Insert Second Season Opening Here | OPEN TO ALL

[forgeabettertomorrow]

WHO: Darin Altway and you!
WHERE: Various Locations
WHEN: August 1st and beyond!
WHAT: Darin's back! After he was ported out, a week and a half have passed here, but six months have passed in his world! Our blue idiot has grown up a bit in those six months, and now he's back to pick up where he left off!
WARNINGS: There's a solid chance there will be a lot of feelings and fluff.

It was almost unbelievable. Heropa was almost exactly the same as he had left it. Sure, weird rocks or meteorites seemed to be spontaneously falling but, for the most part everything was the same. It was like he'd never even left.

He raises a hand up to block the sun from his eyes and makes his way to a newsstand he used to frequent, grabbing a paper to check the date.

Wait...that can't be right.

Only a week and a half had passed?! But he was gone for six months!!

Maybe that's why the newsstand proprietor is looking at him strangely. Like he doesn't altogether recognize the blue haired young man speaking to him with such familiarity. Nevertheless, he pays for the paper and hurries on his way. There's plenty that needs doing and he's sure there's more than a few people who will be in for a bit of a shock...

-NONAH- DARIN ALTWAY'S MASTERWORKS

[Well, this place was a sight for sore eyes. Darin was still having some issues with the time discrepancy in his mind and he half expected the place to be rundown or taken over by Guzma. Luckily, the forge is as clean as ever, though it appears to be locked up. And Darin? Well, he doesn't seem to have his key anymore.]

[He knocks on the door first, then pounds on the large bay doors.]

Hello? Allura? Anyone??

[With no response, Darin sighs and makes his way over to the door, snapping the lock like a twig.]

[To anyone passing nearby, this obviously looks like a robbery, and some clown has decided to put on a blue wig and his best Darin cosplay to make it look legit. After all, Darin wasn't always that big, was he? And the clothes are way off! Anyone up for trying to be a good Samaritan?]

-MAURTIA FALLS-

[With the forge re-opened, it's time to get to Helix and get back onto active duty with Aegis. Darin's pace is markedly quick, as he's eager to touch base with all of his old friends and loved ones. It's still incredible to him that he's only been gone a week and a half in this world. But one thing never changes in the Falls; there's always some sort of crazy event that makes people go bonzo. Almost as if on cue, the alarm to Maurtia Falls First National Bank goes nuts. Darin hears the sounds of gunshots and immediately rushes towards the scene. Looks like some civilians have gotten their hands on black kryptonite and have decided to let their worst impulses take over.]

[Darin dives behind a car as one of the robbers opens fire. He turns and calls out to the nearest imPort on the scene.]

Hey! Get the civilians clear! I'll handle these guys! Can you do that?!

[Whatever 'handling' means or implies has yet to be seen.]

-MAURTIA FALLS- HELIX STATION

[Good old Helix Station, a home away from home. Darin's lucky his clearance still worked, that's for sure. He assumed that after a week being ported out, they'd just wipe him from the roster.]

[It's oddly nostalgic as memories rush back to him. Six month old memories suddenly becoming crystal clear as they'd only happened less than a week ago. He opens up his comm and quickly cycles through the roster...]

[Oh man.]

[That's not good.]

[He makes his way to the office of whoever is currently in charge and knocks once before pushing the door open and making his entrance.]

So, I know I'm probably going to catch hell for disappearing for a week and a half but...well, it looks like we're a little short handed. So if you're willing to spare the reprimand, how about I see about getting us all back up to speed?

-HELIX STATION- CLOSED TO LUCINA

[He couldn't believe how bad things had gotten. Had this many Aegis agents been ported out before?? Everyone must be running ragged! And now there's a press conference?? Who the hell is even handling it?! Darin quickly queues up the feed on his communicator to see poor Lucina standing at a podium fielding questions in one of the Helix Station's briefing rooms. She's getting bombarded with all kinds of off the cuff questions, from the Shieldbreakers to the strange meteorites. Something about the moon briefly vanishing, and how the chain of command in Aegis appears to be in shambles.]

