Confessions of a Runaway || Self
Ralph never wanted to romanticize running away. Running away only meant the problems behind you would follow, and it'd be that ridiculous snowball effect and it would grow larger and larger. Running away wasn't the solution, it never was. He wanted to teach his kids that confronting your problems head on -- in the most non-violent way, of course -- was the solution. Ralph didn't want his kids' problems to snowball. He didn't want them to be buried under the avalanche that they created by running.
But Ralph couldn't lie. He ran away himself. And he found happiness, a rare ending for runaways. He found happiness in Simba, but the avalanche came behind him. He had an explosive confrontation with his father which ended poorly to say the least. Ralph didn't want that to happen ever again to anybody. In the moment, that moment when his dad held him against the wall, Ralph swore to himself to never ever lose his temper on his kids, that he would never even consider alcohol as something that he'd allow into his body. So Ralph kept his promises.
Years later, he's at Walt with two ridiculously attractive sons -- Ralph never understood why he and Simba didn't adopt the ugly kids, those kids rarely have a chance and Ralph wanted to help as much as he could, of course, he and Simba never really anticipated the outcome of their children growing up -- with a really dirty-mouthed husband whom he loved more than anything. He found himself surrounded by kids who were similar situations as he was 20 years ago. His own sons had wandered off to do their own thing -- hopefully staying out of trouble, but Ralph didn't expect much -- and Ralph kept to himself. He didn't make many friends in Walt. It was hard to him, he didn't know how to connect with people like some others did. But he had Simba, Sulley, Vanellope, and a select few, and that was enough for him. Ralph was content.
As he wandered the campus, he came across his old hiding spot, the spot where he would come to contemplate the meaning of life, make out shamelessly with Simba, and have 3 am conversations with the stars. Ralph found it untouched, even after all of these years. The little carving where Ralph had innocently written that he loved Simba was on the same tree and nothing had changed it. He laughed to himself and sat down. It was his spot, and 20 years later, it was still his spot.
Of course, some random kid came bumbling in a few seconds after Ralph had reclaimed it. The kid looked terrified, like a deer facing headlights, when he saw Ralph.
"W-What-- What are you doing here?! H-How'd you find this--"
"This was my place, kid. 20 years ago," Ralph replied, cutting off the poor kid who looked like he was about to have an anxiety attack. He pat the spot next to him and the kid warily sat down next to the stranger.
"If you're gonna kill me, can you do it in the nicest, easiest way please?" he said quietly. Ralph laughed loudly, reaching over and ruffling the kid's hair.
"I'm ain't a murderer," he said, his husband's way of speaking slipping off his tongue. Ralph smiled softly at the kid and looked back at the lake. "So what's wrong?"
"What's got you all uptight and stuff?"
"I loved it here. It's a great escape."
"Not if there's still bullying... I just wanna run away and never look back. Everyone here sucks."
"Running away is a bad idea. I mean, I did it, but my problems caught up to me, y'know? You can't run forever."
"It'll feel good for a while, but then you begin to feel guilty about the people you left behind and everything else."
"You do, and now you have one more. Me!"
"But I don't even know--"
"Just stop thinking about running away. Things get better. I promise."
"You're just a stranger--"
"Just take my word for it. Things get better. Don't run away. You can have my spot, I officially pass it on to you."
"Wait--" Ralph didn't hear what the kid had to say. He walked away from the spot, his hands shoved into his pockets. He was never one for words, one for long lectures about life. He hoped that he had gotten through the kid somehow, even if it was just a little bit. But Ralph believed in him. The kid reminded him of himself. Young, broken Ralph who was just so naive about the world and stumbling around in it, more lost than ever... If Ralph could make it through, then anybody can. Simple as that.
