Counseling and Diplomacy

Posted on Tue Jan 26th, 2021 @ 12:40pm by Lieutenant Amanda Rose & Commander Grace Vetur

2,026 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: The Lonesome Road
Location: Counseling

ON

Grace was curious to meet the senior staff, as she would be working with them on a regular basis. And, as she needed to get her initial evaluation out of the way, she made an appointment to meet with the counselor.

She arrived two minutes before her appointment and rang the chime.

Amanda had continued to decorate her office. It was an important part of counseling to make certain that her patients were comfortable. Adding to the landscape pictures, she had added a lush area rug that was composed of varying shades of grey and ivory in intricate patterns that patients could get lost in. She hummed happily to herself as the office became more and more of a safe space. When the chime rang she called back, "Come in," as she continued to examine her office, deciding that some flowers might help it, as well.

Grace paused after she walked in, lookin around the room. "How lovely."

The Counselor turned to smile at Grace and said, "Thank you. It is hardly done yet, though. How can I help you Commander?" Amanda asked after noticing the pips.

She smiled. "I wanted to meet you, and I am in need of my evaluation. If you don't mind doing both at once."

"Oh, no! Not at all!" Amanda replied. "I intend to get a comfy couch in here soon and perhaps a bean bag chair but right now, we'll have to put up with Starfleet standard chairs. I hope that's not a problem."

She wasn't sure if a beanbag chair would be an improvement, but Grace knew some liked the odd furniture. "These will be fine. I'm more interested in talking with you than where we sit."

"Very well, please sit," Amanda reached out her hand and pointed to a chair. Rather than going around to the other side where her desk was, Amanda took the other "guest chair," and sat down in it. "I find that sitting across a desk from someone makes a situation seem more adversarial from a subconscious point of view. This way, there is nothing but space between us and no obstacles."

"An interesting way to view it. I see it as putting someone in a subordinate role myself." Grace sat down and waited for the counselor.

"Should I assume that you mean when you sit across a desk from someone?" Amanda gave time for the Comannder to answer.

"That is another valid way of seeing it. In my line of work, either way it is interpreted would generally not lead to trusting role. My job is to get people to open up and trust that they have someone that they can confide in, someone who will not judge them for who they are or whatever they may have done. There is plenty of that in Starfleet already. Of course, some of that is necessary, otherwise, how could promotions or discipline be handled?"

"Yes. As a counselor it's important for you to be someone they can trust and confide in," Grace said. "Diplomacy and command is a little different. That's mostly where I come from, although I have been a counselor as well."

"Have you?" Amanda asked interested. "When was that?"

"I have a PhD in psychology," she said. "I've been both a counselor and a diplomat, but mostly a diplomat. And now, first officer."

"That's quite the storied career," Amanda replied honestly. "What made you decide to switch from counselor to diplomat?"

She shrugged. "My grandparents were diplomats. I used to help them when I was a teenager, so I found myself slipping into diplomacy. Psychology helps a great deal with understanding people, which also works in diplomacy."

"Psychology would be helpful in any field, but I would expect that it would be especially helpful there. But you changed from diplomacy to command. Why?"

"One of my commanding officers recommended me for command training," she said. "I thought it would be a challenge. A way to bring my experience into a new way of working with people." She smiled. "New experiences lead to growth."

"Has it done that for you? Do you enjoy it?"

"So far. This is my first posting as an executive officer, but so far I like it," she said. "And what about you? What made you decide to be a counselor?"

"A couple of things. One, I wanted to understand myself better and two, I like people. I like helping and being that safe space for others."

Grace nodded. "Both worthy goals. How has being a counselor helped you grow?"

"I must admit that I have not thought about that much. Though, now that you ask the question, I think that I am a bit stronger than I used to be and I think that I am more confident in group settings, though I'm still quiet."

"Nothing wrong with being quiet," Grace said. "In fact, sometimes its the quiet people come up with the right solutions."

"Oh, one on one or in small groups, I'm not so quiet," Amanda replied with a laugh. "It is just my comfort zone, I guess."

"Diplomacy makes you get out of your comfort zone. I think of it as being on stage. I'm there to perform a role, but when I'm not, I prefer smaller--and quieter--groups myself," she said.

"How do you do it?" Amanda asked, genuinely interested. "I don't know that I could, unless forced to do it."

"Practice and experience. I started by helping my grandparents with research, then I would attend functions with them. By the time I was old enough, they were letting me do some of their work." Grace smiled. "So, you could say I grew into it. It also helps to be able to go to a quiet room and read afterwards."

"What do you like to read?" Amanda asked, smiling warmly, thinking about how nice it was to curl up with the occasional trashy romance novel.

"Histories, biographies, folk tales. It depends on my mood. Sometimes I like to read fiction involving dancers."

"That's rather specific," Amanda replied. "Fiction involving dancers...."

