video;

[shifting]

[there's a frazzled shapeshifter on your screens today, imPorts. He rubs a hand against his mouth and the scruff of his chin awkwardly, like he's going to make an effort to collect his thoughts - then promptly throws that plan out the window.]

Hey, uh. Sorta a specific question, but has anyone ever... lost track of a day and shown up at the Porter? With somethin' changed? Is that just - somethin' that happens on top of all the other weird shit this place does to a person?

Comments

voice;

[rathercommon]

[ She wrinkles her nose and grunts in dissatisfaction. ]

Yeah. It was very heroic. Naive, but sweet.

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

Certainly a winning combination in this world.

voice;

[rathercommon]

It would be if the government worked a bit better, wouldn't it.

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

Oh, I meant more in terms of the court of public opinion. A surprising amount of people get away with heinous actions because they appear -- to quote -- sweet and naive.

voice;

[rathercommon]

Well, I'm not talking about the court of public opinion, am I. I'm talking about actual court.

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

Therein lies the miscommunication.

voice;

[rathercommon]

[ She shakes her head. ]

Anyway, none of that matters, does it. Whether it was crimes or nastiness, in either case, it wasn't us.

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

Mm. Where do you fall on the nurture versus nature debate?

voice;

[rathercommon]

It's all about nurture, isn't it.

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

Wrong. A thing called neuroscience exists, which has inevitably impacted psychiatry the past three decades. Most academics and professionals recognize the importance of both -- so not all one or the other. It isn't predetermined always, but we have... Tendencies. Brain chemistry. Behavioral patterns that can be activated given the right, or wrong nurturing circumstance.

Mr. Merlotte is not Mr. Mickens, but he has had -- and perhaps still has -- the potential to be something like him.

Hence why it was wise of him to request a parole officer.

voice;

[rathercommon]

Oh, my god, that's such rubbish. You say he's got the potential, okay. So what would make him do it?

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

"Rubbish". You've already committed yourself to ignorance, Kitty, I see little reason to continue this conversation.

voice;

[rathercommon]

[ She grunts in annoyance. ]

Fine. I take back the word rubbish.

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

Well, each individual is complex in their own right -- experiences construct our identities, alongside our self-perception and how we socially engage with each other. Therefore our contemporary personalities are forged by multiple forces interacting simutaneously. That being said, and keeping Mr. Merlotte's privacy in mind, I find it unlikely that his stability would regress quickly... Unless someone from his personal world, to include his recent past, imPorted into this one.

Which is, we all must admit, not entirely impossible.

voice;

[rathercommon]

But you said it yourself. Each individual is complex. Whatever went into making him like that was this - huge, complex snarl of things, events all throughout his life. Nothing's going to replicate that.

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

True that nothing will replicate it -- to imply an exact copy. Sam Mickens was a different man. But like I said, he has to potential to become something like Mickens.

Luckily, I am here to better insulate him against whatever environmental triggers might make that similarity more apparent.

voice;

[rathercommon]

Sam's really good, though. He's really sweet.

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

[A beat. A long beat, as if he's realized there's another variable at play, another reason for Kitty's insistence that Sam is sweet and good.]

Are you... And he...?

voice;

[rathercommon]

Are we...?

[ She blinks, puzzled - and then gets it, and snorts. ]

Oh, God, no. Why would you ask that?

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

You just seem so...


















His type.

voice;

[shifting]

We gettin' concerned with privacy, now?

[hey there, guys, Sam can't help but find this conversation rude as hell.]

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

I am not the one interrogating me.

voice;

[shifting]

Well, only one of you seems to think they've got answers to give.

[also sure wish Chilton wouldn't mention that whole assault thing so loudly.

Or anything about him. At all. Ever.]

voice;

[slightlyoffchilt]

If that were true, why was she still asking me questions?

-- And if you two have a thing going on, be sure not to tell me.

[That is REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY, TELL HIM NOW!!]

voice; private

[shifting]

Well I think she started 'cause she thought you were bein' a dick to me. Which would make her right.

[and that throws him off for a moment - enough that Sam switches to private.]

No, it's - our counterparts sorta ran into each other. Durin' that whole thing. But nothin' really happened. [just hot make-outs against a wall. Try not to get too jealous, Chilton.]