j a s o n

merrockite, brother & uncle, army vet, park ranger & professional, full time forest dweller. dog dad to ghost. rp only.

[jaceeverett]

JASON EVERETT BROWNING. jason, jace, jay, jay-ev. he/him, cis man, july 5, 1983. born and raised Merrockite who left to fight a war he didn't ask for. works as a park ranger at Merrock State Park. dog dad to Ghost; little brother to Theo, big brother to Cordelia & Claire, uncle to Shawn, Colton, Riley, Lilly, Cienna, Rosalyn, Charlotte, Blake & Ronan. lives in a cabin in the woods, spending his days gardening and watching butterflies.

bio. stats. timeline. connections. wanted. muse. writing ideas.

[jasperbel]

“Surprisingly no, they haven’t,” Jasper chuckled. “They know how I feel about this studio. It’s kind of like my sanctuary, you know? Sometimes, when they’re asleep, I come in here with wine and just have a glass or two while I paint. It’s oddly soothing,” he smiled and glanced briefly towards the painting again. “Yeah, summer peace. Like, yeah, it might get super hot and shit but…at least I’m more productive. Are you also more productive in the summer?”

[jaceeverett]

"Good," he replied as he turned his attention back to Jasper, "it's good that they can respect that boundary, know right from wrong, not to come into your space and throw paintbrushes at a wall, or whatever kids do." That part made him laugh, although he did tilt his head to the side and offer a teasing smile, "although you could get revenge and muck up their playroom or bedrooms or whatever, but probably not recommended." There was probably some deep seated child psychology rule about not seeking revenge on your children, but Jason hadn't really had had the most stellar childhood or upbringing. "Less," he admitted, standing close to Jasper as he crossed his arms over his chest, his usual planted stance as he studied the painting. "In some ways. More productive at work, and I keep up my garden. Otherwise, I find myself down by the fire pit with a beer in hand watching the stars."

[jj-hayes]

"And that's okay. Raising a tiny human is definitely not for everyone. Besides, furry babies need a lot of love, too. I'm glad you have the kind of love in your heart that Ghost needs. That's just as important." If there was anything that JJ had learned after working with children for almost two decades, it was that people should only have children if they really wanted to. He knew that it was a role that not everyone was capable of filling, even though some do have children regardless of it. Jason seemed incredibly self-aware about where he stood, and he respected that. "Thank you, Jason. I'm happy for you, too." Perhaps it took one to know one. But JJ could tell that his friend was also in a good place in his life. "Like, I don't want to be the kind of parent who has very strict rules about what their kid should or shouldn't eat. I want to make sure Mia gets all of the nutrients that she needs, but also likes what she's eating. It's all about balance, you know?" This applied to adults as well. "And that's why I'm trying to make the necessary stuff a lot less boring."

"Yeah, I can see that. You must be a very generous tipper if they're paying you that much attention." JJ let out another laugh, shaking his head. "They're never this nice to me, even though I'm here multiple times a week and I always tip above twenty-five percent. Heck, I'm here with a baby, and that doesn't seem to make a difference." Of course, he did not care all that much about the lack of attention. He did not feel like he was missing out. He was just fascinated by the effect that Jason seemed to have on the waitress. "Yes, ranch dressing also helps. I think that might be a logical first step before I start giving her salads for lunch." Hopefully, that, along with some of the recipes that Dominic had shared with him, would help solve that problem. When Jason burst out laughing, even JJ could not help the laugh that escaped his lips. Of course, he was no stranger to the Brownings' way of parenting. "I know, I said it out loud, and even I couldn't believe what was coming out of my mouth. I mean, that's one thing that they seem to have done right? That's an A+ for effort?" And it was the only A+ he would ever give them. "It's no wonder that you were always drawn towards nature, though, isn't it? It started quite young."

[jaceeverett]

"It's a good pairing," Ghost had needed him almost as much as he needed her, although he wouldn't pretend for a moment to have ever thought that it was what he needed. Sometimes, doing something on a whim really did pay off. And he still had nieces and nephews to spoil if he wanted to, if that urge hit to do something with kids. Solid part was that he could give them back when they got to be a little bit too much. That was maybe the best perk of being an uncle. "Thanks," he let out a laugh, nodding his head. Jason was actually in a pretty good place in his life, even if he always would have his struggles. That just came with the territory. But he was home, and he was happy, and that had to count for something. "I'm sure that as she gets older and figures out her own taste, you guys will figure it out. Know what she does and does not like, what is and is not going to work for her," every kid was different, after all. And JJ seemed to have a good head on his shoulders about how to handle her.

