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

[ressusciter]

No, but I know his name, and would swear upon my soul that this was his original work. It is the exact one that I read before, down to the curves of his letters.

[from the opening paragraphs, it's clear that this book is a work on the monarchy of Italy, written in an old dialect.

you deserved a better fate, good father, he thinks, wondering what he'd say now about a world of witchcraft and monsters, to know that his pupil still strove so.]

Though he will never have a proper grave and be lauded as he deserves, I can at least keep his memory constant.

[wiggleon]

v[Aziraphale wishes he could miracle the book for this man. It's not that he doesn't trust his own ability, and usually he prefers doing these things on his own because they feel more meaningful that way. But this... this deserves to be perfect; this man deserves to be able to preserve this work the way he wants to. Humans love so much, so intensely, that Aziraphale can’t help but wish that he loved something as deeply as they love each other, to look at something the way this man is looking at this book.]

I will do my best and treat this with the respect it seems to deserve. Would you… would you wish to tell me about the author?

[ressusciter]

Yes.

[the answer comes quickly, sincerely. he would tell everything - except then he looks up, and there's something very serious in his eyes.]

But, I must ask you to promise that you will not tell what I say to another. To explain some parts of the story, they would be...difficult. Facts I would wish treated with care and left out of publishing.

[and run too close to details that would disclose his True Name.]

[wiggleon]

[Aziraphale blinks, but out of surprise and not hesitation. He knows how to keep a secret if he must, though he'll be the first one to admit lying isn't his forte eons of dealing with heaven's bureaucracy has made him an expert on changing the subject and lying by omission.

But he didn't expect this to be so important to the man.]

I promise I will not let anyone know what you tell me today, it will not leave this room. But may I ask why is it so important?

[ressusciter]

[there are a lot of answers to that question, and he decides to go with the simplest. the one that won't need him to delve into the ideas of True Names and what he is as an entity, and simply give an excuse any human might cling to.]

...because I met him while I was in prison.

[even though he was falsely held, it still left a stain in the eyes of others if he was to say that openly. it required explanations he didn't want to give.]

[wiggleon]

[Aziraphale is, honestly, waiting for him to continue. Like that can't be all of it. He's been in prison before, on death row actually, waiting to meet the guillotine... but he figures it'd be different for someone whose life was utterly changed by it, someone who couldn't just miracle himself away from it.]

And I suppose you don't wish for that fact to be known. I can keep a secret if you so wish.

[ressusciter]

[no, it's not all of it, but that was the first step.]

Thank you. People here mistrust the Mirrorbound as it is - I have no wish to make my life or that of my Bonded harder than it needs be.

[his eyes fall on the epigraph, and he smiles a little to look at it one more time.

Thou shalt tear out the dragons’ teeth, and shall trample the lions under foot, saith the Lord.

if only he could see the Abbe now. looking back up, his resolve is settled in place.]

Do you mind if we sit? I could more freely tell you about the author - and I suppose that I should have offered to bring something to drink, to make this a more congenial meeting.

[he'll definitely owe Aziraphale coffee, if not more at the end of this.]

[wiggleon]

Oh, where are my manners?

[He sounds oh so scandalized at himself.] OF course, have a seat- and what do you want to drink? I have got... well, I like tasting new things so I have got a little bit of everything.

What is your drink of choice? It's the least I can do, since you're going to let me hear about this author, about who he really was, when it sounds really private.

[ressusciter]

Coffee, actually, if you can.

[as much as a drink sounded good, he needed his wits about him to talk about this. ideally, he'd smoke at the same time, but he has enough sense to not even let his hands twitch towards that pocket of his. it'll be a later indulgence, something to look forward to at the end of everything.]

[wiggleon]

[Aziraphale would not judge him for smoking, but he would prefer to avoid his place smelling like it so the consideration is appreciated. Learning how to get rid of smells with a spell has definitely not been one of his priorities.]

But of course. [And of he goes to the little kitchen.] Anything else I can do to make telling the story more comfortable?

[ressusciter]

A warm drink and willing company is all the comfort I require. You've caught me in a most charitable mood, that I'd speak on the Abbe so, but I think he would want his tale told as much as I am privy to.

[a thought comes up in his head, and while Aziraphale is in the kitchen, he begins to walk around the shop with soft footsteps. he's looking for the fiction, for authors whose last name starts with D, and a certain novel therein, if it's present.]

[wiggleon]

[Aziraphale curated his collection so much it was honestly one of the few things he got truly protective over. He loved his first editions, loved protecting and taking care of them, loved running a gloved finger down the book’s spine. So of course, he had Dumas among his collection back home, both père and fils. And a certain story just happened to go through the mirror with the rest of Azirahale’s book, so the servant will find it there.

Sorry, ‘Avenger’, Aziraphale of all people would definitely recognize a certain name if he heard it.]

And I will be glad to honor his memory by listening to it. [He brings a little tray, with what was requested and a nice hot cocoa for himself. And what looks to be some scones, because he’ll never not take an excuse to eat something.]

Though I must wonder why you’ve chosen me of all people to talk to. Is it because you think I may appreciate a story?

[ressusciter]

[for a moment that feels like an eternity while the proprietor is away, Dantes glares at the book, feeling his jaw tight, something heavy in his stomach. thoughts stoked by that eternal hatred roar in his mind - destroy it, it can't be here - kept back by iron self control and the thoughts in his head of the Abbe.

his second father's wisdom, his caution against poorly planned behavior, and how he might loathe the creature he was now. it hurts, but it is something he can manage. he has sailed through worse storms than that which a single copy of this can make.

the gloved finger that touches the spine is wrapped in black, much like the rest of him, and he steps quickly back to where he was before the other man can notice anything amiss. to see the refreshments, he manages a half smile.]

Let us say it is because you asked, and no one else has. Shall I start where it's relevant, or at the beginning?

[wiggleon]

[Aziraphale is not stupid, in fact most people would agree he’s actually rather intelligent- or, at least, rather knowledgeable. But he’s also extremely naïve at times and trusting to a fault (as angels were meant to be). So even if he had noticed the other taking an interest in a certain book, he’d have thought nothing of it. A lot of people love that certain book, after all. It’s a pity that the copy that traveled here wasn’t the one Dumas signed to ‘his friend, Aziraphale’ but he consoles himself thinking it’s probably safer in there.

He takes a seat, the smile never leaving his face as he motions to the servant to do the same and take a seat as well.]

I suppose you should start from the beginning, but I urge you to start wherever it’s more comfortable for you. It is your story to tell, after all.