[Darin could feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.]

[A reporter just finishes asking Lucina about how she feels about detractors claiming she's too young to be part of this imPort militia when Darin kicks open the double doors leading to the briefing room.]

Excuse me! Yeah, sorry I'm late for the press conference. Darin Altway here, and I'll be the one fielding all of your questions!

[He strides through the crowd of journalists and photographers, taking his place by Lucina at the podium, offering her a sly wink before turning back to the crowd.]

Let's have 'em!

-HOUDINI'S MAGIC SUPPLIES STORE- CLOSED TO CECELIA

[With the kerfuffle at Helix dealt with, it was high time to check in on those closer to home. Specifically, the last person to see him. He'd already swung by the house to find that Cecelia wasn't there...but he did see some of the damage to the room.]

[He assumed she didn't take his sudden departure well.]

[He peeks in the window of the Magic Supplies Shop as discreetly as he can...which is difficult since he's now 6'3" and built like brick house with stark blue hair.]

[Needless to say, he looks pretty stupid.]

[He waits until Cecelia is with a customer before he slips in, made all the trickier by the bell that rings when someone enters the shop. He hurries and moves behind a large rack of top hats and sequin capes to avoid being spotted. Man, what is he going to say to her? What can he say? 'Hey, sorry for vanishing but hey, it was only a week and a half for you.']

[As he muddles over his words, he spots one of those trick wands, the ones that you tap and a bouquet of fake, waxy flowers pop out, and a grin spreads across his face.]

[He waits until the shop is empty and Cecelia looks bored and listless, then slides out from behind one of the racks. He makes his way up to the counter...]

...So, I know that pulling a disappearing act like I did is a pretty bad trick...but I was hoping that maybe you'd forgive me if I came up with a better one.

[He taps the wand twice causing the bouquet to erupt out of the tip before holding it out to her.]

...Besides, nothing that's good can truly be gone forever, right? That's the whole point of magic.

-HEROPA- THE BEACH -CLOSED TO ALLURA-

[Darin had been everywhere and the sun was quickly starting to dip below the horizon. He'd checked his forge, he'd gone to Helix, he even popped by the house in Heropa, and there was just no sign of the one person he'd wanted to see the most. Almost nervously, he kept checking his comm to make sure her name was even there. He'd considered calling her but...no. This was something that had to be done in person.]

[And there was only one place he could think of where she would be.]

[Their special spot, the hidden little alcove on the beaches of Heropa. A small inlet with a sandbar and an enormous rock that sticks up like a monument. The same rock that Darin would pull down to stretch out into the water like a small, private pier. A place that he and Allura would often sneak off to so they could enjoy each other's company without being in the public eye during the first few months of their relationship. There was no way Allura could pull the stone down by herself, leaving just a small sandbar hidden in an alcove of high rocks.]

[It's the only other place he could think that she would be.]

[Before he made his way to the beach, he stopped off at a local flower shop. Luckily, his funds hadn't been frozen after being temporarily ported out, so he's able afford a bouquet of their finest pink carnations; a flower that they both knew meant 'remembrance.' It might have only been a week and a half for her, but six months without her...without even remembering her...it crushed him inside. These flowers were as much for him as they were for her; to show that...no matter what happened, his memories of her had returned.]

[And so, bouquet in hand, tied with pink and blue ribbons, he makes his way down the beach towards their special spot in hopes that he finds her waiting for him.]

(OOC: Got an idea for a prompt that isn't up here? Go ahead and comment with it anyway! Or hit me up at bitterbearface

Comments

helix babey

[h2no]

[perhaps predictably, it's archie who's in there. poor, unfortunate archie. though mightyena is the first one darin'll see; the dog is laying in front of the desk with piles and piles of paper. he scrabbles to his feet immediately, barking happily and jumping up at darin to put his forepaws on the blacksmith's shoulder.

archie doesn't react just yet. he's standing in front of an interactive screen that has a bunch of trajectories marked across it-- tracking the kyrptonite, it seems like. he knows that trying to find a pattern in anything the porter does is asking for madness, but... he's interested to see if it's related to where the death star had been.

he glances over after a solid minute or so, evidently mentally detaching himself from whatever he was doing. there's math. it's awful.

flatly:] What the hell are you wearing?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Hey! Mightyena! Long time no see!!

