Ariella winked at him. "Well, the offer is still there if you decide to change your mind." Which she knew he wouldn't. He was passionate about his work and he didn't seem like the type to cross boundaries. Toe them, yes, cross, no. It was still fun to pretend otherwise.
She rolled her eyes playfully as he corrected her term. Essentially, it still meant nerd, even if it was just with fancy words. Fantasy enthusiast my behind, she thought to herself. However, as ge said he had never watched Game of Thrones, her eyes widened slowly in shock. Even she had seen the show. It was one of the few good things about being there. "How have you not seen it? Especially for someone who calls himself a fantasy enthusiast. That's like the fantasy of all shows."
Marc rolled his eyes at the offer and shook his head. “If we had met almost any other way, I would take you up on that in a moment.” he admitted. “But I don't mix business with pleasure in that regard.”
He let out a sigh and shrugged at the question before answering. “For two reasons really. The first being that I want to read the books first. It's more fun when you know the source material and can tear apart the directors choices or how the script was changed.” he chuckled. “And the second… I had to change my cable for financial reasons and haven’t gotten around to changing it back yet. It's just that simple.”
Ariella shrugged her shoulders with a sly smile. "Sometimes business can be pleasure. But it's your loss." She let out a small giggle. She couldn't contain it any longer. It had been too long since she had nice, flirty banter like this. It felt good. It made her feel lighter, happier. Even if it was just for the moment.
She nodded her head. "That's fair enough. Last I heard the next book still hasn't been published, however. That makes what, ten years I think." Unless it had been published in the couple years she had been gone but she doubted it. "Cable is overrated anyways. Streaming services are better."
“I know that.” he grinned back. Being an officer was hard work but he certainly enjoyed it. Or most of it. The paperwork could be a bit of a pain. Marc’s smile softened a bit at her laughter and couldn't help but chuckle as well.
“That sounds about right.” he agreed, even though he had honestly lost track of when the next book was supposed to come out. “And you're definitely right. Streaming is so much better than just flipping through channels and hoping you find something to watch.” he laughed.
Ariella brought her knees up, laying half way on her side. It felt more comfortable than just laying straight on her back. The blanket pooled at her waist as she shifted her body in the bed. The one thing she couldn't wait for was pants. The hospital gown was a little to breezy for her liking.
"So," she said, finished settling herself in bed, "what made you want to be a cop?" She really should be watching her movie but it had been awhile since she just had a conversation with someone. No strings, no jobs. Just a nice talk. She wanted to enjoy it while she could. "I'm assuming cops are looked upon a bit better here than in America?" Last time she checked there were protests going on about that.
Marc shrugged at the question. “It was a lot of things that just added up to this being a good job for me.” he admitted. “I loved sports so I did a lot of them to the point where I got a scholarship. But I didn't want to be a professional athlete so this was the next thing that came to mind.” he explained, raising a brow at her comparison to American police. “I’m afraid I wouldn't know. But, overall we are pretty well respected.”
"Hmm," was all Ariella said, nodding her head. "It's dangerous no? Are you okay with risking your life everyday? It must be terrifying." She had her fair share of near death experiences. There was nothing more that made you want to live than in the face of death. Knowing this, she still took the jobs she did, putting herself in dangerous situations. She supposed she liked the adrenaline.
Marc nodded a little. “Dangerous sure, but if we don't do the job, things could get worse. Terrifying… I don't usually scare easily. I try to think things through so I don't panic.” he admitted with a casual shrug. Though he wasn't sure how to phrase an answer to her other question on its own. Hopefully, what he already said would be enough. “However, because of my sports habits, both my dad and granddad called me an adrenaline junkie.” he added with a chuckle.
Ariella nodded her head slowly. Someone had to do the job and it was best if it was someone who cared about making a difference. Someone who didn't mind risking their lives to save others. She offered him a small smile in the end. "I think I can relate to that." She had just come out of a high speed car chase with people who wanted to see her dead.
Marc smiled back softly at her tone and gave a slight nod. He wasn't sure how she could but he appreciated the sentiment. “So, what do you do for work? Since you know what I do.” he asked politely, not entirely expecting an answer since she seemed to be keeping everything fairly close to the vest, so to speak.
