open log - different places

[una_persson]

Who: Una Persson and anyone.
What: Day-in-the-life open log.
Where: Multiple places. (See the comments.)
When: Now.
Warnings: Will update if needed.

Comments

Midday - Sam's Diner

[alpha_of_mib]

[An man in a tweed coat, very professorial looking, enters the diner and glances around like a man scoping out an unfamiliar place. There is the menu board. There is the lunch counter. There are the tables. Then he walks up to order.

As the cook makes his meal, he glances around once again, this time looking for an abandoned newspaper he can claim, but he finds none.]

Pardon me, miss, could you help an old fellow out by sharing a bit of news of the world?

[Everything he does, his mannerisms, his tone of voice--soft with an Oxford accent--are designed to make him appear innocuous. A harmless gent creeping past the far side of middle aged and into elderly.]

[una_persson]

[There certainly are a lot of British expatriates washing up here, she thinks. But she smiles, entirely taken in—for the moment—by his avuncular appearance.]

Of course. I'm finished with this section.

[She offers the front page section of the paper.]

[alpha_of_mib]

Thank you, my dear.

[He takes the section she offers with his left hand and holds out his right.]

Arthur Furst, at your service.

[It's a pseudonym, one of many. And a play on words for those who are in on the secret. Furst. Alpha.]

[una_persson]

[A brief pause, then she shakes his hand, her touch light but confident.]

Una Persson. Are you recently arrived here?

[alpha_of_mib]

Yes, just last week. I'm fond of travel and rarely stay in one place for more than a year. One of the great indulgences of my retirement.

And what about you, Miss Persson? I hear from your voice that you're originally from Dear Old Blighty. Been in the States long?

[una_persson]

Less than a year, myself. It's still all very new to me, really.

[A disingenuous smile.]

[alpha_of_mib]

Hmm. I'm an old expatriot myself. Been here since before the Great War. Although I still did my bit for King and Country.

[Working on biological weapons. Mustard gas was one of his specialties.

He was also very good at collecting information. Whenever anything interesting crossed his path--some bit of compromising information or a juicy rumour--he filed it away for a time when it might come in handy.

And although he'd never met Miss Persson, he was sure this woman was familiar. He would need to check his notebooks this evening.]

[una_persson]

We're all very grateful for it. [Meant sincerely, though she couldn't avoid a certain arch theatricality.]

I'm afraid that all I'm doing is entertaining. I sing at the Candlelight Club.