tieflingtarot: (pic#14685328)
Mollymauk Tealeaf ([personal profile] tieflingtarot) wrote in [community profile] nexus_crossings2021-02-20 06:50 pm

Mother always told me to never give away a story for free

"Honestly, all this bare chest and he hits home right in the fabric..."

Did the demonic looking purple stranger look at all put out by the new locale? Not really, they'd been given a pamphlet that was currently tucked into their belt to be reviewed later. Their attention more focused on the bloody hole in their rather ostentatious coat, lips quirking on a frown as they fingered the damaged fabric lightly, tail twitching behind them in a clear hint of their annoyance.

Really, they're looking rather calm for someone that bloody. When they hear someone coming near they glance up with a jingle of jewelry both in skin and decorating their curved horns, red eyes brightening as their mouth spreads to a cheerfully hopeful smile.

"Well then!" They straighten, something of a showmanship in the shift from grumpy contemplation to sunny disposition but at the same time that shift didn't seem dishonest either. "Hello there darling, please tell me there's some manner of tailor to be found here? As you can likely see I'm in dire need of one."

Clearly this was some manner of weird afterlife, but Mollymauk would be dipped in Fuck No if anyone expected them to wander around with their coat in tatters.
sohoangel: (what was that?)

[personal profile] sohoangel 2021-03-11 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
Aziraphale has been a patron of many a storyteller (including the Bard himself), and knows better than to ask to be entertained for free. But Molly sounds eager to share, and so the angel sits there, curious and eager to hear more. He laughs at the ego comment. "I'm sure you and your friends made things for the better. Certainly if you're going after slavers and their ilk."

The angel considers himself a good judge of character (except for a couple times when he really missed the mark), and he likes Molly quite a bit. That impression extends to the rest of the Mighty Nein.

"You have chocolate on your world?" Aziraphale would have assumed the opposite, but he's pleased to hear Molly's enthusiasm over it. "You might be familiar with bisque under a different name. It's a very creamy sort of soup made with seafood, although they have a butternut squash bisque sometimes that isn't technically a bisque, but still very good and I wouldn't turn my nose up at it."

The finer points of soup versus bisque will have to wait, because the waiter is back to take their orders. It turns out that the soup of the day is tomato basil, not a bisque, but Aziraphale orders it anyway, along with a small savory tart and a brioche roll, and a pot of orange blossom tea for the table.
sohoangel: (looking up)

[personal profile] sohoangel 2021-03-11 02:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Aziraphale thinks about all the times Heaven could have intervened in various slave trades and chose not to and decides to leave the question as rhetorical. There was that whole business with Moses, anyway, so the Almighty occasionally put Her metaphorical foot down. "Well, that is a good point. Small actions can have large, unintended consequences. But you really can't go wrong with kindness."

Lest Molly think that he's some sort of food snob, he gives him a reassuring smile. "Some of the best food comes out of little hole-in-the-wall establishments. Your friend Jester sounds like my type of person, although there are all manner of sweets. Honey, sugar, maple syrup, fresh fruit... but chocolate does scratch a particular itch when it comes to dessert."

A savory crepe is an excellent choice, in the angel's opinion. The waiter jots down their orders, then returns promptly with a small tea service that he leaves on their table. "I imagine magic must be used a lot on your world," he remarks as he pours them both a cup from an elegant glass teapot. "Is it only for fighting and healing, or do you use it for the little things, too?"
sohoangel: (Crowley...?)

[personal profile] sohoangel 2021-03-23 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
"You rescued a child?" The look Aziraphale bestows Molly is full of warmth. "My dear, that's one of the most selfless things one can do. I'm sure she's far better off after having met all of you."

The angel adds a heaping teaspoon of sugar to his own cup of tea, making his sweet tooth rather obvious. He sips it slowly while listening to Molly's answer. The fact that there are so many different types of spells has him fascinated. Most of those he can do himself with a miracle or well-placed application of his grace, but for mortals to have access to such magic sounds like something from a fairy tale.

"My goodness, such variety. No wonder your world is so full of magic. And what about yourself, Molly? Do you perform magic as well?"
sohoangel: (i'm sorry what?)

