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#because it would be the only thing left of Aziraphale to remember him by
demonsandpieohmy · 8 months
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Ok but how fucking devastated was Aziraphale when the Library of Alexandria burned down. How many centuries did it take for him to emotionally recover. And then how horrified he was when he thought his rare books had been destroyed at the church. How much it meant that Crowley saved them for him. And then for Crowley to have to tell him that his own little library of Alexandria had also burned to the ground during the apocawasn’t. But that he had managed to save one book (again).
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lenaellsi · 1 year
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so you're anthony j. crowley, long-time exile from heaven and recent exile from hell, and you've finally figured out that the mess of overwhelming and infuriating and intoxicating feelings you've been harboring for the only being in the universe you've ever been able to rely on might, whoopsies, be something a little bit like love. but not love the way you remember heaven loved you, or the way they told you god loved you (they lied), but love like the humans do it: messy, and awkward, and incongruously infinite, and so, so fragile.
and, well. okay, you think. this'll be horrible. embarrassing for both of us, probably. but i'll tell him. you've never been a coward, no matter what the other demons might say. screw your courage to the sticking place, or whatever. macbeth. aziraphale loved that one.
so you talk yourself into it, you gather every scrap of courage and honesty you've got left, and you say, all right, angel, i've got something to say, only aziraphale's got something to say, too, and--
aziraphale doesn't love you back.
or. he does, but he loves the ghost of the angel you used to be, not the person you've made yourself since. he loves you, but he loves you like god did--loves you good, and quiet, and dull. he loves you without your grief, or your anger, without even that first bite of the apple. he wants you like that again, he says. defanged, like the Antichrist's domesticated hellhound.
(you worked for hell for a long time, and for god for a long time before that. you're intimately familiar with what it is to offer someone everything they've ever wanted, and then to twist it, to mutilate it, into an unrecognizable hell of their own choosing. you're not sure why it surprises you anymore. you're not sure why you keep letting the surprises hurt.)
and so you do the thing you've done since the beginning, because you've never been able to stop yourself: you push. you push hard, and you grab him, and he's so angry and you kiss him and you don't think about it, don't think about it, this is the most important temptation of your life, the only one that's ever mattered--
and he forgives you.
so you leave. at least that way you can do it before he does. you've always been a step ahead and to the left; stupid to think this would ever be different. stupid to think he might choose you, with all of heaven and earth spread out in front of him. nothing lasts forever, not even the stars.
he told you that a long time ago.
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fiovske · 1 year
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can I just say. coffee theory is stupid and completely cheapens the choice Aziraphale makes.
Aziraphale continues to say no to Metatron's offer until Metatron uses the real bait: if you take over Heaven, you can reinstate Crowley to his Angelic status. And that is what gets Aziraphale to say yes hook line and sinker — he can take Crowley with him so Crowey doesn't have to be afraid of Hell and Aziraphale can run things Do It Right as the Head of Heaven and no one would say anything to Crowley ever again if Aziraphale was on his side. Aziraphale doesn't know about the trial and the fact that Gabriel was fired for disagreeing w Heaven on the Second Armageddon front. He just thinks Gabriel was fired bc he fell in love w a demon (and Aziraphale's in love w a demon). Aziraphale strongly believes that if he can reinstate Crowley as an angel again then there would be no such objections from Heaven at all, because they would both be on the same side and they can be together and if anything ever goes wrong, both Crowley and he would be protected under Aziraphale's position as the new boss of Heaven. Plus, the way he remembers it, Crowley enjoyed making things creating things and still likes to do good deeds which he gets in trouble for if Hell finds out, but he won't if he's an angel, in Aziraphale's eyes then Crowley would be free to do all the good he liked. And because Aziraphale would be the boss, Crowley would be able to ask questions and work with him and make things better w his inquisitive perspective, something Crowley always wanted to do and Aziraphale wants to give him that also.
He doesn't know the full depth of things that Crowley knows, which is why when Crowley hears Aziraphale's offer, all he hears is that Aziraphale is choosing Heaven, after everything they have done to him, Aziraphale is leaving Crowley FOR Heaven. The way he sees it, Aziraphale wants him to change and be Heaven's definition of "Good" so they can both be in Heaven, conforming to a life Crowley left behind long ago, a life he knows Aziraphale wouldn't be happy in either. Which is the killing blow to Crowley's heart bc Aziraphale would choose THAT instead of coming away with Crowley? Devastating. But he doesn't know that Metatron's offer WAS Crowley's Angelification and hence forth security that got Aziraphale to say yes. Crowley hasn't communicated a lot to Aziraphale but Aziraphale also hasn't communicated a lot to him either and they're both on very different pages w the information they've got and what they feel they need to do to be together and be safe and happy.
Does Aziraphale make the naive choice? Yes. Does he make so in full control of his mind and senses? Also yes. Having his coffee poisoned is an incredibly cheap tactic because as a writer it's a cop out. It robs Aziraphale of not only his agency but also the reasonings behind his choice. It absolves him from the struggles and consequences of his actions and robs him of the growth and realization and epiphany he will have in the third act. It cheapens their inevitable reconciliation.
Metatron didn't hand him the coffee to poison him. He handed it to him so he can use the manipulative familiarity of "oh look i brought ur coffee order, isn't it cool how I know your coffee order isn't it nice how we are close like that?" that was the tactic. to get him to listen. Not some elaborate coffee poison.
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actual-changeling · 11 months
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Welcome back to Alex's unhinged meta corner - although today it is less unhinged and more of a watertight analysis.
What I am about to present you is something most people have probably already noticed, but it has been three months and I still lose my mind while going through the final fifteen frame by frame (which is a normal thing normal people like us do, right? right).
You literally cannot convince me my following meta is wrong, and the only person whose criticism I will accept on this post is Michael Sheen and Michael Sheen ONLY. If you're not Michael Sheen (hi Michael Sheen who probably has a secret tumblr account) then your guess is as good as mine, though again, I think mine is solid.
So.
We all love and hate Aziraphale's "I forgive you", but what I find even more painful is the fact that before that he almost said "I love you". Then he stops himself and changes it, and the amount of micro-expressions on his face as he makes that decision is my current cause of death.
Here's the clip as evidence #1, and while it can definitely support itself, let's dive into the pain a little more, shall we?
One important thing I noticed is that Aziraphale doesn't look at Crowley while he stutters his way through his initial reaction. He blinks up at him for a few frames before averting his eyes again and only holds eye contact after the almost-confession (from here on referred to as IL-).
This is Aziraphale holding eye contact with Crowley (left) vs. him looking away (right):
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The frame on the left is from the I forgive you (IFY) part of the scene, the other one from right before IL-. If we go through the above clip little by little we will find that he avoids Crowley's face the entire time and his gaze slips further and further down, which I interpret as him overthinking/trying to come up with something to respond to this entire situation.
He is overwhelmed and surprised, caught between his two main desires: Crowley and being a Good Angel.
Combing through the frames, we can actually nail down exactly when Aziraphale first makes eye contact before the IL- and when he stops. Keep the above comparison in mind! The angle is slightly different because his chin is lower and he straightens up throughout the scene.
So! This is where he starts looking at Crowley:
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And this is where he stops:
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Hard to see? Let's zoom in on his eyes (numbers are the file names):
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Now, you might ask me "Alex, this is all fine, although a bit insane, but why is any of this important?"
Because, fellow tumblr user and good omens enthusiast, I think that looking at Crowley is what changes his mind about what to say.
He doesn't look at him -> about to confess his feelings.
He looks at him -> says the absolutely worst possible thing.
Partly to hurt him because they're both lashing out at each other during this argument, but he looks at Crowley, looks at the person that just kissed him, that told him they could have been an us, that wants him and has always wanted him, screw everyone else.
He looks at Crowley and he wants to say l love you but then what? Once he says those words, he can't leave. He just can't.
We have to remember that they have existed within a complicated dance, a game that they have been playing for centuries without ever telling each other what that game actually is, what the rules are - because they couldn't. It was based entirely on trust and knowing the other person well enough to play it safe.
Crowley just flipped the playing board. Nothing is the way it should be, he is refusing to do their dance, refusing to play. He is looking at him and daring him to stop trying to put the pieces back on the board. The only thing neither of them has done yet is actually say I love you out loud.
