Shooting Star

[Thunderer]

Keller may have been an arrogant man, or even a boy for Elizabeth, of not much past 20 years old, but there must have been some Coalition commanders that were still loyal to Keller, or so she thought. That was why she needed him on her side. Plus, it would certainly not be an inconsequential thing to boast about at home, in favour of her good repute. To bring one of the greatest proponents for war with Bretonia to her side, now what an accomplishment that would be! Not to speak about the propaganda value. Keller was worth a bit of wooing.

With a gesture, Elizabeth called the soldier back and took the document with her right hand. Again with a gesture, no doubt all routinely exercised, she ordered all the soldiers out. "Full Makeup Commodore", that's how they referred to her in their jokes, outside, where she couldn't hear them. It was a parody of the "Full Metal Commodore", the nickname they used for Kaze Dagon, with her bionics and her iron fist authority. But it was merely a pastime, and had no influence on their performance and obedience when performance and obedience were necessary. Or maybe they had just not been pushed to their limits yet.

Elizabeth wore a black leather glove over her left hand, but her right, which was holding the Accords, was bare. She removed the glove and revealed that her hand was grotesquely disfigured by burns. She liked flaunting that hideous bit of herself. It testified to her participation in real, brutal, bloody war, and to her sacrifice. It showed what she was made of -- or, what she wanted others to think she was made of. Elizabeth extended that hand to Keller. At first she thought she would have him kiss it, but no, Keller was not that kind of a person. He had already missed his chance to be a gentleman. Equality was his mantra, and equality had no preference among neither status, nor wealth -- nor gender. There she was, as decorated as a baroque cathedral, extending a hand to him. A bit of an ungraciously looking hand, too.

"If it is trust you want, it will have to come from both sides."

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