Counselor Department Meeting Part I
Posted on Wed Apr 2nd, 2025 @ 3:43pm by Lieutenant Vura & Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhara Rynn
Edited on on Wed Apr 2nd, 2025 @ 7:56pm
1,901 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Counselling Office - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD003 1500 hrrs
It had been too long since Zhara and Vura had last met. It did not help that they were on different shifts and often passed like two ships in the night. However, with few counselors on the ship, like any other ship, most of their communications had been by electronic means. Today, she meant to put a small end to that.
Tapping her combadge, Vura reached out, =^= Zhara, this is Vura. Do you have some time to meet? =^=
"Of course." Zhara had plenty of free time right now and spent most of it either in her office, her quarters, or wandering about the ship.
=^= Wonderful. Do you want to meet in one of our offices or somewhere more casual? =^=
"Is this a formal or casual meeting?" That would determine if they should meet in one of their offices, or if they should find another place. On a ship this size, there were few places that were truly private. "I'm making this too complicated."
=^= Maybe, =^= Vura answered. =^= A little of column A and column B, =^= Vura answered. =^= I fear that I've been remiss on checking in with you and I probably should have something to report to our XO when I give a report. That said, I would not mind just chatting, as well. =^=
"Well then, let's pick one of our offices where we're less likely to be interrupted as we're not on duty. Yours or mine?" Zhara knew Vura was likely to either stop to talk to someone or have someone want to talk to her if they were in a public place. That was not a bad thing, unless Vura wanted to get information for her report.
=^= Why not come to my office? I don't know if you have been here since our first meeting. I would be interested in your thoughts. =^= There was a hint of mischief in Vura's voice as she spoke.
"All right. I'll be there in five minutes." It was true that Zhara hadn't been to Vura's office since their first meeting. There was no need. However, she had a feeling it was going to make her office look staid in comparison.
=^= I'll be waiting, =^= came the reply.
Zhara was dressed in a calf-length skirt with tiny flowers dancing around the hem and a gauzy blouse in pale violet because she received a new supply of lavender for her office. She liked using a variety of natural scents to help trigger memories or aid in relaxation. Plus, she liked wearing colors. She left Sophia in her quarters as she'd be going there after the meeting and rang the chime to Vura's office.
Vura came to the door. The Counselor was attired in a navy blue V-necked dress. The short-sleeved A-line dress had light ruffles on the sleeves. It also had chiffon lining at the bottom. From the knees down, her legs were visible. She wore a matching pair of navy blue, stiletto three inch heels. To complete the outfit, she wore two gold bracelets on her left arm and made up her face with rose blush, blue and purple eyeshadow, and rose lip gloss.
"Welcome, Zhara! I'm so glad that you could come. I know our shift differences make meetings difficult." Vura walked back into her office.
Zhara could see that at the entrance of Vura's office, there were placed some blooming lavender plants, which gave off a pleasant soothing smell. On a wall, over a couch, she had put up a copy of Katsushika Hokusai's "The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife" above a periwinkle couch that swooped up and then down in the middle and then back up again. The couch had definite sensual innuendos written all over the convenient shaping.
The walls of her office were of a deep rose with hints of purple hues. From there, she opted only for a small desk, so the desk would not set a barrier between her and her clients. It was a semi-circle and she placed it carefully in such a way where she could swivel on a chair and quickly type something on a computer or PADD and not interfere with her relationship with her client. The color of the desk nearly blended into the wall but was more mauve on closer inspection.
Warm wooded mahogany chairs were available in case her clients did not prefer to be on the couch. There was a small glass circle table between the chairs. The table contained a small Zen sand garden and rake for clients to manipulate.
Vura watched Zhara to see what her reactions might be.
Zhara looked around slowly, taking in the colors, scents, and images in the room. It was definitely a more feminine room with the rose and purple color scheme. And the couch... She turned to Vura and raised an eyebrow. "This definitely suits your personality and tells me a lot about you as a person." Then she smiled. "But then, most of us show a great deal about ourselves in how we choose to decorate our quarters and workspaces. I know mine does."
"I should be most interested in seeing yours someday, as well. Please, sit. Can I get you anything to eat or drink?"
"Lemon ginger herb tea, please," she said, sitting down in one of the chairs. "You're always welcome to visit my office."
