Posted by Lieutenant Commander Renveer (Executive Officer) in Pre-Sim - Who Counsels the Counselors? - XO’s Office

Posted by Lieutenant Bethany Kovra Gadi (Counselor) in pre-sim - Who Counsels the Counselors? - XO’s Office
Now this is interesting, Bethany thought as she reviewed what she had read on her way to Dresden. The current XO had been the CNS. Bethany laughed out loud, to the detriment of the nerves of the young ensign sharing the turbolift with the new CNS. How many head counselors became the XO on the Dresden? Was it an unwritten rule? Would she be next? Oh what about that OTHER piece of repeating history? Oh? Hmmm? That’s a thought for later she smirked devilishly to herself. Wouldn’t that be interesting if that was a rule too? Hmmm…she was going to write back to T’Jal about that.

Stepping off the turbolift, much to the relief of the ensign, Bethany made her way down the corridor to the XO’s office. Since there was currently no other crew qualified to do psych check-ins, the XO would have one more official one, before Bethany took over his job, or his old one anyway. Not bothering to hide the laughter on her face, she rang the chime.
Lt. Gadi, CNS

The door slid open to reveal an executive officer’s office that looked a LOT like a counselor’s office. Lieutenant Commander Renveer sat with one leg crossed over the other at the knee reading a PaDD in his high-backed wing chair, which was situated across from a loveseat and another individual seating option, with a rug bridging the gap between all three pieces of furniture. The typical executive officer’s desk was pushed up against the far wall, ready for use but obviously not the focal point of the room. The walls were adorned with a plethora of abstract paintings that varied in style so severely that it was obvious they had been collected from many unique cultures. In contrast with the vibrant colors splashed across the edges of the office, the room’s furniture was a warm brown color and the lighting had been softened to a gentler yellow than elsewhere on the ship, which originated from standing lamps rather than the ceiling. A couple bookshelves filled the other spaces of the room, but instead of books they housed various trinkets of personal meaning to Renveer, tokens of past missions or reminders of old friends. A potted fern also added a bit of life to the far corner.

Bethany blatantly looked about the office. The man was a counselor at heart. Bethany didn’t really have a problem with that. A good XO was a counselor in some ways to the crew. And the relaxed atmosphere of his office would certainly inspire trust. Of course he had been the CNS previously and a sudden change in his attitude and approachability could put the crew off and cause problems. Bethany was glad to see he had retained his personal approach to the crew. As long as it didn’t stop her from doing her job. Otherwise the XO might as well keep doing double duty.

Renveer rose as the door opened automatically, sticking the PaDD into the crevice of the chair between the cushion and the arm. The trill man was rather unremarkable to look at, having plain features, an average build, and an unexciting personal style, but this lack of adornment made his kind, round face the focal point of his being. That face displayed a smile now, although it did not quite reach his dark eyes, which peered at Bethany as if surveying more than just her physical form.

The laughter that had been on her face on her way to his office was still there as Bethany chuckled as the XO appraised her. “Should I turn a circle for your, Sir?” She was as openly appraising him as he was her. It didn’t bother her. It was a unique position they found themselves in. He had a kind face, as her mother would say, and a quiet confidence of steel about him she could tell already.

The executive officer extended a hand as he took a couple steps forward to meet the Dresden’s new counselor, and shook hers firmly if accepted. “Welcome aboard, Lieutenant,” he said before swinging an outstretched arm out to the loveseat, inviting Bethany to sit. Renveer returned to his chair and settled into it with relaxed posture, his hands folded in his lap as he gave the betazoid his undivided attention. “I appreciate you making the time to see me. I’m quite curious to get to know more about your methods of practice.” There was something more behind those words… suspicion, maybe.

Bethany reached out and shook his hand firmly. No limp fish in her or his hand shake she was happy to note. “Thank you, Cmdr. I’m excited to be here.” And Renveer would be able to tell that was true. She took a seat on the offered loveseat. She watched hi sit in his chair and with a practiced ease seem to relax in it. His body might be but his eyes told a totally different story. Oh this is fun. She smirked openly at him. “Well, Sir, you are the only other psychologist, or counselor for that matter, on board. I have to have my eval completed somehow. And we will be working closely together. The role of counselor is so much more than listening to people in the office and helping them work through problems. A heavy burden of advising the command staff, notably yourself and the CO is part of that responsibility. Not to mention the never ending mountain of crew evals every six months.”

The ex-counselor was guarded, no doubt. His body language was naturally relaxed and unimposing, but the warmth he habitually displayed to other crew members was lacking slightly at this moment. Renveer’s attitude wasn’t malicious, by any means, but almost… nervous. Critical, as if he had some preconceived notions about Bethany that weren’t particularly good. But he was adept at hiding these reservations, at least outwardly.

(Lt. Cmdr. Renveer, XO)

“Curious to get to know more about my methods of practice?” Bethany bit her lip. She wouldn’t laugh, but it was too funny-to a point. “I assume you are concerned that I’m a counselor coming from Intel and I might lean towards torturing them instead?” He could tell she wasn’t too happy if that was his concern. “I would have thought, Sir, that having worked with Cpt. Holloway you would realize there is more to Intel than that. My work, to more directly answer your question, involved debriefing operatives coming in from the field. And more importantly help them work through any personal or emotional issues they may have encountered while in the field. I’m not an interrogator or a field operative. My methods consist of beginning with what I call question and observation. Depending on how someone responds to my questions depends on what we do next. That can range from art therapy to 3rd person holodeck reenactments.” One counselor reading another never ended well. If they were both good at what they did it was easy for each to read the other. It was equally obvious to Renveer that Bethany had come aboard with preconceived notions as well, but they were more open and positive that the XO appeared to have. Equally obvious was that Bethany would not apologize for her work. She was proud of it and she’d go back to it without a second though to Dresden if that was how this posting was going to go. If the XO, former CNS, couldn’t get along with her, then her work was already failed. The crew would take their cues from him and act accordingly.

Lt. Gadi, CNS

OOC: Welcome aboard Jennifer! So excited to be writing with you. I hope you don’t mind a little tension to start things off… but I think that’s to be expected with two counselors aboard! Looking forward to getting to know you and your character better through side sims and the main sim that we’re ramping into as well!

Ben

OOC: Not at all! Tension and friction makes for GREAT stories. There is NO fun if everyone gets along like old friends from the beginning. I’m looking forward to RPing with you, as you said in both side and main sims. Feel free to start any side sims you like, I know I will. Muahahaha
-Jenn