Skyfall Manor

I had expected to die in that climbing accident. That's what all the papers said happened. Unfortunately, Monique was the only one to die. I, on the other hand, almost lost full use of my left leg. Recovery was hard, but I made it through. My name is Andrew Bond. I was an admiral in the Royal Navy before I retired. Now, if you would be so kind, please inform me of who destroyed Skyfall.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

+vesperinaglass

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

He set the glass on the table and looked at his daughter. How many moments like this had he missed out on? He probably didn’t want to count them all right now. No, that would be a little too much for him to handle.

“I’ve kept busy,” he offered with a soft smile. “I dealt with a few things in Russia and took a small holiday in Montenegro.” The holiday had been to go to Casino Royale. He had heard about the poker tournaments that were held there on occasion. It was also one of the last high-stakes casinos to have baccarat.

A sad smile replaced the soft one. “Have you visited home?” he asked. He knew that he could have gone back to Skyfall first, but he had wanted to see his daughter before he did anything else.

[thejobisdone]

“Ah. France… fond memories there” she smiled to herself, running her thumb around the edge of her glass. She listened carefully and a small smile cracked over her features at the mention of home.

“Remember how when I was younger I threatened to burn the place to the ground one day?” she asked, smile smoothing out slightly larger. “Well a few months back I made good on my promise” she stated with a sip of the amber liquid.

“Hope you don’t plan to head back any time soon” she said in a slight demure to her voice.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

Andrew sighed softly and tilted his head back. He had remembered when she threatened to burn Skyfall down. He had known that she wouldn't do it while he or Monique were still alive. Some part of him had figured that she would have made good on the promise sooner than she apparently did.

He looked at her again and shrugged slightly. "I had planned on returning." It seemed that he was out of a home once more. Well, he had sold the place where he was living in Calais for a slightly decent sum of money. Andrew also continued to collect his retirement pensions from the Admiralty.

"Do you know of any places in the area that are for sale?" He would go back to Scotland if he had to, but he still wanted to make up for lost time. Well, he would if Jamie let him do so. It was entirely up to her, he just wanted to know what she decided.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

+vesperinaglass

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

He grudgingly acquiesced to the pressure on his shoulder and sat back down in the chair. Okay, so maybe he wasn’t as strong as he had wanted to be. Would he ever be that strong again? He pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind as he finished his scotch.

Andrew thought for a moment before he sighed. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t thinking about long-term consequences. I only thought about what would be best for her.” He had a problem with that. Monique had always been a weakness of his, even if he wouldn’t admit it.

[thejobisdone]

Jamie glanced at her father some, slowly sitting down across from him. The agent swirled the last bit of whiskey around in her glass, listening to her father carefully.

Glancing up she bit back her emotions “At least you were trying” she muttered quietly. Running her fingers through her hair she pushed it back from her eyes and she looked over, lips pursed for awhile.

Looking down at her nearly empty glass she finally spoke “How have you been anyways?” she intoned slowly, unsure and almost -just almost- childlike.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

He set the glass on the table and looked at his daughter. How many moments like this had he missed out on? He probably didn't want to count them all right now. No, that would be a little too much for him to handle.

"I've kept busy," he offered with a soft smile. "I dealt with a few things in Russia and took a small holiday in Montenegro." The holiday had been to go to Casino Royale. He had heard about the poker tournaments that were held there on occasion. It was also one of the last high-stakes casinos to have baccarat.

A sad smile replaced the soft one. "Have you visited home?" he asked. He knew that he could have gone back to Skyfall first, but he had wanted to see his daughter before he did anything else.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

+theonlyjamesbond

Andrew let his hand linger on the headstone that bore his name and Monique’s. He had placed the steel cartridge that had changed both of their lives on the ground. It was leaning against the headstone, just as it should have been. He could feel that someone was near him. A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth as he realized who it was.

“James..”

[theonlyjamesbond-blog]

He blinked, narrowing his eyes to the man. “What…what the hell?” He asked him walking towards him, his mouth open in shock. He glanced down to the headstone and back at him, reading it, making sure it was his name that laid upon the stone, along with his mothers.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

"I'm not a ghost, son." After the accident, he had heard that they had tried to recover Monique's body. He had been sad when he learned that there was nothing that could be done. Andrew chuckled softly to himself as he glanced at what remained of Skyfall. "I knew you didn't like it, but you didn't have to destroy the manor."

