#casual reminder mairwen isn't a good person

[daggersandsparks]

try and take it

{{ another from the AU!verse headcanons with @ratherxintense }} ❝ Abandon hope all ye who enter here. ❞ She muttered under her breath as she stared up the hill. She was met with a disbelieving stare from her companion. She shrugged casually, and instead patted the side of the eyebot. She could feel the warm metal through her gloves, and the warmth under her hand soothed her.

She wasn't afraid of the Legionaries themselves, she had to remind herself as they stepped forward. It was only the idea of being dragged back to the capital. The heavy weight of the collar she'd once worn and what it meant. Ownership. Someone thinking they could do whatever they wanted with her.  Judging from their leering faces, these men likely thought they could find that in her if Caesar had no need of her skills.

She matched their looks with a calm, hateful disdain. Each one getting the cold hate that flooded her. She made it a point to connect with each of them as she walked. Daring them to say something to her. Some caught that gaze with surprise, so unused to such sharpness on a woman. Some hid their expressions better. She could tell which were the recruits; they were the first to look away. She couldn't look at the women in the camp though. Guilt would well up in her, and that didn't serve her right now.

There was a sickening mix of fear and hatred and stubborn defiance brewing in her gut and as they reached the top of the hill. Reached the tent of the mighty Caesar. She swallowed the scoff that came to her lips at the mere thought of this man's greatness. A God would have no need of a Courier.

The knife tucked into the back of her waistband itched, reminded that she wasn't entirely defenseless here. ED-E proved that as well. She wondered if she should have tried to bring in a gun with her as well. But that might have been too much trouble. ❝ Your companions must wait out here. ❞ The Praetorian guard told her. It was the first time her expression of casual arrogance faltered. She caught the fear and turned it merely into a disapproving frown. She should take it as a lack of confidence on his part. That was how she choose to do so, at least. She nodded and turned to them.

❝ You heard the man. Stay out here. ❞ She said, giving a small shrug. She didn't miss the concerned look her words were met with. She flashed a cocky grin and didn't wait for a response before she disappeared into the tent. "I'll be back."

Her steps were a measured, solid pace to keep the illusion of confidence. This wasn't the first time she had played this game before. She lived this. The balance of projecting just enough competence to avoid being taken advantage of and passivity to not seem an outright threat. The second part her hatred was trying to ruin, and that she would have to keep an eye on.

She stood before the leader of the Legion, flanked on either side by his guards. And her husband. Vulpes Inculta. Her gaze settled on him first, trying to assess if he had lied to her for a moment before turning her attention to Caesar. 

❝ Courier Six of the Mojave Express, as summoned. ❞ She told him, her tone playful, with a mock respect she wasn’t sure if her’d catch, extending one arm dramatically, a small bow as she gave her non-introduction.

❝ So I finally get to meet the Courier who's accomplished so much in so little time. That is why I summoned you here, right? ❞ The expression on the man's face was arrogance, but his next words were nearly flattery as he spoke. Detailing what her accomplishments were. She barely listened when it listed them off, waiting for him to get to the real reason why she was there. ❝ When you set your mind to something, you get results. I like that. The question is... Are you ready to get started? ❞

❝ Just let me deal with Benny and I'll be on my way." She had to keep her tone casual, on the edge of amused, despite the bitterness that boiled under the words. She didn't want to deal with him at all. She felt the weight of her husband's eyes on her at her words.

❝ Benny is my prisoner. You don't ‘deal with him‘ unless you've dealt with me. Don't worry, you'll get the Platinum Chip he was carrying. And then you'll use it like I tell you to. ❞ To her credit, her lip only curled for a second before she erased it from her face, instead giving him a thoughtful, noncommittal hum as he continued to speak. This time she took a look at Vulpes, his expression was hard, and she could nearly sense the scolding under the skin. She repressed the smirk as well. as Caesar finished talking.

She paused, her attention back to the Leader. ❝ What do you want me to do? ❞

And so she was given her task. One not far from what Mr. House had expected. The Platinum Chip was pressed into her hand and she gave another small bow of her head before she made her way out of the tent and down the hill to do what she was supposed to. Her weapons reassured her, though she knew they wouldn't be in her hands for long.

