3037/Preliminary Consultation

Preliminary Consultation
Date of Scene:	22 August 2020
Location:	The psychiatric offices of Dr. Leonard Samson
Synopsis:	Sam Guthrie talks with Doc Samson as part of a psych eval for his recruitment to the police force.
Cast of Characters:	Doc Samson, Samuel Guthrie

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Doc Samson has posed:
The afternoon sun shines through the window of a clean office whose furniture and decor suggest a soft, soothing aesthetic. Near the center of the office, a large man with long green hair sits in a cushy armchair, across from a sofa. His legs are crossed, a notepad resting on his higher knee. The man adjusts a pair of eyeglasses and smiles.

"So, Mister ... Guthrie, I believe? Thank you for coming in. I understand you're here for a preliminary evaluation for the police department," the man says. "I'm Dr. Leonard Samson, as you may know." He chuckles softly. "I want you to know that you can consider this a safe space. I'm not out to trick or 'find dirt' on you or anything like that."

Samson offers a polite smile and clears his throat. "I just want to learn a bit about you and how you might get along on the job. Does that sound alright to you?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie is sitting there trying to be respectful, he has had mental help before but more of the telepathic nature. He nods and says "Sure, call me Sam. I did not realize had to be evaluated at first when joining, but to be honest sounds like maybe a good thing to do when checking out potential officers,

Doc Samson has posed:
Samson nods and scribbles a quick note of something on his pad. He bites the butt of his pen for a moment before speaking.

"I appreciate the vote of confidence. I mean that, too--although, to be completely honest, I normally don't have this sort of evaluation conversation frequently. But there's so much backlog that I wanted to help reduce the load on my colleagues." He shrugs modestly, looking away for a moment. "But enough about me. Sam--do you mind if I ask why you're interested in serving on the force? Do you have any family or friends who are police officers?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie shakes his head a bit and says "Don't mind at all, family no, got an uncle who is intimately associated with the police, but from the wrong side of that equation. " He jokes a bit and says "Got a friend or two who have been part of the law enforcement community, but to be honest what has me interested is, would like to see some officers working is Bushwick who want to be there and who are not looking down on the folks living there.

Doc Samson has posed:
"Mmm," the psychiatrist intones as he jots out a few more notes. "Do--or did--you get along well with that uncle? For that matter, does your family know you're joining the force?"

"I ask, you see," Samson continues, "because it's often important to us, generally speaking, that our family approves of what we do. So they can support us. If you're on the Bushwick beat, are your loved ones the sort to cheer you on?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie looks over and says "Yea, Luke and Ah get a long ok, he is serving his time, and looking to get things sorta out to do the right thing when he gets out. My Ma, and a couple of my brothers and sisters know about it, but my sister is the only one who is local currently. Pretty sure they all will be proud of me, maybe a little worried, but life has things that are going to worry ya, and it is how it happens.

Doc Samson has posed:
Samson nods and adjusts his eyeglasses again. "Well, I suppose that having parents and siblings worried about us might be the most commonly shared family experience there is." He grins at Sam. "If you don't mind me making a guess from your accent--your family's probably not the city type, mostly speaking. Is that right? Do you think your background gives you some unique insight into serving as police for a metropolis like New York?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie smiles a bit more and says "Kentucky but Ah have lived up here for a boarding school since Ah was sixteen." He tells the other man "Well maybe a bit of a different outlook on some things, but I aint sure if it is as different as most people think. It is more just trying to care for others and realizing we are all a community and more people realize it than I think, but just aint as well seen as those who act out.

Doc Samson has posed:
The doctor shifts slightly in his seat and balances his notepad on his leg. "Sounds like quite an experience. I'd love to learn more about that, but I suppose that might be best suited for another conversation."

