, 9 o'clock at night, hunched over his workbench tinkering with something.]

[The real reason he's here? Well, his recent feat of heroism at the swear-in on the moon base lead to some rather terrifying consequences; it seemed that Diomuhr, the Archfiend god whose partial-soul resided in Darin's body, had woken up. Now Darin could hear him. Not necessarily talking in his mind...more like he could feel Diomuhr's awareness. When he sleeps, it feels it more keenly, like sleeping knowing someone is staring at you.]

[Of course, he could just...talk about it. But he won't. Why would he do that? That's what healthy people do. People like Darin find something to occupy their minds with and repress everything they feel until it comes back as a particularly nasty ulcer. Darin much prefers that method.]

Comments

[patchricide]

[There's a loud SLAM as the door to the forge suddenly flies open, propelled by the force of an angry alien princess who was evidently never taught not to slam doors in the castle. And she storms in, right up to Darin, looking ready to kill someone.]

[Probably him.]

Do you have any idea what time it is?!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

HOLY DAMMIT--

[Darin jumps and almost falls out of his chair. He hurriedly pulls his glasses off and looks around like the forge was under attack.]

W-What?! What happened?! Time?!

[He looks around for a clock.]

Why are you yelling?! What time is it?!

[patchricide]

[She reaches down, grabs his shirt, and lifts him right up off the floor.]

It's already nine at night! You've been here literally all day — were you planning on sleeping here, as well?!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin finally finds a clock and stares at it like it was lying to him.]

Wait...is that...?

Oh wow, last time I checked the time it was noon!

Man, today really got away from me.

[He is certainly not answering her question.]

[patchricide]

How did you not notice the sun going down?! Do you not keep a single window open in here?!

Darin, you were supposed to be home hours ago!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I...look, I'm sorry! I just have a lot of work I need to catch up on! I mean, I was in the hospital for a couple of days and things piled up!

It's only one day, right?? It's not the end of the world.

[patchricide]

It hasn't only been one day! It's been each and every day since you left that hospital!

By now, if you haven't caught on work? Your customers are the ones that need to be told that one more day isn't the end of the world!

You need to be recuperating!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I'm done recuperating! Demon demi-god, remember? I'm all healed up! I just need to get my body mass back up, and I've been eating voraciously all week!

[He does seem a little pale and thinner. The curse of a power that burns calories to rejuvenate wounds. And when wounds were as grievous as his and with how much blood he lost, some of his beefiness seems to have been burned up.]

I'm mostly caught up now, I'm just working on some pet projects. I lost track of time. It happens.

You didn't have to come and get me, you know.

[patchricide]

Then you should be staying home and eating more! Until you're completely at 100%, there's no need to overexert yourself like this!

[... said the pot to the kettle. But hey, she didn't get sick after going overboard with the healing. Her head only feels slightly fuzzy. She's not on trial!]

You gave your word that you wouldn't continue to overwork yourself! And that was before you were skewered!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I know I gave my word! I just...I had stuff to do! It was important!

And I wasn't skewered! It was more being carved. There's a difference!

[patchricide]

That isn't better! If anything, it's worse!

What have you been working on that's so much more important than your promise, then?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

It's...

[Darin runs a hand through his hair.]

It's done now. I was just tinkering today and I lost track of time.

I'll try not to let it happen again.

[Darin sighs and picks up his chair, then sits back down again and starts to straighten up his workspace.]

[patchricide]

[Oh, that doesn't inspire a lot of confidence. Allura walks over and leans on his desk with one hand.]

And if it does...?

[She looks at him, waiting for him to finish the sentence.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Then it happens again? What do you want from me here, Princess? What's the big deal? I worked late and I've been working late to catch up.

[Notably, he's back to calling her 'Princess.' Also, he's still working on cleaning his workstation rather than look at her.]

[patchricide]

The big deal is that you promised me you would take better care of yourself. That was the whole point of you moving in, wasn't it? Yet I have barely seen you since the Swear-In, and...

It feels as though you're hiding from me.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I'm not hiding from you. If I were, then you wouldn't be able to find me in the most obvious place.

[patchricide]

Wouldn't "the most obvious place" be where you said you would be?

[She huffs. Did he skip everything else, and go straight to the part that was easy to answer?]

Why are you insistent on acting like there isn't a problem?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Fine, Princess. If there is a problem, would you so kindly tell me what it is? Because, near as I can tell, I'm being nagged for my work ethic.

[patchricide]

Because you're acting as though we never spoke about this before! As if it doesn't matter whether you're home or not!

You said that you didn't wish to come home to your empty house anymore. So why is it you would choose to be alone now?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Because I've been busy! What more do you want from me?! Ah?! What do you want me to do?! What do you want me to say?! It's not like I'm not coming home at all! I come home and I get to sleep! I wake up, I come here!

[Daring drags a hand down his face.]

You want me to come home?? Fine. I'll come home.

[patchricide]

What I want is for you to take care of yourself!

Darin, I saw your fight against Lucina. I saw the strike you took — and how much blood you had already lost by the time I came to help keep you alive.

It terrified me.

So is it so horrible that I would ask you to take more time off? Especially when you still look so pale?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

... ... ...

...Please, I've told you before how hard it is for me to get killed. You worried for nothing.

I just need to eat more to regain the calories I burned healing myself. That's all.

[patchricide]

About that. You said you last thought it was noon?

Did you eat anything after lunch?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...Alright. Point proven, alright?

I'll finish for the night and come home...

[He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. He really does not look good.]

[patchricide]

No. I don't think going all the way home for a cold dinner is going to be sufficient.

Is there a place that serves burgers nearby?

[Lots of protein, really cheap. The fat and salt will probably help, too.]