"Generous tipper and charming," he replied without missing a beat, meaning one of those things, joking around about the other… probably, anyway. "Well, you know. Babies are a dime a dozen these days, everyone's got a cute one. But a face like this," he pointed at himself, raising one brow, "you can't replace that." Truth be told, he didn't think twice about it; he might flirt a little bit -- harmlessly, mind you -- but he was just happy to support a small business and enjoy his time there. "Work your way from vegetables dipped in the good stuff up to salad, that makes sense." Just placing a salad down in front of kids didn't typically end all that well. Snorting to himself, Jason shook his head as JJ tried to give his parents an A+ for effort, knowing that he himself would never go that far, but… he could understand where people on the outside looking in might not feel the same way. "Quite young," he agreed with a nod of his head, "gave me something to escape into, you know?"

[xiomara-c]

who? open (0/4) where? what's the tea when? early june

Xiomara stared at the wall of tea options, a little stunned. They understood tea, and liked black, green and herbal options. But that was just making it harder to pick one. "You know, I'm not actually sure what a tisane tea is, or if I'm saying that word correctly." Xio admitted, squinting at a group of teas that seemed to consist mostly of fruity flavors. They never got that deep into the world of tea - they mostly just knew what was typically available in backstage catering when they worked on tours. "What do you normally get here?"

[jaceeverett]

Since moving into his house and occasionally entertaining guests, Jason found himself needing to keep his kitchen more stocked with things people actually enjoyed -- coffee, tea, something more than beer and water in the fridge. What's the Tea? had become one of the places he frequented every couple of months, and he liked to think that he had learned a little bit about tea, but he also knew that was wishful thinking. "I stick with the basics," he admitted with a half laugh, "english breakfast, green tea, they have good samplers with things like peppermint and chamomile flavoring, some fruit options... I'm not much of a tea drinker, but I like to have it on hand for people who are."

[cordelianewman]

Yeah, I mean I wouldn't say I'm doing anything important. I help with Raf's booth, keep people interested for to come over, donate, all that and then I go back and organize receipts and records for Creekside. Wouldn't say I'm doing anything noble prize worthy. Unfortunately I'd probably worry people would say it was rigged even if you won on chance and have to tell Raf to make that decision. I've spent a lot of money on food, does that count?

[jaceeverett]

Hey, don't sell yourself short -- you're doing way more than my lazy ass is doing this weekend. Especially juggling kids while you're doing it. Anyone who's giving a little bit of time is doing enough to make a difference, y'know? Hopefully, anyway. This whole situation's genuinely been such a mess, I never would've thought in a few short years after coming home, home had the potential to be changing. Okay, okay... if you won't help your dear old brother out. It absolutely does -- I was going to ask if I could steal you away for a little hang out time anyway, but I'll pay, my treat.

[taylorthetargaryen]

Luke Mitchell

[aishathevar]

"Careful, you may lose your fun uncle spot with that choice," Aisha teased, though a giggle came to her lips at the thought. If she had a dilemma finding the best spot to bite the cakepop, she couldn't imagine how his nieces' would react. But the sweets of it all could've cancelled it out, or at least that was her thought. "Solid advice for all of us," she gave a solemn nod as if choosing something that cute was her own doing, giving the dessert another look. "Are you leaning toward something more sweet or savory? I know there are a few other options I want to dig into myself after this."

[jaceeverett]

"Please!" Jason scoffed as he said the word, shooting Aisha the most skeptical look that he could muster, "do you think that my brother could possibly be a more fun uncle than me? Although they do have Kellan and Harland on Cage's side..." maybe he was in more trouble than he thought he was. He didn't want to be responsible for ruining their childhood, either, Aisha was on to something. "I'll do it anyway," he plucked a couple of the cake pops and held them out to the person working, so they could be added to his bag, handing over some change. "I'm not sure, but now that you said savory... I feel like I do lean that way a little more than sweet, you know? Not that sweets don't have their place in our lives, too, of course."

[cordelianewman]

Gotta say we're one town of dedicated people. Besides having us here you have a town of people that loves it and wants the people who loves it there too. Mean look at all that have come together for this Spring Fling. I'm apprehensive about how well it will work, something tells me that even if we manage to stop this once someone has a taste for wanting something they don't stop. How've you been enjoying the fest so far?

