Charlie Fox
Civilian
FOX NEWS
Posts: 730 Likes: 81
Position: Journalist
Species: A human of some kind
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Post by Charlie Fox on Feb 10, 2021 18:16:10 GMT
[Charlie Fox & Spil - FNN Offices, Lower Promenade, Front Ear]"You're being unreasonable!" Charlie raged at the Vulcan, all of the blood rushing to her brain and causing her heartbeat to echo dangerously in her ears while her cheeks flushed a deep, cherry red. "I believe it is you who is being unreasonable, Ms. Fox," Spil returned, his voice almost a whisper in comparison. He gestured toward her, as though just pointing at her made his point for him. In response, she kicked the leg of the chair she'd just vacated. "I don't need a therapist to help me do my job, Spil! That doesn't make any sense!" She turned, and leaned on his desk, though not quite managing to tower over the tall male. It was probably a wasted exercise to even bother employing any kind of subliminal intimidation tactic on a Vulcan. Charlie inhaled through her nose, trying to re-center herself. She knew if she continued down this angry path, she'd end up fired again. "It's a waste of my time. Of your time. The Network's time?""Judging by your past and current habits, Ms. Fox, you would likely just spend that time in a bar."Charlie's mouth fell open. Sassy Spil returns! The absolute cheek of him. She straightened up and crossed her arms tightly against her chest. "Touché."Spil steepled his fingers, elbows on his desk as he leaned in, reclaiming the space she'd given up. "One session, Ms. Fox. If there is an improvement in your overall... demeanour then we can reconvene and revisit this discussion."
"Dismissed."Her fiery, dark gaze met his, narrowed, and then she stomped from the room. *** [En Route to Counselling Suites, Deck 10]"Vee-yay-ga? Veh-agga?" She tested aloud as she approached the suites in the Medical area of the station. She had no idea who this person was, other than they were civilian. That at least was something. Fleeters just existed in a completely separate world to the rest of the normies, and she didn't feel like explaining hers at length to some misty-eyed space romantic. There was a waiting area with someone sitting behind a console, integrated into a fancy, shiny desk. "Hi," she said by way of greeting, Olsen's whirring movements pausing briefly behind her as she stopped. "I need to see someone called Doran Veaga. Might be expecting me. But if not, that's cool, I can come back..." Her voice trailed off as she took a step backwards, and then another.
Tag: Syl O'Connell (Doran)
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Syl O'Connell
Flight Control
[TI8]
Posts: 662 Likes: 9
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Position: Flight Control/Caldonia 5
Species: Human
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Post by Syl O'Connell on Feb 10, 2021 18:27:29 GMT
[Doran Veaga - Front Ear - Counselling Office]Doran was in his office, unpacking the last box of physical books and sorting them onto a case behind his desk. Had he actually read all them? Certainly not. But not only did he find that it helped with a soothing atmosphere, but it also gave his patients something to look at when they avoided eye contact. Which was quite frequently. He'd also arranged several paintings of landscapes along the walls, colored lamps on the desk, and a subtle incense burning. Hearing a voice in the reception area, he set the box down in the corner and stepped into the door way just in time to see the woman taking a couple steps back. "You don't get out of this that easily, Ms. Fox," he told her jokingly, an amused smile on his face. When her employer had contacted him the day before, he had mentioned that Ms. Fox wouldn't be thrilled about being there, and would likely be looking for excuses. Vulcans were far easier to get information from than humans. Which it seemed she was. At least he'd have a challenging start to his time on the station. "Come on in, make yourself comfortable." Doran stepped back into his office, gesturing at either the plush sofa or armchair that were on one side of the room, as he settled down on the spinning office chair next to his desk. He made certain, however, that wherever she chose to sit, the desk would not come between them.
