[ application | ataraxion ]

[counselling]

PLAYER INFORMATION
Your Name: Kerry
OOC Journal: justsay_goodbye
Under 18? If yes, what is your age?: 21
Email + IM: fontcroire @ gmail.com | boxeddreams
Characters Played at Ataraxion: None

CHARACTER INFORMATION
Name: Deanna Troi
Canon: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Original or Alternate Universe: Original
Canon Point: Star Trek: First Contact ( 2373 )
Number: RNG Please :)

Setting: deanna @ memory alpha
History:

2336: March 29 born near Lake El'nar on Betazed. Later her older sister, Kestra, drowns
2343: Her father dies
2350's: Began studying psychology at the University of Betazed
2355: Deanna enters Starfleet Academy
2359: Deanna first meets Will Riker and begins a romantic relationship with him. Deanna later graduates from Starfleet Academy that year
2361: Her relationship with Will amicable dissolves
2364: Deanna becomes assigned to the Enterprise-D as Ship's Counsellor. Later that year she re-meets Wyatt Miller and the both call off their marriage
2365: Deanna becomes pregnant via an alien entity and gives birth to a son, Ian, whom later dies
2370: Deanna passes the Bridge Officer's Test and is promoted to Commander
2371: Deanna partakes in Worf's promotion ceremony aboard the holodeck of the Enterprise-D. After the Enterprise-D becomes attacked near Veridian III Deanna pilots the separated saucer section to the planet
2372: Along with the crew of the Enterprise-D Deanna transfers to the newly commissioned Enterprise-E, serving again as ship's counsellor
2373: When Earth is attacked by the Borg the Enterprise-E steps forward, following them through a temporal anomaly which takes them to Earth, 2063. Working with the senior staff of the Enterprise, and Zephram Cochrane, it's the crews aim to stop the Borg before they can prevent Earth's first contact with the Vulcan's.

Deanna was born on Betazed in 2336 to Betazoid Ambassador Lwaxana Troi and Human Starfleet Officer Ian Troi. Although she had an older sister this was not something that Deanna would discover until 2370 due to her sister ( Kestra ) dying when she was still an infant and her mother repressing all memories of it due to the pain of the loss, also forbidding Ian to tell Deanna of her. Although Deanna's childhood was happy she often felt uncomfortable around her mother, often feeling more that their roles were reversed and that she were the parent and that her mother was the child due to her mother's behaviour. Deanna's relationship with her father, however, was far stronger and she enjoyed spending time with him, learning more about humans and Earth culture and history, some of which rubbed off onto her. Sadly for Deanna this bond was broken early when her father died when she was 7, however she never forgot him and still felt as fond about him as an adult, even naming her child after him.

Deanna trained at the Betazed University, studying psychology before entering Starfleet Academy in 2355. Whilst there Deanna met William Riker, a man whom would be in her life more than she then knew. The two began a relationship, one that became rather intense. During the course of their relationship Deanna taught Will how to read her thoughts when she projected them, something that she was only able to do with other Betazoids ( due to her limited telepathic abilities ) and those that she was intimitely close to emotionally. Although they were close ( having been together for two years ) their relationship dissolved due to conflicts in their schedule, and with Will later choosing to focus on his career after a promotion. Their parting was amicable due to their fond memories of their time together and when they met again years later they still shared a similar bond.

Three years later after Deanna was assigned to the Enterprise-D under Captain Picard, at the rank of Lieutenant Commander, this was when she would meet Will again, who was the First Officer of the Enterprise. Deanna showed that she still cared dearly for Will after his life was placed in danger. Aboard the Enterprise Deanna proved herself as an asset as more than simply the ship's counsellor. By using her empathy Deanna was able to advise Captain Picard as to the intentions that aliens that they met may have had towards them, whether positive or negative. Deanna has also used her abilities to discover things that would otherwise have been undetectable, for example on the Farpoint Mission Deanna sensed that Farpoint Station was actually a living being, one that had been made to look and act as a station. Later that same year Deanna met up again with someone from her childhood, Wyatt Miller, a young man that Deanna had been genetically bonded to as a child ( as per Betazoid custom ). Although the two were expected to marry they both agreed to call the wedding off, especially as Wyatt found that the person that he had been dreaming of was not Deanna but a woman that needed his help. Deanna was also instrumental in the first contact between the Enterprise and a matriarchal society due to the similarities that she believed it served with Betazed.

