#branch q. [ queue ] ;

[spockvarietyhour]

Boombox, "The Living Daylights" (1987)

[a-substantial-trash-pile]

welcome to the Garbage Dump™

here to provide you with all your trash-producing needs.

🐠 Links (aka where you can find my trash):

~ if you just want to see my art shenanigans, i’ve shoved most of it into my secondary blog here: pile-of-trashley

~ Ko-Fi                  ~ Bluesky ~ Twitter

~ Instagram           ~ YouTube

🐋 other Things to know:

~ i mainly queue reblogs to my blog cuz i like having it on a schedule, so if you see just a like from me on something of yours, there's a 99.9% chance i’ve reblogged it too! it’s just waiting for it’s turn to post in my queue.

~ ID text for my art posts can be found under the ALT button 👍 (sorry in advance if i forget to do it on any my brain is broken)

~ MY TAGS: my personal ramble posts are tagged as "trash rambles" and my more negative ramble posts as "trash rants" or "trash sads." queued posts are tagged as "q." feel free to blacklist these as needed!

🍉 Links to resources to help Palestine:

Operation Olive Branch: google spreadsheet that provides resources & places/families to donate to.

Help Gaza: another spreadsheet that provides a list of places/families to donate to.

ceasefiretoday: site to help you find your representatives (US/UK/Canada).

article listing Palestinian artists/designers to support

article explaining what companies to boycott

tumblr post by user sulfurcosmos that compiles A TON of resources into a list that’s being actively updated as of now so please check it out!!!

[oneknightstand-if]

May I ask what your writing process is like? As in do you jump from one project(no matter how little) to another as to not get yourself burnt out(patreon content, future scenes, etc) or is your writing process very linear and you try to keep yourself in one straight line? I'd imagine with the size of your IF it isn't easy to stay focus very linearly if at all. I'd love to hear your approach to managing smth like this

It's very linear because I've already got enough jumping around in the coding due to the *gosubs and branching and whatnot, it'll be really easy to lose my place & momentum.

Generally, I make certain to do my daily quota of progress in the main game first during my free time available & then the daily Patreon update.

If I don't have any other time afterwards for the social media aspects of Tumblr or the CoG forums, oh well. I've pretty much limited myself to adding 4 entries to the Tumblr queue on the days when I have the time at this point.

If I've got one of the more time-consuming Patreon projects due (the drabbles, Q & A sessions), then I'll work on that first during the day (but I'll always stop with enough time to at least get a little bit of headway in the game).

I definitely don't due multiple creative projects at the same time. I don't want to split my time/attention between researching so many different things for different stories.

[mi6-cafe]

MI6 Cafe Rec Spotlight

We got a lot of recs from the 007 Fest wrap-up survey and we want to spotlight the excellent work in this fandom. So we're bringing back our recommendation spotlight!

If you have a fancreation you want to shout-out, let us know via this form. We'll add it to our queue.

---

Creation: Inner workings by @mudpuddless

What makes this awesome: The way it told an entire story in snippets and scenes and it was so bare-bones and yet deeply emotional for me -- @double-0h-no

Summary:

The day to day business of trying to keep MI6 afloat is much more difficult when the junior agents are running rampant, Bond is once again in medical, the paper is running out in Q branch and Eve is starting feuds with HR. M remains oblivious. The usual. - set in an imaginary time period between quantum of solace and sky fall in which Q, Eve and Bond try their level best to do their job and not overdose on headache medication in the process EDIT: now expanded to contain skyfall to no time to die and the aftermath

[mmiirage]

new pinned post!

hi hello! you can call me mirage or runo!

they/he pronouns(ela/dela only for portuguese speaking folk), 17, aroace and brazilian!

