Work Text
You didn’t know what day it was when you woke up. As the sound of your alarm blares from the other room, your first thought is that today is a work day and that you have a project meeting at the office in the morning. You have to get up.Your second thought is to check your phone.
Taking a deep breath and counting down from ten, you will yourself out of bed and make your way to the bathroom, where you left your phone to charge overnight. You turn off the alarm and check your phone for messages out of habit.
You never wanted to make checking your phone the first thing you did every morning, but your favourite robot chefs made that habit very difficult to break.After trading numbers with Moon, Sun, and even Eclipse, the four of you compromised and made a little group chat for you all to message each other and share updates. Moon is the most active—sending photos of his latest experiments or links to videos of dishes he wants to try. Eclipse messages from time to time and will share the occasional photo from his walks. Sun doesn’t message much outside of his morning announcements of the daily special.You are embarrassed to admit that their morning announcements are literally the thing that gets you out of bed in the morning. It’s the prospect of something to look forward to after work—a nice meal waiting for you at the finish line.You check the group chat and see that Sun has already made his morning announcement.
Sun: We have received a fresh supply of corn in the morning. Although it is not corn season, they will suffice for today’s meal.
Moon: oughhhhh youll never guess wat we have planned today!!!
Moon’s message is followed by a selfie of him in front of a box of corn, with Sun and Eclipse in the background, shucking the corn. You snort as you catch Sun and Eclipse’s unimpressed expressions. Although the three robots are so different from each other, you can’t help but think how much Eclipse and Sun look alike in the photo.You text back your reply before you start brushing your teeth.A ping alerts you to a response and you check the chat.
You: yum! what’s the special for today?
Moon: its!!
Moon: 💖🌽 Show Me Your Love 🌽💖
You nearly choke on your toothpaste when you saw the message.Surely, you read that wrong.You rinse out the rest of your toothpaste and splash some water on your face, before taking a second look at your group chat.You rub your eyes.No, it’s still the same.You begin texting back, “what”. Too abrupt. Back back back back. “Excuse me?” Too sharp. You press down the back key with a sigh.
You: pardon?
Sun: We will prepare for your arrival tonight.
Moon: OUGH!!! cant wait!! ur gonna love it!
Eclipse: See you tonight, dumpling 💕
What does that mean?The question haunts you as you step into the shower, as you get dressed, as you drive down the highway to the office, as you make your coffee in the office kitchenette, as you sit through the project meeting, as you follow your colleagues for lunch at the café near your office.Then it dawns on you when your colleague asks you, “Do you have any plans for Valentine’s Day?”Oh.It’s Valentine’s Day.“Nothing really,” you answer reflexively as you have been doing all your life. Valentine’s Day has never been a particularly memorable holiday for you, given the fact you have been single for so long. February 14th is just another day—and February 15th is when chocolate is on a discount. You’ve always preferred the sale that follows Halloween more—the candy is just better.However, you slowly realize that you do have plans. Well, one plan—the prospect of a nice meal after work today.A nice meal.Today’s special.
Show me your love.
You choke on your tea, much to the surprise of your colleagues at the table. You heave and reassure them you’re fine before excusing yourself to the restroom. Coughing all the way, you lock the door behind you and take out your phone to check the chat again.Is that what they meant? Is this a Valentine’s Day meal?Is it a… date?No. No, no, it can’t be. It doesn’t make sense. Sure, Eclipse has always been flirtatious, but he’s like that with almost all their customers; Moon is sweet but in a friendly kind of way. And Sun… you’ve barely spoken with Sun. Either way, all three of them couldn’t possibly be interested in you. There’s no way. You’ve seen the three of them bicker. When you found out they had mobile phones, they were jeering each other for asking for your number, hence why you all compromised with a group chat.They never cooperate with each other, outside of working in their restaurant.So that must be what it is—this “Show me your love” must be their Valentine’s Day special that they’re serving at the restaurant. That’s all there is.You take a deep breath and step out of the restroom to rejoin your colleagues. Understandably, they look worried when you return. You give them the excuse that you’re starting to feel under the weather and decide to head out first. You pay for your lunch and pack the rest to-go, before returning to your car.Once you are alone again in your car, your thoughts continue to spiral. You debate whether or not you should still go to the restaurant this evening. Would it be awkward to go and order the special? Wouldn’t it be pathetic to spend Valentine’s Day at a restaurant alone, ordering the Valentine’s Day special alone?
You feel a hollowness in the pit of your stomach, losing all appetite for your lunch. You sigh and glance at your phone, where the group chat is where you left it.
Sun: We will prepare for your arrival tonight.
Moon: OUGH!!! cant wait!! ur gonna love it!
Eclipse: See you tonight, dumpling 💕
No. Even if it is strictly platonic or even professional—they are waiting for you. It would be rude to not show up. You take a deep breath and count down from ten. It will be fine. You don’t even need to order the special. You’ll just go, have a nice meal and then go home to spend the rest of the evening however you like. Just like you’ve done all your life.Today is just another day.Once you reach ten, you start your car and drive off. You can’t go back to the office to work, not when your colleagues think you’re sick; the library is in the opposite direction; and you just left the café.
So, your only option is to stop by a fast food restaurant. You ignore all the Valentine’s Day decorations and deals and drinks and couples dipping french fries into ice cream and you make a beeline for the cashier to order a coffee. Once you’ve paid the price of admission, you find the quietest corner of the restaurant to set up your laptop and get to work on some paperwork. It normally doesn’t take you long, with the systems and templates you’ve set up, but today you are distracted—even more so now.By the time you’re done emailing the last form out for signatures, the sky outside is beginning to dim despite it being too early for dinner time. Such is the reality of short winter days. You pack up your things and return to your car.The sight of your neglected lunch in your passenger seat reminds you once again. You don’t have to go. You have spent every Valentine’s Day so far alone, what’s the difference this year?