Early the next year Deanna became pregnant when an alien entity wished to experience human life. Despite the risks that her pregnancy may have posed to her, particularly with its accelerated gestation, and to the ship with the unknown origins of the entity, Deanna fought for the right to continue the pregnancy and later gave birth to a boy, one that she named Ian after her father. Deanna subsequently lost the child after a plasmic plague struck the crew of the Enterprise. After the child, who had matured to the age of eight over a period of several hours, learned that it was the cause of the plague it sacrificed its life, reverting to its energy form in order to allow the crew of the Enterprise to survive. Deanna was deeply saddened by her loss, especially after having just experienced the joy of having a child.

When a man named Tam Elbrun arrived aboard the Enterprise to make contact with an entity known as Tin Man, Deanna had the opportunity to meet again with one of her former patients from whilst she was studying at the University of Betazed. Deanna had been treating Tam for his mental instability that had been caused by his over-developed psionic abilities, trying to aide him in "tuning out" the thoughts of others, something that his abilities made him unable to do. Later that year Deanna began counselling fellow crewmate Reginald Barclay with regards to his shyness after discovering that he had created a holoprogram involving her in order to be able to talk with her. After speaking with him in sessions, and later out of sessions, Deanna showed him that he didn't need the holoprogram to speak with her and he later deactivated it, allowing the two to become friends. Deanna temporarily lost her psionic abilities when the Enterprise came into contact with an unusual entity, one that possessed a magnetic force. Deanna initially found the difference difficult, labelling herself as the "patient from hell" and found it difficult to interact with the crew as they felt to her as holograms did, completely devoid of emotion. After turning to her human abilities and intuition instead Deanna found that she was able to still work and discovered the reason why the entities were there, something which restored her abilities after the entities left.

Deanna demonstrated command skills after having to take command of the Enterprise after it came under attack by a quantum filament. She was able to save officers that had become trapped after making a tactical decision to not separate functions of the ship, instead diverting power to engineering to restore functionality and save the ship. After Worf's son came to the Enterprise to live with his father Deanna helped bond their relationship after advising Worf, both in a professional and friendly capacity, that Alexander would do better staying with him than being sent away to a school, as he was going through a difficult time after his mother's death. Worf later asked Deanna to become Alexander's soh-chim, roughly his godmother.

That same year Deanna herself fell under attack by alien beings on numerous occasions, the first attack causing her to fall into a coma with the second forcing her to, along with O'Brien and Data, to hijack the Enterprise after their bodies were taken over. The situation was later resolved after Captain Picard threatened their lives and the spirits that had taken over them returned to their moon to reside there, with Deanna and the others unharmed by the ordeal. Furthermore Deanna was subjected to rapid aging after a telepathic individual began transferring his darker thoughts and emotions to other hosts, something which caused adverse effects on the subjects. By being placed in stasis Doctor Crusher was able to save Deanna's life before later reversing the process.

In 2369 Deanna was kidnapped by an underground Romulan faction, being surgically altered in order for her to infiltrate the Tal Shiar and to aide Vice-Proconsul M'ret defect to the Federation. Due to the position that she assumed Deanna learned that she had a lot of power within Romulan society due to the fear that the Tal Shiar had over Romulans. Although Deanna looked as though she would fail her mission she managed to successfully complete it and returned to the Enterprise, having her surgical alterations undone in sickbay. When Data was kidnapped by his brother, Lore, and a group of Borg drones Deanna, along with Captain Picard and Commander La Forge aimed to find and recover Data, however they were also captured by Lore. In doing so this allowed them to steal a transceiver that could restore Data's ethics, something that Lore had manipulated in order to convert Data to his side, and Data and the Enterprise rescued Deanna, Picard and La Forge.

In 2370 after finding difficulties on the bridge during her duties and wishing to expand her role Deanna attempted the Bridge Officer's test. After initially having difficulties with a part of it a hint was given to Deanna as to what the test was actually testing, something that she had difficulty willing to accept. Coming to terms with it Deanna then passed the Bridge Officer's test, allowing her to include bridge command in her duty shifts and granting her promotion to Commander. Later that year after Deanna's mother came to visit her on the Enterprise Deanna learned something tragic and surprising from her past - that she had had a sister, one that had died not long after she was born. After learning the reason as to why her mother had never told her of this Deanna helped her mother to forgive herself, and convinced her that she was not to blame for the accident. Towards the end of the year Deanna almost died through suicide after an empathic echo was picked up by Deanna, causing jealousy in her and suicidal impulses. After being saved by Worf, whom she had attempted to kill, it was discovered that a former crewmember of the Enterprise had commited suicide, leaving this echo behind.

