forum betrayal runs deep | oxo | closed

Started December 12, 2022 by @knightinadream group

tune

Calvin nodded, glancing at his companion. "I don't mind the walking," he responded with a small smile. "If anything, it feels nice to be able to stretch my legs a bit after the long flight." This was true. He hated the feeling of sitting down for hours on the plane; despite the lack of movement it was honestly tiring to Calvin. The whole travel process had been tiring. But Calvin knew he couldn't rest just yet, despite the drowsiness creeping in. He still had the mission, and he had to be alert at all times lest he miss something important. On top of that, he had to stay in character, which was mostly just remembering that he was a journalist and not an agent, keeping the fake backstory and name in his mind at all times.

How many times had he longed to be on an actual mission instead of filing paperwork or translating documents? Now he was finally in the field and undercover, but the excitement was mingled with a healthy layer of fear. He would be a fool not to be afraid of being in a foreign country, surrounded by enemies, but he had to press on. The fear would just make him more alert, more attune to details. It would sharpen his senses and keep him from doing something stupid. But he could not let it consume him. There was also the giddiness of being out of the country for the first time. He had gone all over the States to visit family and to learn about his home country, but he had never left the country before now. It felt weird.

He looked ahead, trying to squash down the runaway train of thought he was having. He needed to keep a clear head and stay alert, which he couldn't do if his mind was wandering. He focused on his surroundings now, trying to blink the tiredness out of his eyes as he did so. Surely they would reach the car soon, and Calvin could relax, just a little. He couldn't fully decompress until he was alone.

No mattered how much he walked, the entire place was warm. Filip kept slightly tugging his collar in hopes of cooling down. All of the sudden he has the need to get some fresh air. He noticed that his walking had a swift pace. Thankfully he had slowed down before they went outside.

The car was parked at the front of the line of cars. It was a light blue 1981 Dacia from the hotel. He remembered walking out of the hotel just an hour or so ago to see it waiting outside for him. The officer he is in contact with had arranged everything. To be honest, Filip was surprised to see a different colored car for once.

If anything, he could have arrange the transportation. The hotel does own a few cars. Plus he has a work friend who owes him a few favors. He would rather have learned how to drive than to let one of those officers do the driving. From what he recalls, the one sitting in the driver's seat right now seems to be rather apathetic. There was no sign of judgment or anything. Thankfully the officer was in nice regular clothing and not a uniform.

Filip stopped for a second then pointed out the car. "Over there." Then he proceeded to make his way over. When he was at the trunk, he tapped on it to let the driver know that they're here. Carefully, he placed the suitcase down and then opened the trunk. Once he lifted the trunk door, he took the suitcase and placed it by the left side.

Calvin nodded, following suit. The fresh air felt great after being cooped up in airports and on planes. He was never more grateful to be outside than after having to stay indoors for a length of time. He took in a deep breath before heading on over to the car and copying Simon by setting his other suitcase down, as well as the briefcase. The car was noticeable, being a light blue, but not too old a model. Calvin's own car was much older, something he'd had for a while. He was honestly never a car person, not caring too much about his was like as long as it got him from point A to point B.

The man in the front looked apathetic, maybe even a little bored. Fair enough. Driving around random Americans probably wasn't the most exciting job unless one spoke English well enough to converse with them. Maybe this man also spoke English as well as Calvin's companion. Perhaps he would have to see. Someone who drove people around might have some knowledge of things.

Calvin tried to stifle a yawn. Geez, he really was exhausted. If he didn't have a job to do, he might have just slept in the car on the way over. But this mission was too important to sleep during, not until he got to his room at the hotel. God, he hoped that was soon. He was about ready to collapse here. But even in this state he did his best of alert and observant. He couldn't afford to let his guard down. He could still put up a fight if it came down to it; of that he was certain. He wouldn't have accepted such a dangerous and possibly deadly mission if he were unsure of his abilities. This was what he had been waiting for, after all.

Well, now what he was waiting for was some rest. Then he would begin to work on an article as a cover, and in the process try to gain all of the information that he could. He was not short on drive, that was for sure.

There was a faint breeze that passed through. To Filip it felt calming, even if it was just for a few seconds. Whenever he was stressed or exhausted, the wind was always there to lift his spirits. He hoped that it would stick around a little longer till this whole spying thing is done and over with. That is if this whole situation will ever be over.

