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Febuwhump day 20: Truth Serum
Chronological order having completely left the building at this point, I figured I'd simply jump ahead to one I particularly enjoyed writing.
Master list here.
Day 20: Truth serum
Biggles, EvS, & Algy, 500 wds
"You literally can't lie. So we could ask you any question and you'd have to answer it honestly. That must sting."
"Algy," Biggles said reprovingly. "We won't ask you any questions in your present state," he added to von Stalhein, while Algy rolled his eyes. "It wouldn't be sporting."
Von Stalhein glowered. They had untied him and offered him some coffee after he gave his word that he would not harm them or try to escape. (This had been followed by "I do not wish to harm any of you at all, it's simply that I--" before he clapped his hand over his mouth and then slowly lowered it.)
"It's my decision whether I speak or not," von Stalhein said carefully, through his teeth, as if he was considering every word before it came out. "You can ask, but I do not have to tell you anything." He took a small sip of the coffee in the lid of the vacuum flask.
"Oh, so it's a matter of surprising you, then."
"Algy!"
Von Stalhein smiled grimly and took another sip of coffee, as if swallowing whatever he might be tempted to say. He looked considerably the worse for wear, pale and slightly sweaty from the drug, though Biggles thought it was more than just that. There were faint blue shadows under von Stalhein's eyes, as if he hadn't slept in a long while.
Before Biggles had a chance to think twice about it, moved by compassion, he asked, "Are you all right?"
"No, not at all, not even slightly; I would give my arm for a moment's rest in a place I can trust I won't be betrayed, I work for men I despise, I-- Bigglesworth, I thought better of you than this."
The look that was turned on him was bitterly poisonous. Biggles recoiled slightly, and then quietly offered the flask and refilled the lid as a peace offering.
"There's a sofa in there," he said, gesturing to the room they had been using as a sort of impromptu base of operations. "I think, upon reflection, we should be holding you prisoner after all, just to be on the safe side." Algy gave him a look. "We shall -- lock you in, so you won't interfere with our plans. Some sandwiches will be provided, of course. We aren't cruel."
"I know you're not," von Stalhein murmured. The bitter anger had faded into a calm, stony facade, but there was something close to amusement underneath it all. He allowed himself to be ushered into the quiet room, left with coffee and water and sandwiches. Biggles closed the door, not bothering to lock it.
"Well, he did give us his parole," he said to Algy, who was looking at him narrowly.
When Biggles peeked in a little later, the sandwich plate had been demolished to crumbs, and von Stalhein was lying on his side on the sofa, fast asleep.
Master list here.
Day 20: Truth serum
Biggles, EvS, & Algy, 500 wds
"You literally can't lie. So we could ask you any question and you'd have to answer it honestly. That must sting."
"Algy," Biggles said reprovingly. "We won't ask you any questions in your present state," he added to von Stalhein, while Algy rolled his eyes. "It wouldn't be sporting."
Von Stalhein glowered. They had untied him and offered him some coffee after he gave his word that he would not harm them or try to escape. (This had been followed by "I do not wish to harm any of you at all, it's simply that I--" before he clapped his hand over his mouth and then slowly lowered it.)
"It's my decision whether I speak or not," von Stalhein said carefully, through his teeth, as if he was considering every word before it came out. "You can ask, but I do not have to tell you anything." He took a small sip of the coffee in the lid of the vacuum flask.
"Oh, so it's a matter of surprising you, then."
"Algy!"
Von Stalhein smiled grimly and took another sip of coffee, as if swallowing whatever he might be tempted to say. He looked considerably the worse for wear, pale and slightly sweaty from the drug, though Biggles thought it was more than just that. There were faint blue shadows under von Stalhein's eyes, as if he hadn't slept in a long while.
Before Biggles had a chance to think twice about it, moved by compassion, he asked, "Are you all right?"
"No, not at all, not even slightly; I would give my arm for a moment's rest in a place I can trust I won't be betrayed, I work for men I despise, I-- Bigglesworth, I thought better of you than this."
The look that was turned on him was bitterly poisonous. Biggles recoiled slightly, and then quietly offered the flask and refilled the lid as a peace offering.
"There's a sofa in there," he said, gesturing to the room they had been using as a sort of impromptu base of operations. "I think, upon reflection, we should be holding you prisoner after all, just to be on the safe side." Algy gave him a look. "We shall -- lock you in, so you won't interfere with our plans. Some sandwiches will be provided, of course. We aren't cruel."
"I know you're not," von Stalhein murmured. The bitter anger had faded into a calm, stony facade, but there was something close to amusement underneath it all. He allowed himself to be ushered into the quiet room, left with coffee and water and sandwiches. Biggles closed the door, not bothering to lock it.
"Well, he did give us his parole," he said to Algy, who was looking at him narrowly.
When Biggles peeked in a little later, the sandwich plate had been demolished to crumbs, and von Stalhein was lying on his side on the sofa, fast asleep.
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Biggles suddenly realises he needs to put Erich safely inside a guarded room with a comfy sofa and some snacks. For mission reasons, definitely.
I love this description of it, and I have a feeling that Erich's experience of being their prisoner is probably like this a lot - come expecting torture, get a comfy room and snacks instead.
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*shakes fic to see if more will fall out*
I absolutely love the idea of von Stalhein resting while in their "captivity" (I know you already wrote a fic like that but I would like approximately 5000 of this cake, thanks). I love that Biggles, trying not to ask him any heavy questions ends up accidentally hitting one of the most revealing ones. Just because he cares, he naturally hits von Stalhein's weak points. And Erich's answer T_T
"No, not at all, not even slightly;
*FEELINGS*
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(I will never be over the idea of Team Biggles holding him prisoner but just giving him food and a safe place to rest.)
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Although maybe on some level von Stalhein also wanted to answer, because it must have been a load off his chest to admit out loud where other people can here that he works for men he despises and would give just about anything to be with people he can trust.(And he already knows Biggles and Algy are those people, even if Algy wants to interrogate him and Biggles accidentally DID interrogate him a little bit.)
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