thisavrou_log | If You Listen Close, You'll Hear the Sound / of All the Ghosts That Bring Us Down

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original character: darin altway

If You Listen Close, You'll Hear the Sound / of All the Ghosts That Bring Us Down

Who: Darin, Open to Close and Semi-Close CR!
When: This week
Where: Kauto: Region 5 Hospital
What: Darin's been comatose since his bout with his shadow and it's time to wake him up with SCIENCE
Warnings: Probable blood and physical trauma

While his condition has stabilized since the shadows were officially defeated, Darin definitely isn't in the best of shape. His wounds are taking much longer to heal than they normally should, his skin is pale, and he's showing no signs of any real mental activity. In short: he's comatose. But, there's a glimmer of light in this dark cloud. Using experimental technology, someone (or a group of someones) can reach into Darin's consciousness and maybe try and pull him out of it. The problem? This might not work at all. Or things could go from bad to worse for everyone involved.

What's the worst that could happen?

I-The Hallway-
Interestingly enough, Darin's head isn't just a massive void of empty space peppered with memories of some really great explosions. Nor is it a palace with massive golden statues proclaiming just how amazing he is. It's just...a really long hallway. Each door is unmarked and unlocked, but if you put your ears to them, you can hear muffled voices coming from within. The hallway doesn't seem to have an end though. Pick a door, who knows what you'll find?

II-The Night It All Went to Hell-
One of the doors leads to a rather quaint hillock overlooking a quiet port town. It's dark out, but there's plenty of light from the spattering of stars and the twin moons; red and white respectively, giving the scenery and almost ethereal violet hue. There's a modest home on the hillock itself...which seems to be the source of some commotion. There's the sound of a fight, then some yelling. And then, finally, the spark of a fire being started...

III-Life Goes On-
This door leads to a bustling street in the port town itself. At the end of the street is a rather large smithy, and there appears to be a full garrison of knights standing about the premises, waiting impatiently. The sea are brings the fresh smell of salt on the breeze, and some of the knights are complaining to an older, stout looking gentleman about the rust on their gear. Meanwhile, a beleaguered, blue haired youth, no more than ten years old, is doing his best to measure up an impatient knight for some new armor. Except he's gone and tripped himself up with the measuring tape and fallen into one of the large barrels of water, sending a mixture of laughs and groans rippling through the platoon.

"Why do you even keep this kid around, Acteon?! He's more trouble than he's worth!"

IV-Something's Not Quite Right-
This door leads to an even larger marketplace...not just a port side town anymore. No, this is a huge bazaar in some forgotten nation's capital. There's stalls selling any kind of wares you can imagine: exotic fruits and spices, weapons and armor, fine silks and furs, if you can dream it, it's likely being sold here! Some well armored and equally armed guards push by you quickly though and head towards what seems to be a throng of people circling up. Follow them and you'll see a large man looming over that stout smithy from the previous door, who is in turn standing in front of a gangly-armed, teenage Darin.

"What's all this about?"

"Your brat! He comes up to my stall and he...he breaks my weapons right in front of my paying customers!"

"Look, I was just showing these fine folk what inferior gear looks li--" Darin is cut off by the larger weaponsmith.

"MY GEAR IS THE BEST IN THIS REALM!! ACTEON, EITHER REEL YOUR FREAK IN, OR I'LL HAVE HIM IN CHAINS!"

Darin's smug look turns enraged, and he's already jumping over Acteon to try and throttle the man.

"WHAT'D YOU CALL ME YOU SECOND-RATE--"

The guards are already dogpiling on Darin which...doesn't necessarily slow him down. He pushes through them, and instead of attacking, just turns and runs for the nearest alleyway.

V-Chain of Command-
This door leads to...almost nothing, really. In fact, all that can be seen in this low light is what appears to be a massive steel gate. The bars reach up seemingly forever, and beyond the gate, there is nothing but blackness. The doors to the gate are pushed open slightly, but they're not fully open yet. Something appears to be keeping the doors themselves from being forced ajar completely. That something is Darin, hanging and covered in hundreds of chains, all of which are wrapped around the many massive iron bars. He appears to be hanging limp, but upon closer inspection, his arms are pulled taut, the muscles flexed and tight. As if, though unconscious, he's fighting to keep the iron gates shut.

-WILDCARD-

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"Alright. Alright I get it. Slow and steady. I know."

He heads back over to his bed and sits on the edge, glancing down once more at the stitches just to the left of his abs.

"Once I'm back up to speed, I'll get started."

Just one normal person problem. Just one. That's all he's asking for.

"Good. The last thing anyone wants you to do is overload yourself," he agrees. It's true. If Darin is just learning how to control himself, who knew what an overload would bring.

He's not sure he wants to find out.

"Don't rush it."

She doesn't bring it up, but she certainly thinks about how 'overloading' normally mixes with Darin. Such as that lovely hole he created in the roof, that one time...

However, Shiro saying "don't rush it" gives her an idea.

"That goes for you, too. Until both of you are feeling better, I want you two to take it easy."

Maybe concern over their friend's well-being will convince them both to look out for their own.

He sighs heavily.

"Yes, ma'am. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere for a bit."

That hole in the ceiling that no one is going to let Darin live down ever again? Yep. Sounds familiar.

He holds up his hands, though. "I'm all right. Really. They took the crutches away and everything."

Haha, he'll make sure Darin keeps resting, but -- "If it makes you feel better, though, I'll stay here until they release me."

Even if he really, really hates being here.

She looks incredibly pleased with herself. As if she finally figured out a way to get them to behave, and there's no possibility they'll get fed up, conspire and both leave early.

Right, guys?

"And here I was, worried that Pidge would need to install security cameras to keep tabs on the two of you. Despite how much trouble it was, I feel as though after everything that's happened, it's only helped to strengthen our trust."