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

+face-it-all-at-skyfall

Andrew sat near the altar with his hands clasped in front of him. Some half-amused part of his mind took a moment to appreciate the irony of the situation. A man, once believe to have been dead, was sitting in a church. He really couldn't go back to Skyfall, or what remained of the manor. He looked up as he heard a set of footsteps on the stone floor, but his gaze remained forward. He knew who it was, he just wasn't going to say anything at the moment.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

+vesperinaglass

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

Andrew lightly shrugged before he drank some of the scotch. He almost finished half the glass before he stopped and held the glass in his hand and thought about what they should talk through.

“Well, you already know about the Steel Cartridge operation. Is there anything else you would want to know?” he asked. He was unsure of whether or not to sit down again. He needed to get everything he had to say out and into the open. Andrew only hoped that Jamie would hear him out.

[thejobisdone]

“Why did you feel the need to protect me… and mom through something that would only…. put us in greater danger later?” she asked, walking back out, empty handed with food.

She glanced him over before she took a few steps forward, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder with the lightest of pressures for him to go sit back down.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

He grudgingly acquiesced to the pressure on his shoulder and sat back down in the chair. Okay, so maybe he wasn't as strong as he had wanted to be. Would he ever be that strong again? He pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind as he finished his scotch.

Andrew thought for a moment before he sighed. "Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking about long-term consequences. I only thought about what would be best for her." He had a problem with that. Monique had always been a weakness of his, even if he wouldn't admit it.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

+theonlyjamesbond

Andrew let his hand linger on the headstone that bore his name and Monique's. He had placed the steel cartridge that had changed both of their lives on the ground. It was leaning against the headstone, just as it should have been. He could feel that someone was near him. A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth as he realized who it was.

"James.."

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

+vesperinaglass

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

“One of us may end up dead if we do that,” he countered. It was a very real possibility. They were both hotheaded and stubborn. Andrew and Jamie hadn’t gotten along well when the latter was younger. Now that they both had grown up there was a potential for so much more to come about.

He shook his head. “You are right, though. We need to talk through this.”

[thejobisdone]

“Where do we begin then?” she asked slowly, taking a small sip of her scotch before she put it down on the nearby side table.

She heads for her kitchen, glancing it over. It’d been nearly a week since she’d been home. Did she even have any food? Glancing through the cabinets she sighed.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

Andrew lightly shrugged before he drank some of the scotch. He almost finished half the glass before he stopped and held the glass in his hand and thought about what they should talk through.

"Well, you already know about the Steel Cartridge operation. Is there anything else you would want to know?" he asked. He was unsure of whether or not to sit down again. He needed to get everything he had to say out and into the open. Andrew only hoped that Jamie would hear him out.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

+ four

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

The man nodded and sat back down. He accepted the offered glass of scotch and looked at the man. Andrew sipped at the scotch and nodded once he learned the man’s name. “Call me Andrew,” he replied. The retired admiral looked at Le Chiffre with a measure of interest. There had to be another reason he was her than getting a drink. What was it?

[blindeyedmastermind]

Le Chiffre sat delicately in the plush armchair next to Andrew and looked into the fire, steepling his fingers pensively. After a moment, he broke the curious silence.

“I believe we may have a mutual acquaintance. My sources tell me your name is Bond, correct?”

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

He swirled the amber liquid in the glass before he nodded. “This mutual acquaintance would be James.” If people didn’t identify him by who he was and what he had done, it was usually through his son. Had James really done that much with MI6? It was quite possible.

Andrew sipped at the scotch again, this time drinking a little bit more. He had little power over what James did anymore. Though, it wasn’t like he had much power over his son’s actions in the first place.

[blindeyedmastermind]

He smiled tightly. “Yes. How lovely.” Not really. “I, ah… Wished to ascertain your opinion of him.” If the man was close, he was an enemy or a potential hostage. Le Chiffre would have to check into the man’s background. If he disliked his son, he might be an ally. If it was neither… Well, the man was rather useless to him, then.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

"I've no real opinion of him," he admitted, "I have been out of his life for over thirty years." Andrew shook his head and he glanced at the other. "James has become exactly like me and I hate it." He had no real claim on anything that James did or had done in the past. It didn't mean that he had no right to hate what his son had become. That would mean he hated himself. Andrew had hated himself on and off for ten years.

[pretty-little-beast]

Open Starter; Waiting

Serene was often waiting.