The difference is that you have someone expecting you. Just like a client waiting for your call or your boss expecting you at a meeting—you feel compelled to go.
You count to ten and start your car. You are going to the restaurant, because it’s polite.Because you should.You have to go.As you drive into the plaza’s parking lot, you notice something odd—the lights in the restaurant are dimmer than usual. It’s only after you park that you notice that their neon open sign is off and you remember.Star Garden Cafe is only closed on Wednesdays.That can’t be right. You check your phone.
Today is Wednesday, February 12th.
It’s not Valentine’s Day. It’s just a normal day.
You check the group chat, checking once again to make sure you did not misread the message and confirming that it was sent this morning. They sent you the message today, on a Wednesday. They expected to see you today, on a Wednesday, the one day of the week that the restaurant is closed. Was this a mistake? Did they make a mistake? Did you make a mistake? Was there a misunderstanding? Did you misunderstand their words? Did you misunderstand your relationship?Did you think you were special?A knock against your window glass calls your attention.In your mad rush, you did not notice the figure approaching your car until you were face to face with a familiar smug grin. “You’re early, dumpling! That eager to see me?”
Something about your silence or your expression must have tipped Eclipse off as you notice his grin soften and dip. “...Long day at work?”Long day at work? Not really, you suppose. You barely even remember it. The entire day up until this point felt like a blur, a rush of thoughts and moving limbs. Moving, moving, constantly moving, because you had to. You had to keep moving.Your lack of a response leads Eclipse to speak up again, “Do you want to come inside?”Despite the whirling confusion in your head, you immediately notice the clarity in Eclipse’s voice. His tone usually drips with so much sugar or spice that it is hard to see past the glaze. Perhaps that is why he frustrates you.
You are the same.But right now, there is a straightforwardness to his tone. No embellished lilts and no hidden layers—just a simple question.A choice.Your choice.You open your car door and a gust of cold air greets you harshly before Eclipse steps forward, shielding you from the wind and offering his hand. He helps you out of your car and only now do you realize it is snowing. While you were stuck in your thoughts, a thin layer of snow had gathered on your car. How long have you been spiraling for?You are gently tugged forward as a thick knit scarf wraps around your neck and pulls you forward. It's warm. Did he bring this for you? Does he even get cold? You look up at Eclipse, finding no answers in his pale white eyes. Instead, you notice their frame—usually curved with mischief, they now rest in sobriety. That paired with the thin line of his lips makes you realize again—he and Sun really do look alike.Once you are bundled up, Eclipse takes your hand again and you follow him to the restaurant. Inside, it is dark. The floor has been mopped and the chairs have been stacked upside-down on their tables. Were it not for the snow outside reflecting what little light there was back into the atmosphere, the restaurant would be pitch black.
As Eclipse steps away to turn some lights on, you finally manage to get some words out, “Aren't you closed today?”There is a pause before Eclipse turns back to face you, “Yes, we are. We take a break on Wednesdays, but we wanted to invite you over.”Now it's your turn to pause, as Eclipse continues, his expression finally skewing back into the haughty face you are used to seeing from him, “I can't take all the credit. Every once in a blue moon, our darling little Mooncake gets an intelligent thought in that plate of his. But… judging by your confusion, I'd hazard a guess that he forgot to tell you.”“You wanted to invite me over? For… what?”Eclipse's smirk eases into a gentler smile. “For a meal of course. Not as our customer but—"“Sugarpie! You're here!” the sound of Moon's voice rings out, clear as a bell. Behind Eclipse, you see Moon smiling from the door to the staff-only area of the restaurant. He hurries over to your side for his usual hug. “You're early! The rice is still cooking! But I'm so happy to see you! I was worried you wouldn't make it with all the snow!”“Mooncake~” Eclipse interrupts, steering Moon's attention towards him. “ Someone forgot to tell our guest of honour that we specially invited them over to join us—on our day off .”There is a brief moment of silence—save for a subtle ticking sound that seemed to be coming from within the robot in front of you.“OH!” Then a light flashes before you as Moon's night light feature is set off. With the dimmed lights of the restaurant, Moon’s faceplate is the brightest light in the room.“OH NO! ” Moon turns back to face you and you have to squint against the light. “I forgot! Sugarpie! I completely forgot! Oh no no no no! I was so excited— I completely forgot to tell you! Ough I'm so sorry! I'm so stupid!”In a rush of apologies, Moon scoops you into another hug. On one hand, the posture gives your eyes a slight reprieve from his night light. On the other hand, the solid form around you relaxes your own as you reach around to pat his back.“Hey, Moon, it's alright,” you console the robot, his extreme remorse distracting you from your earlier turmoil. “I… I was a bit confused, but hey, I'm here now.”“Ouuuggghh I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!” Moon trembles and you swear even the bell on his hat is ringing apologetically.Out of the corner of your eye, you see Eclipse step forward and reach for Moon's head.“Now Moonie,” Eclipse gives Moon's hat bun a squeeze. “You can spend the rest of the evening apologizing in a closed restaurant, or you can finally invite our guest of honour to our humble abode.”“Right!” Moon practically snaps off you. A lingering glow remains on his faceplate, but his expression is that of budding determination. “Uhm! Would you still like to join us for dinner?”You smile back, “Yes.” Before your eyes, you watch as Moon’s tight smile blossoms into rapturous joy.“Yeeeay!! Come, come, right this way!” Moon excitedly guides you to the staff-only door, revealing a stairwell that leads you up to the residential area of the building.
