09 - Alison Brownstone

<< Hail to the King

The Unbelievable Mr Brownstone

One Bad Decision >>

Alison is back to share summer with James. The problem is that James' lawyer says that they are going to fight his effort to adopt her. James has to pull in his natural proclivity to punch something until it gives in with the government. Unfortunately for the government, James' friends have his back. The Drow Queen makes an unexpected appearance, fighting James in the courtroom. If James is able to adopt Alison, will he leave everyone else alone? For Alison, she thought this was going to be an easy summer, but she had no idea what James wanted her to learn. Once she does, will she still want James as her father?

TUMB 09/1 WOMEN Brownstone goes to Black Sun, reviewing recent fight. Hadn’t used amulet and won, but was aching. Shay calling Brownstone and Tyler “frenemies”, because they worked together, and didn’t really like or respect each other. Brownstone, in retrospect, needs to learn more about his amulet, what he and it can REALLY do together. Listens to Tyler rant about making money, how successful it was, and doesn’t understand why the women are so set against it. They believe that the women are the crazy ones. Brownstone, Tyler, Ramirez and the cops all agreed that they didn't understand women.

Alison was carelessly scanning her surroundings. The witch trailed her out of the Starbucks, onto the sidewalk. Suddenly a girl, a friend of Alison’s called to her, distracting her further. The witch planted a beetle tracker in her suitcase, and went away, sure she would be agree that they just don’t understand women.

TUMB 09/2 SHAY The witch watches Alison descend from the train, in Los Angeles, completely unaware of her presence, able to track Alison wherever she went. In the Black Sun, Brownstone continues the bitching, adding notes about owning a teen-age daughter, as well, so they all started bitching about their no-nothing arrogant kids. Especially K2, another bounty hunter. Tyler summed it up. “We’re all fucking clueless about women. It’s almost magic-level fucked up.” James felt good about all of the talk, because it proved that he wasn’t the only one clueless, and that he wasn’t any more of a dumb-ass than any other male in America! Brownstone pays for the round of drinks, and goes off to meet a target.

TUMB 09/3 THE DROW In the parking lot of an Arby’s restaurant, James sees Alison get out of a cab, and worries that she might be upset with hm, as she’s been lately. She runs to hug him, and he’s relieved. She tells him that her energy sight has improved, and that more magic has made things easier for her at school. They check that both are wearing their amulets, as promised. They’ll do pizza in an hour, with Shay. Yev, a Light Elf, the Oriceran Earth Consul, was upset that the Drow Queen’s personal advisor was on Earth. A portal opens, and a Light elf from the King of Oriceran steps out for an official visit, complimenting Yev on how he has handled things so far, commenting on Brownstone’s adoption of Alison. Yev thinks the adoption is a good thing, the blending of Earth and Oriceran. The Light Elf tells him otherwise. She’s half-Drow, and not just any half-Drow, after all, but the current Princess of the Shadow Forged. The Drow have made it clear they will not tolerate her becoming part of Brownstone’s family, and given her royal status, it’s difficult for us to simply ignore them or deny them some input in this matter. If this adoption goes through I suspect there will be war, so we have to push back against this. We need to make sure Alison stays independent of James Brownstone. This adoption cannot proceed.” “If we establish a firm line of separation between Oriceran and Earth and suggest we won’t support adoption of Oricerans, half-blooded or otherwise, we’re setting a dangerous precedent. This could undo years of diplomatic work, and help persuade the humans that what Oriceran intends isn’t harmony but invasion.” “Then what do you suggest?” We’ll use their system against him. We shall use their courts to make it clear that it’s okay for a human to adopt an Oriceran, but not okay for James Brownstone to adopt that particular Oriceran.”

TUMB 09/4 Shay comes in, fit to fight a bear. She had planted a bug in Alison’s suitcase, to prove to her and Brownstone that the Drow were still there, and could still do things they were unaware of. They get the point, and she settles down to eat her pizza. Yev is on the phone to a California Senator. “ As I’ve explained, this adoption can’t proceed, not with that man and that girl. The level of political fallout for both worlds is just too high. It could unravel everything we’ve both worked for these last few years. We’ll need a little more direct assistance in defusing this matter. If Oricerans openly oppose the adoption, we risk empowering anti-Oriceran groups. We can’t be seen a direct hand in this. We’d ask that your government play the role of the reluctant party. That you find some sort of reason based on Earth laws and customs to oppose the adoption, preferably something specific to Brownstone.” The Senator promised to help if he could.

