The important event that Clint was referring to was that one of the Avengers had been wounded and if Natasha had contacted him to know if he knew why I wasn’t at the hotel room anymore. This conversation apparently had happened when I was fighting the Warlocks that were trying to break into that abandoned shop. I immediately packed up my alchemy crafting supplies and what reagents I had left, and hoped that I had what I needed. Rex was staying here, as he wanted to go fishing again, as he hadn’t been doing enough in the last few days, and offered that he’d keep an eye on the storage unit and the surrounding areas. I followed Clint as we made our way to that same military air station, to which he flashed his credentials, and I showed mine.
We were allowed in and there was a quinjet waiting for us. Clint and I both stowed our bikes in the hangar and got into the back of the plane. I sat down and strapped into the seat while Clint went to the front of the plane to talk to the pilot. He came back out and sat across from me, made some kind of motion at his ear, and apparently started to nod off. I worked on thinking over whatever I could reflect on from my treatment of Agent Coulson, and I hoped that it wasn’t anything that would prevent me from helping this other Avenger.
**********
Sunday, June 24, 2018, 8:30 AM Avengers Compound, Straatsburg, NY
We arrived at the building that I would learn to be called “The Avengers Compound” pretty quickly after I finished my update. Apparently, this vehicle can travel just as fast as the one that I was on earlier on the way to Coulson. When we landed, Clint woke up and made a similar motion at his ear, like he did before. We both stood up as the quinjet landed, and both walked towards the lowering ramp. There was a redheaded woman who seemed somewhat frazzled who was waiting for us at the bottom of the ramp.
She ran up and hugged Clint, apologizing for what happened to his family. She added that Natasha, Steve, Bruce, Thor, and Rhodey were all going with some people from another world to go get the person who did this. Clint hugged her back and asked how Tony was doing. She told him that he was sedated right now, but that he was stable, even if he was still injured. That was when the woman looked over at me and asked if I was the guy who Natasha had told her about.
Clint affirmed her guess and introduced me to her, first telling her my name, and then the name that I was operating under, Verdigris. He then introduced her to me, telling me that her name was Pepper. I told her that it was good to meet her, and that I would do everything I could to help however I could. Pepper gave me a sad smile, paused a bit, and then asked if we were both ready to head inside. Clint told me that the quinjet would be waiting for us to be done, so I followed the two of them in.
I picked up on some latent issues with Clint and waited until Pepper was gone, going to get some information that I had requested, before asking Clint why he was so keyed up. He told me that this was the first time he had been back in the compound since busting Wanda out, and that this was where he fought a super advanced robot. I asked him if this was going to cause an issue, and he told me that it had all been sorted out, though he did wonder where Wanda and Vision were. It was then that Pepper was coming back in, telling us that from what she heard, Wanda was among those lost when the snap happened, but there was some confusion that Vision was lost in the fight. Clint seems to have stiffened up at this and Pepper said that she could update him on the list of everyone who was lost either in the fight or from the event.
Pepper handed me Tony’s medical diagnosis, and then led Clint away to another room while I read the health reports. There was a lot that this individual had been through. A fair amount of reports of trauma to the chest from a number of different sources, and most recently he was stabbed through with a very sharp implement that went through his armor twice, front and back. So, this was an extremely strong individual, who severed bones and did severe damage to organs. From what I could see, there wasn’t any distinct damage that couldn’t be healed from repetitive usage of Cure Light Wounds, so I guess that I shouldn’t have too much of a worry about interactions and whatnot.
**********
Sunday, June 24, 2018, 11:00 AM Avengers Compound, Straatsburg, NY
When Clint and Pepper came back, there was a determination in his eyes that I was certain that I had not seen before. I knew that I would need to ask him about this later. Pepper asked if I thought that I would be able to help. I told her that I was fairly certain, and that this healing should NOT impact his nutritional levels, as the positive energy should be providing the bulk of the healing energy. Pepper looked at me with an unspoken question as we walked, and I explained how some forms of healing work to increase the speed at which natural healing occurs, whereas mine heals by bringing positive energy into the individual.
Pepper asked me if my healing had any limitations, and I told her that the main things I could not do was regenerate organs or limbs, but lacerations, contusions, punctures, and the like should all be able to be healed. Pepper listened along and asked if I ever thought about working to heal others as a positive contribution to others. I told her that I had a limited amount of times per day that I could actually perform this, so it was mainly that I helped as I could. I added that when I appeared here after the Blip, that there was a mass of wounded people and I worked to help save and heal everyone I could at the time. I continued with telling her that now, I worked to save the people of Norfolk from the gangs and villains that were trying to gain a foothold there.
We got to the room where the man, I’m guessing Tony, was laying in bed, with bags of fluid attached to him via syringes. He was unconscious, due to the medications in the bags from what I read in the documents, so he didn’t stir from our approach. Pepper quietly asked what all my process entailed, and I told her that she can stay here and watch, and that all it took from me was some chanting, some hand movements, and touching the patient. Pepper stood there watching as I got ready and invoked the first Cure LIght Wounds spell, just to get a handle on how Tony’s body will react to the effect. Pepper gasps slightly when the golden light emanated from my hands and settled over the wounded area in Tony’s chest.