Always waiting for new news, new assignments, new targets. She was always waiting for the moment the trigger had to be pulled, the moment her boss or other employers would give that sly little nod that was conformation of allowing Serene to cover the wall with the victim’s brains.

Brain splattered walls were a little bit of a contrast to what she was waiting for now, though.

For the minute, the most violence going on around her was the harsh tapping on impatience from her index finger on the table surface as she waited in the coffee shop for her vanilla spice latte.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

Andrew should have known things would end up like this.

He had known that he had waited to long to approach his son. He should have done that sooner. Instead, he had waited. Waited for what? He obviously hadn't waited for the right time. He didn't exactly know what he had waited for. He pushed those thoughts from his mind as he stopped at the entrance to a coffee shop.

The man took off his gloves and lightly put them in the pockets of his jacket before he opened the door.

His cane tapped on the ground of the shop as he walked to one of the empty tables. He accepted a small menu as it was handed to him and he looked through it, trying to figure out what was good.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

+vesperinaglass

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

He looked up at her and his jaw tightened. Oh, no. No, he couldn’t lose his temper. He was still dangerous in his current state. He was even more dangerous when he was angry.

“They wanted to teach me a lesson, so they did,” he countered as he started to rise from the chair. “We’ve both made mistakes. I guess that’s what being a Bond is about.” Andrew straightened up and stepped to the side. He stuck his hands in the pockets of his slacks and smirked.

No, this was not going to end well.

[thejobisdone]

Jamie stared back at him, brows furrowing some “Go on. Tell me I’m… being childish” she stated flatly. “But it’s the truth…. and sooner or later we’ll need to hash out our differences. Our anger.” she said, taking a deep irritated breath.

She crossed her arms, cradling her now quarter glass of scotch in her left as she stared back at her father.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

"One of us may end up dead if we do that," he countered. It was a very real possibility. They were both hotheaded and stubborn. Andrew and Jamie hadn't gotten along well when the latter was younger. Now that they both had grown up there was a potential for so much more to come about.

He shook his head. "You are right, though. We need to talk through this."

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

+vesperinaglass

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

He watched her stand and he finished the rest of his scotch. Andrew leaned over and set the glass on the small table nearby with a slight grimace. He needed more to drink, but he wasn’t sure how to tell Jamie that he wanted more. He just sat back and sighed.

Andrew glanced up before he looked down for a moment. “I did it to protect your mother. Later, I did it to protect you as well,” he countered. “Everything I did was for you and your mom..”

[thejobisdone]

Jamie saw the empty glass.

There was a bond in the Bond she supposed. The mutual understanding that an empty glass needed to be filled.

After filling the glass she scoffed “And yet Mom is six feet under, you can barely support your own weight and I know how to kill a man six ways with one hand” she muttered, glancing down at him, leaving the bottle beside him.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

He looked up at her and his jaw tightened. Oh, no. No, he couldn't lose his temper. He was still dangerous in his current state. He was even more dangerous when he was angry.

"They wanted to teach me a lesson, so they did," he countered as he started to rise from the chair. "We've both made mistakes. I guess that's what being a Bond is about." Andrew straightened up and stepped to the side. He stuck his hands in the pockets of his slacks and smirked.

No, this was not going to end well.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

+agent-silva

[agent-silva-deactivated20130812]

“I defended this country through torture and betrayal and I am still not deemed to be ‘from round here’?” Silva asked bitterly. But he didn’t have the strength to argue much more; the man started to slip in and out of consciousness, slumping forward onto the ground and rubble in front of him.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

He was about to retort when whatever triage instincts he had left started to take over. He firmly placed his other hand on the man’s chest in order to keep him from falling forward. Even if he stopped the blood flow, Andrew didn’t have anything to help the other regain consciousness. He closed his eyes for a moment and hoped for something, anything, that would help.

“Sir..” a very familiar voice said from behind him.

Andrew didn’t bother to turn around. “Go to the quarry. Get the medical kit there and bring it back.” He then glanced over his shoulder at Kincaid. “He’s MI6 and he needs help.” He put even more pressure on the wound as he heard Kincaid turn around. Andrew had killed more than his fair share of people. He just needed to save one.

[agent-silva-deactivated20130812]

Drowsily, Silva’s eyelids flicked open, then closed again…then opened and he squirmed away from Andrew, confused and slowed by the wound.