Saying those words would mean stepping away from the playing board and acknowledging the room they have been playing in. It would mean saying fuck you to heaven, yes, but it would also force Aziraphale to finally define himself outside of the role he has been playing for both Crowley and heaven, and he isn't ready for that yet.
Additionally, there is the fear and/or knowledge (depending on what else the Metatron might have said or done that we did not see) that heaven will retaliate against him and Crowley if he disobeys them now, and he does not want to risk that either.
All that is what, in my opinion, happens in his head when he averts his eyes and interrupts himself. I do kinda what to make a whole different post about his facial expressions leading up to the IFY, so I will end this one with one more bit of pain.
Ready?
Firstly, the face he makes when he makes his decision.
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Look at the tight line of his lips, the pain etched into his face, the pure pain in his eyes.
This is the face of someone who knows exactly how badly he is going to hurt Crowley and himself. This is an apology, an I'm sorry for what I'm about to do, this hurts me as much as it hurts you. I'm sorry but I have to.
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And then he winces afterwards. I don't know about you, but this is exactly the kind of face I make when I'm emotionally torturing myself with my own thoughts. For the final blow, please look at the picture very, very closely, especially the last frame, because Aziraphale isn't just sorry and he isn't just in pain.
Aziraphale is scared because he knows* that he might lose Crowley over this. He knows that saying I forgive you is (almost) unforgivable. He KNOWS.
He does it anyway because he will lose Crowley either way but he'd rather have him alive and hating him than dead.
With that I am concluding today's unhinged meta corner, thank you for your attention and you're welcome for the pain.
Also: If you want to call me a 'tin hatter' or insane or otherwise make fun of me - this is very much a girl, what were YOU doing at the devil's sacrament moment because you read my meta post all the way to the end. <3
-
*authors note: what Aziraphale thinks he knows and what is actually real is not the same thing but that's a different post
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staypuffy · 1 year
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Okay, so I know prefacing something with "hear me out" virtually guarantees that not one motherfucker will, but, heart me out...
Jim was default Gabriel. He was Gabriel without all the corruption and pressure and complacency he had from being the Supreme Archangel of Heaven for so many years. When he takes away all his own memories, the things that led to this corrupt person we know from season 1, we're left with the basic blueprint of his personality and that's this: just a nice guy. He was helpful, apologetic, thoughtful, kind and even self-sacrificing to an extent (when he offered himself up to Shax's legion to save everyone.) We can assume then, that this is what Gabriel was like before The Fall.
We see some of Jim, or the old Gabriel, start to come back out during his interactions with Beelzebub, for example, miracling the jukebox because he remembers Beelzebub likes the song. Would the Gabriel who sentenced Aziraphale to burn and told him to "shut his stupid mouth and die already" think to do something like that?
No, because love brought him back to himself.
When he's around Beelzebub, the person he loves, we start to see more of Jim, Gabriel's softer side. Eventually, it is this love for Beelzebub which causes a complete reversion back to his old self. As you can see in Gabriel's final scene, he is very pointedly acting much more like the Jim character we became acquainted with over season 2 than the vindictive, wrathful bureaucratic Gabriel from season 1.
Now that Aziraphale has assumed Gabriel's old position, there is a chance the very same thing could happen to him. That the monotony, the responsibility, the corruption of running Heaven, of having everyone look to him for the answers, could do the very same thing to him that it did to Gabriel. Since Jim and Aziraphale's characters are actually quite close to one another (soft, somewhat childlike and innocent, geuinely kindhearted and good) there is a precedent.
(I think Crowley might suspect all this and it's part of the reason why he's so suspicious of and resentful of Heaven for calling Aziraphale back; because he's too loyal for his own good and can't accept that there's something fundamentally wrong with Heaven as an institution, but that's an entirely different post).
When Aziraphale goes back, Crowley knows this is what he's risking. That he's not only leaving Crowley behind, but that he's risking completely changing who he is because of what that position will do to him. It's why he tries so fucking hard to get him to stay. It's why he kisses him. He does everything he can think of to keep Aziraphale there, he puts everything he has on the line to show Aziraphale how he feels in the hopes that he’ll stay so Heaven won’t corrupt him.
But Aziraphale goes anyways.
IN WHICH CASE...
If Aziraphale does let the position change him, like it did Gabriel, the only way to bring him back from being a hard-bitten, cruel and ruthless husk of his former self would be with Crowley's help (vis a vis Beelzebub, a demon, doing it for Gabriel, an angel). And Crowley, no matter how damaged and heartbroken and traumatized, would do it.
It's hard to imagine Aziraphale becoming this way, but could you imagine Jim in a bedsheet toga with a feather duster sentencing someone to death? Me either.
Is it unlikely? Yes. Will it happen? Probably not. Do I like asking myself rhetorical questions to reinforce my point? Also, yes.
That has been my keynote speech, thank you for hearing me out.
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wordsinhaled · 1 year
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Aziraphale returns to Earth, but his memory’s been wiped, like Gabriel’s was. He instinctively comes to the bookshop, but Crowley’s not there.
Muriel’s there, instead.
Muriel doesn’t really know what to do with him and Aziraphale… he doesn’t remember being Aziraphale. Just that something drew him inexorably to London, to this neighborhood, this street, this shop. He’s still wearing the bespoke new clothes he was given in Heaven, not a stitch of tan or tartan or vintage fabric anywhere on his person.
He’s subdued and pensive at first, robbed of his usual verve and lust for all of the beautiful things in life; and he doesn’t remember how he takes his tea, or even that this is his shop, actually—it couldn’t be. That’s absurd. He doesn’t believe Muriel that he is, in fact, an angel named Aziraphale. An angel owning a bookshop in Soho. Really, it couldn’t be any more fantastical if it came right out of a fantasy novel, could it?
Nina and Maggie come by, and when they see Mr. Fell’s condition Muriel very, very narrowly convinces them not to take Aziraphale to A&E right then and there.
And then Crowley shows up.
He’d stayed away, for a bit, at first. He’d wanted to stay away for always, maybe wish himself to another star entirely (not Alpha Centauri, that one was utterly out of the question, thank you very bleeding much). But being in his new, empty, hyperminimalist flat with only his plants for silent company is leagues worse than any torture hell has ever thrown at him before. It doesn’t really bring him the joy it used to. If he’s honest, which he would prefer not to be, nothing much does; but maybe that’s just what life as a demon is supposed to be. Joyless and colorless.
And so he’s taken to coming by; only for a bit, only about once a week if he’s very disciplined. Someone’s got to make sure Muriel hasn’t sold any of the books, don’t they?
And. Well. It hasn’t been that long, really, since Aziraphale left. Sometimes Crowley just walks up and down the street. Orders a nine-shot espresso from Nina. Visits Maggie’s shop, takes a listen through the records she keeps aside for him even though he’s never asked her to do it. But in the end, he finds himself back at the threshold of the bookshop, pulled there like iron to a lodestone. It’s all very… regular, very boring, very mind-numbingly bland and dull without Aziraphale there with him, and yet… it’s the only place Crowley’s found ever that feels remotely like home.
So. Crowley shows up.
But this time he looks through the window and almost discorporates on the spot, because that’s Aziraphale. That’s Aziraphale standing in the bookshop, lit gold by an afternoon sunbeam.
It’s worse, somehow, seeing him right there within reach, than it was simply remembering him. It feels a bit like being crushed slowly in a vise: a vise with great big spikes in it for good measure. Aziraphale is back. Back on Earth. Back in the bookshop, and he didn’t even look for Crowley, didn’t even try to find him—
(Of course he didn’t, Crowley reminds himself, because he’s not on their side any more. And there it is. There’s the lick of bitter, blunted anger he’s become used to, twisting round his heart alongside the aching, terrible grief he wishes he were too proud, or too disaffected, to still feel.)
