Posted by Lieutenant Séan Iven (Counselor) in Side sim: Safety Risks

Posted by Civilian Thyr Th’arialat (Resident) in Side sim: Safety Risks

Posted by Lieutenant Séan Iven (Counselor) in Side sim: Safety Risks
Posted by… suppressed (61) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Today was the day he was supposed to meet Séan, and Jezem had insisted on coming with. Shivan was at his shop, finishing up what he’d been working on while waiting for Jezem to show. Then they’d meet Séan together at the meeting place Shivan had designated a week ago. The time and place were decided at the end of the previous meeting, in order to keep the meetings private, so no one would catch Séan and “Thyr” meeting up.

He was trying to put into practice some of that business garbage Jezem had made him sit through, but he was simply frustrating himself. Sitting in front of his shop books, he was trying to set up inventory like Jezem had said. It was this that he was working on while he waited.

~ Thyr

Jezem waltzed into the storefront, dressed in what passed as casual for him: a long silk loincloth with a silver netting over top. White leather straps that wrapped around his shoulders and chest, leaving little diamond shaped gaps that revealed emerald skin beneath and enough gold jewlery to make a Ferengi’s head spin with envy. The orion’s skin was perfectly smooth and green, all thanks to a quick trip to the local hospital and half an hour under a dermal regenerator. The hospital staff hesitantly accepting his story off “A friend and I were sparing together and got a little carried away”.

“Look at you, hard at work,” Jezem smirked as he came up behind Shivan to look over the andorian’s shoulder. “Seems like you were listening to me and all my precious knowledge didn’t slip out of your head,” Jezem leaned back and took in the space around them. What a dull place. Eryn picked a rather good location, but unless the shop matched the quality of those around it then it could fail to gain any traction.

Jezem

Shivan, meanwhile, looked like he’d gone a few rounds with a Klingon. His body was sore and stiff still, and aging bruises lined his arms. There was a bruise on his cheek. He was wearing the heavy duty clothes Jezem had bought, so a checkered heavy duty shirt and a pair of high quality jeans. If it weren’t for the more regular clothes, Shivan would look like one giant bruise.

The shop was cleaned up, but not yet well organized. Shivan clearly had no idea how to set it up to make it nice like the other shops in the area. It didn’t have a name, yet, either.

He scowled and swatted Jezem away. “I hate this garbage.” He stood from his spot, stretched gingerly, and then looked at Jezem. “Let’s go, before we’re late.”

~ Thyr

“Give it a few weeks, because then you’ll be wondering how you ever got by without it.” That wasn’t even Jezem’s personal bias there, as the former quartermaster of their ship and current manager of Argam’s assests and side-buisnesses. Once the foundations of inventory, supply and cost were laid then everything flowed easy from that. Jezem smirked, knowing that Shivan was still sore and battered after their fight while he was right as rain, “Let’s.” He motioned for Shivan to lead the way.

On the walk to the cafe Jezem talked about the furniture and decor he ordered for the shop. Nothing fancy or ornate, Jezem did some research into what clients expected from a weaponsmith and what styles were attractive to the local customers and kept Shivan’s own personality in mind when ordering. The store decore will be simple, but bold. Colors to evoke the power of the weapons and demand respect.

Jezem

Shivan agreed with whatever he said. If the shop looked half decent and not like a Ferengi got a hold of it, he’d be happy. He led Jezem to a nice looking cafe and stepped inside. Once inside, he checked for Séan.

~ Thyr

Séan was at a table near the rear of the cafe in a corner. He had been here for a few minutes and was sipping at a coffee while reading a PaDD detailing a psych journal’s findings on treating ex-criminals. It was interesting reading and reinforced that while his initial approach was unconventional the path he was taking should work.

He heard the door chime and looked up to see Thyr accompanied by an Orion. His eyes narrowed as he considered the implications and wondered if Thyr’s safety was at risk. No, the Syndicate wouldn’t follow him to a meeting, more likely they’d just have him disappear and send someone to abduct whoever was at the meeting. So after a moments hesitation to think through what might be going on, Séan waved at Thyr to get his attention.

