fandomhigh | Constant Vigilance, 8/18, A classroom

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vigilance

Constant Vigilance, 8/18, A classroom

Rather than the Doctor, a rumpled Walter is at the front of the room examining a small device that is clearly labeled "Push here to start." Simple enough, and with a quick push of the button, a projection of the Doctor appears.

"Hello class," the projected Doctor said. "Sorry I couldn't be with you today, but I had a sudden bit of urgent business to attend to. Hopefully, Mister Dornez has properly started the system to play this recording. Today's lesson is one that I understand our Miss Rosenberg has some experience in, so I recommend that you direct any questions in her well learned direction, given my absence Now first off, there is no such thing as your average werewolf. There are common tropes, certainly, but if you put all your eggs in one basket that wolfsbane will protect you or that silver is your sure bet, you might end up playing a part in a very grim fairy tale."

"One of the more memorable encounters I had with a creature of this type was a girl named Mags. She's now travelling with a circus, actually. Not as some sideshow attraction, mind you. Mags is the perfect example of why the first reaction to a werewolf is not find silver bullets and prepare to fire. Mags is a wonderful, funny, clever girl. In the light of the full moon, however, she tranforms into a creature that may end up harming others. Precautions can be taken, and everything works out well."

"However, Mags is not the only type you may end up with. Other werewolves may be perfectly aware of their actions when transformed. Those are the dangerous ones. Where the beast and the man are one. In these instances, you have to do your best to outwit them. As in most case scenarios, they'll be stronger, faster, with bigger teeth and claws. As the myths say, wolfsbane, misteltoe, silver, all of these things may be the way to combat it. Try them all, and hope. In many cases, these types aren't only around during the full moon. They're self controlled, they are. Able to transform at their own will. The lunar cycle is not their master."

The holo-Doctor cleared his throat. "Moving on to Vampires. Bela Legosi type, not really what I'm talking about. As much as the camp vampires exist in this world, they're usually just the spawn of greater Vampires. Vampires that my people once waged war against. The Great Vampire, in all capitals, I should add, was a right evil bastard, he was. Huge, too. It took a stake the size of a spaceship to put an end to him, it did. But that's the thing, how many of you keep a handy spaceship sized stake around with you? I'm guessing none. And so what do we do in that case, boys and girls? You guessed it, run."

"Stakes to the heart will kill a lot of things, and it might have to be cold iron, silver, gold, wood, something along those lines. Garlic might help, it might not, if anything it'll be tasty as part of your dinner. Hopefully it won't be a tasty addition to the vampire's dinner. Now, I've had more than my fair share of run-ins with these classic vampire types, and half of what the movies tell you works in these cases. Running water? Crucifixes? Sunlight? Most likely it'll save you, but always have a backup. And when all else fails, run."

"As for non-traditional types, you've got Haemovores. Bloodsucking beasts that are no longer amongst the living. They fear not the rays of the sun, and a cross will do you no good if you don't believe in it. Your best bet if you stumble across one of them is your strongest faith. That's right, your faith. A soldier warded them off with a simple hammer and sickle pin, because he had faith in his motherland. I, well, I had faith in something else, and that drove them away from me. A companion of mine had faith in me, and that protected her. Faith generated a psychic barrier they could not penetrate. The vicar at the local church tried to ward them off with his bible. But he didn't have true faith, and it cost him his life. But, of course, stakes through the heart are your means for a violent end, here, as well. But, suprise, my best advice is run."

"Now, I want you to pair up. Discuss what you have faith in. Discuss Vampires. Discuss Werewolves. Discuss what really scares you, and who you trust. Build your friendships, because that's the real tool to universal survival. Friends. Miss Rosenberg and Mister Dornez probably have some related stories to share, and anyone else feel free to speak up as well. And now Mister Dornez or whoever can feel free to switch off the projection. And in case they don't. . ."

The sounds of the song 'The Monster Mash' fade in, and the Doctor projection begins to dance.

Walter hit the off button and looked at the class. "And there you have it."

