<snip>

“Nothing to apologize for, I am glad you feel comfortable talking here.” she took a sip from her cup and then regarded him slightly, “I have your file but I prefer starting fresh because I want to make my own observations without having it colored by others opinions or thoughts.”

• Dinui ix’Indrai, Counselor

Riley nodded, leaning forward, forearms on his thighs, staring at the water swirling in the glass he held in both hands. “I didn’t get diagnosed until I started university,” he told her. “It explained so much. Getting it under control changed my life. Well, as under control as it can get, I think,” he chuckled. “I still have a tendency to overtalk, and to fidget sometimes, but it’s easier to bring under control.” He took a calming breath as he felt the effects of a serotonin dump begin to take hold.

“I wouldn’t be here otherwise.” He took a gulp of the water and set it on the side table.

• Ensign Riley, Science

Dinui nodded as he spoke, “Over-talking is never going to be an issue here, you’re welcome to say whatever comes to mind and there will not be an issue, unless you are suddenly unreasonable but I doubt it will occur.” she motioned to the croissants again as she took one herself. “There’s nothing wrong with fidgeting when it doesn’t effect the conversation or your work. I know many whom gesture while speaking all the time and others who tap a finger against their console while working. Everyone has small fidgets whether they admit it or not.” she paused and added, “What do you think works best for you and what has not worked?” Hearing his own opinions would give her more insight on how he dwelt with issues and how he felt about various solutions that had been tried succeeded or failed.

• Dinui ix’Indrai, Counselor

Riley gave a wry half-grin and tapped the base of his skull. “I have a serotonin stimulator implant, which sends signals to, as the name implies, stimulate the production of serotonin, keeping me at a more normal level for day-to-day activities.” He sipped the water, leaned back and placed on the side table. I fidget mostly with small objects - styluses mostly,” he chuckled. “I spin them, flip them, mostly not even realizing I’m doing it.” He raised his right hand and wiggled two fingers. “It’s just enough activity to keep my brain engaged that I can stay focused on other things.”

He shook his head again. “I do better with regularity - something that is different can too easily get me off track. I have to keep things in the same place or I will forget them, for instance. I had to set my door at the Academy dorm to only open if my badge was on me, or I’d forget it,” he chuckled. “That helped me learn where I needed to place it so I don’t forget it, even without the door setup.”

He leaned forward on his forearms again, folding his hands. “I’m very satisfied with the stimulator. It changed my life. I never would have graduated university, let alone the Academy, without it.”

• Ensign Riley, Science