Will it ever be? The suspicions, having to always be on guard, constantly looking over the shoulder, never being able to say what's truly on one's mind…Will any of it ever be over? Once Mister Fisher has everything needed for his news articles or whatever, he will go home, but what will happen to Filip? Is the Securitate going to have him do something else? All he can do is wonder and beg to not spy on anyone, but no one will hear his pleas.

Seeing that the other suitcase was put down, he picked it up then gently sat it next to the other. He repeated this with the brief case. After he closed the trunk and walked over to the right side of the car. Wrapping his fingers around the door handle, he opened it.

"Come on, Mister Fisher. I know there is a lovely room and comfortable bed waiting for you at the Eminescu Hotel." He motioned for the other man to enter. "The driver will have us there in no time, but I cannot wait for you to see Bucharest. You will love our Little Paris."

Ah, comfortable bed. Yes, please. Calvin simply nodded in response to this, adding, "Thank you. And you may call me Kurt if you want." Thank god for practicing that phrase in the mirror; he was certain it somehow helped him in this situation, or the large number of times he'd done it would be for naught. He entered the car, making himself comfortable as he sat down. The interior of the car wasn't too bad, either. One thing that would help keep him awake for the journey would doubtlessly be looking out the window. As a kid, he had always stared out the window as his family had gone on trips to see family or for summer vacation, admiring the scenery. Even if it was something that most people would consider boring, Calvin could gaze out the window for hours, taking in the new landscape or letting his mind wander. In this new city, he would surely be taking in the buildings and people as they passed, intrigued.

It was also possible that he would be making polite conversation with Simon, which was fine by him, though he vastly preferred to sit with the radio on and very little talking. Whenever he had driven that was always what happened: radio on, any occupants of the car hopefully quiet. Music had always been something that Calvin loved as well. He really had to stop thinking about his habits and childhood now; none of that would be helpful to him right now. He had to stay undercover and keep his false identity in his thoughts at all times. So he remained vigilant as he sat in the car, waiting for the driver to take off.

"Oh…." Filip thought about calling Mister Fisher by his first name. Is it really appropriate for him to do so? Well, if he says so. "Alright then, Kurt," He nodded then added, "Call me however you wish to then. It does not matter to me." Because he is not Simon Zamfir. It would only matter if Mister Fisher, Kurt, were to find out who he really is and that will never happen. All he can do is hope that it will never happen.

After ensuring that Kurt was safely in the car, he closed the door then entered through the other side. Earlier in the morning, it was awkward getting in, but at least it was just the officer to see this. Now Filip is swallowing all the emotions that are bubbling within. No more being stiff. No more being Filip Cel Tradat. He has other eyes on him that he must trick into seeing other things now.

In the rear view mirror, the officer's dark brown eyes look up at Mister Fisher then at Filip. They watched him with calculation. Apathy still lingered. "Domnule Zamfir?" He called. "Vă duc pe voi doi înapoi la hotel?"

Filip's thumb rubbed against the side of his index finger. He stopped then looked up to see the officer's eyes in the mirror. "Da. Da, te rog. Mersi." The officer mumbles a "foarte bine atunci" then the car engine hums. Within moments, the car is off. Bucharest is only twenty-three minutes away.

Calvin had figured that it might be odd for his companion to call him by his first name, but it was something that he was used to in the States. Sometimes, formality did require using a person's last name or full name, but on a day-to-day basis at work and elsewhere, using someone's first name was just something Calvin was used to. Hearing Simon call him "Mr.Fisher," even if it was his alias, still felt a bit odd. It was sort of a force of habit just to use his first name with most people who weren't his higher-ups, but something about it was oddly comforting. It felt less stiff and awkward to him, and would hopefully make Simon feel like he could trust Calvin a bit more, possibly leading to the man giving him more information.

Something in Simon's body language did suggest he was not entirely comfortable, so perhaps asking to be referred to as Kurt may have been a bad move. It really wasn't a big deal, but seeing as it was Calvin's first time in the field, it felt like it. He had to stick to his decisions; looking indecisive would likely not reflect well on him. He just had to stay in character and things would be fine. Some sleep would seriously help him, though.

