bakerstreet | The Bittersweet (Tragic) Love Meme

The Bittersweet (Tragic) Love Meme

The Bittersweet Love Meme

Happy endings are what we crave, right? If we see a couple we like in movies or in real life, we root for them to make it. Why, then, is there such a desire to see love that's tragic, doomed, or bittersweet? People watch sad movies like Titanic, and they know what will happen, but somehow that makes it more poignant. This goes all the way back to tales like Romeo and Juliet. There's just something about a good cry that makes us feel that much more human and even more receptive of beauty.

This meme is equal parts tragedy and beauty, sweet and bitter. Some prompts may be triggering, so tread with caution.

How to Play
- Comment with your character, preferences, etc.
- Comment to others.
- Roll the RNG to determine which scenario to play out.

Prompts

Romeo and Juliet: The classic starcrossed lovers. You can't be together because of warring factions, and you're at the end of your rope. You have to do something.
Not the Same: Angel and demon. Human and god. Whatever the combination, you're not of the same kind. This probably won't end well, especially if one of you is immortal and the other's not, or there's some kind of power difference.
Past Wounds: One of you was hurt in the past, and it was so bad that it's hurting your relationship. Can you be healed by love, or is this something that can't ever be fixed?
Bad Things: This bad thing isn't in the past. This happened when you were together, and now it's affecting how your lover behaves toward you.
Loss: Perhaps it's a loss only one of you suffered, like a family member. Or it's something the both of you share, like the loss of a child. Sometimes, together you can pull through. Other times, it's just too much to bare.
I Can't Live Without You: Whether it be through injury, curse, terminal illness, one of you is dying. There's only a limited time left. Will you spend your last days with the person you love, or will you end it for their own good, so they don't have to watch you die?
Unfaithful: One of you has been unfaithful, even if you still love your significant other. Can this wrong ever be forgiven?
Gone Away: You're being torn apart by location and distance.
A New Start: The sweet part of bitter. Where one relationship ends, another begins. But is your heart too hurt to accept new love?
WILDCARD

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[ His use of past tense doesn't go unnoticed and she cringes, the reassuring squeeze a small comfort, even if she can't quite fully register it. At first she thinks it might only be the kind paramedic that is divorced from the world, but then upon closer inspection Eva finds the walls hold a fuzzy quality, and she can't quite seem to focus, no matter how hard she tries.

The logical part of her mind places the blame upon a mix of tragedy and exhaustion, but it's all the thought she gives to the concept, because she can't seem to concentrate on it. Or anything, for that matter. Eva thinks to mention something to David as he pushes the door open, flooding a bit of light into the darkened room of her partner -- who is still living, still breathing; the reminder causes her pulse to race, dark eyes a little brighter -- but the idle conversation is forgotten instantly.

Stumbling into the room, the scientist moves to kneel at the side of the his bed, falling almost reverently to her knees as she reaches to smooth his damp bangs from his forehead. He's skin is clammy and pale, his lips too red, and he is far too silent.

But he is still Neil.

And that can be enough for now. ]

I'm not sure if you can hear me, but I'm here now. You're not alone. [ Her lips ghost against his forehead -- warm, light, reassuring. ] .. And if worst comes to worst, [ against her best wishes, her breath catches ] I'll grant your wish. I promise, Neil.

[He doesn't react to her words, still breathing evenly, still coughing every few minutes. There may have been the smallest smile when she kissed him, but that could have been a hallucination. Other than that, everything remains silent and still, as if the doctors had given up, just placed him in the morgue instead of the ICU.

David remains silent, and tries not to let Eva's actions get to him. This always is the worst part of the job, though. Seeing a love so strong... yet not powerful enough to overcome death.]

[ She makes a feeble attempt to wipe away her own tears as she tends to him, wiping the blood from his mouth when he coughs, and stroking through his hair as she whispers to him. It's cruel trade, as he has put her to bed countless times in his apartment, murmuring and brushing strands of dark hair behind her ear, so this is more than only fair. ]

I -- I wish I would have known. I would I could have done something.

[ Dark eyes clamp tightly shut as she shakes her head slowly, clearing her throat and lifting her voice to carry to the waiting paramedic.

If Eva is to make good on her promises, she has to face the truth, even if she isn't ready to hear the words; even if she wishes that he would simply lie to her. ]

.. How long does he have?

[His hair is wet, slicked back with sweat, though he shivers occasionally, when he isn't having a coughing fit. It's a relief he can even sleep through this, but he needs to save his energy.

At her words, his brow furrows, just slightly, and he starts mouthing words, but without air behind them, they aren't audible.

David watches the two, and winces at the question. He wants to lie too, but... she's a doctor. She probably already knows.]

...The most he'll have is probably a week.

[ Her efforts to make out the whispered words are wasted, because try as she might to piece them together -- to steal them away for later, when she isn't so close to breaking down again; when the tears don't sting her dark eyes, begging her attention -- the task proves impossible. It's for the best, though. Every unnecessary task is an unneeded strain on his dying form, and she is only egging that on.

And so Eva pushes herself to her feet slowly, shoulders slumped and a note of defeat in her tone. ]

I need you to look after him. I'll be back in ten, fifteen minutes, and then I won't ask anything more of you, I promise.

[ Because she won't have the chance. The scientist has every intention of clearly cutting ties with Daniel so that his career won't be dashed, all of his hard work set aside for something foolhardy that she intends to accomplish. She will find a way to anonymously send a token of her gratitude, but for now -- ]

Thank you.

