#Whickber Street Shopkeepers and Traders Association Monthly Meeting

[fuzzygoblin]

Christmas Lights is on the agenda at the monthly meeting of the Whickber Street Shopkeepers and Traders Association, but it's not the only thing on Mr Brown's, of Brown's World of Carpets, mind. As he pines for the mysterious bookseller, his efforts are thwarted by the tall ginger goth.

Thanks to @vidavalor for the exquisite meta.

Christmas Lights - Chapter 1 - A Meeting of the Whickber Street Shopkeepers and Traders Association

[ineffable-suffering]

The Jane Austen Ball and why it was never about Nina and Maggie

Otherwise known as (*takes a deep breath*): A completely inflated close-up look at various dialogues and events of Season 2 that prove that the Whickber Street Traders and Shopkeeper's Association Meeting Cotillion Ball was supposed to be Aziraphale's confession to Crowley

Look, the point's been made before but that's never kept me from making it myself again, still. In fact, even I made it before, at the end of one of my other metas. But I feel like it's absolutely worthy enough to get its own soppy, way-too-long post. And I do love it so very much to write ridiculously long essays on something that could easily be condensed into a short paragraph.

So, here we go! Snuggle up, get cozy, settle in and, most importantly:

(Word count: 3.177 | Reading time: ~13 minutes)

As I already said above, I laid out a similar case in my meta about why Aziraphale is somewhat of an unreliable narrator. I'll try and recycle it here briefly, so I can further make my point.

When Aziraphale arrives back in London from his Edinburgh journey, he seems oddly happy and giddy for the fact that he just had a rather odd and threatening encounter with Shax. I explain in my other meta that this is because he just spent the last hours of his drive reminiscing on the thrilling and romantic magic show adventure of 1941 and also the fact that he just found out that Crowley has been replaced by Shax and no longer works for Hell.

Ergo: We have a hopelessly lovesick Principality at our hands, who's practically swooning over his serpent who saved him, his books and his magic show all those years ago.

Ergo:

✨This✨

Realistically, Aziraphale should probably be a tad worried about the eery encounter with Shax, in which she definitely had the upper hand on him. But well, if you spend many-a hours driving across the serene countryside (Edinburgh is about an 8-hour drive from London), pondering on one of the craziest, sticky-sweet romantic adventures of your not-life life, well ... things tend to turn a little rosy around the edges. Head in the clouds and all that. Light shades of grey!

Alright, onwards: Once the angel, filled to the very brim with fond memories and butterflies, gets out of the Bentley, he's kindly met with a face full of verdant plants and a very in-character-grumpy Crowley.

Fhwack! Way to burst the rosy bubble.

Seriously, the absolute lightning speed with which Crowley storms out to vacate the bookshop the very second Aziraphale arrives makes me giggle every time.

Let's make a first small (who am I kidding) diversion into analysing the following conversation in unnecessary detail ...

... simply because I enjoy quoting dialogue as an accurate reference in my metas. I'll also highlight certain passages I want to comment on in individual colours so I can back up my thoughts with them below. Alright, their little chinwag goes as follows:

Crowley: "They you are! I was worried something might have happened to you." Aziraphale: "No, nothing happened to me. Very uneventful journey indeed. No strange things at all." Crowley: "Good. That's what we wanna hear." Aziraphale: "Um .. everything okay with- ah.." *nods to the bookshop* Crowley: "Oh, yeah, fine. He's singing to himself. I think he must have been asleep. I heard snoring coming from his bedroom–" Crowley, to the Bentley: "Did you miss me? I bet you did." Aziraphale: "... I'm sure it did." Crowley: "So, any more clues from the mystery of the missing archangel?" Aziraphale: "Not exactly. Or, if there are, I haven't yet cracked the case. But I'm certainly hot on the trail of something." Crowley: "I'm sure you are. Oh, by the way, the whole sudden rain and awning thing was a complete washout." Aziraphale: "Sorry?" Crowley: "You know, project making Nina fall in love with Maggie. I failed, it's your go." Aziraphale: "I see. Well then, Whickber Street Traders and Shopkeeper's Association Monthly Meeting, here we come!" Crowley: "You're really hosting the meeting?" Aziraphale: "Absolutely! And I can guarantee you, it will be a night to remember."

At first glance, this has little to do with the plot of this meta but actually, it folds into my point very nicely! However, it's not time for that yet, so we'll just state the facts as they are for now and then bring them back 'round later when we need them. That being said: For the love of Someone, will these two ever manage to simply tell each other the truth of what happened instead of thinking they can protect each other by lying about it all the time? Hrmpf. As a big fan of open communication myself, I'm close to developing a stomach ulcer with the amount of false truths being spewed here. (Then again – and yes, that is another, way larger meta I'm currently cooking up – it plays so very perfectly into the whole Jane-Austen-Pride-and-Prejudice tragic miscommunication theme that this entire Season has, so I understand the point of it.)

Very uneventful journey indeed, Aziraphale, except for the fact that you were ambushed by a demon who told you she was Crowley's successor, knows about the rumors of the two of you being an item as well as what went down in 1941 (that almost had both of you exposed) and also seems to have figured out where you and your demon boyfriend are hiding Gabriel, all in the span of about a minute. No strange things at all, nooo!

And Crowley's "Oh yeah, fine" is a total lie too. Again, we see him make an absolute run for it before Aziraphale can even enter the bookshop. After all, he just once again witnessed Jim have a Gabriel-flashback, speaking of the Second Coming, while Crowley was alone with him. As fumingly angry he is with the amnesiac archangel – he's also absolutely terrified of what might happen (to him and Aziraphale) should Jim regain his memories. So, no wonder he's quick to vacate the premises after witnessing Jim's rather eery memory flashback (and was, just like Aziraphale, threatened by Shax mere moments later, lol).

But no, nothing out of the ordinary happened to either of them. Tip-top. Absolutely tickety-fucking-boo.

Alright, let's get back on track with the actual topic of this meta. Certainly hot on the trail of something, hm? At first glance, it might seem like Aziraphale is talking about the fact that Gabriel was in company of someone whenever he went to the Resurrectionist Pub. (The clue!) However, I don't actually think he is talking about that. Why? Because, and this slipped my mind too at first, he never actually follows any of this information up, does he? Yes, sure, he went to Edinburgh, found the capital-c Clue and then returned to London. But what does he do with it? Nothing. He doesn't keep investigating this hot trail because that's not the important thing he realized during his journey. No, the more important clue Aziraphale found during his trip, is that Crowley no longer works for Hell and that he is also very much irrevocably in love with him and must confess this at the earliest given chance. (The latter part isn't necessarily a new discovery for Aziraphale, but it surely is fuelled by the fact that he just realized Crowley's out of a Hellish job and simply hasn't told him yet.)

