#ok honestly i'm so into this thread and exploring his part of marcus... even if it's au. it's funnnn!

[thearcherbrothersx]

Marcus had always had a knack for reading people. So the mix of fear and desire in Pandora's eyes didn't escape him. Perhaps that was why he felt bold enough to offer her something he hadn't been naïve enough to even hope she might be curious about. When he'd thought about their future life together, it had always been with a dry, mechanical tang. Boring sex with the sole purpose of reproduction. Then separate lives. Cold. Indifferent. More like the business transaction their marriage actually was, and not something for either one of them to enjoy. He'd accepted that - for the most part.

Yet here she was, taking his offered hand despite obvious trepidation, despite having some sense of what his offer entailed. And Marcus returned her smile, a hint of relief flickering in his own gaze just long enough for her to maybe notice it. "We can talk about that list later," he promised, tone only slightly teasing as his fingers folded around hers and he shimmered.

When they reappeared, it was in what appeared to be a New York penthouse apartment. Large, spacious, modern. With big windows and a view of the city. Marcus' shoulders seemed to lower a little, like this was home to him, and he released Pandora's hand gently. "Welcome to Manhattan," he declared, gaze roaming the view before them. "You were saying you'd like to know more about me..." His gaze landed on hers. "This is a start. It's where I've been living for the past... two and a half years at least. I also thought it'd be a better venue for us than my parents' house - what with my grandmother most definitely trying to listen in." He paused for a spell, then gestured towards the expansive bar setup behind her. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Depends on perspective. Lately... no." She offers him honesty, for reasons she can't name. Maybe the dress, and all it entails is still weighing on her mind. Maybe it's because she needs honesty in return. She is good at that-- at trades, an transaction. She arches a brow at his colour choice, but makes no other comment on it. Purple is unexpected, but she's long abandoned trying to pigeonhole Marcus. And there's a part of her that likes that, the potential of expansiveness within a person. At least-- if she marries him, she's certain she will never be bored.

She catches his smile at her futile attempts at distance. She's trying to listen to him, and there's a part of her that knows how difficult his presence makes it for her. It's hard to hear anything over the rush of magic and the reckless beating of her heart. She doesn't react to what he says-- she just listens, and attempts to digest it. He likes control. There's a part of her brain that screams in alarm, flails in panic at the mere mention of control-- of handing over the only thing that's ever truly been hers, to someone else. Pandora understands control-- she has never been allowed to slip, is never allowed weakness and is well aware of the various targets on her back. And yet what he proposed was to shed that-- was to trust him, with a part of herself she barely understood. And that terrifies her.

She doesn't look away, not even when she's certain that her eyes reveal more of her fear and her desire than she'd like. "I like books. and i'd still like that list, even after you ...show me." She offers him a small, soft smile before placing her hand in his. Her magic floods the small point of connection, itching to meet his. His hand is warm against hers, and holding it is a strange sensation. But not unwelcome. Something in her chest loosens as she glances at their hands. Together. Lately, there was very little she got to choose, but at least this, could be her choice. At least this could be theirs.