You've Seen One, You've Seen Em' All

Posted on Sun Jun 21st, 2020 @ 8:26am by Lieutenant JG Vecon Fick
Edited on on Tue Jul 7th, 2020 @ 1:47pm

Mission: Into the Wild
Location: Counseling Office
Timeline: Current

A Mission Post by Ensign Vecon Fick & Lieutenant Mera Richmond MD
Mission: Into The Wild
Location: Counseling Office
Timeline: Present
Wed Oct 25th, 2017 @ 6:50am


Fick smoothed his uniform. He usually didn't let counselor visits get to him in any way, mostly because he wasn't shy. He didn't have a lot of secrets. No subject was taboo to him. He had been raised on a pleasure planet. Mostly geared around the tourist industry, he felt like he had seen about everything he could see as far as people's personal lives were concerned. No one was shy on Risa, except for the tourists. They were a people that didn't, for the most part, there was always an exception, see differences in others, only similarities. There was no judgement of others for their species, practices or beliefs. So, Fick was not one to worry about meeting people or talking about something that most might find personal to strangers. He wasn't sure what was making him nervous now.

Perhaps it was the fact that, for once, Fick had something to talk about. He had always passed his psych evals with flying colors because he had no hang ups, but this visit might be a little different. He had a bad crush on a certain Klingon aboard the Pandora. To him, being raised on Risa, that crush, almost obsessive feeling, was something that was new to Fick. He didn't really know what to do with it and to him it seemed unusual and foreign. Sometimes, when he saw the Klingon around the ship he would get a queasy feeling in his stomach, but it wasn't without it's pleasures that went along with the feeling. Those he had experienced before, but the lumps in his throat and the butterflies in his stomach made him think something might be wrong with him.

Mera had arrived to her office early and was pouring over the neural profiles that she had gathered from the sessions she had the day before. She noted the time and realized that she had hardly spent anytime preparing for Ensign Fick's session. Luckily, the young ensign's record was spotless compared to some of the other officers aboard. She had nothing to worry about; however, recent events had been extremely stressful especially for the helmsman.

She got up and began preparing for her guest by setting out her scanner equipment and replicating a pot raktajino. She paused and looked around at the office's gorgeous wood paneling and bay window. She had not been aboard long, but it was starting to feel like home. Hopefully she could make it feel as welcoming to the rest of the crew as it felt to her.

Fick made his way to the counselor's office, still in his starfleet uniform. He often found it way easier to just wear the uniform, even when off duty, then struggle to figure out what to wear in casual settings. He stopped in front of Mera's office door and took a deep breath, then reached out and pushed the door buzzer.

"Come in, Mr. Fick." Mera said towards the door as she made the last few preparations and started to head towards the door to greet her guest. "How are you doing today?"

Fick grinned and stepped into the office, the doors sliding shut behind him. This counselor was a lot prettier than his last counselor. "Doing good!" His eyes wandered all over the office. "You've got a really nice space here." He was mostly impressed with the bay window and the view.

"Take a seat wherever you think that you will be most comfortable and we will get started." She walked over to the console on her desk and pressed a few buttons to initialize the monitoring program.

Fick wandered around just a little, trying to decide which seat he liked best and then chose one facing that bay window. He crossed his legs and smiled at Mera. "It's Dr. Richmond, right? I just like to keep these things straight. How are you today? And where would you like me to start?" He seemed relaxed, regardless of how he felt.

"I am fantastic. It's great to get to meet everyone one-on-one so willingly. Usually it's like pulling teeth to get people to take one step into the counselor's office." Mera laughed, but with a hint of disappointment.

"Unless you have any concerns that you would like to explore, I have been discussing the visions that the crew experienced upon entering the Expanse." She took a seat on the couch adjacent to Fick's and began reading from her PADD. "There have been several different types of visions including deceased loved ones, nondescript ghosts, and a Borg Cube. Now, I understand you were at the helm when the inertial dampeners failed and the Pandora was confronted with the dark matter 'trap'. Did you experience visions at that time or after you were relieved?"

Fick thought for a moment and then shook his head. "No no... nothing like that. Although I do have some things I'd like to talk about." He looked around again. "Do you think I could get a drink?"

