fifth history lesson ◈ [ video ] ◈ i always feel like somebody's watching me

[surrogates]

[ the thing is, ric knows this is perhaps timed badly, that between everything this might be the least of their worries, but this jump, how it's so twisted with that broadcast of a man who's been dead for almost enough jumps to where only a handful of people even remember him from any broadcast that wasn't from the past. ric remembers him, faintly, in the sort of way you tend to remember the people you see around on the ship more than once or twice. ric likes to call it the small town effect, the ship may be bigger than boston or a number of cities that the various people on the ship are from, but their number is just like a very tiny town. and everyone knows that everyone knows everyone in those places and if they don't, they will soon enough.

seeing the broadcast and seeing some of the other broadcasts had made one singular question pop up into ric's head that he— feels is necessary to ask. if only to learn more about everyone ( that's what a good neighbor does, right ) and their opinions on the entire thing. ]

Bad timing, I know, but figured if I didn't try now I'd manage to forget it the next time it actually was a good time to ask. But anyway, how many of you here believe in ghosts? [ a pause, and a huffed out laugh as he shakes his head. ] I'd say have you seen them, but different worlds, universes, mine is not yours, I'm not assuming the supernatural exists in yours and you don't have to call me crazy for it maybe existing in mine or anyone else's.

But, I'm just a little curious to see if any of you believe in them given— this ship and a lot of things that happen on it. How things are just— fucked up here to where that almost seems sane compared to some things.

Comments

[slipperysoul]

Think I moved on from believing in them after I found out they were real. [ no big thang. ]

[surrogates]

[ give him a moment angel, because there's a difference between knowing you're here and you talk to the people he knows and actually talking to you.

but man you get him and ghosts. ]

Tends to make you realize that's a little pointless, doesn't it? Because there they are real as you or me.

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[dilemma]

[ yeah, damon sees a lot of ghosts around this place, but they aren't named hotspur. of course, that's not exactly the thing about all of this that bothers damon; if a ship can bring people who should be long gone here, couldn't it just keep bringing back to the same people that died here? ]

Do you see dead people, Ric?

[ maybe his mocking is a little half hearted. this is a sore subject, ok. ]

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[surrogates]

[ there's something strange, knowing that when you go home, you're dead within a relatively small time frame. there's also something strange about knowing your ex ( former ex, because now she's alive and they're going to get married and it's embarrassingly domestic in space horror ) is not dead like she could be. if a ship brings people back to life when they're dead at home, why not have the same rule apply on the ship itself.

a mystery that isn't so much a mystery as it is— an annoyance. much like the joke, because seriously bro. ]

Have you suddenly started feeling like Bruce Willis, Damon?

[ which is to say, no, but let's make you the ghost today. ]

[hallowedqueen]

Why is it that nobody on this ship answers their own stupid questions when they ask them? I mean really.

[surrogates]

To avoid the commentary of well you just answered your own question didn't you. Suspense. Wanting to not influence answers? We're all assholes? Take your pick.

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[effusive]

[ MAN does elena want to say something, but she prefers not to be reminded that this subject is far too applicable to him. ]

Do I get a vote? Or is this one of those things that goes without saying?

[ because hi, no where weirder than mystic falls. ]

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[surrogates]

[ let a man forget things like that okay. he swears he just casually made himself forget that it's even remotely applicable to him. ]

You always get one, even if it goes without saying and then some.

[ because mystic falls is more like supernatural falls, lbr here. ]

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[tirade]

Ghosts, angry and vengeful Native American spirits — kinda seem them all. Buuuut I probably shouldn't say that unless I want to invite more ghosts to do their ghost-y business and prove me wrong.

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[surrogates]

You're just inviting the ones not in North America to do it. I heard the European ghosts get really touchy about not being mentioned among lists.

[ ...ric that's not funny shame on you. ]

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[thebreakingwave]

I've known a few. Good, bad, and painfully dull.

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[surrogates]

All of those at once?

[ex_question191]

Seriously? Ghosts?

[ despite all the supernatural shit in his life, stiles finds this one idea particularly hard to swallow. because, well, death is kinda final. that's just how it works. ]

[surrogates]

[ death being final, haha, that's a funny joke stiles. come talk to him when vampires exist in your supernatural life. ]

This is what I meant about not existing in other worlds. [ a beat. ] Ghosts, seriously. The final part when it comes to most of the common things of the supernatural?

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[acapriciousthing]

Most of the time, when a person becomes a ghost, it was simply what was meant to happen at that time. Every now and then it`s a case of someone not staying put.

[Which no, she doesn't appreciate]

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[surrogates]

Not staying put. You maybe want to elaborate on that one a little?

[invisibilitea]

Why not believe in ghosts? A lot of this ship believes in werewolves and vampires and who knows what else.

[surrogates]

Because it's— the rarity up here. Not to mention the whole problem that usually accompanies ghosts.

[northerner]

I believe in a number of things since arriving that I'd never entertained before, but ghosts weren't among that number.

[ which robb sounds quietly bitter about. issues, man, issues. ]

[surrogates]

[ robb, that bitterness is gonna kill you, honest to god. ]

No proof or you just don't want to?

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[bribed]

Y'know, someone else asked me this the other day.

[ Of course, River asks all sorts of odd things. ]

Yeah, reckon I do.

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[surrogates]

Now I just feel a little redundant.

[ Except at least he's not known for asking weird things so maybe it's not that redundant. ]

You reckon you do. Because there's no better explanation or one decided to sneak up on you?

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[vampirates]

You might be surprised to find it's more common than you think.

[ Speaking as one of the supernatural types, of course... but you don't have to know that, Alaric. ]

But yeah, I think there might be a little truth to the whole 'things that go bump in the night' theory.

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[surrogates]

Tell that to some of the people here. I sound almost like a crazy person saying it.

[ Don't have to, probably wants to, minor details in the grand scheme of things, really. ]

Little truth. So, almost like the movies or completely different?

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[likescats]

[Yup, you get a talking skeleton replying to your video.]

EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE YOU WILL GET PEOPLE THAT ARE DUE TO STAY BEHIND AS GHOSTS.

[And by talking I mean his voice seems to just appear vocalized in your head.]

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[surrogates]

[ Actual thoughts in Ric's head: Fuck this shit. ]

Two things. Do you have to do that strange talking thing? And because of unfinished business, right?

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[humanistic]

Shouldn't you be askin' if the ship believes in ghosts?

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[surrogates]

That's assuming I'd get an answer from asking that.

[ Which is to say, sentient ship or not, I'm not speaking into the void. ]

And if the ship won't answer me, asking the people on the ship makes sense.

[prefectly]

We have ghosts in my world, they're actually quite common. There are a fair number of famous witches and wizards who become ghosts after they pass on. [ she shrugs a shoulder ] I never thought to ask them how they came to be that way, though. If it was a choice, that sort of thing.

-- Do you think we have some here on the ship?

[surrogates]

Who really wants to become a ghost though? It means you're stuck never passing on and just not really being able to live because you're dead and you're just stuck watching everyone who's still living do what you can't.

[ a beat. ] Wouldn't be the strangest thing here that I've seen.

[thatsaflaregun]

You think the ship's haunted then, brotha?

[surrogates]

Makes as much sense as anything.

[ Except that sounds more like can you blame me. ]

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[unparental]

Do I have to remind everyone about jinxes again?

[ she's a believer lbr ]

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[surrogates]

Technically not the first person to bring it up, but you're allowed.

[ pls jenna if you weren't there'd be a problem, okay. ]