Fanfiction: The Crooked Kind 1/? (James Bond - Skyfall)

[neverminetohold]

Title: "The Crooked Kind 1/?"
Status: WIP
Fandom: James Bond (Craig!Bond; Movieverse)
Pairing(s)/Character(s): James Bond/Q; M (Gareth Mallory), Eve Moneypenny, Bill Tanner, minor OCs
Disclaimer: The James Bond Franchise belongs to MGM and Ian Fleming, not mine, no claim.
Rating: M
Genre: Alternate Character Interpretation, Grey and Gray Morality,

Comments

[shadownashira]

You didn't have to worry, the story was well-conveyed from Q's POV. It's clear from the beginning that Q is pretty apathetic towards the world, so his reactions during the rest of the story fit.

*rubs hands in anticipation* Well, you've piqued my interest in this series, so looking forward to more! I'm in the midst of watching 'The Blind Banker' right now and haven't come across Moriarty yet, so I'll take your word for it that Q is a mix of him and Sherlock...

My opinion of James' characterisation in 'Skyfall' is a little different from yours - after his injury he seemed weary of living, almost suicidal, and this mindset continued through to the last third of the movie. But at the end I don't think he was broken; cracked, maybe, but not broken. There were little details that showed that M's death wasn't as devastating as it could be. But that being said, I find your characterisation of him in your story plausible too, so don't worry about it!

Yes, the torture, and 007 attacking the nurse worked ^.^

M's attitude towards Bond here, wanting him back only as cannon fodder... I'm split on this. On the one hand, it's realistic that as head of MI6 (and a former soldier as stated in the movie) he's capable of making the decision to let go of 007 if there's irrefutable evidence that 007 can't recover emotionally and becomes a risk to himself and the organisation. But on the other hand, it's proven during the movie that he's willing to overlook the rules (Q was doing something illegal to help James and the old M). I also just thought of something else: in this context there're uncomfortable parallels between James and Silva - it was because of the old M's abandonment of Silva that led directly to him becoming a villain. Knowing this, would M repeat the same mistake by giving up on James?

No need to apologise; even when both of us think along the same lines, it's still useful to bounce our thoughts off each other. It helps to solidify ideas, as you said, since we phrase things in different ways ^.^

Glad to hear that 007 will still be the BAMF we know! Over the top angst isn't believable at all...

[neverminetohold]

I probably had these doubts because writing the FF took me a longer time than anticipated, what with my cold butting in to keep me away from the computer, and later I had read the first parts (up to Q agreeing in that conversation) so often that I could have rehearsed it ^-^"

You will find Moriarty to be quite a bit different from Q, no matter how you look at it, but he is able as well to hide in plain sight and is a great actor, while Sherlock is logical and a great analyst. A mesh of those two seems to fit, though.

Well, as I have not yet seen "Skyfall" I only had some trailers and the Wikipedia plot summary to judge James current state of mind. And in the "Quartermaster Clip" he really seamed jaded to me - and more old than sexy, to be honest ^.^ But I'm aware that in canon, he keeps it together and moves on, yes. Can't say that I expected otherwise.

Very good point you're bringing up here. But first of, I think that Silva and James differ in their expectations. I think the latter is full well aware to the fact that M (both old and new) would give up on him if necessary, as a means to an end - and I'm not sure if he would expect otherwise of them. Remember the torture scene with Le Chiffre in "Casino Royale"? James would have died there, tortured to death, without giving in, not even to save Vesper and didn't seem to expect to get any help from MI6.

Still, I'm yet undecided, but the FF is from Q's POV only, so he could be wrong about M's intentions, misinterpret them. On the other hand, the possibility to die on a mission is always there, and Bond always seems to get the hardest ones. It is not as if M wants to outright kill him or send him on suicide missions, rather, as long as Bond doesn't stabilize, he won't mind losing him, even if he hopes for another outcome, because it would be a waste of such a successful agent. - Does that make sense?

I think so too! And I really like how you manage to put the essence of characters down into a few sentences, it really helps me to get more clarity of my own interpretations :)

I know. You have my explicit permission to slap me hard on the fingers should I turn either Q or 007 into Woobies! *shudders* There is nothing wrong with needing human contact, one person to trust and the like, but constant hugging and crying and touchy-feely in this fandom?! No way!

[shadownashira]

I have that problem too with my own stories where I read them over too many times. We're afraid that we've become blind to any mistakes. I once saw a quote that "To be effective editors of one's own stories, one needs to see the story not as its writer but its reader". Easier said than done!

Having finally watched "The Great Game", I have to agree, Q is a mix of Jim and Sherlock.

