fandomtownies | Sunday

"How's it goin', boss?" Shane says, voice a smooth, friendly rumble as she falls into step alongside him, her hands tucked into the pockets of her navy blue sweatjacket.

Aziraphale turns his head at her voice and smiles. His appearance is greatly changed from the previous nights -- not a sword or wing in sight.

"Miss McCutcheon, it's very good to see you. I hope you're well?"

Shane smiles broadly and nods, eyes fixed on the pavement in front of her rather than on the bodies that continue to burst into flame around them as they walk. She saw enough of that the day before. "I'm good," she murmurs, nodding again. She nods her head in the direction of one of the zombie corpses that has just ignited, though her eyes remain downcast. "You're busy, huh."

Noticing how uncomfortable the burning corpses seem to make her, Aziraphale steers Shane away from the street and along the edge of the park. The bodies cease bursting into flames, and the ducks quack pleasantly from the pond.

"I believe most of us are this morning. Trying to put the world back into order. Would you like to come inside for a cup of tea?"

Shane chuckles dryly and pulls her hand from her pocket, rubbing at her nose. "Everybody's trying to give me tea this morning," she murmurs, thinking about the sweet little lady she'd met at the church when she'd gone to check on Deb and Carl and the cubs. She glances over at the ducks in the pond and smiles. "Yeah, that'd be nice. Thank you."

Aziraphale chuckles and leads her into his shop. Everything is neat and orderly, and an observer would never know that it had been used as a safe house against the zombie invasion. He waves Shane toward a pair of lumpy armchairs and heads off into a back room hidden behind a curtain.

[OOC: Geoff's shop has gambling in the back room. Aziraphale's shop has tea and scones. Just struck me as funny. ;)]

Dropping into one of the chairs, Shane settles back into it and sighs. Something about the place is impossibly soothing and familiar. Funny how she'd never even met the man (or the angel, for that matter) before yesterday, but she already considered him a friend.

[OOC: Heehee! Shane's never had scones before... this should be interesting...! :D And, by the by, from now on I will [i]always[/i] picture Aziraphale/Mr. Phale as Paul Bettany ;D]

Aziraphale reappears carrying a tray laden with a teapot, cups, and a plate piled with pastry. He sets it on the small table next to the chairs and sits down, then pours Shane a cup of tea.

"The scones come from the Perkolator. They're quite good." He smiles reassuringly at Shane and holds the plate toward her.

[OOC: OMG you just broke my brain, now I'll never be able to keep them straigh! (Though, hey, he would make a good Aziraphale.) Suppose it's payback for the Rocky Horror zombies, though. *g* My S.O. was watching a movie with Paul Bettany last night, and I walked by and went "Whoa, it's Geoff/me!"]

"Scones," she echoes, biting her bottom lip as she studies the pastries sitting on the plate for a moment. She knows it would be rude to refuse, so she gingerly picks one up off of the plate and looks up at him furtively, smiling. "Thanks."

[ooc: He would make a good Aziraphale! And it's so totally payback for the RHPS zombies! lol I haven't watched any episodes of L Word lately but I imagine I'll probably have that same 'hey, it's Shane/me on tv!' complex thing going on, too... XD]

Aziraphale smiles and chooses one for himself. He settles back into the chair with a sigh.

"Well, it has been a rather...exciting weekend, hasn't it?"

[OOC: Re. deleted comment that this replaces, that you may have spotted, and if you did: See what I mean!! *headdesk*]

Shane lets out a weak chuckle as she looks down at her scone, trying to figure out what she's supposed to do with it. She knew about the thing about English people and tea and scones, but didn't have the slightest freaking clue what one was until Aziraphale was holding the plate out to her just a moment ago.

She takes a tiny, experimental bite from the corner of one and chews. "I don't know," she mumbles once she swallows the bite. It's different from what she was expecting, but very good. "I've been to some parties that got pretty intense."

Aziraphale laughs out loud at her remark, and smiles brightly at her.

"Miss McCutcheon, I have feeling that you're going to do just fine in this town."

He sets down his teacup and then gets up and walks over to a bookcase, returning a moment later with a book.

"I want to give you this." He hands Shane a beautifully bound book.

Shane's mouth drops open and she looks up at him, eyes wide. "Wh... why?" She asks softly as she looks down at the book. She wipes her hand off on her corduroys and places the book in her lap, fingertips lightly brushing over the cover.

An examination of the book reveals its title to be Theodora, Empress of Byzantium. It appears to be several decades old, but in perfect condition.

"I believe you'll find it interesting. Theodora was a strong woman who escaped very difficult beginnings. You have quite a bit in common."

"It's beautiful," she whispers, afraid to open it and seemingly afraid to do much more than touch the cover. She rests her hand atop it and looks up at Aziraphale, her expression impossibly grateful and humbled. "Thank you."

Aziraphale smiles at Shane and reaches over to pat her hand.

"You're quite welcome. And please, don't be afraid of it. Books are meant to be read." He furrows his brow a bit, and looks around at the stuffed bookcases.

"I know you aren't yet a student at the school. However, you are more than welcome to come by and read any of the books I have here, any time you like. The door will always be unlocked for you."

Shane takes a moment to look around, as well, eyes widening at all of the books. She looks back at him, shaking her head in amazement. "I... thank you," she says breathlessly. She knows she's repeating herself, but she still means it.

Aziraphale looks very pleased at Shane's reaction. "You're very welcome." He stands, and puts down the teacup. "I have more work yet to finish outside, but please consider yourself welcome to spend as much time here as you like."

[OOC: Mun has some errands to run. Geoff's getting sloshed in the pub by the way, so if Shane would like to go 'round sometime later he could use someone to talk to -- although as Paige just showed in at the pub, he may well take off for someplace else. ANGST ALERT! :D]

"Oh. Sure. Absolutely, yes," Shane puts her own teacup down and picks her book up, holding it against her chest with one hand as she stands. "I'll just take off and let you get back to it." She opens the door, but pauses at the threshold, glancing back over her shoulder at him. She gazes at him for several moments. "Thank you. So much," she says before she ducks out.

[ooc: No problem - and yes! I saw the angst clouds abrewin' around Spike's pub... what happened with those two? O.o]

[OOC: Um, let's see: Geoff found out Paige is a witch, zombies invaded and completely screwed with Geoff's world-view, and oh yes he was absolutely no help whatsoever during the invasion of the school and hid in Paige's dorm room like an utter coward while Paige courageously fought the zombies. I think that's all of it. Also, Manny appears to have put some kind of curse on Goeff. :)]

[OOC: Oh, is that all? Sheesh, man, get over it. XD]

(ooc - actually the curse won't work since Paige took one of the books he was meant to be burning)

[OOC: Oh, that's good to know, thanks! 'Course, it'll mean Manny will just continue to be all hateful on Geoff, and will probably find some other way to get revenge. :)]

(ooc - it was pure chance really she just picked it up as a memento, if she'd had a bigger bag on her at the time Manny probably wouldn't have had any books to burn!)

Sunday

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject