smk_ooc | Character Meet and Greet

"Mm." Was the only thing he could say to the kept angel comment. It just wasn't fair that Crowley should do all the work and he wouldn't be able to be comfortable just laying about whilst acknowledging it. The other thing is, well, there's a certain amount of debt entailed in that sort of arrangement, even subtly. And he's not entirely sure if he wants to owe Crowley anything. If only because the possibilities are a bit ear singeing and he's not quite stupid enough to bring them to the fore.

He's also not surprised that Crowley helped with the tax system, but can't help but feel a measure of justified pride, even glowing faintly with it, not that he notices.

"I understand it. Every single little detail and loophole. It too me a fortnight but I can quote it back to you, if you'd like. And I could have put a flaw in there, but I am an Angel and don't do that sort of thing." Besides that was very much a Seed of Evil and if it were there to be discovered, chances are it would be-- This would result in him being very embarrassed by it, not to mention facing a potential inquiry at head office where he would have to justify it.

And he could, naturally. He had gotten good about that. Though the thought makes him guilty and he has to refill his own cup after thinking it. But he doesn't want to spend any more time in head office than he absolutely has to. It's funny as he hasn't seen Gabriel in decades, almost a century in fact! But one encounter was more than enough to last him and he'd seen him at least twice now.

Also now he wanted a pear.

He sips at his wine, raising his eyebrows at the demon's list of job opportunities, none of them particularly surprising.

"Not an escort, surely." Honestly. There was tempting humans and then there was...fulfilling said temptation and he couldn't imagine Crowley knowing a mortal in the Biblical sense and didn't think he wanted to.

At the last, though, he can't help but feel the gloom-- almost fear! at the thought of nothing to come back to. That it would all be-- That Earth would be--! But he was expected in Heaven and to be a moment of their shining triumph, whatever that entailed. An eternity of Celestial Harmonies. He winced, took another long swallow.

"That's why we--" No. "I have to find a way to get back before that happens. I can't just give up. I can't just let humanity suffer because of us. They never asked for us, you know. We just happened to them and keep happening and it doesn't seem right. Sometimes I think it would be better if we weren't around at all and they were left wholly to themselves to learn and grow, which I'm sure was what the intention was to begin with. But who knows. It's ineffable." He frowned and drank more.

"And even if there's nothing left, well-- no I can't just leave. I won't abandon Heaven just like that, so stop trying to tempt me into it." Because he knew he would. "I'm going to stop listening to you if you do."

"Naturally you understand it, you've always been clever, the point wasn't to try and trick you it was to spread disharmony in those people who couldn't understand it."

And he took a certain amount of pride in that. Clever angel able to see through his plots... really bloody annoying. The angel scruples too, though he expected that. Azriaphale wouldn't have been all in for a seed of evil no matter how funny it would have been.

Crowley leaned back on his commandeered pillow to watch the angel over there judging him with his wine and his perfect white eyebrows. If he weren't so familiar with Azriaphale he might have been more offended but as he was he just shrugged before making a sort of dismissive 'aahh' noise.

"Maybe not escort. Think I can consider that more of an option of last resort if everything else falls through."

He was a demon, meant to be working towards Armageddon and the glorious final battle but he didn't care for it anymore than Azriaphale did. The thought that everything he had grown to love about that world would just be gone. No more flat, no more terrified house plants, no more Bentley or humans doing wonderful little human things. No more little bookshops... Oh look, some how his glass was empty again.

"If you say ineffable to me one more time..."

A hollow threat so it was never finished.

"I only meant we should be thinking ahead just in case we end up trapped here for longer than either of us think we will be. Are you planning on taking up their cause? Fighting for these humans as hard as you are that lot we were pulled away from?"

He can't help but beam at the compliment, feathers floofing a little though he doesn't notice. Of course he's clever. But he's also very thorough. It would take a lot to get past him. He hums, further pleased that an escort is going to be near the bottom of the list. Though he'd make a very good one.

He reached for the wine bottle the same time Crowley did, fingers brushing against the others as he took it for himself and didn't share.

"Ineffable," he said, just to tease him. He poured wine for himself and kept the bottle at his other side so the snake couldn't get to it easily. This was an action he regretted not a bit as Crowley spoke again.

"I wish you hadn't put it that way. I'm not entirely sure you didn't do it on purpose." He knew why Crowley would prefer they stay. "I can't say no, can I? After all, God is the God of everywhere." He pours himself another glass and drinks it down. He can find a way out of it if he wanted, he was sure. Justification on justification. But was it right just to leave these people behind? Was hat part of the plan?

