driftfleet | (no subject)

[Well, someone might notice the dip in volume around the ship. And it's definitely time to check in on the daughter, memories or not.

So he barges right into the room while greeting her with a cheery smile.]

How ya doing?

[ It's not really a surprise that Cory's around, but it does kind of manage a start from her drawings when she looks up. And looks momentarily confused. Has it been fifteen minutes, Cory? Have you missed her? ]

Hi, daddy. [ It's said as easily as ever, at least, even if she scrunches up her face. ] Okay, there's not much to do here. On the ship.

[He'll always miss her, especially without anyone else in the family around. The brillo-headed captain's own face scrunches slightly, but in confusion.]

What do you mean? Riley... We're on a spaceship! We are literally flying through space and exploring the cosmos. How could this be so boring? [Of course, the way that he phrases it makes it sound like he might be just as bored.]

Suuure. We're doing that, but we spend more time on the ships then out there. And almost everyone's adults. [ Which is kind of boring, tbh, but that's not the biggest problem. ]We don't have schools or games to do here, so I don't know what else to do. I've done everything.

[He nods along in understanding. It kind of does make sense when she puts it like that. When was the last time they hit up a way station?

But one part of that sentence really speaks to him, and reminds him of something he's been missing. A sinister grin slowly rows across his face.]

So what you're saying is...

[He closes the door sinisterly.]

...You miss school. You miss being in class! Riley, all you had to do was ask.

[In space, no one can hear you scream.]

[ Cory. Cory. No. This is not what she wanted at all. Oh, no, it's suddenly like a horrifying stop. She wanted to be with her friends in class, it was true. But!! ]

Dad.

What are you doing?

[That look is terrible she wants to hide, there's no where to run.]

[He poses with his hands on his hips, trying to evoke the image of a history teacher who is obviously the secret identity of a superhero. He probably comes across more as a dork who is trying too hard, which is probably more par for the course.]

You mean Mr. Dad! Or Mr. Matthews. Or... you know, you could still call me Dad.

But what I'm doing is my job. My real job. It's time that we made up for some lost time, little lady.

I've never called you mister anything in class before.

[ WHY THIS. It's not like she doesn't want to learn, she does, but it's just not the same. It's been months since she was in school last-- well over six months, when she thinks about it. And that's even more terrifying, but she can't say that. There's definitely been lost time. ]

But we don't even have a class. Or textbooks. Or anything.

Not even Mr. 'Hey My Dad's The Best'?

[But he waves his hands to shake away her objections.]

We don't need that stuff. All we need is a teacher, and a student. And, what do you know? We got both of those right here!

[ WOW RUDE. ]

How are you supposed to teach without a textbook? Does history count out in space?

Riley, how many times do I actually use the the textbook? Don't worry, I've got this.

And history always matters, even in space. No matter how far away we are, it still makes up part of who we are. And there's still so much we can learn from it.

We've us it. We've even used it a lot, I bring mine and Maya's to class every day. Do you think I'd do that if we didn't use it?

Yeaaah. But there's a difference in history and your life lessons. Maybe someone will get offended by history out here.

In the beginning of class, at least. And for homework. [But not for the important life lessons!!] But, that's besides the point.

Well, history isn't very pretty in itself. It makes sense that not everyone's going to be down with it. But that's no reason to put it to the side and to cut people off from learning about it.

It's totally the point, dad. It's just our history lessons and always wrapped up in your life lessons which is always about something going on. But I don't think anything's going on up here. [How do you life lesson her life when she's hiding in a room?! The existential crisis.]

What good does U.S. history do us fifty billion miles away from even our Solar System?

[A LEGITIMATE QUESTION. That may or may not be trying to get out of class who knows. Or maybe she's just distressed by the idea.]