[jaceeverett]

Definitely are, I've seen so many people walking around with buttons and t-shirts, passing out flyers... all the informational stands. And then everyone selling things or hosting games. I mean, you know, you're pulling double duty for the weekend, right? Between Creekside and Bardales Inc.? I suppose I can't convince you to rig the prize wheel for me, so I walk away with something big...? So far, so good, I've spent a lot of money on a lot of good things, but I can't feel bad about it, since it's going to a good cause.

[jaceeverett]

[jmiemagvans]

And then it's Merrock, we could be in summer and it could be surprising. I kind of love it in a way, it's unpredictable. But I feel like I know how to be more prepared now. Gotta love those summer months too, right?

[jaceeverett]

Very true, you just never know what the summer months are going to do. I keep hoping they're decent, maybe some hot stretches in the middle, but not the kind of summer where it hits 90 in June and stays that way clear into September, that's too intense for me. Gimme some good 70s and 80s and partial sunshine so you don't completely fry yourself.

[alicezhaox]

"I'd be the most popular journalist out there, huh?" Alice chuckled with a smile. "I've got the story, but I'm still trying to make it sound good. There are been bits and pieces and opinions, and pretty much everything there is," she said. "I've got a notebook and a hard drive full of notes, trust me, we'll get a huge story coming up," she nodded. "You are... my hero," Alice said, taking a look at the basket and checking to see what was inside, picking out a neatly wrapped sandwich and a cookie. "This all looks amazing, thank you," she smiled at him.

[jaceeverett]

"Or someone would accuse you of being the Benefactor," he said with an amused laugh, "you know, easy to interview the man of mystery if you are the man of mystery." After a pause, he laughed again, "woman of mystery, excuse me." He leaned back against the bench and nodded his head thoughtfully as she talked about putting the story together, adding all of the bits and pieces up, knowing that he didn't envy her for it, but also that all of her pieces ended up being hits. "I can't wait to read it, honestly. You always do such a knock out job with the paper, it's great." Definitely something that felt bigger, to him, than a small town production, anyway. "You're welcome," he grinned, reaching for a piece of sandwich, as well. "I figure you're working hard, you deserve a break."

[jj-hayes]

"Yeah, I figured that much. I think you're much more suited to be the fun uncle, if I'm being honest." JJ laughed, shrugging. "Parenting is not for everyone. Even with the sleepless nights, the lack of freedom and the hurried showers that I have to take, I love every minute of it. I love being a dad, you know? I love my little girl with my whole heart. I love the early mornings and the late night lullabies, no matter how much I complain about it. I wouldn't have it any other way. Having a healthy, happy daughter makes it all worth it." He turned over to Mia, giving her a quick kiss on the top of her head. "She's my little angel, Jace. She came into my life, and now I'm better for it." There was no denying that JJ was always meant to be a parent, even though the way he came to be one had been rather unexpected. But the moment he laid his eyes on little Mia in the NICU, he knew that she was his. There was no going back from that. "I feel like kids need a little balance between the healthy foods and the fun foods. At least, that's what I try to provide for Mia and recommend for my patients."

JJ raised his eyebrow as he watched his friend place his order, noticing how he seemed to charm the waitress. "Seriously?" He playfully rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Yeah, that's typical. I've been looking for a way to get her to at least try it, you know? I don't want to force her to eat it, but she's got to eat her vegetables, you know? Dom suggested that I douse them in a sauce or something to mask the taste. I think I might give that a try this week, see if it gets her to eat her broccoli." At being told that Jason used to grow his own vegetables, JJ furrowed his brows. "Really? That's honestly some A+ parenting right there. They probably taught you the value of food, having you grow it yourself. I wonder if I could try that with Mia once she's older. I've got a lot of space in my backyard. It might be worthwhile to have our little vegetable patch."

[jaceeverett]

"I finally gave in to being a dog dad, and that's beyond enough responsibility for me," Ghost was a pretty good dog, very independent, she took care of herself and Jason just had to be sure the bowls were full and the door was open for her to go out into her run when she wanted to, but to take care of a two-legged kid? He wasn't sure that he had the capacity for it, nor would he ever be in the place mentally to be able to handle it, either. Jason needed a dark, quiet room with nothing on his mind for hours on end at times, and that wasn't conducive to good parenting. "I'm really happy for you, man," he said with a sincere smile, knowing that JJ definitely seemed like a happier, more content version of himself with his little girl in his life. And it was important that people found that -- something that made them happy from the inside out, whatever it might be. "Yeah, I can get that. You want eating to be a good experience for them, so they have to actually find food that they can enjoy, too, you know? Instead of just all the boring, necessary stuff."