"Yeah well...you've both literally been in my head, staring at my memories. If I can't be an open book now, I'd have some serious trust issues."

He shrugs non-chalantly. It was true. He'd come to trust them both very deeply.

"Hey, I know my limits..." He almost gets that out. Almost. But trails off before the last word actually finishes off.

"Okay, don't. Answer that. Let me ... say that I'm trying to know my limits."

Holding up his hands, he adds, to both of them: "I mean that. For everyone's sake, I'm... doing the best I can to figure it out."

"And we all appreciate it Shiro. Though I think all of us are putting in our best efforts, too," she adds. Not to praise the team, but as a reminder that they all have work to be done.

She hums thoughtfully.

"So, if you're going to be an open book -- mind telling me what sort of adventures you and this 'Iris' got up to?" Her tone is attempting to be nonchalant, pretending that she didn't feel insulted by that memory.

"Library's closed."

Nope, sorry, buddy, he's on her side.

"Was it like the thing with the knight? Where you choked yourself with tape over having to measure her?"

She gives him a puzzled look.

"What? No, I don't think it was anything like that. Unless she was incredibly overbearing as well."

Allura looks away so neither of them can see her pouting. It's just coincidence. I am nothing like that...!

He shoots Shiro a glare.

"Iris was just some blue-blood I met on the road when I was tracking down Dromas before I even knew it was him I was tracking. She wouldn't leave me alone because she saw something in me, and if I tried to ditch her, she'd have her father's army tracking me. I mentioned her to Shiro once before. She's just some girl I was traveling with. Why are you so interested in her?"

"Probably because when you mentioned her to me, you compared her to Allura."

Sorry, bro, you're not getting out of this so easy. Especially if she's upset -- the sooner they hash out disagreements or discomforts the better, right?

Having fun under that bus, Darin?

"I knew it! That's why she came up immediately after you ran into me, isn't it?" She huffs in dissatisfaction.

"And honestly! That woman was far pushier than I have ever been --" she says, and it looks like she sincerely believes the words that are coming out of her mouth, "-- and yet you didn't give her nearly as much of a hard time!"

"I'm not a wanted man here! I couldn't afford to be picky when her father was the Grand Duke, and also in command of one of the strongest militias in Alvale! I could afford to dump the lunatic when I wanted to! Also, the level of pushiness is very very debatable!"

He likes it under this bus. The engine keeps him warm.

"What, are you jealous or something??"

"Oh-kay... this was... clearly not my best plan."

Why can't you both just talk about your issues like normal people. And not accuse each other of things.

"This isn't exactly taking it easy, Darin. Stop yelling." He grimaces a little, to Allura. "You were... a little pushy in the beginning. You've gotten better. A lot better."

"Perhaps it's because some people here needed pushing in the beginning."

Lean in, Allura.

"And... well... in a sense, yes! I would have loved to have even a fraction of that kind of compromise! Do you have any idea what it's like, being told you're too strict and bossy, by someone who's practically going out of his way to make things more difficult than they need to be?"

"So you're saying you want me to be wanted for murder here so I can accept you tagging along with me everywhere? Hey Shiro? What's a good, quick way to get accused of a galactic crime? Her Highness wants a bounty on my head so she can appease the green eyed monster!"

He pauses.

"I'm referring to jealousy. Not myself. I'm aware of the irony here. And on that note, I only let her tag along with me because I had no choice! You're totally different! I choose to like your company!"

"We--"

He was about to say that yes, they did need to be pushed. The whole team did. He's only saying it happened, not arguing against it. But then both of them just seem to explode.

Well.

Both of them and then some.

"STOP IT! Both of you!" He shoves himself upright again, physically between them. "Knock it off! For crying out loud, Keith and Lance argue more than you two do!" Which is saying something. "Darin! We've had this conversation enough times! I'm not having it with you again! Allura, I understand why you push us, but not everyone does!"

He has to stop and breathe a second, looking back and forth.

"Whatever your guys' problem is this time, work it out! I am not mediating anymore! I'm tired of playing referee while people I care about throw each other under the bus!"

It's an exaggeration, he knows he will still step in when he has to. But for now, leaving this conversation on that threat actually seems promising. He doesn't storm to the door so much as limp, but hey, points for trying.

"So stop yelling and work it out. When you do, we can talk about training again."

She's taken aback by Shiro's outburst. After all, despite his hard expressions, his was a patient sort of firmness, not a strict one. But it occurs to her at that moment -- normally when their personalities start clashing, there isn't a third person in the room.

Her ears are literally drooping, like a dog who has just been scolded.

She looks over at Darin, and then away. "... we've done it this time, haven't we."

"You did...when you got your tiara in a twist about me traveling with another royal before you. I mean seriously, why are you so upset? Because I agreed to the terms she gave me no choice about? Because I had to work with her? Because she's not here. You are."

Darin's eyes go wide for a second and he glances at the floor.

"I left her alone when the Moira picked me up. I don't even know if she's still alive..."

"You didn't even struggle, though. And yet, when I consider how hard you made me work for the kind of respect you give me now..."

She huffs. One that's more heavy and remorseful, rather than her usual "done with everything" frustration.

"Were you still looking out for her, then? I suppose I'm hardly any replacement."

"Look, desperate times. I had to pick my battles back home. Here, I have the luxury of not being thrown in jail the second someone recognizes me."

He's about to respond to her next question when that last comment catches him off guard.

"Replacement? What the hell are you on about? What is all of this?"

"Oh, please. That memory was something important to you, wasn't it? Otherwise, why would you have recalled it in such detail?" After a beat, "And don't say it's because you blew the roof off her shop, because I'm sure that wasn't the only building you've done that to."

"She was a dear friend to you, wasn't she?"

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