Tag Charlie Fox
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Charlie Fox
Civilian
FOX NEWS
Posts: 730 Likes: 81
Position: Journalist
Species: A human of some kind
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Post by Charlie Fox on Feb 12, 2021 13:30:18 GMT
[Charlie Fox - Counselling Office]Charlie sighed. She should have known better, really. Her smile was tight, not anywhere near to reaching her eyes when the counselor "joked". Inwardly, she groaned, hoping that he wasn't one of those jovial mental health professionals who thought everything they said was hilarious. He was easy on the eyes though, that was a little tick for the 'PROS' column. She was expecting a homely thirty-something or a crusty old man who smelled like spinach. Her childhood experiences with therapists were rather specific, it seemed, and were often memories she didn't dwell on. She followed him inside, eyes moving quickly in attempt to take in as much as possible. She was nosy, always had been, and she was curious as to how this counselor set up shop. Her own shop was cluttered, though she thought of it more like 'organised chaos'. Charlie was just too busy to tidy, she supposed. The dark eyes gave her pause. For a moment she stopped just beside the armchair, wondering if this man was a very brown-eyed boy, or if he was a Betazoid. She wasn't overly enamoured with the thought that her counselor would be able to read her feelings. She didn't buy into that whole stereotype that Betazoids made the best counselors. Surely therapy was supposed to be about talking through your feelings? With sudden discomfort, she sat. She chose the armchair. It was all the space she needed, and it was enclosed on both sides. It was also closer to the exit. "Been a while since my last confession," she told him.
Tag: Syl O'Connell (Doran)
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Syl O'Connell
Flight Control
[TI8]
Posts: 662 Likes: 9
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Position: Flight Control/Caldonia 5
Species: Human
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Post by Syl O'Connell on Feb 12, 2021 13:56:25 GMT
[Doran Veaga - Front Ear - Counselling Office]He didn't say anything as she predictably settled on the armchair. It was the most frequently-chosen option, especially among first-time patients. When she finally spoke, he smiled gently. "Your sins are your own, and currently none of my business," he told her quietly. Since she wasn't here of her own volition, or sent to him due to trauma, there was no reason to delve into her deepest, darkest secrets. Even if there was, he never put his patients through that in the first session. It took time to build a level of trust that would let them be honest with him, and with themselves. Doran adjusted to sit more comfortably in his own chair. "I believe you were sent to me to learn better 'people skills', is that correct?" In which case, it should be a rather painless experience for her. Though he understood the stigma of therapy, and knew it would also take time to break down those barriers. "Let's forget about what your boss says for a moment. How do you feel people react to you when you're working?" Her personal interactions were none of her employer's business, and Doran hoped that by making it clear they were only going to be working on things that affected her work, she might relax a little more and be willing to at least consider the options he'd be presenting.
Tag Charlie Fox
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Charlie Fox
Civilian
FOX NEWS
Posts: 730 Likes: 81
Position: Journalist
Species: A human of some kind
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Post by Charlie Fox on Feb 12, 2021 14:13:43 GMT
[Charlie Fox - Counselling Office]The confession comment had been tongue in cheek, something she often did to break any ice, though the counselor seemed to have taken it quite seriously. She blinked, several times, taken aback by the dismissive words. She pressed her lips together and bit her tongue as a cutting retort bubbled up inside of her. She'd rather not make visits to any counselor's office a regular feature, so she supposed walking a polite line would benefit her best. Needless to say that at that point, relaxation probably wasn't on the cards. "Yes," she confirmed, jaw clenched when he asked if she'd been sent to learn 'people skills'. Whatever that meant. Then he asked something she wasn't expecting, and she sat back quickly, as though she'd been prodded, and frowned as she considered. "It depends on what I'm doing, I guess. If I'm interviewing or looking for information, I can be confrontational sometimes, I guess, or pushy, or I can be open and reassuring. It all depends on who the person is and how best to approach them. To get what I want."She said everything in a matter of fact manner - to Charlie, the way she worked was just the way she worked. She needed to get things done, but it didn't define her 24/7. She just separated it. Or at least, that's what she believed of herself. She raised one shoulder in a half-shrug and continued, not feeling any hesitation in shining a self-aware light on all her crappy parts. "I suppose I'm not all that "nice" to some my colleagues -" She paused briefly to air-quote the nice part. "But I don't particularly like any of them."
