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

[ A much as people keep saying the bonding ceremony can be platonic, it does feel... well. Feels like it isn't, but maybe that's just Crowley.

Maybe he simply can't imagine this sort of thing being that way because he isn't used to it.

Maybe because he doesn't want it to be.

He offers Aziraphale his arm, and tries very hard not to think too much about what they're doing. Going to ask about a bonding ritual.

To bond. The both of them.

To be bonded. ]

Let's go find out, shall we? I know I read that they're doing them. Maybe there's a tent or something. Always tents in festivals, aren't there?

[ He actually read about the weddings and handfastings being performed, and he's simply assuming there's probably less fussy bonding ceremonies too.

Maybe.

Probably. ]

( he looks at the offered arm with a great deal of hesitation, clearly internally struggling with the idea of actually taking it. he supposed he should, shouldn't he? they were going to get bonded and wouldn't it do to look at least somewhat compatible? it did, however, also seem like a bit much.

walking in there arm in arm! how shameless!

weren't people going to look? )

A tent.

( he repeats as if the word leaves a bad taste in his mouth.

he takes another glance at crowley's arm, frowning, before waving him off. he understands he should care about appearances, but he couldn't exactly do that yet. so brazenly take crowley's arm out in public. )

I am sure it will stand out. It seems like the sort of the thing that they'd like to draw attention to.

( he steps away from the shop then, heading towards the direction of where he knows the festival will surely be. it wasn't going to do them any good to just stand around here. if they could at least get to the festival grounds, they could inquire about where to go.

yes.

in order to have a bonding ceremony performed. today. )

[ Crowley feels, very briefly, a touch of loss at the way he's brushed off.

Right. Platonic. Nothing to it. No need to turn it into something it isn't. Different sides. Nothing in common. All that jazz. ]

Yeah, sure, bound to be a big thing.

[ He shoves his hands into his pockets, tells the ache of rejection to shut up and stop being foolish. Time to start walking. Walk off the feeling. ]

Right, sooner we get this done sooner you can start feeling better about it all! C'mon then.

[ Crowley begins walking at a brisk pace, glancing back to make sure Aziraphale is following. Walk it off! That's all he needs to do. ]

( oh.

aziraphale's frown deepens as he watches crowley stomp off, obviously bothered by that exchange. was it the arm thing? did he truly want to walk there arm in arm like that? well, apparently so if he were going to take on an attitude about it.

he needed to temper his expectations! )

Crowley-!

( he calls before moving to catch up to his pace. he pinches the corner of crowley's sleeve as something of a halfway point, trying to meet him somewhere in the middle about it, and to force him to slow down a little. )

Slow down, there's no need to start rushing.

( his nerves couldn't take it. )

I'm not rushing, I'm walking at a normal speed. You walk too slowly.

[ He does slow down, though, giving Aziraphale a sideways loft of an eyebrow then dropping his eyes to the hand on his sleeve. His gaze lingers on it a few seconds before darting away into the street.

Don't think about it. Don't think about it, Anthony J Crowley, don't say anything, don't do it! It'll all be a mistake and then it'll be a nightmare to unravel! ]

I do not walk too slowly!

( an immediate protest, fingers tightening on crowley's sleeve. he doesn't let go of him, however, instead offering him a small tug. )

Should we celebrate afterwards? It would be a little tacky, don't you think, if we simply went about our day afterwards?

Celebrate?

[ So they can celebrate but he cant -- no, don't interrogate the thought process here. That way lies madness. Crowley makes a vague sound of consideration, resigning himself to this whole thing being a constant flip-flop. ]

Yeah, why not. Nice glass of wine, maybe?

[ A guess as to what Aziraphale might be thinking. That sort of celebration? ]

With dinner, perhaps?

( that seems adequate, doesn't it? to perform the bonding ceremony and then have a nice dinner together. of course, they usually had dinner together but today would be a little different.

he can't shake the idea that the whole . . . bonding. . . thing was important, so it needed to be treated with some importance. )

I think it would be nice.

