[video]

[blessedarethebookmakers]

[he stands in front of a window, winter light streaming in around him and highlighting his white wings. Clever people may notice he's added another ring, silver and black on the fourth finger of his left hand as he folds them in front of him and beams. More than his usual polite interest, his eyes are shining and he looks positively radiant and may, in fact, be glowing just a hair.

When he speaks, his voice is like warm honey]

Hello, I'd like to take the time to welcome all the newcomers to our lovely little situation. It may seem odd and even frightening to be so far from home. You may feel overwhelmed by the task ahead of you and that you may not be able to accomplish healing the corruption that has blighted this land. But I can assure you, it's possible. Some of it has already been cleansed and purified.

How, you may ask?

Why, through our efforts. As a unit. As a group. A team even. Everyone has value and worth here. We are all able to contribute. And there are many here who would help you and guide you to settling in. Finding your way. I'd call upon Lydia if you needed a ready mind and an open ear. Or Eleanor or Richie if you wanted someone to drink and commiserate with. Michael is always splendid to talk to. If there are any children among you, Webby [goodness, what a name] and Leia are wonderful playmates. [so he assumes]

And there are plenty of others here to help.

As for me, I am your local librarian. [his grin widens as this is very new and not even Crowley knows it yet] The selection here is rather small and limited at the moment,but feel free to come in and browse and check out [his wings twitch a little at that] at your leisure. But do see the books are returned in a timely manner. After all, I know where you live. [a smile as if it's a joke]

To that end, I am offering a slight commission for any one who can bring me a book that they find in the wilds or wherever. If you're interested, please take stock of what the library already offers. I'm not interested in copies of mundane things here, but other sorts of books. They don't necessarily have to be non-fiction, but any sort of spell work, spell craft or magic theory that you can find I will pay top dollar for. And also limited or first editions.

[he is not sure where he'll get the top dollar, but nevermind]

Aside from that, welcome to all who have come.

If you have any questions or wish to seek the personal attentions of the head librarian, my consultation hours are posted on the office door.

Comments

[blessedarethebookmakers]

"That's cheating. Surely you can give a more specific example." He gave him an imploring look. "Something you've been dying to see or do or try perhaps?"

[serpentinthegarden]

"Asking is cheating too." Crowley claimed with a sly smile at his partner. "Removes all the surprise. It's..." He leaned close enough to speak the name near the angel's ear like a diabolical plot. "...the long game."

[blessedarethebookmakers]

He shivered, wings caught somewhere between a fluff and a bristle. How dare he use that against him? Honestly. It was alright though. He was fine.

Two could play at this game.

He gave Crowley a long look which clearly said this was war, and then smiled.

"Quite right. We shall see who wins it."

[serpentinthegarden]

The demon just beamed in that way of his when he felt he had twisted things to his advantage. Really, how could he lose here? Either he held out longer than Aziraphale and he was able to tease and torment him all evening or he surrendered and gave into whatever tender mercy's the angel might see fit to punish him with. It was a win-win from where he stood. They could see who won the game but the war was already his. "Defiant in the face of defeat. I've always liked that about you." He laughed in a far more warm and tender way than he usually did. For it was true in a way. Good always lost to evil in the end but one had to admire that tenacity.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

"I have not been defeated!" His head and wings arched proudly. "Nor will I be. You'll see. I'll come out on top."

How was beyond him. He was still working that part out.

...Except wait. He knew. He really did. But oh he shouldn't say it. It wouldn't be fair at all. But the assurance of his victory was enough to turn his pride into something far more smug.

[serpentinthegarden]

"On top or on bottom its all the same to me!" He might have spoken that tease just a little too loudly as they stepped out of the main castle gate for one of the passerbys suddenly choked on their latte. Not that he cared. The guy shouldn't have been listening in on a private conversation anyway. Aziraphale had a cute smug. It was insufferable at times and something Crowley thought to nip in the bud, only... he didn't know what he was so smug about. Heaven winning the conflict over Earth had been easy, just mention all those human things the angel would no long be able to enjoy. This was a mystery. "Penny for them? I still have one rattling around down there somewhere."