She just had to choose which man she was going to listen to. Threats from both sides. A laser from one of the Protections hit her in the shoulder. A bullet in her outer thigh. She entered the heart of the Bunker, her options weighing on her mind, and she made her choice. She would have to deal with the consequences later.

She didn't wait around to see how things played out underneath. She left the bunker, already pulling out a RadAway to begin purging the radiation that she'd had to deal with. She'd already soaked up too much before she'd arrived. She stepped out of the ground and into the presence of the Legionaries with the needle already in her vein. She moved towards the door before she was stopped by the Guard.

❝ You carried out Caesar's will, but I must confiscate your equipment again. ❞ She let out a huff of frustration, letting the RadAway do its job, flexing her arm for a moment after the needle was out and she tossed it aside. She pulled out her weapons, piece by piece, leaving the knife at her back once again, and nodded at her companion to do the same.

She still didn't like it, but she marched her way back up the hill and with barely a wave of instruction, entered the tent alone once more. She didn't even have to say anything to him as she walked up, he began speaking without prompting, the air of someone who was used to be worshiped. This time her frown didn't hide itself. The pain of the wounds she had received were already driving her anger along.

❝ I felt the ground shake a while ago. I'll take that as a sign you got the job done. ❞ She paused for a moment at his words, seeing the smug smile on his face, but nodded. Mindless obedience was what he was used to, wasn't it? ❝ There are rewards for doing as I command. Today, your reward is vengeance. You get to decide how Benny dies. Go to Benny, let him know what you've decided. My Praetorians will perform the execution - unless you want to perform it yourself. ❞

The last bit had almost held a mocking tone. As if he didn't believe that she would want to kill the man that had killed her and dragged her back into this.

❝ Thank you, Caesar. ❞ She didn't want to thank him for the vengeance she deserved, that she had every right to. But she knew that she had to.

❝ Consider it the first of many bestowments. ❞ More arrogance that she ignored. She didn't hesitate to walk over to the Chairman kneeling there with his arms bound, letting her anger finally make its way unto her face.

❝ So baby, what did you find down there? ❞ Benny asked as she stepped towards him, standing above him. He was a fool if he thought he could call her 'baby'. She heard the steps behind her, and she knew who it was who had come to watch.

❝ None of your business. It's time for you to die. ❞ There was venom in her words.

❝ I see. And how's that gonna happen? ❞ He asked and she hummed at him, squatting down to his level to stare at him. She wanted to see his expression.

❝ You know, I could shoot you right here. Or there's the arena, and then there's crucifixion. ❞ She hummed for a moment as if considering it.

❝ Or you could let me go, baby. ❞ He suggested an almost hopeful tone to her voice. She sneered at him.

❝ I don't like being called baby. ❞ She hissed and stood abruptly. Her smile was almost feral as the idea popped into her head.

She turned abruptly to the one she knew had followed her. To Vulpes. Her husband. Why not make this a show. He already underestimated her too. Why not show how foolish that was while she was at it. She walked up to him in a couple short, quick steps and she held out a hand.

❝ Give me your knife. ❞ It wasn't a question. And his expression was one of confusion. He hesitated a moment before he pulled it out. He held it for a moment longer before pressing the handle into her palm. Her smile widened. Already burning with anger, she considered for a moment turning his own blade on him and freeing herself from that. But she knew it meant death. And she knew it wasn't him she hated. ❝ Why thank you. ❞

She dug into the pouch at her hip and pulled out two more items that she'd need. She bit down on the blade as she held out the forceps, bringing the  lighter - Benny’s Lighter - to the metal clamps. She waited until they began to glow red. She could feel the heat of it through her gloves. She knew that she'd feel the burn by the end, but that didn't matter.

Meeting eyes with Vulpes at the sight of the glow, she caught his look. His confusion was still there, but there was an undercurrent there. Something she didn't take the time to analyze. She smiled around the knife and turned, dropping his lighter at Benny's feet. She pulled the knife out of her mouth.

