maskormenacelogs | The Hollidaze is Here Again

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The Hollidaze is Here Again - Open To All

WHO: Darin Altway and you!
WHERE: All around
WHEN: Throughout the month of December
WHAT: Various shenanigans
WARNINGS: Mentions of extreme insomnia and holiday stress

-A- Nonah: Darin's Forge
[It had been a few weeks since the events of the swear-in ceremony on the moon. As the days wore on, Darin went from being his usual, upbeat self, to someone far more withdrawn. After working things out with Allura, he made an appoint to work normal hours at the forge. But that still didn't change the fact that he'd been averaging only a few hours of sleep per night, thanks to the fact that he can feel Diomuhr's presence now.]

[Anyone who comes by to see him will find him distracted. He has bags under his eyes and he's slightly off-color; paler than normal, despite not being sick.]

[Distracted by his thoughts and the presence lingering around him, he's also doing something he's never done before: making simple yet egregious mistakes. It's one such mistake that ends with Darin taking the piece he was hammering away on, a shield, and picking it up in his bare hands and crumpling it like it was nothing more than an aluminum can. He then pivots and pitches the solid ball of crumpled steel through the roof like a missile, complete with high pitched whistling sound as it disappears from sight.]

...Great. Now I have something else to fix...

-B- Maurtia Falls: Aegis Force HQ
[Darin was no stranger to exercise. In fact, before he was driven away from his home, he made an appoint to train his body every day. It helped maintain the illusion that his strength was natural, but it also helped him learn control and restraint. He'd more or less restarted his regiment again when he was Ported in, but Aegis Force HQ really gave him a place to cut loose and blow off some steam. And this blue-haired idiot was a kettle ready to boil over. Thankfully, someone showed him how to calibrate and use the Danger Room, which meant less time trying to figure the damn thing out. With all of his mental frustrations, Darin wanted to really go all out. After setting his opponents to 'robots' and cranking the difficulty to maximum, Darin enters into the simulation.]

[What follows, for about half an hour, is the sound of what one might assume is just explosions going off. Apparently 'maximum difficulty' is no joke when it comes to Danger Room settings, and Darin isn't taking the challenge lightly. Peek in on him, and you'll find him tearing through robots of all shapes and sizes with a ferocity that he's never shown before. The booming echoing out from the chamber isn't from the robots, it's from the force of Darin's kicks and punches. He's not even using his dao today, and at the rate he's going, he's going to destroy his limbs.]

Leave me...alone...! WHY THE HELL WON'T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE!?

[From his tone, it's possible he's not talking to the endless stream of robots.]

-C- De Chima: Shopping Center
[With Christmas fast approaching, Darin's taking a trip to De Chima's largest shopping center to get some ideas for presents. He's likely going to make most of the presents he wants to give out himself, but he's in some desperate need of some inspiration. He wanders from store to store, glancing over a list of names. Try to sneak a peek to see if your name is on the list? He might be too distracted to notice.]

[Or maybe you're in the food court, watching as shoppers bustle around. There's a hell of a commotion heading your way though. If you happen to squint, you'll notice a blue haired doofus running full tilt as a mob of angry shoppers chases him through the mall.]

YOU'RE ALL FREAKIN' CRAZY!! IT'S A DAMN TOY!!! YOU TICKLE IT AND IT LAUGHS AND SHAKES!!! KIDS CAN ALREADY DO THAT THEMSELVES!! WHY DO YOU NEED A TOY FOR THAT?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH EVERYONE?!

[Yup]

-D- Dawn of the Delts: Closed to Keith
[Okay, so the Danger Room might have been a bit too much. At least he can still hit the gym like normal. The only problem here is that he still has to make an effort to hide his power.]

[He yawns as he goes through a 'routine' that would make most people want to collapse. Now that he has a place where he can really push himself, this place seemed like small potatoes. What he really needed was a challenge.]

...Huh. Wonder if Keith is around. Last time we sparred, he was in demi-god mode.

...I wonder if he remembers me going toe-to-toe with him.

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Robots on the hardest difficulty are tough, and there's a lot of them, but- they're dumb. You need a challenge that can keep up with you here-

[Jacob points at his head. Then he looks up at the ceiling of the simulation room.]

Generate equipment- battle mech! Atlas pattern!

[There's a shimmer of light around Jacob, and when it fades, he's piloting the cockpit of a hulking bipedal war machine]

Nice, huh? These were just in the design phase back home when I was Ported in. I programmed them into the sim for this kind of situation. With this baby, I can give you a real challenge. Look sharp!

[And then the mech launches a missile at Darin from one of its arms.]