Counselor Iven

Thyr moved over to the table at which Séan sat. He eased himself into the seat across from Séan and left room for Jezem. “Someone wanted to meet you.”

~ Thyr

Jezem took note of the cafe. The entrances and exits, the number of people and staff and where everyone sat in relation to another. All captured in a quick glance and held at the back of his thoughts. His sharp gaze lingered on Séan, cateloguing the human’s physical features, posture, actions. Jezem smoothly slid into the open seat between the two men. Face impassive, “You may call me Jezem.” He said to the human, “Thyr said so many interesting things about you that I had to come and see for myself.”

Jezem

“Jezem.” Séan acknowledged the Orion’s presence but kept his focus on Thyr. He noticed the bruising on what areas of skin he could see. He pointedly looked at Thyr’s bruised cheek for a moment then moved on. “We did not arrange for other guests during our visits. This puts me in an awkward position.”

Counselor Iven

“Bar fight.” Thyr lied. “He doesn’t want to hear your psychobabble if you’re worried about that privacy stuff. He wants to know if… You know what? I’m gonna let you two talk.” He leaned back and folded his arms.

~ Thyr

It took Jezem considerable effort to not roll his eys at Shivan. The andorian was too blunt. Too direct. Much like the weapons he prefered. Jezem politely pretended disinterest in the two’s minor argument. Examining his nails and cuticles and noting any care they might need later. Now and then his gaze darted up to take in whatever expression the other two men wore.

“Bar fight again…?” Séan said with a bit of exasperation in his voice. He shook his head then addressed another point that he had a grievance over. “I’m not here to talk to him and bringing someone else to a meeting when we have yet to establish any trust between us is not cool. I suspect you would have turned and walked away if I was sitting here with someone unfamiliar to you.”

Counselor Iven

“It’s a public place, nothing is going to happen to you.” Thyr said. “You’re right, I’d be sketched too. There’s nothing I can offer you that’ll make you feel better because like you said, there’s no trust between us.” He shrugged. “Jezem isn’t a criminal. He’s the husband of a very rich business man.”

~ Thyr

Jezem leaned forward, deciding now was the moment to speak. “I understand this is unconventional and I apologize that we were unable to give you prior warning,” He said to Séan, “The bar fight was my fault. I am the one who insisted Thyr go out with me, and unfortunately I also angered a few unscrupulous individuals. Thyr came to my defence and of course he insisted that he didn’t need a doctor.” Jezem did roll his eyes, but in the fond way of someone who knew another too well. Jezem paused, considering the wood grain of the table they sat at.

“Thyr is a good friend, and I care for his safety, perhaps too much. He is in. . . a complicated living situation and I fear that he can be taken advantage of. I asked Thyr to bring me along so that I can see for myself what kind of person you are.” Jezem finished, then added as an after thought, “I’ll buy any drinks or food you’d like. As part of my apology. As Thyr said the money is no issue with me.”

Jezem

“So… you’re his backer on Oed.” Séan looked at Jezem with a penetrating gaze then said quietly to prevent anyone overhearing. “You are right that ‘Thyr’ might be vulnerable to manipulation. I feel that he’s adrift in an unknown land with no direction on what to do with himself and that has gotten him into trouble. Why go to a bar when you haven’t recovered from previously being stabbed by a Klingon? Anyway, I’m merely a counselor who took some interest in this poor fellow who got tossed like a child by Klingon in a bar.” He completely ignored the offer for food or drink.

Counselor Iven

“Because I like bars. Most interesting part of this boring place.” Thyr interjected.

The orion stiffened, his shoulders and back tightening under that accusing gaze. Calm replaced by childish petulance, “Which is why I’m helping him. He told me-” Jezem turned to Shivan and whined, “You told me that you were fine. That it was no big deal.” Back to Séan, eyes shining with haughty defiance, “It was only to one bar-And anyways, why shouldn’t I feel concerned when a Starfleet officer takes interest in a civilian? I don’t know you and Thyr doesn’t know you. I’m looking out for my friend and I don’t understand why you can’t understand that.” Jezem, perhaps realizing that he’s not arguing his point as succinctly as he hoped he could turned to stare at the table with an impressive pout. Every inch of him the spoiled and privileged spouse of a rich partner and unused to facing any kind of push back.

