five ♥ video

[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]

[ 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.