"Oh, absolutely!" Mera was embarrassed for forgetting something so integral to the session. The comfort that a familiar beverage could provide was not something to be overlooked. "I have raktajino here or I can replicate something else for you if you aren't a fan." She began to unpack cups and poured one for herself while waiting for his answer.

"I'd love a raktajino and thank you." He took the cup from her, when it was poured and grinned, sipping the hot beverage.

"Please, continue with what you were saying." Mera took a sip of her favorite drink. "You said you had something you wanted to discuss."

"See, I've been having a little problem with a crew mate." He tipped his head back and forth. "Not really a problem... more like... I dunno." He seemed to be searching for words. "Like when I work with him and stuff, it's hard for me to keep my mind on my work. I can't stop looking at him. He makes me have this... like... lump in my stomach. Like I swallowed a rock. "It just... I don't know if something's wrong with me... or maybe I'm sick. I can't imagine he makes me sick. I like him." He rolled his eyes like 'who am I fooling' and chuckled. "So I really like him... not just like, like, but really like."

"If you think that it is having a negative effect on your performance then that is certainly something that we need to get to the bottom of. I cannot think of another position more critical to our current situation than yours, save for the commander." She took another sip of her coffee and set it down on the table and taking a moment to savor it. "Now, I know how you will respond, but I am going to ask it anyway. Is he aware of how you are feeling?"

Fick tipped his head back and forth. "Sort of... I guess. I mean I haven't outright said, Oh Hey! I really like you... but I've been flirting with him. He doesn't seem very interested. Maybe he doesn't get flirting... I mean he is a Klingon. They tend to be a lot more direct about that sort of thing, but I kind of tried that too... like growling and yelling at him and stuff. I just feel kinda stupid... I don't even get it. I mean I know better. I've been trying to just leave it alone, but I can't keep my eyes off him. I don't even really get what all this is... Nobody's ever made me feel sick to my stomach..." he chuckles. "Am I stupid? Or just broken?"

"No, not at all. These sorts of feelings can be difficult to grasp." She took a breath and set her PADD down in her lap. "During the initial stages of a new relationship, whether it be romantic or otherwise, our bodies will try to protect us from the source of our fear by engaging our fear instincts. It is a totally normal reaction. Now, what are the circumstances of your typical interaction with the Klingon? Do you see him on duty, at the Box, or gym?..."

Fick tipped his head back and forth again. "All of the above? I mean... I was off duty... and he's the Supply Officer... and I was in the cargo bay. That's where we met. Then there was a senior staff dinner. You were there... he came in right at the end. That was at The Box... and then I piloted a shuttle for him so we spent some time just him and me in the shuttle. I mean..." He blushed a little and tried to hide it by rubbing his cheek. "Nothing happened. Matter of fact, we seem to mostly trade insults, but Klingons I guess are like that... and he yells at me a lot, but they're like that too." He used the hand he rubbed his cheek with to scratch at the back of his head. "I'm not even sure why I would think a relationship was even possible... but I can't get him off my mind."

"Well let me ask why you think that it's not possible. As far as I can tell you are not his direct superior and Captain Temple doesn't seem to have any issues with relationships within the crew. You seem to have compatible personalities. So what is holding you back?" she made an offering gesture toward the ensign.

"I'm pretty sure Klingons don't do same sex relationships and he hasn't been very receptive to my flirting. Although, he does seem to tolerate me... and every now and then this like... giant sweet guy shows through. Like dream guy, sweet. I guess I could just tell him and wait to see if I get punched in the nose. I mean... he was raised by Talarians... maybe they have a different view, but everything I've read on Klingons says nope." He sighed. "I guess I sort of have an impossible crush... huh?" He put one elbow on the back of the chair and leaned his head against his hand. "So you don't think I'm crazy?"

"Absolutely not!" she said giggling through the words. "We all have moments of doubt when we have to publicly layout our feelings to be judged by our closest peers. I won't tell you that there isn't a risk, but I have found that the reward often outweighs it. If nothing else you will have closure knowing how your Klingon crush feels." Mera took a sip of the raktajino which caused her face to sour. It had gone cold, and there's nothing worse than cold coffee.

~End