one ♔ audio

[anoshe]

I've been stuck in my rooms for three days. I don't have words for how incredibly bored I am. I may well go mad.

So! In the interests of getting to know some of you better, let's chat. I have a question to start things off. What is one thing you wish people could know about you without you having to tell them?

For example, I wish I didn't have to explain that I am royalty. It's a bit awkward, and sounds like bragging, when really it's just the fact of who I was born to. So I'd choose that - or the fact that I prefer red wines to white. Then no one would ever have to worry about serving me the wrong thing. Actually, that one might be even more convenient.

What about you? At least some of you must be just as bored as me.

Comments

video;

[demonsional]

[Hayden raises his hand. Because, naturally, he has to wait for permission to be called on except that he starts talking as he raises his hand so he's not really waiting for anything at all.]

I want everyone to know that I work for the devil but that does not make me a bad!

[He understands you, Rhy. You were born royalty, he was born demonic, it's just a thing that you can't control. Okay, he sort of understands. It's at least a vague grasping of the idea.]

video;

[anoshe]

[Well... huh.]

Was he a good boss?

[demonsional]

[Hayden pauses, opening and closing his mouth. What an interesting question!]

I've never had a different boss so I am not sure what would be good or what would be bad. But, um...I think maybe, um, he was a good boss? Because if maybe would have been worse not to have one?

[anoshe]

I don't know about that. Maybe having no boss is better than having a cruel one.

[As Rhy has never really had a boss, except maybe for his father, he has no idea what he's talking about.]

Was he cruel?

[demonsional]

I don't think he was as bad as any other demons, because he was so busy all the time. As long as I didn't mess up he wouldn't get mad at me because he wouldn't remember I was there.

[Not exactly a helpful answer, but, you know.]

And less people try and beat you up when they think they're damaging an important person's property!

[anoshe]

Well, I suppose that's a good point.

[Not... a great image, really, but Rhy supposes if you work for someone like that then that's about the best you can hope for.]

I certainly hope it's gotten better since you've come here, though. Less people beating you up in general.

[demonsional]

Yes! Much less of that!

[He's very excited and happy to announce this.]

People give me cookies instead, which is my favorite! But I do not have a favorite type of cookie the way that you have a favorite type of [grape juice] wine! Is there a difference between when it is red and when it is white?

[anoshe]

Red wine tends to have a richer taste, and of course they're made from different grapes. Honestly, I wouldn't turn down either in a pinch.

[Hadriel, in and of itself, is 'a pinch'.]

Was there no one who gave you cookies at home?

[demonsional]

Nope! I did not know any cookie-givers down in that bad place! Did you get a lot of cookies because of being a royal person?

[Hayden's thought process is a bit all over the place here, bear with him Rhy. At least it's harder to get bored that way?]

I did not know there were types of grapes I thought there was one grape flavor and that flavor is fruit! Grapefruit!

[anoshe]

Yes, I was lucky enough to get cookies whenever I wanted. The privilege of royalty.

[Clearly the most important thing about being a prince, right?]

Grapefruit is very different from grapes. Were there no grapes at home?

[Or is Hayden just very confused? Rhy is pretty sure he knows the answer.]

[demonsional]

Coal!

[He's saying there was a lot of coal to eat?]

There are not many trees in the Underworld that are not also dead.

[anoshe]

[.........coal?]

I see. So not very much fresh fruit, then. I suppose that does make sense.

[Since it was the Underworld, and all that.]

What did you usually eat?

[demonsional]

[Hayden purses his lips in thought.]

Mister Harlan says a lot of what I would eat is not stuff that should be eated, but...

[He lowers his voice to a harsh whisper as if he's about to say something very dangerous that shouldn't be repeated.]

I don't call them uneatable things I call them...mouth surprises!

[anoshe]

That's -

[He can't help laughing. Maybe he shouldn't, maybe it's sort of rude to laugh at a weird kid who clearly has a lot to learn?? But come on.

Mouth surprises.]

That's, ah, very clever of you. A good way to look at it. You have quite a positive outlook on life! Admirable, really.

[demonsional]

[Hayden feels quite proud of himself, and it shows in the way he perks up. A prince thinks that he is a clever boy! What an amazing compliment!]

It is? That makes me feel so happy! I want to always be all of those things all the time!

[anoshe]

I think you're doing quite well. We could use more people like you around - everyone else seems unhappy far too often.

[Not that they don't have reason to, but it's not much fun, is it?]