Bus: Atticus & Janus Who: Atticus & Janus What: A bus ride Where: Repose → Capital When: Nowish Warnings/Rating: Nope
Atticus didn't need to take the bus. Even without the El Camino's restoration done, he still had the Caprice. Didn't need to take the bus. Had a full tank. Liked driving. Loved the radio blaring loud and the windows open. Liked being alone with his thoughts along endless black. Loved the way the sunlight made the road and sky meet and blur in the distance. Could've gone in the morning. Didn't need to go now, in the middle of the night, on an 11 o'clock bus. Bottom line: Atticus McVickers didn't need to take the bus. But there he was, at the bus station at 10:50, waiting.
Jeans and a sweatshirt in faded black. His stubble had become a beard the day earlier. His curls really needed a cut. He had his thick Walkman in his pocket, as normal, and Pink Floyd's Wall played loudly enough to hear if you came close to him. No earbuds for Atticus. He liked old sponge headphones, and his had gone from black to faded gray over the years. Had a reservation for the night in the Capital, and he was meeting an estate agent for breakfast. The bag hanging from his shoulder had a decent set of clothes in it. Would get someone to iron them at the hotel.
Would be a lie to say he didn't want to get away. Had been uneasy since the incident at the B&B, and Janus' hints of someone more powerful than him coming into town hadn't fallen on deaf ears. Would've warned Michael, but Michael hadn't been back to the B&B in weeks. Atticus wondered if he'd moved on. Janus might know.
Bus arrived, and Atticus climbed in and sat in one of the empty seat behind the driver. Had bought his ticket that morning. For a procrastinator, that was almost proactive.