"What is your name?" Maximus was asked.
"Max" she stated plainly. Her facial expression neutral.
"Is that short for anything?"
"Maxwell—but I haven't been called that since my folks passed." She looked down to the ground for a beat before perking back up, her facial expression returning to its neutral state
"Where are you from?"
"Utah, originally. But I've been travelling for a long time, now."
"Why is that?"
"Work mostly. I'm a courier."
"Why are you here?"
"Initially, I heard word of the Crimson Caravan hiring, but I figured while I'm out here, I may as well visit New Vegas. Maybe if I win big, I can finally settle down."
"So, you have no wife? A man of your age should be tied down by now, I would think."
"No. But even if I did, wouldn't want to have to pass up on a visit to Gomorrah." She gave a wolfish grin. Vulpes smirked back at her.
"That was adequate, Max."
"Thank you, Mr. Fox."
"The story didn't deviate, this time. You kept it short, simple and half true. You're getting better.
"Good enough to go to New Vegas with you, next time?"
"Not, yet." She masked her disappointment with a smirk. "Don't act like you're content with that answer." She let her face drop. "It's not as if I feel you aren't able to handle yourself. You've only been within our ranks for a few months and if I allow you to go to such a high profile location this soon, others may believe I am doing it to play favorites. You are capable, but because of our personal relationship, I must be that much harder on you. I never want to give anyone the opportunity to say you got where you are because of anything other than your abilities."
"Like you." His expression hardened for only a second before softening with resolve.
"Like me." A companionable silence fell over them. "Why did you refuse to train under the Legate?" he asked after several minutes, his voice tinged with confusion and curiosity.
"What good would I be?"
"What do you mean?"
"Lanius—how can somebody as small as I be expected to work my way up to his second? And the Gods only know how it would look if he were to fall and this—"she gestured up and down at her terribly average frame. "-were to be trusted to succeed him. That, and the man hates me."
"He sees you as a threat."
"Because of who's son I am, not because of who I am."
"It is still a fear you can exploit."
"Exploitation is what brought me under your tutelage. As a member of the frumentarii, I can do just that and benefit our nation further." She sighed. "And I like being around you. I trust you. That" she looked pointedly at him "is something that you have exploited." Vulpes smirked.
"Maybe I do play favorites." Maximus punched him in the arm playfully. "We should retire. Tomorrow will be quite the spectacle." He said, a grin few ever saw breaking out over his face. "We begin crossing the river at sunset. I wouldn't want you to miss out. I bid you vale, brother." He stated before exiting her tent, the bright morning sun blinding her as she watched his silhouette disappear. As the tent flap closed, she stood from the table in the middle of her tent and stretched out, combing her fingers through her short cropped hair with a yawn. Sitting on her bed, she removed her boots. Her armor was already placed on its rack, which left her in her crimson tunic. As she laid back and pulled her thin covers over her body, she reached under her clothes and loosened her chest binding knowing she wouldn't be disturbed for several hours. Extinguishing her lantern, she laid in the half-light that filtered through the canvas of her tent. In the warmth of tent and the comfort of her cot, she quickly drifted to sleep.
Sunset came quickly and Maximus rose and dressed and groomed with precision before latching her machete to her side. With little personal belongings, she left her tent behind, knowing she would not return for several weeks, at best. Anything of importance would be packed and transported to their new camp if tomorrow's mission proved a success. She threw her rations pack over her shoulder and proceeded down the path to the river as the last light of the sun guided her way.
Reaching the docks, she boarded the raft with a handful of men. After a few minutes of idle chatter, Vulpes joined the party and all voices ceased. The tension of the men around them was palpable in his presence. Paying them no mind, Vulpes reached into his pack and pulled out a small package of cloth and handed it to Maximus. Upon opening it, she found dried meat and peered at Vulpes with a knowing look.
"You never elect to eat before missions, so I am now ordering you to do so." He said softly, so the others couldn't hear. Were they alone, he would have smirked. She could see it in his eyes, but in the presence of those he commanded, he had to suppress such actions. It was surprising enough that he risked such a kind gesture in the presence of others. He had a reputation to maintain. So instead of smile and quip as she wanted to, she scowled and began eating. He would know she was grateful. As he tended to know everything. Except of course, the truth. The idea made her lose what little appetite he had inspired, but she continued to eat, trying not to fixate on how deeply she wished she could tell him…again…when he wasn't passed out from blood loss or the threat of death. Of what it could be like under all of the right circumstances. Of the possibility of him accepting her, of loving her equally. With luck, her thoughts were broken by the sight of the moon reflecting off of Vulpes machete. How long had she been in her own head to miss the moon rising over the ridges? Vulpes noticed her staring at it.
"During my scouting of Cotton Wood Cove, I spotted a weapon I very much wish to wield." He whispered. She looked up at him. "I have seen others like it, but I wish to own this one in particular when we are victorious. I will have no more use for my blade. I wish you to accept it." She looked down at it, the moonlight catching on an image of a large metal fox head affixed to the hilt.
"Will it not be strange for me to bear the symbol of the fox?" she asked, fighting not to raise her eyebrow and give any hint to the kind of conversation being had in private.
"When I am Caesar, everything you own will bear my mark. Let this be a start." She knew it was a joke, she knew she would accept his weapon as a gift and as an honor, but she blushed at where her mind took her with his statement. She nodded in acceptance and turned to look out at the water, hoping that the pale light of the moon hid the redness in her cheeks and that for once, he didn't notice anything.