Gathering Post

[lcrpg_npc]

The Queen's official birthday celebrations might wait for the better, brighter weather of June, instead of the actual date just passed, but there was no lack of things to do in London this week, even if it was cooler and damper than the week before. St. George's day festivities were scattered throughout the city, competing with celebrations of the four hundredth anniversary of Shakespeare's death. Getting around the city could be even more difficult than usual on Sunday, with multiple streets closed off for the London marathon.

There were exhibits - everything from graphic design to a survey of Sicilian history to the influence of underwear. And the same level of diversity could be found whether you were in the mood for music, theatre, good food, or late night fun. There was something for everyone, and no matter your plans - or lack of plans - you never quite knew what you were going to find, or who might find you.



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[sauntereddownward]

Crowley lowered his sunglasses down his nose. His amber eyes bore thin slits of pupils, entirely inhuman.

"Oh, but I see you," he smiled. "But what is it you think you see?"

[sunsongs]

What did he see, looking at Coby? Coby wanted to know, and didn't at the same time. Asking was probably a bad idea, and for once he was smart enough to listen to the part of himself that believed so.

"I see... someone who made a different choice than who I used to be, and is probably trying that whole wiling thing right now." A thought came to him, and Coby looked Crowley over head to snakeskin shoes and up again. "But hasn't been completely forsaken by one angel anyway. That has to mean something, right?""

[sauntereddownward]

"It means more than you know," Crowley replied with a sly smile, but what he didn't let show was just how surprisingly close Coby got. Not to worry, he had many other tricks up his sleeve.

"And so what are you doing out on such a fine day as today with the wind at your back, as it were?" he asked.

[sunsongs]

The jibe hit its mark, and Coby had to roll his shoulders against the awkwardness and tension. "I didn't realize I needed a reason," he answered finally.

[sauntereddownward]

"Do you live life without reasons, dear boy? I have found that everything and everyone has reasons. None I've ever met amble through life only subject to the winds of fate," Cowley replied thoughtfully.

[sunsongs]

"There's a difference between having no reasons for anything and not having reasons for everything." The itch between Coby's shoulder blades wasn't getting any better, and if he were smart, he'd say goodbye and continue his walk.

But how often was Coby that kind of smart?

"Besides, I didn't realize you'd met many people like me to form an opinion."

[sauntereddownward]

"I have opinions about everything and everyone," the demon replied. "And it never takes me very long to form one. It does, however, take quite a bit to make me change my mind."

[sunsongs]

"I'm more changeable than most." Sometimes Coby liked that about himself, but more often he just accepted it. It was harder on the people he knew, he sometimes felt. "Today that includes curious what sort of opinions you've formed about me."

[sauntereddownward]

"My opinions on you? Well, I think if I'd given you much thought at all..." he taunted, buying time by pulling out a new cigarette to light up. He let his words hang there, drawing out an uncomfortably long pause meant to make Coby squirm with curiosity.

[sunsongs]

The pause dragged out, and contrarily Coby settled more into himself in the silence. "You have opinions about everything and everyone," he echoed after a bit, "And it never takes you very long to form one."

[sauntereddownward]

"You're not as slow as you look," Crowley replied with an oily smile. "But can you guess my opinion?"

[sunsongs]

Coby was quiet a long moment as he considered that. "I get under your skin," he decided finally. "Not as much as the self-righteous assholes with wings, but some." Anael was righteous, but not self-righteous, and he wasn't an asshole at all, so Coby wasn't including him in that set. If Crowley wanted to exclude Aziraphale for the same reasons, he could.

"On the other hand, I'm pretty fucked up, and I know it. You've probably got thoughts on that too."

[sauntereddownward]

"I do," Crowley nodded. "Though, for all your faults, you seem to be a pleasant enough person. Your smiled is not forced or false. It is remarkable, it really is," he added.

[sunsongs]

"Nah, that's easy," Coby said. "There's two secrets."

He held up his thumb, counting off the first, "It's all good." Then his index finger as well, "And sex, drugs, and rock & roll."

[sauntereddownward]

Crowley rolled his eyes so hard they didn't need to be seen behind his dark glasses, it translated to his whole face and, from there, his whole body. If his entire body was made up of eyes to roll, he would have rolled them all.

And then he made a retching, gagging sound.

"Oh, please," he managed. "Stop talking now. Please. I will pay you to shut up now."

[sunsongs]

Coby laughed. "It could've been worse. I could've quoted The Beatles."

[sauntereddownward]

"Why? Why? Why would you say that to me? Why would you threaten anyone with that? You're a bad egg, you are," Crowley replied, wagging his finger in Coby's face accusingly.

[sunsongs]

Wicked glint in his eyes, Coby hummed All You Need is Love under his breath before asking, "Would that count as thwarting? Maybe I'm supposed to do that now."

[sauntereddownward]

"Oh. Your. God. Shut up," Crowley said, utterly exasperated. However, he thought, it very well may count as thwarting and that? That was a dance he knew.

"If you're thwarting, I should be wiling," he said then.

[sunsongs]

"Isn't that why you stopped me in the first place?" Why else would he have? It wasn't like Coby'd kissed his angel again.

[sauntereddownward]

"No, I stopped you so I could piss on your day," the demon said with a sly little grin.

[sunsongs]

"And how's that going for you?" Coby asked, somewhere between smartass and genuinely curious. Yeah, Crowley'd gotten a couple of hits in, but Coby felt like he had too.

[sauntereddownward]

"Well...it's not entirely awful. I'm having fun," he grinned. Maybe Coby had touched a nerve, but Crowley never let others' dampen his spirits when it came to wiling.

[sunsongs]

"So am I." Coby made his eyes go wide. "Shocking. Or is that something I should worry about?"

[sauntereddownward]

"If you're having as much fun as I am then you should definitely be worried," Crowley replied with a nod.