[video: forward-dated to the 24th]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Hey. [Sam grins at her drone---and thus, Haven in general---as she strides (a bit unevenly, as always) down the hall her apartment is in.] If we've talked a lot, or you've done me a favour, I need to know where you are, cause I've got something to give you. If you're at home? Great. If not? Say something, don't make me hunt. I got too much ground to cover today.

Comments

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Well, for a lot of people---and originally---it's about celebrating the birth of the guy who's the central figure of the Christian religion, though whether or not the guy ever actually existed is up for debate. In the camp of 'yes, there was such a guy' whether or not he was actually divine or just really persuasive or what is also up for debate, but I digress. The amount of emphasis on the religious aspect varies a lot, but even non-religious people---and, sometimes, people who practice other religions---treat it as a time to spend time with their loved ones, exchange gifts, party, and try to be a bit more charitable. Despite my choice in exclamations, I'm not a religious person, but I do like Christmas a lot.

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

Huh....are all holidays centered around religion in some way where you’re from? [He’d not thought to ask back around Thanksgiving, but now he’s curious.]

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Nah. A lot are, but the religious significance has eroded off some of those, and others are anniversaries of political things or just for the hell of it. Like, Victoria Day is named for a queen of the country mine kinda grew off of, but the actual celebrating has nothing to do with her and everything to do with warm weather actually appearing on the horizon.

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

I see. [He chuckles then.] I guess any peoples will find any excuse to have a good time together, hm?

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Looks like it, from what I've seen so far. Something to be said for the bulk of common ground there is despite all our differences, eh?

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

It really is something amazing. People are people, it seems, even if the fine details of make-up and culture are different.

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

It's encouraging, isn't it? All the differences that there are, people are still people and we're managing to muddle through through meaning well. And, for the people present? Senses of humour are alike enough. That makes me very happy.

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

It is. It is very encouraging.

[He laughs.] Good thing, too, hm?

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Very. I'm sorta surprised I haven't been kicked out of somebody's cab because I've made one pun too many.

[this is the face of no regrets]

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

Someone's cab?

[Say hello to another bot with no passenger cab.]

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[oh right]

Yeah, like---the people who've been to Earth, with alts mimicking Earth vehicles? They've been including in that mimicry cab space for people my size to sit inside. So I've been able to bum a few rides. It's not really any weirder than being carried around, except for the whole 'not talking to a face' thing, but that's not too hard to get used to.

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

Hm...you know, I can see that being quite convenient here. I'll have to talk to the medics around here about having my alt modified.

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

That seems like a sorta drastic change, but that may just be me being biased because human body parts don't really lend themselves to being repositioned. How big of a thing is it actually?

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

That...might be more drastic than most mods, this may be more akin to a reformat which can be a bit harder to do. They’re not impossible, though.

Heh, upside to not being organic, I guess?

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

You should tell me more about these things so I get a better sense of scale of this stuff.

[Of course, Sam's of the opinion her Cybertronian friends should tell her more about most things, but---! 1. They know that, and 2; if anyone should be sympathetic to wanting to know more, it's Zero.]

Yeah, part of it. I'm also counting that you can do a lot more for fixing injuries.

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

[He shrugs] Sure. Mods are usually smaller changes. Aesthetic changes, smaller devices, things like that are mods. Simple procedures, basically.

Reformats tend to change how a bot is built entirely.

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

For devices, any common ones to name as examples? And, yeah? Maybe I should say sorry but I just---I'm not even over that I get hang out with and casually grill friendly aliens about the way they work. And, osti, this is my Christmas Eve! Every so often it hits me how bizarre everything is.

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

[Another shrug] Depends on the cyb, really. What do they want that they’re missing? Tools in hands are common for medics and engineers like myself, perhaps some scientists. [He lifts a hand to change out his index finger for a small blow torch....small to him, and then changes it back.]

I had been designing myself flight mods before ending up here. Attachments that wouldn’t change my overall structure too much, but would allow me flight in my root.

Just depends on what’s wanted and how big the change needs to be. If what’s wanted is going to significantly alter one’s shape, then a reformat is needed, rather than a mod.

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Please don't ever let Hiro know you have that.

[The request is almost obligatory, given the ideas such a thing might springboard. Just... nah, man. Nah. Movin' on.]

Okay, that's pretty cool. I bet you'd nail the three-point landing in no time.

What's the frequency like? I mean, I'm not going to be surprised if a lot of people pick up mods eventually---if only 'cause you tall dudes have a lot of 'eventually'---but do they?

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

[He gives her a lopsided grin.] Something tells me that’d be wise advice to follow.

[He shrugs] It’s pretty common. People change what they want all the time. [It’s a lot like fashion. He’d say as much, but doesn’t know to say it.]

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

'Something?' Good sense, for one such something; 'Samantha Patchowski trying her damndest to be a responsible adult,' for another.

And ah, okay. [It figures.] Guess that's some common ground.

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

Haha! You’re doing decently at that. I imagine it’s been a challenge.

[Small headtilt.] Organics can be reformatted?

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Thanks. Some days, it's more of a challenge---like much, much more---than others, but overall? Not bad

[She lifts a hand, tilting it in a so-so gesture.]

I meant people changing their minds all the time. There are a lot of things that go under the umbrella of 'body modification' and a lot of medical procedures that involve something significant being removed or integrated, but nothing seems to be of such a scale calling it a reformat feels appropriate. Except maybe sex changes.

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

Ah, yes, that does seem like a trait that would be easily shared.

...Sex changes?

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Sex changes. [Sam nods.] Before I elaborate, I should probably ask how familiar you've become with biological sexes. You've been here for a while; I dunno what you've read up on.