This exchange just the perfect indicator for the fact that Aziraphale, at no point during his drive back, was thinking about the Maggie and Nina mission. He has no idea what Crowley is talking about once he mentions it and seems surprised, even, that he would. Even though they just talked about it on the phone when Aziraphale was still at the graveyard. Which is another important piece of evidence because it means that the last status update Aziraphale got of Mission Lovebirds, was that Crowley had sensed an opportunity to make them fall in love – and had then hung up on him. Why is this important? Because it means that until that very point of their conversation, Aziraphale did not know that Crowley's attempt had failed! There would have been just as much of a chance of Crowley's weather miracle actually working out and Maggie and Nina already having skipped into the sunset happily ever after.

So, riddle me this:

Why would Aziraphale spend the entire ride back from Edinburgh plotting "a night to remember" (because clearly, he already had the entire Ball planned out down to a T in his head since he goes into action right away after arriving) if he didn't even know yet that Crowley's attempt had failed?

To be very clear here: We're not talking about Aziraphale driving on the M1 to London, having a silly little idea for putting on some good music, miracle-ing Nina and Maggie to dance to it and watch them confess their love–

No.

He planned an entire actual Cotillion Ball with very particular location design that involves re-arranging the entire bookshop, specifically designed individual outfits for (almost) every single attendee, topped off with a live band, hors-d'œuvre, drinks and an actual choreographed group dance.

During one car ride.

Where's the party planner Aziraphale AU? I'm waiting!

Now, sure, we know that it's still quite important for Aziraphale to convince Heaven of the faux-reason they gave for their accidental ✨25-Lazarii miracle✨. But if we're all honest, this all seems to be a tad much just to make two random humans fall in love, even for that.

Glittery ball gowns and suits? Red and gold wall curtains? A modified language filter? Bloody vol-au-vents?

Talk about over the top ...

Once we start S2E5, Crowley is still surprised at the mere fact that Aziraphale is actually planning to organize the Monthly Meeting – and he doesn't even know yet that it's gonna be the most extravagant ball-boogaloo that the Whickber Street Community has ever seen! Aziraphale wanting to organize the meeting alone, is enough to render Crowley incredulous, because Aziraphale never mingles with the other shopkeepers. He usually actively avoids them and any sort of social encounters as much as he can because he doesn't care about the bloody Christmas lights, alright?

These things seem mundane and uninteresting to him, obviously, since all he really cares about is hoarding his book collection in peace like the little hedonist he is and drawing as little attention as possible to his none-business business.

Oh, right, speaking of books:

Let's take another unnecessarily detailed look at the whole Whickber Street invitation scene:

Aziraphale realizes very quickly that he's not the only one who's quite unenthusiastic about the blessed Chritsmas lights. And despite his very persuasive methods of temptation ...

... he has to take some more drastic measurements. And those are?

That's right: Giving away his books.

I'll repeat it again, slowly: Aziraphale is willingly (!) giving away or lending his books to pretty much complete strangers to, allegedly, make two other humans strangers fall in love.

Seriously, who is that angel and what has he done with our prim, fussy, hedonistic Aziraphale that protects his books with the vice grip of an eagle carrying his precious prey?

Believe in the importance of Mission Lovebirds as much as you will, but we're talking about Mr. A.Z. Fell here who, over the past millennia, has pretty much spent every day actively working out methods to stop people from purchasing as much as a single paperback from his holy shelves.

And yet: the 1965 September Dr. Who Annual? Given away. The first edition of Expert at the Card Table that was S. W. Erdnase's personal copy? Lent away to grubby human hands to fondle around with.

Let's do another coloured dialogue diversion (don't worry, it's not as extensive as the last one):

Crowley: "You just did what I think you did?" Aziraphale: "I'm not prepared to talk about it." Crowley: "You gave away a book." Aziraphale: "I had to! Maggie and Nina are depending on me. They just don't know it yet."

Crowley backs up my point: This is a huge deal. Aziraphale does not sell his books – let alone give them away for free. We're all shocked! Flabbergasted!

And the explanation Crowley and us get just ... doesn't satisfy. Something and someone sure is depending on this Ball and doesn't know it yet. But it's most definitely not Maggie and Nina, folks.

You know for whom Aziraphale would give away his books in the blink of an eye, though?

Mhm, that's right.

This pretty old serpent.

I want to take a minute to show you the reaction again that Aziraphale has upon entering the very same magic shop him and Crowley went to in 1941 to acquire the Bullet Catch:

You ... you need a minute there, angel? You're sure looking a little ... affected.

And I mean, well, no wonder. He reminisced about that very memory four hours last night. To him, this shop is where the most turbulent, ecstatic, adrenaline-fuelled and romantic night of his life began. And it shows.

I've made my point in my other meta series about how Aziraphale is an incredibly nostalgic character. He romanticizes so many things in his memories – especially the parts that feature Crowley. So, it doesn't surprise me in the slightest that he's once again willing to loosen the tight grip he has on his book collection to get the successor of Will Goldstone's Magic Shop, the shop that started it all for him, to come to his fancy Ball.

As we watch Aziraphale and his little lap dog demon pat around Soho, I'd like to take another second to point out that he goes to seven or more establishments before he even invites Nina.

... and he only does so because she starts talking to them on the street. Almost like he'd forgotten about it. Why not ask her at the very beginning? To establish whether or not he'd have to book-blackmail her too?

"Perfectly ordinary invitation with no hidden agenda of any kind", except that he's using you and Maggie as a pretence to resolve his own clusterfuck of a relationship-miscommunication Jane-Austen-style so that he can then hopefully confess his undying love to his demon not-boyfriend boyfriend.

Marvellous!

You'll forgive me another short diversion but my God, the whole exchange at the Marguerite's restaurant with Crowley literally cat-call-whistling Aziraphale over to him (and Aziraphale checking if he meant someone else first, I–)? I am weak. So, so weak and

However, this is also when we get a snippet of Crowley finally revealing the truth in place of his "Oh, he's fine"-lie earlier and telling Aziraphale that he's actually pretty scared Jim might turn back into Gabriel and smite him altogether. And Aziraphale's response is, in a cosmic sense, (remember the pink paragraph now) so hilarious:

"Have you thought of just talking to him?"

Yeah, have you? Have any of the two of you? Just thought about talking? To each other? About anything?

