Re: [Boating: Hugh and Atticus]
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.