[Darin drops to a knee and starts to ruffle Mightyena's fur, no doubt being showered in excitable puppy kisses.]

What do you mean? These are my clothes! It's good to see you too, Arch!

[h2no]

[he does indeedly get lots of kisses and licks. it gets to a point where mightyena is so excited he just flops over onto his back, rolling around, tongue lolling. tail thumping. the whole works.]

The pink. That's new. [well, that confirms darin went home... guess it wasn't a terrible time, if he's not down on himself. archie bites back the acidic jealousy he feels as a knee-jerk reaction. darin certainly doesn't need to deal with his problems.] How was home?

[a beat, before darin can answer:] For the record, you're not in trouble for Porting out. Do you need a few days off to get your shit together?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Uh oh. A doggo on his back can only mean one thing: Tummy rubs! Which is what Mightyena is getting right this second.]

It's called a vest, Arch. And I happen to think it looks good. Pink and blue work well together, you know. And home was...well, it's a hell of a long story. Short version...while it's only been a week and a half for you guys...

For me, it's been six months. ...Give or take.

But I'm not worried about that right now. I checked the roster on my way over and you guys are stretched thin as it is. So, why don't you fill me in on those rocks falling from the sky and let me take over for a while.

[adamantlyardent]

[omigods. how many times is this weird guy going to come in here, buy dice, and ask her to play Monsters and Mazes. she's going to start a tally and she's going to start it off at, like, six.

while Darin was slinking in, she was dead-eyed staring through the man yet-again remarking how she could "totally school" his crew on how "real" elves ought to be. and while Darin was skirting off to hide, her eyes rolled up to the ceiling before she politely brought them back down with a sigh. she makes the vaguest of noises through her nose as she's told he'll "definitely wear her down" and show up at some point!

right. sure. not in this lifetime, weirdo. how old is he, even? she can't really grasp how humans age, and television definitely hasn't helped.

the bell above the door tinkles once more as the weirdo leaves, and the store falls quiet once more, save for the ambient nature-sounds she has playing quietly on the speakers. as far as peaceful havens go, this one isn't as terrible as she'd say: talk too highly of a place and it's bound to be infested with people, after all.

her ear twitches, hearing the floor creak with the weight of another body. when rolling on her toes to peer over a rack proves useless, she just shakes her head and settles back on her feet, hunching forward on the counter and resting her chin in her hand while reading the book she brought with her.

when she hears the movement drawing near the counter, she straightens back up, picking up her cup of tea and shooting a glance over mid-sip --

nearly choking on it as Darin, of all weirdos, saunters up all carefree and...Darin-y. she remains frozen in pose, face obscured partly by the cup, eyes bulged as he stops at the counter. while he talks, her eyes are scanning him up and down, unblinking, while her brain is immediately trying to settle on a feeling or even single thought about this. outrage? elation? shame? confusion? suspicion? why not all of it -- her heart's pounding fast enough to accommodate that much adrenaline and fury, right?

she blinks after each wand-tap, then bristles at the pop of flowers, leaning away like a wary alley cat while slowly bringing her drink down. her mouth remains puckered for a beat longer before she gulps, and then it presses into a tight, thin line.

before her expression can betray her any further, she clears her throat, turning around, making a play at...uh, putting her cup down so she can grab a clipboard.]

What-- [she clears her throat again. more enunciated, more Elf:] What...are you doing here, hm? Practicing lines to use on your girlfriend? Don't you have better things to be doing?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Hey now, I don't use 'lines.' Everything I say is genuine, you should know that by now.

