It seems like Riley understands pretty well, actually, why he enjoys being here, even with the cameras, and experiments, and danger and drawbacks. He's not alone in any number of ways.
Ned likes listening to her speak about her family. He chews almost absently at his bread, gaze straying between the various utensils on the table, trying to come up with a mental picture and sense of each of them. His mother had stayed at home, too. She'd not been an official teacher, no, but she'd taught him how to bake, how to clean and cook and look after himself. It had all seemed rather tedious at the time, but those skills had come in pretty handy, when she was gone.
If this conversation were an equal exchange, the way conversations were supposed to be, he'd share this detail with Riley. After all, she's telling him about her family. But it's not that simple, for him. He doesn't have any experience with it, doesn't know how he'd even begin to really talk about his mother in conversation. He thinks about her all the time, but that never really manifests in speaking about her, to anyone.
"More of an optimist than you?" Ned's having a hard time picturing a more cheerful, bright version of Riley. Doesn't seem possible. After all, look at how well she's been coping with being brought here. Always a smile for those around her, never angry or impatient or petty, even though she'd left behind such a fascinating, good life full of loving, wonderful people.
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Ned likes listening to her speak about her family. He chews almost absently at his bread, gaze straying between the various utensils on the table, trying to come up with a mental picture and sense of each of them. His mother had stayed at home, too. She'd not been an official teacher, no, but she'd taught him how to bake, how to clean and cook and look after himself. It had all seemed rather tedious at the time, but those skills had come in pretty handy, when she was gone.
If this conversation were an equal exchange, the way conversations were supposed to be, he'd share this detail with Riley. After all, she's telling him about her family. But it's not that simple, for him. He doesn't have any experience with it, doesn't know how he'd even begin to really talk about his mother in conversation. He thinks about her all the time, but that never really manifests in speaking about her, to anyone.
"More of an optimist than you?" Ned's having a hard time picturing a more cheerful, bright version of Riley. Doesn't seem possible. After all, look at how well she's been coping with being brought here. Always a smile for those around her, never angry or impatient or petty, even though she'd left behind such a fascinating, good life full of loving, wonderful people.
"What do your brothers do for a living?"