Posted by Lieutenant Siennadye Nox (Counselor) in CNS Office- A Consultation

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Cassidy Abrams (Chief of Security) in CNS Office- A Consultation

Posted by Lieutenant Siennadye Nox (Counselor) in CNS Office- A Consultation
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

With a forced exhale, Cass moved over to the couch and sat down and let her fingers move over the emerald fabric. “I just had a new officer report in. And, though I didn’t encourage it in anyway, nor reciprocated, they flirted with me… a lot. And the last thing I want is for awkwardness, or for me as the superior officer to be seen as…” Abrams shook her head and ran a ran over the blond french braid.

Abrams, COS

“A sex object?” she supplied. Sienna wondered if it was the same Ensign that had flirted with her in their first meeting. If it was, that was very concerning and in a way that Cassidy could not know. It also showed a pattern of behavior that was troubling. Yet, Sienna did not say anything about Trenton since she was not yet sure it was them to whom Cassidy was referring. If she expressed her concerns about Trenton and it turned out not to be them, then it could color Abrams’ opinion of them for future interactions. If it was Ensign Trenton though, they would cross that bridge when they came to it. Sienna would not hold back from that person’s department head when it might affect their job. “It is troubling. I can see why you are concerned and I thank you for trusting me to have this conversation. Why don’t you tell me what happened?”

Nox, CNS

Sex object wasn’t exactly what Cassidy was going to say, but she supposed it fit just as well.

Taking a moment to breathe slowly and still the anxiety swirling in her stomach, Cassidy nodded, gathering the sequence of events in her head. “Okay, so I invited her into my office when I was doing reports and stuff and before I could say anything they said ‘wow’ and that my file had left stuff out and they were now trying to not be awkward around me. And I was just so thrown off.” She could feel her own body tightening again. “And I just smirked. It was a funny comment, since I am often not what people expect for a security chief. They see a cheery woman of slight build with an open demeanour and assume things. So I asked her what she thought my file left out. And… then she skipped over the question and invited me to join her in a training program she had created. The program sounded interesting and I said as much. I love a good workout and it told me something about this officer. I was friendly, I smiled and joked about them sitting down and that it would be more comfortable for them. And then it got uncomfortable for me when she asked me out, basically on a date!” Cassidy looked bewildered and leaned back against the sofa, slumping slightly.

Siennadye listened. It was probably the strongest skill in her arsenal. There was a lot Cassidy seemed to need to get off her chest and it would make her feel better to put words to her thoughts and make it real. She sipped her coffee and just let her talk.

“I’ll admit that I saw the red flags and while I said that I was entirely up for checking out the program in a professional manner, and encouraged us to switch back to professional topics more than once, the rest of the conversation was basically me asking questions I would of anyone and her tossing innuendo back at me. I even mentioned casually I had a partner, but that didn’t seem to make a difference.” Uggh, this was frustrating. “I think I screwed up somehow Sienna. I mean, I can see now that I needed to be stronger in my response, but I am friendly and fun. I’m tough when I need to be, but a first meeting isn’t usually that time. I don’t want to stop being myself but I am second guessing all my actions now,” Abrams lamented. All she could see ahead of her was peril and it was not the fun kind.

Abrams, COS

They had to be speaking of the same person. It seemed too coincidental that two ensigns would have the same inappropriate behavior and then there was the training program. Yes, this was definitely Trenton. Now the question Sienna had of if this person would do the same to other superior officers as she had to the Counselor during their first meeting was answered and it did not bode well for the Ensign. According to the sequence of events relayed, Sienna would say that she had done everything right given the odd circumstances.

Now facing Cassidy, she put down her coffee mug on the table. “Let me first say that I feel you did everything I would have advised you to do. It was your first meeting with them so you didn’t want to be overly harsh or presumptive. You tried to steer the conversation back to topics that were professional in nature. You gave them a redirect as well as a subtle hint that their advances were not to be entertained and that there was a purpose to your meeting they needed to return to.”

Cassidy let out a breath. Did it make her feel better to hear Nox say she hadn’t screwed it up? Yes. Did it make the situation any less awkward? No.

“While I hate the idea that one must be attached or “owned” by someone in order to quash any flirtation that is unsolicited and that doesn’t necessarily apply to ethical non-monogamy, it is interesting that they did not take the multiple cues from you and stop. It was unprofessional and inappropriate to flirt with you when you were having a professional meeting. You are their superior officer, their direct boss, in a job where trust and mutual understanding are both incredibly important.”

Abrams nodded in agreement, forcing herself to take deeper breath and calm the tension flowing within her.

“I will confide in you as you are their department head, that I had a very similar meeting with young Ensign Trenton.”

Nox, CNS

Okay, she hadn’t expected that! Cass went to say something but the air swallowed the words and she had to regroup. “Right, okay. Now what? I mean, on paper Trenton has a lot of promise and I am always going to encourage my team to play to their strengths and work hard at their weaknesses. But I don’t know how to do that in a way that is consistent with my personality in this case. We’re supposed to have a department social night in the lounge soon. Isn’t that just a recipe for disaster in this case?”

Abrams, COS