lastrat | ♠ | 010

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[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.

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Before I take this up to Edinburgh for the festival, shall we exchange security codes?

I hope you don't present as Q, you'll turn MI6 into a laughing stock.

It would be one way to increase our budget.

Or cut it. This will be gone by the time you get there.

Get where, Bond?

Edinburgh. [SIGH.]

You're practically a boy. [How did you get this job, what happens in the next seven years that this is a thing he deals with.]

[Despite being in his thirties, Q has grown accustomed to being dismissed for his 'apparent' inexperience.]

Yes, well, I do try to fit my job in between Boy Scout rallies and spray painting rude slogans on kebab shops.

[And James does love reading books by covers.]

Responsible of you. How long have you had the job?

A little over a year now.

Well, I'm sure that will take getting used to.

I have the utmost faith in your adaptability.

Shame I can't say the same, given the brevity of our relations.

Either our employers have gone out of their way to risk the entire organization and its people by hiring incompetent twits, or, perhaps I might know what I'm doing.

[He raises one hand.]

I will admit that even at the best of times, I don't have much faith in the powers that be, but I sincerely doubt they've nipped off and hired the tech support from Virgin Mobile.

Perhaps.

[His face still says he doesn't quite buy it, but at least he's willing to set it aside.]

Don't let the powers that be hear you. [Which means go ahead and tell them, it's his method and it's worked quite well so far.]

Never fear, I've repeatedly told them as much.

My opinion of you may yet change.

Rapture unbounded.

And we're back to square one.

Can I trouble you for a bit of an explanation for our current situation?

You'll regret that.

[Which is possibly why he dishes.] I'm trapped on a bloody ship in space, until I've managed to earn myself a second shot at life. Or redemption. Difficult to keep the company line straight.