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TOIL AND TROUBLE ❄ PART 1
TOIL AND TROUBLE ❄ PART 1
The streets of Burgess under attack. They fly through the air on broom sticks, spreading in all directions, under the direction of the three who offered them something special: immortal life.
And at the expense of children, no less!
The Grand High Witch has made her orders clear. All witches are to cause chaos and draw the attention of those who might stop the Sanderson sisters from recovering the book and brewing their potion. The dark being that explained things to them made it very clear: after this All Hallow's Eve, when dawn comes, all of them might disappear or be drawn back into their worlds.
The Sandersons may be doomed but even for the other witches, being drawn away from such a precious possible source of immortality, one that will allow them to drain the life from children, is unthinkable.
They need to draw the attention of these Guardians they're expecting to see. They need last longer than the dawn.
And so the witches descend, casting broomsticks aside as they land, their cackling scaring the children. In areas where they land, the children go running in fear into their homes - but tugging on their parents' arms and trying to draw attention to the problem outside is to no avail.
For one, the adults cannot see the witches outside - they're myths in this world, after all. And two, a powerful spell has been cast on the area causing them to mindlessly continue their normal activities. Parents are staring at the TV like zombies, or washing dishes over and over, humming to themselves and not answering. Leaving their children only one recourse: hiding in their homes or trying to run away and hide somewhere else.
The Witches are fortunately able to be pegged as witches on sight, taking off their massive hats and wigs to reveal bald heads, wearing their frumpy outfits and sensible shoes. They have wide mouths and jagged, rotten teeth, nails like claws, and smile wickedly as they snap heir fingers to magically open the locks on doors.
They are delighted to have such extra power right now, and so many extra allies, and such free reign tonight to find all the ways they can possibly eradicate disgusting little children.
PROMPTS
a) Work, Witch
The children run and are chased through woods and parks in their little Halloween costumes. Or after finding that their parents are locked up and frozen, mindless like zombies, they lock themselves in their rooms and hide under beds and closets, sometimes grabbing siblings, cousins, or the nieces and nephews of much older siblings, and making them hide with them. Some silently cry themselves as they hold baby family members in their arms, trying to hush them and keep them quiet so they won't be found.
The old ladies wander through houses that don't belong to them, ignoring the vapid and nonreactive parents, sniffing and following the scents of the children to try to find them.
"Ooh, dearie. No need to hide. I'm just a dear sweet old auntie you've never met yet. Why don't you come out and introduce yourselves? I have chocolate."
The Guardians are going to have to take this fight house to house, stopping the witches at the doors or fighting them inside. Despite the guise of older ladies, the witches are young and spry, able to do damage with their claws as well as their magic.
The children run and are chased through woods and parks in their little Halloween costumes. Or after finding that their parents are locked up and frozen, mindless like zombies, they lock themselves in their rooms and hide under beds and closets, sometimes grabbing siblings, cousins, or the nieces and nephews of much older siblings, and making them hide with them. Some silently cry themselves as they hold baby family members in their arms, trying to hush them and keep them quiet so they won't be found.
The old ladies wander through houses that don't belong to them, ignoring the vapid and nonreactive parents, sniffing and following the scents of the children to try to find them.
"Ooh, dearie. No need to hide. I'm just a dear sweet old auntie you've never met yet. Why don't you come out and introduce yourselves? I have chocolate."
The Guardians are going to have to take this fight house to house, stopping the witches at the doors or fighting them inside. Despite the guise of older ladies, the witches are young and spry, able to do damage with their claws as well as their magic.
b) Sanctuary
A local rec center has nothing going on today. They did their Trunk R' Treat event the Friday before and close earlier on alternating week days. Since it's a community rec center and not a specifically child-oriented place like a school, it's the perfect place to funnel some of the rescued children and teens.
They need to be brought here where they're safe. When there, they need to be soothed and entertained, given food and drinks, and need to be told why they have to wear sound-canceling headphones in case Sarah starts to sing her song.
Those who aren't used to children will be a little challenged here in having to do the most important part of a Guardian's job, in convincing the children they're taking them to safety, and that they're safe while there. They need to be prevented from panicking and running.