He didn't want to fight for these people as well, but that was what an Angel was made for.

Reaching for a bottle that suddenly and cruelly was no longer there he chased after it, his arm reaching over Azriaphale's person as he made a lunge and very nearly caught the fleeing liquid but suddenly the world spun. The chase was instantly abandoned as his hand came to rest on Azriaphale's chest, a steadying anchor he used to prevent himself tumbling right off the bed.

"Oh angel..."

He groaned as his forehead came to rest on Azriaphale's shoulder.

"Be careful of that stuff... powerful."

He took a deep breath and held it as if doing so might lessen some of the vertigo.

"I only had a glass!"

The numbers were played out on his free hand. A glass had become two, or had it been three, worse... four.

"Or... several. You know, just occurred to me. If our powers are all wo-- won-- messed up, we can't just make ourselves sober again can we?"

The word 'Ineffable' brought out a low snarl but finding the power to right himself still felt a long way off to him. At least here there was that comforting scent of angelic cologne.

"I didn't have anything to do with bringing us out here. I never even heard of this place before and fighting corruption, I am corruption, not my thing, I would have chosen a vacation world with a better nightlife."

One might notice that this was a vacation world and it probably did have a nightlife but not one that impressed demons very much apparently. It was all too 'family friendly'. Probably even had 'Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties'.

"But, mind you... who says that all the time, mind you? It is an idea! If we can't stop the End Times seems like it's better to leave than to get swept away in it. I was thinking about it. Leaving. Just you and me and a whole galaxy of worlds. We could just run away together."

He was surprised at the hand on his chest, and even more-so at the forehead on his shoulder. Crowley's breath slid over his neck, sending gooseflesh all over. It didn't help either that he could feel the warmth of the demon's hand through his clothes, making his heart jump. Hopefully neither was noticed. And certainly he was glad the demon couldn't feel the warm rush of tender emotion that filled him

It was an interesting moment. Even more interesting than the er...attempts at inspiration. Something that felt so much different and rested on the edge of one thing and another-- though he didn't look too closely at either of those things.

He waved aside the faint annoyance at having to be the responsible one and not get drunk because angel and demon and so on and so forth. He even forewent the clarification that he had meant, not that Crowley had taken them here; could he even? but that had tried to guilt him into staying.

He thought about the words. Run off together. Together always had a wonderful ring to it. And helping these people, he supposed in a way, he had to be committed. Not that that would stop him from going back when he could. Earth had to take priority. It just didn't make sense otherwise. But he wouldn't tell Crowley that he was going. No, it was much safer for the demon just to stay here. And who knew? Away from hell and all the... politics, perhaps he'd be able to find something different for himself. Something more.

"Here seems a good a place to start as any." He hesitated, then reached up and stroked the back of Crowley's neck, but lightly, not sure how the gesture would be received and not wanting to ruin this moment...whatever it was.

It had been an attempt to guilt him and Crowley would have been absolutely unrepentant about it if in his intoxicated state he had picked up on what was meant instead of veering wildly sideways. Guilt him, ask him, apologize to him, whatever it took to prevent the angel from being a uselessly well-meaning but ultimately ineffectual idiot and getting himself caught up in that bloody stupid war. They had influenced the wrong child, been unable to find the right one, and now what... There was nothing left. The forces of Hell would find out he had screwed up, they would have come for him and it would only have been a matter of time before Heaven came for Azriaphale too. Here they might well have been out of reach. Safe. Both of them. Shame about the Earth but there was nothing else they could do.

The hand touched his neck and his thoughts instantly shifted. He was being odd again. He tried to tell himself it was only the wine but he knew there was more to it. The intoxication he felt came as much from the angel as the drink. It dawned on him slowly that his hand was on Azriaphale's chest and... he opened his eyes only to see the gentle curve of Azriaphale's throat. This was... he should really move away shouldn't he? That was what the hand was about to do wasn't it? Give him a friendly nudge right before the words were spoken, something like, 'Hadn't you better lie down?' Kind but dismissive.

Only that wasn't what happened at all. He agreed. Actually agreed! Good a place to start as any! And the hand moved not to push him aside but to stroke his neck, sending all those little short hairs back there into a tango. His breath escaped in a contented sigh that sounded very nearly like a hiss, the closest a snake could manage to a cat-like purr, but his mind still stumbled over the concept that it could have been as easy as that.

"Wha... what?"

Must have misheard!

"Did you just agree with me?"