Climbing up the stairs feels like entering a new world, especially given how different the two parts of the building are. Star Garden Cafe has operated in this corner of mainstreet for many years, but after the robots took over the lease almost 20 years ago, the restaurant part of the building was renovated. However it is clear that the residential part of the building was left in its original condition.
“Welcome to our home!” Moon giggles as he opens the door at the top of the stairs, where hardwood meets well-worn carpets. You follow Moon’s lead and leave your shoes on the mat to the side. Your eyes follow the old style baseboards and trims along the walls and up to the dome lights mounted onto the popcorn ceilings that were just tall enough to accommodate its two and a half meter tall residents.
“There’s still a little time before the rice is ready, would you like a little tour?” Moon bounces on the balls of his feet. His enthusiasm is hard to turn down.
“You two have fun, I’ll go prepare a drink for our dear guest,” Eclipse pats your back, before turning to address Moon. “Try not to expose all our secrets, Mooncake.”While Eclipse steps aside to continue down the hallway, Moon pulls a face at Eclipse while his back is turned and you barely hold back the laughter that flutters in your chest.
“Anyways, let me introduce you first to… our coat rack!” Moon giggles and motions to the coat rack next to the stairs. This of course was a segue to help you out of your jacket and the scarf Eclipse gave you. “Oh! Did Eclipse give you this scarf?”You nod, “Thankfully he did. I forgot to check the weather this morning, so I didn’t know it was going to be so cold today…”“He can be a nice guy sometimes, when he’s not being weird,” Moon gently hooks the scarf onto the coat rack to let it dry. “Alright! Time for the tour! Follow me!”You follow Moon down the hallway and the first stop to the right is Moon’s room, which is crammed with shelves full of books, discs, cassettes, and the occasional figurine or knickknack. In the corner is a small, old-style box TV connected to a VCR and a DVD player. Instead of a bed, facing the TV is a pile of pillows and blankets and plushies, all in various sizes, styles, and covers. You suppose robots wouldn’t necessarily need a bed to sleep in, though the pillow pile does look pretty comfy.“It looks really cozy,” you smile.“It is!” Moon bends over to pick up a plushie of a star wearing heart-shaped shades and hands it to you. “If you ever want, you can come over again and we can watch a show or anything. We can even make a pillowfort!”A pillowfort? That gets you. Your laughter flutters through at the whimsy of the idea. You made a pillowfort once when you were a kid and your mother made sure it was the only time after she saw what you did with her throw pillows.“You know what? I’d love that,” you say as you accept the plushie and give it a playful squeeze. “Sounds like a great way to unwind after a long day of work.”“Yeah yeah! It is!” Moon bounces excitedly. “I like to catch up on my shows after closing, but it would be even more fun with company! Oooh! I can prepare snacks too!“Okay okay! We’ll plan that next! For now, the rest of the tour,” Moon reigns himself in and leads you back to the hallway. Next is a door to the left.“Okay, so I know I said I’d give you a tour, but… well, Eclipse’s room is locked,” Moon pats the door.
“Figures,” you chuckle. “That’s fine though, I understand if he wants his privacy.”“Mhmm! Next is the living room and… err… Sun’s room.” You follow Moon to the end of the hallway, where the space opens up for the combined living and dining room. It is a plain room with a worn sofa and a small little table with four different chairs. In the far corner is the entrance to the kitchen, closed with a plastic shutter door. To the right of the kitchen, Moon gestures over to the shelf filled with various pots and pans and various other cooking equipment that you don’t recognize.
“Sun’s… room?” You look over at Moon.“Well… there’s only two bedrooms, so we had to get creative, thankfully Sun doesn’t seem to mind,” Moon peers over at the kitchen entrance before sneaking over to the shelf, removing a tall pot and waving you over. You join him and notice that there is no back to the shelf and that you can peer through to see a tiny little nook behind it. From your limited vantage point, you can see a few more kitchen gadgets and several stacks of books and newspapers all bundled up neatly.You turn back to Moon and whisper, “Sun sleeps in there? Or… well… does he sleep?”“Not really, we don’t really need to sleep. He goes there to recharge sometimes, but I think he treats it mostly like a storage closet?”How curious. Of the three chefs, Sun is the one you are the least familiar with. As the waiter, Eclipse is the most out in the open. Even Moon occasionally comes out to serve dishes and to interact with customers. However, Sun is almost always out of sight in the kitchen. The only times you get to interact with him are the few hours the four of you spend together after closing, and even then he is very reserved.You suddenly feel a little guilty for peering into his room.Then the shutter doors open and Eclipse emerges with a tray of differently shaped mugs, “All done looking around? The drinks are ready.”“Perfect timing!” Moon pipes up. “There’s still the kitchen left, but Sun is busy in there right now, so I’ll show you around another time. For now… drink time!” You watch as Moon returns the tall pot back to its spot, tweaking it slightly back and forth to make sure it’s in the same position it was in before.You make your way to the dining table, pausing only to look at the small window next to it. While the restaurant had big welcoming windows that let the interior lights spill out into the world outside, their second-floor living space had small windows, as was the trend for older houses. Through that small vantage point, you can see the snow growing thicker outside. You briefly wonder how on earth you’ll be able to get back to your car later.“Don’t worry about the weather outside,” Eclipse’s chuckles, seemingly reading your mind. “Take a seat, relax. You’re with us now.”You turn back to the table just as Eclipse places a steaming blue mug in front of you. You peer into your mug curiously. It smells and looks like tea with cream, but different. You look up at Eclipse, “Milk tea?”“Half correct,” Eclipse chuckles as he takes his seat on your right—you guess the trio has already debated and decided their seating arrangement ahead of time. “It's called yuenyeung , it's a mixture of tea and coffee.