'pparently not. But hey, it's all good because remember what the ultimate remedy for star-crossed lovers simply misunderstanding each other is?

Bish, bash, bosh, problem solved!

Back at the ballroom bookshop, Aziraphale sends Crowley to invite Maggie in order to, in my opinion, not spoil the Ball-y surprise for him. (Inviting Maggie only now?! Wouldn't she be one of the only two guests who really should attend? Why the short notice? If she's really that important for the Ball you're planning, hm?)

On top of this, we see Nina almost not attending the Ball meeting after her partner broke up with her and Crowley being the one who coincidentally runs into her and ushers her into the bookshop before Shax and her "legion" of demons start creeping up on them. Again, if this hadn't happened by pure coincidence, Nina would have left to go home and this whole Ball would have taken place without her, rendering the apparent sole purpose of making her fall in love with Maggie useless.

Why doesn't Aziraphale care more for both of them to attend and be there? Why is he instead busy fussing over everything looking perfect and wonderful and doesn't even seem to notice that both Nina and Maggie are really late to the meeting?

Well. Well.

The answer's in the title, babes.

Alas, Crowley safely gets Maggie and Nina to join them, Mr. Brown is the only one who doesn't get a miracled outfit (fussy, petty angel, you just don't like him, do you?), Jimbriel stuns with glamour and flirt (and whatever sexually suggestive thing he does with his cheeks) and the Whickber Street Ball is a-go!

Sorry, I just had to chuck this in again because Crowley's face here absolutely kills me every time. He looks so confused, I am hollering.

And the heart eyes Aziraphale is making at Nina and Maggie now that they're actually here?

Oh, bless it, angel.

He's all like "Oh look, it's working! Jane was right! It's all going to be resolved, all the misunderstanding and quarrels! Crowley, where's Crowley–"

Ah yes, there he is.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is an angel who is not listening to a single word being said right now. No, in his head, Aziraphale is already down on one knee, pouring his heart out to Crowley after they just danced the night away.

Oh, yes, right. The dancing.

Parallel much?

But well, as marvellous and beautifully romantic as her stories tend to be, it turns out that Jane Austen isn't always right after all. Because before we know it, the perfect night shatters into many-a tiny pieces (literally).

And once again, fhwack:

... the rosy bubble bursts.

Let's take one more deep breath so I can make my final point:

In S2E2, Aziraphale explains to us very exactly what Jane's Balls (hrhr) used to be about: Solving miscommunication and confessing love to one another.

During his car journey back from Edinburgh, Aziraphale:

doesn't know Crowley's Mission Lovebirds had failed

remembers 1941 and just how badly he's in love with Crowley

and also realizes that they seem to have been wildly miscommunicating for quite some time now. (Crowley didn't even tell him he basically got let go!)

So, what does maddeningly strong love plus a want to resolve all the miscommunication equal? That's right: A night to remember! A Ball to change it all! A dance, a vol-au-vent, a confession. And, ideally, a happy ever after. Because:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man angel in possession of a good fortune Jane Austen collection, must be in want of a wife demon husband.”

The Ball was never for Nina and Maggie. As a byproduct, maybe, yes. But the whole rest of the glimmer and glamour, the careful, romantic planning and set up of it all, the book-bating the other shopkeepers– that was for Crowley and Crowley only.

And oh, if only it were as easy as in the books.

*whispers* I'm sorry, I had to.

***

Your honour, the tinfoil-hat crackpot defence rests. Feel free to share thoughts (and prayers) if you want to!

Au revoir! 💗

[youryurigoddess]

Have you noticed how Crowley’s main objective this season is basically running to the rescue and saving others? First and foremost Aziraphale, obviously, but also Jim — both from the official manhunt and from himself, like in the window jump scene — and multiple humans.

Crowley started off as an angel willing to question the highest — and only — authority in order to save not only his newest creations, but the whole vast, beautiful universe from the unjustified and untimely destruction.

Crowley was the one who stopped Sitis from cursing God — even when her own husband and a literal flock of angels stood in silence. Not to mention saving the kids of two species from a Heaven-sanctioned death sentence.

Crowley was the one who self-sacrificed in order to drive away Elspeth from suicide and make sure that she’ll be taken care of for the rest of her life, effectively minimizing her struggles.

Crowley was the one who saved Nina and Maggie from the demons appearing on Whickber Street at dusk and directed them to follow the light of their bookshop, a safe harbor by design and by choice.

Crowley was the one who also made up a nonexistent rule to safely evacuate almost all of the humans out of what started as a monthly Whickber Street Shopkeepers and Street Traders Association meeting and ended up as a literal war zone.

Literally in every episode of S2 Crowley is showing a consistent pattern that‘s not only painfully in-character for him, but also more than common among human trauma survivors and those struggling with mental health issues.

According to research, doing nice things for people and focusing on the needs of others may actually help those with depression and anxiety feel better about themselves. They’re basically offering others the same kind of help they need or needed in the past.

By saving all of those people, Crowley is not only extremely kind as the angel he used to be, but also subconsciously processing his past mistakes and traumas. He becomes a protector of the oppressed and guardian of the weak, taking under his wings those he deeply identifies with.

The fallen angel who asked too many questions, who hanged with the wrong crowd, who got rejected by his peers, who cursed God, who went through what seems like panic attacks, depressive episodes, and contemplated suicide by Holy Water, who understands love… became a patron saint.

Like Saint Anthony is a patron of lost things, Anthony J. Crowley is a patron of the seemingly lost cases. But remember that this level of heroic sanctity in life can also lead to martyrdom or heresy later on — a saint is supposed to intercede, not act on their own like God does.

[aziraphales-library]

hi! i don't know if this ask has been done before but do you have any comedy fic recs? i've had enough of angst for a bit and i just want to read aziracrow bicker and laugh out loud :))

Hey. We have #humour, #humor, #crack, and #bickering tags, for all your laughing needs. Here are more to add...

Seamstress of Soho by GayDemonicDisaster (M)

Season 2 spoilers! When Mrs. Sandwich spots a suspicious new guy apparently lurking on her turf, the misunderstanding leads to an unlikely friendship between the ‘seamstress’ and a demon. So in episode 6 we see that Mrs. Sandwich is clearly at ease with Crowley and he with her, enough to share a joke together. Combine that with the curious sign on her door which might just be referring to Crowley, and we have a little buddy comedy in the making. I decided to explore the backstory of how they came to know one another between season 1 and the beginning of season 2. While this little comedy is about sex workers, there is NO sex in it, and rated M solely for oblique references to things like contraceptive devices and so on - honestly it could get away with a “teen and up” rating but I like to err on the side of caution.

