video + action option

[directed]

[He starts the broadcast mid-afternoon—a choice of time as deliberate as the backdrop of Wonderland's tea rooms, easily recognized behind him. What's distinctly different, at least for those who know him, is that Rip appears without his typical facial hair. He's clean-shaven, beard and mustache absent, at least for the present.

His voice, however, remains unchanged as he makes one single statement.]

A question for those interested: what do you consider the proper way to take your tea?

[Yes, that's all. Certainly not the typical network fare of the day, nor what one might expect if they've spoken to Rip before, as any network post he's made in the past has been quite calculated.

Then again, given the look in his eye before the camera turns off? Perhaps there's something about this one that is deliberate as well.

In any case, he would be there for a time, enjoying a bit of black tea—sweetened with a touch of sugar, of course.]

Comments

video;

[walkingheroin]

If we're talking your typical black tea, then a healthy dose of rum. Earl Grey? Then switch out the rum for bourbon.

[This is probably not the answer you were looking for, Rip.]

Oh! And Japanese whiskey for green. Kanpai!

Re: video;

[directed]

[Not exactly what he was looking for, no—but it's not exactly a vice Rip can offer much critique on, either.]

I can't say I'm one to take alcohol in my tea every time. [And yet there's the critique all the same.] And while I certainly can't fault your pairings, truth be told I was thinking in more of a milk-and-sugar sense when I asked.

[You know. Like how normal people might make it?]

video;

[redheadpepper]

I don't usually drink black tea. I'm into herbal stuff. I don't usually sweeten it or anything.

Re: video;

[directed]

To be fair, most herbal teas are best without anything extra added. [A statement which might well leave one particular person steeping, should she be nosy enough to pry into the conversation.] Although I've found a touch of honey doesn't go amiss when ginger is in the mix.

[beautifullies]

It depends on who I'm taking tea with.

[18th-century etiquette and all. ]

But alone, I prefer it with only a small amount of milk, nothing sweet. Any particular thought that provoked such a question?

[directed]

It's something of an ongoing debate, really.

[And that's true enough. Certainly he and Peggy have been at odds as to how to correctly make a cuppa since the first time she provided one. But there is such a thing as too little subtlety, and Rip knows he's toeing the line with the question having been asked at all.]

And no doubt will be for the whole of time. After all, it's been a drink of note for centuries, and there never seems to be a hard and steadfast rule set about it. Although I suppose it's to be expected, as varied as tastes can be.

video;

[beatupgrass]

Dude, did you shave?

[IS NO ONE GONNA TALK ABOUT THIS?]

Re: video;

[directed]

Yes, as a matter of fact. [And it still feels quite odd to him; Rip even goes so far as to run his fingers across his chin.] Hopefully it's not too bad of a job.

video;

[like247]

[Color Wendy entirely surprised because what even with proper? Has she been doing it wrong all this time? Spoiler for two seconds from now. She has.]

What? There's like more than two ways. Nuke them in the microwave and then pour over ice but I totally throw a handful of bags into a big jar with water and leave it outside for the day. Best tea ever.

Re: video;

[directed]

[…You poor misguided child.]

While I do agree there are a variety of ways—absolutely none of what you've described can result in a decent cup of tea. Or…jar. [He's entirely certain that even iced tea should be made in a different fashion, though he's admittedly not so familiar with the process.

Just enough to be sure she must be wrong.]

video

[outstandingbalance]

[Interested might be the wrong word, especially where the tea itself is concerned. But the question gets her attention.]

When you say it like that, it implies there's an improper way to take your tea.

Re: video

[directed]

Some would certainly say so. Quite strongly as well.

[He's obviously British, so stereotype would indeed suggest he might have some level of expertise on the subject.]

Video;

[middlefinger]

I'm American; I drink coffee not tea.

Re: Video;

[directed]

My condolences.

[If they are going to open that particular door, it seems fitting enough to say.]

