jack in the green

[ooc: Your world needs my help.]

It's been a long time since a world has been in need of the Green Man.

(Well, that's not quite true--the world is always in need of growing things and the god who encourages them. But it's been a long time since a world has been in need of the Green Man to get things started.)

Since meeting Ellen in the Bar, Jack has been collecting seeds and seedlings--wild seeds and domesticated ones, hearty grains, multiple varieties of beans and tubers. He's been talking to them, too, telling them about the world they're going to and what will be required of them. It's a world in need of healing, he tells them, a world that is recovering from poison in the soil and in the air.

But they're good seeds and strong, and he's confident more will thrive than will fail.

The next step involves his children. They are red-headed young teenagers now, impulsive sometimes and wise sometimes in the way of the very young. Jack isn't rushing them into adulthood. They have plenty of time.

He spreads the seeds and seedlings out in front of Keiran and Georgia and tells them the story of the post-disaster world. "What I need from you," he says, "are more blessings. This world needs all the advantages we can give them."

There's only a few moments of pondering. The children have known their calling since they were too tiny to speak.

Georgia goes first, as she's the oldest. She holds her hand spread over the seeds. "Bless you to grow and be strong. Bless you to thrive and spread. Bless your fruit to be delicious and sweet. Bless your flowers to be fragrant and your grasses to be thick."

She steps back and looks at Keiran. He's grown into a quiet young man, more tree-like than Georgia. He holds out his hand.

"Let the sun shine on you and the rain fall. Grow your roots deep. Let your leaves be thick and the predators be few. Scatter your seeds through wind and water. Spread over the sick land and give it health, give it plenty, give it green."

He lowers his hand.

Jack smiles at them proudly. "I won't be gone long," he promises. "I'll bring you back something, if I can."

Though he has no idea what sort of souvenirs a ruined world might offer.