Re: dock: atticus and mal
"Need contacts," said teasingly about the ease of contacting gods. "Kind of like contacting celebrities." Maybe he should've avoided mocking gods while in the middle of this cursed lake, but wasn't particularly careful. Knew that changed later on in his life. Didn't know why, but wasn't stupid. Got it. Got that something must happen between now and then, but whatever it was hadn't happened yet, and Atticus was a lazy spread of thighs and slouch in the belly of that bobbing boat. "And from where I'm sitting, the world looks pretty mad." Had spent a lot of time on Reddit, and things looked pretty grim. Made 1999 feel like an innocent, sweet time. Wasn't, of course, but felt like it given the glut of information currently available with a click of the mouse.
"Thing is," he went on, a smooth transition when Mal said he'd like to see the base, "the island does some weird things. Ages some people down. Not everyone, from what I've seen. But some. Always a risk. Could turn into a toddler in the middle of the base." Sounded as untroubled by that statement as sounded about the rest of it. "Before you ask, no idea why. Haven't found the connection yet. Still looking." Pointed to the puzzle at the end of the boat. "That's supposed to help, but can't get it open," reiterated, agreeing with Mal's assessment.
Made a sound acknowledging the entire concept of estates and sales. His parents had put everything in a trust ages ago. Assumed that remained the case, and that he'd been able to just pack up his car and head out there. When the time came. In the future. In the past. Was all kind of a complicated mess. "Sister? Local?" asked curiously.
Didn't own a plant or hospital. Didn't know the name. Could be absentminded when it came to things that weren't literature, cars, or music. But, as expected of him, stretched his arm out, giving over the puzzle. "Call him Shakespeare sometimes. Doesn't seem to be into it," he said jokingly of the puzzle. Grin was teasing, obvious wasn't really insane enough to think the puzzle was his buddy. But the grin carried a lazy fondness with it. Liked the stupid puzzle, for all that he couldn't open it.
Was probably losing his mind.
"A good thinking song," he mused. "Something slow, easy to focus around. Familiar enough that you don't have to listen to it 100%." Was a good response, he thought. "Familiar," he added again. Most important part.