"I don't like to intrude," Vura answered. "Besides, as I said, it is difficult because we are on different shifts." She replicated a lemon, ginger herb tea for Zhara and then asked the replicator to pick a random drink in its system. A tall glass came out with a pink liquid. Green frilly plants stuck from midway in the liquid and extended past the glass. A straw hung in between. "I wonder what this is," Vura said as she sat down.
Zhara looked at Vura's drink. "I don't recognize it. How often do you ask for a drink at random?" She took a sip of her tea, enjoying the blend of lemon and ginger. "I like to experiment a little, but I prefer to know in advance what I'm tasting."
Vura shook her head and then shrugged her shoulders. "I almost always ask for something at random. I like to experience new things. There's only so much of life, and so much to experience."
"That's a novel approach." And very much what Zhara had come to expect from Vura. "I like to try new things, but I also like to savor the ones I enjoy most. It's like going back to an old friend."
"That is not something I get to experience often...going back to an old friend. However, I made that choice a while back, so, here's to new friends," she said raising her glass of pink liquid in a toast.
Zhara set her tea cup on the table. "Is that why you keep running from one new experience to another? You're running from your past?"
"Excuse me?" Vura asked, not expecting to be analyzed. "I'm very curious why you would think or see that."
"Because it's true. You never told me why you left your home and joined Starfleet, but the way you behave--and deflect--tells me that you're running from something that hurt you deeply."
"You're good," Vura confirmed. "Well, you're not entirely wrong. You're not entirely right either. But yes, I left Delta IV and took the Oath because it was too painful to stay home. My fiancé' was killed in front of me. Reduced into atoms by a disruptor. Home reminds me of what I had, so I left. So, no, I do not like to discuss it or reminisce about home. The rest, however, is just me and being Deltan, I'm afraid. Nothing unusual there. We're sensualists."
"Thank you for sharing that with me. I'm sorry about your fiancé." Losing a loved one so precipitously--and violently--would leave scars. "It explains why you chose to lead a celibate life in the Federation. But even for a sensualist, you have a surprising need to constantly experience something new. It's not a bad thing, but it does help me understand your continual need for stimulation."
"Again, that's just me. I was no different before that happened." Vura crossed her legs and took a sip of her drink. "Interesting. It starts sweet and ends tart. Perhaps I should call this a sweettart?"
"Does it matter if you'll never try it again?" It was a legitimate question. The answer didn't matter, but Zhara was curious. "Or should you name it "Sweettart" and then find out what its real name is? I admit to being curious about the ingredients."
"Oh," Vura started, her off hand doing a little twirl in the air. "I may do it again. One never knows. For example, if someone else wanted this and liked it and they served it, I would drink it again. And, I probably should find out its real name, so I might remember that I had it before and would choose something else new in the future."
Zhara nodded. "I agree that we should always be open to new things. They add flavor to life. So, that aside, how are you doing?"
"I am well, but you seem concerned for me," Vura replied, wondering where this line of questioning was heading. "Is there a particular reason?"
Zhara raised an eyebrow. "Does there have to be a reason?" She paused and took a sip of her tea. "It was the comment you made. And your general...demeanor. I guess that's the best word. Is something in particular bothering you?"
"Normally, I would say that there does not be a reason, but I suspect there is something more to your questions. What do you sense that is 'off,' for lack of a better phrase?"
"First, you're not usually suspicious. Second, I'm an empath. I don't know what's off, but you don't feel the same. There's a hint of...loneliness? Or you're upset over something. If I believed in auras, I'd say yours was slightly faded." Zhara raised a hand. "I'm not trying to psychoanalyze you. I'm simply concerned. You don't have to tell me anything. You wanted to meet to talk about counseling, not to be counseled." Maybe it was because many on the ship were on edge right now, but Vura wasn't her normal cheerful self.
"You're correct. I'm not a suspicious person by nature but these questions hint at something more and it concerns me. As you say, I did ask for counseling, though I do appreciate your willingness to assist," she replied sweetly. "In any case, I do have to get ready for a chief's meeting and we have not met much, so I wanted to meet to discuss if there have been any concerns that you have noticed? How do you think that the crew is faring?"
Zhara sighed. "More people are complaining of nightmares and not sleeping well. Only a few remember what they dreamed. It's putting people on edge. I've had a few come in just to talk. How about you?"
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhara Rynn
Counselor, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
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