exsilium | 001

Entry tags:

001 | audio

[The sounds of outside filter through the network, distant with little to be heard beyond the faint rustle of the wind, but there nonetheless. A distinctive clink-fwoosh of a lighter disrupts anything further, followed by the slow crackle of burning paper and tobacco and a satisfied inhale and steady exhale. When he finally speaks, it's with a tone that lacks interest.]

Well, isn't this quaint. Doubt I would have believed it were I not seeing it with my own eyes. At least the woman greeting me was persuasive enough. [You can practically hear the dirty little smirk.]

Even so, I'm not quite sure how I feel out of my home and sent on my merry way towards college kid dorm rooms. Or rather, I'm perfectly aware of how I feel about it, just the words I'm looking for aren't for public ears.

Still. Judging by the archives on this thing, there's plenty of you about who know this world, so come on, share your wisdom with an outsider, would you? One can never know too much.

[A pause as he inhales another lungful of smoke, eventually adding with a thoughtful exhale:] Oh, and don't patronise me with the basics. I'm curious, not stupid.

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[Pause...]

How are there even--? Actually I don't want to know. [His life isn't even worthy of one movie, let alone in excess of twenty.]

[ You'd think. Anyway he's glad the conversation is focused on Bond's own very public life again. ]

They're all based on books, too. Wanna know some titles? I could probably remember a few off the top of my head.

No, I really don't.

[He'd rather find that sort of stuff out with private research, so he can bury his face and sob lonely tears.

And there goes another drink downed all too quickly, James really isn't savouring these like he should.]

So I take it you're rather ahead of time? All that bio gear is nothing I'm used to seeing.

[ Hmph. He'd much rather talk about your movies! There's still a few scenes he wants to ask about. Sigh. ]

Yes. The year was 2027.

[ But considering here is supposed to be 3312 ... ]

Ah, rather ahead of myself, then.

That quite a technological jump for less than twenty years, though, even by our standards.

[Then again, with some of the Bond gadgets, it might not be totally off. Q will probably be making bionic shit in no time.]

[ so you're ca ~2010. Got it. ]

Some things just went differently where I'm from. If you've never heard of guy called Hugh Darrow, you probably won't have anything like this.

[ maybe he should just go back to wearing gloves around here; then again he doesn't really like having to hide who or what he is. he reaches over to pick up his glass again, which has probably a crack or two because he still has trouble with the pressure he's exerting at times. ]

Can't say I recognise the name. Then again, if I don't exist in your world, I imagine things will go differently.

[And then a thoughtful grunt, because he's never given much thought to such universal quandaries, and now he's being bombarded by the idea of alternate universes.]

I don't like the thought of it all.

[ Adam shrugs. ]

Maybe you do. Your maker must have gotten his ideas somewhere--or maybe he's a dimension hopper himself.

[ Oh god. ]

I'd be careful about who to trust if I were you.

I don't need a lecture on trust.

[The whole girlfriend fucking him over, and not in the nice way, kind of taught him all of that already.]

[ oh hey that happened to you too? my sympathies, bro. ]

Of course not. Just pointing out another possibility.

[It was pretty much expected. Any chick he sticks his dick into inevitably dies. Destined to be forever alone.]

I think I'll manage.

[ I could make a really bad joke here but MAYBE YOU JUST MIGHT WANNA CONSIDER STOP STICKING YOUR DICK EVERYWHERE. ]

Is that why your first stop after arriving here seems to be a bar.

[As long as it's not a suggestion to change sexes.]

It's my coping mechanism.

[Sipping his third double.]

[ Yeah Adam noticed. He's almost done with his own glass--he does enjoy booze after all--but much to his own dismay he's already mildly dizzy from just that. It won't last very long but it really doesn't make drinking very fun. ]

Better booze than something else, I guess.

[ Like vaginas. Yeah and as if on cue he reaches into the pockets of his coat to produce a cigarette and a lighter. Once he's lit himself a smoke, he actually fishes for something else--namely, money, to pay. Looks like that'll be all he's having tonight. :| ]

[He watched those hand movements carefully, eyes locked on the withdrawal of smoking gear, half expecting a gun to follow the money, which might just be why his own hand subtly slide under his own jacket. Oh, wait, maybe he's just being paranoid.

Never mind, just... withdrawing a cigarette instead.]

That's it?

You're done?

I'm not a very heavy drinker.

[ Ahahaha yeah riiiight. He regularly gets trashed at home where it doesn't matter.

Also he saw that. Wtf, Bond. ]

Is that so baffling.

[Withdrawing his lighter, lighting up, then tucking it away once more. Just smoking, not like he was going to get his gun or anything, nope.]

I just assumed you have a higher tolerance than a five year old.

[ Sure. It's just, when someone else starts smoking you gotta start too, right. ]

That has nothing to do with it.

[ It has everything to do with it. Please don't challenge him to a drinking contest because he's bound to lose that. :'| ]

Does it mess with your wiring?

[A smug puff of smoke as he finishes off his third and waves for a fourth.]

[ James..... now who's pushing it. ]

No, but I'll mess with something if you don't drop it.

[So amused.]

Does it fry your circuits?

[ You know, it's probably a good thing he's stopped drinking--cause if he had a glass in his hand right now, he'd probably break it. So he settles for breaking James' face, though that's mostly done on reflex.

Hope you enjoy an augmented robofist to the face. Oops. ]

[He should have been expecting it, really. And he was, enough to move that fraction of an inch back so that fist misses his nose but catches his cheek bone with some force. It's enough to send him reeling back and then heaving forward to bring a hand to his face, tenderly touching the spot.

A normal man might swear. Or cry. Or display some level of pain or annoyance beyond a slight grunt and grimace, but Bond isn't exactly normal. Nope. Instead he offers up a light chuckle before throwing his body weight at Adam, a fist swinging for his face as pay back.]

[ ~~bitch he's gonna show you how fried his circuits are~~

James is still lucky, all things considered, since that was a normal punch. Now, if he put all his available strength into it, he wouldn't be standing anymore. Actually he's a little confused that Bond is still standing regardless, which might be the main reason why he's able to retaliate at all. Right in the face. His HUD is shaking at the corners of his vision.

careful now

Before things escalate because he instinctively issues the wrong commands, examples being elbow blade and Typhoon. But punching should be totally fair game, even if it's only a matter of time until they're kicked out.

Anyway, James, he's making a grab for your collar now and violently hurls you across the room and against a wall. The real question how you want to counter that because he does this really annoying turning invisible thing right after like the dirty cheater he is. ]

[There's little more satisfying than the feeling of one's fist connecting with something, be it a face or smashable objects. James can't help but smirk to himself.

Sadly the smugness is short lived, feeling a hand at his collar and, before he even has time to grapple his resistance, finding himself meeting solidly against a brick wall. The impact is taken by his back and is enough to take his breath away, his lungs desperately trying to suck in air as he staggers to his feet (no thanks to the alcohol in his system). It takes him a lengthy few seconds to realise the man he's ready to retaliate against is no longer in sight.]

You sneaky little...