[blessedarethebookmakers]

Aziraphale chuckled a little himself at that dirty little joke, but tried to reign in his enthusiasm if only to keep Crowley from getting too smug.

"I think we both know where you prefer, darling." And he patted that bum with a wing.

Though he couldn't help but grin at that joke and laughed a little more. How could one be expected to resist such a clever thing?

The question was... should he tell him?

"Hmmmmm... No... Far be it from me to ruin your fun. You're adorable when you think you're winning. But, you know, good will always triumph."

[serpentinthegarden]

Crowley considered the counterargument of that wing glancing across his backside with his head slightly tilted at what looked like an awkward angle but one that was actually very comfortable.

"I do like that."

A beat in which they managed to walk nearly all the way to the street.

"But the hand was better. Back pockets are made for hands."

Walking arm in arm Crowley still managed to turn enough to give his angel a good long skeptical look.

"You are adorable when you laugh..."

Smirking for the win.

"And you weren't laughing because I was being good. You loved those risky jokes! Points for evil."

[blessedarethebookmakers]

"They are..." And he was tempted, he had to admit. But there was something charming about being arm in arm with Crowley. Like strolling on a Sunday afternoon. He flushed and flapped a hand in the air at the compliment. Really. Really. Where was he to put his face after being called adorable? Though his wings did fluff quite considerably.

"Mm. I did. You're right. You've got points." He leaned in and kissed his cheek. "And hell help you, you're going to need them."

[serpentinthegarden]

"I don't need any help for this. Especially not from hell..."

Pointed look at the angel.

"Or from heaven. None of the divine insperation stuff when you realize you're losing ground."

His wing flapped over the angel's like a hug or like they were strolling under a dark umbrella, just giving them both a light touch of shade, so when he leaned close to return that kiss they would be in a private world of their own.

"Love you."

[blessedarethebookmakers]

He bristled, then fluffed, then managed to do both at the same time as he stood under that beautiful shade and listened to those beautiful words.

"I am not losing ground!" He huffed. "And you're not going to get me to tell you by seducing it out of me." A sniff as he told both of them that.

"Anyway, I fail to see how loving anyone isn't an act of good. So points for me." A beat. "Not that I need them," he added hastily.

[serpentinthegarden]

Didn't he look a treat with those feathers torn between upset and flattery! Sort of like a freshly fluffed whipped topping. Crowley admired their confusion as he carried on his role as proud, teasing escort.

"That one was a gimmie. Didn't want you to feel too upset that you had already fallen behind in the points."

He smiled again before giving the arm latched over his a warm squeeze.

"That you don't need."

He added because in his estimation the poor fellow needed all the free points he could get.

"So... If I can't get it out of you through seduction, which I might add I haven't tried yet, what if... I just asked you?"

His golden eyes peeked over the rim of his shades, watching the angel intently and feigning as much innocence as a demon could muster. Now come on, could you really deny him?

[blessedarethebookmakers]

"It was not a gimmie and don't patronize me." His feathers were bristling now more than fluffed. "Love is the most powerful force in the universe. So don't cheapen it by calling it a gimmie."
He huffed. It was precisely why he would win, but he cared about Crowley too much to win so easily...and he knew it would bother the demon to realize.

[serpentinthegarden]

"Alright, alright..."

The demon drawled not really seeing the big deal in that. Angels claimed love was the most powerful force... Demon's would say hatred was. Him personally, he hadn't really wanted to start a debate on that.

"I was only kidding around, angel. I take it back... Not the love bit obviously but the gimmie bit."

[blessedarethebookmakers]

"Hmph." He should say so!

Even though he was pacified somewhat, his dander was still up as it were. He tried to calm himself as they made their way to the apartments... and wasn't sure he'd be able to even once they reached it.

...That is until he saw their door.

Until he stepped into the by now familiar room that they shared.

They shared.

The two of them.

He moved to stand in front of Crowley, taking the hat off his own head to toss onto the table-- then after a moment, purloining his glasses to set them on his own hair so he could press his hands to either side of Crowley's face. The whiskers tickled. Those beautiful citrine eyes were sensitive and vulnerable under dark brows.