As the car started, Calvin glanced toward his companion briefly before looking out the window once again. The view was exciting, despite it mostly just being buildings for now, but he had seen pictures of the city and was interested to see how they compared to real life. He took in every piece of the scenery, not having to fake his excitement at being in this city. He could probably write a semi-decent article just about how the city itself before even getting to the juicier parts. It was almost funny, thinking about it. Writing was something that he did to relax or for fun usually, since he kept a journal quite diligently–though he did unfortunately have to leave some things out just in case–and so what his false identity's job was would actually be somewhat relaxing for him. Well, until he got to writing about the actual conflict in the country. That would still be interesting at least, and was an important story to tell, despite it not being his mission itself. He blinked, realizing again that his mind had begun wandering as the landscape came back into focus. He really needed to sleep.

Only five minutes into the car ride, Filip started to become more at ease. All the tension in his body has left it aching. He sat up straight and leaned back into the seat while his hands neatly rested on his lap. For a couple of seconds, he was staring at the driver, but then he turned his head to look out the window and enjoyed the sights they had passed by. Really he hasn't been in a car that much. This may be his second or third time. He always walks everywhere or uses the old bike when his grandfather isn't using it. Of course you always see them go up and down the streets, especially the black ones. Sometimes the old ladies who sit by their windows tell him how many had passed by the complex. Now he wonders if some of them are giving information to the Securitate.

The driver rarely looked back at the passengers. He was wondering whether or not the two of them would be talking. Of course it would be in English most likely, but he can still report on what was going on, even if it is just guesses or by how the two act. It was silent as they entered the capital and all the way up until he pulled up to the entrance of a tall rectangular ivory building: the Eminescu Hotel.

Filip mutters a thanks then steps out of the car. "I'll go get your things," He said to Kurt. In his head, he began practicing calling Mister Fisher by his first name. If it makes him comfortable, then why not? Swiftly, he opens the trunk and does his best to handle the suitcases and briefcase. He just wants to get this over with so he can be away from the officer and any black cars for a while. He's exhausted already.

Calvin nodded at Simon's words, giving the driver a quick thank you–in Romanian this time, at least he remembered that much–before getting out. It seemed only fitting, rather than using English that the driver might not understand. Of course, if he responded, Calvin might not catch everything that was said, but that was what practice was for. Learning an entire language was quite difficult, even if one had known bits and pieces for a while. It was much easier on paper than in practice; Calvin could write much more than he could say, mostly due to the faster pace and involvement that a conversation took. And of course, the pronunciation element added to it.

He followed his companion out of the car, meeting him near the trunk. Sure, it might be part of Simon's job to handle the luggage, but Calvin still wanted to help. He paused for a moment, trying to remember whether it was considered rude to attempt that. In some cultures, offering to help with things like that made it seem as if you were calling the person in charge of it incompetent. He settled on standing a bit off to the side, ready to offer help if it seemed that Simon was struggling.

Calvin just hoped that this would over for the day soon so he could rest and then regroup, trying to figure out the most efficient way to go about this. That was, of course, something that he had already given a lot of thought to, but now that he was here he could use what little he had learned and streamline that idea. He didn't have to go too into detail, though; making a plan rigid meant that he would not have any flexibility should something more unpredictable happen. He had to be prepared for anything.

Once making sure that everything and everyone was in the right place, Filip used his elbow to close the trunk. The driver must have been looking through one of the mirrors because the car drove off almost immediately after. Filip watched while taking a deep breath. Relief brushed over him. Never has been so relieved to see some leave. It's not over yet.

Carrying three pieces of luggage is not that bad. Surprisingly he has carried much more when he was younger. And no, he does not require assistance. Technically this is his job after all. Even if his job is to spy on this friendly American, he still wants to be as nice as possible. He wonders if being nice and all would matter in the end. It only would if he gets caught. No. Just thinking about that made him shiver.

Turning around, his eyes met Kurt. He has get back to the mission. Right. Another smile appeared on his face. "Let's go inside." Without waiting a second, he was briskly walking towards the entrance. "I think you will like it here. It is a really nice hotel. I have friends here so if you do need anything and I am not around, you should go to one of them. They are nice too."

He hasn't told anyone in Eminescu about this; not like he has the choice to anyways. So when the doorman caught a glimpse of Filip, he made a funny look before shaking his head. The doorman's glove-covered fingers wrapped around the door handle, holding the door for Filip and Kurt. "Mersi." Filip muttered.

