Posted by Civilian Joseph Karlson (Police Commissioner) in Sloane Square- Contemplations (open)

Posted by Civilian Cort Belanger (Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.) in Sloane Square- Contemplations (open)

Posted by Civilian Joseph Karlson (Police Commissioner) in Sloane Square- Contemplations (open)
Posted by… suppressed (16) by the Post Ghost! 👻
He was all too aware of the special bodyguards that were hiding in plain sight. Ever since Jones died, the executive assistants had their own protection details, and while it was strange, Cort didn’t object. He knew that it was necessary until they had the perpetrator in custody and were sure there wasn’t any further risk to the colony’s leadership and diplomatic staff, or the Vren.

Sitting on a bench under the shade of a tree, he sipped his coffee and watched the colony g about its business. The mood was still more somber, but several days after news broke about Jones, people had simply got on with their lives. The world kept spinning, after all. There was a lovely sort of metaphor in there and a reminder that this difficult time would pass, just like others previously.

OOC: Anyone is free to jump in here. Cort is a friendly guy. :)

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Joseph had been on a walk looking for a place to eat his lunch, he held a plastic lunchbox in bright colours, a larger version of the Children’s lunchbox the Oed Police gives out during the yearly Job festival, his wife found the box so amusing that she had them make one in his size. The bright blue-white box with the pink-purple police mascot on prominent display always got an odd look or twelve but it was a gift from his Neema, and he always did love a good lunchbox.

He’d grown curious when he saw plain-clothed bodyguards, he didn’t recognise them in particular but the way they were spread out and how they stood told him they were the new additions to the local protection details assigned to officials who usually did not warrant protection. He wasn’t directly involved in their assignments because they were not assigned to the civilian cabinet members but he of course had been involved in the conversation. It didn’t take him long to see who they were assigned to, he took in how they stood, and where they were looking, they’d clocked him shortly before he’d seen them of course that was mostly because of his own security detail slowly filling the square. He assumed the two groups were already in communication with each other, his larger force supporting Cort’s smaller one.

The elderly Police Commissioner walked across the square making a beeline straight to Belanger, his cane’s clicking made his presence known, it was one of the more familiar sounds for those who worked in the Government Tower. He stopped by the bench and waved his lunchbox at the seat next to Cort “Mind if I join you?” He asked, his affable and familiar smile designed to put people at ease from his large and imposing figure.

Commissioner Karlson

He watched the man approach and offered a smile. “Not at all, Commissioner,” Cort said, gesturing to open area of the bench.

Joseph sat down slowly, a habit since he’d broken his fair hair of seating arrangements in his life.

He glanced again at the man and his lunch mug and his grin widened. “The lunch kit is an interesting and fun touch. It’s nice to see leaders who don’t take themselves too seriously all the time.”

The Police Commissioner smiled widely as he put the lunchbox on his thighs “I’ve always enjoyed the children’s lunchboxes, my Marines used to get a kick out of it”

Cort let out a laugh that surprised even him. It felt nice after the constant stress of the last few days. “Now that would be something to see.”

Cory sipped his coffee and looked out over the square. “It’s so strange how everything has changed in the last few days and yet nothing has at the same time. I’ve been here enough that it shouldn’t surprise me, but it’s still feels strange.” Maybe it was because of how recent events had affected him personally that he was struggling to work out the discrepancy between how the public saw things and how things were behind the scenes.

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Joseph paused with half a sandwich in his hand “That’s how things work at this level, change happens quickly but its effects are felt over months not days. For most people, these recent days have been something to discuss over coffee whilst reading the news on their PaDDs. That’s how we want them to stay, public servants that we are.”

Commissioner Karlson

“This is true. And as long as I’ve been on Oed, I feel like I’m getting to know it all over again, and even better.” Cort gave a small smile. “Perks of having a boss that is very much about enjoying life as much as possible, even if the execution of such a desire is very much lacking at times for all you government leaders,” he said with a teasing grin. Had they known each other better, Cort might have even playfully elbowed Karlson, but he had too much decorum and respect to cross lines without permission. He at least knew the lunchkit told him he could tease the commissioner and he’d probably take it well.

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Joseph chortled at the younger man’s teasing “Oh don’t lump me in with those professional politicians, I tried my hand at that game years ago, not my style, running this backwater police department is much more entertaining” He said before a bite of his sandwich.

Commissioner Karlson

Cort gave a small snort. “Entertaining is one word for it,” he said. In truth, he was sure everyone would be glad if things on the colony could be a little less ‘entertaining’, t least while these initial negotiations with the Vren went on. Later, after things had settled and everyone was more used to each other, he was sure the tension would die down, but for now they were all moving cautiously. Even more so since Jones was murdered.

