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[handyowlet]

I bought Aziraphale's Bible so you don't have to.

Am I insane? Yes. Was it worth it? Maybe. In most* of both season 1 and season 2 of GO, there's a very specific Bible on a bookstand next to Aziraphale's desk. It's a vintage illustrated plate book by Harold Copping, known as the Harold Copping Bible, published by the religious tract society in London in 1910. It features some of the most well known Old Testament stories, summarized and annotated by the Bishop of Durham at the time, and illustrated by Copping, who was freshly returned from a sojourn in the middle east. Ironically, It was meant as a lay-person's version of a comic book, short, exciting by use of exotic illustrations, and easy to read.

But my (expensive) gain is now your gain! As I've collected here every visible page in both seasons for your reading and viewing pleasure.

Season 1: All episodes Adam & Eve Genesis iii (1:3) / HCB page 10

Season 2: Episode 1 Joseph known to his brethren Genesis xlv (1:45) / HCB Page 28

S2E1 14:21, S2E1 17:41, S2E1 39:45

Season 2: Episode 2 Jacob's vow Genesis xxviii (1:28) / HCB Page 22

S2E2 5:49

Season 2: Episode 2 Joseph known to his brethren Genesis xlv (1:45) / HCB Page 28

S2E2 13:38 (see S2E1 above)

Season 2: Episode 2 The Brazen Serpent Numbers xxi (4:21) / HCB page 36

S2E2 16:12, 43:40

Season 2: Episode 2* Bible on the desk, Magazine on the stand Annuel L'art Pour Tous, Cover (1861-1880 most likely)

S2E2 22:10

The French L'art pour tous industrial design periodical will have to be a story for another post. For now, just enjoy this 1880 edition copperplate of cherubs discovering a microscope...

Season 2: Episode 2 Imaginary page from HCB, Job KJV Job (18:1) / HCB N/A

S2E2 22:29, S2E2 40:05 Obviously, the plate illustrations and text look different here than in the real bible, because they were created for the show. But there are a few more particularities here. For one, this layout with the thin grid around the text, as well as the paragraph symbol next to the first title, indicate that this would have been a printer's proof copy, not a finished book. It shows you the layout grid and can be annotated for changes. Second, there seems to be a war going on between fonts. Where the "chapter" of Job begins, we get a font and a style similar to the original bible, which gets rudely interrupted by a dropped capital (from the real book) and a Gothic-style font/verse numbers like in the original King James version of the printed Bible.

Season 2: Episode 3 The Brazen Serpent NUMBERS xxi (4:21) / HCB page 36

S2E3 1:18 (see episode 2)

Season 2: Episode 5 By the Rivers of Babylon Pslam cxxxvii (19:137) / HCB page 52

S2E5 21:20

Season 2: Episode 6 Bible missing, L'art pour Tous on the stand Annuel L'art Pour Tous, Cover (1861-1880 most likely)

S2E6 10:21, 17:21, 18:15, 34:28 (see episode 2)

Season 2: Episode 6 Closed HCB, L'art pour Tous on the stand behind HCB page 0

S2E6 37:58, 44:20, 48:08

[handyowlet]

That was the whole point of Queen’s “You’re My Best Friend.” I would hope one would at least be friends, if not best friends, with one’s partner. I know I am.

"Stop saying Aziraphale and Crowley are friends! Their relationship is romantic!" I get saying this when people are denying the characters' love out of homophobia but also, they're best friends. They love each other so much in so many different ways and saying "I think you mean partners/spouses" when someone who is clearly well meaning refers to them as friends is just kind of incorrect. Crowley and Aziraphale's relationship is deep and complicated and I don't think a singular label can describe what they are to each other, I mean 6000 years of friendship and love isn't something that any living person can really fathom, let alone shove into a tiny box.

[handyowlet]

https://x.com/keyasaurus/status/1784664256996126785?s=12&t=EjxQ94Ohqs2YZPsaw6UOYQ

Can someone write this?!?! (And if you do, please let me know- thanks!!)

[handyowlet]

Why Did So Many People Hate Aziraphale?

When the ending of Season 2 happened the majority of the fandom lost their collective shit. They went utterly bananas. A main theme that I kept coming across was the strange and insulting sentiment that Aziraphale "rejected Crowley" or that Aziraphale "chose heaven over Crowley" or that Aziraphale "Was an arse for leaving Cowley", etc.

