I agree. I think he's trying to fill a void in his life, but also he has a distrust of commitment and marriage, based on the failures of his parents, so he wants everything to be carefree with no attachments. But deep down, it's not what he really wants, so the family thing works there. The only other aspirations that would have worked for him, in my mind, would have been popularity or pleasure, but that's a bit too "more of the same". I like having the contrast, especially for my conflicted Ripp.

The funny thing about Ripp is that I have him rolling those "get engaged" and "fall in love" wants already, so this won't be anything completely new. Well, the baby wants will be new. *snicker* Poor Ripp. Wanting and fearing at the same time. He wants a happy family, but he fears that it will all go wrong in that classic Grunt way.

It will be a lot of fun writing out these conflicting desires. I've already taken a stab at it with that dream he had, where he was marrying Ophelia. That about sums up the nature of his trouble.