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[bitteraftertaste]

[Vesper doesn't look particularly rattled, but she kind of is. She knew this would be strange, and she knew it wouldn't be like anything she expected, but this was still hard to wrap her mind around, to think about living a completely different life.]

Well, that was certainly... different. I can't say I ever thought of myself as a teacher, and certainly not a history teacher. Mathematics was always my strongest subject.

[She almost looks like she's going to say something else, but hesitates and changes her mind before voicing whatever thought came to mind. It's better not to call too much attention to the fact that she'd been married to Bond, and she certainly doesn't want to admit that she'd been a spy, even if it hadn't really been here.] Does anyone have any suggestions on how one might pass the time, here? I haven't had this much free time since primary school.

[Private to Slade]

Check in, please, Mr. Wilson.

Comments

[Private]

[terminates]

All he wanted to do was fade into obscurity.

[Private]

[bitteraftertaste]

Is that what you want?

[Private]

[terminates]

[ ...He's thought about it.

It'd be a lie to say he hadn't actually considered it, even before being brought here. He tried to retired once; it didn't pan out. He was too restless to settle, but what was once a somewhat fulfilling profession turned into self-perpetuating nightmare.

He sees all that -- and yet, he still doesn't know what to do about it. ]

What I 'want' hasn't been a factor in anything for a long time.

[Private]

[bitteraftertaste]

It could be. I was under the impression you were very much in charge of your own destiny, once you've graduated.

[Private]

[terminates]

I always have been.

[ He doesn't by into predestination or any of that crap. ]

Circumstances were less than ideal.

[Private]

[bitteraftertaste]

And what if that changes?

[Private]

[terminates]

[ Just. a lengthy pause here. ]

I don't think they will.

[Private]

[bitteraftertaste]

Maybe that's part of the problem.

[Private]

[terminates]

I know.

[ He's had a lot of time to stew on this, and he's always been pretty self-aware. He just doesn't see a way to fix things. ]

[Private]

[bitteraftertaste]

Can you tell me about what made the circumstances so unideal? I'll be the first to admit that my world seems a bit more boring than yours, and I wouldn't mind having your perspective on it.

[Private]

[terminates]

It's not the world itself.

[ The problem is entirely him. ]

[Private]

[bitteraftertaste]

Then what was it?

[Private]

[terminates]

[ Suppressing a heavy sigh, he pinches the bridge of his nose. He doesn't want to talk about this -- he doesn't even know how to talk about it.

How do you articulate that everything terrible that happened in your life was a result of your own choices. Your responsibility.

He couldn't ever change, and this is the hand he's been dealt.

When he answers, his tone is bland. ]

It was only a matter of time.

[Private]

[bitteraftertaste]

And you honestly believe there's no coming back from it?

[Private]

[terminates]

[ Just a faint, bitter smile she can't see. ]

Not especially.

[Private]

[bitteraftertaste]

I don't believe that. Just because you've done something doesn't mean you have to keep doing it.

[And it's probably some kind of minor miracle that her voice doesn't break when she says it.]

[Private]

[terminates]

Failure has a way of growing on you.

[ Blunt, without any real emotion. ]

[Private]

[bitteraftertaste]

We're going to have to find a way to work on that.

[Private]

[terminates]

Whatever you say.