“Wh…whatta…are…y’doing…?” He slurred out, eyes unfocused but very much suspicious of the other Bond.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

The man let out a slightly disgruntled sigh yet stayed where he was as the other moved away. He cast a glance at the door, wondering when Kincaid was going to get back.

"I'm trying to save your life," he replied. "Pressure is supposed to stop blood flow. Maybe even give you a fighting chance."

Why else was he helping this man? It was only partly because of his conscience. He wasn't just going to let someone die in what was left of his home. Another reason was the fact that, well, he was the one who had endangered the man's life even further.

Andrew shook his head. "Let me help."

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

+ four

Andrew glanced up from what he was reading and took his glasses off. He dragged a hand down his face as he let out a sigh. If this was what happened when he came out of hiding, he was starting to wonder why he had come out of hiding if all he wanted to do was get into contact with his son again. Displeasure be hanged, he resolved as he pushed his chair back and stood up.

He rested a hand on the chair and looked at the four. “Do you need anything?”

[blindeyedmastermind]

Le Chiffre did not put out a hand to shake, but kept them folded behind his back. “Please, do not stand on my account. I am merely here to have a drink.” He moved to the side-table, pouring two glasses of scotch and turned, holding one out to the man. “You may call me Le Chiffre.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

The man nodded and sat back down. He accepted the offered glass of scotch and looked at the man. Andrew sipped at the scotch and nodded once he learned the man’s name. “Call me Andrew,” he replied. The retired admiral looked at Le Chiffre with a measure of interest. There had to be another reason he was her than getting a drink. What was it?

[blindeyedmastermind]

Le Chiffre sat delicately in the plush armchair next to Andrew and looked into the fire, steepling his fingers pensively. After a moment, he broke the curious silence.

“I believe we may have a mutual acquaintance. My sources tell me your name is Bond, correct?”

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

He swirled the amber liquid in the glass before he nodded. "This mutual acquaintance would be James." If people didn't identify him by who he was and what he had done, it was usually through his son. Had James really done that much with MI6? It was quite possible.

Andrew sipped at the scotch again, this time drinking a little bit more. He had little power over what James did anymore. Though, it wasn't like he had much power over his son's actions in the first place.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

+webwithathousandthreads

Andrew ducked inside the small coffee shop and brushed his coat off. Damn weather. He made his way to his usual table and leaned his cane against the table beside him. His third day back in London and he already had another appointment set up. How did things get around so quickly? He knew that the nature of his business was fairly well-known, but the extent could still surprise him.

He glanced up at the waiter who was standing at the table and smiled slightly. “Could I just get a cup of Earl Grey, please?” Andrew watched as the waiter walked away before he sighed. He wondered who he was going to meet this time.

[anonymousconvenience]

James was not, as it happens, a huge fan of meeting in public places where he could be recognized. Granted, he wasn’t often recognized as anything but the owner of a small, local tea shop, but all the same, he didn’t like crossing that line. Even though this was an unusual case, he didn’t want to take any chances.

From a table behind Andrew’s, one of Jim’s favored employees turned the page of his newspaper, fond of the rustle of a true paper rather than the one that could be easily found on a tablet. Besides, it had an excellent side-effect of obscuring his face, though the cold weather facilitated by allowing him the opportunity to wear a scarf.

“It’s chilly out there, isn’t it?” He spoke quietly, with a soft lilt in his tone, mimicking Jim’s own from his ear. Conversational, not revealing in any way who he was or why he might be there. “Happy spring, eh?” His accent was thick, clearly Irish.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

Andrew looked up slightly as the cup was set in front of him. If he had felt so inclined, which he probably would later, he would have just asked for some whiskey or scotch. He gently dropped a sugar cube in the tea before a question drew his attention.

He cast a glance at the table behind him and nodded his head. "It's the wind that makes everything biting." He was used to how the weather was at Skyfall. After a time, it had become something that he thrived off of. That almost certainty of an exhilarating wind with the chance of a measure of snowfall. Andrew let out a soft chuckle. "Yeah, happy spring."

The man took a sip of his tea and lightly shook his head. Yeah, probably not the best thing to have gotten that morning. "How are you?" he asked with a quick glance at the man who had addressed him.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

+theunpleasantsurprise

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

He walked toward his son and chuckled softly. “So you just burned Skyfall down?” he asked, the chuckle still evident in his question. He reached into his pocket for the steel cartridge one last time. “Before we leave, I need to do something.” He wanted to start over. In order to do that, he needed to put the cartridge where it belonged. Andrew also wanted to say good-bye to Monique one last time.

