angelical_azi

Mon, 18 Apr 2005 17:54:29 GMT

*Aziraphale sits in his bookshop, waiting for the second time in the past few days for someone. This time, it is a different person.*

Sat, 16 Apr 2005 12:22:03 GMT

*In his bookshop, Aziraphale sits catalouging books. In reality, he is doing something else.

Waiting. For someone. He knows that they will come in time.*

Sun, 10 Apr 2005 13:41:03 GMT

((Revised story.))

It was a rainy Saturday afternoon.

Not in a bad way, mind you. More of the lets stay inside with a mug of tea by our side and stay all warm and cosy kind of rainy day.

Good with bad. Bitter with sweet.

Which wasn’t surprising. In general, there had been a lot less negative vibes going around. There had been a lot less positive vibes going around, too, for that matter. What had been circulating was a general content vibe. Neutrality.

In the back room of a small shop in Soho, two very contented supernatural entities lay entwined on one of those beige couches that would always look ugly but were absolutely exquisite to lie or sit upon. Aziraphale rested his head on Crowley’s shoulder. He had been assured by his demon companion that sleep was quite a refreshing hobby, and although Aziraphale wasn’t quite getting the hang of it, he found that the small practise he’d had was enjoyable.

While his friend amicably snoozed, Aziraphale thought back to a few days ago.

<><><><><><><><>

He stood in a temporary area, waiting to speak to the Metatron. Or rather, be spoken to by the Metatron.

While Heaven, and also Hell he presumed, had been caught up in the bureaucracy of the Almost-Armageddon, Crowley and Aziraphale had taken a break from their work and decided to take pleasure in one another’s company.

“After all,” Crowley had said. “It’s the first day of the rest of our lives.”

And they’d talked a lot. About everything and anything. And they’d both enjoyed it.

Then one day, while he had been cataloguing his new book collection, he’d received a message from Heaven. And now he was there. Waiting…

…And then the Metatron was suddenly before him, sitting down at what appeared to be a desk.

“Take a seat, Aziraphale,” he said. He had an open file before him, written in a language that had no human had ever known. Aziraphale tried to hide his curiosity about what it said and focused on the Metatron, who was looking directly at him.

“We need to discuss your affairs with the Fallen angel and current demon, Crawly.”

“Crowley,” Aziraphale said, unable to stop himself. Metatron raised an eyebrow.

“Indeed. We need to negotiate the current state of your dealings, in a fashion, now that the Apocalypse has been averted.”

“Oh,” Aziraphale said miserably. His insides churned, a thousand emotions fighting for first place but the main one seemed to be fear. Although fear of what he didn’t exactly know.

“You are going to redeem him,” Metatron said with a slow nod. Aziraphale looked up.

“Pardon?”

“I said,” began the Metatron, pronouncing each syllable slowly and deliberately, “that you are going to redeem him. In your infinite goodness as an angel, a being in the Grace of God, you are going to set out to redeem your Fallen brethren.”

“I am?”

“Yes, you are. Because it would be a real thorn in their side, right now, so to speak. An Armageddon stopped by Satan’s own son and the demon that provoked the first sin to be redeemed. Of course it would, Aziraphale. What other reason could there be?”

Even though there were undertones that there was another reason, Aziraphale gaped. Relief flooded over him. He could feel himself tremble in euphoria.

“Um,” was all he could say. “Gosh. Thank you.”

“Of course, Aziraphale. Know that you must use everything within your power to do so. Are we clear?”

“Yes. Very clear.”

“Good,” the Metatron said. Aziraphale got up to leave.

“Oh, and Aziraphale?”

“Yes, sir?”

“For goodness sake, don’t embarrass us any further.”

<><><><><><><><>

And while Aziraphale thought over the recent dealings in Heaven, Crowley thought of his own in Hell.

<><><><><><><><>

At the same time Aziraphale had stood waiting in Heaven, Crowley had stood in Hell, before Beelzebub, talking about his dealings with Aziraphale.

“You want me to do what?” Crowley asked in shock.

“We wantzz you to tempt the angel to Fall, Crowzley,” Beelzebub had said. Crowley stared at him in disbelief. Beelzebub gave a sigh, as the sort of exasperated being who is fed up dealing with insignificant insubordinates.

“You, azz the cunning little git that you are, the demon to provoke the first zzin, are going to get up there and tempt that angel to Fall. The angel who wazz onze Guardian of the Eazztern Gate. Do you understand?”

Crowley thought for a moment and grinned. “Perfectly. Everything in my power?”

“Everything.”

Crowley got up to walk away.

“Oh, and Crowzley?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t embarazz uzz any further.”

<><><><><><><><>

They had met in the park, ecstatic expressions on each other’s faces; barely able to contain the utter glee they felt. Then they had gone back to Crowley's apartment and they had talked. Although, admittedly, not for very long.

