A SHOT IN THE DARK | ALEK

Though Melanie hadn't personally witnessed Alek's part in the battle, she had been told he was right up her alley. After a little bit of pressure from a commanding officer, or two, she finally made her way to his apartment to try and recruit the guy. A swift knock on the door later, Mel found herself waiting for someone to answer.

"Mr. Rothschild." She called, knocking again. "Mr. Rothschild, are you home?"

@alek

As she knocked she would find the door easing open. Alek was on the floor, face down, a bottle of vodka skewed a little ways away from him. Judging from the chair by the door being knocked over, it could be assumed that he tripped when he walked in, knocked himself out by faceplanting and therefore spilling his drink everywhere.

He did not seem to stir, his while tank shoved a little way up his body. He was snoring loudly.

When the door slid open on her second knock, Melanie couldn't help but sigh. So this was why she had been sent to recruit this particular person. Of course.

Walking through the door, Melanie walked over to the man and tried to rouse him. "Mr. Rothschild. I'm Agent Thorn, from the Garrison. Are you alright?"

This was going to be a long discussion. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to have left any vodka for her to share.

Alek rolled over as she roused him, grunting a little and opening his puffy eyes. A beautiful woman standing over him? By Gods, he had done well this night! He grinned, before shaking his head a little to clear it then wincing in the pain. Someone from the garrison- that was leaking back into his brain. He snorted, then sat up.

"Cupboard above...eh.....next to the fridge. Brick the unopened bottle there. I take it....I owe you some kind of money?"

That was the usual bit.

Oh good, so he did still have alcohol. They may be able to salvage this meeting yet. Standing to walk to the counter he had indicated, Melanie brought the bottle back before answering his question.

"No, you don't owe us any money. I was asked by a superior to discuss joining the Garrison with you. Tell me, have you ever considered work in the Intelligence field?"

This was a bad idea. A very bad idea. She definitely should have delegated this task to Cassie.

Alek reached out and snatched the bottle away, chugging from it greedily. The bottle was a quarter gone in a flash before he gasped wiping his mouth and turning his green eyes on Mel.

"Why...(hic) in the blue hell would you want me to join the intelligence division? And why would I want to?"

He let his eyes trail slowly over her eyes, then her lips, before he oggled the rest of her body, stopping on her chest and legs before returning his eyes to her face. Damn....were all women in the division smoking hot? He needed to rethink his words!

"Okay, maybe I answered the second question on my own...."

Rolling her eyes, Melanie found her way towards the wall so she could lean against it. That was it. She was officially going to kill Finley.

"Because you apparently impressed someone with whatever you did during the battle. They think you would be an asset and I was sent here to persuade you."

With the way he was looking at her, it wouldn't take much. If she was less of a person, Melanie would have been freaked out. Right now, she was just slightly amused.

Alek grunted, pushing up to his feet.

"Tak mne i nado....(Serves me right....)"

He would burp before stumbling over to the couch and crashing onto it, his back hitting the cushions as he sat. He watched her watch him. He would tilt his head to the side and take another drink before holding the bottle out to her. She'd have to come over and get it if she wanted some, but he shook the bottle a little so she could see he was making the offer legitimately.

"It's funny to me, Dame (lady), that once a prisoner in jail, I'm now being offered a role as a spy. Reminds me of home."

His slight Russian accent indicated what he was talking about.

"I haven't looked in to your records yet. I was just asked to come speak to you." The thought that the guy was a criminal made her frown for a moment, even though it didn't phase her.

"My only question to that would be, what were you in jail for and did you actually do it?"

Taking the bottle from him, she took a long drink for herself before handing it back.

He half shrugged.

"In Russia I was convicted of forty two counts of murder and sentenced to death. Your people put me away for a bit to make sure I wouldn't harm anyone when i arrived here, but yes I was absolutely guilty."

He took another drink from the bottle, letting out a little sigh. Sweet Russian nectar.

"To be quite honest, I am no good for your military, as no doubt by now you are relieved to hear. I would be happy to share my alcohol with you, and my bed, if you are looking to pass the time though."

He grinned, taking another drink. He didn't include a laugh or the fact that he was "just kidding" because he was absolutely serious. He sniffed, watching her. To see how she would react.

Or maybe instead of killing Finley, Melanie would just settle for killing Alek.

"As fun as that sounds, I'm more interested in your skill on the battle field than in the bed."

Walking towards him, Melanie pulled the man to his feet before stepping back. Before he had a chance to react, she hit him, hard. He needed to sober up and realize that not only was he talking to a woman, he was talking to an officer of the Garrison and she would only take so much disrespect. That, and maybe if he fought back she could prove to him that he belonged there.

He took the punch, his head jerking to the side after she had lifted him to his feet. A little blood came from the corner of his lips before he would take another drink from the bottle. He'd look to her and cock an eyebrow.

"Hit harder, dame'. I don't think you got the fly you were obviously trying to swat."

With an exasperated sigh, Melanie turned to walk out the door before remembering why she was there.

"Here, if you change your mind, you'll know where to find me."

Handing him the small white card with her formal contact information, Melanie stepped back to see if he would take it or not. She was relieved to hear that he wouldn't be joining her, but the main Garrison may not be a bad idea for him.

He took the card, but would follow suit but punching HER in the face! He was very well trained- Spetsnaz trained, so his punch fell under the center line, making it very difficult at their proximity to dodge.

"In Russia, you take what you give. I like you, Dame. Come to visit me sometime."

He would let her go if she wanted to leave.

Melanie took the punch with grace, knowing it was what she wanted him to do. Despite knowing he was a son of Hephaestus, she would almost have said he was too calm. Those hotheads normally got riled faster.

"On Concordia, we're smart enough not to hit a Garrison officer, or to hit on them for that matter." She replied in a seething tone, though she was inwardly amused. Years of being undercover had taught her how to hide that, even if she almost didn't want to.