Calvin could tell that Simon had everything under control here. He looked like a pro carrying the luggage, so he didn't offer to help. It was obvious that Simon had experience with that sort of thing, and he didn't want to offend the guy by making him seem incompetent. He ended up somewhat awkwardly following him as they went into the hotel. God, ambiguous social situations had never been Calvin's strong suit, but that was a normal dilemma, he supposed. He would just power through any awkwardness and hope for the best. Maybe the awkwardness would help him in the long run, because no one was too perfect and polished in social settings, right? Introverted journalists still had to exist, surely. It might even make him less suspicious.

As his companion talked about the hotel and service, Calvin nodded along. It was good to know that the people here were nice and competent. Calvin wondered what Simon's relationship with the hotel was exactly, since he seemed to know it fairly well and the doorman had a bit of an odd reaction to the man entering. Hm. For the moment though, he would act oblivious, since it was possibly just a personal thing and he shouldn't read too much into it for now. But he would keep these sort of small things in the back of his mind, because who knew how they would add up in the long run. He thanked the doorman as well as they walked through, looking around the hotel lobby.

"Thank you for carrying my luggage," Calvin acknowledged once they were inside. He felt bad just sort of letting the man do it, but he had been raised in a household where he was taught that one needed to do everything for himself. This had led him to form somewhat of an "accepting help is fine but don't take it for granted" sort of mentality. At any rate, a good sleep was practically calling his name now. His body felt heavier now that it was so close.

"Hmm?" He looked over at Kurt then down at the luggage. Filip nodded, "Of course! Of course! Anything for you, Kurt. It is my job too, but I do not mind." He walks up to the front desk then stops.

If the look from the doorman was not strange enough, the front desk clerk's was something else. Filip wished he could have explained the situation, especially to one of his only friends who happens to be the front desk clerk who's staring at both Filip and Kurt. Costin is a twenty-three year old who has been at the hotel for the same amount of time that Filip has. His stark blue eyes grew wide, but then he shook his head and gave the two men a brief smile.

"Bun venit! Poti sa-mi spui numele te rog?" Costin asked. The front desk clerk took a look at Kurt. His eyes squinted. Filip shook his head then answered, "Kurt Fisher. Vorbeşte în mare parte engleză."

Filip looked over at Kurt, flashing him a small assuring smile. "This is Costin Lupu. He is one of my friends. He doesn't speak English, but he will gladly help you when needed. Costin knows a few words, but he's better at reading. He is great."

As he spoke, Costin whispered Kurt's name to himself while going through the reservations. "Oh, cameră trei douăzeci şi partu." He turns around to fetch the key with the number 324. In a moment, he looks at Kurt while holding it out towards him. "Poftim, domnule." Filip translates, "Here you go, sir."

Hm, another weird reaction from the hotel staff. Sure, Simon said he was friends with these people, but was there more than that at play here? Both the doorman and the clerk had seemed almost…surprised that Simon was here with him. It was odd, to say the least. One explanation could be that they weren't as good of friends as Simon made them sound, but he and the clerk were surely friendly enough with each other. They seemed too familiar for Simon's words to be a lie, but still…Something was off here.

However, that was something that Calvin would have to put on the back burner until he could safely sleep. He was so close now that soon he would be able to drift off. Luckily, he had a great memory, but he might write some things down in a code to help himself remember just in case. Even writing about innocuous things made him nervous should someone find them.

Again, as the two Romanians chatted, Calvin understood the gist of what they said but not exactly each individual word. It was good he had a translator with him, because otherwise communicating would definitely be a bit of a struggle.

Calvin took the key from Costin gratefully, nodding his thanks at the both of them. "Mersi." He glanced towards his companion before adding, in English, "I think I should probably head to sleep now. I am exhausted from the travel. Thank you again for your hospitality."

There is only so much that Filip can control in this situation. Alas, he can only do so much. He just realized that Costin and his animated expressions are now a major concern to him. What if Kurt suspects something and then starts to not trust him? What if Kurt finds out what he is doing? What if the Securitate finds out that he has failed because Kurt finds out?

Stop it, he tells himself. Every muscle in his body was stiff. His mind felt like it was on fire. Maybe he just needs to hide in the wine cellar and relax for a bit. Technically, he doesn't have to be at the hotel till the night shift starts, but he feels rather exhausted at this time of day.

The clerk's eyes widened at Kurt's thanks. While they have served English-speaking guest before and the guests learn basic words in Romanian, it's always something to hear one of them say a word as simple as mersi. "Desigur," Costin replies. To which Filip translates, "Of course."