"The thing of it is, Crowley, all games and jokes aside, I do love you. Far more than I should." Even a little would have been bad enough. "Enough so that if..." He took a breath. Let it out. "...if they cast me from heaven for it, I would think them fools. How can this not be the most powerful? How can it not rock the very foundations of the Earth?"

[serpentinthegarden]

With his face clasped between those two hands his eyes were indeed a mix of feelings. Confusion came first as he was grabbed and the questions over why began running through his mind. Then there was the hint of hope that this might be something playful. Which altered the instant the bomb landed and puzzlement mixed with love, swirled in a soupçon of centuries old abandonment issues, gratefulness over being forgiven, regret that Aziraphale might ever accept a Fall for it... and heated all through by that boiling all consuming feeling that if he had to, if there were no other way, he would walk through the most red hot burning fires of Hell for that angel. His mind having blue screened some time ago he just stared like he had never really seen Aziraphale until this moment and his lower lip quivered slightly like it was trying to form words. If they cast me from heaven for it, I would think them fools. That was so unlike the angel he had met on Earth that his expression curled into a confused snarl. This Aziraphale would buck Heaven... all for the love of him? Rock the foundations of Earth it might not have but it had certainly rocked the foundations of a demon's heart.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

He didn't understand that look. It seemed at odds with everything. Wasn't it a good thing? Well it wasn't a good thing certainly but it was... oh he didn't know.

"I... I-it's alright...isn't it?" he hated sounding like a tentative child about it. But...but maybe he'd overstepped a line somehow. Or overestimated or...

[serpentinthegarden]

He tilted his head, no it wasn't a good thing but then tilted it the other way, but it wasn't a bad thing... "Angel, you just said you would give up Heaven for me." It was an immensely powerful thing filled with so much raw meaning he felt the need to paraphrase it just so Aziraphale might understand what it was he had actually said.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

"I... well... I... I just said that...if it comes to it... I mean... If there was a choice-- What other choice could I make? But it's-- Because it's-- I-- I don't understand how it could be wrong and-- Even though Goodness knows you're-- But you're not-- I mean... Oh dear..." He tapped his own cheeks, trying to get himself to focus.

"I think I need a drink. Do you need a drink?" And he hurried off kitchenward before an answer could be given. How had it even come to this he had no idea.

[serpentinthegarden]

It had come to this because some angel had made some grand statement about love and what he would do about it and some demon felt the need to see if he would back that up. Did that confession hold up? Crowley stalked after the retreating Aziraphale. After all drinks were good and the angel was on the run after that rambling not a complete response. "It can shake the Earth's foundations but not be discussed?" As that almost had sounded like a backtrack, or at least stammering uncertainty, disappointed Crowley flopped into a kitchen chair. "Scotch. We have any of that left?" Felt like a heavy drinking sort of evening suddenly.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

"Well you seemed able to discuss it lightly enough..." They didn't have Scotch so he wished some into existence and never mind the bottle was in the shape of a duck that made really aggravating quacking sounds as he poured it out for each of them.

"I mean I'm not going to hop out the door, Crowley. But if they push me because of this then-- they don't understand what love is! And I'm not going to argue with you because I know your stance on the Almighty, but I am sure that She would-- well-- I don't- I don't know! But the point is-- that regardless of who you are and I am... This feeling is...just fine. And Good. Yes. It's Good. And that!" He slammed the bottle down.

"Is the whole bloody point. Don't you see? How can you win if by virtue of this feeling you do good? You can't! Good will happen far more than evil will happen because you know that if evil happens I shall be very upset! So there!" He tossed back the glass and poured himself another.

"Honestly, I just cannot with you sometimes."