TUMB 09/5 ALISON’S TRAINING – THE BEGINNING Brownstone approaches the training area at the agency, telling Alison she has to get in better shape. The other staff see her approaching, wonder who she is (HOT !) and find out she’s his adopted daughter. The staff cajole her into doing what she should, and they all go on a run, half in front of her, half in back, protecting her like the Princess she is. Brownstone and Shay watch as they do, approving. Alison starts the obstacle course, and completed it, using magic to help her on the final test. James saw it, and demanded that she do it over, using NO magic, so that if she had to do it unnoticed, she’d be able to. She started again.

TUMB 09/6 Alison was in the gun range, magic dust sprinkled on the target so that she’d know where to fire (not cheating, because she’d be able to “see: their soul, anyway. An equalizer, not depending on strength and mass. Have to practice shooting at a target, so if it’s necessary, you’ll be able to do it. Trey walks in with her enchanted armor, and Shay is grateful, knowing James only wants her to be strong and independent. Brownstone talks to Royce, who asks what James wants done with her. “I want you to train her like anyone else. Like any of the other men. She’s like most kids. I love her, but she’s also like a 401k plan. I invest in her, and I’ll see benefits down the line. If she’s able to protect herself better, it’ll lower my anxiety and help me focus. So, yeah, I want you to basically turn her into a little Marine with magic.

Alison and Brownstone go to Tyler’s bar, and as Brownstone is in the office, talking to the adoption lawyer, a group of young toughs (strangers to the neighborhood) come in, and try to take up with Alison. She burns one of their privates with magic (Brock, the gang leader), and the gang is told to leave, as the bar is neutral ground. They leave, and Brownstone comes out and tells her the State of California is fighting the adoption on the grounds that he cannot provide a safe home environment for her, with her unique background.

Maria comes into the Bar, apologizes for being angry with him. Tyler tells him about Brownstone’s problem (adoption), and she says she’ll ask around about it.

TUMB 09/7 BBQ PLANS Brownstone at home, angry at the call, so calls Shay and tells her Stat is blocking adoption because of Alison’s heritage. Will have to go to court about it. Shay tells him to reassure her, so he does. Alison tells him she has a back=up plan, in case they need it. The Wish. James says they’ll use that only as a last resort, as they don’t know the side-effects. She agrees. Mack comes in, for a meeting to talk about the Team’s BBQ pit, small enough to fit on a truck. One large-but-not-giant pit, then, but with at least with partial vent-based control. KISS. That’s a good start.” James cannot get Shay and Alison interested in BBQ. Who wants to smell like smoke? They’ll just order what they want, or get him to cook it. Shay takes Alison to the Mall, to play a “situational awareness” game, part of her training she will be giving her. . “You failed my little test with the bug, but I have a few other little tags I want to play around with. Not true tracking devices, just a training thing. This time they won’t be magical, so it’s not just a matter of you using your sight to find their auras.” She smirked. “Not that it helped last time.” Alison frowned. “That doesn’t seem very fair Good. Assholes are rarely fair, and I’m training you to deal with assholes.” Shay gave Alison a credit card, and says she can purchase ten things that she wants, Shay will tag it, somehow. If Alison cannot find the tag, the item will be returned and she will go on to the next purchase

TUMB 09/8 THE TAG GAME Alison purchases a sweater, more for its texture than its look. She scans, cannot find Shay around, starts to a show store., bumps into a man by mistake, apologizes, and goes in to purchase shoes. She can’t because there’s a tag on the sweater. Alison doesn’t know how it got there. 0 for 1. Later, she was 0 for 4, and still hadn’t seen Shay, or even known she was around, but the items were tagged. She was now trying to buy a braille reader, one easier to use than the one she had. Alison entered, the next store, confident she’d not been tagged, when Shay directed her (phone call), to check her shoe. She’d been tagged. 0 for 5. On the last purchase, when she was 1 for 9, she tried to find Shay when she was bumped, and saw her a short distance away. Alison felt confident she would find the tag this time, so went into an aromatherapy shop to get a candle she wanted. Alison made it to the exit, using new strategy, and she won that one. 2 for 10, Not great, but a good start, in Shay’s opinion

Mack and Brownstone have agreed on the BBQ pit. “It’s going to be damn sweet. Pull-behind, eight wheels on the back with two by two on each side. A hitch for hauling, built-in adjustment for leveling. This thing’s going to be the nicest damned pit you can have without actually needing a big rig.” Brownstone will write it off as a business expense. Heather had called about renting Mack’s apartment, all OK, will be moving in in about a month. Brownstone went off for some BBQ.

