Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vanessa Slade (CNS) in How to Make a Counselor Mad as Hell

Posted by Captain Calvin Marius (Captain) in How to Make a Counselor Mad as Hell
(SNIP)

“After today I am pretty sure they would would memorize the Art of War if you asked them too,” she replied in a matter of fact tone.

Marius growled happily. He could put in few feints, a couple flanking maneuvers, what a two by two cover was, suppressing fire… which might be the most valuable thing they could learn. Lay down suppressing fire while a second element flanks the enemy… quiet like. Give him enough time, he could get these kid in a position they could give the marines a run for their money.

“Victory is greater that defeat, but I was speaking the truth previously. There are valuable lessons learned even when one loses.” He did understand that a person could get their morale destroyed if they never won.

Marius

“Yes but I don’t lose,” she said in a playful tone before stepping through the now-open turbo door. Turning she faced Calvin and held the doors open symbolically. “I gave you a taste of what we are up against and you said we needed to discuss tactics soooo,” she let her voice trail slightly as she backed up and let go of the doors. “Are you going to follow my six or take point?” Vanessa knew little about actual fighting. She did know enough about how to use the lingo to her advantage. She also did not really give Calvin a choice turning on her heel and leading him to her quarters.

“Please,” He choked, “if you haven’t taken an L you haven’t been in a fight. Even the Harlem Globe Trotters lost, and the other team was literally paid to lose to them.”

Opening the door to her quarters, Vanessa picked up several shirts that were flung haphazardly over a chair, dumping them into a corner as she headed to the replicator. “So what do you like on your pizza or are you brave enough to be surprised?”

Vanessa Slade CNS

“This room is…” well he wanted to say a mess, but that wouldn’t be polite. “well… its a mess.”

Vanessa looked at him as a smile crossed her face followed by a huge laugh. “If you think this is a mess you should see my home back in Boston. With fourteen of us in one house the living room always resembles a crime scene that has been tossed before the police arrive. I also wasn’t expecting company or I would have had the good sense to hide everything in the bedroom. Take a seat where you can find one,” she gestured to the living room space.”

“Well your mom doesn’t work here.” He looked around and found a chair only half covered with clothes and a PaDD. Picking them up dramatically, he pivoted and put them on her couch.

“For now. Don’t doubt that woman’s tenacity. She raised nine boys. Valerie Slade has the presence of a drill sergeant and the organizational skills of a general. As long as she thinks I am on Vulcan we are safe. It would not be the first time she showed up at our place of work,” Vanessa chuckled. “Besides this is the first time I have not had to live with anyone. Rank does come with privileges and it’s just messy but clean.” She did not seem phased by Calvin’s reaction.

“She doesn’t know how to do the 24th century version of *69?” He made a sour face, “I’m not sure I’d let her be my I4,” which was the code for intelligence specialist.

“Maybe I should arrange that you get a roommate, then you’d have to be cleaner by force of social pressure.” He sat down slowly checking behind him so he could be certain that another cluster of trash.

“Apparently, you did not ever speak to my roommates in the academy,” she winked at Calvin. “Sad but true…a pretty face can get you anywhere. I am so hot so when inspection time came around things tended to be overlooked when they were replied to with a sultry ‘yes sir’.” She did not pull any punches in this statement nor feigned that she was only marginally attractive. She owned the fact. “Pathetic…absolutely but one does what one has to, to make it through the day.”

Calvin made a disgusted face. “Not one of my training officers or Drill Sargent would have given a pretty face or light flirting the slightest bit leeway. In fact most of my sargents would have you doing so many pushups you would have bigger arms than I.”

“I guess having a uniform to wear every day helps your wardrobe choices.” He probably wasn’t earning himself many points.

“And keeps down the mess. Could you actually imagine what this place would look like if I had my civvies mixed in,” she said in a tone that seemed to be more serious than sarcastic. Turning to face him she questioned, “last chance for pizza preference.”

“Any kind of meat is fine by me. No pineapple but I’ll take veggies… ” Calvin didn’t fruit his beers or his pizzas.

Marius

Replicating two beers she held them close but did not offer Calvin one immediately. “You’re lucky you took that stance on pineapple,” she turned to face him leaning against the wall with the replicator. “I was just about to thank you for your time and send you on your way.” She looked at him for a long second before setting it on the counter and turning to replicate the pizza.

