Chapter Text
"Hi there, can I buy you a dri-"
"Nope. Not interested."
"But you haven't even-"
"Look, buddy. I said I'm not interested. Now get lost before I strangle you with your own ugly ass tie."
Sameen Shaw focused her attention back to the tumbler of scotch in front of her; she had no patience for overconfident dudebros who won't take no for an answer. Shaw picked up the glass and swirled the amber liquid around a bit before bringing the glass to her lips and taking a sip. The expensive scotch trickled down smoothly, spreading a pleasant warmth in her chest.
"That was pretty impressive.”
Shaw turned her head towards the direction of the voice. A tall, attractive brunette approached the bar and slid in gracefully onto the empty stool beside her. The brunette flashed her a smile that was a mixture of timid and awe in that I'm-kind-of-a-big-fan sort of way.
"That last guy barely made it ten seconds before you scared him off. I've noticed quite a few guys approach you in the last little bit, and I was going to come by earlier to see if you needed any help fending them off." She glanced around at the wide berth that had since formed around Shaw. "But it looks like you've got everything under control." The brunette took a sip from her martini glass.
Shaw shrugged matter-of-factly and focused back on her drink. "They weren't my type."
The brunette's eyes lit up with intrigue. "Oh? And what is your type, pray tell?"
Shaw gave a precursory sidelong glance and hesitated before turning in her seat to fully face the stranger. "Who wants to know?"
The brunette laughed, emitting a sound that Shaw found pleasant to her ears.
"I'm Root," the brunette smile widely as she introduced herself. "I don't think I've seen you here before. Are you new to the area?"
Shaw nodded. "Shaw. Just moved here from California."
"Well it's very nice to meet you, Shaw from California," Root drawled. "Did you move here with your...?"
"I moved out here on my own," Shaw finished Root's thought. "Currently unattached."
Root seemed pleased at the revelation. "Likewise," she said with a flirtatious raise of a brow. "Interested?"
Okay, so she's forward. Two can play at this game.
"Perhaps," Shaw answered with just enough of a tease in her voice to keep Root intrigued, but not enough to sound too eager.
"Hungry?"
Oh. A change in tactic. Interesting.
"Starving," Shaw answered honestly. The bar they were in didn't exactly have the best selection of food.
Root grinned and stood up from her seat. "I know a place nearby that has a steak that's better than-"
"Let me be the judge of that," Shaw interrupted.
The look of intrigue returned to Root's face. "Well let me just go freshen up a bit and I'll meet you out front in about five minutes?"
Shaw nodded and headed towards the front doors. As soon as she stepped out into the evening air, she pulled out her phone from her jacket pocket and started typing:
>> Established contact with the number. Will report on findings as soon as practicable.
She slipped the phone back into her jacket pocket and waited for Root to meet her outside.
Meanwhile, Root had just finished reapplying the scarlet red lipstick matching the colour of the cocktail dress that she was wearing. After checking the mirror to make sure that everything was in place, she took out her phone from her handbag and started typing a message:
>> Located and made contact with potential asset Indigo Five Alpha.
She sent the message and paused for a bit before continuing:
>> Asset is much more attractive than anticipated. Looking forward to future interactions.
She smirked and placed the phone back in her handbag, heading out towards the front doors of the bar.