section7mfu | Blocked (and breaking the fourth wall) (Please forgive this little self-indulgence)

As he walked through the corridors of the New York headquarters of the U.N.C.L.E., Illya was struck by how empty they were. There were a few people about, but it was more like a skeleton level of holiday staffing, than the mid-week throng he expected.

“Where is everyone?” he asked Agent Paul Berry, as they passed in the corridor.

“Your guess is as good as mine, Illya,” Paul replied, with a shrug.

Frowning, Illya went in search of Napoleon, and found him drinking coffee in a deserted commissary.

“What is going on?”

Solo greeted his partner before replying, “Nothing.”

“Something is going on,” Illya countered. “There aren’t nearly enough people in the building to . . .”

“You don’t understand,” Napoleon cut him off. “I mean it literally. JantoJones is having a problem getting her stories out of her head.”

“What’s the problem? She’s usually so prolific.”

“From what I understand, her real life is messing her about,” Solo explained. “She has many ideas, but when she tries to get them out, her concentration wanders.”

Illya nodded his understanding. “That would explain why she’s missed the last three pic-fics, and left me clinging onto some rafters.”

“You know,” Napoleon mused. “The thing I really hate about these writers is how they can have so many stories going that we manage to be in several situations at once.”

“Until they become blocked, and we end up here, drinking coffee,” Kuryakin replied. “Mind you, it makes a change from being beaten to a pulp. Have you noticed, that the more they like us, the more we get hurt? Why is that?”

Solo shrugged. That was something he really couldn’t out.

“Whatever the reason, let’s just enjoying the peaceful downtime until JantoJones recovers her flow.”