"Mm...I rather believe I did." And, since Crowley seemed to enjoy the touch, he continued, more sure this time, stroking through his hair too. It was incredibly soft and he wasn't sure which he preferred more, the gentleness of his hair or the smooth warmth of his neck. The hissing sigh was well worth it though and he wondered what other sounds he could pull from the serpent.

"You might have the right idea. After all... I do sometimes get tired of always having to do the right thing." The truth was always easier than a lie, and the might had a weight to it without explicitly agreeing. There was nothing to be caught up in here.

"And it could be fun." He let his fingers drift over Crowley's temple, gently smoothing the hair back from it, tracing his ear, lingering over the snake curling there.

This was dizzying. Azriaphale agreeing with him, giving him hope that there might just be enough wickedness in the angel to allow this. The worst part was that Crowley totally believed him. Everything the angel said about starting over here and having the right idea for once wasn't questioned for more than length of beats between the angel's swift heart. Logic could eventually win even an angel over, there was nothing to say it couldn't, and he could get tired of doing the right thing. Why not? Sometimes he grew tired of doing the wrong thing!

Happily oblivious to the very thin line Azriaphale tread between truth and lie oftentimes called the 'sin of omission' Crowley allowed himself to relax. Dropping some of the guarded nature the wine hadn't already done away with to close his eyes and allow Azriaphale to comfort away his concerns.

"I thought I would have to work on you longer before you would agree."

Really this was the only brief suspicion he held.

"Glad I was wrong."

His hand slid just slightly under the lapel of Azriaphale's jacket, but no further as this seemed a rare moment even to a demon. One to be savored and not ruined with a sudden rush of feeling. Cuddling, humans called it. He couldn't say he had ever had a good cuddle before. He rather liked it.

"Annnd... we don't have to stay here forever. We could move, find some place by the lagoon or..." Were there other places in the park? "Some where inland." Had to be. "You'll see, it'll work out."

It was rare, this moment. Rare and exceedingly precious. There were no diamonds that could compare or misprinted books either. It was a moment as sweet and delicate as a chocolate truffle. And he was using it for his own advantage. To do the Right thing. With a capital. The only thing he could do. He didn't understand why the Right thing always seemed to feel a bit wrong. Like betrayal. Like abandonment. Perhaps it was his own failing for feeling so deeply for a member of the opposition, and to allow them to feel so deeply for him.

He hummed and wrapped his wing around him, slipping his other hand around him to stroke hie back, resting his cheek against the soft hair. Though that a demon could even feel this emotion, strong and pure and strangely uncorrupted-- it gave him an odd sort of hope. Though he couldn't quite explain it what he was hoping for.

"I suppose I'm just tired." Which was also true. "It's this place, I expect. Doesn't quite go as easy on our mortal forms as we'd like." And he would be even more tired to go back alone...to stop the end of the world or-- he supposed, to fight in the Last Great War.

At least he wouldn't have to fight a certain demon. At least that would be safe. A little secret treasure locked away.

"So long as we're in walking distance of the best restaurants, anywhere will be fine." Within reason. "I'm almost starting to believe we can actually do this."

And he is, which is even harder because he knows what he must do, regardless of what they manage to build here.

That was a delightfully soothing sound that hum. Much like a lullaby but lighter and betraying feelings he couldn't say he really understood. He assumed it was easier for an angel. Their entire existence was all about light and emotion. Azriaphale could probably set a name to this feeling and hold no doubts about it whatsoever. Crowley found himself puzzling over it like some half-remembered fragment of memory. It was a little daunting but being a creature of doing what feels the best and damning the consequences he saw no reason to end or prematurely move away from what was beginning to feel like the most comfortable place in the universe.

His dark wings neatly tucked behind him as the angel's white ones move to embrace him and he nuzzled the angel's cheek with the top of his head... Which he would claim was only him adjusting position if he should have been called out for it.

"I don't think it's possible to be out of walking distance there is only the one road."

Speaking softly as he tried to mental map the place. It was tiny for a city, very 'small town America', that also explained the hot dogs being sold by nearly every street vendor. Americans loved them. He hoped for angel's sake they did have more fitting restaurants hidden some where. It wouldn't be the Ritz, but they might have sushi.

Azriaphale just being tired was easily believable too. This place did have a way of wearing on a formerly immortal being. Crowley gave a light grunt of agreement, arching just slightly into those back rubs.

"Yeaa... Forgot all about that when we started this. Used to be able to drink all night."

