[video]

[blessedarethebookmakers]

[It has been a little over twenty-four hours since the new-- well arrivals, and Aziraphale decides it is time to greet them. He has done this a couple times now for various reasons and is a bit of an old hand at this anyway. He situates himself in front of the window, the sunset is just beginning and tingeing his white wings with just the barest hint of pink. When he speaks, his voice is honey warm and welcoming.]


Hello, my name is Aziraphale. I am...well a bit of a guardian angel here. [well, he wasn't. Not technically, but he might as well be. And at any rate, there were children here and he supposed that might make them feel safer]

Welcome to the magic kingdoms. The place you are at right now is called Main Street, USA-- and from what I know of the USA, it's rather fitting. [everything is absolutely saturated with color, the food is swimming in grease, and the only decent thing around is a bar.]

I know it seems awful and strange. It's difficult to be wrest from your home and thrust into a situation that seems beyond your ken and ability to handle it. But, let me assure you, you can; regardless of age or ability. Moreover, we are more than just a disparate collection of peoples, but a community of individuals striving for a common purpose. [which, by and large, boiled down to trying to survive]

If you need assistance or just a friendly ear, I will be available in the chamber where we had our lovely [in the sense that it was sustenance and free and therefore made lovely by gratitude if not by quality] buffet at the posted hours.

But if you're truly in distress, feel free to seek my aid or the aid of any of the kind people around you. Remember, we rise together.


[that done, he clears the mirror and, with a few pokes, figures out how to make it private]

[locked to Dreamfinder]

If you have a moment, dear, I'd love to talk with you at the Carnation Cafe. It will only take a few moments.

Comments

[blessedarethebookmakers]

[he bristles] You did ask to help. Not for me to accommodate you. There is absolutely nothing stopping you from doing it on your own.

[strangeandunusual]

Whoa. Look, I never said I wouldn't help anymore. I still will.

Just... you're basically saying you're here when you feel like it, and it might confuse people who really need help. ... Some people really need structure that makes sense when they're nervous.

[she thinks of her father, and Fenton: poor nervous, insecure Fenton. she breathes, slowly]

You're right. I'm sorry. ... Tell you what. I'll pick a different place for people to come see me, and set those kind of hours. Then we're both helping, but I'm not in your way, and you can do it however you want.

[but she still wishes he'd see why his hours are ridiculous and dumb. he's stubborn like Delia, she realizes, and that's why he keeps getting to her.]

[blessedarethebookmakers]

Then the people who need structure will, I am sure, find strength and succor in you. [and he means it. But he will keep the hours that he will keep because he has served humanity for six thousand years and if he structures himself any more in a nine to five at the whims of humans who want him and want his help he will go absolutely mad.]

Thank you, my dear. That's very kind of you. If you need any help finding somewhere, or otherwise, feel free to ask.

[strangeandunusual]

[she really does feel a little bad now, regardless of how he looks upon her BFF and roomie. he's an actual angel. she can't even imagine what angels usually do, but she's pretty sure it's not this.]

Only if you do, too. Your hours are a little weird, sure, but... I'm a little weird, too. It was pretty gross of me to say that. And... it must be tricky being the only angel.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

It's perfectly fine. You don't have to apologize for being yourself and being frustrated with the way things are. After all, you have a certain standard and, I admit, it's admirable.

I think, however, it is best for you to go your way and I to go mine.

[as he certainly wasn't going to ask for her help as he shouldn't need it. And being the only angel, well, he was quite used to it and almost preferred it. Though the contact with humans here was a little too every day and intimate for his comfort, he was getting used to it]

[strangeandunusual]

Okay. ... I'm serious, though, Aziraphale. Royals gotta stuck together.

[he gets a moment of what he might consider blessed silence before she speaks again]

I've been thinking about something that - [Mal] - someone else said, and the way the Corroded keep getting bigger the farther we go... Eventually it's going to take all of us to heal one. Don't you think?

[blessedarethebookmakers]

[he gives an inward sigh and locks the message before giving her a warm smile]

My dear, I understand your intent. Believe me, I do. It seems that you want us to be friends. That I lay my burden on you and talk to you in times of trouble and you me. That we form a bond of understanding based on knowing one another. If not that, at least you wish me to know that I can rely on you and not solely on myself. That we can share our troubles. That I am not alone.

It is a wonderful sentiment and I admire you for reaching out and being so persistent. You have an incredible patience and compassion for people and when they chose you for a Princess, I have to say it was a good decision and I would stand by it and defend it.

I will also tell you that as an Angel, caring is my duty and my obligation. I was created to look after mankind. [well, not really. Or at least, he didn't think so. Or perhaps he was after all, but in the beginning, he had thought he was created just to be. But who could blame the Almighty for thinking they weren't good enough] For me, this is part of my celestial makeup if you will, or genetics. I genuinely care [on some level] but it means far less than a human caring for someone else. I am as insignificant in the role of human affairs as a beam of sunlight, there and briefly warm, but gone again in cloud or at night.

All this is to say, while I appreciate and deeply admire your offers of friendship or deeper connection, I do not want it. I'm not even capable of it. [a lie, but it might be easier to take] Everything about me is a pretense. [which is perhaps more true than it ought to be]

I will fight by your side and help you in times of trouble, I will work with you, I won't turn down physical aide if I sorely need it-- but I think it best for the both of us if we kept this strictly professional. Hm?

[strangeandunusual]

[as she listens, her face changes like the tide from frustration that he seems to be winding up to being rude to her again, to surprise and a hint of shame. she hadn't realized angels weren't... capable of having friends. it seemed like the polar opposite of what she'd thought. angels represented good, and friendship was one of the best good things in her life, aside from photography and Gothic literature. it confused her, and she was upsst for him, and a little mad at herself for pushing him to something he can't do.

it's awful. not just for the selfish reason that she was hoping he could be her friend, but the fact that he doesn't know what he's missing. she thinks being an angel must be very lonely. and she's suddenly so sorry for him that she has to close her eyes, so he won't see her crying. it's not fair.]

I'm sixteen, for God's sake. I don't know how professional I can be.

[she nods, turning things around so he won't hear the hurt in her voice. going numb and dull, the way she does around family.]

But, sure. Professional. Bye, Aziraphale.

[Deetz out. she's gonna go cry now, k thx bai.]

[blessedarethebookmakers]

[he does manage to hear it and feels a twinge of guilt. He almost changes his mind, but then stands resolute. Anything he would offer her now would be false, a pretense within a pretense.She wouldn't learn and grow from it and, eventually, she would realize the lie and come to resent it or become sad as she was doing now.

So better a little hurt now then throwing herself against a brick wall. And he is certain she has plenty of other friends and people that care for her. In fact, he fully expects to be lectured by a few of them. Perhaps even shouted at. Maybe even Rose will come gnaw at him because how dare he really. He should be the happy little cherub everyone expects and love everyone excessively, holding hands and singing kumbayah around the campfire like a proper angel.

They should be thankful he isn't a proper angel or he would be even more ...professional; poking at every sin and leaving vague hints of the terror that awaited them if they didn't shape up. But he doesn't expect gratitude, doesn't even want it. Her sadness will pass and she will discover she has far better people to spend her time with.

As for himself...

He sighs and goes to the kitchen to pour himself a drink. The sooner he can move from this place and become a distant figure who helps and offers healing and succor on occasion but is otherwise left alone, the better... For everyone involved.]