godbent | 5th: The Contamination of Haruhi Suzumiya

5th: The Contamination of Haruhi Suzumiya

[Voice]

So everyone, Valentines is supposed to be about love and stuff, right? But have you ever thought what's up with that Saint Valentine guy who originated the holiday?! Given that it's still popular today, is he just some famous dead guy, or is he now a ghost, trying to appeal to everyone's mind and manipulate them?! Wouldn't that explain how it's popular in both Japan and the West?

Bearing that in mind, even if this holiday is kinda stupid, it's still important to adhere to certain traditions in hopes of seeing any possible Valentines spirits. Because of that, I've gotten chocolate for some of you.

[...Namely all of the guys in the Brigade and grudgingly Minato. She considered some others, like Neku or Sokka, but decided against it. She also considered Winry but she's not sure if that's too weird or not. That said, delivering them? No, she's carrying them around in her bag in case she runs into people for other reasons and failing that going to put what's left in a basket at the HQ after she's done.]

More importantly-! A bunch of you have heard about the beach, right?! And you're all psyched to go there this summer?! Well, brought to you by our SOS-Brigade's genius scientist, Leon [this next part is muttered quickly and might not be heard:] andsomehelpfromSokka we're bringing you the all-new Beach Teleportation System! You know how the ones for the Hot Springs work, right?! Same thing here! The village-end for the teleporter is located in the barracks, and the other end is way off, so we can have easy access once it warms up!

All in a day's work for the SOS-Brigade!

[First reply is of course for her two boys. Once they're done feel free though.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Don't be silly! Of course there's more to it than the spirit of marketing! We're talking about a celebration about love, no matter when or what culture it is, every society has had a day to honor that or, at least, rites made to avert evil spirits and ensure health and fertility. Even in the Ancient Rome there was the Lupercalia which happened from February 13th to the 15th and there was also the Juno Februa on the 14th. A festivity that has found its way to exist in so many cultures through so many years can't be something born just from human mind and marketing.

That said I'm not entirely sure that the spirit or deity invoked by this celebration is really a Valentine. You know, some people argue that prior to Chaucer's love birds there was no connection between the Saints named Valentine and romantic love.

[HOLY CRAP SHE ALWAYS FORGETS KEIICHI CAN BE SMART SOMETIMES]

In that case, maybe it's an entity that predates Valentine! Or possessed him!

[wow Keiichi that was... loud. and sudden. and nerdy.]

Love's a universal concept. It doesn't need a ghost to be spread around.

And why is it an universal concept? We can get to argue how humans' cores are pretty similar and all but it's very unlikely that the whole human race would get the same idea of dedicating a festivity to love just by themselves. Besides, back in the ancient times love itself wasn't even hold under a positive light, most marriages were planned and directed to the prosperity of the family, land and country. Love was something that came after marriage, or at least was supposed to, even nowadays there are still many people who have to put love itself to a backseat as a priority. Do you really think that people would want to celebrate something that could get in the way of their arranged marriages and such?

And what about some of the worlds which aren't even Earth? Sure, some may not have this festivity or by this name but most of them if not all have some kind of celebration or rite for it. It's basically impossible that the billions of people on our world will get the same idea, much less centered around the same time frame, just by themselves, it's obvious it's even harder if we add into the equation other worlds. And what about those considered alternative worlds? If they are that alternate wouldn't it be possible for them to not have this celebration? Yet many of them do.

The idea of a higher entity, deity, spirit or even a traveler through time and worlds, being responsible for the triggering of those celebrations is far more logical than a mere "just because".

Exactly! Five points, Keiichi, that's more than I expected out of you!

[A nod and then she sets off]

Looking at it objectively, we have dozens upon dozens of Earths which all have this same celebration across a ton of different cultures. Given the alternate history in mind, and the fact that some non-Earth worlds have it too, it becomes entirely probable that there's some entity or at least a slider-time traveler who is manipulating an idealized image of what "love" is for people!

