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

It comes to us all, from time to time-- and it's all good by me!

[chevalier_mal_fet]

I know not what help I have given you that you might call me "friend".
It is true that I have no ill-intent, but lack of ill-purpose hardly suits that title.
Unless you have claim to the name.

[He has called no man or woman friend in Lifetimes.
Lancelot smiles, and it is a small and wry and edged thing.]

What advice will you take to Heart then-- will you strive to cease to Love?

That is the most difficult path to take of all.

[A heart cannot be stolen, for it cannot be owned. But once in another's hands, it is a near impossible thing to restore it to its previous place, whole and unharmed. There had never been anyone else, no pleasure he could bear, no comfort he would accept-- not after Guinevere.]

[no_longer_a_king]

Nay. It is that I will not forget myself for the one I love would not want me to, if he had truly loved me as he said he did.

[Shirou had practically smothered her with his offers of affection until they had fought what feels like so long ago upon the bridge because it became clear to her he did not understand her at all and wished her to be the thing he wanted her to be, instead of the person she had been. Arturia does not know if she could love again--she doubts she could--but she does know that she could try to return to being herself.]

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[Nay...]

I have said that Love may outlast death and pain-- but the Heart that holds it may be broken and imperfect. It is easier to desire forgetfulness, to desire any kind of peace, than one might expect. Only be in earnest, and do not promise out of pride deeds which you cannot guarantee to perform.

Do not say that you will not forget. Only live as if you desire to remember.

[no_longer_a_king]

I shall. Thank you.

[chevalier_mal_fet]

For my part, I wish you well in your quest.