There wasn’t any negative sign from Tony’s equipment or anything that I could see, so I cast the spell again. This time Pepper didn’t have an audible reaction as the golden aura dissipated into Tony’s body. I could tell that there were other areas where he had strained muscles or had contusions that needed healing, so I cast the spell four more times, completely expending my ability to generate this level of effect. I figured that if I needed to later in the day, I could always expend extra energy to force this effect, like I did with Coulson. I looked at Pepper, who was still watching me intently, and quietly told her that I believed that I had healed all that I could do that did not just require time to heal.
We left the room and went to discuss things further, but I could swear that I saw Tony’s eye flicker open at least once while I was pushing healing energy into him, but I don’t actually know. While Clint, Pepper, and I sat down in the same room as before, we discussed what we were planning on doing going forward in these new, unstable times. I told them both that I would continue to do what I could to help the great people of Norfolk, and I could swear that I heard Clint stifle a laugh. Pepper said that she was probably going to agree to move to the lake house with Tony. Clint had a steely look in his eyes when he said that he was probably going to do something fairly similar to me, but that he didn’t have a city to protect or anything like that, so he’d probably roam about a bit more.
Pepper asked if there was anything that I was planning on doing when I got back aside from protecting the “great people of Norfolk, VA”, and I thought for a bit and said that I was planning on enchanting a magical suit of armor for Clint, and another for myself. Pepper looked at me a bit confused and I told her that I had the ability to enchant items, even if I was fairly new at it, and that I had just recently expanded that capability into arms and armor as well. Pepper asked if there was something else that I could show her that could be done, so I took the initiative to cast Prestidigitation and focused it on cooling off the water that was at her place at the table to as cold as I could, and offered for her to check it. She touched it and laughed a little when she felt it had dropped at least ten degrees from where it was. I then asked her if it would be okay if I changed the flavor of it, before changing it to taste like Old Law Whiskey after she approved.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Pepper balked a bit at the taste, before I confirmed that there was nothing different about the liquid, only the taste. I changed it to Dr. Pepper and she tried it like that too. Clint was amused at this, as he had already seen a fair amount of what could be done with just this one spell, and he just sat back smiling. I went through a battery of different effects I could do, and Pepper asked if I could make something that could do all of this. I nodded and said that I could make something that would allow a person to do all of these, or other things, but I was limited in what magical energies I could imbue into an item in a day.
Clint spoke up and said that I had created floating foldable cots that weighed a pound and could lift up to four feet off the floor. I sighed and explained that I had indeed made them, and that I could make up to four a day of them, and that they would hold three hundred pounds, but once they were activated, they could not be moved horizontally without disrupting the magical effect. I added that I was already planning on making some ponchos for people that could be transformed into tents, create enough food to survive every day, and included a canteen that created water or tea every day as well, but that ended up taking two days to make each individually. Pepper looked astounded, and asked if everyone had this ability where I was from. I told her that no, not everyone did, and that where I was from, people only grew stronger through adversity, and without such, you are much slower to advance in ability or skill.
Pepper and Clint both seemed to be taking in the information while I spoke and I offered up that I would be more than happy to add this compound to my future plans for enchanting to increase the defenses, as long as the reagents I need are provided. Pepper asked just what it took, and Clint said that this was better left for another time, to which Pepper agreed. I offered up that one of the main things I was planning on offering up for Clint, as well as making for myself, was an enchantment to ensure that our weapons could do non-lethal damage without decreasing the efficiency. Clint looked at me with a questioning eye, and I offered up that I knew that the weapons that we used were less useful than regular weapons, but that these were the only ones that I could ensure would not kill the people who were to be brought to justice. Pepper seemed a bit impressed, but Clint asked me what would happen if I had landed at a place where there wasn’t a police force to imprison the criminals.
I shrugged, and said that I can’t rightly say, but that I would probably spend a LOT more time destroying the weapons and guns that they always have on them, before I eventually made a jail that only I could access, where they would be imprisoned with food and water in cells until I could find a way to suitable judicial system in place. Clint followed up by asking if I would do the same for those who hurt children or murdered. I sighed, and said that I really didn’t feel it was my place to pass judgement, but I would definitely fight to defend those who could not defend themselves, and if the only way to stop someone from killing another, I would terminate the offender in the most expeditious way possible that prevented or at least minimized damage to the innocent. Clint spoke up and said that he knew of a place that was out to sea that could house many of the worst criminals if the case happened. I offered up that once I figured out how to do it, I could make items that could be used to teleport the individuals into specific cells for processing into the facility.
Clint and Pepper both seemed very interested in this, but I admitted that it was outside of my reach currently. Pepper asked how long it might take me to get to that point, and I kind of shrugged, saying that it was likely that I would need at least two years of experience and experimentation to get comfortable with the concept of that. Pepper and Clint both nodded sagely, and asked if there was anything that if I might need anything further along the path, then I should reach out to them. I told them that I definitely would, and that if they needed my individual expertise, that they should feel free to ask me. I offered up that I might not be very broad in what I can do, but whatever abilities I can bend to the task will be offered.
