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ʰᵘᵍʰ ᶜʰʳⁱˢᵗⁱᵃⁿ ([info]nothingends) wrote in [info]repose,
@ 2019-08-10 22:27:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:*log, atticus mcvickers, hugh christian

On the lake: Hugh & Atticus
WHO: Hugh M. & Atticus M.
WHEN: Sunday morning
WHERE: On the docks, and the lake.
SUMMARY: Atticus suggested sailing in return for Hugh's coffee.
WARNINGS: N/A.

The last time he'd been out on the lake on a boat it hadn't been a sail boat and there was something about the idea of a sailboat that sat well with Hugh. Maybe it was the fact that he hadn't been out on one before, but he liked it better than a motorboat, even though he suspected a motorboat would make far more sense for him personally. But it felt as if a sailboat required skill and knowledge, and perhaps was just more classic than a motorboat, and quieter -- all things he liked the idea of.

This morning he waited on the edge of the dock, watching as one appeared to come towards him, and he held two travel mugs, one in each hand, each filled with Ethiopia Guji that he'd poured over earlier in the day. He'd added some sugar to one, noting it with a small sticker on the top, and then stuck a few more packets in his pocket in case Atticus wanted it sweeter, but he didn't want to overpower the flavor of the roast, and since he didn't typically do sweet, it was always a bit of a gamble what people wanted. And he wanted the coffee to be right. Part of this was the old barista him, the one that had worked at the shop in the U District for years, dealt with hipsters and coffee snobs, and trainings, and the other part of it had nothing to do with coffee snobbery and everything to do with the fact that Atticus had been genuinely nice to him, and he was genuinely grateful for that opportunity, and he wanted the coffee to be right.

This morning he'd decided to go comfortable, choosing a rare pair of navy shorts, along with a light-weight linen white button up shirt and boat shoes. His hair was gelled back, although he didn't have any particular hopes that his curls would stay put in the wind, but he'd start there anyway.

Truthfully, he was glad to have the sailing to look forward to this morning. His professional life felt more like his own again. The play was coming along, he was feeling good about the opening in a week, or slightly less than. His personal life was still... well, it was better. He and Hannah were talking, and even if perhaps there was slightly less closeness than there had been previously, the friendship still felt solid. But it was different, and he'd also become fairly painfully aware of just how much he'd depended on her to talk to, and perhaps unfairly so. And he'd been trying to reach out more. Theodore, his entirely too handsome neighbor, Billy, to watch films, and the conversations with Atticus had helped more than he suspected that he could really articulate. He hoped, as he watched, his grip still on the traveling mugs, that this would go as well. He offered a wave as the boat as it approached, and a warm smile.

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[Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]ephemeras
2019-08-11 04:56 pm UTC (link)
Was hot in the mornings. Had no clue when this summer would end, but to Atticus it felt a good 10-15 degrees hotter than summer in 1999. Could have been imagining that, but he'd read enough about global warming to think it wasn't all in his head, despite some truly insane sources seeming to think global warming didn't exist. Thought things were less complicated in 1999. They'd believed the world was going to end with every computer failing at midnight on the 31st, but that hadn't been the type of threat this weather thing was. Wasn't going to even think about politics.

Point was, it was hot. Dressed cool, and got the boat out on the water early. Liked those first moments of sunlight off the lake's calm surface. Was romantic, in a literary way. One day, he'd manage to pen something. Not today, though. The breeze was nice, and Atticus adjusted his sail setting for the wind, pointing the boat into it. Jib was secured to boom. Tack to mainsail. Used the motor briefly, just to get himself going in the right direction, then made for the dock.

Saw the shape of a man there as he neared. Wasn't sure what he was expecting from Hugh From The Forums, but looked like a normal guy. Was expecting someone with a heartache etched face, but just saw a guy with travel mugs, waving and smiling. Good beginning. Guided the boat up against the side of the dock, then moved quickly to secure the lines to the cleats. "Morning. One of those for me?" Reached a hand out for a mug, so that Hugh would have a hand free for balance as he climbed on.

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]nothingends
2019-08-11 07:44 pm UTC (link)
Hugh didn't know exactly what he'd expected a lit teacher to look like, but Atticus seemed to fit the idea of one easily enough. He seemed casual, at ease on the ship, which - was really delightful, and Hugh half decided in that moment that if he was going to own a boat, it should be something like this one. Not some over-sized over-done yacht, god, he had enough over-sized and over-done in the house, it would be something small, something he could manage himself, and something that could easily be romantic, and this ship looked as if it would fit that bill completely. Of course, he'd have to learn how to sail, something he knew nearly nothing about, and he wasn't going to impose upon Atticus to teach him the whole routine, but maybe he could pick up a thing or two, and maybe he could take a class. There had to be classes for that sort of thing, right?

He handed over the coffee mug with the sticker on top, a small round one with a coffee cup, and he nodded. "I put a bit of sugar in, but I wasn't certain how sweet was sweet," he admitted."It's always easier to add than subtract, so, I also brought some extra sugar in my pocket if it's not to your taste."

One hand free, he stepped over, careful with the balance of getting in and out, and he looked up at the sail. "This is gorgeous," he told him as he stared up. And then it occurred to him that although they'd spoken, they hadn't really introduced themselves in person. Hugh hadn't even given his name the fist time they'd spoken, and he'd sort of assumed that Atticus would put the two together, assuming that he didn't get too many people saying 'I owe you coffee', but he supposed he ought to make it official. He turned from the sail and held out his hand to the other man, taking the opportunity to take a more observant look at his companion. "I suppose we never properly introduced, but Hugh. Hugh March, or Hugh Christian. I'll answer to either."

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]ephemeras
2019-08-12 02:11 am UTC (link)
Atticus liked the sailboat. Liked something a little bigger and faster on the open ocean. But liked the sailboat on the lake. Took for granted how easy it was to sail. His foster father had been a baitman. Had grown up on the water. Was as much a product of that life as he was of his parent's Knickerbocker upbringing. Was here now, grinning at the man on the dock. Liked visitors. Was honestly the only way he kept himself sane on that island, was meeting people. Was working on getting a temporary pass off the rock, but was still a work in progress. Town events seemed to offer a temporary breaking of the rules, but they also seemed to only last until sunrise.

Took the coffee mug and sipped. Closed hazel eyes while he did so. Was nice, bold, strong, just sweet enough. Opened his eyes again. Smiled. "Will take you on as many turns around the lake as you want in exchange for this," he said truthfully. "Usually drink it black. Sweet enough," he assured Hugh, and he waited for Hugh to step over before he released the cleats. Grinned again, setting the coffee down in a holder beside the wheel down a step into the cockpit. Motioned to the curved bench-seating on the stern pulpit, just behind the wheel. "Take a seat," he offered.