Those who truly struggle at it still can find something useful to do. Salt and some of the Pole's supply of dream dream sand needs to be poured in massive protective circles around the edges of the basketball court. The court fortunately doesn't have windows, it's in more of a large warehouse-like room, but it does have doors that need to be reinforced.
Fortunately, it only has to be a staging area, Bunny is able to tunnel the children to temporary refuge in the Warren. But doing them one by one by one would be quite the effort. It's easier to collect them together in the rec center, temporarily keep them safe, then tunnel them there in groups.
A local rec center has nothing going on today. They did their Trunk R' Treat event the Friday before and close earlier on alternating week days. Since it's a community rec center and not a specifically child-oriented place like a school, it's the perfect place to funnel some of the rescued children and teens.
They need to be brought here where they're safe. When there, they need to be soothed and entertained, given food and drinks, and need to be told why they have to wear sound-canceling headphones in case Sarah starts to sing her song.
Those who aren't used to children will be a little challenged here in having to do the most important part of a Guardian's job, in convincing the children they're taking them to safety, and that they're safe while there. They need to be prevented from panicking and running.
Those who truly struggle at it still can find something useful to do. Salt and some of the Pole's supply of dream dream sand needs to be poured in massive protective circles around the edges of the basketball court. The court fortunately doesn't have windows, it's in more of a large warehouse-like room, but it does have doors that need to be reinforced.
Fortunately, it only has to be a staging area, Bunny is able to tunnel the children to temporary refuge in the Warren. But doing them one by one by one would be quite the effort. It's easier to collect them together in the rec center, temporarily keep them safe, then tunnel them there in groups.
c) Grocery Run
The rec center refuge needs a lot of supplies. The Warren has food Bunny has grown and water, but they still need that staging ground for the kids to be gathered first. Right now the basketball court is surrounded by a ring of protective dream sand and salt - but the salt ring could afford to be thicker. They could also use more ear plugs and noise blocking ear phones. Toys, too, to calm the younger children.
Fortunately, human adults just can't comprehend their wares just walking out the door on their own and entirely glaze over what might be causing it to happen. Unfortunately, witches seeing myths carrying armfuls of salt canisters and toys are kind of noticeable.
For those who need a breather, they may be able to catch a quick chat with an ally without interruption. For others, it will be the grocery store run from hell. At least stores have lots of produce to throw, or shelves to knock down on enemies.
The rec center refuge needs a lot of supplies. The Warren has food Bunny has grown and water, but they still need that staging ground for the kids to be gathered first. Right now the basketball court is surrounded by a ring of protective dream sand and salt - but the salt ring could afford to be thicker. They could also use more ear plugs and noise blocking ear phones. Toys, too, to calm the younger children.
Fortunately, human adults just can't comprehend their wares just walking out the door on their own and entirely glaze over what might be causing it to happen. Unfortunately, witches seeing myths carrying armfuls of salt canisters and toys are kind of noticeable.
For those who need a breather, they may be able to catch a quick chat with an ally without interruption. For others, it will be the grocery store run from hell. At least stores have lots of produce to throw, or shelves to knock down on enemies.
c) WILD CARD
Got something else in mind? Go for it!
Got something else in mind? Go for it!
❅ Plot Parts: This part of plot is open to all characters, and players can have their characters be in more than one prom[t. Part 2 of plot will have several plot parts with sign ups, such as talking Halloweentown into helping, the plan to sing and blast speakers to drown out Sarah's song, etc. Player sign ups for the 2nd part of plot will be limited to 1 character per player, with each player only allowed to pick 1 prompt. Part 3 of plot will go back to letting all characters in on it, in taking the Sandersons down.
❅ NPCing: The mods won't be npcing in this particular part, but players are free to npc any witches. Handwave the levels of magic you want them to have, ranging from magical fireballs to transformation to stealing a lock of hair and improvising doll proxy they can injure to induce injuries. Spells can require chanting as needed (such as if you want to have a spell interrupted.)
❅ Enemy damage: Players can have their characters successfully kill the villain npcs. There just will be more of them, they'll just keep coming.