Tag: Syl O'Connell (Doran)
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Syl O'Connell
Flight Control
[TI8]
Posts: 662 Likes: 9
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Position: Flight Control/Caldonia 5
Species: Human
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Post by Syl O'Connell on Feb 13, 2021 14:18:04 GMT
[Doran Veaga - Front Ear - Counselling Office]He felt her sudden burst of anger at his response to her joke, but instead of reacting to it he filed that bit of information in the back of his mind. Perhaps she was simply more on edge due to the nature of their meeting, but if emotional reactions like that were common in her interactions with people, he could understand her employer's concern. Without a word, he listened as she answered his question, waiting until she had finished before he gave a small smile and replied. "I appreciate your honesty." It certainly made things a lot easier if she was able to at least see why people might have a problem working with her. Now whether or not she'd be willing to change her behavior... That might take some work. "Now when you're pursuing information... Do you feel like your behavior towards the people you're interviewing works to achieve your goal? If so, does it work quickly?" Doran was well aware that constant questions - especially those that may seem like had obvious answers - often made patients irritable, but those patients were also the ones who didn't volunteer information without a bit of prodding. Information was necessary in order for him to know which skills she needed to work on, and how best to help her.
Tag Charlie Fox
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Charlie Fox
Civilian
FOX NEWS
Posts: 730 Likes: 81
Position: Journalist
Species: A human of some kind
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Post by Charlie Fox on Feb 20, 2021 11:57:32 GMT
[Charlie Fox - Counselling Office]These were not the kind of questions Charlie had been expecting. She considered this next one, a frown in the form of a line appearing between her eyebrows as she gave it its due thought. "Sometimes..." She said eventually, the fingers of her right hand flexing open and closed into fists. "Some people are easier than others. You'd be surprised at how many people just want to feel like they've been listened to. Others require persuasion, sometimes that takes the form of..." She paused, trying to find the right word. "...Aggression?"Charlie's frown deepened, but then she nodded, seemingly satisfied. There were individuals she met through work that just wanted to be heard. They often considered her a friend, purely because she let them speak. Most of the time she did not feel the same way, because it was a one-sided relationship - she knew about their crap, and they knew nothing of hers. But there were times, a very many times, when she purposely poked a few bears. "I can be combative, abrupt. Nine times out of ten I'll size up the situation and go with the approach that I feel will get me the best results, be that kindness, a friendly ear, an interest, an ally. But every now and then I'll rub someone up the wrong way. On purpose." She was trying very hard not to grin.
Tag: Syl O'Connell (Doran)
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Syl O'Connell
Flight Control
[TI8]
Posts: 662 Likes: 9
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Position: Flight Control/Caldonia 5
Species: Human
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Post by Syl O'Connell on Feb 20, 2021 14:57:51 GMT
[Doran Veaga - Front Ear - Counselling Office]He could feel her relaxing ever so slightly, and while she hadn't exactly answered his question, she had provided enough information for him to get the idea. Doran nodded with a smile, amusement glittering in his eyes when she talked about on occasion intentionally 'rubbing people the wrong way'. There were many different careers in which that was required - his own, included. From the sounds of it, that wasn't her go-to method of getting her job done, which was the important part. The Betazoid was beginning to wonder if her employer had sent her to him because of his own Vulcan misunderstandings about the intricacies and necessities of emotional reactions. Though there were still a few questions he had left before he could officially make that determination. "You mentioned not being 'nice' to your coworkers. Does that mean you avoid interacting with them, or do you come across as hostile?" Frequent arguments in the workplace would be a cause for concern, but if her coworkers were complaining simply because she wasn't overly cordial and friendly, that was a different story.
