Posted by Lieutenant Commander Renveer (Counselor) in Counselor’s Office: Holloway’s Long Overdue Eval

Posted by Captain Molly Holloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Counselor’s Office: Holloway’s Long Overdue Eval
It had once again been a reluctant appointment. In fact, it hadn’t been the appointment that had been reluctant, but rather her attendance of it.

She was ten when she had first been seen by a counselor, and since then, counselors had been a constant in her life. They had been so much of a constant that she had even dated one for a three years.

And now, a few days after the Dresden’s new CNS had boarded, her terminal had alerted her that she had an upcoming appointment. As usual, Holloway dismissed it almost instantly. She had no intention of setting foot in the Counselor’s office. Until it occurred to her that if she behaved in said appointment, she might be able to get her holodeck privileges back.

That was why, a few minutes before the scheduled time, Captain Molly Grace Holloway was walking through the Dresden to meet Commander Renveer. A practiced polite smile on her face.

As she reached the door, she carefully adjusted her trademark ballerina bun and straightened her freshly pressed uniform. Holloway looked her best self.

Then, without hesitation, she pressed the chime and waited to be called inside.

Capt. Holloway, CIO

OOC: Molly’s psychological history is at the end of her bio, in case you want to look at it. – Joana

“You’re early Captain,” came a pleasantly surprised voice from behind Holloway. Renveer smiled warmly over the long stem of the potted white orchid he carried in his arms. He looked down at the flower to apologize for being unable to extend a hand. He moved to take the lead position at his door, which he bumped with a shoulder to get it to slide open. “Please, come in!”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Molly said startled, moving aside to let the Counselor through. She shot the practiced polite smile at the man before taking a long look at the orchid in his hands. Her smile softened slightly at the sight of the plant. There was something about flowers that made her feel at peace, and yet she had none in her quarters. Maybe she should review her non-existent decor.

The counselor set the flower down on a wooden cabinet in one corner of the room, then moved the old-fashioned lamp that shared the space to make a little more room for the blossoming plant. He turned to take his seat in the high-backed chair across from the loveseat style couch, which he offered to Holloway with an outstretched hand. “Welcome back Captain, I know that you’re quite familiar with therapy. To be honest, your file makes it sound like you’ve spent more time in a counselor’s office than I have,” he chuckled good-naturedly. There wasn’t any negative connotation behind the statement, if anything there was a hint of admiration. “But, I noticed that you’ve been taking a bit of a sabbatical from mental health services in recent years. Why’s that, if you don’t mind me asking?”

(Lt. Comm. Renveer, Counselor)

Walking in behind the Counselor, Molly observed as he made space for the beautiful orchid. The space was decorated much differently than how Commander Nunn had set it when she was on board.

This one was a joker, Holloway thought grimly as the playful words of Commander Renveer reacher her ears. Trill or not, there were things that didn’t seem to change. She had gotten a fair share of counselors and other medical professionals that believed joking made their patients feel better. But humor had never been one of Molly’s strong suits. Usually, all she really wanted was to be done with whatever appointment she was in. Turning to the Counselor, the smile that settled on Molly’s lips didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Well, Commander…” Holloway finally replied. “I would think that you would know it better than any other officer on this ship. That when one spends as much time in a counselor’s office as I have, it is necessary to take a break every once in a while.” It was, of course, a deflection. A way to avoid giving the real reason behind her lack of presence in counseling appointments.

Sitting down in the border of the offered seat, it was clear from Molly’s posture that she didn’t want to take long in the Counselor’s office. Sighing softly she commented almost apologetically. “I’m sure that after seeing my extensive therapy records, you must think I am crazy. I can assure you that is not the case, but I can’t blame you if you do. Command seems to think the same, or I wouldn’t be here today.”

Capt. Holloway, CIO