"You know, I should have known it the first time you called me Marly-girl. It actually makes me smile," she said softly. "I would kill anyone else who would use the word girl in reference to me." Marlene snorted. "I would pick a woman who knew how to stand up to you. You'd get bored with someone who'd do what you want."
Marlene laughed at him, not upset with the insult. "I might be a toddler, but I've seen corpses going faster than you." She raised an eyebrow. "These things concern me as well, Alastor, and even if they didn't, you really are my everything. I don't care how you sound as long as you say something. I want to know what's going in your head. I always do, but especially now. Whatever it is, we can work it out together."