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[lastrat]

[Bond is in the pub, a tumbler in his hand (and no bottle in sight even, this is a semi-healthy indulgence okay) and a fairly clear expression on his face. He takes a sip, licks his lips and smiles a little wryly as he finally settles his attention on the camera.]

Alec's gone.

[He doesn't sound remotely broken up about this. Sorry, Alec.]

That - on top of surviving - seems deserving of a party. I'll open the door for whoever's interested. I might even break out the good food.

[He lifts his glass in a little toast, and downs that's left in one go as he kills the feed.]

[Private to Elena]

Stop by.

[Is he gonna say why? Nope.]

Comments

[imfollowinghim]

Are we talking good food, or good English food?

[lbr he will be there regardless sorryyyy]

[myresponsibility]

Are you going to start singing "Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead" now?

[theresalwayshope]

If the good food involves any sort of fish and chips, I'm in!

Oh, and how casual is the dress code?

[fuckton]

Did you fucking kill him?

[thefuckup]

I don't know who Alec is-- uh, was?-- but I'll drink to that. [ ANY excuse to go indulge his vices, okay. ]

spam;

[forgetyourusedtobe]

[She doesn't bother to ask why even though she doesn't know what his reason might be. He's probably not going to tell her even if she asks and at worst he's probably going to be drowning the past couple of days out with alcohol.]

[So, Elena makes the time to stop by his cabin. She doesn't let herself in and knocks this time.]

[lastrat]

We're mostly talking good liquor.

[He makes a thoughtful face, then shrugs.] And I hate bangers and mash.

[lastrat]

I wasn't, but now that you mention it...

[He flashes a quick smile.] You should have broken his legs while you had the chance.

[lastrat]

It's a pub. [He sounds more than half amused by the question.] Just don't show up in pajamas.

[He's not in a suit for once, because his laid back attire needs to see the light of day, too.]

[lastrat]

A very long time ago. I'm certain I sent him here, however time-displaced it was.

[lastrat]

A traitor. [And a friend, but Bond is...just bad at forgiving. And Alec tried to kill him a few times.] It's worth drinking to.

[Bond is maybe sorta definitely very bad at noticing when others' vices go too far, too.]

Door's open.

spam;

[lastrat]

[The last few days may have been hellish, but he knows they could have been worse. He's not drinking when she shows - he's saving that for later, with every intention of drinking to Alec's name and cursing it every time.

He debates, as he opens the door, just doing it here so he can escape quickly, but Alec's disappearance put him in a better mood than he anticipated.

He steps aside, gesturing.]

Come in.

[theresalwayshope]

Pfft. Sorry, buddy, I didn't know we had one. [She's just being a little bit bratty, though, so there's no real annoyance in her tone, and she's grinning as she says it.] Pub chic it is, then.

...they don't card, do they?

[imfollowinghim]

Good. We can keep being friends.

[fuckton]

But did you fucking kill him here?

[There's definitely a 'you piece of shit' tone there.]

[myresponsibility]

I'm pretty sure his pride was broken enough as is.

[walkingmeltdown]

Well. I'm taking it by the subtle clues you're giving off here that you knew him, and you weren't exactly a fan.

spam;

[forgetyourusedtobe]

[Elena steps inside, a little surprised not to see at least an empty glass in Bond's hand. It seems like he's drinking more often than not whenever she sees him in person anyways.]

So... What's up?

[lastrat]

Oh, good. I was terrified for a moment that I'd be rid of you.

[lastrat]

Then you ought to have taken a picture.

[lastrat]

Only if you're especially unlucky.

[Which is to say no. Which is to also say that he doesn't care. He's been drinking since he was much too young for it.]

[lastrat]

[He hears it. And he doesn't care for it.]

Didn't have the opportunity. [His voice is hard in response.]

Are you holding the flood against me, or did he manage to charm you in his short time here?

spam;

[lastrat]

[She has a way of finding him at bad times. Closing the door behind her, Bond turns to head further into his sitting room, waving a hand dismissively.]

That was a terrible place to have a birthday.

[There's something wrapped in brown paper on his side table: it's simple, taped, not even a string bow. He holds it out to her.]

Here.

[Inside is a new journal, bound in leather: on the cover is an engraved scorpion. On the inside of the cover is Bond's quick scrawl: Start practicing, Salinger.]

[lastrat]

You have excellent observational skills.

[The sarcasm is light: he's not ready to puncture this good mood just yet.]

spam;

[forgetyourusedtobe]

[Although he's a little unceremonious in handing the gift to her and he makes it both look and feel more like a pass-off of some kind of package only a select number of people are privy to all the details about, Elena smiles a little. She hadn't been expecting anything and sure as hell didn't expect anything after that port. She was just expecting her nineteenth birthday to pass by without comment or remark.]

[Elena is careful in unwrapping it. It isn't hard to guess what it is from the feel of the package, but the engraved scorpion catches her by surprise and the message inside widens her smile.]

Thank you, [she says as she closes it. Elena doesn't get emotional about it, visibly anyway. She doesn't move in for a hug either. That's just not the way Bond is with her, so she doesn't get that way with him unless it's really warranted. Instead,] I'm still not drinking my own pee though.