‘Who are you talking to?’ said the King, going up to
Alice, and looking at the Cat’s head with great
curiosity.
‘It’s a friend of mine—a Cheshire Cat,’ said Alice: ‘allow me to introduce it.’
‘I don’t like the look of it at all,’ said the King: ‘however, it may kiss my hand if it likes.’
‘I’d rather not,’ the Cat remarked.
‘Don’t be impertinent,’ said the King, ‘and don’t look at me like that!’ He got behind Alice as he spoke.
‘A cat may look at a king,’ said Alice. ‘I’ve read that in some book, but I don’t remember where.’
‘Well, it must be removed,’ said the King very decidedly, and he called the Queen, who was passing at the moment, ‘My dear! I wish you would have this cat removed!’
The Queen had only one way of settling all difficulties, great or small. ‘Off with his head!’ she said, without even looking round.
‘I’ll fetch the executioner myself,’ said the King eagerly, and he hurried off.
~ Alice in Wonderland, Chapter 8. Lewis Carroll
In this version of the two of Cups, we see one of literature's most cantankerous couples - the King and Queen of Hearts. The King is full of bluster and insistance on rules, while the Queen truly does have one solution for everything (but very little actual follow through). For all that, though, the two of them do get along well with each other - evidence, I supposed, that there is someone for everyone.
The Cheshire cat in this image beams down on them, head only and doesn't look at all worried that they are intending to have him executed - in fact, a few moments from now, while they're debating how on earth to behead a cat with no body, he'll simply fade from view and be done with the whole thing.
Along with the realization that even cranky people can find love, what strikes me about this is that the 2 of Cups doesn't always indicate perfect love - it is a union, certainly, but it encompasses the full range of romantic unions - not just the hearts and flowers variety, but the dysfunctional versions as well.
This couple is so disturbed by the higher spirit of love that they are quickly agreeing to kill it off and only arguing about how to go about it. And I think of habitual arguers that never seem to either get over the arguing or get out (I've been that person), and how much that arguing habit makes love as anyone might recognize it simply fade away before they can agree to kill it off.
These two are getting a pay off for continuing this behavior.. if nothing else, who else would have them? Dysfunctional love is love of a sorts, but not one that will make the situation happy or even bearable for those around them.
When the 2 of Cups comes up in a reading it's probably a very good idea to remember it only symbolizes a union - it does not promise a happily ever after or trouble free life.