059: Let Them All Walk Away

[contract_star]

[Hei is at his hut again. He's sitting on the bottom step, leaning tiredly against the railing. By now it's clear that he's been growing his hair out, as it's now down to his chin.]

[There's a single, half-empty bowl of ramen with him as well as a tumblerful of something alcoholic. A basic, composition notebook is open on his lap and he's idly writing something on one of the pages--though you might notice that "Ryotarou" is written in Sharpie on the front. There's also a pair of black and electric-blue Air Trecks propped next to him on the step.]

[Hei yawns and taps his pen against the paper, frowning a little.]

Comments

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

[Oh Hei, why so serious :|]

[Crowley considers this for a moment]

I suppose I ought to be paying more attention to what the humans are doing with the Gate, hadn't I?

[contract_star]

Probably.

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

Mm. I'll look into it—or put it on the list, anyway.

[a pause, because this is something he never, ever does:] How's Misaki?

[contract_star]

Mm.

[Blinks, because that kind of came out of nowhere. After a moment he gives a lopsided smile.] I have no idea. She's not telling me everything.

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

I suppose that would account for the mood she's been in lately, eh?

[contract_star]

What do you mean?

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

[He shrugs and stuffs his hands into his pockets again]

She has quite a decent right hook, I mean.

[contract_star]

[Eyebrow raise.] She punched you.

What exactly did you do, Crowley?

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

I was only trying to lighten the mood. It isn't my fault if she hasn't a sense of humour.

[contract_star]

What did you say to her? She doesn't...exactly hit people without a reason.

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

I...may have made light of her chosen method of transport and its side-effects.

[contract_star]

Chosen...method of transport? [He is completely lost.]

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

Teleportation?

[contract_star]

Tele...? Oh. [:|] Mature of you, Crowley.

[Pause, and he frowns.] But why would she need a Contractor to teleport her anywhere...?

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

As I said, I was only trying to lighten the mood. Ordinarily I would've thought it obvious—er, no offence.

You're asking the wrong person, I'm afraid. Shortly after the teleportation discussion I found myself being assaulted by a very small, very angry Japanese woman, so... [another shrug]

[contract_star]

[Hei is silent for awhile, frowning at the Plane floor.] Something isn't right. That doctor coat didn't make any sense...unless she was with Kanami, but even then...

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

I'll leave that end of things to you...I've already done enough meddling.

Someone might get the impression I actually give a damn.

[contract_star]

[Smirk.] Haven't we been through this before? You can't fool me, Crowley.

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

Ah, but you see, I care that my face is continually mistaken for some sort of punching target. I happen to be somewhat fond of my face.

You, on the other hand, are Misaki's... [he waves a hand dismissively] ...whatever the hell you two are calling yourselves these days.

[contract_star]

Only because it makes such a good target.

[Hit a bit of a nerve there, Crowley, but Hei is content with just glaring at you.]

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

It's also a rather important part of my job, so if you don't mind. [ :| ]

Well I don't know, do I? I've hardly the time to keep up with your relationship when mine is such a bloody mess. [pause] Mine are.

[contract_star]

Is it? How's that?

[Pause, knowing he's treading on thin ice.] Does the first Aziraphale know yet?

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

You try tempting someone looking as though you've just come from A&E. Lust is one of the big Seven, after all.

[looks away] ...not yet.

[contract_star]

Oh, right. The temptation thing. [And now that there's some distance between that whole freak out in the bar, he can actually think about what that actually means. He blinks. Slowly,] Crowley, what is it exactly that you do? You said it was a job, but I've never heard of someone getting paid for temptation.

[exserpens.livejournal.com]

[Pinching the bridge of his nose]

You really ought to catch up a bit on your Western religion. We—meaning demons—secure souls for our Master and work to bring about the End of Days, etcetera etcetera. Our pay is not getting in trouble with our superiors...which is a very, very good thing.