The Birdcage

Puzzling It Out

"I think we're going to have to start limiting your garden privileges." A teasing voice said from behind Nyx. "You're out here again? Did you not get enough of this place when you spent the night outside?"

Drawing her attention away from the flowerbeds, Nyx turned her head to see Jayson had appeared besides her; giving her a friendly smile which she returned weakly. "Sorry, I'm a bit distracted. I'm looking for something."

"What, did you drop your earring out here?"

Nyx's hand automatically went to her ear and she momentarily freaked out when she realised her crystal stud wasn't there; only for her to remember that she herself hadn't put them in them that morning. "Hey, that was mean!" She mock-scolded as he rolled up with laughter; elbowing him lightly in the ribs. "I wasn't wearing them in the first place!"

"I'm in trouble now!" Jayson cackled, dodging away from her arm. "So... whatcha doing?"

Nyx held up the piece of paper. "Trying to work this out."

"So you're assuming it relates to real life things and checking out the actual flowers it refers to? Very smart, Sherlock."

"Elementary, Watson." Nyx grinned. "But honestly, it's the obvious one to knock off the list. Occam's razor."

"The most obvious answer is usually correct." Jayson nodded.

Nyx shrugged. "Perry says it a lot."

"You'll find Perry says a lot of things." Jayson chuckled; before reaching out and taking the page from her hand. "So, what are we looking for?"

"Oi, give that back!" Nyx said, trying to snatch it back from him. Laughing, he held it above her head, making her have to jump to reach it. "Hey, give it here, you... freaky... tall person!"

"What kind of insult is that?" Jayson laughed; only to yelp as she tickled him under the arm and snatched paper from his hand as he dropped his arm on reflex. "Mean."

"Two brothers. I cut no quarter." Nyx chuckled, flattening the now-crinkled paper with her hand. Walking over, Jayson peered at it over her shoulder. "I've seen tulips here. And pansies- several different kinds, in fact. In fact, I think we have most of the stuff mentioned here -except daisies. I have never seen this lawn less than immaculate."

Nyx sighed irritably. "None in the flowerbeds?"

Jayson pulled a face. "... Daisies?" He asked, with a tone that said 'Are you sure?'

"Well..." Nyx said, turning to walk off into the garden. "I'm going to look anyway. You coming, Watson?"

***
"You're wrong, there's no tulips." Nyx said, putting her hands on her hips; exasperated after a while of them searching.

"They might not be out yet." Jayson shrugged. "Or they might have been out already and aren't anymore."

"This is pointless!" Nyx groaned, stomping her foot. "I don't know what I'm looking for! What's it supposed to mean?"

A the sound of footsteps behind them caught there attention, and turning they saw Perry walking towards them, Ronnie reluctantly following behind. "Oh, hey, Jayson." Perry greeted. "Good, you can play the role of the other parent in this whole mess."

"Okay... sure..." Jayson looked confused, but interested as Perry stood between the two girls, addressing them both.
"Okay, don't say anything, just hear me out. I know you two don't want to be arguing, so rather than sulking with each other we're going to talk it out until it's resolved. Sound fair? So... who wants to go first?"

Nyx and Ronnie eyed each other, both stubbornly saying nothing.

"No one?" Perry asked. "No one has anything to say?"

Jayson raised his hand. "I don't even know what's going on here. Did they fall out?"

"Don't worry about it."

"But you said I can help. How can I get involved when I don't know what's happened?"

Rolling their eyes, Perry shushed him; turning their attention back to the contest of wills going on between the two girls. "Come on, you two know you want to be friends again."

Ronnie was the first to crack. "I'm not sorry about what I said." She said curtly. "I still think I'm right. I'm not going to change my mind."

"That's fair." Perry said, looking at Nyx for her reaction.

Ronnie sighed, closing her eyes to centre herself for a second before speaking again in a reluctant mumble. "But... I guess I could have been nicer about it. I shouldn't have shouted; I was freaked out and feeling anxious and I took it out on you-"

"-Ronnie." Nyx interrupted. "I'm sorry. I knew you were upset by the situation, and I kept talking about it- I just didn't think. It was really insensitive, and I'm sorry."

"And I'm sorry for exploding on you." Ronnie said with a small smile. "You were just trying to help. And I was too, in a way- trying to help you. Can you believe it came from a place of good intentions?"
Suddenly finding herself choked up, Nyx simply nodded; both girls suddenly rushing forwards into a tearful embrace.

"... Aww, that's sweet." Jayson commented after a while. "Anyone going to clue me in on what's going on?"

The girls sprang apart, giggling at his words. "It's alright, Jayson." Nyx said with a wave of her hand. "You're free to go; you don't have to stick around if you don't want to."

"Oh no, that's no problem. I'm just genuinely confused."

"Aw, look, his nose has gone all crinkly." Ronnie whispered to Nyx, making her burst with laughter and causing Jayson to just look more bewildered.

Slinging an arm over each of the girl's shoulders, Perry positioned themself between the two with a grin and an shake of the head. "Honestly, you two, what have we come to? Sneaking out at night, falling out over some random words grey smoke spelled out on a ouija board- what is this; Nancy Drew, supernatural edition?"

"My guess was Sherlock Holmes." Jayson chuckled.

"Can it, Watson." Joked Nyx.

"What do you mean, grey smoke?" Ronnie asked.

"The lights went out, remember?" Nyx told her. "Everything filled with black."

"I wouldn't call that grey smoke..."

"It was before that." Perry said. "You know, it was moving the planchette on the ouija board.

Now both of the girls were giving Perry an odd look; staring at their friend with wide eyes.
"There wasn't any grey smoke..." Nyx said slowly.

"No, the thing moving the planchette was invisible, Perry." Ronnie said sternly.

Perry began to look very confused. "No it wasn't-"

"Yes, yes it was."

"No-"

"Perry, I don't know what you're talking about, but the creature is invisible. Nyx, tell 'em."

"Yeah, it's invisible-" Nyx started, but then stopped suddenly as a thought stuck her- a memory, something Perry had said just a few days ago. "Mia's grey haze is seriously distracting."
Her eyes flew wide in realisation. "-and you can see sound. Perry! The Whisperer- you can see it!"

Sorry this update is so late, I was on the final push to get my College work done before the end of the year- but on the plus side it is all done now, so I have time to do much more writing!
So, what do you think? Probably the quickest resolved argument ever, but I couldn't really drag it out and keep it interesting.
Not quite sure if the song fits the chapter- it kind of does and doesn't, but I ended up listening to it by the end of writing the chapter and I didn't want to end up not putting this version in the book. It kinda suits the story, if not this particular part.
So, be honest, did anyone guess the Perry reveal? What do you think's gonna happen next? XD