[open] Now I'm out here counting airplanes

[mutedbackbeat]

Characters: Derrick and others
Location: school grounds, probably nearer to the dorms
Time: Wed., midday
Content: Amongst some confusing things that had happened to him recently, Derrick's just realized how far behind he is in schoolwork. ... Staring up at the sky is just the way to solve that obviously.
Format: prose, willing switch it up

Comments

T_T This makes me sad, YOU'RE NOT ON THE CREW BUT SHE CAN BE YOUR MOMMY TOO!!!

[hanahanasunday]

Robin was really enjoying the melting of the snow; it meant spring was on its way, and with spring, a flower garden that she hoped to plant. Not having anything in particular to do at the moment, she had wandered out onto the grounds and begun looking for a suitable area for a plot.

It was amidst this aimless wandering that she noticed a familiar redhead, frozen on the grounds.

"Ah, Mr. Williams," she greeted, coming up a grassy slope to reach him. "How are you? It's been quite awhile since we've seen each other."

Or at least quite awhile since they'd seen each other face to face, though Robin had certainly been keeping her customary tags on him from the time of the time travel fiasco until he went to the hotel.

Mommy Robin! ;~;

[mutedbackbeat]

The incoming tune was familiar; Derrick didn't know it as well as some of the others, but it was one he had tried to memorize. Derrick turned to face his history teacher and then dropped his gaze as he realized he had missed a lot of her classes. How much did he need to catch up on?

"Hi, Ms. Nico..." he said guiltily. There would be no escaping or delaying this. "... It has."

[hanahanasunday]

That was not at all a happy face.

Robin's smile didn't leave, but it did become a bit more subdued.

"It's good to see you up and about," she said lightly. "I was worried about you, but it seems you're much better now. And just in time; we're starting Ancient Egypt in class, and I believe it will be our most exciting chapter yet." Including her authentic cat mummy that was most certainly not stolen from a Cairo museum.

[mutedbackbeat]

"Egypt?" Derrick found Egypt was always fun and interesting to learn about, and his expression and the fact that he was willing to look back up showed that.

It lasted for only a few second though. "Uh... kinda... actually..." Derrick might as well spit it out. "Kinda really behind in the class."

REPLY FFFFAIL! SUMIMASEN! (idk, is that even right in this context? XP)

[hanahanasunday]

Aha, so the problem revealed itself.

Robin waved this off, shaking her head. "You're worried about that? Mr. Williams, I admire your dedication to your schoolwork, but you don't honestly think I expect you to make up almost a month's work of homework in such a short amount of time, especially with how, ah, busy you've been." If being unconscious could count as busy.

"Don't push yourself too hard, just focus on our current assignments and get back to the old stuff when you have time. If you want, you can come by my office anytime and I'll help you with it." She'd even make him coffee; having company was an experience she'd not had before coming here that she wanted to keep having now.

[mutedbackbeat]

The grace period for the homework was great news to Derrick's ears. He seemed to stand a little straighter, not so weighed down. "Really?" And Ms. Nico sounded like she really meant it too. Word probably got around about him somehow, so that was how she knew he had been in a coma. Or maybe she noticed the absences and looked in to it. It made sense to him. Ms. Robin had been one of the staff members that helped bring Blossom and Hajime back. She was one of the ones that cared, for which Derrick was grateful for. "Um, thank you very much."

Derrick only hoped that the rest of his teachers would be so understanding. He nodded firmly. "Will do. Uh, are some hours or days better than others?"

[hanahanasunday]

Robin made it her business to know things about her students, Mr. Williams in particular following the time travel incident, so of course she knew why he had missed. And of course she was completely serious.

"It's no trouble. All I care about is that you know a little something by the end of the year in my class." She gave him a wink before considering his next question. "Anytime after class is fine. Mr. Ilsley often comes to study around four for awhile, and Mr. Sanji usually brings me coffee around five, and sometimes he'll come by after the dinner rush and read for awhile, but I don't think either of them would mind you joining the party, as it were."

[mutedbackbeat]

Derrick nodded once more. For how strict her first email was, Ms. Nico was actually a much more relaxed person, but then a faint confusion appeared on a normally neutral face. "Mr. Ilsley?" The name didn't sound familiar to Derrick, and he didn't even know if it belonged to a student or staff, boy or girl. The studying suggested student, however. "Will try not to disturb them."

Derrick also had to wonder if Sanji would act as strange as he had been when they went to her office to ask about Lewis and Clark's expedition. He made a mental note to prepare for that.

[hanahanasunday]

Well, if he had missed for any other reason, she would have been much more unforgiving about his work. But the boy's actions had won her respect, and for that she wasn't above giving him special treatment.

"Yes, Sora Ilsley. Don't worry, you won't distract him any more than usual." She laughed lightly at this.

As for if Sanji would act as strange as before... the answer to that was unquestionably a resounding yes.

[mutedbackbeat]

"Okay..." Suddenly, Derrick thought that he would be the one getting distracted instead of Sora, based on what little he knew of him. And possibly from Sanji too. However, Derrick didn't make a noticeable sign of those thoughts.

"Are we still working the same textbook?" He would ask just to make sure, so he could at least do the reading in peace.

[hanahanasunday]

The answer to this was also most likely a resounding yes, but Robin would do her best to see that it all worked out.

"Yes, we are. I'll email the reading list to you."

A warm breeze rustled her hair, and she was suddenly reminded of why she was out here in the first place.

"Tell me, do you enjoy gardening?" she asked, quite randomly and as though the conversation up to this point had been about nothing of concern or interest to her.

[mutedbackbeat]

"Thanks," Derrick said giving a slight nod as he did.

Though the topic change confused him. The most gardening he could remember doing were raking up leaves in the yard, mowing the lawn, or doing that class assignment of growing a bean in a plastic bag or small flowers in a milk carton for Mother's Day. (Those last ones had been a long time ago.) And raking the leaves and mowing the lawn were more chores than gardening. "Uh... don't know. Never really have?"

[hanahanasunday]

"I never really have, either. Certainly not as much as I'd like too." She looked away from him and out at the lawn, slipping a strand of hair behind her ear absentmindedly. "I'm hoping to plant some flowerbeds once it's a bit warmer. I think it will really brighten up the school, don't you?"

She looked back at him again, eyes dancing playfully. "You're welcome to help, if you want. Or even anyone else you think might be interested." She put a finger to her chin. "I bet Ms. Isley would want to help as well. And I'm sure Captain would enjoy digging... You know, this could turn into a fun project."

[mutedbackbeat]

"Oh." Derrick thought about it for a brief second. "Yeah, they probably would. Don't mind helping out." Once his homework was all caught up, hopefully by the time it was warmer, it would be.

"... What about the Environmental Club?" Derrick didn't know much about it, just that Blossom was part of it. "Probably get a lot of people to help start some." Helping to keep the flower beds nice after probably wouldn't have as many volunteers.