the_campus | Please don't bite the newbie!

What do I want?

[He quirks a brow, his eyes following her movements just in case she has any other "bright" ideas.]

I want to return to the Fort so that I can resume serving Caesar. There's little of use I can do here.

[Vulpes thinks of some of the people he's met thus far, and shakes his head slightly.]

There's nothing to be done about the degenerates here. They may be just as wicked and debased as those in the Mojave, but they're also better equipped.

[She dares to draw up quite close to him, but refrains from trying anything on him again. She's watching him just as intently as he's watching her.]

But you're not at the Fort, and it doesn't seem like there's an easy way back. How long have you been here?

[Again, Vulpes refuses to move. To do so would imply that the woman has power over him. Of course, that would be preposterous.]

It has been... nearly two months now.

[He tries not to think about what Caesar must think. If time is flowing normally back home, everyone would either presume him dead, or a traitor.]

You mentioned meeting with Caesar. What have you done for the Legion?

Let's see. I blew up the bunker underneath the Fort that would have potentially caused a problems come the battle for Hoover Dam. Then I killed House for him. Now I'm currently in talks with the Boomers about whether or not they'll aid the Legion during the battle. Hmm... what else have I done?

I taught that Decanus...what was his name... Severus? Taught him how to both to deactivate frag mines and make some of his own. I assume he passed that knowledge on. Oh, that howitzer Lucius mentioned is also fixed.

You asked me to keep safe an informant of yours from the Omertas. Funnily enough, she didn't realize she was passing information onto the Legion. I didn't bother to tell her otherwise. I thought it might put a kink in your plans.

Fought in the arena a couple of times, too. Some of you all seemed to like that, particularly when I was fighting one of Antony's dogs in my underwear. But, really, I did that more to piss Otho off more then anything else.

[After she finishes recounting, she gives him a broad smile.]

Need more convincing?

[Vulpes listens to the entire explanation with the same scowl, though the corner of his mouth twitches slightly when she mentions fighting Antony's dogs in the arena in her underwear. But all in all, if she's being honest, that's quite an impressive resume of accomplishments. She's mentioned several people by name, and even knows about Martina. It's doubtful a woman would know all of that out of the blue, not to mention her ownership of that Mark.]

If you are honest about these things, then I will admit to being impressed.

[But then a memory tickles at the back of his mind.] ...I spoke to another woman a few weeks back. She claimed to be a courier working for Mr. House, but you've just claimed to have killed him. Peculiar.

Another courier? [Her expression darkens. There was another one, one she would eventually find and destroy, completing her revenge but...]

A 'she'? Can't be the one I'm looking for, then. And you say she's also working for House? But I most definitely killed him. It. Whatever that thing was that called itself 'House'. [Now sheer disgust crosses her features, remembering that thing could barely even be called human any longer.]

I could show you the obituary if you want. Got sent to my Pip-Boy the moment I destroyed him.

[Vulpes notes the look of disgust on her features, and silently approves. Yes, signs do seem to point to this woman being genuine, though he still finds it difficult to believe for the mere fact that she's a woman, and most members of the fairer sex don't find their way of life particularly... appealing.]

If you would.

[He would always prefer to see for himself when possible.]

[With a shrug, she obliges, pressing a few buttons. After a second, she holds her wrist out to him, letting him look over the glowing green screen.]

I imagine even after all of this, you're still not going to trust me, are you?

[He grabs her wrist, peering at the Pip-Boy screen curiously. There's no way to be sure that she didn't program it to say a certain thing. Still, Vulpes is definitely intrigued by all of this. He starts pressing buttons on the device, wanting to see what else might be revealed.]

I don't trust easily.

[She lets him, as there's nothing on there that she feels the need to keep private. She used it mostly to monitor her biometrics, keep random notes that may come in handy and its mapping functions. If she had any notes on Joshua Graham on there, well, that would just be even more amusing for him to find.]

I don't imagine you would.

[She takes the chance to lean in closer him as he scrolls through the Pip-Boy to make it easier for him to read.]

[Vulpes' attention ends up moving toward the map rather than her notes. He glances around at her discovered locations, noting a few places that he's never been to personally. This is quite the handy device, and appeals to Vulpes sense of curiosity over technology. As a frumentarius, he needs to be able to hack terminals... so he's read his fair share of science books and magazines.]

[During his examination of the map, he points to the area marked Nellis.]

You truly managed to visit the Boomers while remaining in one piece?

It wasn't easy. Wouldn't be surprised Caesar sent me instead of one of you as he'd miss me less if I got blown up.

But I'm apparently rather resistant to death and I made it in. [She finishes with a wry smile.]

Caesar trusted you a great deal, it seems.

[Even if he had thought a Legionary could make it past the bombardment, there were always doubts about whether the Boomers would be willing to negotiate with one of their own. Sending an outsider would be a wise decision... like everything else Caesar does. There could never be anyone else as clever as Caesar.]