[ Dinner.

Crowley slows to a full halt, turning this over. ]

Yeah. Dinner be nice, angel.

[ He seems placated, at least, the last dregs of irritation falling away and the tension in his body-language easing. ]

Sure we can splash out for something nice.

[ Actually worrying about currency is such a pain, but unfortunately they can't opt out here. ]

( fortunately, aziraphale has been on top of the issue of currency here. he has been taking pains to ensure that they both of them could have enough money to be comfortable and he occasionally found it to be a little fun as well. not always, but it was certainly an experience anyway. they, obviously, couldn't live as they did before when any cheque could be resolved by the wave of a hand and a minor miracle, but it was a start.

aziraphale finally smiles, wide and bright at crowley's acceptance. )

We can afford it.

( he says, confident. )

I believe there's a very cute place not far from here. I know I passed by it the other week. I can only hope they're not too packed with the festival going on.

( then he spots an impressively massive tent just a little ways in the distance, decorated with warm colours and a very clear sign that meant it was indeed the tent they were looking for. he still thinks that this was probably not the proper way to do this, something akin to a quick vegas marriage that he always hears about, but thankfully, the tent itself doesn't seem to be too tacky.

it seems they had made some attempt at making it look official, particularly with the woman in white robes standing at the entrance who was clearly managing all foot traffic. no gawkers, it seems. probably for the best. )

Oh! Speaking of.

Edited 2020-09-13 02:56 (UTC)

[ Ah. This does rather appear like it might be it, and reality is suddenly flooding over Crowley rather quickly.

Bonding.

His mouth feels a little dry.

The tent doesn't look... religiously inclined in any way, at least. So that's... good? That's good. Means he'll be safe to go in. He feels like his pulse is racing in a way his mortal form doesn't normally experience. Is that weird? Is he sick? Shouldn't be this fast, should it? Can get sick now, after all. Is he going to have a heart attack? Crowley runs his tongue across his teeth, squirming internally, and tries to ignore the jangling nerves vibrating under his skin.

Act normal. Attitude is half the battle.

He saunters up, hands in his pockets, and gives the woman at the entrance his most charming smile. ]

Hi! This the place to do some bonding then? Saw all the wedding tents but, you know, we were thinking of giving the bonding bit a go.

[ 'Give it a go', as if it was something they might casually try and then change their mind about. He scrunches his face a little, fleetingly annoyed at himself, then glances back to Aziraphale for confirmation. Yes? ]

( for a shining moment, aziraphale had been under the impression that crowley was going to take charge of the situation and help direct the both of them through it. a sense of relief and appreciation had started to bubble up within him from that. he barely knew what he was supposed to say or do because for as much as he knew about bonding, he hardly knew anything about the actual process of it. what was the ceremony like? was there a kiss to seal as with a wedding? vows? a physical symbol to be worn?

unfortunately, the illusion of competence is shattered as soon as crowley opens his mouth to say something flighty and dismissive to the young lady at the entrance.

give the bonding bit a go?

the look on his face is incredulous when crowley finally looks back over to him. )

Please do excuse him.

( said a little sharply. he folds his hands in front of himself and steps a little closer to the attendant to take over the conversation before she got the wrong idea. )

We would like to arrange a ceremony. Would that be something that we would need to register for?

( is that how they arranged this? while he isn't clear about how the process works to make this happen, he is positive that there is going to be paperwork involved for it. the attendant confirms that for him as well. she explains that there is no appointment required nor a fee, but indeed a form to be filled out.

she turns around to partially slip inside the tent, procuring a clipboard from within. she asks a series of standard questions (name, residence, designation, and so forth) then hands it over to crowley to sign at the bottom.

"sign here," she says and then looks over at aziraphale. "did the two of you prepare vows?"

oh. so there is vows to be exchanged. nevertheless, it isn't a question that aziraphale has an answer for. he glances over at crowley. )

W-well, I don't believe so?

[ Points for trying?

No?

All right then.

