As the talks began to solidify, Carmen's proposal being readily accepted - if not about her specifically - she felt satisfied. Even if she didn't get explicit permission to join as a bridge, she'd see other opportunities in the future. Thus, she fell quiet and just listened as Dimitrius and Kruger did a little further hashing. Eventually settling upon agreeable terms. Terms, Carmen found a solid starting point. It would help build trust and show commitment from both sides. This would be a historic day. Carmen was proud to have been here to witness it and to contribute for the betterment of her people.
When Corin proposed a toast, Carmen took up the offered glass and raised it up to the men in the room. Corsair and Unioner.
"To both our people's. We have our differences. We may yet have our arguments. Yet, there is a shared core of hardship that has built hard men and women. Men and women of capability, lethality, and most importantly what I sense to be integrity." She nodded purposely to Kruger and Corin. "We Corsairs are known for our bluntness, our ruthlessness, but we honor our friends. We fight for what we believe in and we fight for each other. If you are friend, we fight for you as well. I can no more speak on behalf of the Elders, than Dimitrius, but you're willingness to make the first open gesture is meaningful and a good beginning in the eyes of our Elders. I believe they will come to see what we do here, right now. I see great promise in this future with the Unioners."
Carmen smiled proudly of this moment. Holding her glass up, as she waited for the others to say their piece before taking a drink in honor of this foundation.
"My kin! We are Corsair! We are the 'Horned Ones'! By Crete we have been made strong! There is no foe we cannot defeat! No enemy shall be spared our horns! No friend or ally shall find us wanting! For we are Corsair! By the might of the Imperio we spread out our hands! All we see will be ours one day! I have had a dream. A dream of a green Crete. A paradise! And in that dream, our enemies are not there! Crushed and mangled beneath our horns! Uplift your voices! Shout with me! Corsair! Corsair! Corsair!"
-Carmen Elena 'Silver' Quintana of Clan Quintana of the Corsair Imperio
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