Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
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.