networkinthenight | audio / @hello / open

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.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

For you, maybe.

[He can't imagine not having conversations like this, not having time with Aziraphale. What would happen if one of them were to die of old age first? If he were to suddenly exist in this world without Aziraphale in it? Old and alone?

The thought makes him hurt.]

Do you want to drink? I think we should drink.

Being very new, I confess my ignorance on many of the goings-on here, but what were you even trying to accomplish with hijacking the ferry?

[ The welcome guide had made it fairly clear to its importance, she thought. ]

How are we supposed to believe you'd come back?

Even with whatever good intentions you claim, now we're in big trouble. What if we can't rebuild the ferry?

So you willfully chose to try and sail off with a vessel full of people who had no desire to participate in your plan? It wasn't even a fit of passion, this was planned.

( for him, that actually makes it worse. )

This doesn't sound like something you'd do. How did you get involved in it?

No, that's where we came from and-- the supplies, as well, some of them are from home. So I thought, perhaps, there might be doorways out back to the other worlds, the ones we come from.

[ She might even notice that the voice on the recording is his. ]

That's where we all come in from, so I thought perhaps there would be a way to send us all back.

Dear Cutting Edge, I don't suppose you are to believe anything, I am merely explaining. Convincing anyone of my intention would only serve to clear my conscience, and as that is not the point, I won't waste more time or energy on doing so. I do not know what we will do if we cannot rebuild. I can only attempt to fix what I have broken. Sincerely, Aziraphale.

[She gives him a Look. It's a very teenage sort of look, the one that implies a 'yeah, right' even if it's not spoken out loud. Ah, children. They're a gift - and surprisingly judgmental and fierce. Eleven nods though, and has no intentions of listening to him. Leave friends to fend for themselves - yeah, right.]

Good. I like helping. When do we... start? Who else is helping?

Well, we were supposed to return everyone to where they belonged, and I was sort of told there was someone involved who knew how to operate a ferry, and they were going to do it with or without me and I couldn't very well say no because

[ Because honestly if Crowley comes up with a stupid idea like getting to a portal and trying to space-and-time travel with a bunch of humans then only Aziraphale can talk any sort of sense into him. ]

I thought I could keep everyone safe. And I thought maybe in the case we got out, and couldn't bring anyone back to life -- as a complete last resort -- I could at the very least try and open a pathway to Heaven for a proper judgment. This place is unnatural.

You could have said no. You could have warned others it was bound to happen, instead of leaving so many in the way when it all went south.

Apologies shouldn't be paired with excuses. What you did was selfish, pre-meditated, and hurt every last person here, in one way or another. If you genuinely feel badly for what you did, this isn't the way to show it.

No, dear, I think you've had quite enough to drink.

[ He means it. But-- ]

--Besides, I had a favor to ask you.

So far it's... you and me, and possibly Stone, and I believe Daylight.

[ Oh. That is quite the skeleton crew. ]

And I'll drag Crowley and Soldier by the ears to help, if I must.

Anything.

[He means it, as well. He always does.]

These aren't excuses, Matt, you asked me how I came to be involved. I am sorry for hurting everyone, but I am unable to fully heal anyone or even the ferry. Otherwise, I would have already done so. I am trying to do so manually.

I rather think I need my wings pruned...

[Crowley gives him a small, fond smile]

All right, angel. Spread them out, I'll take care of them for you.

[ With a rustling, he extends his wings in the small room.

They are actually a huge mess, extremely uncared-for, particularly as of late. ]

[Crowley reaches up, giving one side a brush with his hand. He makes a tsk tsk noise with his tongue.]

Because of your arm? Haven't been able to reach back here?

No. I honestly just never do it.

[ He shakes the wings, and so many feathers just fall out. ]

[He lets out a fond sigh. If that isn't Aziraphale, he doesn't know what is.

Crowley brushes his hands through the feathers, gently removing some of the looser ones, straightening out the ones that need it]

Can't be comfortable for you.

Well, I just never find the time!

I don't know how you do it.

[ He could look up from his books and realize that decades have gone past. ]

I just make the time for it, angel.

[He looks down at one of the angel's feathers on the couch next to himself and thinks about the one Xayah has of her lover that she keeps with her. He slips one of Aziraphale's feathers into his pocket and resumes grooming him.]

If you want, I could always do it for you.

[ daylight relaxes a bit when he hears the assurances. only a bit.

especially when the mention of winter pops up. he hadn't thought of that at all during his time here. daylight had been taking it one day at a time, hoping to scoot by with some of his wits together.

which he tries now, hoping to be a reassuring and confident source for this instance- ] Then we'll figure out something with the others. We can work together over this! I'm sure all of us will agree that we don't want any more people hurt.

Okay so... You're a healer, right? So I bet you know more about medicine than I do. [ he only has basic first aid down and, even then, it's not a lot because it concerns his dad's species. ] What's the biggest concern we have to tackle for that sort of situation?

Oh. Could you?

[ He brightens at that.

That does make him feel much better after a draining day, and honestly, a very draining week. ]

Of course. I'll groom yours whenever I groom my own.

[He pauses, straightening another feather]

Course...we could always do each others'. Save time that way.

Page 7 of 12

audio / @hello / open

no subject

audio - @elizabeth;

@cuttingedge; text

no subject

no subject

Re: audio - @elizabeth;

Re: @cuttingedge; text

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject