A Little Drabble Do Ya (Sort of) -- RESPONSIBLE INSTINCTS

[carabele.livejournal.com]

Okay, so at 400 words, it's not really a drabble. (Quadruple drabble, anyone?) And I admit it's a bit sappy. But hey, I couldn't let a special Napoleon Solo drabble day pass me by without contributing something.

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Name: RESPONSIBLE INSTINCTS
Genre: GEN
Warnings: None
Length: approx 400 words





RESPONSIBLE INSTINCTS
by LaH
Autumn 1965

Illya’s eyes focused on Napoleon as he sat reviewing reports from various field teams in Section II. It didn’t take long before Napoleon noticed his intent gaze.

“Is there some reason you are staring at me?” queried the CEA.

“I’m just curious.”

“About?”

“All the responsibility involved in being head of Section II: does it ever make you uneasy?”

“Should it?” Napoleon skillfully dodged the question.

“I get my answer first,” persisted his partner.

Solo considered for a brief moment before responding somewhat cryptically, “Yes and no.”

“More evasion,” complained the Russian.

“Not evasion,” insisted the American, “just unvarnished honesty. You’re right of course in saying it’s a lot of responsibility,” he conceded. “Responsibility upon which often hinges the lives of our agents or of bystander innocents. That’s enough to make anyone with a conscience uneasy.”

Illya nodded sagely. “So that’s the yes, but what’s the no?”

“The no comes into play because I want to make a difference. I admit to being emotionally driven to make the world a better place. That drive pushes me to take on more and more responsibility as the necessary price of pursuing what is dear to me. I’m more than willing to pay that price, but I make sure I am as mentally prepared as can be for the cost involved. And that mental preparation calms my uneasiness.”

“Yet you can’t deny you often approach situations from a purely gut instinct perspective, Napoleon.”

Now it was Napoleon who nodded sagely. “Knowing when to trust my gut instincts is part of being mentally prepared, I.K. You don’t have to research everything in minute detail to comprehend its scope on an intuitive level.”

“That’s where we differ, I suppose,” Illya pondered. “I don’t have quite that faith in my gut reactions.”

Napoleon chuckled. “The faith is all you’re missing, tovarisch; definitely not the instincts.”

Kuryakin grinned impishly. “Ah, but that we are opposites in that way surely works to our mutual advantage.”

“I won’t deny that. We are each who we are, and that is what makes us such an effective team as enforcement agents.”

“But it is your faith in your gut instincts that will someday make you an outstanding Continental Chief, Napoleon. I won’t deny that either.”

Deeply touched by his friend’s unsolicited commendation, it was all Solo could do to express his gratitude with a quiet “Thanks for the confidence, Illya.”

—The End—

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

I had a feeling you'd join in on the unoffical Napoleon appreciation day! This was very enjoyable and nicely written, of course. :D

[carabele.livejournal.com]

[chuckle] Of course I had to join in! But I really just cannot manage the limits of a drabble. Still, I figured 400 words isn't cheating too terribly much. [laugh]

Thanks for the compliment!

[svetlanacat4.livejournal.com]

A very interesting conversation... trust and partnership... and Napoleon's talent...

[carabele.livejournal.com]

Yup, these two really do fit together well as a team. Both are capable and intelligent, but where Solo goes more on immediate response, Illya is more likely to consider all alternatives.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

enh, so it was a quadruple drabble. Trust me, it's not that easy to do...and I made it worse for my by telling a story in half drabbles. (chuckle)

So how's your QuoteMe coming along, or is it done?

[carabele.livejournal.com]

QuoteME is done and ready to post since I decided to go with an excerpt from my wip THE STICKING IN MUD AFFAIR.

Not something I generally do (post part of a wip), but it was just too tempting, since the particular excerpt fit the quote so well. Course now I'll have to hurry up and finish the whole piece so folks can get to read it "in toto". [chuckle] Once MUD is complete though, it will have to be posted in mfu_map_room because it is a little too risque for section7mfu. But the excerpt I'm using from ACT II fits in here fine, since none of the sex-involved stuff comes into play until ACT III.

Looking forward to reading your QuoteME entry!

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this interesting conversation, with both very true to themselves.

[carabele.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you see them as coming across as true to character in my little vignette!

Thanks for reading and commenting!

[jkkitty.livejournal.com]

Trust and confidence, those two do have it.

[alynwa.livejournal.com]

Very well written conversation between the two. Good job!

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Looking forward to the finished "The Sticking In The Mud Affair." "D

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

4 drabbles in 1 ;) Say, you ought to do more of these short stories because I always enjoy them a lot. You do abbreviated well :D

[carabele.livejournal.com]

That they do!

[carabele.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

[carabele.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of a long story gal. But every once in a while inspiration hits for a "quick one". [chuckle]

[avrovulcan.livejournal.com]

Great insight into Napoleons feelings about being CEA. Glad you posted this, I always enjoy reading your stories, long or short. :)

[carabele.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! Very glad you enjoyed my take on this little conversation between our guys.