Marc nodded, listening to her explanation, and tried to picture the natives as she described them. “Thank you for the warning but I can't promise that I won't stare. I’ll try but I can’t promise it.” he admitted with a helpless shrug.
Ariella could deal with that. "It's going to be strange and you're likely not going to be used to it by the time I get you back home. It takes a while. And like I said, I was a child when I was introduced to all this. It's easier to accept things at such a young age."
“Understandable.” Marc nodded. “I think that’s why I can manage England so well when I grew up Irish. I was young enough to adapt… somewhat. But old enough to keep the accent.” he smirked a little. “Does that make any sense?”
Ariella nodded her head. "It does. I still have my American accent. Though I have picked up on a few languages here." She looked at the slowly setting suns. They had been out there for an hour already. Hopefully the time would keep flying by with company. "Most places speak English, though it's called common tongue around here. Everyone will be able to understand you for the most part."
“Well, that's good news.” he said in relief about the lack of a language barrier. At least in this location. “I’m probably going to look like a tourist anyway. Should I do anything about my uniform?” Marc asked, glancing at what he was currently wearing.
Ariella looked at his uniform too, though she was more focused on the muscles that flexed underneath it than the clothing itself. She liked to look. "We'll pick you up some better clothing. Something a little better suited for the climate."
“Thank you.” Marc nodded gratefully, though he did smirk as he caught her looking again. “I hope you have the proper money for this… Realm since I doubt what I have in my wallet will be any good.” he half joked.
Ariella just looked ahead. She did not have money. Yet. She was a decent enough thief. She only resorted to it when necessary and always chose targets who coukd survive just fine without the money or jewel or whatever else she took from them. "Don't worry about it. I've got it covered."
Marc raised a brow at the answer. Though he was more or less used to her vagueness by now, he still wasn't sure if he trusted that answer. “As an officer, I feel like I should try to stop you. But considering I have no idea about what these places are like and you obviously do, I’m forced to rely on your experience.” he almost sighed, giving a helpless shrug.
(Sorry! Been a busy weekend)
Ariella just gave him a dashing grin. "I would never do anything against the law." A moment later and her grin faded. With all seriousness she said, "I do what I can to survive. It can be hard out here. I know what I'm doing. Trust me." She knew it was hard to ask trust from someone she barely knew. But it was the only way they were going to get through this.
(No worries)
Marc chuckled at her cheek, not entirely sure if he was convinced she was as innocent as all that. But he nodded as her tone changed. “Now that I do believe. So, I will trust you to know what you're doing.” he assured.
Ariella nodded her head. "I'll try not to get you into too much trouble. Then again, earth laws don't apply here. So assuming you know how to explain you're disappearance when you return, it should be fine." It probably was not going to be fine but she wasn't going to put that into the universe.
“I suppose it would depend on how long I’m gone.” Marc shrugged, not sure if time was different here. After all it was an entirely different world, as the two suns kept reminding him. “Knock wood.” he huffed with a near smirk.
Ariella looked around then incredulously then back at him. Then down to his waist and crotch. "I don't think you want me to do that. Your wood is the only thing around here." She said it with such a straight face she didn't know how she mustered. She was smothering a laugh deep in her belly.
(🤣🤣🤣)
Marcus froze in his tracks for a moment, his face flaring red as his mind tried to reboot. “I meant… It's a figure of speech.” he stammered, not making eye contact with Ariella as he started moving again.
(I saw an opportunity and I took it XD)
Ariella burst out laughing. She couldn't hold it back anymore. Not with his blush and stuttering. She was laughing so hard she bent over to clutch her stomach. "You should see your face," she said in between laughs.
Unfortunately, her laughter only made Marc blush more. He was no stranger to that kind of humor, or being ridiculed, but it had just been so unexpected… “Póg mo thóin, bloody fecker.” he muttered harshly as he pushed forward, not caring if she understood him or not at the moment.
Ariella was smiling to herself as she straightened put. Her laughter had subsided but her amusement hadn't. She had no idea what he said but had an idea. She sneaked a glance at him. "I'm sorry but I couldn't let the opportunity go by."
“You remember when you asked what “gobshite” meant? Well, you were a good example of one just now.” he told her, still not looking at her as he tried to calm back down.
Ariella didn't let it phase her. She only gave him a sweet smile. "I have a very vulgar sense of humor. Except worse than that." Eveb if she was annoying him, it was nice to have company. Company that wasn't like her missing companions. While they were friends and cares for one another, it wasn't the same.
Marc rolled his eyes, huffing a slight laugh at her warning. “Is that an American habit? To make such crude comments?” he asked in a calmer, but bit sarcastic, tone.
Ariella shrugged her shoulders. "I wouldn't know. I've spent less than half my life on earth and even less of that has been spent in America. I just don't chose very proper company. I spend most of my time in bars and pubs and sketchy places."
This time Marc let out a brief chuckle and smirked. “That is both concerning and believable.” he nodded. “I guess when you can travel like you do, you wouldn't want to stay in one place too long.”
Ariella grinned at him. "I think a lot of my company would send you into a coma. I've never really associated with good people." Moving all the time just didn't allow for her to make tight connections. She dealt with criminals and thugs a lit. Quick cash on her pocket. "It's a gift and a curse I think."
“You caught me off guard is all. I’m not that feeble. I may not approve, not that it matters, but I can handle myself.” he defended. Though Marc nodded again at her second comment. “Is it as lonely as I think it is?”
Ariella had no doubt about that. And she would swing crude jokes and vulgar words at him if only to get a rise out of him. She sighed softly, turning her gaze to the settings suns. "I could settle down if I wanted too. Find someplace nice and quiet to live. But I crave the adventure. I don't like staying somewhere. It makes me anxious. And the moment anyone hears wind of my abilities, they always come. It's tiring."
(oops! I thought I already replied. Sorry)
“I don't blame you on that score.” Marc admitted. “That's another part of what drew me into police work. But I still have the option to settle down whenever I want without giving up the adventure of it.” he shrugged. “Though it sounds like Earth might not be an easy place for you to do that. What with all your secrets and no one else being able to see what you do… That would make any relationship difficult.”
(You're good!)
Ariella shrugged her shoulders. "I don't think I'd ever want to settle down on Earth. I rarely visit it as it is. They're not the only place with technology. And while I might miss some of the movies and books, other places have stories as well. It's not the same but still entertaining." She slipped her hands back into the scrub pockets. "I've just accepted that I'm going to Travel until I die."
Marc raised a brow at the way she referred to Earth but decided not to comment. “That's actually a bit sad.” he hummed. “Not that you wouldn’t settle on Earth but that you’ve resigned yourself to not settling anywhere. You mentioned the danger of it and I respect that. It's just… Nowhere appeals to you?”
Ariella didn't look at him. "I have nothing to tie me down anywhere. No family, no friends. It's just me." Perhaps that was just the excuse she gave so she didn't needed to settle down anywhere. The teeth of it was that she was scared. She was scared to out her roots down and make a family for herself. It was terrifying.