S4:E1 Counseling session (Lahr/Nathan)

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

Acting CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger (en route back to Earth) - Deck One - Bridge]

Lahr had narrowed down his list of possible costumes to three choices: None of which he thought the Captain would have ever considered him picking.  One from the late 20th century a rock star - well that one that Captain might have guessed.   The second was actually a female persona from the 15th century and the last was a British fictional character written by a famous British writer.  Lahr figured it was close enough to an actual historical person.  Now he just needed to chose which to go with.

However a chime on his PADD distracted him from his weighing of which would be the most fun to wear to the ball and how best to fit Chloe into the themes he liked.  He looked to the reminder notice and let out a groan of disappointment.   Roozh! He'd forgotten that he'd let Chloe talk him into going to see the counselor today.

Apparently his nightmares and 'sleep terrors' as Chloe called them were becoming overly worrisome for her.  She'd spoke to him not that long ago one morning and pleaded for him to seek help - she'd even set up the meeting for him.  Seeing the tears in her eyes, Lahr had caved.  Now he was wishing he'd been a bit more unmoved like a Vulcan.

With a grimace Lahr called for another Ops crewman to take his spot and then went to go meet with the counselor.

Quote from: Nathan Ryder on April 12, 2020, 22:00:01

[En Route - USS Challenger - Counselor's Office]

It felt a little weird, knowing they were on their way back to Earth from so far away, but it always felt that way to him. He supposed while you could take the boy out of the small town, it was hard to take the small town out of the boy. With a bit of a wry smile, Nathan shook his head to focus back on his work.

There were only a few people he still needed to get in contact with before they arrived, and his next patient was one of them. While the Andorian himself had not come asking for help, someone close to him had asked for help and agreed to get him to show up to the appointment. So here Nathan was, waiting for his next patient to arrive.

Lahr chimed the door and when it was answered, stepped within.   The Andorian looked over the room, taking in the furniture for a moment before looking at the counselor himself.

"Hey Doc, sorry about all this. Chloe's blowing the situation out of proportion."

[Nathan Ryder]

[Counselor's Office]

As the Andorian entered the office, the first thing he might notice would be the floor to ceiling aquarium that took up most of the left wall, and the rather stereotypical red couch in front of it. Without those two splashes of color, the room may have looked barren and sterile, because the rest of the furniture was standard starship fare. A plain white desk with three chairs that were slightly more serviceable than they were comfortable sat in the middle of the room with Nathan at the far side. The wall on the right held a small sideboard and one of the smaller replicators.

"Nothing to worry about. Please, have a seat," the counselor said as he gestured to the two empty chairs for Lahr to choose from. "I know we have met a time or two, but before we get started; how would you like to be addressed during these sessions?" While Nathan had studied a lot of xenology in order to take on this assignment, he found it easiest just to ask people how they want to be addressed.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

Acting CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger (en route back to Earth) - Counsellor's office](a month and bit prior)

The floor to ceiling aquarium was an eye catcher.  It wasn't the first aquarium that Lahr had ever seen but those others had been in restaurants or business waiting rooms, so he thought it was a unique thing for a counselor's office.

At the gesture to sit, the Andorian was tempted to ignore the seats motioned to.  If he was going to sit, he'd rather sit on the couch... but that hadn't been offered - not yet at any rate.   He needed to make it through this session without triggering any of the counselor's alert flags, so Lahr took a seat in the left hand chair.

"You can call me Lahr.  It's what everyone calls me." he answered simply and offered a friendly smile.  "I hope you're good with 'Doc'?  It just seems to suit you." Lahr added before trying to get comfortable on the chair.  His antenna were alert and tracking the counselor intently.

"So as I was saying, there ain't really any issue.  I'm just here cause Chloe is blowing things outta proportion. And well, you know how it is with women, right?  If you don't go with their ideas then somehow that means you don't care. And well Chloe says 'See the counselor' ... so here I am."

[Nathan Ryder]

"Most just call me Ryder, and I've never really thought of myself as a Doctor, but if it makes you more at ease then Doc is fine," Nathan said as he calmly watched the Andorian attempt to get comfortable. He gave it a moment before gently pointing out, "If you'd rather, the couch is free as well. There's no need to stand on ceremony in here; or sit as the case may be."

His calm smile twitched with the flicker of a light smirk as he nodded. "Indeed, I do know how women are. It is far easier to trust their judgement until you have definitive proof they are wrong, if in fact they are. Besides, your company is giving me something to do, and for that you have my gratitude."

"Now, how do you want to get started? What is it that Chloe thinks is wrong?"

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

Acting CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger (en route back to Earth) - Counselor's office](a month and bit prior)

"Ryder" the Andorian tested the name.  Meh. He liked the sound of 'Doc' better.  The mention of the couch caught his interest for a moment but it was too stereotypical... laying out on a couch baring your troubles to the shrink.  "Nah, I'm good here" Lahr claimed and stopped his fidgeting to make that point.  He'd would have seemed the perfect of relaxation but for his attentive antenna which continued to twitch with every movement the counselor made.

When Ryder claimed to indeed know how women were, Lahr expected agreement but instead it sounded like the Doc was siding with Chloe.   But Nathan made it seem like Lahr was doing him a favor by keeping him company, which Lahr was certain was a lie just to make him feel better.

Ryder question of how to start surprised Lahr, should the Doc be the one telling him how these things played out?  The Andorian gave a shrug when Nathan asked what was it that Chloe thought was wrong.  "Well, Chloe and I started ... sharing accommodations a few months back and well... it's taking me a while to get used to sleeping with someone constantly.  She says I'm combative in my sleep."  Actually she'd claimed he was lashing out during his nightmares and night terrors.

[Nathan Ryder]

"Whatever makes you the most comfortable," Nathan said as he rested against the back of his chair. For a moment he simply observed the Andorian; a curious race of people, but since that likely had little bearing on this appointment he put it to the back of his mind. Hopefully he knew enough about them as a whole to notice any specific racial symptoms that might be important.

"Are you? Combative? Feeling restless?" The Counselor's head tilted slightly in consideration. "There's a diagnosis on Earth known as Parasomnia," he began to explain. "Basically instead of your muscle system going to sleep like the computers do, they stay active so your body might be acting out your dreams."

"It is especially common if you are having other sleep issues. Nightmares, for example..?" There was just enough of a question in his tone on those last three words to show he was looking for confirmation, but at the same time it was not a direct question. Nathan knew some people did not like admitting to having nightmares, but in this instance it might be important for him to know the truth.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

Acting CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[USS Challenger (en route back to Earth) - Counselor's office](a month and bit prior)

At the counselor's question about him being combative, Lahr gave a slight shrug.  "I guess so.  She says I am."

The doc continued on talking about Para - something.  Somnia.. that was like the root word for insomnia, right?  Nathan's explanation made sense.   Lahr nodded his understanding.

Then came the question he'd been dreading.  Lahr tried to play it off.   "Perhaps.  My imagination can be quite vivid.  Must come from my time spent on Risa." Lahr said with a slight grin, trying to use Kali's comments about knowing him as being a Risan exotic dancer to distract the counselor.