Fic: Love or Romance
Aug. 27th, 2012 06:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meridian_roseTitle: Love or Romance
Fandom: Original
'Verse/Series: Kat/High Queen
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 526
Prompt: For the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
writerverse prompts 'Friends Falling in Love', 'A Deep Breath'. 'Queen of Hearts', 'Lip Biting', 'Mistrust'
Summary: The party discuss love, friendship, and a puzzling nickname
Warnings: None
They paused to take refreshments and let the horses drink from a nearby stream. Kat settled herself down on her cloak while Honor leant against a tree trunk. The soldiers merely sat or knelt on the grass, and Cal followed suit. Honor noted this, but didn't comment. Maybe Cal was trying to earn more respect from the warriors, though Honor couldn't imagine anything he could do that would make Horton change his opinion.
Cal mentioned a story from the area about a doomed pair of lovers, and then, in an attempt to lighten the mood, briefly outlined a story about a cattle rustler. The man was caught and the judge came up with a creative sentence. His punishment was to live one year in servitude to the widow whose cattle he'd been caught rustling. At first neither party was happy with this arrangement but they gradually overcome their mistrust and, when the year had passed, they'd not only become friends but fallen in love.
"There are plenty of stories of friends falling in love though I don't understand why," Ryan said. "There are friends and there are lovers. Different things." Honor shot him a glance but Ryan wasn't aware of the dangerous ground he was treading on.
"So love at first sight, that's all that counts?" Cal asked, disapproval clear in his tone. "I've had plenty of lovers but I wouldn't say I was in love with all of them."
"Not first sight I suppose…though that does seem the most romantic," Ryan said.
Riku took a swig from his water bottle. "I've always though that the deepest friendship is the same as love."
"Agreed," Tara put in. She took a deep breath and made what, for her, amounted to a speech. "Our friends and comrades can be every bit as beloved to us as our families – be they family by blood or other ties."
Ryan considered this for a long moment, chewing a piece of apple. "I suppose I always think there are people I could love in a romantic manner and people I couldn't love but could be friends with. And the rest are varying shades of acquaintances or even enemies."
Kat had been mercifully silent during the exchange, though she'd watched and listened intently. Now she spoke. "I think someone who is your friend as well as your lover would be better than someone who you merely find attractive. I've never liked the notion of marriages arranged sight unseen, nor character unknown."
"You don't think much of marriage in general." Horton stared at her defiantly. If he'd hope to disturb or anger her, he was disappointed, for Kat merely raised one eyebrow.
"No, I don't."
Ryan coughed politely. "Then why do they call you the Queen of Hearts?"
Why, indeed. Kat bit her lip and turned away, trying to hide her smile. Cal began to explain but Honor shook his head.
"Let's not talk it about it right now." Facts, rumours, tales and myths had combined into a ridiculous narrative that had given Kat that particular nickname. Honor thought it disrespectful, but Kat, in a particularly contrary moment, had decided she rather liked it.
Fandom: Original
'Verse/Series: Kat/High Queen
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 526
Prompt: For the
writerverse prompts 'Friends Falling in Love', 'A Deep Breath'. 'Queen of Hearts', 'Lip Biting', 'Mistrust'Summary: The party discuss love, friendship, and a puzzling nickname
Warnings: None
They paused to take refreshments and let the horses drink from a nearby stream. Kat settled herself down on her cloak while Honor leant against a tree trunk. The soldiers merely sat or knelt on the grass, and Cal followed suit. Honor noted this, but didn't comment. Maybe Cal was trying to earn more respect from the warriors, though Honor couldn't imagine anything he could do that would make Horton change his opinion.
Cal mentioned a story from the area about a doomed pair of lovers, and then, in an attempt to lighten the mood, briefly outlined a story about a cattle rustler. The man was caught and the judge came up with a creative sentence. His punishment was to live one year in servitude to the widow whose cattle he'd been caught rustling. At first neither party was happy with this arrangement but they gradually overcome their mistrust and, when the year had passed, they'd not only become friends but fallen in love.
"There are plenty of stories of friends falling in love though I don't understand why," Ryan said. "There are friends and there are lovers. Different things." Honor shot him a glance but Ryan wasn't aware of the dangerous ground he was treading on.
"So love at first sight, that's all that counts?" Cal asked, disapproval clear in his tone. "I've had plenty of lovers but I wouldn't say I was in love with all of them."
"Not first sight I suppose…though that does seem the most romantic," Ryan said.
Riku took a swig from his water bottle. "I've always though that the deepest friendship is the same as love."
"Agreed," Tara put in. She took a deep breath and made what, for her, amounted to a speech. "Our friends and comrades can be every bit as beloved to us as our families – be they family by blood or other ties."
Ryan considered this for a long moment, chewing a piece of apple. "I suppose I always think there are people I could love in a romantic manner and people I couldn't love but could be friends with. And the rest are varying shades of acquaintances or even enemies."
Kat had been mercifully silent during the exchange, though she'd watched and listened intently. Now she spoke. "I think someone who is your friend as well as your lover would be better than someone who you merely find attractive. I've never liked the notion of marriages arranged sight unseen, nor character unknown."
"You don't think much of marriage in general." Horton stared at her defiantly. If he'd hope to disturb or anger her, he was disappointed, for Kat merely raised one eyebrow.
"No, I don't."
Ryan coughed politely. "Then why do they call you the Queen of Hearts?"
Why, indeed. Kat bit her lip and turned away, trying to hide her smile. Cal began to explain but Honor shook his head.
"Let's not talk it about it right now." Facts, rumours, tales and myths had combined into a ridiculous narrative that had given Kat that particular nickname. Honor thought it disrespectful, but Kat, in a particularly contrary moment, had decided she rather liked it.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-27 06:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-27 06:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-27 06:34 pm (UTC)I like how there's a fair amount of disagreement but they all respect each other's different opinions.
Poor Honor, though. The whole friends-and/or-lovers debate seems to be hitting close to home!
no subject
Date: 2012-08-27 06:57 pm (UTC)It's interesting you see it that way because I felt maybe Ryan got rather ganged up by on the others until he had to reconsider his narrow idea of love as being purely romantic :)
Yes, poor Honor, as always!
no subject
Date: 2012-08-28 08:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-29 04:58 am (UTC)Awwwww, love Tara! :D
That's a very interesting discussion. :D I'm curious whose point of view is closer to your own here. :D
And as always I wonder where they are at this point, how deep in the story we are, and when you will write MORE :D
*FLAILS*
no subject
Date: 2012-08-29 04:09 pm (UTC)Pretty early on, I guess, though I say that a lot!
Thanks so much for your comment and constant support :D