Tandy Bowen doesn't have to pick between (cloakndagger) wrote in repose,
Re: Tandy/Billy/Atticus: the lake
Regardless of Tandy's outward ambivalence for projection of mood or perhaps because he understood the micro, he had a vague understanding that Billy was flatter than usual. Less bubbling, roiling with mirth, super contained and tamped down. He was contributing to the conversation, like a well-adjusted member of society but compared to baseline, the emotional resonance was flatlining. Tandy was not outwardly expressive, but he looked at Billy, steadily as Atticus made a thick good natured sound in his throat and told him obnoxious could be a genial state. He didn't know, why exactly, Billy was in A State, but he was. Nor did he want to talk about it, which Tandy appreciated.
"But we're not in a story," Tandy said, honestly with the sort of open-faced contribution that was nearly earnest. "And does the opposite of obnoxious have to be innocuous? Although I am super certain I would prefer to be innocuous." Which was true, although obliquely ridiculous from six foot three of blond all-American. "I don't know you well enough to comment on your approach but I'll take it on advisement." He grinned. On Tandy this was impressively expressive.
"Your stubborn is significant albeit secreted," he said to Billy, as seriously as Tandy said everything. "Thanks." To Atticus, who was super generous with food as well as producing epic substance. Tandy suspected the over-generous catering was possibly suspicious, but the generosity was welcome, and he deliberately didn't think about pride. "How did you survive?" The latching. It might have been a joke.