Curate, connect, and discover
love the casualness of post island jalph bc the history is so loaded and it just sits on the tail end of every pause of every conversations, like an old timely chaperone making sure nothing unseemly is afoot as two suitors court, and it’s so easy too
yeah, Ralph’s breath hitches when Merridew moves too fast or too suddenly, and his eyes get kind’ve buzzy when they enter the mess hall and Jack’s loaned a knife to cut up his breakfast, but they throw back airy insults like none of it even happened
sure, Ralph’s tone seems slightly sharper than strictly warranted, and Jack’s responding smugness reads more sadistic than good natured, but they still talk
They still hang out and sit where the other does and walks where the other’s going, so they must be close.