Cheeky piece

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Its a video call of one Anthony J. Crowley stepping out of a posh building eating a vanilla and chocolate swirled cone. ]

When you think about it sixty-five million isn't really so much to ask for a place like this in the middle of New York. Especially with all those terraces. Parking space for two cars. Concierge. More bedroom space than I'll ever need. And... ha! This might be the best part!

[ He laughed and attached a quick image to the post. ]

They don't want to take that painting with them so it would come with the place! You're an art restorer, what do you think of it, Mr. Fell? Cheeky piece. It's a bit like that play we saw last week, the one where you got all annoyed with me for magically upgrading our seats. I didn't hear you complaining when we ended up with that private box though did I?

[ He paused for a thoughtful lick of chocolate before it ran down the cone. ]

I never even dreamed of owning a place like this one before so of course I signed. What is the point of magic if you can't indulge?

Comments

[temptationaccomplished]

[Anthony's tongue was really something wicked.]

There was the holy water, though that didn't seem very urgent. ...And the boy. Warlock.

[He'd tried to avoid mentioning Warlock much, or thinking about him, for a long while. He hadn't even really discussed much beyond the magic routine itself from his more recent memory because, well. It had been young Warlock's birthday.]

[scotch_egg]

Yeah yeah. [he relaxed a bit too, shifting to flop his legs over Anthony's and folded his arms. Across the way the man across the street started to do the naked parade back and forth across his living room. Seemed to be doing some sort of workout]

You ever think about moving from the city one day.

[serpentinthegarden]

Can't think of why I would have wanted it. I can't even touch mum's necklace without getting a burn these days... That stuff would be so much worse.

[ A memory came to mind of tucking a sweet yet not entirely innocent boy into bed and singing him a lullaby about dreaming of pain. A charming scene, he supposed. Warlock. He didn't look like anyone deserving of death so why had he been trying to get Fell to kill him? ]

The kid can't have anything to do with it. He's just a kid...

[serpentinthegarden]

[ That was certainly a thing... Jumping jacks. A poor choice for a naked workout really. ]

Yeah... Or buying curtains.


You? Even if you stayed in the city you could find a better place than this.

[scotch_egg]

[it was impressive in a grotesque way]

Not me. [not because he loved it, he hated it. But there was no point moving somewhere for just another year or two. May as well stay where he was used to for now and keep an eye on some ginger idiot.

At Anthony's words he snorted]

Can I talk about this without you pushing me about your bloody flat.

[serpentinthegarden]

Did I say anything about my bloody flat? Did I say one word!

You don't want any part of it, fine, but you could still find a nicer place than this. Not every building is so run down.

[ Hmph. Toe touches... There was another exercise move one shouldn't do pant-less in front of a huge window. ]

Or has such neighbors!

[temptationaccomplished]

["So much worse." SO MUCH WORSE? It would KILL you, you idiot! The very thought of holy water terrified him.]

He is. ...I don't know.

Maybe Hell knew you were in cahoots with a human? Although I can't see why you keeping a human with a damned soul would be objectionable to them.

[scotch_egg]

And how do you think I'm going to afford it? [he wasn't even sure how he was going to keep affording this one but he knew better than to bring that up]

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Sensing the hidden fluttering... ok, maybe he had underplayed that a little but it wasn't like he had never touched the stuff before. Before all these memories it was fine, just water as it should have been! It was difficult to think of it as being anything harmful. ]

Maybe you didn't have a damned soul.

I've been wondering about that with your magic circle. You might have been looking for a power up or maybe the kid was your problem, something you wanted me to solve for you. Maybe Hell didn't like you having a pet demon.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Details... ]

You have medical leave, don't you?

[ A shift away from the window as he didn't even want to guess what was happening over there now! ]

I could help...

[temptationaccomplished]

How can one be in love with a demon and not be damned for eternity?

