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

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Serena Stone (Executive Officer) in Business As Usual - Redux
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(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.”

Most people didn’t, and Janna had only told a very select few about her condition.

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

~Janna Kingston, CNS

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

Kingston nodded and watched her leave. After the door closed, Janna smiled and moved to her desk to write session notes.

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

The calm and optimistic receptionist smiled. “Well then, I hope that works out well. In my experience, when there isn’t a concrete next appointment, Kingston will follow up.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Serena nodded. “Good. I figured she would, but it’s good to have it confirmed.” She paused for a moment. “How are things down here? How are you?” While she trusted janna to run her department, it was good to have her ear to the ground a little farther down the chain, and of course build rapport where she could.

Stone, XO

Cherry nodded thoughtfully. “Pretty good actually. Less chaotic than even a few months ago, so that’s been helpful. Sometimes when we have a really intense mission or there’s a large crew rotation that happens, this department get easily overworked. It is fine on a usual basis, and we just accept that some times are going to be busier than others. Kingston has been here through some of the worst of these times so she’s quick to adapt.” Cherry leaned forward and gave Serena a little grin. “Though I don’t mind saying that since there are only six on the counselling staff, and even though this is more than most ship can ever hope for, a little extra care and appreciation for their efforts would go a long way. They rarely complain, despite being on call at all hours of the day and night, and just like any of the other medical staff will just say they are doing their job. But it’s intense work, and they too need breaks. As the department administrative assistant, I don’t mind saying that they could use some more intentional downtime. Every time the crew has R&R it always coincides with crew transfers. Someone has to do those evals, so some people don’t really get the time off that other do.” She shrugged and leaned back. Cherry didn’t feel like she was breaking anyone’s confidence either. This was simply a resource management issue and entirely the realm of the XO.

~Cherry

Serena nodded, turning the matter over. “Its a big task, for sure. And probably not as appreciated as regular medical staff.” She chewed the inside of her cheek for a moment. “I think we can work some extra shore leave next time we make port. Strictly speaking, there’s more wiggle room for this department, even with about a thousand souls aboard. And maybe some of those evals can be offloaded to station crew or whatnot during the next crew transfer or two. Most of the time it’s just a quick check-up anyway, and doesn’t matter a whole lot who’s doing it, right? Any real work usually happens when we’re under way.”

Lt. Cmdr. Serena Stone
Executive Officer, USS Athena

“Actually, I think you’ll find the counselling staff will disagree. Yes, boarding evals are usually straightforward, but they have to build a therapeutic rapport with the crew. How will new crew members feel comfortable coming to them when things are hard if the know the team just passed them off to other?” While Cherry herself had no certification, she had studied psychology and sociology along with her administrative studies. It was why she was suited to working as a department assistant.

“But, being mindful of how many people are transferred in at any one time and making sure the staff here can rotate their own schedules to allow downtime, that would be helpful. Especially for a certain department head who will more than likely stay behind so the rest of her staff can have R&R,” she said with a tiny wink.

~Cherry Blossom, Tattletale

“Miss Blossom, I mostly approve Miss Kingston’s scheduling, as it’s up to her to schedule shifts and teams. Or whoever she has do it. Approving her approval.” She flashed Cherry a stern look then broke into a small smile. “So that’s something you’ll have to fight her on, unless you want me to overrule the department head?” She turned her head slightly to the side, pinning the administrative assistant with a do we really wanna rock that boat type of look.

Cherry shrugged. “I’m just the messenger. Do with it what you will.” But there was gleam in her eyes.

“As for rate of transfers, I can do that. The Athena, to my mind, is the pride of this fleet. I think we can manage a more staggered crew rotation. Pending the Captain’s approval of course.” A smirk followed, then a more sober nod.

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

“Of course,” the ensign said. In Cherry’s mind she was looking out not only for her department, but for the whole ship. After all, if your mental health team was burning out, it was hard to help keep the crew level as well.

“And meanwhile, I’ll let you know as soon as Kingston asks me to book a follow up for you, if that is in fact her plan.”

~Cherry Blossom, Receptionist/ Dept. Admin

“Sounds good to me,” she replied and patted the counter. “Appreciate that, and the intel.”

Lt. Cmdr. Stone, Executive Officer

Cherry gave a wink. “See you later, Commander. Have a good rest of your day.”

~Cherry Blossom, Receptionist/ Dept. Admin