Organization: The Marshals — Psychological Readiness Division
Client: Brandon Isaac Murphy ("Bran") — Probationary Marshal (Initiate)
Therapist: Dr. Alina Verne — Marshal Clinical Psychologist
Session: 2
Date: 24/10/3549
Location: Behavioral Health Office, Sector Hall B
The office is quiet except for the faint hum of ventilation. The furniture is arranged deliberately: two chairs angled toward each other. A low table sits between them with a glass pitcher of water.
A knock.
Dr. Verne: Come in.
Brandon Murphy steps in.
Bran: Afternoon, Doctor.
Dr. Verne: Marshal Murphy.
He sits easily, crossing one ankle over his knee. No tension in his posture. He immediately starts talking.
Bran: You know, there's something I really like about you.
Dr. Verne: What's that?
Bran: You have a very calming presence. I find it surprising, really.
Dr. Verne: Why so?
Bran: I mean, you spend hours listening to people talk about themselves.
Dr. Verne: It's the job.
Bran: Seems like it would get exhausting.
Dr. Verne: Sometimes.
Bran: I'll try to keep things interesting then.
Dr. Verne: I'd rather you keep them honest.
He chuckles softly.
Dr. Verne: How has the week been?
Bran: Pretty normal, all things considered.
Dr. Verne: Which means?
Bran: Training, drills, a lot of waiting around pretending not to be tired.
Dr. Verne: And outside of training?
Bran: Outside of training we mostly talk about training.
Dr. Verne: Sounds a bit boring.
Bran: Pretty much.
He leans forward slightly.
Bran: Actually… something a bit interesting happened yesterday.
Dr. Verne: Go on.
Bran: I was having a wonderful conversation with a senior. About midway through, she asked if I was nervous now that I was a marshal. In that moment, I realized that I hadn't really thought about that.
She taps on her pad.
Dr. Verne: Well are you?
Bran: I don't think so. I told her I was more confused than anything.
Dr. Verne: Confused?
Bran: Yeah.
He gestures vaguely.
Bran: Like… how did I end up here?
He says it lightly, but he lingers on the thought longer than expected.
Dr. Verne: That sounds like an interesting question.
Bran: It's not as deep as it sounds.
Dr. Verne: Most important questions aren't.
Bran: I just mean… some people grow up wanting to do this. They've got posters on their walls, stories they heard as kids, that kind of thing.
Dr. Verne: And you didn't.
Bran: No.
He shrugs.
Bran: I sort of… wandered into it.
Dr. Verne: How does someone 'wander' into becoming a Marshal?
Bran laughs.
Bran: Our squad captain, Stretch, talked me into it.
Dr. Verne: Really? Just like that?
Bran: More or less.
He pauses, remembering.
Bran: Yeah. We go way back.
Dr. Verne: And he convinced you to join him.
Bran: He didn't have to twist my arm too hard.
Bran leans back.
Bran: I didn't really have any plans at the time. Stretch did. When someone like him tells you something's worth doing… you tend to believe them.
The room goes quiet for a moment.
Dr. Verne: And now that you're here?
Bran: Now I'm trying to be good at it.
Dr. Verne: "Trying" can mean a lot of things.
Bran: I mean I take it seriously.
Dr. Verne: That wasn't in doubt.
He nods slowly.
Bran: Do people usually have their lives figured out by this point?
She doesn't answer immediately.
Dr. Verne: That depends what you mean by "figure out."
Bran: Like… having a clear reason they're doing something.
Dr. Verne: Some do. Some discover it later. Some never need one.
Bran: That last group sounds perfect.
Dr. Verne: Sometimes they're just better at not asking the question.
Bran smiles faintly. He pours himself a glass of water.
Bran: I had this girlfriend once who used to ask that question constantly.
Dr. Verne: "What's your purpose?"
Bran: Pretty much.
Dr. Verne: How long were you together?
Bran: Not long.
Dr. Verne: Because of the question?
Bran: Because of a lot of questions. Our conversations were more like interrogations.
Dr. Verne: That sounds tiring.
Bran: It was.
He tilts the glass slightly, watching the water move.
Bran: Funny thing is, I keep ending up with people like that.
Dr. Verne: People who interrogate you?
Bran: People who… escalate things.
Dr. Verne: Escalate how?
Bran: Everything becomes intense very quickly. Arguments get loud. Little misunderstandings turn into huge fights.