He almost doesn’t go in. It would be better, not to go in, wouldn’t it? It would. He can pretend to himself, to everyone, that he’s there to look in on Maggie, or to pop into the brand new plant shop just opened a few doors over, he really has been eyeing the gorgeous Persian carpet flower hanging in the bay window. He doesn’t have one of those—
But blast it all, it’s almost like he’s summoned her because suddenly Maggie’s there with him on the pavement, and she’s a lovely girl, really, on most days, only he wishes she wouldn’t sound so distraught on this particular day, when Crowley’s already suffocating. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she’s saying. “It’s Mr. Fell. He’s back. And—I think he needs you.”
Crowley… well, he scoffs all the way to the shop door, scowls at the cheerful jingle of the bell, scoffs harder still as the door creaks shut behind him. It’s fitting that Aziraphale’s standing now turned away from the entrance, all the better not to see him skulk in. Aziraphale’d made perfectly plain that he doesn’t need him at all.
But all of Crowley’s thoughts go right out of his ridiculous, hopeless, besotted head the moment Aziraphale turns round to look at him.
He looks…
The tailored clothes he’s wearing are doing a surprising amount of wonders for him, actually. That’s Crowley’s first thought, he’s a bit ashamed to admit. The cool grey silk of the suit makes Aziraphale’s eyes an impossibly bright, crisp blue, or maybe it’s that Crowley’s forgotten somehow how blue they always were.
Crowley’s second thought is that he hates how much he’s missed him. He hates how, already, his shoulders are dropping down from where they’ve been perpetually scrunched up about his ears for weeks, just at being in the same room. He can’t stand the treacherous lump rising in his throat and the way the scent of violets follows Aziraphale everywhere and really, he’s got to thank someone in this hope-forsaken universe for the paltry sanctuary of his bloody sunglasses, because...
“Oh,” Aziraphale says to him. “Hello. I’m—”
“Aziraphale,” Crowley breathes, a little wetly.
“—Ezra,” Aziraphale finishes.
Crowley blinks. He takes a swaying step backwards. “…Ezra,” he says. And a part of him, see, a part of him is still livid, it really is, still bruised and raw and curled in on itself somewhere deep inside like a wilting blossom. But another part of him is—is confused. Aziraphale hadn’t chosen him. He knows that. He can come to terms with that. But surely… surely they aren’t going to be like this, now.
“Well, yes,” Aziraphale says, “of course. Ezra Fell. That is my name, isn’t it? And this! This is my shop. Naturally.” He smiles at Crowley beatifically. That smile, at least, seems unchanged, if the way Crowley’s chest seizes at the sight of it is anything to go by.
“Right,” Crowley says. “…Naturally.”
“And how may I help you, sir? Is there a particular title you’re looking for? Though I must tell you quite up front, I’m told I dislike selling books, but you might, if you’re very careful, be permitted to peruse them on the premises. You do look like a nice fellow, after all.”
And it’s then—only then (too late, he thinks, and isn’t he always too late?)—that Crowley begins to realize something is very, very, very wrong with Aziraphale.
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aziraphales-library · 6 months
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Heya ! I'm looking for some fics that are set post season 2. Not fixits exactly, not that I would mind fixits. But I'm looking for long canon compliant fics. Also, is there a tag for such fics ?
We have #good omens s2 and #canon compliant tags. On ao3 you'll want to use the tags "Post-Season/Series 02" and "Canon Compliant", which is what I did to find you these...
scherzo in f-sharp minor, for orchestra by astrhae (M)
It was a truth universally acknowledged that an angel in possession of no memory must be in want of a wife. No, that was the wrong book. The wrong line. Aziraphale frowned. “What,” the gentleman before him asked, “and I mean what, are you doing here?” ----------------- Or, two years after things fall apart, Aziraphale shows up at Crowley's doorstep without his memories. The easy part is getting it back, the hard part is getting them back together.
Until the Bitter End by sentientsky (T)
After learning the truth about Heaven's plans and fruitlessly trying to fix a corrupt system (and maybe also having his memory messed with a little bit in the process), Aziraphale slips back to Earth in search of Crowley.
i will make it better, if only for us by davethefish (T)
With Aziraphale in Heaven, everything that Crowley loved has left the earth. He doesn't know what to do, so he starts small. Maybe someday he'll love the earth as much as he loved Aziraphale. It's time for him to remember why he chose to stay in the first place.
Black Holes and Revelations by ArtisticRising (E)
Crowley takes a leap of faith… into the heart of a black hole. It’s the last card Crowley has to play. He can’t do this without Aziraphale… and he’s betting that Aziraphale can’t do this without him. Act I (Black Holes) ends around Chapter 6 (10 if you want the smut babes). You could leave the story off there. Up til chapter 6 you have a whole story that’s pretty much G rated. From there my thirst comes out like a sexy little demon in tight jeans and a vaguely downwards saunter. Act II (Revelations) is an attempt at season 3. Treat it as a separate work that builds off Act I. Lots of plot twists ahead/theories/speculations that I won’t spoil for you :)
The Ineffability of Gray by kitfornow (NR)
Fifteen years have passed since Aziraphale returned to Heaven, and still sometimes Crowley feels shell shocked and embarrassed and grief-stricken. And mostly, he still feels numb. Fifteen years isn’t really so long, in the grand scheme of things, and yet these have somehow been the longest years of his existence. He can almost feel time crawling by, laughing at him. But slowly, so slowly, Crowley began to try again. To try harder. To find a piece of himself that Aziraphale had not touched. To find a piece of himself that does not need changing. On his good days, he can open up. His friends come over to the flat, once in a while, and Maggie brings new records and Muriel brings burnt cookies that no-one complains about because they're so proud of them. They'll exchange stories and simply enjoy each other's company for a few hours. And sometimes, he feels almost alright. Until Crowley turns around and Aziraphale is there, standing in front of him, trying to stop the world from ending all over again.
hurry back, please bring it back home to me by Percyjacksonfan3 (T)
“Why should I?” The demon interrupts cuttingly. “You’ve made it perfectly clear where your priorities lie and anything I say won’t make a bit of difference.” “That’s not true at all.” Aziraphale replies after a long hurt moment. “And you know it. Besides, you’re being stubborn. You’ll help me eventually.” Rage flashes over Crowley’s face. “You think so, do you?” Aziraphale juts his chin up stubbornly, ignoring the unpleasant feelings Crowley’s expression stirs in him. “Yes.” Aziraphale needs Crowley's help in saving humanity from the Second Coming and despite what happened between them he's determined to get it. After all, it's not only that he needs Crowley, but his plan also includes their car. As for the other matters between the two of them... well there's no reason those can't be sorted out along the way as well, is there? Or, a possible take on Series 3 that includes the Bentley, a resurrected Jesus Christ set on bringing about the End of Days, and an angel and a demon who are stupidly in love with each other but are both suffering from a lack of experience on how to actually deal with said emotions. Emphasis on the stupidly.
- Mod D
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ingravinoveritas · 4 months
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It's been just barely three days since the announcement of DJ Qualls and Ty Olsson's engagement, and after seeing the interview DJ did on a podcast where he broke the news, I am struck by the parallels between his comment above and things both Michael and David have said over the last five years about growing old together.
I can still remember when Michael first posted the tweet in the screenshot in 2019, and how much it stood out to me because of what was left unspoken. That he's thought about Aziraphale and Crowley growing old together. That he doesn't separate Aziraphale from him or Crowley from David--something we knew five years ago, and have become even more keenly aware of now--and was maybe, by extension, thinking of him growing older with David.
This only seems like it was cemented further by what we saw in the GO 2 interviews last year. Michael is again talking about Aziraphale and Crowley being old, but more specifically about him and David playing them that way. Seconds later, the idea of a theatrical tour is mentioned, and this time it's David who becomes the more vocal one. In this one entire moment, we have Michael revisiting that idea of playing the characters old, and David responding in a way that lets us know--without hesitation, without question--that he very much enjoys the thought of growing older with Michael.
So in thinking of what DJ said about Ty and how he wants to grow old with the person he loves, it just seems so incredibly similar to what Michael and David have said and are saying now. That they are going to be old men together, however that might look, in whatever form it could take. And given the incredibly positive reaction from the fans toward DJ and Ty (which Michael may have seen, since he does follow Misha Collins, who tweeted about the news), I would just like to hope that's what would be in store for Michael and David, too...
