Is the Counselor Too Much?
Posted on Thu Feb 27th, 2025 @ 7:48pm by Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke & Lieutenant Vura
Edited on on Fri Feb 28th, 2025 @ 5:49am
1,498 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Sick Bay - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD003 1100 hrs
The moment that Narin was gone, Vura heaved a heavy sigh. "Well, that was not something that I expected today. I hope that he's not too upset with me for verifying his story. Just what I would need...someone else upset with me."
"You were right to check, Vura." Hermia said. "It was a wild story. Betazoid psionic abilities can be quite complex and is a medical specialty in Betazoid medical schools."
"Oh, I don't doubt that I was right to check. I just hope that I did not burn a bridge. Like I said, I just seem to be good at upsetting people lately." She sighed heavily and dramatically.
"Vura, you don't upset people, you just rattle them a little. A lot of people, me included, are set in their ways and can't find a way out, you help them to break out of their routine for a while." Hermia said. "They might be mad at you at first, but understanding will follow."
"You sure about that?" Vura replied, her eyes turning downward. "Edmund has not talked to me in two days. That's not like him." She heaved a heavy sigh.
"Edmund's a friend, and I love him, but he's also a stubborn ass." Hermia said. "So, I wouldn't worry about it."
Vura laughed when Hermia called Edmund an ass. "Yeah, but I like that ass." She allowed the double entendre to sit between the two of them for a moment before continuing. "You've known him longer than me. Why does he insist on trying to find solutions for you when you don't request them? I know he means well, but doesn't he understand that not every problem in the world is his to solve?"
The counselor rolled her eyes and sighed.
"That's the way human men's minds work, they look for practical answers to problems, even when sometimes, you just want them to commiserate with them." Hermia said. "It's hardwired into their psyches."
"Perhaps, but it is stupid," Vura concluded with a sigh. "I guess that I just thought he was different." She shook her head, "He's so hopelessly naïve when it comes to women, too."
"Agreed." Hermia said. "But, he tries." She said with a smile.
"God forbid tell him that, though...." Vura shook her head. "I swear, I might need a small labotomy. I shouldn't care about this, this long! I really shouldn't, Hermia. I almost should be laughing about this and waiting for him, but here I am moping about the place. It's so pathetic."
"It's because he's got that ability to endear himself to you like a kitten." Hermia said. "It makes you worry about him, while also driving you crazy."
"The difference is that I can stroke a cat and soothe it," Vura answered with a heavy sigh. She then brightened. "Mister Tumnus and I spent some quality time together. I now have a bed for him in my office in case he comes back."
"I've met Mister Tumnus too. I found him laying on one of the biobeds, he's nice to have around." Hermia said. "Perhaps we should ask Tyler, to make Mister Tumnus, morale officer."
"And steal my job?" Vura asked scandalously. "Would you really put me out of work, Hermia? I mean, where would I go and what would I do?" she asked with a small giggle.
"You could always be 'ship's jester'." Hermia teased. "I'm sure you have the appropriate costume, in what I imagine to be a huge, cavernous wardrobe."
"Now that's not very nice, Hermia. Ship jester, indeed." Vura daintily stuck out her tongue at her friend. "And if you would like to see my wardrobe, you're more than welcome to come to my quarters."
"Is that an invitation?" Hermia asked sticking out her own tongue at Vura.
"To see my quarters?" Vura asked. "Yes. Anything more, no." Vura started to worry that her friend had been affected too greatly by her pheromones. Maybe it was a bad idea to even invite her in.
"Awww." Hermia said. "I was hoping it was an invitation for me to tear off your clothes and ravage you." She said with a pout. After a few moments the CMO burst out laughing. "Vura, you should see your face."
Vura scolded Hermia. "You know that I worry about you and what has happened between us. I do not want you ever to lose you, Hermia. I like you for who you are. I don't ever want you to become insane or worse, essentially someone who be so blinded by my pheromones that you would crave my intimacy and touch every second of every day."
"I truly sorry Vura, I meant it all as a joke, I was trying to get you to loosen up a bit." Hermia said. "But, I see I crossed a line."
"That's not something that I can joke about, Hermia. You know that I worry about you. Even a hint that I've had more of an effect on you, makes me worry that Starfleet will consider those actions as having broken the Oath. I don't think it crossed the line but still...."
"I understand and as I said, I'm sorry, I should realised." Hermia said. "Makes me a crappy empath, right?"
"Perhaps but you're still a good friend, Hermia," Vura replied sympathetically. "It just is one of the few things that I cannot ever joke about. I'm sorry if I snipped at you too hard."
"You had every right to 'snip' at me, I was wrong." Hermia said. "So, otherwise, how are things for you, Vura?"
Vura shrugged. "Well, you heard my sob story with Edmund, so not much else to tell right now. How about yourself?"
"I heard from my father, he's been promoted to Brigadier General." Hermia said.
"So, how does that make you feel?" Vura asked.
"I'm glad he is doing well in his career, but he and I have never got along, he almost disowned me when I chose 'Fleet over his beloved Corps." Hermia said. "I went through Marine boot camp, and took a position at a Marine base, in an attempt to win back his favour, and it worked, but I feel like I'm the only one doing the work to maintain our relationship."
"I see," Vura replied easily. "Why do you say that?"
"My father's family comes from a long line of Marines." Hermia said. "My brothers and I were brought up to be good little troopers, when we got home from school, it was PT until dinner. After dinner was homework and the Marine history until bed." She explained. "I like my uncle Sean O'Rourke, as I said, chose 'Fleet over the Corps. To my father, it was a betrayal, it was like we urinated on him and our forbearers." She added. "My father, Seamus and Sean never speak. Sean and I, on the other hand, are quite close, for obvious reasons." She paused a moment. "So, as my father sees it, I betrayed him, so it's my responsibility to fix it."
"No, that's not correct at all. You are not responsible at all for your father's feelings, nor are you responsible for fixing something. Relationships are two-way streets. Sometimes one person or the other may carry more of the load but ultimately, it should be an equal give and take."
"Well. maybe you can explain that to him. Goddesses know my mother has tried over the years." Hermia responded.
"It isn't for me to explain. It is for you to draw lines, wherever they may be, Hermia."
"That's not always easy, when it comes to family." Hermia said. "Why can't I just ignore him?"
"Because you always looked up to him. Because he's your father. Because you grew up exposed to him for most of your life. You value his opinion, and you want him to accept your path. None of this is easy, Hermia. If it was, I would be out of business."
"I know you're right." Hermia said. "And a great job, you do too." She added.
"You're only saying that because it is true," Vura teased. "So, you tell me what you want to do and I'll do everything that I can to help you. Or, you could tell me that you're not interested, and we could have some fun and drown our sorrows as to how stupid men are."
"The latter, one sounds fun, but I best do the former." Hermia said. "After all you only get one dad, unless you're Bolian or Denobulan."
"OK, well, then you best tell me what to do? Would you prefer to come to my office? It is a bit quieter there."
"Your office." Hermia said. "Lead the way."
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke
Chief Medical Officer, USS Pioneer
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