Had put together the offer of coffee with the upset anon on the forums. Didn't ask many people for coffee, surprisingly. Had only recently begun reaching out more often. Remembered snippets of Hugh's story, but figured Hugh could update him on events. Took Hugh's hand and shook it. Atticus' fingers were thick and long, skin olive and the back of his hand coated in dark hair. "Hugh. Knew who you were, but don't mind introductions." Touched his chest. "Atticus, obviously. Doing better these days?" he asked, returning his attention to the wheel after temporarily kicking the motor for a second, just to get them into reverse and catching the wind.

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]nothingends
2019-08-12 02:33 am UTC (link)
Hugh watched Atticus try his coffee. It was an area that Hugh typically felt pretty comfortable with, but there was always a question when it was someone new - what were the preferences, and while the roast he started with was amazing, and his skills with a pour over equally so, still. The acceptance, and perhaps even mild praise brought a smile to his lips as it usually did. He sat as instructed, his own coffee balanced on his knee with his hand around it as he did so.

"It's a pleasure to meet you in person, Atticus," Hugh offered with simple sincerity, he could flatter, but this wasn't that. He'd been so grateful for someone who didn't seem to think what he was saying was completely crazy, and it had been on his mind for most of the past few months to contact him and follow-up on his offer. "Somewhat, yes," he nodded, reaching to take a sip of his own coffee as he watched what Atticus was doing. "I've been busy anyway, and that definitely cuts down on the sort of getting inside of your head and never getting out problem. Thank you for at least not making me feel as if my head was crazy," he added honestly. "The way that post was going, I think I was about ready to dig into the wine cellar and never emerge." It was said lightly, but he'd gone through multiple bottles of wine in the early summer, and he'd been ready to pack up and go back to Seattle until one of the auditions had worked. "I've added a stack of books to my bedside table, thanks to you," he added. "Not that I've had much in the way of time to work through them, but the intention is there anyway."

He looked up at the sail stretched up over them, and tilted his head back so that he could look up towards the top of the mast. "Do you take her out often?"

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]ephemeras
2019-08-12 05:19 am UTC (link)
Coffee was good. Had spent most of his life in New York or Chicago, and had gotten accustomed to good coffee. Had a Keurig on the island. Was waiting on an espresso machine. Wasn't the same as good, good coffee. Was good, good coffee. Took another sip as he eased the boat clear of the dock and into the open water of the lake.

"Nice to meet you too," he said honestly. Was glad he could come as far as the dock without ceasing to exist. Would've been hard to maintain his sanity otherwise, seeing as inviting people to the island was problematic in and of itself. And he hadn't thought Hugh was crazy in his anon post. Had thought Hugh sounded down. Assumed relationships could do that to a person, when that relationship went wrong. Didn't have personal experience with that, but he read a lot. Taught teenagers, too, and no one was more dramatic about romance than a teenager.

"Glad to hear things are better." They'd caught the wind now. Water lapped against the side of the boat. Let the sail out, then locked the wheel and moved back to the opposite stern bench, hand on the rudder, coffee resting on his thigh. The breeze was easy. Ship listed the smallest bit as it followed the lake's contour. "Busy doing what?" he asked curiously. Was curious by nature, if incorrigibly lazy. "Didn't sound crazy too me. Read too much for that to have sounded crazy." Grinned a lazy grin and took another sip of his drink as he glanced out at the water. "Take something out most days, early like this. Like being out on the water." Killed time. Seemed his life lately was heavily about killing time.

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]nothingends
2019-08-12 06:04 am UTC (link)
Hugh watched, and then let his gaze wander out across the lake. This wasn't an angle he usually got to enjoy and it was beautiful in the early morning sunlight. He turned his attention back to his companion, gaze taking in the wheel lock, and the sail movements, and then finally offering Atticus a smile as he seemed to settle in across from him, and he took a sip of his own coffee.

"Plays. Theatre," he responded. "We just finished up Spamalot in Repose - I don't know if you saw that? It was community theatre, but I'd also auditioned and gotten a role in The Last Five Years over in the Capital. So between both of those, I've had a lot of time that's auditions. It's nice to have my weekends back now that Spamalot's done, which is why I thought I'd see if you had time for coffee," he motioned briefly, lifting his coffee up in a sort of nod or toast almost. "The rehearsals for the one in the Capital are almost entirely daytime during the week, although this week we'll be moving into tech week, so it'll probably mean some long hours again."

He didn't mind. Long hours on the show meant time that he didn't have to spend missing anything or anyone or moping. Two shows, all the memorization, the blocking, the dancing, the singing - it had meant he'd spent almost every spare moment of the past few months doing nothing but that - and having one of them fall out had reminded him of how much they'd occupied his time and kept him almost sane. The loss of Spamalot's rehearsals had opened space again - space he was trying to fill with things like coffee with a man he'd only met on the forums, and having new neighbors over to dinner. But he'd have the play for a few weeks more, and with any luck, it'd get good reviews, and he could have the satisfaction of having done well. And he was already looking for the next show he'd audition for. He didn't need to return to long days in the house without any one to talk to. This was healthier, he was pretty certain.

"I'm glad to have established that you don't think I'm a crazy person," he quipped lightly. "Although if you did, and you still brought me out on your boat, I'd have to give you extra courage kudos." Something. Taking something out indicated the potential of other things. "I can certainly understand how you'd want to take something out daily," he glanced around. "It's peaceful out here, and I feel like it might almost be as restorative as Yoga on the dock, you know?" He turned back around, curious: "How many boats do you have?"

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]ephemeras
2019-08-12 11:06 pm UTC (link)
Agreed that it was wonderful. The view. The water. Even liked the sticky heat of his skin as the sun moved higher in the sky. Reminded him he was alive. Was an easy thing to forget sometimes on the island, where only the dead and memories lived. Out here, water lapped and he could sometimes hear sounds from the lakeside houses. But he felt awake. Was good. The coffee was good. Sitting there, lazily controlling the rudder as the sails billowed, that was good too. Was leaning back comfortably. Lazy. Thighs spread and one dock shoe half off his foot. Listened about theater, both in Repose and beyond. The Capital was home. Tried not to focus on that too much. "Don't know that one," he said Last Five Years. Knew theater. New York, Chicago, plenty of theater in those places, so assumed the play Hugh was talking about had debuted after '99. "What's the plot?" he asked of the play. Was a reader, a lover of stories. Loved discussing them.

"Congratulations on the roles," he added with another sip and a nod. "Sounds like a lot of work, but assume you love it, so you don't mind." Wouldn't mind a lot of work. Was lazy. Had always been lazy. But these days, Atticus wished he had too much to keep him busy. Too many hours in the day when there was nothing actually expected of you. No one expected anything of him. No alarm in the morning. No classes to teach. Was catching up on recently published books, but that wasn't responsibility. "Assume you're trying to bury your worries in your work. Good tactic." Had employed it often enough himself.

