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 Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2023 11:37 am
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Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2023 11:40 am
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Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2023 11:47 am
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Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2023 9:18 am
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Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2023 9:35 am
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Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2023 9:58 am
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Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2023 10:12 am
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Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2023 11:14 am
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 "Oh!" exclaimed Aziraphale, leaning over to pick up an object from the sidewalk.
"What is it, angel?" asked Crowley, turning to frown at the angel and the interruption to their casual stroll through town.
"A feather!"
"Probably fell off someone's costume, angel," said Crowley. "Don't know why you're getting all worked up about some random feather."
"I thought the same thing, my dear boy," said Aziraphale, straightening up and holding the feather up in front of Crowley's face. "But you can't deny there's an unique energy surrounding it."
Crowley's snake eyes behind his sunglasses instantly locked onto the pink feather in the angel's outstretched hand. The angel was right - this was no ordinary feather from a human creation.
"It can't be," said Crowley, taking the feather from Aziraphale and assessing the energy further. He recognized it.
"Can't be what?" asked Aziraphale, looking at his friend quizzically.
Crowley whipped around, looking from passing face to passing face, searching.
"Crowley?"
"Where are you?" hissed Crowley under his breath. "I know you're here."
"Who's here?"
Crowley's eyes then froze on a single figure standing on the sidewalk, watching them. It was a tall woman, her long dark golden locks cascading over her shoulders; she wore an ensemble of casual shirt and skirt in what Crowley recognized as the usual white tones of upstairs but hers had a faint pink tinge to them.
"Jophiel!"
"Jophiel?" echoed Aziraphale and then looked shocked as Crowley took off across the road, waving at the honking vehicles he passed in front of.
Crowley didn't take his eyes off the figure as he stepped up onto the sidewalk before her.
"You're here..." whispered Crowley.
"Hello Crowley," smiled the woman. |
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Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2023 11:29 am
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"What are you doing here?" asked Crowley.
"Here, as in on this street? Or here, as in on Earth?" Jophiel inquired.
"Yes. I mean, both," stumbled Crowley over his words.
Jophiel chuckled. "I've been taking some time away from Upstairs. I don't think I need to tell you how crazy it's been lately up there. With you being tied up in all that business and such."
"And they just let you do that?"
"I think they have bigger concerns to worry about than some low-level angel."
"You're not a low-level angel. We both know that."
"Technically, that's true," said Jophiel. "But you know the other Archangels don't like to accept that. Especially with... well... you know."
"Honestly, Crowley!" exclaimed Aziraphale, rushing up behind him and pulling the bottom of his waistcoat to straighten it back out. "Just stepping out in front of traffic like that! You could have gotten yourself killed. Well, disincorporated." Then he noticed the woman standing with Crowley. "Oh, hello there."
"Aziraphale," nodded Jophiel in his direction.
Aziraphale blinked in confusion. "Have... Have we met before?"
"No. Surprisingly our paths have never crossed before until now."
"Why would that be a surprise?"
Jophiel's attention then was captured by the feather in Crowley's hand. She gently pulled it out of his hand.
"Oh, it's the feather I found!" said Aziraphale.
"Well... that's interesting," whispered Jophiel.
"Should we be concerned?" asked Crowley.
"Hmm?" said Jophiel, looking up at him. "No. No, I don't think so."
Aziraphale looked between the two of them before huffing in displeasure.
"Could one of you please be so kind as to tell me what's going on here?"
"Perhaps we should continue this discussion at the bookshop."
"The bookshop?!" exclaimed Aziraphale. "Crowley, honestly! Why do you continue to draw this out? I don't understand why you have to keep the identity of your friend here secret until the bookshop."
"Angel," said Crowley, turning to tower over him. "We are going to the bookshop."
Aziraphale stuttered for a moment, glanced over at Jophiel, and then sighed in defeat. "Fine." |
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Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2023 11:43 am
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"Right then, here we are," said Aziraphale, unlocking the front door and stepping in, holding the door open for the other two to step there. "The bookshop. As requested."
"Very good, Angel," said Crowley, stepping through and collapsing into one of the armchairs near a desk in the corner.
"Quite the collection you have," said Jophiel, as she followed and started gazing at the titles visible from the shelves near her.
"I take pride in owning only the best and rare qualities for all of my books."
"Own?" said Jophiel, looking over at him.
"It may be a book*shop*," explained Crowley, "but he has this weird thing of not wanting to actually sell any of his books. Let alone have anyone touch them."
"I see," said Jophiel, smirking.
"If you are done teasing about my preferences, could we get to the matter at hand?" said Aziraphale, glaring at Crowley, before turning his attention back to the woman. "Now, if you would be so kind as to introduce yourself, seeing as Crowley refuses to do so."
"I wasn't refusing," retorted Crowley. "It's just not something that should be shared out loud in the middle of the street."
"And why's that? Clearly the two of you know each other. Another demon perhaps?"
"No," said Crowley. "She is most definitely not a demon."
"Then who is she?"
"If I may," said Jophiel.
"Please," said Aziraphale.
"My name is Jophiel. Crowley was right in regards to keeping my identity on the down low as... I didn't exactly get permission to come down here for a spell."
"Down here?"
"She's an Archangel, angel," said Crowley. "Well... technically she is. She never officially was demoted after... well... everything."
"You're... You're from Heaven?!" exclaimed Aziraphale, staring at her in shock.
"I was once one of the many head Archangels. I once lead 53 legions, if I remember correctly."
"But you don't now?"
"It seems that my affiliation with Crowley here - we were good friends before the Fall, you see - has... tainted my pureness," explained Jophiel. She held up the pink feather. "I'm still technically an angel but no longer am given command of any legions these days. I have a feeling they don't really know what to do with me anymore. Not a full angel but not a full demon either. Just... somewhere in the middle."
"That's your feather!"
Jophiel nodded in confirmation.
"And how long have you been down here on Earth?"
Jophiel turned to grab a book from one of the piles near her and flipped through the pages. "About... four years or so."
"Four years?" said Crowley, sitting up.
"You mean... you've been down here since..."
"Since the supposed end of times," said Jophiel, looking over at them. "Yes. As I told Crowley, they've had other more important things to worry about Upstairs than to keep track of their... problem."
"You're not a problem," said Crowley.
"Really don't need to say that," said Jophiel, setting the book down. "But thanks, none the less." |
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