(catch-all)(closed) the days don't stop coming

[benedicus]

Who: Aziraphale & Others (closed prompts!)
When: various points of Aguril.
Where: specified in prompts.
What: catch-all log for the month.
Warnings: language, unfortunate TF stuff, UST, suspicious flowers, temporary paralysis, non-suspicious flowers, two cats & a turtle.



art by decalian1!

( CROWLEY | CROWLEY (FULL MOON) | LEVI | SIEG )

Comments

CROWLEY ◈ 2ND ◈ LÙNASA

[benedicus]

( for as unfortunate and horrid as the entire place was, aziraphale couldn't deny the fact that he was absolutely enamoured with the entire idea of lùnasa. an entire festival dedicated to marriage and everlasting love! what a beautiful and wonderful thing.

he was also rather fascinated by the fact that the bonding ceremony and a wedding ceremony were entirely different. he hardly knew what to think upon finding out that they were two separate beasts entirely and that one may have one without the other. it seemed a little unthinkable not to be bonded with the person you married. wouldn't that be the first person you would want to bond with? )

Crowley.

( said as they linger in front of one of the shops, the window display full of decorative hearts and a wide array of potions. there's a large sign, advertising the fact that they make the best lovemaking potions in all of aefenglom. a novel thought, but he didn't care about finding out what it meant.

no, he was still thinking about the concept of bonds and their place within this society. )

Have you given any thought to the necessity of a bond?

[sparkofgoodness]

[ Crowley's mind had been wandering as he stared at the display. He'd been considering the difficulty of wedding outfits for monstrous folk. Presumably tailors here cater to strange body-shapes, to big tails or... big feet or... well, whatever else. Wouldn't it look a bit funny though? Would that be unfortunate, to look a bit weird on your wedding day? Maybe that's just him, though, not being used to seeing a werewolf in a wedding dress. Maybe it looks normal to people here. He gives a vague sound of assent as Aziraphale says his name, still thinking about werewolves in wedding dresses (or a tux?) when the follow up question finally processes.

Has he considered a bond?

He looks over sharply, suddenly in the here and now, and frowns. ]

Err, not really. Seems like it's working fine for now, yeah?

[ Only, a thought occurs to him. ]

Why, you thinking of... bonding?

[ Not that he cares, obviously, Aziraphale can do whatever he wants! Doesn't matter!

... But is he thinking of it? ]

[benedicus]

( "for now", he says.

from how he understands it, it isn't too big of an issue for crowley or any other so-called witches for that matter to forgo forging a bond with someone else. the risks were entirely different! and supposedly very solvable if you weren't one of the beast-folk. magical overload was a much less pressing issue than lunacy.

aziraphale absolutely doesn't want to allow such a thing to happen to himself. )

Why, yes. I have been giving it a great deal of thought.

( and a considerable measure of research beyond the very graphic and thorough conversation he had had about it with someone much more knowledgeable than himself about these matters. )

It has been made clear to me that due to. . . well, the, ah, situation that I have found myself in, it would be in my best interests to invest in one sooner rather than later.

[sparkofgoodness]

[ Right, right, he... had technically been aware of that but... well. So often these things don't apply to them, it's hard to remember that they do. Even with the... fur patch situation, and just seemed all so unlikely.

These things just don't happen to them.

Only, apparently now they do. ]

Right, yeah, 'course.

[ Casual, casual. He looks back into the shop window, frowning in thought as his mind rapidly turns over this new information. ]

Got... anyone in mind?

[ To... bond with? Just curious. Just... you know. As a friend. Curious. ]

[benedicus]

( that is a very reasonable question to ask. unfortunately, aziraphale doesn't have much of an answer for him yet. if he were going to be completely and perfectly honest, he would like to ask crowley about potentially forming a bond with him. he's the best possible choice.

that is, of course, not because he is especially fond of him. of course not. it was more of a matter that crowley had already started to see some of what was happening with him and they did already live together. not to mention the fact that they have known each other for so long already.

it was all very logical.

although, he did fear it might make things . . . weird. )

I admit, I am not quite sure.

( he glances over to crowley. this wasn't the ideal conversation to have while looking over love making potions. )

It is a big decision to make. There is no denying that it's all rather intimate, even if it is necessary. It would feel inappropriate to have that sort of relationship with someone I did not know well.

( otherwise, wouldn't it be simple to put out an ad in the paper or something? )

Oh! It has come to my attention that it's possible to bond with a familiar in the meantime.

