Sime~Gen Roleplaying: District Controller's Office Scenario
Episode #111: And How Does That Make You Feel? (12/5/99)
Rosmur signals at the Controller's door.
Arat: Enter!
Arat has resorted to answering his own door, at least verbally, when Beni is not available.
Rosmur opens the door and glides in. "You wanted to see me, Controller?"
Arat nods.
Arat: Hajene Rosmur.
Arat flicks a tentacle in the direction of a seat.
Rosmur sits down and crosses his long legs.
Arat tries not to pay too much attention to that, with incomplete success.
Arat's original attraction to Rosmur had been cooled down dramatically by the incident of Rosmur's taking Wise Snake for a walk in the city, but time (and an utter absence of Jeniard) has been whittling away at the wall of stony Controllerness.
Arat clears his throat.
Arat: I am concerned about your use of drugs with Wise Snake.
Rosmur leans forward slightly, the picture of professional concern.
Rosmur: Yes Controller? In what way?
Arat: Snake has had serious and ongoing problems with drug addiction, and she had been kept entirely clean of addictive drugs - legal or otherwise - since her arrival here.
Arat is sure this is perfectly clear in Snake's file, which Rosmur has full access to.
Arat is also sure this has nothing to do with Snake's actual opinion in the matter.
Rosmur: I'm aware of that Controller. The dosage I'm allowing Wise Snake is carefully monitored and would not be able to addict, nor overdose, a fly. I assure you that I'm taking every care possible to look after your daughter.
Rosmur: ~ sincere concern ~
Arat waits rather impatiently for some elaboration on Rosmur's statement, since he read for himself what the amounts were, didn't think it sounded safe, and wants to know what Rosmur's reasoning had been.
Rosmur sits back, zlinning that the Controller wants more. "She appeared to require it. I, as her therapist, prescribed it. If you wish, we could go back the way things were, with Snake resentful, on edge and close to giving up." (He thinks to himself, rather then how she is now: resentful, on edge and close to giving up - but at least more tranquil about it)
Arat's eyes narrow.
Arat is more interested in hearing about actual benefits that have been brought about by the treatment, not implications hidden within implications.
Arat: Hajene Rosmur, open communications will be more helpful for the patient than defensive reticence.
Rosmur: I'm sorry Controller, I wasn't meaning to be defensive. ~ apologetic ~
Rosmur: I'm not use to having my professional judgments questioned quite as often as you appear to be questioning them.
Arat thinks this is getting them nowhere.
Arat is about to either forget it and adjust Wise Snake's prescriptions at the end of Rosmur's stay here, or order it changed now, since no additional information seems to be forthcoming and he is not interested in engaging in a power struggle with the man.
Arat: I see.
Arat had been hoping that the request for open communications would produce more information rather than a further statement of the correctness of Rosmur's decision (however it was made) but he is out of luck.
Rosmur: Hajene Wise Snake's attitude has been improving, slightly, I feel thanks partially to the medication.
Rosmur: Partially also to the fact that her transfers have been going smoothly, with no concern on her part about having to find a Donor.
Rosmur: I'm still trying to convince her that this is another good reason to put her trust in the Tecton.
Rosmur says this perfectly seriously, with no tongue in cheek intended.
Arat nods.
Rosmur: However, there are still problems. Her attitude is based on long term distrust and isn't going to change overnight.
Rosmur: You could say that if it took 14 years for the problem to occur, it is going to take at least 7 for it to improve, although I always hope for the best.
Rosmur: Of course, you should see some improvement before that!
Arat has no intention of keeping Rosmur around for 7 years, not at this point.
Rosmur has no intention of staying around for 7 years, especially not with Wise Snake as a patient.
Arat in fact hopes he won't be here for another 7 years, rather fervently.
Arat: Very well. I would appreciate it if you could detail your decision making processes and track the results of the specific treatments in your reports to me, for my information.
Arat: This is not intended as a reprimand but as a simple request for the data.
Arat is having trouble getting that point across actually.
Rosmur: ~ slight concern ~ I will of course try to attend to all your wishes, Controller. However, some of my decisions are based on intuition, and I would have trouble explaining exactly why I think a particular treatment will work.
Arat hopes that doing it in writing will be less difficult for Rosmur.
Arat: I suggest you make an effort to do so in any case.
Rosmur: Occasionally, especially in the more extreme cases, I try different treatments without really knowing why.
Rosmur: I would think that my rate of success in these cases would back me up.
Rosmur: I will, of course.
Rosmur has put creative writing in reports before today.
Arat grits his teeth as Rosmur refers back to his own expertise once again.
Arat: Thank you.
Arat: That was all, unless you have anything to report.
Arat's arrangement for the personality expert to come and work with Snake was partly due to Rosmur's reputation, but reputation isn't everything.
Rosmur is hesitant to raise an old battered subject yet again. However....
Rosmur: I would like to ask you to reconsider moving Snake out of the high security area.
Rosmur: I would also like her to be working a little more then she is at the moment.
Arat wonders what Snake has done lately to suggest such a move would be a good idea, and suspects it won't be easy to get an answer on that either.
Rosmur: I feel that it would do her confidence good in both cases.
Arat: I would like to see her working more also, but there are only so many Tecton employees available for treatment at any given time.
Arat: We have tried twice to expand her workload to include the public, both times immediately followed by severe setbacks.
Rosmur: Perhaps now, under my supervision, you would be willing to try once again?
Arat is thinking particularly of the time Snake feigned an escape and scared the pants off of Pylor by cornering him and pretending to woo him for the rogue lifestyle.
Arat in fact is growing less and less impressed by Rosmur's supervision as the conversation progresses.
Arat: Perhaps.
Arat: I will have to see a formal proposal to that effect.
Rosmur: Very well, I'll get one to you.
Arat does not mention that it would have to be well-thought-out and detailed with actual facts rather than vague feelings and swearings-by-own-expertise, mainly to avoid insulting Rosmur's intelligence.
Arat isn't entirely sure what he'll get in the way of a proposal in any case.
Arat nods again.
Arat: I look forward to seeing it.
Rosmur: Thank you for allowing me to present the idea to you.
Rosmur: ~ respect ~
Arat wonders where the respect came from all of a sudden... it's too little too late, but better than nothing.
Rosmur: I'll have it on your desk by morning.