"All locked up at ten, eh? Pretty sure at my place the party's only getting started." And was he ever not in any hurry to join it. He supposed he had some time to kill for the moment at least, waiting for Aziraphale's brother. However, he was also painfully aware that they didn't actually have anything much to talk about. "So."
He walked a few more steps, sniffed, and kicked the ground, getting closer to the Tesco slowly. "What books did you get today? Heavy bag and all. Anything... fun?"
"Oh yes, I got three fictional books. One murder mystery, two fantasy. Then I got a book on French, a book on rare minerals and gem stones and, finally, a book on botany and gardening." Aziraphale came a halt in the car park of the tesco's. It was dead here, no cars about, so he sat on the floor of the car park and unzipped his books to proudly show Crowley what he had in more depth.
"I have Agatha Christie, it's a fun one. And then there were none. Sounds exciting, yes? Then I got two fantasy books I don't know yet but I rather like the art on the covers." He showed off the covers to Crowley excitedly and stacked them neatly on the floor by him. "This is just a boring phrase in French book but very handy. Not worth showing off. This one is My Book of Rocks and Minerals - Things to Find, Collect and Treasure."
He seemed in awe of the concept of this book, studying it again with a eager grin. Then he got out the gardening book and showed it off. "This one is about what you can grow in gardens, the families of them and species. What you can and can't eat. It's really interesting."
"That's cool." The plant book, he meant, although there was something... Well, something inherently and deeply uncool about Aziraphale's enthusiasm for all the other books that somehow was almost infectious anyway. So many books on the floor now, a whole pile of them. Why would he have a book on French? Who knew. He just liked it, for whatever reason.
"I got a plant at home. It's a fern." Was that an uncool thing to bring up? Probably, but whatever. Couldn't take it back now. "There used to be a florist in my street. I hung out there when I was little. Sometimes."
"Oh, woah, ferns are notoriously tricky to take care of. You must be quite skilled. I know you don't really like books as much but if you ever wish to, you can borrow any. This one might appeal a lot." He held up the gardening up and offered it out to him, insistent on Crowley taking it. Once he had it in his hands, he started to pack everything else back into his bag.
"You should browse while we wait. It's so fun. The illustrations are delightful."
Or, well, he believed they were anyway. He wasn't sure if Crowley cared as much. As long as he didn't break the book, he didn't mind if he handed it back.
Crowley opened the book up, looking through the index to find out whether they had anything on ferns. He hadn't known that they were hard to take care of. He glanced up, noting how bad the light here was, and then moved to take off his glasses, so he could actually see said illustrations. They were pretty nice. "Mine is more green. This one's all spotty and yellow there, I'd not stand for that."
Had to be strict with plants, that was his opinion. "I'll have more plants when I move out."
"Oh yes, you could get a nice balcony garden or even a house. It would be lovely, wouldn't it? I always wanted more plants too but I get upset if they die so I prefer not to attempt." Aziraphale laughed at himself as he got back up to his feet and came closer, shining his torch onto the book for Crowley so he could get some tips.
He also glanced briefly at his eyes, curious as ever - he didn't know what to expect. They were red, angry, a little yellowy at the side but they looked just fine. "Do you read much?"
Crowley scoffed and shook his head. "I don't read. What do I look like?" It was a pretty automatic response at this stage, but then he found himself hesitating for a moment. Aziraphale wasn't like... Well, not like anyone he knew, for one thing.
So he looked at him and gestured to his eyes. "They tend to dry out quickly when I read. Starts burning, can't focus on anything for that long."
Really not worth the hassle. "Also, obviously I'm too cool to read." But he said it with a bit of a self-deprecating smile this time.
"You could try audio books, perhaps. And I learned recently that the computers at the library have this built in tool in a 'browser window' that can read to you. Isn't that remarkable?" Aziraphale came a little closer to read the book over his shoulder with him. "Must be frustrating. I hope you get extra time on exams, it must be really difficult to keep up with everyone else."
Aziraphale studied the book for a bit longer and then looked directly at Crowley.
"You are, indeed, very cool. I'm sorry you had to spend an evening with me of all people."
"Pretty pointless getting extra time on exams when I don't know how to fill the time in the first place." He didn't imagine that Aziraphale could relate to that issue. Looking over at Aziraphale, he found him looking right at him. He almost wanted to put the sunglasses back on just to have something to hide behind. "It's not a big deal. I just listen to music."
That was easier to talk to than how he felt about books. "Audiobooks aren't for cool people."
"It's hard, I know. I didn't go to primary school, I was home schooled by my father and my eldest brother. I didn't even know what an exam was, I knew barely any maths or science. I had to work so hard to catch up. And I did. But it's not easy. It's time, motivation, a quiet space. I'm glad I found a library." Aziraphale admitted to Crowley, wondering if he knew he had potential or not. No one stupid could talk like he did. He was engaged and interested, he had such a way of talking - he had to be bright. "If you ever want someone to study with... in secret! Obviously. We would never tell."
