[JP] Lt. Commander Alentonis & [JP] Ensign S'Rorr - Walk-in Worries

[S'Rorr]

(( Brew Continuum, Deck 10, USS Astraeus))
(( Two days after the mission’s end ))

Tim made his way into the Brew Continuum and ordered himself a raktajino. He didn’t know how to process “details to follow” but because of the nature of Starfleet he knew transfers were inevitable. It felt a bit weird, but he didn’t know how to just “go with it.” He’d been a bit out of sorts lately. This was one of those moments where he indeed felt out of his element. Instead of talking to Ellie, or Skyler, or even Chythar…it made sense to book an appointment with the counselor. He tapped his badge and hoped. 

Alentonis: =/\= Commander Alentonis to Ensign S’Rorr.  =/\=

S’Rorr: =/\= Go ahead, Commander. =/\=

He hadn’t had to ask this of a counselor before, as most of the time he had a sense of their schedule from looking in the LCARS at the scheduling app thingie which he’d grown accustomed to. On the other hand, this time he didn’t look at that. It was sudden enough that he felt he didn’t have the time to check it, so the words just sorta…fell out of his mouth in some sort of structured order that made more sense in his head.

Alentonis: =/\= Do you have time for a walk-in appointment? Just curious. If this is a bad time, I can check back later. =/\=

S’Rorr: =/\= Not a bad time at all. I can be in the office in 5 minutes. =/\=

Alentonis: =/\= Awesome. Be at your office in 10 minutes. Alentonis out. =/\=

He needed the ten minutes to finish his coffee anyway so he didn’t seem like a *total* wreck when he wandered into S’Rorr’s office. He sat down in a chair across from the bar and had a swig of his coffee, hoping that his counseling session regarding the conflicting feelings for the transfer didn’t result in him being mentally worse off than he was at the moment. 

But, transfers in general were filled with uncertainty. Right?

(( The Arboretum, Deck 8, USS Astraeus ))

((Simultaneous))

S'Rorr sat cross legged beneath a tree, PADD in hand. He had been going over reports from the teams that had gone down to the surface as they came in. It was important for superior officers to review crew reports, but it was just as important for counselors. That left S'Rorr with plenty of reading to do. A warp core engineer should know every detail of their work. Counselors' work was the crew. 

Luckily, S'Rorr liked to read.

Alentonis: =/\= Commander Alentonis to Ensign S’Rorr.  =/\=

The chime caught him a little off guard. His ears perked and he tapped the badge on his chest. 

S’Rorr: =/\= Go ahead, Commander. =/\=

Alentonis: =/\= Do you have time for a walk-in appointment? Just curious. If this is a bad time, I can check back later. =/\=

oO A walk-in? This sounds important. Oo

His sessions would ordinarily be scheduled in advance but not every need can wait to be penciled in at a good time, and so the counselling suite always had open offices. S'Rorr knew he wouldn't need one, though, he knew his own would be available. He was scheduled to come on duty in a few hours, anyway, and so he decided to just clock in a little early. S'Rorr picked up his PADD and stood. 

S’Rorr: =/\= Not a bad time at all. I can be in the office in 5 minutes. =/\=

Alentonis: =/\= Awesome. Be at your office in 10 minutes. Alentonis out. =/\=

He tucked his PADD under his arm and headed to the turbolift.

(( Ensign S’Rorr’s Office ))
(( 10 minutes later ))

S'Rorr checked into his office. A screen on his door displayed his name, S'Rorr, and whether or not he was occupied with his work. As he spoke to the computer, the screen flickered from 'Open' to 'In Session'.

S'Rorr: Computer, please check in Lieutenant Commander Timothy Alentonis. And replicate hot tea. 

A fizz of light and vibrating atoms coalesced into a cup of S'Rorr's favorite English Breakfast with milk and sugar. 

The Counselors' offices were a little more like quarters than offices. They had a vibe quite unlike any of the more utilitarian work spaces or sterile medical rooms of Sick Bay. S'Rorr had no desk, no big chair, just a few comfortable places to sit in a room with muted colors, slightly dimmed lights, a few tasteful pieces of sculpture and two dimensional art. 