[After a few more moments of examination, he releases the Courier's wrist and takes a step back.]

Has he promised you anything in particular for your service?

[He knows what the woman said she has her eye on, but... there's no reason she could actually be expecting that, is there?]

Like I said, the usual. Prestige, wealth, eternal gratitude. I'd like to think he's smart enough to leave me as a free woman. Trying to enslave me would be very... dangerous to the Legion as a whole.

[It was not news to her that some thought her to be insane. Her quest to utterly obliterate anyone even remotely related to getting her shot in the head proved that. But if you really wanted to see Sibyll in a destructive frenzy, try betraying her and slapping a slave collar around her neck.]

But if you're asking if he actually promised you to me, then no. But neither did he say I wasn't allowed to try.

[She dares to reach out and gently touch his cheek again.]

The Legion knows how to treat its allies.

[While it's unprecedented for a woman to aid the Legion in such important ways, Vulpes is also confident that Caesar would know how to treat her if she remains true to him and succeeds in her missions. An asset now can be an asset later. And the NCR is a big enough pest that such vital assistance to defeating them should certainly be handsomely rewarded.]

Hm. I highly doubt he would expect you to try.

[Vulpes snatches Sibyll's wrist after her fingers touch his cheek and lowers her hand away from his face. Knowing how important she is to Caesar prevents him from outright hitting her again.]

And I must decline. I would hate for you to lose any... motivation for assisting the Legion.

Really? I think I'd be even more motivated to see the Legion in control of Vegas.

[She leans in very close, but doesn't try anything.]

Besides, you said we're trapped here. It's not like either of us can do anything to help Caesar now.

Regrettably- [he begins while grabbing one of Sibyll's shoulders and shoving her back a few paces] -for you, it isn't my job to fulfill the lustful fantasies of young, profligate women.

[The things she claims might be impressive, but it takes more than words to be worth Vulpes' time. ~~He has missions you can do for him~~]

In fact, I have yet to even learn your name.

Still with the 'profligate' after all I've told you and shown you? [She mock-pouts, but doesn't fight being pushed away. She does latch on to one of his hands.]

It's Sibyll.

[She plants a quick kiss on the inside of his wrist before letting go and darting back in case he tries to get physical again.]

As I suggested, it will take more than that to gain my trust. How do I know that you haven't done these things, only to plan on betraying Caesar?

[As a spy, he can't help but question everyone else's motives. Vulpes is well-versed in treachery, and feels he would be shirking his duties to his Lord if he didn't scrutinize outsiders who might behave in the same way.]

[That little kiss irritates him, and he swats at the air where Sibyll's head had been moments ago.]

[A very valid question. Despite what she said and Caesar thought, the bunker underneath the Fort was still in working order. There was also a decidedly creepy securitron still waiting for her, ready to do anything she asks of it. Finally, pressed snugly against her chest was a small pouch containing one large, glittering poker chip that she could use to take New Vegas for herself. But...]

Had I wanted to take control of New Vegas myself, it would have been much easier to do so by playing up the power already in place, House. As repulsive an idea as that is. [If Vulpes had only seen the creepy 'human' before she put it out of its misery. It still made her skin crawl.] Then I simply could have ended House and New Vegas would have been mine. But I didn't do that.

So if I don't want New Vegas, why would I risk the entire wrath of the Legion just for a power play that doesn't really benefit me? Given how far-reaching the Legion is, I wouldn't be able to step foot outside New Vegas for the rest of my days without running the risk of an assassin or twenty. And you train your assassins very well, don't you?

And that is only one possible avenue. How can I be sure you haven't been feeding information to the NCR?

[He thinks of the former NCR sniper sharing this building with them and scowls lightly. He would love to see Boone dead, but the man had managed to disarm him, and he hasn't been able to find another weapon since. Vulpes has no intention of risking his life to take that man out unarmed: he needs to preserve himself for Caesar.]

Now, if you were you kill someone with the NCR and bring me proof... I would be much more likely to believe you.

If I were telling the NCR anything, then I imagine they'd actually be doing something about the Legion instead of wasting time letting their troops gamble and drink on the Strip.

Kill someone with the NCR? [She goes from wry to puzzled.] That's a bit specific. It doesn't look like this is NCR territory or anything.

I'm not suggesting that your information would actually aid them. The NCR is far too incompetent to stop us even if they knew each of our plans beforehand.

[He nods in response to Sibyll's question.]

There is a man with the NCR 1st Recon here. He goes by the name Boone. Regrettably, he was able to take me off guard when I first arrived here, and has since relieved me of my ripper. I've been unable to locate a replacement.

I want him dead. Alternatively, I want my ripper back. If you could accomplish one or both of these, I would be much more inclined to trust your words.

Someone was able to take you off guar-... Wait, did... did you say Boone?

[Vulpes isn't proud of it, and he's about to snap at the woman for her criticism when she asks about Boone.]

I did. You know him?

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