[video] riddle, riddle on the wall

[riddleman]

[The man is dressed in a classy suit with green highlights, using needlessly dramatic lighting as he starts to talk, very master of ceremony.]

ImPorts and Very ImPortants!

[He turns the camera around to show a wall that he has artfully decorated with a word cloud. Yes, he has put a lot of work in.]



Some of you might have enjoyed the riddle page of the Heropan Post before. I've been architect of it for a few months now. You're welcome!

Yet here I come to you with a riddle that I can't ever seem to quite figure out by myself.

[The camera is turned around again and he can be seen slowly drawing a heart in the air with two fingers as he talks.]

I'm worthless to one but priceless to two. What am I?

I am love.

Wait! That's not the riddle that leaves me puzzled. It goes deeper. One of the few questions where I'm not certain of the answer yet. Whenever I think I know, I get thrown for a loop.

So.

What is love?

Or, should I ask, what is it to you?

Comments

[heliophilic]

I'm going to give you probably the craziest advice you've ever heard.

I hope you're sitting down for this one.

Have you tried.... talking to them?

[What do so many people have against communication?

And yes, he understand the irony of him being the one think such a thing. M was created to be emotionally stunted and makes an effort to break out of that mold. No one else has that excuse.]

[riddleman]

What good would talking do? People say all kinds of stuff. If you can measure and win love by talking, a well rehearsed monologue would suffice.

[Talking is fine! It is not enough, clearly.

Also, yes, there is a lot of emotional stunting to deal with here too.]

[heliophilic]

Love isn't a con game.

[Though it damn well could be. M (and his insides) know that all too well. He tries not to dwell on that.]

Look, I've fucked up my fair share of relationships, but what I've learned is that good things happen when you actually talk, and bad things happen when you let you imagination take over.

If nothing else, watch their body language while they talk.

[riddleman]

They are a bit fidgety. Especially in this regard.

But I suppose I can't fault that, I'm not much better when nerves strike.

Love seems like a bad idea. It's bound to become a weakness.

[heliophilic]

Nothing about love is logical

[M will readily concede that point. It's one he's thought about many times himself.]

A weakness in what way? That they can hurt you, or that other people can hurt them?

[riddleman]

All of the above. And, furthermore, that I hurt them. Based on precedent, it seems very likely.

That it isn't logical, doesn't that terrify you?

[heliophilic]

It screwed up my first relationship. Truth be told, I'm lucky he took me back.

Logic's got no place in matters of the heart.

[riddleman]

Then it's no wonder I struggle so much with them. I'm far better with my mind than with emotions.

What did you do to screw it up that first time around?

[heliophilic]

I decided to... guess where the relationship was heading and walk away before I broke his heart.

[Sure, with him it's more than guesswork, but in the end he knows his implants aren't infallible.]

Turns out guys don't like not having a say in the matter.

[riddleman]

They wouldn't, would they? But sometimes it's easy to see what lies ahead.

[No implants here, but he prides himself in always being eight steps ahead of just about anyone.]

At least I'm crowdsourcing my thoughts on the matter, perhaps that will weaken the sting. If it does end in rejection, anyway.

[heliophilic]

Sometimes. Other times we see what we want to see.

[Which is why the fight computer is officially offline as far as he and Andrew are concerned.]

Do you think that it's worth fighting for, even if there might be rejection at the end of the line? If so, you gotta go for it.