[02] || [What is Love?] || [Video/Text]

[littlelifeforms]

Greetings.

[ As is usual for Data, his message is simultaneously sent in both video and text formats. ]

There has been a weeding recently and in one week is an event known as "Saint Valentine's Day", a holiday associated with romantic love. It is an occasion in which lovers express their love for each other in a special manner, most often depending on their culture and past.

But what is love? How would you define that feeling? I have been told about love before, but it is a most... complicated emotion and no explanation I have heard truly conveyed an understanding of the feeling.

Comments

video;

[littlelifeforms]

Intriguing. Where I come from in many societies marriage is only a product of love. Arranged marriages disappeared from most societies as they evolved. However, I have witnessed such attempts to gain power through seduction. It is not... honorable, I would say.

[ Data then nodded apologetically. ]

I see. My apologize if my question brought back memories.

video;

[onemistress]

[she bit the inside of her lip, thinking again.] They are common where I come from. Believe me, you are lucky to see your husband or wife before you marry. [she frowns, confused.] But how do they secure alliances if not through marriage? It would be very strange if we all married for love, how would anything get done -- [but she shakes her head. It's more than a little hypocritical coming from her. The woman who was thought stubborn because she wouldn't marry a man she hadn't seen first, who she refused to marry lest it compromised her power. Love and power, God help her, when had it become so mixed? But she knew the answer to that too, it came down to one thing, and one thing alone.] Loyalty. Loyalty matters more than love in a marriage. It does not matter if you marry for money, or power, or if it is as families are decreed. If you are loyal to those whom you have given yourself over to, than there is no dishonour to be had, only perhaps, a great deal of heartbreak. Duty after all, and happiness, I've found, do not quite go hand in hand.

[she shook her head, smiling to seem unaffected by it all.] Shall we trade, you can have some of my memories, if you give me but your name?

video;

[littlelifeforms]

We have met civilization that did secure alliance in such a way. In our own past, it was also a common way to proceed. [He tilts his head.] However, alliance are now secured through the talent of diplomats and signatures on treaties. I believe... We would rather renounce an alliance than access it by forcing someone to marry.

Freedom is very important in our culture. While logic dictate the needs of the many outweighs the needs of the few, we refuse to sacrifice the few for the many. This would be a violation of their personal rights. In this sense, marrying for alliance could not be accepted, unless one willingly chose to engage in such an union. Even then, it would provoke bewilderment and opposition.

[ It sure was an intriguing answer for the android, and one that most shook the conception of love he had been described so far. ]

I agree there would be no dishonor. However, the will to live together, to raise children together, would be lacking. It is most intriguing. The marriage you describe and the ones I have seen share the same name but bear different concepts.

[ He then nodded to her. ]

Of course. I am Lieutenant Commander Data, Second Officer aboard the USS Enterprise and Security Officer within this tower. It is a pleasure speaking with you.