TUMB 09/9 ALISON’S TRAINING, CONTINUED Brownstone is placing Alison in a tactical weapons drill, with the entire area sprinkled with the magical powder, so that she can see the layouts. Sure, cannot see in real life situations, but better to have trained a bit, and know what’s happening, than not at all. She’s in a shock suit, so will feel real pain if she gets “shot”. If she does, go down. It will lessen the pain. Due to her ability to see their energy, the glow of the souls of every man in the room obvious to her. In the confines of the tactical room maze, it was easy to spot even the men who were hiding.

Where everyone is by there energy, her team won all three matches easily. Trey figured out that she was blind, so they told him about her special talent. He’ll let the others figure it out on their own. Shay is going to train her in knives and grenades in the real world style, in Warehouse One. James receives a call from a woman who is threatening to go public with videos of him doing kinky things. Too much of a coincidence, coming so soon after the adoption notice, so he sets Heather to find her.

TUMB 09/10 THE MUD KING MATCH CHANGES Brownstone, Trey and Royce talk about changing the rules for the Mud King match, allowing Shay and Alison to be the Brownstone Team, and adding electric shock vests to make everyone more aware of their surroundings. Encourages stealth and surprise attacks, as shocks if someone touched. Good idea, order placed. Shay and Alison train in warehouse, Shay using shock balls to train tell Alison when hit. Hurts. “That’s the point. I don’t have those fancy suits like James. Need something to motivate you. Plus, you need to look at me more. You might be blind, but you can see enough of a person’s energy to at least anticipate their actions. Avoiding attacks is similar to avoiding a tail. You need to be unpredictable, and you need to anticipate what the other person will do.” Alison asks why, when she really can’t see, and can trip over a box even though she might see energy. Shay will look into magical glasses for her. Might take a while, but maybe –

TUMB 09/11 BROWNSTONE AND HIS LAWYER’S ADVICE Alison, Shay and Brownstone eating dinner, BBQ that Brownstone had cooked. Alison is smiling, because it’s real FAMILY. She feels like she’s truly HOME now. They talked about being with friends, and what good friends are good for, Shay saying, “ A good friend will help you move, but a real friend will help you move a body.” Alison has learned a lot about the Drow, and doesn’t know if she wants to be like them. She grew up in a country that had a new President every few years. The Drow have been ruled by Leana for centuries. They talk about her talent, and Shay advises, “ Never give up unnecessary information, even to your friends.” James addresses them on joining into Team Brownstone, for the Mud Pit match. They agree. Sounds like fun. James receives a call from his lawyer, that “The Brownstone-as-Thug meme will be the main thrust of the government’s case against you. The court of public opinion can be a nasty thing. We’re not talking about criminal culpability here, though. We’re talking about a family court judge deciding whether you’ll be a good guardian for an orphaned girl. The lawyer swallowed, the sound audible even over the phone. “I called to warn you that this is just the beginning. They are going to do a full court press, James. I don’t even think this is about poisoning public opinion. The judge is fair, and he’ll take into account every character statement and other evidence we submit. I think they are trying to get you to react. A video of you punching a reporter would be enough to doom your adoption, especially given their general thug strategy.”James grunted. “Why does everyone assume I’ll get violent?” “Calm down, James. It’s important that you remain very calm over the next few weeks. Also, you need to not react even when you’re not the target. The main media sources generally leave Alison out of this, but the tabloids are going to play up her half-Oriceran nature. I’ve already seen some of that sort of thing. It’s nasty, to be honest, and unfair to the girl. Racism or speciesism, whatever you want to call it. “Restraint, James. They want you to react. Ignore them. If you can keep yourself under control, it doesn’t matter what the press says, tabloid or not. I think that no one wants such a high-profile case lingering around making the government look bad. I don’t know who is involved in spreading the negative media stories about you and Alison, but there’s a lot of online push-back against the fact that the government’s even fighting this adoption. Multiple petitions coming in from your fans all over the world, along with both human and Oriceran groups advocating for assimilation and coexistence. A few have filed some amicus briefs on your behalf. At a minimum, it’ll keep the state’s lawyers on the straight and narrow. Any appearance of impropriety on their part will be blasted around the world via the net in an hour.” Maria Hall , LAPD, asks Tyler to look into whomever is trying to foul the adoption. Brownstone helps make the city safe, so if Tyler needs to be safe, he needs to help her protect Brownstone.

