thewonderfulwizardofaz

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

With a burst of light... It flips to pages 189-190 exactly and stops, forcing the angels eyes to read its highlighted words.

"But how about my courage?" asked the Lion, anxiously.

"You have plenty of courge, I am sure," answered Az. "All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. True courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty."

"Perhaps I have, but I'm scared just the same," said the Lion. "I shall really be very unhappy unless you give me the sort of courage that makes one forget he is afraid."

"Very well; I will give you that sort of courage tomorrow," replied Az.

While Crowley is distratced Aziraphale stalks away to the bathroom. @thewonderfulwizardofaz in hand.

Heart racing he feels the book thrum with a dull energy. An energy that seems to have dimmed since the last time he picked up the book.

"I know I shouldn't but..." He mutters to himself.

His finger traces down the closed book's pages and finds a gap. Imperceptible to the human eye... his finger stills in between the gap, not yet opening it.

"I don't want to hurt anymore. I want to feel better. I want..." His voice catches in his throat, a horrid pain chokes the sound.

One big breath in, and every painful thought, every regretful spoken word fills his lungs and...

"I want to forget about the bookshop exploding."

The book says with Aziraphale.

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

"My head is stuffed with straw, you know, and that is why I am going to Az to ask him for some brains."

"Oh, I see;" said the Tin Woodman. "But, after all, brains are not the best things in the world."

"Have you any?" enquired the Scarecrow.

"No, my head is quite empty," answered the Woodman; "but once I had brains, and a heart also; so, having tried them both, I should much rather have a heart."

"And why is that?" asked the Scarecrow.

"I will tell you my story, and then you will know."

And so the Tin Woodman told his story. It was of his life before, when he was not made of tin.

"When I grew up I too became a wood-chopper, and after my father died I took care of my old mother as long as she lived. Then I made up my mind that instead of living alone I would marry, so that I might not become lonely."

"There was one of the Munchkin girls who was so beautiful that I soon grew to love her with all my heart."

Alas it wasn’t meant to be. For the old woman who lived with the girl wanted her to continue doing her house work. So the old woman made a deal with the Wicked Witch of the East, promising her some livestock in exchange for preventing the marriage between the woodman and the girl.

Over time, piece by piece the Witch had the woodman’s axe slip and fall, cutting off, first, his left leg, then his right. His arms were cut off one after the other and one day, so was the poor man's head. But it was no great loss as with every appendage cut off, he went to a tin smith who fashioned him new body parts made of tin.

He thought he had beaten the Wicked Witch then.

"I little knew how cruel my enemy could be. She thought of a new way to kill my love for the beautiful Munchkin maiden, and made my axe slip again, so that it cut right through my body, splitting me into two halves."

The tinner came to the woodman’s aid once more, creating him a body of tin…

"But, alas! I had now no heart, so that I lost all my love for the Munchkin girl, and did not care whether I married her or not. I suppose she is still living with the old woman, waiting for me to come after her.”

He was proud of the body he had gained from the loss of his old parts. Now it didn’t matter if his axe slipped, for it would not cut him. The only danger he faced were his joints rusting. But he kept an oil-can in his cottage for this purpose, and oiled his joints every day.

However…

“there came a day when I forgot to do this, and, being caught in a rainstorm, before I thought of the danger my joints had rusted, and I was left to stand in the woods until you came to help me.”

In that year, he stood there, rusting and unmoving, he thought of one thing.

"I had time to think that the greatest loss I had known was the loss of my heart. While I was in love I was the happiest man on earth; but no one can love who has not a heart"

*It's as Aziraphale is writing alongside Muriel, trying to share the workload, that he feels eyes on the back of his head.

He turns and looks out at Crowley, standing in his incredibly crowded office. His sunglasses are on, of course. He wonders when he saw those beautiful eyes last.

The Wonderful Wizard of Az had been trying to tell him, hadn't it? How he felt. Or maybe it was him... trying to tell himself.

Was he brave enough to face the demon and tell him about the gaping hole where his heart was? What if this wasn't fixable with a read of the book? What if he's lost his ability to feel love forever?

Is that possible?

His hand stills as he thinks.

There really was only one way to find out. And everyone, online and in person was urging him to talk to Crowley.

But he can not break this poor demon's heart again.

So he pardons himself from the work, telling Muriel he will be back soon and walks into the office directly towards Crowley.*

Hello @thedemon-crowley... I was thinking of reading again, could I do so in your room? I know it's probably a lot to ask of you. But I think I'd like to be alone for this read. I won't take long.