☆ my carrd ☆ my twitter ☆

🇵🇸 funds for gaza linktree 🇵🇸 operation olive branch linktree 🇵🇸

this is my main blog, but if you don't want to see a lot of reblogs and are only here for the (inconsistent) art that i post, you can go over to @mmiirart-archive instead! there is all the tags in the originial post and such

english is not my main language!! if there is any mistakes or lack of sense in my posts maybe it's because of that. or anything else honestly!

dms are always open to interact, only note that i'm a bit shy so they might take a while to be responded. still, i would love to talk to people about anything :D you can also ask for my discord

fandoms: i'm super invested right now in gravity falls and witch hat atelier. but! my actual main interests are the kirby series (games really), (the great) ace attorney, mob psycho 100, disco elysium and ultrakill!

other fandoms are listed in my carrd + my ultra faves, these are the true main ones

tags:

#runo.txt: text posts #runo.msp: doodles/unfinished work #runo.png: my creations that took more effort to make, aka my proper artwork #q: ...the queue lol i rarely ever tag reblogs, but i try my best in tagging cws as "#cw [trigger]". dm me if you want me to put a specific cw/tw in any of my posts

dni: the basic dni criteria, proshippers, nsfw accounts, terfs, and israel supporters. more details can be seen in my carrd, but the main gist is not being a jerk, truly

[adityabirlahousingfinancelimit]

Online Loan for Senior Citizens in India – A Smart 2025 Borrowing Option

What is an Online Loan for Senior Citizens?

An Online Loan for Senior Citizens is a digital-first financial service that allows individuals aged 60 and above to apply for loans without visiting any branch physically. These loans are typically offered by NBFCs (Non-Banking Financial Companies) and select banks in India, especially those offering secured loans like a Loan Against Property.

This loan type is designed to make the borrowing experience easy, safe, and accessible for elderly applicants, with full digital onboarding — from application to disbursal.

Why Senior Citizens Need Online Loans in 2025

In today’s fast-paced digital ecosystem, seniors are increasingly tech-savvy and independent. The need for financial flexibility doesn’t end at retirement — in fact, it often increases.

Here’s why online loans are a game-changer for India’s senior population:

Urgent medical treatments or long-term healthcare expenses

Gifting or sponsoring education for children or grandchildren

Home renovation or repairs

Travel or spiritual yatras post-retirement

Debt consolidation or emergency fund needs

The beauty of an online loan is that it doesn’t require standing in long queues or running between branches. It’s all done with a few clicks — from the comfort of home.

How Does an Online Loan for Senior Citizens Work?

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how these loans work:

Check Eligibility Online: Most NBFCs provide instant eligibility checkers

Fill Out the Application Form: Simple KYC inputs like PAN, Aadhaar, and income source

Upload Documents Digitally: You scan and upload pension proof, property papers, and bank statements

Property Evaluation (If LAP): If you’re applying for a Loan Against Property, the property is evaluated digitally or with doorstep verification

Get Approval & Disbursal: Once everything checks out, the loan is approved and disbursed within a few working days

NBFCs like Aditya Birla Housing Finance offer seamless online processes specifically tailored for senior citizens.

Key Benefits of Online Loans for Seniors

No branch visits — 100% digital process

Fast turnaround — from application to disbursal in 5–7 working days

Customized repayment plans — with tenures up to 25 years

Loan Against Property options — high loan amounts with low interest

No prepayment or foreclosure charges — for individual borrowers

Minimal paperwork — ideal for elderly applicants

Whether you're applying from Delhi, Mumbai, or a Tier-2 town, NBFCs like Aditya Birla Housing Finance support pan-India digital applications.

Example Scenarios

A retired professor in Noida applied for an Online Loan for Senior Citizens through Aditya Birla's website and received ₹15 lakhs within a week for medical treatment

A senior couple in Pune pledged their plot under Loan Against Plot of Land to raise funds for their daughter’s wedding

An NRI senior returning to India used his residential flat as collateral and received a digital sanction without flying back immediately

Common FAQs – Answered for 2025

Q. Is physical presence required at any stage? No. With most NBFCs, the entire journey is online. Property evaluations or legal checks, if needed, are done at your doorstep.

Q. Can a retired person with only pension income apply? Yes. Many NBFCs accept pension, rental income, or even investments as valid repayment sources.

Q. Is there an age cap? Most lenders allow applicants up to 70 years. Some even offer tenures that go beyond if the repayment source is strong.

