baileysummers | Aeranverse War, Jon Masters, Timberjack

Fuck you all I’m not a sentimental asshole.

I work with the Legacy in hunting down Brotherhood in exchange for running time when they come for me.

I know they won’t, they know they won't, it's a placeholder lie.

And yes, yes I’m making my own plans.

Liking the Aeran kid wasn’t part of the plan and that’s because while he is an expert at controlling his shit the rage and addiction Rick Summers has real pain.

And even a bullshit expert and assassin and con artist like me can feel the real deal in there.

Rick’s place hit the shitter.

It was transmitted and it’s on the Net now and that’s on purpose, blood in the water, paranoia on both sides and it smells like someone planned it all.

Who? Not sure that’s a level and area not in my expertise.

Instead I took Kelly and we go upstairs and Kel is like this Seriah I keep hearing of a strong reader and Kelly has a psionic aptitude as well for weaponry and she’s decently trained and a hacker.

We go up and to my cargo squat up there and I pull stuff I need and she will and I go off and we go and we hit food wholesale warehouses and disable the GPS and cameras and we just drive off with whole trucks all gassed up and ready to head out to the stores and I go around all night stealing and lifting shit and parking it in an abandoned warehouse I use and favors I called in show up with army surplus, merc supplies from mercs, cheap weapons like AK’s and others in crates and any fucker that I could get shit off of I knew I do.

And I call Six who calls them for me.

***Davey… Six calls and set a video of the warehouse and the supplies and Trucks and Jon…fucking Jon telling the Camera.

“I paid, now call someone and get this shit to Rick.”

He gave the camera the finger.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

hawkeanddove

Davey

"Well... fuck me." John became the Grinch.

"I'll go get it, Six; thanks."

I hung up the phone and gave the others a glance. "I'll explain later but... The Grinch's heart grew a half-size".

Of course they're giving me weird looks, though Nate is staring hard, since I think he heard the video, and I shift out before he can ask questions.

-----

Rick

Jenn and Mom found me and people were overjoyed to see them. At first I thought Bas and I would be ignored but people... they began to tell them, talking over each other.

Pointed to us.

I...

I was watching but then looked down and scooped Bas up into my arms and without a word, too him to one of the barrack rooms he had made, lowering my head to rest near his. I ignored Jenn saying my name, went inside and...

I pulled things from my place to here, the place he and I...

Familiar things... blankets, sheets...

And set them up for him to be put in.

Jenn was alive, mom was here, I didn't need to pretend anymore...

I kept focus on Bas; someone brought in a thing of water for us - I don't know who - but I used it, giving him sips of water to drink, then got clothes to clean him up a little. It took a bit but he finally fell asleep but only after I crawled into bed next to him and held him...

"Rick," I hear from mom and I look back. She looks tired, her eyes are red...

"There's a... delivery... for you."

I frown. "What?"

Her jaw works and. "John." Then she leaves.

I...

I look at Bas then kiss him lightly. "Keep sleeping, love... 'll be right back." then I roll off the bed and go see what she means.

From:

baileysummers

There's twelve of them heavy transport dirt road 18 wheeler colony haulers and all the company logos are spraybombed off and they're full of supplies, dig kits, mre's, fatigues, warm spacer choice military surplus and weapons, cheap but good sturdy AK's and other things like shotguns and definitely ripped off a gun shop, hunting supply and one from a whole bulk discount mattress place. A Pharmacy chain truck full of formula, baby food, powdered and canned milk and just drug store stuff people'd need... He left nothing Kelly left you junk food bags on bags on bags like she broke into a 7-11 in the Japanese district. They must have ripped people off and ran the job all night long... you can feel... it wasn't 4 them... you earned his loyalty a little this is what he does for those people.

From:

hawkeanddove

Rick

I... When mom came and said there was a delivery from John I had no clue what she meant.

And this...

I...

This was...

"He likes you."

I... I blink and look at mom.

"John, I mean. He likes you, and then some."

"Mom, I-"

"I'd almost ask you want you did but... I think even Nate would be very what the everloving fuck about this."

"He... he's-"

She held a hand up. "Just contact him and thank him; for yourself, and for all A'era. I'll see to this being distributed out." Then she looked towards the sky and I followed her gaze, though I didn't see anything.

"It's a day of miracles," she said.

"Jenn-"

She looked at me. "Will be fine, so will others... whoever could be reached." She put a hand on my shoulder then. "I'll explain it later. Right now we need to focus on getting people moved into the shelters you and... your friend made."

