THE TANABATA FESTIVAL

[goldless]

[ It's a breezy summer day on Isle Bermuda. There are gulls crying, a few lazy clouds, and plenty of sunshine with a cooling wind.

Today also happens to be a special event! It's time for Tanabata, and seemingly out of nowhere, a thicket of bamboo has sprung up in the trees near the shoreline. Speaking of the beach, a festival seems to be underway; there are lanterns strung up, fresh food, and plenty of goat-people selling fresh food and games.

The festival goes long into the evening, so don't miss it!

The tradition of Tanabata, as you will notice, is to write a wish on a tag and hang it from a bamboo tree. So make a wish and hope for the best! ♥ And what's this? A mysterious, female voice is drifting along, carried by the wind; ]

The bamboo leaves rustle,
shaking away in the eaves.
The stars twinkle
on the gold and silver grains of sand.
The five-colour paper strips
I have already written.
The stars twinkle,
they watch us from heaven.

Comments

[pishirogane]

Hm?

[She notices the robot, raising an eyebrow. Did it speak to her?]

[404_knight]

[Robo-Ky tilts his head. The yellow eyes display horizontal scanlines crossing the vertical indentations for a few seconds.]

Strange way to dress for a girl, but I don't mind it.

[Naoto has dodged a bullet she did not even know existed.]

[pishirogane]

[Naoto waves a hand over herself]

Do you mind!?

[He's a robot, but decency!]

[404_knight]

Nope.

Plus, it's electromagnetic imagery, it's not like I'm using x-ray eyes.

[That he totally has.]

[pishirogane]

... You have x-ray eyes?

[She's just... not going to let her guard down around him.]

[404_knight]

Well, I mean, yes.

I mean they're CALLED X-Ray Eyes, that's the brand name, they don't actually use X-Rays.

[pishirogane]

Ah... Is it possible for you to call them something else?

[She'll uncross her arms now.]

[404_knight]

Really cool eyes?

[pishirogane]

That's a start. What exactly do your eyes do?

[404_knight]

The parts that are actually my optical interface has a multitude of input methods. The Electroimaging we discussed, Radar, SONAR, Infrared, Ultraviolet, Thermal, Micro, Macro, Ecto, a bunch of things with really long technical names that don't really have a shorthand...

[Robo-Ky runs out of fingers to count on and then his head jumps slightly.]

Oh!

[His eyes slowly brighten and then shoots too solid yellow beams out of his eyes that light a nearby bush on fire.]

And that.

[pishirogane]

[No, it doesn't seem like there's a title that can encompass all of those abilities. She's prepared to speak, but she jumps somewhat at the bush being set on fire]

[Naoto runs over and proceeds to putting it out with sand and by stepping on it]

[404_knight]

It would have burned itself out.

[pishirogane]

It's wise not to risk it.

[404_knight]

But yeah, the optical part of my eyes, that's what they do.

[pishirogane]

Without a doubt, that would be difficult to label, but you understand why it shouldn't be x-ray eyes.

[404_knight]

Oh totally.

I'm just saying...

[Robo-Ky unscrews one of his eyes and turns it over, showing the connection port where there is a worn etching that reads "XRAYTED EYES®"]

[pishirogane]

[Naoto looks close. That... that's a terrible pun.]

Be a little more careful next time.

[404_knight]

I'm always careful.

[He screws the eye back in. It flashes a few times, glows red and then returns to its yellow.]

[pishirogane]

Keep my gender to yourself. I'd prefer it didn't get out publicly until I'm prepared.

[404_knight]

Whatever you say.

Got a name?

[pishirogane]

... Naoto. And you are?

[404_knight]

Robo-Ky. Don't ask who Ky is. He's a jerk. Also french.

[pishirogane]

Very well.

[Why would she even ask. He's only made her curious about it now.]

[404_knight]

Well I mean, you can ask, but all I'll say is that he's a jerk and french.

[pishirogane]

... Alright.

[That's... that's not really anything to go off of.]