The Best of British

*She reaches over to pour a little more wine, laughing at his words. As she leans back again, she grins over the rim of her glass* But you would look so adorable in it. Are you certain I can’t persuade you to try it on just once. *She gives him a playful wink before sipping the drink some more* 

[Blowing a bit of bangs out of his face, he shrugs, setting the wine glass down and removing his robes. Well, call it overconfidence or perhaps intuition, but he was already dressed and ready for an evening adventure. Something told him she wouldn't say no.]

All of the above, if you oh so desire.

[Sure, he didn't have money to spend on extravagant things, but he surely did have a lot of people in his contacts.]

I know a lovely restaurant a simple walk across the park underneath the moonlight away. I know the chef as well, so we can definitely get what he recommends. If you aren't tired after tonight, we might as well watch a movie. Jame Bond, or maybe Sherlock Holmes, hmm?

Ah, it seems I’ve sparked something for you, yes? Though I suppose you probably won’t tell me straight out, will you? Should I keep an eye on the British newspapers then? 

[Looking over to her, he closes his mouth. He was speaking out loud, ah great. Well, nothing can be done about it now.]

My "Watson" aye? I won't refer to you as Watson as long as I don't have to wear that ridiculous hat. 

[He points out, tucking his cell away into his robe's pockets, taking a sip of his wine before setting it down. Now then, he's been gone for a long while and he just wants to enjoy the rest of his night in peace. Who is to say when his peaceful return home will be disrupted?]

Anyway, to answer your question, I was just looking over the personals. Not the romance ones, but the other ones. And I started thinking, is this a good way or a bad way to convey important messages. On the one hand, it’s public, and anyone can see it. And if they happen to know what it’s about, you could be in trouble. But on the other hand, print media isn’t as popular anymore, and most people probably suspect things to be carried out over email, so perhaps they won’t be watching the paper. And certainly none but the most dedicated enemy would want to be combing the papers in search of a personal they weren’t aware of from the start. 

But perhaps you do have a dedicated enemy. Maybe he will be tracking the newspapers. Or maybe he has some goons in the paper industries, watching out for any odd personals that might be linked to you or your friends. Maybe then you should use another, seemingly private, form. But emails can be watched, and phones tapped, and letters intercepted. Of course, you can code your message, much like they do for those being played out on short-wave radios. But codes can be broken in time. You really must hope that whatever your message relates to can be taken care of before the code is broken.

[He needed another glass of wine, so he poured himself a third fill. Interesting, it was all so interesting, it makes sense if someone were to communicate in this way, not only that, he could use it. The idea has crossed his mind at one point, but he never put it into practice. He figured no one would be able to decipher a message if he ever did use that method as a sort of means of informing a rescuer. Through via text messages he could send one to his own company and they'd publish it in no time, and with Lily's prying eyes she might be able to pick it up rather quickly.]

Brilliant. Bloody brilliant. 

[He stands, looking a bit goofy with the way his hair stuck up due to it still being a tad wet, and his robes weren't properly tied. He held the wine glass in his hand, and it only really made him appear like he was trying to look dapper.]

[He pulls out his cell and types something into it in a flash before sending it off to one of his accomplices (Devon). This would definitely be handy sometime in the future if he ever does need it.]

We can definitely send them a message this way, knowing that I work for the paper they'd obviously keep their eye out for it. [He rubs his jaw, the side that wasn't bruised while in thought.]

*As the time passes, she moves on to the comic strips, smiling a bit at some of them. Once she’s finished her glass of wine, she’s decided to move over to lay on the couch, and finish reading the paper. She decides to look at the personal ads. She wasn’t interested in the ones about seeking a partner, but the ones that people used to correspond about other thing, sometimes secret things. She wondered why anyone would use this method, as anyone else could see it. Then again, it’s overt nature may have made it covert. Who would want to search the newspapers each day for a secret message? And who would expect it in this type of media, now that the internet ruled the first world.*

[Looking in the mirror, he frowns, seeing his ivory skin blossom in shades of deep purple and red from where he was injured. Thankfully a robe or regular clothing will be able to cover them up effectively. He can't do anything about the cut on his lip or the bruise forming on the side of his mouth, but that will heal in time. He can feel his muscles already sore, especially his calves. He's been on the run for too long since his sudden departure.]

[Benedict returns from the bathroom, wearing clothing underneath the robe of course so he wouldn't come off as too indecent, but Lily was not a client at the moment, rather a guest... a friend, as she had claimed them to be. No need to be so formal then, he assumed it was alright for him to present himself like this around her. It was much more comfortable.]

