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chase stein

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The gardening work is slow for the time being (given the snow), but it gave Chase a few ideas how to tide things over. You see, he worked out that people will pay more money for plants when the dirty work has been done.

So he spent the morning outside, with a bag of bulbs, some plant pots, and some glitter spray paint. First of all he worked out that it was easier to spray the pot before putting the soil in, then he got into a rhythm - spray, soil, bulb, done.

He's now set up a stall in the main bar, selling said shiny pots.

Dafodils
$1 a pot
All profits go to feeding runaways.

He sits back and waits for his moneymaking scheme to take off. Piece of cake, right?

Sadly, having been mostly responsible for digging in the garden rather than actual horticulture, he has planted all fifty bulbs upside down in the pots. But there's still some chance they might grow. Probably.

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"Why have you run away, if you don't mind my asking? The world is a dangerous place for children to on their own."

She picks up one of the pots, and doesn't seem to be expending any effort as the shoots emerge from the soil. She lets three blooms unfurl, and leave a few as buds, to bloom in days to come.

"We found out our parents were supervillains, like the kind with spies everywhere. They were gonna destroy the whole world and give us six their places in the afterlife. We couldn't let that happen. They all died after we stopped them, so we all got put into care, which sucked so we ran off again."

"Evil parents would qualify as good reason to run away."

She picks up another pot and continues her work.

"None of you have any other relatives to take you in?"

"Nope. I guess that's probably why our parents got chosen to be in the Pride. No family ties, no qualms about them not getting to go to the afterlife. We've got each other, kind of the only family any of us have now."

"Family is important, whether you're born into it, or choose it for yourself."

She finishes making the bulbs grow, and now the table is crowded with sunny blooms.

"The afterlife...they were going to give you their places? Why would you not be given your own?"

That's not the way it works, in her experience. Everyone has their own afterlife to contend with, and that's the one they've earned.

"Because the Gibborim, big freaky things that were going to create the afterlife, were only going to give six places to the Pride of twelve; the ones who served the Gibborim best. But then my parents found out they were expecting me, so they all made a pact to have one child per couple and pass on their places to them."

"Gibborim...they are pesky creatures, aren't they? They were defeated, and your parents met their end in this ploy?"

"Yep, pretty much."

"Do your friends get to come here for refuge, as well?"

She can't imagine this child supporting several children younger than himself and having any sort of quality of life.

"Yeah, we're all Bound here at the moment. Wish that would end so we can get back to our world." He sighs.

"You know that there are funds set up for children who are bound and unable to work, don't you?"

Not that she blames him for trying to make his own contribution, of course.

"There are resources so that you don't have to support them on your own while you're here."

"Yeah, this is for when we get out. I might just be old enough to get a job, but the others aren't. Even if I get a job, I'm going to be feeding all the others on a job that needs no qualifications."

"And where do you live, when you're at home? Surely not on the streets!"

The idea of living on the streets being better than in foster care is horrifying.

"No, we move around to wherever's safe at the time. Our parents had quite a few hideouts, so we hang out in them until we get discovered. We'd get caught pretty quick on the streets."

She lets her surprise register on her face.

"Are they really looking for you so diligently?"

Normally it is all too easy for children to fall through the cracks.

"Our parents were villains and we work as a super team. There's always someone with a score to settle, or a well-meaning nosy arse."

"You've got super abilities? That does change things, then."

"I haven't, I just drive the 'frog. But some of the others have."

"Does not having powers make you safer, or more vulnerable in your world?"

Shrug.

"Depends if you've got bigger powers than whoever you're fighting."

"Well, I do hope you're careful."

She doesn't interfere with the lives of mortals. Much.

"If you've a mind to sell more flowers, leave a note with the bar, and I'd be happy to help them look their best."

"Thanks a lot, it's a real help. Er, what's your name? I'm Chase Stein."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Chase. I'm Mother Nature."

She offers her hand and smiles kindly.

"Wow." Chase shakes the hand. "That's pretty awesome. I figured mother nature was one of those... metaphysical things."

She chuckles.

"Some would say I am."

She knows he probably meant 'metaphorical' but sees no reason to correct him.

"Lots of impossible things happen in Milliways."

"Yeah. I started changing my socks daily." Chase jokes.

She gives him an amused smile.

"Take care, Chase. If you need help with your flowers, leave word."

She turns and leaves, not taking her original purchase with her...she can make more, and he could use the money.

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