Jezem

“I’m not a child,” Thyr complained, tired of being spoken about as if he needed someone’s care. “And I was fine.” He sighed a long, suffering sigh and looked between the two of them. “Jezem is trying to help me with my problem. This is him trying to help me.” Thyr looked at Séan, “I have known Jezem a long time. It is odd for a Starfleet shrink to give a toss about some civilian, and I only agreed to these meetings because you blackmailed me, which is also odd behavior for a Starfleet shrink.”

~ Thyr

Séan smiled innocently at Thyr’s recriminations. “Let’s not lay blame at each other’s feet, shall we? It wasn’t my fault that you know absolutely nothing about freighters despite claiming to have been crew on some. Neither are you a very accomplished liar.” He shrugged and moved past the inconsistency of his motivations not quite jiving with Starfleet ethics. He had tried to explain it to Thyr previously but was not at all interested in doing so for Jezem. At that thought he turned his attention back to Jezem. “So you want to feel me out? Judge my character and make sure I’m not a threat?”

Counselor Iven

“I was thrown off my game. I didn’t expect to run into the Freighter King.” Thyr huffed.

Jezem huffed a laugh. Not much of an accomplished liar? Shows what this shrink knew, but Jezem learned enough through the exchange to begin to build an image of the shrink in his head. A profile in progress. Shame the man didn’t seem interested in playing the game. Perhaps too honest and earnest to enjoy drawing such things out. The orion relaxed his posture, releasing his mask for a look of cold calculation. “Shouldn’t someone as experienced as yourself know better than to make hasty judgements?” He considered his words, “Is that not what I said? You are a new variable in the equation, one that’s messy enough as it is.”

Séan shrugged lightly. This sudden change of demeanor from cordial, to petulant, and then landing on cold and calculating didn’t phase him. If Jezem had history with Thyr, then he was likely at one time involved with the Syndicate. It seemed Jezem had much better control over what information was nonverbally conveyed, willingly or subconsciously, when compared to Thyr. If Jezem wanted to assume he was making a hasty judgement about Thyr though, well he wasn’t going to disabuse him of that notion. “The equation already seemed to be messy when Thyr met someone who knew him and got stabbed for it. What are the odds of that happening? I think I’d be far more concerned over that person than me.”

The lack of drinks or food to provide a pause between words and sentences rankled him somewhat but Jezem pushed past the feeling. They must all be painfully blunt and straightforward this night, it seems, “That said, I think Thyr should speak with a counselor. His anger and paranoia will be the death of him if he doesn’t learn how to manage them.” A pause for Jezem to give Séan a meaningful look, “But should that counselor be you? If I don’t think so then your little talks end tonight.”

Jezem

“I’m not going anywhere near the hospital or another counselor.” Thyr said stubbornly. “Not interested in getting arrested, thanks.” That part he lowered his voice for, not wanting to be overheard. He shot a look at Jezem, “I would bet money you never spoke to anyone.”

~ Thyr

Séan smiled at Jezem in a way that clearly showed he didn’t mean it cordially. “I’m amused that you think you have enough power here to dictate unequivocally what happens next. And maybe you do, I can entertain that being a possibility. I’m not sure you’d appreciate the consequences of wielding that power though. So instead of my attempting to prove myself to you, which your attitude makes me loathe to do, instead how about we come to a compromise? If you can’t then you are welcome to leave.”

He grinned at Thyr. “Told you I wouldn’t be good in Intelligence.”

Counselor Iven

Jezem met that smile with his one, one that never reached his cold, calculating eyes. A look that begged Séan to underestimate him and what he was capable of. Power is a fickle thing. Held within one’s grasp in the moment, the heavy weight of a well-balanced weapon, the next crushed between grasping fingers, the most fragile of flower. Both tangible and an illusion power never stays within one state. How easily power transfers from one moment to the next. “You seem like a decent counselor but how are you in business? When offered a deal one must expect some haggling.

