[video: on the eve]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Once again, Sam's addressing her fellow Haveners through an open broadcast; this time, from her own apartment. She's sitting on the couch, rolling a glass back and forth between her hands.]

Okay, so! The clock's rolling over in just five more minutes, so I need to know: who's at home and awake? If you're a friend of ours and not awake, I'll apologize now because we might be waking you up in the next couple of hours. Depends on your door.

Comments

Re: [private video]

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Huh. So we could be talking, and I could look away, and when I look back you could have magiced yourself so I wouldn't recognize you?

[private video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Yeah. I've never actually done that, because I think that much that close would sort of strain the spell---like, prematurely fray it? I don't have the vocabulary I want for this stuff---and knowing what you know now you got the context to go 'that's probably Sam' if you weren't caught up with the 'what the shit' but still; yeah.

Re: [private video]

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

That’s....really crazy to think about. Just the fact that you /could/ just...vanish on me like that. Pretty cool, though.

[private video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Abracadabra. [And she winks.] Got my little bit of leverage, and thanks. You want to know what the weirdest thing is?

Talkin' it over, hands down.

Re: [private video]

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Yeah, well, it's weird to hear you talk about it.

[private video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Since this is already a weird conversation, this is your opportunity to ask about anything you'd wanna. Or, are we done 'til you get your bun?

[Because, by God, it's going to get thrown.]

Re: [private video]

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

You're really serious about that? [Amused.]

[private video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Yes.

I know you got no use for it, but Cybertronians and humans are alike enough I'm assuming you've got a junk drawer or a little box of odds and ends it can go in 'til next New Year's. And use of it isn't even the point, anyway.

Re: [private video]

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

[He laughs] I don't know if I should say humans are weird, or if just you are.

[private video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Whichever you want. I mean, I can't really argue with either... but! I'll see you soon.

[blip! The feed ends, and in (perhaps surprisingly) short order, there's someone at the door.]

Re: [private video]

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

[omg, Sam if that’s you he just may close the door in your face just to be an aft.]

[And it’s you. Dammit, Sam, he doesn’t know whether to laugh to close the door.]

How’d I know it was you?

[action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Yyyeah, buddy, she's going to exploit the opening that uncertainty creates and hurry in while the door's open. Moving quickly---or as quickly as she can---makes her limp more pronounced, but she pays it no mind; she's busy pawing through her bag, even as she answers.]

I couldn't be bothered to sneak, to start.

[She shrugs, and having found what she's felt for, tosses a small something up at Breakdown. Being only a bun (albeit one wrapped in wax paper) the item bounces harmlessly off his thigh, and Sam just manages to catch it before it falls to the floor. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. She laughs aloud as she straightens and holds the thing up for Breakdown to see.]

Happy New Year. It's your bun now, but I got a gut feeling you're more interested in an explanation than in it.

Re: [action]

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

[..............whelp, that happened. Sam, you're odd.]

Your gut would be right.

[action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[The word is eccentric.]

Okay, so, tradition holds New Year's---eve and day alike---sorta set the tone for the year to come. First-footing, like I am, has a person banking on that. The first person to visit a household after the clocks roll over kinda carries in luck, for good or ill, since they're first following the fresh start. By giving a gift upon arriving, a first-footer can direct luck towards one or another thing especially; it's about association.

[Rolling the bun between her hands, Sam rattles off a little list.]

Coal for warmth in the new year, salt for flavour, a coin for prosperity, booze for good cheer---which is what I brought Knock Out---a pine branch for longevity, and bread? Satisfaction. Given you and your work at the hospital, it seemed like the best fit for the staple stuff.

Re: [action]

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

You know? That's kind of a neat concept.

[Usually he'd tease her for just being weird, but...no really, that's a cool tradition.]

[action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Thanks. I always thought so, too. Greeting cards are well and good, but it's a lot more fun to boot through someone's door and yell that you want them to have a good year with this or that especially.

Re: [action]

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

[He chuckles] And people appreciate the yelling, huh? [amused]

[action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

What, don't you?

[Have a brief raspberry as a piece of punctuation.]

New Year's, everyone's supposed to be up late and loud. There's noise-making at midnight, supposedly to scare away evil spirits.

Re: [action]

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

[He just laughs at the raspberry.]

Evil spirits huh? Sounds kind of hokey.

[action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

I know. But, it's as good and excuse as any and it may just make a difference, so... no reason why not. It's like Pascal's wager on a small-time scale---and now my mind's caught up with my mouth and I'm asking if you've come across that argument, or should I explain before I bail?

Re: [action]

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

You'll have to explain, because I've got no idea what you're talking about.

[action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

The wager boils down to 'If I don't believe in and so ignore this juju-y thing, and it turns out to be legit, I'll lose out. If I don't believe in this juju-y thing, and there's nothing to it, I'll just stay where I started. If I do believe in and so observe the thing, and it's nothing, I'll still stay where I started. If I believe in and so observe the thing, and it is legit, I'll benefit. Conclusion: I might as well observe the thing!'

Re: [action]

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Huh, makes sense. Guess it's worth doing then.

[action]

[10_20_15_5_50]

That's what I always thought. What's it gonna hurt, right?

['Rabbits.' 'Rabbits' is the answer, but Sam's going to overlook that right now because first-footing is, at least, harmless.]

The morning after New Years' is widely regarded as a write-off anyway.

Re: [action]

[a_little_red_in_the_face]

Yeah.

[He's not even thinking about rabbits to comment on them.]

Write off how?