[personal profile] sohoangel 2021-03-23 02:10 pm (UTC)(link)
The only bird-like person that Aziraphale has met is skekGra, who is technically an alien and probably doesn't count, so he shakes his head, paying attention to Molly's description. It certainly changes the image in his mind of this little girl's appearance, but not his overall impression of her. "My goodness. Small children already have the tendency of repeating everything they hear, I can only imagine what sort of mischief she caused mimicking others. I'm glad you found a home for her, the rough and tumble world of adventuring is not a permanent place for a child."

For an angel, Aziraphale is surprisingly indulgent of a lot of things. He and Jester would definitely bonded over their love of sweets. He has another sip of tea, eyebrows rising at Molly's vague reply.

"Is it necromancy?" he asks cautiously. "Or, ah... do you shapeshift into something ferocious?" That's what Crowley does, although he only uses it to scare annoying humans. His expression softens, wishing that the tiefling had the opportunity. "You could always pursue that option here, you're an excellent storyteller. Can you play an instrument or sing?"
sohoangel: (a hopeful angel)

[personal profile] sohoangel 2021-03-24 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
Aziraphale makes a scandalized noise at the final phrase, but it seems mostly for show. "Well, I can't say I approve of the language, but it's important for children to have the proper words to protect themselves." His smile returns, a touch wistful as he adds, "You know, my partner and I once helped raise a child. That sounds like the sort of thing he would have taught Warlock. He's a fan of pranks, like your friend Jester."

Molly's answer has him breathing softly in relief before looking a touch concerned. "Yes, um... I imagine this wouldn't be the place for it." His mind is busy wrapping around the concept of a bard with magical powers when he catches the word readings.

"Fortune-telling, you mean? Like with tarot cards?" Ah-ha, now this is a magic that he's actually familiar with, via his witchy friend Anathema who always has a deck somewhere on her person. He's about to ask more, but their food arrives just then, and the angel is properly distracted by it all, particularly the fluffy and golden brioche rolls that come with both their meals.
sohoangel: (scrummy)

[personal profile] sohoangel 2021-03-24 02:15 pm (UTC)(link)
A child with a knife! Aziraphale fidgets with his teacup, knowing that fretting about something that already happened and was happily resolved is pointless, but does it anyway. At least until he's distracted by talk of Jester's god. "How curious. I've never heard of that sort of religious worship. Er... her god isn't named Loki, by any chance?"

Loki isn't the only god of mischief out there, of course, but he's the only one Aziraphale is friends with, and it doesn't hurt to check, doesn't it? The Nexus is full of strange coincidences.

Molly's blood magic does put the scars on his body into perspective. But that's a conversation for another time, as Aziraphale is busy having a spoonful of soup, followed by a bite of that buttery brioche. He makes a content sound and pats the corners of his mouth with a napkin. "I'm glad it's to your liking," he replies, smiling warmly. "We have tarot readers where I'm from, most are faking it, but I've known people over the years who have a true gift for it. You could probably do well for yourself here, with such a talent."
sohoangel: (don't know about this lads)

[personal profile] sohoangel 2021-03-24 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Molly is not the only infernal being who enjoys good-naturedly ruffling the angel's feathers, but at least Aziraphale is used to it, settling back into his sunny disposition easily. "Ah, I see. Her faith must be very strong to openly worship a god who isn't approved by the government." His eyebrows pull together and he asks, "But why aren't some approved? They make themselves known to clerics and others who call upon them. Are some bad?" The Traveller doesn't sound bad at all. Polytheism can be so confusing sometimes.

Aziraphale bites into his savory tart while Molly explains, lost for a moment in the crunch of the crust and the balanced flavor of the filling. "Oh... yes, I suppose that's true..." He thinks of Madame Tracy and her false seances, although she must have been attuned to the ethereal somehow, or he wouldn't have been able to successfully possess her. "Sometimes 'interesting' is what people are looking for. Who is the Moonweaver? Are they another god?"
sohoangel: (happy (to the side))

[personal profile] sohoangel 2021-03-25 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
Aziraphale frowns, not liking the sound of that much, either. "It sounds ridiculous when the gods on your world are so much more present," he murmurs. "Humans on my world have a tendency to fight over which religion is the one true path, when all they really need to do is be kind to one another." The angel sighs. "Not a popular philosophy, unfortunately..."

He watches Molly for a moment and smiles fondly. "I wish I could introduce you to a friend of mine with a similar philosophy. You'd like her a great deal, and she would adore you." Perhaps inappropriately so, even though she's now inexplicably settled with Sergeant Shadwell. "You know, I ought to ask you for a reading some time. Now that I'm retired, I'm a bit at loose ends."