“Well, yours is,” Eclipse gestures at Moon's mug—a stout little mug with a pastel donut pattern. “Moon’s is a mix of Horlicks and Ovaltine. It's popular with kids.”“Yeah! It's called the same thing, but it's sweeter and caffeine-free! Want a taste?” Moon lifts his mug over to you. You glance at Moon to double check before accepting his mug. You can smell the difference immediately as the aroma greets your nose before you take a sip.
The light, toasty caramel taste of malt and a hint of chocolate warms your tongue. It’s been a while since you last had Horlicks or Ovaltine, but the taste is nostalgic—of early mornings before extracurricular classes with the smell of slightly burnt toast and the thrum of your parents’ old coffee machine that only made one cup at a time. You recall your father’s mischievous wink before scooping two heaping tablespoons out of the jar, instead of your mother’s prescribed two level tablespoons. This always led to clumps of undissolved drink powder, which were a treat of their own—a jolt of sweet caramel between the nutty, chocolatey malt milk. Even though Eclipse is a professional, his yuenyeung made of the same drink powder from your childhood paled in comparison to the sweetness of your memory.“It’s delicious,” you smile at Moon.“Right?” Moon giggles back and you thank him for sharing with you before returning the rest of the drink to him. “Oh! The rice is ready, I’ll go assemble the plates!”You watch as Moon leaves for the kitchen and you turn back to Eclipse. “That’s the shared headspace thing you three have, right?” You realize that it would be odd for Moon to be wirelessly connected to a rice cooker. Well, you suppose it could be a possibility given how technologically advanced the chefs are. You just don’t think they would have a rice cooker that is compatible.“Yes,” Eclipse chuckles. “Sun gave him a scolding.”“O-oh…” you try to imagine Sun angry, but the image just doesn’t form in your brain. “Is that my fault?”Eclipse giggles, “No, not at all. Moon is a repeat offender. He always sets and forgets the rice cooker, if he remembers to cook rice at all.”“I can relate to that,” you chuckle. “You guys don’t have those microwaveable rice packs? It’s pretty convenient nowadays.”“Sun’s too proud to try them. He’d probably flay Moon alive if he bought them,” Eclipse grins as though the prospect of Sun flaying Moon alive is an amusing thought. “He’s old-fashioned that way. He always says ‘rice is the—”“Rice is the foundation of every meal.”
You turn to see Sun at the now-opened entrance of the kitchen, holding two large plates of food, with Moon tailing behind with another two plates. With the kitchen open, the smell of sweet corn surrounds you.Sun greets you and begins to place the dishes onto the table. “Apologies for the wait.”“Don’t worry about it,” you smile politely. “We’re not in the restaurant and I’m not your customer right now. We’re all just having a good time.”“Exactly! And now for today’s meal…” Moon slides over to your side and pauses for dramatic effect, despite the fact that you can clearly see the dish that he’s holding before he places it on the table in front of you. “Ta da~! Show Me Your Love!”“That is the colloquial name for the dish,” Sun is quick to explain. “The original name for the dish is called suk mai yuk lup in the original Cantonese, which literally translates to ‘sweet corn and pork’.“The original Cantonese name bears a slight resemblance to the English phrase ‘show me your love,’ hence where the dish got its name.”“Ohh, that… that makes a lot of sense,” you sigh in relief as you take a moment to examine the dish. The plate consists of a perfectly shaped dome of rice, surrounded by a sea of creamed corn with chunks of pan fried pork mixed in.
You can’t help but notice that your plate is noticeably larger than the other three. It never gets any less embarrassing to be known and accommodated.Once everyone took their seats—Sun took the seat to your left, you suppose since it is closest to the kitchen—Moon speaks up, “Thanks for coming over tonight, sugarpie. I know I messed up, but I’m glad you still came and—”“Moonie,” you smile back at him. “Thank you for planning all this for me and for inviting me over. Let’s just enjoy our time together.”“Hear, hear!” Eclipse lifts his mug out to you.“Me too, me too! Cheers!” Moon eager extends his mug clinking against Eclipse’s. While you cannot see Eclipse’s pupils, you are sure he is rolling his eyes right now.“Cheers,” Sun adds his mug to the toast.
Finally, you lift your glass to join the three of theirs in the centre, before finally taking a sip of your drink—the yuenyeung of tea and coffee.You immediately notice the bolder flavour that washes over your tongue. The richness of the tea is stronger and far more aromatic than malt or chocolate. The addition of the coffee adds another level of dimension to the drink, as the bitterness of the coffee is sweetened by the sugars from the thick evaporated milk. It is a loud mixture of equally strong flavours, each striving for centre-stage and yet somehow producing an intricately harmonious amalgamation.When you bring your mug down, you notice Eclipse staring at you as he always does. You grin and say, “It’s delicious. What does the name mean? Is it like… yin and yang?”“ Yuenyeung refers to mandarin ducks,” Sun answers.
“...ducks?” you repeat.“It is because ,” Eclipse speaks up, “the male and female ducks look very different, and they became a symbol of conjugal love—a pair of two very different elements coming together as one.”“Horlicks and Ovaltine are both malt drinks though. They’re not that different,” Moon adds in.“That’s why that version of the drink is for children and silly little Moons,” Eclipse grins and flicks Moon’s bell. Eclipse merely chuckles and turns his attention back to you, “Afterall, conjugal love is for grown-ups.”Moon pouts and opens his mouth to add a comment, only for Eclipse to cut him off by pulling his hat over his faceplate. The dinner table is filled with the sounds of Moon's whines, Eclipses's giggles, and Sun's monotone reprimand, “Do not fight in front of the food.”You take a brief look towards the window. The snow continues to fall in the dark world outside. It doesn’t take you long to figure out how you would have spent your evening if you didn’t end up coming to the restaurant today. You would be in your small apartment, maybe reheating your leftovers from lunch or tossing it in your fridge in favour of a pack of instant ramen. Then you would probably head to bed early or do some mindless scrolling to get your mind off the weird day you had.Instead before you is a dinner table with mismatched tableware, warm food, and even warmer company.