Pass the Remote, Angel by Mrs_Cake_Is_Here (M)

Aziraphale has returned to Heaven, leaving Crowley a tv binge-watching wreck. However, healing can come from the most unlikeliest of places. While Muriel has been instructed to provide daily reports of the demon’s emotional state, they find that sharing time together, even by watching a scary show, can be the catalyst that builds friendships. And they’d probably both be couch potatoes by now if the Supreme Archangel hadn’t just gone missing.

Christmas Lights by FuzzyGoblin (T)

Christmas Lights is on the agenda at the monthly meeting of the Whickber Street Shopkeepers and Traders Association, but it's not the only thing on Mr Brown's, of Brown's World of Carpets, mind. As he pines for the mysterious bookseller, his efforts are thwarted by the tall ginger goth.

The Book Thieves by ThingsJustHappenSometimes (T)

“Did they steal it? Professional book thieves, probably going around in their car stealing books.” Be careful what you tell an adolescent antichrist who has the ability to warp reality, he might just make things real. - - - Featuring: A confused ineffable duo in ridiculous costumes, a presumed relationship, overpowered magical books, meddling humans, multiple chase scenes, and a generally all around silly action-packed time. - - - [If you like 1920s Costumes, Indiana Jones, Isekai Vibes, and/or That-One-Auction-Heist-Scene from Uncharted 4, you’ll like this story.]

Rattle Those Pots & Pans by Mackaley (M)

“My instructions…” He parted his mouth as he searched for a word. “Instruct that I just get right into it. You all have been brought here tonight because you have one thing in common: you’re all being blackmailed.” A tense hush fell through the room. “You’re all paying what you can afford - in some cases I’m sure more than you can afford - to prevent your secrets from being exposed. And none of you know who is currently blackmailing you.” Gabriel scoffed. “This is ridiculous. I’m an upstanding member of the international finance community - what could I possibly have done to be blackmailed about?” “You’re a member of the international finance community,” Crowley drawled. ----- A Good Omens Clue (1985) AU

through the tides by viperinz (T)

With that thought, Aziraphale takes to asking experts if his feelings are something more or just love for his dearest, most sweetest friend. If he wasn’t sure himself, then surely the experts on the internet will have something for him. Which brings him to the front of his computer, ready to search something up on the search engine he has pulled up. He’s not one to ask too many questions, but he supposes it won’t hurt. He starts typing, and is satisfied with his search of "Am I in love with my best friend?" Straight to the point, and very concise. Aziraphale has no doubt he’ll find what he’s looking for. He presses enter on the keyboard, and a bunch of results flood in. “Oh, dear,” he gasps at the mass amount of answers. Where is he supposed to start?

Aziraphale discovers the wonderful world of online love quizzes and WikiHow, all in the process of wooing and confessing his love to Crowley.

- Mod D

[ineffable-endearments]

Soho

The new angel is sweet and is trying so hard and we will take care of them. They will learn what to do and they will do a great job, no matter what cruel people may say at first.

But still, they don't know us like you do, and we don't know them like we know you.

They didn't settle among us generations ago. They didn't watch us spring up from stones in a field to a busy city street.

They've never fed our rats or our thieves.

They've never closed the shop to avoid having to talk to us about the Whickber Street Traders and Shopkeepers Association Monthly Meeting.

It's not their chair that sits empty in the record shop.

Do you miss hot chocolate like we miss glimpsing your white hair through the window as you sit at your desk? Do you miss the textures of the street and sidewalk under your shoes the way we miss the sounds of your footsteps on the street and sidewalk?

Do you miss us, angel, anything remotely like we miss you?

[portraitofalonelydyke]

you know what they say, never waste a friday night on a whickber street shopkeepers and street traders association monthly meeting…

[aka i did the chappell roan meme to the final 15 because it made me giggle]

[insanity-laughs-under-pressure]

Found this photo and I'm just imagining Crowley and Nina showing up to a Whickber street traders and shopkeepers association monthly meeting looking this extra (probably after loosing a bet with Ms Sandwich).

[imgoingtofreakoutnow]

Jealous, much? (not me, never me)

Summary: During the recruitment for the Whickber Street Traders and Shopkeepers Association monthly meeting, Crowley catches the eye of someone. Aziraphale doesn't like that...

A/n: this is a very chill fic inspired by a prompt by our amazing @here-there-everyfuckenwhere also known as Ray. I hope you like it <3

Tags: @lavender-scented-soft-softgirl @yellownavystar (spero che non vi dispiaccia se vi ho taggato. In caso contrario, ignorate pure il post ahahah <3)

\_/

The recruitment for the Whickber Street Traders and Shopkeepers Association monthly meeting was going strangely smoothly.

He was halfway through the list and Aziraphale had managed to only give away three priceless books. He checked once again the list, tapping the fountain pen on his lower lip.

"Very well," he said, crossing over the previous shop name. "The next stop is Emma's grocery store but I do believe it will be a very easy and quick-"

He raised his head and stopped mid-sentence when his gaze couldn't find Crowley anywhere near him.

After looking around for a bit, he finally spotted him and his scarlet hair... talking to someone else across the street.

To be more precise, the someone else was talking to him while Crowley was simply looking and tapping something on his phone. The things however seemed to be related, given that the stranger kept poiting at the screen and leaning in to show him something and Crowley nodded, a crease of concentration separating his eyebrows.

They were standing side by side, their shoulders casually touching. Aziraphale frowned at that: it seemed quite improper to him, they didn't even know each other! Or at least, that's what he gathered since he had never seen that person around before.

Yet Crowley didn't seem to care about it, nor he looked at all fazed when the attractive human at his side deliberately touched his arm and "accidentaly" brushed their fingers on his.

Aziraphale felt something building inside of him. He couldn't quite tell what it was, but it left a sour taste in his mouth, as if his insides had started burning with the fires of Hell.

He straightened up and fixed his worn-out waistcoat before putting a smile on —one that, he could feel it, wasn't entirely on the wavelength as the mix of emotions he was feeling inside— and heading towards the two of them.

He cleared his voice when he was closer, receiving a confused look by Crowley's new acquaintance.

Now that he was closer, Aziraphale realised that they weren't as young as they seemed from the opposite side of the road, but their pleasant features were hard to ignore. They almost seemed sculpted by Michelangelo.

"Hello, is everything alright here?"

Crowley's face immediately shot up when he heard him, moving away from the wall he was leaning against to get to Aziraphale's side.

"Angel, did you know you could order food through your phone and then have it delivered to your door?"

"I had no idea."

