Re: Boathouse: Hugh & Atticus
Was good to have friends. Had been fairly insular for most of his life. A requirement for someone who had haunts with a tendency to kill those close to him when they became corporeal. Had been a problem for a long time. Had so many regrets in his past. But these past years had been better. Had left New York behind for Chicago, then the Capital. Had left the bodies in the rearview. Didn't think about them. Tried not to think about his parents. Had gotten good at burying that stuff somewhere he couldn't reach. Had gotten close to his students, even made a few friends. Then he'd ended up here. Isolated. Was a hard thing, even without all the rest of the extraneous crap.
Was joking about the house. Grinned. Sipped at his coffee and enjoyed the warmth of it in contrast to the cold-bite air. "Pretension, Hugh. Got to have a big house if you're famous. Requirement." Grinned again. Teasing. Hugh could become the biggest star in the world. Atticus would forever associate the man with this. Conversation on the water. "How about an older, distinguished woman on the arm?" Still teasing.
The train. "Was interesting. Felt old, which we discussed. But was nice to be somewhere else, looking out through someone else's eyes. Can't complain. Wouldn't mind a repeat. Know I'm probably in the minority there." Took a fresh sip of his coffee. "Talked to whoever you met yet? Know it's a thing in town to make lifelong connects after these things. Feel more like I inherited a new kid to worry about from afar."