Alper's step had a bounce in it as he briskly made his way back to the future home of "L"ks Condos." He was whistling a jaunty tune, the title to the building and a large, thick folder both slung under an arm. He felt like a million bucks in his off-white suit.

He glanced to Xenia. "Wait until you see the building. It's magnificent. Absolutely perfect! It is going to take some time to get through the remodeling stage, might have to just rip down the whole building and resurrect it....but when you see it you will understand," he rambled, a confident look on his face.

Tapping at the folders under his arm, he nodded up ahead at the looming building he just purchased. "I have all of the planning phases complete, all of the floor plans, the exterior presentation and the necessities. I even have a few ideas for the interior decorating..." he trailed off thoughtfully as he regarded Xenia for a moment, "Well, hey....you know, since you are female and all....Perhaps you could be in charge of interior decorating" I want the inside to be more modern, but I plan on giving the building a medieval look, just to go along with the feel of Rhy'Din."

He gave no indication that he was dependent on her choice, but he was being hopeful. No man wants to look like vulnerable.

Alper chuckled at Xenia's incredulous look. He had not missed her evident boredom, either. He responded gaily. "Yes, I want you to be in charge of interior decorating. I know you have a natural knack for it, you are female and it is inherent....You are especially looked at because of your background and sphere of knowledge."

He continued walking for a moment, considering her look and assessing her cool behavior toward him. His long strides came to an immediate halt on the sidewalk, turning briskly on his heel to face Xenia.

"You know, I realize that you really don't want to be a part of this. I get that and I am sorry, but it isn't like I am asking you to kill people. I honestly have no intention of you getting blood on your hands or any dirt, for that matter," he explained in a terse voice. Foliage colored eyes narrowed in annoyance.

"If you really do not wish to do this, then don't. I will find someone else if I need to," he added coolly, removing his hands from his pockets to cross his arms across his chest.

Alper exhaled loudly, a sigh of relief if you will. Xenia being apart of this would save him a great deal of time, trouble and money....He already knew he could trust her.

He watched her stalk off, an amused smile curving at the corners of his mouth. His head shook as he chuckled, hand stuffing back into his pockets before he trailed after her at a languid pace.

Watching the soon-to-be condo's as he approached the building, he could not help but puff his chest up proudly.

"I think they are going to be rather fetching, do you not?" he asked Xenia when he reached her, still staring up at the looming building. "Four stories and featuring three types of metro living that anyone could possibly aspire for....It is sure to be a winner, I hope. I would not want to lose my holdings here so quickly," he added as a partial confession.

Just on the other side of the condominiums was his office/house and warehouse, which he knew he would lead Xenia to after this tour, just to give her an extended tour of the offices and current items in inventory. She might just find herself doing more than she bargained for, at this rate.

Before Xenia could even get a response in, he asked, "Are you ready to take a tour?" He held out his arm for her to take before he lead her into the building.

Alper had led her into the first condominium, one of the four bedroom, two story ones. It was rather bland, and debri still lay in heaps on the floors, but otherwise the infrastructure seemed fine. When they browsed the kitchen, she was already thinking about what colors to choose for the cabinets, appliances, floors, countertops and walls.

"Carpet or vood?" she asked Alper, who turned to look at her with a shrug.

"I think that's up for you to choose. I think a combination would be best, but whatever, you know?" Alper responded, directing her out of the kitchen and up the stairwell.

"Perhaps," Xenia stated thoughtfully, eyeing the stairs subjectively as she decided that an intricate cherry oak handrail would be appropriate. Alper may have wanted a modern look, but she was thinking more along the lines of comfort and a different kind of modern look.

She already knew he'd one state of the art appliances, but the furniture should be comfortable. And if she knew anything about Alper's era of time, the furniture was too bright and not exactly comfortable.

They were walking through the rooms and bathrooms, now, and she had to admit that they were of decent sizes.

"So, do you have any ideas coming up?" Alper inquired, albeit reluctantly, as he then led her back down the stairs.

Xenia only looked at him with a bright smile. "Da, da...I am thinking of several ideas. I am not thinking your modern furniture idea vill go vell, so I am considering doing a more modern approach, but with more comfort and relaxing atmosphere. And elegant, too."

He practically beamed at her with joy. "Good, good. That will make this whole process much easier."

With that, Alper helped her out the door. At least the exterior was fairing well. The exterior was a light, whitewashed stone with intricate, curved entryways for each front door, and an antique hanging lamp (electrically powered instead of candles.)

"The rest of the two-story condominiums will look much like that, so I think we can head upstairs now," Alper declared, leading her up a stairwell on the side of the condominiums.

She trudged up before him, skirts bunched up within the grasp of a gloved hand. Stepping into the hallway, she coughed, waving a hand in front of her her face.

"A bit dusty up here," she commented dryly.

Xenia followed Alper back down the hallway. He stepped aside to allow her to climb up the stairwell that led upward to the office and, ultimately, the two penthouses.

"Hm, quaint," she commented when she emerged into the office area. To her right was the door to one penthouse, and to the left the other. The office wasn't very big, she noticed, but it was comfortable. "I see this area has actually been done."

The walls were painted a light, cheery yellow and photos of a rolling, colorful Italian hillside were hung about the area. There was one, simple mahogany desk with a comfy wing-backed chair behind it and two over-stuffed, leather chairs in front of it. Somehow, this gave her an idea, and she quickly spun on her heel to look at Alper as he stepped into the office.