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lineffability · 1 year
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For the sharing a bed prompt list...2 and 8? As well as any others you want to include because they're all delightful XD
"Did you know you talk in your sleep?"
"I- what?" Crowley, drowsy, blinked against the light coming from above. For a moment he thought it was Aziraphale, but it was just the lamp on the ceiling. He sat up, wiping the sleep from his eyes. Right. Bookshop. Lots of alcohol. Late, probably.
Wait. Did you know you talk in your sleep? Oh fuck. Oh Satan. Oh hell. Oh no. Slowly, carefully, Crowley turned his head towards Aziraphale, making sure to avoid his eyes.
"Ah? What'd I sa- I mean. Sure, I guess. I mean I didn't know. How would I?"
"How would you," Aziraphale repeated, suddenly looking a little sad, and Crowley wondered if the angel was still drunk. How long had he been out?
What had he said?
He forced himself to look at Aziraphale. The angel looked normal. Not devastated, or embarassed, or ready to flee and deny and forgive. So maybe it hadn't been so bad. He tried to remember his dream. He coudn't. It was unfair - shouldn't he be able to recall his dreams at will, as a demon? But the realm of dreaming seemed as off limits to him as that of Heaven. (Even the nightmares. Maybe that was a mercy.) Well - he remembered dreams like the humans did, anyway. In shambles.
He wondered if Aziraphale could remember his dreams: access them, rewind them, play them back and forth like a video - then again, the angel rarely slept, he was quite sure. Maybe that was better.
"Do you dream?"
"Me?" Aziraphale looked surprised, and considered the question alongside his wineglass. There was a little bit of liquid left in it. So he had been drinking, alone, while Crowley had drifted off. Oh dear. Maybe he was drowning his sorrows in alcohol, the things Crowley had said. "I prefer not to dream."
"Huh." Crowley sat up. "Why? It's fun."
"It's dangerous." Aziraphale studied his glass more intently, downing the last little gulp and abandoning the empty vessel on the desk.
"Right." Crowley swallowed. Well, he was right about that. "What... what did I..." He looked away. "...say?"
"Huh?"
"You said I talked. In my sleep. So."
"Ah."
"Anything I oughta know?"
"Oh, it was only... you seemed to be in an argument."
"An argument?"
"Yes. Yes - with me, I think."
"With you." Crowley's voice thinned. He miracled his hangover back, the light pressure on his head, as if it might take responsibility for the words that had been uttered. "Makes sense. Who else would I argue with. You're very... arguable."
"You mean I am a worthy opponent. A great interlocutor. A beacon of goodness against your vile--"
"Yeah. Sure. So we just argued, huh." His shoulders relaxed a little.
"It was about pigeons, I think. You said something about no, no pigeon pie, no eating, and rats with wings and God's ugly angels and protection and-" he added a rather dramatic little whine to his voice, not like Crowley at all: "misunderstood."
"Oh." Crowley thought he remembered, now, with Aziraphale's help, a slice of the pigeon pie dream. Aziraphale chasing after the poor pigeons with cutlery in bis hands and a napkin tucked into his shirt collar. Good. Excellent. A harmless dream. Pigeons. Wings. White-ish grey wings, everywhere, he remembered that, and then when the wings had cleared there had suddenly been no more pigeons or pies - only another misunderstood messenger of peace. His angel. So beautiful, amongst all the wings. And then he had--" Oh no. Oh, oh. Then the dream had shifted. He remembered now, and wished he hadn't.
"And that was it, right. Nothing else. Yeah. Pigeons."
"Well, then you said my name."
"Mgphm."
"You said Aziraphale." Aziraphale spoke his name neutrally, without much intonation, and Crowley was glad, because he knew that was not the way he had said it.
"Sure. We were debating pigeons. In my dream. So of course I said it."
"Yes..." Aziraphale was looking at his hands. He seemed to be debating something other than pigeons. "Only it was... ah. Nevermind."
Crowley almost asked. He didn't want to: he knew he had only said Aziraphale's name, and nothing else. He had sighed it against his lips, softly, tenderly, again and again, as he had kissed him, and the wings enveloping them were grey and safe, pigeons and peace. Old messengers, dreams.
He didn't ask.
The moment passed. Aziraphale smiled, congenially, and Crowley couldn't quite parse it.
(Much as Aziraphale couldn't quite parse the way Crowley had spoken his name, in his sleep, the soft tone and the pained, peaceful expression on his face. Much as he didn't want to ask, either. It had been too... It had been too much, too nice. Too good to be able to hold on to it. It was only a dream: it would be forgotten soon enough.)
"It was only my name."
"Yeah. Only your name."
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Crotch-Punching Distance
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Aziraphale x Crowley x GN!Reader
Summary: Jim, short for James, James short for Gabriel- or was it James, long for Jim and short for Gabriel? Is really getting on your nerves
CW/AN: this is just a bit of a crack fic request
Requests are OPEN
Gomens tag list: @coffee-and-red-lipstick
___ ___ ___ ___ ___
You are really fucking tired of Jim, Armageddon, Heaven, Hell and everything in between. Well, except for Zira and Crowley, of course. But you were tired of the sheer metric tonnage of bullshit that seems to follow them no matter where they go, what they do, or who they talk too.
Hell, even those they don’t talk to. For God's sake, Gabriel, or Jim, or James had just shown up at the bookshop doors one day unannounced. It was enough to drive a person to pack up and move half a continent away (or half a Universe away, if Crowley’s plan was to be taken into serious consideration) just to get some peace and quiet. 
Anyway, it was safe to say that Jim was annoying the shit out of you today. Every day, yes, but today specifically. It may have been a good question to ask as to when Jim did not annoy the shit out of you. The answer to that question was ‘not very often.’ Wow, you think to yourself. It’s a good thing Aziraphale can’t read your mind. He’d be absolutely mortified at the amount of poor language and blasphemy filling up your mind this morning. 
Speaking of your Angel… He and Crowley were doing their utmost to ignore Jim, short for James, James short for Gabriel. Or was it James, long for Jim and short for Gabriel? Whatever. Your two loves had left Jim/James/Gabriel to your mercy and were not entirely certain whether that was a good idea or not yet. Only time would tell. 
Currently, Jim was standing before you and continuing on with his ridiculous project of arranging the books by alphabetical order of the first sentence of the first chapter. It was driving you mad, but Aziraphale had just told you to leave him be. He’d fix it up later. 
“You know,” Jim says, stopping his work to turn to face you. He was looking at you with a glint in his eye that meant he had something that he thought just absolutely had to be said. “You are the smallest person I’ve ever seen!” 
You blink once, twice, and then pinch the bridge of your nose with a sigh. 
“No, really-” he says enthusiastically. “Like… hmm, what are those things? Oh! Yes, like children! But bigger.” 
You glare up at him. It was true you were on the rather small side, but that didn’t mean it needed to be pointed out like that. 
"You know, Jim,” you reply, giving him a very tight smile. “You’re talking mad shit for someone in crotch-punching distance."
Jim cocks his head and blinks in confusion. “Crotch-punching distance? What’s that?” 
Your smile grows tighter, if that’s possible and your fingers twitch, itching to just punch him.
“Would you like to find out, Gabe?”
Jim splits into a wide grin, echoing your question with an enthusiastic “oh, boy!” 
You wouldn’t actually punch him. It’s not his fault he doesn’t remember what an arse he is. But it doesn’t stop you from fantasising about it either. 
“Alright, love?” You hear a suave voice from over your shoulder. You sigh, and nod. 
“Peachy, Crowley, but I’m tapping out. Your turn for Jimsitting.” You give Crowley a peck on the cheek and escape before he has the chance to protest. You can hear his spluttering from the other side of the shop. 
“I’m going to make some tea, Zira, love. Would you like some?” 
Aziraphale looks up from over his glasses and smiles warmly, the thought of tea appealing indeed. 
“Oh, that would be wonderful, dear. Thank you.” He goes back to his papers, trying to decipher something terribly interesting, you imagine. You give Aziraphale a peck on the cheek too for good measure on your way past. 
That Jim, though. He better watch it, because you did not take bullshit lying down, that was for sure.
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I reckon it is widely accepted that Crowley and Freddie Mercury were, at the very least, besties, sometimes lovers, sometimes had a fling or dated. But I have feelings and headcanons nobody asked for that I have to share.