Filip faces Kurt. Somehow he has no idea what to think when it comes to this American. And yet, he has to give a gentle nod. He has to pretend like there isn't a million eyes on him, watching his every step. "My pleasure. Please do get some rest. I will meet with you tomorrow at nine." He looks at the luggage he is carrying. "Would you like for me to carry these up or should I ask Costin to get someone to take care of your luggage?"

Calvin didn't want to inconvenience Simon, who was very likely also a bit tired. Though if he did ask his companion to bring the luggage, he might be able to pass other hotel staff to see if they had a reaction similar to the other two men they had interacted with. As the saying went, once was happenstance. Twice was a coincidence. Three times…that was enemy action. It was entirely possible that those reactions were just coincidental, but if more people reacted oddly to Simon, there could be something more at play. Calvin did feel a tinge of guilt at using Simon like this, since there was a good chance that he was just innocent, but he had to test this theory. It was far worse for him to not notice something going on so closely around him than to ask for a favor once and be wrong about his suspicions.

Maybe they wouldn't see anyone else. But Calvin couldn't just let this go. Perhaps it was paranoia, but he would look into this further. He turned back towards Simon, giving him a sheepish smile. "If you don't mind, could you carry them?" he asked, trying to stifle a yawn that decided to come up. He was so tired. He just needed to sleep, and then he could think again. Then he could trust his suspicion of this man more. He wanted to be certain that there was something going on and it wasn't just his tiredness or paranoia making it up. One thing was for sure, though: Calvin would be paying close attention to Simon from now on.

Filip was already prepared for asking Costin to get someone to carry the luggage. He was also ready to run home and get out of the suit he is wearing. Is it nice? Absolutely. He only feels uncomfortable wearing it. The doorman and Costin gave him strange looks when seeing him in it. There is also the fact that he has Kurt with him too. He thought that taking the night shift would make things easier but it appears that he still has some obstacles to overcome.

His lips curled back. The strange feeling crept back in. As long as he pretends that everything is okay, then it will be. "I would not mind at all. I would love to actually," He answered. There may be a good chance that they won't run into anyone else. If they do, then he will pretend that he doesn't know the person or he could use small talk with Kurt. They can talk about the weather.

Nothing bad is going to happen. So Filip put on his best smile. "Let's not waste time standing around then. I can see you are tired. I think the elevator is down this way," He said. Turning on his heel, he went off down a hallway. The elevator is not that far from the lobby; it's just a little walk. It is one of the finer infrastructure he has seen. They probably got an automatic one after Nixon visited.

Standing next to the buttons, he waited paitently. "Kurt, could you please press the button for me?" He adjusted the suitcases and briefcase in his grasp.

Calvin nodded, pushing the button and waiting. He felt a bit sheepish now, like perhaps his suspicions were wrong. No, he had a gut feeling, and trusting one's gut was important. Or so he had heard and read, anyway. He had little experience in this realm himself. And he did feel slightly bad still, as despite Simon's words, he had seemed a little reluctant to help Calvin. Not that Calvin could fault him for that; if the positions were reversed he wasn't sure that he would be entirely happy to carry the bags either. But one person's feelings did not matter in the grand scheme of things, whether they be Simon's or Calvin's or anyone else's. Calvin knew he would have to remind himself of that. The feelings of any of these individuals didn't matter so long as he figured out the truth behind what was happening and the agent he was searching for was able to get back home safely. That was it. The only things that mattered.

"Thank you again for everything," Calvin said, partially just to fill the awkward silence in the elevator. He didn't mind it so much in the car, but here in the close proximity it felt more poignant. Calvin didn't usually rush to fill silences, but a few words of gratitude were probably needed here. At any rate, Calvin did his best to study Simon without being too obvious about it. He knew very little about the man, and a cursory glance didn't reveal much either. However, maybe his body language would tell?

From what Calvin could tell, there was nothing amiss about his companion's body language. He seemed a little uncomfortable, but Calvin was also slightly uncomfortable in this elevator, ruminating on his mission, so he could be projecting. Those stupid books and lessons weren't that helpful here and now. Why couldn't Calvin just become a mind reader?

No, he was being stupid because he was tired. Calvin's grasp of body language was passable, and his intuition was fine. He just needed sleep. That would solve his problem of not trusting himself here. Calvin was smart, clever, and very often right. He had to believe in himself for god's sake. At any rate, it was just an elevator ride. He just wanted to check and see if any other staff reacted to Simon like the other two. It wasn't that big of a deal.

