Jasmine looked at Tony in awe. His face had a slight smirk, his mouth crooked and sarcastic. Jasmine didn’t know, but his very Italian nose and skin ever so slightly darker than usual Europeans also pointed to his predominantly Italian heritage. She didn’t find his face handsome, but neither did she find it ugly. The wrinkles that had formed showed that he was getting on in age, but still young enough to be physically able. She assumed he had to be well older than she was, at a young 84, she was just considered an adult. Her eyes drifted lower and admired his well-muscled average frame. Not bulky, but not skinny either.

She blushed as she realized that he was still looking at her waiting for her to come into the gate. She moved in quickly and Tony shut the gate firmly behind her.

“How did you do this?” She asked as she turned back to see him.

“Settler remember?” Was all he said as he moved past her and started walking towards the house. He had left the thick ornate hardwood door open and walking inside he smiled to himself at the room. The main door opened into the living room. The room had two couches, one stretching along the wall with seating for at least 6 people, the other at an angle to the first in the room facing the fireplace. A seat that Tony knew would be his was a single large and fluffy armchair. Jasmine oohed and ahhed… and sat right in the chair Tony was looking at.

“Ohhhh… it’s so fluffy!” She said happily. Her earlier thoughtfulness forgotten in the moment. “I’ve never seen anything so soft and fluffy.”

Tony’s look changed from annoyed to thoughtful. “Don’t you have chairs like this where you come from?”

“No. Not that I know of. This certainly isn’t filled with straw. I wonder what it’s filled with?” Tony shook his head at her.

“Cotton probably.” He said, wondering if she was ever going to check out the house. Her blank look though caused him to elaborate. “It’s a fluffy plant fiber.” He added and wondered what the technology level was where she came from. Lower levels of technology would explain why she was so good at living in the woods and building things.

Tony shook his head again and started heading up the stairs. He doesn’t have to say anything as she stands up and follows him. The stairway is sturdy and wide. Two people could easily walk side by side up it.

Reaching the top Tony quickly opened each of the doors in turn. Five rooms, all moved up to the second floor with his main room. As well as a single large hallway closet with blankets and sheets, and pillow covers. Each of the four regular rooms had a small chest at the bottom of a twin bed, a small dresser, and a small closet with some clothes.

Tony’s room in comparison had a king-sized bed with a similarly much larger chest, both made of etched dark stained wood with elaborate patterns. His closet was a full walk-in one with plenty of room for whatever he wanted. A large dresser and a small writing desk took up one of the walls along the side. He also had a glass door on the other side of his room along the cliff side of the house at the back. He walked out and stepped out onto the balcony and admired the view leaning against the decorated wrote iron railing that surrounded the perimeter and chuckled at the one small wooden chair that sat on it. It took up most of the room on the small balcony.

Going back inside he was rather glad that the beds all came fully loaded with sheets, a comforter and a large number of fluffy pillows. He smiled to himself as he entered the hallway and found Jasmine leaving the room closest to his own. She had a smile herself and threw herself at him and hugged him firmly suddenly. Tony wasn’t much for physical contact and awkwardly patted her back.

“I love it! The bed is so soft!” She cried out and squeezed him tighter causing him to start to push her off gently.

“Glad you like it. I’ve got other rooms to check out.” He said simply and headed for the stairs. Jasmine followed after quickly, not wanting to miss anything interesting.

Tony gave the kitchen a quick look over and was rather impressed with the large wood-fired stove and oven seated against one wall and the large room with lots of counter space and he could see a bunch of cooking gear ready to use. That would certainly make things much easier to use.

He’d already seen the living room so he quickly found the bathroom door next to the door for his office, all leading from the living room that also had a large area with a huge table that could easily seat ten people.