He sipped his coffee, trying to pull his thoughts away from the man who had bene fast becoming their friend, even though he had known so little about him. All he had known for sure was that he was genuinely kind, incredibly smart, and made Eela happy. Given her life as of late, that was no small detail. He was sad for them all, but most of all for her.

“Are you going to the memorial? Mathis has said it will be Saturday but I don’t think she’s putting out the official announcement until alter today.” He knew mot people would be there out of obligation, but he hoped more of them would be there in genuine support.

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Joseph was quiet for a moment before answering, carefully placing the last bite of the sandwich in the box again “Yes I believe I shall” He didn’t mention that one of the main reasons to be there was to see those that arrived, his officers would be recording all attendants and POI’s would be monitored for their reactions to the event “I did not know the man personally, were you friendly?” He asked with curiosity.

Commissioner Karlson

Cort nodded and took a moment to gather his words before he spoke. “Dash was very friendly and eager to meet everyone he’d work with. And because the Lieutenant Governor was not only involved in the Vren negotiations, but also helping get the new embassy sorted out, we worked together quite often. He even joined us for dinner at the Lieutenant Governor’ home one evening. He was a good guy. I’m used to people coming and going here, but I miss him. More than I thought I would.” It was also the way the whole incident was triggering old memories, but at the core of it, Cort knew it was hard because he had cared about Dashiel Jones and considered them newly friends.

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Joseph nodded, he’d searched through his memory but he hadn’t met the poor young man but he’d seen him, never learned his name until he died. “It’s tough to lose someone so suddenly. If you haven’t already please reach out to a professional, trauma specialist or therapist, whenever you feel ready. Loss, especially violent loss is something that needs to be processed correctly” He said with a certainty that only came with intimate experience with a great deal of such loss.

Commissioner Karlson

Cort nodded. “Trust me, Eela I’m sure will be insistent upon it. It’s what happens when you work for a former therapist.”

He gazed out at the people milling about. “I almost moved on you know, before Dasca arrived. Too much turnover and the work had ceased to be enjoyable. It’s always amazing how much things can change. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else now.”

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

The elderly man smiled at that thought “I understand, when I first came here it was just a favour for a friend back on Earth, I’d been roaming the Galaxy for the better part of a decade, my own little travelling retirement. Originally we’d planned to retire to Trill to my wife’s family estate after things calmed down here. Now over a decade later and I’m still around”

Commissioner Karlson

“Do you think you’ll stay here permanently?” Cort asked. He wondered the same for himself and most of the time the answer was ‘yes’, but he also recognized that he likely wouldn’t be in this job forever. What that meant for later he couldn’t really even guess at. All he knew was that he was at least happy where he was. He had work that he loved and a boss he truly enjoyed working for, and a great group of friends. Did he want more? Yes. But right now he was okay with what he had.

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Joseph considered the question, taking the time to finish the first half of his sandwich “I think I might, at least long enough to see things grow green again. I’ve been considering getting some land to settle down on whenever I retire, since space is at a premium on Earth and Trill me and Neema always considered settling down on a colony” He paused then smiled “I guess it depends on how much my grandchildren enjoy being here.”

Commissioner Karlson

“The terraforming would certainly be something to bear witness to, for sure.” Cort was quiet for a moment, gathering his thoughts., things he hadn’t been ready to admit to anyone else, let alone himself. “I think I can see myself staying here, you know, settling down, getting married, maybe having kids. I could see that happening here, but I’m not sure when exactly that changed,” he said with a chuckle.

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Joseph smiled “I know the feeling, sometimes it just hits you, the need or want to start a family. There’s something about Oed that I find fascinating, for me it’s the challenge of building a fringe civilization. Why live in paradise when you can create it.”

Commissioner Karlson

Cort nodded. “I definitely think there is something to that. For me though family is complicated. Are you close with yours? I’ve gone great lengths to get distance from mine.” He almost laughed given how far he was from Vega, and that he had originally joined the Federation Red Cross to get out from their reach.

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.

Joseph nodded slowly “Oh yes quite, both parents and in-laws. Four children five grandchildren. My brother of course and his daughter, then a whole cadre of cousins and whatnot. Although I left for the Marines the day I turned eighteen I always stayed in contact with my family. I had quite a privileged life back on Earth, I grew up in the thirties, a very calm period compared to the next few decades.” He started the second half of his sandwich “So bad family life?” He asked

Commissioner Karlson

Cort shook his head. “No, not the way you might be thinking. Mine too was very privileged. But therein lay the problem. With great privilege comes high expectations and I just reached a point where I didn’t feel the need to try to fulfill them anymore. I left home looking for space to find my own path, and it worked. Rather well.” Cort snorted ever so slightly.

Cort Belanger, Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.