The Hollidaze is Here Again - Open To All

[forgeabettertomorrow]

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 As the days wore on, Darin went from being his usual, upbeat self, to someone far more withdrawn.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.

Comments

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Hey now, do I look like a guy who overdoes things?

[fauxmarth]

[there's a beat where her expression remains static.

then, pleasantly:] Yes. Absolutely yes.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Okay, you got me. But come on! How often is there an excuse to give the people you love amazing gifts!

Plus, I'm on a roll here. I've got Archie's present figured out, Allura's, Yato's, yooouuuurrrrseeelf? How about yourself??

[That was extra smooth.]

[fauxmarth]

[she rolls her eyes, but her expression is still fond. and back to walking she goes.]

I honestly can't think of something I desperately want off the top of my head. Besides, you crafted that incredible set of armor for me not long ago; that's more than plenty, don't you think?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[HEY WAIT UP. Darin's back to tagging along beside her.]

Yeah, but that was business. This is something else.

I mean. It would be. If I were making you something.

If that scenario were to be taking place.

[IT'S A SURPRISE DAMMIT!!!]

[fauxmarth]

Well...

[hm. a gift. for herself. she tries to be a bit more thoughtful, slowing past a display of mannequins in sparkly shirts. past that, a sporting goods store, with a picture collage of skiers, snowboarders, a hang glider...

oh!]

You know what? There was something I was meaning to look into. I need something for flying in the wintertime; it's gotten too cold in the air as I am now.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Huh. Y'know, I never thought of that. It must get freezing up at higher altitudes.

[Darin rubs his chin. He'd already had an idea of what to make Lucina. But this was a good lead too. And she'd really make good use out of it.]

I'll have to keep that in mind~

You're pretty good at inspiring gift ideas, you know that?

[fauxmarth]

[her nose crinkles with her smile.]

Am I? Sometimes I'm not so sure. I have awful fashion taste for one thing, and it's burned me more than a few times.

...Well, friends. It's burned friends more than a few times.

But what about you? What sorts of things have you been pining for, or would think is nice?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

What's wrong with your sense of fashion?

[Darin blinks at the question, like he doesn't understand it.]

I don't 'pine.' Are you kidding me? I'm living a dream life. I have everything I could have ever wanted. A successful forge, amazing friends, people who care for me enough to look out for me, access to libraries so I can learn to my heart's content.

I'm practically in heaven.

[fauxmarth]

[she glances at him sidelong, trying to detect any traces of cynicism in there. after what he'd confided in her about his troubles connecting, the awful things done to him in his past as a consequence of his birth... hm.]

There's...truly nothing interesting or fun you'd like to have? Or try?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Well, sure, I'm sure there's plenty of things out there I'd love to try. Things I don't even know exist.

I guess I never made a habit of wanting things. Allura always says I should want more, that my room at home is so bare. I only have a desk, a bookshelf, and a hammock. But I guess I just never felt like I needed more than that to survive.

[fauxmarth]

It's not about surviving anymore, Darin. You should be able to thrive happily here.

[hmm. empty room, huh...]

Perhaps I need to decorate your living space, too...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

You don't have to go that far! Really!

[Someone clearly doesn't receive a lot of presents.]

And I am thriving happily here. With friends like you in my life, how could I not?

[fauxmarth]

So you're not going to give me any clues at all, are you. [she tsks, shaking her head.]

Very well. It's a challenge, then.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

No, really. I'm not actually trying to challenge you. I can't think of a single thing I want or need. Please don't put yourself out for me.

[Why does he suddenly feel like this is what it's like dealing with him?]

[Let's try and change the subject.]

Are you going to get anything for Jacob?

[fauxmarth]

[her eyes narrow. these eyes? they're eyes that say i see what you're doing, Darin, and yet i remain undeterred. the challenge is accepted.

but she obliges this gear shift anyway, because she really doesn't want him screeching and attracting the attention of any of the shoppers he infuriated earlier.]

Yes, of course. He's not just my superior, but my friend as well, and he's done a lot for me since I came here. I'd like to find a proper token of appreciation...one that suits him.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Same, but it's kinda hard to get a read on the guy. I have no idea what he likes. I like to personalize the gifts I make, you know?

[fauxmarth]

Have you tried asking, by any chance? Your familiarity with him is still fairly new, isn't it? You ought to sit down together in an unprofessional setting. An...uh, icebreaker? I think that's what it's called.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Isn't it supposed to be a surprise?

Do you know if he drinks? I should see if he wants to go to a bar or something after work.

[fauxmarth]

Well you don't have to tell him you're asking for the sake of gifts, Darin. [she shakes her head a little, still smirking.] You've got to get to know him anyway, yes? Since we're all working together.

And yes-- he does drink. I bet he'd be pleased to be invited for a chat. You should do it!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Yeah but have you ever known me to be subtle?

I haven't gone out to drink with someone in ages. I think the last time was with my old man. I think I'll ask him, then.

[fauxmarth]

[warmer:] I think it's a good idea. Jacob's good company.

[a beat.

wait.]

...Erh, be sure to...bring enough money. His appetite is...well. I think it may be on par with yours, or even greater...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

... ... ...

I'm...sorry.

What?

[fauxmarth]

[blink.]

As I said. He eats a lot. Often.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Nooo...

You said that his appetite might be 'greater' than mine.