Chapter Text
The first batch of clothes had arrived only a few days later, each outfit in its own box wrapped with a beautiful black and gold bow. Jack had been summoned to the Hyperion-owned city, Opportunity, on Pandora; so he was not able to inspect the clothes that Malik sent. He did, however, summon Aurelia in his place and also asked Tim to be present to take photos of Marie in the outfits, but also to support her when Aurelia was being too much.
For a good portion of an hour, Marie felt like she finally understood what being a mannequin felt like. Aurelia opened one box after another, like this was her Christmas that came early, shoving some in Marie’s hands and placing others on a table like she was discarding trash. Marie didn’t get much of a chance to look at the ones not given to her, as Aurelia immediately called one of the many staff members to have the boxes sent to Jack’s room for further review as soon as another box was shoved into her arms. At several points throughout the sessions. Marie noticed that Tim had been dragged over to that table to look at the discarded clothing, and that he looked either just as concerned as Aurelia or confused as fuck.
After the fifth outfit she tried on - a yellow and black pinstripe blouse with a black, long, high-waisted skirt that had a solid gold “H” pin by her hip opposite of the very long leg slit - she was feeling fed up. She walked out of the changing room wearing the outfit, expecting Aurelia to fuss over how she was wearing the skirt or how she had her shirt on, but instead…quiet. Aurelia and Tim were standing at where the batch of clothes had been deposited, where a single box laid between them. Aurelia had her arms crossed, looking down at the garment with an incredulous stare. Tim, with his hands on his hips, looked puzzled at the box.
“What is it?” Marie asked, approaching the pair. “Wrong box sent to us?”
Aurelia scoffed. “Malik would never, don’t be stupid.” She raised one hand to tap at the side of her cheek in thought. “I was expecting something a little more…flashy is all.”
“Did Jack really request this one?” Tim asked, looking over the note. “I’m not buying it.”
Marie glanced between the pair curiously, her steps light as she inched closer to the table. She was expecting something more like Jack; Hyperion gold, tan and white, comfort but still snazzy. Instead, she saw the shimmer of satin and the color red…a very distinct color of red.
Specifically, Mordecai’s shade of red he wore.
Marie backed up from the table, shaking her head. “I don’t want to wear that.”
Aurelia looked at her, lips pressed out together as she looked the younger woman over. “Come again?” she chided, “Your husband requested this specifically for you and you don’t want to wear it?” She eyed the article in the box, like one would look at day-old donuts. “Why?”
“Its the color.” Marie stated quietly. “It reminds me of…someone. I don’t want to associate myself with them anymore.”
Tim looked between Marie and the box, his eyes widening as the pieces clicked into place. “Oh, that asshole.”
“Oh, please, continue leaving me out of this conversation! I do so love not knowing context!” Aurelia huffed, snapping her fingers. “Tim. Story time. Now. Before I get that mangey mutt in here to lick your socks again.”
“Don’t summon the skag pup.” Tim sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation. “Mordecai’s signature scarf? It's that same shade of red.”
Aurelia swirled her hand in the air in a grand flourish. “And we should care…why?”
“He’s the person who held me at gunpoint on Pandora?” Marie said. “The…ex-lover who brainwashed me?” Debatable. “Guy stole my first kiss and my first time.”
Aurelia’s eyes lit up, and a sly smile crossed her face. She eyed the piece again, like a cat who understood that its prey was easy pickings. “Oh, Jack. You darling little man.” Aurelia hummed, sounding pleased. She grabbed the box and thrusted it to Marie. “You are absolutely putting this on, now.”
“I just said I didn’t want to.” Marie said, pushing the box back into Aurelia’s hands. “Not that color. Why is it that you want me to wear this? Why does Jack? I don’t want to be associated with Mordecai ever again.”
Mordecai had been someone Marie trusted once. She believed him when he said he loved her, that he was falling for her, that he cared. She had chalked up their very rough start to her being Handsome Jack’s wife and Mordecai being part of the Crimson Raiders, the faction that was currently rebelling and waging war on Jack and Hyperion. Over the course of a couple of months, Mordecai had wormed his way into her mind until Marie truly believed he wanted her around. That he actually cared.
She probably would’ve still been down on Pandora with him, playing the idiot girlfriend part, had she not overheard Mordecai’s conversation with Roland. That their relationship - that his feelings for Marie - was all a job. He’d been paid to take her out to Thousand Cuts, where her brother was with his partner, and get her to join the rebellion.
