Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Government Tower- Rousseau’s Office

Posted by Civilian Astrid Rousseau (Chief Justice) in Government Tower- Rousseau’s Office

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Government Tower- Rousseau’s Office

(snip)

Eela took in the rest of the office with a keen eye as she settled onto the sofa facing Astrid. She took a deep breath to steady herself before she delved in, knowing that this would be hard. “So, I am assuming you have heard about and maybe even read my response to the social media post about my ex-husband being escorted by my security through one of the hotels? If not, I can fill you in.”

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Astrid nodded. She wasnt one to really pay much attention to things like that, perferring to read non fiction and legal things but she did find value in keepi g somewhat apprised of things that had exploded in the social sphere. “I had but honestly, I would rather hear the story as though I do not. It helps me get perspective and helps to alleviate any preconceived notions or prejudices I might start this conversation with. So let’s start at the beginning shall we?”

Rousseau, HotJ

She drew in a deep and steading breath as she nodded. Eela still had to quell that slight discomfort when she spoke of the incident, but it was slowly getting easier. “So a few months ago, my divorce was made final and my ex and I had an agreement to request to talk first and we each had the option to say no or get to it when we could, unless it was an emergency, of course. The same went for seeing each other. Every since I moved to Oed, it’s been a non-issue though. Until he showed up unexpectedly at my apartment building… ninety light years from where he worked and lived. I had security keep him in the lobby and went down where he explained that he wanted to talk and requested ten minutes. Reluctantly, I agreed, and security screened him and we went up to my apartment. We talked and basically, from my perspective, he wanted to ignore all our issues and get back together. Start all over. I wasn’t interested. Despite him trying to convince me, I ended up asking him to show himself out and went to walk away and that’s when he grabbed my arm to stop me. And it hurt… a lot. Enough to leave bruises later. Long story short, security burst through my doors after he still wouldn’t leave and I got angry and threw a vase.” Eela cast her gaze elsewhere in the room for a moment and took a deep breath to gather herself.

“I was asked at the time by my agents at the time if they wanted to have him remanded to custody, but I was in such shock and… emotional turmoil I said no but that I didn’t feel safe with him on the planet. Cory was escorted from the building and I left as well a short while to stay with friends. The next day, a video surfaced of a man, who was definitely Cory, being escorted through a hotel by CCDA agents. He was asked to leave Oed immediately, and I subsequently got a restraining order. Because of my position it extends to the system. He cannot enter Oed space.” It was all just facts. As far as she was concerned, those were the only things that mattered in this moment.

Eela allowed her eyes to meet Astrid’s, forcing herself to keep her head up. “That restraining order initially was a complicated and difficult decision. I spent the first day after the incident beside myself, trying to decide what the right move was here. Not just for me as a person, but as the Lieutenant Governor. I’m all too well aware that everything I do, every decision I make is scrutinized. And a part of the reason I didn’t have him arrested was that I didn’t want my situation to be public fodder. But it is anyway now. And with a bit of hindsight, I still don’t know if I made the right decision. I know a lot of people think I let him get off too easily, especially given my role here, but I am the one who would have to be in that court room. Not them. And I know how lawyers work. My ex-husband is likely a narcissist, Justice. I’ve come to realize only since I came to Oed, that in the forty years we were married, I’ve been manipulated, gaslit, and emotionally abused. It would be very easy for a defence lawyer to twist things, to make me doubt what I know to be true. Cory was very good at making it always seem to be my issues. It was never him. And I don’t think I can bear to be attacked like that, even if they somehow manage to keep it civil. That restraining order lasts for a year, and I honestly don’t know what to do. I have wonderful people in my life, but I’m not sure they have the necessary knowledge and experience to advise me here. I don’t really know what my opinions are here, or what makes sense given these complicated circumstances.” Eela managed to spit that all out, but barely, and she was trying very hard to keep herself together.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

Bump