They met while Freddie was still in college. Freddie saw Crowley, drew a quick sketch of him and got up and gave it to Crowley. "I promise I will draw you a better one, dear." He never did, but Crowley still keeps the drawing and miracled it to always look like just made.
Crowley never really liked Mary Austin. He didn't like her when she was Freddie's girlfriend and always found a way to inconvenience her. He still doesn't like her, especially after she put Freddie's belongings up for auction. He liked Jim Hutton, however.
Freddie kissed Crowley first. It was after a rehearsal of one of Freddie's early bands, Crowley was giving him his feedback. Freddie just leaned in and kissed him. He avoided the demon for the following two weeks as he was confused (he still hadn't realised he liked boys) and felt embarrassed.
Even though they were both adamant that there were no feelings involved, they both deeply cared for each other. Neither would admit it, saying they were only friends who (more than) occasionally hooked up, but they both knew there was more. However, Freddie fell a bit harder even though he knew Crowley wasn't in love with him. It did hurt a bit, but he was eventually fine with it.
Freddie actually knew about Crowley and Aziraphale being a demon and an angel. Crowley told him one night while they were both drunk and then Freddie remembered and asked him. Crowley tried to deny it, but Freddie insisted so much that in the end, he decided to tell him everything as he knew Freddie wouldn't tell anybody. And he never did, he treated this like his own secret.
The first time Freddie saw Crowley's eyes, Crowley thought he would be scared. But Freddie just said: "I know they're snake eyes, but they remind me of my cats. And what a lovely colour, darling. Yellow's my favourite, you know?".
Crowley ranted A LOT about Aziraphale to Freddie. He was always going on about how much he hated his being a goody-two-shoes, how infuriating his constant reminding him that he was actually a good person and how the fuck can 6000 years be too fast? Freddie just smiled because he knew. He could see how much Crowley loved that angel. It broke his own heart, because he knew he could never be loved that much, but never said a word.
Freddie did write a lot of songs about Crowley and Aziraphale. Obviously Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy, but also Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Somebody to Love and many more. Spread Your Wings is specifically about Crowley and he knew. But what Freddie would never tell anyone, a secret that he brought to the tomb with him, is that he wrote Love of My Life and You Take my Breath Away for him. (told you that Freddie was in love, my poor baby suffered too much in his life).
Freddie taught Crowley how to play the piano.
Crowley auctioned for some of Freddie's belongings. He got some kimonos, some handwritten sheets and his piano. He couldn't let anyone else have it.
Crowley never really left Freddie's side. He was always that mysterious, dark and handsome man showing up especially when Freddie needed someone. People eventually accepted it as part of Freddie's charm as he was always so secretive about his personal life.
Freddie let himself be vulnerable only around Crowley. Just as Crowley took off his glasses with him, Freddie allowed himself to cry only those times in which they were alone. He cried in Crowley's arms so much when his illness was worsening, when he was scared of how much he would have suffered. One night it got so bad that Freddie was basically begging Crowley to end his suffering and Crowley had to perform a miracle so that he could sleep. Neither brought it up ever again.
When Freddie died, Crowley was there with him. He gave Freddie just enough life to allow him to say some words. "You promised me you wouldn't come," Freddie told him. "I'm a demon, I lied" replied Crowley with a broken voice. He then sat on the bed and stayed with him until the very last moment. Aziraphale was there too. He followed Crowley without telling him because he felt he needed him. Aziraphale took away Freddie's suffering so that he could go without pain.
That same night, Aziraphale tried to persuade Crowley to stay at his library because he thought Crowley needed a friend. Crowley refused, hopped on his Bentley and drove away. He parked in front of his apartment building and found a used packet of cigarettes and an old pair of sunglasses that belonged to Freddie in his car. As the radio passed Love of my life, he couldn't hold it anymore and burst into tears. He cried hard, really hard. He felt a familiar hand on his back but didn't look and didn't ask. Aziraphale never said anything either and didn't leave until Crowley stopped crying but before he could be seen. He remembered how much it hurt and didn't want Crowley to grieve alone.
Master post: here
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strangesthirdeye · 4 months
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ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ɢᴏ ( ᴄʀᴏᴡʟᴇʏ x ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ғᴇᴍ! ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ)
Summary: when he can't let go of you
Warning: IT'S CROWLEY! OF COURSE WE LOVE HIM, human reader, heavy Angst, sad, bomb, taking a place where 1941, Crowley rescues Aziraphale from being shot by Nazi spies, death reader but alive reader, broken, sad, hurt, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, dark themes? Major injuries, explosion, blood
As usual, I'm sorry if there are any wrong sentences or typos or grammatical mistakes, please forgive me and again English is not my first language, so I try to improve my language and writing in this way.
─── ・ 。゚☆: *.☽ .* :☆゚. ───
You always find it charming when Crowley being all shy and awkward around you who is a human who doesn't have any privileges like he is a Demon. He has a miracle which you find quite fascinating while you are just a human working in a cafe near the Church. The first time he told you that he was a Demon, you were silent for a moment. Not knowing how to react but then you said it was a joke and told him that he is an angel in your eyes which he kind of cringed at Angel's sentence.
But then, when he showed you his snake eyes, forking tongue and his ability to perform miracles, you seemed impressed and stunned. Never have you seen that humans can have all these kinds of unusual things let alone make a miracle. But then later, you believe in him that he is a Demon. Although you were a bit hesitant at first because you know that Demons can do all kinds of mischievous things, but seeing that Crowley is not 'that' type (but it is a little) you are finally relieved from the kind of unwanted feeling of caution.
And this made Crowley fall in love with you because never as long as he was on earth did people treat him as well and respectfully as you. And this is leading him to help you with your cafe. The first time he was at your cafe was because he needed a strong shot of bitter coffee which later made him addicted to coming to your cafe until he became a regular customer of your cafe which lead to you getting to know him and so on.
You always greeted him with a smile and eyes twinkling with stars, making his demonic heart beat faster whenever he catches a sight of you. And this also led him to confess his feelings to you which you returned with the same feelings. Not because he is your regular customer or he always helps you, it's because you see the opposite of him that only you can see. Although he is a demon and demons should do bad things but Crowley, he is not that one.
Although Crowley always denied that he was not nice or that he hated the word 'Nice' he sure acted like one which made you stifled your laugh when you remembered that.
Fast forward to 1941, where world war started. Nazi spies everywhere regardless of time and place make you feel threatened and unsafe as your Cafe is close to the Church and well Cafe is a place where everyone hangs out other than a bar. So of course there will be Nazi spies hangout in your Cafe even if you don't know if it is Nazi or not. It's just that they are good at disguise.
You always do your work as usual although you are a little aware of the current situation which makes you a little uncomfortable with all that. You don't see your lover for a few days because currently he has something in another place stating that he needs to tempt someone in another place which left you confused and a little jealous because well it's a temptation what else do you not understand? But knowing Crowley, he's not the type who likes to cheat behind his lover's back.
He's a Demon, of course he can do anything but when it comes to you, he has a limit. Crowley himself did not believe in himself to become attached to human. Never in his life would he fall in love with a normal human being. And he still thinks about that. Most people will be afraid when he tells you that he is a Demon but you. You admire him and love him. Of course Aziraphale sees that Crowley is different from what other beings expect but you. You are just you. A human who always admires someone sincerely, sees himself as a different person that only you can see.
And this just made Crowley grab your face and crash his lips on you desperately. Pouring all his love and everything to you without a care in the world or Hell. And this also makes Crowley smile at himself like a teenager whose love is reciprocated while he is hiding behind the wall in the Church where Aziraphale is exchanging his books that he himself does not want to exchange with Nazi spies that he himself knows and does not know that there are other Nazi spies that he hired as his savior. And his reasons for being in that church? To steal holy water in abundance.
His skin feels hot when his skin is close to the church wall while his two legs fight for their lives to ease the hotness on the church floor.
'dammit, Aziraphale.' He cursed in his heart. He just wants to steal the holy water and go from there and be with you. Simple but well Aziraphale is the one who makes his simple plan difficult. It's not Aziraphale's fault that he needs a meeting at the Church, blame those Nazi spies.