[Darin was caught with his pants down. Or more accurately, he was aught staring in awe as a freaking battlemech took shape around his buddy and CO Jacob. He was a moment away from bombarding the man with questions, but that missile cut him off right quick.]

[He was so stunned, he only just manages to snap his upper body to the side as the missile goes spiraling by. You'd think that's enough, right? But Darin is in a bit of a mood, so as it flies by, he snaps his arm up and swats it, sending it launching straight up into the ceiling.]

[Darin shakes his hand, like one would if you accidentally banged it into a door frame. But there's an undeniable smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.]

Alright, you've got my attention. Let's see if you can wear me out! Gimme everything you've got! Don't you dare hold back!!

[He probably should be trying to ease the tension of things down a little. But here's the thing: Jacob is very competitive. He likes a challenge. And he's getting pumped up right now too.]

Cocky, huh? You're going to regret that. You asked for it!

[The mech's other arm comes up and opens fire with a kind of high-velocity cannon- choom! choom! choom!- armour-piercing rounds spitting out one after the other.]

[Darin manages to dodge the first couple of volleys by snaking back and forth as he rushes Jacob. The third round, however, clips his right shoulder, and the momentum coupled with the force of the strike sends him corkscrewing end over end to the side with a crash. It's evident from the sound of the impact that this shot hurt.]

[But Darin is up again, his right arm hanging limp at his side. He grips the arm at the shoulder with his good arm and pops it back into place with an audible crack-pop. It's still not healed though, but Darin's not going to let that stop him. He comes in low this time and tries to skid between the Atlas' legs to get behind it.]

[For a second, Jacob freezes. The sight of Darin's arm being limp gives him the chilling fear that he has seriously injured his agent, that the sim's safety protocols have failed somehow.

Then Darin pops his shoulder back in without hesitation, and skids between the mech's legs like it's nothing. He's fine.]

Oh no you don't!

[Lumbering, slow, plodding steps. Jacob tries to turn the mech around and catch up to Darin so he can swat at the guy with the Atlas' big, heavy arms.]

[This thing was like a walking tank. If Darin weren't so tired and in half a better mind, he'd be begging to look at the schematics so he could marvel over the feat of engineering that is the Atlas.]

[Sadly, he is not in a better frame of mind.]

[Darin was going to try and take out the legs; after all, something this big had to have some kind of crazy hydraulic system to keep it upright and walking. If he could essentially hamstring this thing, he could seal its ability to move.]

[But he was caught looking too log and one of those arms comes swinging around. Instead of blocking though, Darin pivots and punches the oncoming arm like it was a tether ball making its way around the center pole. Except the force behind Darin's punch is that of a runaway bus. He feels his shoulder and forearm crack in protest on impact, but follows through with the punch nonetheless.]

[Finish it.]

BACK OFF!!

[The arm jerks backward as though yanked by a cable, sparks flying from split and twisted metal. Behind the reinforced shield of the cockpit, Jacob is astounded. The arm is barely recognizable now, unresponsive to his controls. Tank rounds and armour-piercing rockets might be able to do that to an Atlas, but he's not used to seeing it from a fist.

He hesitates a moment, concerned. Who is Darin yelling to right now?]

Hey! Darin. You still okay out there?

[That strike took more out of Darin than he thought. Hairline fractures are one thing, but these cracks ran a lot deeper, mentally and physically.]

[He drops to a single knee and runs a hand down his face. He didn't imagine that voice. Diomuhr really was awake. What's worse, he's watching. He didn't actively take over for a reason.]

...Cut the simulation. Please. If this goes on, it'll be bad for you...

[Jacob doesn't need to be told twice. Especially at the uncanny sight of Darin on his knee like that.]

Simulation: cancel. Authorization: Taylor.

[The environment around them shimmers out of existence, dissipating into photons and data, including the wrecked robots and Jacob's damaged mech. Returned to his own two feet, Jacob kneels down by Darin.]

Talk to me, man. What's wrong?

[For a moment, Darin bites his tongue. He's scared. He's scared that if he tells Jacob, he'll get benched. Or he'll get kicked out of Aegis. He'll be letting people down.]

[He swallows the lump in his throat.]

[No. No, these people trusted him. Lying to them would be worse.]

It's...It's Diomuhr. He's awake. He's been awake for weeks...ever since the swear-in on the moon. Ever since...Ever since Falchion cut me...

He woke up on the moon. Wanted me to kill Lucina but I took control. Ever since...Ever since then I've felt him. Watching. I don't know why but...but he said something just now and it...

He's...

DAMMIT!!