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

*The angel continues on, stopping at the illustration on the fifth chapter. He frowns as his eyes fall onto Tin Woodman. He had a bowtie, interestingly enough. And his metal body had what looked like buttons. As though he were wearing a shirt.

He looked a bit like him, didn't he?

Aziraphale continues on. Another passage glows, but this glow was a subtle rose orange. Not quite pink, but not quite yellow.*

“We are on our way to the Emerald City, to see the great Az," she answered, "and we stopped at your cottage to pass the night."

"Why do you wish to see Az? " he asked.

"I want him to send me back to Kansas; and the Scarecrow wants him to put a few brains into his head," she replied.

The Tin Woodman appeared to think deeply for a moment. Then he said:

"Do you suppose Az could give me a heart?"

"Why, I guess so," Dorothy answered; "it would be as easy as to give the Scarecrow brains."

*It's as Aziraphale is writing alongside Muriel, trying to share the workload, that he feels eyes on the back of his head.

He turns and looks out at Crowley, standing in his incredibly crowded office. His sunglasses are on, of course. He wonders when he saw those beautiful eyes last.

The Wonderful Wizard of Az had been trying to tell him, hadn't it? How he felt. Or maybe it was him... trying to tell himself.

Was he brave enough to face the demon and tell him about the gaping hole where his heart was? What if this wasn't fixable with a read of the book? What if he's lost his ability to feel love forever?

Is that possible?

His hand stills as he thinks.

There really was only one way to find out. And everyone, online and in person was urging him to talk to Crowley.

But he can not break this poor demon's heart again.

So he pardons himself from the work, telling Muriel he will be back soon and walks into the office directly towards Crowley.*

Hello @thedemon-crowley... I was thinking of reading again, could I do so in your room? I know it's probably a lot to ask of you. But I think I'd like to be alone for this read. I won't take long.

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

"Don't mind Toto," said Dorothy, to her new friend; "he never bites."

"Oh, I'm not afraid," replied the Scarecrow, "he can't hurt the straw. Do let me carry that basket for you. I shall not mind it, for I can't get tired. I'll tell you a secret," he continued, as he walked along; "there is only one thing in the world I am afraid of." 

"What is that?'' asked Dorothy; "the Munchkin farmer who made you?"

"No," answered the Scarecrow; "it's a lighted match."

*It's as Aziraphale is writing alongside Muriel, trying to share the workload, that he feels eyes on the back of his head.

He turns and looks out at Crowley, standing in his incredibly crowded office. His sunglasses are on, of course. He wonders when he saw those beautiful eyes last.

The Wonderful Wizard of Az had been trying to tell him, hadn't it? How he felt. Or maybe it was him... trying to tell himself.

Was he brave enough to face the demon and tell him about the gaping hole where his heart was? What if this wasn't fixable with a read of the book? What if he's lost his ability to feel love forever?

Is that possible?

His hand stills as he thinks.

There really was only one way to find out. And everyone, online and in person was urging him to talk to Crowley.

But he can not break this poor demon's heart again.

So he pardons himself from the work, telling Muriel he will be back soon and walks into the office directly towards Crowley.*

Hello @thedemon-crowley... I was thinking of reading again, could I do so in your room? I know it's probably a lot to ask of you. But I think I'd like to be alone for this read. I won't take long.

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

promise

Gonna be honest, I don't care what mythical beasts God says you are. Tell. Crowley. How. You. Feel!

I will! We will talk.

But....

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

"Who are the Wizards?" asked Dorothy.

"Az himself is the Great Wizard," answered the Witch, sinking her voice to a whisper. "He is more powerful than all the rest of us together. He lives in the City of Emeralds.

"Is your name Dorothy, my dear?"

"Yes," answered the child, looking up and drying her tears.

"Then you must go to the City of Emeralds. Perhaps Az will help you."

"Where is this City?" asked Dorothy.

"It is exactly in the center of the country, and is ruled by Az, the Great Wizard I told you of."

"Is he a good man?" enquired the girl, anxiously.

"He is a good Wizard. Whether he is a man or not I cannot tell, for I have never seen him."

"How far is it to the Emerald City?" The girl asked.

"I do not know," answered Boq, gravely, "for I have never been there. It is better for people to keep away from Az, unless they have business with him. But it is a longway to the Emerald City, and it will take you many days."