But that didn't last long as Aziraphale, in full panic and helpless surrounded by Nazi spies which led to Crowley to tap dancing into the Church and save Aziraphale.
"In about a minute, a German bomber will release a bomb that will land right here. If you all run away very, very fast, you might not die. You won't enjoy dying, definitely not what comes after." Crowley smirked as he leaned his arm against the bench.
"You expect us to believe that? The bombs tonight will fall on the East End." Glozier said arrogantly.
"Yes. It would take a last minute demonic intervention to throw them off-course, yes. You're all wasting your valuable running-away time. And if, in 30 seconds, the bomb does land here, it would take a real miracle for my friend and I to survive it." he exchanged glances with Aziraphale who caught what he meant.
"A real miracle?" Aziraphale said.
"Kill them. They are very irritating." Harmony ordered.
But then suddenly, Crowley snapped his fingers and pointed his fingers at the ceiling of the Church. The sound of whistle was heard above the sky and echoed in the church making everyone except the two celestial beings confused and open mouthed. Aziraphale looked at the ceiling of the church nervously. Next thing he knows, they both miraculously survived the bomb blast.
The whole place near the church was destroyed and burned. Civilians who did not have time to save themselves were killed in the explosion. In fact everything is chaos and nothing survives but the two celestial beings.
Air raid sirens sound loud and people screaming in the background.
Crowley wiped his black tinted glasses with his handkerchief before putting them back on.
'Fuck, the holy water is gone' Crowley scoffed.
"That was very kind of you" Aziraphale muttered.
Crowley glared at him. "shut up"
"Well, it was. No paperwork, for a start... oh, the books! Oh, I forgot all the books! Oh, they'll all be blown to-"
Crowley grunted as he snatched the suitcase from one of the dead men's hands. It's perfectly intact, like the books inside it. He hands it to Aziraphale sloppily.
"Little demonic miracle of my own. Lift home?" Crowley offered but then he stopped as he realized something.
Aziraphale looked at him confused.
The church, bomb, you, cafe. Crowley quickly rushes towards your once to be cafe which is now only rumble and debris. He knows you are still working at the cafe now because your cafe hasn't closed yet but how come he forgot that your cafe is close to the church.
The explosion was too big to blow up anything close to it and your Cafe was one of the affected. Crowley is not a person who prays but in this situation he prays that you are safe and not at the Cafe even he knows that you are at the Cafe at this time. His eyes widened as he reached the site of your Cafe which no longer looks like a cafe. A raging fire burned everything, stones and debris around the place. Dead bodies everywhere and under rumbles. Everything is destroyed.
Aziraphale gasped for breath behind Crowley after chasing him to get here. He looked around and his face held a horror expression when he saw the gruesome scenes in front of him. He looked at Crowley who was stiff in front of the Cafe.
"Crowley-"
"Y/N!!" Crowley shouted as he ran towards your destroyed Cafe.
His hands lifted and dug the rumble that gathered there with desperation. Even though his fingers are sore and cut with sharp stones, his hands are still working to find you. Aziraphale looked at him with concern.
"Crowley, what happened-"
"Help me, Angel!" Crowley shouted, the hint of sadness in his tone made Aziraphale automatically step forward and help him.
Aziraphale was a little stunned after hearing that Crowley begged him to help him. He never saw this side of Crowley, helpless and desperate. He doesn't know who Crowley is talking about but seeing him this helpless and broken, he helps him with determination.
As Crowley's injured hands dug and lifted the large stone with the help of Aziraphale, he stiffened when he saw a hand with a ring on a pale and dusty finger under the large stone. The same ring he gave you to show how much he loves you.
Crowley recognized your pale hand before he kneeled and started to lift and dig the rest of the rumble that covered your body quickly. Aziraphale was dumbfounded seeing the scenes before he too helped Crowley to remove your figure from all the rumble and debris.
Crowley's cheeks were wet with tears while his lips never stopped calling your name desperately as he got you out of there. Your eyes are closed tightly, face covered with wounds and debris, blood is flowing from your head and body and your skins pale with how much blood you lost. Not counting how many bones you break in your body.
Your body temperature becomes cold as if you live in a cold place. Warm skins and smiles that you have disappeared. Crowley hugged your sickly pale and broken body against his body tightly. Your head on his chest as he stared in front of him with wide eyes behind his tinted black glasses. Tears fell down his cheeks.
Aziraphale fell to his knees by his side while his eyes focusing on your limp body. "Crowley" Aziraphale tried to call him but he was met with silence.
Crowley still couldn't believe this was happening. The day he dreads when it comes to you. His still too shocked and did not utter any words. His smart suit is ruined with dust and blood. Your blood. Your blood is still flowing out of your body and yet your body temperature drops as if your spirit left this world quickly. Without saying goodbye.
Crowley angling your head upwards to his face while his face looked down to see your peaceful face. His face holds a feeling of desperation and sadness when he sees your face. Thumb stroke your cheek gently.
"no.. no" Crowley whispered before he closed his eyes and kissed the top of your head with anguish sounds heard from his throat indicating that he held himself from screaming.
He sniffles and takes a deep breath before taking off his glasses. His eyes glossy with tears. Aziraphale intended to put his hand on Crowley's shoulder, but he was unable to do so when he witnessed it.
Crowley kept your head closed to his chest tightly without letting go. He's not ready to let you go and he's not ready to watch you leave him. He was helpless and in denial. He cannot accept that you have gone and left him. It's all his fault. If he knows that the bomb will land in the church, of course he will take you away from your cafe. But he knew that the bomb landed in the church and yet he didn't take you away from your cafe.
This is all his fault. He did all this. He is the cause of your death. Crowley digested all the bad thoughts on himself helplessly.
He will not be able to hear your sweet voice talking to him, your laughed, your touched and your eyes that always twinkle with stars whenever he is with you. If only he could turn back time and take you away from this place just to see you live happily would be enough for him.
And then, he froze at the sudden thoughts to give you life. If he can bring your spirit where your spirit is back into your body does that mean you will live again? Crowley snapped his head to see your peaceful and lifeless face. If he uses his miracle and finds your spirit and then brings it back into your body, will Hell and Heaven know? Obviously depending on how big a miracle he did to bring you back to life.
He clenched his jaw tightly. He didn't give a fuck about all those things as long as he brings you back. You have a lot more time in this world. He will make you an eternal no matter what, as long as he and you can be together. He always loves you no matter what happens to you if he brings you back to life.
Crowley then moved his hands to cup your head to his chest before he closed his eyes and put his head on top of your head. He searched for your soul using his miracle in a big way making his energy decrease but he doesn't care as long as he can give you life. And when he found it, he snapped and brought you back.
Aziraphale who was still kneeling next to him without caring about his dirty clothes with dust, sensing a huge use of miracle from Crowley. He panicked and glanced at Crowley.
No, this cannot be done. Bringing back human souls that have been taken to the living is forbidden. Hell and Heaven will know this. It is a terrible curse. Not only does it make the human live forever but they don't know if the spirit they bring back is the same spirit they bring back. It could be another spirit that was brought back. It could be a sinister spirit.
If Hell or Heaven knew this, they would be discoporated forever. Crowley risked his life for this human. Who is she to him that makes Crowley willing to risk his life to save her?
"Crowley.. Crowley, no, Crowley! " Aziraphale tried to stop Crowley by trying to release both of Crowley's hands from holding you but Crowley didn't move instead he tightened his hold on you.
"Crowley!"
A gasped began to be heard in Crowley's arms as Crowley nuzzled his head on your shoulder with relief. His weakened body hugged you tightly as he whispered sweet nothings in your ear.
"breathe, darling.. that's it, breath. Take as many breaths as you need" Crowley whispered in your ear as you panted to get oxygen back into your system.
Your eyes widen looking at the night sky, mouth agape to get oxygen like a fish being taken out of water before you grunted in pain. Crowley shushed you and stroked your head in a comforting way. Trying to ease the pain.
Aziraphale was dumbfounded when he saw the scenes in front of him. Not only Crowley managed to bring you back to life but with how many problems Crowley will face.
"You're okay, you're fine.. You're back, breath.. " Crowley whispered into your ear.
