video | a vampire PSA

[faderbroderson]

[Godric is sitting, slumped casually in a chair in one of the common areas when he turns on the video feed. When he speaks, his tone is soft but clear, and he remains thoughtful as he speaks unhurriedly. This isn't a speech he's had planned out, but he knows what he wants to say.]

With every jump, we receive a variety of new passengers from a variety of different worlds. To some, this ship is not so dissimilar to what they are accustomed to. To others, it is the most foreign thing they have ever known. The worlds we come from vary like grains of sand, and although the welcome guide offers a rudimentary introduction into the unknown, and an invaluable insight into what has already come to pass here, it can only do so much to ease the culture shock.

As our worlds are different, so too are there differences in the types of people we are accustomed to, and how we react to those people. Some of you have vampires in your world, or werewolves, or shapeshifters. For others of you, these are merely fictional stories. But this ship acts as a nexus, and the first thing that any of us must understand is that all things are possible here, and not all things are as you might expect them.

I am a vampire, and not the only one aboard this ship. There are a few of us, but we are as varied as our worlds. Where some of us may have no reflection or cannot be recorded, for example, [he smiles here, the humor obvious] my kind certainly can. We have different cultures and different sleeping habits, and indeed, different eating habits, which is the thing that naturally concerns most newcomers.

While all vampires feed on human blood -- the sole thing we all have in common -- it can affect us differently according to our natures. Some of us, it seems, choose to refrain entirely from its consumption and come to no harm for it. Some of us can eat food and survive on that alone, the same as any human. And for those of us for whom this is not an option, there are synthetic options provided by medical, as well as many kind and generous people aboard who have willingly donated their blood so that we will not starve.

I tell you all this to reassure anyone who has recently come aboard, and found themselves alarmed by our presence. While I cannot vouch for all of us any more than a single human can vouch for all his species, I can say that most of us mean no harm, and wish only to live as peacefully as we can here. I tell you this also so that any vampire new to this ship can understand we are not in hiding, and that aggression is not welcome. And while I cannot speak for any other supernatural species aboard, I hope you will all understand that you have friends here.

[He leaves off there, but leaves the feed open for questions.]

Comments

video;

[thebreakingwave]

A good message, but I'm sorry it's a necessary thing.

video;

[faderbroderson]

As am I, but I do not begrudge people their caution.

Encrypted; 100%

[majestyofthethrone]

Are you picky, Godric?

Encrypted; 100%

[faderbroderson]

In what manner?

[She can't be talking about what she sounds like she might be talking about.]

video

[expect]

( and his first ever video reply, too, so you get to see a second or two of oh crap it's on, what do i say, is it too late to turn this off probably well… ) …Are any of them fish?

video

[faderbroderson]

...Fish? [what]

[video]

[summerlord]

[Oh, hey. So that's how this thing works. Just a moment... and... there. He's figured it out.]

It is a long and difficult road, to set aside prejudice and create a haven. I wish you success.

[video]

[faderbroderson]

[Oh look, another elf. He probably knows Thranduil.]

Thank you. People here thankfully tend, more often than not, to be tolerant of our many differences.

video;

[lacksgrace]

Is human blood the only thing you've ever tried?

video;

[faderbroderson]

Do you mean to ask if we can drink animal blood, or the blood of other sentient species?

video.

[organfarm]

Dooooo you guys drink, uh, a lot of blood?

video.

[faderbroderson]

It varies. I do not drink much.

[He could drink more, but he doesn't need to.]

video;

[tumbleweeds]

You forgot the part where we'll protect ourselves if we have to. Not just vampires.

video;

[faderbroderson]

With any luck, there will be no need for such promises, Jaye.

video; because you made grabby hands at me

[loyalpup]

There a buncha new ones this time?

video; :DDD

[faderbroderson]

I do not know. Perhaps, perhaps not. I only felt it was time to have a... more consistent public presence. There are many who are unaware of us still, and express surprise when we are mentioned.

voice;

[humanistic]

[no see the only real question here is what is wrong with you other vampires with this PSA bullshit. and maybe, follow up question, why even listen to any of this--like some leftover networking instinct, in reverse. know what you can so you know how to handle yourself.

right.]

And how many supernatural friends have you got?

video;

[faderbroderson]

On this ship? Or are we also counting those I had back home?

voice »

[surrogates]

And here I was hoping we could wait another month before this was needed.

