TM: Catch up
2/4: What does the word 'love' mean to you?
The Queen of the Gods looked at her perfect manicure, and smoothed her impeccable coiffure as she considered the question.
"Love," she said comfortably, "for the most part, is frivolous, capricious, fickle, and shallow. Though poets and musicians have built love up to be the be-all, end-all of human existence, if one makes note of the figures in history who have achieved the most, love played hardly any role at all. Love will not earn you position; love will not feed your children; and love will certainly not allow you to survive.
"And love has no interest in these things. Love's only interest is in love itself, and this is reflected in all its forms. It wants to self-perpetuate, to have its way, to change the world to its tune.
"Unfortunately, darling, the world rarely shares love's interests, and it would behoove anyone who would like to survive and thrive in it to know that.
"What does the word 'love' mean to me? I suppose if I had to narrow it down to one word, I would have to say, 'Impracticality.'"
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2/11: Have you ever regretted a wish you made? Why/what happened?
Hera looked thoughtful.
"I certainly have never regretted any wish I've made; it is my fortunate circumstance to have been born a goddess, and thereby my wishes are first most often followed, and second, do not have the repercussions of those of mortals.
Of course, there are desires I've regretted having, but technically, that's another question."
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2/18: Write a ficlette based on the word: beautiful.
(OOC Note: Ok, I did this wrong, but Hera started talking, and I couldn't stop her!)
"Beautiful." Hera smiled a cold smile.
"Beautiful is a versatile word, with many meanings. The graceful slope of the finest leather, crafted by a master to fit my divine foot is beautiful. The sharp cuts and smooth lines of custom-designed gown, of good color and superb fabric is beautiful.
"Peacocks are beautiful, shining bright, preening, looking deceptively common until they show their feathers, revealing the wonder of what they can be.
"Marriage is similarly beautiful. Far be it from me to pretend sentimentality or romanticism, but there is little in this world more productive, more useful, or more beautiful than the union between two people, committed to sharing a life, to sharing experiences, and to sharing family. Marriage is an integral element of the life cycle, though it be ignored, abused, and maligned. The fact is, it continues to exist, despite the abuse it endures, and battles are fought politically and socially to establish rights to it. Why?
"Because marriage is a commitment to partnership, security, and strength. It is an agreement that two people are better together than they are apart, that you will take care of each other, protect each other, and bury each other. The world that was created for gods and mortals alike is a harsh one; for most, the path is more difficult without help. It is mundane. It lacks the excitement of having a new lover every week. But novelty fades, and so does the excitement of constantly seeking out new company. The beauty of marriage is in the details; and even in my own, as flawed as it may be, there is beauty in the knowledge of each other, in being so familiar with another's body, mind, and soul that it might as well be your own."