Posted by Lieutenant Dr. Mariah Lee Grayson (Chief of Psychiatry) in Meeting Cori

Posted by Lieutenant Corinne Dalton (Scientist) in Meeting Cori

Posted by Lieutenant Dr. Mariah Lee Grayson (Chief of Psychiatry) in Meeting Cori

(snip)

“Confirmation bias,” Mariah replied with a nod. “A common flaw of sentient beings, but no less harmful to missions and to relationships, especially relationships between senior officers and their crew.” Grayson positive, then offered, “I don’t have to tell you we lack the ability to police one another’s thoughts, but I can promise you we do have the ability to police one another’s actions to create an atmosphere which discourages marginalizing people because of ignorance. I can tell you the Captain cares very much about you and wants to see to it you are given fair treatment and a safe place to be.”

~Doctor Mariah Grayson, CoP

Her expression softened into a smile. “Yeah, I’ve been pretty wary of captains these last years, but Myqian seems… different. I mean, she agreed to the whole thing that allowed me to have a body, so points in her favour. Not everyone would have. It was risky as hell and I am mindful of the risks everyone took to make sure I actually had a future. There’s still a lot of unanswered questions, but no longer doubt that I have a place here.”

~Corinne Dalton

“I’m glad you feel welcome here, though I know it’s going to take time to feel completely comfortable. I just want you to know whatever you say, I won’t be upset or offended. Kindness and care can be appreciated, but trust is earned and not one-sided. I’m curious to know how you believe I can help you adjust?” Mariah thought it best to give Cori room to take the lead. Naturally, Grayson had her own questions, but in keeping with her intention not to make Cori feel as though she were under the microscope and expected to comply or else, she thought it best to allow her to express whatever she felt comfortable.

~Dr. Mariah Grayson, CoP

Cori drew in a deep breath and sighed. “I was working through a lot of stuff with my last therapist before I was… whisked away, as it were. I was trying to wrap my mind around a whole bunch of betrayal and a sense that I didn’t rate very high in people’s priorities, even when I should have been way up there. But… that’s changed. I know that things are different, but I also have a very different relationship with that therapist since they are no longer my therapist and life has conspired to bring us… unexpectedly closer.” She smiled ever so softly before shaking her head. “In short, I don’t have anyone to work through all this sh!t with. I have a good decade of stuff I need to figure out, and while some of it I can let go, the rest is still… a lot. It’s easy to push it to the side and pretend it’s not there, but I want to be fully myself and I don’t want to carry all that trauma with me forever.”

~Corinne Dalton