'what have you done, Crowley?' Aziraphale thought with horror struck on his face.
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sightofsea · 11 months
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147 for the ineffable beauties because i’m a basic ass bitch
this took a hot sec but here ya go!
147. "Tell me again."
The bench is in the middle of nowhere. They've been meeting in the middles of nowheres a lot recently: at picnic tables in littered children's parks, on the hoods of cars in empty car parks, inside of a Korean restaurant named Park's in some strip mall in Iowa. This middle of nowhere is a rhododendron garden, tucked away in some neighborhood with just a bulletin board to acknowledge its presence. 
It's after closing, yet the fountain still runs. Probably to keep the pipes from freezing, Aziraphale had suggested, when Crowley asked. And then they talked as they usually have, during these visits: stunted sentences. Business talk, you understand, about the end of the world and such. How to stop it, et cetera. Nothing more, Crowley, you have to understand. This is strictly a transactional exchange.
So they talk business. They exchange things--words mostly--and then as most conversations do, it veers. It twists and turns and does a U-ey until there's a pause. A pregnant pause at that, five days overdue and with ankles so swollen its legs might as well be tree trunks.
The water continues to run. The air smells like rain approaching.
"Tell me again," Aziraphale says finally. "Just one more time."
Crowley considers this. A part of him--a big part--wants to start begging. But he's got to have his dignity, of whatever's left of it. 
"No."
Aziraphale blinks. "No?" he asks, voice pitched high.
"No," Crowley says, shaking his head and licking the front of his teeth. He gives the angel a small, sad smile. "Once was enough, don't you think?"
"Not for me," Aziraphale says truthfully.
Crowley leans back on the bench and crosses his legs. "Too bad, so sad," he drawls, and contemplated the sky above them. Cloudy, heavy. Rain knocking on their door.
He waits for the space next to him to go empty. That's usually how conversations like this have gone as of late. Instead, it's still occupied. In it sits one angel, fidgeting with his hands, blinking rapidly and swallowing. Crowley feels the lady of his dignity start to crumble. "Oh, don't...don't do the--"
Aziraphale takes in a deep breath and steels himself, as if caught out. "The what?"
Crowley groans and gestures. "The eyes, the lip, the--"
Aziraphale starts to wipe at his face, but it only serves to make things worse. "I can't help it, now can I?" he asks. 
"Well why would you wanna hear it again?" Crowley asks genuinely. Aziraphale stares at him in confusion. "Hm? Words all...jumbled and, and half--half something or other. All full of...of..." 
Love. Affection. Care. He tries to remember the speech he gave and comes up empty on the specifics, but the emotions wash over him again. He swallows them back. 
"Can't even get them out now," Crowley says, voice suddenly too small in his mouth. "I don't see the point, really. I said one thing, you said another, and now we're..." He tries to grasp onto some concrete definition of what they are. "...here."
He gestures to the garden. Aziraphale looks around, as if trying to find a response somewhere between the moss and the thick leaves. He fidgets a little more. It takes all of Crowley's might to not curl around him. 
He must find the words somewhere, perhaps under a rock or something, because he stops his fidgeting. "Maybe," he says, anxiously angling himself towards Crowley, "I want a do over."
Crowley's internal organs do a funny thing involving a clove hitch and perhaps a somersault. "A do--a do over?" he stutters out.
Aziraphale nods. "Yes."
"Oh," Crowley says. Then he tries, very very hard, to remember his whole speech. He comes up woefully short. "Um." Come on, think! THINK! "Uhh." Right, okay. He can be smooth about this. "A-Actions speak louder than words, I think."
Aziraphale blinks, and smiles pleasantly. "I happen to agree."
Right. Okay. Jesus--Adam, whoever. Okay, time for action. "So..." Crowley says, and lifts a hand. Towards what, he's not entirely sure. He supposes the other angel's hand--kissing didn't go very well last time, did it? So, yeah. Crowley lifts a hand, and then places over Aziraphale's, and feels like he's just climbed Kilimanjaro.
He looks at Aziraphale, unsure. Aziraphale smiles and also lifts a hand. Now that's interesting, Crowley thinks, triple hand hold. Didn't know you could do that.
He's midway through that thought when Aziraphale's hand goes for his tie and pulls him in lips first. After that, things go a bit fuzzy. There's hands, he knows that. Quite bit of gripping from both parties, and something involving a bit of tongue and teeth that causes his kneecaps to liquify. If actions speak louder than words, then Aziraphale is practically shouting. Crowley happily gets the message.
"How was that?" Aziraphale asks when they pull apart. He hand is still on Crowley's tie. "As a do-over."
Crowley's mental facilities struggle to recover. They aren't helped by the fact that Aziraphale's twirling the tie around his finger. "Wh--uh, hoooo...yup," Crowley eloquently puts it. He clears his throat. "Might, um. Might need a, um. A couple--few more--"
"A few more tries?" Aziraphale asks. 
"Yeah," Crowley breathes out.
Aziraphale takes in a shaky breath. "Well," he says, and starts pulling at the tie again. It starts to rain. Neither of them notice. "Let it never be said I've been anything but thorough."
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sakascal · 1 month
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All Love's Luxuries
It's finally here! I did it! I finished my first E rated story and posted it. Yesterday, in fact, but then I ran out of time and couldn't blog about it anymore.
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This is a direct follow-up to With Her as Our Witness.
Summary: Aziraphale is back from Heaven, and they had finally had a good talk. And made out in the Bentley. But the Bentley really isn't the place for a good first time, especially not when you've been waiting for thousands of years and - okay, so Crowley would have been fine with the Bentley. But Aziraphale wants to go somewhere more comfortable, and if there is one thing Crowley always tries to do, it's to give Aziraphale whatever he wants.
CW/tags: smut, fluff, explicit sex, some snake traits (hissing, teeth), Crowley POV
17k words (all in one chapter, because I couldn't find a good point to split it into two chapters), all of it fluff, banter and smut. This one definitely earned its E rating!
Appreciation/Thank yous: A big thank you to you lovely people of Whickber Street Writer's Association (@whickberstreetwriters, love you people!) and especially my lovely beta readers who really helped me polish this up and made it so much better than it would have been otherwise: @playdohangel, @azeutreciathewicked, @springofviolets, @angie-words, @rofell.
Also, thank you, @ines2925, for your wonderful feedback and insight when I asked for help with my very first cover!
As always, kudos, comments and shares are very welcome and appreciated!
Excerpt
“Not here.” Crowley snorted and grabbed Aziraphale by the waistband, pulling him along. “Come with me.”
He led him through the plant room and took a left to his bedroom.
“Glass wall? Where is the door?” came the incredulous voice from behind.
“It’s stylish, angel.”
“It’s also very… open.”
“We made out in the Bentley.” He chuckled as he pulled Aziraphale to stand at the foot of the bed. “Bit late for this now. And there’s no one here but us.”
“The plants are here.”
“Sit.” Crowley lifted an eyebrow in disbelief and pushed Aziraphale to sit down. “The plants can’t see.”
“They can hear.”
“As can the Bentley,” he said with a huff, and pushed Aziraphale’s legs apart with his foot. “As I remember, we were making some quite lewd noises earlier.”
Oh, this time he could watch the blush spread down his chest. How adorable. And hot. And yet he knew that the smile that was spreading over his face - against his wish - was nothing but adoring.
He held Aziraphale’s face gently in his hands and placed a soft kiss on those stunned lips.
“Look, I’m sure she didn’t care. Didn’t she try to encourage us to continue? And the plants are used to all kinds of noises from me,” he told the angel pointedly.
“Oh.” Aziraphale looked around as if he was only properly seeing the bedroom now. Crowley watched with interest as his fingers slid over his sheets, feeling them. “You have– uh, in here?”
“Just this morning.” Crowley sank to his knees and winked at his angel. “Thinking of you.”
