Video;

[truthdecided]

[Today, Akechi presents a rather peculiar object to the Pearls: a smartphone, circa 2016. Certainly state of the art, by Bottlecap Bay standards, but more importantly is the music playing from its speakers.

Soothing, smooth jazz... How he's missed it.]

I'm not entirely sure how, but it seems I've been reunited with one of my belongings from home.

[He shuffles around the phone, brushing off some glitter.]

It took some doing to operate it in my current state, and I'm not certain how I'll keep it charged. If any electric types wish to volunteer their services, I would greatly appreciate it.

In turn, it may be possible to use my phone to better record data and take photographs on missions. I will have to be careful with it, of course. It may have a shockproof case and screen protector, but it is hardly invincible.

Still... If anyone else received technology, perhaps we can pool resources. This has a great deal of potential.

Comments

[edgewater]

[ parvati hasn't got a good point of reference for what birds look like. she knows of some, but she's only seen pictures. illustrations and the like - they're a distinctly earth thing. so. ]

Guess it's lucky you got your, uh. Cell phone, then.

[truthdecided]

So long as I can find a proper means to charge it. Otherwise, it won't remain useful for long...

[He heaves a small sigh. There's the rub, really.]

[edgewater]

[ that's the sort of catch that reeks of poorly thought-out design. it's a computer, not a spaceship. shouldn't need that kind of fuel. should just work. ]

And how're you playing music on it? That's a totally separate device where I'm from. [ well. computers could play audio but it was more practical to just do it with a dedicated device. less storage space taken up. plus, like, how else would they do funny environmental storytelling? ]

[truthdecided]

We do have separate devices, such as radios, CD players, and the like, but the modern smartphone is sort of a jack of all trades device, combining communication with recreation. It can even play games, though the vast majority of them are riddled with microtransactions.

[edgewater]

[ ah, capitalism. the one common ground in this strange, strange world. ]

Can you watch shows on it? [ she sounds a bit too eager to ask that. ]

[truthdecided]

You can, provided you have access to the internet and a streaming platform, or have downloaded video files on your device.

[He heaves a sigh.]

Unfortunately, without internet access, television is a less viable option here.

[edgewater]

[ dang, not even downloaded? does akechi not know the thrill of pirating a show by taping it? ]

We don't even have the aetherwave, I dunno why I asked. Guessed you could've downloaded something, that'd be cool. [ to see the stuff from where he's from, she means. ] You got anything interesting saved on there? Back home we mostly just use 'em for diaries and stuff, watching the aether too.

[truthdecided]

I do have... some things, yes.

[He draws a slow breath.]

Audiobooks. Some movies and episodes of media I enjoy. If I had my laptop, there'd be more to work with, but some is better than nothing.

[edgewater]

Heh. Lucky.

[ at least someone has that kind of entertainment. she misses her shows. ]

I'm sure the folks down at the Archives would wanna give the audiobooks a spin. We didn't exactly have that, but we did have radio plays. [ those had to be a universal constant, right? ] And dramas of that sort.

[truthdecided]

Radio was the first widespread form of entertainment that you could enjoy from the comfort of your home.

[After a moment, the song changes.]

Even today, audio dramas are fairly popular in Japan, particularly those based on popular media.

weeps in my still unlocalised nier audio plays

[edgewater]

That's pretty cool. Say, what's Japan like? Dunno much about Earth, and all.

[ plus, everything in space is highly americanised. since, you know, capitalism. ]

one of these days, I gotta play nier

[truthdecided]

That depends on the region and city.

[Because even island nations aren't a monolith.]

Tokyo is a deeply urban environment, so you see far less of the natural landscapes and far more skyscrapers. It's loud, often crowded, and broken into m any districts.

[edgewater]

Ah, sounds like Byzantium then.

[ she projects the city briefly. it's probably not the best comparison, but it's the best point of reference she has. ]

I'm from a small company town, so we... kinda got the nature? We had a volcano outside Edgewater.

[truthdecided]

Though, I can only admire the environment is radically different...

[For comparison, he projects images of forests, mountains, and sandy beaches.]

[edgewater]

Oh come on, I've seen a beach. Grew up by the ocean, kinda had to.

[ edgewater ain't so bad! they have nature and hills and the ocean! please ignore the pollution she can't do nothing about it. ]

kjhjkh whoops, typo in the last tag. xD admire was meant to be imagine.

[truthdecided]

[Hmmm... Interesting. Very, very interesting.]

It looks more... industrial, compared to the more tourist-tailored beaches around Tokyo.

[edgewater]

[ she can't help but snort at that. ]

Tourists? In the Emerald Vale? Ha. Only new person we had for years was my Captain. It's a company town, we canned fish. Used to can fish.

[truthdecided]

Until the fish population declined from pollution and overfishing, I take it.

[It's the most predictable outcome, but he could be mistaken...]

[edgewater]

Fish the company put there. They weren't native to Terra Two. [ so overfishing, pollution, and the introduction of a highly invasive species that very quickly ran out of food. ]

[truthdecided]

Oh, lovely. So not only did they disrupt the ecosystem, but they likely did irreparable damage.

[And yet, it's hardly surprising. Hardly the first time humans have done such a thing, in his experience.]

[edgewater]

Could've been worse.

[ she tilts her head to the side a little. ] I dunno much about that stuff, if I'm honest. Shoulda maybe learned, but I'm good at the heavy machinery.

[truthdecided]

Well, I imagine it was less relevant to your field than it would be in farming, agriculture, or the sciences.

[edgewater]

Well, the soil's fine! When I left they'd started growing crop. The company had lied about the soil not being capable to sustain it. I wonder how that's doing...

[truthdecided]

I suppose you'll find out eventually, assuming we find our way back to our original worlds.