The Dotta Dining Guide (Part 1)

"Quack! Quack! Awooo—"

A domestic robot, donning a red and white striped rain poncho, hummed a peculiar tune as it crossed the street. It clutched a bright pink Bo·Ho·Po shopping bag, stuffed with various electronic components.

Beneath the poncho, the robot's legs were encased in transparent shells, revealing neatly arranged wiring and micro-components—a testament to meticulous maintenance. This 'internal view' design was quite popular in the robot world. Some even adorned themselves with fluorescent lines or precious stones, showcasing their owner's unique taste. However, what truly set this robot apart was its rare sculpted head, unlike the common curved display screens. Its mechanical components, including eyebrows, eyes, mouth, and cheeks, were intricately carved, allowing for a range of emotions and micro-expressions.

A series of frantic barks followed, belonging to a short-haired Pug draped in a matching red and white striped rain poncho. Its rotund form, swaddled in the poncho, resembled a chubby candy cane. At the moment, its wrinkled face was stretched taut, stubbornly resisting the leather leash around its neck, which only tightened with each tug, eliciting pitiful whines.

Lean watched this scene, debating whether to intervene. But soon, something else caught his attention.

At the other end of the street, the sharp whistle of the Order Patrol broke his internal struggle.

Two patrol officers in blue-grey uniforms appeared at the street corner, their sleeves adorned with the 🆃 emblem of District 10. The taller and broader officer attracted the attention of passersby just by his presence. His gaze was steady and resolute, exuding an aura of authority and unapproachability. In stark contrast, his younger colleague's slender frame, fresh face, pristine uniform, and brand-new gear betrayed his rookie status. He appeared somewhat nervous as he waved at the domestic robot, signaling it to stop.

Obediently, the robot turned towards a shop window and carefully placed the pink shopping bag on the ground. In that instant, the Pug leaped from the loosely tied box, yelping and darting down the street.

In the next second, that plump candy cane had vanished around the corner.

Lean couldn't help but feel sympathy for the creature.

But after all, this was District 10 - Agrippina.

According to Ordinance 144.3,

it's forbidden to dress like that.

·

The rain intensified.

Passersby on the street cast curious glances at the unfolding drama, but soon wrapped themselves in coats and hastened across the street, not wishing to linger without umbrellas or hooded cloaks.

Lean lowered the brim of his hat and took one last look before leaving.

The rookie patrol officer was using an atomic pen-like identity recognition device, carefully checking the domestic robot's ownership and registration details. The robot raised its arms, seemingly explaining the situation, trying to leave, but was held in place by the taller patrol officer, unable to move an inch.

By then, Lean had already turned and disappeared into the alleys between the buildings, blending into the dense curtain of rain.

·

Rain drummed on the gutters, rhythmic and dense.

Lean, hands buried deep in his coat pockets, swiftly navigated through the buildings. The damp mud-bricks and the smell of rusted metal made his nose itch. Alone, save for the occasional star-spotted bug crawling through the cracks in the walls, seeking food scraps and spilled drinks. He moved lightly, head lowered, seemingly meandering aimlessly, left then right.

As he emerged from the narrow alley, the streetlamp at its mouth cast his figure in a blurry yellow halo.

Across the street, a restaurant had already lit up, its soft lights intermingling with the rain on the road, creating a cozy atmosphere.

The familiar neon sign of Fodo Medoo Café shimmered as always.

Entering the café, he was greeted by the rich aroma of coffee beans and pastries, and of course, that familiar scent he knew so well—Tofu Bubble Sandwiches.

"Welcome to Fodo Medoo!"

·

The café was still tranquil and cozy, with only a few tables of patrons conversing softly.

Lean took his favorite window seat, back to the door, immersed in the serenity.

He took off his hat and coat, revealing the dark grey uniform of the patrol team underneath. Stripped of its cumbersome work accessories, the uniform looked simpler, with only slight creases on the shoulders and the hem, and the 𝓣 emblem on his arms silently proclaiming his affiliation—North Shore, Seventeenth District.

Compared to the other customers' meticulous attire, Leen's outfit was unremarkable, even mundane.

But this exact sense of fitting in without drawing attention, this conscious choice to be part of the backdrop, was precisely what he had always sought.

·

On the coffee table, the floating number 11 table card emerged from the center.

As the numbers gently rose and fell, the light danced across the fine grains of golden nanmu wood, casting shifting ripples.

Leen liked this table, not just for its beautiful artificial patterns.

He looked out the window to an expansive view, with the iconic "Minos Corridor" of District 10 laid out before him.

On the roof of the jewelry store across the street, two spider-like robots worked diligently, their slender metallic limbs securely embedding gems into the spire structure. As the surrounding lights lit up, rays passed through the stones, casting rainbow bands of light on the ground at the entrance. The shop assistant stood outside, tapping a brush against the glass frame, drawing teardrop-shaped Paisley patterns. Inside the window, peacock-patterned fabrics, cutout figures, and glazed wreaths surrounded a golden goddess statue. She held a fluffy flame between her fingertips, high above her head to ignite the wick, with gem-like scales rippling behind her, illuminating the entire display area.

Lean gazed at the scene, pressing his palms together, filled with longing.

Every tile of the Minos Corridor was a fragment of a ticket to bygone days.

Next to the jewelry shop stood a bizarrely shaped building, its twisted walls inlaid with mismatched ceramic shards, flowing into a neighboring pagoda-style glazed tower. The tower's intricate structure caught the gradually ceasing rain, dripping onto a bamboo hut below. The rain brought out a vibrant sheen on the woven bamboo, contrasting the unadorned concrete building beneath it, plain and grounded.

From top to bottom, from earth to wall.

To Lean, the Minos Corridor was like a slumbering labyrinthine ruin, reawakened by humanity, echoing times long past.

As the rain lightened, tourists began to freely meander through the corridor. They explored the Ancient Butterfly Dream Pavilion, the Kaleidoscope Glass House, Utopian Roaming Neuro-SPA, Fusang Twos Tea House, and other shops, occasionally stopping, captivated by the mosaic portraits and hieroglyphic murals on the walls. The shops, taking advantage of the easing rain, were busy renovating their façades and arranging their merchandise. The intersecting scaffolds and the bustling spider robots on the rooftops wove a lively, busy tapestry.

Lean quietly observed it all, noticing the colored festive cloth knots hung on some scaffolds. Clearly, preparations for the upcoming Winter Nurturing Festival were underway.

The entire corridor would be illuminated with thousands of candles and colorful lights, becoming the most vibrant and dazzling section of the midnight lantern parade.

Initially, there were hints that, due to the tragedy two years prior, this year's event would be suspended like last year's. However, Golden Harbor recently announced that the festival celebrations would resume. Although met with some opposition as expected, for the majority of Dotta's residents who had endured a long period of mourning, this was still a welcome and comforting news.

A signal to bury the summer nights and welcome the new winter.