2; Video; Open

[wiggleon]

Name: Aziraphale
Date: 24/11
Format: video

[The last time Aziraphale made his own post, it was rehearsed. Prepared. He had a plan. He still looked like the neurotic, anxious mess he tends to be but he'd managed to keep most of his nerves at bay. This time, though? This time there's no preparation, no plan, no mission.

This time you just get a fairly frustrated (and slightly angry) angel making a post.]

If you are, perhaps, given a book by mistake, a book that doesn't belong to you-

[Breathe in, breathe out...]

Could you, perhaps, let me know? Apparently some of the books in my bookshop were sent through the mirror, but have ended up scattered around and they were- they are quite delicate. I'd appreciate if they didn't get damaged, they are...

Very important to me.

[Taking care of his bookshop is the closest he's ever felt to having a 'home'.]

Thank you very much.

[OOC: Feel free to assume your character found a book! Aziraphale specialized in first editions, so those are the most likely.]

Comments

Video.

[rollfordiplomacy]

I'm in a similar position, old boy. I was told a book arrived through my mirror, but I have yet to retrieve it. Given to another, it seems. [Everett's not so fussed, but he is curious. Mostly because he'd not owned this book in his present time. Which meant one thing to a person well aware he's a reincarnation.

And that's a very, very intriguing one thing.]

If you happen to be brought a book bound in metal. I would appreciate the knowledge therein.

[wiggleon]

[He sighs, but nods along.]

I will, I promise. But at least if it's bound in metal it's less likely to be damaged. What is your book about, if you don't mind me asking?

[rollfordiplomacy]

Yes, I should hope it's a sturdy tome. I cannot be certain the contents, but I was told the title was something like "History of the Springtide". Though, the helper seemed unsure if his memory served, poor frazzled thing. Said he handed it off to someone who recognized it, so I presume a companion holds onto it for me.

[he's confident it will make it's way back to him, in time. What use would anybody else have for an old book from his world, to keep it from him more than a few days?]

The titles sounds nothing special. Yet... I believe the author would be of great importance for me. A former life of mine.

[wiggleon]

[Well, someone like Aziraphale would probably hold onto the book, because books are extremely precious to him. And it's not like he hasn't stolen a book from someone simply because interested in it. But no, this is different from Agnes' prophecies, he would have no use for that book other than to admire it.

But something Everett says does make him raise his eyebrows in surprise, distracted from his frustrations about the books even if just for a second.]

Sorry... a former life of yors?

action

[thisisamazing]

[Hiccup is already in town, so he doesn't bother to respond to Aziraphale's message. He just figures he'll bring by the book he'd picked up from the Looking-Glass House in person. It's not too far out of his way, and if he's honest, he'd been planning to take it to Aziraphale anyway, whether it's his or not. He's much more equipped to take proper care of actual books than Hiccup - whose home is full of... well, fire-breathing lizards and more fire.

He's on his way, but his arrival is preceded by Sharpshot's - the Terrible Terror is easily distracted in a city like Aefenglom, far from home, and tends to forget his training when he's eager to check a new place out. About the size of a corgi, the green and brown dragon is easy to miss when he scuttles in, and up a bookshelf, to peer down at Aziraphale from the top with bug-eyes, blinking slowly.]

action

[wiggleon]

Oh!

[Aziraphale blinks in surprise- though he's found the snake form of Crowley sneaking around his bookshops while trying to not be suspicious so many times by now that he isn't as startled as he could be. He's still a little frustrated by the idea of his books just... all over the place, being mishandled and damaged even if he'd taken such great care of them back home, but the new visitor kind of startles the frustration out of him.]

Why, hello there. Who would you be?

[He reaches to get him out of there, because books and baby.. lizard things don't seem like a good combination to him. But he does so very, very slowly and carefully because he isn't sure how it's going to react.

And yes, he should probably be more careful with animals he doesn't know but after eons of being able to miracle away any danger... well, it's a habit that's hard to break.]

[thisisamazing]

[Sharpshot squawks out a sound something like a mix between a bird's cry and a frog's croak, edging a little farther down the shelf to lean toward Aziraphale curiously. At least until he reaches for him, and then he's probably going to wind up with an arm full of scratches as the Terror takes it as an invitation, and scuttles up his arm and onto his shoulder, tilting his head curiously. Sharpshot's tongue lolls out after a moment, then flips up and licks his own eyeball. As you do.

That's about when Hiccup shows up at the door, book cradled under his arm carefully, and he sighs in relief when he spots the little dragon.] Oh. There he is. Thank the gods, I thought he'd run off. [Dealing with an energetic Terror in an unfamiliar place with no other Terrors to soothe and calm it is an exhausting exercise.]

[wiggleon]

[As you do.

Aziraphale doesn’t mind lizards so much, so even though he’d definitely rather have this little new friend away from his very fragile books he supposes he can wait to kick him out until he finds its rightful owner, or whoever it belongs to- but that’s before it starts using him as a scratching tree in more ways than one.]

O-oh, oh darling, sorry that’s-

[But it seems to have found a comfortable spot on his shoulder, so Aziraphale supposes he should be grateful he didn’t try to climb up even higher. He’ll give Hiccup a bit of an awkward smile as he comes in, definitely grateful someone seems to know where this little friend comes from.]