“Do you think they’re letting us get off light?” Aziraphale asked afterwards.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, they could have quite easily cast me out of Heaven and tortured you for eternity. Why not?”

“Because that would admit that there was a problem in the first place,” Crowley said. The angel thought for a little bit longer.

“Do you think there’s something else maybe?” he asked.

“Like what?” Crowley asked.

“Oh, I don’t know. Do you ever think about how convenient our whole Arrangement has been? How neat everything was for us to start it?”

“Sometimes…”

“Maybe we’re the little part of Them they hate to admit? The part they ignore. Maybe we’re the little part of Them that could have worked out. I mean, they’ve been enemies as long as we have. Maybe they have their own Arrangement.”

Crowley stared at the ceiling.

“Angel?”

“Yes?”

“You think too much. I need to put a stop to that.” Crowley turned to look at him, grinning suggestively.

“Oh do you? Because I’ve been ordered to use everything within my power to redeem you, you know.”

“Well, when you put it like that…”

The conversation was put on an indefinite halt. Several times.

<><><><><><><><>

A few days later, in the back room of a small shop in Soho, two very contented supernatural entities lay entwined with each other. Eventually, one of them got up to put the kettle on. It was one of those days.

((Much better, methinks. And a nice little lead on for the RP, maybe.))

Fri, 08 Apr 2005 12:20:08 GMT

((OOC: A solution to the problem we've been having. This may be turned into a fanfiction, eventually, once it's beta-d and all that jazz. Any suggestions are welcome. Any comments IC are too. As usual, I claim no ownership of the characters used. They just like to posess me every now and then. It can be quite fun.))

They met in the park. It was a nice, sunny day. When Crowley approached their usual bench, he saw Aziraphale sitting there smiling, tossing bits of bread to the ducks. Quite angelic, he thought, and wondered about the whole reason for calling him here.

“Something funny, angel?” he asked. The angel looked up and his smile grew.

“Oh, nothing much. Just a little thought I’ve been having about something, really,” Aziraphale said calmly. Crowley quirked an eyebrow. The angel was trembling. With…excitement? What was wrong, he wondered, or rather, what was so right?

“Angel?” he asked sitting down.

Aziraphale began to laugh. It sounded positively wholesome and joyful. The demon smiled in spite of himself, glad to see his companion so utterly happy. Eventually he calmed down and looked at Crowley. His blue eyes brimmed with joy.

“Seriously, Aziraphale, what’s going on?” he asked. The angel chuckled.

“Nothing is wrong, my dear. Everything is right. Everything is going to be right for us, do you understand?” he said.

“What are you on about?” Crowley asked. Aziraphale grabbed his hand between his own two, clasping it gently. Crowley opened his mouth surprised, caught off guard.

“You’re tempting me to Fall, do you understand? And I’m tempting you to repent,” he said.

“What do you mean?” Crowley asked, frowning. Aziraphale smiled.

“Think about it.” He did. A grin began to form. The metaphorical penny had dropped.

“It’s how we can get away with it, right? That’s the explanation to our superiors. Me, as the cunning little git I am, tempting you. You’ve been spending too much time around humans and it’s caused you to stray a bit. I’ve almost got you. That pulling you down would be a real thorn in Their side at this present time, right?”

Aziraphale smiled. “Exactly. And as the good, shining beacon of light that I am, I’m trying to redeem you. Everybody knows you didn’t land with a Hard Thud like the rest of them so I can get them to see it that way.”

“Why, angel, I do believe you’ve spent far too much time around me these past centuries.”

“That’s the general idea, is it not?” Aziraphale asked with mock innocence.

Crowley grinned and his voice fell to a low whisper, squeezing his hand. “So…everything in your power?” Aziraphale blushed but kept on smiling. Crowley brushed back a flyaway strand of Aziraphale’s hair, brushing his hand down the side of the angel’s face.

“There’s only one tiny thing, angel,” he said. “What about the whole Ineffability?”

“Do you really think He would let us get this far without doing anything wrong? No, I think His plan, the great Ineffable plan, has something in store for us, my dear. I don’t know why or what but I don’t think anything ultimately bad will happen to us,” Aziraphale said.

“And why’s that?” Crowley murmured, leaning in closer.

“Because I think we’re a little too symbolic,” Aziraphale said. “Do you ever think about how convenient our whole Arrangement has been? How neat everything was for us to start it?”

“Sometimes…” Crowley whispered.

“Maybe we’re hope, Crowley. Maybe we’re here to show what could be. Maybe we’re the little part of Them that could have worked out. I mean, they’ve been enemies as long as we have. Maybe they have their own Arrangement.”

“Maybe,” Crowley said. And kissed him.

Tue, 05 Apr 2005 13:32:58 GMT

Sometimes ineffability can seem really unfair.

I won't question why.

He has a plan, I know He does.

However, I don't really know where I fit, when I feel like this. I feel a little lost.