Sapper Ripley

Description

Appearance: Older veteran. Globe-and-anchor tattoo on his upper right arm — U.S. Marine Corps. Has the kind of bearing you can't fake and the kind of fatigue you can.

Personality: Direct, sarcastic, self-deprecating. Owns his recovery without making a show of it. Was clean since 1976 and got defensive about it the moment he thought the party had dosed him. Took the fact that he'd been magically pinned to a wall by fungus with the equanimity of someone who has had worse weeks.

Voice / Mannerisms: Dry humor. Calls people by their tradition ("Marine tradition — new nickname is Kit Kat, with Kraken"). Recognizes military backgrounds on sight.

Background

Sapper was watching Game 6 of the 1986 World Series at Fenway on the Jumbotron when the Buckner error came through. He blacked out almost immediately afterward. The next thing he remembers is the party of six standing around him in the Blount Fisheries warehouse on Spectacle Island. He has no memory of the days in between. He is aware that this is strange.

He was the third of the three captives pulled free from the dark fungal growth on the wall. Monroe Tanner was first. Mai Xiong was second.

Meeting Chandler on the way out, he clocks the military background and gives him the nickname Kit Kat — Marine shorthand for Chandler Thomas. The name sticks.

Session 02

Recovered last of the three and introduced himself to Leonard:

"Kid. Pleasure to meet you. Name's Sapper. Sapper Ripley. North End. Oh, I hate mushrooms. I don't even get the stuffed ones when I go to the Cateria."
— Sapper Ripley

When Chandler recognized his tattoo and admitted to being Army, Sapper guessed wrong about the conflict:

"You look like you could have been in Korea."
— Sapper Ripley

"Thanks, pal. Only one of my gray hairs would put me in right now. Nam."
— Chandler

He spent a portion of the walk out of the warehouse making sure the party hadn't dosed him — "I've been clean since 76, don't tell me you dosed me!" — and accepted their reassurance when offered. Left with Detective O'Malley and the Coast Guard. Returned home to the North End. Has given Chandler no contact information.

Connections