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

Started August 24, 2022 by @EtherealDreamer

tune

"It'll be okay," he said quietly, holding her close. "We'll make this work out."

Aspen sniffled and let out a tiny laugh.
"I want my dad." She repeated
"I don't think I've ever missed him this much."

River frowned and stayed silent, at a lost for how to comfort her.

"I'm sorry," he said, feeling guilty for not being able to help her.

Aspen pulled away and wiped her nose on the back of her hand, like a child after having a tantrum.
"Sorry I cried." She told him, avoiding his eyes, she knew how she looked, disheveled and crazy.
"I didn't know it was going to happen until it did." She added softly.

"There's nothing to be sorry for," River replied kindly. "If you ever wanna talk about it, I'm here for you."

Aspen nodded and sniffled again.
This time she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and attempted a smile.
"Thanks." She told him honestly "I appreciate it."

"No problem," River said, smiling back. River paused for a moment before continuing. "I'm not sure if Janix also takes a part in it, but Darius and Maya are planning on raiding the kitchens tonight and they invited me along. Do you want to come with?"

Aspen smiled and nodded.

"Janix told me earlier she plays the part of the lookout and when the kids raid the kitchen, they throw her— or us, since I agreed to be lookout with her— food when they come out." She told him and giggled.

"She said it's a very quiet ordeal and no one wakes up, but she doesn't know if Mrs. Finch knows or knows and just doesn't care."

"I think she knows, because Darius said that Mrs. Finch was furious when she found the pantries all empty one time," River grinned.

"Well then she must not know that Janix is in on it." Aspen said slyly. "Just do me a favor and don't let them take too much food, then it'll be obvious and then we'll really get in trouble."

River shrugged.
"No promises," he replied, knowing very well that he'd be taking any and all food he could get his hands on.

Aspen punched him lightly in the arm.
"If we get in trouble, i'm blaming you." She teased.

"No, we'll blame Maya and the others," River said, grinning mischievously. "For manipulating two oblivious newbies into coming along and participating in such activities, since obviously we'd never do something like that on our own."

Aspen shoved him lightly.
"Of course." She said "we'd never do that."

River's smile grew wider and he flinched slightly when he heard a quick knock on the door. He relaxed when he saw Maya peek her head in.

"Janix said you weren't feeling well, but you seem better now," Maya said, looking at Aspen. "You two still in for Operation Stealing All The Snacks? Darius saw Mrs. Finch heading up to her tower, so we'll be able to go soon."

Aspen nodded. "yeah," She told Maya "I think this'll be fun."

She smiled a devilish smile at both River and Maya.
"And plus we get food too." She told them excitedly.

"Indeed we do," Maya grinned. "Good news is, I've been working more on my concealment illusions so if Finch comes after us we have a better chance of not getting caught."

Aspen smiled and laughed.
"It's so cool that you can do that!" She said excitedly. "I think it would be so cool to be able to do that."

"Yeah, but it gets exhausting sometimes," Maya sighed. "Takes a lot of energy out of me."

Aspen's smiled faded.
"Oh…" she said "is it like that for everyone, or does it just differ?"

"Nah, it's just me," Maya chuckled. "My illusions only happen when I raise my arms or legs up." She demonstrated this by lifting up her left arm, and a very realistic illusion of a golden retriever appeared, wagging its tail. "My muscles start to ache after doing this for a few hours, so it's more of a personal thing then a peculiar thing."

Aspen nodded.
"okay." She said "I hope that doesn't affect your food grabbing ability."

Maya lowered her arm and the dog immediately vanished.
"My ability to grab food is unmatched," she said proudly. "No one has been able to horde more snacks than me."

Aspen smiled.
"I don't know…" she trailed off "I think River would give you a run for your money."

"Is that so?" Maya asked with a raised eyebrow. "Challenge accepted."

River grinned nervously. He had stolen before, but it was always in small amounts and never as a fun, friendly challenge between friends. This would be interesting.

Aspen smiled at both of them.
"If anyone that isn't in on stealing food," she told them "I'll whistle like this."

she then pursed her lips and gave three high pitched whistle in a row.

"Sounds good," Maya said, giving Aspen a thumbs up. "We should probably get going now."

Aspen gave a thumbs up as well as Janix stood outside the door in the dark hallway.
Aspen stood on the other side of the door, like bodyguards guarding the throne room.
"Good luck guys." she whispered to River and Maya.

"Thanks," River said before Maya dragged him into the pantry.
River blinked in surprise at how vast the room was. It was circular, and had shelves stuffed with a large variety of snacks, more than River's ever seen in his life.
"This is just the first pantry," Maya smirked, amused by River's reaction. "There's at least six of them all around the castle, and they double as natural disasters or seige shelters, if the castle's ever invaded or if a really bad storm hits."
"Amazing," River breathed, grabbing a few snacks off of the shelves and stuffing them into his pockets.

Aspen waited patiently outside the doorway of her room, once she heard a noise, but it was just a ginger cat with blue eyes heading down the hall they were in.

"That's Mr. Ging, our cat, he belongs to everyone in the castle." Janix whispered, as she saw Aspen make a startled look and pursue her lips to try to send the signal.

Aspen calmed and nodded.