damned_institute | Day 37: Sun Room

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Day 37: Sun Room

Joe had read some of the larger notes stuck up on the bulletin board when the announcement came on the intercom. All things considered, this Landel guy didn't even seem so bad. Even if these people were held here against their will, he was certainly nice about it.

Apparently, the new patients - including Joe - were to hang around in the Sun Room or go to Arts and Crafts with the kids. Well, there was plenty of information on the board, including maps and descriptions of monsters, for Joe to prepare for the nighttime, when he could seriously get going on fighting his way out. He could look for where the boss would probably be waiting, or where his V-watch might be, and figure out how to fight the monsters. In fact, he had plenty of time to work all that out... but this the first time he'd had to really relax since he got his powers. So it couldn't possibly hurt to enjoy the calm period, could it?

The red-head stepped back from the board, and hopped back onto a comfy-looking couch to digest in the sunlight. He reached up to pull his cap down, and sighed when he realized it wasn't there. "Oh well, nothing's perfect. I still wouldn't call this hell."

[free!]

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Badou just shook his head. No use asking if he didn't remember, but he would have to find some time to ask Artemis about his eyes later on. Even if he was used to them, he was still mildly curious in a not-eye-obsessed-psychopathic-doctor kind of way.

"No kidding. If he's really targeting you... You think your roommate's going to be ok?" The last thing he wanted to do was get Artemis worked up again, but he couldn't exactly avoid the issue now.

Artemis gave a small laugh, "Haku can take care of himself. And he was fine after his next appointment."

If Haku had convinced him of anything, it was that he could take care of himself. That Haku wouldn't let anyone hurt him. He'd promised. And all Artemis could do was hold on to the promises that Haku had made him. He could.

"The first night Haku and I were roommates, he lodged a scalpel in the wall. An inch to the right of my ear. And he promised me that he would be fine..."

"And that was when you knew you were in love, right?" Badou replied, joking mostly because who the hell threw scalpels? Artemis had the weirdest taste in friends, but he supposed knowing that any doctors who tried to mess with the guy would get a sharp metal instrument to the crotch was sort of comforting.

"Anyway, it's good to know. I'm going to get scolded for corrupting your innocence any minute now. You ok for next shift?"

Artemis instantly blushed and grew very flustered and affronted. "No! That wasn't when at all!" Perhaps crying in Haku's lap this morning hadn't been the best of ideas. Now, it was probably all over the Institute.

The boy crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at the carpeting. "I'll be fine, yes. I should be able to handle eating."

As long as he was alone. He didn't think he could take this socializing thing anymore.

Oh. Oh. "Oh come on, you're killing the romance. No love at first sight? You peeked at him undressing didn't you?"

And as funny as it was to watch Artemis get annoyed and flustered, Badou did that annoying hair ruffling thing again just to be an ass. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone if it's a secret."

If possible, Artemis shrunk even further down into the collar of his shirt, burning holes into the rug with his eyes.

"I don't see how it's any of your business if I watched him undress or not. We shower together after all.

"And after this morning, I doubt very much that it's a secret any longer. I was clinging to him and sobbing like an infant."

What was it about Haku and always saying the wrong thing? Now he was running around telling everyone who would listen, apparently. And soon the news would spread to the bulletin and--

Oh hellfire.

"Badou listen," Artemis' tone was suddenly very serious--perhaps a little scared. "It is a secret of sorts. Haku's master... Haku's master would massacre me if he knew Haku and I were... involved."

"And you think he has a nice ass." Badou added helpfully.

Of course, he was going to need bleach to rid his brain of the mental image of Artemis playing Secret Bondage Mistress to his scalpel-throwing roommate. Artemis wasn't the only one who associated with some strange people.

"His master? That's...kinky." The redhead really did try not to look as disturbed as he felt. "Look, I'm not going to spread it across the bulletin board in 6ft glitter letters. For one thing, I ran out of glitter. But that kind of thing always gets out - and by then, it's too late for damage control. You're seriously some kind of pervert rage magnet aren't you?"

"Pervert... rage magnet?"

Well, wasn't that the statement of the week. Not only had Artemis attracted the attention of two psychotic 'psychologists', he'd let Mello pull him (a minor, no less) into an unoccupied room at knifepoint, and gotten himself entangled in a master-tool relationship, and been hit by a fairy tale character seeking psychoanalysis. ...yes, Pervert Rage Magnet did seem to cover it.

"A-anyway, it isn't a master-role in a sexual sense. They're assassins. And I've kept it under wraps for a week. ...mostly because we never go near each other during the day."

