007

"she thinks i'm a delight." there's the smallest smirk - a little wink thrown in james' direction. "i'm a people person , bond , you should try it some time." despite the light topic of conversation , lennox keeps his shoulders tight. HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY HE'S SO ON EDGE , it was an easy mission. nothing to worry about - yet something doesn't feel right. maybe it's instinct ( or paranoia ) , he just can't help but wonder if their missing something big.

i bet we would have been best friends as kids.

OVER the lip of a drink, the musing comes across as far more intimate and vulnerable than is perhaps intended. It hits Alec in a way he doesn't much want to think about, a pang right in the middle of his chest.

He accompanies the eventual pull of his drink with a fond eye-roll.

"We're best friends now, @seventhrecruit" he eventually offers, clearing his throat of the pleasant burn of the booze, "And the mischief we can get up to now" here, as spies, as men, as brothers "More than makes up for the -- what? 18? 19? -- years we spent not being best friends." Because, yes, he will consider them best friends from their first meeting. Why wouldn't he? 'Destined' is the flowery, cringe-worthy, definitely-grin-laced word he'd use.

"You're going to start sounding middle-aged if you're not careful," a beat, a grin as he slings an arm around his best mate's shoulders, "And that would put you in a very dangerous spot where my particular predelictions are concerned, hm?"

“Yes, the mischief of two grown adults who got roped into the world of espionage. Our childhood self’s could never imagine a friendship like this.” Maybe that was for the best. If they knew each other during boarding school, he was sure he would have been kicked out even more times than he already was.

He laughed as Alec’s arm wrapped around him, nudging him in the side. “Piss off, we’re still young enough. When I start talking like Greenway, then feel free to put me down and out of my misery.”

"just trying to fill the silence -" he's quick to throw back , scanning the area. SOMETHING DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT ( although it could be argued that he was just being paranoid // more than usual ). "it's called small talk , bond - you might want to learn it. useful skill." lennox really doesn't like waiting around ( and he hates not being in control even more - he trusts cressida , that's not what this is about ).

i'll find another way!

IN the time he's known @seventhrecruit -- both in their not-so-past life as plain old recruits and their shiny new one as 00 recruits -- Alec has never once had cause to doubt or otherwise dismiss any variation of 'I'll find another way' that leaves James Bond's mouth. For better or worse, improvisation was one of Bond's intangibles; Alec might've been jealous, if he hadn't been of the same ilk.

Already the protests from Cressida have begun. If he wasn't so deeply dedicated to his cover, Alec might've cracked a smile about it. Ignore the cough he has to muffle into his sleeve as she starts going on about getting back to the car park right now.

"He's already abandoned his post, might as well let him see what he can do. If it's nothing, it's nothing. He's the help, after all. I'm sure the Yorkes can afford a brand new chauffeur without much of a problem, hm?" exhaled under his breath, there's little doubt that the internal smug grin is carried through his voice. He knows the risk that comes with going on a tangent like this, but... well... what was the point of spying if you weren't chasing the intrigue and unsolved questions?

"Warm day, plenty of windows open. Assuming no one's in the business of looking up, I doubt you'll have too many issues." Case in point: Alec's just glanced over at a window bracketed by blowing curtains ( Sloppy work, not tying them back. For shame! ).

"In for a penny, in for a pound, James: make it worth the bollocking when Greenway finds out."

“No, they’re all too busy being full of themselves to even spare a glance upwards.” He replied, already scouting out the exterior. Plenty of options for him to scale up and slip inside an open room.

“Is this how you grew up, Cress? At lavish events like this, surrounded by people with sticks up their arse?” He can’t help but try to get a rise out of her now, especially as he knows he’s already gotten under her skin by disobeying. Really, she should have known better by now, and he’ll make it up to her by getting takeaway and cleaning up after once they’re back home.