[sparkofgoodness]

Right, 'course, a familiar. Short term. Can't you do... temporary bonds as well? Think I read that. You know, something to just -- tide you over. Big decision and all.

[ Wouldn't want to jump into it, rush things. Wouldn't want to make a big commitment like that without at least trying it out.

So, a temporary bond is probably a good idea! Very logical. Little steps. ]

[benedicus]

You can, yes.

( he seems a little surprised that crowley had known that much. when had he been looking into it? he hardly needed one, didn't he? seemed like a waste of his time.

he taps a finger to his chin. )

But isn't that more of the same issue? Just simply not. . . long term?

( it made more sense to get a pet and then find someone to commit to for the duration. so to speak! )

CROWLEY ◈ 3RD ◈ FULL MOON

[benedicus]

( it starts as a persistent itch underneath his skin when the sun dips past the horizon. a frustrating, nagging feeling, but one that he can ignore if he puts his mind to it and focuses his thoughts. he tries to keep himself occupied, alternating between reading some of the books he had gotten his hands on and menial tasks. little, simple things that he could easily pick up; organising the kitchen, sweeping the floor, refolding his clothes in the dresser, or anything else that seems like decent busywork.

something has to help.

none of it does.

he feels too restless and disjointed, barely able to keep to one singular thing. his mind feels too busy, full of half-formed thoughts and impulses, and he vaguely wonders if he had fallen ill. this is the sort of thing that happened to mortals, wasn't it? they got sick all the time! from virtually anything at all! he feels upsettingly trapped between doing everything and nothing at all.

gradually, the itch becomes a pain. it burns its way across his limbs, sharp and distracting. it's enough to take him by surprise. aziraphale isn't used to pain, isn't used to hurting at all. he was sn angel, for heaven's sake! there wasn't much that could tear at him, but this does.

it hurts, it hurts, it hurts.

panic starts to rise in his throat, forming a heavy lump there. was this supposed to be happening? was this normal or was he falling apart? he thinks about calling for crowley, about requesting his help, but he thinks better of it. he doesn't feel like he should involve him. what could he even do? he retreats to the safety of his bedroom, hoping to hide himself away until whatever this is manages to pass.

surely, it would pass.

he lays on his bed in the darkness of his bedroom for what feels like it must be ages, years upon years, and the pain doesn't lessen. it only manages to steadily get worse, making him feel disconnected and foreign in his own skin. he feels barely tethered to the flesh, as if he might simply fall out of it at any given moment. part of him hopes that he would.

understanding clicks into place when he feels something sprout from the crown of his head.

he fails to stop the yell that it rips from him. )

[sparkofgoodness]

[ Aziraphale is in a mood.

He's been pacing about all night, fussing, and from where Crowley is draped across the couch he's been able to track his movements. He distantly asks if Aziraphale is feeling alright, but isn't certain the question is even processed properly. Maybe he just needs some sleep, Crowley reasons. Maybe he's tired? Humans get funny when they're tired, and they both need to sleep now. Maybe it's that?

When Aziraphale excuses himself to his room, Crowley assumes he was right. That's it, then! Just tired! He pulls himself together and puts away the book he was reading, absently putters around the kitchen a bit before deciding maybe he should just go sleep himself.

He's got as far as getting into his getting into his pyjamas and brushing his teeth when he hears the scream.

Aziraphale is someone that Crowley would class as easily startled, but this sound feels wrong. He spits out toothpaste hurriedly and dries his hands and face, paces out into the hallway. ]

Aziraphale?

[ Maybe he just... saw a big spider or something? You know, just -- something normal that might make a person jump? ]

Aziraphale?!

[ Only what if it isn't that. Suitably nervous now, he paces over to Aziraphale's door and knocks rapidly. ]

Aziraphale? Aziraphale! I'm coming in --

[ And he pushes open the door, hoping his nerves are about to be eased. ]

[benedicus]

( the sight that greets crowley isn't a reassuring one. if anything, it was more along the lines of an outright nightmare, one that was far more imaginative than either of them could dream up. aziraphale has started to curl in on himself, knees starting to pull up to his chest, as he keeps his hands pressed flat against the new pair of ears that had decided to make an appearance tonight.

they are soft and fuzzy underneath his palms.

his gaze snaps upwards when he eventually acknowledges crowley's presence, his eyes glinting unnaturally in the low light. )

Crowley—

( he tries, voice sounding unnaturally harsh. it barely sounds like it belongs to him at all.

he screws his eyes shut. )

Please.

