Business transactions

"On your knees." 

You listened - not only because Scaramouche was, in fact, your superior but because you had every ounce of respect for the man. 

"Keep your eyes on the ground." 

You obeyed. You obeyed because you knew that he wasn't happy with your actions as of late and took it upon himself to find out why. 

"Now answer me this, do you know the reason why you have been called forth?" 
"Yes, my Lord," was the only appropriate response to him. Anything else, and who knows what he would have done to you. Defiance was not something you were willing to risk while you were in such a sorry state. 

He acknowledged your hushed response with a grunt and began to circle around your still form. You were kneeling on the ground in respect for his presence and superiority. Being under the command of Scaramouche had taught you to learn a little more than just basic manners in your everyday life. Your speech was sharpened at the tongue while your words were honest and straight to the point. Not only that, but it felt like you had earned your place in society by working under Scaramouche. You earned the right for people to look at you with fear in their eyes, knowing that you may have been capable of committing similar acts to Scaramouche's. People feared him. People feared you. 

And yet, here you were. On your knees being belittled by the same man you respect. 

Previously, you were a keen and hardworking individual; not once were you focussed on gaining the upperhand in society. Not once were you ever fixated on the idea of gaining a spot in the hierarchy. Scaramouche taught you otherwise. He thwarted your innocent mind with foul and disgustingly one-sided play and battered it off as education.

As a 'life lesson'. 

You were accepted into working under one of the Fatui Harbingers as a minion because you were able to prove your worth to them. To you, that socalled 'worth' consisted of sleepless nights packed full of training, vision wielding, or studying. While you hoped to get somewhere far in life, surely this isn't what you had initially dreamed of. It was an opportunity nobody would dare miss, so you took it upon yourself to take the future into your own hands - only for it to be snatched away by your superior. 

Recently, you were provided with a change in assigned missions. Supposedly, the Harbingers declared that the Tsaritsa had approved of your early successes while you were a freshly recruited member of the Fatui. They had assigned you with what the Fatui were notoriously well known for: debt collection. The somewhat decent person inside of you couldn't do it, but you also couldn't risk losing your job so quickly in this game of life. You only hoped that this was the only occasion in which this had to be done. 

At first, your first few incidents proved uneventful. Good. You managed to get the goods returned to the Fatui without bloodshed. Your efforts to convince the other party proved useful. Not until Scaramouche interfered. 

"What kindness do you owe them?" He would ask whenever he saw that you had returned with no new fresh bruises or smears on your neatly worn uniform. He questioned the method of your job despite always getting the job done regardless. You hated the way that he eyed you whenever he repeated the same question. It was a new routine which he forced into place. You hated it. It's like he was watching your every move while not being physically present. 

You never really replied to that question with an honest answer - which is probably the reason why he was so persistent on asking you multiple times. The most you ever responded with was a subtle glance indicating that all the required debt was collected and returned in once piece. Surely it didn't matter how they got there. This is the Fatui we're talking about.

Then, he accompanied you on the next assignment. You gulped the frustration right down your throat. Archons, there was no way you'd get out of this. Not safely, at least. Your 'methods' of persuading indebted clients were just simple, kind manners. No tricks involved, no snarky comments, and no threats involved whatsoever. Just blatant honesty, maybe throw in a slice of humour to make the client feel at ease around you, too. 

In your defence, Scaramouche did teach you to be honest, mindful, and cautious of others' demeanours. You had only twisted it to suit your own personality. 

The problem was, he let you do it. When he accompanied you to the next client, he never stopped you, nor did he even attempt to take over the situation. He let you handle it the way you did. He stood there and observed. His arms were crossed, but even the slightest movement of his had you flinching in his presence. All he would do was slouch on the doorframe, and would you take care of business. 

So, despite the numerous times he'd asked the same question over and over in hopes that you'd achieve the answer yourself, Scaramouche answered his own question by accompanying you that day. 

While the journey back to the agency was no walk in the park, the Harbinger still managed to keep up the façade of there being no present issues. Instead, he released the full fury of his anger on you after requesting you see him at his retreat. 

Scaramouche sighed as he gave your kneeling form a careful once over. "I thought you would've understood what I was trying to say. You're one of the smartest of the bunch. Honestly, I'm rather disappointed." 

Suddenly, you were forcibly pressed against the ground. Having Scaramouche's foot kick you flat against the ground and holding you firmly in place was... something. The abrupt unbalance you felt after having one knee on the ground for so long was strange. You definitely knew that putting up any form of resistance here would automatically risk losing your job, or maybe your life. And so, you were awkwardly sprawled out beneath him with your rear perked up for his viewing - if he so desired it. 

"This kind of attitude in the Fatui is dangerous - and it's up to me to teach you that," he twisted his foot on your head a little just to make your to erase any thoughts which may have been distracting you. The friction between your face and the ground was gritty and painful. You made sure to try and make eye contact with him so that he was aware that you were listening to him. "Which Fatui member have you ever seen accomplish tasks with your pathetic little ploy?" 

Ploy? You staggered at his words, confused for a moment before he dug his foot deeper into your skull. 

"Go on, tell me. Use that swollen tongue of yours." 
"Nobody, my Lord." 
"So why did you think it was the correct attitude to have on duty?" 

You had no response for this, and you quickly regretted not having one. 

When you took too long to respond, Scaramouche momentarily released his foot hold on you only to give you a disastrously powerful kick to your side. It was almost as if he were trying to kick you across the room. It worked, almost. You rolled to your side and squinted and squealed in pain, only for him to plant another kick directly into your stomach. 

"Got the message yet?" 

You were nodding or trying to at least, and hoping that Scaramouche could at least see this motion. 

"If this issue persists, do not expect to be let off so easy," he turned around and walked in the opposite direction, exiting the room and leaving you shrivelled up in a ball on the floor. Your body was on fire from the pain. It's a good thing the floor was cold and somewhat soothed your pains in an unnatural and uncomfortable way. 

If this is what Scaramouche considered as being 'let off easy', then you quickly became aware of what happened to the ones who had the lead position before you. You furrowed your brows even more than you originally had at the thought. 

The previous members who had your position were dead. You were their replacement. 

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