Even though the mere idea did stir his stomach to more pleasant feelings, Aziraphale barely glanced at the screen Crowley was still looking at and kept all of his attention on the new smiling face in front of him.

"It's a pretty common thing to do nowadays," they explained with a shrug. "I'm really surprised you and your partner both didn't know about it."

"He's not my..." Aziraphale started at the same time as Crowley quickly muttered: "We're friends."

"Oh." Their face seemed to suddenly lit up, making the angel's visibly frown, as they tentatively turned their gaze back to Crowley. "Then perhaps I could give you my number?"

"I think you seem a bit lost, child." With the corners of his lips pulled painfully upwards and annoyance in his eyes, Aziraphale moved quickly his hand in the air. "You should head back home."

The stranger widened their eyes before quickly checking the time on their phone and then excusing themselves as they quickly walked down the street.

As he saw them disappear into the wave of the crowd, the relief that washed over him was much bigger then the little guilt whispering in the back of his mind. The knot in Aziraphale's stomach disappeared, as if it had never been there in the first place.

"Did you really miracle 'em away, angel?"

As he looked at Crowley, whose sunglasses had slid down his nose, enough for his yellow eyes to poke through, the angel felt another knot forming in his chest. A warmer one, a pleasant one.

"I'm sure they had other things to do anyway. I just..." Aziraphale moved his hands in the air, "pushed them in the right direction."

Crowley raised his eyebrows but didn't question him more on that. He pushed his sunglasses back on his eyes, keeping once again Aziraphale from that beautiful sight.

"Right. At least they finished explaining to me how this thing works."

Aziraphale smiled, and this time his eyes wrinkled in joy.

"Why don't you explain it to me while we walk to the grocery store," he offered as he placed a hand on Crowley's back, gently guiding him in the right direction before letting his hand fall back to his side.

Aziraphale didn't notice how Crowley tensed under his touch, nor how his Adam's apple moved as he gulped down the breath stuck in his throat.

As always, he never noticed.

[sanpakueyes17]

Whickber Street Traders and Shopkeepers Association monthly meeting Down at the Men in Music Business Conference Down in Orlando, I was only nineteen

Crowley would wear a snood.

[jamoche]

Naturally, there was only one topic of conversation at the next Whickber Street Shopkeepers and Street Traders Association monthly meeting.

“…good to see the shop’s being kept in the family, and going to one with a proper respect for the business. A nice bookshop like that is a credit to the community. Draws the right kind of tourists.”

“… homeschooled, I gather, and in one of those isolationist cults from America…”

“…seems like he’s owned it forever, certainly as long as I’ve been here…”

“… are you sure? I’d have said somewhere on the spectrum…”

Nina snorted. “If Muriel’s on a spectrum, it’s the one that includes Octarine.”

Maggie gave her a quick smile of recognition. Nina smiled back - no, absolutely not fondly, she’d need to be far past the rebound phase for it to be fondly, despite the little voice saying “that’s one of the reasons she fell for you, you know.”

“Not surprising,” said Maggie. “It’s just like when the bookstore burned down.” Nina reflexively glanced in the direction of Mr Fell’s shop, which was as solid a piece of Soho real estate as you could ask for. Purveyors to the Gentry, even. Must’ve been some other shop… but Maggie was shaking her head. “Yes, that one. Next day, right as rain, not even a speck of soot. And everyone was just going about as if nothing had even happened. It was about the time everyone was going on about aliens and Atlantis and all that.”

“I… think I remember that,” Nina said, and it was strange, she did remember it, but she’d totally forgotten until now.

“It’s like my Uncle Harry used to say, they wouldn’t admit the Loch Ness Monster existed if they saw it swimming right down the Thames.”

That seemed a rather odd observation, and Nina said so. “He didn’t… actually see the Loch Ness Monster?”

Maggie shrugged. “After what we’ve been through? Wouldn’t surprise me a bit.”

[fuzzygoblin]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. spread the self-love ❤

You Had Me at Halo - E - Anthony Crowley, manager of the trendy queer Nightingale Club in Soho, finds himself inexplicably aroused by the appearance of the pastel-clad angel’s arrival on the dancefloor. It doesn’t take Crowley long to woo the angel and take him upstairs to his office.

Coming Home - E - a choose your own adventure Good Omens fanfic collaboration.

A Chasing of the Wind - T - first fic I wrote for the Minisode Bang, so much research went into it to make it just right.

Christmas Lights - T - First published fic. Fluffy and funny, and I loved writing from Mr Brown's POV. Christmas Lights is on the agenda at the monthly meeting of the Whickber Street Shopkeepers and Traders Association, but it's not the only thing on Mr Brown's, of Brown's World of Carpets, mind...

In the Loop - E - first every smut and I went straight to snex. Never looked back.

[sonkitty]

The Ball Invitations Mini-game (Good Omens 2)

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, it's best to either just take my word for it or read these three things.

The Sideburns Scheme

The Earthly Objects Game

Earthly Objects Study - Multiplicative Threshold Tricks

This post was last updated 01/24/2024.

You know, lots of games have mini-games, and that's what seems to be happening here with these ball invitations. Which game is this mini-game for? It seems to be both for Earthly Objects and The Sideburns Scheme with the mechanics based on the former but the purpose is for the latter. Well, The Sideburns Scheme also uses the mechanics. As such, I'll go ahead and say it's for The Sideburns Scheme.

This mini-game must be played by both Aziraphale and Crowley with each one having different requirements than the other.

Each must earn a specially assigned solo set with stricter parameters than the Earthly Objects game usually gives. Aside from a touch they share for Mrs. Cheng and potentially looking at the other at certain times, they are not supposed to rely on each other for most of the mini-game and for the mini-game in particular. In other words, they are playing this game together and apart at the same time.

Aziraphale is inviting humans to a meeting.

Crowley is possibly inviting humans to a special supernatural space he manages or accesses that will form at about the same time as this meeting though he's not going to say that's what he's doing.

This meeting is going to be a ball, and no one is allowed to say that just yet.

The Rules for Aziraphale:

Aziraphale must invite 5 humans on camera to the meeting. There is a special 6th invitation for Crowley to the bookshop that is going to change these rules.

Here are the rules for inviting the humans:

Three invitations must be done in English.

Two invitations must be done in a foreign language and each with a different level of fluency.

Aziraphale must do all of the talking during the actual inviting.

Aziraphale is not allowed talk to Crowley.

When speaking in English:

Aziraphale is dependent on his physical touches to the two earthly objects he has with him compared to the usual dialogue options.

He is not allowed to say "Hello".

