Metal Militia

[Reeves]

This sudden question caused him to halt in place and turn swiftly to face her. For a moment it might have even seemed like she had offended him but he was clearly smiling when in plain view. Aggression or indignation of any form was absent or at least not detectable.

"We have a tradition in the Alliance. The callsigns of each pilot are given to them by the Commander. When I volunteered it was under the tenure of someone more.. whimsical. She took one look at me after I'd survived my first few sorties and dubbed me "Coral" - because I was pretty."

As if expecting there to be a brief spell of amusement, Damien paused to allow his guests to laugh or otherwise just smile and take in the little piece of levity before he carried on.

"This caused problems later because as it turns out I was actually uniquely qualified and good at what I did. But you can't expect people to take a man seriously with a name like that, especially when they know why he has it, and so she had to make a decision. She decided it was time to stop screwing around and shoot for the big leagues. Cobra was the name she eventually settled on, a grand hooded serpent, regal but without a crown or respect for false perceptions of authority. After that? I was free to be exactly who I knew I was."

It had been years since then and the fact his people kept reelecting him spoke for itself by now. And since he'd given her the answer she'd requested so boldly, Damien maintained direct eye contact throughout the silence that came afterward, a way to silently ask if that was it or if they could keep going.