Oh, trying to out-manipulate this Princess? It'll take more than that, Byerly. Sonia's eyebrows raise slightly in amusement at his proffered hands -- one of the few Vor around here who doesn't seem like the soldierly type -- and she indulges him by touching her own gloved hands to his, plucking lightly at the tattered fabric.

"Hm. I'd lend you mine, but your hands are rather a lot bigger." She gives him an impish smile, and then snorts out a laugh. Very princesslike, yes. "The General Count? Egalitarian? Good God, no. A progressive, sure, but if anything it's his wife who's the egalitarian. Half-Betan, you know."

She glances at his shovel, taps the shaft of it with the toe of her boot, and gives him a smug look. "Oh, don't you know? I've already got a job. I'm here to boost morale."