If he is going to ask a question, it's not really a question but a lead into a question he is answering.

If he is going to say a number, the number should be a year.

If he is going to say the name of a person, it should not be the name of a person who will be at the ball.

He must say the words "meeting" and "tonight" sometime during the invitation.

The name of the meeting is "Whickber Street Traders and Shopkeepers Association Meeting."

In every conversation, he says at least two words from the name of that meeting that do not include the word "meeting".

To Mr. Arnold, Aziraphale says "Whickber Street Traders and Shopkeepers Association Meeting".

To Mutt, Aziraphale says "Monthly Shopkeepers".

To Nina, Aziraphale says "Street Association".

When he is speaking in a foreign language:

Aziraphale is not dependent on the physical touch of the two earthly objects he has with him. Instead, he is dependent on his use of a foreign language and dialogue options in the foreign language.

When he is speaking more fluently to Mrs. Cheng, the subtitles do include that he says "meeting" and "tonight."

Mrs. Cheng herself includes the words "Street Traders"

The subtitles translate what he says to Mrs. Cheng. They do not translate what he says to Justine to presumably help indicate he is not speaking as fluently. As a viewer who prefers and relies heavily on subtitles, it is really annoying.

Justine says "street traders" and "meeting" at some point during the conversation.

Aziraphale is required to look at Crowley at least once.

The Rules for Crowley:

Crowley will have his own special invitation later.

For now, the rules are:

Crowley is not allowed to talk once Aziraphale has started talking for the invitation. For Nina, he specifically waits until after the invitation is essentially accepted and done with her no longer on camera at least once.

Crowley is required to look at Aziraphale at least once.

He must touch at least one earthly object during the invitation.

He must do at least one self-clothing touch during the invitation.

He must do at least one self-skin-contact touch during the invitation.

In the scenes where it looks like Crowley does not do a self-skin-contact touch, he is using his pockets in ways that the game presumably allows to make the necessary touches.

For some curious reason, Crowley actually does several earthly object touches in the magic shop. I very much want to know about putting that fez on a snake statue by the snake demon with utmost precision in these games. Things like that are cute, but I've seen too much of Crowley's overall play to assume he's just being cute.

He does things with his mouth in most invitation scenes. I don't know if they are supposed to be mouth touches, but still, he does them.

The Rules for Both:

Aziraphale and Crowley are not allowed to talk to each other.

They are supposed to be seen as together, mostly through the looks they make sure to give each other during the invitations.

I mentioned this rule earlier, but again: No one is allowed to say that this meeting is going to be a ball.

They need a correct sides view.

Two of the above will have a further explanation at Nina's invitation because hers is intentionally set up to look like it does not match the rules.

The Touches:

I don't know all of them, especially because in the music shop, Crowley is doing some heavy duty multi-tasking that's supposed to avoid overlap between two Threshold Tricks he is doing. Then he's playing this game in there too. This game is probably supposed to also avoid or at least minimize overlap.

Mr. Arnold (The Music Shop):

The earthly object touch specific to this location is probably the window pane itself thanks to the back, so long as it's not the part of Crowley touching the sign.

The self-clothing touch could be a number of things due to his pocket touches. Each touch for The Pocket Trick, one of the Tricks he is doing here, is a puzzle. The parts I've been able to solve, so far, say that those fingers are touching the pants on the pocket threshold and are specifically for The Pocket Trick, not this mini-game. That right pinky finger might be intentionally excluded because of the shading trying to hide its tip. The tie strands are tied to the hands, and the tassels are thumbs. Because he needs a self-skin contact touch, that means the self-clothing touch probably isn't those. They are touching each other. The jacket is part of the bigger requirements for The Pocket Trick touch, so that one doesn't seem likely either. That leaves the shirt, the vest, and maybe that belt loop that's usually not so clearly visible. Pocket touches seem to transfer touches, so it could even be all three passing everything where it needs to be until one of them is reached. That one is most likely the belt loop since I've never seen it so clear in any other touch. That left vest tip usually covers it.

The self-skin-contact touch is likely his thumbs being hidden in his pockets but having a visual representation thanks to the tie strands being connected to the hands. One must take the time to attempt figuring out The Pocket Trick to learn that. Otherwise, one is left to assume that's what they are doing since they are hidden.

Crowley has no evident mouth movement though knowing pocket touches being as absurd as they are, that snake belt could suddenly have a mouth reaching to nibble at his right vest tip. That would happen from the lighting making it it look like the snake has eyes. The belt is not lit that way for other pocket touches.

Mutt (The Magic Shop):

One of the first touches Crowley does is to place a solitary middle finger to the mirror on the door while having his thumb, index finger, and pinky visible. The ring finger is tucked away but can barely be found near the end of a touch. Such touches are generally not counted because he is using only one digit out of the five available to him. So, I'm not really sure why he does it. A lot of times what he is not touching properly is because he wants to earn the point differently. I'm still not sure that is what he is doing here because when he is avoiding points, it's generally on screen in the same general area he is already sitting or standing in. He'll be walking further in to start earning points. My guess is there's something special about the reflection, but I still don't know what it would accomplish since the fingers are so deliberately separated.

The earthly object touch is probably from walking on the rug. He has notably visible steps on it and makes sure that his foot is on the border of that rug before the camera cuts to the next spot.

The self-clothing touch seems to be most likely as part of when he places his right arm on the top of a panel that is at the end of a counter area. He implies a touch to his jacket, seeming to be confirmed as he stops touching the above item to step away.

The self-skin-contact touch is the clasped hands behind his back as he brushes his shoulder up against some hanging beads, confirming the touch with the noise they make.

Despite seeming to have all the touches done, he picks up a fez, puts it on, and waves his around a crystal ball as if playing around in pretending to use it.

All of that playing around gives Aziraphale an excuse to look at him and Crowley an excuse to look back though he already looked at Aziraphale earlier.

Crowley removes the fez and places it on a snake statue.

In searching for whatever mouth thing might be going on, he is making noise through his mouth, seems to open and shut it slightly when removing the fez, and that fez lands on the mouth of the snake statue.

Mrs. Cheng:

The earthly object touch is most likely from Crowley touching Aziraphale's left arm with Crowley's own right arm. Aziraphale is speaking in a foreign language, so Crowley earns it by extension as supernatural beings are allowed reciprocal touches.

I don't know why it's the only visible physical touch he needs that's not already on himself, but it is.

The self-clothing touch is probably his left hand in his folded arms because he will be using his right hand soon.

