audio / @hello / open

[lunchbreaks]

Hello, um, everyone. This is Aziraphale. I know I haven't met all of you, but I have gotten to know a good number of you as of late, and I've come to like you all a great deal, so it doesn't sit quite right with me not to apologize for recent events.

The sinking of the ferry was inexcusable. Our-- my failure, was a direct result of poor planning and lack of transparency, but I do need all of you to know that the intention had been to find our only way out of Beacon as other methods had been exhausted, and it was always in the plan to make subsequent trips for everyone remaining who wished a return home.

But I know that no amount of good intention will bring it back, nor heal your injuries, nor surface the supplies it was carrying. For all this, I am deeply and terribly sorry; this was, in no way, how I should have repaid all your kindnesses. I understand your anger, and you can direct it at me, if you would like, if you have need of a place to focus your ire.

However, I am afraid, actually, that I must ask a favor. I have, though not for lack of trying, not been able to retrieve much of the sunken raw material - if anyone should lend abilities, magical or otherwise, to help in the rebuilding of the ferry or the docks, you will have my deepest gratitude, for whatever that is worth.

I will try to assist with this as much as I possibly can, and otherwise will be available to assist those who require healing, though my ability to do so has been stunted.

Comments

[scarsolderthanyou]

"Dear Stone". Heh. I like you.

[Flat swirly thing. There's a moment of fiddling again, punctuated with irritable but not entirely understandable mutters and one actual, honest-to-god growl, before Aziraphale gets an almost equally blurry picture of an oddly colorless old man with shaggy hair, one eye that's clearly at least partially blind, and simple gray clothing, from the shoulders up. He looks about as gangly as Crowley, albeit much more delicate. The photo itself is at an angle, so Stone's image is diagonal across the frame.]

Did that work? Can you see that?

[savingthrows]

[Mr. Fell, she decides, gives good hugs. She doesn't have much experience with them, and hugs initiated by her are reserved for people she truly likes and cares about. He's made that list, by virtue of being kind, and trying to get her home, and being sad and in need of someone to protect him.

This, Eleven has decided about him.]

I will help you - rebuild. I can lift things. Heavy things.

[She nods, leaving no room for discussion in the matter, or so she thinks at least.]

And if someone is mean to you, I will protect you.

[sunborne]

-Wait. What?

[ the initial burst of happiness he gets from hearing the thanks and compliment is overshadowed when his processors go, 'hey, dumbdumb- he said something very worrying just a second ago!'

daylight frowns at the tablet, looking out the window of the house as if he'll see evidence of healing ablities not working in that moment. ]

Your healing doesn't work here? Really? Like- Would it be rude if I asked how? It didn't hurt you, did it?

[sauntered_downward]

Yeah, but I never looked good in a powdered wig, you know that. And they're never coming back into style, angel, no matter how long you wait.

[lunchbreaks]

Ah, yes! It's perfectly good. It is very nice to place a face to your name.

And what an apt name, as well...

[lunchbreaks]

Oh, dear girl, that's perfectly alright. I can take care of myself.

But I would like your help in rebuilding!

[ He doesn't know she has powers so assumes she can only hold about as much as a human fourteen-year-old girl of her stature.

But he does like that she wants to help, she's such a pure soul. He thinks they would've been friends had they met on Earth, if only he still left the house to do such things as make friends. ]

[lunchbreaks]

No-- no, nothing like that. It has made the initial impact better! Certainly, it's just, not fully working, I should say. It's not potent.

It's possibly because the source of my power can't reach to here, I think. Everything I seem to do is... overshadowed, for lack of a better term.

[ So clever, yes. He tries to lift his arm, fails, and winces a bit. ]

On a normal occasion, this is such a minor injury it would just right itself.

--Oh dear! I hadn't even thought about the winter. There will be so many illnesses!

[lunchbreaks]

I was really hoping they would, fashion is always so cyclical.

How about we fashion you a hat? I did quite like the one you wore to come save me in the church. I thought it was fetching.

[scarsolderthanyou]

[On the other end, Stone is rolling his eyes a little.]

More than you know, probably. I didn't always look like this. This is just what happens when Raksura get old, we lose all our color.

[Except the eyes. His eyes in the photo, clouded and unclouded, are still bright blue.]

I spent over a hundred turns as a kind of ash gray. I really looked like a rock, then.

[sauntered_downward]

Oh, all right, if you liked it.

[This is such a silly thing, in the face of such a big, terrifying thought, like aging. Like dying of old age.]

[lunchbreaks]

Oh, well I'm sorry to hear that.

What color were you in your youth?

[lunchbreaks]

You liked it too. We'll have to get you a new one, I suppose.

[sauntered_downward]

If I've got to get old, I might as well look good doing it.

[lunchbreaks]

I can't imagine how you wouldn't, dear.

[sauntered_downward]

[Crowley preens]

[lunchbreaks]

Do you think you might... grow your hair out again?

[sauntered_downward]

[He reaches up, running a hand through his hair]

I hadn't thought about it. Do you think I should?

[lunchbreaks]

Only if you want, but. I did quite like it long.

If we're only going to live another thirty years, I'd like to get to braid it one more time.

[sauntered_downward]

Quite a few things I'd like to do if we only have thirty years left.

[lunchbreaks]

Oh?

Tell me about them.

[sauntered_downward]

[Crowley turns his gaze to Aziraphale. He has adored the angel for as long as he can remember. A long-standing, basically one-sided emotional journey he's been on that no other demon has ever encountered. Any attempt to move it forward had always been met with resistance. Crowley moved too fast, Aziraphale had once said.

Now that they might have no time left, isn't moving fast better?

He turns away from Aziraphale, but keeps their hands linked.]

Oh, you know. Standard things. Watch all those movies I'd meant to watch. Read...a book.

[lunchbreaks]

Which book? If there isn't a copy here, I might be able to tell you bits and pieces, at least.

[ From his position here on his shoulder, he looks up and grins so sweetly.

He is having quite a few invasive thoughts about them, and about their mortality. It's true that they might have to go home and spend an eternity pretending not to know each other. But it's just as true that they might die here. And he doesn't know what's worse. But he's starting to think it might be never knowing. ]

[sauntered_downward]

Oh, I'll definitely have you tell me it, then, angel. Got to be better than actually trying to read it myself. But no funny voices.

[lunchbreaks]

No funny voices? But that's one of the best parts!

[ He can't imagine having a limited amount time left to have talks like this. ]

[unpredict]

That's the best news I've heard all week.

[ it's just a teeny tiny bit sarcastic.

he was worried, especially since robin's been described as prone to having emotional outbursts. coming from a family that thrives on them… a sunken ferry would do the trick. ]

Why did you do it? Did you have an inkling there was someplace over the river that was better than here? [ despite how his words are scolding, his voice isn't. ]