Q. What loan options are available online? The most common are:

Senior Citizen Loan Against Property

Loan Against Plot of Land

In some cases, unsecured personal loans depending on credit profile

Q. Can I track my loan status digitally? Yes. Most NBFCs offer dashboards or mobile apps for loan tracking, EMI schedules, and statements.

Final Thoughts: Is Online Borrowing Safe & Worth It?

Yes, 100%. With increasing digitization and secure platforms, an Online Loan for Senior Citizens is one of the safest, smartest, and most convenient ways to meet financial needs in 2025.

It removes the physical hassle of banking and replaces it with a smooth, transparent, and senior-friendly experience. And with trusted names like Aditya Birla Housing Finance, you’re in safe hands — right from application to EMI tracking.

Want to get started? Visit the official Aditya Birla Housing Finance portal and check your eligibility instantly. Unlock your property’s value without stepping outside — dignity, comfort, and liquidity, all in one click.

[777wave]

Metro Manila Subway Stations : M17

1. East Valenzuela Station

2. Quirino Highway Station

3. Tandang Sora Station

4. North Avenue Station

5. Quezon Avenue Station

6. East Avenue Station

7. Anonas Station

8. Camp Aguinaldo Station

9. Ortigas Avenue Station

10. Shaw Boulevard Station

11. Kalayaan Avenue Station

12. BGC Station

13. Lawton Station

14. Senate-DepEd Station

15. NAIA Terminal 3 (branch line)

16. FTI Station

17. Bicutan Station

—

With its BACKBONE of INFRASTRUCTURE, the under-construction Metro Manila Subway will help commuters FIT seamlessly into a QUICK QUEUE LINE (QQL), significantly reducing wait times.

B • BGC

A • Anonas

C • Camp Aguinaldo

K • Kalayaan

B • Bicutan

O • Ortigas

N • North Avenue

N • NAIA Terminal 3

E • East Valenzuela

E • East Avenue

F • FTI

I • Infrastructure

T • Tandang Sora

S • Shaw Boulevard

S • Senate-DepEd

Q • Quirino Highway

Q • Quezon Avenue

L • Lawton

—

A dream project of:

N • NEDA

D • DOTr

J • JICA

C • Collaboration

N • N

D • Da

J • Journey

C • Continues

N Da Journey Continues.

And the journey continues.

—

Photo:

CTTO

Image credits:

DOTr

NEDA

JICA

—

#M17

#MNLSubway

#AndTheJourneyContinues

[lgcjinyoung]

「     personal youtube channel  ⇛  a different form of grind   」    

since it had been a while that jinyoung opened his channel, he felt like wanting to branch out with his content a little bit. now that he began creating videos where he sat in front of his pc as well, the male figured that it couldn't hurt to attempt himself at a video of him grinding a big of solo Q in league of legends.

so the video begins with him in his gaming chair, glasses on his nose and waving at the camera like the goof he was. "hello gym rats. since I keep emphasizing how important rest days are in between your workout routines, I'm going to show you today how I spend mine. so instead of hitting the gym after a day of schedules- i game!"

"the tricky part is to remind yourself to stretch regularly though, or your muscles will cramp up and get sore- and since you want to rest them, that's the opposite of what we want to achieve." he boots the game up, the set up one he actually figured out himself and quite happy with his simple but compact layout. "I play a lot of games but I like league of legends because I can pace myself well and take a stretch after every game," he reasons.

"they usually go from 30 minutes to an hour so I can do one, two games and then stretch," the model continues on as he queues himself up, silently wondering how many friend requests he'd get once this goes live. throughout the video he does his best to explain how the game works, what role he plays, what his champ does and what rank he currently is. a humble diamond 2, due to the lack of time he invests in playing the game.

and true to his word he includes a section where he shows his stretching routine in between games, being thorough in his explanation and execution to stay on brand with his original intended content. he concludes the video ultimately with a final victory, arms stretched above his head with a tired groan.

