[IC] [Old Radio/Waiting in Earth Crossover]

[futureforbirds]

(( Continued from here. ))

**So, Kaito, KAITO and Mekaito have been traveling for a short while now. Mekaito is still playing the radio because I guess it has an infinite life cheat or something and trailing behind the others, waiting for commands and giving the occasional input. Kaito is roaming about, staring at all of the pretty flowers and random wildlife with amazement. It's overwhelming compared to the bleakness of his hometown.** 

Comments

[deteriorated]

[The monitor flickered. It looked like it'd be hard to see what was on it, anyway.]

I think it was a personal computer. People used to put their music and picture data into the computer for convenience. As a Vocaloid--

[He interrupts himself to look over at Kaito.]

As a Vocaloid, I could connect to the computer and read the music data my Master had. That's how I could sing the requested songs.

[futureforbirds]

**listens intently. Knows what music and pictures are, obviously. So the glowing box can have those things on it too, not just words...**

Ah, got it.

How did you connect to it? Can you do that with this computer?

[deteriorated]

I can try.

[So he does, turning back around and staring at the screen without doing anything else. Or so it seemed. After about a minute, he says out loud:]

I've connected. [Another pause as he distractedly adds,] I can read the data, but you have to sign in to use it. Would you like to know what's on the computer?

[futureforbirds]

Huh? What did you -

**doesn't understand the concept of wireless internet, but KAITO keeps talking, so he leaves his sentence unfinished and listens**

...Sure.

[deteriorated]

[It's MAGIC no it's not, I'm a liar. KAITO continues, his eyes moving as if he were reading something that Kaito couldn't see... which is, in a way, the truth. One hand is brought up to his headset as he scans the data.]

There's a lot of corrupted data. The ones I can read are pictures and some music. There's pictures of... someone's pet, I think, and some family photos -- they look happy.

[Another pause as he reads the properties.] They're old, very old.

[futureforbirds]

So family pictures go on the computer.

**Stated matter-of-factly, but then thinks about that for a moment.**

That seems backwards... wouldn't it be easier to use a photo album? You can't take this thing anywhere.

**again, nooo idea about the internet.**

What's corrupt data? Is that like remembering something wrong?

[deteriorated]

There were smaller computers that a person could take. Or there were little devices that could hold data. Those could be plugged in and read.

[Pause as he continues to skim through. This person didn't have a Vocaloid, but plenty of pirated music.]

Corrupt data is... kind of like that. It's data that can't be read anymore.

[futureforbirds]

I see... sounds like just about everyone had a computer at this time, huh.

**It's weird and interesting, seeing how his ancestors lived. He just nods about the corrupt data. Close enough**

[deteriorated]

[He nods.] Most people did. If they didn't, there were places where they could use one for free. Like libraries.

[futureforbirds]

We had a library in my city, but it had books, not computers. Did they have books, too, or was it a computer library?

[deteriorated]

They had books too. The computers were extra -- you could do research with books and online.

1/2

[futureforbirds]

That's nice. I always liked to read.

[futureforbirds]

**pause. suddenly notices something.**

... Is it quiet in here, or is it just me...?

[deteriorated]

[That makes him pause as well. He looks around, wondering what exactly it was--]

Ah, is it--? [Where was...?]

[futureforbirds]

**he was also searching, and the reason becomes quickly apparent**

Crap! Little Kaito didn't follow us in here!

**he hurries to the door and looks around**

/bow profusely in apology OTL

[deteriorated]

[KAITO also jumps at the realization, but jerks at the, uh, reminder that he's still on the computer and we do not like sudden shut downs. He disconnects from the machine -- it takes a couple seconds of standing there, looking at the screen that's too dirty to read clearly -- and follows Kaito to the door.]

We should look for him. [Who knew what was out here anymore?] Do you want to separate?

[futureforbirds]

... Probably. It's an awfully big town, and he can cover a lot of distance if he wants to.

**he starts heading out the door, and makes a note of the address and some landmarks**

Let's meet up here when we find anything.

[deteriorated]

[KAITO nods.] Okay.

[He takes a look at the area, at the building they were in, and memorizes where this place was. It was funny, how strange it suddenly felt to separate from the human. Especially considering how used to being alone he should be. Absolutely silly.

There wasn't much time to think about that, however. The little, robotic Kaito was somewhere out there by himself. Even if it could fly out of danger, it was still something to worry about.]

If something happens, please let me know. [Somehow.]

[futureforbirds]

I'll try to.

**come to think of it, they didn't have any way of communicating while separating. Maybe it would be a good idea to search the dead town for supplies that would aide in that, or things that would help to locate other people - like signal flares or something. After they found Mekaito, of course, but it was something to consider.**

[deteriorated]

[It definitely is something to think about -- and actually kinda silly to overlook. But, well, hindsight is 20/20. This city was big enough that it had to have something, anyway. An old Costco or something.

Anyway. With that confirmed, KAITO takes his leave to start his search.]