#patient interview

[BEGIN TAPE]

Dr. Tibbetts: This is Dr. Emily Tibbetts, this is my first interview with my first patient within Arkham Asylum. The date is January 20th, 20XX, at 2:36 p.m. Let's get this started.

Dr. Tibbetts presses a button on her desk.

Dr. Tibbetts: You can let them in, Mr. Bolton, it's alright.

The heavy steel door is opened, locks unlocked, and with a harsh shove, the patient is taken through. Corvus, comes through the door in chains, being dragged by Chief of Security, Lyle Bolton. Both seem unwilling to be in each other's presence.

Corvus: Oh no, doctor, let the man keep dragging me. Let the last bits of my dignity fade away to keep this man’s ego up.

They stop, Lyle Bolton’s grip on the patient tightens yet Corvus does not reach.

Lyle Bolton: You want me to throw you in like trash?!

Corvus: Are you implying that this poor doctor is the trash can, Lyle? How rude...

Lyle Bolton raises the patient by their collar.

Lyle Bolton: YOU-

Dr. Tibbetts stands up from her chair.

Dr. Tibbetts: Mr. Bolton, please-

Corvus: Nonono, let him speak, doctor, we may be going through a breakthrough here!

Bolton is fuming.

Dr. Tibbetts: Bolton-

Lyle Bolton plants Corvus onto the chair, roughly.

Lyle Bolton: Stay there! Don't move a damn muscle until this session’s over.

Corvus: Don’t worry, I don't plan to do much with you around.

Lyle Bolton leaves the room, still fuming. Once the door is closed is where Dr. Tibbetts sits down and resumes her work.

Dr. Tibbetts: You must forgive Mr. Bolton, he needs more confirmation on how not to handle patients. Especially patients in my care.

Corvus: It’s no problem, really. You’ll, unfortunately, get used to it as the years go by. You’re new, doctor, you wouldn't know.

Dr. Tibbetts: You can call me Dr. Tibbetts.

Corvus: Doctor it is.

Dr. Tibbetts takes a moment before looking through her files.

Dr. Tibbetts: Well, Corvus, it seems that. you've been moved to my care!

Corvus: Yes, I can see that.

Dr. Tibbetts: And as far as I'm aware, it seems that due to an incident last month is what may have caused it. Would you care to explain what happened to Dr. Martin?

Corvus: Don’t you mean last year?

Dr. Tibbetts: Pardon?

Corvus: Last year. The month before January is December. Thus making the incident last year.

Dr. Tibbetts: Well, uh, I suppose that's what I was going for.

Corvus: And going for you did, Doctor! You must be detailed about the topics you share with me, otherwise, I’ll be confused. I have an awful tendency to not understand social cues from humans.

Dr. Tibbetts: Well, that's where I'm here to help! I’ll guide you through our sessions and help you heal to the best of my abilities. No matter what!

Corvus: Wonderful!

Dr. Tibbetts: Alright, since we got that out of the way, let’s start from before. What happened between you and Dr. Martin last year?

Corvus: I don't want to talk about it.

Dr. Tibbetts: Corvus, you know that the most important part of our sessions is your cooperation, no?

Corvus: Well, I just don't see what is there to talk about! I killed the woman. Rather brutally if I remember correctly. It's not exactly the kind of thing to talk about right away, you know.

[BEGIN TAPE]

Corvus: I was wondering, what caused you to join such an asylum, doctor? To have such potential and to waste it away in a place like this? Surely, this must be a mistake!

Dr. Tibbetts places her clipboard down.

Dr. Tibbetts: Corvus, this is my session, I'm the one to ask you questions, not the other way around.

Corvus: Yes, I know, but my curiosity knows no bounds!

Dr. Tibbetts: Well, whatever happens in my work is my responsibility. If I see this as a mistake then I’ll be able to handle it just fine.

Corvus: And how are you handling this mistake, doctor?

Dr. Tibbetts: Corvus-

Corvus laughs.

Corvus: My apologies, doctor, I don't mean to be rude! I can't help myself with my questions, but please, talk. I'm interested in what you have to say.

Dr. Tibbetts: Well, let's start with the basics. We don't have to start strong, just simple questions will be just fine.

Corvus: Very well.

Dr. Tibbetts picks up her clipboard.

Dr. Tibbetts: Alright, so, Corvus, tell me, what inspires you?

Corvus: Many things inspire me.

Dr. Tibbetts: Like what?

Corvus: My brothers and sisters fly freely in and out of Gotham City. The Gods who have watched over me before, during, and after my transformation. The good doctor who speaks such truth about fear and how it consumes our very lives. A neverending fight against a man dressed like a bat. And the hope that maybe one day I will join my brothers and sisters on an eternal flight, away from the living and toward the afterlife.

Dr. Tibbetts: You want to live a fulfilling life? Is that what I'm hearing?

Corvus: I want to live a considerable life, one I did not foresee in my youth, but power through enough to survive. Even in this place, you call ‘work’, is yet another obstacle I’ll eventually overcome.

Dr. Tibbetts: And how do you think you’ll overcome Arkham Asylum? You've broken out of your cell plenty of times with others, you've hindered security protocols, and even tested Dr. Arkham himself! I think you’ve overcome enough.

Corvus: Not enough, not at all. There's so much more to overcome in this place. New patients to talk to, new security guards to manhandle, and new doctors to eventually interview.

Dr. Tibbetts: Interview?

Corvus: Yes, that's what this is, isn't it? I'm interviewing you and you’re interviewing me!

Dr. Tibbetts sighs.

Dr. Tibbetts: Corvus-

Corvus laughs again.

Corvus: Joking! I'm only joking!

Dr. Tibbetts: It’s not funny, Corvus.