[ the need for this is killing him even though he knows just as well as anyone that they're needed. ]

video;

[faderbroderson]

I think an awareness of our presence is always needed. We can't hide in the shadows here.

[ video ]

[thoughts]

[ can river just


make this face. for a little bit. please. ]

[ video ]

[faderbroderson]

[well, since she's so cute]

You're delighted by all this?

video;

[uncurse]

[ the video takes a moment, as emma's experimenting with it, and the first few seconds catch her with a furrowed brow trying to figure it out. once she's sure it's on, her expression evens out. ]

I take it you've had some adverse reactions to announcing that in the past.

[ which she looks at least fairly sympathetic about, even though she does admit it's a valid concern. something that feeds on human blood is always going to make humans twitchy; it's a reasonable reaction, as long as it doesn't progress to full-on witch hunt.

but it does pose an interesting question; he's acknowledged the huge variances in them, same as most humans have variance in their cultures and habits, but that also means that they may not all subscribe to the same diet or morals that this one does, that the fear might just be justified if they do wind up with one of the worse examples of the race. species? whatever. ]

video;

[faderbroderson]

There has been some adversity here, understandably, but for the most part people have proven to be open-minded. Many of us have had worse reactions at home.

voice;

[tervelocius]

You're hoping to alleviate our concerns while reminding us of the dangers that lurk due to your very species. I have no delusions about the goodwill of humans, but your tactics might stand to benefit from some revision.

video;

[faderbroderson]

And what tactics would you recommend?

video »

[stacked]

Check you out, getting your PSA on. You gonna run for office next?

video »

[faderbroderson]

I hope to have no need to. Vampire politics tend to be both messy and aggravating.

Video

[likescats]

[The skeleton likes this statement. Don't mind that his voice seems to just appear in your head.]

A FINE MESSAGE. WE HAVE QUITE A FEW VAMPIRES ON THE DISCWORLD. MOST OF THEM ARE JUST TRYING TO GET ALONG JUST AS ANY HUMAN, DWARF OR TROLL IS.

Video

[faderbroderson]

[...Okay, telepathy is unusual for vampires since they're technically, scientifically braindead, but then again, this is Death. Godric saw that joint announcement before, though he chose not to respond.]

That is indeed what we generally hope for.

NOT HERE.

[altercate]

[ but casually stalking this post nbd ]

YOU MEAN NEVER HERE

[faderbroderson]

[ creeper. ]

video ||

[consequence]

[She hears the words vampires and werewolves and it catches her attention. She knew Ty was on board and his girlfriend Caroline. That made one of each from her world. Werewolf, hybrid, and Vampire. Considering how eager Professor Shane had been to meet an Original... maybe there are groupies all over the place.]

Did something happen to spark this sorta long winded talk or did you just feel the need to educate?

video ||

[faderbroderson]

Nothing in particular, but that the welcome guide only briefly covers our presence. I find it best to be straightforward.

voice »

[hypospray]

First Jenna, then you. Do I need to tell you how bad that looks or do you have an idea?

[faderbroderson]

Why do you think so, Doctor McCoy?

private video.

[coy]

You're just announcing it to everyone? That you're a vampire? [ Because Caroline's never been out, in her world, vampires are not a thing people know about. And if people know about them, they want to kill them.]

private video.

[faderbroderson]

It is already common knowledge for most of the people on board. This is only a revelation for those who are new here. Besides, it isn't possible to keep such an obvious need a secret for long in such close quarters.

[reaction]

[ Not about to respond to this. Not in the least bit tempted to make himself known as a vampire. Not at all interested to play nice with other vamps or make vampire buddies ever. He'd much rather continue to do the whole pretend to be human thing. But hey. Good to know there's a steady supply of blood bags. Now to figure out a way to get hold of that in a discreet and hush-hush manner. ]

video »

[oikodomae]

It sounds like you'd had to explain this before.

[ she's curious, honestly. not just about vampires but about how the politics of it all come into play. ]

Do you live off synthetic blood or donations?

video »

[faderbroderson]

Donations, primarily. Synthetic is acceptable for nutrition, but does little for the taste buds.

voice.

[jilt]

[ considering irene actually did play donor. ]

And suppose one of your own preferred aggression to the more peaceful methods?

voice.

[faderbroderson]

[And it is appreciated, Miss Adler]

Then they, like any other person aboard, would be dealt with by security.

[Or by Godric.]