When I finally got around to rewatching Season 1 of Good Omens and then watched Season 2 of Good Omens and finally saw some context for the ending, I was/am even more baffled as to why people were so cruel to Aziraphale.

Why had they failed to hear what Aziraphale said to Crowley? Why hadn't anyone taken a moment to realize that Aziraphale respected Crowley's choice to not return to Heaven with him? Why did the collective fandom just completely ignore the WORDS, ACTIONS, and EMOTIONAL RESPONSES that Aziraphale expressed in the heartbreaking finale?

Maybe it was the simple fact they just couldn't cope with what they saw. Maybe the fandom needed someone to blame other than Neil Gaiman himself. Or maybe, the fandom just failed to take a moment to carefully comb through and observe the small, tiny details that are far more important than the big, dramatic moments that fill up the runtime.

However, what I noticed most is the total disregard for Aziraphale's lines in the last scene between Crowley and Aziraphale in season 2 episode 6.

Some of his dialogue was/are as follows:

"He said I could appoint you to be an angel. You could come back to Heaven and... and everything, like the old times. Only, even nicer."

"But Heaven...well, it's the side of truth, of light, of good"

"Come with me...to heaven. I'll run it, you can be my second in command. We can make a difference"

"Crowley, come back, to heaven! Work with me! We can be together! Angels..doing good!"

"I...I need You!"

"I...I forgive you"

Do these lines of dialogue give any indication that he rejected Crowley, or chose Heaven over Crowley, or that Aziraphales was being an arse?

No, they do not. These lines of dialogue clearly show that Aziraphale WANTS to be with Crowley so they BOTH can be angels DOING GOOD and MAKING A DIFFERENCE. Aziraphale wanted Crowley to be redeemed so that he could join Aziraphale in Heaven and be on the side of TRUTH, LIGHT, and GOOD.

Aziraphale didn't want to leave Earth WITHOUT Crowley, however, he was forced to because Crowley rejected AZIRAPHALE'S offer to come back to heaven. So instead of forcing Crowley to come back to Heaven with him, even after the awkward kiss, Aziraphale decided to let him go and sacrificed his happiness to SAVE THE WORLD FROM HEAVEN!!!!

It was not easy for Aziraphale to leave Crowley or even Earth or even his bookshop. HE sacrificed EVERYTHING so he could fix heaven's broken system and stop God and the Angels and Metatron from repeatedly trying to destroy the Earth just to win a dick-measuring contest with hell.

Aziraphale doesn't like war. He despises war due to witnessing the rebellion in heaven AND watching the humans go to war and kill each other repeatedly for over 6,000 YEARS. What Aziraphale did was something nobody will ever be able to understand until they find themselves in Aziraphale's shoes.

It's not easy being an angel, who has been forced to "bear witness" and "not intervene in human affairs" because doing so will go against God's "Great Plan" which may or may not be a part of God's "Ineffable Plan".

Aziraphale cannot stand by and let Heaven destroy all life on Earth. Of course, he knows that Heaven isn't all truth, light, or good. He knows Heaven is broken and needs to be reformed. He knows that Crowley is right about Heaven being toxic. Just because he knows that Heaven is toxic and not as truthful, enlightened, or good doesn't mean he's not somewhat in denial.

It's not easy being trapped and suffocated by a cult-like institution whose sole purpose is to keep you from leaving the said institution. It's not easy watching humans committing atrocity after atrocity, and not being able to stop it. It's not easy watching God kill innocent people and children just because they can't get along.

Aziraphale has struggled to figure out what, "doing the right thing" is and how far he's willing to go along Heaven's/God's plans of destruction until he just can't anymore. All Aziraphale has had to keep him going along with Heaven's/God's plans is his faith that Heaven/God knows what they're doing and that complete destruction and devastation will never truly come to pass. Only to find out later that Heaven and God don't necessarily see eye to eye and that God themselves are super unreachable, even in a time of crisis.

Aziraphale has done EVERYTHING he was told and more and it still wasn't enough to keep another armageddon from happening. Since he can't completely stop it on earth, he HAS to return to heaven and find a way to stop it from happening from there, which may prove fruitful and pointless.

