Posted by Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell (Chief Medical Officer) in Pre-Current Sim: CMO’s Office [Tag Maxwell]

Posted by Lieutenant Todd Nyman (Chief Counselor) in Pre-Current Sim: CMO’s Office [Tag Maxwell]

Posted by Lieutenant Todd Nyman (Chief Counselor) in Pre-Current Sim: CMO’s Office [Tag Maxwell]
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Nyman had ‘downtime’. Not that the term meant very much to him. Usually he just extended his office hours until it all ran together. But, as he was entering his notes, something bothered him. A pattern, a set of problems he had been presented with. A question, constantly coming up in his sessions he had yet to find a satisfying answer to.

He didn’t like not having answers. He didn’t like staring blankly into the empty field on the form labeled “Further Recommendations”. He didn’t like filling in over and over again, “Will continue to discuss in further sessions.” “Will refer to other counseling staff.”

At this point, he needed to be proactive. His effectiveness as ship’s counselor relied on it. He was going to learn to understand it, to be the most effective and productive counselor he could be.

Who better to ask, he thought as he left his office, than Dr. Maxwell? After all, he was one of the few people he could talk to openly about certain subjects. A colleague in the field of medicine that understood the importance of confidentiality. And, someone who had offered his help before.

Officer Nyman approached the door of the CMO’s office. He paused, and out of habit looked around for anyone who might be watching. There was some hesitation but he did manage to ring the chime. Only then, hoping that he hadn’t disturbed the doctor doing anything important.

|Lt. Nyman,
Chief Counselor|

Almost immediately, the reply came. “Come in!” Brad called from behind his desk, the door opening to accommodate the direction. He looked up from the console, noted who it was in his doorway, and pressed the button to save and close out his work.

“Lieutenant Nyman!” He smiled. “What can I help with? Would you like anything to drink while you’re here?” He took a sip of his coffee, yawning a bit. “And don’t worry about time constraints - my schedule’s clear for the rest of the day.”

Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell
Chief Medical Officer

Nyman returned the smile and a polite nod,

“Dr. Maxwell, happy to see you’re available. I could go for a bottle of pop right about now, actually.”

Brad took a step over towards the replicator. “One Cola, bottled.” Taking the requested beverage in hand, he returned to his seat and slid it across the desk.

He stepped further into the room and settled into a chair across from Brad. He took in a deep breath before continuing,

“I was wondering if you could help me with some… let’s call it cultural understanding. Now, the position of Chief Counselor has obviously expanded my responsibilities. I’ve found myself involved in more situations than I was before.”

He nodded in understanding.

Nyman sat up in his seat, his hands now actively gesturing as he spoke,

“Different situations than I became used to, that I don’t have personal experience with. I still feel, though, that it is my responsibility to at least attempt to come to a better understanding of these sorts of things. So I can be as helpful to the crew as possible. Now I’ve thought about just passing it on to Dr. Witley, but you know more than she does about, well… where I’m coming from.”

With that last sentence Nyman sunk back down in his seat. It was apparent he hadn’t quite built up the courage yet to be direct about what exactly he was talking about. But it had something to do with his true identity as a Vendorian. Hence why he felt Brad was one of the only people he could talk to.

|Lt. Nyman,
Chief Counselor|

Brad nodded again. “What sort of situations are those? I’m willing to help to the extent of my abilities and knowledge.”

Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell
Chief Medical Officer

Nyman fidgeted with the bottle cap in his hand. Never quite comfortable being on this end of needing assistance. But he continued,

“Well, for example, there’s a lot of different opinions on romantic relationships. How to attract a partner, what roles each person should play. Not many academic sources but… interesting. I notice, though, there’s not a lot of information out there bothering describing the actual experience,” he was about to take a drink, but paused. Instead letting out a little laugh,

“I guess because to most people it’s common sense.”

|Lt. Nyman,
Chief Counselor|

“I suppose that would present a conundrum,” Brad joined in the laugh. “Do you just need information? I don’t have a huge amount of personal experience, but I can certainly help.”

Lieutenant Bradley Maxwell
Chief Medical Officer

“Oh, well,” Nyman said, followed by nervous swallow,

“I am trying to understand the physical side of relationships… It seems that when a couple become physical they tend to lose all sense of logic or reason. I understand the sensation is a biochemical response, dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin. They kind of seem to… for lack of a better word, completely hijack the humanoid nervous system. Even Vulcans must by sheer willpower spend years resisting these influences, even then they must eventually release these feelings through Pon’Farr. It’s been theorized, though the studies are limited, that my people are exceptionally resistant to these influences. Hence why we don’t -“

Nyman couldn’t finish the sentence, instead stopping as his face flushed red. His humanoid form subconsciously portraying emotions he would otherwise have been able to keep hidden.

|Lt. Nyman,
Chief Counselor|
Bump