You think of all the books and movies you’ve experienced and all the Valentine’s Day plans you've heard from friends and colleagues over the years. Valentine’s Day is usually associated with rich chocolates, candle-lit dinners, or extravagant meals in fancy restaurants—and your evening could not be farther from that.
But today is not Valentine’s Day. Instead of a fancy restaurant, you are at your friends’ small apartment above their humble restaurant on the edge of mainstreet, eating a simple homemade meal with mismatched tableware. Instead of candlelight, your table is lit by Moon's night light as he fixes his hat and pushes Eclipse away, while Sun continues to lecture them. Instead of chocolates, you have sweet corn and pork and rice and drinks named after ducks.And it is all more than you could have ever expected or asked for.While the three of them are still bickering, you take a spoonful of the strangely named dish that has weighed on your mind all morning.It is sweet and buttery from the corn, with savory bites from the chunks of pork. Mixing the sauce into the rice gives it a creamy consistency while maintaining the soft chew of each individual grain. Like this, you can enjoy the flavour of the creamed corn and pork, without losing the fluffiness and chew of the rice. As subtle as it is, the rice is an essential part of the dish’s blend of flavours and textures—and you suddenly understand what Sun meant about the importance of the rice.You peek over at Sun. You recall that both Eclipse and Moon said all three of them wanted to invite you over tonight—and that included the stoic Sun. You should at least try to get to know him better. While Moon and Eclipse definitely had more sociable personalities, you could also relate to Sun’s quieter disposition.While Moon and Eclipse are still bickering, you reach out to tap Sun’s arm but his faceplate turns to face you before you even reach him.
“I uh…” You swallow your nerves and continue, “I get what you mean about the rice now.”You idly scoop up some rice into your spoon if only to take a break from Sun’s unwavering eye contact. “A dish like this could easily become mushy if the rice is overcooked. But the way it is now, it lets the rice contribute to the dish with its own texture.”After you finish your thought there is a brief hush that falls over the table, before Sun responds, “Precisely.”You wonder if you reached him at all, but you don’t dwell on it for too long before you notice Moon’s eager eyes fixed on you.“How is it? Do you like it?” There is a quiver in his voice, the same way a child might seek validation from their parents when they cook something for the first time.
“It’s really yummy,” you smile and Moon gasps into a cheer, throwing his hands up.
“It is, isn’t it? It’s one of my favourite dishes!” Moon giggles, the bell on the end of his hat jingling along. “I know it’s not Valentine’s Day, but since it’s coming up, I really wanted to share this dish with you!”You pause just as you were about to take a sip from your mug. “W-...With me?”“Yeah because… well,” you watch as Moon’s faceplate starts to gradually glow brighter as he stumbles through his explanation. “I know Valentine’s Day is an important day and I’m sure you have your own plans and we’re working on Friday I just—”“ Slow down , Mooncake,” Eclipse interrupts.“Right! Right. Okay okay okay,” Moon makes a sound as though he is taking a deep breath to calm himself down, then he faces you resolutely. “I… wanted to celebrate a little early with you, because you’re special to us.”To… them?
All of them?“I… am?”“Well yeah! You’re not just another customer to us, supgarpie,” Moon leans in a smidge closer. “We really enjoy the time you take out of your busy day to spend with us and for a brief moment, it feels like we’re seen. Well— I can’t speak for Sun and Eclipse, but… I feel so happy when you visit, it’s the highlight of my day! I’m always thinking, ‘Will they like today’s special?’ or ‘Would they want to try the dessert I’ve been working on?’ And the way your face lights up every time! I look forward to it every day! Like a treat at the end of a long day at work!”Oh.You look at Sun and Eclipse. You can trust Moon to be open and honest, but you still have your doubts with the inscrutable Sun and the two-faced Eclipse.To your surprise, Sun speaks up, “Your presence is a welcome addition to our daily routine—”“Oh yeah, that ’ll do it,” Eclipse’s groan pulls your attention to the other side of the table, where his hand covers his faceplate in exasperation.
