Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in CO’s Quarters - Dessert - Once in a Century (Presim)

Posted by Captain Orvos Legen (Commanding Officer) in CO’s Quarters - Dessert - Once in a Century (Presim)

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in CO’s Quarters - Dessert - Once in a Century (Presim)
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Janna was silent for a few moment before she nodded slowly. “It was easy to open up to you. It was that game of pool in the rec area of the lounge, and then after in the holodeck. We asked each other intriguing questions and I could admit my fears to you, even though we just met. For a counsellor like me that’s… unusual.”

She sat up more fully and puled away from him, but only so she could face him. Crossing her legs, her grass green eyes were fixed on the man she had been in love with for quite some time now. “After my accident, I.. struggled, Orvos. I didn’t want the life that seemed before me. I wanted nothing to do wth being a constant patient and my career choice of being a scientist and travelling the stars seemed laughable. Was it depression? Yes. But it was more than that. It was a fundamanetal crisis of self. Who was I now?”

“I figured it out and psychology appealed to me enough that I’ve devoted my life to this career path. But it’s like I said, it’s easy to hide behind the therapeutic mask. I don’t use it as much as others do, and in fact I have taken strides to set it to the side a lot lately. But when I’m in a session, it’s mostly one-way. They share wth me and I share only if it’s useful to help them. It’s rare for people outside of social situations to ask about what I’m dealing with, the burdens I carry. And aside from how it is here on the ship, there is the way I don’t share much with my mothers. Mostly out of a desire to not worry them, especially given there is a family history in Starfleet that isn’t super pleasant. But I’m not a child and they can probably handle more than I give them credit for.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Orvos listened carefully to her words. He heard her past, her struggles, the issues she sought to overcome. “I’m sure you’re seeking perhaps someone to talk to outside of myself? That’s understandable obviously. Perhaps, yes, your parents deserve some more credit? It seems an avenue worth testing. Though, if I’m going to be honest, it sounds like you need a best friend here. That or a fellow counselor? Though, best friend might fit the bill a bit better.” He put his thoughts out there, allowing her to play with those ideas as she saw fit.

-Captain Orvos Legen, CO

She dropped her gaze but only to ponder over his suggestions. Janna let let roll through her mind and listened to what her body was telling her was her actual reaction and not just what she thought she should feel. “I’m… working on it. Slowly. And that’s okay by me. If I need to talk to a therapist, I have ones I can call who work with other therapists, and I’m okay talking to members of my team for the most part. I think?” She gave a half-shrug. “I’ve been on this ship quite a long time, and I understand things were a little chaotic when I was appointed head of the department, so I didn’t get a rank promotion.” She gave him a lopsided and sheepish smile. “It’s sort of weird, but I also haven’t had anyway act oddly with me because of it. But I don’t know, I’m a little self-conscious about it some days. Maybe more than I like to admit.” Janna held up a hand. “And this is not me asking for anything, which I know you know. I’m just telling you how I’ve been feeling. I’ve long felt like the Athena is home, but there’s a small part of me that understands I could be called away at a moment’s notice, even if I don’t want to go. I don’t have the clout to say no, really.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Orvos listened and gently smiled at the mention of rank promotion. He knew she was getting things off her chest. But that didn’t mean he hadn’t considered the possibility of such a thing soon enough. From a Commanding officer’s perspective, she had managed her department quite well under chaotic circumstances. And the crew was looked after. She certainly had earned it. Now, however, wasn’t quite the time to dwell on it.

“Well, I’m not going to spoil anything, but your work on Athena hasn’t gone unnoticed,” he added, hoping to provide some reassurance of her place on the ship. “What are your aspirations? Is starfleet where you want to retire? Does a counseling position in the civilian realm sounds appealing? You spend so much time talking to others, drawing out answers to questions like that, I’m sure. So, I’d like to turn them to you. What do you want?”