Grinned. "Don't think you're crazy." Reassured. "But probably would've invited you out even if I did think you were crazy. Good coffee, and crazy could make for interesting conversation." Didn't shy away from anything strange. Had honestly believed Claire was insane the first time he talked to her, but hadn't stopped talking to her a result. "Try to make me do yoga, though, and all bets are off." Another lazy grin. "Have three right now. One on order. This, the ferry that heads back and forth with supplies. A small aluminum. 24-footer coming." Had ordered a car, but had canceled that order in favor of the forthcoming boat.

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]nothingends
2019-08-13 04:42 am UTC (link)
Hugh leaned back too, leaning into relaxing as he followed the way that Atticus was. He liked the look of the other man, all ease and relaxation, and so Hugh leaned back and relaxed too. It felt in person how it had felt on the forum that night, nerves that had shifted into something a little less anxious. And here, the nerves hadn't been that significant - maybe just lightly there because there was always the chance you wouldn't connect in person when you had in text - but still it was nice to feel at ease. He hadn't been on a date since Hannah, he'd deleted every dating ap from his phone, maybe not forever, but for now. In Seattle he'd had an entire group of people he'd grown up with or gone through school with or worked with in the theatres around town, and some of them had also been people he'd slept with or dated, but they'd all been friends, people he felt various shades of at ease being himself around, and Repose had not had that since his arrival, and so he'd recognized finally, perhaps, that sex felt secondary to creating a network of friends - real friends - people he could talk to sometimes about things that mattered to him, even if it was just work and plays and art.

"Every time I've had something- like this," he waved a hand vaguely. "I've had a project of some sort, something to distract me from it, and I didn't have that originally. My mother sent me an email with a list of auditions in the Capital," there was a bit of a rueful smile. "She knows me way too well and she's missed being my agent also, but this came out of that list, and I'm very glad of it. I need the distraction of it, and it's a good way to do it. Sometimes the roles are a therapy all their own, like I can push emotion into it, or work through things and this one..." He took a sip of the coffee.

"It's a musical, small cast, just Jessica and myself really, and it's the story of a relationship over five years time from meeting, to marrying, to splitting apart," he tapped the lid of his coffee gazing at the horizon for a moment. "It's told 'he said, she said'," he turned his attention to Atticus with a smile. "Her from end to start, and him from start to end - and despite the topic matter, it's surprisingly fun in amongst the emotional weight of it. I'm playing a flawed character, he cheats, he sleeps around, he convinces himself that there are all the reasons why he's doing so and it's okay, but you also see all the way he tried to support her, to love her, to make her laugh, the ways he feels unsupported, and she's not perfect either, there's codependency - it's... complicated and messy, and it's given me things to think. I'm really glad I got the role."

He paused, took a drink of his coffee and then laughed. "I promise no yoga," he tilted his head then. "Ferry with supplies to where?"

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]ephemeras
2019-08-13 05:59 am UTC (link)
Grinned when Hugh relaxed. Thought it would be good for the guy. Had just met Hugh, but their conversations on the forums led Atticus to believe the guy had a lot going on. Was always good to relax. There was an old saying Atticus was fond of: If a problem has a solution, why worry? If a problem has no solution, why worry? Was a good way to live. Fit Atticus to a tee. Lived in the moment. Assumed that was what got him into so much trouble as an old man, but would be changing his spots to alter that behavior. Was just who he was down to the bone.

"Don't think I'd like to feel other people's emotions. Think that's required for good acting. Know it is. Understand the concept of using that cathartically, but not my thing. Can't say I enjoy strong emotions. Love reading about them, but haven't experienced one in a long time." Not since he was a kid, during the trial. Had made him numb, he suspected. Had stopped going to therapists as soon as it wasn't required of him anymore. Wasn't helping him. Had always lied, had needed to, in every session. "Will leave those to you." Took a sip of his coffee. Smiled. Didn't mind discussing any of this, and it was evident in his posture.

Considered the plot. The script, as it were. "Sounds like you're sympathetic with him. Think it's OK to cheat if he feels unsupported? Have been giving relationships some thought lately. Not something I think about often, but it's come to my attention that future me makes some impressive mistakes when it comes to understanding the nature of people in love." Didn't bother hiding the fact that he had a 'future self' he knew about. Didn't really see the point. Hugh might think he was nuts, but could explain the island. If Hugh didn't believe him, then it was no skin off Atticus' back.

"Ferry with supplies to the island." Nodded toward it. "Live out there."

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]nothingends
2019-08-13 06:32 am UTC (link)
It was more difficult for Hugh to relax completely - and the trial, the very public nature of it, even if it were less well known here - had probably only intensified that need to present as something that didn't seem like a bad guy, but if he were being honest with himself, while he might not ever be able to ascribe to the laid-back motto of Atticus, being at least somewhat open and authentic was easier. If people didn't like him, it was fine. At nearly thirty, and with the possibility of regaining lost ground in his career sitting in front of him, he was beginning to think maybe it was less necessary to be universally well liked than he might have thought three or four years ago.

"Yeah, I get that, it can be a lot - in both good ways and bad ways. Although I think I spend as much time digging underneath the obvious emotion to get to the less obvious one, which is- a lot more like therapy," he allowed a brief huff of laughter.

"I think he behaves like a dick, actually," Hugh gave a wry look at Atticus. "But that doesn't mean I'm not sympathetic to the motivation." Thoughtfulness flickered across his face as he turned the coffee in his hands once. "I don't like the idea of cheating. I've done open relationships, but if there's the expectation of privacy, of exclusivity, I wouldn't want to break that trust." It bordered dangerously close to what had happened with the dream. He couldn't help but feel that he had done so, even unintentionally. But trying to unravel that particular Repose event, was madness. It was done, and perhaps the outcome had been for the best, in the end.

Hugh sighed, and glanced over, gaze intent for a moment. He knew what had been said, and decided that he was going to roll with it. It was Repose, after all. "What sort of thoughts?" He asked instead. "On relationships?" It sounded nicer than asking what kind of mistakes. Those were Atticus's to discuss, or not.

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]ephemeras
2019-08-13 09:52 pm UTC (link)
Didn't know about the trial. Would probably have heard more about the world, had he been off the island. Wasn't. In a very real way, Atticus was insanely isolated. Was like he was still in 1999, at least until he looked at the internet. But wasn't accustomed to socials or surfing the net, so he didn't check often. Mostly, he just looked at the town forums. They were small. Digestible. Didn't feel like 2019, either.

