ITP: An old joke

[no_longer_a_king]

[Text; Anonymous]

What is love?

How do you know if you love someone? Is it really as powerful as they say?

(ooc: In before someone makes this joke. Feel free to threadjack and such in response to this.

Comments

text; anonymous

[hideandhero]

Let's make a long story short. When you look at someone and suddenly feel your heart racing, you're attracted. If you can't get that person off your mind, no matter what, you're moving into love territory.

This is where it gets difficult. If you can't let that person live their own life, you've become that creepy person everyone points at and makes fun of. If you're all the above but fine with the fact that the other person can do what they want, you're in love.

Text and anon for both until otherwise noted?

[no_longer_a_king]

But what if you hurt that person?

shore

[hideandhero]

That sounds like an entirely different story on its own. If it's your duty, you deal with it and feel bad about it.

If it's not, you're going to have to be more specific.

[no_longer_a_king]

I'm afraid getting more specific might compromise my anonymity. Perhaps if I put it like this:

if you were given a choice between the one you love and something that could help the people you swore to protect, does choosing what could help your people over the one you love mean you didn't love them?

[hideandhero]

It just means you're a bit more pragmatic than most. Which is a good thing, in my opinion.

[no_longer_a_king]

Even though I had to hurt that person?

[hideandhero]

I don't think it really matters.

I don't know but it sounds like you want to dig yourself a hole. If I was in a position where I had to kill the person I loved or save the wonderful citizens of the Imperium, I'm sure the person I loved would jump right into a laspistol shot.

That's an extreme example but you get what I'm saying. It might feel bad but, unless you're an idiot, you should realize that the other person probably wants the best for everyone else too. Thinking otherwise just makes them look bad.

[no_longer_a_king]

Closure, I suppose. I know the person would understand why I did what I did, but I never got a chance to find out if he really understood or not.

[hideandhero]

Closure is just an excuse people make when they want to keep thinking about something. If you think you have time for something like that, you've got better things to put your mind to.

[no_longer_a_king]

I have been. Believe me, I wish I could stop thinking about this as much as anyone. Life would be much simpler if I could.

[hideandhero]

I'm a morale officer for the Imperial Guard so give me a ring if you need to talk. It's part of my job.

Well, that would probably be easier if you actually knew who I was.

[no_longer_a_king]

I will keep you in mind should it become too much. Given this is a public board I don't wish to reveal my identity here.

Thank you for the offer, though.