-Captain Orvos Legen, CO

Janna drew in a deep breath and returned to a position nestled against him, resting her head near his shoulder. “Sometimes these questions pop into my brain but I honestly haven’t taken much time to ponder them seriously. I’m happy in Starfleet, but I’m not aiming to climb the ranks. It’s not for me. I love my work and being a therapist is what I think I was meant to be. If at some point that journey takes me away from Starfleet, I’d be okay with that. I think now that I’ve let myself form connections of my own, I can see how lovely a life that could be, so I’m open to settling down, as it were.” She chuckled. “I’ve spent a fair bit of time with Faye and Daggum and I look at them as a couple and go, yes, that right there. That feeling that you have someone’s back and they have yours, and you choose to build. beautiful life together. Maybe there would children, maybe not, depending if it’s something I could safely do even.

She tilted her head to gaze up at him. “I’m open to where the journey leads me, because if there’s anything I know in my short life so far, is that it can all change so quickly, in a heart beat. I want to be in the moment as much as I can.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Orvos naturally listened to her, gripping onto each word and analyzing it all. He felt her head tilt to face him, and he met her gaze with his own. “Being open to change is a good thing. Life is too short for most. Like blades of grass, I’ve watched people appear and disappear over the years. Being open is what allows us El Aurians to listen so well. We’ve seen the changes and how people need to adapt. I’m sure your work as a counselor may have helped in that realization? Or maybe the realization helps in your work? Either way…”

Janna gave a couple small nods. She figured it was probably a mix of both. She said nothing, just gazed into his eyes, waiting patiently for him to say what he wanted to.

He trailed off for a moment as his opposite hand cupped her cheek. “Being in the moment is, in my opinion of course, one of the best ways to live a life.” He pulled her closer to him as he both gently and intentionally brought his lips to hers to embrace.

-Captain Orvos Legen, CO

She smiled beneath his kiss before kissing him back deeply. Her right arm snaked around his side and Janna soaked up this moment that was about more than just physical connection and pleasure. Something in her stirred, craving more. Yes it was her own feelings but as it had been since they had first become so much closer, her body responded to him in a different level that was hard to explain. She had choice, of course, and could pull away, but she loved him and was happy here with him. This small internal vibration she could sense was more like a confirmation that yes this was good.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Orvos’ mind was open to her, taking in whatever she might be feeling. It was natural for him at this point. The trust was all there. They had a natural give and take that seemed to still be balancing itself out. Thankfully, in the privacy of either of their quarters, the escalations that would come had room to grow. They could learn without too much interference. The only thing that made it awkward was the cortical monitor the good doctor insisted she wear. But…even that was negotiable.

His hand glided to the side of her face, fingers pushing through her golden curls as he deepened their kiss. His mind open, he could feel her internal vibration. He could sense the acceptance of it all. And in turn, his own mental state hummed in tune with her. He allowed his own feelings to amplify a bit, curious if she would know it, understand it, and how she might respond.

-Captain Orvos Legen, CO

It was the age old adage of ‘Doctor, Heal thyself’. Health professionals could be quite hypocritical at times, even if they don’t mean to. It became a case of ‘Do as I suggest, not as I do’. But Janna truly did want to lead by example.

For a very long time, she kept herself at a distance, even as she was friendly and social. On occasion romance had entered her life, but nothing like this. Nothing could have prepared her for Orvos Legen. Maybe in some small way, she had been meant for this, for him? Was that possible?

It didn’t matter. In the here and know, all she knew was that she was the happiest in right now than she could ever remember being, strange evolution in progress and all.

The heat of his hand soaked through her skin and she kissed him more deeply, shifting her position to straddle his lap, the skirt of her dress slipping over his legs. Pulling back just enough to break the kiss and still hover her face a breath from his, Janna reached up and tugged the cortical monitor from the base of her ear and tossed it to the side. It landed on the table with a clatter and she grinned, her grass green eyes all but backlit.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Orvos grinned broadly as his heart began to pick up pace after he felt her weight shift and lock him in seat. Her sweet scented breathe enticed him all the more after their brief but very passionate kiss. His eyes were locked on her face. His body responded upon hearing the clatter of the cortical monitor on the ground. He gave a throaty laugh as his hand brought her against him. “We’re going to be making quite the habit of that, aren’t we?”

He didn’t give her time to answer as his lips pressed once more to hers firm and deep, and his hands began searching for her warm creamy skin.

Fade

-Captain Orvos Legen, CO