"Never cared for therapy," admitted honestly. "Don't enjoy digging for emotions." Was true. Atticus existed. Just accepted what he felt at face value. Didn't go looking inside himself for reasons. Didn't think reasons mattered very much. What mattered were a man's actions. Believed that fully. Was what caused him to chuckle when Hugh said hid character in the play behaved like a dick. "People often do." Knew people usually behaved liked dicks. Accepted that. Was something that felt like truth to Atticus, who didn't really believe in any type of anesthetized world.

Listened. "Apparently, give me a couple of decades, and I think open relationships are the way to go. Sounds like some hippie bullshit to me. Not owning people or something like that, but don't think commitment is about ownership. Don't think the concept of freedom extends to commitments and relationships. Think it's doomed as a concept. People have complicated feelings when it comes to love." His coffee was almost depleted, but he swallowed down the last bit with the same pleasure as he had the first bit. "Thoughts?"

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]nothingends
2019-08-13 11:12 pm UTC (link)
"It's not for everyone, but it's definitely helped me," Hugh shrugged. The time in which he'd felt strange about talking about the fact that he had a therapist was really long past. It had gotten him through daddy issues, and university challenges, and the trial and relationships, and mostly he just wished that his therapist lived in Repose so he didn't have to figure out how to talk around Repose strangeness.

Hugh took a sip of his own coffee and considered this notion. He'd just said that he did open relationships, although really what he'd done was various forms of hook-ups, the handful of relationships that had been more steady had also been open in the sense that he'd been clear that he was still dating other people, and it hadn't been pushed, but they also hadn't lasted. He shifted. "I think my views have changed. When I was younger I just went out to meet people, to have a good time together, dancing, or watching a film, and we'd end up back at my place or theirs, but it wasn't really a relationship. And I had one long lasting benefits relationship and I fell in love, and it didn't work, but I think it showed me that I did want something steady after all. It's one thing to have casual when they're all different and you don't see them more than once, but it's another when it's the same person over and over."

He turned the coffee mug around a couple of turns. "I don't think commitment is about ownership either, it's not something that you can demand from another, it's something they give, and they've always got the freedom to rescind it. That's... the tricky part," he sighed. "I suppose what I'm coming to understand is communication is hugely important," he hadn't done so beautifully at that recently, and he grimaced slightly before reaching for the coffee. "If or when I get myself to a point where I'm willing to try love again, I don't want open, I want... I want someone who wants me. Not sometimes, or every other weekend, or because I've got a mansion with a lake view and it's nice. I want to be wanted and I want to want someone back, and I don't think open really fits that well. I guess."

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]ephemeras
2019-08-14 01:56 am UTC (link)
"To each their own," Atticus said with an easy smile. Was a big believer that people should do what they needed to in order to feel OK. As long as no one else was being hurt, then the method was up to the individual. People were all different, and what made Hugh feel good might not be what made him feel good. Was interesting, people being different. Would be a very boring world otherwise. As for talking around strangeness, Atticus' entire life had involved that. Could sympathize.

"Think they call that 'hooking up' these days." What Hugh described. Was still catching up on the vernacular, but was pretty certain it went hand-in-hand with Netflix & Chill. Still missed Blockbuster. "What happened with the long-term?" Had no 'long-terms' of his own to report, but like hearing other people's stories. In truth, he just liked hearing other people. Living people. "Not sure you can qualify something that happens over and over as casual. Just my thoughts," he added, putting both hands up in surrender for a moment, and then returning his grip to the rudder, empty coffee mug placed at his feet.

"Wind's changing. Careful. Your head," he said, though it was a slow and slick slide of the sail from one side of the boat to the other, in order to catch the wind off the far side of the island. Returned his focus to the conversation after. "Think some people feel like there isn't freedom to do things they enjoy in a relationship. Think that's where you get the desire for open relationships. Something committed, someone to come home to, but no limits on what you can do should the desire arise." Shook his head. "Don't think it works." Quirked a brow. "Sound bitter. Bad break up, huh? Someone con you?" Had been disgustingly wealthy his entire life. Knew the type.

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]nothingends
2019-08-14 03:42 am UTC (link)
These days. Hugh huffed a brief laugh, wondering if there was some sort of weird time travel thing going on, because the guy didn't really look that much older than him, but he wasn't about to ask. Instead he nodded. "You can't," he told Atticus. "Or at least I can't. And the shortest version of that story is that I tried to pretend that it was, until I couldn't, but by the time I'd decided it wasn't and was ready to tell her how I felt, another guy had caught her eye," he ducked, keeping his head clear of the sail's movement. "I've wished many times I'd gotten that courage sooner."

But he hadn't, and he couldn't go back. Any wondering about whether or not she would have been the woman that would have kept cheering him on forever was currently a moot point.

He finished off his coffee and sat it down, by his feet, catching it between his shoes so it wouldn't roll around the boat. "It's an argument, yeah," Hugh nodded. He could even see it easily enough, he liked men and women both, and the idea of settling in one direction or the other sometimes made him not want to settle at all, or it had, and maybe it was still there, although he hadn't really thought about it much recently. "I knew people who had an open marriage in Seattle, but they weren't an anything goes relationships either, they communicated intensely. I think they're still together." Technically he'd lost track. He shook his head, but for a moment didn't say anything. "If I'm bitter, I think it's mostly at myself for being foolish," he offered softly. "I was the only person conning myself."

Which seemed to be a pattern now, and it was truthfully what made him feel terrified of falling again. It was why he'd deleted all of his dating aps, and decided to try to just make friends- non-sexual friends. No hook-ups, no FWB, and hopefully no painful realization that they didn't want to stay at some point down the line. He shook the mood off, and glanced back to Atticus. "What do you think does work?"

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]ephemeras
2019-08-14 06:07 am UTC (link)
Listened. "Ouch." Sounded hard, realizing you had feelings for someone after they'd developed feelings for someone else. "Ever tell her?" Wasn't sure telling someone about feelings after they'd already moved on was the right thing to do. Might change if it was him in the situation, but felt like the honorable thing to do might be to let the woman live her life. But knew all about regrets. Understood he could be wrong about this, and it wasn't as if he had any experience to go on.

Considered, trapping his own coffee container between the side of his sneaker and the side of the boat. Glanced down at it once, then proceeded to stop worrying. Was his way. "Haven't known any open marriages. Knew some couples that went to key parties, but they didn't swing outside of those parties. Never went to one myself, but think those are about improving sex via jealousy, not about truly being open." Was an uneducated opinion. Hadn't really spent much time thinking about open relationships until recently. Was a new subject. "Think it's easy to lie to ourselves, especially when we want to believe something badly. Nothing to beat yourself up about."

