We're gonna do what we do best.

[dadcepticon]

Who: Krok and YOU! Yes, you! Seriously anybody is welcome. Come bug Captain Mopey!
Where: Shopping district!
When: Slight backdate to 10 February, mid-morning/noonish.
Summary: Krok needs something to fill up the much too quiet apartment he's too reluctant to abandon. Time to look for music and movies!
Warnings: Nnnnothing really?


Life has been very quiet in recent weeks. None of the chatter or mayhem that Krok simply took for granted. No being woken at all hours by Misfire with something to tell him, no conversations with Fulcrum, no laughter or jokes or arguments. Just silence and an oppressive sense of melancholy as he looks at empty bedrooms.

He hates it.

He doesn't want to give up the apartment if he can help it; what if they come back? They might, he thinks. It's a possibility, at least. Even if a very distant one. Enough of a chance that he can't ignore it, certainly – but he can't take the emptiness of it any more. It's maddening. He's upset over the absences; Spinister is upset and it's impossible to console the big helicopter when Krok himself can't seem to shake off the unhappiness. Something has to change, he decides, even if it isn't their quarters. So, steeling himself against the likelihood of too much good cheer from potentially all quarters – he needs to not wallow, yes, but there's only so much effervescence and warmth Krok can manage right now – the weary scavenger captain takes himself to the shopping district on a mission.

There must be some sort of recordings he can buy. Anything, he thinks, just to have the noise. Just to fill in the gaps where there should be friendly voices. Vids, music, he doesn't care what it is so long as it makes sounds. He squints at the signs and displays around him and peers into the shops as he slows his stride, debating where to even start. Krok's had so little use for this entire end of the city that he finds himself at something of a loss for direction, staring at the options available and all but broadcasting his usual exasperation every which way as he pauses in the middle of the concourse.

"I must be going out of my mind," he mumbles to himself while looking right to left and back again. There's a place a little further along that seems to sell electronic devices, he guesses by their window displays. It's as good a place to start as any.

Comments

[smallspot]

"Should we wait for it to come back? It would be sad if your mind got lost!" Diarmuid giggles and looks up at Krok from where he standing at his friend's side. Krok is kind of hard to miss, so when Diarmuid caught sight of him as he turned the corner, the boy had made his way straight to the robot's side.

He is sad to see his friend still looking so sad, but maybe a joke will help cheer him up some?

"What are you looking for? I come here all the time so maybe I can help!"

[dadcepticon]

It's amazing, Krok thinks, how Diarmuid seems to simply pop up from nowhere sometimes. Almost like magic.

"I'm not sure yet, really," Krok answers the boy, unintentionally cryptic as he crosses his arms in thought. "Or rather… I don't much care. Movies, or music recordings. Something of the sort." He cocks his head to the right as he peers down at Diarmuid, and while he doesn't quite smile, his curiosity wins out over his upset for the moment. "I don't suppose my best scout knows where I could find something like that?" he wonders.

[smallspot]

Considering the time and place Diarmuid is from, magic is always a good guess.

"I do! I do!" Diarmuid jumps up and down excitedly, "At least for music. I don't really watch movies." The boy turns to point toward the end of the block and across the street, "There is a store down there that has actual music instruments if you want them to play around with and..." he spins around until he is pointing in the opposite direction, "...there is a shop that has lots of round things in it down there. The person inside said they hold music and are called CDs. I don't know how they work. Do you know?"

[dadcepticon]

"I… don't think I've ever heard them called ceedeez," Krok says slowly, following Diarmuid's arm with his gaze, "but they sound like discs. I know those well enough. I don't think I'll have such luck with instruments." Now he does smile; it's thin and tired, but genuine. He hasn't had much cause for it lately. Slowly, knees creaking, he crouches and gently ruffles Diarmuid's hair. "Where would I be without you?" he muses.

Wandering around for ages debating whether or not to ask a random person for help and if it's even worth the trouble, most likely. But he won't dwell on that, he decides, and his smile widens.

"Would you like to come help me pick out a few?" he offers. "I wouldn't mind the company, if you're willing."

[smallspot]

"CD means compact disc! That is what the clerk told me, so maybe you do know what they are. Just by a different name!" Diarmuid giggles when Krok ruffles his hair and then nods excitedly, "I don't know a lot about modern music, but there are places where you can listen to the discs to see if you like them! We can try those out!"

He starts toward the shop and then pauses to make sure Krok is coming, "Lets go! Lets go!"

Wow, someone is excited to help!

[dadcepticon]

Krok chuckles after Diarmuid as the little boy lights off on a mission, then pushes himself to his feet with a grunt. He's still stiff; that will likely get better with time, though, he thinks, and follows Diarmuid at a slow pace. His longer strides keep him close, though.

The shop even looks relatively easy to navigate from outside; the aisles don't seem so cramped that Krok will have a difficult time getting around. It's a nice thing to see.

"Is this the one?" he wonders as they get closer to it. Hopefully he's not jumping the gun.

[smallspot]

"Yes it is!" Diarmuid looks up at Krok happily, "There is a lot of open space on purpose, I think. I have seen people dancing to the music they were listening to. They looked like they were having a lot of fun."

The boy goes to the door and starts trying to get it open. Sadly, it is either too heavy or is sticking somewhere, because as much as the boy tries, he can't get it open. Finally, he looks back at Krok, his expression a little embarrassed, "Krok, can you get the door for me? I am just too little to do it. I had to have someone open it for me before. I remember now!"

[dadcepticon]

Diarmuid gets plenty of space from Krok as he makes his attempts at the door, largely because it seems gauche to crowd the doorway with both of them and Krok doesn't want to loom over the little boy. There was a time he wouldn't have cared, even just a year ago. This place must be changing him.

"Hm?" He snaps back from his wandering thoughts and has to rifle through his audio buffers to replay Diarmuid's question. Then he blinks, comprehending. "Oh! Yes, of course," he says and leans in. He gives the door a light tug and it opens with a peal from the bell attached to the frame overhead. He smiles down at Diarmuid and gives him a little bow from the waist, arm across his middle. "You're the expert here," he murmurs. "I'll follow your lead." Though he's already eyeing the interior from the corners of his optics.

It doesn't take long to realise that being able to read what they have to offer means nothing without context. Looks like he'll be listening to more than one disc on this trip.

[smallspot]

Change like that is good Krok! Don't worry about it so much.

"Thank you!" Diarmuid bows in return and then dashes into the store. He stops in front of one display and looks at it for a few moments, trying to read what it says. "R-o-c-k. That spells 'Rock!' Do you like loud music? Loud and fast? Or..." Before even waiting for Krok's response, Diarmuid runs over to a different display. This one says 'Folk.'

"I like the music here! It reminds me of some of the music from home. There are guitars, pipes, and things like that. Drums! Oh yes, drums too. Or there is..." he starts to run to another display and then stops to look back at Krok, "Maybe you should tell me what you like first..."

This might take a long time otherwise...