"What are your thoughts on the criticisms of police use of force? Some have argued that neighborhoods like Bushwick experience disproportionate NYPD presence and more intense response to calls," Samson says in a flat tone. "Do those criticisms seem valid at all? Or are they ill-informed?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie looks over and says "Well, Ah think there maybe some validation there but Ah feel it is more people are having to work that district. I am hoping with time and more folks who are local get into the force it may get better. Ah am hopeful with time, normal humans and mutants will be able to get along better, and find how to treat one another like just folks.

Doc Samson has posed:
"Would you call yourself a 'local' to the area, Sam?" Samson tilts his head to the side. "I only ask because I'm intrigued by your statement--after all, you don't have to be a native New Yorker to be a local, but perhaps feeling like you're a part of the community might compromise your ability to uphold the law against your neighbors."

He purses his lips for a moment. "For that matter, how do you feel about the idea of the NYPD potentially recruiting mutants to help patrol areas like Bushwick? I don't mean for this to sound like a leading question, but--would you be comfortable with a mutant partner?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie smirks just a bit and says "Well Ah aint living quite in Bushwick, my girl friend and Ah are close but not quite in the neighborhood. As for making sure people are doing right. well if it took going to prison for a while to get uncle Luke to straighten his stuff out, it can help others. Working with mutants I have no problem with, heck lets be honest, do you really know who is a mutant unless they have a visable effect or use powers? I mean lets take you for example Doc, some would think your a mutant cause of the green hair, maybe even kin to the Queen of Genosha or something, or could just be you like the color and spend 15.99 at CVS.

Doc Samson has posed:
"You make an excellent point, Sam," Samson responds. "I look somewhat different, I suppose. But there's a--hmm--a spectrum of 'acceptability,' I suppose, to most. Green hair and muscles isn't potentially as unfamiliar or disturbing as, say, lava-skin or porcupine quills."

He holds up a hand. "I'm not making a judgment on anyone who might have such qualities. But police officers--especially rookies--might be tempted to let any instinctive evaluations guide their actions in an emergency situation. Do you think you could be trusted to /not/ jump to conclusions about someone's guilt based on their apparent mutant-ness?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie looks to the other man and says "So, anything I tell you here is it covered by the normal doctor patient thing, or since it is for a work school thing does that not count?" He will ask the other man waiting for an answer

Doc Samson has posed:
"Well, Sam, I don't want you to tell me anything that you'd be uncomfortable telling me," the psychiatrist replies. "I want that to be up-front first and foremost. That said, yes--what you tell me here is protected by doctor/patient confidentiality laws. I'll write up a general report to the NYPD about our conversation here, but I won't be providing specific details about what you tell me."

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie will stand up, and his body starts to glow as he lifts off the floor with a bit of a roar, concentrating to keep himself from jetting through the roof, and lets the power fade. "Ah think Ah will be ok dealing with mutants."

Doc Samson has posed:
Sitting silently for several moments, Samson sets his notepad aside and nods slowly. "Yes. Yes, I suppose you will, Sam." He leans forward slightly and rests his chin in one hand. "So I only have one more question for you, and it's one that I want to ask out of genuine concern as much as procedural investigation. How do you expect your fellow officers to handle that knowledge, should any--or all--of them learn about it?"

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie looks to the other and says "well in all honestly I think it depends on the person, those who are mutant friendly will be ok with it, those who fear or hate mutants will resent me and accuse me of giving mutants favortism, but I hope those in the middle will give me a chance and judge me by my actions now what I am but for who I am.

Doc Samson has posed:
Samson removes and folds his glasses, placing them on a nearby desk. "Well, Sam, I think that's about the best case to hope for. Do I think that's what's going to happen? I have no idea. But I hope that you're able to do as much good as you can on the force."

He stands slowly and steps forward, extending his hand for a shake. "As far as this evaluation is concerned, though, you don't have anything to worry about. I hope you're able to make it through the rest of the bureaucratic hoops that might remain."

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie nods and gives the other man a firm handshake, and says "Thank you sir, and I do hope so as well. You seem like a decent fellow yourself and good to know your looking after folks."