Hello, Hiccup. This must be a friend of Toothless, then?

un: avenger. - private.

[ressusciter]

Pardon me if I am making any assumptions, but in the course of maintaining your bookshop, did you possess any skill in the care or manufacture of books? I have in my possession something I would appreciate the consultation of an expert on.

private.

[wiggleon]

[Once more, Aziraphale opts to reply to a text post as if they were a letter. Not likely to stop any time soon.]

Dear avenger,

I do, actually, posses some knowledge about that. I had to learn since some of the books in my bookshop were extremely delicate and they needed constant care. Plus taking care of the books made me feel at ease.

How can I help you?

Respectfully yours,

Aziraphale.

[ressusciter]

[thankfully(?), he's inclined to do the same.]

Aziraphale,

I have come to be in possession of a document that I would like to get transferred into a bound book. While I shall endeavor to protect the original, as it is a historical piece of some value, a book would serve as a backup, so to speak, and allow me to peruse it at my leisure without fear of damage. I've begun the process of copying out the text, but once complete, it needs to be protected.

Of course, I would be willing to compensate you for your work and time, if this sounds like something you would be able to assist with.

-Avenger.

[wiggleon]

[You have no idea how happy the fact that someone is humoring him makes him. Everyone online is just so... rude! No manners whatsoever.]

Avenger,

I would very much like to help you in your endeavor, particularly if it's to preserve an historical book. Although I'll have to make sure I have all the tools I may need first, since I haven't had to repair any books since I found myself here.

Do not worry about payment, though, I will do it gladly just to help preserve the book. When would be a good time for us to meet?

- Aziraphale

Video

[beautyisthebeast]

[After a very long internal debate about whether she ought to respond and risk bothering this man with a book that may or may not be his, finally a very hesitant Marianne speaks up.]

Um...

[Yeah she needs to say more than that. She doesn't need to look him in the eye though.]

I did get a book. One I don't recognize. It... it could be yours.

[She holds up the book in question so he can see it.]

I'm sorry.

[Because this is probably her fault. Somehow.]

Video

[wiggleon]

Oh, that's lovely!

[He may be angry at how some of his books have been treated, but that quickly gives way to delight as soon as he sees one of them, safe and sound and ready to be returned to him.]

Would you care to meet, so I can asses if it was damaged as it found its way here?

Video

[beautyisthebeast]

Um, I've been very careful with it. I haven't even opened it.

[She feels like that's more important to point out before actually answering him.]

Where would you like to meet?

[Well... answering him with another question anyway. A+ conversationalist right here.]

[wiggleon]

[Aziraphale just thinks she's the nice and polite, no need to worry in the slightest. Then again maybe it's just that he's a neurotic mess himself, so meeting someone a little shy and awkward doesn't faze him much.]

The bookshop itself would probably be a good place to meet. I shall send you the address, if that works for you?

video;

[ragefield]

You lost some books?

[Really, he's starting to worry that Aziraphale has a natural talent for finding trouble. Which isn't necessarily a problem when it's books, but the man sounds genuinely upset over them.]

So how exactly did they end up tossed out the window? Did you get into a fight?

video;

[wiggleon]

[It's not his fault, Chris, he promises. He just seems to have a magnet for trouble. ...Maybe he enjoys the thrill of adventure a little more than he'd like to admit, for sure, but he really didn't do anything this time.]

Hardly! Though I may change my mind if any more of my books have been damaged. No, my books apparently came through the mirror with objects from everyone else but they seem to have end up scattered around and now it's my job to find them.

video;

[ragefield]

[Chris almost laughs at the near threat the angel makes. He doesn't know how he imagines Aziraphale actually tackling a fight, but he knows it probably wouldn't end well. Huffing a quiet almost-laugh, he shakes that away.]

What do they look like? Would you know 'em if you saw 'em? What if they ended up with a bunch of other books? It'd be hard to gather up every book in the city to check them.

Video

[inlikethebrume]

Pardon me, but I am not sure if it one you seek but there has been a book not like the ones I already own.

[She shows the camera to one book in particular, a odd kitten in a green vest and wings sleeping next to it.]

I do not mind taking it to you if you wish.

[Anything to help a fellow book lover.]

Video

[wiggleon]

Oh I would love that very much so, if you wouldn't mind, so I could take a closer look? Not that I don't- I'm sorry, I do not mean to be rude. I'm sure you're all very capable of taking care of my books.

I'd just feel more comfortable taking care of them myself.

[They are his babies.]

Video

[inlikethebrume]

'Tis no need to fret. You seem to cherish books and learning and I would agree with it.

[Thankfully Breezy is not on the book but Mira will show it to him regardless. It certainly looks nice.]

video;

[lonewanderer]

So if I get... any book at all.

[ Lex looks tired, recovering from being ill; she's sitting up in bed, though, one eyebrow raised at the camera. ]

video;

[wiggleon]

[He's tempted to say yes, but...]

Well, I cannot lay claim to every single book that comes through the mirror, but it wouldn't hurt to check. Just in case.

video;

[lonewanderer]

[ She snorts. ]

If I get any books, I'll let you know. Granted, if they're from my world, you'll want to wear gloves or something.