Rare Books Shop, Sunday Afternoon

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale returns to the shop after spending the night at Wilson's loft, rather relieved to see that no one's opened yet.

He's not expecting many customers, and he's fairly distracted right now as it is, but he opens the shop anyway.


[ooc: Don't feel like putting up threads today. Get over it. *g*]

Comments

[flash-serpent.livejournal.com]

Laying in the middle of the floor in the lounge, the fire crackles merrily. She's coloring on paper, not pictures. She's just coloring whole sheets of paper one single color. She doesn't look up as she speaks.

"Coorroo, coo croo"

//Welcome back, Aziraphale. You smell like a human.//

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"I expect I also smell of cigarettes, alcohol, perfume, and tea," Aziraphale answers, sighing softly.

He hangs up his coat and looks down at his rumpled tux, which quickly changes itself into a much more respectable-looking pair of trousers and sweater. Walking past Magdalene, he cocks his head at the 'pictures' and then continues into the kitchen, returning momentarily with a tea cup and a mug of cocoa. He sets the cocoa on a table near the little angel-girl and settles into an armchair.

"I expect that, as you're still here, you'd like to talk?"

[flash-serpent.livejournal.com]

"Cooroo dadda. Cooo crooroo cac."

//Not really, angel. I've learned quite a bit about you from the humans and ducks.//

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"I do hope it's the local ducks you've been speaking with, and not the strange out-of-town ones."

He sips at his tea, and then after a few minutes he asks, "I don't suppose I might ask what you've learned?"

[flash-serpent.livejournal.com]

"Croorrrooo coocoocoo coroo."

//They all like you, but they are easily swayed by the demon and you barely lift a finger to stop it. Somehow you've made this shop a safe space, and he has no power here, which tells me you must be doing something worthwhile. And people like your tea.//

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale frowns. "Crowley hasn't any power here partly because until recently he respected our Arrangement. He has no power here now because he isn't welcome here."

He looks at Magdalene. "You're right, I've done very little to stop Crowley's influence over the people here. I have to tried to balance that influence, however. Perhaps...I don't know. Things are changing, I suppose. I don't know what will happen now."

[flash-serpent.livejournal.com]

Pulling out a black crayon, she begins filling in the paper carefully. Her gentle sounds are targeted at the artwork instead of the angel.

"Coorrrooooo dadda? Croocoo cooo."

//What do you tink will happen, angel? He'll win because you're weaker now.//

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"No, Magdalene. I'll do my job, as I always have. And if I have to, I'll even learn to do it without Crowley. No one seems to be concerned that he might be weaker now without me."

The conversation is frustrating him, the angel realizes. Too many changes, too much happening that he needs time to think about, to figure out.

"I don't know what will happen," he repeats. "I expect I'll know when it does."

[flash-serpent.livejournal.com]

Finishing her black page, she rises and takes the cocoa he brought for her, drinking it all. Climbing up beside him, she snuggles in close, a warmth and lightness radiating from her.

//The demon has a single-minded purpose now. He's not concerned with the ineffable, old friends, or worldly distractions. Can't you smell it on him? He smells like Hell.//

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"Yes, I know. But...I don't know what to think about it yet. Crowley...says he's been lying, using me. And although I don't want to believe him, part of thinks it could be true. Why would he lie now? Why would say the things he said, if it wasn't true?"

Absently, Aziraphale puts his arm around Maggie and holds her close. "I just don't know what to think about it right now, except that I seem to have lost my oldest friend, and I can't quite seem to figure out why. Maybe I haven't been much of angel. Please tell them I'll try to do better."

[flash-serpent.livejournal.com]

Pulled close, her arm rests on his thigh. She squeaks sharply and pulls back a bit.

//Why do you have a tear in your pocket?//

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Blinking, Aziraphale shifts so he can reach into his pocket, pulling out the little jewel.

"Crowley gave it to me. He said it was my Christmas gift from the Adversary. I don't know what it is, except that he said they 'took it out of him'. I...suppose he means it's whatever influence of mine that he might have carried. Why they would feel the need to do that, I don't know."

He closes his hand around it.

[flash-serpent.livejournal.com]

She closes her small hand over his, looking up into his eyes.

//Not your influence. HIS. That's very disheartening. We don't like this news at all.//

Later in the evening

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

It had been a bit of a hectic time with Yazoo (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomtownies/499988.html?view=19575060#t19575060) and Wilson had almost called Phale to cancel dinner, fearing it would be much too late but he'd already gotten the fixings and it was an important tradition to have pork and saurkraut with mashed potatoes on New Years. It brought good luck.

