Monster - 7 Days of Hallowe'en - 30th October (350 words)

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Illya Kuryakin, since first discovering it, had always enjoyed Hallowe’en. He could happily get behind any holiday which involved copious amounts of candy. What really made him smile was seeing the costumes on children and adults alike. At least, it was until one of his neighbours, along with his young son, showed him his idea of a monster.

“Why so glum, chum?” Napoleon asked, as he joined his partner in the commissary.

“Do you remember Mr Casey, who lives two floors up from me?”

“The one that hates you, and everything he thinks you stand for?”

“That’s him,” Illya confirmed. “I understand the animosity between our countries, but to most people in my building, it isn’t an issue.”

He went silent, but Napoleon said nothing; just waited for Illya to continue when he was ready.

“Casey brought his young son to my door last night, trick or treating.”

“Oh, so his prejudice doesn’t stop him from taking free candy from you?”

Illya snorted. “He doesn’t usually bother with my apartment, but he and his son were wearing something he wanted me to see.”

Napoleon didn’t like where this seemed to be going.

“I opened the door,” Illya continued. “Casey stood there, with a grin I could happily have punched through the back of his head, and said ‘What do you think of our monster costumes, Commie?’”

Illya looked Napoleon directly in the eye. “They were dressed as Russian soldiers.”

“What did you do?”

“Nothing. The child is only four, and doesn’t know about hate and bigotry yet, so I gave him his candy. Besides, if I hadn’t, it would have given his father another excuse not to like me.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, Tovarisch.”

“In the grand scheme of things,” Illya began, as he drained his coffee and stood up to leave. “It really doesn’t matter.”

Napoleon watched him go and felt a ball of anger form in his chest. Illya Kuryakin voluntarily put his life on the line every day to keep bigots like Casey safe. It was clear to Solo who the real monster was.

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Wow, what an emotional little story.This one I think, could be expanded into something longer, exploring in detail this bigoted neighbor and perhaps have and incident where IK has to save Casey's life directly... it might not change the man's attitude, but it might make him begin to think at least.

Thanks so much for joining in the 7 Days of Hallween and making it such a success!

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'll have to add it to my, every expanding, list of stories which need extending or flowing up.

Thank you also for letting me completely break the rules of a writer's choice by posting new stuff.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. And hey, fair is fair, you're new to the site so didn't want to exclude you. You have a definite flair for the Halloween theme, to say the least. Hmmm gee, I wonder why? lol!

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Couldn't possibly imagine ;-) If I could come up with something for the MoodY challenge, I'd be really motoring, lol.

ps, I meant to say 'following' earlier, not 'flowing'.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Chuckle...I got what you meant. :D

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

I will personally leave a bag of dog poo on Casey's front stoop and light it on fire. We'll have to remove his son first though, which requires a concentrated effort on the part of at least two more operatives.
I could work for UNCLE ;)

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

I'll come with you :-) I like the idea of avenging the wrong done to Illya :-) Casey may have to be taught the error of his ways in a future story.

[susanpr.livejournal.com]

What a miserable person. Even if he doesn't know what Illya does... I would love to see him get into a mess and have Illya save him. I'm so glad that you decided to write these! :-)

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I have a feeling that Illya will be having another run in with Casey soon.

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

Indeed, and even worse to his son. And I wonder what any Hungarian refugees would have felt if they passed them in the corridors.

This is a really thoughtful and deep ficlet. Thank you very much for sharing with us.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

I doubt he would care what any non-American thought, no matter what that uniform might represent to them.

Thank you for enjoying it.

[jkkitty.livejournal.com]

Oh the bigots of the world, too bad they don't know people who are bigots are also the ones who are disliked by most

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Too right.