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]

[ 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.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

[Aziraphale turns, looking at him over his shoulder. Then comes closer, the fabric of the pajamas whispering faintly, and leans in to press a kiss once more on that little mark of his, murmuring against his skin:]

Good night, mon diable.

[and then he turns once more to the bedroom without a second glance]

[serpentinthegarden]

[ And it's a very lucky thing for Crowley that Aziraphale didn't give him a second glance or the angel would have seen a demon melting into the floorboards. Mon diable... gah... the French always had SUCH a way with words. ]