Although I am quite aware that the same question can be posed when it comes to coffee as well. [There's been enough fuss on the Waverider, after all, when someone dared use the last of the creamer, never mind that they could so easily replicate more.]

private text »

[mucked]

[ -- peggy forgoes the camera. him making an appearance on the network might have been part of their settlement, but she's under no obligation to show her face. ]

That was prompt of you. Well done. Only I'm afraid there will be points docked for including such a ludicrous survey.

[directed]

[There's no one else it could be from, of course--and perhaps unwittingly, her lack of video works to his advantage as well.

After all, she doesn't see his grin when he reads her reply.]

You can hardly cite me for your failure to specify any limitations on the content. I've fulfilled my end.

And what of you, Miss Carter? Did you enjoy a bracing cup of tea this morning?

video;

[modore]

...Tea?

[He's uh. Yeah, he's pretty surprised. He doesn't know Rip well enough yet to know this is out of the ordinary for him--though it kind of feels like it is--but it strikes him as an odd topic either way.]

Re: video;

[directed]

Indeed so. [It's been some time since Rip and Satoru have had occasion to speak, and Rip knows upon receiving his reply that the conversation would need to take far more serious turns. Yet at present, he continues with the topic at hand—as odd as it is.]

It's something of a debate a colleague and I have going on: how to best enjoy the drink.

video;

[bibliocorn]

I guess the 'proper' way is different for everyone. I prefer it with milk, no sugar.

[It's a little strange of a question, though. ]

Is this some sort of...tea poll?

Re: video;

[directed]

[So. Ponies apparently drink tea; consider this the something new Rip has learned today.]

Something of that sort, I suppose. A question of minor curiosity and no real importance, if I'm to be entirely honest.

[Such a thing is rare for Rip—and indeed, he's not offering the whole truth now. But Sunburst is a contact he's made for a rather different reason.]

I suppose congratulations of a sort are in order; you've made it through your first event.

[Although perhaps not alive; that first death, after all, would mean that Sunburst had only been gone for a day before his revival. Enough time has passed that he could have come back after such an unfortunate incident, should it have happened that way.]

[hypoxic]

[As far as Fitz is concerned, an Englishman doesn't start to ask random tea-related questions without trying to trap someone into stumbling into the wrong answer.]

Is this a trick question?

[Hello, Mr. Hunter. It's been an age.]

[directed]

[Well. If he's going to put it like that?]

Yes.

[Although Rip won't be explaining any further than that. The "trick", after all, isn't for the population at large, but rather a single individual.

The same one who has, perhaps unknown to Fitz, declared the doctor to be her pet project--and equally, deemed him off limits to Rip in regards to certain topics.]

It's been quite some time, Dr. Fitz. Nearly a year since we've spoken properly, I believe.

video;

[nascensibility]

[What kind of question-]

Have you gotten into an argument with someone about teatime propriety?

[Everyone has their own opinions, of course - especially Evelyn - but citizens of Great Britain are excessively verbose on the subject, and understandably so. By 1940 she is certain all subjects of His Majesty will have the stuff replacing the blood in their veins.]

Re: video;

[directed]

Not an argument, I'd say. Closer to a healthy disagreement.

[Winding up in a playful wager where one loss saw Rip clean-shaven, and the next saw this someone forced to add sugar to her tea for the duration of the week.]

Although that doesn't provide your answer to the question, Miss O'Connell.

video

[passingthrough]

[Hello again, Rip. He is the first person she ever met here so that holds a special place of sorts. She's done some adjusting since he last saw her a month ago. She's wearing a sweater and jeans though the gauntlets are still on her forearms.]

I take it as coffee whenever possible.

Is this code for something? It feels like code. The swan flies at midnight?

Re: video

[directed]

[So. How much leeway does that "special place" grant him to be a dick?]

I suppose it is best to recognize when you can't truly handle something, even if it means settling for an inferior substitution.

[A brief smirk should provide proof enough of the jest.]

Miss Pryde. [He nods briefly before addressing the rest of her question.] An honest bit of curiosity, is all. There does tend to be quite a bit of downtime between events.

[Some truth, some not--but as he so often does, Rip keeps the full scope of his reasoning well hidden.]