[VIDEO]

[mementodagger]

[He's been trying to avoid this, especially since the COMP link buried in his flesh freaks him out as much as any ghost. But now his closest friend, the only person he knows and trusts, is missing and he feels utterly helpless to do anything about it. Feeling helpless makes him rather cross.]

Hope I'm bloody doing this right.... Zael? If you can hear me, give me some sign. It's been three days, you can't be gone for good. I swear, if you've left me in this place alone....

[He takes a deep breath.] If anyone on the rescue team finds a man named Zael, have him contact me as soon as possible. [In the meantime, Yurick is going to go blow off some steam by burning something down.]

Comments

[otakuro]

Ahaha, it's pretty darn big! I... had to go through all the stacks a few months back. Took me a while.

On that note, if you want to know anything about the city's history, feel free to ask me if you'd rather not do it yourself. It's not that well organized.

[Although Yurick seems like the type to delight in that sort of thing.]

[mementodagger]

I might just have to work on fixing that, then.

[That's a definite gleam in his eye. Someone apparently enjoys an academic challenge.]

But yes, I might have to... what's the expression I've heard people use here? "Pick your brain?"

[otakuro]

...Ah, yes, that's right.

[Although he rarely heard anyone use it in casual conversation.]

Feel free to use whatever expressions you're more familiar with and we can translate it later.

[mementodagger]

Well, one learns best by doing, I thought I might as well try. But yes, I would appreciate hearing whatever information you'd care to share with me. Perhaps between the two of us, we can puzzle out a few new details about this place.

[Keeping busy. Always about keeping busy, because if he thinks too much about Zael or home he's going to scream. Atsuro is a godsend for his sanity.]

[otakuro]

[Atsuro had been here a year and he still wasn't sure he could puzzle out much of anything about Hinoto-Ri apart from things like 'it's named after a phoenix because it's the last city following the apocalypse'.]

Sure! We can go do the history lesson after you've gotten a chance to look through the library yourself; how does that sound?

[mementodagger]

That sounds reasonable. I really do appreciate you shepherding me all over the city, Atsuro. And I hope that eventually, you'll be able to meet my comrade as well.

[He'll repay you by becoming a surprisingly good gaming partner, just watch.]

[otakuro]

Don't mention it. I'm looking forward to meeting your friend - and try not to worry, really. If he's half as powerful as you are, I'm sure nothing will have happened to him.

[Atsuro tries to smile in a reassuring manner.]

I'll leave you here then - I'll be back around... 6?

[mementodagger]

[Atsuro's words are so kind, so genuine, it's almost easy to believe they're true. And Zael really is powerful, especially now, so why can't the other boy be right?

Yurick will have to hold on to the hope that he is.]

Six is fine. I'll see you then.

[And after a moment's hesitation he clasps Atsuro's forearm in the old greeting and farewell of travelers.]

... thank you, my friend.

[otakuro]

Oh!

[Atsuro is slightly startled when Yurick reaches for him and even more so when it is not for a handshake as he would vaguely expect from a Westerner. ...Inasmuch as Yurick counted as a Westerner, anyway. He glances at the hand around his forearm and flushes a bit red.]

No, thank you!

[...Was that the right thing to say to this.
After a few moments, Atsuro pats Yurick's hand
Which he was almost certain was the wrong thing to do
But he had to do something right]

[mementodagger]

[Yurick takes the patting hand and gently coaxes it to clasp his own forearm so that Atsuro is returning the gesture. The mage is teaching the programmer something from his own world, however small it might be, as a gesture of friendship. The fingers around Atsuro's forearm give a very light squeeze before Yurick releases him, the ghost of a smile on his lips as he nods, turns, and walks toward the library.]

[otakuro]

[Atsuro's face continues to maintain a rosy glow as he laughs pleasurably, realizing Yurick's intent now. He gives the other boy a squeeze, too, before drawing away.]

Hah... I'll see you later, Yurick. Enjoy the library!

[mementodagger]

[Yurick raises a hand in acknowledgement, glancing back briefly over his shoulder. It's good to see he looks more relaxed and that trace of a smile is still there.

