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section7mfu-Prompt Word 1 - Permission
-Prompt Word 2 – Superior
-Prompt Colour – Red
Word Count: sorry it's a bit over, but this is my comeback. Better not to try to stop a runnaway train, :D
Illya Kuryakin wasn’t one for participating in what he called ‘made up holidays.’
This Valentine’s Day was nothing but for the benefit of greeting card companies, chocolatiers and florists....not to mention the restaurants that took advantage of this manufactured so-called romantic day. It was bourgeois nonsense.
That was what he believed until he met an enticing woman at one of the jazz clubs he frequented in his free time.
Her name was Juliet. She was a beautiful blonde, with her long tresses falling down past her shoulders. As well as being quite shapely, she also liked jazz.
After sharing a table in the crowded club they struck up a conversation.
The more she spoke and smiled, the more he became attracted to her. She was intelligent, level-headed and detested Valentine’s Day.
Napoleon, who always avoided a date Valentine’s Day, so as to not upset his many female paramours, was Kuryakin’s superior as Chief Enforcement Agent. Therefore it was necessary to seek his permission for taking the evening of the 14th off, and Illya wanted off, but he was scheduled to work desk duty.
Of course that request immediately sent up a red flag to Solo.
“Got a date for Valentine’s, tovarisch?” He probed.
“That is none of your business.”
“Well I think you suddenly ask to get out of your scheduled duty on the night of Valentine’s Day is highly suspicious.”
“Be as suspicious as you like, it does not matter to me. Now may I have the evening off or not?”
“Fine, just get someone to cover your shift.”
“Thank you; I will take care of it.”
When the evening arrived, Illya dressed himself in his fitted grey suit, along with a blue turtleneck. It was his best suit and he wanted to look good for his date.
They were to meet at the Russian Tea Room, and rather than borrowing a car from the motor pool, he decided to take a taxi from Del Floria’s instead.
When Illya arrived at the Tea Room he was greeted by the head waiter in Russian, as most of the staff knew him, even though his visits there were infrequent.
"Hello Sasha, I am meeting a woman here.”
“No ya pozabochus' o ney. A poka pozvol' mne sest'. Khotite zakuski i znakomuyu vodku?
“Yes, snacks would be good, but no vodka,”Illya switched to English.” A chilled bottle of champagne instead. Please show my guest to my table when she arrives."
Napoleon couldn’t help himself as he was dying of curiosity and perhaps a little envy that his partner having a date on Valentine’s.
It was a holiday Solo avoided, and he knew Kuryakin did as well but for different reasons.
Too many of the ladies at headquarters would feel slighted if Napoleon chose one of them for this romantic day.
In reality Napoleon could have made a date with someone who didn’t work for the U.N.C.L.E.
But most of his lady friends probably had dates anyway, and he didn’t feel like thumbing through the list of names his little black book to find one who was free for the night. In the end it saved him money as it meant no flowers, candy or a night out...still the end of the night leading to something more intimate was usually worth it.
Instead Napoleon decided to practice his tailing skills and follow his partner, just to check out the woman he was meeting.
His cab pulled up at the corner near the Russian Tea Room but Napoleon waited to exit until he saw Illya go inside.
He then watched through a window, and spotted his partner sitting alone at a table, drinking champagne no less.
“Ha!” Napoleon thought,” he doesn’t have a date!”
Moments later a woman was shown to his table and the Russian stood, helping to seat her.
She was not what Solo expected at all and watched as Illya handed her a long stem red rose and a small heart-shaped box of chocolates.
“Illya dear, this is so kind of you. I’m overwhelmed. I haven’t been out for Valentine’s Day since my poor husband Vittorio passed away. He was such a romantic and would take me to the loveliest places.”
“Mrs. Manetti, you have always been so kind to me, feeding me your wonderful food, especially when I have been under the weather. And of course you so graciously took my cat Nina since I was away so much for work and couldn’t properly care for her.*
“Oh Illya, you have been kind to me as well, fixing things in my apartment for me all the time, going out for groceries for me, and loaning me your wonderful books as well. A handsome young man like you keeping me company...well, you should be out with some beautiful woman.”
He poured her a glass of champagne, offering a toast.
“Here is to being good neighbors and friends. Happy Valentine’s Day Mrs. Manetti.”
They tipped their glasses together and then Illya pointed out the zakuski to her, explaining what they were and telling her they were like appetizers.
He’d taken the liberty of ordering dinner for both of them, giving her a taste of Russian food, as she often cooked Italian meals for him.
Napoleon shook his head with a smile. He was well acquainted with Mrs. Manetti whose apartment was across the hall from Illya’s.
He turned up his coat collar as he stepped out to the curb and whistled for a cab. It was late and he was ready to head home for a good night’s sleep...alone.
After dinner was done, Mrs. Manetti found herself quite full; she was surprised how many courses there were, making it similar to Italian traditions.
“Illya, thank you for a wonderful evening,” she smiled at him.”Some day you need to find yourself a wife to dote upon instead of an old lady like me.”
“That may happen someday, or maybe not, but it will not stop me from doting upon you, dear lady.”
He paid the bill and walked Mrs. Manetti outside, hailing a cab to take her home.
“You’re not going home dear?”
“No, unfortunately duty calls and I must return to the office.”
“Pity. Well I hope you don’t have to be out too late.”
Illya took her hand and kissed it, like the gentleman he was.
The old woman blushed as she slipped into the back seat of the cab.
As soon as it was gone, Illya whistled for another taxi.
“Where to Mister?” The driver asked as Kuryakin opened the rear door.
“The Village Vanguard, Seventh Avenue South in the Village.”
Noting how nicely dressed his passenger was, the driver asked a question. “Got a hot date for Valentine’s Day?”
“Most definitely,” the Russian winked with a smile. Still it wasn’t really a date for Valentine’s Day.
He and Juliet would enjoy the sounds of jazz at their favorite club, have some drinks and perhaps she’d invite him back to her place. At least that was what he hoped, but if it didn’t happen, that was all right. He could wait; he was a patient man.
A holiday was not a prerequisite to making love to a beautiful woman…
A/N in my stories Mrs. Manetti lives in the apartment across from Kuryakin.. She adopted Illya’s cat named Nina (after Nina Simone) when he realized the poor cat was alone too much when he was off on extended assignments
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Date: 2021-02-15 06:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-02-16 12:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-02-15 07:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-02-16 12:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-02-15 07:55 pm (UTC)(and so very Nosey Napoleon, LOL)
I'm entirely with Illya. if someone needs a special day for romance, then they're doing it wrong.
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Date: 2021-02-16 12:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-02-15 08:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-02-16 12:21 am (UTC)