[Darin pulls the wand back and retracts the flowers, toying with it some more to the point where he trips the mechanism and the flowers explode out of the wand again right into his face.]

I don't know where Allura is but...between the two of you, you're the one I'd worry the most about.

I'm sure you're pretty upset with me, huh.

[adamantlyardent]

[a touch flippant:] If you break that thing, you have to buy it.

[fauxmarth]

[Lucina is out of her element in this room, and that's exactly why she insisted on being here. it's not enough to be lifting cars or corralling ruffians out on the streets -- a good Shepherd, princess, or Aegis agent knows there's more to helping bring balance and stability than the grunt work. even if she wishes there wasn't.

she could've argued that this was a break from all the heavy lifting, but...honestly? keeping her cool and poise here is hard work. she is a little red-faced despite makeup's efforts, and her posture is stiffer than it usually is as she works to keep questions one at a time.

she's already trying to suppress a sigh at the question of her age when those doors bang open; right away, she's on her feet, hand on Falchion and eyes fixed on the back of the room --

and there they remain as he announces himself with zero sign of shame or fear. Lucina's eyes widen, almost immediately beginning to well up. her mouth hangs open with surprise as he strolls over, closing so she can gulp as he strides up.

she and the rest of the room are silent for a beat longer before there's a lone shutter-click, and that seems to snap her out of her stupor. she pounces, grabbing him in a strong embrace.]

You came back-!!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin's in mid-motion, pointing at one of the journalists up front to ask their question; something about Aegis' response to rumors that OTO just got a massive paycheck with the departure of another imPort when the wind is knocked out of him by Lucina.]

Hwoof! H-Hey now...

[To be honest though, after six months and some of the things he'd been through, this hug was sorely needed. In fact, screw the press. He holds up a finger to give them pause and returns Lucina's embrace twofold, spinning in place happily before setting her down and keeping an arm around her.]

[Needless to say, reporters are taking pictures rather furiously.]

Course I came back. You think I'd leave you, Allura, and the rest in a lurch like that? Hold on a second...

[He turns to the podium and clears his throat, his demeanor changing almost instantly.]

If these allegations of the OTO receiving a payout from another imPort are true, Aegis will investigate using all of our resources. No matter what happens, the lives of civilians and the stability of this dimension are our foremost concern. That said, this conference is over. And if anyone has anything further they want to ask, I'll field questions personally while on patrol in Marutia Falls later this afternoon.

[With that, Darin turns and ushers Lucina towards one of the doors behind them leading to a prep room while reporters attempt to shout and steal more photos of the pair.]

There, that was easy...now we can talk!

[fauxmarth]

[perhaps she ought to be more cognizant of the press in this context, but honestly? who cares! her dear friend is back! the rest is stuff and nonsense for now. she follows his lead, swiping at the corner of her eyes before hustling ahead of him into the room so she can spin around on her heel to smile back up at him.]

I can't believe you! Did you wait for that exact moment to show up as a surprise? Do the others already know? Allura? Everyone will be so excited-!

[patchricide]

[She actually hadn't spent that much time here, all things considered. For the first seven days, Allura had tried so hard to keep her mind occupied with something else, anything. Darin was already woven into so many of the princess's memories from the past year that it was already difficult to go through an average day without getting choked up. The last thing she needed was reasons to dwell on it further. Near the end of the week, when Archie had approached her about leading Helix, she had pounced at the opportunity.]

[But once Sunday had rolled around again... well, that marked a week. And Darin's name was still absent from the imPort contact list.]

[Up until that point, she had kept things contained with a carefully constructed wall, layering hope and denial. On Sunday, it started to crack. On Monday, she started to feel everything. And since then, she's been a fascinating kind of mess, swinging back and forth between feeling things too much, and feeling nothing, as if her heart has been overwhelmed by trying to process it all and could only go numb instead.]

[That's why she's out here. It's nostalgic and painful and just the smell of the ocean makes her want to cry, but... it's also quiet, and the wind from the ocean is fresh and clear in a way that makes it so much easier to breathe. Here, more than anywhere else, she can feel the pain of missing him acutely, but also sort it out and bring herself back to a well-functioning state.]

[At least, that's the hope. It's difficult to tell if it's working well, or even at all — she is, admittedly, still a mess.]

[It's so tranquil out here that even the slightest movement can break her out of her trance and draw her full attention, even though it's usually just the daily activity of the ocean birds. At one point, much, much further down the beach, she could see two children playing with a dog. But their little spot was so secluded that there were few people who would get close enough to see more than their height.]

[So, naturally, when she sees the figure of a man walking down the beach with blue hair — her first thought is that she's hallucinating, that it's someone else and her mind is eagerly filling in details she would rather see. When that thought isn't enough to help her see through the illusion, she stands up — and takes a moment to brush the sand off the skirt of her dress — and cranes her head to get a better look at the man walking down the beach.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[When he sees her stand and peer up over the sandbar, Darin's heart leaps. All confidence in his stride wavers and he finds himself locked in place, staring dumbly at her. At the way wind catches her hair and the sunlight glints off of it like an aurora.]

[His entire walk here he was thinking about what to say to her. All thought flies from his mind now as memories simultaneously a week and a half and six months old clash and flood his mind.]

[He clutches at the bouquet, suddenly without a voice.]

[All he do is manage a small wave. Like he's not sure if this is real or an illusion himself.]

[patchricide]

[It's really the wave that convinces her that yes, that's Darin, beyond a doubt. It's... oh, what's the word for it? Awkward and dorky come to mind, but it's really more cute, except she needs a word for it that's not cute because she can already imagine the look on his face if she actually called him that...]

[It's Darin, that's what it is.]

[The thing is, the more she looks at him, the less it looks like Darin. There's enough to peg it as him for sure, like the hair and the body language, but... the body isn't right. It's thicker, incredibly so — she's quite sure he used to be leaner than Shiro, and this man looks even more muscular.]

[It takes her a moment to call out to him, and when she does, her voice chokes in sheer disbelief—]

Darin??

nonah; tw self-harm to activate powers

[viciousmaukery]

[There's some arsehole trying to break into Darin's workshop.

Molly can't see much of him from his vantage point, but he can see enough that he pulls a sword out and nicks the back of his neck with the edge of it. Might be this is Guzma, or someone working for him checking out the place, but Molly won't stand for it. Darin's already gone, the least they can do is leave his shop alone.

The sword glows an eerie white. Molly's steps are deliberately light as he follows the man in.]

Shouldn't you be terrorizing someone else for a change?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[The lights are all still off in the forge. In fact, the only light trickling in stems from the high set, narrow windows of the former warehouse. When Darin was here, the lights were almost always on and the forge was always roaring. Now, it seemed like an ancient ruin in comparison to how it was before Darin was injured a month ago.]

[Or...well, seven months ago in Darin's case.]

[Luckily, everything was still where Darin had left it.]

[Now, had this been Darin prior to his port out, he would have yelped and crashed through the nearest table. More than likely screaming something about ghosts.]

[Unfortunately, six months of being on the road have honed Darin to the point where Molly's sudden declaration has him drawing his jet black dao in a flash, then hand-springing over the nearest bench and settling into a tight fighting stance, weapon at the ready.]

Sorry, but terrorizing's not my game. I'm just here for business. What's your excuse?

[viciousmaukery]

[There’s a moment’s silence, where Molly is trying to process what is going on and coming up with oh shit I might have fucked up here. Then he lifts his glowing sword up like it’s a lamp, to illuminate his face and the peacock feather tattoo crawling up his neck and fanning out onto his cheek, more for Darin’s benefit than his own.

Darkvision is such a blessing.]

My excuse is, I saw someone I thought was going to smash your shop up. I didn’t think it was you.

[The annoyance in his voice is quickly overwhelmed by the sheer relief, and he smiles.]

Where’ve you been?