We continued talking for a bit more, but it lightened up greatly, with me offering to show Pepper my familiar Rex when it was better timing, and that she should feel free to reach out to me if they are ever in Norfolk, that I would gladly have them set up in my dimensionally expanded tent. Pepper looked over to Clint, and Clint choked back another laugh before saying that he felt that it would likely not be up to the level that Tony would be used to. When it was time to leave, Clint and I stood up and I shook Pepper’s hand, before we headed back to the quinjet. When we got in the back of the jet, I sat down and Clint went forward to talk to the pilot again. I started writing out my notes, and when Clint came back, he jokingly asked if I was about to ask her for a lock of her hair.
I looked up from what I was writing and told him that meeting and spending time with the person was a much better way to get familiarity with the person to be the subject of the scrying, if I ever needed to find Pepper or Tony for any emergency reason. Clint looked at me for a minute and I told him that I had laid a hand on him to heal him while studying him, of course I was more familiar with him now. Clint asked if I thought that I was familiar enough with him, and I nodded silently, and added that this was only as long as he didn’t resist it when I did try to scry on him. Clint asked if there were ways to prevent scrying, and I admitted that there were, but that it was more difficult than I had access to at the moment, but that I would study more on it. Clint nodded, made the same motion by his ear, and apparently went to sleep as we took off.
**********
Sunday, June 24, 2018, 12:00 PM Norfolk, VA
When we got back, Clint and I both got our bikes, and rode out from the military base. Clint offered up that I would be a fairly valuable commodity for S.H.I.E.L.D. now, since it was known that I can heal, as well as gain all kinds of information, AND (he emphasized) that I could make magical items that would create food and water, he asked if I would ever consider giving up the crime-fighting lifestyle. I shrugged, saying that it was what I felt the most comfortable with, and added that it was a LOT more difficult to learn and grow if I wasn’t testing myself frequently. Clint seemed to follow along well enough with my train of thought and asked if there was a way that I could just get better over time. I shrugged, saying that conflict was the best way that I knew.
When we got back to the storage unit, Clint asked if it was going to be okay if he worked in the city with me for a bit. I told him that I was fine with it, as long as he worked to not kill, as I didn’t need to break faith with the police. Clint swore that he would work to do so, and I offered that I would try to find a way to make it so he could just choose to have his weapon be merciful, so that he wouldn’t suffer from ill effect. I added that I would also try to enchant a better shackle system too. Clint thanked me and said that he’d consider staying here with me for a month to help me acclimate into dealing with S.H.I.E.L.D. and dealing with what he called, “supervillains”.
I thanked him and got inside the storage unit. Clint wished me a good day and a successful day tomorrow, and that he would contact me whenever he heard anything more. I thanked him for getting me the chance to help one of the Avengers, and asked if he had any more contacts to just let me know. He promised to do so, and seemed upbeat for the first time since I met him. I finished off my day with a bit of crafting, since I had more salt now and I had a day to do something with it.
I had a sudden bit of inspiration as to how I could make this, especially with a bit of “flash”, and decided that the best thing to do would be to make it look like I was wounding the people, if only temporarily. I dived into some crystals that I had picked up back when I was at the place for alchemical reagents, specifically five hematites, and started engraving them with some symbols for the spells of Cure Light Wounds and Prestidigitation. The person wouldn’t be dead, but their wounds would look real, for an hour or so after getting hit. I started enchanting immediately after I got the carving in place, and the salt started to incandesce quickly and the light was then absorbed into the hematites. Picking them up, I knew that the crystals would function to convert the damage to a non-lethal form, and that the crystal’s activation can be turned on and off mentally.
I grabbed three for myself which would leave two for Clint’s weapons. I rounded off my day with noting that I would get the items to Clint tomorrow. Maybe not as packed a day as others, but I think we did good work. An Avenger was healed, we got a contact that we can reach out to in the event of emergency. Rex had a productive fishing day as well, so it looks like this upcoming week will be a good one, hopefully.
- Choosing to keep the main line Avengers separate for the moment, so Black Widow, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Nebula, Rocket, and War Machine are all on the trip to the Garden right now.
- Rolled a Downtime Event, “Neighborhood Rivalry”. The event is a DC 15 Diplomacy (or intimidate) check. I have a +14 to the roll as a base, +1d6 for free inspiration, and the die roll is a minimum of a 1, and rolled ones do not mean automatic failure for skill checks. Literally CANNOT fail. Chose to flavor this as friendly bonding with Clint. Even Intimidate has a +6 to add to a +1d6 and the die roll, which is at least a 65% chance, assuming that no magic is used to enhance the chance.
- Bloody Mercy Weapon Crystals from online, with a small modification from Silent Image to Minor Lasting Image, especially due to the 1' cube size.
- Also, after a few more daily entries, this will likely go to entries representing a weekly and then Monthly basis, as his life gets into a pattern and he can be a bit more predictable.