What most fans didn't register or realize is the fact that Aziraphale chose to return to heaven for very UNSELFISH reasons. A part of him knew Crowley might say no to returning to heaven with him, so he decided that if that was the case, then he would let Crowley go, so that he, Aziraphale, could fix heaven and permanently SAVE THE WORLD... something he CANNOT do if he stayed on Earth.

Why is this so hard for some fans to see and/or consider? Why is this something only a few fans actually talk about? Why was there so much Aziraphale hate when there shouldn't have been?

It's not Aziraphale's fault that he couldn't stay with Crowley. It's HEAVEN'S fault that Crowley and Aziraphale can't be together because they (Heaven) are too war-minded and emotionally stunted to realize how many innocent people will die just because they want to measure dicks with Hell.

So why the fuck was there so much Aziraphale hate?

[handyowlet]

If you want a new theory for the Final 15 (and want it to hurt just a little bit more), read this.

[handyowlet]

Read this, it’s lovely.

My latest fic is now complete! Rated E, 71K words, angst with a happy ending. See below for a sample and a link to read the whole story.

Excerpt:

Aziraphale was on his way out the door to drive to London at dawn when he realized he was still wearing the clothes from the night before. In disgust, he turned back around and went upstairs to change. He threw on a simple linen shirt and khakis. A mad hope overtook him as he stood at his wardrobe and he hastily packed an overnight bag. Then, he realized he would have no way to park his car when he got to London, so he quickly ordered a rideshare. Half-baked plans were swirling in his overstimulated and sleep-starved brain. Crowley wouldn’t answer his phone so Aziraphale would go to him. All he wanted to do was explain. If Crowley wouldn’t let him explain, then that was his prerogative, but Aziraphale could at least see his face one last time. The rideshare notification dinged. Aziraphale had to blink back tears and steady his voice to give directions.

He dozed on the way to London. Uncharacteristically, he had not planned what he was going to say. He was bone tired, for one, but also he had no idea if Crowley would even see him. This was his last attempt to make things right. All he could do was show up and try.

~~~

Crowley went for a walk that morning. The flat stank of stale whiskey and heartbreak. Still, he’d left a note outside his door. He was an optimist, after all.

~~~

Aziraphale spotted him, all in black with his hands in his disheveled red hair, on a bench in the park where his note said he would be. Fear nearly rooted Aziraphale to the ground but love compelled him forward. He could see him, talk to him, there he was. It was already more than he’d dared hope. He approached Crowley cautiously. Somehow, he found his voice. “Will you let me explain?”

Crowley turned his head but kept his gaze on the ground. “Go ahead,” he said in a low and gravelly voice.

@goodomensafterdark

[handyowlet]

If you’re looking for a good cry- Aziraphale’s wings are taken from him after Eden and he’s trying to earn them back. He meets Crowley at the Ark, and he doesn’t know he’s an angel.

[handyowlet]

New fic rec- human AU, little angsty (I totally cried), little smutty, super sweet with a happy ending.

Aziraphale is a librarian stuck in his ways, Crowley is the top international traveling salesman for a library technology company.

[handyowlet]

when i find myself in times of trouble

neil gaiman comes to me

speaking words of wisdom

“the invisible and unbreakable [line] that joins crowley and aziraphale”

[handyowlet]

So, there are only three of the original six verses in Tori Amos's version of A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square, right? I was writing a scene from episode five, season 2, so for continuity's sake, I checked the approximate place the song starts up in the Bentley when Crowley starts the car in episode 6.

The song begins to play at around 1:09, just before the interlude and right before the last line verse two:

I may be right, I may be wrong But I'm perfectly willing to swear That when you turned and smiled at me A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

Out of curiosity, I went back to season one, and though it plays on through the credits, the actual footage cuts off right at the tail end of verse one:

That certain night, the night we met There was magic abroad in the air There were angels dining at the Ritz And a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

Let's imagine for half a second that since Neil and Tori Amos are friends and her version was recorded specifically for the series, each verse refers to a related event, i.e. Crowley and Aziraphale's season one end Ritz date.

And that though things go entirely south during the following fifteen minutes, verse two perhaps refers to these moments preceding it:

Then it's not out of the realm of possibility that the closing scene of season three could end with verse three:

The streets of town were paved with stars It was such a romantic affair And as we kissed and said goodnight A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

If the established pattern of relating a preceding event continues, then maybe, just maybe, Crowley and Aziraphale will share a kiss- a good, sweet, happy kiss- just before the series ends for good.

