[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

[princess_weia]

That was a good speech.

[Where as from most people such a comment would probably be sarcastic, from Leia it sounds totally sincere.]

Did you have to practice it for awhile before you broadcasted it?

Video

[woo_oo]

[She raises her hand like a kid in class.]

Are you, like, a literal angel? Because I thought that were supposed to be swirling masses of rings and feathers that the normal mortal eye couldn't really comprehend.

[She may not have actually listened to anything after he said that.]

[strangeandunusual]

You're really good at that, Aziraphale. I like the idea of people who've been here a while being in a public place for help and questions ... Are there any times you would like someone else to be there? I can help.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

Thank you, my dear. And no. I do this quite often. I like to think it raises people's spirits, even a little.


[even if that means it gives them something to laugh at]

How are you feeling?

video

[blessedarethebookmakers]

You're not wrong. [though goodness, imagining duck angels is a little strange!]

But there are different classes of Angels or ranks as you might call them. What you're possibly referring to is called a Throne. They reside where material things start to take shape-- and far outrank me. They are almost the angels to the angels. Or the arbiters of angelic peace in the heavenly sphere.

I am a Principality and am meant to work with mankind...or, duckkind, I suppose. [a smile] So even when I'm fully manifested, I'm still in a shape that most humans can recognize only more... [a gesture] ethereal.

I've had quite a few poems composed about me, you know. Not to sound arrogant, but it is just to illustrate the point of how grandiose a fully manifested angel can be.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

Thank you, my dear. [he is not particularly keen on sharing his office space, but needs must] Oh, whenever you can. And I did post my hours so if you'd like to be there when I'm not...

[Locked || Video]

[dream_is_a_wish]

[Dreamfinder's face pops up and he seems to be in his shirt sleeves with a bit of grease across his cheeks. Clearly he has been working on something.]'

Ah! Mr. Aziraphael, of course. When would you like to meet?

1/2

[strangeandunusual]

[dude? it's a lobby. you share it with everyone.]

Okay, I'll go have a look.

2/2

[strangeandunusual]

[and go look, she does, putting her mirror away for a minute so he isn't treated to the vertigo of her running downstairs. when she finds his posting, she'll just stare at it for a minute, and then open the connection again, amused but annoyed]

Aziraphale ... These are so not actual hours. This is ridiculous.

[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.

video

[woo_oo]

Oooh, that makes sense.

[She looks him up and down a bit, best she can on video. Grandiose, eh? ... Okay, sure, let's let him believe that.]

Wait, the arbiters of angelic peace in heaven? So heaven's not always peaceful? I thought it was supposed to be paradise.

[princess_weia]

[She nods.]

My mommy and daddy make speeches sometimes too, but they usually practice them a few times first, just to make sure nothing sounds weird or out of place. Course, they're usually trying to do more than cheer people up, so it's important to get it right.

And I'm alright. Everything still feels kind of weird and empty, but everybody I've met here so far is really nice. And Merlin said I'm a Princess here too, so that'll make it easier for me to help out even if I don't fight.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

They must be very important people. [Though the idea of Mommy and Daddy. Oh dear. she was rather young, wasn't she?]

Yes, it does that sometimes. New places and situations always do. You feel a little lonely and wonder if you ever won't be. But you'll get used to it with time. [a smile]

I'm a Prince as well. We're in the same class, so I'm sure w'ell meet often.

video

[blessedarethebookmakers]

[well he's hardly manifested, is he? Anyway he doesn't expect her to understand. Sometimes these things required...subtlety of thinking]

Of course things are peaceful but you know things do change now and then and they basically rule on policies and such like. They make sure everyone is on the same page, generate paperwork, that sort of thing.

And it is paradise for the humans, of course. And... well...ducks...or...whomever. [goodness this puts feeding ducks in St. James into alarming perspective and he's going to carefully fold that thought up and put it to the side]

For you the afterlife is everything you could hope for and more. For us it is business.

[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]

[Locked || Video]

[blessedarethebookmakers]

[he regards him a moment] Whenever you have the chance, dear. Just clean up and pop on over to the cafe. I'll be waiting.

[Video --->Action!]

[dream_is_a_wish]

Clean up? Oh! Yes!

[Alright, he'll shut off the feed and roughly fifteen minutes later he is entering the cafe, waving a bit shyly at a few of the guests.]

[Video --->Action!]

[blessedarethebookmakers]

[Aziraphale is sitting in a sunlit corner table and smiles at him, patting the chair opposite. There are a basket of doughnuts on the table and he is drinking from a decadent looking shake that is definitely not on the menu]

I took the liberty of ordering something sweet for you. But of course, get anything you wish.

[princess_weia]

[She nods.]

My mommy's Queen of Alderaan, and my daddy's the Viceroy. He's Alderaan's Senator too, so he gets to go to Coruscant and lots of other places on dippomatic missions.

[She's evidently quite proud of them too, judging by her tone.]

And it's not really that. Well, I mean that's part of it, but it's something else too. It's like... it's like some of the colors are missing, except I know they're not? It's just really weird.

Are you a Prince back home too, or just here? Merlin said that Princes and Princesses here don't have to be royalty, even if some of them are.

video - rude demonic interruption

[serpentinthegarden]

Paradise is a place on Earth... as the song goes. Heaven is dull! The same thing day in and out, endless peace and celestial harmony, ugh! You won't find a good club up there no matter how hard you look.

[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?

video

[woo_oo]

Heaven has paperwork?

[Sheesh, you poor guys.]

Huh. I'm learning all kinds of stuff today. Maybe I need to be jotting some of this down.