( leave.

stay with him.

leave.

stay with him.

he doesn't know what he wants, but he surely wants crowley to do something for him. )

[sparkofgoodness]

[ Something is clearly happening, and Crowley has absolutely no idea how to handle it.

No idea at all!

Aziraphale's eyes glint in the darkness like something out of a horror film, and he's clearly in distress. Is he about to just burst into a furry mess of werewolf and eat him? Werewolves sometimes writhe about and scream as they change, don't they? Should have gone for the chained up in the basement routine, clearly. Crowley is about to discorporate, and who knows when he'll find a body again in this place. ]

I'm here.

[ It sounds weak, nervous, because he doesn't know what he's meant to do. He doesn't know what Aziraphale wants him to do. Slowly, Crowley paces closer -- hands out in front of himself like he's sneaking up on a wild animal. Maybe he is. ]

It's alright, angel.

[ Is it? No idea, but it sounds a good thing to say doesn't it? Gentle, reassuring, soothing. The sort of thing you might say to a frightened dog you don't want to turn on you. ]

[benedicus]

( soothing is probably the very, bitter last way that aziraphale would think to describe absolutely anything about the situation including the way that crowley is talking to him now. he knows that he is trying his best in an unfamiliar and terrifying situation, but it doesn't help for him to say that it was alright. nor does his tone. things could not feasibly be less alright right now.

everything was wrong, everything was terrible, and the worst part is the way that crowley keeps inching forward. hands raised, movements slow, and aziraphale feels just a bit like a wild animal that has been caged up in this room.

maybe he is. but he won't accept it. )

I do not— This is not—

( he tries, but the words stumble on his tongue. he wants to shout, wants to say the numerous things that are on his mind and that he feels he should definitely make crowley aware of. this is not alright. this is not going to be alright. he was not going to hurt him.

for as bad and upsetting as this night was, he wasn't going to allow himself to do anything that might cause harm to crowley. he wouldn't. he couldn't. it was unthinkable. he would not allow himself to become some. . . unsafe thing! transformation into a beastfolk or not.

aziraphale lets out a weak noise. )

It is getting worse.

[sparkofgoodness]

Yeah, can see that.

[ He moves up beside Aziraphale, still slow, then carefully lays a hand on his upper arm. His eyes rapidly flit over the angel, trying to discern information quickly, when his eyes are drawn to the way his hands are clutched at his head. ]

Hurts?

[ An easy confirmation, yes or no. Crowley hesitates a long moment, then begins to clamber up onto the bed beside Aziraphale -- he's clearly in distress so decorum is straight out the window. Doesn't matter what happens later, what's important is right now. What's important is getting him through this. ]

LEVI ◈ MID AGURIL ◈ ANTLER FRUIT

[benedicus]

( one of the more annoying and frustrating parts of being cursed to a mortal existence was the constant and regular need for income. aziraphale had spent the entirety of the previous month working in a bakery, which was very enjoyable and fulfilling work, but he hadn't been hired on to remain as a permanent employee. he did understand that, of course, they had their pick between skilled applicants and aziraphale simply didn't have the same sort of experience underneath his belt.

as a result, he had decided to try his hand at taking up some of the advertisements he had seen in the morning news paper. which, interestingly enough, had brought him out to the freezing cold in search of a rare deer with another young gentleman who seemed to be more suited to the task than himself. actually, he wondered if he needed be there at all.

but he was here, wasn't he?

he turns towards the gentleman to his right. )

You wouldn't happen to have any experience in tracking. . . animals, would you?

wow this took forever i'm sorry

[dirtdevil]

[ mortals, am i right? with their "employment" and their "dying," who do they think they are??

anyway, sometimes you just gotta do random odd jobs to get by. it's not convenient, but he's not used to anything being convenient, anyway. most of them also carry a much lower chance of dying a horrifying death (mortals), though, so that's a plus. the only problem is that he's extremely good at what he usually does and not a lot else. there's never been a reason or even an excuse to branch out from that.

not until he ended up here, anyway. now, he's been charged with plucking fruit off the antlers of a live animal so he can deliver it to some place he has never been called Worse Dragon because it's like some kind of weird sex thing, he thinks, what the fuck. in any case, he certainly does have experience tracking... other things, but less so animals. animals have never been the problem. ]

Not exactly. Can't be much more complicated than looking for tracks and fur and shit, though, right?

