[ A different kind of man would be bothered by the screaming. Wash has been through too much for it to really bother him. Still, he's never been a saint but he's never been cruel ( most of the time, anyway ), and he'd stop Lakshmi, he really would, if not for the knowledge that she's likely not to listen, if not for the part of him that's glad to see at least one of these soldiers really pay a little for some of the shit that's been coming from their mouths. Wash has been holding himself back, no doubt others are, too. Fights among an army tend to make things worse.
But damn if it isn't nice to get a little release, even through someone else, and damn if it isn't nice to see someone get a touch of what's deserved.
He keeps his head slightly turned in her direction, enough to see her and what she's doing ( and to keep an eye on the soldier she has trapped there, even if it's likely he can't do anything, he's still trained to keep all possible threats in sight ), his gaze still mostly locked on the poor man's friends in front of him. And he listens, his expression not shifting even slightly with what she says, even as he reads uncertainty and fear mixed with anger in the faces of the soldiers, holding their distance, now. He's heard her talk about what she's done, after all. How ruthless she can be doesn't surprise him. The only thing his mind catches on is, well, elephant, taking a moment or two to conjure up the exactly right mental image. He straightens slightly, shifting to something more neutral from his fighting stance. If any soldier attacks again, they'd be starting something all on their own. ]
No doubt only for those that deserved it, Rani. [ Title, here, not that the soldiers would know the word. They might guess from context maybe, or from his tone. ] What crimes would call for it?
[ He doesn't need to say too much, he thinks. Just being the ignorant foil for Lakshmi would be more than enough for these idiots to get the idea. ]
no subject
But damn if it isn't nice to get a little release, even through someone else, and damn if it isn't nice to see someone get a touch of what's deserved.
He keeps his head slightly turned in her direction, enough to see her and what she's doing ( and to keep an eye on the soldier she has trapped there, even if it's likely he can't do anything, he's still trained to keep all possible threats in sight ), his gaze still mostly locked on the poor man's friends in front of him. And he listens, his expression not shifting even slightly with what she says, even as he reads uncertainty and fear mixed with anger in the faces of the soldiers, holding their distance, now. He's heard her talk about what she's done, after all. How ruthless she can be doesn't surprise him. The only thing his mind catches on is, well, elephant, taking a moment or two to conjure up the exactly right mental image. He straightens slightly, shifting to something more neutral from his fighting stance. If any soldier attacks again, they'd be starting something all on their own. ]
No doubt only for those that deserved it, Rani. [ Title, here, not that the soldiers would know the word. They might guess from context maybe, or from his tone. ] What crimes would call for it?
[ He doesn't need to say too much, he thinks. Just being the ignorant foil for Lakshmi would be more than enough for these idiots to get the idea. ]