The Park, Saturday Afternoon

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Having made a quick check on the rare books shop, and being happily satisfied that oatmanspatient had handled things very well, Aziraphale is now sitting on his favorite bench in the park. He's feeding the ducks and looking as though he'd welcome company.

Comments

[chasingangela]

[OOC: Did Marty ever email you about Aziraphale's research for us?]

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara passes by the bench and smiles at the ducks. "I love the way they walk, with that funny little waddle. They look so self-important."

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

[OOC: He did tell me to email him when I got back, which I did. But anything you'd like to tell me would be great. You can email me at aziraphale at earthlink dot net.]

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"Yes, they do rather, don't they? Quite demanding fellows, too." Aziraphale smiles at Tara. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Mr. Phale -- I run the rare book shop." He waves his hand vaguely in the direction of the shop.

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"I keep meaning to go in there, I've been looking for... wait. Sorry, Mr. Azra Phale? Maia's friend?"

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale looks mildly surprised at the first name Maia has apparently invented for him. Really, though, it made sense. He ought to have a first name, and not keep forcing people to call him 'Mister'. He decides therefore that 'Azra' will do nicely.

"Ah, yes. I suppose that would be me. What is it that you've been looking for?"

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"Um, Theocraces' Compendium of Demons, and something that discusses shielding for seers. Mr. Phale," Tara's face is tense with anxiety. "Maia's really sick. She said you were a friend, I thought you should know. Um, she's in a coma."

[OOC: I could swear Maia referred to him by his full name, I was just pretending Tara had misheard it. Maia-mun is away for eleven days, so she's made Maia the victim of a psychic leech attack and put her in a coma.]

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale nods. "I believe I could find those for you. Although, you must understand that my inventory is entirely in rare books and first editions. I do try not to overprice them, of course."

His face darkens when Tara mention's Maia's illness, and he sits up straight. "What has happened? Where is she?"

[OOC: I'm sure Maia did mention him by his full name, as he gave her permission to use it. He would just assume that Tara's mistake wasn't actually a mistake, but rather Maia giving him a sort of psuedonym. He likes it, though, and will probably begin using it. I had heard that Maia-mun was going out of town, but I haven't yet tracked down exactly what happened.]

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara looks very sad, and a little guilty. "In the clinic (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandom_clinic/25997.html?thread=917389#t917389), at the school? The Doctor there is keeping an eye on her. The medical one, not the teacher. It was a psychic attack. Or is, rather. She's got all these bruises, like fingerprints, and her aura won't hold any energy, no matter how much I try to pour into her."

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale is all business, and his aura brightens so that it's almost visible to the mundane eye. "How can I help?"

At once he frowns and looks frustrated. "I...don't believe I'm allowed on campus, however. If you know of anything at all that I can do, from here, please tell me."

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara's eye is not the mundane one - she can see auras most of the time. To her it is almost blinding.

"I wish I knew. I don't think you are allowed on campus, but... I'm trying to keep Maia's energy up, to give her something to fight with, except I don't have a lot to give. Do you have any way of channeling energy into her?"

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale notices Tara's reaction and tones down the aura, looking a bit sheepish. He sits quietly in thought for a moment.

"Perhaps I could...give you something to take to her? Would that be allowed?"

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor wanders through the park. He looks like he's had a long night, and not in the good way, but he still has a bit of spring to his step. He is genuinely pleased to see Aziraphale.]

Mr Phale!

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale looks up and smiles at the Doctor, pleased to see him. "Good day, Doctor. You look a bit tired, would you like to sit down?"

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He nods, not saying anything, and sits next to Phale. Then he lets out a very, very long sigh, and reaches in his pocket to feed the ducks.]

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale gently radiates a soothing presence toward the Doctor.

After a quiet moment, he says, "Have you been well?"

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[Sitting nearby Aziraphale makes him feel slightly better. The Doctor's perceptive enough to notice, but polite enough not to say anything about it.] I was...and then I wasn't...then I was, and now not so much.

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Smiling slightly, Aziraphale asks, "It is something you'd like to talk about? I can be a very good listener, you know. And I do promise not to pry."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm certain you are. [He closes his eyes.] People have a lot of secrets.

((Gotta go, back later.))

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"Yes, it would seem that most people are harboring secrets, especially here. There's no shame in having secrets, though. Although it can sometimes be a...relief to share them with someone."

[OOC: No problem, I'll be online on and off through the day.]

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Oh, they've been shared, all right. [He pauses.] Mr Phale, it seems we're all ripped to shreds inside.

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale gazes concernedly at the Doctor, trying to walk a fine line between being helpful and not interfering. Bugger it all. I've already interfered with half the population of this town. What's one more?

"The shreds can be mended, though. With patience, and assistance. Is this connected to Miss Cregg?"

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[slightly frustrated] She's broken, I'm broken. The whole bloody town seems to be broken somehow.

...I can love her and help her through her pain, Mr Phale. But I don't know how to help me through mine.

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Very tentatively, Aziraphale replies, "May I help?"

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor closes his eyes and rubs his forehead.] There are so many things.