"Thank you, Kurt." Despite being the one carrying the luggage, he went to stand in the back left corner. Elevators are strange to him. If he does not have the urgency to get to a floor, he uses rhe stairs. The space inside always feels tight even if he is only in it with one other person. He enjoys the faint smell of smoke lingering in the air. Hearing the elevator going up distracted him from the anxiety that is making his mind throb.

Silence is always a damning thing. Silence is lovely. One can be completely safe or in the threshold of danger when they are in silence. Filip did not mind it at all. If there is any recording devices near by, then it would not pick up anything. The less he says the better. Technically there is a good chance that he would not get in trouble for talking to Kurt, but he is used to saying a line or two every now and then. He is used to not needing to talk for work; now he has to utilize it like a weapon. Words are more dangerous than man-made weapons, this is what his grandfather taught him.

Gazing over, he replied, "It is no problem. I am happy to help." His lips curled back. Filip was not sure if he found it amusing or adorable how Kurt suddenly said something in the midst of the silence. What was the term he had learned when watching those American romantic films? If memory serves him right, it was something like "awkward silence."

He is tired. Anxiety has worn him down. The day is far from over still. The elevator dinged then the doors opened. "Here, I will go first. I think I may know where your room is. I…oh-" The hotel manager, Mister Funar, was about to bump into him along with two officers in their uniforms.

Mister Funar only ever has one facial expression: indifference. He stared at Filip for a second, but he really spent most of his time looking over at Kurt. "Scuzați-mă, camarad," Funar said. Him and the officers stepped aside. Filip gave a head bow then signaled for Kurt to follow after him. He did not give the officers a second look. He went down the hall till stopping at a door with the numbers "324."

He was relieved that Simon seemed to appreciate the apology, even smiling a little. He noticed that Simon did have a nice smile, but before he think too far on that particular topic the elevator doors opened at last. Calvin had to say that the small ding felt like it heralded freedom. And some sleep. Which he sorely needed.

As the doors opened, he noticed three new men, two of whom were clearly police. Interesting. What were they doing at the hotel? He doubted he would know the answer without looking suspicious. Patience was a virtue that he had to live by if he wanted to not die, though of course he would seek answers whenever possible. His tired mind was starting to go off in too many different directions, and Calvin had to snap himself back to the present before he and Simon had walked past the men.

Calvin studied the non-uniformed man as Simon gave a small bow and the two of them began to walk off. Well, he didn't react to Simon at all. So perhaps it wasn't what Calvin had been chalking it up to be with the others. Maybe they just knew Simon but were surprised to find him with an American. It was possible his companion had neglected to tell his friends about his new job. Still, part of Calvin couldn't quite brush this aside, so he would have to keep a close eye on Simon just in case. For now though, it seemed Simon was a safe enough choice of assistant. This man had seemed more important than the other two and he didn't seem to care that Simon was here–or with Calvin–at all.

As he followed Simon, he continued to think about all of this, hoping he hadn't seemed too scatter-brained in front of the officers. Luckily it wasn't long before Simon stopped in front of one of the rooms. Calvin couldn't help the relieved crinkle of his eyes at the sight. He glanced at Simon, stifling another yawn before using the key he was holding to unlock the door and swing it open.

"I suppose this is where we part ways for now," he said, just to have something to say instead of standing there awkwardly. He gave Simon a grateful smile. "I really appreciate your help today, and I hope that you are able to get some rest yourself."

Seeing officers in the hotel can only mean a few things. Someone's in trouble, someone will be in trouble, or the Securitate is pulling someone into trouble. Costin said he heard rumors that sometimes they come in to put listening devices in certain places to listen in on guests. Filip always wondered if such rumors can turn out to be true. The worst part is is that no one seems to know and it feels like they will never know at all.

Filip tried to think past that small interaction. He wondered if they knew him. Perhaps the pace he was walking at was too quick and gave him away. Mister Funar seemed to not care at the time. Kurt is finally at his room and will be able to rest. And he will get to go home, change into normal clothes, then come back to work. No harm was done to anyone. It is a win-win for everybody.

In the midst of anxiety and weariness, he found himself grinning at Kurt. Was it this awkward silence that returned? Filip was unsure, yet he found Kurt's smile to be comforting. "I suppose it is so." He only stepped forward to place the luggage down by the wall inside the room. A wave of relief went through his arms. "Thank you, Kurt. And please do get some rest yourself. I will see you tomorrow at nine then."

