Lovely: Aliens Among Us
Chapter 4: How Does One Love?
By a stroke of luck (or persuasion from the flyers,) you find yourself in Shadowglen.
Although a visit to Shadowglen used to be at the centre of the yearly Survival festivities, with the Volunteer Infection Program, a decline in the dreaded (or anticipated) occurrence of airborne zombie virus infections seems to have reduced tourism to other areas of Shadowglen. It's not something that bothers the Unliving, who still see local businesses flourish at this time of the year.
You don't see anything vaguely resembling a nuptial service or anything out of the ordinary close to the Underground, save for a small, yet familiar tent.
Although a visit to Shadowglen used to be at the centre of the yearly Survival festivities, with the Volunteer Infection Program, a decline in the dreaded (or anticipated) occurrence of airborne zombie virus infections seems to have reduced tourism to other areas of Shadowglen. It's not something that bothers the Unliving, who still see local businesses flourish at this time of the year.
You don't see anything vaguely resembling a nuptial service or anything out of the ordinary close to the Underground, save for a small, yet familiar tent.
A strange figure emerges from the tent. You can't help but notice that their eyes are closed, and their facial expression unchanging.
"Greetings, stranger. Might I ask you a question?"
Wait a minute… that's a mask! That grin didn't move an inch. Without waiting for you to respond, they continue. "What is the best way for someone to express their love for someone? How do you desire to be loved?"
They hand you an… eyeliner pencil and a pink book covered with question marks and a conspicuous kiss mark. You flip through the pages and find it filled with what seem to be responses to the question.
Wait a minute… that's a mask! That grin didn't move an inch. Without waiting for you to respond, they continue. "What is the best way for someone to express their love for someone? How do you desire to be loved?"
They hand you an… eyeliner pencil and a pink book covered with question marks and a conspicuous kiss mark. You flip through the pages and find it filled with what seem to be responses to the question.
The best way to express love? I think that varies from person to person. What's good for one person might not be appreciated by another! So... Really knowing someone is a good start?
As for me, strictly platonic, thanks! c:
- Kisrah
What is love? The best way to express it? Well, I think Kisrah is right. It has to start with really knowing someone. And whether romantically or platonically, I think you have to truly want what is best for that person. Or sometimes it's letting them have their way when something isn't the best for them but still supporting them in the fallout after. (Example I let my husband have Pringles before bed even though I know he'll eat the whole can and be sad about it in the morning.)
Love is like sticking together through all of the ugly crying and living with parents until you can get back on your feet again when life seems to just be hitting you with one shitty situation after another for almost an entire year.
Love is only making fun of your wife a little bit when she cries over greys anatomy even though she's already seen that episode.
Love is not going to the bathroom because your kitty is really comfy on your lap. Love is not playing a game even though you just logged in because your kitty needs cuddles now if you don't hold his head in your hand you're doing it wrong.
Love is bringing your friend's favorite dessert to a party.
So yeah. Idk. Love. I could probably go on but I have to like ... start work soon.
- Squid
Support, mutual trust, and communication are HUGE for love - I had originally written "romantic love" but I think it works for friends and family, too. I'd say communication is probably the biggest part. If you can't communicate, then you probably can't trust them, either. My husband and I can tell each other ANYTHING, even if it's uncomfortable. That kind of honesty and open lines of communication means we rarely, if ever, fight, despite being together for nearly 11 years and married for nearly 6. We've lived together through almost all of that. We've gotten a lot of compliments from various people on how great our relationship is, and he and I react to "love is hard work!" with "but loving each other is the easiest part of our lives!" Because it is! Because communication, honesty, trust, and supporting each other through the good and the bad come so naturally for us.
So I guess... In a nutshell, just. "communication." Communicate feelings, desires, expectations, fears, annoyances, etc. Because the more we understand about what makes the other tick, the more we can work toward making the other happy, as well as self-improvement.
- Song
Hmmm.. for me the best way to love someone is to respect them.. Love, any kind of love, should be based on respecting the other person, even if you don't approve their choices or their point of view. Your partner, your child, your friend is not something you own, you can't keep them in a cage even if you think it's for their own good. As Sting said, if you love somebody set them free.
- Lia
That is one tough question to actually put into words an answer; but like Lia above, there must be respect and trust. I think love can take many shapes.
As for me, I want to be loved for who I am, quirks and all. Luckily I have people in my life that do just that. I love them back just as much.
Opening your heart to love is a scary thing and you can most definitely get hurt, but if you never take the risk you can miss out on so much.
Ah, there I go rambling on.
I'll just end by saying I choose love. Always.
Happy Wednesday dear stranger.
- FCoD
As for me, I appreciate mundane gestures of love and care the most. Like taking out the trash every now and then, preparing a meal for your family/significant other, helping your shorter friends get stuff from the upper shelves, telling someone they have a nice shirt, etcetc...
+ A little please and thank you go a long way, really!
- Yuzuru
Psy duck psyduck psy yi yi yi yi duck duck psyyyy psyduck psy duck psyduck psy duck psyduck psy yi yi duck duck psyyyy psyduck psy duck. (love is helping others leave their suffering behind by expediting their immediate demise. Love is seeing the void at the end of all creation, in all its flawless perfection, and wishing to send your beloved to such a paradise this very minute. Love is complete devotion to a singular goal, and seeing to it that not even eternity stands between you, your beloved and the entropy of death. )
- The Grand Duck
- The Grand Duck
You notice that there are still a few empty pages where you can express your thoughts on the matter.
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