[He would not have enjoyed watching him sleep; Pierce was a light sleeper, particularly when he wanted his naps. It made sleeping in loud places where gun shots and bombs could go off at night very inconvenient. He certainly enjoyed absolute darkness and quiet for when he wanted to recharge his mental batteries, but he had learned through years of crying children, random phone calls in the night that sometimes fewer hours of sleep were just a normal reality.

He still wouldn't have been happy to be spied on at night. That was his quiet time, but that was neither here nor there. That she didn't move off to help herself to a drink from the fridge was not at all surprising; so few spies took him up on that offer and that was sad. Good hospitality was falling by the wayside and no one seemed to appreciate that.]

An odd time to be stopping by and in such an odd place, since I know you don't live on this communal housing floor. If you wanted to know the colour of my pajamas, you could have just asked. [His eyes flicked up to study her, though he had already surmised that she had come here to poke around his business. He was pleased that she didn't bother to try to lie; it was such a waste of their time.] Oh, I don't have an Ivan in my department, though I am sure one is about these parts what with all the coming and going of new people. I had heard of his project back where I'm from, but I am afraid that, until now, I haven't had time to dedicate to his exploits.

[That she continued to ask questions about Ivan piqued his interest. Obviously, based on the file, she knew this particular Ivan, but as he had said, it was a common name.] You obviously know an Ivan. Would you like to talk about him?