Silk was it? Nah, maybe not, but it was soft. Gentle like a worn in old sofa, but elegant. Suddenly fascinated by Azriaphale's shirt Crowley's hand wandered over its surface, just rubbing the fabric as the angel had his back.

"But you can rest now. There's nothing here to worry you."

He certainly had nothing to fear from the serpent coiling up beside him.

Inasmuch as he was anxious about the future, it was starting to fade, melt into the moment-- brush of his hair, the restlessness of his hand, the startling warmth of his fingers. It was all a welcome distraction.

"Perhaps you'll just have to build up a resistance again." There was something mellowing about drinking. Not that he should be encouraging this sort of thing. But if it allowed this well...it couldn't be completely horrible. He absently moved his hand up under Crowley's wing, massaging the joint there to see how he would like it.

He smiled at the idea of nothing to worry about. There was plenty to worry about. Corruption to fight for one thing. Spells to learn. Worrying about the mortality of their bodies that seemed to require sleep and could get hurt by flying rubbish bins.

"If you say it, I'll believe it," he murmured, pressing a lingering kiss to the top of his head, smelling his hair, closing his eyes. "Despite all evidence to the contrary."

The wing twitched reflexively away at the touch, like it had chanced too near fire and didn't wish to burn, but soon settled back into the angel's hand. It did feel wonderful. Over the centuries he had been to many a massage parlor, they had been all the rage in Rome, but he had never had his wings done. Would have defeated the purpose of taking human form if he had suddenly whipped them out and given the whole game away.

He ought to have been more guarded but wine and angel conspired to make him sigh quite contentedly as he drifted slightly further away from wakefulness.

"There can't be that many werewolves."

Crowley wasn't worried, not a bit! In this moment there felt like there was nothing at all in the full entirety of the universe that he needed to worry about. There was no Armageddon, no massive loss of humanity, no Corruption, no Heaven or Hell... there was just them.

"No, I'm sure there aren't."

He couldn't help but notice the drowsiness in Crowley's voice, or the way he returned his wing to be massaged; which Aziraphale did with gentle diligence. He is half tempted to join him but that would require shifting and getting his coat off and settling down, and he would rather Crowley sleep than disturb him. It was such a peaceful, gentle moment that he could hardly do anything else.

Gradually his hand slid down Aziraphale's chest until it caught on his jacket's V where buttons held fabric together. In a continuation of this rare moment it hadn't been a gesture meant to tempt but merely something that happens when gravity begins to win against consciousness. He wasn't quite asleep yet but he was drifting.

"Aziraphale?"

Honestly he doesn't even see it as a temptation, just as it is-- and it's beautiful in a way to see the demon so warm, so comfortable. He is quite content himself. He smiles a little at his name. It's always so nice to hear it from him.

"Yes, my dear?"

Let's stay like this forever, just freeze time and remain here in this one moment...

"Nah... never mind."

Bit too much like a confession that. Besides those powers probably worked as well as all of his others, which was not at all. But, that thought seemed to stir him and he shifted as if trying to move away from the angel's shoulder only he was far too heavy from contentment to actually leave, so he ended up staying right where he was as his fingers found the top button of Aziraphale's jacket.

"You wanted this removed didn't you?"

He was sufficiently distracted by the question to not dwell on whatever Crowley might have said.

"Oh I thought you'd never ask... But er... So long as it's not to much trouble. You do seem awfully tired." And as much as he wanted to be free of at least some of his clothes, he didn't want to disturb the tired demon.

"Nope, not too much trouble."

Despite what body and drink were telling him he didn't actually want to go to sleep right now. So even if it was a struggle to wrestle himself free of this comfy place tucked into Aziraphale's wing he had to move now or be lost to it.

Crowley struggled to sit up on the bed, blinking some what groggily as he yawned... both of which were new experienced for him. He didn't usually blink and hadn't, to the best of his knowledge, ever yawned before. It was all a bit terrifying.

"Oh I don't like that... It feels like I'm not in control of myself at all."

Aziraphale missed the warmth immediately but let him go, flexing his wings behind him again. Despite the distance, he smiled. It was impossible not to. There was something simply adorable about him being so tired that he yawned.

"You just need some sleep. It's been a long day." It was barely three o'clock but the sentiment sounded right. He stood to walk to the side of the bed and gave him a gentle push. "Come on. Everything will be fine."

The gentle push was enough to encourage him back onto the bed. He was too tired to resist... not that he had thought to. It was a unique event, nearly as unique as that cuddle, finding yourself forced back into a bed by an angel.