"okay. i think that was enough de-stressing for now. it's time for dinner now. make sure not to skip meals, even on rest days! i'll see you back on the next video. goodbye~" and with a wave to the camera the scene fades to black, concluding this episode of muljjingi's gym.

[dhampir72]

Ahh all of your WIPs sound so intriguing! For the ask game, I would love to hear about “Bloom” and “A Series of Unfortunate Tea Times” if you feel so moved. 👀

Ahh thank you! As you can see none of them have really creative names, because I'm terrible at titles!!

So many people were asking me about "A Series of Unfortunate Tea Times" so I've posted about that one here.

Thanks for asking about "Bloom"! "Bloom" was a story very near and dear to my heart that I started during 007 fest, but never could quite finish. I think it's somewhere around 30k and still unfinished. I wanted to write something very soft, but I think this might be too soft?

Essentially it's another story where Bond is physically and emotionally tired of the job, but he can't quit because he thinks he's not fit to do anything else. And then he happens to meet Q outside of work and discovers that Q has a hobby for botany. And Bond learns that his hands can be for more than just killing.

Here is a snippet under the cut :)

Bond sees it now, why they’re called moth orchids. They have the shape of a Polyphemus moth, but they’re even showier in a rich, luscious purple. Bond reaches out a hand, but stops before he touches.

“You can touch them,” Q says, and, perhaps sensing Bond's hesitation, goes on encouragingly: “it won’t hurt them.”

Q lifts a hand and delicately strokes one of the petals with his fingertips. They’re beautiful, Bond realises. He’s always watched Q’s hands—at his workstation frenetically typing, meticulously fixing equipment, confidently checking the chamber of a gun—and always admired his efficiency, his quickness; the skills needed to go quickly without fumbling or causing error. But now he sees them in another way, the way he’s pretended not to notice for a while now; like how soft they can be, like they are when he applies antiseptic and plasters, the grace of his wrist when he unwinds gauze bandages, and it’s here now in the elegant sweep of his finger across this orchid’s silken petal. What would it be like? To have Q touch him like that? So purely, so purposefully? Is he even deserving of it? That gentleness?

“Go on,” Q says softly.

Bond hesitates again. For the first time in weeks, he thinks about the bomb dogs abandoned in the Middle East. Just like them, he’s been trained to do one thing. These hands are made for killing. And he’s good at it: with a gun, with a knife, with his bare hands round someone’s throat. He’s been doing this for so long that he’s not sure he’s capable of anything else. Gentleness? He’s not sure how to be, not anymore. 

But Q’s watching him, and it’s almost imploring, and Bond can’t deny him. He’ll try.

The back of his finger brushes the soft, purple petal. It’s smooth, and tender; fragile, almost. Like touching the inside of someone’s wrist. He could easily rip it, crush it in his palm. There would be no effort on his part to destroy it entirely. 

Instead, he touches it again, with the utmost care, just to prove he can. And he’s filled with awe and wonder at this, that he can be gentle, maybe even kind. 

It makes him wonder if one of those dogs left to die in the sand dunes of Afghanistan wandered into a village and met the kind hand of a stranger. Someone who put a bowl of water out for him, who shared their fire with him at night. Maybe someone who threw a stick, taught him to play, so that his dreams were not only ones of blood and smoke and IEDs. Maybe, just maybe, one of them got a second chance; a second chance to be something other than what they were made to be.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Q smile. He allows himself to smile, too.

His hands may have been made for killing, but maybe, just maybe, they can be made for something else.

[hyacinths-recs]

Redamancy, by opalescentgold (@opalescentgold) (Mature)

If you write something on your skin, then it will show up on your soulmate's skin as well.

James doesn't quite fall in love over physics discussions and cheeky book quotes scrawled over his heart, coding and riddles inked onto his skin, but he comes close. He does.

And then he actually meets Q.

I am so in love with this fic, it’s pathetic.

[dhampir72]

This is so gorgeous. And it reminds me of Hellelil and Hildebrand, the Meeting on the Turret Stairs by Frederic William Burton. Anyone else get this vibe?