Ariella was prepared for this question. In how she was going to evade giving him a direct answer. Barely any of her answers had been straightforward, she wasn't going to start now. "Whatever I can find. A little bit, a little bit there. Whatever helps me survive." And that was true. She did what she needed to survive. And other than today and her terrible flaw of self sacrificing herself for people she cared for, she generally looked after herself and only herself. She hadn't let herself get attached to anyone until this recent years. She scolded herself silently for allowing that to happen. If she had no one she cared about it was so much harder to truly hurt her.
“Oh? Are you a temp or some kind of freelancer?” he asked, not surprised at Ariella’s evasive answer. Marc was admittedly curious about her but was mostly just trying to keep a casual conversation going. If he happened to get some helpful information during the conversation, then that would be useful.
"Something like that." Ariella took up the dirty jobs that no one wanted. She had a few hard limits, she wouldn't mess with anything sewer related and she wouldn't kill anyone. At least not get paid to. A lot of it ended up being a bartending job for the few months she was staying but there were a few other things she would do. Whatever it took to survive.
Marc rolled his eyes at the short answer. Admittedly, it was more than he expected but it also showed that Ariella was not one to talk about herself. Perhaps it was just in this particular situation really though he had no way to be sure. “You certainly are an interesting woman to talk to.” he commented, turning his attention back to the movie.
Ariella smirked as she saw his eye roll. Had he really expected a straight answer from her? "Interesting in a good way or a bad way?" She didn't know which she would prefer, honestly. "You can't tell me this isn't the most fun you've had on the job in awhile? I'm wonderful. Anyone woukd be lucky to look after me." She was also completely full of herself.
Marc snorted softly at her opinion of herself. “I haven't decided yet. As an officer, your vague answers are… frustrating. But I want to say that I can understand your reasons and even respect that you are sticking to your limits.” he admits with a shrug. “Though it feels strange being the one to share things and get sketchy information back at best.”
Ariella mashed her lips together to try to hide the smirk. She didn't succeed. She enjoyed frustrating him. It was entertaining to her. "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you the truth." And that was true. He would likely put her in a psych ward if she tried to explain any of it. The best she could do was show him but that might lead to further consequences.
Marcus raised a brow and turned his chair back toward her. “That sounds like a challenge but I still want to hear it even if you are just putting me on.” he smirked back, genuinely curious if she would actually tell him anything and what it could possibly be.
Ariella shrugged nonchalantly. "Wouldn't you like to know." She wasn't going to tell him. She wouldn't tell anyone. She was just biding her time until he finally left her, she was discharged, and she was back on her way. But she could have her fun while she was stuck with Marcus. She found she quite liked his company.
“Actually I would.” he nodded once. Marc wasn't surprised that she hadn't told him anything. But that did make it seem like she genuinely knew something and felt strongly about keeping it secret. Or she was just very imaginative and knew how to play to her audience. “Come on, try me. It won't go on record or anything since technically I’m supposed to be staying outside to keep watch.” he smirked.
Ariella was not going to tell him. She couldn't. Instead, she just offered him a small smile. She glanced at the movie before looking back at him. It had already started on the next movie in the series. She hadn't realized that much time had passed. "Hmm, I feel like that is second date material. I have to trap you before I introduce you to all the crazy stuff." She winked at him.
“What? You don't think of this as a second date?” he quipped back. “You know, earlier today? When we were talking and getting to know each other a bit?” Marc knew that was a long shot but he was mostly teasing this time. “I suppose, if you are still here tomorrow, I could come in and we could try again.”
Ariella tried to contain the laugh. "No, earlier was our first time meeting and deciding we like each other enough to go on a date. This is our first one." She gestured around them. She shot him a wink. "If I'm still here by tomorrow when you come in, I'll tell you everything." She would be long gone by then.
Marc grinned as she laughed. He always considered it a good thing when he could make a woman laugh. “Alright. That seems fair.” he nodded along, chuckling a little himself. “Unless you tell me that you’d be willing to take an Unbreakable Vow to that effect,” he said, clearly referencing the movies she was watching, “I’m not going to hold you to that. Even if it would be nice to hear what it is you're protecting.” he admitted. He knew the guards would stay by the door of Ariella’s room until she was cleared by the hospital staff to leave but he wouldn't be surprised if she tried to sneak away somehow.
Ariella shook her head with a suppressed smile. "I don't think I can make an unbreakable vow. It wouldn't go very well for me." Because she certianly wouldn't hold up to her side of the deal. She would also be gone as soon as she was able to slip out. Or when she found some pants. She'd prefer not walk around with her butt hanging out. "Perhaps one day, Mister Malone, I'll share my secrets with you. But you have to earn them."
