in the background

backstage behind the curtain in a corner in the dark sub-rosa under-the-table

far far-flung far-off inaccessible isolated obscure remote removed secluded

a piece abroad abstracted apart arm's length asunder away backwoods beyond range far back farther further in the boonies in the distance in the sticks indirect middle of nowhere not home out of earshot out of range out of reach out-of-the-way outlying retired secret separate sequestered telescopic unapproachable ways wide of yonder

approachable mingling public

adjacent close friendly kind near nearby neighboring sympathetic warm

covert enigmatic reticent taciturn

backstairs buttoned-up cagey clammed up close close-mouthed cryptic feline furtive hushed in chambers in privacy in private in the dark on the Q.T. reserved silent tight-lipped undercover unforthcoming withdrawn zipped

communicative

forthright honest open

trailing

abaft after afterwards at the heels of at the rear of back of bringing up the rear eating the dust in the wake later than next off the pace subsequently

ahead before in front