[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

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

For the basic knowledge, is it just... there from the start, or you get mentors, or what? And should I say sorry for twenty questions, or are you just going to pay me back in kind?

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

It’s there from the start. Mentors come later if you need specialized knowledge in a certain area. For instance, I came online knowing who our current leaders were, geological knowledge of the city I was in and where it was in relation to other cities on Cybertron, that I could change forms and how-though actually doing so the first time can be a challenge for some new sparks, and knowing I needed to figure out what I wanted to now do with my life.

New Cybertronians are met by greeters who give us a temporary dorm room and information on some low-level jobs so we can work on getting the money necessary for our first home. I got a really small place and started saving up for Iacon’s top engineering and science academy. [He shrugs, and will stop his story there. Things turn nasty for him before he graduated, and really isn’t relevant to the current conversation.]

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

That's also pretty wild, speaking as someone who had to start from square one. I mean... [Cybertronians and humans are similar enough to reach most understandings easily, but every so often some light's shone on a staggering difference---and this is one, so far as Sam's concerned.] Man.

And it seems like we got a fair few science types. It's probably not going to mean much to me---I took like one chem class and a bit more bio---but what did you plan to go in for? I'm over on the other end; originally went in for literature, ended up in sociology instead.

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

Little bit of both actually. I’m actually a decently well known inventor. [And filthy rich, but he’s not gonna brag about that. It’s been interesting finding himself suddenly in a place where money doesn’t matter. It’s weird, but nice.]

Re: [Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Oh, right on and good for you! What did you put out? [The question comes quickly---of course she's curious, and would be even without a gadgeteer in her apartment.] I was hoping to be an entrepreneur, but then all this happened.

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

Ah, well...[shrugs] The holo screens that are so widely used back on my Cybertron. [He essentially invented the flat screen tv, okay?] An energon converter that’ll filter energon into a higher grade, or convert most oils and energies into energon. Things like that.

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Oh, damn, that's cool! [She means it, too. Though Sam is, by her own admission, not a science person, that doesn't mean she doesn't appreciate science stuff.] I say again, good for you.

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

Thank you. I enjoy seeing if a new idea can be made into a working item.

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

D'you have any favourites, from what you've put out? Or good stories from flops? I'm not trying to give you a hard time---you'd know if that were the case---but.

[And she shrugs.]

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

[He laughs] Most of my “good” stories are likely those ones in which I had my medic friend threatening to reformat me into a holo-projector if I blew myself up again.

I think my favorite was a converter and refiner that could turn various substances into energon, and refine it into better quality fuel.

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Again?

How many times have you blown yourself up?!

[She can't help but ask it laughingly, because Zero, really?]

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

[He laughs] More times than I really cared to keep count of?

[He shrugs, and spreads his hands.] The hazards of working in a lab?

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Va chier! I dunno if I should threaten you just so someone's picking up the slack for your friend, or find another rabbit's foot.

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

[He laughs] What's a rabbit's foot got to do with anything?

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

It's a good-luck charm. Sounds like maybe you might be able to use one.

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

A good luck charm? Well, I'd certainly not turn down something like that.

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

We'll see if I ever catch another rabbit. If I do, you got dibs.

Re: [Video]

[greater_than_zero]

What's a rabbit and what's it got to do with luck?

Re: [Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

It's a small mammal, herbivorous, quadrupedal. And I couldn't tell you how this came to be a recognised thing, but their paws--left hind paws innparticular--are supposed to bring good luck if carried on the person.

[She'll fish hers out of a pocket, holding it up so Zero can see.]

I'm not sure how lucky it is, but it was given to me as a get-well gift after I busted my leg, so I could say hey, at least I'm luckier than the rabbit.