like a cat on a hot tin roof

ariel2me:

Once upon a time, there was a king who didn’t love his own brother, but loved another man like a brother instead. The brother was sad. The end.

Once upon a time, there was another king who didn’t know he loved his brother until after the brother’s death. The king was sad. The end.

Once upon a time, there was a knight who loved his king too much, and forgot his gods. The king was sad for his knight. To be continued.

Once upon a time, there was a knight who had seven sons, and lost four of them in a battle. For budgetary reasons, only one son was ever seen.

Once upon a time, there was a not very interesting young man who suddenly came alive after meeting a certain lobster king. To be continued.

Once upon a time, there was a peach and a ham. The peach was a symbol of the king’s sadness and regret; the ham was broad comedy. 

Once upon a time, there was a pink letter telling tales about the fate of a king. To be continued. Or not.

And then they all lived. Or died. There is no “happily ever after”. Or “ever after”. Or “happily”. Happiness does not enter into it. We all have a duty to the realm.