Shane:
Now if that isn't a loaded question... I suppose so. Fear and I walk hand-in-hand, so it's less about overcoming, and more about learning to live with. For the longest time, I had a fear of love. I know, that's stupid, but it was there. Put there in my heart by someone I don't want to talk about, but... It was there. Still is. I guess the whole point is that I haven't 'overcome' it - but I have learned to work with it. That's been the hardest thing for me to do.

Ian:
So long as they weren't hurting themselves in the process, I guess I'd try to help them achieve it. Something is only 'impossible' if you believe it is. Therefore, turning that statement around - I would attempt to make that impossible thing a possible thing. You never know what it takes, but you just might do it.

Ian:
I'm going to be really short, and really blunt with this, and I'm sorry in advance. I'm pretty sure fervently wishing for the death of your father counts as shouldn't be wanting to have, or afraid of.



Shane:
I guess being 'stable' in love is something I really shouldn't want. Maybe I'm sort of afraid of it. I was hurt before in the past, so I think maybe that's why I seem to be fearful of it happening in the future. On one hand, there's the whole 'Wouldn't this be cool' thing - and on the other, there's this 'Oh gods, what if-' scenario... So I think that counts.

Ian:
I don't really know what I want out of it. I was pulled here by a buddy of mine, and took the interview on a whim. -Shrug- I guess a relationship would be nice. Something where I was... yanno, more than just a pretty body, or a clothes horse. Someone to talk to, someone to spend time with.... Silly, I know. Well, I don't know - I think. It's silly. But maybe there's a chance for me, who knows.

Shane:
I'd like to come away from this with a greater appreciation of love and infatuation. I know that's not in your realm of possibilities, but... getting a 'date' and having a 'relationship' aren't really things I can pursue to the fullest extent of... well, where they need to be pursued. I'd like to, surely! But I'm not entirely sure I'm going to find my perfect match on this show. I'm doubtful my perfect match even exists.

Shane:
Oh, wow. Well... if life WERE a dream, and I was merely a player in someone else's play... I believe that would be for the best. This life sometimes feels like a dream, but I think it would be more terrifying, for me, if it was my own. I'd much rather be living out someone else's fantasies. My own are far too dark... Granted, I might be drawn to wonder if this life WAS a dream, whose dream would it be? I've had more than enough happen in this life to wonder about my own sanity. I would be more than a little concerned if it turned out to be someone else that was imagining these things.

Ian:
I think that question relies a bit too much on thinking that fear could be - or needs to be - faced. My fears and I have an understanding. They are there, and I acknowledge them, but I never dive headfirst anywhere they can come and bother me. I'm perfectly happy with never touching them at all. I can say, do, see, and ponder just fine without them.

Shane:
I think Ian's missing the point, but my two cents is that if I were to attempt to face my biggest fears - and I have more than one... I would need someone patient enough, kind enough, and strong enough beside me to help me overcome them. Simple fears like heights and planes, frogs, and mice, or water and the dark? Those are easy to face. Fears of larger concepts are more difficult, and would require something more of a patient and loving teacher. I could never face what it is I fear above all... without someone else to help me through it.

Alright! That's about enough for that topic! It's time to move on! Kind audience, if you would please look behind you, there are refreshments on the tables set up on either side of the studio. You'll find cookies, cakes, chocolates, and various beverages. Please partake of them with our hospitality as we move on to the next topic. Our next topic of discussion is:


A huge shout-out to Danny's Delish catering for providing snacks for both our audience and our participants. Remember: Need Catering? Think Danny's Delish - Number One in catering since 1993. And now, back to our questions!

No need to apologize in my opinion. Glad you're feeling better!

Just glad you're alrigt, Ari! Hope you feel better!

@Shane: Knowing what you do now, if you were given an opportunity to go back in time and try a relationship again in the hopes of maybe changing the outcome, would you take that opportunity?

