Re: Blood and Iron

502  Whimsical Negotiations

Pétain sat across from Bruno in an undisclosed location within the Swiss city of Zurich. The two of them could not be any more different. Pétain was aging, and dressed superfluously, as if he were the embodiment of 19th century French "martial excellence."

He was prideful, boastful, arrogant even. One could tell by the haughty curl of his lips and the heavily maxed mustache that perched above it.

Bruno however arrived in a civilian three piece suit. He was not here as a man of war, but as a diplomat of the Reich. Though he was 40 years old, he looked a decade younger, yet there were two lifetimes worth of wisdom in his azure blue eyes, and nothing but humility to match.

Pétain immediately broke out into the discussion, making his intentions clear.

"Frankly speaking, the only reason I agreed to meet with you is because you're the bastard who seized Paris and made my life the living hell it's become"

Bruno smirked when he heard this, before responding to Pétain's "praise" with a lackadaisical response.

"Technically speaking my good friend Generaloberst Heinrich Graf von Koch was the one who led the 8th Army and its surrounding of Paris, rather I arrived just in time to negotiate its surrender."

Pétain gazed in Bruno with utter contempt, everyone knew that Bruno had been granted control over the theater and the invasion. Heinrich may have led the army that got there first, but he answered to Bruno, and Bruno devised the strategy that ended in France's defeat.

Even so, Pétain didn't dare call Bruno out on these words. Rather, he was quick to demand a point of these discussions.

"Fine. Have it your way. Regardless of who gets the credit…, can you at least tell me now that I am here across the border, why you called me out for this clandestine meeting?"

Bruno did not speak at first, perhaps building a bit of dramatic effect so that his words held more weight, but when he did utter them, Pétain thought at first he had not heard correctly.

"There is a lot of old surplus weaponry that the German Army, or more specifically its reserves no longer have use for.

I want to donate it to your forces, and give them the chance they need to crush the other warlords. Or more specifically, I want it to look like you have accepted Germany's gracious gift. So that they can come here, to Zurich and negotiate an end to this nonsense once and for all…."

Pétain was shocked by Bruno's words, and at first thought he wasn't hearing things correctly. And when he was about to ask for clarification on whether or not he had understood Bruno's intent, the man volunteered the information.

"I bet you're wondering right now if you heard me correctly, and you did. Let me make this abundantly clear. I have had to watch you idiots fight and kill one another on my doorstep for the last four years.

I would be lying if I said that watching you grind your civilization into dust has not been slightly amusing, but come on, it's been four years now. At a certain point, even you Frenchmen have to admit there's nothing left worth fighting over."

Pétain first thought Bruno's words were noble and then began to narrow his eyes in disdain the longer he went on. And by the time the speech was concluded, Pétain could not help but comment.

"So you think we're an eyesore is that it? That's your reasoning for helping me end this war and unify France?"

Bruno's expression did not change in the slightest as he continued to speak in an absolutely deadpan manner.

"Well, that and if I'm being honest, the cost of maintaining proper security on the border we share with you is absurd. I'd rather you all get your house in order so we don't have to keep forking over the bill every year.

But yes… In essence, France has become an eyesore, and I want the bloodshed to cease. So I will give you the backing, on paper at least ,that will intimidate your remaining rivals into kneeling before you. And if they don't well I suppose I'll have to actually lend you my toys now won't I?"

Over the years, Pétain had heard much about Bruno, from a variety of different sources. But he had never expected, after meeting the man, that this, this was how he would be. Bruno spoke to him like one scolds an errant child. That was how he was speaking to Pétain, who was currently the most legitimate of France's many self professed "national leaders."

 And the more that Pétain came to understand he was dealing with a man who thought of him as having little more agency, or power than an actual child. The more internally frustrated he became.

But he couldn't blow up… Not here… Not now… Not in front of Bruno. To do so would be disastrous for him. And France. No…. All the man could really do was sit there in silence as he forcibly calmed himself before finally responding.

"I will accept whatever assistance you are willing to provide so long as it helps me accomplish my goals. I don't really care what reasoning you have for doing so. But I also know that your word is worth its weight in gold…

So I suppose you could say we have an agreement. Would you prefer it in writing? Or shall we shake on it?"

Bruno stood up and tidied himself off, reaching out his hand with a smirk on his face that made Pétain deeply uneasy for reasons he himself could not explain. All he knew was that the moment he shook Bruno's hand, and the man spoke to him, he felt as if he had made a grave mistake.

"It is much too early to draft formal written accords. Let's just have an old gentlemen's agreement under pain of formal dishonor, and loss of personal dignity, yes?"