Crowley signs with a flourish, then flicks his eyes up at the question and exchanges a glance with Aziraphale.

Who is looking at him.

Why would he have prepared anything? Spur of the moment, wasn't it? ]

Err -- nnnnno, no, nothing prepared. Thought there might be something... traditional?

[ You know, pre-written? By someone else? Who isn't... him? ]

( he isn't entirely sure why he had turned towards crowley, but he felt like he needed to make sure that this was still something he wanted to do. the topic of vows had instantly made aziraphale feel a little skittish and a part of him had thought that the same feeling might have risen in crowley as well.

if it had, he couldn't tell.

the woman looks over them and nods before handing the clipboard over to aziraphale to sign. she explains there is no need to worry and they have a very nice set of traditional vows that they'll be walked through when the time comes. )

Yes, yes. That would be fine. It would. . . Well! Traditional would be best in this case, I believe.

( as soon as they have aziraphale's signature, the both of them are ushered inside and instructed only to wait.

it's rather nice and roomy on the inside, but it comes as little comfort. )

Oh. This is much more well put together than I was expecting.

[ Would traditional be best?

Crowley has doubts.

What are the traditional vows? Be easier to judge if he knew.

No time to worry about that, apparently, they're inside now.

Here Crowley is, merrily digging his own grave again.

He glances around warily, trying to see if he can spot any religious iconography that might indicate he's imminently about to feel regret over being here. ]

Nice for a tent.

[ His eyebrows loft a little as he takes it in, trying to act as cool as he can.

Internal alarm bells are ringing. The kind of stomach-knotting alarm bells that tell him he's merrily standing on tracks, facing the wrong direction, and a train is speeding up behind him with no brakes. ]

Suppose it is an official thing. Do you think it comes with a bit of paper?

[ Since they did... sign things? Do they get some official certificate after too? Humans love official bits of paper. ]

( thankfully, for everyone's sake, the tent doesn't feature any sort of religious decoration or symbols. it is, instead, littered with bright flowers and cheery heart decorations. it gives the whole place an air of. . . well, those famous little chapels out in las vegas where couples got married within minutes. or was it hours? either way, it was certainly a quick affair.

in and out.

for unions that were also famously short.

a part of him does wonder if this will be short-lived as well. )

It should, shouldn't it? As proof?

( it was just one of those things that he expected to be kept track of. surely, they kept track of civil unions, so bondings must also be. otherwise it would be something of a massive oversight, wouldn't it? )

I imagine it's important after all that talk about how destructive it is not to have a bond.

( and for cases of emergency, he imagines.

but there's another thought. )

Do you think they do arranged bonding? Setting up two people for their own good or the like?

Arranged bonding?

[ Repeated carefully, as if Crowley is weighing up the concept even as he takes in the flowers and gentle décor. ]

Suppose they might. Seems like a convenience thing for some, right? Mutually beneficial situation. Seen lots of folk using the little watches to ask about bonds, or how they find someone to bond with. Or find their friends someone. You know, set them up. Suppose that's nearly an arranged thing.

[ Just less officially so when it's your friend trying to hook you up, not like a professional going through a list of preferences or anything. ]

( admittedly, he was thinking more along like the lines of a service or perhaps arranged by the individual's family. however, he does think that the whole concept of using the watch for something of that nature to be a little bit ingenious.

people always make due, don't they! )

Do they? I don't glance at the watch much. I do like the idea of it, but it's just a bit—

( pausing as he glances at a painting that looks very much like a traditional wedding and not a "bonding ceremony". was that what it was supposed to look like? he can feel anxiety rising back up within him. his hands feel shaky, but he looks back to crowley. )

Ah, you know, I did briefly consider. . . Well, making a request on there for myself. Something like a personal ad you'd see in the paper.

( he's not sure why he's saying that. probably shouldn't. )

But I do think this was quite the adequate solution.

[ Crowley stares at Aziraphale, absorbing this sentence. ]

Adequate?

[ Aziraphale really has a way with words. ]

Oh, don't go too overboard.