Ooh, I agree with you, in the Quartermaster clip James looks really old and cynical - I expect it's because the movie wanted to play up the contrast between him and Q, especially considering their conversation about age and youth. But as I said, your version of James works well too!

I have no doubt that James is aware that he's an expendable asset. In the event of abandonment, he definitely wouldn't turn out like Silva, but the issue here is whether M is ruthless enough to write him off. You make good points about M's motivations. He's judging 007 on a risk/profit scale, and ultimately no matter what he has to be realistic and practical on behalf of the nation.

On my side, I love that you manage to write long rambly comments - it's a good thing, really! It helps me expand on my thoughts and gain new perspectives of things I've never considered before. I've always written concisely, summarising the essence of what I want to convey in short sentences, whether it was for school essays or FFs. It's a curse and blessing at the same time :P

[neverminetohold]

I second that, it's really hard to do, putting yourself into the reader's place, especially since someone else told me that 'we never can experience our own stories like our readers do' °_° That's probably why I despair over my little babies as soon as they are finished and posted, thinking I could have done so much better LOL

I have to admit that I liked the second "Sherlock" season less than the first one...

I love that conversation about 'the bloody big ship' though! It is interesting how they banter and appraise each other just based on these few sentences. - I can't get over how James says "Q." and then his smile *fangirl squee*

I think James could actually turn into a second Silva - even worse, potentially a far more successful one - if he feels that MI6 has betrayed him in some way. Being sacrificed wouldn't push him over the edge, but being sent to kill innocent people on purpose or something? That might do it... I always have to think about his conversation with Vesper on that beach, about 'quitting the service while he has some soul left in him'...

As for the new M, I know not much about him, to be honest, so I'm orienting myself at female!M, who was attached to Bond (although she hid it really well ^.^) but would have used and sacrificed him if necessary.

...as long as I'm only rambling, not ranting ;)

But - I'm really stuck right now T-T The only thing I have I'm sure of is the scene when Q is there when Bond wakes up in medical, restraint to his bed. After that - nada T-T I know the point I want to get to, but so many of my ideas seem to be so cliché by now... Gah, I don't know what to do *headdesk*

PS: Tomorrow "Bourne Legacy" :) Yeah, baby! Finally! XD

[shadownashira]

Whenever I post one of my stories, I read it over and over again, then go back and start editing little things, taking a word out here and there. I have to force myself to just leave it be XD

I'm only partway through the first ep of season 2, I had to stop because it was getting late and my eyes were burning, lol. The scene in Buckingham Palace is just precious!

I'm quite certain that the way James says "Q" is the reason the 00Q ship was launched and sailed by so many fangirls XD Those few seconds just make me melt!

Good point, though I really don't see MI6 sending him out to murder children or such, so there's really very little that would push him towards the villain path. My headcanon for James' retirement is that he fakes his death and just fades away into the world, like what happened in Skyfall (but without the 'resurrection'). Female!M is a contradiction, really. She calls 007 a blunt instrument, and yet it's also clear that she's very attached.

Hmmm. I assume one of those ideas is James being released into Q's care and living with him? It's pretty cliche, it's true...

How was Bourne Legacy??

[neverminetohold]

I stop editing my stories after the third time, or when I get this feeling that they are 'right' as they are now (during the writing process, I edit more often, since I re-start every writing session from the first sentence, instead of just adding to what I have). Then I only add the header for all the places I post my FFs to and that's it. - It might be my imagination, but if I fiddle for too long, I make things worse instead of improving them ^-^"

I loved that scene too! The conversation between Mycroft and Sherlock was comedy gold, and then stepping on his sheet!XD And he stole the ash tray! XD

IKR?! I wonder if the producers anticipated the avalanche they kick started there... °_0 Probably not XD

Well, not sending him to murder children, but if they neglect to check their intel more throughout and it cost's many civilian lives - I guess I'm currently not creative enough to come up with something, but it's not a possibility I would rule out per sè.

I see him killed in action, actually, which is a depressing thought, but maybe what he would prefer. We have seen him 'dead', it didn't really seem to be working out for him, a life without the job...? Fading away, faking his death, is a possibility, though, one I like - fleeing with Q to a previously uninhabited island - that still has wi-fi, of course ;)

As for female!M, I think there is this dissonance with her being a woman and then the job. When you are M for that long, compartmentalizing must get more difficult - maybe.

Good god, no way! °_0 Can you imagine my Q tolerating Bond for hours on end, in his own flat?! No, I was more thinking re-training, issues with Bond's aim, dinner in a fancy restaurant, bringing Q tea, a kiss, sex, a mission - the usual...

Not good. See my other comment ^-^