Ask Sean Anything

[Dr. Sean Neville]

The game is just as the title says: this is an opportunity to ask Doctor Neville anything and receive an honest answer, which may or may not be humorous as well, depending on the content. Sean is a character with a lot of little stories, and this is the opportunity to hear them without being bored (or so I hope).

No question will be turned away, no matter how personal. Ask him about his most cherished memory, or his greatest failure. Ask him his opinion about politics or about another character. Ask about his motivations, or his relationships, or why he still wears jeans from when he was in college.

This could be a great deal of fun, so ask away!

[Jesse Adams]

Look, Dr. Neville. These sessions with you are... kinda helping. I guess. It's just hard, y'know? It's like breaking a bad habit. But I'm trying.

Did... uh... did you ever abuse your abilities? Like, when you were... my age. I mean, wasn't it tempting? Don't we all think about it? Maybe I'm just weird.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

It’s the word “abuse” that I find concerning in the question, Jesse. If you want to know about the temptation to abuse my powers, and by extension, other people, then the answer is a flat “no.”

If you want to talk about using powers for more personal reasons, that an entirely different matter. Everyone has that temptation from time-to-time; it’s difficult to be ethical, or to imagine having ethics or morals, if you weren’t tested or tempted occasionally. And there’s a certain degree of using powers for personal reasons that’s morally acceptable; I scan people’s thoughts to avoid bad situations and to help in diagnosis and treatment. But I don’t exploit the secrets of other people, for love or money. Neither should you.

Frankly, I’m a worried about the sadistic delight you show in abusing your powers, but don’t worry, one way or another, you’re going to learn better.

[Nikolai Campbell]

{I woke up this morning and I decided; "I need to think of a Sean question.". Unfortunately, I'm not that clever. . .But! Maybe if I think of one, it'll remind other people to think of one, and my lame question can be forgotten XD *is hopeful* Anyway! Okay, Niko, explaining and asking the question <3 The explanation was fun to write, heh. I think his question is, ultimately, "is it okay to sell your sibling?" 'cause if Sean did it once, he'd take that as proof that it must be.}

I saw you in the hall, and someone said that you helped with how people think. Like, when their mind is sick, you can make them better. So, I thought I'd ask you this question.

It's sort of an important one. I was watching cartoons, and this person was selling her younger brother for a dollar. She had a good reason- it was because he kept annoying her by stealing her stuff and going into her room.

I don't know a lot about brothers, but I know that a dollar only gets you one candy bar, so it wasn't really worth it. I mean, the candy bar was probably really good and everything, but once you eat it, then both things are gone. In the show the brother came back, eventually, after the sister was sad about selling him (and her candy bar was gone, by the way. She was sad about that, too. She had a really bad day.)

What I wanted to know was whether or not you ever sold your brother- or, if you don't have one, did you ever sell your sister? If you did, what did you buy with the money?

[Levi Xu]

How did you become a doctor? I didn't know lions were able to get degrees in anything. Did you major in antelope?

[Dr. Sean Neville]

May 29, 2010 11:15:46 GMT -5 Nikolai Campbell said:

What I wanted to know was whether or not you ever sold your brother- or, if you don't have one, did you ever sell your sister? If you did, what did you buy with the money?

I don't have a brother, but I do have a younger sister. I can't say that I ever sold her for anything, because when we were young, we were very close, and I wasn't the enterprising type. The worst I ever did to her was make her play the girl that my friend and my cousins or friends would rescue from whatever bad guys we had for the games we played.

And sometimes she couldn't play in our fort.

But I never sold her. And really, selling human beings is never a good idea.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

May 29, 2010 11:29:38 GMT -5 Levi Xu said:

How did you become a doctor? I didn't know lions were able to get degrees in anything. Did you major in antelope?

Ah, Levi, I've heard about you. I can assure you that in this universe, this reality, I am not, nor have I ever been a lion. If anything, I'm a bobcat, because that is the NYU mascot now, although it was the violet when I was in school.

I didn't major in antelope in medical school, and technically, you don't have a major the same way you do in college.

I also chose to become a doctor partially because my father was a doctor and it was expected of me, and partially because I thought I would make a fairly good psychiatrist. I hope to have lived up to that.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

May 31, 2010 0:21:31 GMT -5 Isabelle Amherst said:

Dr. Neville, what's your take on teenage relationships?
And just out of curiosity, who was your first love? What was it like for you?

What's my take on teenage relationships? Use protection.

I cannot emphasize that enough. Not only to prevent unplanned pregnancy, but because of STIs; I lived through the AIDS crisis, and it left a lasting impression.