So, lugging a grocery bag full of nummies, the young doctor shouldered his way through the door, calling out with a tired sort of cheerfulness.

"Anyone home?!"

Re: Later in the evening

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Hearing Wilson's voice, Aziraphale came immediately to the front of the shop to greet him. As evening had come on, he'd begun to worry that his friend had forgotten, or that something had happened, and had been considering going over to the Loft to check on things. So he was relieved to see the young doctor coming in the front door.

"James dear, do let me help you with that," he said, taking the grocery bag so Wilson could remove his coat. "I'll put them in the kitchen. I...I'm glad you came."

After a second's hesitation, he leaned in and placed a light kiss on Wilson's lips, then turned and headed into the shop.

Re: Later in the evening

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

The light kiss was a surprise but a pleasent one that Wilson quickly returned in the split second before Phale turned and headed towards the kitchen. Shrugging out of his coat, he neatly hung it up on the rack before following in the angel's wake.

"I'm, sorry to be so late. I, there was an emergency at the clinic...my first one flying solo in, wow such a long time."

He said it with a hint of shock, now that everything was over and as he walked into the kitchen and moved to help Phale unpack the bags, he asked his friend.

"I brought wine, do you want to break into it while I get started?"

Re: Later in the evening

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Leaving the rest of the groceries to Wilson, Aziraphale moved to pull a pair of wineglasses from the cupboard. And then his friend's words hit him.

"You had an emergency? What happened? Who was it?" He turned quickly to look at the young doctor, concern showing on his face.

Re: Later in the evening

[flash-serpent.livejournal.com]

She peeked around the corner of the doorway, watching the angel. He really enjoys them. Worries about them. Cares for them. HE should know the value of that.

"Dadda?"
//Angel?//

Re: Later in the evening

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

From the couple of times he'd been in the kitchen, Wilson was starting to know his way around and he dug up a large pot which he placed in the sink to start filling with water.

"Yazoo. He showed up at Ben and Michael's all sorts of busted up. Said he'd been fighting with Tex." Wilson still sounded a bit bemused by that. "Anyway, I put enough knitting into him to make a quilt."

It wasn't deliberate callousness, the way he described it but a doctor's manner of handling an intense emergency situation. Perhaps a bit of gallows humor.

At the sound of Maggie's voice, Wilson startled a bit but turned towards the child and smiled warmly.

"Good evening, Poppet."

Re: Later in the evening

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"The woman in the suit of armor? Why would she want to hurt Yazoo? Is he all right?"

Aziraphale's head turned quickly at the sound of Maggie's voice, although his attention was still mostly focused on Wilson.

"Yes, Magdalene?"

Re: Later in the evening

[flash-serpent.livejournal.com]

"Croocoo coorooo?"

//Can I have some more??//

Still hiding behind the doorjamb, her eyes don't leave Wilson as she holds her cup out to Aziraphale.

Re: Later in the evening

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Blinking, Aziraphale nodded and took the cup, refilling it from the tea kettle on the stove. "Of course, my dear," he answered absently, his focus still on Wilson. "Here you are."

To the doctor, he added, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Re: Later in the evening

[dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com]

The question was not unexpected and Wilson finished seasoning the pork and with a small grunt, picked up the pot and carefully set it on the stove. Applying the lid, he reached to turn the burner on, shaking his head while he did so.

"His brothers are with him. I was able to stop the bleeding, the rest is mostly bruising and shock from the blood loss, both of which will right themselves with just a bit of time."

Setting his hands on his hips he nodded at the pot and then turned, peeking at Maggie where he imagined she was behind the doorjamb.

Re: Later in the evening

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Leaning against the counter in the corner, to keep out of the way, Aziraphale frowned with concern. "Should you...I mean, do you want to be there? With Yazoo. At the clinic. Would it be better for you to be there?"

He was torn, wanting to keep Wilson with him and worrying that Yazoo might need the doctor.

Re: Later in the evening

[flash-serpent.livejournal.com]

"Coocoocorooo. Coorrrooocoo cac cac cac coo."

//He's one of the picture box boys from the pub. Where I heard the song.//

She peeks shyly around the corner, her eyebrows furrowed and her face pinched. It was unique, this feeling. This boy she'd met once was hurt and she...she felt worried.