EVEN GROUND| JASON

"He's something else, that's for sure. If you get under that shell, your golden. Maybe not all the time, but still." Melanie shook her head at the idea of Brax being lucky...or maybe it was about him being an idiot. "We'll have to see. Things were very bad between us for a very long time. Some wounds take longer to heal than others and ours are only beginning. Plus, our lives are just jacked right now. His sister is back from being tortured as a prisoner of war. My brother was brought back to life five years ago and just now graced me with his presence. It's a mess." Chaos seemed to be the theme of the week for everyone though, so who was she to judge.

He lay back down, hands again behind his head.

"That's how all great love stories start out, Mel. Don't worry- in the end, you'll be together."

Perhaps now it was booty calls and fights and rude words and more booty calls but eventually things would grow into true friendship, then companionship, then finally love. For both of them. He hoped for the same thing with him and Accalia. He knew that it was a long shot, with their history. And....with Geoff and that girl running around, making romancing her exceptionally difficult....he sighed. At least someone here was getting laid. He closed his eyes.

"You are up, Captain."

Yep, her turn. Lets see what SHE comes up with!

"How did you meet Accalia?" She decided after a moment. Melanie had never met the Senator one on one, but she knew of her. Besides, if Jason had been allowed to delve into her personal life, it was time for her to go after his. "And don't call me Captain. If you have to find something, it's either Agent or Director. We've kinda fazed out the director thing though. Agent sounds better and we don't have any other Directors. It was weird." Come to think of it, it had been well over a year since anyone had called her Director Thorn other than Cass, and that girl only did it to annoy her.

Jason blinked.

"Aren't....you a Captain though? Technically?"

He would grin. He liked to push buttons.

"Actually, we met by the campfire a while back. I brought her hot chocolate, as she seemed a little chilly. Thankfully for me, on the island, the cold comes from the sea so I hardly feel it. Anyway, we started out much the same way we are now. We spoke a little, then asked each other questions. I think she was the first person I actually told that Poseidon was my father. Of course, it doesn't matter now, as everyone knows."

The battle....it caused a lot more harm than good, and because of it he had been steering clear of Tere and Em....he really needed to be more involved with their lives but...it was hard to think of that, and what had happened between them.

"Everyone knowing was kind of a given when you started using in front of everyone." Melanie said, almost teasing. "And yes, I did hear about that. One of my girls was in your vicinity and was not amused." She, however, might have laughed just a little bit once the shock wore off. It was a shame she had missed it, though she had been occupied elsewhere. "That is sweet though, and it's good to know you make a habit out of this kind of thing."

Jason nodded, letting out a little sigh. It wasn't as though he had a choice. It was him, Accalia and Tere against about forty people. Sometimes he fought so many he couldn't see any of his allies around him. He had to use the sea. It was either he protect his secret or he protect his friends. He would give a little smile when she said he made a habit of it.

"Well...I think most people have a rough background, and so they find it hard to open up or trust people. I like to learn as much as possible about people I want to be friends with, and to let them know as much about me by hiding it under the guise of a game. That way, it's fun and they can open up a little. It's worked with most people, so far."

Not that he was tricking them- it was obvious the game was used for that purpose. It was about whether you cared that was the issue.

"That's a good strategy with the way things are here." Melanie agreed. "Though normally, I'd say you have to be at least a level 4 friend to unlock my tragic back story." Thinking for a moment, she tried to decide what her next step would be. "I'd watch trying that in the Garrison though. Some of the girls may go for it, but the bromance in the higher levels is strong. They would be highly suspicious. They aren't the easiest group to breach either."

He laughed.

"Yeah, the questions game isn't really played among men. I'll show them why they can trust me by watching their ass on the battlefield and having a few drinks now and then. That's one of the only ways to gain their trust. And what level am I now? I mean, you already told me about the Booty Commander. That's GOTTA be level four worthy, right?"

He grinned, obviously still messing with her, wanting her to spill the beans. Still, if she didn't he understood. Backstories were a rough thing for all of them to deal with.