@Ian: Do you feel it's important or good to talk about past relationships in a new relationship? Why or why not?

@everyone

Is there someone from a past relationship that, despite it being well and over, you sometimes wish it wasn't over?

Lol x'D.


@everyone: what ends a relationship for you? (Friends/lovers/family/etc.)

@everyone: do you tend to dwell on past relationships?

Where's the number of that catering? I'm loving the cakes!
/stuffing face instead of looking for a date

I mean...

@everyone: What's the most important thing your past relationships have taught you?

Shane:
Truth be told, I've only had one serious relationship in the past, and no matter what I did or tried, I don't think I could ever change the outcome. The gentleman in question was a broken soul in more ways than one, and I don't believe I could have ever truly 'fixed' what was fundamentally wrong in his heart. Not without losing myself in the process. It's the kind of thing you don't want to relive, and don't want to admit, but some people are just too broken to be fixed. Or, conversely, don't WANT to be fixed. He was abusive in the worst ways, and I would never have been able to change that. I'm glad it's over - and no, I don't think I could alter the outcome any. I guess the answer to your question is a passionate No. I don't even want to try and put myself through that again. Especially knowing what I do now.

Ian:
Not really, no. I won't go into it at-length, but I believe that past relationships - unless there is an issue that directly relates to a present one - are in the past for a reason. Dredging up dirty laundry never served anyone well.

Ian:
There's never been anyone - so... no.




Shane:
No. Wishing it wasn't over would mean accepting that the abuse was okay. It wasn't. So no.

Ian:
Anything can end a relationship. For me, it's more of an acceptance thing. If you can't accept who I am as a person - as dark, silly, fearful, or strange as that may be - that's a real relationship ender. There has to be some give and take in that whole area. You have to accept me as I accept you, or the deal's off.


Shane:
What ends a relationship for me is lack of trust, and lack of truth. Lies and deceit have hurt me horribly in the past, and I don't wish to repeat that experience. Thus, if you like to me - even white lies - I'm going to trust you less, and trust is a HUGE element in any sort of relationship that I have. I will, and have, cut off family members, lovers, and friends for lying to my face. I won't hesitate to do it again if it happens again. Like I said - TRUST is a big issue with me.

Ian:
There has been no relationship to dwell on, so no.




Shane:
Oh boy. I guess I do, a little. He hurt me so badly that there are times I just can't get it out of my head. It's a pet-peeve of mine, that I have for myself, that I just can't let go of what Tamarii did to me - Ah, that's his name, by the way. Sorry to call him out, but yeah. My one and only serious relationship burns in flames, and.... Yeah, I guess I tend to dwell on that fact more than just a little bit. It's something I'm working on.

Ian:
Past relationships with my family - or what was left of it - have taught me a couple of valuable lessons. The single most important one of these is that trust is over-rated. TRUST can only stretch so far, and once it's broken, it's impossible to replace, so you might as well just give up.


Shane:
I guess it's taught me not to be too giving of myself, and to make sure I'M okay, before rushing in to comfort and coddle, and essentially be affectionate to my partner. There is a fine line between self-care, and self-harm, and I walked it. I have learned to make that line far broader in the long run - so that hurt doesn't have to come hand-in-hand with love. Love myself first, essentially, and the other stuff comes second.

ohhhhh Chocolate cake!! *stuffs face*
@Shane How do you get over a break up? While for me it is ice-cream and sewing how someone deals with a big let down like that says a lot about them as a person.

@everyone: have you ended relationships because your family or friends were against it?

@Shane: Would you prefer your past relationship with all its troubles never had happened or do you think without that experience you'd just make the same mistakes again, only at a different time with another person instead?

[Going to get around to answering things just as soon as Galla catches up with theirs. -Nodnod- I don't want to get too far ahead.]

Okay Ari ^^

Since I'm so far behind, I'll answer the last rounds in a couple mega posts. HERE WE GO




Serena:
Uhm... no?