On his way back, he took the stairs. This new job of his is terrible. Guilt weighs down on him as he went through the lobby on to the street. He has to lie about life here along with everything else. He has to watch every little move the journalist makes then report it as if all of those movements were important. Filip doesn't want to keep silent when he has to opportunity to tell someone the truth. Maybe he can. Maybe there is a way he can without getting Simon or himself caught.

As soon as Simon walked away, Calvin got all of the luggage into the room and shut the door softly. Finally, he was able to sleep. Despite the fact that he was alone, he knew that he had to act like someone was watching at all times. Who knew when someone would knock at the door or whether they were already suspicious of him? Who knew what technology might be lurking in this very room, or who would be waiting for Calvin to be caught off guard? The only real rest for him was sleep.

However, before he could sleep, he made sure to take a quick shower and brush his teeth. He felt a bit gross, since he hadn't been able to do either on the plane, and doing those small hygienic things felt amazing. Calvin had always been a stickler for personal hygiene. Ever since he was much younger, he would always brush his teeth twice a day and floss, shower every night, make sure to wear deodorant, etcetera. He hated to be caught at any time that he wasn't fully ready or clean, and therefore was never a fan of camping. So it was only after those small things that he finally collapsed into his bed. Jeez, he was tired.

Before he let himself sleep, though, he wrote a quick summary of the days' events in his journal, making sure to leave out anything incriminating. This would help him remember anything he might forget over the course of his mission, though there were things he could not write and would have to rely on his memory for. At least this journal would make the simple things easy, so he could focus on remembering the other stuff.

At last, he set the journal aside, his eyes feeling like they would shut any moment and his head feeling heavy, and fell abruptly into a deep sleep. He had remembered to set an alarm at the last minute, luckily for him, so he would be able to sleep until it went off the next morning. The sleep was dark and dreamless, and wonderful.

Time seemed to have passed by swiftly the moment he got home. After getting dressed in his work clothes, he fell asleep. He must have been out for hours because he only woke up when his grandfather had returned and gently shook his arm. The sun was setting, leaving most of the sky dark already. Outside the complex, dogs were barking. Now the second part of his day, his normal life as Filip, has begun.

After having a small dinner, he went back to the Eminescu Hotel. This time he did not receive any strange looks from anyone, although Costin was curious about what has happened in the morning. Filip explained that he was given a new job to help an American and now he works the night shift. His rather swift and simple explanation didn't seem to be satisfactory for his friend, but that was all he can say.

So Filip spent the whole night cleaning the dining hall and a few of the rooms. The hotel feels strangely peaceful when everyone is asleep and in their rooms. It gives him this feeling of content that he rarely feels. He knows that he may not truly be alone, but he likes to think that it is just him there wherever he goes. No one to watch, no one to watch him, and no one lurking in the shadows.

Eventually he had to leave the feeling of content. At the stroke of five, he left once again. Filip managed to get a few hours of sleep. His watch said it was eight by the time he woke up. It only took him twelve minutes to get dressed into a gray sweater, black pants, and a jacket; all of which was his grandfather's. By the time he had entered the lobby to wait for Kurt, it was a quarter to nine.

Calvin was woken up by the alarm at 8:00 am sharp, blinking awake and turning off the alarm quickly. Those who let alarms continue to blare after they had woken up was a pet peeve of his. He felt much better after so much sleep, and was honestly surprised that he hadn't woken up earlier. Perhaps the travel and the whole undercover thing combined had served to make him even more tired. He brushed his teeth, washed his face, combed his hair, and dressed. This time he was wearing a different button up underneath a sweater with tan pants and the same shoes he had worn the previous day. He had no real sense of fashion, but he didn't dress like he was blind either. He examined himself in the mirror before downstairs. This was good enough.

He took a briefcase with him, filled with things that could be used to journalism, like papers and pencils. He always preferred pencils over pens, because pencils allowed him to completely erase his mistakes. Calvin didn't like anything too permanent. He made it down to lobby five minutes prior to 9:00, always the sort of person to arrive five minutes early to things. He hated lateness and always made it a point to show up on time, typically closer to five minutes early than precisely at the arranged hour. He wasn't particularly surprised to see Simon already there and waiting for him, walking straight towards the man with long, even strides. He always walked as if he had somewhere to be, even when he didn't. He remembered in high school how he would zip through the halls between classes, annoyed at slow walkers and couples who clogged up the hallway with their public displays of affection.