"Fiance."

That stopped her short to stare at me. "Fia... Rick-"

"Mom... we'll explain it later."

"But he's-"

"Yes, and no. Explain later. I'm going to check on him then will be back." I hesitated then gave her a tight hug. "'m glad you're here... Jennybitch too."

"Rick-"

I ignore the sigh of my name, let her go and head back in to see Bas.

From:

baileysummers

(Keth/Jenn) There's a power surge and a waygate is riding in the great forest being repaired by an elemental and it flares to life and snow flows through and this 4 ft tall humanoid comes through with a staff a crystal and pulling a floating sled in a blue parka and fur cuffs and a totem mask with a stag horned possum? They're stopped and staring at everything it holds up a hand and does a hesitant wave.

***Knot... The gates open portals if you give them magic, and the earth spirit did as called and I released it and felt the change in the ring's power. I was expecting a new place but thousands of talls of all kinds and they've been attacked... dragons and things flying...Okay Knotwood Firewick as before in meeting new folks... help out.

I start waving.

From:

hawkeanddove

Keth

I sigh when Rick leaves because... Jesus.

"He's gonna drive me to drink."

"Mom, everything drives you to drink," Jenn comments and I give her a look while she just shrugs.

Then there's another surge of power, power I don't know and I instantly phoenix out and get between Jenn and it...

Then stare as the... whowhatnow?

I cock my head from side to side. Jenn peers out past me and waves.

"Chill, mom; evil people don't wave."

I huff, though I don't sense evil from whoever this is.

Jenn... ever herself, steps forward. "Hello? Who are you? I'm Jenn Summers..."

From:

baileysummers

***Knot... One of them changed into.
"Da Kai?"
Then the other one is talking and I feel magic from the ring translating.
"Uhm... hello? I am Knotwood Firewick Goblyn Tinker... I came exploring in the beyond...Do you need help? I'm a healer and have many good supplies with me Jenn Summers."

"You're very friendly thank you."

I pull the parka back and the totem mask up slowly.

**He's light lavender like the bad guys from Voltron 2, white hair in braids for travelling and side pointing ears, big blue eyes and he looks fae more than the regular kind. He's not magically strong but has fae reserves and strong ones and numerous enchanted items.**

From:

hawkeanddove

Keth

I pull up a little and try to calm myself, though I can feel my crest feathers are still up from uncertainty.

"Yes. I'm Kai..."

Jenn

I put a hand on mom's wing. "Calm down..." then step forward.

"Knotwood Firewick... you come at a... bad time, we've had... we were attacked. As for needing healers, we perhaps have all we need but, supplies... we can talk, discuss barter for anything you might have."

I smile and step a little closer. "We're just recovering from the attack-"

Keth

"How is it you came here, to A'era? Beyond the obvious portal... why here, why not elsewhere?"

From:

baileysummers

**He starts getting out of the parka and pulls off a boot and a sock and there's a small Aeran hunt society dove on his ankle. "I have the mark see, I got from a wandering Kai cleric in the froglands, I walk with the Guardian."

***Knot... I put my boot back on and sock and hold out my ring. "Crusade ring and I are bonded."
I take off my glove and show the rune ring.
"I found him in the Slither."

"We were trying his mana and we summoned an earth spirit to mend the gate... I just opened the last spot."

From:

hawkeanddove

Keth

I frown and stare at the dove on his ankle, then the ring...

Jenn

"Oh... then be welcome to A'era, Knotwood." I step closer then extend my hand to him. "C'mon... let's find a place for you to," I look over what he came with. "See to your animals' comfort. Or would a colder climate help?"

Then I... I look at mom. "Is... is the north-"

"The north is safe... or as safe as anywhere is right now." I look towards where the ships are settling and I can sense other things going on too...

"I don't understand what's going on but... there is help, and powerful help here..."

From:

baileysummers

***Knot... I look at the ring... "You want me to take him north? He's a ring?"
"I can go back...I just helping is good to make friends and I have talls as friends and druids back home... uhm..."
He opens his framed traders pack with the drawers and they're all d-containers and he pulls a notebook made of homepressed paper and reads notes.
"I am from Damara."
"Most of my kind don't keep lore."

"Uhm I'm a Tinker so that like a fae cobbler that does magic like trained. I can use tools, climb and can fit in small places that need smaller folk doing the work... I can work to learn things here please."

From:

hawkeanddove

Jenn

I blush a little. "Sorry, I thought... nevermind. Chalk it up to post death resurrection sickness..."