The professor stood outside the door with his coffee cup in his hand, half full of coffee. He didn’t finish it like he thought he was going to, but at the same time, he couldn’t leave the raktajino unfinished. Worst case scenario was he’d drink it during the counseling session. As he pressed his free hand to the chime, he felt that weird sensation of nervousness that happened when he had to make a presentation for the Archaeological Society -- the “butterflies in the stomach” type nervousness. 

S’Rorr: Come in, please!

The door slid open with a quiet shhhh and closed behind Alentonis as he entered. S'Rorr offered him a toothy smile, then took a seat across from him with a low coffee table in between. He set his tea down at the same time as the commander set down his coffee. Satisfying synchronicity. 

Alentonis made his way inside and smiled to the Caitian and took a seat across from him. 

Alentonis: How’s it going, ensign?

S’Rorr: Very well, Commander. Feel free to just call me Rory, if you like.

S'Rorr had a PADD in his hand but it was his habit to take notes after a session and not during, especially not while someone is speaking to him. He had it laid face down on his lap. Alentonis looked out of his element. He had a guess as to why.

S'Rorr: How are you feeling about the transfer orders?

Tim nodded slowly and took a breath before speaking. This was one of the most…akward, was the best way to describe it, conversations within the last year. 

Alentonis: That’s a good question. I knew, when I joined up with Starfleet as an officer, that transfers are an inevitable fact of life. I’ve been aboard a few different ships, but never with a “You’re being transferred, orders to follow” before. Is that like…an omen, of some sort? Should I be nervous?

S’Rorr: Should, shouldn't.. I don't think there's any right way to feel. Do you feel nervous? 

Alentonis: Yes. Almost like I’m being…what’s the phrasing…yoinked from one classroom into another, if that makes sense.

S'Rorr: That makes sense to me. It's an uncomfortable feeling to be uprooted.. How did you handle previous transfers?

Alentonis: I just…left. No friends, so no big goodbyes or anything. Call me weird, but I didn’t really have friends in Starfleet since graduation from OCS.

S'Rorr: I can imagine how this transfer could feel different. You have a lot of connections on board? It’s difficult to leave people, or places.

Alentonis: Yes, I do. The Rosek-Skyfires, Captain Delano, even some of the cadets. It’s… I guess, in a way, it’s like transferring to a new university environment where I don’t know if I’ll know anyone there at all, and I will get homesick for my old university friends. If that makes sense.

S'Rorr: That makes perfect sense. Do you have anybody that you can stay connected with through the transfer? Even if just over subspace communication? It could help you stay grounded, bridge the divide from the old normal into the new. 

Tim thought about that for a long moment, and shook his head. He didn’ t know where anyone was transferring *to*, so it was difficult to determine if he had any idea who he’d be transferring *with.* Just a couple friends from the Astraeus after all.

Alentonis: No idea if I’m transferring with anyone, or even where we’re going. I’ll probably keep in touch with the Rosek-Skyfires and Cadet Skyler Harrison, but no idea otherwise. 

S’Rorr knew the feeling well. He was also transferring soon without yet knowing where he would go. He could only imagine what it must feel like for someone that had already set down roots.

S’Rorr: That’s something, at least. I like to take souvenirs with me to remind me of the places I’ve been and the people I’ve connected with. We can’t decline the transfers, but we can carry our past forward with us.

Alentonis: Yeah, I get that. I have a mug collection from the BC. I think Dr. Skyfire has a collection of patches and a collection of BC mugs. 

S'Rorr sat back and casually crossed his legs. The end of his tail played a silent little tune on the side of the sofa he was sitting on. He felt like he understood Timothy's feelings. Uprooted, without a sense of stability or permanence. He wanted to maintain his attachments and who could blame him? But everybody knew that spatial distance would create emotional distance over time. 

S'Rorr thought it was most important to treat Timothy as he was at that moment. To reassure him, get him feeling more confident and in control, and then to give him healthy ways to cope.

S’Rorr: Do you think this could be a step towards something larger? I’m sure they’ll only put us where we’re needed. It could be an opportunity.