Pulling the pizza from the replicator, she hooked the two bottles of beer between her fingers and moved to the living room. Setting the food and drinks down on the coffee table, Vanessa sat on the couch after taking a slice of pizza. “Oh,” she held up a finger with her free hand, “my place is also mess because I am never here. I have this boss that tends to be a workaholic so there is a huge pressure to keep up with him.” She punctuated her sentence by taking a large bite of pizza and winking at him.

Vanessa Slade CNS

“”These replicators are so wonderful, but for some reason, there are a couple of things it just can’t get right. Steak, pizza, and eggs, you’d think they’d be able to get eggs right. What’s easier than eggs?”

“Um everything,” she stated picking an onion off the top of her slice. “Cook them too long and they are like rubber nuggets. If you don’t cook them long enough its like slimy balls. Add sour cream and they can taste too rich. Crazy enough the secret to perfect eggs is water. One day if you ever come over for breakfast I will show you but I digress. You are right…replicator eggs are the worst by far and we both ate at the academy.”

“That is literally one of the most insane things I’ve heard. Eggs are simple, just add heat stir, take off heat. Like so many things you just be careful and take them off the heat ‘early’ you can always add more heat later.”

“Okay,” Vanessa said in a neutral tone before breaking her demeanor with a chuckle. “One day you can show me your eggceptional abilities in the kitchen.” The pun was bad but there would probably never be a chance to use it again.

“Its not that special.” There were ‘chefs’ that had these incredibly intricate or carefully timed recipes that supposedly made delectable eggs. He wouldn’t’ know, even if he was going to do something that complex he was certain he couldn’t do it right He was good a far a put on and take off, but other things were too much for him.

He looked around. “I’ve seen your office, you don’t keep that area disheveled. In fact most of your areas are kept pristine.” He suspected that since the other areas were work areas and she was getting evaluated on it… at least indirectly.

Calvin took a bite that almost devoured half of a slice in a single gulp. He leaned back affecting an overly comfortable affect a distance image from his formal demeanor in most settings.

Marius

“Well, I am never in my office first off,” she continued to pick off each topping as she ate the slice of pizza. “I find sitting in the office or lying down on my couch creates weird vibes. It makes people feel like they are forced to talk. They also are constantly looking at the clock like they are a dead man walking and counting down the minutes to their execution. I prefer to do action therapy,” she let out a laugh as she dropped her crust and dusted off her finger tips before reaching for her beer.

Vanessa Slade CNS

He squinted. He had seen her schedule a few times and from what he could remember she was in her office quite a bit. “If I remember correctly your area is kept neat and you are in it for a protracted period of time.”

“Of course it is. It’s not like I strip naked and hang out on the therapy couch for fun like I do my quarters. Why are you so hyper-focused on my apparent lack of cleaning skills?”

“Oh, my that got dramatic suddenly. I’m certain you don’t spend any time naked on duty.” He squinted at her.

“Why are you so proud of your questionable hygiene?”

Marius

“The truth,” she took a long swig of her beer, “I wasn’t expecting company because I never thought you would accept an invitation to come over. Don’t get me wrong I am glad you are here,” she quickly, “but I am rarely in my quarters for anything more than sleeping, showering, and changing my clothes.” Picking up a second slice of pizza, Vanessa continued to answer his question. “Yes, I am in my office for long periods of time but it is mostly to complete paperwork. I tend to do mainly immersion therapy when I counsel my clients. Depending on what the client wants to do means I might have to change my clothes eight times in a day hence my pride in my pig sty. You see it as a mess but I see it as progress.”

Vanessa Slade CNS

“Immersion therapy?” Calvin didn’t know much about therapy, not that he had anything against it. It just seemed like a lot of talking. Which he though was helpful, but he didn’t know how it was a job unless they were dealing with really mentally ill people. “Sounds you just drop them into a pool.” He paused. Many people responded very poorly even to modest jokes about their profession. Although to be fair he actually didn’t know what the heck that was.

“You don’t think I’ll do much. You didn’t think I’d play that paint ball game with you and your urchins.” Which actually wasn’t that far off since he didn’t like playing at war. He thought it was a little insulting somehow to turn something that people died at into a game. “Nor did you think I was going to come back for a quick bit and beer. Who doesn’t like pizza and beer?”

Marius