TUMB 09/12 A BOUNTY TAKE-DOWN Shay, Peyton and Brownstone decide to look CAREFULLY for who or what is messing up the adoption. Any clue they are looking would mess up the adoption. Shay and Alison decide that the Mud Queens will take the day in the match, and put an end to the Mud King challenge! James decides to take her along on a pick-up, with Trey and the teams. Will be good experience. He will be along as well, as protection for all. Trey knocks, gives his speech, and Cameron Booth surrenders, so as not to be hurt. Easiest pick-up in a long while. They go to the second one, and Alison wants to be in on the action on this one, so she goes to the door with Trey. Thief, stole a lot of money and got away. Trey, Shorty, Lachlan and Max, with Alison and Brownstone. When they open the door, a Light Elf is protecting the target, and will not give him up until he is paid what the target owes him. Alison takes over, reads the fear in his soul, and convinces him that money isn’t worth the wrath of the Drow to protect and embezzler, and that he can’t spend it if he’s dead. He runs, and the team takes the target, wondering that Alison, too, has a reputation.

TUMB 09/13 THE MUD KING MATCH Royce tells them about the girls being added to the brownstone team, and about the added equipment that will give the bounty hunters a chance to beat them. The boxes contain special electronic harnesses. They have panels on them. They’re conductive and pressure-sensitive, and they work even with a lot of mud on them. Touch all three within a second, and the man or woman wearing it gets a big shock, more than enough to take the average man down. Then it’s easier to push him or her past the line.” Brownstone? It will slow him down at least, so you can push him past the line. Shay’s comment: “Oh, Mama is going to have some fun now. Squealing pigs in mud, coming up.” Best two matches out of three. Alison and Shay both nodded their agreement, blood lust, or mud lust, at least, in their eyes. Alison and Shay took positions on either side of James close to the out-of-bounds line. First match, Brownstone Team one, one “casualty”. Staff team, 20 casualties, losing. Eight minutes. Second match, Brownstone family winner, no casualties, two minutes. Brownstone family won, but staffers working for the baddest-assed family in this whole country.”

TUMB 09/14 THE ADOPTION CASE Tyler tell Maria what he’s found out, from his sources. The whole staff was changed, to start working this case. The people who had been working her case were reassigned, and new people brought in at several levels, including the lawyers who might be involved, and the social workers who were monitoring her. It’s like someone went in and cleaned house right before they started this whole anti-Brownstone crusade. I found out the girl goes to a magic school out east, some government-sponsored one. It’s not exactly secret, but it’s not something they announce to the world, either. The fact she’s even there kind of suggests some high-level people have her back, and from what I could find out, Brownstone’s the one who pushed for her to go to the school. There’s a senator involved in this. I don’t know which one, but it’s pressure from that senator that got this anti-Brownstone ball rolling, and I’m talking from the federal senate, not the state.” Tyler frowned. “And there was none of that pressure until this shit started, so it’s not like they suddenly gave in. It’s like not all that long ago this senator decided to fuck with Brownstone for some reason. Someone’s pushing the senator. I’d stake my bar on it.” Tyler sat back and crossed his arms. “Just don’t know who, and that’s frustrating.” Shay takes Alison to a kickboxing ring, for training. Alison takes punches without magic, then creams the opponent with her powers. Healing potions handy, so no bruises or black eyes. THE HEARING Extensive media coverage, drones, all hoping Brownstone would explode.

TUMB 09/15 THE HEARING Shay had prepared the battlefield. Peyton had taken down the drones, as well as disabling cameras so they would not record. Shay went after the heckler, and Brownstone said not one word to them as they entered the building. Talking with their lawyer, Silverberg. Prosecution will try to prove unstable profession, bad home life. Will pit Maria Hall on stand, against him, but have rebutting police reports, orphanage reports, church reports to counter her. His lawyer warns him that he should not kick ass in court. They go into main courtroom. Many earthlings, as well as Oricerans – dwarves, Light elves, Wood elves, and Yev, the local Los Angeles Oriceran Counsel. Trial only to determine suitability of Brownstone as a parent to Alison. State’s lawyer starts with first ten exhibits, video. Harriken takedown, and King Pyro battle. Police evident at all events, didn’t stop them. All weapons licensed and accounted for.