"I'm a dancer," Grace replied with a shrug. "So I like reading sometimes about dancers."

"What a coincidence!" Amanda replied excitedly. "I am a dancer, as well. Nothing professional, of course. But I do have some ballet training and I love ballroom dance. I just wish that I had a partner."

"I've done some ballroom and lyrical jazz. I have a holodeck program with an excellent trainer," Grace said. "Sadly, that's where I do most of my dancing these days."

"I believe it," Amanda replied in a resigned tone. "Not many men seem to take it up anymore." She shrugged. "You would think that they would realize that it stirs a woman's heart more than most things."

"Not on a starship, no. You find more of them planetside. But for the purpose of exercise and expression, a holodeck works well." You also didn't have to worry about a partner thinking dancing together meant that you could expect fringe benefits.

"I had worked on the Moon colony. I did not see much difference there." She shrugged and then started twirling her auburn hair in a finger. "Of course, it was my first assignment and then, I think I was rather concentrated on my career."

"That's quite possible. There are a lot of places that say they have dancing, but few of them are worth the time," Grace said. "To be honest, outside of university I've had little opportunity to dance with men outside the holodeck."

"Well, it is their loss," Amanda replied definitively. "Perhaps their defective chromosome makes them oblivious?" She laughed prettily at her outrageous supposition.

Grace chuckled. "I think everyone is defective in one way or another. Especially when dancing."

Amanda laughed at that. "Well, I'll agree on the defective, but think of it this way.... It is job security, right?!"

The first officer grinned. "It is indeed. I'm not sure what I'd do if there wasn't something that needed negotiating or fixing."

"Dance?" Amanda offered.

"There is that, but as you said, there aren't many places to dance on a level that is not quite professional. I'm too old to make a career of it, and don't have enough experience to teach."

"I guess that you proved the point that there would always be a job for counselors, then."

"Indeed. Far more than mine," Grace said, chuckling.

"One could only hope," Amanda returned. "So, does anything worry you about taking on this assignment? May I call you Grace, by the way? I never did ask."

"Please do. I'm more comfortable being called Grace," she said. She paused for a minute, thinking. "Worried? I wouldn't say so, exactly. Do I think I'll make mistakes? Probably. I am not perfect and will make mistakes, but I hope they are only minor ones."

"I'm sure that you will perform very well. I have no reason to believe that you will do otherwise." Amanda shrugged. "Besides, Grace, if you worry about things that you cannot control, it will likely hinder your performance."

"A very good point. I find that most of the time, the things you worry about never come to pass." She smiled. "In my experience, when things go wrong, it's generally from an unexpected quarter."

"And since you could not plan for it, why worry?" Amanda replied with a giggle, knowing that her point was made. "So, all we can do is plan for what we anticipate and then let the chips fall where they may."

"Indeed. Although it's not always that cut and dried. It's supposed to be, but humanoids are still a flawed species." She smiled. "That is also part of the adventure."

"Lord knows that's THE TRUTH!" Amanda replied with a telling short laugh. "I left the Avenger because of my flaws. I was just so stupid, Grace. I had this completely unrequited crush on the Captain and he was smitten with his XO. I don't think he ever noticed, either. I spent so many years there, just hoping...."

The first officer smiled sympathetically. "I haven't had much luck with relationships, either. Most of the men I encounter prefer the sexy, flirtatious types and I am neither. You weren't being stupid. It was his choice, and his loss." She'd experienced unrequited love--at least she thought it was love at the time. In hindsight, she realized that it wasn't. True love required a mutual commitment to flourish. Unrequited, it withered and died.

While many crew members were drawn to the captain--especially when they were attractive and charming like Captain Michaels--few considered the first officer more than a paper-pusher who stepped in when the captain was otherwise engaged. For that reason, she expected the counselor to have better luck than she would. "This is a new ship and new opportunities for you," she said to the counselor.

"New opportunities, yes," Amanda replied sighing. "I would probably be best served just sticking to my job for awhile. After all, I finally got the courage to leave. I was not really specific about destination. I just knew I finally had to break the pattern. You know?"

"I'm glad you did," Grace said. "I think this ship will be a good move for you."

"I think so. I like it so far. Then again, it does not take that much to please me."

Grace couldn't help laughing. "Then I can't see you having too much trouble adjusting to the Ontario." She had no doubt the crew would take to hte counselor.

Amanda had to wonder why Grace was laughing but she let it pass. "I certainly hope not. Well, Grace, it has been a pleasure meeting you. Please drop in any time, especially if you have found me a great dance partner."

"If I find a great dance partner, I may keep him for myself," the first officer replied. "But we may both get lucky this trip." At least she hoped the counselor would. Grace wanted her luck to change. She stood and smiled. "See you around."

"I certainly hope so!" Amanda called back.

Lieutenant Commander Grace Vetur
Executive Officer

Lieutenant Amanda Rose
Chief Counselor

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