This girl is a gun, before you know it, it's done
And you'll be wishing that you crossed your fingers

here are many things I would like. However, I know you won't be able to give me any of them,' Lucifer says, drawing a curious look from the spotted queen. 'You'll never know if you never ask,' Marceline thinks, but does not deign to push him further. When he speaks of her time in the Peak, Marceline can feel her ire spike to dangerous levels, her ears flicking back atop her ruby crown. It takes every modicum of control she has not to bare her teeth at him and snarl out a response. By some small miracle she manages to keep her expression schooled into one of practiced neutrality, though there is still a hardened edge to her voice when she speaks again.

"I have gained enough distance from the situation between the Peak and the Lagoon to recognize that each side is not free from hypocrisy in some way or another, and that I myself fell victim to double standards." As she had told her sisters once upon a time: she did what she did because she thought it was right. She had grown tired of the way the Lagoon shamelessly collected trinkets, only to turn around and bemoan the very practice they had propagated for countless generations when it was done to one of their own. And while she would always defend herself as a leader doing what she thought was right, she was all too aware of what little progress she had made during her time as Prime Minister, and how much of that could be attributed to her own misguided actions.

Marceline paused to take a breath, then continued, "I have had ample time to reflect on my choices - and failures - during my time as Prime Minister, and I intend to try a new way of leading this time around. But I will not hesitate to do what I must to protect those who are dear to me." Of that, Lucifer should have no doubt. She would do her best to lead Salem with fairness, but nor would she take threats to herself, her family, or those she was charged with protecting, lightly.

Marceline held back the disgruntled grimace that threatened to contort her features as Lucifer spoke again. It would be terribly foolish of her to accept his 'deal' without any knowledge of what his price was. At face value it sounded as if the deal he proposed benefitted her more - she would get what she wanted regardless. But there was an inherent risk in not knowing what it was he would ask after. Who was to say he would not ask for something she could not - would not - be willing to give up?

It was risky. She wanted to know, but if she pushed too hard, she might risk losing his support in securing the crown of Salem for herself. It was a task that could be done without him, of course, but it would certainly make things far, far easier if she had at least one of the other leaders on her side.

Still, she wanted to at least know what she was getting herself into. With all the calmness and tact she could muster, Marceline carefully made her next move. "If you wish to spar, then let us spar. Your support will not go unappreciated nor unrewarded. But I would be a fool to not ask what it is you expect of me." And she was not in the habit of making a fool of herself. It was certainly interesting, though, that for someone who claimed she could not give him what he wanted, he sure seemed to have something in mind now. Whatever it was - bodies to bolster his numbers, a title, revenge against someone who has wronged him - Marceline was confident in her ability to provide it to him.