compnetwork | 01 video - Cult Recruitment Attempt Number Two

[The feed flickers on to reveal a masked individual, their gender completely ambiguous]

Hello, Residents of Hinoto-Ri. I have been told that my earlier invitation to my cult was done rather poorly. I am not very experienced in recruiting in such ways, so please, forgive me for my clumsy blunders. I must have come across as suspicious, as many of you have said, and that was not my intent.

My intent is entirely pure.

But I am to explain it, yes? That was the criticism...

Humanity is something I have always admired. No matter how harsh the world becomes, no matter how dark and destructive your lives becomes, you struggle and fight against all the circumstances, to try and achieve - many things! You have dreams, ambitions, goals and needs, sometimes born of selfishness, sometimes born of altruism, and sometimes because you have nothing else, and the only direction you can go is up, or down, or sideways.

No matter the decisions humans make, be they for ill or good, the sheer depths of those emotions that rule your every movement are something...extremely fascinating. No, perhaps not emotions...your ingenuity, your intelligence and perseverance...

Humans never give up, even when it is clear they will lose.

This is the basis of my cult. To know and understand that success is there for those who will continuously struggle for it. To know that your decisions and consequences are accepted and encouraged - I would think that all humans would follow these rules, but I have learned that only a small portion of my world espouse these views. Many humans, in direct contrast, become meek and complacent, allowing the flows of time to push them to wherever the current goes, utterly apathetic to their own wants and needs.

That is also fine.

Choice is important. Humans can choose to struggle, humans can choose to give up - although it is better if they push and struggle, until they break.

My apologies. I must sound so contradictory in my words. In conclusion, my cult is for the celebration of the human condition. You are a wild, passionate species, that can destroy Gods and create worlds, coming in all ranges of personalities and ambitions. There is no 'evil', there is no 'good'. There is only humanity. And that is something to worship.

Those are my opinions. I have explained myself well now, yes? If there is further criticism on my conduct, please state it. I wish to spread this love for the human condition, even to those who loathe the darkness within, so developing better ways of 'advertising' it would be wonderful!

Please, think on it...

[The feed cuts off]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sheer will. [Not just stubbornness. Or, well...]

... But maybe will and stubbornness go hand in hand. They are kind of similar. The will to survive can be seen as stubborn, I guess.

Haha. My mistake. Yes, stubbornness and will are essentially the same! However one can have a strong will, yet no stubbornness to speak of. Will can mean to endure, and stubbornness means unwilling to compromise.

Oh, I see! Yes, that does make sense. I see what you mean, now.

However, that will and stubbornness can easily become a flaw, not just a positive quality, depending on what it is they are resistant over. As many humans wish for survival and perseverance, many wish for destruction and obliteration. Such contradictory beings.

Of course. That part, I know all too well.

[That's the reason Nyx was called down, anyway.]

"It matters not who you are... Death awaits you." Some of mankind has grown to accept this, and some even hope that destruction and obliteration will come. It's a sad, but true, fact.

Death...

[There is a bit of a pause]

Those words are indeed true. Death comes for all, be they God or Man. It is just that humans have such a short amount of time to accomplish their dreams - as fleeting as a candle in the wind. They only live for forty years, sometimes fifty!

[Obviously the lifespan is way shorter in Anant's apocalyptic world]

Huh? That's different from the world I'm from. They live much longer than that.

Though, it does feel like it goes quickly all the same. It's strange.

Longer than fifty years? My, your humans are either sturdier, or the resources necessary for survival are not as... scarce.

Maybe a little of both? I know technology in my world is amazing, along with medical advances. It's 2010 in my world.

... Or, well. The day before. The hour before.

Ah? 2010? What do you mean 2010? 2010 of what?

Oh, it's the year! January 1st, 2010. The first day of the new year.

New. Year.

[A long pause]

New Year? That term is...not familiar...?

[Tidal locked planet and all that]

It's the day the year changes. On Earth. When we complete one rotation around the Sun, the year changes to a new one.

Oh! Oh yes, yes, I know what you mean now! Ah, my planet does not do that. It is tidal locked against a Red Dwarf Star. It does not orbit, alas...

Really? That's interesting! What planet is that?

I am...uncertain of the name. It had one. Before. But I no longer recall it...

Oh? That's too bad. [What a sad fate for a planet.]

Do you want to think up a new name for it, then?

Edited 2013-01-16 01:13 (UTC)

No, it is best if it remains nameless.

[Anant sounds a bit despondent. Obviously this is a topic that troubles them]

Did your planet have a blue sky and a yellow sun?

[Then time to switch topics!]

It does, yes! I love the color of the sky, I can't imagine a better color for it.

Yes, I love the colour blue.

I even have a flower of that colour in my room. It is very pretty!

Oh, really? What kind of flower is it?

Oh, I am not entirely sure. But it has large petals and a very nice smell.

Huh... well, maybe you could show me sometime! It sounds interesting enough.

Yes! That sounds perfect. We will become even closer friends!