session 15 . video

[chaotica]

[ Broadcasting from the Infirmary, as usual, wearing his Starfleet uniform (somewhat wrinkled), boots up on a table, chair leaned back. ]

I have always wondered why people start games of Twenty Questions with questions about breadboxes. "Is it bigger than a breadbox?" "Is it smaller than a breadbox?" What is it about breadboxes? Are they, somehow, the perfectly average object?

How many of you have even seen a breadbox?

Furthermore, the game of "Rock, Paper, Scissors" is trivially easy for the observant. An inexperienced player assumes that each successive throw is random. In fact, it's more of a human simulation of randomness, which is far more regular and far more predictable. That's also why effective encryption is as randomized as possible.

But that's not what I mean to talk about today.

Today, I'd like to talk about sex. Specifically, why you should not be ashamed or embarrassed to be having it.

Sex is wonderful. It is life-affirming, it enhances intimacy, and it releases floods of positive endorphins. It's healthy activity, and infinitely better for the body and the heart than doing violence. And it provides these benefits no matter whether your partner is same or opposite sex - I feel the need to mention this, given the backwards attitudes in some of your home worlds.

Sex should be safe. Protect yourself from disease and from unwanted pregnancy, and yes, there are materials for both of those available in the infirmary. Sex should involve communication and respect. No one should ever be coerced into doing something they don't want to do, least of all in such an area of sensitivity and intimacy.

In addition, as the only doctor and warden available on the ship, I am available to answer questions, and to test possible compatibility issues between species'.

And yes, I know, I'm treating the lot of you like idiots, but there are teenagers on board. Notoriously hormone-addled, as a group.

Cambridge out.

Comments

[routemistress]

But you aren't one 'ere, are you?


...anyway, Babs is right, no one can make you. We just worry, all right? Enough bollocks 'appens on this boat as it is.

[anewlanguage]

Hey, hey, I think here on this ship they're gonna be fine. If we can cure rabies and death, I don't think there's much that's gonna get 'em if they get naked.

[He'll fret about assassins and monsters but STD's, well, he's irresponsible about.]

I'm threadjacking everywhere on this post I'm sorry

[tucky]

I knew I liked you.

[anewlanguage]

[He barks a laugh] Well good! And I hope you aren't taking it too personal, them worrying about you. There just aren't a lot of things we can protect people from around here.

[tucky]

Nah, I ain't taking it personal at all; I think it's nice when people wanna protect me. I just don't want 'em to make Mason feel weird, is all.

[anewlanguage]

[He snickers. Can't help it.]

Pff. Make him feel weird? By prying into how he handles himself naked? How's that gonna make him feel weird?

Don't worry about him, kid. Mason's probably had this talk before.

[tucky]

Don't want him to decide I ain't worth the trouble, is all.

[anewlanguage]

[Aw, Tucky :( ]

If he calls this 'trouble' he's too much of a pansy for you, kid. I don't think Gordon and Iris are gonna scare him off, don't worry.

[text/private]

[routemistress]

yes darling but they won't always be here, will they?

you know what these two are like.

[it's a good thing Iris is immune to most of them tbh]

[text/private]

[anewlanguage]

Sure but Mason's not likely to catch anything. And they've got the protection they need in the infirmary.

[text/private]

[routemistress]

it's the principle of the thing tho.

that poor lass just told Babs she didn't want to hassle Mason with it in case he thought she was a high maintenance pain in the arse.

this was me the first half of my life and that line of thinking never got me anything worth having. I want better than that for our girl.

[text/private]

[anewlanguage]

So do I but no good's ever come from me standing over someone's shoulder either.

[text/private]

[routemistress]

so true. and it's not like I didn't survive it all, but then I have advantages she hasn't.

it got me into some terrible selfloathing places. i am very grateful for you, you know. i'm done forever with people who make me feel they're doing me a bloody favour by allowing me in their presence.

#timelordsaremostlyarseholes

[maced_eggs]

No.

Or, uhm. Maybe. I dno' really know.

I don' have diseases, Iris. You can't carry them. I've never even been sick since I died.

[routemistress]

No, I'd be pretty confident you don't, sweetheart. It's more about getting you both into good 'abits, if you see what I mean.

[maced_eggs]

Iris, I don't like people getting in my business. I'm a grown fuckin' man, aren't I? Older'n most.

[routemistress]

[See Iris. See Iris biting her tongue.]

'Course you are, lovey. But it's a small boat and getting in each other's business sort of comes with the territory, doesn't it? It's done out of love, you know that.

[maced_eggs]

I'm not sleeping with anyone else, now am I? Not bloody Typhoid Mary.

God, she was a regular, wasn't she?

[chaotica]

Iris is also a bit of a busybody.

[maced_eggs]

Are my manly bits really much of her business, is what I'm saying? 'less I consent to sleep with anyone she's bedding down with.

[routemistress]

Glass 'ouses, Dr Cambridge. Glass bleedin' 'ouses.

'E's right though. I am leaving your bits strictly alone from 'ere on in, Mason.

[chaotica]

Really? Could I take a look at how your biology works?

[maced_eggs]

Ask Gwenny for me powers back an' you can see them for yourself, Doc.

[chaotica]

If it doesn't work without your powers, then how do you know you can't catch diseases?

[maced_eggs]

Can still see ghosts. Maybe a few powers stuck around.