To wear Mordecai’s color? Now that she has come back to Hyperion? It felt like slapping Jack in the face. So why in the hell did Jack ask Malik to sew this up for Marie?
Aurelia’s gaze turned predatory, and her smirk grew wicked as she set the box down. “Oh, you poor darling. That’s exactly why Jack wants you to wear it. It's a power move, my dear.”
Aurelia’s perfectly manicured nails brushed against the texture of the red cloth, only to snatch it roughly and hold it up for Marie to see. It was a button-up shirt with golden accented swirls along the hems, fine and delicate. The color shimmered under the light like fresh blood, and Aurelia held the garment up against Marie’s face, the cold softness brushing against the younger woman’s rough cheeks. “Honestly, darling, I expected more thinking on your behalf before you opened your mouth. For someone who survived behind enemy lines for nearly five months? You can be quite dense.”
Marie looked at Aurelia, both insulted and dumbfounded at the older woman’s harsh tongue. Aurelia caught sight of Marie so open with her emotions and continued, “Jack wants you to own this color, dear. He wants you to walk through Opportunity and Helios wearing this so Mordecai can see you; because oh, he will see you in this; know you perched yourself with a better flock, and choke on every thread as you sit on Jack’s lap.” She brought Marie over to a shorter mirror, showing how the red color looked against her skin as she draped the shirt across her front and hid the current blouse with it. “This is your husband saying, ‘See that pathetic little man that drinks himself to death in the corners of the dingiest bars on Pandora? This goddess I have at my side used to be his, see how I treat her better.’ And Mordecai will understand the gravity of his mistake, both in lying to you and losing you to Jack.”
She gently shoved Marie back towards the dressing room, box in her hand and the shirt still draped across her front like a barber’s cape. “Now, stop insulting Malik and your husband. Go put it on, or I will start feeding your ECHO cards with those books you love so much to Greebo.”
Marie clutched the box to her chest and quickly went back into the dressing room now that her beloved books were threatened. She shut the door behind her and unpacked the box, laying out the other articles of clothing on the seat then undressing herself from the elegant attire she currently had on. Underneath the red shirt was a lace-lined bustier corset, the sides in sheer black and lined with thick gold thread along the boning and binding. Marie attempted to put it on, knowing that in her books women often had to have help since this was a clothing piece meant to accentuate the breasts. However, she found that this one was not the case as a side zipper fit the garment snug against her flesh. The pants that went with this ensemble were solid black trousers that had suspenders, and the detailed sketch at the bottom showed Marie that the suspenders were supposed to go over the blouse.
That, and the shirt was supposed to be tucked into the trousers, opened down to the button by the stomach. Marie felt that would push her limits with this attire, so she comfortably buttoned it up until the button right below the corset’s top hem. She exited the dressing room again, this time seeing that Rhys had come in looking miffed with Aurelia. Whatever they were discussing had stopped as she approached, Marie giving a soft, non-committal shrug at them. “So?” She asked, looking between them. “What’s up? If Rhys is here-”
“Why do you look wrong?” Aurelia huffed, looking at the outfit. “Forget what Rhysie wants, something is off about you in that outfit.”
“Yeah, it's Mordecai’s color. It looks awful on me.” Marie countered weakly, turning to Rhys. “You look like someone told you that Jack’s favorite whiskey was discontinued.”
“I wish that was the case.” Rhys sighed.
Aurelia shoved past everyone, heading into the dressing room. “No, it's not the color. The color is gorgeous on you! Where’s that damn box?”
Tim shook his head, “We have some stoleaways in the cargo bay from Pandora. Children, this time.” He rubbed the back of his neck, “Jack’s got a protocol for adults - shoot them out of the airlock and let them suffocate in space. But these are kids and-”
“Eureka!” Aurelia screeched, heels clicking fast against the solid marble floors as she returned. Immediately, her hands reached for Marie and turned her around, deftly pulling open the blouse down to the naval button and sticking her ice cold hands down her corset to adjust her breasts. “See, this is why you have me around, love! I knew you weren’t wearing it right!”
