When after all, it was you and me [open]

[saunteredvaguelydownwards]

Who: Crowley, Dan Palmer, Nathaniel Howe, Regis & YOU
Where: Catchall for all my characters around the Citadel
When: Event times!
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Will personal make top levels if requested!
The Story:

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[manicuredangel]

Aziraphale has had a bear of a time getting used to this. He only just got to Wonderland when everything changes. And if there's one thing that can be said about Aziraphale, it's that he doesn't adapt to changes all that quickly. Sure he can think on his feet when the time comes, but the way the world around him usually changes is even a little fast for him. He can never keep track of fashion, for example.

Perhaps that's why he goes out looking for Crowley. If there is one thing he can count on over the course of the millennia, it's Crowley's presence. Even if they are on opposing sides, even if they believe in fundamentally different approaches, even if Crowley can be downright frustrating at times, he has always been there.

He finds Crowley star gazing at some remote window. He looks so peaceful that the angel hesitates for a moment before approaching his friend. He doesn't say anything, just enjoying the view and his presence and finding the strength to calm his rattled nerves.

[saunteredvaguelydownwards]

He feels Aziraphale coming from the other side of the Commons. It comes with a certain kind of tingle, a prickle in the hairs on the back of his neck that would have been a warning once upon a time but was now little more than an indication of a not-so-opposing force in the vicinity. All angels felt a little different when they came near him, and he could always tell the difference.

That's why he doesn't look around, but rather waits until he can see the faint outline of Aziraphale's reflection approaching from behind him. He shifts the position of his shoulder against the frame of the window.

"Funny to think about, really," he says after a few minutes of companionable silence. He rarely feels uncomfortable around the angel anymore. "Humans might achieve this one day, or something like it, because of what we did."

[manicuredangel]

He nods, considering the statement. "I suppose it is inevitable. They've always looked to the stars for inspiration."

But he finds himself wondering just where they fit in a future like this. Would they remain on Earth? Would Earth be so polluted by that point they would be forced to leave? Things haven't been looking so great lately for the future of their home planet, after all.

"You would be more than happy to follow them out here, I suspect."

[saunteredvaguelydownwards]

Crowley snorts softly, but he doesn't disagree.

"Of course I would. They can try to reassign me, if they like, but nothing is going to stop me from coming to a place like this." It isn't the wonder of it, and the angel would be silly to think that it was. It's the opportunity that a place like this offers for someone like Crowley.

"Have you seen the casino? It's almost too easy."

[manicuredangel]

He shakes his head slightly, clearly amused.

"I suppose then I'd have to follow. I couldn't leave them to your wiles, you old serpent."

Though even he can admit he'd be like a fish out of water here. He couldn't possibly hope to keep up with People seeing as how he struggles as it is. He feels so detached from Him here. It's unsettling to be in this artificial environment. Even the most artificial environments on Earth still seem connected to Him somehow. But here? This place makes him long to sun his wings despite not having done it in centuries. He misses the warmth of the sun and the feeling of His grace reaching out through it.

"It's a lovely view."

[saunteredvaguelydownwards]

He pokes his tongue out at the angel. Very slightly - little more than the delicately forked tip - but it makes his point. Crowley doesn't need Aziraphale to be around, and he'd tell himself that until the end of time, but things were certainly better when he was.

"It is, isn't it," the demon says, then turns his attention back out of the window. "I think I figured out where Earth is."

Crowley steps close to his friend's side, placing a hand on his shoulder. Then, he points, to a yellow-white star twinkling amongst all of the other yellow-white stars in a direction that seems very specific.

"Right there."

[manicuredangel]

After a moment of quiet surprise at the contact. They didn't frequently touch back home unless they were inebriated or Crowley was driving too fast. He doesn't find the touch unwelcome however and he decides to lean in a little closer to the demon to see where he's pointing.

"That one? What makes you think that? It's so hard to tell with it so far away."

[saunteredvaguelydownwards]

Crowley turns his head slightly to give the angel an odd look. The hand pointing off into the inky, star-spotted blackness drops, and he hooks his thumb loosely into one of the belt-loops on his trousers.

"You can't feel it?" he asks, eyebrows pulled down very faintly. "It's right there."