The Robots Marching Off to War: Title

"The Robots Marching Off to War" is a great title for something. Not sure what yet. Inspiration: A NYT.com article about the new battle robots.

The Nodding Vase: Genre Undetermined

The vase nodded gracefully as they passed, and she laughed delightedly. He reached out and plucked the flower the vase proffered, tucking it behind her ear, and slipped the vase a few dollars behind his back. The vase bowed and retreated on stubby legs to sit in the corner and rearrange its roses. The violin strutted forward and leaned back, allowing the arch of its belly to barely brush its bow arm. The strings soughed softly, a question inviting a response. The man laughed and nodded. With a wave of its bow, the violin summoned an accordion and another violin to the table, where they played romantic music until the menu waddled out, its bow legs making it slow, pen and paper in one hand, napkin in another, wine list in a third.

Inspiration: Looking at a "nodding vase" for sale.
Story Potential: Low.
Notes: This is a charming scenelet, but not a story.

Pairbond: science fiction

More human than human, that was the advertising. She circled him slowly, watching the way his eyes opened and followed her, his fur reaching out, almost, toward her, a stray strand wrapping around her wrist through the cage bars. "Always wanting a pairbond," the seller said sourly. "Thought I was going to make a mint on these, but they're more than pets and less than a real challenge. The girls sell fine, but the boys--well, and there I took mostly boys because they were cheaper." She scowled and tried to block out his voice. Those eyes, so filled with hope and anticipating pain--she wanted to run away from those eyes.

Inspiration: "More Human Than Human"
Story Potential: Medium.
Notes: This is not a romance. It is not a symbiotic relationship. It's something else, some other bond that becomes just as critical. What?