“Though, since you aren’t a business man perhaps I shall keep things simple? I am not an unreasonable man, I can accept compromise. It was my intended goal should I feel you were no threat to Thyr’s safety. You can understand my concern when Thyr tells me that he was blackmailed by a man he met at a bar. That doesn’t exactly paint the best picture of you.” As he told Shivan you can expect anyone to follow their personal codes of morals and ethics. The trick was figuring out where they drew their lines in the sand.

It was then that Thyr remembered Jezem’s lesson and quietly blurted, “He said ethically he can’t turn me in if it’ll lead to my death.”

Séan could withstand Syndicate scrutiny and wouldn’t fail for their traps or ploys. He didn’t act rashly though his actions followed his heart, they were guided by a keen mind who understood too much. He would keep his word in so far as he would not reveal Shivan to Starfleet, and perhaps there is truth to his sickeningly altruistic belief that he could help someone in desperate need. Jezem said, “Please, excuse me for being forward but this is my compromise. I ask that you provide for me the same service you provide Thyr.”

For a moment Jezem let his true feelings seep through his face. His uncertainty. His many fears. Concern. How could he possibly help? His options too limited. Shivan needed more than he could provide and that feeling festered in his heart like a poison. Jezem didn’t have the language or capacity to understand why. And in a blink Jezem’s face became an impartial mask again. “Would that be acceptable for you?”

Jezem

Shivan stared at Jezem. He wanted Séan’s help? “You… You want the same deal I was forced into?” Then he looked at Séan. Would he accept? From what Shivan knew, his morals said he had to. Jezem was admitting he needed help and Séan had a thing for helping random people.

~ Thyr

Séan was surprised by the latest development. His read of Jezem indicated that he was being sincere but… it was very hard to tell if he wasn’t being subtly manipulated by that. A person who could flip to different emotional states at the drop of a hat made for a complicated situation. Clearly Thyr was surprised by this as well which pointed out that at least he wasn’t in on the potential manipulation. Would agreeing to counsel both of them bring anything dangerous? Potentially but so would their being on Oed anyway. At least this way he could help them, kind of keep track of what they’re doing, and satisfy his own interests in the process.

“Alright, I agree. I have a feeling you’re going to be a harder patient to get through your various layers than Thyr and while I enjoy a challenge, I can see that you do need help. We’ll set up something similar to my arrangement with Thyr, meet once a week for an hour or two. He and I were figuring a time and place somewhat random to keep a low profile, but you’re not exactly the low profile type are you?”

Counselor Iven

Once the terms of his offer were accepted, Jezem allowed himself to relax by a small measure. There were many different ways this meeting could have gone but he was pleased by this outcome. Shivan would be in (morally questionable but) good hands and Jezem could keep both an eye on the doctor and sleep better knowing something was being done about Shivan’s temper. Jezem allowed a smirk, “I’m the husband of a stupidly rich Ferengi, low profile hardly suits me.” That could work in Shivan’s favor, allowing the Andorian to hide in Jezem’s public shadow.

Jezem

Shivan relaxed too. The meeting was going okay. No one was going to murder anyone else, and he wasn’t getting turned in. “Low profile never suited you,” he teased Jezem, looking out over the rest of the cafe.

~ Thyr

“What can I say? The rich life suits me.” Jezem said with coy grin.

Séan nodded then shrugged. In the end it didn’t matter to him how Jezem conducted himself. This was a mostly satisfactory conclusion to a very rocky start. His curiosity was the only thing that kept him from walking away at the very beginning when both of them showed up. It was only now that the initial adrenalin spike and the mind games were over that he realized he had just taken on another ex-criminal patient on his off time. ‘Sorry Mika.’ He apologized in his heart. One was bad enough he supposed but two would truly piss her off if she found out.

“So.” He said slowly. “Are we doing this couples counseling like or individually? Seems like you have some relationship issues to work through.”

Counselor Iven

“Individually.” Jezem said, decisive, “We’re just fine. Thyr and I know how to talk like adults.” Some people sit down and talk, others fight until they’re bruised and bloody before reaching a conclusion. Everyone had their own preferred methods of communication and for Jezem and Shivan theirs worked just fine. “I’ll leave you two to finish your little talk.” To Shivan Jezem added, “You coming to the house for dinner or are you going to eat here?”

