"don't fall apart on me lee"
"i'm not one of your dolls idiot"
disclaimer: all characters aside from marlene pickering, do not belong to me, as well as any plot points from the book or movie.
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once miss peregrine had dismissed marlene, the woman left her go with a frizzy haired, redhead, girl who looked about her same age. she'd called her fiona.
"you're the one i saw in the gardens right? you were making the bushes change shape." the blonde spoke up as the girl led her up stairs. fiona nodded, but didn't say anything only giving a small smile.
getting the message that the girl probably wouldn't talk marlene smiled back, "your powers are beautiful."
the small smile grew wider and the redhead opened a door to a room.
there were plants scattered around the room and fiona moved toward the left side of the room and opened a closet. she gestured to the garments nodding back to marlene's outfit.
"i'll come down when im ready. could you wait for me downstairs? i don't really know where im going." marlene smiled sheepishly to which fiona chuckled silently and nodded.
sifting through the wardrobe, marlene picked out a dress in a deep muted red. the skirt went just past her knees and she picked out a pair of black maryjane style shoes to go with it.
she pushed a black bow into her hair, keeping the short blonde fringe to the side.
she made sure to slip the little clay figure into the pocket on the front of the dress before going downstairs. fiona stood there, whispering to the boy who stood beside her.
"sorry i took so long, it's been a while since i've had to put on clothing from this time." marlene chuckled, waving to the boy, "i'm marlene but most people call me marley."
she held her hand out and he shook it firmly, "hugh apiston. are you here with the boy?"
when he spoke a bee left his mouth but marlene made a point not to question it, "i came here with him although i believe the plan is for me to stay."
he looked a tad surprised but nodded, "welcome to our loop then. fiona was just telling me how pretty she thinks you are."
the girl turned red as her hair, smacking hugh on the arm, who just laughed, "we best get to the kitchen before the bird has our heads."
marlene followed suit tapping fiona on the shoulder, "i think you're quite beautiful yourself."
laughing at the blushing redhead, hugh entered the dining room, pulling out a chair for fiona and then for marlene. the rest of the children fought for seats and marlene laughed as claire pouted as the seat next to marlene was head of the table.
"that's enoch's chair." she frowned. marlene patted the blondes hair, "it's alright. if you're quick you can grab the seat across from me. quickly now."
the back-mouthed girl nodded and raced to the other side of the table.
when she got there, a pretty, dark haired boy pulled out the chair for her and she smiled up at him, "thank you enoch." the boy just nodded back, taking the seat at the end.
miss peregrine entered just after jake and the noise quieted down. the ghost waved to her friend who smiled nervously at the attention. the headmistress looked over her wards waiting for complete silence.
"for those who haven't already had the pleasure of meeting him, our guest abraham portmans grandson, jacob. we also have a new housemate, marlene pickering. she will be staying with us until further notice." miss peregrines announcement caused a ripple of questions to crowd the room.
jacob looked over worriedly, "what? marley?"
"i'll talk to you later jake, it's okay." marlene reassured. as dinner went on other introductions were made by miss peregrine. she pointed to each child, naming them. some chose to show off their peculiarities.
while other conversations went on around the table, marlene pulled the clay figure out of her pocket, showing it to the sleepy eyed boy beside her, "is this yours?"
his eyes narrowed, scottish accent meeting her ears, "where'd you get that?"
"the future. thought it was cute." she shrugged, smirking at him slightly. enoch snatched it away, storing it in his sweater pocket, "ought to learn not to touch things that aren't yours."
she raised a brow, "ah but to my world it simply belonged to the elements." marlene frowned then, "i expect you'll show me its purpose sometime as payment for taking my little friend."
and while she was swept away into other conversations, for brief moments she could feel him staring.
soon enough millard walked in, just a jacket to cover himself. "millard! christ! pants please!" the blonde shouted. everyone's conversation stopped and marlene almost disappeared in her embarrassment.
"can you see him?" a little girl, not much older than claire, spoke up.
"i suppose it hasn't come up yet, but yes. i can see him quite clearly. the way we first met i thought he was a ghost. first thing he said was, 'you can see me?'" marlene huffed, "i was quite confused."
another girl, slightly younger than herself, who had tan skin and quite a bit of muscle tilted her head, "why'd you think he was a ghost?"
"just part of my peculiarity. i call it ghost. not only can i see the dead but i can act like them too." marlene went incorporeal and flew through the table, children squealing with laughter as she went invisible and snatched the hat off of jacobs head.
she reappeared wearing the hat, floating back to her seat, "sorry miss, that's not the best impression for my first dinner i suppose."
the headmistress shook her head with a small smile, "its certainly the most entertaining impression we've gotten."
