What the Voices Say

Yup, it's the one you've all been waiting for! All 18 of you…

This was going to be a page or so longer, but it is the longest chapter so far, so I'll just lengthen the next one. Sorry about the long wait. Read & reply.

Disclaimer/ Claimer: Artemis Fowl is not mine, nor is anything Arty-related. The rest, however, is. So hands-off!

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Green.

Dark green leaf patterned wallpaper, that is. The woodwork was stained a dark brown. The armchairs and couch were upholstered burgundy with brass nail heads along the arms. It's strange how the mind picks up on tiny insignificant details when it had much bigger things to worry about. Maybe it's trying to grasp on to any thing, anything to save itself. Or maybe the mind looks for distraction in moments such as the one this girl was experiencing.

She crossed to the desk in front of the large window with light, slow, careful steps, taking in her surroundings. The chair behind the desk faced the window. Tara couldn't make out any sort of face or figure.

The room was nice enough, high class and dull as expected. Nothing outstanding. She was not looking foreword to this seduction. Master Fowl sounded boring. Some middle-aged millionaire who was still living with his parents. Who had an ego (and bank account) large enough to buy himself a bodyguard with a reputation. Yeah, he was smart, but there was no excitement if he wasn't…special. He just sounded like another upper-class snob.

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When Artemis heard the sound of leather being sat on he massaged his temple, swung around to face this new contestant and was hit. She was quiet lovely, the most beautiful and authentic so far. Obviously natural red hair almond shaped blue-green eyes, pale skin that was barely darker than his own. She couldn't be any older than himself, or barely younger.

A beauty she may be, but he needed someone that he could put up with and his mother would approve of. Now he needed her to open her mouth. "Please." He silently begged. Part of him was still pulling to find no one, to go away in bitter disappointment, convincing his parents there was only heartbreak in store for him.

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Sophia, or rather Tara, recived shocked finding when the high backed chair faced her. This man was not in his mid-thirties and balding. This man was at least a decade younger than expected. Raven hair, white skin, one hazel, one blue-black eye, Artemis Fowl was hot. Not any old perverted, cranky snob. In his Armani suite, hand made loafer with black silk tie he was sharp. So, maybe this job wouldn't be so dull. Perhaps even fun.

Artemis Fowl was the young Irish millionaire.

"You are Tara Gavin." He finally said. There was an odd look on his face. Something like mild surprise. The papers on the desk before him listed names of all the "winners". She could see at a brief glance her name.

"Yes, Master Fowl."The voice that replied was light a promising in a unexpecting way. This had been the one he expected to fail his expectations.And few of the interview victs had known enough to use the "title". Maybe this one had done research…? The IQ number listed below was the highest, she wasn't an idiot. Or quiet a genius. At least, not quiet the genius Artemis was.

He became brisk, straight to the point in questioning her. No pleasantries. Good. Sugarcoating killed her.

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It was is third question that gave her a strike.

"Are you pure Irish?"

To his extreme dislike the girl snorted. "Is anyone?"

He merely looked back at her, tapping his fingers on the wood.

"No, I'm half. Mother was French-Irish, 80 Irish, she live in America. My father's family was uncorrupted, pureblood. Does that but any marks against me?"

He eyed her. This silly girl was proving she was nothing more than defiant, definitely average.

"How did you like the test?" He asked, casually enough. If she was so smart as the percentile had claimed she would answer in an appropriate manner.

Tara smiled. Fowl had nothing on her yet.

"I had fun with it. Maybe I recived a point or two higher than usual, but I did my best to dim it down. Don't want to scare the examiner. Too much. A nice achievement."

A single black eyebrow rose delicately. "You see two points as a 'achievement' then? Only two points?"

"Yes. I see getting up in the morning and making good coffee as an achievement. The small things are what make life bearable. One must see the small as great to get through a day, a year, a life. It keeps me positive." She shrugged. "Though the best part is causing the snobby professor to cry."

"Quiet."

He saw the girl fighting to bite her lip, a habit he detested. She saw his aloofness as a bad sign. Should he keep playing the game or throw her a bone? She honestly wasn't that bad. The best so far. At least she wasn't prattling on about her "SnowBall-Kitty". He would try this time. She wasn't like the others. A little 'yoga-inner-peace-organic' crazy it seemed, though he did support the "Go-Green" campaign.

They sat in silence (something they both noticed they had lately done quiet a lot of), eyeing the architecture, furniture, art, décor, etc. looking at everything but each other, wondering at the other's strategies. Artemis was…well, because that's what Artemis did; it was kind of a pastime. Tara because technically, it was now her job.

"I'm wasting time, but why doesn't he speak? I need something." She thought "Anything. Is this a waste?"

"She isn't a simpleton…but why play theses games? I almost detect lies, but it's just a trace. Nervous…?" Artemis's brow furrowed. "Still, she is the best one, so far. I need just a little more…" Suddenly he recalled the questionnaire the ladies had been sent. He shuffled the papers a little, escaping her notice till he found hers.

"So, why did you respond to this advertisement?" To his relief she didn't seem to recall the question. However she did grin.

"Actually my sister forced me into this. She's a huge fan of your works, and thinks you're my type, whatever my type is."

"Why didn't she respond?" He didn't ask how the young woman knew it was in fact Artemis who posted the article.

"Too young. Besides, with her constantly reading teen magazines and taking the quizzes she considers herself quiet the little matchmaker." Tara rolled those eternal green eyes the young genius found enchanting.

"Do you think you are my type? I know you haven't even known me for 5 minutes but… perhaps?"