With Alec’s encouragement, (he knew he’d have either his or Monroe’s), James leaped up to the closest edge, starting his ascent. “I’d get a bollocking if I was a good little boy and stayed at the car anyway. Breathing gets Greenway on my back so might as well take the risk.”

we need visuals and a status.

what sort of retrieval are we talking about?

we are under attack.

i'm looking at the thing now. or what's left of it.

you're still on a need-to-know basis.

i'm afraid that's classified.

what's that noise?

i need you to do exactly as i say.

you need an antidote. you've been exposed to a nerve agent.

what exactly am i looking for?

have a little rest and then get to somewhere safe. you've done great.

you just get out of the camp and sit tight.

i'll follow. see what i can do.

remember who you're up against.

now you start to worry about me.

what's the point, then? they're all going to die anyway.

i think some of the others are still alive.

you need to get out of the blast zone.

stand down. that's an order.

listen carefully. you have a less than one percent chance of success.

no time to hesitate. those people need my help.

that's where i'll find the captives.

hey, listen. we don't have much time, and we need to get you out of here.

what about the others? we can't leave without them.

you'll know when you see it.

i don't know how to drive this thing!

this should keep them busy.

you could have saved them if you had spoken up.

your friends died protecting nothing. what a waste.

listen. i already freed your friends. we don't have much time.

these guys mean business.

all right. time to bring the house down.

that should stir things up a bit.

what are you doing? come on! run!

light the place up! do not let them escape!

follow me this way. there's a way out.

what is this now? you want to blow us up?

i'm not MI6.

do you have an appointment?

you sound familiar.

gotta say you're healing fast.

so... i'm in trouble.

can i grab you for a second?

now let's not get carried away, [name].

you're really enjoying this, aren't you?

everything you need to know will be explained to you shortly.

i must say you're all taking this code of secrecy seriously.

you're very talkative, aren't you?

i do enjoy a quiet office. i'm sure we can limit the small talk.

i was unaware i was under MI6 command and i just chose not to take your advice.

i believe it's more a case of authority having issues with me.

look, i know where this is going.

do you mind telling me why i'm here?

i want to make you a spy.

i want you to join my training program.

it's unlikely you'll pass the test.

when do i start?

you're dismissed.

you have some catching up to do.

better get you up to speed.

judging from your profile i'm sure you'll get along splendidly.

your flight's waiting for you, so you'd better get a move on.

you're not here for sightseeing.

to do this, you need skill, discipline, and above all, dedication.

pure dumb luck will only get you so far.

i like what you've done with the place.

you really have a knack for stating the obvious.

i expect the list of things you don't know is quite extensive.

would you do the honors?

okay, show me what you've got.

i do love a challenge.

"mmh, you do." the bespectacled hacker agreed while feigning a casual facade as if he were just another man taking in the design of the hotel lobby. all while hiding his work laptop in his messenger bag that contained all the information that he had gotten from all kinds of sources and hacking that he dared not let anyone else see. "of course. that's what i'm here for, after all." he rolled his eyes and looked at the other man with a raise of his eyebrows. "you have no idea of what i'm capable of. i can do more than just open doors for you."

do we need to go over the plan again?

did you get all that?

do you understand your role?

can i trust you to get it done?

this is our only chance.

i don't think this will work.

do we have any other options?

we don't have time to think of another plan. this has to work.

it sounds crazy... but maybe we can make it work.

i knew you'd have a plan.

what's our escape plan if things go wrong?

if this thing goes sideways, we're dead.

surprisingly, this sounds feasible.

will you stick with me the whole time?

i can't believe i'm going to have to trust you on this.

you sure this will work?

do you think you can disable that in time?

your last plan didn't go so well.

where did you get a blueprint of the building?

maybe there's another way.

they've upped their security measures.

what's our plan b?

we need more time to plan this out.

you can do what you do best.

think you can handle all of that?

we'll regroup at this point, here.

this is a map of the area. this is where we are now.

i'm not sure i'm cut out for this kind of stuff.

we'll split up here.

maybe you should get someone else to do that part.

you've done this a million times before.

do we know where the cameras are located?

we have to get by the security desk first.

if we're lucky, it'll be disabled.

we're all counting on you.

i'll be with you every step of the way.

this is never going to work.

wait wait wait, when did i agree to this?

what's the goal here?

the cameras will be pointed away from us.

what's our strategy for this part?

what if they see us?

go to plan b.

this is our last chance. we have to make it count.

what if we don't make it out of here alive?

we're so close. we can't give up now.

remind me what i have to do.

are you sure you can talk your way past them?

they'll never see you coming.

what's my part in this?

with the cameras disabled, it'll be smooth sailing.

that's the main access room.

think you can hack your way through that?

we need an escape plan.

they know we're coming.

they'll be ready for us this time.

keep in constant communication.

i've got your back.

i'll be monitoring you the whole time.