paradisalost | 03. Peri in the garden

Current Location: The castle gardens, far end

Entry tags:

peri brown

03. Peri in the garden

[It is late afternoon and Peri is in the castle gardens. She is sitting in the shade with her back against the trunk of a large oak tree, writing in journal as if it is actually a real journal, and not a talky-thing]

Someone told me that there were gardens here at the castle, so I thought I'd take a look. Being outside amongst Nature usually calms me down when I need a break from everything. I was also going to school to study botany before I started traveling with the Doctor, so I won't lie, I have a little bit of an academic interest too.

[the journal picks up a light sigh before the writing resumes]

The gardens really are lovely. I'll have to come back sometime to do a proper catalogue of the different flora, if only to give me a pupose or something to do when I'm bored. It would be nice to take with me when--if--I leave this place. I wonder if the castle's hiding a plant press somewhere, or if I could make one.

[sound of pen tapping against the pages for a moment]

Maybe it will take my mind off other things.

((open post! come by and talk if you'd like to.))

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[spoken through the journal;] Yeah, going out's often better than staying in. Especially when the world starts changing.

[curiously] What do you mean by that?

The castle changes the lands around us from time to time. Since I arrived, it turned everything to a place called New York and another that housed creatures called Pokemon. There was no castle in sight, but everything was as natural as though we were living in those lands.

Wow. New York, I could definitely handle. All the shopping, and--maybe I could even show the Doctor around for once, though he'd probably say he was present when Hudson bought the island from the Indians, knowing him.

I have no clue what a Pokemon is.

New York was my favorite. I couldn't believe how big the buildings were, and the many strange new cultures... was kind of a shock to my own. [a scoff] Which Doctor?

And they're pretty much creatures from some other world. Pretty smart.

[a bit taken aback by the scoff] Oh, uh, the fifth Doctor. And the sixth. At least, the sixth was who I was traveling with when I was brought here.

I'm Peri, by the way.

[it's her way of transitioning between thoughts, I promise!] Haven't met either... are they all equally w- [better hold her tongue] similar in personality?

Peri? Hmm. You can call me Jun.

Oh, lord, no. My Do--my first Doctor, the one I first met, and the one I travel (traveled?) with now are as different as night and day. The first--the fifth--was gentle and sweet and caring, the I'd never make the mistake of underestimating. The sixth ... well, he can be summed up in one word: loud.

Nice to meet you, Jun.

Ah, that makes sense. [in actuality, she's kind of thankful for that one] I only know one of the Doctors, and he's pretty weird. Good to know some others are well-adjusted.

[and a low 'hmm'] Dito.

Well, all of the one's I've met--mind, that's only three--are all a little weird, but I still love him regardless. It's just part of what makes him, well, him. Which one have you met?

It's nice to know you have that kind of dedication, though. Like someone for who he is and all that. [Jun thinks that sort of thing rather rare; many people could get rather judgemental!] Hmm. The Ninth? Screwy guy, but nice. Real nice.

[mental shrug] He's the Doctor. [she says it like that explains everything]

I spoke to him shortly after I first got here the other day. And .... I heard his journal that day everyone was being so, er, forthcoming. To be honest ... it frightened me a bit and I felt sad.

I don't really get the whole Doctor business, but hey, they seem like interesting guys. [an amiable chuckle] I'll trust your desciption.

From what I know about him, that Ninth never misses a beat. [a pause] But sad? Why sad?

[contemplative]

He ... sounds so different from the Doctors that I know. Older, harder, more cynical. He's been upbeat mostly when we've talked, but that one entry ... it was like a complete one-eighty in personality from what I know. I can't really put it in words, but it's like he's seen and done horrible things since my time.

This is also an interest of mine, though I am not sure what you mean by "academic"; it is not a word with which I am familiar.
My people use many plants to heal the sick and wounded, and I would be delighted to discover the purposes of plant native to this region.

[ponders on this lady's strange way of talking before realizing she is either from a different planet or her own planet's past. The Doctor did say this place pulled people from all over.]

Oh! 'Academic' means I'm interested in learning about it, I guess. I studied plants in school, see. Do you know what botany is?

Plants are great like that, aren't they? When I was younger I had an aloe plant and if I got blistered from laying out in the sun too much I'd cut off a frond and squeeze the juices out. It felt soooo good.

Again, I have not heard the word, but it seems by "botany" you mean knowledge of plants.

My people do not burn in the sun, but yes, we have plants to cure burns and other wounds.

[smiling] Yes, that's it exactly. It's what, er, my people call the study of plants. Fascinating stuff!

And boy am I jealous that you don't sunburn. I mean, when I burn it turns into a tan eventually, but for a day or two it stings pretty bad.

I thank you then, for the knowledge of the word.

...that seems a strange thing of which to be jealous.

I guess maybe it is. But sunburns can be pretty painful, and where I come from it's not very popular to have pale skin. So we tan ourselves in an effort to be more beautiful.

... I just realized how lame that sounds.

In my world, those of the race of Men do many things to themselves for the sake of beauty. My people prefer to create objects of beauty, be they jewelry or tools.

Tell me a little bit about your world then, if you don't mind. It seems very interesting.

I come from a land we call Middle-Earth. My people, who call ourselves the Firstborn, but are named in other tongues the Elves, came to this land from across the Western Seas. There are high mountains, and vast plains, but my people kept mostly to the shallow valleys and the woods. The Race of Men rules over the plains to the south, and the Dwarves can be found in the mountains. My people were sent by the Valar to watch over the land, and to guide the younger Children of Iluvatar along their way, to be guardians to the race of Men.

Oh, that sounds wonderfully romantic, like something I would read in a fairy tale or storybook. Much more interesting than boring old California, anyway.

It is a very young world, and there anything is still possible. Your world is much older, or so I have learned, and it seems to me the people have lost faith in the unknown.

You're right about that for sure. If there's anything traveling with the Doctor has taught me, it's belief in the unknown. I guess most people on Earth are content with, if they can't see it or touch it, then it's not real. I feel blessed to have been taken on by him, I really do.

Ah, you are a friend of one of the Doctors?

Yes, I am. I traveled with the fifth Doctor, though when I was brought here I was with the sixth. I take it you've met him, then?

No, I have not met one, although I have seen mention of them.

Forgive me, I have not properly introduced myself. I am Arwen, called the Undómiel, the Evenstar.

Oh! That's a beautiful name ... Arwen. My name is Perpugilliam, but everyone just calls me Peri.

Delighted to have met you, Peri.

And you as well!

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03. Peri in the garden

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