[handyowlet]

What’s your favourite line from good omens?

The invisible and unbreakable one that joins Crowley and Aziraphale.

[handyowlet]

This is a hilarious sort-of human AU. I can’t share my favorite bits because they’re all text messages and spoilery, but know that Aziraphale thinks Crowley isn’t human, and Crowley thinks Aziraphale has just been kicked out of a cult that thinks they are vampire hunters, and they’re both wrong.

[handyowlet]

Okay so maybe not a hill a willing to die on but definitely one I'm willing to plant my flag on at point is that when Aziraphale says to Crowley, "I forgive you" both times it's about Crowley not having faith in Aziraphale. It's the opposite of "'you said trust me', 'and you did'."

[handyowlet]

Run, don’t walk, over to AO3 to read this fic. Crowley gets summoned to a slumber party by 4 American teenage girls. It’s sweet and hilarious.

Here’s a sample (you is Crowley)

:

9:00pm (London time)

You: <I’m going to literally die and it’s your fault>

Reya5Stripes4Life: <There is zero chance that any of that sentence is true>

You: <Aziraphale liked your nail polish kit and now he’s making his own kit>

Reya5Stripes4Life: <I’m not seeing a problem>

You: <Imagine Aziraphale saying “My dear, I think the one called ‘Tootti Frootti Booty’ is a lovely shade”>

Reya5Stripes4Life: <Laughing emoji>

You: <Yesterday he found one called Let Me See Your Bong. Listening to Aziraphale say “Let Me See Your Bong” is actually literally fatal.>

Reya5Stripes4Life: <More laughing emojis>

You: <And THEN he had to describe it, and I quote, “It’s—what is that lovely word the children are using? Ah yes, ‘trippy.’”>

Reya5Stripes4Life: <Even more laughing emojis>

Reya5Stripes4Life: <I bet you invented inappropriate nail polish names>

You: …

Reya5Stripes4Life: <YOU DID DIDNT YOU>

You: …

You: <Might have given someone a nudge in that direction at some point>

Reya5Stripes4Life: <so many laughing emojis>

Reya5Stripes4Life: <So what color are your nails right now? Send me a pic>

You: <It’s called Bling of Fire>

Reya5Stripes4Life: <Send me a pic>

You: <Imagine Aziraphale saying “Bling of Fire.” Repeatedly. My lungs still aren’t working right.>

Reya5Stripes4Life: <SEND ME A PIC U DORK>

You: <image sent>

(“Crowley, you simply must come see this shade,” called Aziraphale. “It’s called ‘Baby Got Smack.’ Charming, don’t you think?”

Crowley choked on his wine.)

[handyowlet]

Anyone else have a thing for burly man (sometimes bearded) human Aziraphale? I don’t normally go for that in real life (my hubby is a bow tie, waist coat, and knit jumper kind of guy), but there is something about that soft, luscious cinnamon roll being housed in a body with thighs that could pop a watermelon that I can’t seem to get enough of.

Here are some fic recs if you’re interested too:

Liquid Gold- http://archiveofourown.org/works/32217562

Under Construction- http://archiveofourown.org/works/23641006

AJ Crowley’s Handbook on Flirtation at Height- http://archiveofourown.org/works/4937268

Of Fire & Falcons- http://archiveofourown.org/works/54416527

Lift Me Up, O Lord- http://archiveofourown.org/works/37150039

Lifting Eden- http://archiveofourown.org/works/50957101

Long Haul- http://archiveofourown.org/works/33743026

A Touch of Heaven-http://archiveofourown.org/works/39922326

A Healing Touch- http://archiveofourown.org/works/28617936

Fire in Your Heart- http://archiveofourown.org/works/52550119

**If anyone has any other recs, please feel free to share them! Thanks 🙂

[handyowlet]

Hi Mr Gaiman!

What’s your opinion on people saying someone is only a real fan of something if they consumed all of the available media of that thing? (e.g. “you aren’t a real fan of sandman if you only watched the netflix series”)

I feel like more and more people do this to sort of gate keep otherwise amazing fandoms and personally i think it’s quite sad to see.

As I posted on a more or less dead site a couple of years ago:

[handyowlet]

For the love of all that is ineffable, please STOP asking Neil Gaiman about season 3!