Tea. Hibiscus. Hot.

Posted on Wed Aug 20th, 2025 @ 11:37pm by Lieutenant Alice Penrose

624 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Impending Midnight
Location: Chief Counsellor's Office
Timeline: Prior to the Battle of Lazzaro

ON:

The lights in the modest counselling office had been dimmed to a warm and gentle hue, almost an amber. It wasn’t quite a sunset effect, but it was close enough to take the edge off the usual sterile Starfleet illumination.

Alice Penrose stood quietly in the middle of her new office, cradling an elegant cup in her palms. She bent her head just enough to breathe in the fragrant curls of steam, her eyes closing for a moment. It was real, brewed from hand-grown leaves. But she hadn’t made it for anyone but herself. Because no one had booked a session for her first day on duty. Or the next day. Or the day after.

But that was alright.

This had happened on the T’Vora. And the Thunderchild. And even at Starfleet Medical.

It took a while for crewmembers to warm up to a new counsellor, and a little longer still before stepping into the office. The first time it had happened, she had questioned her entire life path. But now? She had come to expect it and sat with it comfortably.

Alice lowered herself delicately into the patient’s chair that faced the viewport, testing the angle. It was too stiff, and the line of sight was wrong. She adjusted it slightly, then again, and again, until it was in the perfect position for someone to talk and look away to the view without feeling cornered or scrutinised.

Sometimes, the placement of a chair meant more than all the carefully worded reassurances in the world.

Alice had set a round, wooden side-table next to the client’s chair, within easy reach. It was covered in trinkets...a set of polished beads, a tactile cube puzzle, a soft squeezable ball, a Jacob’s ladder toy, even an old-fashioned metal pen. A collection of curios for restless hands and nervous people to play with. It was remarkable, just how many people looked at them sceptically on arrival only to pick one up absently halfway through a session.

The back of the comfortable chair had a soft blanket draped over it. Made of crocheted squares with intricate patterns of cream, gold and duck-egg blue that Alice had made herself. She always made sure it was close by for people to use if they wished. It complemented the plush, teal cushion that was nestled at the back of the chair.

Her gaze drifted to the corner where she had put the revolving shelf that held rows of antique books. No PADDs. No tech. Nothing that could spark intrusive thoughts from the outside world. Just bound covers that had faded over time, each book picked for a reason.

Alice plucked one out absently...The Collected Letters of Byron...turning it over in her hands to caress the worn cover before sliding it back in place.
She’d also placed flowers on her desk, gathered in one of her favourite blown-glass vases. The violet flowers, pale green foliage and delicate herb sprigs had been brought from earth, safely pressed in pages then later revived in a small hydroponic dish. She could still smell the mint and floral fragrance.

She contemplated the hand painted landscape that had been hung on the wall so both she and her visitor could enjoy it. It was of a wild but beautiful lake not far from where she lived. A place that held so many memories.

She narrowed her eyes ever so slightly, tilting her head before reaching out to nudge a corner just enough to straighten it. She stepped back to make sure it was perfect before moving for her own chair to settle into this time.

Alice sipped her tea, and waited.

OFF:

Lieutenant Alice Penrose
Chief Counsellor

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