TUMB 09/16 Same evidence, all ten events. Maria Hall called to stand. Spoke for him – his control, his understanding of the situations. Unfair to do so. Maria’s testimony good for James’ side! State calls Sgt Mack. Recognizes Trey and gang. Members of a street gang? No! They used to be members, but have been removed from the lists. No licensed bounty hunters, so James does not associate with known criminals. Trey Garfield called to stand. Testifies for James – showed him a hand up, not a hand-out. Made them all law-abiding citizens, with jobs, making the city safer.

TUMB 09/17 State called Charlyce. Yes, homeless, drugs, etc., and helped by James. State shows videos of Lars Hansen fight. Still in his favor, as Lars was given chance to surrender, go with AET.

TUMB 09/18 James’ statement about money called into question. Detective West, Las Vegas Police Dept., called in rebuttal. Brownstone has made Las Vegas a safer place, at some cost to him.

TIUMB 09/19 Queen Laena had asked to testify, as expert on the Drow. Granted. James goes to restroom, to enable his amulet to protect them, just in case. She entered the courtroom, and Alison was dismayed at the amount of hatred and anger in her. Had never seen anything like it, even in those who had killed her mother. Alison was nauseated by the swirls of negative energy wrapped around her soul. She was about to testify in a human court, although she did not recognize God.

TUMB 09/20 State wants to explore the possibilities available if Alison becomes ward of the Drow. Allowed. Queen asserts her strength as a warrior race, and that Alison should not be with the weak humans.

TUMB 09/21 Alison testifies. Judge comes back in a few minutes. State’s attempt to stop adoption denied. Adoption will proceed. Queen Leana angry, promises that Earth will pay with blood. Portal opens, and she returns to Oriceran, after she tried to kill Brownstone with her Death Touch. Alison fought her, dissipating her orbs, and all were safe.

TUMB 09/22 CELEBRATING IN THE BLACK SUN Shay had found a few artifacts that would possibly help keep Laena under control, as would the Light Elves, and everyone was happy, congratulating James and Alison. Hall gave Shay the name of the Senator who had started the whole thing. Senator Aaron, with the warning, “Don’t kill anyone, just make them afraid”. Shay thought she could handle that. And Tyler might be a Dad, who knows, even if they HAD taken precautions!

TUMB 09/23 THE PAYBACK Shay goes to Senator’s house, gives him a message. She also opens a portal, and goes through it with Alison. She will watch Alison while Brownstone takes care of the danger on Oriceran, with the Masamune 'tachi'. Dannec had provided all of the necessary items, at a discount, because he hated the Drow. Shay and Alison appeared in his apartment in L.A., as Brownstone was on Oriceran.

TUMB 09/24 The amulet encouraged him to kill the Drow guards, but he refused. He wasn’t here to take on a race, just one person. The Queen agrees to see him. He confronts her with the fact that all of the row wasn’t about Alison, but was about the wish. And she can’t have it ! If the Queen swears she will leave Alison alone, Brownstone will leave. If not, he’ll kill her. The queen tried to kill him in many ways – blades, fire, energy, magic – the amulet countered them all, getting stronger with each iteration. Eventually she morphed into a many-armed killing creature, and Brownstone took off its arms with the enchanted sword. The amulet showed him where her heart was, and he struck true, but did not kill her. Her guards came around her, and caged her in an energy cage, a withered old woman. They told Brownstone that times had changed, that she had not, and he had given them to opportunity to cage her, and go with the new times. They only hoped that Alison could visit sometimes. Brownstone said that of course she could, with him her side.

TUMB 09/25 THE CELEBRATION Brownstone and Mack try a BBQ celebration with all of their friends, and it turns out poorly- burned meat, poor quality. Not as easy to do as they thought. As Alison walked back home from the park, she was accosted by a dirt bag who would attack her if she didn’t give him her jewelry, etc. She used her magic on him, and he ran away, screaming. Shorty and Max had seen the incident, and now knew of her powers, but it didn’t disturb them. All she said was, “You don’t fuck with a Drow princess, especially not Alison Brownstone."