Who We are
Posted on Sat Jul 9th, 2022 @ 6:33pm by Lieutenant Amanda Rose & 1st Lieutenant Dahlia Acker
Edited on on Sat Jul 9th, 2022 @ 7:31pm
2,131 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
The Bandits of Black Rain
Location: Chief Counsellor's Office
Timeline: [Backpost]
There were some things you couldn't avoid when serving in Starfleet. No matter what branch, there was always the same things set up. Missing your physical or counselling session never looked good on your file, and because Dahlia was very conscious of this universal fact she had never missed either. It didn't mean she occasionally was tempted to, but she always showed up on time to both. Psychologically, she suspected it might be because of a fear of failure. Or a fear of going down a similar path to her father.
Because of this fact, she rang the chime to the Chief Counsellor's office, holding her PADD with her schedule for today. Like everything else she did on this ship, it was scheduled in, a nice little block in her diary to carve out time. She heard a quiet answer, the door opening for her and she stepped in, coming into what could be described as a loose attention. "Ma'am," she said, taking a brief second to look at the counsellor. She was younger than she expected for the position, with the most stunning auburn hair and hazel eyes. Funny. Dahlia had always liked to be a bit more like that herself rather than pale, blonde and washed out in appearance. But life handed you genetics and you got through life focusing on your goals. "1st Lieutenant Dahlia Acker, reporting for counselling..." the last was said with a small smile, meant to disarm a bit.
"You say that humorously, but there are a great deal of people that view coming to me more as a command order than as something that could be helpful or fun," Amanda replied with a warm and cheery smile. "So, do I need to command you to be 'at ease'?" Amanda replied playfully. She opened up her arms. All throughout the room were different kinds of chairs, including a bean bag chair. There also was a couch that looked exceedingly comfortable. The place was cluttered but warm, as if created specifically to make anyone at ease.
"Make yourself comfortable," Amanda told Dahlia, looking up into her eyes. "Is there something that I could get you to eat or drink?"
Dahlia smiled and shook her head, relaxing her body as she sat down on one of the chairs. The sofa did look inviting, but she also suspected she would never want to leave the cradling softness. "No thanks. And apologies, Lieutenant, some habits die hard." She looked around, letting herself get familiar with the surroundings.
"Please, call me Amanda, or Counselor if you prefer something more formal," Amanda replied cheerily. "Do you mind if I call you Dahlia?"
"Don't mind at all," Dahlia said lightly as she always did with a small smile. "I would prefer to call you Counselor. It's...a mental message to myself that this is a proper session and not a chat over a cup of coffee."
"Oh, but it could be a chat over a cup of coffee. Yes, my job is a counselor but that's not who I am. After all, if I do not get to know the crew, how could I ever do my job. And, if I'm out and about on the ship, I would hope that we could be friends rather than counselor-patient, you know?"
Dahlia smiled weakly and gave a nod. "Which is why it is nice with those separations. If we meet up out and about, have a coffee? I will call you Amanda. In this office, on the 'Fleet's time? You're my Counselor. Deal?" she added the last with a smile that could even be called cheeky, her blue eyes warmed by the faint laugh lines appearing by her eyes as she smiled.
Giggling, Amanda said, "Check. So, First Lieutenant Dahlia Acker likes clear boundaries. I'll make a note of that in my report."
"Yes ma'am," Dahlia said with a chuckle and nodded, sitting back comfortably in the chair as she studied the other woman's features "I like it simple. Maybe that is why I am a Marine, it's simple."
"I don't think that one has to do with the other. Why do you?" Amanda asked curiously.
Dahlia smiled warmly, raising an eyebrow. "I'm a career Marine from a line of career Marines," she said softly. "It was always simple to me. Join the Marines, whatever specialism that falls natural to me and would benefit Starfleet...serve and maybe retire one day."
"You know, just a thought, but you don't have to do things just because your parents did...."
"Oh, I didn't," Dahlia said with a small smile. "My mother was a Starfleet doctor and I didn't follow in her footsteps. Just as well...I have cold hands."
"I do suppose that would be detrimental to your bedside manner," Amanda replied with a laugh. "So when you're not 'marineing,' what do you enjoy doing?"
"I am a Starfleet Marine. I eat, sleep and dream slaying my enemies and unleashing Hell upon anyone that Starfleet points me at..." Dahlia said with a straight face before she laughed. "Actually, believe it or not...repairing analog mechanical equipment. Motorcyles. I have one on Earth. I also love cooking. And...music. Well, I call it music...not everyone else does."
"Does what everyone else think matter? And interesting about the cooking. You're not the first marine that I have heard who has an interest in cooking. I wonder if there's something in your training that makes that more likely to be a hobby."
She gave a small smile at the words, considering them. "Well..." she bit her lip for a moment. "When you're on training, we usually have MREs. Once you've...had one, you try and keep stuff that gives it a twist. Like...hot oil, extra salt, Worcestershire sauce. Anything to give it flavour. There's also exercises where you are expected to live of the land. Want to make friends in your unit? Be able to make a decent soup..."
"Well, I will look forward to you cooking for me, then, some day."
"What foods do you like, Counsellor?" Dahlia asked with interest, tilting her head slightly as she watched her.