[ooc: My apologies for the delay. I lose today.]

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"She is, isn't she," Peter agreed warmly. "I've not doubted magic was real for quite some time, but I didn't know it came in so many shades before coming here."

"We don't have magic where I come from, much less different shades of it," he explained, looking at Peter curiously. "I'm still getting used to it. You're not from Hogwarts, are you? You've got the right accent."

"Hogwarts? Where Hermione went to school?" Peter asked. "No, not me. I grew up in Britain though. Left in 1940 to be precise. Where are you from without the shades of magic?"

"Yeah, a friend of mine comes from there. Not from the 1940s, though." At least, Jack didn't think so. "You're from the past, I'm from the future. About 3000 years in the future, the fifty-first century to be precise."

"Truly," Peter said with a smile. He thought for a second. "I can barely imagine how strange it would be to go to the time of the Greeks. How do you find it here?"

"Well I just woke up one morning and here I was," he joked, even though that was exactly what had happened. "But it's fine. People are people, doesn't matter what time period you go to. And I like it here. What about you? This must be much different from when you come from."

"I grew up listening to spaceman stories on the radio, I'm rather sad it's not happened yet," Peter joked back. "The technology is the biggest difference for me. But then I've been in another land for about four years now with a more medieval system, so it's a bit of a shock."

"I"ve been in space, but I don't think I quite qualify as a spaceman." Jack cocked his head, intrigued. "And I bet it's a shock. You seem to be dealing with it very well, though, but I have to ask -- another land? How does that work?"

"Bit of that magic we were talking about mostly," Peter replied with a grin. "My siblings and I walked through a wardrobe and ended up there." He shrugged. "The land needed us so it made sure we arrived, I suppose."

Jack stared at Peter for about a minute. "You win. That's the strangest thing I've ever heard. You walked through a wardrobe?"

"No, coming from the future is definitely stranger," Peter said. "Though I suppose it's all a matter of perspective. But truly, a wardrobe. We were-" he grinned slightly "-hiding from the housekeeper after breaking a window with a cricket ball and ended up there."

"You were trying to get away from the housekeeper and you ended up in another land?" Jack laughed, still completely amazed by magic. "Was it fun?"

Peter grinned, knowing that feeling of amazement well. "We ended up in the middle of a land where it had been winter for a hundred years. With a rebellion starting. It was utterly amazing and slightly terrifying. So yes, rather fun."

"Wow." It really was the only appropriate response, and he looked at Peter with something like respect. "You stayed, you and your siblings? Even with all that going on? That's kind of impressive."

"Not really impressive at all," Peter replied. "There was a prophecy involved and...it was what we had to do, you see." Peter smiled.

"I get that." Jack returned the smile. "Some things you have to do, no matter what. Did the rebellion win?"

"We did win, and Christmas came, then spring," Peter replied. "The past years, we've been rebuilding the country, re-establishing trade and diplomatic relations. The Queen - the previous ruler - wasn't a very good one."

"We?" Jack studied him carefully, one eyebrow raised, not disbelieving him, just slightly bemused. "How old are you?"

"Sixteen," Peter replied, not entirely unstanding why there'd be a question.

"Then I think I'm back to thinking it's impressive." Jack grinned, and nodded decisively. "Rebuilding a country - and not even your country, at that - at your age definitely qualifies."

Peter shook his head. "It's my country now. I was mostly happy to be able to do something after watching the Blitz in London and just being a child. But we also had plenty of assistance from those far wiser than me." He grinned at Jack. "So now that I've talked about myself for ages, tell me something about you?"

"What do you want to know?" Jack asked, still impressed, regardless of what Peter had said.

"How'd you end up here then?" Peter asked, trying not to pry too much.

"I honestly have no idea." His lips quirked in a half smile and he lifted his hands in a shrug. "I was a student here before that, but I kind of disappeared for about six weeks, woke up back in my room. It's all a bit of a mystery."

Peter raised an eyebrow. "You don't remember how or why you came to Fandom?"

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