Guzma Town USA aka Maurtia Falls

[golisolation]

[Living in Maurtia Falls gets you so desensitized to the alarms that go off, that were it not for Darin calling out to Guzma and the commotion otherwise, Guzma might not have noticed it. Maybe the gunfire would have tipped him off, but he likely would have ignored it. Had this situation been any different, maybe Guzma would have been pissed at Darin commanding him to do anything. Hell, even seeing that he's back would have soured his mood—but that's not really something that can happen right now.

Not when he has a chunk of red kryptonite unwittingly stuck in his hood. He's been feeling great all damn day, and not a single thing has been able to piss him off, or annoy him. Hell, he hasn't even felt like being particularly violent. So, while he would normally be angry with this situation, he's instead feeling far more... accommodating.]

I ain't usually the type of guy y'all'd want on civilian duty, yo. But y'know—

[With a couple flashes of light, and the typical mechanical sound of release, Scizor and Golisopod both appear from their balls.]

—I'm kinda feeling it. Not that I need you tellin' me what to do.

[He'd comment on Darin coming back, but time is of the essence, and so he'll be casually strolling over with his bugs to help evacuate some people to safety. Of course, people being approached by giant bugs doesn't help their panicked state much, but Guzma doesn't seem to mind, and it doesn't stop the bugs from scooping people up, shielding them from any stray bullets, and depositing them elsewhere.

The whole time Guzma is keeping an eye on Darin—because he's noted the difference in his appearance, in the way he holds himself. Maybe he'd feel riled seeing him again, but that red kryptonite does wonders. Like, getting Guzma to actually do something helpful, instead of sitting on the sidelines and watching as the chaos unfolds. Or making Guzma abstain from attacking Darin like he had last time an alarm went off.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin stares when Guzma of all people is the one answering his call to action. For the briefest of moments, he half expects the trainer to turn his pokémon on him, turning this situation into a total SNAFU.]

[But when Guzma, as easy-going as ever, starts to help clear the area?]

[Darin checks the paper tucked under his arm again to make sure he had only been gone for a week and a half and not a year and a half.]

[...Nope. Date's right. Also, that was a bullet whizzing by his head causing him to snap back into a tuck and roll.]

[Well, whatever freakin' miracle happened, Darin's not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Unfortunately, Darin hasn't gotten his gear from the forge yet. Which means it's time to improvise.]

[He rolls out from behind cover and rushes down the front of the bank. He bobs and weaves flipping expertly to dodge flying bullets and when a few stray too close, he draws his dao and deflects the bullets up and away from the crowd. He's about to jump through the broken window when one of the robbers pulls an automatic rifle, causing Darin to skid to a stop, crouch, and launch himself two stories up. He digs his free hand into the concrete to hold himself there while he looks around.]

...Guzma! Can you bring out Masquerain and have it freeze the store front with ice beam?! I've got an idea!

[He can't believe he's asking this, but hey, the guy's helping out. Might as well thank his lucky stars.]

[golisolation]

[One of those stray bullets definitely strikes Guzma—but deflects off his carapace skin like it's nothing, leaving the gang leader looking smug and otherwise unbothered. Sure, his anger is quelled, but he's still a bit of an egotist. Not so much one that he can't appreciate the skill Darin puts into his moves as he dodges the spray of gun fire with notable finesse—but it's nothing more than what Guzma already expected of him, but the dao, that's certainly new.

When Darin calls out to Guzma, he doesn't seem to sit on the decision long before another flash brings forth the manic pixie-like Pokémon. The other two bugs still getting others to safety in the meantime, while Guzma's keeping an eye on the due with the automatic rifle.]

I got you—YO, Masquerain! [The energetic bug stops his ping-pong observing of the situation to turn his attention to Guzma.] Ice beam that shit, freeze it all up!

[With a shrill cry, Masquerain whizzes forward, charging up that beam and firing off at the store front in which Guzma pointed. The beam crashing into it, and forming a good thick layer of ice.]

