Posted by Lieutenant Commander T’Aria (XO / Navigation Officer) in PreSIM: A (Begrudged) Meeting with the Counselor

Posted by Ensign Kanina Dran (Doctor/Counselor) in PreSIM: A (Begrudged) Meeting with the Counselor

Posted by Lieutenant Commander T’Aria (XO/ Navigation Officer) in PreSIM: A (Begrudged) Meeting with the Counselor
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
It would take longer than a few moments to process everything that transpired. But T’Aria didn’t have the time to waste on retrospection. Pulling her PaDD back into view, she crossed off Physical, Check-in w/CMO and trailed her finger to the next object on her list. Psychological Eval; Ship’s Counselor.

Part of her wanted to check in with Captain Taggart first, but there was no logic in trekking up to the bridge and back down to sickbay. The only “benefit” that would afford her was a long day. Stifling a sigh, T’Aria tilted her head back and pinched the bridge of her nose.

Turning heel, she made her way down to the counsellor’s office and pressed her hand to the chime.

– T’Aria, incoming XO

“Come in!” Kanina called through the door. She paused a moment before the door opened, sensing the distinctive touch of the mind outside. Vulcan, she realized, blinking slightly. She hadn’t had a Vulcan in her office in quite some time now.
-Kanina Dran, CNS

T’Aria stepped into Dran’s office and stole a moment to analyse it before her hazel gaze landed on Kanina. Although she hadn’t met many like Dran, T’Aria recognised the distinct onyx of Betazoid eyes. She hesitated somewhat - less than enthralled to have her mind subject to a telepath - but quickly overcome her reservations.

“Ensign,” she approached her desk and bowed her head in what could be interpreted as the equivalent of an extended hand. “I am Lt. Commander T’Aria,” the Vulcan greeted, “do you have a moment to spare for a quick psychological evaluation?”

– T’Aria, incoming XO

Kanina felt the moment of hesitation but simply nodded politely. “Always Commander. Would you like some tea?” She kept her mind decidedly to herself, avoiding anymore than vague impressions. She did not recognize the woman from the many Vulcans she had treated, but they were as a species very private.
-Kanina Dran, CNS

Tea had become a message, both rudimentary and profound. It was a mask for composure in dissonance and now a gesture she could liken to decorum. In less than a day, T’Aria had observed two antithesis meanings. And she wasn’t sure which she preferred.

“Sure,” she nodded and settled into the chair across from Darn. “Thank you.”

She briefly elapsed into silence before tilting her head in Kanina’s direction. “How are you, Doctor?” It was habit to address others before herself, and it was likely the reason Kanina hadn’t seen T’Aria following the destruction of her homeworld. It wasn’t so much altruism as it was intellectualisation. She’d thrown herself into her work and refused to come to terms, emotionally, with death. Instead, she accepted it as a process of life and left her heart flailing in her wake.

It wasn’t ideal, but it’d given her some semblance of peace.

– T’Aria, XO

Kanina stood and turned to get the kettle, gesturing to a box of teas on the desk. “Well. Yourself?” The casual pleasantries had taken time for her to learn, but they were almost instinct now.
-Kanina Dran, CNS

T’Aria offered a slight nod and plucked a teabag from Kanina’s stash. She leaned back, absently squeezing its porous film, and hummed. “Excellent,” she glanced at the bag squished between her fingers. “I’m..” T’Aria searched for the right word. She knew Dran was one of the few people she could speak her thoughts aloud - doctor to doctor, patient to counsellor - but there was distrust hidden deep within. “..faring. Thank you.” She let the silence hang for a split second. “Can we skip the pleasantries? I cannot speak for your methods, but I doubt mindless conversation will say much about my psyche.” There was an edge to her tone that, while hardly directed at Kanina, could be described as curt.

– T’Aria

Kanina smiled slightly. “Certainly. It often makes people more comfortable, but I am glad to skip it.” She placed a cup of hot water in front of T’Aria, then took her own seat at her desk. “You say you’re faring. What do you feel you struggle with?” She could guess, certainly, some things were consistent across profession, species, or position, but if it was truly so simple there would be no need for her.
-Kanina Dran, CNS

T’Aria offered a quaint ‘thank you,’ and dropped the tea bag into her cup. She watched it diffuse, sending vibrant plumes of gold and rose toward the surface, and pondered Kanina’s question. What did she struggle with? Emotional transparency, for one. T’Aria figured the doctor was well aware of that. “In one regard,” she spoke after several seconds of silence, “I pride myself on keen observation skills. They’re essential in the OR.” She furrowed her brow. “In the other, I know I am woefully blind.” T’Aria lifted her gaze back to Kanina. “I understand the role of the ship’s XO is largely interpersonal and demands keen communication skills. I don’t doubt my capacity to recognise cues nor provide feedback, rather my ability to appropriately acknowledge and respond to emotionally-driven dilemmas.” Despite her qualms, she was honest with the counsellor. Empathy was a skill she understood in theory but struggled to apply. The same could be said for most Vulcans, but she seemed particularly concerned with it. After all, she was serving on a ship staffed with emotional creatures and missing a key element of their language.

– T’Aria

Kanina nodded, understanding the basic struggle. She had had a similar experience from the opposite end of the spectrum, understanding people but uncertain how to react to people that could not read her mind. “It will be less of a struggle than you think. Those who work closely with you will adapt to understand your responses. How you display approval, support, any of the things they are looking for.” She smiled slightly, remembering a similar conversation almost a decade ago. “The ideal response for the person who is emotional is often validation.”
-Kanina Dran, CNS