❅ Status effects: Witches have magic and that means curses and other injuries the myth healing might not instantly fix. (Magical burns, etc.) You can play with this as you want. Spells and effects can either wear off in a short amount of time, wear off when the plot is over when day breaks, or need magical healing intervention at the Pole. Player choice.
❅ Long-term effects: Players who go with some kind of status effect for a character can optionally have long-term consequences from it if they like.
❅ Environment: Feel free to manipulate the environment. You have a whole town to work with. You absolutely can hotwire a car to run over a witch.
❅ Experimentation: We'd like to encourage people to experiment! Obviously ask other players if they're down first, but it could be fun to do something other than 2 person threads, like maybe 2 PCs banding together to rescue an overwhelmed 3rd.
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On one hand, he tells himself, it wasn't so bad that Crowley was incapacitated, clearly. On the other, Crowley is a demon. He's done time in Hell, who could even say how reasonable his standards are for these things?
No. Yes. Sooner over later. ]
Were you planning to tell me you took an injury?
[ :) ? ]
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[That's all he manages for a moment, his mouth opening and closing a few times as he tries to work out what to say next. Clearly no point denying it, because the phrasing makes it obvious that Aziraphale is already well aware that something happened.
In another plane of existence, Crowley's wings shift restlessly and he winces a little.]
When we got back to the Pole and I needed a hand making sure it's healing alright?
[The answer sounds like a question, but the question is was this the correct response so that you're not mad at me?
He kind of already knows that isn't good enough, though.]
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It speaks unfortunate volumes. ]
I see. [ Interesting!
He shouldn't be-- stroppy about this, probably. Really. It doesn't, it doesn't send a very nice message from friend to friend if Crowley is hurt and the first thing Aziraphale does is throw a fit that has to be managed. Doesn't engender much likeliness that Crowley will tell him next time, does it? Probably not. Probably make him want to try harder to skip over the fuss.
If the shoe were on the other foot, that's how he'd be thinking, after all. ]
Not the answer I'd prefer to hear. [ Aziraphale works his jaw. Swallows. ] Well. Spilled milk. I'd rather have a look before we're thrust back into active danger, if it's all the same to you. I'm sure you understand.
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He can't help but think back to Aziraphale's reaction to finding out he'd been discorporated, and something uncomfortable twists in his chest. There's a tiny part of him that wants to be gleeful about it, despite the obvious anger that's being directed at him about keeping it secret.
You do care, he wants to crow. He wants to ask if this is what love is, if that's why it bothers Aziraphale so much, but bites his tongue on that, too.]
S'just a flesh wound. [Don't quote Monty Python right now.
Don't be a teensy bit smug while doing it, either.
But he does turn his back to Aziraphale and carefully unfurl his wings, doing his best to ignore the pain so he doesn't earn more fussing. The spell that hit him acted more like a chemical burn than a blade, so there really wasn't that much blood. Mostly singed feathers and burnt skin on the scant flesh around the humerus bone. It's not a nice looking wound, but at least no bone is visible and it's not actively bleeding.] The damaged feathers'll have to come out, but I'd rather not do that here.
[Both because it'll fucking hurt and because it's safer not to leave feathers lying around. They can dispose of them more carefully at the North Pole.]
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For now he just rolls his eyes and dutifully waits for Crowley to acquiesce him. Which he does, of course, that wasn't in question.
Aziraphale's very sympathetic wince may be lost to time, unwitnessed. He gets as close a look as he can without touching anything. Sort of looks like touching would be the worse option right now. ]
Yes, better to hold off on that bit for now. [ More practical that way. Safer. Although it does limit how much can be done now. ] Hold still.
[ Oh. Right. He's pissy, not uncivilized. ]
Please. Just going to--
[ Going to hoverhand however much of a heal he can manage for this predicament. Don't mind him. ]
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Didn't involve Aziraphale getting bossy with him, either, but that's not actually a bad thing.]
'Course, angel.
[He doesn't realize until it's happening, what Aziraphale is trying to do, but he can feel the tingle of a miracle and an itch in his wing that speaks of holy magic. There's no change in the wound, though.]
It's not gonna work, I don't think. I've already tried.