Jezem

Shivan laughed. “Couples therapy? With Jezem? I’d rather give in now.” He nodded to Jezem, “I’ll be at the house. Give me…” He glanced at Séan, “a little over an hour or so.” Then he leaned back in his seat. He’d get Jezem back for that. Thyr does need to talk to a counselor. No, he didn’t, he was fine on his own.

~ Thyr

Séan nodded slightly. He didn’t feel like having a talk with Thyr now after all of the drama involved but he didn’t think rejecting him would be smart this early on in the patient/counselor relationship. “I think this one will be a little quicker. I’ve got some plans later and we ate up some of the time already.”

Counselor Iven

“If you want to call it off, that’s fine,” Shivan said quickly, picking up on his hesitation. “I’m here because you want me here so if you don’t want to be here…” He shrugged.

~ Thyr

Jezem rolled his eyes at all the polite ‘no, no, you don’t need it, but it’s no big deal, I’m so soft and squishy’. Bleh. “Whatever you decide I’ll be at the house.” Jezem hopped off his chair and breezed out of the cafe without a care in the world.

Jezem

Séan watched Jezem waltz out of the cafe and smirked. That one will be trouble, but at least it will be interesting. He turned his attention back to Thyr. “This better be the last time you show up with someone else. I won’t be doing it to you so I’d appreciate your reciprocating the favor. Even if Jezem is your backer here on Oed.” He gave him an unimpressed look for a few seconds then sighed. “Bar fight?”

Counselor Iven

Shivan held up his hands. “It was a one time thing, I wasn’t given a choice, and there’s no one else to worry about showing up.” Well, Eryn. But he didn’t think she was interested in his weirdo psych. She’d just use her crazy contacts to sus him out that way. No conversation needed. “Jezem thinks I’m gonna get myself killed.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s been three years since the dude disappeared out of the vast, vast sky. I’ve lived this long.”

Then he glanced at Séan. “Yes. Bar fight. You don’t let things go, do you?” He shifted in his seat. The fight with Jezem was two days ago but man, was his body still stiff and sore. And getting punched in his old injury hadn’t helped the healing process.

~ Thyr

Séan shook his head to all of it. He didn’t think Thyr was telling the truth, not entirely anyway, about his fresh injuries. Neither would it be productive to keep harping on about his bringing Jezem to the meeting. Instead he moved on to a different topic. “Why do you feel Jezem is wrong? You’ve gotten into three fights within three weeks of being on Oed. I imagine your injury is having a hell of a time healing.”

Counselor Iven

“Three fights in three weeks is a new low,” said Thyr. He didn’t seem proud of that but he didn’t seem ashamed of it either. “Well, yes, it is, getting punched in it definitely didn’t help it.” Oh, who he would kill for a dermal regenerator. He wasn’t going to the hospital though, like Jezem had done. Way too many officers around. “I don’t need a shrink, no offence. I’m fine. I do fine.”

~ Thyr

Séan nodded in understanding. “Of course you don’t. No one really needs a counselor. I mean, Starfleet just gave me a job doing this because I wasn’t good at anything else. Kind of like charity for me to have something to do.”

Counselor Iven

Thyr gave him a look. “You chose this. For some stupid or naive reason you thought you could ‘help’ people. You could’ve done something useful like medical or security.” He’d once been to the Academy. He knew how that stuff worked.

~ Thyr

Séan smirked back at Thyr. “Your handle on sarcasm seems to be as good as your control of your temper. Which the way you’re going your knife wound will never heal if you keep getting into fights. I don’t think Jezem’s concern is completely unfounded and I’m not saying that just because his agreement that you need counseling aligns with my interests.”

Counselor Iven

Shivan waved a hand. “I’ll be fine.” He set a hand against the injury gently. “It’s healing up alright. It’s just sore.” He shook his head. “Like I said, after he vanished out of our world I was just fine. I know how to not get myself killed ”

~ Thyr

“Except… you weren’t just fine and you’re lucky to not be killed.” Séan said lightly. “You’re here on the run and he’s providing cover for you.”

