[musebox post]

[eternitycoder]

This is a post for playing out any musebox-type things, set in the DV-verse or otherwise. None of this is meant to be game-canon, just fun things~ ♥

Comments

[esypuo]

...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.

[eternitycoder]

[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.

[esypuo]

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.

[eternitycoder]

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.

[esypuo]

[He shrugs at the last bit]

I thought sociopaths were kinda crazy.

[eternitycoder]

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.

[esypuo]

[Rikku blinks]

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

[eternitycoder]

[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!'

[esypuo]

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

[He chuckles a little]

Besides, they're all jerks here anyway.

[eternitycoder]

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.

[esypuo]

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

[eternitycoder]

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.]

[esypuo]

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.

[eternitycoder]

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.

[esypuo]

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

[eternitycoder]

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.

[esypuo]

I'm not, trust me.

[He kisses Artemis again]

Dunno if I'll stay here once I'm done, though. I might have to escape to New York. Wanna come with?

[eternitycoder]

Maybe for a while. [Artemis smiles briefly, watching Rikku's lips.] Or you could go to Ireland with me.

[esypuo]

Ooh, Maybe. I'd like to see more of Europe than the tiny Spanish village Pop grew up in where I'm related to all the people. Even if my aunts make awesome paella.

[eternitycoder]

I'll take you everywhere in Europe, anywhere you want to go. I'll fly us there myself. [He smiles, genuinely enjoying the idea of flying off on a European vacation.] Why wait until we graduate? We could go during the summer, during spring break, this weekend.

[esypuo]

I wanna enjoy it. I wanna spend days just wandering around the old cathedrals and tiny shops and getting lost and having fun.

[eternitycoder]

My family has houses and hotels all over Europe, we'll go and just live in every city for a few days. We'll get lost and eat at fancy restaurants and small ones and sit on benches together and have crepes. And go everywhere together.

[He seems a little breathless from this, or maybe he's just really excited.] I can't wait to see you in Paris.

[esypuo]

Oh, god, my French is awful, Arty, and I hate wine.

[But he laughs]

What about Asia? I've always wanted to visit Tokyo.

[eternitycoder]

There's more to it than that! Think of the cathedrals and the art museums. And Paris is the city for young lovers, it's perfect.

Tokyo... hm. [He frowns slightly.] I have an apartment there, but it's too long of a flight to make myself. We'd have to... fly on a commercial airline. [Which, from his tone, is tantamount to walking into a Denny's--they've been there, done that.]

[esypuo]

[Rikku was hungover and needed grease, Artemis. Shush]

Not if we fly from LA to Japan, right?