Knew not beating yourself up was easier said than done, though. "What do I think works?" Chuckled. "Fuck if I know. Have avoided dating for my entire life." Hadn't minded, either, until recently. Until here. "Kept busy with advanced degrees, good conversation, academics, and teaching. Counseled teenagers, ran after-school groups. Weren't enough hours in the day." These days, there were too many hours in the day.

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]nothingends
2019-08-14 07:21 pm UTC (link)
Hugh raised his eyebrows in an acknowledgement of that 'ouch'. It had been painful, and then he'd hardly had time to think about it after, because of the film, he'd thrown himself into that, and then the murder, then the trial, and always the wondering. "Not exactly?" He sighed. "My life kind of went to shit around the same time - And she seemed happy and I wanted her to be happy, and I didn't think me telling her would have any positive impact, and really hadn't I had years to tell her?"

Hugh glanced over, considering. He suspected if you needed jealousy to improve sex, that your sex might be somewhat lackluster in the first place, but that wasn't the sort of party he'd ever been involved in so it was a statement that didn't come from any personal experience really. "Maybe not, but it seems to be a trend with me and relationships," his voice felt less than steady as he concluded that statement, and so he didn't follow it up with the rest of what he'd been thinking, and instead stared at the woods nearest them. He'd done it twice, in opposite ways, but it left him wondering if anything he felt was true could really be trusted. The idea of someone who intently and absolutely always believed in the best of you, as Theo had described Jamie as being, felt like something that could barely be hoped for.. And until Theo had said it, Hugh hadn't even considered that it was what he wanted.

He pulled in a breath pushing his own introspection away. "You really never dated?" His lips quirked up in a half smile. "This sounds like me right now. Two plays in one three month period, and I'm going to start a round of auditions here in the next couple of weeks or so, because maybe if I keep busy enough I won't have time to think about the fact that I'm spending nights alone, because I'll barely be spending nights alone, and those I am, I need the sleep," he shrugged, as if knowing this wasn't necessarily the healthiest philosophy for long-term, but it felt the safest for right now. "You clearly won't always avoid dating though..." He offered tentatively. "Do you date now?"

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]ephemeras
2019-08-15 02:58 am UTC (link)
"Going to ask about the obvious ignored revelation: How did your life go to shit at that time? Don't have to answer but, since it's just us and the waves, figured it wouldn't hurt to put the question out there." Knew some people liked to talk about themselves, were just looking for the opening. Some people truly didn't want to talk about their private things. Gave Hugh the option. Wouldn't mind if Hugh didn't take him up on the opportunity. "Ever think maybe you didn't tell her for all those years deliberately? Notice in a lot of novels, in a lot of lives, people yearn for things they can't have. Maybe only loved her because she wasn't yours anymore." Was a bold suggestion, but Atticus liked true conversations. Wasn't about sentiment built in the clouds. Like real talk.

The sailboat rounded the tip of the island. Didn't pay it much attention, the island. Had walked every square mile of the place. Knew it by rote. "What's a trend with you? Lying to yourself?" Chuckled. Shook his head slightly. "Think we all do that about all sorts of things. Surviving would be hard if we didn't. Coping device," he suggested. Atticus was the kind of guy that accepted his flaws. Was fine with them. Didn't feel the need to alter them. Lied to himself often, and said it without reservation. Was who he was.

Didn't even look sheepish when Hugh asked if he didn't date. "Tried it in high school. Went to a school dance with a girl. Wasn't into it. Realized I preferred men, but there was never time. Harder to find men in places that aren't Repose. Seems kind of a given here that someone might be gay, but didn't find that to be true elsewhere. Anyway, seems like I date too much in the future." Grinned a smirking grin. "Guess I'm just saving it up." As for dating now: "Now is complicated. Not against the idea. Might actually be a good time to embrace romance, but, no, not dating now." Looked out at the water a moment. Looked back at Hugh. "Don't bury yourself in work to avoid feeling things. Even if you hurt, let it hurt. Can move on then. Don't think anything good comes of not facing things. Some sage advice from a stranger on a boat."

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]nothingends
2019-08-15 05:13 am UTC (link)
"I got caught up in a murder trial." This was stated matter-of-factly, while his gaze was on Atticus' face half curious, but it was a Google search away, and he was tired of pretending around it - if it was asked outright - and if he said and people backed away, then that was fine. "I wasn't the murderer, don't worry. And I knew I loved her before - about a year before, I just was afraid she wouldn't feel the same way and I think if you're accusing me of liking emotionally unavailable people, it's maybe not a lie, but that isn't why I loved her."

And maybe he did lie as a survival mechanism, but he wasn't certain it was doing himself any good at this point. Mostly it just meant that he didn't trust his own emotions or thoughts on the matter, and he didn't have good outside references points anymore.

"Should have gone to Seattle," he told him wryly. "I got my first kiss in high school, from a guy. But theatre kid, it tends to attract." His gaze flickered to the horizon again. "There's only so much hurting you can do, you know? I realize sometimes the only way out is through, but I feel like it keeps eating away at my optimism and hope too. I don't like who I am in the middle of it sometimes." And that was the root of the struggle he was facing right now, to be someone he liked in spite of the way his mind wandered to the worst possibilities.

He looked back. "Why is now complicated?"

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]ephemeras
2019-08-15 07:02 am UTC (link)
"Sounds like a big deal. Getting caught up in a murder trial." Didn't ask anything beyond that, though there was a question in the lift of his eyebrow. Didn't think this man looked like a murderer, but you never knew. Couldn't tell that on sight. He wasn't worried, even before Hugh said he wasn't the murderer. "Not accusing you of anything. Don't know you well enough for accusations. Just saying I'm familiar with the trope in novels. Man doesn't love woman until she falls in love with someone else. You know how it goes." Curious. Took the bait a moment later. "Why did you love her?"

A chuckle. "Spent my teen years in a fishing village in upstate New York. Am sure Seattle was much more accepting." Didn't mind those years. Missed the simplicity of that life, even if the one that came after offered much more in the way of literature and academic conversations. But made a sound of agreement a moment later. "Think we're not supposed to like who we are in the middle of bad times. Part of learning. But agree that no one should feel badly longer than is healthy. Can be consequences. Bad consequences. My advice, is learn from whatever it happened, then leave it behind. Easier said than done, I know."

Glanced back at the island. "That island ages people down. Bought it. Other people can't go there and be affected anymore, but my cowardly and older self went there on purpose. His version of suicide, I guess. But with less permanence." Sounded calm about it, not bothered. Was just what it was. Was accustomed to it, or more accustomed to it with every day that passed.

The boat was on a straight path to the next curve around said island. Motioned to the rudder. "Want to give it a try? Straight ahead for a few minutes, so no harm."

