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[lastrat]

[Private to Vesper]

Congratulations. [But lbr he's mentioned that before now. Which means he's got something else on his mind.] Where are you?

[Public]

[And a little later, once he's realized just what the Admiral's announcement means, he clicks back on publicly. He's plenty wary now, because the Admiral is just flat out not to be trusted, but he's never been one to run from something new.]

Assuming I'm not just speaking to the Barge...[There's a little twitch in his lip; he's very, very tempted to just say, 007 reporting for duty, because he thinks he's very, very funny. But given he has no idea who's listening, he manages to restrain himself.

Besides, his name is just as good.]

This is Bond, James Bond. If there's anyone from my world listening, speak up.

Comments

NOR SHOULD YOU BE

[lastrat]

I'm not often in the habit of making social calls to strangers.

[oedipusrat]

Strangers? Oof, you wound me so.

[lastrat]

You're easily wounded. And avoidant of introductions, apparently.

[oedipusrat]

It's always a little safer that way, don't you think, Mr. Bond, James Bond? Maybe you could tell me what you're doing if you don't even recognize my voice.

[lastrat]

I'm trying to contact people from home. Successful, it seems, though I can't say I recognize three quarters of you.

What year is it?

[oedipusrat]

2012, dear. A very exciting year, it seems.

[lastrat]

Filled with such new faces. [Why is he being called dear. 8|]

2006, for me.

[oedipusrat]

...Such a distance in time. Hm, that makes you rather fresh, does it not? Le Chiffre, hm?

[Private]

[lastrat]

[NOOOOOOOOOOPE PRIVATE NOW]

Who are you?

[Private]

[oedipusrat]

[Oh ho ho.] Keeping secrets, are we? Are you surprised I know anything? I am...hm. Always difficult to describe someone in relation to you, as you find relationships so difficult. Friend seems too casual, where acquaintance too cold. Brother too familiar. Perhaps I should just say that we are cut from the same cloth, hm? And MI6 uses such a dark, coarse one.

[Private]

[lastrat]

[His eyes narrow just a bit more; he wasn't aware there was a habit of double-ohs sharing the sordid details of their missions, and he's really rather certain there isn't; so he still sounds plenty wary.]

Number?

[Private]

[oedipusrat]

[Number. Oh, how long ago that was! Funny how numbers tend to trump names in this game of spies.]

005. Formerly.

[Private]

[lastrat]

Formerly? [005's slot is empty, as far as he's aware, but it's not unlikely for it to be filled in the next few years. But how many agents live to say they were formerly a double-oh?]

[Private]

[oedipusrat]

I somehow managed to survive my post, it seems.

[Private]

[lastrat]

And that was where?

[Private]

[oedipusrat]

Oh, you know how MI6 likes to merely point you where they want you to go. But I did spend most of my time in Hong Kong.

[Private]

[lastrat]

Can't deny that. [Can't keep from quirking the tiniest of smiles, either, though it fades again.]

How did you know about Le Chiffre?

[Private]

[oedipusrat]

Oh, I know all about your history. Well. History as from my perspective. Access to MI6 files helps with that.

[Private]

[lastrat]

Charming. Somehow I doubt that access is legal.

[Private]

[oedipusrat]

And what we do, that is legal?

[Private]

[lastrat]

In England.

[Private]

[oedipusrat]

And everywhere else?

[Private]

[lastrat]

We do have a license to kill, 005.

[Private]

[oedipusrat]

That hardly makes our every action legal, 007. But what do we care, so long as we get the job done? I wouldn't think you to be terribly upset at a little unauthorized access. We've all made our trespasses, especially against the organization we thought we could trust above all else.

[Private]

[lastrat]

Thought. [There's the faintest inflection of a question, there, not emphasized. He knows what it's like feel that trust crumple.]