fic: Traits
Title: Traits
Characters: Sylar, Elle (and a little Peter and Bob)
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Not a cohesive story. Just a collection of drabbles written to fit the idea I had. Some shorter, some longer, all trying to keep with the theme.
A/N: The theme of this are the traits listed by the DSM IV on what constitutes being a sociopath/psychopath. Anyway my muse kinda left me and writing this was a way for me to try to get it back. Feedback would be really nice.
Originally Posted: 1/21/2009( here)
DSM IV - AntiSocial Personality Disorder || psychopath/sociopath
(1) failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
(2) deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
(3) impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
(4) irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
(5) reckless disregard for safety of self or others
(6) consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations
(7) lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another
1. failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
"Social norm?" Sylar laughs bitterly. "I think that ship has long ago sailed for me to act socially...normal." He hisses out that last word like it's evil. "You made me this way, remember? You helped create what I am today."
"Gabriel..."
"No, my name is Sylar now."
"Fine. Sylar." She stares at him through the glass. "Don't you see that I'm just as messed up as you? That instead of strangers, it was my own flesh and blood that made me what I am today?" Electricity runs through her body. "We're the same."
"I don't think so, Elle."
"No? I accidentally set my grandmother's house on fire when I was six. Caused a blackout in four counties in Ohio when I was eight. I spent my ninth birthday in a glass room with an IV of lithium in my arm. I've lived in this building for sixteen years, ever since the shrinks diagnosed me a sociopath with paranoid delusions. But they're just out to get me cause I threatened to kill them. I've killed plenty of people before you set your eyes on your first victim. And I didn't care either. They were just toys gone bad and they had to be disposed." She bounces an electric ball in her hand. "Does that sound normal to you?"
2. deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
"Hi. Can you please help me? That guy out there on the cell phone? Well, he's a serial killer and he kidnapped me. I saw him kill someone and couldn't run away fast enough. Now he's threatening to kill me if I don't follow his orders. Do you recognize him? He's that guy that's wanted back in New York for killing his mom." Elle blurts out, looking over her shoulder. A worried expression mars her face.
"I'm calling the cops right away. You'll be safe here."
Elle wants to laugh as the clerk heads into the back office to call the police. That was too easy.
The bell on the door jingles as Gabriel walks in.
"Who was on the phone?"
"Arthur. He told me where Claire may be hiding with her father."
"Wonderful. Glasses himself." She rolls her eyes.
"Where's the rental guy?"
"Ohh...probably calling the police. I told him you were a serial killer and you kidnapped me." Elle smiles brightly, waiting for Gabriel's reaction.
3. impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
"What's happening to us? Our powers are gone!"
This had never been a part of her training. Nobody had ever accounted on the fact that powers could actually just be gone, in the blink of an eye. Training had consisted of using her powers to the best of her ability, meaning she never went a day without using it. She had been born with a wonderful gift, which she relished. It was never mentioned her gift could be taken away without notice.
"I...don't understand. I used to understand everything."
That's what made him so special. That he could study everything once and he just knew how things worked. His voracious appetite to be special and remain special meant he devoured pages upon pages of reading material. Anything to make him stand out. And of course, Chandra Suresh's book, Activating Evolution. He read that book cover to cover and nothing like this had been mentioned. For once in his life, he was simply unprepared.
"We're so...powerless."
4. irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
"You again. Didn't I kill you before?"
"Didn't take."
Peter Petrelli. The very sight of him made his own lips curl in disgust. The one who ruined it all the first time. Saved the cheerleader that he had been seeking. Then in Mohinder's apartment, he saw him again. Thought he killed him when he sent that piece of glass flying into his head. And now, here he was again...trying to stop him. Well, he wasn't going to let that happen.
"You think I'm going to let you ruin this for me?" Sylar's invisible hold on Peter's throat tightens, causing the other man to start gasping for air. Sylar smirks and starts walking towards him.
5. reckless disregard for safety of self or others
"Did you have to use full blast on him?"
"He can take it."
"Elle..."
She simply smiles and walks towards her new toy. And what a pretty toy he was. Peter Petrelli. But that hair simply had to go. She'd deal with that later. First, she wanted to see how much more he could take. See how indestructible he really was.
6. consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations
"He got away. Daddy's gonna kill me." came out. But inside her head, different words were being screamed.
"Daddy's never gonna trust you now. You let Sylar get away with the anti-dote to get his powers back. Tsk tsk. First, you let Peter play you and escape with Adam. Second, you failed in the mission to get Claire because you got sloppy and got captured. Then you got shot and Daddy put you on surveillance because you had to regain his trust again. Forget it Elle, you're never going to be responsible enough."
7. lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another
"I hate heroes," the venom dripping from his voice.
Elle gives a satisfied smile and her smile widens when the hapless clerk gets his neck snapped. "I knew being a good boy wasn't for you." After grabbing some keys off the counter, she steps on the body on her way out the door, leaving a heel print on the man's shirt. "Come on, I think I know which car these belong to."
Gabriel follows her. "Should we do something with this guy?"
"Hm? Oh." Elle shrugs with indifference. "Just leave him, someone else can take care of it. We have to go get the cheerleader."