Hiding was difficult. But necessary, if Artemis wanted to live.

Edited 2008-11-30 05:17 (UTC)

Oh, they were assassins. That made it so much better. Because now the worst they could do was kill him really easily. "Except today. How are you not dead yet?"

Artemis winced. "Perhaps... he didn't see us?" he offered, trying to keep his tone lighthearted. But really, it sounded as though he were saying, 'Maybe... I didn't push the large red button hard enough to launch World War III?'

"You're an optimistic kid," Badou replied. "You guys really can't, uh, talk this over? Maybe bake him a fruitcake and play some comforting music?"

"Possibly...?" Artemis meant for that to be a statement. "He was er... rather upset when he found me with Haku's hand on my shoulder. I think that... full-body contact will not be fixed with a fruit cake. Though the music I have covered."

"Well, try not to die too much." Badou patted his shoulder, trying not to sound that much like he was leaving Artemis to a gruesome fate. "If you two need to hide out somewhere you can use my room. My roommate's kind of a douchebag, but he's usually gone. Just ah.. use his bed if your hormones take over."

Edited 2008-12-02 03:23 (UTC)

If possible, Artemis blushed even more fiercely--while looking very cross at the same time.

"I'm fourteen years old, Badou. And while this blasted puberty may have hold over me now, I will find a way to overcome it. It will not pull me towards more carnal desires."

He paused. "And Haku... probably wouldn't stand for it anyway."

Aww. If Badou wasn't busy snickering over the words 'blasted puberty' he might wonder when he turned into Artemis' love counselor. It wasn't like he got around much himself but there was a line between teasing Artemis and actually encouraging two young boys to have sex in his roommate's bed. At the least, that was something the Bishiop should be doing.

"You look like a really annoyed tomato, Arty." Badou had mostly stopped laughing. "You could triumph over blasted puberty or you could just do something crazy like, I don't know, talk to him. It's really not a big deal. Well, except for you being like 14 but we can solve that if you promise never to tell me any details."

That only made Artemis look even more cross. He decided that he needed to move away from this subject before he became a subject of ridicule--well, more than he already was.

"I already talk with him all the time. I just... need to find a way to breach the subject. Of things besides sex, don't even go there." He arched an eyebrow up at Badou. "And why exactly should we use your roommate's bed? Do you not get along with him?"

Artemis made his life too easy, Badou thought. It really would suck if one of those perverts he managed to attract finally caught up with him.

Because he was such a nice guy, he let Artemis change the subject to his roommate. Ugh. "That's one way to put it. His name's Armand le douchebag or something. You know him?"

"Armand le... no, I haven't heard of him. Which is a feat, considering I have at least heard of everyone in this place."

He thought for a moment, back to the first time he and Badou met. There had been a man watching them...

"What does he look like? Does he have a grudge against you?"

Badou stopped himself from saying that Armand just looked like a douchebag.

"5'7, brown hair... He was spying on us at the restaurant, if you remember. We got off on the wrong foot early on and it just got worse from there. I think he said he was trying to figure out if I'm a bad guy. Something like that." Badou grinned briefly. "We mostly ignore each other, so it's not like he's a threat or anything. I just don't like him. Don't think he wants to be my super special awesome buddy either."

"Mm," Artemis said, nodding at the characteristics. "Yes, I noticed. But I wasn't sure if I was the one about to be shot at, or you. But I suppose considering the nature of our chat, he probably finds both of us to be repulsive.

"So I'm afraid that I must agree on this. It is very unlikely that he will be your 'super special awesome buddy'," the boy said with a small laugh. "But it is his loss."

Badou laughed. "Oh yeah? That sounded like a compliment. Are you two competing for the title now?"

Artemis laughed as well. "What can I say? I can't resist a challenge. Especially one I could win so easily." He pretended to think for a moment. "Infuriating roommate... mentally unstable teenager. Yes, I don't think it will be much of a contest."

"Damn, I always attract the unstable ones." Badou replied, still grinning. "Forgot to tell you the prize is me calling you super special awesome buddy in public. Your reputation is toast."

Artemis gave a hollow laugh, "I don't think it can get much worse, after today. Fortunately the ones who like me like the ridiculous and emotional side of me as well."

He looked down at the carpet, smiling a little. "No... I'd rather you call me that than 'Arty'."

"What's wrong with Arty?" Badou asked, other than it being juvenile and a little cutesy. But if that was the reason, Badou was hardly going to stop.

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