He looked up from the pillows, his eye catching Aziraphale's pale blue, questioning the gesture and wondering if this might lead to more... hoping it might. Unblinking he locked the gaze, trying as if though hypnosis to encourage Aziraphale to act.

And then he yawned... damn! Entirely breaking the temptation!

Grudgingly he agreed the sleep was unavoidable but he did still reach up to try and loosen the buttons of Aziraphale's jacket. He had said he would help with that and he might just manage it before sneaky sleep won out.

"Just don't let me sleep through the entire 21st Century?"

It wasn't like the 14th century, he didn't want to miss all of it.

"And turn around to sit here?"

He patted the side of the bed right next to him. It would be easier to maneuver jacket over wings if there weren't such a great distance between them.

Well, he did look remarkably good against the pillows, Aziraphale had to admit. There was something nice in the contrast of it, all that dark against the white and the red of his hair. He was half tempted to sit and lean down and run his fingers through it. but then the yawn made him smile again. Adorable.

"I promise the 21st Century won't be safe from you." He sits as asked, taking off his shoes even and wiggling his socked toes. "I still don't know how you can sleep at all, let alone an entire century." He considers this and adds. "On purpose, I mean."

Crowley didn't consider himself the least bit adorable. He was a terrific bad ass and hot if anything. Being 'adorable' was more in the realm of angels... which explained why Aziraphale wiggling his toes like that had come across to him as adorable.

"You've never gone to sleep?"

The question was asked in a rush of surprise as he slid the angel's jacket up over his shoulders where it, predictably, became entangled in his wings. He started on the right wing first, guiding it gently around the fabric, and smoothing down those feathers that were ruffled out of place by the jacket's passing over them.

"You've been on Earth for eons and you were never tempted to try it? Not even once?"

Then the left was given the same treatment, but much more slowly as from some reason the feathers on this side seemed far more determined to hold on.

"Or do you mean you have slept you hadn't meant to?"

"Oh that is unpleasant." He doesn't like the jacket sliding over his wings and it's difficult to stay still, especially when Crowley is smoothing out his feathers, the contact making his wings twitch. It's so close. So intimate. Though he prefers it to the rumpled feel of bent and ruffled feathers.

"No not really. Well, not on purpose. Well-- not that I remember." Closing ones eyes and waking up in a slightly different place is hardly sleep exactly. It's more like a bad decision. "Evil never sleeps so Good must be constantly vigilant." He sighs in relief as his other wing is slowly freed, that feels much better. Though he still has a shirt and a vest to go and he never realized there would be a drawback to so many layers.

"It's a pity good didn't realize you were such a reprobate," he says, turning to give Crowley a far fonder smile than he meant to.

"Evil sleeps some times. Especially when you have to survive through the 14th century. Nothing good came of the 14th century!"

His lips curled into a little frown that Aziraphale had just used the word unpleasant. It could have been far worse had any of these feathers become caught and tugged free. He had been so careful but had it hurt anyway? What did one do for a pulled feather? The thought of soothing those aches away with a kiss only deepened with that fond smile.
How irritating when he found himself actually doing something else!

"We might have to take to wearing robes again. Horribly out of fashion but they were easier to get around a pair of wings."

He slid away, just enough to open up a place beside him on the pillow which was then given a pat just like the bed had been earlier.

"It seems to me that good could sleep, so long as evil was also sleeping."

"I think I would rather suffer than wear a robe." He flops beside him on his side, wings stretched out behind him as he rubs his cheek against the softness of it and shifts until he gets comfortable; eyes closed and sighing.

"The 14th century was an absolute nightmare. I would have slept if I could have managed it but there was corruption everywhere and we put in quite a bit of overtime trying to tempt... convince people to do good. I was even a monk for a time but the abbot kept looking up my skirts whenever I was on a ladder."

Which wasn't often, truth be told. And it was probably because the man was looking for those silk undergarments he ought not to be wearing as someone who had taken a vow of poverty. But poverty was a human invention and so he didn't think he should be forced to take full part in it.

"And that may be true but Evil is sneaky and how does Good know it won't get up when Good has its eyes closed unless Good takes precautions?"

As his eyes were closed right now and had been since he laid down because if he couldn't see temptation it wouldn't be so difficult to stay here and be tempted. It wasn't as if he didn't know what Crowley were up to.

"In other words, my dear." He slid a hand around Crowley's waist, pressing them a little closer. "Don't even think about it."

Edited 2019-07-11 05:19 (UTC)

Character Meet and Greet

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