Tag Charlie Fox
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Charlie Fox
Civilian
FOX NEWS
Posts: 730 Likes: 81
Position: Journalist
Species: A human of some kind
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Post by Charlie Fox on Feb 20, 2021 15:32:49 GMT
[Charlie Fox - Counselling Office]When the counsellor smiled, and seemed amused, she thought maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all, that he'd see her colleagues were just being precious. She leaned back a little in her chair, her right hand relaxing from its fist. The man moved from her interactions with the general public, to her coworkers. She noted that he avoided referring to her behaviour in any emotional way, rather he gave her the opportunity to examine how it might be perceived by others. "Truthfully... probably both." She answered after a few moments. Her eyes narrowed a little as she considered him again, as though trying to figure out what she should say, or more likely, how much. "Most of us are in competition with each other. Two in particular made it clear to me when I arrived that there'd be no help. No quid pro quo. I thought that was weird, considering what we do, but I accepted it and carried on with that in mind. I can't help it if they're uncomfortable with my indifference."The humans in the office seemed to prefer the pretense of civility. Charlie thought it was a waste of her time, and her energy she'd rather safeguard for use on others. Spil though, he didn't care if she was indifferent. His problem was separate. Her shoulders relaxed a little. "I'm easily irritated sometimes," she confided. "I threw a PADD at the receptionist's head last week. I know I shouldn't have done that, I could have lost my job. But she was being really obtuse."
Tag: Syl O'Connell (Doran)
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Syl O'Connell
Flight Control
[TI8]
Posts: 662 Likes: 9
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Position: Flight Control/Caldonia 5
Species: Human
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Post by Syl O'Connell on Feb 21, 2021 23:54:16 GMT
[Doran Veaga - Front Ear - Counselling Office]Doran was just about to comment how it didn't exactly sound like an overly friendly work environment, and she seemed to be taking the fall for not playing along. But there it was... An admittance to a physical act of aggression that would have any employer concerned. He didn't react to it, his posture remaining relaxed and his expression gentle. After all, if the PADD had connected with its target it wouldn't have done any worse than a small bruise, so it wasn't enough to consider her a danger to others. But it did give him something to work with. "One final question before we move on. Do you often find yourself acting impulsively when irritated?" His tone was just as neutral as it had been throughout the conversation. No concern, no judgment, and not condescending. It wasn't the psychologist's place to tell her that behavior was 'wrong', and she clearly already had an understanding of potential consequences. That would hopefully make this easier.
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Charlie Fox
Civilian
FOX NEWS
Posts: 730 Likes: 81
Position: Journalist
Species: A human of some kind
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Post by Charlie Fox on Feb 22, 2021 18:06:40 GMT
[Charlie Fox - Counselling Office]The question itself caused a wave of irritation to run right through her. That, by itself, was an answer. She sucked in a breath, held it, and for the first time since she'd sat down, her gaze left his. She picked a point in the corner of the room and stared at it for a few moments before slowly releasing the breath. "Yes."Her tongue ran over her bottom lip. "I am not a patient person." Then she was back, her eyes returned to the counselor's impressively impassive face. It was a good face, she decided. She wished she could control her expression like that. At least, she assumed it was control. The alternative being that she was too boring to even coax a reaction - how depressing. "Despite the reports I give or the words I write, I tend to act more than I think. Or maybe react is more apt." Her hand returned to making and unmaking the fist. She was a creature of intuition, she always had been, but she didn't want to be like that all the time. "I try not to."
Tag: Syl O'Connell (Doran).