The professor nodded slightly. It could be? But what? There were so many possibilities, but at the same time, it was almost unthinkable. What could it be a step *toward* in the end? He didn’t know. One step closer toward an actual relationship with Ellie, maybe? Or something else of the unknown variety.

Alentonis: Perhaps, I suppose. Wish I knew what, or even where I’m going.

S’Rorr: We’ll know soon. That’s something, at least. And then we’ll be able to make plans to keep our connections and to make new ones. 

Alentonis: That’s true. But the suspense….How do you deal with that?

S’Rorr: I think that’s an important question. I’ve learned some tools that can help. I want you to acknowledge it, first. You can repeat after me, or you can speak from the heart, whichever you like. 

S’Rorr: I don’t know where I’m going yet. And that is uncomfortable. But it is okay to feel uncomfortable.

Tim nodded slowly and felt the weight of the transfer, and the suspense of the uncertainty, creeping in upon him. It was almost suffocating, but was one of those deeply uncomfortable sensations that almost reminded him of his university days in giving speeches. Or early field work days where he was making a presentation on an archeological find. Nevertheless, he took a breath and repeated after the ensign.

Alentonis: I don’t know where I’m going yet. And it is uncomfortable, but that’s an okay feeling.

S’Rorr: That’s important. You’re not the only one feeling anxiety and uncertainty, it’s a very normal emotional response to the circumstances. It’s a healthy response to have. 

S’Rorr: Anxiety thrives in the future. When I’m feeling anxious, like I’m just waiting for the red alert to go off, I try to bring my attention to what’s in front of me right now, in the present. Do I have.. bags that I can pack? Equipment I can get checked out by engineering? Projects to finish? Maybe there are people I’ve been meaning to get in touch with but haven’t had a chance. Staying grounded in the present can give your mind something solid, something tangible to work with. Instead of waiting, use the time intentionally.

As Tim began considering all the options, he thought about it a bit more. He didn’t know what to do in terms of productive uses of time. Though, now that he thought about it, he did have some bags to pack. No equipment that needed to be checked out, no half-finished projects. Although, out of this checklist there were some correspondences he’d been meaning to get back to. And he was a terrible correspondent.

S’Rorr: What do you think?

Alentonis:  I have a few letters I need to write, and maybe bags to pack. Not going to start on any new projects right now because that’s a process and a half.

S’Rorr sat forward, arms resting over his legs with his hands together. 

S’Rorr: Have you ever kept a journal, or personal logs?

Alentonis: When I was a kid, sure. Felt a bit weird to do so.

S’Rorr: I want you to keep daily logs until the transfer orders are complete, focusing on how you’re feeling. Just get out every anxious thought, every worry, every annoyance, until you can’t think of any more. You might find that helpful.

Alentonis: What, like homework? You want to grade my papers?

S’Rorr: ::lightly laughing:: Oh, no, no! You don’t have to send them to me, unless you want to. After you finish each log, do something calming. A little coffee.. Is that.. ::sniffing the air:: raktajino? Or exercise, or reading. No work. Ten minutes of calm. 

Alentonis: Sounds easy enough. And yes, it is raktajino. Dr. Skyfire’s signature recipe.

S’Rorr: Before we wrap up.. Is there anything else you want to talk about?

Alentonis: Nah. Not at the moment. 

S’Rorr stood up and reached across the little table between he and Timothy to offer a hand to shake. 

S’Rorr: I’m glad you came to talk. I’m always available if you need me, and I’d like to hear from you again. Maybe at the lounge next time. I could try some of Dr. Skyfire’s brew myself. 

Alentonis: Another time, perhaps.

Tim stood up, extended his hand for S’Rorr to shake, then departed the room. 

END

===

Lieutenant Commander Timothy Alentonis (PhD)
Senior Science Officer (Metallurgist / Archaeologist)
USS Astraeus NCC-70652
O239002CS0

&

Ensign S'Rorr, M.D.
Ship's Counselor
USS Astraeus NCC-70652
A240206S04

• There’s some sort of spacing difference between our signatures that I’m not sure how to correct!
• I usually delete the space, then shift + enter, tada.