손바닥 쪽 ‘3’

[spockvarietyhour]

Q-Branch, The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

[astudyinfic]

Holiday Writing 2020, Day 18 - Party

Title:  Two’s Company

Fandoms: James Bond

Relationships:  James Bond/Q

Words: 1259

Rated: T

Summary:

Bond has to seduce a mark. Q has to listen in.

Tags:  mission, Seducing a mark, coms, Established Relationship, Not Beta Read

Prompts can be found here.

[kitkatcubed]

intro post woo!!

- call me kit!

- she/they/it

- masculine terms are a-okay and in fact welcomed! in general i dont really mind what pronouns or terms are used for me, she/they is just what i 100% know im comfortable with and enjoy

- likes and follows come from @innovative-detritus since this is a sideblog

- i welcome interaction and try my best to interact with content i enjoy

- ill mostly post/reblog stuff relating to hermitcraft, dream smp, 3rd life or empires smp. feel free to give me more mcyt recommendations (smps or ccs) i enjoy branching out

- technically a writer but very amateur. i welcome constructive criticism on any of my writing or any writing tips you feel inclined to give

- asks are always open and anon is always on. feel free to ask me about things but dont bring drama or discourse (exception is if i reblog something discourse-y and the ask is related to it)

- all posts are ask to tag

- i do have helsmits if you're curious and want to ask about them!!

- this is a buildmart positive blog <3

mcyt content ive seen!!

- dream smp (not as active but i enjoy the content still and occasionally watch vods or videos if posted)

- hermitcraft (grain s6. many povs for s7. about every pov for s8. joe, tango, gem, doc, impulse, cleo, xisuma, zedaph, pearl, tfc, grian, scar, mumbo, bdubs, wels for s9)

- empires smp (joel, lizzle, pixl, shubble and jimmy are povs im mostly caught up with. attempting to watch the rest of the povs as well)

- x life (scott and lizzie povs. on hold but there are a few more povs i want to watch)

- evo smp (grians pov. wanting to watch other povs as well)

- 3rd life (every pov. still crying)

- yhs/ts (only watched the episodes with grian. watched only for grian lore)

- last life (every pov)

- 100 hours of hardcore (every pov)

hyperfixated/favorite mcyts!!

hyperfixated - italics

scott

grian

zedaph

impulse

bdubs

scar

tommy (previously hyperfixated. still kinda am, but not to the same extent)

jimmy

lizzie

tag system time!!

#kit purrs is for art or writing or just content in general i Really enjoy and want to tag jic i wish to look back on it

#s obbing is for art or writing or just content in general that made me feel or made me sad

#kit meows is for personal posts or responding to asks

#kits q is for my queue

#kit writes is for any writing i post

#kit ships is for shipping content. feel free to block/blacklist this tag. i dont reblog much of it and any content i produce myself wont include it

[gideonloser]

Chapter five: The night's just begun

Once the stress of the cow monster trying to fight was over, the three found themselves in a pickle. Ash hopped down from the car and Farrah was able to get to her feet without help and seemed more or less steady, but then they were three kids, on the side of a road through a forest, next to a stolen and wrecked BMW, and a cow patterned pelt. The pelt was easy enough to deal with- Ash explained to Teddy that some monsters left behind trophies for the heroes that slayed them. She thought he should take it, as it was his quest, but he and Farrah both agreed it was hers, as she shot the Hail Mary that saved the day. Perhaps under different circumstances she would have argued more, but instead she just shoved it into her backpack and turned her attention back to the problems that weren’t so easily solved.

It was a quiet road, but someone was still bound to come by eventually and the three agreed it was best that they not be there when they do. A compass Farrah produced from her bag told them which way was West, and they started walking. That part seemed a little stupid to Teddy, as they weren’t exactly going to walk all the way to Salt Lake, but he didn’t object as he didn’t have a better plan. Eventually they found a place that was deemed far enough away from the crash to be non-suspicious- even if investigators did find them, Farrah would undoubtedly be able to come up with some kind of bluff that would explain why three teenagers were out in the middle of nowhere, and deny hearing or seeing anything about the crash, and at the distance they were, it would (hopefully) be believable.