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]nothingends
2019-08-15 05:56 pm UTC (link)
"I was ambitious and it got me in trouble," Hugh said flatly, not really wanting to dwell on it, but he was also trying to be more honest with himself, and with other people in some extent, and since the topic had come up, he wasn't going to shy away from it, if not necessarily dive deeper.

"But I'm familiar with the tropes, even if I've not read that many books, I've found them in plays too, films. But with her..." Sometimes he wondered when he'd really fallen in love with her. He knew the moment he'd realized that he was willing to admit to himself that he did. That moment was crystal clear in his memory, the sort of thing that could be pulled back like it was a still of a film. And that was part of it, but not a good descriptor. After a heartbeat he spoke again, turning the words over thoughtfully as he did. "The night we met she reached over and tugged one of my curls down, and I told her that I didn't let anyone play with my hair, and she grinned cheeky, and she did it again, and that isn't when I fell in love with her, but it made her different than anyone else I knew. For probably two years she never missed one of my shows, even though she hated sitting still through long things, but at the same time she didn't take my attempts to look perfect seriously, she was always willing to poke holes in my facade, but she took me seriously, and when I was with her, I saw myself more honestly, I think. She loved me, and she kept me grounded, and I loved making her smile."

That had all been its own sort of pain, and sometimes it still was there, even though he kept thinking he'd mostly walked away from it. Maybe part of being an adult was gathering scars, wounds that you'd carry with you for the rest of your life, and that even if they'd heal, you'd still see the evidence of them.

He moved, heading for the rudder as he considered the island, and as he reached it, he took it - straight ahead as Atticus had said. "So older you went to the Island knowing he'd turn you younger?" Hugh hadn't ever paid much attention to the island, other than not to go there, but that wasn't something that was really even a temptation as he didn't have his own boat, or the skills to get there. "So when you say you know what older you does - is it because you have those memories?"

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]ephemeras
2019-08-15 07:37 pm UTC (link)
"Ambition can blind. Know that. Have seen it time and again. Parents were Knickerbockers. Old money, society in New York. Their friends were politicians and businessmen, people who had more money than anyone could know what to do with. Still ambitious." Grinned a lazy grin, unapologetic. "Have never had any ambition. Always drove them nuts. Never pushed myself. Don't really look for tomorrow. Think you might need to be forward looking in order to be ambitious." Was honest. Atticus liked to repay honesty with honesty. Put it out there. If he was ashamed to say it, then it was something he should work to change.

Chuckled at the memory. A quiet chuckle, reverent and respectful. "Sounds like a good beginning to a story," he said of the curl-tug moment. "Small thing, but says a lot about her. Describes her. Show, don't tell," he added, because he was an English teacher and that kind of thing was habit. "Sounds like a good relationship, a good woman. Sorry it didn't work out for you two," he said truthfully. Could pick the story apart, and the literary academic in him wanted to, but it was also nice to just sit there and think about it. Should order some new books. "Tell me about your biggest argument? Humor a stranger on a boat who hears far too few stories lately." Thought relationships might have found their heart at arguments, in the bad times.

Moved aside and let Hugh take control. Sail was full, and there was no need to shift her until they rounded the corner of the island. Had a few minutes to work with, maybe longer. Wind wasn't too bold on this side of the rock. "Older me did, but no memories. The island doesn't just make you physically younger. Puts you back to a place in time. For me, it's 1999. Don't know anything beyond that, but have access to the journals. Can read what I do in the future, and have talked to the people I did it with." It was complicated, because back in 1999 there was the real him, going on with his life. This was all false. Knew that. Made things confusing and complicated, but Atticus didn't like focusing on complicated and confusing. Would rather stretch back, hands behind his head, and enjoy this beautiful morning.

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]nothingends
2019-08-15 09:20 pm UTC (link)
Hugh laughed at this honesty, a quick huff of breath with no judgement or mockery given. A lack of ambition - indeed the entire past year where he'd sat in his house pretending that the ambition to write a screenplay would work out - was never going to be him, but it didn't mean he thought that it was always good. He might be too keen to over-work, and too easily given to shallow relationships with no depth, and he was trying, even if it was easy to want to give all in to work, to be certain he didn't allow himself to do that now.

Hugh knew she'd been a good woman, and he supposed he believed he'd had something special there, something that he couldn't turn back and recapture. He wondered if he'd told her that birthday when he'd realized, what might have happened, or if he hadn't been so purposefully determined to keep it 'casual or open'. He tilted his head back up at the sail. "We saw each other maybe a couple of times a month at most - she lived a ways out and she had this tendency to just show up. Probably about a year into this, after she'd left my texts on read for literally weeks, she shows up out of nowhere, wanting me to spend the afternoon with her. Only I've got this big dinner, people from LA, agents and people from studios, and I'm anxious about it - cause it's potentially gonna make a difference in my career, and I tell her I can't and why. She barrels on through, and I got frustrated, told her she'd left me on read for weeks, and she just showed up when she wanted a fuck, and right then I needed a friend, and she goes off, calls me an amateur, and fake, and pretentious, essentially and I told her to get out so she left." There had been other disagreements at times, but that had definitely been one of the most passionate ones and strangely it wasn't as difficult to talk about it as he'd thought it might be. It had been years ago, now, over half-a-decade he realized, which seemed odd in and of itself.

He kept the boat going straight, glancing ahead to see if anything might need to be shifted, even though he didn't really know how to make that work. "Are you only on the Island?" Hugh asked. "Sorry, if I'm asking too many questions. You can tell me to buzz off if you want."

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]ephemeras
2019-08-15 09:58 pm UTC (link)
Didn't mind his laziness. Was a good way for him to live. Hadn't kept him from college degrees or work. Didn't mind it. Felt right in his gut. Went with that, with the feeling that it was who he was and that was OK.

Had asked about the fight. Was interested. Listened. Leaned forward, elbows on knees. Had questions, but waited until the end of the telling. "Didn't bother you, seeing her so seldom? Can't imagine that. Maybe I'd be into it, though. Easy. Low-impact. Doesn't seem like your thing, from the little I know about you." Commented as the thoughts came to him. "Amateur and fake about what? Are you pretentious?" Asked, though he knew the answer he would receive might be skewed. Might be the truth. It was hard to know if people saw themselves as they really were. Was hard to know if other people saw them as they really were. There was no absolute truth when it came to truth. "How did you work it out after that?" Was just as telling as the fight, thought Atticus. Hadn't been the end, or he didn't think so. Didn't sound like an end.

Watched the sail. Watched the rudder. Sat back comfortably. Not worried. Not concerned. "Can come as far as the docks. Think it has something to do with the lake, not the island. Island just happens to sit in it. No reports of anyone being affected in the water, though. Only on the rock." Had his theories about that, but was still a work in progress.