[serpentinthegarden]

"You think I don't take this seriously?" His expression soured into the one he had so often worn during their more profound meetings back on Earth. Grim, intense, seething with hidden emotions just below the surface. The only thing to distract from those barely contained emotions were the ducks. Quack, quack, quack, quack... There must have been a whole flock of them some where. Crowley spared a glance to look under the table curious to discover how these birds might have gotten into the apartment. It was only when Aziraphale presented him with the glass of Scotch did he realize those sounds had actually come from the duck shaped Scotch bottle. His intense stare focused back on the angel. Who does that? Who else would make a Scotch bottle quack... It was almost an insult to the Scotch! He listened with those seething emotions to the speech, almost startling when the Scotch duck was slammed down onto the table's surface. Not going to hop out the door Crowley, but if they push me... Oh how he felt the childish desire to mock those words by repeating them in a sing song silly voice! It was infuriating! Aziraphale didn't know or understand... hadn't grasped some how what those exchanged rings meant to him. His words were a raw snarl, rumbling up from the back of his throat as he glared straight into those angelic blue eyes. "Fuck Hell." He spoke those same words again just in case Aziraphale had missed them between refills. "Fuck Hell and... for good measure, fuck Heaven too. I might have been taking the piss out of the concept of good and evil back there, but this..." Crowley's gloved hand waved indicating the this he meant was what was between them. "This I am very serious about." Apparently this concept needed to be spelled out so he did so at volume, all those pent up emotions tumbling out in a fury. "I don't work for them anymore. I quit! And that is why I'm always going to win! Because it's not really about good and evil anymore, that was just a stupid game! It's about me and you. Nothing else. The only way I lose is if you... walk out that door!" He pointed a finger at Aziraphale and then pointed it towards the apartment door which was hidden behind a wall here but given direction would be easy enough to understand which door he meant. His own Scotch was drunk in as a shot and the empty glass slammed down on the table as the glass duck had been. No idea why really, apparently it was slam things to make a point time or something.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

He didn't particularly like being snarled at. Nor did he like feeling like an idiot. And part of him was resentful of this whole conversation and he felt in him the need to somehow blame Crowley for this miscommunication.

Well the fact was he still wanted to be angry and he didn't want to give in and he hated almost that he was touched and, more than that, moved by what Crowley said. That beyond good and evil, they mattered more. The both of them. And he wished he could say the same almost, but he knew he never could. Good meant more and he knew that though he would call Heaven fools, it didn't mean he would stop being an Angel. It still meant that one day he would one day have to return and fix what was broken and that might mean without Crowley by his side.

No it would mean it, because bringing Crowley back into that situation was unconscionable. But that was for another day and another time and certainly not right now when they were having a fight. That he did not want to lose. And did not want to back down from.

But--

"I'm sorry." Said shortly even though he meant it as he poured himself another. Where did all the Scotch get off too. "I thought you were more serious. Not about us but --" he waved a hand. "Good and evil and all of that. That game. And it was just a game. But somehow I thought..." His bristled wings arch a bit and then he tucks them behind him.

"Well never mind what I thought. The point is... I'm sorry." He looked down into his glass. "I suppose then neither of us will lose." Until they both did.

[serpentinthegarden]

Crowley nearly spilled the scotch he had been pouring as he did a double take. I'm sorry?! Of all the things that might have been said he really hadn't been expecting that one. Their battles usually ended up with one of them storming off angrily shouting things back... Crowley sat quietly staring into his own glass of amber liquid wondering what was does with an I'm sorry. "Yeah..." Agree with it apparently. He snorted, the anger he had felt dissolving away with every sip of the alcohol. Even if he was loathe to admit it. "I'm sorry too. It was a dumb idea for a game really... but I thought you knew. You were the one always telling me I could do whatever I liked here. No one to check up on things." Crowley set about removing his gloves and laid them beside him on the table. Once his hands were free he spent an inordinate amount of straightening his ring so it sat perfectly on his hand. "There's not much point in trying to fill quotas here... I really only do evil recreationally these days."

[blessedarethebookmakers]

"I know, darling..." He reached across the way and rested his hand on Crowley's, stroking the ring under his thumb. "But I also know it's important to you on some level. That you define yourself by it on some level."

He looked up into his eyes, daringly, and loved them. The way they said so much about him to someone who knew how to look. He took a deep breath and let it out with a faint smile.

"We are both a bit silly, I think. I enjoy the idea of the coupons, so we ought to keep it but... I think maybe nix the good and evil competition... Even if it's just teasing I... I may be a bit too close to it."