Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Lieutenant Governor’s Office- Watching the Proceedings

(snip)

Cort brought his and Sreer’s drinks over and sat next to Eela. “Well? Whatever happens, we’re all in the thick of it now,” he said, lifting his mug.

Eela lifted hers and chuckled. “Let us ask whatever Fates, Guardians, Gods, or the Universe itself that might be running this show to have mercy on us. We might need it.”

“Hear, hear,” Dashiel said, joined by Cort and Elema as they focused on the broadcast of the press conference Mathis and Hyrushi were about to give.

~Eela Dasca & Staff, and Dashiel Jones, Attaché

The screen shifted and they watched Kenzo and Jeanette enter. The Governor gave his introduction, much as Eela knew he would and then Mathis gave her speech. Eela watched with a bit of awe. “She’s really good.”

“Yes, she is,” Dash said, full of pride and genuine care. It was not hard to for anyone else in the room to pick up that he and Mathis had a genuine friendship. And it was like Kenzo had told her: her success was Oed. It was the same for Mathis. Her success was their success.

Then Hyrushi stepped back in to do the part that only a few people outside of this room and the Government Tower new they had arranged. Eela was quite frankly nervous, and she hoped Sindra Hal had come through for them.

And of course she had. Eela sucked in a shaky breath as the footage from the vessel was shown to everyone. It was one thing to have read page after page of reports but it was quite another to have reality right in front of you. It wasn’t the same, but she knew what that impending suffering felt like. What desperate people did. Her mind immediately flashed back to Khar and that group of Khari that felt they had no other choice but make a point through their deaths.

Cort reached out and rested a hand on her arm, saying nothing.
“I’m okay,” Dasca whispered.
“No you’re not, but that’s okay,” Cort replied, eyes still fixed on the screen and returning his hand to his coffee mug.

As Hyrushi invited Mathis back for questions, Elema shook her head. “Wow, okay then. Suddenly our tea and coffee seemed like a poor choice.”

Dasca laughed, despite herself. Hadn’t Kenzo alluded to much the same last night? “Later. I have plenty at the apartment.”

“Did you still want to go ahead with it? We would understand if you had elsewhere to be, Eela,” Cort said.

She offered him a sincere smile. “I promised I’d cook for you both, and honestly I could use the distraction.”

Cort gazed at Eela, flicking his eyes briefly to Jones who was watching the exchange with interest, before giving her a questioning look. Cort had no idea what he was actually ding here and it made the whole thing that much more intense and funny. A lopsided smirk touched her lips and she turned to Dashiel. “It’s a long standing tradition of mine that I cook for others. One, because I enjoy it, and two it always give me a chance to connect with members of my crew. Cort and Elema are coming over tonight. You’re more than welcome to join us. I’ll invite Jeannette and her family as well, if they’re free.”

“I’d love to,” Dash said with a wide smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.

She smiled and flicked her attention back to the screen, hoping the question period went smoothly, but who knew what the press would throw at the pair.

~Eela Dasca & Staff, and Dashiel Jones, Attaché