Posted by Lieutenant Todd Nyman (Chief Counselor) in Saoir’s Counseling Session [Tag Nyman]

Posted by Ensign Saoir (Transporter/Security) in Saoir’s Counseling Session [Tag Nyman]

Posted by Lieutenant Todd Nyman (Chief Counselor) in Saoir’s Counseling Session [Tag Nyman]
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Saoir, the solitary Kelpian aboard the USS Leviathan, found himself adrift in the sea of isolation on the vast starship. He had always been reserved, even among his own kind, but the feeling of not belonging intensified among the diverse crew of the Federation vessel. To make matters worse, his primary duty as a Starfleet officer and the unofficial rule enforcer on the ship tasked him with pointing out inefficiencies the crew displayed in the rules and regulations and reporting them to the XO or CO. This added to the distance between him and his shipmates. Many perceived him as overbearing, given his constant vigilance in observing their actions and interactions. But Saoir’s intentions were rooted in his commitment to duty, rather than any personal desire to be distant. He understood that trust needed to be earned, but this realization did little to ease his growing sense of isolation.

One day, Saoir mustered the courage to seek help from the ship’s counselor, Lieutenant Nyman. As he stood outside the counselor’s office, a flood of conflicting emotions washed over him. He didn’t trust the counselor, but he couldn’t pinpoint the reasons behind this mistrust. However, he was the ship’s counselor and was the only one he could talk to in confidence.

The Lieutenant, meanwhile, was in the middle of checking the water quality of Maslow’s vivarium and expressing his concerns to the turtle. As it was presumably just them in the locked office, he was undisguised, but still wearing the uniform out of convenience.

“I don’t quite know what the Captain thinks of me yet,” he thought aloud.

With a deep breath, Saoir pressed the chime and waited to enter the room.

Saoir, Transporter Op/Security

“Maybe I should try-” Nyman’s thought was interrupted by the chime. He took a moment to set the test kit down in a way that wouldn’t interrupt readings.
After a quick transformation and adjusting his uniform, Nyman took a few steps toward the door. Calling out, “Come.”, triggered the door to unlock for Ensign Saoir.

~~~ Lieutenant Nyman, Counselor

Saoir entered the counselor’s office, his demeanor a mix of nervousness and determination. He cleared his throat before speaking. “Lieutenant Nyman, I hope I’m not disturbing you. I’ve been feeling a bit… disconnected lately. I thought maybe talking to someone might help.”

Saoir, Transporter Op/Security

“No, no, you didn’t disturb me at all.” Nyman said, beckoning with his hand for the Ensign to come in further.

“Come in and have a seat.” he continued, gesturing to the wall opposite the turtle terrarium.

Taking up the upper section of that wall were shelves of pottery and ceramics. Against the lower half of the wall were both a large backless ottoman and some sort of pillow-like armchair facing one another. In between them was a short wedge-shaped side table. Finally, the area was sectioned off with a colorful shag rug with shades of blue and green. Nyman was quite pleased with the set up of his new client area. This arrangement made it feel much less like and interrogation room.

“Is there anything I can get for you, Ensign?” he asked, walking over to the replicator.

~~~ Lieutenant Nyman, Counselor

Saoir declined the replicator’s offer with a slight shake of his head, finding a comfortable seat. His gaze was momentarily captivated by the turtle terrarium, offering him a moment’s respite. Taking a deep breath, a whirlwind of thoughts raced through his mind as he deliberated how much to share with the new counselor. A sudden impulse led him to blurt out, “I’ve always grappled with feeling like an outsider, even among my fellow Kelpians. But now, aboard this starship, surrounded by a tapestry of different species and cultures, that sense of isolation has grown more pronounced.” He paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing, “You see, my species has only just begun to join Starfleet as officers. We’re a rare presence. I often find myself yearning for another Kelpian around—a connection that might bridge the gap I feel. It’s quite different for you, I imagine, being a human and part of a species you encounter daily.”

Saoir, Transporter Op/Security