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tio-trile · 1 year
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can I ask, because I'm a GO book fan too and I decided ages ago I didn't care enough about the show to watch s2 - what made them so OOC? I always felt that their book personalities basically got swapped in S1 but it seems like people are even madder about this. ngl it is kind of inspiring me to write more fic with book canon dark-haired Crowley in it lol
Okay so SPOILERS FOR GOOD OMENS SEASON 2:
So first of all towards the end I couldn't take much of it anymore due to various reasons, including that somebody was kind enough to spoil the very ending (of them breaking up and that that's the ending of the show) on the 27th, so I didn't even feel like finishing the show, but I pushed myself to and therefore was half-watching it towards the end, so my memory may not be the most accurate but I can't bare to go back and rewatch it.
From the very beginning I hated that it was retconned that they knew each other as angels. The point, the THEME is that they're friends despite being on opposite sides. And it was said that Aziraphale DID remember Crowley as an angel. So did he only become friends with him because he remembered Crowley when they were friends as angels??? I hate how this changed the beautiful beginning of the book and their first meeting, and the THEME. (Oh BTW Aziraphale is also a landlord who takes rent from this poor lady although he doesn't need the money at all??? But that's beside the point)
In ep3 Aziraphale driving the Bentley was pretty cute and at one point A and C had the canon conversation in the book with where you start vs. upbringing so those are fine. But Crowley in Aziraphale's bookshop tossing all of Aziraphale's beloved books around carelessly......Crowley would never.
In ep4 it was said that Aziraphale owns a gun which I thought was very in-character XD. And that Crowley has never fired a gun.
EP6 was where all the shit went down......first of all I was making loud retching noises in my office @ the Gabriel x Beelzebub thing that came out of nowhere......and the plot goes that Gabriel and Beelzebub basically ran off together somewhere, so Metatron was like "the supreme archangel job position is open now and we want YOU, Aziraphale, to fill it. You can even make your friend Crowley an angel again" and Aziraphale accepted??????!?!?!???!?! Aziraphale's entire arc in the books and in season 1 and THE THEME is that they don't agree with their uppers anymore, he and Crowley are on the human's side, and on their own side. And suddenly, Aziraphale believes that working as a higher position in heaven is a good idea? And agreeing that turning Crowley back to an angel is better basically means that he thinks that angels are inherently better than demons, WHICH IS THE IDEA THAT THE BOOK AND SEASON 1 SPENT THE ENTIRE PLOT TO OVERTHROW???? And also I hate hate the idea that Aziraphale and Crowley must be somebody important. THE POINT is that they are nobodies, and that's what makes them great and relatable. They are NOT EVEN MAIN CHARACTERS in the book nor Season 1. In the show, Crowley also disagreed with Aziraphale's idea and they argued about it and then Crowley angrily kissed him (??) and then left and Aziraphale went to Superheaven to take the job ig. OH and Aziraphale said "I forgave you" to Crowley????? WHAT??? I've overlooked every little nitpicky thing I had about their characters in season 1, but these actions are irreversible and inexcusable. I'm done with the TV show. Nothing they do in season 3 can fix this. I'll just pretend this show never existed now.
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weirdmorefics · 1 year
Text
I Don't Know Who I am Anymore
(Crowley x Platonic Reader x Aziraphale)
A/n- Sorry, I haven't been finishing requests it's hyperfixation time and this time it's Good Omens. This also can be read as romantic or platonic
Pronouns- They/Them
Word Count- 1,183
Summary- The reader is an angel more like was and gets cast out of heaven. When they fall they happen to fall directly in front of their good friend Aziraphale's bookshop.
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I never expected falling to feel so cold. I just always assumed it would be burning hot as the air pulled you down to hell. I never thought it would happen to me though. I shut my eyes tight and waited for the feeling to pass. I tell myself this nothing I should embrace the cold before I am forced to an eternity of hell fire.
I hit the ground with a huge thud and cracked the pavement below me. I feel like I can't breathe which is a strange thing I have always been perfect as an angel. My wings shielded me from most of the blow from hitting the ground but I am missing a lot of feathers which are now on the ground. I move my wings around to see what is left of them and they are no longer the shiny white I once knew but a dark grey. Just when I started to breathe better from the fall the shock from the sight of my wings left me completely breathless. I start wheezing uncontrollably and try to stand up my vision blurring from my tears. I whip my head back and forth feeling many eyes on me expecting many demons to be staring at the incompetent angel that couldn't make it in heaven but instead, I see a shocking amount of humans pointing electronic devices at me. I turn in a circle and humans surround all sides except behind me there is a familiar bookshop.
Some humans were asking me if I was okay, some were assuming I jumped, and others said I must be on drugs. Then a tiny human came behind and pulled painfully hard on my already sore wings and shouted "Mom their wings are real they are really real!"
At this shout the building from behind me door swings open at high speeds. I instantly recognized him as the angel Aziraphale he used to be my dear friend we even helped Job together. He probably hates me now because I am no longer an angel they probably sent me here to get tortured by the person it would hurt most from. I just wanted nobody to get hurt! All I said is why should we fight Adam he is just a tiny human, he isn't even fully grown yet. I just didn't want a war where all kinds of beings would die and now I am a traitor! I look at Aziraphale with fear in my eyes pleading with him to just let me run.
I try to turn away but he is quick to grab my arm and announce to the crowd, "Be assured this is just a costume for an advertisement of a new book that will be coming to my shop soon! We were just testing that? Isn't that right Y/N?"
I swallow hard and nod in agreement so as to not make the angel hate me even more. The humans find this as an acceptable excuse because they often will accept anything to explain the unexplainable.
Aziraphale pulls me the rest of the way into the building that is filled with shelves and shelves of books.
Another person walks towards us " What was the commotion angel?" His face instantly sours at my presence, "Who is this demon and what are they doing here?"
That can't breathe feeling is back I try to back up towards the door in preparation.
Aziraphale looks at me and back at Crowley "Surely you must be mistaken! This Y/N they helped us with Job!"
"I remember Y/N but they were an angel this is a demon," He states like Aziraphale is blind. He gets closer to look into my eyes "Though they do look remarkably like Y/N. The Y/N we knew though refused to leave heaven after the job incident for her guilt of disobeying God." He rolled his eyes.
I fall to my knees and beg, "Can we end this charade, please? I know I was only sent here to be tortured before my eternity in hell! By those I consider my only true friends."
Aziraphale's jaw lightly drops open in shock, Y/N is the last angel he would ever think of falling. He is stunned speechless and does not move.
Crowley shakes his head and immediately pulls me to my feet, "No, no, no there is no need for that."
"I- I have failed God. I don't know who I am anymore. I have no purpose in this world. I will no longer be accepted by Heaven and Hell will surely not accept me as you said I did not leave Heaven in decades and I fell trying to keep the anti-Christ safe and out of celestial affairs. I am no one!" I rant out so fast I can truly breathe no more I start wheezing and tears blur my vision.
"Crowley I am not quite sure what to do in this situation. I have never witnessed an angel fall in person." He looks at Crowley with uncertained worried eyes.
Crowley walks up to me but I hardly notice in my state until he holds my body still, "Hey breathe! Heaven is idiotic to let you go! You are the most loyal angel I have ever met and so kind it is nauseating. Heaven doesn't deserve all you have done for them and Hell doesn't deserve your kindness! What do you say and join our side!"
I pull out of his grasp still tearful, "Your side! Aziraphale protects the gates and visited me frequently in heaven! He is an Angel and you hardly know me!"
What Y/N doesn't know is that Crowley already knows he frequents Heaven to visit Y/N. She is a common topic among them during their visits to the Ritz. Aziraphale has always regretted getting them involved with Job because it made their love of God turn to fear making her scared to connect to humans and leave Heaven.
"Trust me, I know you Y/N. You have loved humans since day one when you praised Aziraphale for giving his swords to the humans and assured him it was the right decision."
I twiddle my fingers embarrassed "You know about that?"
Aziraphale pipes in nervously, "Yes, sorry about that. I may have told him since you made me feel so much better in my decision. We also may discuss you a lot… I have been worried about you."
This angered "Did you have doubts about me being a good angel and if so why didn't you say anything!"
"Y/N you have to know I didn't imagine anything like this happening. But there has to be a reason you ended up here and not Hell and it isn't to torture you. You are good Y/N and I know it even Crowley knows it. So as Crowley said join us in our mission to prevent armageddon and we will take it one step at a time together."
I take an unsure breath and look at them both, "Ok I will join you."
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