Piper:
I used to want a ferret. Then I found out how bad they smell.






Serena:
I don't know if I have anything like that... Whenever I have a dream, I go out and make it happen, whatever it takes! So I guess the things I have I'm not technically wishing for anymore?




Piper:
Yeah, that sounds about right.






Serena:
A dream and a goal are the same things, really! As long as you take it step by step, nothing is impossible.





Piper:
A little when it comes to working with different birds. Some of them are downright dangerous, but damn if they aren't all around awesome. There's a few predatory ones I'd love to work with, but that could crack my head right open. Pretty cool stuff.




Serena:
Uhm... Not really, no. Nothing all that serious, anyway.





Piper:
We get paid for appearing on the show.






Serena:
It's all in good fun, really! But it would be nice to get a date or two out of it.





Serena:
Wrong canon. Also, I have gills.





Piper:
Depends if you mean physical fear or mental fear.






Serena:
I like to hug my little Inky-poo for courage.

Thanks Galla ^^

Piper:
Nah. I ended most of my past relationships myself, and I'm sticking to those reasons.






Serena:
I haven't really had that many serious relationships, but there have been some people here and there that I would have liked to get to know better.





Piper:
Going behind my back is a pretty big deal breaker. If someone pushes me enough that we can't keep the relationship we had anymore, I try not to think about them afterwards. Still happens sometimes, but that can't be helped.




Serena:
Well, when I meet people, we either really hit it off and become great friends, or they fall flat pretty fast. It's no one's fault, of course! But, uhm, there's still times that I wish we could try again, yeah.





Piper:
Don't be afraid to stick up for yourself. Making someone upset doesn't mean you have to apologize for it if they were in the wrong first.






Serena:
You have to keep an open mind and do your best to communicate with each other! Even talking about silly things can take you a long way.








-

"Hello again! We're gonna finish up these questions, and then do an ol' switcheroo with the topics! This one is sort of hard to handle, so we're going to poke another large beast with a spork, and see what it says. Now... The new topic is


Please continue to enjoy the refreshments, and don't forget, two questions per topic! Have fun!"

I love her

But does she love you?

That's the big question, isn't it xD?
-----------------
Questions:

@Ian: Do you have free time? ...Well, I guess you do since your favorite sport is tennis and all. How difficult is it for you to have "free time"?

@everyone: What do you do in your "free time"? (might as well get this out of the way lol xD)

@Shane: About how much free time do you have on any given day and is it enough for you or do you wish you could have more or less?

@Ian: How do you prefer to spend your free time? For example: would you rather be alone or around people? Busy/active or relaxing? Those sort of things.

Hehe yeah, Piper is my favorite candidate as well. Whoever wins her heart in the end (if any), treat her well, she's a real gem. Who wouldn't fancy a girl who can return puns and enjoys nerf gun fights ^^

Shane's really cute also, even though I think I might be too Tamarii myself for it to work xD you know, something about the dark side and cookies...

Tamarii? Soy sauce? -doesn't get reference :x-

I don't really know them/maybe didn't pay enough attention to have a favorite candidate.

Shane mentioned somewhere Tamarii was his former boyfriend's name ^.~

*searches*
Oh gosh, that was on the last page too x'D. Names are hard >~>

Don't worry, I only remember because I could've sworn I've heard that name/word somewhere else than Trisphee before and for the life of me can't recall where xD

*searches again*
Tamari is a Japanese soy sauce..
Tamarii is a Tahiti sports team..and a Polynesian/Tahitian dance group xD?

:p-grin:I don't think I've ever partaken in dance groups, so soy sauce seems more likely. Sushi is delicious after all...

[Tamarii is a name I came up with a loooooong time ago when I was creating the world these guys are from. XD I didn't know it was a soy sauce or anything else at the time. It doesn't mean anything, it's just a name.]

(Well, at least now you know why there's something fishy about that guy... XD)