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]nothingends
2019-08-15 10:25 pm UTC (link)
"Not at the time," Hugh answered without having to think about it much. "It's who I was then. I'd call her up if I wanted to do something, and a lot of times she'd say yes, and it was nice, familiar, easy," he nodded. "We'd text sometimes for long hours into the night, but I didn't have to stop focusing on work, or worry about bringing someone from a club home." He realized that probably made him a bit of a dick, especially since at this point he suspected that it hadn't been what she'd wanted, exactly. He shook his head. "She just texted me again, and things had shifted, and I could feel it, but we kept seeing each other for sex, and eventually it shifted again, and we were friends again, and I realized I didn't want to live without that." And yet here he was.

He pulled in a breath and laughed lightly, shaking his head. "I presume an amateur actor and that it was an attempt to dig at me about where I was professionally, which was absolutely not true, even if it might have still been a fear at the time. Fake - I like things to be a certain way, and I'm probably too conscious of my appearance and what people think of me, and while I'd like to think I'm better than I used to be I still struggle to be open with things that I'm afraid will make people think poorly of me. Pretentious," he shook his head. "Probably, honestly. I definitely don't try to be, but I suspect it's still a real possibility."

Hugh looked at the lake, back to the sail, and then back to his companion. This made the boat make sense, and he wasn't bothered by it at all, because a boat and learning to sail one really was within his interests, but suddenly why the boat - specifically - was very clear. "This lake is weird," he said, an almost imperceptible shiver running up his spine. "Really this whole town is, but the lake has so many rumors I feel like. Does anyone live on the island? I mean, besides you?"

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]ephemeras
2019-08-16 03:42 am UTC (link)
"'Who you were then,'" Was somewhat of a repetition. "Who are you now?" Seemed like the response indicated a change. "Do that often? Bring someone home? Did she? Did you talk about it?" The questions weren't asked with judgement in his voice. Curious. Was curious about how people managed tangled relationships. "Would you have texted eventually if she didn't?" Was like reading deeper and further into a book as the sun rose higher in the sky. Warmer now. Was sweating in his sneakers and the back of his shirt was damp.

Considered the things Hugh said about being an amateur, being fake, being pretentious. "Interesting that those were the things she thought would hurt you most for her to say." Was interesting. Said something about them, about their relationship. Didn't ask for further clarification, not out of any need to not be nosy. Was just content with that information. Told him enough.

Chuckled. "Lake is. Plane went down here during World War II, in the lake. Never took it out. Never claimed the bodies. Too expensive in the middle of a war, too complicated after." Glanced back at the island. As far as populating dead went, the island wasn't bad. They were angrier than most of Atticus' haunts, but they weren't particularly gruesome. "Only me. Only one house on the lake. There's an abandoned military facility, but it hasn't been used since World War II. Locked up tight. Only house is mine, and the rest of the place is a nature preserve."

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]nothingends
2019-08-16 06:19 am UTC (link)
Hugh glanced over, and there was a bit of a self-depreciating smile as he shook his head at the onslaught of questions. He didn't entirely mind, but they were a little all over the place and he wasn't certain how to follow the thread through. "We never talked much although I did try to make certain we were on the same page early on, and she knew I saw people. But she was more serious than they were and I think we both knew that kind of. These days - I haven't been with someone in nearly three months, and if I were to start dating again, I don't think I'd actually want to do the open thing." He hadn't really wanted it with Hannah, but he'd played with it, for reasons that felt dumb now, but he supposed also had been its own learning experience in terms of determining he didn't want it. Whatever had changed, whether it had been his break-up or the trial and its publicity, he found himself shying away from the idea of just casual dates or hook-ups with an intensity that his younger self wouldn't have believed possible, probably.

It wasn't that surprising to Hugh, but maybe it was interesting to someone else. He took pride in being a professional when it came to stage work and he worked hard on it. He liked the recognition, every play in his biography was another success, and the larger the city, or the house, or the production, the better. But beyond that, he supposed, he wanted to be seen as authentic, sometimes he even tried hard to be that, and yet he knew he could be fake, he could present an appearance, and as much as anything it showed how well she'd known him that she'd known those words would sting like they did, so much that six - seven? - years later he still remembered them.

"What sort of plane?" Hugh asked almost incredulously. It seemed absurd that a plane going down would be the thing that would set the lake strange. He almost half wondered at times if they weren't on some sort of Buffy-like hellmouth, it would certainly explain a lot of the strange things he'd seen in the almost year he'd spent in this town. "Does it get lonely?" Hugh added. "I'd get lonely, but I might be sort of abnormal in the other direction. What sort of facility was the military facility?"

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]ephemeras
2019-08-16 08:15 am UTC (link)
Wasn't a very linear guy. Asked questions as they occurred to him. Made comments the same way. "As long as she knew, then there's nothing you did wrong. Communication is key. Still don't put much stock in open relationships working, but think communication is the key to the ones that do. That and two people who aren't particularly jealous." Didn't think three months seemed very long. Explained the anonymous post on the forum. Explained the sense he got that Hugh was still getting over something. Didn't poke the fresh wound. "Think it's good that you're figuring out what you want. Think relationships are, by and large, about learning. Don't know what you want until you experience what you don't want." Was potentially a pessimistic way to see things, but made sense to Atticus.

Assumed there was some good amount of narcissism present in any performer. There was an impressive amount of narcissism in literary academics. There was the race to be published and acknowledged. Was cutthroat in a way that probably wasn't immediately evident from outside. Didn't think it was a bad thing. Thought it was just a normal part of people.

"Paratrooper plane. A lot of service men aboard," he said of the plane that had gone down during World War II. "Gets too quiet at times," admitted of the island. Didn't like to say it aloud, as if that would make it stronger or more true. "Think it was Air Force, but not sure. It's listed as being active during the war, but there's nothing else I can find about it. Haven't been bored enough to try to break in," he said of the island base.

The island curve approached, and he decided Hugh was doing fine with the rudder, so Atticus just moved to shift the sail. "Careful. Hold it steady for the long tip, then a little left toward the dock," he said, and he let the sail slip smoothly from one side to the next, and he didn't let go and settle back down until the sail caught the new wind. "She's a good boat," he added with a grin.

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]nothingends
2019-08-16 05:05 pm UTC (link)
There was a nod, but also the truthful, "I could have communicated better," because he did believe that, whether at the beginning or later on when he'd shifted and hadn't told her. And he wasn't certain if he was jealous or not. Mostly he didn't think of himself as jealous, but he wasn't certain he'd ever tested it in anyway that mattered. And saying he didn't think he wanted it, wasn't maybe entirely true - he liked sex with men and women, and they were different, and monogamy was always going to mean picking one, unless maybe there was a shape shifter in town - he supposed, wryly, it wasn't outside the possibility. But he wanted something he could count on, and open relationships felt fraught with challenges that potentially undermined that.