When the Enterprise travelled to Veridian III the next year to attempt to stop Tolian Soren from destroying the moon in an attempt to enter the Nexus, a phenomenon that he had been chasing for over sixty years, the Enterprise came under attack from a Klingon Bird of Prey, the ship that had transported Soren to the planet. After discovering the Enterprise's shielf modulation frequency from a kidnapped Geordi La Forge the Enterprise sustained heavy damage and the crew was evacuated to the saucer section when the warp core breached. Deanna was ordered to take the helm and successfully maneuvered the saucer section away from the remainder of the ship, saving the crew, however the explosion from the ship caused the saucer section of the Enterprise to crash onto Veridian III, causing irreparable damage. Deanna aided in the clean up of the ship, helping the crew find their personal effects and later reunited Data with his cat, Spot.

After transferring with the crew to the newly commissioned Enterprise-E Deanna served with them for a year before Earth came under threat by the Borg. Although the Enterprise was inititually ordered to patrol the Neutral Zone for Romulan activity, Captain Picard later disregarded that order after the Fleet engaged the Borg. Returning to Earth the Enterprise led the fleet, destroying the Borg cube that had been attacking although not before it released a Borg sphere, one that opened a temporal anomaly. After being caught in the wave the crew of the Enterprise noted that Earth was now assimilated and under Borg control. Realising that the Borg had travelled back in time to do this the Enterprise followed them in order to prevent them, and as such also allowing Earth's first contact to still occur.

On Earth Deanna was tasked with finding Zephram Cochrane, something that did not prove easy. After attempting to "blend in" Deanna did manage to find out that the man she was talking to was Doctor Cochrane, although she ended up particularly drunk in the process ( especially after consume some rather distasteful alcohol ). When Will comes to her, and is both amused and concerned by her state, they discuss as to whether or not Cochrane can handle learning the truth as to their mission, as they are pressed for time and he does not believe their cover story. In regards to Deanna's professional opinion she believes him to be nuts, but she also believes that he is capable of handling the truth. It is here, after Deanna passes out, that she will find herself on Tranquility.

Personality:

Deanna is a very warm and friendly individual who tries to see others in the best light, to look past any mistakes that they have made ( unless her empathy gives her a different feeling ) in order to be able to help them. As well as working to help others through her counselling duties Deanna also likes to do so in a personal capacity as well, giving friendly advice to both her friends and collegues ( for example on relationships or a course of action to take ). Although it can be hard to distinguish between Deanna's counselling role and friendly guiding there are instances where it is noted, for example after the death of Captain Picard's family Deanna goes to him, having sensed his emotional pain, and offers comfort to him, allowing him to simply talk and share memories in order to help him, as a friend would. Deanna is also very close with the Enterprise's senior staff, having served with them for many years but also due to her warm and caring personality which endears her to others.

Deanna is also highly intuitive, something which her empathy heightens. It can be said that Deanna's intiution is her empathy, due to her being able to sense feelings of others, however where Deanna's own human intuition comes into it is in putting these feelings into context with an individuals intentions - although she may sense deception from an individual this is all that her empathy tells her, and it is with her own mind that she that she needs to put into context what the deception may be regarding. Deanna is also intelligent, in this and also in other practical applications. Having attended and graduated from Starfleet Academy Deanna is a trained and qualified psychologist, one that has also risen to the rank of Commander after passing the Bridge Officer's exam - something that needs intellect and experience, and being able to work the two together. Deanna has also used her intuition to beat Data, an android, at three-dimensional chess by playing a rather risky move that he could not anticipate.