[ and by "and shit," he means actual shit. he's not very excited about this. ]

s'all good

[benedicus]

( as far as excitement went, the both of them were in complete agreement. aziraphale was not all that enthused either, but the options were rather limited. limited and most of them highly dangerous. there was yet to be any suitable compensation that would drive him to consider willingly endangering himself. most likely never would be either.

this, at least, shouldn't be too bad. how much issue could a deer present?

although, it is a pity that this gentleman isn't any more versed in hunting animals than he is. )

Something like that, yes. Although, I suppose that might be a bit difficult to find fur in this sort of weather.

( that is with snow on everything. tracks should be simple enough, shouldn't it? he isn't going to start a search for the third item on the gentleman's list. )

Should we start with tracks? I believe we passed by a creek earlier. Perhaps that might be a good place to start?

[dirtdevil]

—Right. Albino. Must've slipped my mind.

[ god. why couldn't they just be purple or something? what a pain in the ass. ]

And I'm sure finding shed antlers would be way too convenient. We might as well backtrack.

[ he knows the way, at the very least. getting lost out here would be deeply unfortunate. ]

[benedicus]

( the simple answer for that was, of course, because nothing was ever easy. although one might argue that was the sheer fun of it, aziraphale didn't exactly think that fun was a priority for this.

efficiency, however, would be.

he laughs a little, already accepting the idea that this was likely going to be a trial. )

I suppose if we don't jinx it, we might find ourselves fortunate.

( hopefully, anyway.

thinks good thoughts and good things will come and all that. )

[dirtdevil]

[ prooobably just as well he doesn't expect this to be fun. even if the job itself was intended to be fun, Levi is decidedly not the right guy to partner up with if you're looking for a good time. ]

Maybe so.

[ pause. ]

Or maybe we'll fuck up and end up blind for awhile.

[ yep. a real fun magnet, this one. ]

SIEG ◈ MID AGURIL ◈ HAZARD AT THE HARBOUR

[benedicus]

( one of the nastier beliefs of the past had been that children should enter the workforce early and earn their keep rather than spend their time in school where they truly belonged. they had worked long hours at brutal, demanding jobs and the idea of it had never sit right with aziraphale. factories and the like were not a place where any child should be.

humans were such fragile things. the pittance of money they were offered for the work was hardly enough to justify the damage done to their health. it was more than disheartening to see that aefenglom still practiced such a thing. it made sense, of course, considering that many things here were outdated (even by his standards), but disapponting nonsense.

his face pinches as he turns over to his company for the day. they've talked to both some of the lords as well as the children and it was feeling more and more horrid to side with the lords. )

How do you feel about this? This— ( he makes a loose hand gesture. ) —situation with the children?

[heartmunculus]

[Sieg has a weird relationship to children, which is that he's only really ever known one and she was a collection of souls that made up a murderous little girl.

Does he have any idea what kids are supposed to do? Not really.]

Is this how children are supposed to be treated...? It doesn't seem right.

[Were these kids even given a choice? Was this the only way for them to earn a living?]

[benedicus]

No, no! Certainly not!

( an immediate answer. )

This hardly favourable conditions for an adult, much less a child.

( which is true. this kind of work is already very brutal and children were not nearly as resilient as humans wanted to pretend they were. not to mention that this was a simply horrible way for them to spend their childhoods, but aziraphale already knows that they can't do much about that. )

If they're bound to this sort of situation, shouldn't we try to help make it more bearable for them?

[heartmunculus]

[That sure answers Sieg's questions. Children shouldn't be doing this line of work, but some of them don't really have much of a choice if they want to earn some money to survive.

Sieg knows nothing about child labor laws and its unlikely that kind of thing even exists around here.]

I don't know how to start.

[Of course he wants to help, but where do they even begin?]

[benedicus]

( aziraphale nods at that. he is right to be given pause. it is no small undertaking and there was only so much that they could even do themselves to help the situation. )

Yes, yes, that is the trouble, isn't it? Too much that could be done, but so little time.

( he offers the young man a small smile. )

I would like to think that we ought to teach them how to make a proper nuisance out of themselves, how about you? Learn how to negotiate for better conditions?

[heartmunculus]

... Do they need a list of demands first? Or does that come after making a fuss?