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

[anon]

[scorchedchivalry]

Sacrifice.

anon until otherwise noted for both, then.

[no_longer_a_king]

How much do you have to be willing to sacrifice for the one you love?

[scorchedchivalry]

If you have to ask that question, I now see the reason for your initial question.

There is but one answer.

[no_longer_a_king]

Everything?

[Then, maybe, she really didn't love Shirou. Even so, she still cannot understand what would have possessed her to accept Kotomine's offer. What had possessed her to end his life.]

[scorchedchivalry]

That is not the correct answer. A common mistake which is why poets and minstrels speak often of love turned sour or even deadly.

[no_longer_a_king]

Then what do you think it is?

[Because seriously, she has no idea. She'd known him barely two weeks and 'dated' him for less than one. Then she....

Well, perhaps she made this post as a way to help get closure on the matter.]

[scorchedchivalry]

One's own happiness.

[no_longer_a_king]

Then the right thing to do was sacrifice him.

[If anything, it would have been better if, in that moment, she had sought her happiness instead of doing what, in her mind, was the most practical. Maybe if she--

--she needs to stop dwelling on this, she knows. But that moment keeps replaying in her mind no matter how she tries. Rushing to save Shirou, him on the ground suffering, the corpses, Kotomine's offer, and then Excalibur's swing. Her consolation would have been the fact it would have been quick and painless for him.]

[scorchedchivalry]

Perhaps I was not clear. Allow me to expand.

To love someone is to be willing to sacrifice your own happiness for the happiness of the one you love.

I live this every day.

[no_longer_a_king]

[She takes a few moments to consider if she should explain that sounds the same as what she had said earlier, just in a different context. That the everything she had meant to be given up was for the sake of the one she loves happiness.

She decides not to. It could only lead to an argument and the last thing she needs is to argue with someone she doesn't know on a message board. Especially over a topic as admittedly embarrassing as this should her identity be found out.]

How do you manage it if you don't mind me asking?

[scorchedchivalry]

I find other outlets.

Not all of them are healthy.

This is what happens when two accounts have similar keywords

[no_longer_a_king]

Like what? [Because she trains with Caliburn all the time. It doesn't help, only reminds her of training with Shirou every morning in the dojo.]

hee hee :3

[scorchedchivalry]

A game that requires mental focus.

Other relationships.

Violence.

Food.

[no_longer_a_king]

[She resists the urge to facepalm at her terminal. Arturia has a good idea who this is now, unless fate is screwing with her yet again. These all sound like things she herself would indulge in, though she would never outright admit to violence as an outlet. What does stand out to her however is:]

Other relationships?

[Because she has a feeling she'll be outed if she doesn't reply to this, much like with Gawain.]

[scorchedchivalry]

I did say not all were healthy outlets.

[no_longer_a_king]

It's surprising, I suppose. Is the other person aware of this?

That is, the person you're in the other relationship with.

[scorchedchivalry]

If she bothered to actually think about it, yes. She is too possessive to care.

Icon because I want to share it.

[no_longer_a_king]

And she treats you well?

[Despite the fact she knows Alter can take care of herself, Arturia wants to make sure she's okay. Especially if Alter is willing to admit the whole situation is unhealthy. Beyond that she'll leave it as her business.]

off, off, off, Lily!

[scorchedchivalry]

Well enough. We understand each other and she needs me.

But that is hardly the point of this conversation.

NEVERRRR! We must get the ahoge back somehow! (Be glad I didn't go for a crackhappy version of Lily)

[no_longer_a_king]

Fair enough. The conversation was originally about what you should be willing to sacrifice for the sake of the one you love.

But do you believe there are situations where you must sacrifice the person you love for the good of all?

[scorchedchivalry]

[There is a long moment before a response is given.]

Yes.

But to do so will tear you apart inside.

[no_longer_a_king]

That I know all too well.

[scorchedchivalry]

To love is to sacrifice.

To love is to suffer.

And to many... to love is to be lonely.



I hope you have gained something from this exchange.

[no_longer_a_king]

I have and I thank you for it. Be well and good luck in your endeavors.

[scorchedchivalry]

The same to you.