[ Really laying out the compliments, making a demon feel wanted.

Adequate. ]

Edited (punctuation ) 2020-12-04 00:51 (UTC)

( perhaps that wasn't the best way to say that. he should probably use some stronger words than that since they were out here for the sake of getting bonded together even if it were only going to be a temporary thing.

well, he had said that earlier, but he doesn't imagine that either of them actually would go back on it once they had completed the ceremony. )

Well—

( he starts, tugging at the cuff of a sleeve. )

No, no, it's nice. I mean, I'm relieved that it's you. We make a jolly good team and all that!

( that's probably a bit too much. )

Oh you're relieved are you?

[ Alright, this is overall better than adequate but still. He's reeling from that one. Adequate! ]

You're lucky we're already in the tent.

[ A mild enough threat, which he doesn't particularly mean. Honestly, though! ]

( while he knows that he is on the losing end of this conversation, that does nothing to dissuade him from wanting to fight against it. he makes a frustrated face over at crowley, puffing up and ready to go on the defensive in some attempt to recover his misstep. )

No, listen here—

( he starts, flipping his palm through the air as if that might display his displeasure. aziraphale doesn't manage to actually present any argument however before one of the attendants pushes open the curtains to greet them. with a glance at the clipboard in her hand, she turns to them and asks if they were ready to continue forward.

the question feels a bit like a shock. he had been thinking that he would have a little more time, that the both of them would wait for much longer than this before they were prepared to usher them into the next stage. suddenly, this seems a little too fast. he hasn't seen anyone else around, but surely there is someone else waiting? surely, there are other couples seeking to get bonded right now and in this particular tent?

no?

he smiles, awkward and nervous. )

Yes, of course.

( then he reaches for crowley's hand in a slightly challenging manner. to show him that it was fine! that he was indeed a perfectly acceptable partner! )

[ Crowley isn't sure he's been threatened with handholding before, but there's a first time for everything. He takes Aziraphale's hand warily, flashes him a too-wide smile then turns to the attendant. ]

Of course.

[ Fine, everything's fine. He grips Aziraphale's hand slightly too tightly, and then paces through to the next area as they're waved in. There's another witch sorting through some paperwork. The space feels... small, private, and Crowley feels himself clocking that the only exit is back the way they came.

Should someone want to run away.

Which, clearly, he doesn't. ]

Ready to bond?

[ Muttered under his breath, somewhat accusingly. ]

( this is happening.

this is happening right now, on this day, and at this time and it is already far too late to back out. although, a quiet part of his mind does wonder if that is actually true and if he could actually raise a fuss and simply walk out if he so chooses. he would think so, after all, since the whole thing is optional. it's just that he has no intention of doing so.

absolutely not.

he's already signed the forms, he's already holding crowley's hand just as tightly as it is being held, and already being led into a very intimate area of the tent. it's dimmer than where they were waiting, lit up entirely by rows of candles, and decorated with an overabundance of flowers. they litter the walls, the ground, and nearly every available surface.

it almost makes the witch waiting within feel out of place in her heavy robe as she nonchalantly continues to work.

or maybe it was just aziraphale who felt like he couldn't breathe in here. )

I am perfectly ready. Positively ecstatic!

( he forces out, voice sounding a little too shrill, as he makes an incomprehensible motion with his free hand to show just how sure he is. it's doubtful that it actually comes off that way.

in the background, the witch who had guided them there approaches the other to show her the clipboard, tapping at a spot on the clipped paper. )

Are you?

[ This is going well. Crowley feels on edge, but Aziraphale is starting to sound on the edge of hysteria.

The flowers are a bit much, admittedly, and the candles feel like they're tempting fate. Are tents flammable? ]

Err, yeah, ready. Obviously. Completely ready. We, uh, signing more things then or --

[ Oh, right, the... vows bit. Crowley leans forward to peer at the clipboard, face scrunching as he reads.

Vows. Right. Great. Who isn't a big fan of vows? ]

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

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