Posted by Lieutenant Séan Iven (Counselor) in Starfleet Complex- Impromptu Chats

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Starfleet Complex- Impromptu Chats

Posted by Lieutenant Séan Iven (Counselor) in Starfleet Complex- Impromptu Chats
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“That’s a very heavy burden Captain. How have you been coping with the stress of it all?” Séan inquired with some sympathy in his voice. “Not that I want to be the typical nagging counselor, byt despite having a very busy schedule it is vital that you take moments to decompress. I’m glad to see that you’re doing so now.”

Counselor Iven

She almost laughed again but it came out more as a sigh. “I have plenty of people who will give me hell if I don’t, trust me. And to be honest, these diplomatic events are the least of my worries. Or rather, they are easier to deal with than other more personal things. If it was just one thing, it would be fine, but as always my life it a complicated and chaotic mix.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

“I can certainly understand that life can become quite complicated,” Séan replied, his tone empathetic. “Balancing personal matters with professional responsibilities is never easy, especially in your position. If you ever feel the need to discuss those personal matters or anything else that’s on your mind, please know that my door is always open, whether it’s for a more structured session or just a casual conversation. Sometimes, talking about things can help alleviate the weight of complexity.”

Counselor Iven

In this moment she was between tasks, between places to be, and responsibilities. It was a tiny but necessary reprieve. And she was not one to vent randomly to people she just met, but this was a slightly different situation. Dasca turned to Séan, her hazel eyes intense. “My daughter and her family just arrived… early. We had all sorts of contingencies and her being here early isn’t a problem at all. In fact, they are going to attend the gala with me. And I am thrilled they are here. I’ve missed them so much and Caridee and I are very close. But… I guess I didn’t realize the rest of the feelings there, the ways in which things are now complicated between us. We’ll have to deal with that later but I haven’t bene able to push it out of my mind as well as I would like.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Séan nodded, his demeanor compassionate and understanding. “Family dynamics can be incredibly complex, especially when there’s a blend of personal and professional commitments involved. It’s understandable that these feelings are weighing on your mind, especially as you balance your role as a lieutenant governor and your relationships with your family members.”

In some ways Eela thought her role here would be more of an adjustment for Caridee and Kian, than her. It certainly made some aspects of their visit a bit more complicated and she could only hope they wouldn’t come to resent any of it. Besides, she wanted them to be safe and if they were going to move about the colony, both with and without her, well they would just have to go with how things operated. Tough cookies, as she might have said when Dee was a teenager.

He leaned forward slightly, his tone gentle. “If you ever feel the need to discuss these feelings or work through any challenges, I’m here to help. Sometimes, just talking about what’s on your mind can provide some clarity and relief.”

Counselor Iven

There was a tiny tightness in her chest that had been ever present since the ever so casual mention in Kenzo’s office of earlier events. “I appreciate that. You’re fairly new here, so you weren’t here when…” Eela paused and looked out over the courtyard, watching uniformed personnel move through some of the surrounding corridors. “When my ex-husband showed up and turned my life upside down and inside out. I’m a psychologist by training and my daughter is a psychiatrist. We’re both aware of the variables at play here, but it is rather different when it’s your own life versus that of someone you’re helping. We haven’t had a chance to talk about what his actions mean for her as a daughter and us as a family.”

She looked back at Iven. “I have a restraining order against him. Everything is ten times more complicated than it was before. At least on the surface. I’ve only just begun to work through his narcissism and how it changed how I lived my life. But seeing my daughter reminded me vividly that she is seeing her own life differently as well. I know we will find our way through this, but yes, I definitely need to continue to unravel the truth from the lies. I’ve been making time for it but my professional life just seems to keep increasing in speed. My assistant Cort is amazing at carving out time for all my various health needs, so I guess once this gala is over and we’ve hopefully made it through unscathed, I am desperately going to need to sit down and catch my breathe emotionally. And I’d welcome any help and insight you might have to offer.” Eela offered a tiny smirk. “I try not to make my therapist’s jobs harder, but you’d have to ask them how true that is in reality. Therapy is one of the reasons I’m still here and still pushing forward in my life. But I’ll warn you not to follow through with your offer casually. Mine is a long and complicated file. Please help me out by doing your homework first. It’ll make our starting place that much easier, and I desperately need something in my life to be simpler.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.