Re: Tandy/Billy/Atticus: the lake
At this point, still thought Janus was taking care of Billy's problems. Wasn't too concerned. The thing with teaching teens, is it had taught Atticus a certain amount of distance. Required, because if not they would drive you insane. Never did the responsible thing, not really. Risked too much. Saw it every single day in the kids he mentored afterschool. They played with supernatural things without every realizing they shouldn't. Understood it was part of youth to think they were immortal and that no one understood them/could help them with anything. Got it, and since no one could be forced to accept help, then the best thing to do was offer and step back. That, or go insane. Was already sufficiently insane because of the island. Didn't think he could handle not being able to help someone off the island at the same time, so was probably good he was only marginally in the know.
But he did care.
Water lapped. He smoked. Took a sip from his beer. Glanced around and let the boys be boys, have their conversation. "Untrodden paths are still influenced ones. They say everything is derivative." Was grinning. Was just teasing, not really arguing or attempting a debate. Liked giving Billy shit. Felt sure that dynamic didn't change with age.
Now, glanced at the other boy. The tall one. "Gatecrashing the world sounds intense," he said. It was odd phrasing, but Atticus taught kids who could control time and death, so it wasn't the strangest thing he'd ever heard. Didn't stare at anyone with an open mouth anymore. Was accustomed to revelations. "I'd be in my mid-40s," he told him, and he glanced over at Billy. "Get the feeling he made me out to be older than that, though." Another grin. Lazy. Glanced out over the water. Would miss it, once the freeze came.