Topic: Parker's Projects

LadyAjaBird

Date: 2012-06-30 08:00 EST
Her injuries mostly healed now, Aja was back to running about Arcadia in her normal fashion. She was coming from Harriet's consignment shop when she spotted Parker leaving his office and heading towards the bridge in his own cart.

Watching Parker try to drive always amused Aja. He had the basic elements down, but he still drove like a drunken sailor. People in the street quickly got to the elevated sidewalks when they saw him coming.

She followed him in her own cart, waving to those that had gotten out of Parker's way with a grin. Once he came to a halt, narrowly missing a tree in the process. She pulled up behind him and got out, trailing him near the water's edge.

She stood back and leaned against a tree watching Parker checking out an old dock. First he walked along the dock looking it over, then he sprinkled it with some dust like substance, which seem to glow for a moment before drifting harmlessly onto the old wood. He muttered some things while he paced back and forth on the land before the dock, the air cackled a little with an electricity of sorts and that seemed to please him as she saw him smile.

Finally her curiousity of what exactly he was doing got her to move closer.

"Parker?"

"Aja!" he said with a smile. "Just the person I need." he reached out taking her hand and stepped closer to the dock. "Can we restore this dock?"

"Well, of course." she knitted her brows together a little. Parker had never really been interested in smaller vessels. But maybe he had recently decided he wanted one.

"And make a path to the main road?" He asked and Aja looked towards the main road from the dock. There was a partially hidden path already there from days when this old dock had been used more often.

"Yeah. It'd be an afternoon project." She said estimating the time in her head that it would take to make it usable again, even pretty. She then looked at Parker who was grinning.

"Wonderful."

"You wanna tell me what yer up ta?" Aja asked while watching him putter around.

"No." he said rather quickly and went back to the dock looking it over. Aja blinked at the answer and just shook her head.

"Alright." she said. "When ya want dis here thing done by?" "Soon. Maybe even before this weekend?" He gave her a hopeful smile and she nodded.

"I'll get some guys on it." she said and tugged her phone out, dialing the Yards. "Ricks" Send a crew of five out ta da old dock near da bridge. Parker wants it restored and stuff....." she listened and then shrugged. "I don't know, jist he wants it done. So..." she listened again and nodded. "Yeah. I think it's just a basic rebuild. Shouldn't take any longer than a couple hours." Aja gave Parker a thumbs up and then grabbed a hoe from the back of her cart. "He wants the path redone too. I'll mark out the width. Ok. See ya all in a bit." Aja hung up and looked at Parker. "The boys are coming out now. You tell "em what ya want. They'll do it."

"Thank you." He watched her marking the width of the path with the garden hoe and smiled. She would give him anything he asked for, and even without asking a lot of questions. For her, he knew that was a huge sign of trust. "Now you go. You have much to do."

"How do you know what I have to do?"

"You always have much to do." Parker said with a smile. "And I don't need you underfoot while the boys do the work."

"You are trying to get rid of me."

"I am." Parker did not look apologetic about what he said. Aja sighed then and shrugged.

"Alright. Have it your way." she said heading back to her own cart. "Oh and Parker?" she turned to look at him. "Try not to run people over. Ok?" she motioned to his cart. He just waved her off and she went back to her cart with a grin.

Whatever the old man was up to, she would let him have his way on it.

LadyAjaBird

Date: 2012-07-01 23:05 EST
She continued her usual rounds which led her past Parker's dock rebuild twice. Each time she went past, they were further along than the last time. To her, it looked like Parker had wanted to maintain the area as it had been, he just wanted the rotting wood on the dock replaced and for the path leading up to it to be more clear and a little prettier. The only additions she could see where two large stones on either side of the dock.

She arrived at the office and was immediately swept up in a couple of meetings for a new ship and a couple new shipping routes.

Her duties for the town once again took precedence and she had to go out again to meet up with Mrs. Johnson who was on a bender about a family down the street that had children who liked to skateboard on the street past her home. Once that had been handled, Aja drove on back to the office once again going past the old dock. This time she stopped.

She saw her brother standing by the dock which now held a ring like object coming out of the stones. He and Parker were admiring the object with broad, proud smiles and laughing together.

Aja parked the cart across the street and got out. Her men, who were doing final touches on the path, got out of her way seeing the odd look on her face. They didn't think she was mad, but just in case, it was always best to stay out of her way.

"You addle minded Machiavellian old man." She was saying as she walked up to them both. Parker turned and looked at her in usual calm manner. She pointed to Ajay then. "And yer a co-conspirator on this." she then pointed to the dock. "Don't think I haven't figured out what y"all jist did."

"We weren't hiding it from you, Sis." Ajay gave her a warm disarming smile.

"Of course not." Aja said and crossed her arms. "Ya jist decided ta install a portal without telling me about it."

"We have discussed it." Parker interjected.

"I didn't think we had come ta an agreement." she looked back at Parker. "Ya said ya needed time to find the right spot and then combine it with the wards."

"Since you insisted I hire those three mages for my office, I have had more time." Parker said with a smile, making Aja sigh.

"Oh fine." she just sighed then and hugged Ajay. "Nice ta see ya."

"With this portal, I shall be able to visit more often." he gave her a warm smile once he pulled back.

"That's what I'm afraid of." She gave Ajay a grin. "Come then. Ya haven't had a good look around Arcadia in a while." she tugged Ajay's arm lightly. "I'll show ya around."

"I was going to tour the town with Parker."

"A walking tour?" Aja asked glancing over her shoulder at Parker with a grin. "Cause Parker doesn't drive so well."

"That's what he says about you." Ajay smiled walking along with her.

"Oh pish. At least I don't run people over." Aja got into the cart and waited until Ajay was settled. "So this portal thing..." she said lightly. "How often ya thinkin about jist poppin by?"

"Oh. I thought I'd take a page from your book and be spontaneous."

"Now, ya choose to develop that habit." Aja said wryly. "I'll assume mah kid made da trip home with ya?"

"Yes. Mara accompanied me back with her friend, Chrissy."

"Good." Aja smiled. "I missed her.? she was saying as she drove them off down the street. Parker stayed behind watching the pair with a smile.

For him, It was nice to see the siblings together. They had missed so much time growing up, the very least he could do was make it easier for them to visit more often.

He turned back and looked over the newly remodeled dock and the portal. This area was perfection for it. So simply in its beauty, the magics in harmony here.

It was then he understood why Aja spent so much time building new things. When finished, there was a tremendous sense of accomplishment to it. Creation rather than destruction. The rewards benefiting many rather than a few.

With this portal, citizens of Arcadia and Ballentine could come and go as they wished, visiting their sister city and get to know new people.

Ajay was a wise king. He believed that not only would the portal be good for social relations but also economic ones. As those in Ballentine could acquire goods and services not yet available in his own kingdom, and those in Arcadia could benefit from the more old world charm that Ballentine was known for. He had even suggested that businesses could franchise to the other town if they so wished.

Parker would leave those decisions to Aja and her brother. As the rulers of each community, it seemed to be a wiser choice. He was content to advise Aja on all matters if she so desired his input, but he always content with whatever choices she had made.

Parker got back in his cart and drove back to his office. He had a long day. But a good one.