entranceway | 9th Book || Nothing Like Being Lost in a Book

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9th Book || Nothing Like Being Lost in a Book

[The video feed cuts on to show Aziraphale in his room. He is seated in an old, tartan wing back chair with the cheerful morning sunlight streaming in from a window. He smiles cheerfully.]

So, I hear we have a book club. This seems like something I would very much like to get involved in as back home I own a book shop and here I manage the library as best I can. If someone has any information on this book club, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

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[Crowley blinks in mild surprise at the abrupt pain and touch of divinity.] Oh. I--sorry, I--didn't even notice...

You don't need to apologize. This is my fault.

No, it's not. [He flexes his fingers.] I just--I've been tense is all. Thinking about all this.

Crowley, we will get through this, but... Please don't keep things like this from me. We can get through it together but trying... I get a little mad when I can tell something's wrong and I don't know what it is.

[Mulishly,] Because I knew you'd go mad if you heard what Michael had done.

How could I not?

Just don't seek him out, Aziraphale. Seriously. It's just a few feathers. Not worth it.

I won't seek him out. But you cannot fault me if our paths cross.

So long as you don't say or do anything stupid.

I won't try to.

Aziraphale--

I won't. But sometimes it's difficult to determine just what would be considered a stupid thing to say to that being.

[He stares at Aziraphale a moment longer and then snorts, relaxing just slightly.] Well. That's true enough. Hence why it's best not to talk to him at all.

I'm not going to be rude, dear.

[He bristles again.] How is it rude to generally avoid the archangel who clearly wants to kill me? How is rudeness even a thing that you think about compared to that?

Crowley... [He frowns.] I'm not going to simply ignore him if he tries to start a conversation with me. I don't want to give him more reasons to attack us than he already has and being rude would be a reason.

You don't need to kowtow to him. You're a Principality.

Which they do not seem to have in their world, from what I've learned. He's the big fish over there. They don't have Principalities. And if you'll remember, our Michael is the general of His armies. He is not an angel to be rude to. That is not kowtowing, it is common sense.

[He falls silent. Aziraphale is right. Of course he's right. Crowley rubs at his shoulder absently, feeling the ache of his wing in his bones.]

We shouldn't have to play by his rules...Wonderland is supposed to be...I don't know. Neutral ground.

No, we shouldn't. But he's become very good at finding our weaknesses while keeping his own private. We are not his equals. And so, we have to learn and play by his rules for the time being.

What do you think I've been doing this whole time? [He bites the words off, angry because it's embarrassing, it's bloody well embarrassing how much control Michael has over Crowley. Over both of them.]

Then you understand why I must strive to remain polite despite how much I want to pluck him like a headless chicken.

[He looks away. It's pretty much exactly what Crowley was saying before, isn't it? The fight goes out of him.] Whatever...keeps you alive.

[A moment of deliberation and he pulls the demon into a tight hug.] I'm sorry, dear.

[Crowley hugs him back, tight and demanding, not even caring how clingy this must make him look.]

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