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Not that Aziraphale supposes he'd have moved much anyway. It's the principle of the thing. The illusion of feeling slightly more in control of an upsetting truth. For as long as it takes that particular illusion to go tits up.
He makes an affirmative sound in the back of his throat, a wordless sort of it doesn't seem to be working, no. Homophobic of that witch. ]
Never hurts to get a second try in. [ Did not heal to try, either. A real stalemate. Aziraphale valiantly holds back from saying something like "oh, your poor feathers." He thinks it very, very loudly, though. ] We'll just have to work out a patch job for now.
[ Whatever that means. ]
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It's all very strange, making him feel a bit like none of this is actually happening.]
It's alright, really. [It isn't a lack of trust, he's sure Aziraphale's 'patch job' would be perfectly fine, he just doesn't want him to fuss.] Save your energy for the kids, m'sure plenty more will be turning up with scrapes and bruises.
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Scrapes and bruises can be sorted with a charming plaster and a gold star for bravery. [ A sincere one, obviously, because given the circumstances, all these children are in fact being very brave. ] You do understand how this particular branch of occult harm sits slightly higher, as priorities go.
[ Anything less than a full healing leaves Aziraphale room to plan to fuss. Maybe he needs to own that. He pats Crowley's non-damaged feathers a couple of times. Mostly for his own sake. But he can pretend it's more about giving a bit of comfort, too.
It's just.
Frustrating. Worrying. Lots of things. Not being of any use for this one specific thing that happens to be more important than most other things would be. ]
'Save your energy.' [ Pah! Harrumph! Indeed! All that rot. ] I've always got energy. You're ridiculous.
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It makes him a bit more inclined to ignore the pain I'm favor of being quietly delighted and a little bit ridiculous.]
What if I want a charming plaster and a sticker?
[Local demon wants to be told he was very brave, actually. Maybe not in semi-public, though, since he might cry about it a tiny bit.
He does startle slightly when his feathers are touched, a lift of his head that would've resulted in him turning to look at Aziraphale, if he hadn't stopped himself at the last second. He doesn't want to scare him off, if touching is allowed, so he rolls his shoulders and visible relaxes his wings, hoping that communicates consent, since he suspects drawing too much attention to the touching will make it stop.]
You're the ridiculous one. Unless you've got a field med kit hidden in those pockets, there isn't much to be done. [Hm. That might be a bit dismissive? He should fix that.] But I promise I'll let you fuss about it once we're back at the North Pole, yeah?
[What a sacrifice he's making.]
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Not drawing too much attention to the touching is very appreciated, though. Aziraphale hesitates for a moment when Crowley lifts his head anyway, just in case. Sort of waits for the yea or nay, because it doesn't strictly occur to him until after the fact that this possibly isn't on the approved list. The touching without asking. Not really the same as, as a hand on the elbow.
It seems fine. It's probably fine.
He won't keep him long.
They both think they're the horse girl in this situation but they are both the skittish horse. This is the economy they've crafted. ]
How very generous of you. [ So noble to allow it. If that has a double meaning that's his business. ] Don't think I'll forget to hold you to that.
[ He'll forget more in a day than people remember in a month, but for spite? He'll hold onto I promise I'll let you fuss until the end of time if he has to. ]
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[There's also the point that they could just remove the plaster with a miracle, but teasing Aziraphale like this is a little more fun, especially when he's being a bit grumpy about something.
He can't stay mad at Crowley for getting injured if he is, instead, annoyed at Crowley for being generally annoying. This is the most profound logic in the universe.]
Oh, you know me, the epitome of generous. [So wry, so much sarcasm, so very much not acknowledging the fact that he is actually very generous, but only where Aziraphale is concerned.] I'll be the very best patient you've ever had.
[Don't make it weird, Crowley.]
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As conversation tones go, he supposes this is one of the least worrying where Crowley is concerned. Very flippant. ]
I'm afraid the title of best patient is already taken for the night. You're welcome to give me your second-best behavior.
[ The feather-touching resumes, in the meantime. Not quite preening, not quite grooming, but a secret third thing: Crowley's wings taking on extra duty as fidget toys. A rhythmic gentle neatening, in the same way a person might channel anxiety into straightening out someone's collar or tying someone's scarf for them.
If Aziraphale can't heal them and it's not safe to remove the damaged feathers right now (which it isn't) and he is, in fact, lacking in comprehensive field kits, then he's at least going to be certain the intact areas around the damage are as comfortably smoothed back down as he can manage. In short order. Crowley normally keeps his wings so tidy that taking longer than a minute or so would be ridiculous.
A bit of selfishness at work, too, if Aziraphale is honest with himself. Having the excuse. It's easier, most of the time. Toeing the line of reaching out with some physical gesture. Technically having a reason for the reaching beyond simply wanting to do it, depending on the gesture in question.
If he takes Crowley's arm while they happen to be walking together, or occasionally reaches for his hand, or tries to make an occult injury at least slightly more tolerable until they can care for it-- that's just simpler. Isn't it? Doing without trying to say? It's still a step. And if he can feel a tiny bit like he's actually done something helpful right now, he'll be that much more settled, so. The benefits are really all his. ]
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[It wouldn't be the first time his wit has survived a fall.
He decides it's probably not the best idea to say that, though, both because Aziraphale always gets a bit funny when he talks about capital-f-Falling, and because he doesn't need to know that there was also a fall involved in this situation.]
Who's the best patient? I'll just make 'em disappear so I can keep the title.
[Everything is going according to plan, Aziraphale is annoyed at him and doesn't sound quite so worried anymore, and he's touching his wings. That last part is sort of an odd thing to deal with, on account of it being incredibly nice, just in a way that makes Crowley want to both vibrate out of his skin and simultaneously take a nap. It's soothing, the repetitive motion, the gentle fingers carding through his feathers, but there's no denying the fact it's an almost insanely intimate thing for Aziraphale to be doing.
And Aziraphale must understand that, right? This isn't some idle motion, it has to be deliberate. He has to know that Crowley wouldn't let anyone else in the universe do this, especially not when injured. It would be so, so easy for Aziraphale to do some permanent damage to him right now, or to at least cause him an incredible amount of pain, and Crowley trusts that he won't.
He still suspects that saying something will shatter this very fragile moment, so he sighs instead, a soft, quiet thing as some tension drains out of his shoulders. It does help, too, that the feathers are sitting a little straighter, no longer pulling at the skin around the wound.
It's nice, really. It's only a shame they can't stay here all night.]
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Gratifying, really, to know he's on the short list. His diary is going to be hearing about this for years. ]
The best patient was a stuffed rabbit, so I'd really rather you didn't incite a riot by taking action against it. Dire ramifications.
[ The last thing they need is a political stuffed animal assassination right now. Goodness. ]
I'm-- I'm afraid this is as sorted as we can get you for now. I know it isn't much. [ Because of some stupid witch who should know better. Aziraphale can feel as guilty as he likes about not being able to do more here, as long as he's very quiet about it.
No one has ever suffered as much as him running out of viable reasons to keep quasi-grooming Crowley's wings, though. Not even Crowley, who is literally wounded at this moment. Obviously. ]
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This is a brand new experience and he immediately decided it was the number one priority.]
Fine, fine, I'll wait a few years until the rabbit's fallen out of favor. Then I'll take it out.
[Talking like he's planning the assassination of a beloved politician and not like he wants to steal some child's toy because Aziraphale deemed it a better patient than him.
He's so normal all the time.
Less normal about how disappointed he is, when Aziraphale acknowledges the one fact that neither of them wanted to acknowledge.]
It's a sight better than it was before. [He's using his indulgent tone, so he may be full of shit and just saying that to make Aziraphale feel better.
Hard to tell.] I know where to come if they ever end up a mess.
[Sort of just. suuuuper casually tacking that on, the unspoken offer? request? for Aziraphale to touch his wings in a situation that doesn't involve injuries.
Just for fun. Or something.]
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Consider: that wouldn't be as funny. And he doesn't want to give Crowley free technical permission to be difficult when they're back at the North Pole with proper supplies. Better to huff out a short laugh over his dark and terrible plans instead. And to let him use that tone of voice that means this probably barely moved the needle re: suffering and he's tired of having his wings out for no good reason, but he's trying to be nice about it.
Well, Crowley wouldn't say nice. He'd say he said it like that to ward off more fussing or something. Either way. ]
You're welcome to. [ They are both so brave and know how to interact like regular people. Aziraphale is glad Crowley's not looking at him, because he's positive his face is doing something very stupid and twitterpated right now.
He pulls his hands back and folds them, to better pretend he wasn't reluctant to pull back in the first place. ] Suppose I don't need to tell you to be careful through the rest of this.
[ So he has, of course, done it anyway. ]
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He couldn't just go for now reason, that would be insane.
With only a hint of regret and a small hiss of pain, Crowley's wings are folded away again and he can turn to face Aziraphale, having had a chance to school his expression into something neutral.]
I'm not exactly a fan of getting spells throw at me, so I'll do my utmost best.
[Will he? It's also hard to say.
Aziraphale knows he's soft for kids, he was always going to take a few more risks than he would otherwise.]
Same goes for you, if you head out into the fray again.
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Crowley wants him to be careful and not die, though. He knows Crowley cares and wants him to not die, but still, that's so sweet. ]
I'm sure what tries to hunt me will find it lacks the necessary teeth. [ This is what Crowley means when he tells you you sound ominous. Don't say that shit around the kids. ] Just got this coat, after all. I've no intention of ruining it.
[ It has sentimental value! Romantic value.
Aziraphale probably shouldn't ruin the sentiment by actually putting a gold star sticker on Crowley's lapel. But it's too late for that. ]
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For the best, really, I won't be replacing it a second time.
[There's a hint of a smile, enough to make it obvious that he's just teasing, since he will make Aziraphale a thousand coats if he wants them.
The hint of a smile turns into a full blown grin, the boyish kind that happens when he's genuinely pleased about something.]
Look at that, even better than a commendation from Hell.
[He fully sounds like he's joking, but he is in fact being 100% sincere. He'll take a teasing sign of approval from Aziraphale any day.]
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He's lovely all the time. But sometimes he smiles like that about something that Aziraphale says or does specifically, and Aziraphale stands there and loves him and doesn't try to kiss him for it. He just tucks the smile and the sense of accomplishment into a mental rainy-day pocket. It's mostly Crowley in the pocket, which has gotten Aziraphale through all varieties of dreadful things. ]
I should jolly well hope my commendations are better.
[ Better than a commendation from Hell... yes, it is better to drink freshwater than sea water, isn't it. ]
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Does a sticker count as a gift? Would it be weird to find a way to keep it? Maybe he can stick it on a piece of card and keep it in his wallet.]
A lot less fanfare involved, but then Hell's idea of fanfare usually involves rather a lot of violence, so keeping things simple might be best.
[Aziraphale's idea of fanfare would likely be incredibly embarrassing, too, so it really is for the best.]
Should we dive back into the mess in there? M'sure a riot has started without your magic tricks to keep everyone entertained.
[Kissable status revoked, he's being a shithead.]
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This will not stop him from being lowkey clingy from now until the point where splitting off for mini-quests becomes necessity. If anything, it's part of his fresh Jail For Crowley initiative. ]
Nothing you couldn't overturn with one of your lullabies, I'm certain.
[ Like Aziraphale wouldn't pay money and add sleep to his regular activity rotation if it meant he got to use Crowley as a special bedtime podcast. Pathetic.
It's just very important to make faces at Crowley about how nice it is that he's been doing such kind and nice things this whole night, but without using words for it that would make Crowley pitch a fit because Aziraphale's appreciation is very genuine and he loves him. You know. Normal issues everyone has. ]
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You want to take over lullaby duty, 'cause I can make that happen if you keep that up.
[He's just being pissy for fun; clearly Aziraphale is teasing him and not offering any kind of genuine compliment or showing appreciation for the fact Crowley's being a soft touch. They're both well aware of the truth, of the reality, but acknowledging it isn't allowed. Crowley has to pretend that Aziraphale is saying something he isn't and he has to get snarky about it back.
That's just how the game is played.]
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[ Some bitches prefer to blatantly flirt on the way out a door. Aziraphale is one of them. ]
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