eternitycoder | [musebox post]

How grossly unprofessional. Another reason he won't get very far. [Artemis frowns. While yes, he hasn't really felt a physical attraction to anyone he's painted before, he likes to think that in a professional setting he would be working and nothing past that. Besides, a confident body could shrink inwards when made uncomfortable. No wonder Artemis had never thought the model was Rikku--Apollo looked strangely plastic to him, and his 'boyfriend' even moreso. 'Artistic decision' his arse.]

[His frown softens a little under Rikku's lips, and Artemis actually seems prepared for this one and meets it.] After we fix the heating I'll let you torture me. [He smiles.]

Oh, you're not getting me naked for anything other than a shower and sex until we get that heat fixed, Arty. Sorry.

[He laughs and kisses him again]

Even if I could draw in the dark, which I can't, I won't stand to see my models shivering. And aside from that, I don't want to see you shivering. [As though on cue he runs his hand up and down Rikku's back in a warming motion.] The sun never shivers.

If I'm the sun, what're you?

The moon, obviously. [Artemis raises an eyebrow.] I'm your opposite. A cold, lifeless, boring rock millions of kilometers away. So far off I might as well be in my own universe.

But I come to life when your light strikes me. And suddenly I'm beautiful, like magic.

...Wasn't Artemis---no, wait, that's Selene.

[Classics class rocks, man]

Anyway, it's not like magic. You're always beautiful.

I was avoiding that, due to some strange suggestions of incest I could see the potential for. [He shrugs slightly.]

Perhaps I look beautiful, but there's more to it than just how I look.

You're still beautiful. Yeah, you can be a jerk, but you're not a meanie like a lot of the rich kids here. You...care.

[He snorts.] About some things, and some people. I was incensed that I had to share a room with someone before I came here. I was convinced you would be the annoying airhead who distracted me all year. Yes, I thought things like that, and I still think them about some people.

[He closes his mouth, looking carefully upset for a moment. He didn't mean to say all of that.]

...but Arty, I am an annoying airhead who's distracted you all year. I'm just not a moron. And I still think that some people are giant meanies who need to go back to kindergarten and learn to play nice.

[Artemis feels that getting into the differences between 'airhead' and 'moron' would be like shouting into a storm: ultimately pointless. So he lets it lie.]

Yes, I suppose some people are far worse. But still Rikku, I'm being serious. I'm not nice, I don't care about most people's feelings half of the time and the other half I don't even recognize whatever feeling is being felt.

Yeah, but aren't you a high functioning autistic or something?

[He shrugs]

Anyway, doesn't matter. You're my Artemis and I can and will and have kick anyone's butt who tries to badmouth you.

Sociopath, I'm a high-functioning sociopath. [Somehow Artemis feels this is better than 'high functioning autistic'.]

You already have? [Artemis sighs heavily.] You have your work cut out for you.

[He shrugs at the last bit]

I thought sociopaths were kinda crazy.

No, you've confused psychopathy with sociopathy, otherwise known as antisocial personality disorder. It's characterized by "A pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood."

There are several criteria by which it's diagnosed. The criteria I display are a lack of remorse towards people I have hurt, mistreated, or stolen from; a failure to conform to social norms, rules, or obligations and repeated instances which could get me arrested as a result of that failure; and receiving pleasure as a result of lying or conning people.

[He pauses trying to read Rikku's face.] I have that section of the DSM-IV memorized.

[Rikku blinks]

...you really think I care about that, don't you?

[Artemis makes a face that says, 'Welllll, you know...']

I'm attempting to limit the 'surprise' factor. 'Surprise! Sometimes I sabotage the social activists on campus by releasing hypocritical photos via Facebook, then chuckle to myself!'

That'd be a surprise if I wasn't a hacker, Arty.

[He chuckles a little]

Besides, they're all jerks here anyway.

For the love of god, this man asked me why I killed a thousand silk worms for a tie. He deserved "The Burger King Incident".

[He snorts softly.] Yes it seems as though we go to school with some winners. All anyone ever does is hit on everyone else and talk about freedom of expression and revoke our right to styrofoam takeout boxes.

I'm surprised you haven't left yet.

I stayed for you. Because otherwise you'd be alone again.

I can handle them. [He smiles.] It would have been lonely, but I have my work. Which is mostly fulfilling...

[But not as fulfilling as it might be to come home and curl up in a pile with Rikku and watch a ridiculous movie. Or to sleep in the same bed with Rikku and be comfortable and warm all night. He'd never thought that a relationship would be something he'd want, but it's looking more and more attractive the more he and Rikku talk about it.]

But you'd still be lonely. [He bites his lip, and actually looks a little sad] I promised, after Mama died, that if I could help it? I'd make sure my friends were never lonely. I'd've stayed here even if I didn't start crushing on you. The crush is just a bonus.

Oh Rikku. [Artemis puts his fingers on the lip Rikku's biting, only realizing he's doing it after it's been done. He's surprised for a moment, then goes with it.] You don't need to make yourself miserable for my sake, I would hate to be the reason you were so sad.

I'm not miserable, though. You know I love Friday Night Make Fun of the Dummies. And you're here.

If I'm enough to keep you happy, fine. But if you need to leave I'll make myself understand somehow. I'm not going to be happy if I see you feeling trapped here.

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