Video

[smothersome]

Though it be past spring, it seems the late stirrings of love within this place are manifest. Like flowers opening to the rain, I feel revitalized at the sight of it. Perhaps 'tis all within my mind.

[Aengus isn't exactly the most ordinary-looking person in the world at the best of times. Sparkles, butterflies, old-fashioned clothing that would make even the most open-minded person stare... all of that is common for him. But his energy certainly makes him seem different now. From the looks of it, he is at the beach, not minding the chill that comes from the cold water lapping at his feet.]

Whether it be so or not, I ask thee who reside here to tell me of that which is theirs to hold. Tell me of thy love, of those whom thou holdst closest in the shackles of thy heart. Sing it to the heavens if thou must! Love is precious and easily lost. You must treasure it closely.

And do not think age a deterrent! Love finds all, the young and the old, most pleasing.

Comments

[smothersome]

First I must ask thee. What dost thou know of the Tuatha Dé Danaan?

[forgivethemtheirpain]

It sounds like something you eat.

*Nobody said she was a knowledgeable mermaid goddess, and in fact that would be wildly incorrect.*

[smothersome]

Not quite. The Tuatha Dé are the gods of old Ireland, and I am among them. I am Aengus Óg, also known as Maccan, the son of the Dagda, and I am the one that stands for love and poetry.

[forgivethemtheirpain]

Ahaha... sorry. I don't know a lot of these things, even stuff I should know.

[smothersome]

Be at ease, fair maiden! It is not your fault if you know naught of it.

[forgivethemtheirpain]

So you had love powers back home?

[smothersome]

Indeed. Though Love was simpler in my time. People now make it far more complicated than it need be.

[forgivethemtheirpain]

How?

[smothersome]

I shall tell thee of my own love, then.

Once, as I slept, a girl came to me in a dream. She spoke not to me but only stayed at my side until I awoke. From that moment, I could not remove her from my mind, for she was to haunt it. The next night she returned again and played beautiful music to me, and so it continued on. Sometimes she brought food, sometimes she played music, but I could not allow her to leave my mind though it made me sick and helpless with love. For a full year this continued,

I could not eat and languished sorrowfully until my condition was seen, and it was decided that my father should send envoys to discover the name of this magnificent woman. For a year more we searched, until finally she was found. Cáer Ibormeith was her name, and though my father asked her father to come to us, he refused.

When he did, we discovered that he had no power over his daughter, for she had great power and would remain as a swan at her will for a year, and then human for the next. So I went to her side and called to her, and asked her to be mine. And she agreed, if she could be permitted to return to the lake as a swan when she wished. And so it was decided.

[forgivethemtheirpain]

That sounds a little complicated in itself, but I'm glad it worked out well.

[smothersome]

Not at all! It was far more simple than these modern courtship methods. "Wilt thou come with me?" "Yes, if I can but return here." And we were wed.

[forgivethemtheirpain]

I guess when you put it that way, it's different from waffling for years over whether the other person likes you and trying to hit a balance between being noticeable if he does but not sticking out in case he doesn't.

[smothersome]

Precisely! If you wish to find if he likes you, then simply propose it to him.

[forgivethemtheirpain]

That's way too scary, though.

[smothersome]

For him also, would you not say? In that situation, would not the both of you simply waste time wondering?

[forgivethemtheirpain]

We sort of did.