Heading into the bathroom he shut out Jasmine with an ‘I’ll be back’ look… and proceeded to have the first relaxed shit he had taken since coming to this new world. The bathroom even came stocked with a large amount of toilet paper… that Tony knew right away that he was going to hide in his own room for personal use. The bathtub had an obvious wood burning place under the tub itself so that it could be heated after being filled. He also saw a water basin to clean hands in, though the water would have to be replaced manually.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Half an hour later, feeling relaxed, Tony exited the bathroom and saw that Jasmine was seated in his chair again in the living room. Tony sighed and went into his office quickly. This room was small, with a desk that took up most of the room with pen and paper and folders and a filing cabinet. Three chairs, one behind the desk large and soft looking, and two small but sturdy wooden ones on the other side of the desk. He walked over and sat down at it slowly. The chair was wide and soft, with rollers and a swivel allowing him to move around easily. As soon as he got comfortable he was surprised with another pop-up.

The settlement has determined that this location is the most likely location for you to handle the management of it. Thus this location will give you access to the settlement options and information. As a level 1 settlement, most options are still locked.

Current options: Acquire Settlers, List Settlers

He quickly thought about acquiring settlers.

Settler Points

10 (Starting Bonus)

Recruit Human

Humans are endlessly adaptable and capable of performing any task at an average maximum ability. They lack any special abilities.

Recruit Dryad

Dryads are skilled in nature magic, but naturally lacking in physical strength. They make fine Druids but poor warriors.

Recruit Goblin

Small weak creatures, they have no benefits and are poor in all aspects.

Tony quickly went to choose ten humans when another option appeared.

You have chosen to recruit a human. You can recruit one human for each point, or you can choose to spend 5 settler points and you can recruit a specific human to assist you.

Tony started laughing and quickly decided on two people he just knew he had to have right away by his side. He hoped that they were working right now as he chooses human and thought of two names. ‘James’ and ‘Steven’.

Suddenly appearing before him were two young men. They stood on the other side of the desk looking confused. Both men wore suits as nice as Tony’s had been when he first came to the world. They, however, looked nothing like Tony. Both men stood a head taller than him, at 6’3” and 6’1” respectively. Both built like tanks. James had coal black skin being the slightly shorter one. His nose was broad and his jaw square. His head shaved smooth. He had light brown eyes and though he had a naturally angry look Tony knew the man was quick with a joke. Steven had almost pale skin and while still thick was thinner than James if a hair taller. He had short blond hair and dull blue eyes. He also currently held a shotgun aimed forward with a confused expression on his face, and James had his hand resting on his own gun under his jacket.

Tony let an easy smile spread across his face. His eyes hardened at the sight of the two men acting so upset and possibly violent.

“Boys,” he said softly. They both locked eyes on his face and slowly started to relax. “I’ve decided that the family needs to branch out.” He explained quickly.

“What?” Asked Steven.

“Where are we?” Added James.

“You’re at our new temporary headquarters.” He answered James’ question first. Then continued on his spiel. “I’m bringing you two in because you have drive. Drive to big to be used as the hired muscle that the family was currently using you as.” He said that as if to both of them but eyes were locked on James. Steven was fine, but he’d never be more than just muscle. James was big and intimidating sure… he was also smart.

“Oh?” James replied his hand lowering from his gun and reaching over and putting it on the barrel of the shotgun in Steven’s hands and lowered it. “Ok. You’ve got my attention.”

Behind the two men, the door quickly opened. Steven started to turn but James, having read the situation better held the barrel firmly and stopped the movement. “A friend of yours?” James asked smoothly, with just a quick glance over his shoulder after the words. His eyes locked on the beautiful green-skinned and haired girl. “Seems you have a lot of explaining to do Tony.” He added as his eyes turned back. This time Tony could see a bit of worry in James’ eyes.

“Not to worry.” He replied calmly. “Steven how about you go relax in the living room with Jasmine. I’ll go over everything with James here and he can catch you up later.” DIsmissed Steven. The man slowly nodded his head and headed out the door past Jasmine. She gave Tony a questioning look but he just waved her off. She looked at him for another moment before slowly closing the door. Tony locked eyes with James who was taking one of the two smaller chairs that sat on the other side of the desk. Tony leaned forward locking his fingers together and resting his elbows on the desk. He could see the potential for murder in James’ eyes and knew that he had better be damned convincing. Tony wasn’t too worried, as long as he didn’t have any distractions he should be able to make his case. The worst case scenario is he had to kill the man.

“So let me explain to you what I know, then I’ll let you know your place in it.” Tony started the dangerous negotiations.