First Impressions

Posted on Mon Oct 28th, 2024 @ 3:05am by Lieutenant Commander Christopher Evans & Petty Officer 1st Class Ember Locksley
Edited on on Mon Oct 28th, 2024 @ 3:06am

1,239 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: To Boldly Go
Location: Counsellor's Office
Timeline: Day 5 - after the crew board Fenrir

ON:

Lieutenant Commander Evans had served in Starfleet long enough to know there were a few appointments you didn't miss. One was your physical with sickbay and the other your psych evaluation. Chris was scheduled for thirteen hundred hours and arrived at the counselor's office on deck seven a few minuets early. He pressed the chime and awaited permission to enter or to be greeted, he wasn't sure what the counselor would do.

The door was opened by Ember herself rather than her calling for him to come in. She smiled gently in greeting, a padd tucked under her arm. She wore a uniform for now, but her jacket was open over a cream blouse and her red hair was loose, giving her a more casual look in it. "Christopher? I'm Ember Locksley, it's a pleasure to meet you. Come on in..."

"Pleasure to meet you, counselor" Chris said as he stepped inside her office and offered a slightly nervous smile.

Ember saw the look. She *knew* the look. Both from her experience as a doctor and a counsellor. She'd seen it on many a patient's face. "Come in, take a seat. Can I get you something to drink? I'm about to get tea myself..."

“Sweet ice tea please” Chris asked politely and moved to take the seat the doc had offered.

It only took a few moments for the counsellor to join him, setting his glass down before settling into her own seat. She always brewed real tea in her own time, but made do with replicated during sessions, not wanting to keep a patient waiting. Especially when it was clear one was less than comfortable. "How have you been, Christopher?"

“Oh pretty good I’d say” Chris smiled “I don’t usually have trouble settling into new assignments, luckily.”

"So you're looking forward to a new challenge," Ember asked with a gentle smile, sipping her tea carefully. It was often a welcome distraction, helping a patient feel like her eyes weren't entirely on them.

"Absolutely" Chris said with a smile "I can't wait to get to it." He took a sip of his ice tea and returned it to the coaster "I'm not the kind of officer that likes to sit in dock."

"What kind of officer are you then?" she asked, but with a warm smile, her nature clearly curious rather than trying to pin him down.

Chris looked at the counselor for a moment with out saying anything but then gave his reply “I guess I’m a doer.” He shrugged it wasn’t easy to talk about himself “I like to stay busy and do my duty to the best of my ability” his eyebrows were north raised.

"What's it like for you when you aren't busy?" she asked softly, wondering if there was a need to stay busy, or just a preference.

"Oh I enjoy relaxing" he replied glancing up at her and continuing with "I'm speaking of the time when I'm on the clock." There was a smile on Christopher's face "I have my hobbies just like everyone else. I just get bored easily I guess so I like to find things to keep me busy."

"Ah," Ember nodded slowly with a soft chuckle at the words. She could understand that alright. "Nothing quite as dull as a quiet shift. The hours seem to drag," she agreed readily. "What are those hobbies?"

“I really enjoy working out” he smiled “it can be cardio, weight training or martial arts I just enjoy it.” Chris shrugged “I also enjoy reading technical manuals and staying up to date on the latest tech from Starfleet.” Chris let out a chuckle “I guess that sounds kind of boring.”

"No!" Ember shook her head with a soft laugh, clearly honest with the assertion as she set her cup down on the low table. "I mean, I wouldn't be able to make heads or tails of them, but if that's what you're into, then there's nothing boring about it. Has this always been your ambition? To work in Operations on a Starfleet ship?"

“Pretty much” Chris smiled “until recently and I’ve started thinking about following the command track.”

"Ah, the lure of that centre seat, hm?" Ember chuckled softly as she rested her clasped hands on her knees, nodding with understanding. "Is it...the ship's operations side of things that appeal? Or the exploration?"

"Both" Christopher answered honestly. "Being out here and making new allies, discovering new worlds is fascinating. Ship's operations are always going to be interesting to me. There are so many things operations are needed for."

"And can be translated into other areas of life, I'm sure," Ember nodded thoughtfully. With a purely medical background, her knowledge of ship operations was little to none. She enjoyed the passion with which he spoke about it though.

He still had a smile on his face "I hope everyone enjoys their job as much as I do."

Ember nodded gently...because she believed him. The way he spoke, the honesty was palpable. "And how are you otherwise, Christopher? I'm thinking of things like sleep, appetite, energy..."

"Well I've stayed up late trying to help get the ship ready for departure, but other then that I feel great." He told Ember this with a genuine smile.

She took him for his word. He was an intelligent adult, he was best placed to understand his limits and energy levels. And he didn't indicate any chronic, ongoing problems which would be more concerning to her. "Is there anything you'd like to talk about today?"

“I have to admit I’m a little nervous to work with a new command team” Evans looked down and almost sighed. “I hope to impress both the CO and XO, but it doesn’t always work out that way.”

"What makes you think you wouldn't impress them?" she asked softly, settling back to give him the space he needed, and making no assumptions on why the worry might be playing on his mind.

“I’m not assuming I would impress them” he signed “it’s more of a goal.”

"Is there anything in particular you're worried they won't be impressed with?" she asked, digging just a touch deeper, but her voice remained light and casual. "Or is it just more of a vague concern?"

“Oh I think it’s just every officers ambition to impress their superiors” Evans replied in a casual tone.

"I've read your file, I have no doubt that you will," she assured with a small, knowing smile. Indeed, he was the type of officer that most COs would dream of. "And I, for one, will feel better knowing the ship is in such safe hands," she added with a playful smile.

“I appreciate that, counselor” Evans replied with a soft smile.

"Well, I'm happy to give you all the clear for duty," she assured, reaching for her PADD to sign it off officially on his record. "You seem to have an excellent sense of perspective. And I can be sure that you will come and seek one of us out should that change?" she met his eyes with that, making sure that while she said it with a light, casual tone, it was an expectation.

“You have my word Counselor” Evans smiled with his gaze locked on hers.

OFF:

Dr. Ember Locksley
Counsellor
[PNPC Blake]

Lt. Commander Christopher Evans
Chief Operations Officer

 

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