1 // Temptation - Video

[serpentinthegarden]

[ The magic mirror displayed a scene of total chaos. A horse’s cart was halfway up a tree, in flames, and the horse that was meant to be the engine for the thing was running around loose sending people scattering off the sidewalks as it thundered by. Crowley held the mirror and looked back at the scene before walking away. ]

That could have gone better. Probably goes without saying I’m not going to be a carriage driver...

[ A small pause while the cart exploded and someone in the background screamed. ]

Anyone heard of--

[ He was suddenly interrupted by a little angry man who shouted after the demon, something about a wrecked cart, but it was difficult to hear anything but Crowley’s replies. ]

Pay you? You ought to be paying me! Like it’s my fault the horse doesn’t like demons! You never once said the horse doesn’t like demons!

[ Crowley waved the man off with a less-than-polite gesture and crash landed grumpily onto the nearest free bench, though with the panicked horse running wild most of the benches were empty. Most of the street too. People had piled into the nearest building which just so happened to be a candy shop. ]

As I was trying to ask before I was interrupted, anyone else heard of any other job openings? Not having the best of luck with it... I would have done fine as a driver but that horse--

[ He was interrupted again before he could continue. Crowley snarled as he turned to glare at this new distraction but in doing so he ended up dropping his magic mirror. ]

-- Hours Passed before the Mirror flared to life again --

[ Unsurprisingly it was to bear witness to another scene of chaos this time one of children and their parents frantically snatching up every boxed or bagged candy they could lay their hands on while one demon clad in uncharacteristically in white and sporting a lovely red striped bandanna carefully watched over their every action from behind the counter. ]

Everybody in here better be buying something or you are going back outside and trust me you don’t want to be out there with that horse still on the loose!

Comments

[serpentinthegarden]

It won't take as much as you say... if the way you keep yawning is any indication.

[ The box of food was brought over and placed on the side table between the recliners. Crowley himself flopped into the chair beside Aziraphale's and tucked into the tea straight after having a bite of sandwich. It was remarkable how hungry a day's work could make you. ]

And humans might be able to keep themselves away longer with coffee but they do still have to sleep sometimes. We're... practically human now. It is something we do have to do.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

Hush. [he has nothing more to say to that other than to take a sandwich himself. It's decent and filling and with the tea it's almost serviceable]

I seem to be doing too much sleeping lately. [but not as deep as Crowley had during the new moon, thank goodness]

How is your training coming along? [they hadn't had much time to do much at all together. Maybe a rest was in order if only to spend more time with him and this]

[serpentinthegarden]

E--eh...

[ Crowley bobbed his head in that way you do when there is a question asked you really don't want to dive too deeply into. ]

It's been alright. Been doing a lot of self-study...

[ Aka, playing hooky from Hade's lessons. ]

You know once you get over that initial hurtle it isn't so difficult.

[ Only his transformation skills worked best when he was around Aziraphale and seemed to send him into a depressive slump when they failed. No need to mention that. ]

Oh, and I'm fire resistant apparently, still... seems to be my element.

[ Since he nearly roasted some brat yet didn't feel the heat himself. That had to be good for something. ]

You might be napping but that's not really the same as resting. What is it humans need, eight hours a night? You haven't been doing anywhere near that.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

[he was translating this to things not going well and frowned. He wshed there was some way to help him other than simply being there.]

We should try something together perhaps. [because maybe repetition would help? Practice made perfect, or so they said. He hummed at the idea of Crowley's element being fire. It was hardly surprising after all.]

I didn't know you were watching me so closely. [said blandly] Anyway it really can't be helped.

[serpentinthegarden]

We're roommates! I notice these things.

[ Added cheekily behind a sip of tea. ]

The light being on at all hours of the night is a dead giveaway.

We should try something together.

[ He had himself another bite of sandwich before smirking absolutely wickedly at Aziraphale. ]

I'll show you something I learned when you are ready to head to bed. You can tell me what you think of it.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

[he clicked his tongue and side eyed him, feathers ruffling a little]

Cheek. [he didn't trust it, but he was curious so] Very well. I'll see what you've got. But I expect to be duly impressed.

[he sniffed a little, then winked at him to show he was joking. As for the light situation, he would just make sure to go into another room or perhaps elsewhere. But it was such a pain to be too far from the bed when the consequences took hold]

[serpentinthegarden]

[ He's going to discover Aziraphale asleep in the tub with a flashlight one of these days, isn't he?

The 'duly impressed' gets a nose scrunch, but he wasn't too worried. If didn't would out well, they would be alone in their own bedroom... it would have to fail really, really, badly to make that situation terrible. ]

Relax it'll work!

[ Probably.
He curled his wings around him as he tucked into another bite of sandwich. ]

Has that been the only side effect you've had, those naps?

[blessedarethebookmakers]

Mmm. [he saw that wing curl and wondered what it meant.] Not even going to give me a hint on what it is?

[at the question, he nodded and polished off part of his own sandwich before replying:]

So far, but I feel like I've only been trying one kind of ability. I've been a bit reluctant to try the other quite honestly.

[serpentinthegarden]

Nope.

[ Gives the man more incentive to actually head to bed when their dinner was over! ]

What is the other ability?

[blessedarethebookmakers]

Hmmmm. [another look over his tea]

Flying, I believe it's called. Well and also something called Gross but I am not even going to approach it.