She is also a rather calm individual, one that prefers to find peaceful solutions to conflicts rather than reacting with anger or violence. As such she also tries to keep control over her emotions, preferring to stay in calm in tense or highly emotional situation, to try and act as a balance for others so that they may also regain or maintain emotional composure. Another reason for this is to prevent the projection of Deanna's own emotions. Although Deanna's telepathy is limited to reading only other Betazoids, if Deanna was not in enough control of her emotional state it could negatively affect other Betazoids ( or other telepathic beings ) that were around here. Although Deanna tries to retain control over herself there are certain situations where she is unable to remain calm, for example when someone she cares about greatly is in danger. Ins ituations like these Deanna can become impulsive in her attempts to save them, for example when Captain Picard had been trapped by a rockslide on the Ba'ku homeworld, as her instinct to use her phaser on the rocks would most likely have caused further rock slides.

As well as helping the crew Deanna also spends time with several of them, mostly the senior staff, during her off duty hours. Deanna enjoys playing poker ( and is not known to bluff ), and often works out or attends a mok'bara class with her friend Beverly Crusher. Deanna also knows how to play the piano, although it is uncertain as to at what level this is, and she also enjoys chocolate. Deanna has been noted to order something containing chocolate when she is stressed or unhappy, and has herself commented that she has yet to find a chocolate that she does not enjoy. As well as spending her time with others, either in Ten Forward or on the holodeck, Deanna also enjoys her time to herself, allowing her to shut off and shut out everyone else, giving her some peace and a chance to think and reflect.

She also has incredibly strong beliefs, particularly regarding other forms of life. When Deanna was impregnated by an unknown lifeform Deanna was determined to see the pregnancy through despite the uncertainty of threat that her pregnancy may pose to her or what her child may pose to the crew. Deanna also found difficulties in passing the Bridge Officer's exam, particularly when she had to accept that the true purpose of it was to test her ability to command others in risky situations that could resolve in her death. Due to her caring nature Deanna found this difficult, not wishing to cause the death of anyone, but she eventually realised that there were situations where she would be unable to save everyone and later passed the exam. Due to her abilities and her confidence in herself Deanna also has a lot of pride. Deanna uses her positivity and confidence in her counselling, aiming to instill and raise the confidence of others, for example when Deanna worked with Reginald Barclay, whom had become infatuated with her and thus created a holoprogram involving her in order to be able to talk to her, Deanna built a friendship with him through their counselling sessions, showing him that he didn't need the holoprogram and that he could talk to her, and thus they have been good friends for years since. Along with her lack of bluffing in poker, Deanna is incredible honest. As part-Betazoid, a species of people who believe in utmost honesty ( and being telepaths it is rather difficult to lie ), Deanna also believes in honesty and does not often lie, or at least does not like to lie. Deanna also likes a challenge in her work, particularly an unusual case that she would need to think on and adapt her counselling techniques on, for example when she was contacted by Reginald Barclay with regards to Lewis Zimmerman, although Deanna ( aboard the Enterprise ) was lightyears away she requested a leave of absense in order to travel to Jupiter Station to meet and work with Doctor Zimmerman due to the challenge that he posed.

Deanna also has a fascination with Earth history and other cultures. Deanna has studied and is capable of speaking other languages ( though which is not specified ) and learned of Human culture and Earth history from her father, who was human. Deanna also has a particular fondness for Earth's Ancient West, and enjoys Western scenarios on the holodeck. When on Earth in 2063 in an attempt to find and enlist the assistance of Zephram Cochrane to ensure that Earth's first contact with the Vulcan's still went ahead, Deanna had to integrate with 21st Century Earth culture in order to locate Zephram Cochrane. Deanna was later commended for her interpersonal skills when working with Doctor Cochrane despite the rather unusual 'counselling techniques' that she used, for example drinking with Doctor Cochrane and become rather drunk ( ❝ you're drunk ❞ / ❝ i am not ❞ ). Deanna has, however, been advised to research further with regards to pre-syntheholic beverages for any future missions.

