How are you? Fine, thank you

Posted on Thu Mar 30th, 2023 @ 3:51pm by Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels
Edited on on Thu Mar 30th, 2023 @ 3:53pm

Mission: Starship Side Quest
Location: Tale Gilohesh Quarters

Tale had been spending the past hour setting up her small temporary quarters to look like an Orion tea room. Lush fabrics and heady aromas to greet people when they entered. Her methods were archaic to some and downright odd to most, but no one could argue her results. Looking around she realized that in her reorganizing she forgot to leave herself a place to sleep. Well, she thought, it wouldn't be the first time I slept on the pillows on the floor.

The blip of the door startled her. "Come in! I'm afraid I'm not set up for service today, what with the wedding happening in a bit and all, I wasn't expecting anyone. Can I help you?"

"I came to welcome you on board." Tony said when she came in. She was dressed in civilian clothes, officially she was not working yet. Although she had been helping Sky keep on top of paperwork in the counselling department and helping new crew get settled. Xavier had been talking about her doing some light bridge shifts again. "I am the XO, Tony Stoffels."

"I wasn't expecting you at all Cmdr Stoffels," Tale replied warmly. From the dossier on Tony, it had seemed that XO wasn't actively on duty, so thus wasn't technically allowed to be assessed. Although, from what Tale could ascertain, she wanted to extend her services. "Please come in. I'll can set up a little something."

"Denise Parri told me that she had asked you to come on board." Tony said. "She has just spent some time with us here before offloading at the starbase. She might have thought that we need some extra help." She sighed. "and maybe we do. With our chief counsellor leaving on a mission, our assistant chief is good but does not have that much experience. I have been helping out with paperwork but I am still not working too many hours. I gather you have read my file?" Tony liked to be direct.

Tale stifled a chuckle, a nervous tick, as she mixed some herbs together. "I've read everyone's. I"m here to do an assessment report for StarFleet Command, as well as lighten the load in the Counseling bay. I'll be seeing regular patients as deemed necessary. In fact, I'm afraid I've made your boyfriend quite agitated," Tale continued; dropping the mixture into the now steaming earthenware pot and letting the aroma of cardamom, cinnamon, tarragon and scents that most could only identify in the headiest of chais floated into the air. She hoped the 'girl talk' would help keep Tony at ease with her. "He's under order by Command for sessions. I nearly spat out my coffee myself when I saw that. I hope that you, yourself can find time to come in for some as well. Or just hang out. Which ever you prefer."

"I hope you won't push him too hard. It took me years to put him back together." Tony said not sure what to make of the other woman. "I was his therapist years before he became my boyfriend. And my family and the London family kind of adopted him after he finished treatment the first time. And I am talking to Sky almost daily. I think I can wait until she gets back." She could understand Denise bringing in an outside influence to work with Ren. Sky was getting too close to him as well, Kay was like a little sister to him and she could not do it any longer either. "He means the world to me, lieutenant."

Tale passed a small olive green cup to her with tea. It was the perfect temperature to drink. "Drink. It'll help that low pain you've been feeling on and off in the arch of your feet the past two weeks. It'll also help with some of those dreams you've kept to yourself," Tale said sipping her own coffee. She could tell she rattled the XO slightly. "I'm not a psychic, nor a telepath. Just observant. You have nothing to worry about with your Soran. I'm merely here to help him at the behest of one of his Admiral friends. They're worried about him. He'll talk, I'll listen, I make tea. Nothing to worry about. I want this ship to function at peak efficiency for everyone involved."

"You don't get it. I know him very well. I was his therapist. He does not open up easily and he needs to build trust. That takes time and patience. Have you worked with complicated trauma before?"

"I know you're scared for him, that's understandable, I'm a Doctor of Psychology," Tale went on to reassure. "My goal is to get Soran to manage his PTSD in an effect manner. He's a salty guy, I've seen and I have the experience to help him. If I don't, there's a very real risk of him being taken off duty permanently after the incident with the other Counselor- I'm sure you know about it. Sure, my shtick approach seems nonsensical to a lot of counselors, however, I honed my therapy skills throughout my years. You and yours are in safe hands. Please, try the tea."

"I am a psychiatrist." Tony's heckles were up. "The top of starfleet counselling agreed with my way of treating him before. I don't get the sudden change in tack. And I am not about to take chances with his health. I would like you to keep me up to date with what you do. I am still seeing patients under whom the captain. So I am fully qualified."

"Excuse my bluntness, you're also shtupping him? So exactly how is that not a breach of your code of conduct. Look we're on the same side here," Tale was used to this song and dance routine. She wasn't about to let it get to her. "I'm going to give you reports, but you're also off duty. You're supposed to be taking it easy. This isn't an intimidation technique, I'm just stating facts."

"What the..." Tony couldn't believe this. "I have stopped being his therapist and I can tell you that has not been easy seeing him struggle." She managed to get out. "I love the man, and I spent years putting him back together. I don't know you from adam, you walz in as if you are going to save him as if that is an easy thing. It isn't. You should know that complex trauma takes a long time to heal. And you can't push them. And I am coming back on duty, my therapist has agreed and I just need to get my doctor's agreement then I will be back as first officer." Boy she did not often lose her temper with someone she had only just met.

Tale smiled warmly. "I hear you. It must be so hard, all that work and you're not being his Doctor. Alas, there has to be firm boundaries set, right?" Tale tapped on a padd next to the earthenware pot making notes. She did not customarily get so much useful information on a crew before even having sessions. This crew was letting their tongues wag and frankly, Tale was here for it. "I see that you have some free time yourself. Let's set up a regular appointment. Don't look so stunned. Think of it as a peace offering. I want you to feel at ease."

"You want sessions with me, as your patient?" Tony was not sure she was hearing right.

The smile grew even more warm on Tale's face. "Yes. When is the last time you, Cmdr Stoffels carved out time for yourself? You have spent this time concerned for everyone, let your tea cool, and expressed absolutely no concern about yourself," Tale took the cup from Tony's hands, disposed of the liquid with a flick of her hand and replaced it with her teapot. "I am here to help. You seem to be the only one who knows the truth of what my job entails. However, I assure you, I am on your side, please drink your tea and when can I get you on the books?"

OFF