[serpentinthegarden]

Flying? You couldn't just...

[ He flapped his wings a few times it illustrate. ]

I wouldn't touch anything Gross either.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

I do believe it's a bit more involved than that, but I'd need a book first to check. [pointed look at the stack]

[serpentinthegarden]

[ A hand landed on the stack of books. ]

It's barely been five minutes since you put one of those books down. Those bags under your eyes aren't going to go away by themselves.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

Oh, very well. [but he's pouting mightily at the demon.] Honestly, I'm not made of china.

[he finishes the sandwich and most of the tea] I'm going to take a shower. [and then, he supposes, to bed. If only to see what Crowley has cooked up]

[serpentinthegarden]

You would sit on me if you thought I was doing something that might be too dangerous, I'm only returning the favor.

[ Crowley would rather see the angel smile but it couldn't be denied he had a cute pout. Those books would remain under his protection until a sleep of at least four hours occurred, he might even be caught glancing into one... for the pictures... once the angel's shower was complete. ]

Have a nice bath.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

[he throws the demon a smirk over his shoulder]

You only wish.

[to be sat on. He fluffs his wings to say that he heard the bath comment and gratefully moves into the bathroom, looking forward to the hot water]

[serpentinthegarden]

[ That might be fun at that. Crowley decided as he returned to his tea and sandwich, just idly flipping through a few pages of book as he did so.

But he did recall an aborted Holy Water heist and an 'It's too dangerous Crowley' plea.

Actually these books were kind of interesting... He'd have to try a few of these ideas. ]

[blessedarethebookmakers]

[the shower takes longer than he'd intended, if only because he manages to doze standing up, forehead leaning against the wall. When he does wake up it's with a start-- and a bit of a grumpy one at that. Grumpily, he climbs out of the shower, toweling himself dry and flicking the wet off his wings.

He could step into his old clothes but he is so very tired of wearing them and so goes out in a towel; pausing as he sees Crowley in the act of reading. He fights down a smile and pretends he hasn't notice and instead yawns hugely, giving Crowley to put the book down if he likes.]

At some point I'm really going to have to get some pajamas.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ The book was quickly closed without much fanfare and Crowley dropped his feet off the table he had been using as a footrest to quickly stand. ]

That is a perfect segue for...

[ He paused mid-sentence as his glasses slid slightly down his nose. Aziraphale in a towel. For some reason that was more compelling than it had been when he had been entirely nude and passed out. Maybe because this time he wasn't worried the angel might not be able to wake back up. ]

Right... yeah, what was I saying?

[blessedarethebookmakers]

[he glances into those gorgeous eyes of his, wondering what stopped him. Crowley has definitely seen him in less than a towel before and quite recently at that]

Something about a segue?

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Just a silly heart flutter... Not something to loose one's head over. He straightened himself up and put on a smile. ]

Right segue! I was going to show you a trick.

[ He held up his fingers and glanced back at the towel. ]

Might be more difficult with only that small thing but... nah, don't worry. It'll be fine!

[ The snap of his fingers reverberated around the room and that towel began to morph and change. It turned softer and grew in size until it covered Aziraphale, neck to ankle, in a very exquisitely soft set of PJs. The finest of silks in gleaming white, just as an angel ought to wear. ]

Ha! Won't find that in any catalog!

[blessedarethebookmakers]

[he had to say he was a alarmed very concerned mildly curious about the movement and wiggling of the towel and somehow kept his eyes open even as his feathers bristled like they were stuck in a pincushion.

But then at the end of it--]

Oh! Oh... Oh Crowley... It's beautiful! [and so soft! Even his wings are accommodated and there is no queer stretch and pull. He finds himself bringing his wrist to his face and rubbing his cheek on the sleeve. He might even be tearing up at little at such a wonderfully generous gift and has to look away, blinking rapidly]

I-- I don't know what to say. Or... or how to repay you I...

[but no. He needs a moment. Just a moment. He can't-- There's just-- It's the nicest-- and so soft--There is entirely too much emotion in him all at once and he has no idea where to put it all so he'll just stand there with his back to Crowley and try to remember how to breathe]

[serpentinthegarden]

You can repay me by pretending you're the one that ruined the hotel's towel. They aren't getting it back now.

[ It was snide humor which he tended to default to when there was an excess of feelings he really didn't know what to do with. Aziraphale was so touched... it was almost painful to watch him. He was pleased with himself. Maybe more pleased than he had ever been before. Not even successful temptations left that sort of warm glow in his heart.

Oh God... Was he glowing?! Can't be, demons didn't glow that was angels.

A quick look to his reflection seemed to confirm that. He was smiling though, happily and without a trace of demonic menace, which was a little alarming but... harmless on the grand scale of things. ]

Anyway, you should have an easier time getting to sleep with those.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

Oh... yes of course. [he's fidgeting with the hem of the shirt now, running his fingers over it, wings flexing absently out than in. He doesn't know what to do with himself. How can he? It doesn't seem enough to make it up to him just by that so he'll have to find some other means.]

Yes... I should... I should sleep well in them. [and he should use them too since he had them. More than once of course, as it couldn't be easy... and...] Oh, you devious thing. [but it's a half laugh and a little cry mixed in there which he hopes Crowley doesn't notice] Very well.

I think I'll get some rest now....

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Crowley was still beaming like the Cheshire cat as Aziraphale decided at last to give into the idea of sleep. ]

Good night, angel.