[He wrinkled his nose. Aziraphale really didn't like that the child could have been his problem and he tried to get Anthony to take care of him. Granted, that sounded like something that might happen, if he was honest with himself (which he didn't want to be), but he wanted to think it was at the very least their shared problem.]

[He sighed.]

I don't like the idea of...pet demon or pet human. It feels wrong to me that there should be that kind of power imbalance. We should be a team, I think. Maybe not equals in power, but...

I just hate to think that there's a contract somewhere in our history where one or the other signed over some kind of control.

[scotch_egg]

It's enough for me to keep this place. I'm fine here. I've been fine here for a while.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ His head rolled across his shoulders until Alec was in his direct line of sight. ]

I'd like you to be more than 'fine'.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Anthony opened his mouth to respond but stopped to gape and tilt his head as the little gears in his mind began to turn. How could one be in love with a demon and not damned for eternity... It was a good question. Or rather it was a question that sent a chill of concern through him if he dwelled on that too long, so he didn't. ]

If it was like that... It doesn't have to be that way anymore.

[ As their hands were still laced together Fell's was given a reassuring and unmistakably loving squeeze. ]

No contract, just the two of us working together to figure this mess out.

[ Ever so bright smile. ]

We'll be partners.

[traceofeffort]

Sure, but do you see any credits for demons in the special thanks? I don't think they consulted the real thing. Not that they may have been able to find one, but still.

[scotch_egg]

[he met that gaze dryly]

I don't think I'll ever be fine enough for you.

[temptationaccomplished]

[In as much as he could, he'd made his peace with the idea. If love was a crime one was damnable for, seemed that the rules were a bit rigged, because Anthony was worth every ounce of love.]

Partners.

[They could build from their past experiences to suit their future. He was so overcome with a cocktail of love and joy and rightness, there was little else he could do with all this emotion bubbling inside him except to come over there and kiss Anthony.]

[serpentinthegarden]

[ He wasn't taking that bait. He just met those eyes with an unblinking gaze. ]

Familial hazard. Comes with giving a damn about you.

[serpentinthegarden]

Can't say I ever thought to even look at the credits let alone actually read them searching for demonic names. That would be something though, special thanks goes to Lucifer for his consultation and pyrotechnic support. Never get that past the MPAA!

[scotch_egg]

[he wasn't going to blink either.]

What are you thinking of? Giving me an allowance? Putting me up somewhere? If I'm going to ne a kept woman I should at least know the details.

[christ, Anthony, did you forget how to blink?p

[serpentinthegarden]

[ OOo! Now there was a treat better than any sort of cupcake! Anthony was left with the impression that he might have said something very right indeed and as he was on a roll... ]

I'm glad you came over.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Staring contest! ]

I thought of that, it's why I offered you a room in the new place... but you won't take it. Too much like charity.

New idea. You wanted to do some work down at NYBG. We just lost our back desk man. It's answering phones, light paperwork, digging a few holes now and then. I could upgrade you from tree tender to back desk man. It might help with the financials.

[scotch_egg]

[he sighed. Rolled his eyes.]

Fine. But let me pay rent, or groceries or utilities or something, alright? After this lease is up. [which was near mid August]

If I do that and take your bloody job do you promise to get off my arse? [he held out his hand to shake on it]

[temptationaccomplished]

[Just now, or tonight in general? He cupped Anthony's cheek, tracing a thumb over the soft skin, the faintest of stubble, and the twisting snake tattoo.]

So am I. It has been a lovely evening, as all evenings with you are.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ This positive reinforcement for the very bad habit of wheedling away at something until he got what he wanted was exactly why he was the brat he was today! But he did try not to look too smug about this as Alec could still back out. ]

Rent, utilities, food, you're going to pay for all that.

[ Not even half of course but a reasonable and affordable amount. ]

You won't regret it. It'll be fun. Like an extended sleepover.

[ He reached out to shake on it, a far too pleased demon making his first deal. ]