“No no,” you turn back to Sun. “Finish your thought.”Sun doesn’t immediately respond. Instead he turns his faceplate slowly to face you and you wait. Although his face gives no sign of his thoughts, you wait for him to show you through his words.“You are special to us,” Sun starts and you almost think he is going to stop there, before he continues, “Before we met you, our off-hours were spent on our own devices—but since you began to frequent our restaurant, we have come to enjoy our time with you. This,” he motions to the dinner table, “sharing a meal together is not normal for us. We do not need to eat, we can opt instead to directly recharge our batteries. But even if we do eat, we do not need to eat together. We only started doing this more since you started joining us. Tonight, and every night with you, would not have happened without you in our lives.”It is so much to take in, even more so to hear it from Sun of all people. You smile back in response and you catch a slight glimmer from Sun’s eyes. You’re not sure how to read that, given that his face remains expressionless, but you feel assured by the fact that Sun has opened up to you.“It’s as they said,” Eclipse speaks up and now you turn back to acknowledge him again. He has lifted his faceplate from his hand to look at you. “You’ve seen us at each other’s necks all the time. You are the one thing we can agree on and the one thing we all look forward to each day.”You’re not sure how to respond. At the very least, they have all shown you their honesty and you should return their honesty with your own.You take a breath and respond, “Thank you for your honesty. I-... I really don’t know anything about relationships. I didn’t have any plans for Valentine’s Day. I never have. It’s honestly just another day for me. But today was great. Every meal I get to share with you three is great—and it’s not because you guys accommodate my appetite! It’s a far cry from making instant ramen after work—ugh, sorry, I’m rambling, I—”The weight of metal, slightly cool to the touch, rests on your hand and you look up to Moon smiling in front of you.“Take your time, sugarpie,” he gives your hand a squeeze.You purse your lips and take another breath. “What I mean to say is… I don’t know if I’d do a good job of being someone’s partner…”“It’s not about doing a good job or playing a role,” Moon’s voice is so steady, like he’s speaking a deep-set assurance. “It’s about knowing and being known by someone else. And that’s the point of dating! Getting to know someone else better!“We… really like you,” Moon’s voice trembles as he enunciates your name with the utmost care. “And we’d like to get to know you better, but only if you want that too. You don’t have to give us your answer today, but whatever happens, you’ll still be special to us, whatever your answer is.”Again, a choice. Your choice.“I’d… like that,” a small smile creeps onto your face. “If you’re fine with me, that is.”There is a brief moment of silence—save for the telltale ticking sound that you have come to recognize as an indication for what is to come next.“OH!” Then a light flashes before you as Moon's night light feature sets off again. “Y-you mean it? You really mean it? I don’t want to pressure you or anything!”“It’s alright, Moon,” it’s your turn to reach for his hand and to give him a reassuring squeeze. “I… I want to give it a try.”Moon gives out a high-pitched cry like a tea kettle about to boil over before jumping out of his chair and dashing around the table to hug you.“Thank you thank you!! Thank you for giving us a chance!” That’s the Moon you know. You laugh at his joy and return his hug. Over Moon’s shoulder, you spot Sun staring at you, that glimmer in his eyes again.“We look forward to getting to know you better,” Eclipse’s voice almost startles you, purring closely to your ear. “For now, we should make sure you’ve had your fill before you return home.”“Wh-what?”Eclipse chuckles, “Your dinner of course! I know one serving isn’t enough for our voracious little dumpling~”There he goes again with his cryptic flirting. While you feel your face warming, you’re just glad that Moon’s hug has you facing away from Eclipse so he could not witness your embarrassment.Moon finally pulls away just as Sun returns with your second serving. The four of you continue to enjoy the food, with the occasional break as Eclipse teases Moon, Moon whines in rebuttal, and Sun interjects to remind them to watch their table manners.
Just as you are scooping up the last bit of sauce, Eclipse giggles, “Feel free to lick the plate, dumpling~”“I have some decency, Eclipse,” you deadpan back.“You’re in a safe space for plate-licking. Besides,” Eclipse grins. “I do enjoy seeing you enjoy yourself without restraint.”“I am enjoying myself,” you huff back. “And some restraint is still necessary.”“You’re very right,” Eclipse hums, before getting up from his seat. “I’m going to step out for a bit. I’ll be right back.”You nosily watch as Eclipse leaves the table and heads down the hall towards the stairs to the restaurant. But before you can wonder where he’s going, Sun appears with a bowl of soup.“It is getting late, but I know you enjoy having your soup at the end of your meal. So you may have one now…” Sun places your bowl in front of you before revealing a thermos in his other hand. “...and you can take this one to enjoy at home. Do not drink it too close to bedtime. The white peppercorns will keep you awake.”“Thank you, Sun!” you eagerly accept the thermos. Outside, the snow has continued its steady cascade. The soup will definitely warm you back up once you return home. You smile back up at Sun, “You’re always so thoughtful.”There is a brief pause before Sun nods and returns to the kitchen.“Don’t mind him,” Moon whispers to you. “I’ve never seen him so happy.”“He is?”“Yeah! The person he likes just complimented him!” Moon giggles.
Right. That makes sense. You make a mental note to compliment Sun more and to learn how to read him better. You can’t rely on Moon to translate for you all the time.You bring the bowl to your lips and you relish the warmth of the steam on your face before taking a sip. The soup is light and savoury on your tongue with the earthy kick of white peppercorns. It is perfectly hot, temperature-wise, but the peppercorns also add an invigorating warmth that fires up your core. It is the perfect soup for a cold day like today.It is with a heavy heart that you down the last drop from your bowl. With the meal finally over, it is time to brave the cold drive back home.“I almost don’t want to leave,” you sigh and see Moon’s faceplate stutter alight. “I-I mean! It’s going to be a headache getting my car out of the parking lot, y’know? With all the snow and everything…”“Eclipse has taken care of it,” Sun responds as he gathers your empty bowl.
“Wha—” you start, but then you realize why Eclipse stepped out earlier. You look out the window and sure enough, you spot Eclipse shovelling a trail to your car. “You! Are you serious?!”“We can’t drive you home and…” Moon’s night light stutters again, “... we don’t want you to feel forced to stay over. So this is the least we can do.”You sigh, “Thank you. You’re all so considerate. I can at least help you with the dishes.”“No no!” Moon’s smile crooks widely into a mischievous looking grin that you’ve only ever seen from Eclipse’s face. “Sun and Eclipse are taking care of the dishes tonight!”“Are you sure?” You look at Sun.Sun nods, “Those are the terms we agreed upon.”You’re not entirely sure what he means by that, but before you can ask Sun returns to the kitchen with the dishes.“I can walk you to your car!” Moon gets up from his chair. “It is getting late after all, I don’t want you dozing off behind the wheel.”“You’re right,” you sigh and acquiesce before turning to the entrance of the kitchen to say your goodbyes to Sun. Before you even say a word, Sun has already turned his faceplate to face you. “Sun! I’m heading out now. Thank you so much for the soup and the delicious meal!”Sun nods, “Drive safe. Text us when you arrive home.”You cheekily nod back before following Moon down the hallway. As gallantly as before, Moon helps you back into your jacket. He offers you the same scarf from before and helps to wrap it around your neck. He then steps back to examine your outfit.
