Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren (Doctor) in Pre - Sim Check in Counselor

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Pre - Sim Check in Counselor

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren (Doctor) in Pre - Sim Check in Counselor
Posted by… suppressed (12) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The medical check went off without a hitch. It was what she’d expected, but there was always a chance, when you were safeguarding a secret that might mean an end to your career, that something might bleed through. Most of the time, Talia could manage the stress that went along with the situation—with no problem, but when she experienced one of the ‘visions’, it was more difficult. Because of her past, she was not a fan of counselors, always worried they would trick her into saying something damning about herself.

Having dropped her duffle at the quarters she’d been assigned after leaving medical, she’d made her way to Janna Kingston’s office. Taking a deep breath to relax her nerves, Talia palmed the chime for entrance.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

As she stood in the corridor, Talia recalled the ‘neural echo’ she’d experienced on the shuttle. At first, there was the buzz beneath her skin, like standing too close to a transporter when it fired up, and then the gentle pressure behind her eyes. It had been months since she’d felt anything like it, so a second passed while her mind searched for the answer. The closer the shuttle got to the Athena, the more intense the feelings became and she realized they weren’t coming from outside, but from inside her head.

For a second her vision blurred and suddenly she felt something that wasn’t hers. A sense of alertness–movement, someone standing somewhere on the ship, walking quickly through a corridor. Then the sensation quickly shifted again, like two radio signals briefly overlapping. Awareness. Confusion. And then—the faintest echo of her own presence returning back at her. As if somewhere inside that enormous starship…someone had just realized she was nearby.

Talia looked down and saw her hands were shaking and with every kilometer they grew closer to the Athena, the echo grew clearer in her mind. No words or thoughts, just the sensation of another consciousness brushing against hers. Alive–aware–and very close.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

OOC: Just a reminder that the Mythology class has an entire counselling suite and there are six offices inside with a reception area. I’ll work around this. Also, Janna has some interesting mental ‘quirks’ that are growing and is becoming more and more empathic (among other things). We can discuss how this might play into Talia’s history and what Janna might be able to pick up. I’m going to make one assumption that I hope is okay.
IC:
It wasn’t unusual for new crew members or patients to find themselves not quite ready to step in. But the young woman standing there pinged Janna’s senses in a way she couldn’t fully describe. Something otherly, distant. It faded as she approached from the side, hoping to not startle the woman. Kingston reached out and touched her fingertips to her forearm. “Two more steps and then you’re inside. I promise it won’t be so terrible,” she said gently.

Janna Kingston was a petite Human woman with chin length blond curls and grass green eyes. She radiated calmness and though she was a bit shorter than Talia, she was comfortable taking up space.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Lost in her own thoughts and dreading the appointment, Talia startled when the counselor touched her arm. “Oh! I’m sorry…was I blocking your way?” Once the door opened, she saw that the psych department was much larger than she was used to. There was more than one counselor, each having their own office and when she stepped inside , it was actually a receiving area.

“I wouldn’t say blocking. Just returning from my break,” Janna said.

Trying to stay calm, Talia regulated her breathing and assured herself it was impossible for anyone to know what happened years ago. She was perfectly safe on the Athena and it was time to quit worrying about past circumstances.

“I’m just here to get cleared for duty. I was on the last shuttle that arrived.”

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

“That was my guess,” Janna said with a warm smile.

In the centre of the half-moon shaped space was a curved desk where a blond Risian sat behind a computer terminal. Behind her along the curve of the room were six doors, each with a different colour. The wall with the door to the corridor had a few chairs for people to wait if needed.

“Come on, let’s get you checked in,” she said, stepping in. She turned and walked backward. “I’m Janna Kingston. Did you have an appointment already? Cherry can tell you who you’re supposed to see.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Looking around, Talia answered. “Actually, I don’t have an appointment. I was hoping to just see whoever is available and get cleared. I’ve been through medical already and gotten my quarters assignment. Once I pass my psych eval, the Captain has given me the rest of the day to become aquainted with the ship. There’s supposed to be a welcome party in the Parthenon and I’m hoping to check it out, then get my belongings stowed away so I can start my first shift early tomorrow morning.”

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

Janna smiled. “I heard about the party. I think it’s a great idea. I’ll definitely be dropping by if I can.”

Cherry smiled at the newcomer. “And your name is?”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“Talia Ren.” She repeated her information to the receptionist. “I was on the last shuttle, tranferring over from the Memorial.” Talia clasped her hands in front of her body to keep from fidgeting.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

A few taps and Cherry looked up. “There you are. We split the incoming group amongst the counselling staff and Counsellor Kejlabi is supposed to see you.”

Janna shook her head, her blood curls shifting to and fro. “No, that won’t work today. He’s in an extended session all morning. I’ll take Lieutenant Ren.”

Cherry arched her brows. “You sure?” Her tone and expression were utterly serious, save for the glimmer in her eyes.

Kingston chuckled. “Yes, absolutely. Though I appreciate the concern, even if I already have two moms who nag me,” she said with a wink.

Cherry just grinned. “So this is a ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ situation, right, Doc?”

She shook her head at her assistant and fought the urge to roll her eyes before Janna turned her assessing gaze on Talia and gestured with her head. “Come with me, my office is just behind us.”

Kingston led her through the red door and the office was a modest space rather fitting of the petite woman. She didn’t go to great lengths to decorate, but it was definitely more than the standard grey furniture and carpet. On the wall above the couch was an image of an ocean scene that could be almost anywhere and the standard grey slim arm chairs had been replaced with softer larger armchairs in a dark blue that looked inviting to curl up into. On top of the standard carpet, the sitting area was covered in a plush rug in different shades of blues that matched the ocean in the photo. On the other side of the room where she mostly worked, there was a tall leafy plant near her desk and a single silver photo frame on the corner of the desk where she could easily see it when she worked at the computer terminal. Overall, the place was warm but practical and uncluttered- much like Janna.