Marie’s mouth fell open to utter any sound of protest, but none came through. Instead, she was reduced to a small, wheezy-squeaky mass of human flesh as Aurelia pushed off Marie’s blouse and suspenders to freely grab at her breasts and torso under the corset, deciding that the red garment was getting in the way too much. The older woman eventually deemed her work of pushing Marie’s limited amount of body fat to the top of the bustier, pulling the blouse back on and adjusting the suspender straps to sit comfortably against her shoulders. Aurelia took a few steps back, admiring Marie in her new attire now that it was properly put on.
“You’ll need heels.” Aurelia hummed, nodding to herself. “And maybe something for that neckline. A necklace or a choker should work nicely.” She grabbed at Marie’s hands and pulled her to sit down on the chaise lounge, heading into the closet to find shoes for Marie to wear. “Nothing too tall, otherwise you’ll look like a clown when walking.”
Marie could hardly refocus her attention to Rhys and Tim, still discussing the stowaway children, as Aurelia came back out with black, low-heel sandals. She set the box of shoes down, helping Marie put them on before tugging the girl up and standing her on the pedestal with the full-view mirrors. “There!” Aurelia smiled, nodding at Marie. “Much better, darling!”
As Marie eyed her reflection, she had to hand it to Aurelia; she did look better like this. The corset drew attention to her torso, making her look longer and taller than she was. More intimidating. The additional height from the heels helped with that illusion, too. For a moment, Marie really believed that she could go through with wearing this.
Until she looked down at her hands by themselves, and could only see the memory of Mordecai’s scarf wrapped around her wrists again.
“...I can’t do this.” Marie murmured, earning Aurelia’s cold gaze once more. “I love this outfit, I feel good in it. Amazing, even. But the color-”
“The color is what makes the outfit my dear.” Aurelia interrupted harshly, looking between Marie and the bowl of chocolate bonbons nearby. She reached for one, holding it up, the beautifully wrapped treat almost shining like a ruby in the light. “Revenge, my dear, is like candy. It is to be packaged beautifully,” Aurelia started to pull the wrapper apart, the metallic red catching the last bits of light before it was crumpled up, “To be unwrapped slowly and delicately,” She plucked the chocolate sphere from its cradle, stuffing it in her mouth, towards one side of her cheek. “Then to be savored as thoroughly as possible. You’re still in the packaged stage, darling.”
Aurelia grabbed another piece from the bowl, handing it to Marie. “Enjoy yourself at this moment of the game, dear. By the time you get to the end? You’ll wish you were here once again just to live it all over.”
Marie stared at the treat in her hands, repeating Aurelia’s actions. Unwrapping slowly, delicately, and popping the chocolate into her mouth. The taste of dark chocolate, mocha, and raspberry swirled on her tongue; surprisingly bitter and beautifully sweet. She didn’t chew, just let the taste melt and coat her mouth and teeth like it would be the last time she’d enjoy such a treat.
And when it was over? Marie had to admit that Aurelia was right. She wanted to be at the start of enjoying that treat correctly the first time. To savor it all over again.
Her attention was turned back to Tim and Rhys, with Tim looking increasingly flustered and Rhys looking down at the floor like the marbling was the most interesting damn thing in the world. It didn’t register to her that Aurelia had practically fondled her breasts in front of two men, who might have found the scene very erotic. Very quickly, maybe almost too quickly, she spoke, “What was decided about the kids?”
“Nothing yet.” Rhys cleared his throat, pulling out his tablet to scroll through the messages. “We actually need you.”
“I’m afraid to ask which one of you voted to kick the kids out of the airlock.” Marie said sternly, only for the men to whip their heads in her direction.
“Neither! Jesus Christ, we’re not monsters!” Tim exhaled, appalled. “No, the kids are asking for you. They said they knew you. And from what some of the stuff you’ve said, I mean-”
“Get to the point!” Aurelia threw her hand up to stop Tim’s rambling. “And don’t be harsh on her, Tim. Sometimes you want to murder kittens, remember?”
Rhys spoke over Tim and Aurelia arguing, “The kid’s are named Odie and Tina. I know from your records, you’ve associated with Tina on Pandora. But Odie-”
Marie was immediately fast-walking to the door, ignoring Aurelia’s calls for her and Tim’s presence by her side as he jogged after her. Her heels clicked sharp against the floor, back straight and a stern look on her face that made the staff part before her, like Moses parting the Red Sea. Everyone knew that face, the one that was everyone’s shared nightmare.
The face of a piss-off parent.