Corvus: Forgive me, doctor, I can't help myself. I get bored after having to answer the same questions over and over again. You've read my files, you know exactly what the other doctors think of me, what more could you ask from me?

Dr. Tibbetts: What everyone else thinks shouldn't matter. It's what you think is important.

Corvus: And what should I think of, doctor? I've thought enough already, there's nothing that you can ask that I haven't heard of before.

Dr. Tibbetts: Really?

Corvus: Yes! Go ahead, ask whatever questions you have in that mind of yours! I can assure you, I've heard them all before.

Dr. Tibbetts: Alright then, Corvus, tell me, why?

Corvus: . . .why what?

Dr. Tibbetts: That’s it. That's my question, why?

Corvus: I’m afraid I don't understand where this question is leading up to.

Dr. Tibbetts: There is nothing else to it, Corvus. That's my question, why? Just that. Why? Think of that for a moment.

Corvus: . . .hmm. . .

A few minutes pass by and nothing is said between Corvus and Dr. Tibbetts.

Corvus: You are a strange doctor, Dr. Tibbetts, and for that, you have my respect.

Dr. Tibbetts: That’s wonderful to hear, Corvus.

Corvus: I suppose so, not a lot of people garner my respect, especially when they’re. . .what’s the word?

Dr. Tibbetts: A psychiatrist?

Corvus: Human. Just human.

Dr. Tibbetts: And why is that, Corvus? You seem to trust plenty of inmates here, are they not human?

Corvus: They are but they earn my trust, doctor, whether that be in or out of this dreaded asylum. Unlike these sessions where I'm forced to talk about my feelings, strangely enough, I feel more reassurance talking to madmen than sane ones.

Dr. Tibbetts: No one is forcing you to talk, Corvus, these sessions are made to help you rehabilitate.

Corvus huffs.

Corvus: That’s rich.

Corvus then stands up, their chains rattling, shocking Dr. Tibbetts.

Dr. Tibbetts: Cor-

Corvus: Gotham City, prepare yourselves, for Corvus, the crow of unmistakable experimental disfigurement against the Gods has been rehabilitated!

Corvus laughs even louder, disrupting Dr. Tibbetts's order for them to sit down.

Corvus: Rejoice, Gotham, for now, a being of pure malice can walk around freely and partake in human activities! Quick! Hide your children as they may peck at their eyes! Hide your women as they may tear at their skin to feed their crows to feed their children! Hide your men as they will tear away their heads off to administer themselves better than the man himself!

Corvus then sits down in a heap, chains rattling. There is a brief moment of silence until Corvus sighs, claws raised to pinch at the bridge of their beak.

Corvus: Do this one favor for me, doctor, please understand there is no hope for me left in this world. Whatever kind of mindset you’ve set for me to have in the future is gone. There is nothing in this city that could ever accept who and what I am.

Corvus raises their shackles, shaking them.

Corvus: I am a criminal. I am an abomination recontextualized by man. I am a deluded creature to forever please the never-ending wants and needs of the Gods.

Corvus sighs, in defeat.

Corvus: I am Corvus, the crow that walks and talks amongst the world of man.

[Pause]

Dr Noel: After two weeks in solitary he is now cleared to come back for therapy as normal. I hope that this session, answers about his behavior will be uncovered, hopefully without another incident.

[Door opening]

Dr Noel: You are free to leave, guards.

Guard: Sure you don’t want us to stay, Doc?

Dr Noel: I’m sure he won’t be an issue, but thank you anyway.

Guard: Whatever you say...

[Door closing]

Dr Noel: Hello, again. How are you feeling?

[Silence]

Talon: ...sorry.

Dr Noel: For the incident two weeks ago?

Talon: I don’t like it when I lose control like that. Bad things happen.

Dr Noel: Like what, for example?

Talon: Just bad things.

Dr Noel: Considering your memory, I’m surprised you remember so well.

Talon: Bad memories are easier to keep than good ones. I don’t know how but They probably made sure of that.

Dr Noel: There’s that ‘They’, again. Why are you so afraid of ‘Them’?

Talon: I didn’t used to be this way. I used to be… good.

Dr Noel: You aren’t now? What are you then?

Talon: No, not like I was then. I just have a feeling you wouldn’t understand. And you really want to know what I am?

Dr Noel: Yes.

Talon: [Voice louder with each word] The truth is, I don’t get to decide anything. I do what I’m told and that’s it. If I’m told to kill someone, I do it, because I have to. I’m not a mercenary or a villain. The truth is…

[Pause]

Talon: [quietly] ... I’m just Their pawn.

Guard: You ready, Doc?

Dr Noel: Of course. Hello again Talon. Do you remember me?

Talon: Kind of. Today is a good today.

Dr Noel: ‘Good day’? Can you elaborate?

Talon: Some days are just better than other days.

[Pause]

Talon: … I think I loved someone once.

Dr Noel: How does that make you feel? Talon: I don’t trust it.

Dr Noel: Why not?

Talon: It might just be Them trying to control me again.

Dr Noel: Who is ‘Them’?

Talon: If you’re smart you won’t ask that question. I’ve killed people over the answer.I think, anyway.

Dr Noel: Would you kill me, Talon? Do you feel a need to?

Talon: No. I don’t want to. But it doesn’t matter how many times I say no or how much I don’t want to. I always do what they want.

Dr Noel: What would they do to you if you refused?

Talon: I don’t want to talk about it.

Dr Noel: Talon, please, I only want to help you.

Talon: [angered] No! And you can’t make me do anything. Stay away!

Dr Noel: [sighs] Maybe next time. Guards!

[Door opening, and then immediately movement. Chair scraping across the concrete]

Talon: [panicked] No, don’t touch me!

Guard: [Expletive], he’s got my gun-

Dr Noel: Talon-