Then he's walking quickly, eager to get his hands on a book or twenty.]

[otakuro]

[The faint flush on his face persists for a few minutes afterwards. He could certainly understand how Yurick must have felt - bereft of his only friend, worried out of his mind, and lost in a strange place. He can only hope that their meeting has put him a bit more at ease with Hinoto-Ri.

He does not actually have to do any work today, but as long as he was finding excuses to allow Yurick more time to spend in the library, he could certainly take an hour or two to play games in the computing center instead of in his room. It was all the same, anyway.]

[mementodagger]

[It took three hours and a librarian gently ushering Yurick out-- he'd asked her to alert him so he wouldn't keep Atsuro waiting-- but eventually he emerged from the building. Surprisingly he didn't have anything in his arms but he did look very pleased. It might have something to do with the librarian telling him he could access research materials online since not all the reference materials could be checked out. Now he had even more reason for Atsuro to teach him this world's strange technology.]

[otakuro]

[Atsuro can be found outside the library fiddling with his COMP, his go-to activity whenever there was a need for patience. Being immersed in technology 24/7 was his life's goal. Smartphones are not yet as popular as they will soon become in his time but Atsuro is, of course, ahead of the curve.

He glances up on occasion; this time, he spots someone with silver hair stepping out of the doors.]

Over here!

[mementodagger]

[Yurick makes his way over, looking a bit apologetic and very glad to see his new friend.]

Sorry I kept you waiting. I asked them to notify me after two hours but then it took them an hour to find me in the reference cellar. They were very helpful, though.

[otakuro]

[...Atsuro decides that questioning the competency of the library staff was probably kind of mean. Either that or Yurick was just quick good at playing hide and seek.]

No problem. I don't think I've been here long, anyway.

[If he has, his attention has been absorbed long enough that he hasn't really noticed.]

You're not gonna bring anything home?

[mementodagger]

[More like he was so buried in books they failed to notice him right away. He looks ever so slightly dusty. And really, they were late coming to get him so the search only lasted about twenty minutes. He has no concept of time when he's reading.]

No, most of what I was interested in couldn't be removed from the building. But they did give me this, whatever it is. [He holds up a flash drive.] They said someone who knows "computers" would know what to do with it. And I was told that some of the information I want is available on the network.

[otakuro]

Oh!

[Atsuro gasps lightly as he spots what Yurick holds in his hands.]

That's... an adamantium crystal drive! It's rare to come across one of those. We'll need to organize an outing to the seventeen Energy Crystals scattered around the city to charge it up - then we can activate its Hidden Technology Powers by using the Laser of Infrared Beaming to etch the right glyph into the crystal.

It shouldn't take much longer than half a year, all in all.

[mementodagger]

...............

[Whut?]

H-- half a year...?

[Those blasted librarians didn't say anything about any of that!]

[otakuro]

...Well. There are seventeen of them.

[A short pause.]

No, I'm just joking, it will take about 30 seconds.

[mementodagger]

[It takes about five seconds for realization to hit. Yurick's jaw drops and he gives Atsuro's shoulder a light shove.]

Suddenly you decide to be a pain in the arse? Oh, I'll get you back for that!

[Really, he looks serious, but the humor is showing in his pale blue eye. Had Atsuro tried that before Yurick started opening up, he might've ended up with a bad case of hot foot.]

[otakuro]

Hey, I'm just helping you appreciate the miracle of technology! Think about what all the things we might've had to do to get this information.

[Atsuro is a helper and he denies any accusations to the contrary.]

[mementodagger]

I would appreciate it just as much with a quick demonstration, you know.

[He shakes his head in mock disappointment.]

I'm amazed they can fit so many books on this tiny device. And such things are commonplace here and in your world? It must be a fascinating place.

[Even if the people there dressed oddly, if Atsuro was any indication.]

[otakuro]

[Atsuro's wardrobe is flawless OK]

It's not a book, per se. We can fit information onto the device - in this case, it just happens to be the words in the book. Text doesn't take up much space at all.