Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Business As Usual - Redux

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Serena Stone (Executive Officer) in Business As Usual - Redux

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Business As Usual - Redux

(snip)

Janna nodded. Sometimes words were just semantics, other times the slight differences in meaning for a person mattered. She was listening to how Serena evaluated the concept of safety and taking it in because it was an important framework for how she lived her life. “Well, I hope the Athena is a place you can feel safer. But a friendly suggestion? You yourself alone don’t have to do all the work to make it safer. Let us help. This crew cares deeply about protecting the ship and each other. We all have our strengths, and this is one of yours, but it’s also not your sole burden.”

The redhead nodded. “I know,” she murmured. The tone was mostly flat, almost tired. Acknowledging, without any real energy to it.

“Now, tomorrow on the holodeck. I’ll bring my hiking shoes,” Kingston said with a grin.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“Oh, getting serious are we,” she said, breaking into a small smile. “Guess I’ll have to get mine out of mothballs.”

Stone

Janna knew she was asking a lot of Serena in their sessions. It wasn’t exactly work to get excited about, but Janna believed it was worth going through so that Serena could find her place here. But more than that she hoped Serena would find herself here. It wouldn’t happen without digging deep and Janna wasn’t going to open any wound she didn’t feel confident she could guide the healing of. She wasn’t perfect and she could make mistakes, but every part of her being felt that this was the right path to push. She would just need to be patient.

Janna grinned. “Would it amuse you to know I keep a pair around so I am reminded that walking won’t kill me?” she said with a chuckle. Her condition wasn’t that severe, but it could change so quickly. Sometimes just going about her everyday life felt like the ultimate act of bravery, but even she needed to push herself out of her comfort zone more.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

A smile broke across her face. “I mean, a little. But you’re taking care of yourself, right? So it shouldn’t be an issue. Besides, it’s the holodeck.” The redhead shrugged. “The exercise should be good, and it’s the closest we’re probably getting to fresh air on this cruise anyway. Right?”

Stone, XO

A slight shadow passed through Kingston’s bright green eyes, though the moment was brief. “I get my injections regularly, and it definitely helps,” she said. “And you know, being planetside hasn’t worked out so great for me the last couple of times, so holographic vistas it is,” she added with a laugh.

The XO nodded, and pushed to her feet. “I didn’t know, but.. that’s good to know.”

“I’ll see you then,” Janna said with a side smile.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Serena returned the smile. “Soon. Take care.”

A moment later she was back in the lobby, and stopping in at the front desk. She didn’t seem nearly so drawn and wiped this time as she greeted Cherry, then pressed on. “I’m note sure when Lieutenant Kingston wants me back in officially. But we have plans to link up later.”

Stone, XO