msjanebond:

it pained jane to see a woman like this; so brutally hurt, burying the trauma beneath shadows, shawls, and pretty things, letting the wound seep and poison. and linda - that fateful call that had brought them together, mi6 assigning bond to the case once it had been made clear how very valuable this information would be - how she shattered jane’s very heart.

so she stood in that darkened living room, blinking slowly. “perhaps I should offer you this, ms. arden.” the news would not be entirely good. jane clicked open her silver cigarette case, and offered one. “mister cassetti now calls himself mr. samuel edward ratchett. he seems to be doing quite well for himself. i’ve tracked his movements, and he appears to be planning a trip in the future aboard the orient express.”

darkness flickered over jane’s gaze; she had no love for a man who was such a beast. or any man at all, really. “should you desire for me to make a move, that may be the time to do it - and expose him for what he has done.”

_{❝ it can’t be good, can it? ❞ not if she needed a cigarette to better process what bond was about to say. eyes blinked, staring between the woman and her case before she accepted one; quite gladly and without hesitation, wasting no time placing it between her lips that twitched into a pained smile. a grateful smile, warm despite the heartbreak that was only bound to grow stronger, almost unbearable. and then, she listened, taking in each word with the grace and elegance of a woman who knew better than to break in front of another. crossing her legs, tightening the grip of a shawl around her thin shoulders. gasping for air with the same urgency that she inhaled the cigarette smoke inside her mouth.}  

_{quite well for himself. linda clutched at her chest, eyes falling shut as she brought the cigarette to her mouth for a second drag. as stupid as it had been to hope for anything different — impossibly silly and naive — knowing that a monster had been allowed to rebuild his life after destroying an entire family sent a renewed wave of pain straight to the older woman’s, weakened heart.} 

_{❝ no. honey you won’t be doing anything. ❞ not alone, and not yet. eyes opened once more, moving from the cigarette in her hand to a much more, comforting sight. jane by her side, looking equally concerned and determined to help. ❝ i know what i have to do. but i need your help, do you understand? ❞}

(Source: widowsmisery, via msjanebond)

_{plotted starter for @msjanebond.}

_{darkness closed around linda’s new jersey home, and long hours had passed since the moment an old friend returned bearing news. information, as valuable to her now as fame and riches would ever be. however, the question that had plagued linda’s every, waking moment still remained. did she really, truly wish to hear to what bond had to say? how, and most importantly, where to find this particular kind of monster.} 

_{once she did, once she knew, there would be no turning back. committing murder was, as some people said, the point of no return.} 

_{cigarettes and alcohol —both of which had left their scent behind on the actress’ breath— had long numbed her senses, and after setting her empty glass down on the coffee table, linda opened her mouth to finally cut the silence that had settled between the two women. wrapped up in satin shawls, the once natural, rouge of her cheeks replaced by emptiness. pale, and almost deadly so.} 

_{❝ tell me. how’s life looking for our friend, mister cassetti? ❞}