"That is at least level three worthy. Now, if we got into camp shenanigans, that would be level four. Or even family issues." Melanie shook her head at the booty commander comment, not quit sure what to think about it. "Are you just wanting to hear all the depressing and complicated details today? Or is this blackmail material at his point?" She was teasing, of course, but there was some merit to it. How many people were there that actually knew everything? The answer was none. Not even one.

He cocked an eyebrow, his face screwed up in literal, genuine confusion.

"Why in the world would I want to blackmail you? You're my friend."

He was genuinely confused. For Jason, blackmailing or betrayal was never something he considered. Friends were friends, and even if your life was at risk you made sure to hold true to that value. Still, he supposed he could understand the worry- she had only known him a short time, and from the flippant way he referred to the Colonel, she might be worried he would be as loose tongue elsewhere. He would look over to her.

"Would you like to know something about me that's blackmail worthy, as nuclear deterrent?"

He gave a broad grin, enjoying his own joke.

"I don't joke often, Jase, but that definitely was one." She teased, leaning back against the sand. "I will still accept your offer of blackmail, but only due to the high chances of you someday exceeding my rank. Fin can only protect me so much." Melanie was smiling, but she wasn't quite sure Jason could see that in the pale moonlight.

He blinked for a second, then grinned. Touche, she got him good.

"Fair enough."

He thought for a moment. What would be embarrassing enough for her to feel like it was an even trade. Something she would never tell anyone but that would make him look horrible if it was revealed. He blushed. Well...he was a military man now, so fearlessness was paramount. He would take a deep breath.

"When I first had a run in with a monster in the forest.... I ran away. And once I lost it, I cried, I was so scared."

He looked over at her, blushing.

"In fact I have never been so afraid. When I started getting good with weapons, I made sure to go back and fight the same monster than did that to me. A minotaur, I think. But it still...I never would have told anyone that. I hope that makes us even?"

He gave a soft smile.

Melanie laughed quietly before nodding. "Yupp. We're even. Thank goodness you went to Phoenix, because I'd never be able to let you live that down." It was hotter out here than she had expected, so Melanie took off her jacket to use as a pillow. "Alright then, ask away at the back story. It's not like someone won't tell it to you in bits and pieces anyways."

He smiled, looking up at the glittering cave.

"True. And I'd much rather hear it from the source."

He would take a long breath, thinking for a moment to himself. Back story...that was quite the door she was opening. Level four, complete. Achievement unlocked. He would shake his head and rub his eyes. Terrible....it had been a long time since he had played video games, why was he thinking about it now? He would chew his lip a moment before deciding to ask a general question and go from there.

"Well, you said there is a tragic backstory. What do you think you were like before it, and how did it begin?"

Oh yeah, he was a pro.

Melanie sat up, thinking about where to start. "You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you, but the beginning is pretty tame." That, and she was an entirely different person now. "My mother was a socialite and my grandfather owned a multi-million dollar corporation. I had a little brother who I adored and a father who showed up every two or three years to check in and play daddy for a day when he wanted to piss off his brothers." She still wasn't sure exactly what Poseidon did on her tenth birthday, but she was still grateful for it some times.

"I was at a party whenever he finally told me who he was. The kids there didn't like me. I was weird and exotic, and my name sounded funny. Only my father would think Melanthios was a good name. His dark flower of the underworld." At least that wasn't blackmail material. Everyone knew her full name, she just didn't answer to it. Even the Commander didn't call her by it.

"When I was twelve, he sent a car and shipped me off to Camp. I stayed there for three summers, partying and messing around. I was exactly like my mother. The Dionysus and Aphrodite kids took me under their wing and I thrived there. The only time I was serious about training was when Braxton and Octavia made me actually try. Then there was the last one, when my baby brother finally came to be with us. He's my full brother, but I think I've told you that before. He'd never seen me like that. I was truly a child of the night, but I was full of something...something that you can't get back when it's gone." Her voice trailed off, the sound of splashing water and laughter ringing in her ears like it was yesterday. It was only a memory. Only a dream.