The Park - Tuesday Afternoon

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

She's wearing her Kevlar vest.

She has her gun. Fully loaded, with extra ammunition.

And she's feeding the few ducks who dared to venture from their hiding places.


[ooc: Open for all of your park needs. Feel free to interact with Sara or studiously avoid her. Please to not be harming her in any way without consulting me. :)]

Comments

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Taking a short break from the shop, Aziraphale uses the time to make a quick survey of the neighborhood. He notices Sara in the park feeding the ducks, and also notices that she's armed. Frowning a little, not so much because of the weapon but because so many of his fellow townspeople feel it's necessary right now, he walks over to say hello.

"I would say good afternoon to you, my dear, but I'm afraid it really isn't a very good one today, is it?"

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

"Just felt it'd be better to be prepared than taken by surprise. How are you?"

[ooc: Apologies--I didn't expect to be gone so long.]

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"As much as I hate to admit the necessity for it, I do agree that right now being prepared is highly advisable."

He sits down for a moment, frowning. "Are you planning to stay out here by yourself, all afternoon?"

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

She shakes her head. "No--I came to see how extensive the damage was and ascertain any perceivable pattern. Once a CSI, always a CSI. I'm heading back in a bit."

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"Well then, I'm glad I ignored my first instinct to put everything back as it was," Aziraphale answers, smiling. "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

She shakes her head. "Probably no point in replacing things--until a viable police force returns, the vandalism will only continue. Is it true there were murders last night?"

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"I..." Aziraphale takes a breath and looks sad. "Yes, I'm afraid so."

He looks out across the park. "It's been quiet today, so far. Perhaps it won't be as bad tonight."

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

She curses under her breath. "If only..."

"I'll do my best to keep my students on campus tonight," she promises. "The school is very well protected now, from what I understand."

[Back soon, I hope.]

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"Tell them that if they are in town and need a safe place to go, to come to my shop. It's protected. They'll be perfectly safe there."

He looks seriously at Sara. "You as well. If you encounter any trouble while you're here at all, you know that my shop is only across the way."

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

"I know," she says with a nod. "It's funny--I've always felt safe with you. I hardly ever have that."

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale smiles. "You are safe with me, my dear. And in my shop as well. Safe from anything."

He gently touches her arm and then stands. "And the town clinic is safe as well."

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

"How?" The question is quiet and the curiousity on her face almost childlike. "How do you know that?"

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Tilting his head to look at Sara, Aziraphale replies, "I know the clinic is safe because I made certain of it. And the shop is safe because it's mine. My territory."

Sighing sadly, he looks around at the park again. "I used to think of this as my territory as well, but I don't have the same hold over it."

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

"What do you mean by 'my territory'? Are you one of the wizards?" Only logical connection she can make--she had never been an overly religious person.

Besides, who looks for an angel in a used bookstore?

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"No...I'm not a wizard."

The question makes him a little uncomfortable, because he's still not used to just telling people outright what he is. But...he told Blair the other day, and it wasn't that terribly difficult to do. So why not Sara?

"I'm, er...well...an angel."

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

He isn't lying. She notices that immediately.

And swallows hard, unexpectedly surprised and not surprised at the same time.

"Angels actually exist."

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"Ah...yes. We do."

He watches her with concern, not entirely certain how she's taking the news, beyond her obvious surprise. She isn't questioning him, though, which he interprets as a good sign.

"Are you all right, my dear?"

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. I'm fine." She shakes her head. "Sorry to have concerned you--I'm just...wow."

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"No, it's quite all right. I do understand, it isn't information you get every day, is it? Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything?"

Because if she really appears to be troubled by the knowledge, he'll do something about it.

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

"No! It's...well, makes more sense than anything else I could think of. And explains why you feel safe when most other people don't even come close."

She looks away for a moment, throwing a piece of bread to a stray duck.

"I wasn't raised for any particular religion. And it grew hard to believe in a higher power after seeing things throughout my work." He's given a slight smile. "It's nice to have an affirmation, I guess."

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"You don't need a religion to have faith, my dear," Aziraphale answers, sitting back down for a moment.

"And I can understand why seeing the things you've seen would make it harder for you to believe. Sometimes even I have trouble understanding how everything fits into the Plan. But I know that it does, and that's the important part."

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad someone does." She checks her watch. "I should probably head back before it starts up again. I don't want to worry Gil."

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"Of course, my dear."

Aziraphale stands again. "Do be careful going back, and give my best to Dr. Grissom. And...remember what I said, about a safe place if you ever need one."

[equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com]

"I will. Take care." And she smiles before the expression is replaced by the CSI.

She heads back, checking her surroundings constantly.