Counselor Iven

“A streak of bad luck led me here. I came here on my own. Encountering Jezem was a coincidence. It was lucky he was there when that Klingon came after me, I guess, but it was also incredibly unlucky that Klingon was here.” It was incredibly lucky Jezem had been there. Shivan’s injury would have been fatal without intervention. “My temper problem didn’t get me here. I won’t lie and say it hasn’t gotten me in trouble, but it’s not why I’m on the run.”

~ Thyr

“Maybe one of these days you can tell me that story.” Séan with a tinge of interest in his voice. “Though how fortuitous is was that an old comrade was at the very place you chose to flee and saved you from an unlucky encounter. Perhaps you’ve used up all of the bad luck you’ve had recently and only good things will happen from here on. You met me afterall.”

Counselor Iven

Shivan scowled, “No offense, but I don’t consider that good luck. Except the part where you agreed to not instantly hand me over to your buddies.” He shrugged, “I don’t even know why Jezem is helping me. That’s not really… what he’s known for.”

~ Thyr

“No offense taken.” Séan replied with a grin. “it could have been worse. You could have met my superior. Instead of congenially talking things out with you like I have, she probably would have kicked your ass and handed you in personally.” He thought over Thyr’s last statement. “If he isn’t known for helping friends then what is he known for?”

Counselor Iven

“Your counselor supervisor ‘kicks ass’?” Shivan asked disbelievingly. He chuckled at Séan’s question, thinking for a moment. “Uhhhm. Poison. Torture. Knives… definitely knives. He loves stabbing, he’s a sadist. He fights as much as I do, or used to… And he doesn’t really have friends, he doesn’t care about people like that. He doesn’t help unless there’s an underhanded reason for him to.”

~ Thyr

Séan shrugged at Thyr’s question. He idly had an idea of bringing her to Thyr’s shop to look around. It would be interesting and slightly revenge fulfilling for bring Jezem to the meeting. He thought about the various descriptors given to Jezem and asked a follow-up question. “Then why is he helping you?”

Counselor Iven

He shook his head. “I don’t know. He could flip and ask for some kind of repayment. Or he could just get bored and stop.” That was Shivan’s secret fear. That Jezem would simply grow bored, kick him out, and tell him to never come back.

~ Thyr

Séan nodded. “It’s nice to have people you can rely on. Whether it’s people you’re working with, friends, loved ones. It seems like you have no choice but to rely on Jezem. So what is he to you?”

Counselor Iven

“We worked together, three years ago. We had a ship. There were five or six of us. Jezem was the captain.” Shivan replied, shrugging. “I don’t know that I’d call us friends. I don’t know what we are.”

~ Thyr

“Does that worry you?” Séan asked softly. “The uncertainty behind what your relationship is and why he’s helping you.”

Counselor Iven

“Wouldn’t it worry you?” Shivan snapped, banging a fist into the table. “If your life basically depended on someone who’s equally likely to stab you himself as he is to help you?”

~ Thyr

Séan thought for a moment then nodded. “Of course it would. The uncertainty of why he is helping and if that help is predicated on a condition or whim would make me very anxious. I would have to get an answer even if it pissed him off enough that he’d withhold the help. I’d be appreciative that he had helped but I would need full transparency or I wouldn’t truly feel safe.”

Counselor Iven

“I don’t have the luxury to throw away help, even if it might be whim help.” Shivan replied. “Jezem is not my only backer on Oed, but I’d trust him sooner than I’d trust her.” At least her help wasn’t on a whim. She had set definite rules. But he still wasn’t sure he could fulfill those rules. “In my situation I need all the help I can get.”

~ Thyr

Séan nodded again. “Fair enough. I hope that my help is one that you’ll eventually see to be useful and accept. I’ll take my time to convince you through my actions during our meetings. I know trust can be hard to earn.”

Counselor Iven

Shivan huffed. “We’ll see.” Séan’s help didn’t do anything. It was another liability, really. Another thing that could go wrong and get him killed. “I’m not sure what you plan to do to earn it, though.”

~ Thyr

Séan shrugged. “Just talk through whatever you’re comfortable with. I can’t force anything without it backfiring and making you angry, so the best approach is to take this slow and steady. Beyond that it’s just a matter of seeing what it is that lends to your anger and seeing if we can come to terms with it.”