[The words come rapid-fire, almost like stream of consciousness. He's been holding this all in for weeks and if there was one man he could entrust to direct him, it was Jacob. Even if it meant benching him. Or confining him. He punctuates his outburst with a punch to the floor that sounds more like a tank shell firing than flesh on steel. The floor crumples under him.]

[His breathing is ragged, but it's not out of exertion. It's fear.]

I'm...I'm sorry, Jacob...

Shit.

[Jacob can't help but flinch away a little when Darin's titanic punch crumples the floor, combat reflexes kicking in. But then he slowly, cautiously, reaches out to put his hand on the younger man's shoulder.]

I'm sorry too, Darin. But it's going to be okay.

You don't...you've got nothing to be sorry for.

I should have told you sooner. I didn't...I was afraid that...

[He grumbles in spite of himself and rubs his face.]

Whatever you decide to do with me, I won't argue.

I'm going to help you, Darin. That's what I'm going to do.

[What form that help will take has yet to be determined, but Jacob is adamant that he won't harm Darin unless there is absolutely no other option to protect the world from his unleashed power.]

Tell me more about what's happening. Can you hear his voice? Is he affecting your actions? Is he looking out your eyes right now?

[Once again, his mind flashes back to the terrifying, possessing influence of Harbinger over the Collectors, that booming, resonant voice - ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL.]

[Darin flops back onto his rear, tired of kneeling.]

...The first instance was at the swear-in. My suspicions were right, Falchion can kill me. Pretty easily. It's the only weapon that's been able to scar me.

[Darin lifts his shirt to show Jacob the vicious scar digging into his right side, that cuts a crescent around his torso almost to his spine.]

When Lucina was mind-controlled, when she was carving into me like a turkey, I felt a voice in my head screaming out to kill her. After that, it was like...two different sets of hands on the wheel driving my body. I managed to take over but since then, at night...I wake up in a cold sweat because I can feel him. He's there. He's just...observing. It's like when you have a set of eyes on you, except these eyes feel like they're the size of the damn moon.

And...just now, during our spar. He said something. He told me to 'finish it.' Meaning the fight. But it wasn't as...dripping with rage? It's like he was a passive observer trying to advise me.

[Throughout his explanation, he runs his hand through his hair over and over again, clutching at his head.]

I'm a mess. I haven't slept a full night in weeks...

[Jacob has to fight the urge to tell Diomuhr he can go to hell and hope that he can hear it from within Darin's head. Probably not a good idea, but it's tempting.]

Okay. Here's what we're going to do. First of all, you need sleep. You can't fight this asshole if you're not fully recharged. The more tired out you are, the less on the ball you'll be.

Second, we've already talked about our options, and we need to keep them ready. Falchion's one. Drugs are another. Our power null cells are on the table too.

Finally...

[Jacob pauses for a moment.]

Sabriel had an idea to 'bind' Atropos if she comes. It would take a lot of magic users working together, but it could seal away a powerful mystic threat. If you're willing, we might be able to try it out on you.

Jacob...if it spares this world and the people in it...if it helps protect the people I've come to love here? Sign me up...

I don't care what happens to me. Throw whatever you can at me.

[Darin rubs his face.]

Is there...something I can do...anyone I can see that can help me sleep...?

Just...knock me out. Something. Induce a coma for all I care...

Hey.

[Jacob gives his shoulder a little shake.]

What happens to you matters too, okay? The objective here is to help you and everyone else, not one or the other. Don't give up on yourself so fast.

I'll tell Sabriel we're good to go on her idea. In the meantime, let's look up what kinds of sedatives are strong enough to help you fall asleep, okay?

[No matter how many times Darin hears that, he still struggles to believe it.]

[Regardless, Darin chuckles softly...wearily...]

...I knew you were a good man. I'm glad I fell in under you...

[Darin clasps his hand over Jacon's on his shoulder in solidarity and manages a smile.]

I...really appreciate you understanding. If you need to bench me or something, I get it. No arguments here...

I'm glad you did, too. Aegis is better for having you as part of us. I mean that.

[He holds the shoulder a moment longer, then breaks the contact.]

No benching for now. Keep me posted on the situation and if any new... Symptoms show up. I promise I'll pull you back the second it's necessary. Until then, I want to keep seeing you on regular duty.

[Darin looks a little stunned. Stunned, but genuinely appreciative. He really wants to keep doing his part, and he was terrified that Diomuhr's awakening would take this away from him. That he'd have to seclude himself.]

[He can't hide how happy that makes him, his smile widening.]

Yes sir! You've got it!

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The Hollidaze is Here Again - Open To All

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