15th Screw - backdated to August 7th

[all_wound_up]

[Action]

[Today is Nano's birthday, but she hasn't told anyone.  She's not really the type to call that much attention to herself over something like this, and it seems sort of insignificant to her compared to all of the problems in Hinoto-Ri.  But two years is a long time - at least, to her it is - and the past year especially has been full of so many chances to learn new things and meet new people, so she feels that she at least owes a little bit of celebration to herself.

And that's why she's at the bakery today, picking out a cupcake to enjoy while she wishes herself well for the next year.  Once she's got the tasty treat in hand, she takes it outside to one of the small tables set up near the street for customers to enjoy their snacks, pulling two small candles out and lighting them with a small fire spell that she learned from Namine.  After she hums a short little birthday song, she closes her eyes to send up a silent wish, smiles, and blows the candles out.]

Comments

[frequent_flyer]

No? But there's candles... [Damn Hinata and his lack of nosiness, backing off on the assumption that it's personal and she doesn't want to talk about it.]

[Of course, that doesn't stop him from asking other nosy questions.] ...Do you need to eat? [She was a robot, after all... He had to wonder.]

[all_wound_up]

Yes, well, this was, um...

[Nano isn't exactly sure how to answer that one, but thankfully, Hinata pulls a 90-degree turn in conversation and makes sure she doesn't have to.]

Do I... huh?

[frequent_flyer]

I mean, are you having the cupcake for fun, or do you actually need to eat..?

Since you're a robot and all...

[He seems a little awkward about asking. Is it rude to ask a girl about her robotic tendencies, similar to how it's rude to ask about her weight? He's not sure.]

[all_wound_up]

W-well, no, I don't really need to...

[weh :(]

[frequent_flyer]

[Uh oh, looks like he hit a nerve with that one.]

[ABANDON MISSION. ABORT ABORT.]

T-that's okay! I was just wondering! I still had to eat after I died so I guess I was just wondering if robots had to do that too or if they could just kind of keep going and I guess you have a key in your back that would keep you going maybe I should just stop talking now...

[Unfortunately, his attempts at making her feel better end with him talking way too much and rambling.]

[all_wound_up]

After you... what?

[Did he say 'died?']

But you look fine to me...

[frequent_flyer]

Eh- [Whoops. That wasn't supposed to slip out.]

Yeah, I uh... [Great. Now she's going to think I'm crazy...] ...was kind of dead when I got here, haha...

[all_wound_up]

But... you're still moving.

[frequent_flyer]

[...Hoo boy. This will take some explaining. Hopefully she'll catch on so he doesn't have to horrify her with the gruesome details.]

I mean, I died before I came here. I seem to be alive right now...

[all_wound_up]

Were you a ghost before?

[frequent_flyer]

Not... exactly. Or at least... I don't remember being one.

[His explanation isn't getting any better. He'd better just lay it all out there.]

I... remember dying, and then I was in the afterlife. I can't remember exactly how long I was there, but it was a while... and then I was here.

[all_wound_up]

So you're a ghost now?

[THIS IS CONFUSING]

[frequent_flyer]

I... think I'm alive?

[Now that she mentions it... being dead wasn't so much different from being alive, except that if he died again here, it would be permanent. That was a big difference.]

Death actually means something here, so yeah, I must be alive..!

[He's trying to sound like he's got it all figured out, but he's really just as confused as she is.]

[all_wound_up]

Well... I'm happy for you, then! I think.

[frequent_flyer]

[This question of his mortality is way too existential for him, he feels the need to switch focus.]

So... are you a full robot or just like... a cyborg..?

[all_wound_up]

[Whoa sudden topic change again. Nano blinks a few times before answering.]

Oh... um... no, I'm all robot.

[frequent_flyer]

[It doesn't occur to him until afterwards that he might be delving, once again, into personal information territory. He can't help himself! Robots are cool...]

U-um..! I should probably leave you alone so you can eat your cupcake, huh!? [Note to self, learn how to talk to little girls without being weird ASAP.]

[all_wound_up]

It's all right! I've just never had someone ask me that question before, so I didn't know how to answer right away.

[frequent_flyer]

[At least she doesn't seem upset... he visibly relaxes a little.]

Are you sure it's alright..? [Because he has so many questions.]

[all_wound_up]

Yes, it's fine, really.

[Fine if he stays, that is. She has no idea what he's actually going to do is keep asking her questions about being a robot.]

[frequent_flyer]

[Did she just give him a free pass to be a fanboy? Hot damn! He looks like she just told him Christmas was coming early.]

So do you have rocket feet!?

[all_wound_up]

W-w-what would make you think that...!

[The look on her face says 'yes' - or more accurately 'how did you guess that?']

[frequent_flyer]

Oh, well when I was a kid I used to watch this show called Astro Lad...

[HINATA STOP.]

So maybe it's like that...

[all_wound_up]

[Nano stares down at her cupcake, fidgeting awkwardly in place as she covers one foot with the other.]

[frequent_flyer]

[NANO ISN'T A TV SHOW YOU MORON.]

[Realizing he's... making an asshole of himself, he forces an awkward laugh, trying to come up with something that doesn't involve deep invasive questions about Nano's robotics.]

D-do you like video games!?