After all the excitement, Teddy would have been perfectly happy to just flop down on his sleeping bag and sleep for days, but Ash insisted they all needed food first, and he couldn’t deny that a warm fire did sound nice. While Farrah sorted out what they could prepare with the skills they had, Ash insisted Teddy make the fire. She said since Apollo was the god of light and fire created light, he could have a special bonus there. Still, try as he might and with Ash right over his shoulder walking him through it, he couldn’t do it. When Farrah declared they could do hot dogs and had everything all ready but he still didn’t even have so much as a spark, he threw it all down in frustration and yielded to Ash.

As he watched her make the fire (which she got quickly, because of course she did), it occurred to him that he really didn’t know very much about her. As her face lit up dimly in the sparks, he thought about how he didn’t even know where she called home when she wasn’t at camp. This girl called herself his sister, and was willing to put her life on the line for his quest without even being asked. Once she sat back, satisfied with the blaze, and Farrah had distributed the hot dogs, he asked.

"Ash, what is your real life like?"

She turned to him and quirked an eyebrow.

"My what?"

He made a face at himself when he realized he had worded it a bit weirdly, and took the time in his head to make sure his internal translation wasn't lagging, as he sought a better way to word it.

"Like, where do you go when you're not at camp? What's your human family like?"

"I go to my mother's in Los Angeles. She, her husband, and my stepsister Zoe all live there. I do not have any half siblings on that side, though I do have one full sister, Q."

There was a lot to unpack there. First was that she had a full sibling, did Apollo like her mom so much that he came back? Second was that any full sibling of hers was also a half sibling of his, but he had never even heard of this Q, or seen her around camp. Third was the name Q. Was that supposed to be, like, Queue, or was it a nickname? And if it was a nickname, what was it short for? Quin, maybe?

He wasn't sure where to start with all his thoughts, but luckily Farrah seemed to sense his confusion and jumped in.

"Tell him more about Q."

"Q is my twin sister. It's short for Queenie. She joined the Hunters of Artemis a few years ago."

Farrah nodded along as she spoke, evidentially already knowing the story, but meanwhile Teddy was a little lost.

"The what?"

"They're an asexual immortal girl gang." Farrah answered in a helpful tone, but Ash shot her a glance warning her that it was not helpful, and Ash knew damn well that Farrah was aware of it when she said it.

"You know who Artemis is, right?"

"Apollo's twin sister. Goddess of..." That gave him a moment of pause. What exactly was she the goddess of, after all? He was still so new to all of this, and trying to keep everyone straight was hard. "...The moon?"

"Yes, among other things. Including the hunt and chastity." Ash started her answers quickly, almost as soon as Teddy finished speaking- probably just to cut off Farrah before she could contribute any more technically true but confusing nonsense. "So she has all these attendants- girls who pledge to serve her and to forsake the company of men, and in return Artemis makes them immortal. The only way they can die is being struck down in battle. Those are the Hunters."

"And Queenie is one?"

"Queenie is one." Ash confirmed. She suddenly busied herself with her hot dog, and what part of his face he could see while she did seemed sad.

"Do you ever get to see her?" He wasn't sure why he kept asking, especially since he could tell it was a sore spot, but she kept answering.

"Yes. Occasionally the Hunters visit camp, and we do try to Iris message once a month or so." She said, somewhat sadly. "It's just... weird. I mean, I keep aging but she doesn't. And for so long, she was always right by my side, and now she's just... gone."

Teddy went quiet. He understood that, probably more than anyone thought he did. His thoughts turned to his own private grief, which Farrah picked up on. In response, she did something very impulsively, that was also strangely selfless: she threw out her own pain that she had been carefully hiding for all to see, to distract him from his own.

"Ashley," She announced, shifting her body to fully face Ash, but still keeping an eye on Teddy out of the corner of her eye. "I think it's time we talk about Luke."

