entrancelogs | Closed Catch-all for Crowley

[ Crowley had sent Blake a text asking him to come to his room. He hadn't quite been able to put his finger on it, but he'd been struck with the sudden urge to watch Casablanca and there isn't a man or woman alive he'd rather watch it with. Besides, Blake's been so busy lately. He needs a good movie and some relaxation. They both deserve this.

He tells himself that it's just as much for Blake as for himself as he tidies his room and waits for Blake to either come or prattle off an excuse. ]

[ It's strange, but for the last day or so, Blake's been incredibly focused. More so than regular, in fact, and enough that it takes him a while to even notice the text message.

He doesn't read or respond, not right away, because he's in the middle of something. And when he finally does go to answer, he finds himself a little surprised. Crowley wants him to come over, huh? Usually it's not that big of a deal. Usually Crowley would come to him. Either way, Blake takes his time.

When he finally arrives, an hour's passed and he hasn't bothered to bring his phone along, but he does bring along his current project, boxed up and stacked with a couple notebooks.

At the door, he knocks lightly and leans in. ]

It's Blake.

[ Over the last hour, Crowley's cycled through every emotion from anger at Blake for ignoring him to worry that he's dead in a ditch to hurt and worry that this is some unforeseen sign of rejection, but it all evaporates the moment he sees Blake and his face lights up. ]

Hello, darling.

[ He moves to the door to greet Blake, leaning in for a kiss before the door's even shut. ]

[ That box is somewhat in the way, and Blake is stiff about the kiss, but he doesn't pull away. It's weird, though, isn't it? Crowley isn't exactly one to advertise himself so blatantly. ]

Hey. What's goin' on?

[ He doesn't even come in, just lingers in the hallway as if this is a stop on his way somewhere else. ]

[ That doubt is coming back now. Is this rejection? Is that what's coming? ]

I thought that you could use a break from all the work you've been doing and maybe you would like to share a movie with me.

[ His fingers are itching to reach for Blake, but he keeps them at his sides. Still, he's clearly leaning towards him ever so slightly. ]

[ And Blake is leaning back ever so slightly, eyebrows knitting even more as he tries to decide why all of this feels weird. This is weird, right?

Blake sighs and looks up and down the hall before he eyes Crowley again. ]

Well, lotta pots on the stove right now, so...

[ He lifts his box a bit as it to prove his point. ]

Is it a short movie?

[ Crowley pauses and just looks at Blake for a moment. ]

Well, it's not Gone With the Wind or anything. It's... normal movie length.

[ There's something just a hair short of desperate in his face, hopeful as he is that Blake won't walk away the way he looks like he wants to. Crowley hates himself just a little for how badly he needs Blake to stay right now. ]

[ Oh, goddammit, why does he have to look like Blake killed his favorite hellhound or something? It's not like his busy nature has changed in the time Crowley's known him. Nevertheless, he nods and crosses the barrier. ]

Yeah, okay, guess I can spare a bit. [ And by that, he means he'll be working on his little project while the movie plays in the background if he can get away with it. ] Just thought this coulda prob'ly waited 'til tonight, considerin'... but whatever. It's fine.

What're we watchin' again?

Casablanca. I've just had an urge for it lately. It's always been one of my favorites.

[ He tries not to look too excited that Blake's decided to stay, but he is excited. For some reason, he needs this right now and there's something entirely satisfying about the idea of Bake staying there for a little while. ]

Make yourself comfortable. I'll get it started.

[ For Blake, this doesn't feel like it makes the most sense, but he supposes he can do just as much here in Crowley's room as he would have gotten to do in the library or the kitchen or the auxiliary resistance hideout.

Settling in the now-familiar room, he takes out one of his notebooks, flips through until he finds the most recent page, and then goes about plucking through pieces of paper and other notebooks in his banker box of a transport container. ]

You mind if I put on another light? I'm gonna— [ He gestures to the area around him. ] —gonna spread out a bit here.

[ Nope, not intention of really watching the movie. He's absorbed into his own thing at the moment. ]

[ Crowley rolls his eyes when his back is turned, but he's desperate enough for the company that he'll take what he can get. ]

The lamp on the bedside table is good for reading.