The self-skin-contact touch is him placing an index finger on his forehead even though Aziraphale walked away before it happened. Since it happened immediately after he unfolded his arms, that probably helped. His own shadow being on Aziraphale initially as Aziraphale walked away might have helped too.

He made a mouth movement when blurred. Also, when he placed that index finger on his mouth, his facial expression is enough such that a dimple becomes visible on his left side. While Aziraphale does not seem to look at Crowley, there is an unusual view of where, theoretically, he could be looking at Crowley through peripheral vision. Aziraphale's right eye is seen on camera. His left eye is only partly shown on camera, not showing the iris and pupil. Crowley is to Aziraphale's left. Mrs. Cheng is a special character, so that might still somehow pass.

Justine (The Bench):

Crowley is actually standing in a special area that is between the coffee shop and the restaurant with the music shop's entrance in front of him. I don't know what the story wants this area to be called or if it's regarded as a special type of threshold, but nonetheless, that's where he is. He is not past the threshold of the outdoor area of the restaurant, which would probably be having to go up the steps.

All the same, that does not appear to be a requirement for this invitation.

As such, the main earthly object touch Crowley makes is to sit on the bench and quite possibly it is specifically his back to it while using other parts for the other touches. It's hard to be sure because when he was blurred, his blurred hand actually touches the jacket while sitting.

For the self-clothing touch, he is probably using the seat and places his right hand on his pants, more specifically the right side of his right hand.

For the self-skin-contact touch, he is using the arm rest and then resting the left side of his head in his left hand. The way his hand is situated is such that his fingers are touching the area below his sunglasses. There is an actual gap between them and the palm.

This time there is a mouth touch because that palm of his hand is, indeed, touching his left side of his mouth.

For some reason, the camera makes sure to show his shoes in a blurred part of the scene.

This scene makes it difficult to see that Justine sees them as together because of how much she is moving around. There are two hints that she does, indeed, see them as together. The first hint is one of her walks out of the open threshold. Her line of sight is in Crowley's direction. In the next cut, the camera's focus is on Crowley with only a blurred Aziraphale arm in the cut with Crowley. The other, bigger clue is the end of the invitation as Justine has just finished saying, "See you there." She is shown blurred from behind. From that view, both Aziraphale and Crowley are on screen. Crowley himself is blurred too, like Justine is.

Nina (The Post):

The story will never say it, but due to the number of times Crowley and Aziraphale are near the coffee shop individually after their initial visit, yet never, ever in it again during the entire season, I think they are not allowed back in. Hence, they need to make a scene to be spotted by Nina in the first place.

For most invitations, they are not already talking to each other. Aziraphale talks, and Crowley keeps quiet. As soon as Crowley says, "What?", Aziraphale looks at Crowley.

Aziraphale's look is the actual beginning of this invitation. Nina already sees them as together, but Aziraphale still gets his look in.

Now to talk about the sides view because this one will take awhile to explain.

Aziraphale and Crowley have proper sides they are supposed to be on with each other. Crowley is supposed to be to Aziraphale's left, especially when the camera is in front of them. That makes Crowley on the camera's right and Aziraphale on the camera's left when they are viewed from the front. When they are not on their proper sides, "something's wrong." Well, that's how season 1 worked anyway. However, in Good Omens 2, they keep switching to the wrong side or staying on the wrong side after these invitations are done with only glimpses of the correct side happening every now and then. They even do switch sides during these invitations too.

That setup initially suggests the story is repeatedly saying "something is wrong" during a great deal of the last two episodes of the season.

However...

The story introduced them in a phone call on the wrong side the first time they are on screen together in the present day. The credits will do the same thing for the last time they are shown on screen together.

Does that mean something was always wrong, start to finish? Not exactly. This story lies on purpose, but it gives tells too. If something's always wrong, the wrongness becomes overwhelming noise. What does it even mean, after awhile? In my opinion, from this story, it means deception. Not everything is as wrong as it seems.

For these ball invitations, the camera needs to see Crowley facing forward on the camera's right side of the screen during the invitation scenes at some point. That way, he is to the left of Aziraphale if Aziraphale were actually facing forward as well and puts himself in the right place—at least once. In Nina's invitation, it happens after Aziraphale's quick look at Crowley and him saying, "Ah. Um." Aziraphale does not face the camera, but he's still on the camera's left when Crowley is on the camera's right. Both the look and the side view are quick and easy to miss. After that, Aziraphale goes back to being on the wrong side and staying there.

They barely made it, but they made sure to get the look and the side view in before Aziraphale brought up the meeting.

The earthly object touch for Crowley is on the post with his hand, probably touched in the way it is so that Crowley can use a pocket touch as well. When Crowley starts to touch the post, he uses four fingertips that keep moving his hand until eventually his palm and thumb are on the top of the post.

The self-clothing touch seems to be most likely from his legs. As he was moving to touch the post, the right leg moved forward. They look crossed from the side and that the right leg might actually be touching the side of the post, below a certain point. The leg is behind the post from the camera's view. He shows the faintest of skin contact because of how he uses that pocket once digits are in. The index finger and thumb were the chosen digits. Pocket touches do these weird transfer things through the clothes that I don't fully understand. It actually hints to how the index finger and thumb can both touch the pants in The Door Trick with the other left hand fingertips not visible here. The touches are still different with what is seen or unseen of those fingers, but I'm still noticing.

The self-skin-contact touch is also probably also from some trickery he does with his pocket. While the index finger and thumb of the left hand are busy helping the legs out, yet another weird thing about pocket touches is being able to receive assistance from nearby humans using their pockets. Crowley is blurry with a human somewhere further behind him using a pocket. With a glance down, Crowley's right jawline touches part of his neck. Yes, pocket touches really are this weird and open about what they allow. It's part of what makes them so frustrating as a puzzle in The Pocket Trick. The human pocket user lines up all too well with that touch, especially since Crowley has no perceived requirement to glance down otherwise.

The mouth thing happened early when as Aziraphale started to talk. Crowley started to open his mouth. The camera cut to when Crowley started to use the post and pocket. While doing that, his mouth closed.

Now some of the overall puzzle of this whole story is still missing in observing the patterns of this mini-game. Crowley's reaction to Nina after the invitation is accepted is genuine. I do believe he and Aziraphale intended to be seen together before Nina questioning Crowley. Maybe Crowley has to make himself forget, push those things to the back of his mind for the story to move forward, or Nina herself has that effect on him through whatever force is influencing her, such as the Metatron. Maybe it's related to him not touching anything in that moment and not having Aziraphale with Aziraphale holding two earthly objects with him.

