ataraxion | fourth history lesson ◈ [ video ] ◈ encrypted 100% against niklaus mikaelson

[ there's a funny thing about every psa ric has seen over his device is that there's a distinct lack of explaining things like certain creatures that are on the ship with them. jenna had avoided mentioning anything about the supernatural when talking about the ship at large and her plans, kirk had mentioned people having different feeding needs (he knows jenna is one of them, and damon and— the others) and nathan had mentioned people not having voices. there's a part of him that needs to do something to get his mind off the fact that jenna said she handled klaus. it takes him a while to actually figure out what he wants to say (and if anyone cares to look they'll see notebooks around him testifying to just how much he's poured over them before he even turned on his device). when he finally does say anything it's clear he means business, but at the same time, there's a smile on his face like there's nothing to be alarmed about here. ]

There's a funny thing about stories you get to here at home sometimes. Legends, actually, but you can live your whole life without actually finding out that those legends you've heard are real. I get that a lot of you have never heard of things like vampires or werewolves or witches before, but if there's one thing my life and, I'll be honest, my time on this ship has taught me, is that while they may just be fantasy in your world, they're real in others. And, coincidentally, we have some of each on this ship.

You're scared or angry and you think it's a good idea to toss them off the ship because what if they hurt one of us. I'm going to let you in on a little secret, those vampires I mentioned? All of them are living off of synthetic blood from medical. Even the one that can't is asking for volunteers. None of them are feeding off the general populace. The werewolves? They're contained when they shift and if they weren't, all of us would know and the ones of us who can handle corralling them would. Typically witches don't actively go around killing people nor do they like being particularly evil depending on the type.

I can see why some of you might be scared, and admittedly, first time I met a vampire, it wasn't pleasant at all, but once you get to know some of them, it's not that bad. Supernatural creatures, in general, are only as evil as they want to be. True, some can be evil— [ like klaus ] but the same can be said with any one, honestly. Most can exist with humans, aliens, and anything else on this ship without causing mass panic. Honestly, any of them hiding are only hiding because they know how people can get. I'm not saying you have to be buddy with your resident supernatural creature, but unless they're going around harming the rest of us, there's nothing wrong with treating them like they're shockingly normal.

In the long run, as much as it hurts to imply that we'll be here for even longer, it's better that we don't end up starting fights with each other because someone had the unfortunate luck to be a vampire or a werewolf or a witch on a ship full of people who have been raised to know that they're creatures of the night that they need to run from. And if there is any fights started, there is security here and even though I'm just in gunnery, I would not actually hesitate to play for both of those teams and break up whatever fight happens because we couldn't act like rational adults.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ is it chocolate chip? this is the important question that everyone needs to ask.

it was a sentence of sentencing. alternatively, faith rubbing off on him. (not literally mind you because ric is a strictly one woman ~~and one man~~ kind of guy. and nope, sorry, jenna has reinfected him with the bug of friendliness. of sorts. ]

I know. I figured if I made a reference to something like the Maginot Line and how sometimes planning ahead like that backfires was going to completely lose your science brain. [ hearts in eyes. ] Ric if you're talking about me since everyone goes the other way.

Trying to be Shatner too while you're just being Bruce?

[ it's chocolate chip sugar cookie which is fucking delicious, trust. ]

If I haven't lost it yet, I don't think a World War II reference will snap it in two. [ he reads, what. ] Ric, then.

...no. [ he ducks his head, amused and a little embarrassed. ] Just Bruce.

[ no that's actually food from the gods and go away my god don't even talk about it. ]

Do you feel like bucking every trend I have with science people? You'd think the history department anywhere is like a leper colony to them. [ that's an exaggeration ric, and you know it. ] Pleasantly surprised you pronounced it right, not even gonna lie.

[ a beat. ] I was teasing. We all have our Shatner moments. I think I practically had one while talking to a talking thing of rocks. [ another beat. ] And no, I don't know how to explain that and trust me there isn't a myth that can.

[ sugar cookies with m&ms. ]

I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I do read things other than science journals. Occasionally. [ not quite as much before his time on the run, but bruce is a knowledge addict; take away his labs and his degree, and he'll just read anything that crosses his path, instead. ] I do all right with languages.

[ which is a good skill to have, on the run from The Man. ]

--oh, I knew that. [ he... didn't. ] A talking... thing of rocks?

[ it's one am don't make me crave cookies. ]

Occasionally. And I read things other than history books and mythology things. It's probably cheating if it's my girlfriend's psych books, but when not making PSAs, it can get boring. [ ric isn't a knowledge addict in the strictest sense, at the moment, everything boils down to can i use this in real life and will it save my ass. if it does, then sign him up. ] Used to be okay with them, now it's German and English for me.

[ that sounded really bad and he knew it. ]

It was shaped like a person, but it was made of rocks. And it talked. Trust me, I realize how much I sound like I am quite possibly hallucinating. [ which hey, he's done on the ship before. ]

[ sugar cookies with m&ms and cream cheese frosting on top fuckin' come at me bro. ]

...mythology? So the, uh-- the vampire and werewolf thing, it's a hobby too? [ because you read for fun these days right ric? ] German's not in my arsenal. Portuguese, yes, and Hindi. Some Spanish, too.

[ one of these things is not like the other, one of these things just doesn't belong. ]

No, no, I believe you. I just-- talking rock thing. [ JUST A HELPLESS SHRUG. ]

[ fuck you we are not friends any more. oh my god. fuq u. ]

Yeah, a hobby. Something I do on the side of grading- well, at home something I do on the side when grading papers is boring and, here, just something I do. So, yeah, a hobby. [ yeah, totally, bruce, because that's fun. reading lore is so much fun. spoilers: no it's not. ] Hindi. The romance languages get too boring?

[ you're talking to a history teacher, bruce, that was not going to slip by him. sorry. ]

I- no, that's pretty accurate. It doesn't like birds, which, let me tell you, made the conversation really fun. I- I get how this sounds. It's one of those things you've got to experience for yourself. [ THE SAME SORT OF SHRUG. BRUCE WHY IS HE TALKING TO A ROCK THING. ]

[ bitch you love me. ]

You're a teacher. [ it's phrased as a question to start but trails off to a sentence, towards the end as bruce puts it all together and nods, as if confirming to himself a hypothesis. (if a = alaric saltzman and b = all evidence given so far, solve for values of x equaling teaching ability.)

(bruce got 'very good' for x.) ] No, I, uh-- spent some time in India.

[ oh very thorough, dr pants. ]

A rock thing that is sentient and doesn't like birds. [ beat. and then with a perfectly straight face. ] Makes complete sense.

[ no love, just hate. i am also hungry you horrible person. ]

I am. [ bruce. why do you do math problems in your head like that? or alternatively, the scientific method. you science geeks are so weird. so very weird. ] Why were you in India?

[ nosy ric is apparently nosy today. ] If you saw her, you try to come up with a better descriptor than the one I just gave you.

...Doctors Without Borders.

[ there's a tiny bit of amusement lurking around his eyes, there, because bruce is a dick under all that shyness.

he was a doctor without borders. ]

Should I record it for posterity?