Raising both of his brows in return as JJ hit him with the 'seriously' and a raised brow, followed by the eye roll, Jason let out a laugh as he leaned back in his seat. "They all know me a little too well here," and they also knew that he wasn't going to leave without tossing a twenty on the table for a tip, and gave it right back to him, which made the experience all the more fun. Turning his attention back to the conversation at hand, he nodded his head, "or get her to dip it in ranch dressing, feel like that works for a lot of kids." Or adults. Sometimes that was the only way that he saw some of the adults in his life eating a vegetable, too. Letting out a slightly too-loud laugh when JJ said that it was A+ parenting from … well, the Browning parents, he couldn't help his amusement. Because Eleanor and Montgomery had been anything but that, in his eyes. "I think they just wanted me out of their hair. But I guess if I had to begrudgingly give them credit for anything, it would be allowing me to garden."

[aishathevar]

who: aisha & @jaceeverett

where: spring fling, cityview park

when: may, 2026

"I fear it's too cute to eat," Aisha held up the cake pop, with a carefully piped cat face, and candy ears on it, her lips pursing slightly, as if considering her choice altogether. "I don't think they were considering the moral dilemma this is leaving me with," she shook her head, a slightly dramatic sigh leaving her lips, before grinning slightly. "What are you thinking of getting? Hopefully, something that leaves you with less guilt."

[jaceeverett]

"Those," he answered without hesitation, pointing to the cake pop that Aisha was holding on to, "mostly because now you're making me think I need to test my nieces' morality and see if they can eat something that adorable." Given that Rosalyn and Cienna loved cats and sweets, it seemed like it might give him at least a few minutes of amusement to watch them debate between playing with the cake pops and eating them. "But for me... god, I don't know. Everything looks good, how do you decide, you know? But you're right. I should go for something that doesn't have a face, so I can actually sleep tonight."

[alicezhaox]

“It’s… going,” Alice said, nodding. She had been taking notes all day. Observing, chatting with her fellow neighbors, and just taking a look over all the booths. She laughed a bit. “Yeah, we’ve got quite the story going. Everyone has something to say about it this time. No benefactor, but we’ve managed to put something nice together,” she said. “Oh, I am very hungry. I’ve been snacking all morning. But I could use a bit of something more to eat,”

[jaceeverett]

"Could you imagine if you scooped that exclusive?" Jason asked, raising one brow as he looked over at Alice. "Although I guess it is kind of weird to think about the fact that you might have already, since we don't actually know who they are." She could have been interviewing someone as they chowed down on a brownie or got their face painted without ever realizing that they were the mysterious figure behind all of this mess. Although, if that were the case, he did hope that they were absolutely miserable, seeing everyone come together so well. "Help yourself," he said with a grin and a flourish, flipping open the basket, "it's from Taste, so you know there are some goodies in here."

[jaceeverett]

WHO: jace & @alicezhaox

WHERE: spring fling

WHEN: may, 2026

"So, how's the story coming along?" Jason asked as he dropped onto one of the park benches next to Alice, one of the ready made picnic baskets next to him, ready to be devoured. "I figured you've got your hands full with this one." Any event in town normally got well covered by the Merrock Times, but even more so when it was for a good cause, like this. It wasn't just for fun, it was for making sure that their town retained some of its integrity, held on to its character. "Are you hungry? I picked up one of these picnic baskets."

[amberstevenson]

"Definitely some sort." Amber knew that bronze obviously wasn't the best, but she'd never been able to class that as losing; you still received something, after all. You received some kind of praise, which was always nice. "Oh, I was thinking curling," she laughed. "Looks like the easiest one, I'm sure that I could pull it off."

[jaceeverett]

"Curling, got it," he said with a loud laugh, "the sport that's basically brooming, but on ice." Although Jason knew that a lot more went into it than that, he hadn't really been able to shake the giggles every time that the sport happened. "I guess that means we better make sure you're as steady as possible on your feet while we're out here on the ice, then. Can't have you failing at your dream of being a championship curler."

[jmiemagvans]

Fingers crossed! I’ll try not to jinx it haha. We’ve still got some time before the cold and wet weather hits again. We’ve got to enjoy the summer until then! You’ve got the springtime hikers going your way now, don’t you?

[jaceeverett]

That's true, have to get through the rest of spring, and then summer will be here. Although you never know, it could be a rainy, stormy summer, I'm just hoping that's not the case. Quite a bit, yeah. Once school lets out here in a couple of weeks, we'll have even more.