Abilities, Weaknesses and Power Limitations:

- telepathy
as a Betazoid Deanna is capable of telepathic communication between other telepathic species along with sensing and reading the thoughts of others. Due to being only half-Betazoid Deanna's psionic abilities are limited ( or "below average" ) and both her telepathic communication and thought reading is limited to just other telepathic races or those that she shares an intense emotional bond with ( e.g. her imzadi ). Along with this Deanna ( like all Betazoids ) is unable to read the thoughts of any individual that possesses a brain structure that is dissimilar to their own ( e.g. the Ferengi or Breen )
- empathy
extra-sensory empathy is another of Deanna's psionic abilities and unlike her telepathy is not limited to only other telepathic/empathic races. Deanna is capable of feeling and understanding the emotions of other beings, something which she has used to greatly aid in missions ( particularly with unknown races ) and her role as a Counsellor
- telepathic/empathic projection
compared to full-blooded Betazoids Deanna's telepathic and empathic projection is limited. Similar to her telepathy Deanna is capable of projecting her thoughts and/or feelings onto others, however Deanna is also capable of doing so with individuals that she shares an intense emotional bond with ( e.g. her imzadi ). Deanna shares such a bond with Will Riker ( her imzadi - beloved ) due to their close personal relationship. Deanna was able to teach Will how to read her thoughts when she projected them to him and demonstrated that they were still able to do this when meeting again years later
- combat
as a Starfleet Officer Deanna is trained in the use of weapons and has demonstrated capabilities in using both a phaser and a phaser compression rifle, and is capable of using them with some accuracy
- piano
Deanna has been taught in the piano although it is uncertain as to how high her skill level is

Inventory:

- this outfit
- her starfleet commbadge
- a phaser
- a tricorder

Appearance: Deanna is played by Marina Sirtis | icons

Deanna is 5'9", slender, with black irises ( indicative of her Betazoid heritage ) and long, dark hair which she ( now ) wears straight and clipped back. Deanna typically dresses in her Starfleet uniform ( teal indicating her position in sciences ) although does wear civilian clothing for particular missions or when off-duty

Age: 37 ( March 26, 2336 )

AU Clarification: N/A

SAMPLES
Log Sample:

Her head hurt. The light when she opened her eyes only made that worse, and it wasn't natural light either; it was harsh, bright, and dear gods did she just want to curl away in her quarters. But she couldn't, that was the one thing that Deanna was unable to do and she berated herself a little for even wishing it. This was the result of her own actions, actions that although she could justify she had taken, and now she had to deal with the consequences of it.

Even if she still wanted to lay down in a dark corner even after that pep-talk. Today she was not a counsellor, or at least not for herself (did "doctors make the worst patients" apply to counsellors?)

Steeling herself, keeping her eyes closed for a moment longer as she pushed herself up, Deanna couldn't quite help but wonder how she'd gotten here, or where exactly here was. She'd been with Zephram Cochrane, that was as clear as knowing that she had been rather drunk, and... Will. He'd arrived, Deanna could remember that much although the details of what came next were rather unclear, and that was a feeling that she did not like.

And that was soon to intensify. Opening her eyes Deanna was met with surprise. Her location, wherever and now whatever it was certainly wasn't on Earth, not with the advancements in technology that Deanna saw in the room and nor was it the Enterprise. Confusion was the least of what she felt at this; there had been no other ships around, certainly not in the 21st Century, so the question of how she was here was rather urgent, that and where here was.

As she looked around Deanna saw others but nothing else that would indicate as to where she was, nothing that stood out from the ordinary or as a distinct name. There were many pods, something which she had appeared to have been in before she'd woken. A method of transport, perhaps? Or an alternative to a sickbay biobed? Whatever it was she needed to know whether Will and Doctor Cochrane were still with her, because if not what would happen to first contact?

Comms Sample:

video;
[ Deanna was hoping that she looked better than she felt as she broadcast over the comms. She'd been aboard the Tranquility for several hours and so far everything that she had heard had pointed to one conclusion: that everything that they knew and that had been told to them was the truth, or so that was what had been believed. She still had yet to work out whether that was good or not ]

The predicament that we have found ourselves in is greater than anything that I am aware of from history, even with noted examples. From what I have been informed the majority of the passengers aboard this ship are unfamiliar with space travel, or are even from an era where it has yet to exist?

[ Oh, this was breaking so many rules. But... this wasn't her situation, but simply another thing to try and help and resolve as easily as possible like with Doctor Cochrane. The similarities were, frankly, astounding ]

My name is Deanna Troi, and I serve aboard a ship not too indifferent from this one. If there are any questions or concerns I would be happy to answer them within the boundaries of my knowledge, or if you are having trouble adjusting then I may be able to help you there.

[ She just hoped that this wouldn't be a permanent thing ]

I have also been informed that there is a James Kirk aboard? Captain, when you have a moment I would request to speak with you. Thank you.