eternitycoder | [musebox post]

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

[But he laughs]

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

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.]

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

Not if we fly from LA to Japan, right?

[DENNY'S.]

Los Angeles to Narita is between nine and eleven hours. I might be able to make it... if I slept well between the flight from Boston to Los Angeles and the flight from Los Angeles to Narita.

I doubt you want your pilot falling asleep at the controls. [He smiles.]

[RITE OF PASSAGE]

....yeah, no. I don't wanna die, thanks. Or we could hire another pilot so we can have plane cuddles and possibly sex.

[NEVER AGAIN.]

[At the mention of 'plane sex' Artemis blanches. Because his usual co-pilot is, of course...]

The only other person I trust with my plane is Butler. [And Artemis isn't about to have sex in a space his almost-father could walk into.]

...right, yeah, okay. No plane sex.

[He shudders, freaked out by that thought now]

No plane sex. [Artemis is experiencing embarrassment as though it had actually happened now.]

That's just....

[More shuddering]

Oh, well. Hotels are better for that anyway.

Yes, yes they are. Privacy. Very comfortable beds. You like beds anyway. [Still traumatized, still horrified by the possibility.]

[Cue the headpets!]

Uh-huh, and hot tubs.

And showers. [Listening comprehension. He has it.] Wait, you like hot tubs as well?

My first boyfriend in high school had a hot tub. It was awesome, and we never had sex in it, either.

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eternitycoder - 2012-10-05 07:35 (UTC) - Expand

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esypuo - 2012-10-05 07:36 (UTC) - Expand