video; step four

[rubblegoddess]

[Like the rest of you, this woman looks sleep deprived and possibly a little bit deranged. Her eyes are glassy, she seems a little fidgety, as though she's anxiously awaiting something. Anything. A few deep breaths, and she finally stops staring blankly forward and speaks.]

I have a very important question. Very. I'd appreciate any help you can provide.

[Another pause.]

What does "love" mean to you? And what does it feel like? Rapturous? Terrifying? It's a concept to me, nothing more. I've been curious, though. And now that we're all half-incapacitated and sharing things...

[Her attention span seems to weaken for a moment, and she looks away at the wall...]

Also, if anyone knows how to cook something manly, I'd like your help with that, as well.

Comments

video

[becauseihaveto]

[Although clearly exhausted, Abby still snorts softly and grins ever so slightly at the question.]

That's a conversation that should be interesting for some without any sleep.

[A pause.]

And love, to me, means being there for somebody, helping them even if it might put you in danger, no matter what.

video

[rubblegoddess]

I'm hoping it will either stir me to action or bore me to sleep.

[Do not snort at Juliana! She is a wise and capable being! Who... seems very pleased by this answer.]

No matter what. Yes, I like that. To be willing to give all your own comfort and security for someone else's well-being.

video

[becauseihaveto]

[Abby's smile is still there. Small but nevertheless present.]

Exactly. [a pause] Love makes you do things you normally wouldn't. It's [She searches for a way to describe it.] madness. But in a good way.

video

[slipperysoul]

Pretty sure that's one of those questions that's better left unasked.

video

[rubblegoddess]

[She frowns.]

Why? I think it's harmless.

video

[slipperysoul]

Yeah. Harmless. [ insert nonexistent eyeroll here. ]

But everyone's got a different answer and the next thing you know, you'll think love is actually just a holiday.

Video

[acapriciousthing]

Well, there's a few different kinds of love. Love for family. Romantic love. Love for friends. Love for a good baked good.

So which kind were you wondering about? They're all wonderful.

Video

[rubblegoddess]

All of them. I think the closest thing I have ever experienced to love was a great desire and willingness to sacrifice myself for the good of others.

Re: Video

[acapriciousthing]

That's a lot of it.

I guess the simple version is... Love is when you know that no matter what happens, you always want that person around. Even if they kinda drive you crazy sometimes. They're the ones who'll always be there for you and you'll always be there for them.

The different kinds have their own unique flavours. But that's the core of it.

voice

[unaccepted]

I am the same as you; it is a concept that many speak of but few understand. Some think that love is an appreciation of beauty--something that transcends the physical realm we inhabit and can only be truly attained in the heavens that your soul reaches when in proximity of that other person, whether they feel the same or not. An idea. Stories give us a better look, do they not? Eros and his arrow wound Dionysus into loving Aura--and yet it is called delicious. Then, is love a wound? A delicious sort, but a wound nonetheless?

voice

[rubblegoddess]

[Well. Color her enchanted for a moment by pretty words.]

Now I'm all worked up! I feel like I could write a book right now. But it's problematic, isn't it, that I've only observed these things. I've seen the love of a newly married couple, a mother holding her child in her arms for the first time. Illicit lovers. Bosom friends. And people so passionate about what they do that I wondered if they might kill themselves through work for love of it.

[unaccepted]

[ Her last sentence is something he has seen too, and he must agree that he has been more of an observer in his life than anything. ]

There is no problem that lies with only observing, unless you envy what you find. I hold no envy, for if love is a wound, then it will heal. Forms pass throughout one's life, and to hold any loyalty toward them is to inflict the wound on oneself. I scoff at all those examples. A newly married couple will fade as the bride's bright eyes do, a child will grow and never look back to the one who raised him. What is the point of it? I cannot find one.

video

[foundafamily]

Love is what you feel for your family. Like when you want to protect someone and just... be with 'em.

[He feels a slight pang of guilt as he realizes, belatedly, that she probably doesn't have a family considering what she is.]

Like... those people you mentioned that you saved. Don't you love them?

video

[rubblegoddess]

[She applauds.]

Exactly what had me thinking of this. Very good! I wanted so desperately to protect them. As much as I wanted to survive, though, there were complications and it was also all too logical for me to choose the path I did.

video

[foundafamily]

[He's already fuzzy in the brain due to lack of sleep and he gives a confused laugh at her reaction. His definition seems only natural to him, but he knows that some people don't seem to get it.]

Was that a quiz or somethin'?

[He's not entirely sure what she's talking about now; he remembers her saying she saved her people, but now he wonders if something else happened.]

Logical? Honestly, I never really thought logic factored into it. At least not for me.

[He's done quite a few illogical things to protect his family, even if he usually doesn't realize that until after the fact.]

video;

[cutemupgirl]

[Hello, someone over here is a romantic at heart and extremely tired, so sharing time. Hurrah.]

There are a lot of different kinds of love, but it can be completely terrifying and wonderful all at the same time.

[Or a trainwreck, but there's no way in hell she's talking about the bad part of certain past relationship.]

I know how to cook. I'm not sure about manly, but I can help you find something. It's the least I can do.

video;

[rubblegoddess]

[Sharing is caring okay.]

They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, especially if he's a very large man and the usual food he eats is terrible.

video;

[cutemupgirl]

That's... yes, that's how the saying goes. [Except for that last part, but she isn't sure if it's her place to point out if that's rude or not. Better to err on the side of caution.]

Well if you're looking for 'manly,' I guess you can't go wrong with something like steak. Stereotypical, yes, but usually good.

permavoice cause he might get choked up oops

[onetouch]

What counts as manly? I mostly bake, but I can cook, if you need lessons?

[ he has no idea what's going on but it's fine. ]

As for your question, love is... All of those things. It is perfect and perfectly fragile, at once. It makes you feel warm, like a fluffy sweater made of goose down, all wrapped around you-- safe. It feels like safety feels; secure. But not like locks.

It's freedom, without loneliness.

voice yes good!

[rubblegoddess]

Manly... something a man would like. He's rather tall, shaved head, strong jaw, piercing eyes, everything I could possibly ask for, you know?

[No one knows with this woman. She's special.]

I think I know more about locks than I do sweaters. I've never even had a sweater. But something that keeps me from feeling lonely would be lovely, wouldn't it? Not that I'm too eager to take some blind leap. However, to experience that kind of security, security different from code and key? I might give up a thing or two for that.

[onetouch]

I... Of course. [ he has no idea what that means. ]

Did you live some place tropical? Even so... Love is--Love is worth every risk, for the comfort it brings. Sometimes you just have to take that leap; sometimes even literally.

voice;

[leaps]

[ the question about love is too messy for sulu to deal with, but food talk, he can handle that. ]

Define manly.

voice;

[rubblegoddess]

[WIMP! No, but it's a weird question, so she'd vaguely understand.]

Befitting a true knight of my cause. Well, alright. He's a man. And he doesn't seem to like my gelatin as much as I'd hoped he would.

[video]

[circumitus]

[..."love"? Was ist das?]

This wouldn't happen to be another one of your queries for "comparative purposes", would it?

[video]

[rubblegoddess]

[GRINNING.]

You've caught me. Why shouldn't I ask about this, though? It's something I've never been able to experience.