playing favorites; video;

[demonsional]

[Hayden's never posted to the Network all on his own before, so it's a little nerve-wracking. In fact, he's kind of shaking a little as he sits himself in front of his video feed, tittering and mumbling to himself before he actually seems to remember he's recording and maybe he should say something. So then he says a lot, all at once, really loudly.]

Hello I'm Hayden and I don't think anybody should think about bad stuff like murder anymore! Perhaps maybe consider...that people are nice and would not like it! I have met a lot of nice people! Tell me who your favorite people are, please! Let's all talk about our favorites! My favorites are Mister Harlan and Miss Temperance and Lord Mister Sir Hope! Also, also, a lot of others I think!

[Hayden takes a breath.]

Thank you goodbye!

[He reaches for his phone and fumbles with it, but then it's off.]

Comments

[puzzlingly]

「Honestly, he cannot choose a favorite, it'd feel unfair.」

You should. They are all great.

[demonsional]

How did you meet so many people? You must be incredible and amazing all at the same time!

[He is absolutely going to send a message to every single name on this list. Hayden both won't and can't slow himself down.]

[puzzlingly]

I don't know about that... I just talked to them. Same way I'm talking to you now.

「Follow your heart little guy.」

[demonsional]

The same...the same way? So I also have this power?

[Oh my god. This is too much. He stares at his hands. It's been in him all along? The ability to make friends happen? This many?]

You're a genius!

[puzzlingly]

「Oh little buddy, that earns him a little chuckle.」

Yes, you do, everybody does-- but I wouldn't call myself that. I just like people.

「Cherish them, loves them... would and has died to protect them. People is wonderful as a whole.」

Why is Hope you favorite anyway?

「These "gods", though...」

[demonsional]

Why?

[Huh. An unexpected and interesting question!]

Well...I guess...where I came from, things were really scary all the time, and it's easy to get sad or overwhelmed with all of them happening, so every day I would tell myself, "tomorrow something good will happen if I think that it will" and it would get me through another day. So having hope is really important. And when we were having a bunch of dreams not too long ago, all of my dreams were really bad except the one that he gave me.

[puzzlingly]

「And that is one interesting answer.」

Hmm. Guess that's a good reason.

[demonsional]

Thank you! I think so too! And he told me he's never been anybody's favorite before so I think it's important that he now does!

[Hope should be happy, he works so hard! Poor sad man!]

[puzzlingly]

「Wait... he said that? Truth to be told, Atem does not like them, he's heard from many people that they've hurt them over and over in the time they've been trapped here just to get the energy they needed, but this kid talking about Hope as if he were a person... perhaps he has been unfair.」

Has he been good to you?

[demonsional]

[Hayden isn't sure he understands the question. Theoretically, it's an easy enough question to answer...but, he tosses his head from side to side and wonder if he has the proper experience with Hope to really accurately explain. After a long moment, he makes his decision.]

Yes.

[Because Hope brought him here from a very bad and very scary place where he never felt safe or happy. At least not very often. And as far as he knows, Hope is doing everything in his power to keep everyone alive. That's so much more than what he's used to.]

I don't know if I will ever be able to repay him...but I'm going to try by spreading all the hope that I feel! And then he can be happy, and other people will be happy...and everyone!

[Hayden's thinking real, real big.]

[puzzlingly]

「There is nothing wrong about thinking big... Because that's exactly what Atem wants, that same dream. Childrish? Delusional? Yeah, for sure, but a strong one anyway, one that he hasn't stopped pursuing even after his death.」

Then I wish you luck, Hayden.