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Syl O'Connell
Flight Control
[TI8]
Posts: 662 Likes: 9
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Position: Flight Control/Caldonia 5
Species: Human
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Post by Syl O'Connell on Feb 22, 2021 21:08:55 GMT
[Doran Veaga - Front Ear - Counselling Office]He felt her emotions spike at his question, but to her credit she didn't snap at him. Her eyes darted away from his and he knew he had finally asked the right question. The man waited patiently as she collected herself, giving a soft and reassuring smile when she made eye contact once more. The fact that she wasn't clinging to her anger as a defense was also a good sign. Honesty was the key for any sort of counselling to work. "I don't tell people how to feel," he began slowly. "But I can help you learn more socially appropriate ways of expressing those emotions, or techniques to help curb the need to lash out. What do you feel would be most beneficial for you?" Not what her boss wanted, or her coworkers expected. They weren't his patients, so they weren't his concern.
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Charlie Fox
Civilian
FOX NEWS
Posts: 730 Likes: 81
Position: Journalist
Species: A human of some kind
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Post by Charlie Fox on Feb 23, 2021 17:52:21 GMT
[Charlie Fox - Counselling Office]"Socially appropriate?" She asked, leaning forward. The corners of her mouth curved, a brow arched. "By whose convention?" Charlie shook her head and grinned, looking as though she believed the man was joking. "If I want propriety, I'll run an old Earth charm school holoprogram from the 20th century, thanks. They were pretty good at trying to squish us all into neat little boxes back then."She raised herself, no longer feeling comfortable in the seat. She wanted to be moving, seeing, thinking. Not about herself. The smell of incense reminded her of Caroline Delaney; she used to burn the stuff every evening - claimed it promoted a relaxed atmosphere. The physical, paper books behind the desk, they were interesting, too. Utterly useless, of course, but still worth a look. She moved lightly toward the shelf, hand outstretched to touch the spines with her fingers. Then she looked back at the man, wondering if she needed permission. "What about you, Mr. Counsellor?" She cocked her head. "What do you do when you have urges that need curbing?"
Tag: Syl O'Connell (Doran)
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Syl O'Connell
Flight Control
[TI8]
Posts: 662 Likes: 9
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Position: Flight Control/Caldonia 5
Species: Human
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Post by Syl O'Connell on Feb 23, 2021 22:59:12 GMT
[Doran Veaga - Front Ear - Counselling Office]Well that struck a nerve. When she stood Doran expected her to walk out the door, but instead she stepped farther into his office. He swivelled his chair to remain facing her as she moved to the bookshelf, watching her in curiosity. As she reached to touch the books, he didn't say anything to stop her. They weren't made of porcelain after all. She turned the question back on him, and his eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise. It was rather bold of her to assume he had any 'urges that needed curbing', but he supposed everyone did. Some just naturally had more control than others. Doran contemplated his answer for a moment before speaking. "It changes depending on the situation... But normally redirecting of energy helps me. Repetetive behaviors... Tapping my fingers on the desk, pacing, busying myself with a mindless task... But different things help different people." He didn't want her to think that was all he had to suggest for her. That technique likely wouldn't help when she was angry, anyway.
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Charlie Fox
Civilian
FOX NEWS
Posts: 730 Likes: 81
Position: Journalist
Species: A human of some kind
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Post by Charlie Fox on Feb 23, 2021 23:22:05 GMT
[Charlie Fox - Counselling Office]When he didn't stop her, she continued reaching out to rifle through his small library. Some people were precious about their "stuff", Charlie herself included. She was sensitive to that, probably overly so, due to the distinct lack of belongings she'd had growing up. As her eyes scanned the titles, she nodded in response to answer. "Redirection helps sometimes. Useful for shame. Useful for getting my cat to stop shredding my clothes."Her eyes slid over the titles: psychology, therapy, penned by all kinds of doctors and experts. There was fiction in there too, even a couple she'd read, and then she stopped suddenly at something very interesting indeed. "Have you read this?" She asked, her voice amused as she pulled his copy of The Angel of Little Death from the pile and turning to get a better look at him. She was trying very hard not to smile, though her eyes gleamed with some mischief. "Ain't nobody curbing no urges in this unwholesome tale."Written by a Betazoid about a Deltan woman and their forbidden, impossible love, it was quite the page-turner.
Tag: Syl O'Connell (Doran)
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