relearning voice!

[mydear]

 Come now, dear. Do you really think this is a good idea? How long has it been, exactly? I know measuring time isn't something I am particularly adept at, but even I can tell that it's been far longer than either of us would like to admit.

I truly believe that you are doing nothing more than making things very difficult for yourself, and while that is admirably human of you, I must disagree.

Comments

[eyesofaserpent]

Hallo Angel. Brushing off the dust and cobwebs and coming back to the social side of life?

[mydear]

I suppose that's one way to put it. I can assure you that I am quite the unwilling participant, however.

[eyesofaserpent]

What? Does your mun have some good books in that head space of theirs or something?

[mydear]

She doesn't keep them up here, but she does read more than the average human. It's rather pleasant.

[eyesofaserpent]

So is she thinking of sending you somewhere or something?

[mydear]

I couldn't say, but I think she's just practising. Something about missing me.

[eyesofaserpent]

Well... If she is, I could really use another of you in Mayfield...

[He isn't planning on talking about the Aziraphale that was there before or the exact nature of their relationship before the angel was droned. He knows his mun has been trying to fill that empty space Aziraphale's absence has left. He looks away slightly, glad for the ever present mask of his sunglasses.]

[mankindly]

Heya, 'Zira. Nothin' wrong with your mun picking you back up. Least you're a decent sort of angel an' all.

[mydear]

Oh? Mayfield? I've never heard of the place - is it pleasant?

[eyesofaserpent]

It's fine some of the time. The drones are a little creepy. And there are times when it's outright dangerous. But you'd probably like it three quarters of the time. It's like 1950s America.

[mydear]

There is a upside to most every situation, isn't there?

[mydear]

The fifties? Really, now.

[ That does sound really nice. He misses how simple things were then, in comparison to how complicated the modern world is to him. ]

But, surely the danger outweighs the pleasure of the times?

[eyesofaserpent]

[He shrugs.]

I've been there for over a year now. Sometimes good things happen as a result of the town's bullshit. And the danger isn't so hard to deal with when you have allies.

[mydear]

A year? Normally, that wouldn't feel like too much time, but I get the feeling it's felt like longer to you, my dear.

[ Allies indeed. He wants to bring up the unspoken Arrangement, but all things considered - it might not be the best subject. He's not even entirely sure about where they stand on that front. ]

[eyesofaserpent]

Normally not a lot happens in a year. At Mayfield.... I've died four times. Mayfield gave me my wings back, but I can't put them away so of course the last time we bloody had a zombie outbreak, they bit one. I didn't want to be a Zombie again, so I had it cut off. So now I'm a lopsided freak until I die again...

[See this face? It's an angry Crowley face. He's gotten pretty fed up with being a pawn in Mayfield's games.]

[mydear]

You died?

[ It's inconceivable to Aziraphale. They don't die, they don't, and the fact that Crowley has died four times strikes something cold in his heart. ]

Not much happens, but you've died four times.

[eyesofaserpent]

[Really? That's what you're focusing on, Angel? He blows out some air from between his lips.]

You start out human at Mayfield. If you die while there, you get brought back the next day or so. I died the first time because of this stupid mandate that one bottle of milk had to be drunk. But there was a good possibility the milk was tainted with razors or spiders or hormones or poison. I got a poison one and woke up the next morning after excruciating pain.

[mydear]

[ Well, zombies and such don't mean as much to him as Crowley - he'll register it soon. ]

That must be quite an experience - as much as I enjoy being a part of human society I can't quite imagine being one. [ And there it goes - registering. ] Wait, excuse me, my dear, I must've misheard. Zombies, and milk with poison?

[eyesofaserpent]

[If he didn't have shades, Aziraphale could see his eyes roll.]

Yes. Zombies. We've had two zombie outbreaks since I've been there. Both times I got bitten trying to rescue this demon kid. The first time I turned, the second time I had my wing amputated so I wouldn't be one again.

Yeah... You don't drink the milk the milkman leaves on the doorstep unless you have to.

[mydear]

I would say that we don't eat or drink at all, really, but they make us human. It becomes a necessity then, doesn't it?

[ He crosses his arms, looking a little pensive. He really doesn't like the idea of his best - ha, only - friend being trapped in a place with zombies and poison and murderous spiders, especially as a human. ]

And you can't leave?

[eyesofaserpent]

Nope. And even if I did, my body would still be there acting like the drones. Like the Aziraphale that was there...

[mydear]

... I've become a drone?

[ While he's not entirely sure what a drone is, it doesn't sound particularly pleasant. ]M/small>

[eyesofaserpent]

Anyone that leaves does.

[He goes to check and see if he's snapped out of it every morning. Every morning he's disappointed. But he still goes back the next day because if there's one thing he needs, it's Aziraphale.]

One of my allies was a drone since December and woke up again the beginning of June.

[mydear]

... I hope you're aware, my dear, that I'd never willingly leave you in a place like that.

[ Aziraphale smiles almost fondly, nodding his head. ]

Ally. No friends?

[eyesofaserpent]

[For a moment he's rendered mute, his black little heart aching to hold Aziraphale again. He knows Aziraphale didn't leave of his own volition. It doesn't make it any easier on the demon, though.]

I... I know you wouldn't.

[He shakes his head, trying to clear up his mind after that painful little jolt.]

Well... There's Rupert. But I suspect he'll be leaving soon as well...