"No, no need to go back, it's..."

Keth

That... I tilt my head at that. "Damara... a Crown world... but that's all I remember 'bout it."

Jenn

I rub my forehead a little. "Sorry Knot, things are just..." I give him another smile. "We'd appreciate any help you can give and yes, absolutely in return we can teach as well."

I closed my eyes for a moment and mom's there - downshifted from her Phoenix form - and steadying me. "Easy..."

"Sorry, just a little dizzy."

Mom looks at me for a moment then to Knot. "Would you like to come with us? I need to get Jenn settled and... then we can talk more once she's sitting and having something to eat. Or rather, you and her can talk; I've duties to see to, people to see..."

From:

baileysummers

**He stops stares at Jenn goes over takes her hand... being dead is very turnaboutey I don't blame you for the confusion been there felt like I got my life out of a chainmail polisher the spinny one with the sands... you need to rest."

I look at Kai?

"Firewick is my home and family, we live on Damara though way, way far back from most others for we're unlike the dark cousins. I would like to sit with JennSummers and eat highsun meal with her, I have our foods and some foods from the tall folks."

"You are Kai, Guardian is very busy."

From:

hawkeanddove

Jenn

I smile at that. "Yes, it is... very turnabouty... and that is, sadly, the least of what's happened today."

I look at mom too. "Go ahead... I'll be okay."

Keth

I hesitate before sighing. "All right. If you're sure..." I look at Knot then. "Yes... but this is more than a Guardian thing..." I do smile slightly, finally. "Jenn can tell you. Just make sure she eats well."

"Mom-"

"Shush. Save your "awww parent" until your father sees you." I kiss Jenn's forehead. "Thank you, Knotwood..."

I step back then. "And see to your brother too, Jenn." I frown. "When you're recovered enough. I wanna know more about this... "fiance" of his."

I shift then and fly off to just... yeah, ships and whatever the hell is going on at where the Holy Lands were first.

Jenn

I watch mom go then look at Knot. "So... shall we find a place or just picnic right here?"

From:

baileysummers

***Knot...."She is right to worry you don't stop as a parent no matter how many goblings you have or how weird or difficult they are a good parent worries. I have 36 children and many grand children."

I look around. "Yes, we can eat here."

**He sticks a hand crank in the floating sled and hand cranks the height up for you and unloads bags and sacks and he really came with exploring and camping gear and he makes in float and bench height and he builds a quick picnic area stacking and uses stumps and then he takes out blankets and a tin tea set and rations including a lot of bread sticks like large tater tots and some with cornbread and, pastries that are stuffed like dwarven pies... "These are from Druids village, herbs and game meats, greens and shrooms not goblyn made but humans... he has a tin of scones and jam and he opens a can of cream but like dwarves made the tins and they're really old school looking stuff but he magically turns the canned milk to this clotted cream and he has nice little lovely wooden bowls and plates and he makes tea and treats you like a fae in his own woods...you can feel he's taking this seriously like first contact.**

From:

hawkeanddove

Jenn

"And considering she almost lost me... and it's still recent she's lost Jace... my older brother..."

Right now the losses are hitting mom hard and she's never been good with death anyway.

I watch as he cranks his sled up for height and... he's such an interesting little man. When he takes out the blanket I settle it and actually sit down myself, helping spread out the things as he takes them out. As serious as he's taking this, and as much as I want to be out visible to my people, I also know that right now, I can't. I just do not have the staying power, so... for now, this is all about what I can do.

"Tell me about your home then, Knot," and I give him a smile. "It must be a lovely place considering all this you have with you."

From:

baileysummers

***Knot... I nod and sit and pour tea and my tea is careful young leaves and berry leaves some ground, some picked as accents to flavour, tea is a manners thing and you get judged on good tea by a lot of smart races and I don't know the fancy stuff so my tea is honest, rea tea but berrie, flowers, spruce tips and other things and I try and made it takes like the edge of a field meets the woods.

**The cream is actually not bad with the jam and scones and dwarves def made the cones, the bites are breadsticks and corn bread sticks with cooked sausage and cheese like camping bites and are quite decent dried out and as field snacks the spice mix is new to you but very foraged herb based.**

"Home is Dragonwood we call it that because there are dragons but the most common trees are scale backed pine trees and it's a huge forest that borders an bunch of countries and places like the broken lands after the squiggle where dark cousins and worse live."