Vulpes had followed her for this as well and she sent him another glance. Her voice was sickly sweet as she spoke. ❝ Hold him if he starts squirming on me, won't you? ❞

He nodded, his expression still questioning. What a husband-wife activity this was going to be. She chuckled at that.

She pressed the heel of her boot into Benny's groin, and he groaned in pain as she leaned forward, putting her face even with his. ❝ Maybe if things had been different, I would've been kinder. ❞

His expression was already contorted with pain when he opened his mouth, his eyes focused more on the knife in her hand the forceps and she took that moment to reach into his mouth and grab hold of his tongue with that hand. She adjusted her grip to clamp down with the burning hot forceps and pull it to stick out of his mouth.

He screamed. A blood-curdling sound as the flesh bubbled under the heat. He tried to jerk away, but she kept her grip firm. Vulpes, to her gratitude, did as she'd asked and grabbed his shoulders, holding him in place with a knee in his back and one hand on his head to keep it still.

Tears were already streaming down his cheeks. Part of her wanted to pull the forceps back, give him a second's reprieve, before doing it again. But she didn't have time for that. She adjusted her grip. Maybe she should have heated the knife as well.

Ah well.

She tugged his tongue out of his mouth further and set about her task. The knife cut into the soft flesh of his tongue. His screaming rose an octave as she drove her blade into it, moving slowly, drawing it out. His scream turned to a gurgling noise as the blood poured out of the wound. The forceps tore at the skin, helping her progress.

He probably didn't even feel them at this point. She wondered briefly at what moment that pain went away.

The knife blade came sliced through the other side and she stood with his tongue in her hand. She gave a satisfied hum, removing her boot and straightening out a bit. She wiped the blood off on her coat and held it out for Vulpes. Her smug grin was still feral as she looked at him. ❝ Thank you. ❞

Another moment where he hesitated before he took it. She glanced down at Benny, the blood pouring out of his mouth. He looked dizzy and on the verge of passing out. She frowned. That would not do. Not at all. She reached into her pouch again and pulled out a stimpak. Grabbing his head with the hand still holding his tongue in forceps, she opened his mouth and inserted the needle onto the remnants of his tongue. Not the whole thing, of course.

The stimpak would do nothing for the pain, but she didn't want him dying from the wound. Once it began to work, she grinned at him. He had regained enough of himself to spit in her face and she only smiled, patting him gently on the cheek. This time she stood and stepped away from him entirely.

❝ Now he can be crucified. ❞ She said, connecting with her husband's gaze and finding an underlying heat that made her shiver. She wasn't going to think on it then. She moved her gaze to the Praetorian guard nearby instead, who nodded at her words and moved to Benny to do as instructed.

She used the rest of the stimpak on her arm, healing her earlier wounds. She turned back towards the main part of the tent, dropping the forceps and holding onto Benny's tongue. For a moment she considered what to do with it. She didn't need a trophy from him. She glanced at the Legion mongrel nearby and stepped towards it, holding out the tongue. It took the treat eagerly from her fingers, quickly devouring the Chairman's tongue.

She finally walked back over to Caesar, wiping the blood from her face. She grinned at him and said nothing.

❝ You took a ruthless approach with Benny. I admire that. ❞ Caesar said, a pleased expression on her face that sent anger through her. She didn't want him pleased with her actions. She paused for a moment before she spoke.

❝ If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared. ❞ She quoted, a sick sincerity in her words. She tended to follow those words as best she could.

❝ Machiavelli. You surprise me. ❞ She shouldn't be surprised that he hadn't expected her to know the philosopher.

She gave a shrug to the comment, and then let him continue to speak, telling her what her next task was. Killing Mr. House. She wasn't opposed to that in the least. He had already blackmailed her into coming here, into dealing with the Legion. He'd blackmailed her with the knowledge of her marriage, and that wasn't something she wanted anyone to know.

Vulpes' presence already made it impossible, but she hoped to keep it between the two of them. She wasn't doing it for him, but she kept that carefully to herself. There wasn't any need to anger him over it. So she agreed and left. She stopped by Benny's cross before she met with her companions and had them follow her out of Caesar's camp.