Posted by Lieutenant Commander Akirel Ros (Chief Engineer) in Post Sim - Chief Engineers Check in with the CNS

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Post Sim - Chief Engineers Check in with the CNS

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Akirel Ros (Chief Engineer) in Post Sim - Chief Engineers Check in with the CNS

(snip)

“At this stage, welcoming and friendly,” his head tilted slightly to the door, indicating Cherry outside at the reception desk. “I’ve yet to sit down with the Engineering department, day one after all, but the rest of the crew I’ve met have been competent to say the least. I’ll reserve judgement on the rest until I’ve met them but I’m sure they wouldn’t be here if they didn’t know what they are doing.”

“I’ve met the Chief Med Tech, Doctor Grey. Had a conversation with Commander Nightstalker after getting off the shuttle and heard about all the exciting things that might happen when one goes anywhere around here,” Ros paused slightly and smiled, but whether it was about that or what he was about to say was hard to read. “I had a sit down with Commander Legen doing my meet and greet with the Executive Officer although I am yet to present to the Captain. Of course, I figured that I better get the check-in’s checked off before doing that, so you can warn her to watch out in case you see through my cover and discover I’m a raging lunatic deep down.” Now along with the smile, Ros casually winked at her to go with the jest.

“Oh yes, all sort of issues to be on the lookout for,” she deadpanned.

“Oh, and with this conversation that’s twice now I’ve heard the name of Marishka and her bar,” he tilted his head slightly as he spoke now, setting the earring swaying. “I’m going to have to check it out after duty tonight. First drinks on a new ship shouldn’t be alone after all and her lounge sounds poplar.”

Lt Cmdr Akirel, CE

Kingston grinned. “It’s a great place to relax. I don’t get tons of time to be there, but when I do, I enjoy it.”

“So, I’m the kind of counsellor that doesn’t poke my head in places unless I sense I need to. I prefer to have a rapport with the senior staff, and make sure you know I’m here as a sounding board if you need me to be, no matter what. If there is nothing you feel you want to discuss, I’m going to trust that you know yourself well enough to know when to seek me out. Your file tells me a lot and it also tells me that you seem to be handling the fluctuations that come with your life and career well enough. Does that sound accurate to you?”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“Like a sharpshooter at ten paces, accurate,” Ros grinned. “I move around a lot by nature, my jobs have suited me well up till now, that brings ups and downs,” his grin dropped to a smile then, and he finished his drink and placed it down on the small table.

Janna winked. After all, she hadn’t been doing her job and bothered to get a whole doctorate degree for the sake of the title. She lived and breathed her work because she was damned good at it.

“But who counsels the counselor?” Ros asked her, the slight smile remaining. “I’m qualified, I’m sure you have seen that in my file. Counselors make the worst patients I know but, if you need to talk, you know where to find me.” Ros looked her in the eyes for a long moment, his deep greens looking into her grass greens. “It can be difficult talking to colleagues if you need to, but we all have those moments.” Ros paused slightly and smiled wider. “I’m one step removed from that,” he chuckled, “I know, you’ll graciously decline, but when the time comes you know I can listen. You might learn how to realign a plasma conduit during it though.”

Lt Cmdr Akirel, CE

She grin faded slightly, and inwardly she cursed the immediate tell. It wasn’t that she was closed off, no entirely the opposite. She was in the psychotherapy camp that believed in connection with her patients made for better outcomes. Akirel’s offer wasn’t an idle one wither, that deep instinct that had bloomed recently had told her as much, and yet, she was hesitant. Why? Because it was all so complicated? Because if they unravelled one thread they could unravel them all? And damn him being a counsellor previously, because it meant he could see right through her shiny facade.

Janna looked away, another tell that irked her, but her therapist’s mask wasn’t useful in this moment. “I have people I can confide in, but to be honest, I usually have to call one of our support for stuff,” she said, referring to the group of counsellors in Starfleet whose sole job was to do therapy for the mental health practitioners. But given how space worked, sometimes it wasn’t an immediate option. And yes, there were five other counsellors in her department who not all that long ago she had just been the assistant department head to, and now was their boss. The dynamic had shifted, even though it was imperceptible from the outside.

Finally she looked back. “I will keep your offer in mind,” she said.

~Janna Kingston, CNS