Emily got what she was looking for at mentioning Markus' sister. She wouldn't admit to giving him a bit of an interrogative evaluation, but she wanted to get the full measure of the man. He stiffened, telling her he either didn't like the mention of Victoria's name, or Malcolm's usage of it.
Markus confirmed that it was the second, giving him distance from the cause in Emily's mind. His smile went apologetic and the detective tilted her head, expression flitting to curiosity. As the man went on, it dawned on her that the man might have been something of a newcomer to the supernatural world, and she felt a mote of real sympathy for his situation. Or his previous situation. In a way, whether the involved parties intended it or not, Emily thought it sounded like his newness had been taken advantage of--it made sense he was unwilling to put his trust in the unknown.
“It's a bit of a wild world out there,” she agreed, gentle, but cracking a little smirk. “I'm glad you made it over here though. It's, ah...” Her smirk broadened slightly to a wry smile, eyes glimmering with mild amusement, as she teased, “Not as exciting as the Byte Bash, I suppose.”
Markus confirmed that it was the second, giving him distance from the cause in Emily's mind. His smile went apologetic and the detective tilted her head, expression flitting to curiosity. As the man went on, it dawned on her that the man might have been something of a newcomer to the supernatural world, and she felt a mote of real sympathy for his situation. Or his previous situation. In a way, whether the involved parties intended it or not, Emily thought it sounded like his newness had been taken advantage of--it made sense he was unwilling to put his trust in the unknown.
“It's a bit of a wild world out there,” she agreed, gentle, but cracking a little smirk. “I'm glad you made it over here though. It's, ah...” Her smirk broadened slightly to a wry smile, eyes glimmering with mild amusement, as she teased, “Not as exciting as the Byte Bash, I suppose.”