Character Interview: Atlas
by Wiev Retni
[PLEASE NOTE: THIS INTERVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF BOOK ONE AND TWO IN THE AFTER TRILOGY]
Weiv: Ermagewd, Atlas! It’s so nice to meet you in the flesh. *hugs him a bit too long*
*Atlas untangles himself *: Likewise.
*They take a seat*
Weiv: Tell me, Commander Atlas, how’s the future going?
Atlas:
It could be better. It will be better.
Weiv: Anything more specific for us?
*silence*
Weiv: Well, at least tell me whether George R. R. Martin ever releases the next Game of Thrones book.
Atlas: He does. Want to know what happens?
Weiv:
I think your t-shirt is cutting off the circulation to your brain as well as your biceps. No, I don’t want you to tell me. Do I have ‘spoil everything’ stamped on my forehead?
Weiv: I hear you’re trying out a few new things these days. Getting to know yourself and stuff.
Atlas: Trying to. I don’t get a lot of time around. . .work. I’ve seen a few movies.
*Weiv waggles her brows*: Good for cuddling, those movies.
*Atlas grins*
Weiv: Why do you always dress in a t-shirt and cargos anyway?
Atlas: Then I always have enough pockets for my stuff.
Weiv: Yeah, but how much stuff do you actually need to carry around?
Atlas: Obviously more than two pockets worth.
Weiv: Sounds like you need a man-bag. *hastily moves on at his look* You know what I want to hear more about? Your crush on Romy.
Atlas: It’s much more than a crush. I love her.
Weiv: Has anyone ever told you it is insanely attractive you show no embarrassment about owning up to that?
Atlas: Yes.
*Weiv rolls her eyes*: What I want to know is, you seem to have leapt some major barriers in your relationship between books. *Slides her eyes to him* Is it. . .? A relationship?
*Atlas purses his lips*: I had a long time to think about what I should have done differently. Enough time to see what was important and what was not. Too much time to realise I’d lost what I wanted most. In the end, I found fifteen months was fourteen months more than I needed to become desperate. It’s surprising what barriers you can leap when you want something so badly.
Weiv: That tells me. . .almost nothing. Hell, how do you do that? I feel like I got something, but I really got jack. And is that you confirming you’re in a relationship?
*Atlas raises a brow*: For the moment.
Weiv: Wait, wait. What do you mean by that?
Atlas: If she’ll continue to have me.
*Weiv grins*: Damn me if Romy didn’t snag a good one. Is there a store where I can get one of you? No? No store?
Weiv: There’s this meme I want to show you.
Atlas: What’s a meme?
Weiv: Lawd ha mercy, you don’t—? I think I’m going to be sick. I mean, I know nine billion people died and there’s that world government no one likes. . .but no memes? How do you even live?
*Weiv blinks back tears of pity and shows him a picture*
*Weiv waits for Atlas to laugh, but he doesn’t*: Get it?
Atlas: Not really.
Weiv: Because the person blends into the hall with their camouflage gear on.
*Atlas laughs, politely*
*Weiv puts her phone away*: I just thought it was funny because you only wear camo pants, so it’d be like your torso was floating around the place.
*Atlas grimaces*: I see why you and Romy get on. She’s going through this pun phase at the minute.
Weiv: Puns r lyf
Atlas: She seems to think so. Though I overheard Phobos say he hopes it’s just a phase.
*Weiv glances at her watch*: Well, At-a-lus, it’s been a pleasure chatting, but there’s this man store I need to go to real quick before it closes. Mmmkay?
Atlas: Have fun, Weiv.
*Weiv doesn’t pause on her way out of the door*: You know I will!
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