"I do try to learn from things," he shrugged, bringing his mind back to the moment. "What's the point of walking through trials if you can't better understand yourself on the other side of them?"

A paratrooper plane with service men didn't really feel like the sort of thing that should make a lake weird, but on the other hand if ghosts were real - and Hugh had gone from believing in them in a lightly theatrically superstitious sort of way to absolutely believing in them since his time on the film set and in Repose - then perhaps multiple service men dying in a lake was enough. "Feels like an x-file," he said off-hand, having watched a bit of the season Theo had given him recently. Presumably Atticus would get that reference since he'd lived through the 90s anyway. "Are we certain it's not aliens?" But he doubted he'd have broken in either. Wasn't bold enough, no matter how bored he might get.

Hugh followed instructions and watched as Atticus moved, feeling the way the ship shifted and the way it caught the wind again. He'd felt it before, but he hadn't been paying attention, and this time he was, this time he could definitely feel it: "There's a balance in it isn't there?" He asked, eyes bright with curiosity and the sense of having figured something out. "Like, the wind, the sail, the direction of the ship?" It wasn't dance, exactly, but the physical sense of it reminded Hugh a bit of Yoga or Dance, only in the wood itself, and the cloth of the sail. "You've got to keep that balance to keep the boat moving... And up-right I'd assume."

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]ephemeras
2019-08-16 11:56 pm UTC (link)
"Think we can always communicate better. Difficult, as a concept. What we think might not always come across. What they think might not always come across. Words are all we really have. Sometimes they don't do the job very well." Was a big admission for someone so invested in writing and communicating via words and ideas. But could admit that it wasn't always ideal. "Learning from things is crucial. Was terrible at it for a long time. Still am. Easier to just shake my head and walk away, but not the wisest thing to do."

Chuckled. "Feels like an X-File. There's a reference I get. Always liked Scully and Mulder." Shook his head. "Not aliens. Think it's just restless spirits down there. People like to say ghosts and haunts and poltergeists want to be helped. Want to be found and properly buried, for example, but don't think that's true. Want to live. Haunts, that's the key. They don't want to be dead." Said it as if he was talking about the price of milk at the market. No big deal. Nothing special. But he'd break into that base eventually. Didn't think he'd learn anything he didn't already know from his radio conversations with the island ghosts, but boredom was an impressive motivator for lazy men.

The boat shifted and headed, like butter, toward the dock, and Atticus motioned for Hugh to switch with him. Wasn't that he didn't trust the guy, but he, Atticus, could only come near the farpoint of the dock. Couldn't make shore, even if the sailboat's narrow bottom could easily handle the shallows.

Once he was back with the rudder in hand, he grinned. "Definitely a balance. That's the thing with sailboats. Have to feel the elements more than with other types of boats." Even with his lazy inflection, was clear Atticus enjoyed the boat. "Have we convinced you to invest?" he asked.

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]nothingends
2019-08-17 01:10 am UTC (link)
"Nice part about being an actor is they give them to you," Hugh gave a flash of a grin. "When the miscommunication is supposed to happen it's scripted." He was joking, mostly, it was easier than thinking of all of the times he'd communicated something poorly, or completely failed to understand what someone else had said.

"A friend gave me season one recently," Hugh smiled. "I've been watching it. Feels like a thing Mulder & Scully would show up to investigate. They might want to come see you," he added, light, having shifted sincerely into teasing. "You seem to know a thing or two about ghosts, but I suppose it'd make sense. If they didn't mind being dead, they wouldn't be doing their ghost thing would they?"

Hugh shifted, letting Atticus take over willingly. He'd managed okay he thought, but that was where there was mostly water and wind. This was a dock, and he didn't want to cause any damage to the guy's boat at all. He watched though, eyes keen on the movements that Atticus was making even if he wasn't exactly certain of the 'what' behind each one. He grinned again at the question. "Maybe," he admitted. "I think I need to take a few more lessons before I risk taking one out on my own, but I liked it." It had definitely been a pleasant way to spend the morning. It had been nice to talk in an environment that didn't feel particularly stressful or full of some particular need to say the right thing, or, perhaps just as stressful, to avoid saying the wrong one. He reached for his coffee mug again. "She's a good boat."

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]ephemeras
2019-08-17 01:58 am UTC (link)
Chuckled. "Maybe acting's a bad idea. Could start to expect scripts for real life," he joked. "Can you imagine?" Figured he would constantly break script. Was interesting to think about, though. Liked letting his mind work. Thought about it a few seconds, as the boat rounded the tip and sailed back out into open water.

"Think they'd be more interested in the main facility. Sure there's an alien corpse in there somewhere." Atticus didn't think anything much of ghosts. Had seen them all his life. Was his version of normal. "I counsel a school group of kids who spend their afterschool time attempting to summon demons. Might be a bit desensitized," admitted. Good kids. Missed them.

Wasn't concerned with damage to the boat. Wasn't concerned with either of them drowning, either. Just didn't want the poor guy to end up with the old man in the boat. Assumed the old man might throw the guy over just to stop himself from existing. Wasn't trying as often to make the old man return. Had mostly given up on that. So he took over control of the boat, and he pulled it up against the edge of the dock smoothly. Was safe at this distance, and he hopped up, ducked the sail, and roped a cleat on the wooden dock. "Always available for lessons," he offered, and he held out the mug Hugh had brought him.

Held his hand out next. Offered it to shake. "Thanks for coming out. Thanks for the coffee and the talk," he said genuinely. Sun was high now, and this had been a good way to spend the morning.

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Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
[info]nothingends
2019-08-17 05:10 am UTC (link)
"Obviously we just have to get really good at improv," Hugh laughed. "God, I haven't done improv for a while, and it's so much fun." And it was always a good exercise too. Maybe he'd have to look into that.

"If Repose doesn't have aliens, I'd be disappointed honestly," Hugh chuckled. "But I don't know if I really want to come face-to-face with them." He tilted his head. He wasn't certain if Atticus meant now, or in the past, it didn't seem as if he left the island these days, but maybe there was something Hugh wasn't catching - Internet or something like that he could do it distance? But he just watched the boat, and stood up carefully so he didn't shift the boat around too much.

"I might take you up on that," he grinned and extended his hand to shake it. "And it was genuinely my pleasure to come out," he gave Atticus a look, warm and open. He'd maybe been a little too honest with a total stranger, but it had been good to speak about some of it, and he had a good feeling about Atticus, and while he didn't really know exactly whether he should trust those anymore, he was choosing to do so now. "Anytime you'd like company one of these mornings," he waved at the lake, before he stepped back out to the dock. "Let me know."

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