Characters: Sylar, Elle (and a little Peter and Bob)
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Not a cohesive story. Just a collection of drabbles written to fit the idea I had. Some shorter, some longer, all trying to keep with the theme.
A/N: The theme of this are the traits listed by the DSM IV on what constitutes being a sociopath/psychopath. Anyway my muse kinda left me and writing this was a way for me to try to get it back. Feedback would be really nice.
Originally Posted: 1/21/2009( here)
DSM IV - AntiSocial Personality Disorder || psychopath/sociopath
(1) failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
(2) deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
(3) impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
(4) irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
(5) reckless disregard for safety of self or others
(6) consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations
(7) lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another
1. failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
"Social norm?" Sylar laughs bitterly. "I think that ship has long ago sailed for me to act socially...normal." He hisses out that last word like it's evil. "You made me this way, remember? You helped create what I am today."
"Gabriel..."
"No, my name is Sylar now."
"Fine. Sylar." She stares at him through the glass. "Don't you see that I'm just as messed up as you? That instead of strangers, it was my own flesh and blood that made me what I am today?" Electricity runs through her body. "We're the same."
"I don't think so, Elle."
"No? I accidentally set my grandmother's house on fire when I was six. Caused a blackout in four counties in Ohio when I was eight. I spent my ninth birthday in a glass room with an IV of lithium in my arm. I've lived in this building for sixteen years, ever since the shrinks diagnosed me a sociopath with paranoid delusions. But they're just out to get me cause I threatened to kill them. I've killed plenty of people before you set your eyes on your first victim. And I didn't care either. They were just toys gone bad and they had to be disposed." She bounces an electric ball in her hand. "Does that sound normal to you?"
2. deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
"Hi. Can you please help me? That guy out there on the cell phone? Well, he's a serial killer and he kidnapped me. I saw him kill someone and couldn't run away fast enough. Now he's threatening to kill me if I don't follow his orders. Do you recognize him? He's that guy that's wanted back in New York for killing his mom." Elle blurts out, looking over her shoulder. A worried expression mars her face.
"I'm calling the cops right away. You'll be safe here."
Elle wants to laugh as the clerk heads into the back office to call the police. That was too easy.
The bell on the door jingles as Gabriel walks in.
"Who was on the phone?"
"Arthur. He told me where Claire may be hiding with her father."
"Wonderful. Glasses himself." She rolls her eyes.
"Where's the rental guy?"
"Ohh...probably calling the police. I told him you were a serial killer and you kidnapped me." Elle smiles brightly, waiting for Gabriel's reaction.
3. impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
"What's happening to us? Our powers are gone!"
This had never been a part of her training. Nobody had ever accounted on the fact that powers could actually just be gone, in the blink of an eye. Training had consisted of using her powers to the best of her ability, meaning she never went a day without using it. She had been born with a wonderful gift, which she relished. It was never mentioned her gift could be taken away without notice.
"I...don't understand. I used to understand everything."
That's what made him so special. That he could study everything once and he just knew how things worked. His voracious appetite to be special and remain special meant he devoured pages upon pages of reading material. Anything to make him stand out. And of course, Chandra Suresh's book, Activating Evolution. He read that book cover to cover and nothing like this had been mentioned. For once in his life, he was simply unprepared.
"We're so...powerless."
4. irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
"You again. Didn't I kill you before?"
"Didn't take."
Peter Petrelli. The very sight of him made his own lips curl in disgust. The one who ruined it all the first time. Saved the cheerleader that he had been seeking. Then in Mohinder's apartment, he saw him again. Thought he killed him when he sent that piece of glass flying into his head. And now, here he was again...trying to stop him. Well, he wasn't going to let that happen.
"You think I'm going to let you ruin this for me?" Sylar's invisible hold on Peter's throat tightens, causing the other man to start gasping for air. Sylar smirks and starts walking towards him.
5. reckless disregard for safety of self or others
"Did you have to use full blast on him?"
"He can take it."
"Elle..."
She simply smiles and walks towards her new toy. And what a pretty toy he was. Peter Petrelli. But that hair simply had to go. She'd deal with that later. First, she wanted to see how much more he could take. See how indestructible he really was.
6. consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations
"He got away. Daddy's gonna kill me." came out. But inside her head, different words were being screamed.
"Daddy's never gonna trust you now. You let Sylar get away with the anti-dote to get his powers back. Tsk tsk. First, you let Peter play you and escape with Adam. Second, you failed in the mission to get Claire because you got sloppy and got captured. Then you got shot and Daddy put you on surveillance because you had to regain his trust again. Forget it Elle, you're never going to be responsible enough."
7. lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another
"I hate heroes," the venom dripping from his voice.
Elle gives a satisfied smile and her smile widens when the hapless clerk gets his neck snapped. "I knew being a good boy wasn't for you." After grabbing some keys off the counter, she steps on the body on her way out the door, leaving a heel print on the man's shirt. "Come on, I think I know which car these belong to."
Gabriel follows her. "Should we do something with this guy?"
"Hm? Oh." Elle shrugs with indifference. "Just leave him, someone else can take care of it. We have to go get the cheerleader."