You don't need magic to spread an idea. Everyone wants love somehow, and people latch on to things they like.

[after all, even if there's a being responsible for a concept, it's up to humanity to reach out and touch it. That's what happened with Nyx, and likely to any other powerful beings out there as well.]

Edited 2011-02-14 17:20 (UTC)

You're answering based on the idea that a deity, spirit or the like has to be related to magic. It may have just been a person, traveling through the world and dimensions spreading the idea. And certainly at first it was nothing but a normal person with an idea, but the idea was accepted by the people everywhere that person went, the idea was nurtured and helped people across the world and ages. Humanity couldn't have come up with the idea all at once, but once they have it they can give it strength and make that person something similar to what would be called a deity across time. Anyone who believed enough in the idea to spread it all over the world and dimensions surely had enough power of spirit to remain even after death in the same state of consciousness to watch over the celebration they created or something like that.

And even if they make the choice, it's the same choice over and over, which is as good as being nurtured. Choices you make through you life are influenced by your parents or teachers, right? Same concept!

[...]

You two are really into this.

Of course we are, it's love! And spirits, travelers and the like! What's there to not be into it?

Choices are also influenced by your friends and environment. But Haru-chan's right in that it's the same thing.

The love part is less important than the other stuff though.

[...orly.]

You're sure?

But Haru-chan, love is a vital part of live! There are many kinds of love, not just the romantic one, and as a result it's hard to find someone who lacks any love in them. Even if it's something crazy as "love for killing" it would still be love.

Besides, love is what makes you see that someone as a special person. What sets her or him apart from everyone else in the world, enhancing the things you like and even those you dislike in them until they are purely unique individuals beyond the restricted limits of gender, age or name. It's why when in love one still makes general comments like "all girls" or "all boys" only to add "but you don't count", because even if biologically that person is a girl or a boy, love makes them different from the others in their own gender and thus makes them impossible to be grouped in those.

But for everyone else who has no love for that person, said person is just as normal and plain as anyone else, maybe even more. You know, like when people ask "but what do you see in her?" and no matter what you say the other person won't see it the same way you do. It could be said that love makes things that are normally hidden to the eye be seen, and that may also apply to spirits and the like. Maybe you need tons of love to be able to see them!

Shut up, Keiichi! Jeez! It's Valentines, we'll hear enough about love without you ranting about it.

[Keiichi that "not a girl" thing is dangerous territory and got you in trouble before...]

Do you have plans, Haruhi? [like, changing the subject is a good one]

Hey how does the beach sound? It's a bit far and a bit cold yet but we would have it for us three most probably.

Yeah! I need to test out that teleporter anyway.

[this sounds like a great idea, but...]

Don't you have plans with Winry-san?

[Ack, that's right. Winry. He had completely forgot of her and remembering her now for some reason makes him feel a bit annoyed at the idea that Haruhi may prefer to go with her than with them. He doesn't trust himself to not say something bad now so he just remains silent, busy hoping that they will go together somewhere.]

I'm seeing her for lunch, we can check out the beach tonight.

[That is good... though it's kind of disappointing they can't go right now. Weirdly disappointing, actually. ...Well, he can always hang out with Keiichi until Haruhi's ready.]

Then we'll meet you at the barracks later?

[It is disappointing, but, well, she still goes with them right? And the beach at night sounds pretty nice. Maybe they are getting the best of the deal after all.]

We can go to the teleporter from there once you join us.

[Unconsciously assuming that Minato will be there with him, or he with Minato. Minato won't have plans of his own, right? ... Better not ask, just in case he forgot and asking would remind him of them.]

Yeah, see you then.

[For now she has PLACES TO BE]

[Right, then Minato will close the journal and..... get ready for school, probably. Actually he has no desire to go today, he's already thinking about the outing later today, but Haruhi should be there right? ....If she's not skipping to be with Winry.

...He decides to just finish the breakfast and wait for Keiichi to show up.]

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