"Alper, you know, you should let the prospective buyers choose vhat colors their condos should be vhen they purchase! That vay they can feel like it is personalized! And maybe, let them choose a theme, so then they can further personalize it! Like a Medieval theme, a country theme, a modern theme, and so and on," Xenia exclaimed, looking excited and slightly flushed.

He laughed his deep and rumbling laugh, eyes squinting. "Show did this sparsely furnished office trigger such a glamorous idea, Miss Chirikova?" he asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.

She stuck her tongue out at him, a relatively uncharacteristic action of her, in place of responding.

"Maybe you have finally warmed up to me, then," Alper teased. He took up a lean against the wall, arms folding over his chest.

"Do not be getting your hopes up, Глупый человек, " she retorted. Moving in the direction of the nearer penthouse, she asked, "Enlighten me, then, what makes these rooms so special?"

"Well, for starters, they don't have a neighbor. They have a very nice walk around porch. It is more spacious in general, with vaulted ceilings and luxurious appliances. Larger bathrooms and bigger wash basins" A better view, perhaps?" Alper explained to Xenia, ending on a light note. "What isn't to like about that, eh?"

"Aren't all of these rooms supposed to be "luxurious??" she countered, giving him a questioning look as he opened the door to the penthouse. Alper tsked as she stepped languidly past him.

"Fair point," he muttered, falling in line behind her. "This first area is the living room. As you can see it is very spacious. There's a bathroom up to the left past the kitchen. The windows line all of the walls facing the outside, giving a nearly 360 degree view of Rhy"Din from up here."

Xenia smiled briefly at him, making her way to the window to peek behind the drapes at the city. "Charming."

"And then there's the kitchen, also very large and spacious with a gracious island complete with a running faucet, too. And there's a fridge and an icebox, accompanied with a small wine bottle cooler, too. The stove and oven are separate, the oven being up against the wall and the microwave above it. The stove is near it," Alper continued, making his own way for the kitchen. "A little breakfast bar." He leaned against the counter.

"A little dark, aren't you thinking so' You haff midnight purple walls, blue and black splattered silk drapes, black marble tile flooring, and black granite countertops," she noted, making her way over to the kitchen. A hand ran along the cabinetry space, clucking her tongue. "Black lacquer and silver trim, sort of classy I suppose...Everything is electric, I am hoping?"

She continued on her tour of the kitchen, opening the cooler, the fridge and the oven for closer inspection. "Hm, интерес& #1085;ый. Vhat else is there about this place?"

"Follow me," he ordered, crooking his finger at her to follow him. He stepped out for the hallway and down it. "There's a den here, walls lined with shelves for only the best personal library."

Xenia peeked in curiously, pleasantly surprised at the big, huge desk and wing-backed chair. "Fireplace is very nice touch."

Alper smiled knowingly, nodding his appreciation before announcing the next area. "Here there's a guest room and bathroom. Mini-walk-in closet, as well."

She ducked her head into this room, too, scoping out the layout of the room and assessing the closet from a distance. "Very nice."

"Thank you," he replied as he swung open the double doors to the master bedroom. This room was painted an elaborate, deep, royal red with black swirls.

There was a massive cherry mahogany four poster bed with deep red silks sheets and an intricate red and black down comforter. The room's expanse took the whole last section of the building up. There was a huge flat panel TV on the wall across from the bed, the chest of drawers just beneath it.

Then there was the bathroom that took the entire left side of the room up. If you walked in there was a huge Jacuzzi bath tub, a double headed shower so both people could shower, a his and hers toilet room, and two walk-in closets. The sink had huge wash basins, as well. Everything in here was in black and silver marble with silver knobs and faucets.

Xenia made two gasps of surprise, first when she had walked into the bedroom, and then again when she sought to inspect the bathroom. Looking to Alper, she smiled appreciatively. "I am very impressed, Alper. I think prospective buyers will be satisfied."

"I hope so.? Alper responded.

Engrossed in categorizing her bookshelves alphabetically, she called out absently at the knock, "Open door!"

Xenia did not even turn her head to see who it was. She had an inkling that she knew who it was, anyway. Sifting between piles of books, she would pick them up and then slide them onto shelves beginning with 'A' and the genre of 'horror' in the first bookshelf.

A scowl as she looked over her shoulder at him. "It vas only a matter of time, Alper."

Topaz returned to the shelf at hand, and she absently picked up a few other novels before putting them up on the shelves as well.

"Vhat you doing here?" It was a curious demand. He couldn't possibly be asking her to do work as she didn't work for him anymore.

Yes, he should be used to her behavior by now. A few more novels were absently lifted and shelved accordingly.

She chuckled throatily at his inquisition. "You funny man, Alper. I can admire that." A soft smile emerged as she looked over her shoulder at him. "I am liking the clinic a lot. Despite how much there is to do, it is....calming" I think that is the vord I am seeking. Very serene."

Dirty look at his teasing. "Doktor Valkonan is a very remarkable devochka. I am liking her as my boss a lot more than you." Xenia snubbed at him with an indigniant huff.

"How about for you? Is my replacement doing vell?"

"Dueling can be fun," she responded evenly, lifting another pile of books to bestow on the shelves.

Pausing in her course of action, she turned to look at him sternly.

"I am not knoving vhy you are haffing problems vith dueling, but it is all in good sport, da" Did you not ever wrestle as kid?"

Hollow laughter. "In the Motherland, the Bratva duel all the time. To keep up vith technology and to better selves into more efficient fighters." A sound of disgust. "Or into better killing machines. Depends on outlook." She was scowling now, and almost broke the shelf with the way she threw the books onto it.

"It is just hobby for some people, or good vay to stay in shape Alper. No harm in it, I suggest you try it out sometime."