Crowley describes something of whatever this missing piece is as a "like a hangover" later when the demons are arriving in the supernatural zone forming I mentioned at the start of this post. The situation is quite similar. Nina is with Crowley again, and Crowley is, again, not touching anything. Aziraphale is absent from the scene.

That sounds related but not quite enough yet. I truly do not know what the missing piece is, and I wish to know. I still believe these invitations were done the way they were on purpose.

Nonetheless, finally, all the on-camera human invitations are done.

Inviting Crowley:

For this round, they are allowed to talk to each other.

First of all, Crowley must invite Aziraphale to speak with him to begin with, and they still aren't allowed to talk to each other until Aziraphale is close enough to the table. Hence, the whistle.

Aziraphale still isn't allowed to say "Hello". He does say the word "meeting" even if he doesn't say the word "tonight."

The initial invitation is actually a question that Aziraphale is allowed to say. "Why don't you wait inside?"

That's the invitation to the bookshop. Crowley is invited to the bookshop, not the meeting. He'll be there, but this story made sure that there was a difference. Even though Crowley's generally welcome to the bookshop already, this story still made sure to have this scene.

Crowley shakes his head, giving Aziraphale a chance to follow that question up with, "You like waiting inside."

So, in a sense, Aziraphale still got to "answer" his own question even though Crowley is about to answer the question too.

The dialogue continues, and Aziraphale almost says "Gabriel." Crowley's own mouth movement with his tongue seems to remind Aziraphale of the rule that he's not supposed to the say name of anyone who is going to be at the ball when speaking in English.

Finally, a real question is allowed that is not really an invitation to the bookshop but leads into Crowley going to the bookshop, effectively accepting the first invitation.

"Have you thought of just talking to him?"

"Actually, I will."

During all of the above, Crowley was still required to do his touches, further confirming that this scene is its own special invitation within the mini-game.

The earthly object touch is most likely his back against the wall because he will be taking that glass of wine with him.

The clothing touch happens quite early when Crowley is seen after he whistled. His shoe is touching a rug, which is what allows him to rest the left side of his left hand on the lap of his crossed legs.

The self-skin-contact touch happens with his fingers on his palm when he's saying "Smited? Smote?" Sometime before that, the camera confirmed that he had his right elbow on the table, and its his right hand that touches itself.

As noted further above, he did a mouth thing when it looked like "Gabriel" was about to be said.

Crowley also might have qualified for a face touch to the sunglasses in the cut right before he says, "I don't think so."

Taking a wine glass and wine bottle with him, Crowley leaves for the bookshop to approach Gabriel.

One little oddity that might be worth mentioning is that we never see the actual drinking of the wine by Crowley either at the restaurant or when Crowley talks to Gabriel later.

All the same, these invitations are done.

The scene with Gabriel is related, but it's still not one of the six invitations. We're stopping here.

The End.

I have a tendency to update my posts, FYI.

[youryurigoddess]

Aziraphale’s secret investigation and overlooked Clues

Remember this frame from Good Omens S02E06? Apparently Aziraphale had been using the empty carton box brought by Jim to store things in. It became a new home to at least two out of three “Lost Quartos” — the supposedly lost Shakespeare plays briefly but hilariously mentioned in the Good Omens book — as well as a very mysterious legal document.

Thought probably half of the Good Omens analysts here, including the ever so wonderful @fuckyeahgoodomens, who managed to find some information about the deceased John Gibson from New Cumnock (1855 - 1905).

Unfortunately the most interesting thing about this early 20th century provincial postmaster was his youngest child James (1894 - 1973), a quite famous stage (West End!) and film actor immortalized on screen in The Master of Ballantrae (1962), Witch Wood (1964) and Kidnapped (1963).

After that particular discovery the fandom-wide search seemingly led nowhere and the topic died a premature death.

And I almost figured it out seven months ago.

“But Yuri, you’re so clever. How can somebody as clever as you be so stupid?”, you probably want to shout across a busy London street at this point. Well, let me tell you. Much like Aziraphale, I'm blindingly intelligent for about thirty seconds a day. I do not get to choose which seconds and they are not consecutive.

Only tonight the stars have aligned in an ineffable way.

For those of you who don’t follow this account, some time ago I’ve realized that John Gibson isn’t the only testator whose estate was being investigated by Aziraphale right before The Whickber Street Traders and Shopkeepers Association monthly meeting.

If you watch S2 finale closely enough, you should notice that Crowley not only stress cleans Aziraphale’s bookshop — he also goes through the books and papers on his desk between the last three angels leaving the bookshop and Maggie and Nina’s intervention. A seemingly permanent arrangement of the props post-shooting, visible in detail both on Radio Times tour and SFX magazine photo shoot, sheds even more light on this detail.

The close-ups published after S2 release are legible enough to refer us to a much more prominent historical figure, Josiah Wedgwood (1730 – 1795) — an English potter, entrepreneur and abolitionist. Founding the Wedgwood company in 1759, he developed improved pottery bodies by systematic experimentation, and was the leader in the industrialisation of the manufacture of European pottery.

Long story short, I transcribed the handwritten pages abandoned on Aziraphale’s desk, found out the source and the full text of what could be identified as Wedgwood’s last will and testament, took a walk to visit his Soho workshop, and proceeded to write a lengthy meta analysis about it.

I was today’s years old when I realized that there’s something else connecting those two dead British men.

The Scottish Post Office Directory of 1903 recorded John Gibson from New Cumnock as a “stationer and china dealer” (above) operating from the shop located in the town’s post office building.

Indeed, a close look at his post office shop window in the Henderson Building (below, bottom left) reveals an artful display of fine china and pottery next to postcards printed by Gibson.

There are multiple ways to connect this surprising link with possible S3 plot points, obviously, but it’s getting late, so let’s just name the two most important ones.

You’ve probably heard of the Holy Grail, maybe from Monty Python or Good Omens S01E03 1941 flashback. Depending on the version of the story, if can be a cup, a chalice, a bowl, or a saucer — but almost always a dish or a vessel connected personally, physically and metaphysically to Jesus (unless you’re partial to Wolfram von Eschenbach’s idea that the Grail was a stone, the sanctuary of the neutral angels who took neither side during Lucifer's rebellion).

A slightly more obscure dish related to the Son of God appears in the sixteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation as a vital part of His Second Coming. The Seven Bowls (or cups, or vials) of God’s Wrath are supposed to be poured out on the wicked and the followers of the Antichrist by seven angels:

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.

The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!”

The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.  (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

[neil-gaiman]

what's something (spoiler-free) that you're really excited for people to see in Good Omens season two?

The Whickber Street Traders and Shopkeepers Association monthly meeting.