[BRING IT ON]

[blows out smoke]

I'm a self-indulgent man. I'm aware of my vices, and quite frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.

[Just pulls out a fag instead]

[THEN SHOW IT, YOU SHIT]

*As he stands up to leave, she manages to chuckle a little* I’m afraid not. Though I’m sure you’ll think of me while you’re in there. Hopefully in a good way though. *She doesn’t mind watching him unbutton his shirt a bit though, and she takes another sip as she does* Do try to not keep me waiting too long. I’ll start to worry that maybe someone left a crocodile in your tub to eat you up or something.

*As he leaves, she reclines a little, slowly finishing off the wine. Why was she doing this to herself? She could leave and save them both a ton of pain. She knew it was wrong to get too attached to a human. He would grow old, or maybe not, but he was going to die eventually. And she would suffer grief. She already felt it. But she didn’t want to miss out on these times either. Now that they were already becoming closer, perhaps it was best to just keep going, and brave the bitter ending when it came.* 

Hello?

Devon? It's Ben, I have something to ask of you. Have you attempted to infiltrate any of the locations I was visiting in the last two days?

Um... no, last I checked you returned back in London four hours ago so there wasn't any telling whether or not you were still there, why?

Well, I've run into a bit of trouble.

Don't tell me you slept with another mafia bosses woman-

You're getting off topic--

I don't see how that's off topic man.

Just listen carefully, I'm certain I'm being followed, are you able to disable any sort of--

...tracking device? Pft, 'course I can, that's simple child's play. Don't worry about it. [Ben hears a a sudden flurry of rapid typing on a keyboard before Devon speaks again.] Why are you hiding in the bathroom? Wait, there's someone in the living room with you... Oh, is it that German babe? Wait, that the girl you were talking about that one time or am I just getting it mixed up with another woman?

Devon shut up. [He hisses, trying to keep his voice down all the while stripping out of his clothing so he can set himself into the tub of hot water.] Lily Beilschmidt. I also need you to make sure no one's tracking her either. Just for safety precautions.

Don't need to explain ta me chief. I'll keep your girl out of harms way.

Stop referring to all the women I encounter to be mine.

Have you slept with her yet?

Stop assuming I sleep with every woman I encounter.

So that's a no. Well then, sounds like the very few women you've ever really shagged--

[Ben instantly hangs up and tosses his phone onto the pile of his clothing before turning the water off and dunking himself in for a moment in order to curse before coming back up and gasping for breath.]

*She keeps her eyes on him until he’s done speaking. Then, she looks into her wine once again, swirling it lightly so she can simply watch it turn round in the glass. Of course he’ll have to ask her to stay out of things. She doesn’t want to though. Not just out of simple curiosity, but from a desire to know things, a desire that was practically molded into her when the Stasi was formed. Not knowing things wasn’t acceptable. And if people had secrets you didn’t know, it could become dangerous…But this wasn’t the Cold War anymore. And he wasn’t an enemy spy, or a possible defector. He was a young, British man who investigated things for others. His work depended on trust, and being careful with it. And the last thing she wants is to cause real problems for him.*

You have my word, Lily. I will do everything in my power to uphold it... but there will be the exception, when that dreaded day will come though I hope it shall not... where I must say my goodbyes. 

[He gives her hand a gentle squeeze before placing it back onto her lap. Benedict gives her a small smile, shifting in his seat before standing.]

I assume you will not accompany me with the bath then? [He takes a sip of his wine.] The offer still stands if you'd like to of course. [He unbuttons the first three on his dress shirt with a single hand, the other occupied by the wine glass. There's that charming, condescending grin playing on his lips again before he makes his way toward the bathroom.]

[strokes his jaw a moment]

*She keeps watching him as she sips from her glass again. It’s clear, from the licking to the shaking of his head, that his most recent job is still on his mind. And it makes her wonder if there is still a danger present because of it. She hopes that if anyone should come around, she will be with him. She would like to see them get past her*

[Running a hand through his unkempt hair, he sighs, swirling the liquid within his glass. He has to look into her eyes though, knowing fully that breaking contact is an instant "No." Benedict somehow loses all will to even reject her. This woman... definitely had him loosely wrapped around her finger (in a way).]

To request such a thing from a man you barely even know... Strikes me as completely out of the ordinary. [It makes sense. Why would she care about someone she's only interacted with flirtatiously? Has he not made it clear enough he could not let his heart be exposed with such a job?] I can promise you that I will not distance myself, but that would be a lie.