[video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

---right?

[If the tone is any indication, that one word wasn’t directed at anyone---it was the sort of mutter manuals muffle. What follows is livelier, as the young woman speaking seems hopeful.]

Right. I don’t want to be a bother, but I was wondering if there’s anyone available to give the ten-cent tour…. and if there’s anyone who would want to. Since ah, I’m not the only new arrival, and there’s sort of a lot to see, I figured I’d ask. If you’re new too, okay, awesome, we can explore together. If you’re not new and you want to show off your stomping grounds, I’ll ooh and ahh appreciatively. Promise. And I’ll owe you one.

Comments

[Video]

[thankyou4myheart]

Good afternoon, miss. For what it's worth, welcome to Haven.

I see that Wing has already contacted you. I'm relatively new as well - we arrived together, as did a handful of others - but I'd be happy to try to answer any questions you may have.

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[There's so many robots! The situation has started to straddle the border between 'astounding' and 'actually kind of funny,' but it's still awfully interesting... and Samantha Patchowski is enough of a kid in her heart of hearts to think that it's pretty cool, for all the problems tied to being 'here' and 'now.']

Thank you! I'd say it's worth something.

First things first; who is it I've the pleasure of talking to?

[Video]

[thankyou4myheart]

Ah! My apologies. Of course.

[Salute!]

I am Deckard, of the Brave Police. Pleased to meet you.

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Nothing to apologize for!

[Surprised, she laughs a little, but has the good grace to at least sound apologetic in adding,]

I didn't even introduce myself before I asked.

[Which would've been the polite thing to do. Probably? Probably---she wouldn't've had the advantage then.]

Sam Patchowski. Pleasure's mine.

[Pleasure, and some small peace of mind because what d'you know: here, there is a cop if she needs one.]

[Video]

[thankyou4myheart]

[He nods.] Miss Patchowski. [Sorry, he's still Very. Japanese. ...at least he's dropped '-san'?]

Now that that's taken care of, is there anything I can help with?

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Just 'Sam' is fine, really... and I've got no problem with 'Patches'.

[Really, she won't sweat it.]

Well. I think I know what I need to to fend for myself, and I'm getting a rough idea of what's where, so I'm going to ask: what do you think a person needs to, or really should know for a stay here?

Re: [Video]

[thankyou4myheart]

Has anyone told you about the Miasma?

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Not really---not much. I've been told it's what's brought us here, and that it sometimes brings stuff instead of people, and that it's dangerous, but beyond that...?

[She shrugs, making a small, noncommittal noise.]

I'm going to invite anything you've got to add.

[Video]

[thankyou4myheart]

Dangerous, yes. I'd stay away from it. Speculation is that it originates from a being called Unicron, which is . . . eh, well . . . "giant, ancient, space-robot Satan" is probably the best human-based analogy I've heard.

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Although her eyebrows do rise briefly at ‘Satan,’ Sam simply sits back, expression thoughtful, and considers this information a moment.]

[A long moment.]

[A moment more, and she lifts her hands.]

I’d love to say I’ve heard stranger. I can’t, cause I haven’t, but you know what?

[She offers Deckard a crooked little smile, shrugging.]

I could buy it, because all of this is weird enough all bets are off anyway.

[Video]

[thankyou4myheart]

[He's silent for a moment. When he speaks, it's with the quiet weight of remembering the worst of nightmares.]

I can't prove it to you - I pray I'm never able to - but Unicron is real. A few of us have faced and fought him and his hordes. It's . . . not something I care to ever repeat. Or would wish on anyone else. If it's true that the Miasma comes from him somehow, nothing good can come from it.

[Video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

I'm sorry. I don't mean to make light of hardships anyone has had, here. ...and I know there's some important stuff for which proof isn't all that easy to produce. I'm not ass enough to just expect it, but by 'I could buy it,' I mean space-robot Satan is plausible enough with all of the other weirdness I'll accept it.

[And so she offers Deckard an apologetic smile, and another, smaller shrug.]