#FurtherInstruction

[pinkbat5]

the scorpion and the frog

(artfight attack of FurtherInstructions's fanobesk, Arika and Tzuul)

[jasmine-requiso]

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Colossians 4:2‭-‬6 ESV

[pupil-of-law]

mettleborn·:

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His apology prompts a soft smile, concealing the small unexpectedsensation of triumph felt at successively defusing the situation, though herrelief remains short-lived as his fevered outburst is recalled in clear detail,the words now haunting, complimenting the ghostly feeling of his brief touch. Whileit may appear that treating Sebastian cautiously, dispassionately agreeing withhim, whilst emphasising her own obvious vulnerability has been successful inreaching him somehow, she is not naïve enough to believe such a tactic wouldwork a second time round.

Adelia is silent as he leaves the room and waits a full hourbefore slipping into the kitchen in order to set up her equipment, not to transmita message, but rather to receive one. After decoding the content and committingit to memory, she burns the little piece of paper, leaving only ash in itsplace. The transmission is clear; they are to head to Dover, to occupy a roombooked in the Grand Hotel for two nights, where they will need to await furtherinstruction regarding their crossing from Dover to France.

Hearing no sound from upstairs, Adelia moves to occupy thesofa, allowing the fire to die out as she slumbers. She is awakened abruptlywhen Sebastian swiftly moves into the room and announces they must leave. Yawningquietly, she sits up in her seat, but the need for more sleep continues to clawat her as she stares up at Sebastian a little dazed.

His mention of having already been outside is met with an annoyedlittle grimace, though she refrains from voicing her concerns, especially giventhe useful nature of the intelligence he’s gained; if it’s true of course.

“Friedrich has instructed that we are to head to Dover,to the Grand Hotel.” She confirms, gathering her blanket around her beforemoving to stand. In truth, she does not know if the transmission came fromFriedrich himself or another contact, but it had the required indicators.

“We are to stay there two nights whilst arrangements aremade for our passage to France.” Glancing in the sitting room mirror, she attempts to tameher unruly dark curls back into place. There is running water here, howevercold and it will do for the moment, until they find more habitableaccommodation.  “Will you allow me to freshen up a moment, I will need tochange before we leave.”

Sebastian almost acted on an urge to smack her cheek a little to wake her up, but remembered in time that she was not a fellow cadet and instead went to pick up his paper that she had ignored and pocketed it for safekeeping. Eyeing the little powdery shadow on the kitchen table which he was not fooled into dismissing but knew exactly what it was the cremated remains of, a prickle of resentment heated his skin at the idea of Zeitzler and Zeitzler enjoying their little secret conversations without or about him. But he said nothing, and turned back to see her standing, a little like an uncertain fawn as she gave her instructions.

Sebastian gave a brief and humourless smile, and nodded. ‘Yes of course. I think I saw some old skirts and shawls in the dead spinster’s wardrobe upstairs. Shall I fetch them?’ Without explaining his comment, but feeling rather accomplished at having managed so much before sunrise, he went to the kitchen countertop and took up a lace dishcloth. With it he turned conspicuously to the table and busied himself carefully sweeping up the ash from the message in lieu of any verbal confirmation that he was aware of her little correspondence.

Looking up at her again, he paused for a moment as if waiting for her to apologise or address her deceit. Then, with a subtle expression of polite acceptance that she declined to do so, he smiled again more mildly. ‘I’m afraid we won’t be staying at the Dover Grand. I have some things I need to attend to in Berlin before we see Zeitzler, two days should be sufficient. The steamer leaves tonight at six. I’ll put your bag in the car.’ He went calmly then to the hall, where he picked up the small case and went to place it on the back seat of the Silver Ghost. Adelia had had three items of luggage. The tack box, into the false sides of which some hidden papers and the passports had been slotted, thrilled to see that they were traveling as posed husband and wife, now residing in his inside pocket; the leather suitcase, donated for a useful fee to the pawn shop in town, and the bag within it, which was the sole item he had kept. The rest of her various accoutrements he had freely donated.

The prime excitement of his morning of work had been the anticipation of whether she actually would put on the old woman’s clothes in lieu of her own single remaining outfit from yesterday, which Sebastian had been too timid to touch where it had been folded in the other room upstairs. He sat in the driver’s seat in wait, trying to bet with himself on which option she would choose.