BABY FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[knaval]

[coming from a race that was basically forced into a four million year-long war, riptide is unfortunately well acquainted with the variety of mental shifts that can come from it. the PTSD of trauma and fighting is something every cybertronian experiences at some point, so he's used to it within himself as well as other people.

this, however, this isn't something he's fully aware of. he doesn't realise there's a shard of red kyrptonite lodged into his armour, sticking out of his back. all he knows is the surge of anger that hits him at being stared at by some organics is something fully unexpected and uncontrollable. it's fortunate he wasn't standing around showing off and being a media whore anywhere crowded-- but rather quite near the beach. he'd been about to go off in his alt mode.

his optics shutter rapidly as the emotion over takes him and the normally soft amber colour of them shines a bright yellow, so bright it's almost white. he does something he'd normally never do without proper thought; he slams both his fists down onto the ground to crack the concrete and tarmac.]

Stop pointing at me!

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[You know what this world has that his didn't? Ice cream. Oh man what an amazing invention ice cream was. If he could remember what the hell it was when he went back, he'd make it himself and probably make a gods damned fortune. This is the narrator's way of saying that Darin is eagerly awaiting a double scoop of chocolate marshmallow ice cream on a waffle cone on the boardwalk when the damn earth decides it wants to shake.]

[Causing the attendant to drop the cone he was about to hand to Darin.]

[It's been six months since he had a choco marshmallow waffle cone. Six months! And this place had the best! They drizzled cinnamon sugar all over the cone! No place else does that!! If you told Darin that this was not an acceptable reason to be upset, he would immediately, and loudly, proclaim that you don't know a damn thing about wars and why they're fought, but he's about to shut down whatever cost him his delicious summer time treat.]

[So, when he arrives on the scene, he's already managed to whip his stupid ass up from Defcon One to Defcon 4: World Crisis.]

Alright. Who's the jackass with the immediate career plan of becoming a crater.

[The narrator would like to note: Darin has not touched kryptonite. This is just how he is.]

[knaval]

[riptide's crouched and leaning forward on his hands. it's a pretty weird position and kind of... creepy. like how he's ducked down he looks like some sort of fucked up boat spider. he digs his fingers into the ground and pulls them back, doing more damage.]

Oh, you've come to make more of a scene and draw more people?! Leave me alone, you blue-haired idiot! [he tries to fling up some rubble at darin, though given that this is done in impotent rage, it's hardly well-aimed.] Or maybe you just wanna be the centre of attention again? Because it's never enough for you, is it?!

[he slams his fists down as he pushes himself up. he doesn't even necessarily think these things of darin anymore, but: magic kryptonite making him mad.]

Go away!

Forge

[pidgewidgeon]

[ Pidge had installed a basic security system on Darin's forge in case anyone tried to break in, so when the lock is broken a notification is sent to her communicator.

It takes her a bit to get to the forge and sure enough the lock's broken. She pulls her bayard and sneaks in, moving cautiously from table to table. There's noise coming from the back, crashes and bangs that lead directly to the intruder, and Pidge manages to get right up behind the thief without their noticing.

She presses her deactivated bayard into the small of his back and growls out, "Who are you? And why are you here?"

Re: Forge

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin doesn't turn from his workbench, opting only place his hands, palms down, on the surface. Just what the hell was going on?? First his forge is locked up, he doesn't have a key, and now someone is mugging him?! In his own forge?! This is just his luck.]

Look, buddy, I don't want any trouble and I'm sure you don't either. So how about you drop the weapon before I'm forced to do something only you'll likely regret.

{This is the story of how Darin gets tasered.]

[pidgewidgeon]

[ You would be correct!

Pidge flicks open the door keeping the taser from being accidentally deployed and presses the button, sending the full electric shock through the intruder's body. She keeps the button depressed until she's sure they won't get right up and lets go. The man in front of her drops and she steps back so he doesn't hit her.

The intruder landed on his front so she uses a foot to turn him over and blinks in shock when she gets a good look at his face.

Oops? ]