"Oh yeah. Sure. Plenty of brilliant ways that would land me in a world of hurt." Crowley felt sarcasm was the way to go here. One didn't stop being the heir, so there were really not a lot of options. "Anyway, Adam, don't worry too much about it now. You're still young, no one's expecting you to do much of anything yet. Including the peeing in alleyways. Don't ever do that."
There, that was some useful parenting. "You're a smart lad. When your father talks to you, just say what you think he wants to here and then they generally leave you alone. That's what I do."
"He never talks to me and when he does, he wants be to show him stuff. It's not just telling, it's the showing. I'm supposed to know things but everyone around me is really thick." It was like a gang full of Brians. Mean Brians. Mean Brians with too much power and no good friends to stop them.
"I mean, this sort of thing isn't airtight. He had a home before so is there no -- legal claim." He whispered the words, as if they could somehow discuss this without Adam hearing.
"Should I go to the bathroom so you can talk?" Adam asked politely. "Seems awkward otherwise."
"Nah, Adam. That's fine. We came here for your food. You can thank him for the recommendation and we can talk about whatever you want." Maybe not anything that could get either of them killed, preferably. Luckily the food was served just then and it certainly looked inviting enough, so Crowley leaned back, hopeful that Adam would enjoy the food.
"Adam's a very imaginative child. He'd probably like books the way you do." Maybe he ought to take him to that bookshop some time. "He's not a big fan of the Bentley." Or of Crowley in general, he imagined.
"Yeah but it's not so bad, I guess. Not like you can get anywhere fast in London. Too many lights. Too much congestion." Adam wisely informed Crowley as he ate, wondering if Crowley had put him in Tadfield as a kindness, a challenge or an annoyance. It was honestly hard to say. "I like books."
"Oh, wonderful. There's a lovely bookstore nearby, you should browse! They have a section for young men like yourself too." Aziraphale smiled at Crowley. "It's really rather fun there."
"Yeah, it's a hoot." Crowley watched Adam eat, satisfied that he appeared to be enjoying himself. He'd have to make sure the boy kept getting good food going forward, anything to make this transition a little easier on the kid. "I'll take you to buy books some time. Maybe tomorrow. Unless you prefer hanging out with Ligur, I'm sure he's got a lot to teach you still."
With a shrug, he looked at Aziraphale. "My brothers are the worst."
"Tomorrow sounds good. Tomorrow Ligur wants to take me to a nightclub at 2am but I don't really think that's a good idea. I go to bed at 10pm." So it seemed ridiculous but he was sure they would try. Maybe if he had books, he could get himself to stay up late enough to go to a night club. He finished eating as much as he could and slid the plate aside.
"Good lord, a nightclub." Aziraphale tutted and gave Crowley a concerned look. He couldn't let this happen! It wasn't fair on the boy and besides, if it happened, he would be jolly well ticked off with Crowley. "I'm sure it won't happen." He gave a pointed look.
Oh, he knew those looks. Crowley rolled his eyes behind the glasses, but it wasn't as if he didn't agree with Aziraphale. Not only was that entirely too late for Adam to be out and about, it was also no fit environment for a child. Barely a fit environment for most adults.
Crowley had grown up with his house regularly turned into a night club. He'd rather wish to avoid that for Adam. "I'll talk to your father, kid. You can hang out with me tomorrow. And go to bed at 10pm."
Seemed a lot smarter. "I'll tell you what to say and do so your father will be-- Well, not happy. Not notably ticked off."
"Then I guess we're partners. Like in cop films or cowboy films or something. You know." Adam held out his hand to Crowley. "We'll work together then."
"Oooh, I do love a good buddy movie." Aziraphale was happy, he knew Crowley would fix it. He knew Crowley wanted to fix it too but now he had an excuse, a motivator and, most importantly, someone to rant at. "And you can always call me, Crowley. I'm here."
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thearrangement2023-07-30 04:59 pm
no subject
There, that was some useful parenting. "You're a smart lad. When your father talks to you, just say what you think he wants to here and then they generally leave you alone. That's what I do."
no subject
"I mean, this sort of thing isn't airtight. He had a home before so is there no -- legal claim." He whispered the words, as if they could somehow discuss this without Adam hearing.
"Should I go to the bathroom so you can talk?" Adam asked politely. "Seems awkward otherwise."
no subject
"Adam's a very imaginative child. He'd probably like books the way you do." Maybe he ought to take him to that bookshop some time. "He's not a big fan of the Bentley." Or of Crowley in general, he imagined.
no subject
"Yeah but it's not so bad, I guess. Not like you can get anywhere fast in London. Too many lights. Too much congestion." Adam wisely informed Crowley as he ate, wondering if Crowley had put him in Tadfield as a kindness, a challenge or an annoyance. It was honestly hard to say. "I like books."
"Oh, wonderful. There's a lovely bookstore nearby, you should browse! They have a section for young men like yourself too." Aziraphale smiled at Crowley. "It's really rather fun there."
no subject
With a shrug, he looked at Aziraphale. "My brothers are the worst."
no subject
"Good lord, a nightclub." Aziraphale tutted and gave Crowley a concerned look. He couldn't let this happen! It wasn't fair on the boy and besides, if it happened, he would be jolly well ticked off with Crowley. "I'm sure it won't happen." He gave a pointed look.
no subject
Crowley had grown up with his house regularly turned into a night club. He'd rather wish to avoid that for Adam. "I'll talk to your father, kid. You can hang out with me tomorrow. And go to bed at 10pm."
Seemed a lot smarter. "I'll tell you what to say and do so your father will be-- Well, not happy. Not notably ticked off."
no subject
"Oooh, I do love a good buddy movie." Aziraphale was happy, he knew Crowley would fix it. He knew Crowley wanted to fix it too but now he had an excuse, a motivator and, most importantly, someone to rant at. "And you can always call me, Crowley. I'm here."