[theunpleasantsurprise-blog]

“Technically SIlva burned it down. But he messed with the DB5, so he’s six feet under.” James smirked slightly as he walked towards the door to the chapel. “Do you want to be alone? I can wait at the car if you want.” He wasn’t sure if his dad wanted a private moment at his mother’s grave or not.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

Andrew winced slightly. “Such an amazing car.” His brow knit in thought as he made his way to the door of the chapel. After a moment, he nodded. “I won’t be that long,” he assured. He glanced down at the set of stone steps for a moment before he walked down the steps. “I just need to move on.” Andrew rubbed his thumb over the etching once more. After thirty years, he was getting rid of it.

[theunpleasantsurprise-blog]

“Well I’ve got this baby now.” James smiled slightly, holding up the keys his dad had given him. “I’ll be at the car, take your time.” He walked out of the chapel and went back to the car slowly, resting against the bonnet as he waited for his dad to finish up.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

He placed his cane on the ground as he knelt in front of the headstone that bore his name as well as Monique’s. He rested the cartridge against the base before he took hold of his cane again. Andrew let out a soft sigh once he stood, turning away from the grave soon after. He followed the same path that James had taken. For the first time in the last thirty years, Andrew could say that he had done something right.

[theunpleasantsurprise-blog]

James unlocked the car once he saw his dad starting to walk towards him and got in on the drivers side. He watched as his dad walked, obviously the leg injury had been worse than he let on; he still seemed heavily dependent on the cane. It wasn’t James’ place to say anything though, he barely knew his father.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

Another step that Andrew knew he needed to take was being honest with his son. The truth about other things would come in time. The truth about the injuries to his back and leg, however, was something that needed to be brought to light as soon as possible. He opened the passenger side door and got in, pulling the door behind him as he did so. "I'll tell you about the injury when we get back," he offered with a glance at James.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

+theunpleasantsurprise

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

He walked toward his son and chuckled softly. “So you just burned Skyfall down?” he asked, the chuckle still evident in his question. He reached into his pocket for the steel cartridge one last time. “Before we leave, I need to do something.” He wanted to start over. In order to do that, he needed to put the cartridge where it belonged. Andrew also wanted to say good-bye to Monique one last time.

[theunpleasantsurprise-blog]

“Technically SIlva burned it down. But he messed with the DB5, so he’s six feet under.” James smirked slightly as he walked towards the door to the chapel. “Do you want to be alone? I can wait at the car if you want.” He wasn’t sure if his dad wanted a private moment at his mother’s grave or not.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

Andrew winced slightly. “Such an amazing car.” His brow knit in thought as he made his way to the door of the chapel. After a moment, he nodded. “I won’t be that long,” he assured. He glanced down at the set of stone steps for a moment before he walked down the steps. “I just need to move on.” Andrew rubbed his thumb over the etching once more. After thirty years, he was getting rid of it.

[theunpleasantsurprise-blog]

“Well I’ve got this baby now.” James smiled slightly, holding up the keys his dad had given him. “I’ll be at the car, take your time.” He walked out of the chapel and went back to the car slowly, resting against the bonnet as he waited for his dad to finish up.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

He placed his cane on the ground as he knelt in front of the headstone that bore his name as well as Monique's. He rested the cartridge against the base before he took hold of his cane again. Andrew let out a soft sigh once he stood, turning away from the grave soon after. He followed the same path that James had taken. For the first time in the last thirty years, Andrew could say that he had done something right.

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

Andrew sighed as he looked at Skyfall. The manor had been in his family for several generations. Bond family ownership could easily be traced back to the Reformation, perhaps even further. Now, barely anything remained. The remnants were like a charred husk. Could it be repaired? It was quite possible, given the amount of money that he still had in his possession. He took the steel cartridge out of his coat pocket and laid it near the stag. The man soon became aware of another’s presence and a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Hello.”

[creatorxofxman-deactivated20130]

Prometheus smiled gently and waved.  ”Hello, Andrew.  You have quite a lot on your mind today, don’t you?”  He asked, moving over to the man.  ”I am Prometheus.”

[andrewbondxofskyfall-blog]

His brow furrowed at the recognition of his name and turned to face the man. Andrew nodded softly and gave a light shrug. “No more than usual, I have to admit.” Prometheus, as the other had identified himself, seemed like a kind man. “It’s nice to meet you. What brings you to Scotland?”