Posted by Ensign Dr. P’Mala Dawes (Doctor) in Counselor’s Office - Ensign Dawes Reporting

Posted by Lieutenant Siennadye Nox (Counselor) in Counselor’s Office - Ensign Dawes Reporting

Posted by Ensign Dr. P’Mala Dawes (Doctor) in Counselor’s Office - Ensign Dawes Reporting
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>
P’Mala nodded, grateful for the connection. “I look forward to working with you here, Counselor, and getting to know you. I’m about to meet my department head for the first time, and I admit that I am a little nervous to meet with Dr. Vock–thank you for taking the time to meet with me, today.”

“I am sure that will go smoothly. You seem to have a solid head on your shoulders and he will value that.”

She stood, made an awkward half-bow, and smiled back at Nox.

“If you’ll excuse me…” P’Mala reached out a hand for a shake.

-Ensign P’Mala Dawes, Medical

Siennadye also stood, taking P’Mala’s hand in her own for a classic human gesture of the handshake. Her grip was not too tight and not too soft, a nice middle ground of pressure. When her hand pulled away, she walked the Ensign to the door. “Yes of course Ensign. Welcome to the Europa.”

Nox, CNS

P’Mala stopped at the door.

“Thank you again. I’m sure I’ll be back if something comes up–but don’t be a stranger!” she said, grinning at Nox. Then she straightened her posture and headed down the corridor feeling a bit more confident.

-Ensign P’Mala Dawes, Medical

After what had just happened in the Chief Medical Officer’s office, P’Mala Dawes returned to the Counselor’s Office much faster than she’d originally anticipated.

Where she’d started the day crisp and neat, now she was definitely tired–emotionally exhausted, even. She pressed the button near the Counselor’s door and closed her eyes as the familiar chime droned.

-Ensign P’Mala Dawes, Medical

Sienna answered the chime by standing and walking to the door to see who was gracing her with their presence and was surprised to find Ensign Dawes looking rather worse for wear. “Ensign Dawes. I must admit, I had not expected to see you so soon after our initial meeting.” She took in the other woman’s appearance with concern and steered her towards the seating area. “Do you need anything to refresh or ground yourself? A drink, a snack, perhaps?”

Nox, CNS

OOC: I’m so sorry for the delay in my reply. This got buried somehow–I really do apologize!

IC: “A green tea would be fantastic,” P’Mala said. “Warm. Body temperature.”

She felt tired behind her eyes. She took a seat and hunched her head into her shoulders.

“I just finished my intake appointment with Mr. Vock, Counselor. It did not go as expected, I’m afraid. Not as I expected at all.”

• Ensign P’Mala Dawes

Sienna moved to sit near the young woman, concern showing on her face. “Oh? Why don’t you tell me about it?”

Nox, CNS

P’Mala’s usually-stoic forehead creased.

“It sounds so ridiculous, Counselor. It’s a long story. Do you have time for a long story?”

P’Mala laughed mirthlessly. “I feel ridiculous. I’m sorry for bothering you.”

The ensign stood up as if to leave.

-Ensign P’Mala Dawes

She could tell that Dawes was not used to opening up and was on the verge of leaving. However, Sienna was pretty persuasive when she wanted to be. She knew if she pushed too hard, or commanded the young woman to sit, that she would resent it and not want to confide in the counselor. Instead she chose the light tactic. Gentle and interested. “Ah, don’t you dare Ensign. I love a good story and you would be robbing me if you left. I have nothing else on my schedule and am completely free to be here with you. Now sit. Let me get those drinks and you can tell me all the sordid details.” she said kindly, taking ahold of P’Mala’s wrist and gently tugging her back to the sitting area before she turned to the replicator and began her order.

Nox, CNS

Redirected by the counselor expertly, P’Mala, shaken, retook her seat. She felt her forehead grow warm.

“I’m–I’m sorry. You’re right. I came here to talk, and I should follow through. It’s just been… a strange day.”

“Strange days just happen to be my specialty P’Mala.” She said as she turned to the replicator and ordered the warm green tea for her guest and hibiscus white tea for herself. Sienna added a side of cream and sugar for herself too, though enough if the Ensign also wanted some.

It felt like her entire world had shifted in the few short hours since she’d first checked in with the Counselor. Like everything she knew about herself was somehow untrue.

“I got an… unexpected diagnosis at my medical check-in. It has rather upset me, and Mr. Vock recommended we speak.”

-Ensign P’Mala Dawes

The counselor turned and brought the tray to the sitting area and sat on the couch near the Ensign. She set the tray down on the coffee table and started preparing her own tea. “I am grateful to Mr. Vock for recommending me. What was the diagnosis?”

Nox, CNS

P’Mala took her tea with a trembling hand and held the cup in both hands, mostly for the heat of it than anything.

“My neural pathways have shown sights of damage,” she recited emotionlessly. “This is likely due to how trauma intersects with the Vulcan parts of my physiological makeup. I have been temporarily excused from active practice until the Doctor says otherwise.”

Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. She hid them behind a sip of tea.

-Ensign P’Mala Dawes

Sienna’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. She wished that the good doctor had sent her a run down of what exactly he was diagnosing so that she could better help the woman before her. “Is it affecting your learning, memory, or behavior?”

Nox, CNS

P’Mala’s voice sounded like it was coming from someone else’s body.

“I don’t really know yet. I feel so… separate… from myself. I have for months and maybe— maybe this explains it, Counselor.”

Her eyes leaked and her chest burnt and she couldn’t process it all fully. The vocabulary of emotion in the memory museum of her mind did not have a word for this.

-Ensign P’Mala Dawes

She felt keenly for the woman before her. No one enjoyed finding out they had a disease, much less one that seems to separate mind from body. “Perhaps it does. There can be solace in that. If you have found an answer, you have a direction to take. What is his prognosis?”

Nox, CNS