Teddy didn't need to know who Luke was to know whatever this was was bad news. The temperature seemed to drop and Ash sat up straight, raising her chin and looking at Farrah evenly. She crossed her arms, a gesture that Farrah mirrored, but when Farrah did it, it looked petulant and childish. When Ash did it, she held herself with an air of nobility and carried herself confidently.

"My name isn't Ashley, but okay. Let's talk about Luke."

"Who's Luke?" Teddy asked, hoping it would break the thick tension that had settled, but the girls didn't even break their eye contact.

"Why don't you answer that?" Farrah asked, feigning politeness. "He's your boyfriend."

"He was my boyfriend." She replied, stressing the past tense. "He is your brother."

"I don't care who answers it, can someone just do it?!" Teddy snapped, a little harsher than intended, but whatever had just come over the two girls freaked him out. Finally Farrah forfeited the staring contest, looking over at him.

"Remember the counselor I told you about when you first got to camp? The one who snapped last year and attacked another camper?" He gave a small nod- he didn't remember the details, but he did remember the gist. "That's Luke."

"Why do we need to talk about Luke?"

"What did you know about what he was planning?" Farrah asked, turning her attention back to Ash and ignoring the question.

"Like I already told Chiron," Ash replied, a hint of restrained anger in her voice. "Nothing. I wasn't a co-conspirator. He didn't even say goodbye before he attacked Percy and left."

"Which you didn't know about?" The question was somewhere between an accusation and a confirmation, but Ash nodded.

"Which I didn't know about."

"Wait, Percy Jackson?" Teddy interjected, and both girls nodded. "You hate Percy. You told me yourself that you hate Percy."

This time Ash looked over at him, irritation on her face.

"I think he's annoying, but that does not mean I asked or wanted my boyfriend to try to murder him." She replied, which did seem like solid logic. He nodded, and she looked back at Farrah. "What did you know about what he was planning?"

"No more than anyone else!" She said, immediately defensive. "He complained about our father all the time, but I didn't think he would actually do anything about it!"

"Why does anyone have to know anything about Luke?" Teddy interrupted before Farrah started full on screaming, which got both of them to look at him.

"What?" One, or possibly, both asked.

"Why does anyone have to know anything? Why couldn't Luke have just acted alone and nobody knew anything?"

That idea seemed to calm both of them down considerably and when they looked back at each other, there was sympathy.

"I'm sorry that you lost your brother." Ash offered, her voice still a little guarded, but overall kind.

"Thanks." Farrah said, a bit measured but overall offering an olive branch. "...Do you still love him?"

Ash went quiet, and both the younger teens couldn't help but wonder if Farrah had overstepped as she stared into the flames. The shifting light cast sharp shadows that accentuated all the emotions, of which she seemed to have many, across her face. It seemed odd that she could all but accuse her of conspiring to murder a twelve year old and that was fine, but when she asked about an ex, that was off limits.

"I don't know if I ever loved him." She finally answered, still staring into the fire. "He was my first... Well, my first everything. I can't make that ever go away. And I would always rather be behind his shield than in front of his sword."

Suddenly she looked up. It seemed a second fire had been lit behind her eyes, which glowed with intensity as she looked at them.

"But if I'm called on to defend my home or my family, I won't hesitate. I'll fight to his death, or mine."

[captain-magicalkitty]

“Berserk?” Bond repeated. “This is our Quartermaster you're speaking of?” Eve could hear the man's eyebrows rising. She sighed as another crash rattled the door and an inarticulate screech followed it.

“He opened his eyes, grabbed the instrument tray and tried to throttle the dentist with the drill cable. When I intervened, he threw the mouthwash bottle at me and broke the overhead light. The dentist ran into the other treatment room and locked himself in. So far as I know, he's still there. After Q tried to stab me with a dental pick, I closed the door to the waiting room and called Q branch to block any outgoing calls but mine. He's confined to the corridor behind me for now.” Yet another ringing impact. “And is trying to get out.”

“What aren't you telling me, Eve?” Bond sounded highly sceptical.

“You need to see for yourself. I have no intention of giving any description of the visuals over the phone. Q will eventually be aware of all this and I would like to keep my ATM access and Netflix queue.”