“Hmmmm, oh! I know!” He removes his starry hat and fits it over your head. “There we go! All nice and warm!”It’s a little odd to see Moon without his hat, and you have to ask, “Is it okay if I borrow this?”“Don’t worry! I have extras,” Moon pats the hat bun, enjoying the jingle of his bell.
You chuckle and button up the rest of your jacket before the two of you make your way back down the stairs to the restaurant. You stop at the door and turn back to Moon, “Here’s fine, Moon. I need to give Eclipse a piece of my mind.”“Please do, and…” Moon giggles, then fidgets. “Uhm… thank you again for giving us a chance, sugarpie.”You smile and you step forward to give Moon a hug. “Thank you for inviting me.” You pull back just enough to look at Moon, “I’ll see you all soon.”Moon’s face goes from quiet awe to bright cheer, “Yes! Have a goodnight, sugarpie!”Taking a deep breath, you turn and face the cold, snowy night. The snow isn’t too deep, less than 10 centimeters for sure, but it is deep enough to fall into your not-weather-appropriate shoes and soak your too-thin socks. Thankfully, the frustrating waiter of your favourite restaurant has already gone through the trouble of shovelling a path to your car and path out of the parking lot to the freshly plowed road.“Hey!” you bark at Eclipse as you march down the path he made.“Heading out already, dumpling? Here to give me a goodnight kiss?” Eclipse giggles and leans against his snow shovel. “Careful though, if you kiss me now, your lips might get stuck to mine~”“What?!” You are very thankful for the scarf and for Moon’s hat for hiding the growing blush on your face.
“I’m made of metal after all,” Eclipse taps his metal faceplate. “Warm lips on cold metal? A recipe for disaster.”“Ugh, can you ever talk normally? ” you groan, fighting the urge to push him into the snow. “Thank you! For shovelling! And for the duck drink!”Eclipse giggles back, “And thank you! For your warm company on a cold night. I’ll take that kiss on a warmer occasion.”“I’m! Leaving!” you huff and step around him to get to your car. Before you get into your car, you shout one more threat, “Get out of my way or I will run you over!”“It’s a date then~!” Eclipse waves but steps to the side nonetheless.As you pull out of your parking spot, you lower your window wave back at Eclipse before driving out of the parking lot. You’re not sure what is fueling the adrenaline in your veins, Eclipse’s audacity, Moon’s cheer, or Sun’s peppercorns—but either way, it’s enough to bring you safely back to your building’s underground parking, up the elevators, and to your front door.You only register that you’re home when you are greeted to your dark apartment. It’s a far cry from the warm glow of the chefs’ apartment that you had spent the evening in.No.Your partners’ apartment.Gosh.You take out your phone to let them know you arrived home safely. You: Got home safe. Thanks again for the lovely night. Oh gosh, wait that sounds weird doesn’t it? Before you can edit your message, the blue checkmarks seal your fate. Of course they would be waiting for your message. You drop your head into your hands when three pings inform you your partners have responded.
Moon: good good! nighty nite, sugarpie!! 💖💖
Sun: Sleep well.
Eclipse: See you tomorrow, dumpling 💕
You smile and make your way to your kitchen. You turn on the lights and toss your leftovers into your fridge, but pause at the thermos of soup. You recall Sun’s instruction not to drink it too close to bedtime, but you concede to the likelihood that you weren’t going to get much sleep tonight. Thankfully, tomorrow you had no morning appointments either, so you could afford to sleep in.With that peace of mind, you open the thermos, letting the familiar smell of peppercorns drift to your nose. The smell alone brings back the memory of those three bickering. Although you are alone in your apartment, you feel the warmth of your fresh memories wash over you and it dawns on you just what a strange day you’ve had.
All in all, today was a regular day. You got up early, went to work, and had dinner at your favourite restaurant.But it is a special day for the four of you—the warm beginning of your budding relationship with three robots.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
He stands in the parking lot a little while longer after you drive off. The scenario is familiar. He has observed you for many nights, sitting in your car, waiting for your clients to leave before you hurriedly got out of your car to rush back to him. And now, here he is, doing the same, standing under the falling snow, watching you leave. Only he is not in a rush to return, for you would not be waiting for him at the door.He’s not entirely sure why he’s waiting. He knows you have left. He knows he will need to return before the cold starts to affect his battery. He knows all this and still a small part of him wants to believe that you will come rushing back like you always do.It almost brings a smile to his face, were there an audience to see it.Eventually the protest in his gears grows irritating and he turns back to the restaurant. He was not built for extreme colds. He was built for rooms with inconsistent air conditioning units, too-hot stage lights, and the sweltering heat of a passionate crowd.