"I know it is a bit cliche as a human woman, but chocolate and ice cream are my favorites. Otherwise, I'm pretty happy with almost anything that is put in front of me."
"Hey, nothing wrong with either of those," Dahlia said firmly, almost pointing her finger at her. "Ice cream is a gift from the gods. As is chocolate. I love it. Hot chocolate is my favourite. Warming, with some whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon..." she winked and sat back. "So far, I am a bit surprised you aren't asking me the standard questions I usually get in a session..."
"Ice cream *IS* a gift from God!" Amanda started dreamily. She came back to Earth and then answered Dahlia's last statement. "Standard questions get standard and practiced answers. How can I really help people if half the people that I see want to be here as much as they do with medical doctors poking and prodding at them? Isn't it better to actually get to know a person and go from there?"
"Maybe, but if someone really wants to hide they will manage anyway," Dahlia replied before she gave a small smile. "I...sort of make it my business to understand what is happening with those under my command. I do agree with your approach though, just never had it applied to me before."
Laughing, Amanda told Dahlia, "There's a first for everything, no? But, this also is why I don't insist on being called Counselor here. I like being thought of as a 'friend.' And, in fact, I often find myself friends with a lot of people who I've met with privately."
Dahlia nodded as she watched her, studying her face. "I...don't need a friend in this room," she said softly. "I need a counsellor to make sure I am keeping my head screwed on straight. Outside this room is another matter though. We could all use another friend."
"So far," Amanda answered with a shrug, "you sound like you have your head on pretty straight to me."
"Based on what, Counsellor?" Dahlia asked with interest, leaning closer as she held her eyes. "My record that you read? The way I can articulate myself?"
"Articulation is definitely one factor. However, to this moment, there is nothing that I have picked up on that indicates that you are a threat to yourself or others. Sure, you prefer a certain amount of black and white in your life and keeping things simple but many engineers are like that, as well. Though, you did not come in with a padd for an agenda."
Dahlia laughed at the words, nodding. "Well, wanted it to be a bit natural, but I would be lying to say I didn't rehearse a little bit in my head before coming here," she said openly. "Glad I am not showing any signs of psychopathy. Or anything else like that."
"Of course, that does not mean that there are not things that you could not work on," Amanda replied with a friendly, yet helpless shrug. "After all, life is about constantly improving, is it not?"
"Oh yes it is," Dahlia said as she watched her, giving her a warm smile. "I have a problem about mulling things over in my head. My inner critic. It's something I have been working on for awhile."
"But there's nothing wrong with that. If we do not push ourselves to get better, then we only stay the same and that has no potential for one's future."
Dahlia looked at her for a moment, tilting her head to the side but remained silent for a long moment. "There's a line between pushing ourselves and punishing ourselves," she said quietly, her face serious. Suddenly, she felt tired and older than she was. Perhaps it was the way the conversation had been going, it had made her think a lot. It was draining.
"Are you punishing yourself for something?" Amanda asked concerned.
She watched the Counsellor for a long moment before she gave a small, wry smile. "Isn't it in the human nature?" she replied lightly.
"To punish yourself? Not normally." Softly and concerned, Amanda asked, "What is troubling you?"
Dahlia gave a weak smile, shaking her head. "Nothing, really. I was just putting a voice to the fact that you can't always trust your inner critic."
Amanda sat silently, skeptically wondering what Dahlia was hiding. Sometimes people were uncomfortable in silence and would attempt to fill it. Perhaps Dahlia would fill it. Perhaps she would not. Much of it lay in Dahlia's court, now.
Dahlia looked at her, letting the silence stretch. She gave a small smile, the seconds ticking away in her head. "I see we both went to the same seminar," she said, after one minutes and 26 seconds of dead silence. Not because she wanted to give in, oh no. But because she recognised Amanda as someone with a stubborn streak and they could be sitting here all day.
Amanda smiled enigmatically. "And what seminar would that be?"
"Creating a void to urge the other person to talk," Dahlia said with a small smile. "I use it with my Marines a lot. Usually...gets them to open up."
"And you're not ready to do so. That's OK. I'll wait for you. When you're ready, I'm here."
Dahlia nodded, holding her eyes. "Thank you, Counsellor," she said softly. She heard the beep and smiled weakly, shaking her head. "I think that is time up, right?"
"Must be your beep," Amanda replied. "I never set a timer. However, you're fit for duty, which was the purpose of this meeting. That being said, I certainly would welcome further conversations, in or out of this office."
"I...would too," Dahlia stood and smiled warmly, nodding gently. "And thank you for clearing me. I know most of us are relatively sane, yet...there is always that irrational fear. Same with medicals, oddly."
"It has to do with the fear of bad news or being judged, I think," Amanda replied simply and with an apologetic shrug. "But, facing things rather than hiding from them is a much healthier policy in the long run. But that's just me talking." She laughed and asked, "But what do I know?"
"More than you think," Dahlia said softly and winked before she nodded. "Thank you for this, Counsellor."
"You're welcome. I'll look forward to seeing you out of this office sometime soon."
"Yes ma'am," Dahlia said with a small nod, taking a deeper breath before she left.
Lieutenant Amanda Rose
Chief Counselor
USS Ontario
and
1st Lieutenant Dahlia Acker
Marine XO
USS Ontario
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