Snippet #2193861

Marco slammed his empty mug down and motioned the bartender over. "Another beer, would you?" He grinned and leaned back in his chair. He'd just arrived in Arandia about three days ago and he was enjoying his freedom. He hadn't broken his promise to his lover back home to stay faithful... yet. And there were many beautiful women here. Entertainers as well. He smiled as a two girls wearing corsets, and lots of feathers walked by. They disappeared through curtains into the back room. He smiled and downed the beer the tender had just placed in front of him. He wiped his face with the back of his hand and stood up. He slapped the man next to him on the back. "Nice drinking with you, mate." The small man looked a bit frightened and turned back to his half drunken beer. Marco snorted and began walking to the back room where the exotic girls had went.

Before he could take two steps, a girl with straight blonde hair falling in her eyes caught his attention. She head her head down and she was pushing her food around her plate. She looked quite distraught. He sat in the seat across from her. "Didn't your mother ever tell you not to play with you food?" He asked her with a friendly smile, and light hearted tone in his voice. Her pretty face and hair was quite the contrast to her torn up gloves and otherwise raggedy clothing. Either she was trying to blend in, or she had a tough go for the past few years. Marco couldn't control his curiosity.

"No. I hardly had food growing up to survive, let alone enough to play with." Her voice wasn't harsh, and she didn't look up at him, just kept her eyes down on her plate. "Anyway, my mother is dead." She meant to take a quick glance at him, but his good-looking face caught her off guard and she couldn't look away. His tan skin and perfect jawline surprised her. His dark hair was pulled back in a braid, but a few stray strands fell in his face. She stared at the dramatic scar on one half of his face.

"I'm so sorry," Marco replied to her. "I didn't mean--"

"It's fine. You didn't know. I'm Talia," the girl said. "So what's your name?" she asked, trying to get the attention off of herself.

"Marco." He sid and held out a hand. Normally Talia didn't shake hands because sometimes the marks, always immediately recognized as things associated with dark magic, emitted an aura of darkness, and people could feel the evil seeping into them. At this point Talia wanted Marco to leave her alone. The last time she got involved with a good looking guy like this, not only did she get her heart broken, but Vanth punished her. He never much liked men hitting on her, not to mention her courting them. Much to her disgust, Vanth liked to fancy that they were taken by each other. He did practically own her, so he could do what he will with her. He'd never had his way with her, which she was thankful for. Talia was shaken out of her thoughts by Marco's fingers tickling her own, still waiting for the hand shake. She automatically pulled back, but then, she slid her hand into his, hoping once he felt the evil he would leave her alone. Of course, the one time the dark magic residing in her was dormant was when she needed it. Marco didn't feel a thing, and he continued to sit there with her.

"Well, I better be off," Talia said and lifted her hood onto her head. She stood to leave, and Marco stood as well.

"Why won't you stay a bit and talk?" Marco asked innocently. He wasn't involved enough to become violent. That usually only happened after knowing a girl for a few weeks. Sometimes a month.

"No, I can't." She said and tried to push past him. He put one arm on the edge of the booth they were just occupying, and another hand on the back of the chair closest to them, blocking her way.

Marco frowned and leaned down so he could see her eyes. They were fearful. "Are you seeing someone already?" He asked.

"Something like that." She said dryly, meeting his hard gaze with her own emotionless eyes.

"What does that mean?" he asked, crossing his arms. When Talia started to walk he grabbed her arms and stopped her.

"None of your business." She growled at him.

"Woah, woah. I wasn't trying to make you mad. Listen if someone's hurting you, I can help you." Marco said. Isn't that ironic, Marco the hero coming out. Think offering protection to this stranger will make up for the horrors you've done? Somewhere inside his head, Marco was being taunted. He closed his eyes and grit his teeth together. He fought off the voices and looked at the girl in front of him.

Talia had sat back down in the booth. "The best way you can help me is to stop talking to me."

Marco smiled and sat down across from her once again. "Sorry, but you're just too lovely for me to leave alone."