But it occurs to me that you might want to know what I think in terms of their ability to last. It's possible, of course. But what you should always keep in mind is that the person you were when you began puberty and the person you'll be when you exit puberty often bear little resemblance. And hormones have a tendency to be both your best friend and your worst enemy when it comes to teenage relationships.

As for my first love? Well, that’s a complicated question. The first person I dated was a girl named Maggie Donovan, and I met her here at Hammel. We broke up long before graduation, and hadn’t spoken for decades until recently; although we had been close at the time, I wouldn’t classify that as love, with the wisdom of the ages.

My first love was my best friend, Josh, whom I met at college. And it was...very intense and also felt like the most natural thing in the world. I was conflicted for a while, you must understand, but the sheer intensity and purity of it all put an end to that conflict.

[Piper Crumin]

Hi Mister-
Er I mean, Doctor Neville.
I have a question, and it's as simple as this: were you ever afraid of other students here? I mean, from where I was at before, I frightened people, but when I got here and there are kids who can make me think things and shoot fire from their fingers and change shapes.
How can I feel safer here?

[Ann Hudgins]

So, yeah..my question isn't really serious, but I've been wondering about it for a long time. It's one of those 'am I the only one that does that?' sort of thing. I'd ask a friend, but...

Do you write differently depending on the pencil/pen you are using? Like it depends on the type and quality of the pen too....because well I've just noticed that my crappy writing is crappiest with a really cheap pencil or like a Dollar General pen. And I was just hoping that it wasn't just me....

-awkward glance sideways-

[Dr. Sean Neville]

May 31, 2010 22:44:34 GMT -5 Piper Crumin said:

Hi Mister-
Er I mean, Doctor Neville.
I have a question, and it's as simple as this: were you ever afraid of other students here? I mean, from where I was at before, I frightened people, but when I got here and there are kids who can make me think things and shoot fire from their fingers and change shapes.
How can I feel safer here?

That's a complicated matter, but you should always feel comfortable speaking to staff about matters of safety. If you aren't close to a teacher or your trainer, you're always welcome to stop by my office. My door is always open unless I'm in session with someone else.

It's also important to remember that all of the students are here for the same reasons as you, and likely feel just as worried as you do. It's a strange new place, and it's easy to let your imaginations get the best of you about what people could do. So let's look at what people can't do: they can't make your head explode, they can't brainwash you, and they can't stop your heart. It's a learning experience where everyone can do something incredible, but nobody is that dangerous.

Also, remember that shapeshifting is harmless to others and can be a great deal of fun to watch when you get more comfortable. And the pyrokinetic is...well, fire should be avoided, but he's fairly harmless; he's a nice young man. A little lazy, but a nice young man.

You're in good hands.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Jun 3, 2010 9:10:02 GMT -5 Ann Hudgins said:

Do you write differently depending on the pencil/pen you are using? Like it depends on the type and quality of the pen too....because well I've just noticed that my crappy writing is crappiest with a really cheap pencil or like a Dollar General pen. And I was just hoping that it wasn't just me....

-awkward glance sideways-

I'm a bit less careful with pencil than I am with pen, I've noticed. I'm sure that has to do with erasers. I also only use my "nicest" pen for serious matters so that makes a difference too. But no, you're not the only one at all.

[Samuel Rixon]

Hey Dr. N!

So... uh.... I was supposed to ask you about something....

....

.......

...............

Oh yeah! What would happen if Batman got bit by a vampire?

... I don't think that was it.

Oh yeah! I was supposed ta ask you if you ever did drugs. Coz they're like... bad. And shit. Apparently. Dunno why.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Regarding Batman being bitten by a vampire, I believe this is what would happen:

www.amazon.com/Batman-Vampire-Doug-Moench/dp/1401215653

As for drugs, I've tried marijuana before, but I was never a habitual user. It was when I was younger, and I haven't for a long while now.

And you shouldn't use drugs depending on the drug because of long term mental and physical health consequences or short term immediate consequences (including death in the case of speed, for example.) Also, since you don't know what your drugs are being cut with, there's a greater risk of harm - or in the case of say, ecstasy, harm *because* of the ingredients. And I personally don't like anything that makes a person mentally lazy.

As always, if you can't get through the day without being high, you should think about cutting back.

But I am in favor of legalizing marjiuana.

[Nikolai Campbell]

{This. . .was all Tony's idea. . .And I couldn't refuse Mads. I'm sorry, Sean. *is trying not to laugh*}

Dr. Neville! James- I mean, Dr. Campbell and Mr. Killbourne asked me to live with them! But, I'm kind of confused. I mean, when I lived with Miss Bri, I didn't call her mom or anything, but we weren't family. Dr. Campbell and Mr. Kilbourne want me to be family, so I think I should call them something else.

They'd be like my parents, only. . .I don't know what I should say. The other kids can say mom and dad, so what am I supposed to do?