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]

[There was no other reason what so ever, except he and Alec never did seem to manage to get along for longer than an hour.]

[He placed a hand on Anthony's knee or hand, whatever was closer, and gave a small squeeze of reassurance.]

I'm sorry, Anthony. We all just need time.

Let's get you settled into this place good and proper, and maybe then you can tempt us into your lair.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ No one could. That was part of Alec's charm. ]

Hm, time.

[ He did feel soothed by the hand holding his, enough to brush a thumb over those too kind fingers. ]

Do you ever feel like you are running out of it? Like there is something you are missing and if you don't move quickly enough it will all just be over? Poof, like smoke.

[ He frowned and tried to deflect the over sharing by reached out to attempt the theft of Aziraphale's frosting. ]

Cheery conversation for cupcakes. Forget it.

[temptationaccomplished]

[He glared at the thievery attempt in polite judgement, but instead of attempting to stop him, he scooped out some frosting with his fork and held it out for Anthony. One way to thwart evil-doing is to lawfully find a way that the action was allowed?]

Maybe we shouldn't forget it. Maybe it's something spilling over from the memories that we need to try and remember.

My memories at that magic school, where I was studying the circles...
I had this awful sense of urgency. I can't explain it. But I was missing something, like you said. I felt like I was trying to get to ...something.

[serpentinthegarden]

[ It made the attempt at stealing less appealing... Until one considered that they could reach out and lick the offered frosting off the fork in a slow and suggestive way. How quickly the mind did turn towards evil these days! ]

It must be related some how but I haven't had any memories that would tell me what the Hell we were all so worried about. They've mostly been about you.

[ A heartbeat's contemplation. ]

And well, the demon thing... But there's nothing urgent in that.

[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.]

[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...

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

[ 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.

[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]

[ Being partners, agreeing they were on equal terms working as a team. Not only had it felt right to say it but clearly the admission had pleased Aziraphale immensely.

He could stay under that gentle hand, allowing those fingers to caress his cheek, all night... ]

It's not the evening that's lovely.

[temptationaccomplished]

[What was not to love about it? Like loving Anthony, being his partner and equal felt a touch forbidden yet oddly right.]

[He was obviously soaking up Anthony's flattery, even if he tried very hard to appear not to be.]

I know a line when I hear one, you charming snake. I should just leave you to your lines and go back to my dessert. [He pulled away just enough for show, enough to give reason for a sweet-talking serpent to entice him back.]

[serpentinthegarden]

[ Fell's entire expression practically glowed with the impish, 'Oh stop, but please go on,' that those coy eyes which met his only to flutter away teased with. Even his moving away was an invitation to slither closer and call upon some delightful flirtation to bring Fell back to his side. ]

Or...

[ Anthony's smile dazzled with wicked possibilities as his eyes glided subtly over Fell's adorably warm looking person. ]

You could slide your cupcake closer, end up with my charming lines and your dessert. Is there really any reason to chose one over the other when you could have both?