It was worth an offer. He smiled sheepishly at Crowley and then looked away down the car park. "I don't have any friends or anything so -- I could use the company. And I'm quite well versed on the curriculum. And besides, you don't have to tell anyone your grades so it won't hurt your rep either."
"I'm kinda expected to fail. Don't you worry about it, angel. I'll make sure I fall somewhere soft." Crowley winked at him, then finally put his glasses back on. He assumed Aziraphale's brother wasn't far off. "You've got to work on your pitch. Much more fun to do with a mate than secretly studying." As entertaining as the thought was. Damn. Imagining voluntarily entering a library, he had to shudder.
A car approached, slow enough that Crowley inferred it had to be the car they were waiting for. He put the book back on the pile Aziraphale had and got up, taking a few steps away.
Pretty cool car. He'd love something like that one day.
"I don't dare to hope that people ever want to be mates. I always assume they want to use me for something - study or information. It would be nice. To have a friend..." Aziraphale trailed off for a moment before he picked up his bag and turned to Barty's car, waving. "Do you want to say hello?"
Probably not but he offered anyway, walking closer to the car and opening the side seat. "That's Crowley, Barty. He's the boy who helped me today!"
"Hey there." Contrary to Aziraphale's assumption, Crowley waved his hand and greeted Barty relatively properly. For a reason, of course. "Greetings from Bill."
Barty raised his eyebrows. Bill? "Persistent." He'd give him that. He nodded at Crowley. "Want a ride?"
"Nah. Lovely night, I'd rather walk." He had nowhere to go, that was the translation here, so Barty let it go.
"See you around, angel." Crowley waved at Aziraphale. "Don't party too hard."
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thearrangement2023-07-05 05:49 pm
no subject
He walked a few more steps, sniffed, and kicked the ground, getting closer to the Tesco slowly. "What books did you get today? Heavy bag and all. Anything... fun?"
Could books be fun?
no subject
"I have Agatha Christie, it's a fun one. And then there were none. Sounds exciting, yes? Then I got two fantasy books I don't know yet but I rather like the art on the covers." He showed off the covers to Crowley excitedly and stacked them neatly on the floor by him. "This is just a boring phrase in French book but very handy. Not worth showing off. This one is My Book of Rocks and Minerals - Things to Find, Collect and Treasure."
He seemed in awe of the concept of this book, studying it again with a eager grin. Then he got out the gardening book and showed it off. "This one is about what you can grow in gardens, the families of them and species. What you can and can't eat. It's really interesting."
no subject
"I got a plant at home. It's a fern." Was that an uncool thing to bring up? Probably, but whatever. Couldn't take it back now. "There used to be a florist in my street. I hung out there when I was little. Sometimes."
no subject
"You should browse while we wait. It's so fun. The illustrations are delightful."
Or, well, he believed they were anyway. He wasn't sure if Crowley cared as much. As long as he didn't break the book, he didn't mind if he handed it back.
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Had to be strict with plants, that was his opinion. "I'll have more plants when I move out."
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He also glanced briefly at his eyes, curious as ever - he didn't know what to expect. They were red, angry, a little yellowy at the side but they looked just fine. "Do you read much?"
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So he looked at him and gestured to his eyes. "They tend to dry out quickly when I read. Starts burning, can't focus on anything for that long."
Really not worth the hassle. "Also, obviously I'm too cool to read." But he said it with a bit of a self-deprecating smile this time.
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Aziraphale studied the book for a bit longer and then looked directly at Crowley.
"You are, indeed, very cool. I'm sorry you had to spend an evening with me of all people."
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That was easier to talk to than how he felt about books. "Audiobooks aren't for cool people."
no subject
It was worth an offer. He smiled sheepishly at Crowley and then looked away down the car park. "I don't have any friends or anything so -- I could use the company. And I'm quite well versed on the curriculum. And besides, you don't have to tell anyone your grades so it won't hurt your rep either."
no subject
A car approached, slow enough that Crowley inferred it had to be the car they were waiting for. He put the book back on the pile Aziraphale had and got up, taking a few steps away.
Pretty cool car. He'd love something like that one day.
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Probably not but he offered anyway, walking closer to the car and opening the side seat. "That's Crowley, Barty. He's the boy who helped me today!"
no subject
Barty raised his eyebrows. Bill? "Persistent." He'd give him that. He nodded at Crowley. "Want a ride?"
"Nah. Lovely night, I'd rather walk." He had nowhere to go, that was the translation here, so Barty let it go.
"See you around, angel." Crowley waved at Aziraphale. "Don't party too hard."