Now there wasn't any of that, though, so Calvin was next to Simon very quickly. He smiled, fully awake after the great sleep he had been lucky enough to get that night. This time, the nerves were tight in his stomach, but he would use the anxiety to his advantage. The nervousness made him extremely aware of everyone in the room, and of every gesture people made. One thing about Calvin was that he would use everything he could to his advantage, and the ever-present anxiety had taught him that it could be a tool to be extra vigilant or work extra quickly long ago.

"Good morning," he said fairly cheerfully. A good night's rest really had helped. After he spoke, though, he started to debate whether that was too chipper. No, this was part of Kurt Fisher now. He was a morning person, and he was friendly. Calvin could be friendly. Piece of cake. Committing was the most important part here. If he was wishy-washy, it would look suspicious. Besides, he was feeling upbeat today in spite of the ever present anxiety and the mission at the forefront of his mind. He was ready to carry it out. He was confident. He could do this. He would do this.

While waiting, Filip did his best to fight off the wavering effects of being tired. It is not terrible or anything, but he bit the inside of his cheek. He also counted the patterns on the carpet then went on to count how many cars or people passed by the hotel. There were only three cars he had seen pass by, and two of them were black while the other was a shade of red. At least it kept him occupied for the time being. Despite being a patient person, he is not good at distracting himself or keeping himself occupied while waiting. He rarely had to.

He heard footsteps approach him. When turning his head to see who it was, his eyes laid on Kurt. The journalist had this bright glow about him. It was easy to see how it radiated from the way he was smiling and how he spoke. Sadly, this is something that Filip is not used to at all. No one smiles in such a way unless they are with close friends in certain places, even then him and Costin have just given each other nods as a way of greeting. There are many ways to greet people, he supposes. And there are many ways people can be or speak; chipper and cheerfully included.

Of course, he has learned this from movies. The fact that he is basing all of his knowledge of Americans and American culture off of movies smuggled into the country then seeing a bit of it in person is strange. A bit funny too, just like the awkward silence. Seeing little details from film in real life through Kurt is fascinating to him. It is a learning experience that he is learning to enjoy admist everything that is going on.

In an effort to return this bright mood, he attempted to grin. "And good morning to you," He said back, hoping it was enough. Filip worried that it was not sincere enough, that Kurt would feel weirded out. Oh well, he will do his best to make the journalist comfortable all while taking note of everything about him so he can report it to the Securitate.

"You ate and slept well, yes? You seemed so sleepy yesterday." He paused, is this what small talk is like? It's weird. "But…uh…anyways, where should we start with your work? Would you like to walk around the city or visit the embassy?"

Simon seemed a bit taken aback by Calvin's positive demeanor, and he briefly wondered if he had come on too strong. Normally he wasn't this chipper, but for some reason he had decided that this was how he wanted to play it. Perhaps it had been a decision? But before his thoughts could snowball, he remembered that this was an entirely different culture. Maybe it was odd for people to act so forward and casual here. It would make a lot of sense based on the information he had at present. Well, that was alright, and perhaps would allow him asking more probing questions without much suspicion. If he cemented himself as loud and forward now, it wouldn't be surprising for him to act that way again later.

Simon tried to replicate Calvin's cheery greeting, but something about it felt a bit forced. It was somewhat odd, but maybe Simon was just an awkward person. Calvin could already see the cultural differences between him and his companion, which was an interesting juxtaposition. He didn't mind it, though. He could use Simon as a way to gauge how other people here might react to things he said and did. It was much better to look like an idiot in front of one person than a lot, after all. But that didn't mean that he could let his guard down around the man at all, especially after last night. He still hadn't reached a real conclusion on that, figuring it was most likely coincidence but a bit wary nonetheless. He could look like a dumb American in front of Simon so long as he always looked like Kurt Fisher.

"Yes, I did," he responded to the man's first question. "Flights always tire me out." This was true. At his companion's question, Calvin thought for a moment. He figured that exploring the city at first was probably smart to get a good idea of the layout for himself. Having seen maps was one thing, but being there in person would help him connect the maps to reality. It would be completely up to date, too. "I think walking around the city is good. That way I can get a feel for the city, take some pictures, see what Bucharest is really like."