"My house is on Moss slope and it used to be a spot no one wanted to live as it's close to the falls and it makes caves damp but I learned woodcraft and have doors and stoves. I moved there because Cobblers are noisy and we tan leather and smithy things. I have a sloped walk up to my house and that's a cave and a landing up pretty high and I've many nice rooms since I like fixing things."

"I have my tanning buildings and work sheds and ice house down by the river and waterfalls at the base of my cliffs under my house like a bottom story."

From:

hawkeanddove

Jenn

The tea is... interesting, and I take slow sips of it. The blend is not something I'd normally have so liking it is... not instant.

But in the 'politeness of tea', I do take the time to appreciate it. And I listen to where he's from as I sip, and eat the scones which I do know and... oh yeah, dwarven made and the cream... this, after everything this is helping, mom was right... and even the breadsticks and corn bread with sausage and cheese isn't bad either.

"It sounds like a nice place actually, and smart to move where the water can cover up the noise, and even smell."

I do pause though, look down and... take a big drink of the tea. I get a bigger hint of the spruce off it then but it helps fight the emotion that lodges in my throat when what he describes...

I'm... I close my eyes and breathe through the grief.

"I am... there are places where my parents have been that sounds like that, but then Titan has a lot of mountains so waterfalls would be common."

From:

baileysummers

***Knot... "Guardian and Tyger came for our ancestors who served evil called Seth, we ere dark cousin like then but one ancestor asked for mercy and wanted us out and away and Kai blessed him and her guardian magic took whatever the difference is between Goblins and fae Goblyns. We changed and the first changes we being less violent and mean, then we hid in different places as we made the other mad but got along better with the true fae."

"When clean magic and our first shaman got power we moved he guiding us to a steep lush valley hidden behind a big glacier, we made a maze and defense from the flood water tunnels and cut ourselves off rom the dark cousins only going out to hunt and forage and gather."

"My waterfall is melt run off that just doesn't stop as there's a bunch of feeders, it was misty and cold now after I have been there long enough it's getting nicer, and my young are grown enough to take care of things while I walk the world more, I was not expecting this adventure but I always lean towards seeing."

"Titan? I am not familiar save for a giant kind and an earth summons but this is a place yes?"

From:

hawkeanddove

Jenn

I look back up at him and focus on his words, his story and pull it in, until I can see it in my mind and I smile.

"That sounds... honestly, mom sounds like she was nicer in those days," and I laugh a little.

"But it was good for your people and she's always been like that, even if she's different than back then."

I finish off the tea and hold the cup out for more.

"How long do your people live, Knot? Does your entire family live in your little bit of the world, or have they spread out beyond it?"

"Titan... yes, it's a place; a planet like A'era, in the Crown. It was brought here, though, by K'ai and Tyger back during the war, where she also gave mercy to your people. It is a dwarven homeland, with humans and other races there but dwarf and human predominantly. The south have demon-kin, and Giants also are a thing there."

From:

baileysummers

**His home shows actually too you as your powers? kick in and it's this steep sheered off mountain culde sac behind a huge glacier and it's a little old growth evergreen rainforest lush like deep parts of the great forest here and his home is so close to the water he has a waterwheel that's working and a nice river bank with docks and ducks and geese and canoes and fishing thing and that leads to a cliff anf he has work buildings at ground level dug in, a ramp road up to his cave that he built a little sheltered deck on before going in.

He dug molded holes of soil and seed and squash, peas, beans, cukes and climbing edibles cover the cliff and building and he has stacked stone raised beds and pens and he has tribal fae goblyn art and carvings everywhere like his mask and flowers and bees and happy people around and dogs, working dogs and working hogs, draft pigs, Goats allowed to just roam and glean.

He meets your eyes... "Yes, if you came only we and you or those you'd bring would know you're there... House Summers has Sanctuary with House Firewick."

He's taking out note things, and more treats as he finds them. He really is a pack mule but he has things from the beings he's met.

He does a charcoal rubbing on parchment and cleanses off everything but the art in his mind and her sketched the scene out where people are with such care like taking it seriously but scholar sacred but self taught.

He does one of you sipping tea and he thinks you're wise and kind and he does a preservation fae charm and it fixes forever... his food... the magic when he saves it it's fae saved.

He walks around picking up glass from the attack and cleanse and stone shapes the glass to a frame and smiles giving it to you.

"I love meeting people you can feel make life better for those around them."

He does a hand gesture lightwrites the guardian symbol like a faith and gives a light spell of power to it like hunt ritual.

