forum Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. // OxO // ClOSED

Started August 24, 2022 by @EtherealDreamer

tune

Aspen picked a small dandelion gone to seed and blew the spores into the wind.
I wish I could stay here forever she wished in her mind.

"Over here is a part of the outdoor garden," Maya said, opening the door that led outside. "It's huge and beautiful, but a lot of other people prefer the indoor one for some reason."
"This is amazing," River said, looking around.
He walked around with Maya for a little bit when he spotted Aspen. He smiled and waved to her in greeting.

Aspen looked up and waved back from her place against the tree.
"Hi guys," she said as they came closer. "What're you up to?"

"I am going to give you a tour of the Chateau and you're going to like it," Maya declared, taking Aspen's hand. "And since you're both here, we'll start with the garden."

Aspen stood up and smiled at them.
"Sounds fun." She replied.

"It will be!" Maya agreed. "We should hurry up though, I want to show you guys the tunnels and hidden rooms soon."

Aspen nodded excitedly.
She followed Maya and gave a small smile to River.

"Best part about the loop is that we have perfect weather forever," Maya said as she led them around the garden. "That's why all of the trees and flowers are in full bloom."

Aspen nodded.
"That's so cool." She said in awe. "That you get to see flowers all year long."

"I guess, but Darius is allergic to pollen so I've been having to hear him complain about the gardens since 1861. Took the beauty and fun out of walking through here," Maya sighed, frowning at a rosebush that was besides her.

Aspen smiled and laughed lightly.
"But wouldn't this place get tiring after a while?" She asked Maya questioningly. "The same day over and over?"

"It can be sometimes," Maya admitted. "That's why we do things like casino nights in the dungeons or raiding the village every once and a while, keeps things entertaining."

Aspen nodded.
"Raiding the village?" She asked "do you ever hurt anyone?"

"Mrs. Finch made us have rules for raiding after the first 5 massacres," Maya said dismissively. "Now we just keep a points-system of some sorts to see who can cause the most havoc without intentionally harming others."

Aspen stopped dead in here tracks and winced.
"You actually killed the people?" She asked, her voice trembling "on purpose?'

"I didn't," Maya reassured Aspen. "But I think Hyperion, Damien, and a couple of other kids did. They were still learning how to use and control their powers, so don't treat them like homicidal maniacs. And besides, when the loop resets then the townsfolk are revived and don't remeber a thing, so it's not that big of a deal."

Aspen turned to face Maya.
"I think i'm going to go lie down, maybe we can do the tour another day." She suggested.

But they are homicidal maniacs, aren't they? she thought to herself.

"Ok," Maya said, frowning a bit in disappointment before turning to River. "Wanna hang out in the dungeons?"

"Sure," River shrugged, glancing at Aspen. "You alright?" He asked, concerned.

Aspen nodded weakly, though her skin was practically pure white because she had gone pale.
"Just not feeling well." She reassured him with a pained smiled and walked off, heading to her room.

"She was looking a little ill, wasn't she?" Maya asked as Aspen walked away.

"Yeah," River agreed. "Is there a doctor or someone like that around here?"

"There's one in the village but he, just like everyone else, is superstitious about the castle and those who live in it," Maya sighed. "We'll tell Mrs. Finch that Aspen's not feeling well and then I'll take you to the dungeons."

"Okay," River said as the two of them walked back inside.

Aspen made her way to her room and sighed in anger when she saw Janix was on her bed, reading a book.

"Hello." Janix said, looking up from her book at Aspen.
"Hi." Aspen said quietly and headed over to her bed and sat down, looking off into space.
"Are you alright?" Janix asked.
"Do you raid the village?" Aspen blurted.
"No," Janix said, book marking her page and closing her book. "I don't actually, I think it's cruel."

River and Maya walked together in silence for a while before Maya couldn't take it any longer.

"Do you think I should've mentioned to Aspen that we haven't raided the village in like, 75 years?" Maya asked. "There was one night where everyone in the castle had our first major arguement. Some kids said that it was too cruel, others claimed that it helped them learn how to control their peculiarities and limit themselves so they wouldn't hurt people who weren't in the loop. To shut everyone up, Mrs. Finch said that we could only raid the village whenever she said it was okay, and that was the end of it. She hasn't allowed us to do it for decades, which worked out, in a way. Now we have a training room area for all of us to practice our abilities there."

"That's cool," River replied, still not used to how talkative Maya was.

Janix smiled at Aspen.
"I see Maya told you about that." Janix said "we haven't done it in 75 years, almost a decade."
"Oh." Aspen said quietly.

"Think we should still get Mrs. Finch?" River asked.

"Janix could get her if Aspen's actually sick," Maya said, walking past the dining hall and to a large tapestry next to it. She lifted it up a bit and River's eyes widened as a long, stone staircase was revealed, spiraling down into the darkness below.

"I'll go first," Maya said, confidently walking down the staircase. "C'mon, it's not as intimidating as it looks."

Aspen laid down and stared at the ceiling.
"What are you reading?" She asked Janix.

Janix picked up her book in order to show Aspen the cover.
"Harry Potter, I bought it at a bookstore in the present, when Mrs. Finch took me with her to go somewhere."
"Which one?" Aspen asked, squinting to see the title from all the way across the room.
"Half blood prince." She replied.
"Ooooo, that one's my favorite." Aspen told her.