The Courier sat at one of the small tables, while Boone stood across the room, speaking with Veronica about something. She couldn't exactly tell him to get lost (not after she'd invited him to her performance in the first place,) but closely hovering snipers had a tendency to put strangers on edge. Sometimes this was a good thing, but she might at least give this Mister Fox the benefit of the doubt.
When he sat down across from her, the Courier's eyes grew wide.
"If I scream, you're dead!" Her voice was quiet despite her threat, and Fox- or rather Vulpes Inculta, the man she had met so long ago in Nipton- smiled non-threateningly.
"There would be no need. I come with a gift, nothing more."
She raised an eyebrow, and Vulpes produced something gold and circular. Curious, the Courier picked it up and examined it.
"A coin?"
"A mark. Wear it about your neck and you will be granted protection and amnesty by Caesar's Legion. All your crimes forgiven, and all your potential granted a use."
Strange, she thought. Was she really being recruited to an army where she'd only seen men? Did they use women as spies or intelligence, or was it all a trap? Looking even more confused than she really was, the Courier blushed and lowered her lashes.
"I don't know what to say. I'm only a woman, and we haven't been very friendly in the past."
"Women come in many varieties, and you..." Vulpes took her hand, pressing the mark into her palm. "You have surprised us. We do not have to be your enemy, and I think you'll find we can be very valuable friends."
I'll bet. Another strange thing- he kept saying 'we' and 'us', never referring directly to Caesar, who had presumably sent her the gift.
"You might be, at that. I may pay a visit if I can find the time to spare. Thank you, Vulpes."
As he turned to go, she offered him her hand. He went to shake it, but she raised it to his lips. After a moment's pause, the spy touched his lips to her fingers in a quick, dry kiss. The Courier smiled, and moved her hand to his jawline.
"Soft skin, for a soldier."
Vulpes Inculta's expression was enigmatic, but he didn't remove her hand.
"As I said, Courier, you are a surprising woman. I will be waiting for you in the Camp."
Interesting. As he headed for the door, the Courier took another look at the mark, running her index finger over the outline of a bull. Very interesting.
Torch Songs 3/?
When he sat down across from her, the Courier's eyes grew wide.
"If I scream, you're dead!" Her voice was quiet despite her threat, and Fox- or rather Vulpes Inculta, the man she had met so long ago in Nipton- smiled non-threateningly.
"There would be no need. I come with a gift, nothing more."
She raised an eyebrow, and Vulpes produced something gold and circular. Curious, the Courier picked it up and examined it.
"A coin?"
"A mark. Wear it about your neck and you will be granted protection and amnesty by Caesar's Legion. All your crimes forgiven, and all your potential granted a use."
Strange, she thought. Was she really being recruited to an army where she'd only seen men? Did they use women as spies or intelligence, or was it all a trap? Looking even more confused than she really was, the Courier blushed and lowered her lashes.
"I don't know what to say. I'm only a woman, and we haven't been very friendly in the past."
"Women come in many varieties, and you..." Vulpes took her hand, pressing the mark into her palm. "You have surprised us. We do not have to be your enemy, and I think you'll find we can be very valuable friends."
I'll bet. Another strange thing- he kept saying 'we' and 'us', never referring directly to Caesar, who had presumably sent her the gift.
"You might be, at that. I may pay a visit if I can find the time to spare. Thank you, Vulpes."
As he turned to go, she offered him her hand. He went to shake it, but she raised it to his lips. After a moment's pause, the spy touched his lips to her fingers in a quick, dry kiss. The Courier smiled, and moved her hand to his jawline.
"Soft skin, for a soldier."
Vulpes Inculta's expression was enigmatic, but he didn't remove her hand.
"As I said, Courier, you are a surprising woman. I will be waiting for you in the Camp."
Interesting. As he headed for the door, the Courier took another look at the mark, running her index finger over the outline of a bull. Very interesting.