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"Hi," River said when Darius was in front of him. "It's cool that we're roommates, right?"
Darius nodded, still looking reluctant. "Yeah, I guess…I have a pull-out mattress underneath my bed that you could use."
"Awesome," River smiled.
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(you have to play my roommate too, because she's one of your characters—)
Aspen finally unengaged herself in conversation since another girl had come over to her roomate and began chatting idly about how cute one of the boys was.
Aspen walked over, towering over most of the kids at her height of six feet and to the door and exited, finding herself in the hall with her room in it, she counted doors until she came to the second door, nearest to the kitchen door and walked in.
She flung herself on her bed and put an arm over her eyes, kicking the door closed a crack behind her. she sniffled, ignoring the sting behind her eyes and sighed softly.
this place was nice, great even, but it brought on so many memories of her dad that it hurt. She also felt like an outsider in her home again, just like she had with her mother after her dad's throat cancer finally killed him.
She knew some of the kids would be glad to be her friends, maybe even all of them, but she knew she didn't really fit in with them, even if they were all peculiar.
(I made Janix Goldstone your roommate, you created her-)
Darius smiled slightly, looking a bit more comfortable than he was before. "Hey, uh…do you want to do a kitchen raid with me and my sister before we're sent back to our dorms? It's kind of a tradition that we do at least every month, just stealing as many snacks as we can before Mrs. Finch gets angry. She hates it when we leave absolutely nothing left in the pantries."
River grinned. "Sounds amazing. I'm in."
(oh damn my bad, misread the thing—)
(but I guess it doesn't really matter now—)
after a half an hour of silence, Janix came in and saw Aspen with her arm over her eyes, her cheeks supporting fresh tears and exited as quietly as possible.
She hurried down the hall and found River, tugging him aside gently, by the sleeve.
"Hi, im Janix, Aspen's roommate and I think she needs some cheering up, I would do it, but she knows you better than any of us." she whispered to him, so no one else would hear.
"Ok," River said before turning back to Darius. "I'll see you and Maya later."
Darius nodded and smiled at him, and River followed Janix to the room. He knocked once before opening the door.
"Hey," he said gently, walking in and sitting beside Aspen. "What's wrong?"
(It's all good, I misread things all the time)
Aspen sniffled and turned away from him.
"I want to go home." She said quietly. "I want my dad."
She pulled herself into the fetal position as much as he long legs would allow.
River sat there awkwardly, not knowing how to respond to that. He didn't know what it was like to have a family, and he was perfectly content with staying at The Chateau forever, especially since no one would care if he was missing from modern times.
He decided to give her a side hug, hoping that silent, supportive companionship might make her feel better.
Aspen stiffened at first and then calmed, wrapping her arms around River and shifted, so it was no longer a side hug, but a hug.
She buried his face in his shoulder and tried to hide her face.
"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."