[ Her fingers ghost against his shoulder and then she's gone, sprinting down the hallways and sidestepping nurses. ]

[David offers a nod, though his expression is rather confused. Where is Eva going? All that work to come see Neil and now she's suddenly leaving? Maybe she couldn't handle seeing him in such a state... but she seemed to be looking for something.

He still waits patiently for the time it takes Eva to leave and then return, keeping an eye on the monitors and making sure Neil won't be dying any time soon.]

[ When she finally returns, the scientist is dragging a large briefcase with her, cheeks flushed from the exertion. The outside is pristine, and it looks nothing like a travelor's suit case, so --

Eva pauses a few steps into the whitewashed room, biting down hard against the inside of her cheek as she chooses her words carefully, as the paramedic has been more than accommodating. He has provided her with a chance to give Neil a final wish before he passes, because as much as she teases him, the bespectacled scientist is still the most wonderful person that she has ever met in her life.

He deserves at least this. ]

Thank you. You should leave now, though. Pretend you never saw me. [ A melancholy smile takes to her lips, never quite reaching her dark eyes, puffy from crying. ] I won't tell anyone that you helped.

[David's frown deepens as he sees the suitcase, so polished that he can see his concerned face reflected back in it. What could she have needed to bring here? Something for Neil? People often left keepsakes for family members on their death bed, but that looked like some sort of tool kit, not a case for heirlooms.]

What's in that case?

[He gets even more concerned when she speaks to him.]

Pretend... What are you planning on doing? I agreed to let you see him, but I didn't agree to anything else! I don't want to get in trouble, and I don't want you getting involved in something you shouldn't.

Edited 2013-07-27 05:58 (UTC)

[ The scientist is patient, explaining as she settles the suitcase upon the floor and kneels down beside it, unlocking it and slowly opening it to reveal a mass of wires, equipment, and a helmet. The sight causes her to freeze momentarily, cringing. This is Neil's equipment, as he is the only agent she knows who doesn't wind his cording neatly back up. ]

I work for Sigmund Corp, like he does. There isn't time to put in a request, and even if there was, whoever would be assigned to the case doesn't know as much as I do.

[ She is winding the black cording about her arm almost reverently when she glances up, a tired resolve reflecting in her dark eyes. ]

I'm not supposed to do this, because we know each other, and it's dangerous to go alone sometimes -- but I know what I'm doing. As far as either of us are concerned, I never met you, David.

Even if we might have been friends otherwise.

[ But she can't take no for an answer. Not when he could fail at any moment. ]

[Maybe if he'd known he wouldn't be using the equipment next, Neil would have wound the cording himself. Either that, or he would have made some joke about some 'wire witch' tangling them up.

He's not joking now, and David certainly isn't either, watching her with his arms folded and a weary look on his face.]

I understand how you feel. I know you want to help him, and I know that's your job, but if you weren't authorized to do it, I shouldn't allow it.

...Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think Neil would want you risking your job and your life just so you could grant him one wish. He fought for you. He spoke to you and didn't even try for anyone else.

Having you as a partner was all he needed.

Now please, come with me.

[David holds out a hand, trying to lead her out of the room.]

[ He doesn't understand, and as much as she wants to show him, to make him understand, there's only so much time to do so. Usually careful hands drag the laptop from the briefcase with a soft clunk, trusting it can take the abuse -- after all, it's found worse at the hands of her partner. ]

I'm not changing my mind.

[ It comes out harsher than she had meant it and the scientist sighs, plugging in wires and pressing buttons, appearing more alive, more awake, and more assured than she has since she arrived. The tail of her lab coat flutters as she rushes about, taking great care to hook Neil to the machine. ] I know you think this is wrong, but when you've worked with someone for so long, when you --

[ Oh. Her hands are shaking. Squinting her eyes shut, Eva takes a breath before trying again, dark eyes reopening to punch a few sequences into the laptop. ]

He's saved my life. This is the least I owe him.

There's a good chance I can plead for my job back, but this is ... It's once in a lifetime. He's dying, David. Please, let me give him this.

[David watches her rush around and... he can understand why she won't take no for an answer. She seems so determined, so convinced that she knows what she's doing and that this will be what Neil wants in the end. As a paramedic, he's seen so many people die... and not just the ones hooked up to the machines counting down the days before their hearts stop beating. The ones who care for their loved ones, who adore them so much that they can't even imagine living without them.

People like that often just... stop living after a death. They're still alive, but they don't enjoy anything anymore. They don't have a passion, and they don't find anything to focus on.

If he lets Eva do this, then maybe she'll still keep her talents and feelings and determination to do all the things she used to do before, just without Neil. He's breaking so many rules, but... protocol be damned if he can safe a life here, right?

He fixes stern eyes on her, and slowly looks away.]

Do what you need to do. I didn't see anything, and you never gave me that candy bar.

[And with a wave over his shoulder, he disappears, leaving her alone to accomplish her goal.]

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The Bittersweet (Tragic) Love Meme

That must be why it's so HUGE

IT'S A GIANT :O

Even Tokyo is afraid!

But they deal with this on a daily basis!

But it has never been Neil ...

...Why did you have to give me the image of giant Neil stomping on skyscrapers in this thread

BECAUSE GODZI -- ... Neil! Raaawr.

Scariest monster ever.

Chills. I have CHILLS.

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