"His great achievement in espionage was his life's work and fully occupied him till the day he died"

[wanttosmashitup]

It was quite the ideal scene. A man smoking while sitting on a rock under a set of palm trees, a half empty bottle of scotch by his feet and a book open in his lap. At first glance, he seemed relaxed, as if taking a pause from his reading to contemplate the ocean crashing only a hundred or so feet away, smoke lazy drifting around his head before

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[aly_brighteyes]

It was a good night for contemplative spies, as the evening found Aly wandering down the beach. Those who knew her might comment that she seemed to lack her normal energy, but that was because her usual persona was a great deal freer than the real Aly. She was in a quiet mood, her mind cycling through the details of the pinhole code, making sure she still had ever single tenet of the code memorized. Sometimes it felt like her skills might drift away from her here on the island, stolen by the tide when she least expected it.

For a moment, she paused to admire the man who appeared to be most comfortable with his drink and the smoke curling up around him. "Evening" she said quietly, because it was polite.

[wanttosmashitup]

At the soft spoken hello, Kim glanced up without moving from his contemplative pose and fought the urge to curl his lip. He was contemplating his future, complete with children and of course a child would happen upon him. But he wasn't about to waste the energy to make a big deal out of it so instead he just nodded. "Evening."

[aly_brighteyes]

Aly would later attribute it to a peculiar and unplaceable mood, rather than the loneliness it really was, that kept her where she stood, watching him for a moment longer. She looked over his shoulder and to the book he read. "What are you reading, if I may ask?" she inquired in a carefully curious, light, pleasant voice.

[wanttosmashitup]

The book was carefully closed because she could get a good look at the picture. Despite it being an unfamiliar future, it still felt private to Kim. "History. For some on this island anyway." He answered vaguely, since now that the book was closed, it might as well be any history book.

[hey_high_five]

Honestly, it wasn't the guy's contemplative mood that made Barney wander over. It was the cigarette. And, more importantly, the scotch. Because, hey, if he couldn't suck on fine Cuban cigars while stuck in a magical paradise, Barney might have to take up cigarette smoking.

Not that he really enjoyed it that much- but it was necessary for the effect. Barney Stison was a man who was all about the effect.

"Hey," he said with a nod. "What's up."

[wanttosmashitup]

Oh just what he needed. A pushy American.

Fighting the urge to roll his eyes, Kim looked up at him as he casually closed the book in his lap. "Evening. Can I help you?" He asked, his English accent especially clipped.

[hey_high_five]

Pushy did not begin to describe Barney. He sailed through pushy territory and landed comfortably in the ultra obnoxious category.

He could also be as tenacious as a bulldog when he hadn't anything else to occupy himself.

"You know, just...ah, strollin." He indicated the beach. "Strolling along. Breathing in the ocean air. Greeting strangers. The things you do when one strolls."

[wanttosmashitup]

As Kim was slowly figuring out. To his utter horror.

"Then why don't you keeping on strolling." Kim said flatly with a raised eyebrow. "Don't let me stop you."

[loveintriangles]

Nessa knew the three men were spies. Julian had told her long ago about the four friends and who they had worked for in England. It hadn't left her unstirred, but it had been quite some time now. They were here now. No second loyalties to hide.

Besides that, politics were never her interest, and though she didn't know what it said about the trustworthiness of the men as such, she wouldn't question their choices.

Kim Philby was a handsome man that treated her aimiably and respectfully (though never far from a mocking undertone, she felt). That was what mattered more.

"Hello, Kim. Are you quite all right? You seem far away?"

[wanttosmashitup]

Kim looked up slowly at the familiar voice and after a moment, a polite smile appeared. He didn't feel it all the way, but it was easy for a spy to hide their personal emotions. And while he liked Vanessa well enough, this wasn't something he was set to share with anyone, even his fellow spies.

The book was close casually as he replied, "Pardon me Mrs. Bell. I'm afraid I was lost in thought."

[loveintriangles]

"With a good book? You never struck me as the literary kind. Nor the sort who would enjoy art, but you've proven me wrong there also." His tone was never far from mocking, hers was never far from joking.

[wanttosmashitup]

The polite smile turned to a small chuckle. "I have great appreciation for literary works. Unforunatly...this is history. A subject duller then even art."