From:

hawkeanddove

Jenn

When I get images of his home I can't help but smile. I have always loved wild places whether they're mountains, deep forests, rainforests, plains... all of it. I can shape shift, but only if I focus hard - not like Scar who does it easily - and I think my love for it is a leftover of that, or a chunk of it anyway.

Seeing the people, animals, and how happy and content they all seem makes it worth it even more, and when he says that about us having Sanctuary...

I put my hand over my heart and give him that solemn, A'eran Eternal nod. "And House Firewick shall always have Sanctuary with House Summers... and Cavanugh," I say with a smile. "That's mom's maiden name."

I watch as he makes notes, does a rubbing and... the way he takes things in... "Are you a Scholar as well as a Cobbler? You remind me of people..."

I take another sip of tea then reach for the frame after he makes it and hands it out to me.

"Thank you..." his faith, if that's what it can be called is...

"I am more than honored that you have come, Knot. Truly... you have... eased, at least a little, what is otherwise a horrifically, tragic day..."

From:

baileysummers

***Knot..."Learner mostly really hope to get to being skillful enough to be scholars, I... my people unless you a shaman most of your life is living, surviving and mating, special jobs or skills get passed or apprenticed but I wanted to invent, do things but we had no records but I sort of knew tall folks did, so that's how I started, cobbler is craft magic and Tinker is a crafter that makes it his job or more. reused?"

I dig through get a good Spriggan hammer head and a good burn battle burned piece of hardwood and a bowl and a knife and carve a handle and molding it for her hand and her... "You have builders and charity in your blood and you feel this tug and that summers contractor feels gets stirred and aera accepts, builds, helps and he uses the fire hardened wood and the attack to boost the rebuild, he fits the head on and finishes this fae feeling seal and your feelings and aera are enchanted in the carpenters hammer.

"I do things like this."

I bless the wood fae wise with the planet and it boosts the shavings I saved for fires.

I set both beside her.

"Shit times are the fertilizer of great things, anyone or thing that can learn my craft I'll teach in trade, everything scared, rubble is filled with Aera and this event it's powerful and the planet knows it."

"Also your big forest here might have been gate connected to Dragon scale where I repaired I see a lot of the same ground plants."

From:

hawkeanddove

Jenn

I'm taken in by what he describes of himself. That his people don't do things but he wants to...

If the school hadn't gone up...

I do give him a smile and a little nod. "A smart way to start; cobbler and tinker mean you need to speak with people, and you can learn a lot just making," and I grin, "'small talk'."

What I wasn't expecting was the feeling off the handle. Even with not knowing much, he knew enough for the sense of things to flow into the wood and I am... "My grandfather would love this."

And then the blessing of the shavings... "And mom would love that; want to learn it."

I take a drink from the tea and I can't help but smile at that. "That is... an amazing way to put it and I think perhaps I'll use that as a focus to get through this. A'era has had a lot of 'shit times' lately... but we've pulled through thus far, and will again..."

Hearing about the gate though I think. "Perhaps we do... this was K'ai's home, back then and she built gates all through the crown."

From:

baileysummers

***Knot..."Yes, exactly, I make and build useful things and fix things and they come especially when they hear my prices."

"I charge people to pay it forward."

"I take good deeds for others as my coins, big or small acts... because of the butterfly story."

**The hammer it's really a tool Meant to help and uses that to power the charm of it and it adds to the skill? or the construction intent? You can feel it, the urge to go fit and build and it feels like it would reach into the aspects of the whole job if you used this as a work focus.**

"I will teach your mother, you any... and... if you have flags for this...give then to knight apprentices on spears and they can walk and plant seeds, new trees and collect things for recycling and always have your people's symbol yes...Aera like the knights you trains just got flattened...knights get back up after they are knocked of their horses...."

"These evil ones... now they will get to see Aera get back up."

From:

hawkeanddove

Jenn

I look the hammer over and I can feel the itch in my fingers to go to work, to build things. Might have even responded to it but... just coming back, I'm 'not there yet'.

Instead I look at Knot and set it aside for now, but still keep it beside me.

"That is... maybe I use that phrasing? It will go over very well with people once over the shock of this, of what happened and when they need the boost to get back up."

I do smile. "And even though they threatened to destroy A'era, well... what they think and what will be reality are two different things. A'era won't be destroyed as easily as Coventry was," and I look up towards the sky where the planet would be...

"No... we're Eternals, we're A'erans... we bow to no one. Ever."