The door slipped closed behind them and Janna moved to her desk. “Have a seat in one of the armchairs, I just need to check something,” she said, turning her computer terminal for a moment to bring up files. “I also think I’m going to want something else to drink. What about you, can I get you anything Talia?”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

The Lt briefly wondered if the chair she selected made any difference, but chose the one nearest the door (if only by a few inches). “No thank you, I’m fine.” Talia took the opportunity to look around at Kingston’s office decor. It was the room the woman worked in every day, so it should tell her something about the counselor, but it didn’t really. Of course, she wasn’t trained to pull information from the contents of a room. “These chairs are wonderfully comfortable—much moreso than others I’ve sat in in offices like this.”

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

“Life’s too short of uncomfortable chairs,” Janna said, flicking a grin towards Talia over her shoulder. Skimming the file she needed to reference, she closed out her terminal and moved to the replicator. She had had far too much coffee today and opted for a Zaldan spiced tea. It had a kick of warmth from the earthy spices and something bright about it that made you feel both soothed and awake at the same time.

Settling into the other chair, Kingston took a sip and then held the cup so it rested on the arm of the chair. “So, new ship. Transfers can be quite the adjustment. Is there anything you think will be challenging about the transition to life here on the Athena?”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“Challenging? No—its just I don’t look forward to making new friends again. It seems just when you get comfortable in a new post, Starfleet ups and moves you so you have to start all over again.” Talia smiled and smoothed her hands over the plush arms of her chair. “I want friends, I just don’t want to have to go through all the questions and answers it takes to get there.”

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

Janna nodded. “It’s a difficult reality about a life in Starfleet that they don’t really tell you about. And definitely in the first few years of your career, your first couple of postings, it take time to figure out the best way to handle it. Many people find the process does get a bit easier as you go on. It just depends on how you approach it.

She sipped from her mug, letting the warming spices and bright undercurrent settle on her tongue a moment. “Sometimes our mindset when we enter these sorts of situations matters more than how we go about it. Is there a way that might make the process of making new friends here easier for you?”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Interesting question, but if she knew of a way she wouldn’t be so hesitant to to have to go through the process. “I have no idea if there’s an easier way, Counselor. I only know one way to get to know people. A give and take of information between you and them.” Her brow wrinkled. “Do you have some other suggestion?”

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

Janna bobbed her head back and forth. “Perhaps. Sometimes our expectations from social exchanges are just as important as the actual interaction itself. We all have expectations of things, even if we’re not fully aware of it. It’s what makes some interactions feel fulfilling and others fall flat. Many times it’s because we had expectations that were either met or not met. And this isn’t a bad thing. It’s how we navigate the world around us.”

She took a moment to sip her tea. “So, for example, if you had a conversation with someone and it didn’t have that give and take, and the other person kept to very short or even one word replies, how would you feel about that conversation once it was over?”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Talia didn’t even need to think about her answer. “Oh, I’d be very unsatisfied. I might even start answering them the same way provided they actually asked questions. Living on a star ship isn’t like living on a planet or a station. There is a finite number of people you’ll come into contact with on a ship, and to find that a person you work with doesn’t like conversation…well, that’s a red flag for me. I’d engage with them as far as work went, but I’d find something or someone more satisfying to be with in my personal time.”

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

“First impressions can be very important at times, for sure. But what if they don’t tell the whole story? What if someone is a bit more cautious when they first meet new people, for many different reasons, and so they don’t say too much in that first conversation> But they actually share a common interest with you and would happily talk about that for ages and that in turn allows them to relax and share more about themselves. But if you don’t have that second conversation, you might not find out about that common interest,” Janna said, taking in Talia with keen eyes, her tea cup resting on the arm of the chair.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“You’re right. I know you’re right, and I’m sorry if my answer was a little firmer than I actually meant it to be. I think I might just be tired from the trip. None of us on the Memorial expected the transfer and we didn’t have very long to pack and assume our duties here. So, let’s chalk up my answer to tired. Would that be okay? Now, for what I would really do, it would be just like you said. I know it takes more than one interaction to ‘break the ice’ with people sometimes. I’m not always talkative when I first meet someone, so I shouldn’t expect it from others.” Talia hoped that answer would appease the counselor.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

Janna gave a soft smile and a nod. “It’s understandable that you might feel off after your journey here. I think it’s always good to give ourselves grace for when we might not be at our best, and I appreciate you telling me that.”

“Tell me about the Memorial and how things were there for you?” Given the sudden change of assignment (which was common in Starfleet), Janna wanted to know the scenario she had come from and that would help them see where the challenges and opportunities here on the Athena may lay.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Talia nodded. “The Memorial was nice. I’d been there for about a year, so I felt at home there. Aside from working in sickbay, I had a regular group of friends. We got together, as shifts allowed, once or twice a week to play cards, watch vids or just gab the hours away. They were a great bunch.” You could hear the wistfulness in her voice as she spoke. “There wasn’t much to break up the day to day stuff. When you work in medicine instead of security or engineering, you don’t get to go on away teams much–maybe the CMO, but not the rest of us.”

Lieutenant Junior Grade Talia Ren
Doctor USS Athena

Janna nodded. “It can vary, for sure. Though I wouldn’t assume you won’t around here. The Athena has had some rather… interesting missions. But regardless, you are a vital part of the team and we’re glad to have you,” Kingston said with absolute sincerity.

“Are there questions you have that I can answer? About the ship, or settling in, or anything else on your mind.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS