[Oh, he hardly sees it as a refusal. Such deliberation is hardly unfamiliar to him, as it’s a process he himself undertakes quite frequently. The potential alterations to the timeline are limitless in this world, and without the relative certainty provided by establishing that they are indeed from different universes (and even then, ones unlikely to cross over), it can be difficult to say just what can and cannot be deemed “safe” to share.]

Point of fact, the reason why I travel through time is to prevent aberrations caused by those who aren’t quite so careful when it comes to preserving history. [So the opposite of meddlesome, at least in theory. Rip cannot say with full honesty that he and his team haven’t caused some of those aberrations as well—although they do take care to fix them, at the very least.]

It is indeed. I’m trying to figure out if you might be from a point I would consider the future, in which case it would become rather prudent for me to stop asking questions. [Although the designation “USS” has fallen somewhat out of usage even by his time, so it’s likely she may not be.] Plus, I’ll admit I’m curious. You’ve got a position somewhat similar to mine, you’re not from the early 21st century or before, and you’re particularly technically adept. Perhaps not the rarest combination around here, but it’s enough for me to be glad to have run into you.