The belle of New Orleans tried to show me once how to tango, round and round your feet

Posted on Thu Jan 20th, 2022 @ 10:57am by Lieutenant Tate Sullivan Ph.D.

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Dr. Tate Sullivan's Office, USS Elysium
Timeline: TBD
789 words - 1.6 OF Standard Post Measure

With Alicia on maternity leave, Tate was handling many more of the day-to-day operations of the counseling department than usual. Most of the time, that meant she just had more PADDs to review concerning clinical notes, group supervision and the like, but every once in a while she came across a task that she relished. Not surprisingly, these tasks usually involved talking with people rather than handling administrative minutia.

She was particularly looking forward to this introductory meeting with their newest arrival to the department. Rael's name was easily identifiable to Sullivan as one of her most eager and inquisitive attendees to her lectures on forensic psychology when she served at Starfleet JAG headquarters and then with the Starfleet Criminal Investigative Service. Eager was not an adjective typically associated with Vulcans, and although Tate was most familiar with those who wore their emotions more outwardly, she never failed to learn from anyone she encountered.

A two-fingered knock alerted her to the entrance of the Vulcan as he emerged at the threshold of her door, having separated automatically at his approach. He was tall and slender, lightly tanned an olive hue as much of his species; though he had fair hair-longer than average for a typical Vulcan, and fair eyes, indicating a more coastal genetic heritage. He wore his uniform straight-pressed, but Tate could identify a few tattoos at his wrists and hands. It wasn't a shock at this point as she'd encountered him before, but it remained-peculiar.

"Dr. Sullivan," he greeted her warmly, his smile faint, but it reached his eyes. "I'll admit I was pleasantly surprised to learn you were assigned here." They had no real prior formal introductions, but their community was small, and Rael had been part of a very tight-knit treatment team at Comer who frequently liaised with the Federation Rehabilitation Council and JAG/SCIS-he'd also been involved on staff at Longview Penal Settlement for most of his career. She'd been privy to some of the rumors that he wasn't raised in the Federation himself. He extended his hand to her in a very human gesture. "It's good to meet you officially."

Tate smiled and shook his hand firmly as he came forward. "Likewise." She gestured for him to take a seat anywhere he liked. "May I get you something from the replicator?" She had indeed met him before and was reminded by his warm demeanor and tattoos that she was not about to converse with a stoic, strictly logical Vulcan. Tate could appreciate there were times to be clinically detached, but she had never associated clinical detachment with counseling entirely, even as a forensic specialist.

"I'd love some haisha," he grinned, rueful. It was a Betazoid espresso-style drink with enough caffeine to kick-start a cemetery. He lowered himself into the chair beside her desk, cupping his hands around the steaming mug once it was presented to him. "I found your lectures on apathy in clinical management as it relates to the Federation justice system incredibly insightful," he added, soft. His eyes flicked up to meet hers, but there wasn't a challenge there, merely understanding. They both stood out, in a way.

"Thank you," Tate replied, handing him his beverage. It was a surprising order and she was tempted to ask if he was sleeping well enough. The drink made Klingon-made coffee look like a cup of hot cocoa. "I'm afraid not everyone shared your feelings. Some of our colleagues believe that we should check our compassion at the door when conducting evaluations on criminal offenders."

Pausing to take a long sip, Rael inclined his head, the movement slow and steady as he tapped the ends of his fingers over the glass's rim. "Perhaps they should see a therapist about that," he deadpanned. "I'll admit there are moments where I appreciate Vulcan brevity a great deal-happy to declare that these colleagues of ours are completely illogical. It was a good seminar. The first step to rehabilitation is reintegration. Viewing both victim and perpetrator as sentient, whole beings is an essential part of that process."

Tate nodded. She had to admit, before she knew of him, she would not have expected such a sentiment from a Vulcan. All psychological evaluation required a certain degree of objectivity, but for some reason, this was particularly expected of forensic evaluators, so she was encouraged to know that even the most logical beings saw the importance of compassion and emotional intelligence when assessing trouble beings. "Especially because many offenders were themselves victims first."

Tate smiled, then waved her hand away. "I should stop before I step further onto my soapbox. Let's review your current cases, shall we?"