Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Post Sim - Chief Engineers Check in with the CNS

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Akirel Ros (Chief Engineer) in Post Sim - Chief Engineers Check in with the CNS

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Post Sim - Chief Engineers Check in with the CNS

(snip)

Her grin faded slightly, and inwardly she cursed the immediate tell. It wasn’t that she was closed off, no entirely the opposite. She was in the psychotherapy camp that believed in connection with her patients made for better outcomes. Akirel’s offer wasn’t an idle one either, that deep instinct that had bloomed recently had told her as much, and yet, she was hesitant. Why? Because it was all so complicated? Because if they unravelled one thread they could unravel them all? And damn him being a counsellor previously, because it meant he could see right through her shiny facade.

Ros said nothing, didn’t move. Only his breathing lifted his chest as he waited and watched. If he noted the dip in her smile, his eyes never flickered. Indeed, they were busy looking straight into hers with an intense awareness like he was reading her. Of course he was Bajoran and had no telepathic abilities, so it wasn’t possible he was catching any thoughts but the man had been a counselor, and worked for Starfleet Intelligence. Who knew what he was seeing?

Janna looked away, another tell that irked her, but her therapist’s mask wasn’t useful in this moment. “I have people I can confide in, but to be honest, I usually have to call one of our support for stuff,” she said, referring to the group of counsellors in Starfleet whose sole job was to do therapy for the mental health practitioners. But given how space worked, sometimes it wasn’t an immediate option. And yes, there were five other counsellors in her department who not all that long ago she had just been the assistant department head to, and now was their boss. The dynamic had shifted, even though it was imperceptible from the outside.

Finally she looked back. “I will keep your offer in mind,” she said.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Ros smiled softly. “That’s all I offer. Sometimes you might need someone closer than the Psychology department at Starfleet HQ, and seeing as I don’t have to work alongside you or take my duty roster from you, why not make myself available? The wisdom of an Engineer can be invaluable.” The soft smile twitched upwards at the corners and he tilted his head slightly, making his earring sway slowly with his movement.

“Never know when I’m going to need to know how to recalibrate an EPS relay,” Kingston bantered. She enjoyed conversing with him. It was the bonus of both having had interesting careers and having a background in mental health. You knew how to have a conversation. But there was more to it than that. His personality was calm and yet radiant. It was nice to be around, and she could admit that she hoped there would be future conversations.

“I’ve already gathered that this ship has had it’s fair share of thrills and tragedy,” Ros leaned forwards slightly and looked at her, his eyes still intense but friendly. Like a warm fire that you sat next to in the evening with a wine at the end of a hard day. “The counseling team is the washboard for the crew, but you’re all involved. I’ve seen good people take too much on their shoulders, we’re a team, all of us. That means your people. And you.”

“Oh, we know it. We actually came up against a burnout situation after our return from the other Universe. Had to rope in Psyc staff from the Ogawa who was also docked at Starbase with us and we did PTSD risk evals for the entire crew.” She grinned. “You missed all the fun.”

“Oh at around that time, according to the reports I’ve seen I was having my own kind of fun. I doubt I needed any more just then. We’re Starfleet after all, there’s plenty of fun to go around.” He paused for a moment and looked at her, held the smile of his own against her grin. He knew the stresses and concerns a team like hers had for their crew. If they had needed another team, and one from a medical ship specifically, there must have been a fair amount of concern after that mission.

Sitting back again, he placed his hands on the ankle of the leg that was resting on his knee. “I know to seek you out if I need to, and I will. I’m not opposed to talking about what I need to.”

Lt Cmdr Akirel, CE

Janna nodded, her blond curls bobbing with her. “Good. Because nothing would sour my day more than having to chase down a crew member who really ought to know better. Though I will say I have become incredibly creative about making sure wayward crew find their way having a conversation with us.” She grinned widely.

“I’ll remember that,” Ros winked as he said it. This woman was easy to talk to, had a smile that made you want to keep talking and clearly cared deeply. He almost commented that her claim to be creative in finding ways to have crew reach out to her team, was something he may just keep in mind to try out one day. Almost. The look in his eyes and the twitch of his lips would key in someone who knew body language that the Chief Engineer was harboring mischievous thoughts on that matter.

“Welcome to Athena, Ros. I don’t need to warn you about what you’ve gotten yourself into here, but I have no doubt you’ll fit in with our rather unique crew.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“I’m already liking what I’m seeing and who I’m meeting,” He said and raised his hands from his lap to emphasize the point. “If there are any people I’d rather get into trouble with, they are way too far away to call anyway, so I’m pretty sure this crew can handle things.” Sitting forward, he brushed of his trousers and looked at Kingston.

“So how’d I do, Counselor?” He asked her softly. “Do you think it’s safe to unleash me on this ship then? Or do you want me in here weekly for ongoing evaluations?”

Lt Cmdr Akirel, CE