All Hallows Eve

The day of Halloween was finally here. Bond had his own little mix of various traditions set up in his house. On one empty wall he had made an alter like the Spanish ones that Andreas had shown him. Bond's parents, M and Vesper all had photos up, as well as a few of the 00's that Bond had known. There were some fresh chrysanthemums on the floor, as well as candles. Bond hadn't been game enough to try jack o' lanterns or carving turnips, but instead had a bowl of peanuts in their shell resting to one side. The peanuts, known as monkey nuts in Scotland and Ireland, were used in lieu of candy during trick or treating.
Bond wasn't a very good baker, but surprisingly enough had found a bakery a few blocks away that made the soul cakes that Christine had mentioned. They did taste a rather lot like more dough hot cross buns.
Satisfied with his mix of cultures to celebrate and commemorate the dead in his past, Bond took a photo to share with Q branch. He thought they would enjoy knowing he had listened and remembered all that they had told him.

At quarter to five, Bond left his house, the candles in jars and well away from anything that could catch alight. He was surprised that he wasn't the only one wandering the street in costume, though Bond had chosen to leave the head piece off for now.

Q branch was filled with people when he entered, the music, which had been a quiet steady presence for the last week, now turned up loud and filling the high ceilinged room.
Bond was able to spot a few of the people he had spoken too, all wearing something that they had on during the past week, but with improvements here or there. They must have been using the week as a trail run before they decided on what they were going to enter into the, apparently highly competitive, costume competition.

Finally Bond saw Q, or who he thought was Q, talking to someone he assumed was Miss Moneypenny. The lady had dreadlocks and teeth caps that made her look wild, with markings on her face. He thought he recognised the costume from a movie he saw on a plane at one stage. The man, who Bond assumed was Q, had hair sticking up in all directions, and shone under the lights. He looked ethereal, and then he turned and Bond realised two things. The first was that it was definitely Q, and the second was that he wasn't wearing a shirt.
Bond placed the helmet part of his costume on his head and made his way over to them.
As he approached, the lady spoke. "I like the costume, James."
It was definitely Moneypenny.
Bond removed the helmet and smiled at her.
"Lovely as usual, Miss Moneypenny, or should I call you Calypso?"
Moneypenny ducked her head in acknowledgement.
"Quite right. Can you tell me who Q is?"
Bond looked at him carefully but shook his head.
"He looks like a fae of some sort," Was all Bond could come up with.
"Close, but not quite." Q told him. "Ariel from The Tempest."
Now that Q said, that Bond could definitely believe it.
"How did you know it was me under the helmet and armour?" Bond asked them.
"You walk like a 00," Moneypenny responded.
"And I saw you looking at Tim's star wars figures the other day," Q added. "Wasn't hard to figure out that the storm trooper who carried themselves like a 00 was you."
Bond looked around the room. "I'm also the ONLY storm trooper."
"At least we all know your aim is more accurate," Moneypenny commented.
"Yours isn't," Bond grumbled.
"It was a moving target on a moving train" Moneypenny said in her defence.
Bond supposed he should give her that.
"This is quite a celebration, with a mix of cultures and traditions," Bond commented.
"That's the best part about Halloween, in my opinion," Q replied. "It has so many different pieces to it that it encompasses almost everyone."
"It's a mishmash of a holiday, really," Moneypenny said.
"I saw someone call Halloween the misfit's holiday," Q replied. "And really, that's kind of accurate"
"It's probably why your branch takes to it so well," Moneypenny added.
"Yea, we are all a bit of misfits, the odd ones out at school and the strange ones in our families," Q replied. "But we made our own family here."
His eyes flicked to where Andreas' desk was, and Bond looked across also.
Most of the desk had been cleared and was instead filled with picture frames. Amongst them Bond could see the faces of past 00's, M and the previous Q.
"We will always guide our family home," Q muttered. "Even if that's only possible in the after life."
The three paused for a solemly moment.
"Come on, Mr storm trooper here doesn't have a drink." Moneypenny spoke up.
"To the misfit's holiday!" Bond laughed.
It had been an interesting week, and it was going to be a good night.