[ He gets the movie started and settles against the headboard, leaving most of the room for Blake and his papers. Once he's settled, he brushes a hand over Blake's shoulder affectionately. ]

No rest for the wicked, hmm?

[ Oh, are they to the eye-rolling stage of this relationship already? That's promising, haha. And sign enough they're comfortable with each other as any, even if Blake wasn't privy to the expression. ]

You know I rest. [ It's mostly an aside, and even chastising them both a bit. ] Been thinkin' 'bout doin' a coupla things, though, and it's quiet enough now, I've got the time.

[ Always an excuse. ]

Well I'm glad you could squeeze in a little time for me.

[ He leans forward to plant a quick kiss on Blake's jaw before settling in to watch the movie.

While he might prefer to just sit and watch, he's not new to the idea of multitasking and he assumes that Blake will follow along just fine like this.

As the movie starts, he splits his own attention between it and glancing at the notes closest to him, but they're not very interesting and the film ultimately pulls him in. ]

[ More often than not, when Blake is following along, it's because he's doing it for Crowley, not for himself. His interest in movies is lacking, and from what he can tell, they're not even that well made, most of the time.

Nevertheless, there are moments where he pauses to peer at Bogart, to recognize all he encompasses in that movie, but for the most part, his focus is elsewhere, trying to create an easy timeline that might be a good addition to the pamphlet in its suggested revision.

Some time later, buried in facts, Blake absently asks, ] —hey, you remember what month that zombie thing was?

[ He takes a moment and then glances back to Crowley against the baseboard. ]

[ For his part, Crowley is entirely enraptured by the film. His eyes glazed and his face twisted in a way that implies he's practically on the verge of crying.

He turns to Blake as if startled by the question, but then his voice is oddly absent. ]

I'm sorry, darling, I don't remember. Sounds a bit Halloween-y, though.

[ It takes him a moment to get his head in the game and actually think about it. ]

It was before Christmas, though. November, maybe.

November? [ Blake flips back a page, pencil tracing along the paper, and then nods and goes back to where he'd been before. ] Yeah, that's right. Before Christmas started 'round the mansion.

[ He glances back toward Crowley, and even from a distance, he can tell the demon's got the glassy look going on. He reaches out and places a hand on Crowley's leg. ]

—hey, you okay?

[ Crowley's eyes go to Blake's hand before his face. Maybe it's not a grand gesture, but it's warm and intimate an it grounds him in this moment.

He brings his hand up to rub at the corner of one of his eyes. ]

I'm alright. It's just a really beautiful film, isn't it?

[ He sniffs loudly. There's no shame in crying over Casablanca, right? ]

Yeah, I guess it's... [ —weird. ] It's a classic, isn't it? Think I saw it once before. [ And he'd paid some mind to it this time around, but not nearly enough to get Crowley's sentiment. ] Didn't realize you were that much of a fan.

[ The demon's not really emotional, right? John's just imagining things. ]

Well of course I am. It's a classic like you said.

[ He looks at the screen again, just in time to catch a particularly emotional line and then he reaches for the box of tissues next to the bed to dab at his eyes. ]

There's a reason people still watch this movie.

[ Is he crying? Blake tells himself that it's just allergies, because Crowley's not really the type to cry, is he? I mean, sure, he's been kind of... emotional lately, but nothing like this. ]

And that reason is...?

[ Scrunching his nose, he turns more fully to Blake. ]

Are you even paying attention? Do you have a heart?

[ ... ]

What? [ He eyes Crowley and turns some in his seat to face him more readily. ] What d'you mean by that?

This is a heartbreaking story of people who love each other and can never recapture what they had. There are Nazis and everything.

[ He huffs. ]

You're not even watching, are you?

[ Blake's almost immediately affronted by the question. He gestures to his notes. ]

Pretty sure I mentioned I was in the middle of somethin', didn't I? All Nazis aside, there's still shit to be done, Crowley.

[ Crowley just looks at him, nostrils flaring. He's not angry, though. He's... hurt. ]

I didn't realize I rated so low.

[ His eyes are threatening to tear up again with a telltale prickle and he's be embarrassed if he wasn't so hurt by the idea that Blake might not want him around. ]

For John Blake

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