It's easier to suggest it knowing that Molly doesn't have the same level of prognostication as a true witch. Aziraphale has had enough of prophecies to last him several lifetimes. He eats more of his meal, enjoying every bite, enchanted by the goddess that Molly describes. "My, how terribly romantic. The moon has a similar symbolism on my world, at least for some. Is she only for true magical misdirection, or does she help with stage magic, too?"
sohoangel: (literal golden retriever)

[personal profile] sohoangel 2021-03-25 02:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Aziraphale wishes he could disagree, but he was there at humanity's beginning. It didn't take long for Cain to commit the first murder, a sibling rivalry gone terribly wrong. "Yes, but it doesn't help when governments exacerbate things," he notes, referring back to how they came upon this topic in the first place. "I do think that most people would prefer to live in peace, if given the opportunity."

Most mortals, anyway. He can't say that about his fellow angels or demons.

The compliment makes him smile shyly. "She doesn't know about the Nexus, but perhaps sometime I could have you over to my bookshop for tea." He's not certain if Madame Tracy could deal with the entire Nexus, but she probably wouldn't bat an eye at a solitary tiefling. "And yes, after dessert sounds perfect, thank you. I'm looking forward to it."

That might be a while yet, as Aziraphale is not one to hurry through a meal. "I think I would like your goddess very much, then, as I am something of an aficionado of stage magic. I find it fascinating that humans are able to use sleight-of-hand and other tricks to give the illusion of magic. I've been practicing off and on for some time now, it's jolly good fun."
sohoangel: (a hopeful angel)

[personal profile] sohoangel 2021-03-26 12:41 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, excellent! I'd love to try it." A blend of tea from a completely different universe! How exciting. He wiggles his shoulders, pleased by the idea. "Let me -- oh, oh dear. You don't have a PINpoint yet, do you? One moment..."

Aziraphale sets down his spoon and pulls out a business card from his jacket pocket. He hands it to Molly, detailed calligraphy on one side reading, A.Z. Fell & Co. Antiquarian and Unusual Books with a London address below. The other side has a short sequence of numbers that fades into existence before Molly's eyes. "That's a number you can use to contact me once you obtain a PINpoint. It's a device that lets you travel between worlds. I'll make sure you get one if you haven't already."

That settled, he returns to his meal while keeping up with one of his favorite topics of conversation, his face lighting up at the proposition. "I'd be delighted. I'll spare you my entire routine as I don't have my props with me, but I always keep a deck of playing cards on me, should the occasion present itself. And if there are any tricks you'd like to teach me, I'd be most interested."

See, Crowley? Stage magic is fun, even to those who can do real magic!
sohoangel: (closed-mouth smile)

[personal profile] sohoangel 2021-03-28 02:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Knowing that he has made a new friend is worth all the tea in the world to Aziraphale, who smiles at the words. For a being of immense power, he certainly does not lord his aura over others.

That little number trick is real magic, a miracle that Aziraphale takes advantage of so that his PINpoint number is not given away willy-nilly. His shop has a phone number, too, but he never puts that on his business cards, not wanting to encourage potential customers to contact him. It's in the phone book (paper only) if they insist on tracking him down regarding book inquiries.

"Yes, of course. There is a vending machine in the Plaza that distributes them, I'll take you to it once we're done. There are portals to other worlds, as well, that's how I first arrived here, in fact, but they can be unreliable and I wouldn't want you to get lost."

Molly is proving to be a being of many talents, and Aziraphale is quite eager to learn. "Oh, I like coin tricks! Such a simple prop, and so convenient, too." He's also not very good at them, but maybe Molly can help him with that. As their meal starts to come to an end, he signals the waiter and puts in an order for two pain au chocolat, and a refresher for their tea.
sohoangel: (smiling)

[personal profile] sohoangel 2021-03-30 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Aziraphale laughs, resting his hands in his lap so he doesn't interfere with the bus boy's dish clearing. "You're telling me! I've met all sorts of beings here that I've only read about in books." That might sound strange, coming from an angel, but the supernatural is surprisingly limited where he's from, and the technology, too, at least in comparison to starships and sentient robots.

His eyes zero on the coin when it appears, an expression of pure delight appearing on his face. "You can make it walk across your knuckles!" he says in awe. "It always slips out of my hand when I try. How did you learn that one, will you show me?"

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