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[exasperation]

Display Name: Ripley Arkwright
Profile Photo: here
Notes:

[ the video starts up with ripley at his desk. he clears his throat, trying to seem composed and business-like. he's probably half-way succeeding. ]

Soo. That blackout. That was rough. Right? Right? . . . Right.

Anyway, uh! Stuff happened and — stuff got lost. Or stolen. Stuff and stuff. Oh my god, what am I doing.

[ he clears his throat. ]

My point is. I'm sort of freelancing my . . . powers? They work in teleportation. So I can teleport objects to anywhere in the world, but also if you lost something, I can locate it for you. Anywhere. And that applies to people too.

And, uh, I can also check where to find the best food. Like Yelp, but in my head. Don't ask.

Soo. Anyone . . . interested? Probably?

Comments

[exasperation]

Yeah, well. I was happy once and it nearly made me a monster. So I usually give it a big pass.

[ he had been so close too. so close to giving up his principles, just to be with ford. to be together forever. ]

And I don't know. Yeah, I don't want that but I don't know if I can want it.

[portolan]

Our past relationships don't have to be blueprints for the next. It's alright to adjust.

Asking someone on a date isn't getting on a one-way trip to whatever the ask for, either. You can take it slow.

[exasperation]

I don't know. It's been so long and I always had to hide and make sure he didn't know . . .

[portolan]

I cannot imagine Eddie is the kind of person who would want you to hide anything.

It's alright, to be rusty at something. Some people find that endearing.

[exasperation]

[ no. eddie is nice. like sincerely, and in a way that ripley finds easy to understand. ]

. . . Do they?

[portolan]

The kind ones do.

Some part of you must be thinking about it because you're still having this conversation.

[exasperation]

No! I mean. Maybe. But mostly no on the maybe.

[portolan]

What's the worst that could happen? Realistically. You aren't that close yet, and I doubt you'd follow Eddie if he asked you to do something you didn't want to.

[exasperation]

I don't know! A mess! Messes! Plural! Messinesses!

[portolan]

That's just life, Ripley. Isn't it better if the messes also contain things you enjoy?

[exasperation]

[ . . . he's not wrong and ripley turns pensive. ]

Maybe. It's just been so long and I don't know. I just don't know.

[portolan]

I know this is hard to believe, but I rarely know what I'm doing.

But I know I regret a lot more chances I didn't take than the ones I did.

[exasperation]

No, that's not really hard.

[ ripley sighs. he had never wanted to be brave. he figured he could sacrifice the idea of bravery to remain kind. And if people saw him as a coward, so what?

At least he wasn't hurting people as a coward.

but this was a new world. he's already doing things he never would have before. ford is not here. shouldn't he . . . try? ]

I guess. I guess it can't hurt that much to ask.

[portolan]

[ Ripley it is truly a wonder you still humanize him.

Maybe that's why he likes you. He honestly hasn't figured out the reason and it intrigues him. ]

That's the spirit. And something tells me he's the kind of person who will give something a good try.

[ Did this hunch have anything to do with Balthier goading him into skinny dipping? yes. ]

[exasperation]

He does seem . . . nice. Real nice. And we do like the same things. So far. So that's . . . a good sign? Probably?

[portolan]

I would say those are two cornerstones of a good relationship. So is actively seeking the other's company.

[exasperation]

I mean, that one time he wanted help. And I could help. Sometimes. Not with like big things, but little things help.

[portolan]

Little things help is a lovely way to be there for a person.

And you did bring all that potato salad.

[exasperation]

Yes! See? Little things, good.

[portolan]

[ Was there any disagreement on that...? ]

Agreed. A relationship is the aggregate of many small things. And yours sounds like it's off to a good start.

[exasperation]

I mean. It may not be a relationship.

It may just be like. A ship.

[portolan]

...I don't think that word means what you think it means.

[exasperation]

Whatever!