OPEN | prompt ten | MONEYPENNY

[moneypenny]

prompt ten | M O N E Y P E N N Y

natalia ( pre )

moneypenny ( canon/au )

marling ( post )

natalia ( adventurers )

mvp ( EMBEDS )

mp ( rule!63 )

Comments

[missus]

[ She gets married and Moneypenny changes. Her business slims down, her operation grows cold and slick rather than the way it used to be, bombastic and loud. The stakes get higher, the thrills get dangerous and the girl once known for explosive entrances and neon pink lips shaves her life down to the barest knife's edge. Everything in its right place.

The rumors say that Irishman did more than just marry her. (Maybe he did. And maybe she let him. Anything less wouldn't be MP, even if she doesn't call herself that anymore.)

She gets married and the next time their paths cross, they're both in pursuit of the same Libyan nationalist but a third party beats them both to the coup de grace. Her name is Marling now, but she still looks the same. Her wardrobe's different but the heels haven't changed and even with them on she still stands a good foot shorter, a hand raised to wave the worst of the smoke from her eyes.

At a distance, a siren wails. They should get going soon. ]

Not one'f yours, is it, Natan?

[dues]

[ She gets married and Moneypenny changes. Nathan never says anything one way or the other. No congratulations, no gifts, no hellos. If he's surprised at the way her life gets pared down to just bone, no gristle or flesh, he still keeps mum. (He knows what the rumors say. He fills in the blanks with love. You fell in love. A small part of him thinks: I thought you'd be smarter.)

By the time their paths cross, her name is Marling; his is still Nathan. He's tired but cleanshaven, frowning down at the fire. No reaction one way or the other, not to his name (the real one) or the question or the siren that blares. There's blood dried crimson in the dips between his knuckles.

Quietly: ] You should have retired.

[ The way his mouth forms the words like a secret, the way the set of his eyes reveals only what he wants them to — it's not concern. ]