Posted Feb. 26, 2020, 2:42 p.m. by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Assistant Counsellor) (Lindsay B)
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 Lieutenant Junior Grade Jessica Lemann (Doctor) in Pre-Sim - Counselor’s Office
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻(snip)
“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
Kingston mirrored the smile. “So you decided to be a rebel,” she stated.
Jessica deadpanned slightly and teasingly flipped a loose lock of her blonde hair. “Do I look like a rebel?”
Leaning forward, Janna’s expression was soft. “Just to be clear, I’m not poking about looking for flaws. I just like to know a person’s motivation for serving and the circumstances they come to the ship so I can anticipate if there are places where I can be of use. Often people have evals with me and expect that I’m going to want to pick them apart and examine every detail, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. My job is simply to help each crew member be the best they can be. Sometimes there are things that can get in the way, and in that case, I’m here to help you find your own solutions. And I’m here when things just suck and you need to vent.” She paused there to assess how she was being perceived.
~Janna Kingston, ACNS
When she paused, Janna would find that Jessica was nodding in agreement with her statement, a grin again dancing across her features. “I understand completely. It’s awfully similar to the way I view my job,” she commented, leaning forward in interest. “I’d much rather get to know a crew member when they’re healthy and doing well so that we can prevent any problems down the road.” She paused for a moment, her eyes looking up toward the ceiling as she pondered before coming back to rest on Kingston. “In that vein, I’d tell you if there was something I needed help with or a sounding board for, but I’m doing well.” There was no indication in her body language or tone that that statement wasn’t 100% truthful.
Dr. Lemann
Janna gave a crisp nod. “Good. Then I’m going to let you get on with settling in, and if you’re finding that tricky at any point or just want to hang out in the lounge with a friendly face, call me. Okay?” She believed Jessica. Even those that were forthcoming with her weren’t necessarily able to be totally honest with her, but it was the perk of health professionals that most hated chasing down patients and didn’t want to force her into a similar position.
~Janna Kingston, ACNS
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