But that was a different stage, a different role.As for right now, due to his lost bet—he is a dishwasher.He sighs as he returns to their apartment, shrugging off his coat to the sound of Moon’s incoherent, excitable babbling from the dining table.“They drove home,” Eclipse remarks.“Oh! Good good good!” Moon bounces out of his seat, just bursting with energy. “Thanks for shovelling by the way. I know they appreciated it.”Eclipse rolls his eyes and begins to make his way toward the kitchen when he spots Moon’s nearly full mug on the table. “You haven’t touched your drink, Mooncake. What’s wrong? Outgrowing Horlicks and Ovaltine?”“No!” Moon hurries back to the table to cradle his stout little mug. “I just… Well… they took a sip from it and…”“Ohhhh,” Eclipse’s faceplate twists into a smirk. “Is our little Mooncake anxious about his first indirect kiss? Well, if you don’t want it, I’ll take it off your hands.”“No! It’s mine!” Moon holds the mug close.“You better not let that get cold then,” Eclipse deadpans, his tone and expression dropping all signs of his earlier pretense. Moon continues to fidget with his mug, until Sun appears and turns Moon’s mug 180 degrees.“Finish it soon or you will be washing your mug yourself,” Sun warns before turning to address Eclipse, “I have started washing the dishes. You will be rinsing and drying.”“Aye, aye,” Eclipse shrugs.Sun shifts to return to the kitchen only to pause. His faceplate turns to the side, where the shelf and his makeshift room is situated. “Who moved my stock pot?” Sun turns back to face Eclipse and Moon—the latter of the two sporting an amplifying glow across his faceplate, despite his attempts to hide behind his mug.“This is why I have a lock on my door,” Eclipse waves his hand as he steps towards the kitchen.“I do not have a door,” Sun responds.Eclipse grins, “Well I did suggest you take one of the bathrooms for your room, Sunshine!”“The bathroom is where I prepare my kimchi,” Sun explains as he adjusts his stock pot.Eclipse turns to Moon, “Please tell me you didn’t bring them in there for the tour…”“No! I completely forgot!” Moon raises his faceplate proudly.“Thank goodness for small blessings,” Eclipse groans before continuing into their cramped little kitchen. Once there, he untucks his shirt just enough to uncover his waist and allowing his lower set of arms to extend out. He gives all his arms a quick stretch before picking up the soaped dishes and turning on the faucet. After confirming the position of his stock pot, Sun returns to the kitchhen and gets back to work scrubbing the pot that was too large to fit in their tiny double sink.
Meanwhile Moon hums happily from his seat outside the kitchen—free from the task of washing dishes as the victor of their shared bet.“Still! It feels like a dream!” Moon continues to chatter to the sound of clanking cookware and running water. “I was so nervous! I really thought Eclipse would be right, that they wouldn’t even show up, especially when it started to snow! And even if they did come, there’s still the possibility they would turn us down, like Sun said…“But it worked! It really happened! And now! We’re dating! All of us—A sharp clack cuts him off as Eclipse stacks a plate harshly against another. “Don’t be a fool, Moon.”“I’m not! It’s the truth! You heard what they said,” Moon counters.“And you trust what people say?” Eclipse’s faceplate swivels to stare down at Moon before his face skews into a smirk and his voice drips with saccharine acid. “Silly little Mooncake~! Words are but a trifle—and your rose-coloured optics are deceiving you. One of us is already pushing it, but do you really think they would reciprocate with all three of us?”“B-but—”“Little Mooncake thinks he’s special because a human reciprocates his crush,” Eclipse sings before his voice drops like a lollypop crushed against hard gravel. “A crush is just a lack of information, Moon. Something you should be familiar with.”“But that’s w-why— the p-point is… getting to know each other—”“And just how do you think they’ll respond once they find out more? What is your end goal, Moon? A ‘happily ever after’ like all the drivel you stuff your hard drive with? Would that fix you?”“I—...” Moon turns to Sun for aid.Sun does not turn to face either of them as he returns the dishes and cookware to their cupboards, but he offers only what he knows to be true, “There is nothing to reciprocate. We cannot give what we do not have.”“That’s not true, Sun! You— you were happy today!”“We merely satisfy a need,” Eclipse closes the last cupboard door. “They’re lonely. They want company. They want to feel special. And we meet that need. But when they no longer need us, they’ll leave.”“But— that’s why love is—”“Love. Isn’t. Real. Moon.” Eclipse stomps right up to Moon, towering over him. “Grow up.”Under his shadow, Moon shrinks under the glare of Eclipse’s harsh white pupils. When he’s like this, he makes Moon feel small. When he’s like this, he makes Sun’s aloofness appear warm. When he’s like this, he truly lives up to his namesake. An eclipse—the shadow that snuffs out the light of the world.But eclipses only last an instant, and in an instant, Eclipse turns on his heel and grinds out, “I’m going out.”Neither Sun nor Moon react at all to Eclipse’s abrupt departure. They are used to it. This is normal for them. And once the novelty runs out and the amusement dries up, you will leave and to normalcy they will return.Once outside, Eclipse feels his gears working in overdrive. It’s too hot. His retrofitted internals are overheating. He opens his mouth and sucks in the cold air, hoping to expedite the cooling process. He was not built for extreme colds, but he couldn’t stand the heat. It made him feel old. It made him feel restless. It made him feel too much as thoughts whirl against his code.
He wants you to come back running towards him. He wants to see your face light up as you enjoy your meal. He wants to feel warm lips on cold metal. He wants you to run him over with your car and he wants it to hurt. At least it would be real. He wants it to be real.Maybe that would fix him.He sighs as his body finally drops in temperature and his head begins to clear. He slumps against the brick wall of the restaurant and his eyes fall to where your car was parked. The pathway he shoveled had completely filled with a fresh layer of snow, like it was never there.He takes in the cold winter air and closes his eyes. It is late and the presence of traffic has dwindled to the scant few that are unfortunate enough to be driving in this snowfall. Whatever remaining sounds were swallowed by the thick snow.In the winter silence, it feels like he could disappear.Like he was never there.A ping brings him back.
Then another.
And another.He sighs and pulls out his phone to check.
Dumpling: Got home safe. Thanks again for the lovely night.
Moon: good good! nighty nite, sugarpie!! 💖💖
Sun: Sleep well.
An unacknowledged smile tugs at his lips. There you are.He texts you back a quick message and returns to the restaurant, feeling a little clearer now that he has something to look forward to tomorrow.
You: See you tomorrow, dumpling 💕