Well, this one's from the 60's. [ He gets to his feet, pretends there isn't a weird creak in his knees (God, he's getting old), and moves over to the fabricator. ] Tastes much better, if you'll ask me. You can check the box there on the table.
[ He taps the quick commands for a glass bottle of milk, then goes to get a bowl and spoon. ]
And this is milk based off Philippine carabao milk. Makes for good ice cream, this.
Oh, word. [ Carter, who is in a thermal shirt that hugs his shoulders and loose sweatpants (with no underwear, for whatever reason he's come up with - is that just his deal?) picks up the box to examine it, then pours a handful of pieces into his palm and munches away at them. ]
That's really good, [ he also talks with his mouth full, because he's rude, and he wanders over to look at the milk as if that'll give him any information. ] That's fucking wild. You can just make whatever you want? I mean... Gideon made me White Claws, so... yeah I guess so, huh?
Sure is. [ Carter plops himself down on a stool, catching the bowl in one giant palm as it slides towards him. ] What other cool stuff do you have around here, anyway?
[ Rip shrugs, moving to fabricate himself a thermos of tea. ] Stuff that you aren't allowed to touch, mostly. [ This is delivered in perfect deadpan as he pops the thermos open. ]
Though maybe you'd find something interesting in the library, given your thousands of years of life. [ He takes a thoughtful sip, head cocking to the side. ] I don't know.
[ He brightens up at the prospect. Of having access to things he might want to know about without having to muddle his way through pages and pages of written word. Khufu didn't have to read fucking English. ] That... yeah, I think I'm gonna have to look into that.
No, yeah, of course, that makes sense. I kind of want the future to be a surprise, anyway. [ Carter seems better, now - he's sobering up, and he has a snack, and Rip is being kind and affectionate to him, which is really what he needed the most, in the end: just a little love. ]
But I missed out on all the history stuff in classes growing up. I want to know things. [ He munches on another bite of cereal. ] I want to try ice cream made from this milk, too.
Sure, you can have ice cream one of these days. [ Rip takes another drink of tea, and with the thermos screwed closed he gives it a few good shakes once more. ]
Hey. Hey! I was a better student than you'd think. I tried as hard as I could, I... wanted to be an archaeologist. Having all those past lives now would've been badass, right? [ He taps his temple, a meme in action. ]
Probably. I would've had such good knowledge, can you imagine? If I knew all the good spots for stuff. [ Carter grins like he's stumbled upon some secret knowledge that he's sharing with Rip alone. ]
But [ and here he shrugs, taking another gulp of tea ] I'd be a hypocrite if I said I wouldn't do the same thing in your position.
I can't imagine having thousands of years' worth of memories. [ A little over a century, maybe, but not thousands of years. Rip isn't sure how old he is any more. ] But at least pursuing who you once were isn't timeline-breaking.
[ Carter shrugs, eating his cereal in relative silence. He seems lost in thought. ] See, if it wouldn't break the timeline, what's stopping me, huh? It's... it's weird. The memories, I mean.
[ It comes out very suddenly. ] And it's weird because it's happened so many times, losing her and all, that you'd think I'd be used to it? [ Carter looks up at him and shrugs, trying to look nonchalant. ] I think the thing is that, like, each life you have to start all over, so you don't really... learn from experience, or build up any real immunity to it, exactly.
[ Rip chokes on his tea. It's a very bad look, and he turns away entirely in something that's more embarrassment than shame.
He pounds his chest with the side of his fist, coughing. ] I... I suppose that makes sense. [ There is a brief clearing of the throat. ] You're born in new flesh, and the, erm, bonding process is-- very physical, as well.
[ Rip wants to ask when in hell did you two have time to bond, then remembers they'd left the two reincarnated lovers alone in the timeship for a considerable amount of time, that first time they'd all been together.
He resists the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. ] ...I see.
No, it's not. [ Carter passes him a sympathetic smile, drinks his cereal milk, and shakes his head. ] Wasn't kids too, this time. There's that. And I would say we never learn, but I think it's more that fate doesn't really care. [ He's that kind of casual that comes with forcing himself to box up his feelings and not think too much of them. ]
I know, right? [ Carter reaches up to pull the collar of his shirt down, exposing the last remnants of a mark. They're faint; you'd have to know what you were looking for to pick them out. ] Mostly.
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[ He taps the quick commands for a glass bottle of milk, then goes to get a bowl and spoon. ]
And this is milk based off Philippine carabao milk. Makes for good ice cream, this.
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That's really good, [ he also talks with his mouth full, because he's rude, and he wanders over to look at the milk as if that'll give him any information. ] That's fucking wild. You can just make whatever you want? I mean... Gideon made me White Claws, so... yeah I guess so, huh?
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[ He fills a bowl with cereal, pours the milk in, and then offers it Carter's way. ]
Helpful, isn't it?
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Though maybe you'd find something interesting in the library, given your thousands of years of life. [ He takes a thoughtful sip, head cocking to the side. ] I don't know.
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[ ... Well, it is. He smiles, sheepish, munching at his cereal. ] Probably. But reading's hard for me. So I don't really, uh... I get frustrated.
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We're in a ship of the future, mate.
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Everything else is yours to explore. The timeline just can't have you meddling with the course of your own future.
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But I missed out on all the history stuff in classes growing up. I want to know things. [ He munches on another bite of cereal. ] I want to try ice cream made from this milk, too.
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Hm. Did you often skip class?
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But [ and here he shrugs, taking another gulp of tea ] I'd be a hypocrite if I said I wouldn't do the same thing in your position.
I can't imagine having thousands of years' worth of memories. [ A little over a century, maybe, but not thousands of years. Rip isn't sure how old he is any more. ] But at least pursuing who you once were isn't timeline-breaking.
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And then, gaze averting slightly, manages: ] Is it something you'd like to talk about?
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[ It comes out very suddenly. ] And it's weird because it's happened so many times, losing her and all, that you'd think I'd be used to it? [ Carter looks up at him and shrugs, trying to look nonchalant. ] I think the thing is that, like, each life you have to start all over, so you don't really... learn from experience, or build up any real immunity to it, exactly.
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He pounds his chest with the side of his fist, coughing. ] I... I suppose that makes sense. [ There is a brief clearing of the throat. ] You're born in new flesh, and the, erm, bonding process is-- very physical, as well.
You two... she bonded you in this life?
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[ A pause as he drinks his cereal milk. ] And in 206 others, yeah.
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He resists the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. ] ...I see.
I'm sorry. The loss isn't easy in any aspect.
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Rip cocks a brow, pressing the thermos to his lip but not taking a drink. ]
...has your mark faded?
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[ Carter reaches up to pull the collar of his shirt down, exposing the last remnants of a mark. They're faint; you'd have to know what you were looking for to pick them out. ] Mostly.