Happy Rockman Day!
A little bit of lore on the what and why of today:
Rockman is Mega Man's name in Japan, and June 9th is Rockman Day because the Japanese word for Rockman is rokkuman (ロックマン). Roku is also the word for six (六), and ku/kyu is also the word for nine (九). Put the two together and you get rokku, which makes 6/9!
(Apologies if the characters are incorrect. I do not speak or read Japanese and simply had them copied from wherever it was that I learned about the day from)
vvv - My celebratory story contribution below the cut 😁 - vvv
It’s been a while since I posted anything for Rockman Day anywhere (since 2020, actually 👀).
Idk if it’s a more commonly known fan day here/now than where/when I last participated, but I figured Tumblr should have at least a few people who know it 😅
Anyway, have the beginning of an AU I’ve been working on (I have a few Just Write entries on it too) as a present 😁
—————
The city of Elysium was always abustle with activity, and today was no exception. Humans and robots alike skittered about, running errands or heading to work or who knows what else.
Bright emerald eyes stared out the large window in awe, as they often did this time of day. So many people going so many places; one could only imagine the stories they all could tell!
And then the eyes reluctantly turned away from the scene before them as reality came rushing back. The owner of the green orbs sighed and began the short walk back to a table littered with books, datapads, and historical records of all kinds.
Being an archivist-slash-librarian certainly had its ups and downs. There was nothing wrong with the job itself—there was little else he would rather do!—but the general lack of social contact was what grated at the young android. Not many people came to visit The Archives, and when they did, it was mainly students looking to do some last-minute cram studying or professional historians doing intensive research for some sort of academic paper. Neither purpose allowed much opportunity for conversation beside the polite asking and answering of direction or passing exchanges of pleasantries.
Pushing a stray lock of brown hair out of his face, X once again sighed as he gathered up the scattered resources and sorted them onto a book cart. Once the clean-up at the current table was finished, he moved on to the next one, all the while pondering his recent drop in mood. He supposed that he simply needed new faces to see, different opinions to challenge and be challenged with. Of course there were others who worked alongside him, but it just wasn’t the same. He’d already heard their stories, learned where they stood on certain topics, and now simply co-existed with them all.
“X! I finally found you.”
Ah, yes. All but one person. And this one, he adored.
A plump, white-headed man strode up to X, smiling warmly through his thick facial hair. “I suspected you might be up here. May I have a word with you?” Fully knowing the answer, he beckoned for the young robot to follow and began walking away.
Once the brunet left the book cart and fell into step behind the senior, they moved quietly toward the stairs and made their way down to a back office on the second floor.
Gesturing for the android to take a seat, the elderly man positioned himself onto a plush forest green armchair and waited for his guest to do the same in an identical chair opposite his.
“As I’m sure you’re well aware, I have been watching your work since you first began here. I have high praise for your diligence and tenacity thus far, but I need you to answer a few questions for me.”
X could feel the cold sweat washing over him as his face went pale. Had he done something wrong?
The elder folded his arms across his lap as he began. “You’ve already sorted through yesterday’s donations, correct?”
“For the most part, yes.”
“The morning dusting?”
“Finished.”
“Have you reshelved the resources?”
“N-not yet, but...”
A warmth radiated from the old man and he clapped his hands together. “Then it’s settled. I order you to take the rest of the day off.”
At those words, the building anxiety shattered and the android was left with wide eyes and a gaping jaw. “Huh?”
Wagging his finger, the elder quieted him before he could make any objections. “You’d best close that mouth of yours before a fly decides to make its home inside.” A small grin graced his face as he leaned over to rest his hand on the robot’s shoulder. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed your recent window-watching.”
A tinge of pink flushed X’s cheeks as he stared at the floor. Was he really that easy to read?
“In fact, starting today I’ll give you every Thursday off from now on.”
“But sir! How will I get anything done?”
“X, it’s barely noon and you already confirmed that you have finished the majority of your daily tasks. You will have plenty of time after you take a break. Of all the employees here, you are the only one who hasn’t taken a single day off since you started.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Any number of things! Go out and make new friends! Find out how the world outside this dusty old building works and how people besides this dusty old man think. I’d wager that even visiting an arcade would switch things up enough for you.” He suddenly stood up and moved behind the large desk. After some riffling around, he emerged with a long rectangular envelope and held it out toward X. “Here. Set aside for such occasion as this.”
Taking the thin package, the android opened it carefully so as not to ruin the contents. “Paper zenny?”
“Consider it an early bonus,” he said with a wink.
“Why me though? Isn’t there anyone else who could use this?”
“I already told you, you’re the only one who has never taken a day off. And honestly, what they’re paying you isn’t nearly as much as it should be. You deserve this.”
“Doctor Light, I can’t-“
“Haven’t we had this discussion before?” His eyes shone with a bright yet melancholic glint. “I may be a doctor emeritus, but please, call me Thomas. It’s the least I can do.”
“R-right. Thank you Mr. Thomas.”
“Now go have some fun! I expect to hear tomorrow that every last cent was used on some grand adventure or whatnot. Get yourself some nice things, maybe redecorate your apartment.”
A flush spread across X’s cheeks. His minimalist apartment had become an inside joke of sorts among the Archive staff. “I...will make sure to use it.”
“Good man. Now get going, and I had better not see you in here until tomorrow.” The old man reached over and gently nudged the android toward the door. “Go on, daylight is still burning!”
X took the hint and left the large room, allowing the heavy wooden doors creak closed behind him. It felt wrong to leave this early in the day, and yet here he was, letting his feet move on autopilot down the hallway and toward the wide staircase.
—————
Wish this story luck guys, cuz it’s been lost media for a while 🫠