How odd that this 'Wizard of Az' is unknown to the very people of his world. Aziraphale knows this story, but for some reason, he couldn't remember if Dorothy had met the wizard in the end at all.

The book's pages flip again. Showing him what he was missing, what he had to hide from himself before the Metatron would do it for him.

But what interested Dorothy most was the big throne of green marble that stood in the middle of the room. It was shaped like a chair and sparkled with gems, as did everything else. In the center of the chair was an enormous Head, without body to support it or any arms or legs whatever. There was no hair upon this head, but it had eyes and nose and mouth, and was bigger than the head of the biggest giant.

As Dorothy gazed upon this in wonder and fear the eyes turned slowly and looked at her sharply and steadily.

Then the mouth moved, and Dorothy heard a voice say:

"I am Az, the Great and Terrible. Who are you, and why do you seek me?"

'But Az… Az, the Great and Terrible looks like…'

The letters in the book glow bright and powerful, lighting up the angel's face.

Was he ever called Az?

The book pages turn once more.

"You have no right to expect me to send you back to Kansas unless you do something for me in return. In this country everyone must pay for everything he gets. If you wish me to use my magic power to send you home again you must do something for me first. Help me and I will help you."

The angel frowns. Would he ever do that? Sure he had a penchant for selfishness, but to withhold a child's return home? At no cost to himself?

He only took a record from Maggie when her rent was overdue back in July. Really it didn't matter to Aziraphale, the poor thing had bigger problems. Is that the same as this "Wizard of Az" denying Dorothy safe passage home?

The book, as though the glow of the letters pierced through the sound barrier and called to him, brought his focus back.

"What must I do?" asked the girl.

"Kill the wicked Witch of the West," answered Az.

"But I cannot!" exclaimed Dorothy, greatly surprised.

Oh how Dorothy wept. The great wizard stares at her anxiously.

"I've never killed anything, willingly," she sobbed; "and even if I wanted to, how could I kill the Wicked Witch? If you, who are Great and Terrible, cannot kill her yourself, how do you expect me to do it? "

"I do not know," said the Head; "but that is my answer, and until the Wicked Witch dies you will not see your Uncle and Aunt again."

The angel hoped he wasn't supposed to be the wizard.

The book shines loudly, flips its pages and dims as Aziraphale's eyes fall on the last pages.

"Is the Wicked Witch really destroyed?" asked the Voice, and Dorothy thought it trembled a little.

"Yes," she answered, "I melted her with a bucket of water."

'Dear me," said the Voice; "how sudden! Well, come to me to-morrow, for I must have time to think it over."

"You've had plenty of time already," said the Tin Woodman, angrily.

"We shan't wait a day longer," said the Scarecrow.

"You must keep your promises to us!" exclaimed Dorothy.

The Lion thought it might be as well to frighten the Wizard, so he gave a large, loud roar, which was so fierce and dreadful that Toto jumped away from him in alarm and tipped over the screen that stood in a corner.

As it fell with a crash they looked that way, and the next moment all of them were filled with wonder. For they saw, standing in just the spot the screen had hidden, a little, old man, with a bald head and a wrinkled face, who seemed to be as much surprised as they were. The Tin Woodman, raising his axe, rushed toward the little man and cried out,

"Who are you?"

"I am Az

No. That's not his name. Is it?

The book glows and where Az had been the letters change.

"I am Oz the Great and Terrible," said the little man, in a trembling voice, "but don't strike me please don't! and I'll do anything you want me to.”

The book had tricked him.

Much like someone else had.

It starts to dawn on him that, together, he and the Metatron had taken his will to read the book entirely. Because now he felt inquisitive. Now, he was excited to read more.

Aziraphale locates the book, (it was sitting comfortably on Crowley’s desk) and goes to the kitchen, there was a lot less commotion there. Not that he minded, feeling a sort of enthusiasm with the book in his hands. How long had it been since he felt this way? He wonders how even his desire to read and learn had been suppressed by his desire to please the Metatron.

Horrendous.

Anyhow, He opens the book, and it flips gently to Dorothy's first meeting with the Munchkins.

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

Did I hide

*Asmodeus runs into Aziraphale's room and rugby tackles him to the ground, brandishing a needle.*

DON'T YOU DARE DO ANYTHING STUPID!

?! Unhand me!!

*Aziraphale eyes focus on the needle and he thrashes about trying to get him off*

I'm not doing anything - what is that? Get that needle away from me, Asmodeus, for goodness sakes!

