(Untitled)

[notatengu]

Rowen has a rolling chalkboard with him today. He positions to his liking and quickly writes out, in English and Japanese.

"From this arises the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both: but since love and fear can hardly exist together,

Comments

[pastwillhaunt]

"The first one's wrong."

[notatengu]

"Really? how so?"

[pastwillhaunt]

"I fear and love my mate and our baby. And being feared gives you people who'll want to stab you in the back to take away the fear, which can endanger innocent bystanders."

[tigereyedrogue]

"I've always been much more down with Ghandi, much to most of my family's regret. I think a leader who doesn't rule with both head and heart isn't fit for it."

[notatengu]

"I like him better as well. I don't know if his path of non-violence is always the best idea but he managed it spectacularly."

[tigereyedrogue]

"Yeah, well, I'm half-Indian, and compared to most of my friends I'm a raging pacifist. Hate violence. Good at it when I have to be, but I prefer other methods."

[vicioussweetie]

Ali studies the board, and the writer, before choosing to answer in Japanese. She's not a native speaker, but she's quite good. "That the world is better for those brave souls who love, and fear, and hope and wish and want to run away and hide, but who still get up in the morning to live another day."

She then switches back to English, and a mischievous smile replaces her previously serious look. "Not that such is a very popular opinion here, when push comes to shove."

[notatengu]

"That is a very good answer, miss." He smiles at the woman. He hears everything in Japanese thanks to the Nexus, but her responds in English next, though he is fluent, he has to sound out two words a little more slowly. "I do not think it is so much as not pop-a-lar but that it is an op-in-on that one must mature into."

He blushes and switches back to Japanese. "Despite how smart I am, I still have trouble with 'l' sounds."

[vicioussweetie]

One of her eyebrows flicks up for a moment at the "I'm so smart" comment, but she keeps smiling.

"Perhaps. And who could ever want to grow up in a Neverland like this?"

[notatengu]

"Not many, I would suppose. Though...this is not my idea of Neverland."

[doc_switchblade]

"Neither are one hundred percent true or correct," Brandt decides after studying both quotes for a few minutes. Taking a pair of sunglasses from a shirt pocket, he taps one hinged edge thoughtfully against his chin. "Whether or not it is better to be fear or loved depends on the individual and their goals. It is also possible to be both loved and feared. One can be loved by their friends and family, but feared by their enemies. After all, one can only go so far in turning some foes into allies... Hatred can run deep and if one must have such irrational enemies, best they fear. It will help keep them at bay and perhaps inspire grudging respect in the same stroke

[notatengu]

"Very good answer, though I will point out that in the end, Machiavelli states that fear is safer, not so much better. I agree though, that one can be both loved and feared. Not just in the case of family verses enemies, but fear in your family. On some level as children, even the best behaved ones, we feared punishment from our parents. I have a friend who loves the head of his family, but is fearful of him at the same time."

Rowen nods then hums. "As for Gandhi, not all damage coming from love is physical. When one opens himself to the pain a person can inflict emotionally. In that aspect, a person is a coward for not loving and opening himself up to that. At least, that is my interpretation of the quote."

[doc_switchblade]

"As I said, I really do believe that some of this depends on the individual. For some, safer IS better. And where young children are concerned, despite fear of punishment for wrong doing, they typically rely upon and love their parents despite that." He does smirk a bit at Rowen's thoughts on the Gandhi quote. "Actually, my thoughts on the cowardly apply with the emotional as well as the physical. If one is a coward for not opening up and loving another, there likely is fear of rejection. The self preservation is then for his or her sanity and emotional well being instead of his or her physical health. Fear is still fear, after all."

[notatengu]

"Ah, then sir, is there such a thing as a coward in your book? Or are those who do not take a step to live life in fear of breaking just simple people with very good survival instincts?" Rowen is keeping his face neutral as he speaks. He doesn't sound angry or annoyed. At most he sounds curious.

[likes_exploring]

"I can tell you that in my case, being what I am, it'd be a lot safer for me to be loved rather than feared." The vampire studies him curiously.

"In any case," she adds, "the second's true for me in a certain way. If I didn't have the courage to tell Fuu how I felt... well, she'd probably not be my girlfriend now."

[notatengu]

Someone who noticed the fact it said safer, not better! Rowen is pleased!

"That is a good example, in both cases. What is your opinion on fear and love existing together?"

[likes_exploring]

She might have read the source material, or part of it at least.

"I don't think they're mutually exclusive... You can love someone and fear the loss of that love. That's just one example."