Speedy Internet (Naozumi)

[Kingston Carmichael]

Kingston sat in his room hunched over his laptop. He wasn’t doing anything in particular or important. Kingston was just going through the internet seeing what he could find. Kingston ended up in a chat box. He decided to stay for a little bit to see if anyone will talk to him.

DarthStrawberry logged on.
DarthStrawberry: Hello.

[Deleted]

Naozumi kept the chatbox open that he frequented while he worked. While the boy was often quiet and could easily go a full day without speaking to anyone, online he was much more forthcoming with his words. He had just gotten the raws for another project and was reading through it for the first time to get a feel for what he’d be translating when a small chime came from the chatbox. Nao clicked over to it and watched to see if anyone else would respond. When nobody did, he stepped forward.

FourShadows: Hello!
FourShadows: Welcome!

[Kingston Carmichael]

Kingston was about to leave when a little chime binged. Kingston looked to see that someone had responded to him.

DarthStrawberry: Thanks
DarthStrawberry: I'm new here
DarthStrawberry: How are you?

That was the right thing to do, to ask how someone is. The technopath wasn’t a social butterfly away from the computer. He was more comfortable to talk to someone through a computer; even through he didn’t visit chat boxes a lot.

[Deleted]

FourShadows: I thought you might be.
FourShadows: I'm doing well. And you?

Most of the people who came to this chatroom were like him, working in translations, though most of them were the kind of hyperactive anime nerds who gleed and squealed about the doujinshi that they just got their hands on. Naozumi, on the other hand, was one of the few who was working towards professionalism in this "industry" and used it as a means of learning and gaining connections rather than a way to fawn over some slash pairing.

Not that he hadn't indulged in that a time or two...or more.

[Kingston Carmichael]

DarthStrawberry: I’m good
DarthStrawberry: What are you up to?

Kingston moved his laptop aside for a moment. He got up to get some milk. He came back and settled in again.

DarthStrawberry: I have milk.

The technopath has no clue why he said that but he did.

[Deleted]

FourShadows: Working.

Not the most descriptive of explanations, but Nao was not usually one to talk much. However, he didn't tend to me more talkative in electronic media, such as in chatrooms, texting, and the like.

FourShadows: I'm translating the next chapter of XXXXX. I'm hoping to finish by the end of the weekend.

Nao smiled at the random message.

FourShadows: I like milk. I wish I had some.

[Kingston Carmichael]

DarthStrawberry: Cool. Good luck
DarthStrawberry: So I’m guessing you know more than one languge.
DarthStrawberry: *language
DarthStrawberry: *hands a glass of milk* here you go

Kingston hoped that he wasn’t bothering FourShadows since he was working on translating and wanted to be done by the weekend.

[Deleted]

FourShadows: Thanks!
FourShadows: Yeah, I’m actually planning on being a language major once I hit college, so I’m doing what I can to practice now.

Nao smiled at the virtual offer. He thought it was amusing to imagine that these things were actually happening. Like in that one movie, Summer Wars, or that anime, Lain, where they depicted things that went on in cyberspace as if they were actually happening in real life, even though it was understood that it was just text or an avatar on the screen.

FourShadows: Thanks! *takes and chugs*
FourShadows: That was delicious!

Though now, Nao wished he really did have a glass of milk.

FourShadows: What are you up to?

[Kingston Carmichael]

DarthStrawberry: I’ll most likely do something with programing computers. I have this year and then next year before I go to college.

Kingston smiled at FourShadows “drinking” the milk. It was kind of silly to be doing little gestures like that through the computer. But sometimes they’re nice even through they are silly.

DarthStrawberry: Not much
DarthStrawberry: Just roaming around on the internet.

[Deleted]

FourShadows: Oh? So you’re a junior?

That meant that this DarkStrawberry person was older than Naozumi. Though still in the same age group. This made him smile

FourShadows: I’m a sophomore myself.
FourShadows: Computers sounds interesting. I think that would be my second choice, after languages.
FourShadows: After all, that’s what computer programing is, essentially, isn’t it? Just another language.

Though granted, even when it came to computer programing, there were still different “dialects”. At least that’s how Nao chose to look at it.

FourShadows: Ahh.
FourShadows: Found anything interesting?

[Kingston Carmichael]

DarthStrawberry: Just started my junior year

What were the chances that Kingston would find someone close to his age? The fact that FourShadows was a sophomore and had a job as translator was pretty impressive. FourShadows must be very good at what he does.

DarthStrawberry: I guess that I’m bilingual then. I never thought of coding as another language.
DarthStrawberry: I found the chat box and you.

Kingston re-read what he wrote after he hit enter. That sounded really cheesy and kind of creepy.

DarthStrawberry: Sorry that was kind of creepy.

[Deleted]

FourShadows: I could probably do coding too if I wanted. I know a little bit, but not too much. Just enough to post a few fancy things online.
FourShadows: I’m not sure if that’s even the same thing, either.

Naozumi knew enough about computers, but he was far far away from being like some techno-gurus he’d heard about. Like hackers and stuff. He just knew enough to be able to do what he needed.

Nao smiled at his next message.

FourShadows: Yes it was. Are you watching me from somewhere too?

[Kingston Carmichael]

DarthStrawberry: no

Kingston looked around his room. He was sitting on his bed with his laptop with an empty cup. No other humans were with him. Well, maybe his dorm mates where here, but they weren’t in his.

DarthStrawberry: not unless you are an empty cup, then yes I am watching you.
DarthStrawberry: Sorry
DarthStrawberry: I’m bothering you, aren’t I? You most likely want to get back to your translating.

[Deleted]

FourShadows: …..
FourShadows: You found me out. I am indeed your empty cup.

Ridiculous. But who said that online conversations had to make sense? Nao liked to be silly from time to time too. And sometimes Nao found it easier to do that through the computer than in real life. Though it was probably hard to tell from other people’s perspective, considering how structured even his text messages could be.

FourShadows: I’m not bothered. It doesn’t take much time or effort to work and hold a conversation at the same time. It’s why I keep the chatbox open.
FourShadows: If I didn’t want to talk to anyone, I would have closed it.

[Kingston Carmichael]

DarthStrawberry: haha
DarthStrawberry: Wait. If you’re my cup, then are you watching me?
DarthStrawberry: o.0

Kingston stared at the cup. He knew that FourShadows wasn’t really the cup. He took the cup and went to get some more milk. When he came he read the messages that he missed.

DarthStrawberry: I’m glad I’m not bugging you.