Counselor Iven

“Hmmm.” Shivan mumbled. He seemed more at ease with Séan since Jezem gave Séan the a-okay. Not just in general, but about talking, too. He was still paranoid and hypervigilant though, watching each person who came and went from the cafe as if they might suddenly pull a gun or jump him with a knife. “You want anything? I’m thirsty.” He had money now. And he didn’t want to talk about his anger.

~ Thyr

“A coffee with some cream please.” Séan requested at the offer. He wasn’t interested in Jezem’s offer because that would establish a transactional relationship and he was not about to hop into anything like that with someone he just met.

Shivan ordered the drinks and then returned with them, setting them both on the table.

After Thyr returned with the drinks, he took his with a nod of thanks. “So is there anything in particular you’d like to talk about?”

Counselor Iven

He took a drink of his own coffee, a black hot coffee, and shrugged. “I… may have been rude earlier. Calling you naive and all that. But it does stump me. Why do you care so much about helping people you have no duty to?”

~ Thyr

Séan took a sip of his coffee as he looked at Thyr. Typically counselors didn’t divulge much of their history and life circumstances. This was to maintain a professional line between patient and counselor. He had blackmailed convinced Thyr to be his patient under less than normal circumstances though, so what would it matter for a little more irregularity? He set the cup down and answered the question. “I have a mentor who helped me when I was an impulsive and angry brat. He didn’t have any reason to do it but he felt that if he didn’t try that I would be lost to a dark path. I learned a lot under his mentorship and I feel the key lesson I took away is that the universe is a nasty place but by each person I’m able to help, it gets just a little bit better.”

Counselor Iven

Shivan had to hold back a face of disgust. That was vomit worthy. But it was… somewhat familiar. Could Shivan have turned out differently if there had been someone for him? Passed the Academy? Avoided the life of crime and all that came with it? Was Séan just Shivan if someone had helped him?

Not that it mattered. It hadn’t happened. The universe didn’t work that way. No one had cared. No one had been there for Shivan, ever. It was why he used to harass Jezem for believing in that Orion religion of his. There were a select few lucky individuals, like Séan, and the rest were Shivans and Jezems.

How was that fair? What divine being would allow it to be that way? Why couldn’t Shivan have had that? For a moment, an alternate life flashed through Shivan’s mind. One where he didn’t get into that fight. Where he graduated the Academy and went on to serve in Starfleet. One where he wasn’t one giant screwup. He hadn’t missed that future in a long time. Now he felt that perceived lost keenly. Shivan’s anger built and he had to struggle to contain it, to avoid making a rather rude scene. “I guess you’re lucky then.” He managed.

~ Thyr

“I guess.” Séan said with a slightly sad smile. He would’ve been perfectly happy not joining Starfleet and staying on with his dad doing freighter runs if his dad hadn’t completely isolated himself off from everyone around him, especially his son. For that matter he would have been ecstatic to go into medicine and work alongside his mom on a Federation colony if she hadn’t been murdered. Maybe he would have become a big brother and shown the ropes to a little brother or protected a little sister. So many other possibilities but at least he did have someone who helped before his anger took him too far.

Counselor Iven

Shivan stood, knocking over his coffee by accident. He hardly seemed to notice. His antenna would give away his emotional state: quaking with rage. He wanted to get out of here. He wasn’t going to talk about it. He shouldn’t have asked. Séan wasn’t going to turn him in. Why was he even here? “I should go.”

~ Thyr

Séan was surprised at Thyr’s agitation. He wasn’t surprised at the outburst, Thyr had done that numerous times, but the anger he was giving off was palpable. He thought about stopping him and trying to get him to calm down, but he suspected it would prove counterproductive and not be a great idea in a cafe. “Okay. Let’s meet at the fountain same time and…” He thought of his schedule. “Next Friday.”

Counselor Iven

“Fine.” Shivan wasn’t sure whether he would show up or not. He left the cafe, turning down the street and heading off angrily, and not in the direction of either his place or Jezem’s.

~ Thyr