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Holodeck - Clam Bakes and Counseling...It's always a goodtime (Open thread to all)

Posted Jan. 21, 2022, 11:33 a.m. by Vanessa Slade (CNS) (Kate O'Neill)

Posted by Vanessa Slade (CNS) in Holodeck - Clam Bakes and Counseling…It’s always a goodtime (Open thread to all)

Posted by Vanessa Slade (CNS) in Holodeck - Clam Bakes and Counseling…It’s always a goodtime (Open thread to all)
OOC: Creativity will be highly encouraged and rewarded. If you run with it I will follow. I will post it in sections so if the spirit hits you post anywhere you are inspired. Just have fun.~ Kate :)

IC:
Vanessa sat in her office with several PaDD’s propped up like picture frames surrounding her. On the PaDD’s were the faces of several of her colleagues. From right to left, there were Lt. Nathan Harland, Lt. William O’Neill, Ensign Paige Ellis, and a PaDD with the still swirling comm call to Commander Heathcliff Rinker. She heard he was up to his eyeballs with some religious cult thing on the Atlantis so odds were he might be showing but if he did, Vanessa would take his two cents. The only other faces on the PaDD were a perky Latina named Celina Creed and a stunning woman by the name of Kalani Alindor. Both of these women were not counselors but roommates of Vanessa back in the academy. All the people however were there for moral support.

“So lemme get this straight,” Nathan scratched his forehead looking slightly concerned, “you want to throw a clam bake…in the holodeck…of a ship to say hi my name is Vanessa welcome to counseling?” Nathan had worked on and off with Vanessa over the years both in private and in Starfleet since they were both from Boston.

“Yes,” Vanessa said sighing again ready to explain for the fourth time her idea. “No one ever wants to come to counseling. I mean we rank behind heading to sickbay and everyone avoids sickbay like the plague. I want to change people’s views of mental health. Yay sanity and the power of positive thinking,” Vanessa raised her hands and gave herself a small fist pump.

The PaDD’s were all arranged so that everyone in the group could see each other as if they were in the same room. “You are going to drive them to seek counseling,” Will let out a laugh tilting back the bag of chips so that all the crumbs fell into his mouth.

“Said the counselor with his of so traditional approach to therapy,” Celina laughed. In all the times she had ever interacted with William O’Neill, she had never seen him without his feet propped up on the desk, reclining back in his seat, shoveling chips into his mouth. Absently she let her mind drift to wondering if this was how he actually saw his patients.

“What,” Will brushed off a few crumbs from his shirt with a confused expression on his face.

“Well I think it is a great idea. People sometimes feel stressed even talking to you guys off duty. If you can show them counselors can be fun and are not going to hit them with Freud or those black spots you have to guess what the hell they are,” Kalani said but was immediately interrupted by Nathan.

“Rorschach. It’s called a Rorchach test and it’s not like there are answers…you know that Lani right? It’s more to let you get a peek at how someone sees life.” Reaching to his right he found a piece of paper that had a large coffee stain on it. Picking it up he held it next to him. “What do you see,” he asked with a wink.

“Butterflies. Always answer butterflied or puppies. They let you out faster,” Celina took a sip of her coffee. “Makes them think you are happy and happy means sane.”

“Or you are detached from reality, lacking honesty, and sporting an unhealthy degree of deliberate ignorance,” Nathan countered.

A loud whistle pierced the room. “Hey this is all about me and my needs,” Vanessa looked at the face. “Celina is a spy so she utterly lacks honesty and Kalani is in the afterglow of the honeymoon so she is living in fantasy land. We need to focus on me and if my idea is going to work or not. You only get one chance for a first impression.”

“I say do it,” William leaned into the screen taking his feet off the edge of the desk. “What is it going to hurt? Even if they think you are bat snot crazy as a counselor after you will get to meet the crew. Gotta go my eleven o’clock is here. Lemme know how it goes.” Clicking off the screen the group was reduced by one.

“I agree with Will. Half the success you will ever have as a counselor is making people comfortable and relaxed. Parties are a good no-pressure way to get to know someone. It’s why we Hawaiians are always throwing luaus. I however have to go to. I am meeting with my boss to try and convince him to help me cut the floor out of a storage room to create an aquarium on the Saracen,” Kalani laughed. “Comm me later. You got this,” she gave her ex-roommate a thumbs up before logging off the screen.

Vanessa looked at the faces staring back at her. The creak of Nathan’s chair signaled the man was assuming his thinking position as he called it. “I always do encourage out-of-the-box thinking but just don’t feel defeated if no one participates. I mean they will come by to check it out. You are providing food and beer. Just be yourself. You got this. You will do great,” Nathan winked at her. A knock at the door to Nathan’s office signaled he would be leaving too. “Gotta go.”

And now Vanessa was down to the only two PaDD’s present.

Vanessa Slade CNS

==============
Two days later…
==============

Vanessa walked to all the common areas on the ship taping flyers in places like the gym, mess hall, recreating deck, and the crew lounge. The flyer was something reminiscent of something one would find announcing a yard sale, need for a roommate, or reminder a school dance was imminent. Her flyer was simple like all of those. Taking a step back, Vanessa read it for the hundredth time.

Clam Bake
Where: Genesis main holodeck
When: Saturday the twenty-second
Time: Noon until 4 PM

Come for the clams and beer. Stay for the company.

Picking up the remaining flyers, Vanessa took one last look before exiting the mess hall heading to her next distribution location.

Vanessa Slade CNS

================
Genesis Holodeck
Saturday the 22nd
================

Vanessa let out a deep contented sigh closing her eyes and inhaling the scent of the air. The air had a slightly industrial smell but for her it was comforting. The South End of Boston was not known for its pristine parks or high-end restaurants. In some people’s opinion, a slum would be a better description but she didn’t care. This was where she was from. Vanessa loved the city and all the smells and sights it contained. The holodeck program was set up to replicate Peter’s Park. The playground, basketball courts, and large grassy expanse made it the perfect spot to set up for the bake. Vanessa stood at a table folding a few of the t-shirts she had made and was ready to hand out. Genny’s First Annual Clam Bake was printed in white letters on a choice of red or blue shirts. Many people would assume it was because those were the colors of the United States flag. They would be decidedly wrong. Red, white, and blue might be that nationalities colors but first and foremost it was the colors of the greatest team ever: The Red Sox.

Looking around, Vanessa surveyed the area. The food was steaming and ready along with standard fare like burgers, dogs, and a variety of sides. The keg was tapped and coolers filled with bottles of drinks. The music played over the speakers. Everything was set except for people. Glancing at her wristwatch, Vanessa bit her lip and resisted the urge to call one of several of her brothers. Maybe she should have played it safe. Made an announcement…sat in her office until someone showed up…played words with friends: There were a million ways to say hello I am Vanessa Slade and I am your new counselor besides a picnic. Secretly, Vanessa just hoped at least one person on the crew showed up. Being the new guy was never fun and the crew of the Genny was tight-knit and close. Their reputation of being loyal, innovative, and brilliant was one of the reasons she jumped at the chance to work with them. She just hoped they liked her as much as she knew she was going to love them.

Moving to the coolers of beer, she popped open a Sam Adams, took a seat on a cooler, and waited for someone to show up.

Vanessa Slade CNS.


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