"Looking back, while moving forward" for the QuoteMe Challenge.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

THE QUOTE: Look back, and smile on perils past" - Walter Scott

“We’ve been through a lot haven’t we?” Napoleon Solo was relaxing, chatting with his partner as they were riding a train from Florida to Washington D.C.  They were delivering a packet of documents, though there was no rush apparently as Waverly had them booked on this mode of transportation.

It was nice for a change, more leg room, a club car and sleeping accommodations. All in all it had been a comfortable trip so far, no partiers no Thrushies to deal with... nothing out of the ordinary.

“Yes we have my friend.” Illya finally answered; he was busy watching through the window as the landscape whisked past.

The American chuckled as he reminisced.”To think we’ve seen a device that was a fountain of youth, a giant stink bomb over Las Vegas…”

“Correct that to I...I dealt with that stink bomb not you Napoleon and do not forget I was chasing cats on the streets of London.”

“I stand corrected. Now where was I? Yes a poisonous spider courtesy of Angelique, you disguised as an American Indian, a Leon Trotsky look alike and don't forget an overweight Chinese warlord."

“I was an abominable snowman as well, but not very long before Calamity Rogers shot me. That was not too pleasant either.”

“Neither was me almost suffocating in that THRUSH bank vault.”

“But I arrived in the nick of time to save you, and barely missing being killed myself. We have been chased by zombies, gypsies, monsters and maniac scientists. We have nearly blown up too many times to count, been kidnapped, beaten, shot, brainwashed, seduced…”

“Ahhh, Gervaise Ravel, and don't forget Angelique,” Napoleon sighed.

“Hmmmm, Marion...correction, not Marion but Tavia,Taffy, and that blonde Jennifer on the Adriatic express. Still, you almost always got the girl.”

“Not my fault my Russian friend; you should have tried harder.”

“You know my feelings about casual sex.”

“Your loss, not mine,” Napoleon smiled wistfully. “How many times have we been shot, sleep-darted, exposed to fear gas…”

“Correction, I was exposed to fear gas and it was quite...frightening,” Illya half smiled.

“That’s the best you can do?”

“You are the punster Napoleon, not I. How many chess games have we to played to save out lives?”

“My turn to correct; It was me who played that game with Alexander, and I played brilliantly I might add.”

Illya bowed his head, waving his arm with a flourish.”Yes you did play brilliantly for once.”

“For once? Hey chess is all about strategy, and that’s my forté isn’t it tovarisch?”

The Russian snickered,”Perhaps if you call doing it by the seat of your pants.”

Napoleon grinned. “Hey I work best while under duress.

“That you do my friend. Speaking of duress,” Illya looked at his wristwatch.”

We have a lot of great memories, you and I. Don’t we?”

“Yes, some bad ones too but the good outweigh the bad, I think.” Kuryakin looked at his watch again.”Still how many times did we almost die?”

“There you go focusing on the negative. We’re still here to tell the tale aren’t we? Say, why do you keep checking the time?”

“I spoke to the chef and he said they were serving Hungarian goulash for lunch. After discussing the recipe with him, I made some suggestions to make it more authentic. I am hoping it will turn out good.”

“There’s a big memory. We’ve had some pretty bad food on our our adventures haven’t we?

“Most definitely.”

“... and you Illya, thinking about your stomach, there’s something that’ll never become a memory as it’s on going.” This time Napoleon laughed heartily. ”

“Always,” Kuryakin returned his partner’s grin.”Now let us go sample that goulash.”

“Tovarisch,” Napoleon’s stomach suddenly growled.”That’s an excellent idea. We can continue reminiscing over lunch.”

A conductor passed by, announcing the next stop was Richmond Virginia. As the man left the car Napoleon's communicator chirped, though it was buried in his inside breast pocked, and the sound was muffled.

"Solo here," he softly answered.

“Mr. Solo, you and Mr. Kuryakin are to disembark the train in Richmond and report to our field office there immediately upon arrival. You'll be briefed at that time."

"Will do, Solo out."As soon as he closed the communicator he turned to Illya.”So much for Hungarian goulash.”

“Maybe the chef can package up some portions to go?” Illya said as he and Napoleon stood, and headed for the dining car.

“There you go tovarisch, I’m the one with the rumbling belly and you’re the one thinking of food.”

“Ahhh, memories,” Illya replied. “Let us go create more my friend.”