Posted Feb. 19, 2020, 1:51 a.m. by Lieutenant Junior Grade Jessica Lemann (Doctor) (Sarah M)
Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Assistant Counsellor) in Pre-Sim - Counselor’s Office
Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Jessica Lemann (Doctor) in Pre-Sim - Counselor’s Office
Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Assistant Counsellor) in Pre-Sim - Counselor’s Office
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻(snip)
Settling a bit more into the corner of her seat, Janna maintained a relaxed air as they chatted, mug still in hand. “What made you? Join Starfleet, that is?” She asked simply. It really was the most obvious next question, though she had been known to throw twists and turns at people on occasion.
~Janna Kingston, ACNS
Jessica took a healthy sip of her coffee before answering. She had a public-ready answer to the question, of course, but it didn’t seem like this was an environment that was precisely necessary. She carefully set the cup of coffee down before laughing softly. “Spite?” she offered with a grin. She paused to see the counselor’s reaction before offering any further explanation.
Dr. Lemann
Kingston smirked and suppressed a slight chuckle. “It’s as valid a reason as any,” she said before gesturing for Lemann to continue. There was definitely more to the story than it seemed at first glance.
~Janna Kingston, ACNS
As much as she was happy to laugh off the decision, Jessica’s grin faded as she grew more serious. “There had always been an assumption that I would be the one to take over for my father, even though several of my brothers are doctors,” she explained. That seemed to be about as long as she could tolerate seriousness, though, as a smirk once again danced across her lips. “I like to buck expectations. The whole baby sister thing was getting old anyway.”
Dr. Lemann
A slow nod of understanding was followed by contemplative silence. At least for a moment. “And you’re here now, and while there will be more junior ranked crew around you, you’re new… the baby, as it were,” Janna pointed out. “Will that bother you?” She wondered how Lemann was going to adjust, especially after she’d been hoping assignments so much.”
~Janna Kingston, ACNS
Jessica’s smirk nearly turned into a belly laugh, but she didn’t want to appear to be making fun of the counselor. “We’ll all be okay as long as they don’t start fretting over my choice to join Starfleet or do anything more dangerous than stepping foot out of the house I grew up in,” she remarked, punctuating her statement with a chuckle. “I’m slightly older than your average junior officer since I went through medical school before joining Starfleet,” she pointed out. “That’s an asset when it comes to having a more mature perspective on the world.” Her tone wasn’t precisely argumentative, but it was certainly confident.
Dr. Lemann
“True,” Kingston said matter-of-factly. “But you’d be amazed how age has nothing to do with it,” she said with a shrug.
Considering the physician for a moment, Janna pondered whether to go down this path. Maybe it was nothing, or maybe there was something necessary to learn. Could go either way. “Why did they assume you’d take over for your father?”
~Janna Kingston, ACNS
Jessica laughed softly at Kingston’s comment about age. She wasn’t quite sure if the counselor had meant it as a joke, but it was certainly something that rang true to her. Despite how old they were now and their various positions through Starfleet, every Lemann holiday celebration seemed to end with a pile of blonde, green eyed adults wrestling and flailing at one another as if they were small children. She returned Kingston’s quiet contemplation as she considered her response to the question. It was always difficult to word the family dynamic to someone who wasn’t in it.
She leaned back in the chair again, focusing her eyes upward at the ceiling as she formulated a response. “From what I’ve been told, my mother was all about her family. She gave up everything to raise her children. And, well, being the only girl, there was some expectation that I’d be her mini me.” She looked up and made eye contact with Kingston, her features relaxed as she spoke of her upbringing. “That’s not to say that the expectation was unwarranted.” Her smile turned wistful. “I never met my mother but I’m told that we are very alike. It just seemed natural to everyone that I’d stay home, work with my father, take care of him, a spouse, some babies…” The humor crept rapidly back into her voice as she went through her list. “And horrors, here I am a Starfleet officer and very much single.” By the time she had completed the last sentence, her green eyes were dancing in amusement again. It certainly did not seem to bother her that she was unattached and defying her family’s wishes. Her tone when she referred to them was warm and loving; there was no animosity between her and her beloved family, even if she had chosen a different path than originally intended.
Dr. Lemann
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