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

I would … accidentally invite him in.

Hi, yeah, I'm pretty sure the Metatron actively wants to kill me. So keeping him blocked is probably a good idea. I know I wouldn't unblock him for all the star stickers there are.

Eric

I would never let that happen!

I understand why you wouldn't unblock him, of course. If I left the flat you and Crowley would be safer.

In fact... that's probably a good idea to do eventually. I'd hate to accidentally invite him in.

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

incredibly cute

What’s your favorite Snake Fact?

Ah, well!

Red bellied black snakes are one of the few snakes that can give birth to live young!

Though they are venomous because they tend to be on the calmer side, being bitten is not a common occurrence! Only 35 people a year! Humans kill more than that a year, so... It's really not so bad in comparison! And fatalities from their bites are quite rare too, I don't believe there has been any recorded death from their bite!

And they can grow up to 6 feet long!

Also, they are incredibly cute, and if I kept a snake, I would love to take care of one like it.

...

Wait, you said snake fact... as in general snake facts?

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

I'm definitely willing

You've wrestled?!

Wait, why am I surprised by this? damn no wonder crowley is so jealous of oscar wilde

I'm 6000+ years old! Of course I've...

Is this a thing now? Are we really going to call it wrestling forever?

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

…anything…

Sorry to pester…what am I saying? No I’m not.

Ready for us to read that book yet, angel?

*He sighs an endeared sigh. He isn't sure why.*

Come up to the flat then. I feel like reading it needs to be a private affair. Hurry, won't you? I've put this off for long enough now.

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

Same as before the book opens all on its own. Only this time, Crowley is here to see its magic, too. As the book flips, it shows them both pages that burn into their mind.

...

At noon they sat down by the roadside, near a little brook, and Dorothy opened her basket and got out some bread. She offered a piece to the Scarecrow, but he refused.

"I am never hungry," he said; "and it is a lucky thing that I am not. For my mouth is only painted, and if I should cut a hole in it so I could eat, the straw I am stuffed with would come out, and that would spoil the shape of my head."

The book’s pages turn again once the angel and the demon have “read” it, and their eyes fall on a later page.

The woman now called to them that supper was ready, so they gathered around the table and Dorothy ate some delicious porridge and a dish of scrambled eggs and plate of nice white bread, and enjoyed her meal. The Lion ate some of the porridge, but did not care for it, saying it was made from oats and oats were food for horses, not for lions. The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman ate nothing at all. Toto ate a little of everything, and was glad to get a good supper again.

Sorry to pester…what am I saying? No I’m not.

Ready for us to read that book yet, angel?

*He sighs an endeared sigh. He isn't sure why.*

Come up to the flat then. I feel like reading it needs to be a private affair. Hurry, won't you? I've put this off for long enough now.

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

*echoing and for Aziraphale like memory*

I.... will put them somewhere safe

*even larger file of Crowley pinups*

Oh.......

This is. Certainly something?

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

It does have a mind

Sorry to pester…what am I saying? No I’m not.

Ready for us to read that book yet, angel?

*He sighs an endeared sigh. He isn't sure why.*

Come up to the flat then. I feel like reading it needs to be a private affair. Hurry, won't you? I've put this off for long enough now.

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

It does have a mind

Sorry to pester…what am I saying? No I’m not.

Ready for us to read that book yet, angel?

*He sighs an endeared sigh. He isn't sure why.*

Come up to the flat then. I feel like reading it needs to be a private affair. Hurry, won't you? I've put this off for long enough now.

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

love, after all

Hey, so, I’m a big fan!

I was just wondering, when was the last time you renewed either of your licenses?

(Also do you prefer Azi, Zira, Azira, or just Aziraphale)

Ps. Tell Crowley I said hi

Why hello dear!

Oh, my driving and firearms license? Is there a need to renew them? I haven't lost the knowledge after all, have I?

It depends, I do prefer other ... occult or ethereal beings to say my full name. I like the name Azira from humans.

I will do! In fact... @thedemon-crowley say hello, won't you?

[thewonderfulwizardofaz]

…You wanted … didn’t you?

How are we feeling today, Eric? I can’t help but feel a bit responsible for the whole Dagon-Michael-rumormill-backfire…

- C

Eh, feeling less guilty, mostly cause a few of us Downstairs already got discorporated by Dagon. The rest of us are fine; we're keeping out of her way.

And yeah, I'm blaming you a little bit, if only cause it's a good idea to have a scapegoat.