Dr. Verne: And you?
Bran: I usually try to calm things down.
Dr. Verne: Does that work?
He smiles.
Bran: Rarely.
Dr. Verne: How many relationships would you say followed that pattern?
Bran: Practically all of them.
Dr. Verne: Do they start the same way?
Bran: Pretty great, actually.
Dr. Verne: In what sense?
Bran: Fast connection. Lots of excitement. Great sex, of course. Before long, it feels like you've known them forever.
Dr. Verne: And then?
Bran pauses.
Bran: Then eventually something always changes.
Dr. Verne: What kind of change?
Bran: Hard to describe.
He searches for the words.
Bran: Like… suddenly I'm doing something wrong all the time.
Dr. Verne: According to them?
Bran: Yeah.
Bran: At first I think it's just a little rough patch. You know, something that'll pass.
Dr. Verne: Conflict, compromise then adjustments.
Bran: Exactly.
He nods slowly.
Bran: But after a while you start wondering if maybe they're seeing something you're not.
Dr. Verne: Something about you?
Bran: Maybe.
Dr. Verne: What kinds of things did they say you were doing wrong?
Bran: Being distant. Too clingy. Not serious enough. Too serious. Too calm, even. It's always something.
Dr. Verne: Too calm?
Bran: Apparently that can be irritating.
He smiles at the irony.
Bran: I mean… at some point you start noticing the pattern.
He rests his elbows on his knees.
Bran: Different people, same outcome.
Dr. Verne: What conclusion do you draw from that?
Bran: I try not to draw conclusions.
Dr. Verne: But thoughts cross your mind.
Bran: Sometimes.
Dr. Verne: What kind of thoughts?
He hesitates for the first time in the session.
Bran: I start to think... that maybe I'm the problem.
Dr. Verne doesn't respond.
Bran: I talk about it with Stretch sometimes.
Dr. Verne: Your captain.
Bran: Yeah.
Dr. Verne: What does he think?
Bran: He thinks I'm unlucky.
Bran smiles slightly.
Bran: He gets weirdly defensive about it. Like it's his personal mission to prove I'm not the problem.
Dr. Verne: That sounds like a good friend.
Bran: He is. I should bring him with me one of these days.
Dr. Verne: That's not how this works.
Bran: He'd enjoy talking to you.
Dr. Verne: I'm sure he would.
Bran studies her for a moment.
Bran: You're very good at that.
Dr. Verne: At what?
Bran: Not reacting when people try to derail the conversation.
Dr. Verne: Experience.
Bran: I was going to say discipline.
Dr. Verne: That too.
He smiles.
Bran: You also didn't acknowledge that compliment.
Dr. Verne: Because it wasn't relevant.
Bran: Oof. Tough crowd.
She ignores him and changes the subject.
Dr. Verne: When you look back at those relationships, do you notice anything about the type of people you're drawn to?
Bran: I wish I did.
Dr. Verne: You don't see similarities?
Bran: Not at first.
He thinks for a moment.
Bran: Later… maybe.
Dr. Verne: What kind?
Bran: Strong personalities.
Dr. Verne: Strong can mean many things.
Bran: Passionate. Intense. Emotional.
Dr. Verne: And that appeals to you?
Bran: At the start, yeah.
Dr. Verne: You seem like a steady person.
Bran: I try to be.
Dr. Verne: Sometimes steady people are drawn to intensity because it feels exciting.
Bran: That sounds plausible.
Dr. Verne: But over time the same quality can become exhausting.
Bran: Eh, seems a bit too obvious. Maybe I'm just one of those guys that are like, excessively passive aggressive and I don't even know it.
Dr. Verne: That's something we can explore over time.
Bran: Good to hear Doc.
She looks over at her pad.
Dr. Verne: Well, that's our time. I hope this session has been helpful to you.
He stands.
Bran: Yes it has. Same time next week?
Dr. Verne: Of course.
He hesitates at the door.
Bran: By the way, about that dinner—
Dr. Verne: Not happening.
He laughs.
Bran: Had to try. If you change your mind you know where to find me.
He winks and leaves.
Dr. Verne writes a brief note after the session: "Client warm, socially skilled, and highly cooperative. Strong reflective capacity. Pattern of unstable relationships acknowledged but not fully understood by client. Identity direction somewhat diffused but not distressing to client yet. Worth continued exploration."