Tara mused this question (or at least pretended to, it was all theatrics). "I cannot yet say. If I did I would be lying."

"You're the first to be completely honest."

"I imagine it is quiet hard to lie with such little information about one's interviewer. There is little about you in the advertisement, Master Fowl. And those with the advantage of know whom they're meeting would know better than to even attempt."

Artemis nodded in agreement.

"Want to specify the falsehood you've heard today?"

"Some were misguided as to who I was. One or two claimed to have known it was me all along, though the first asked my name the moment she sat down-"

Tara fought a laugh.

"-3 have proposed on sight, and 7 have left the room in tears. Then 4 spoke to me for maybe 3 minutes claimed they had ESP, saw a future marriage, or was my lover in a past life."

It was amazing. He was bonding with this woman he'd known for less than 10 minutes.

"I'm sorry. Honestly." She shook the red tresses. "That must have been really difficult. People of a lesser understanding than you, it looks all immature, stupid doesn't it? I can't imagine life like that."

Artemis cocked he head. "You can't?"

"I'm not that intelligent." She laughed lightly. " My mother had always encouraged to be understanding of people in general. She taught me that in the world people don't watch out for you; it really is every man for himself. Just because someone glares at everybody on the underground or makes a rude remark doesn't mean that they necessarily direct it at you, maybe they're having a bad day and no one else to reflect the heat on to. "

"Do you excuse all faults as that?"

"Hardly. I tend to be very unforgiving when the offense is without justifible reason."

Another laps of silence. Artemis noted the used of past tense when Tara spoke of her mother.

"Tell me about your family, Miss. Gavin. "

Tara shifted uncomfortably. "I'd rather not, please." She asked softly. "I had a loss, recently."

Poor girl. "My condolences."

"Thank you."

Butler came in. "Artemis, are you ready to see-"

He flipped his clipboard, scanning the list of names.

"Knightly. Kiera Knightly."

"No, Butler, thank you. Tell the ones who ask I am taking a call. Miss. Gavin will stay here."

The bodyguard appeared barely surprised, nodded once saying "Yes, Master Fowl." while he closed the door behind himself.

Has he been eavesdropping? Tara wondered, then noticed Artemis looking at her. She smiled. "Your poor manservant. Dealing with all the disgruntled woman. Are you sure he'll be able to defend himself?"

Artemis took a moment to consider whether she was trying humor or had extreme short-term memory loss.

Fowl finally gave a smile. It was amused at her or the bodyguard she couldn't tell.

"I'm quiet sure Butler can fend for himself. If not them the women are an incredible amount stronger than they appear. Or Butler has been drugged. Heavily. And I would only have one date this week.

"You were going for more than one?"

"Unfortuantly. The rules were specified 15 or more."

"'Rules'?"

His smile faded. "My parents. They wanted me to date every rich and royal in Europe and America. I compromised for this."

Tara tilted her head. "Wouldn't you rather randomly find someone in a café on a rainy day while you both order raspberry tea rather than interview 50 some-odd strangers gathered by an anonymous newspaper add?"

She asked. You must be very lonely.

"Yes. But things have brightened recently." Artemis flashed her another smile. He really did like this girl. She was compassionate. Sure there were habits that he didn't like, but people could change. When he was finally done with her she would be a different person. A less annoying person. There was no other woman in tat lounge five doors down that would suite him better (or really pretend to, even if she didn't know it.) better than the one before him.

"Miss. Gavin?"

"Yes, Master Fowl?" The hit of sarcasm made him flinch inside.

"Artemis. Please, call me Artemis." He hesitated. "Would you… would you like to go out on the 15th? Out to dinner? With me?"

Well of course it's with you, you idiot! He scolded. What, would she think you're asking her to let your manservant take her out?

The actual asking was the toughest part. It was the first time he'd have to ask it. It was unbelievable that he was so awkward when it came to the opposite gender. I can forge Mozart's, exploit fairy technology, steal magic but I cannot talk to a girl. Pathetic.

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Three days?! In three days? So soon? They hadn't planned on such a short time. The 15th was the one day that they made the long journey to the town by the sea to see Papa…

"I would love to…Artemis."

Sasha would understand. They could go earlier instead. It was important to the plan. Refusals, playing hard to get, acting unimpressed, none of that was optional right now.

"Thank You, Miss-"

"Tara." She cut him off. "I am Tara."

"Tara." He repeated.

She grinned. Keeping the language casual would help him. She suspected his overly formal manner of speaking was damaging to his social gain. No wonder the media scoffed him at. Then again maybe he liked it that way.

Standing to leave she held out her hand.

"Until Saturday."

Artemis grasped it and swiftly pressed his lips to it before dropping it.

"Good-bye, Tara." He said. "Do you need a ride home?"

"No." She said quickly. No need for him or anyone in his service to see where she lived. "Actually I was hoping to stay and see the other 14. You've got to know you're competition, if you seek a win."

Anyone could see the glimmer of amusement in her eyes. He couldn't tell if she was playing dumb, or sincerely didn't know.

"You should go home. Tell your sister you made it," He said shortly. The thought of he knowing… it made him want to blush. Though why he didn't know. She would be so embarrassed. Or perhaps pleased.

The long look she gave him was unreadable.

Tara crossed to the door. Turing back she glanced at Artemis who was once again facing the window.

So lonely… Then she snapped back to Sophia. I'll win. I don't have time to fix broken hearts. I need to win.

"Good-bye, Artemis."

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I wasn't happy with this chapter. But I'll re-review it later.

Review, please!