Saturnalia GP!

[goodfellow]

It was a good night at Saturnalia.

There was some b-list American rapper-slash-DJ who had shown up earlier in the day, and Robin was happy to throw someone on stage. It had gone over well right away, so he'd let him stay on. And now it was well into the evening and things were, as Robin understood the current vernacular to be, turnt.

In fact, at some point he'd thrown open all the windows so that the music blasted onto the street, and instructed the bouncers to let in whoever wanted in. He'd also instructed the bartenders to serve all the beer half price. The resulting crowd and frenzy was really something else.

Comments

[whispersoflove]

"It's one of the languages of Hell, I know that much," Anael answered, a frown settled on his brow. "If it would help, I could probably find out more." He wasn't certain how reliable Crowley's information might be, but perhaps if he asked Aziraphale to intervene in his favour, he would be able to trust the demon with that small request. He knew the truth of the feelings between them, after all.

[harrowgate]

"It would help," Felix told him, simple and sober. "I don't know what this means, or if my resources will give me any hint as to translating it. I'd like to take a photo, if you don't mind."

[whispersoflove]

"Of course," Anael agreed with a nod, his fingers still hooked in the collar of his t-shirt to keep the rune expose. "I'll reach out, get that information for you."

[harrowgate]

Felix fished out his phone, and took photographs as quickly as he could so that Anael did not have to expose it for too long. "All information is good information," he said briskly, not meeting Anael's eyes. "To be very honest with you, I haven't been entirely comfortable with the idea of Sunny, Faizel ,and I attempting to 'fix' you without your participation."

[whispersoflove]

"I've no idea how to help," Anael admitted after a beat. It cost him to say so, but he did not resent that fact. He would hopefully come out of this having learned more about himself, and with renewed faith. "Or I hadn't, anyway," he added, since now he knew one way, even if that way involved a demon. He ought to have gone to Crowley earlier, but he had been hoping it wouldn't come to that. "Anything I can do," he confirmed, releasing the collar of his shirt when Felix put the phone away.

[harrowgate]

The hesitation, the odd stops and starts in Anael's voice, drew Felix's attention. He turned back once he was sure Anael had done up his shirt again. "And what are you going to do, that you didn't think of before now?"

[whispersoflove]

"I did think of it, if I'm honest," Anael admitted shamelessly. "But I'd hoped I wouldn't have to." He leaned back against the conference table, sliding his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "One of my brethren is stationed here in London. He is... friends... with his demon counterpart. The demon might help. But he is a demon."

He would not help out of the kindness of his heart, and there was no telling whether he would tell the truth.

Not to mention the fact that being in his presence grated on Anael's very soul. Being around any of his Fallen brethren made his heart ache for them.

[harrowgate]

"A demon?" Felix folded his arms, frowning. He stood directly in front of Anael as if he might block the man's attempt at retreat. Crowley was his first thought, of course. If self-titled angels could appear undifferentiated from humans, then he supposed their infernal brethren could do the same. Never had he met anyone who would better fit the moniker 'demon' than that bastard.

"You mean, the same sort of creature that did this to you? You want to ask their help? Darling, I can't imagine that's a good idea."

[whispersoflove]

"I'm still not sure whether demons, men, or some other creatures were behind what's happened to me," Anael replied, frowning. At least Felix would not condemn him for his reluctance to turn to the demon, it seemed. "Crowley used to be one of us, and he does still love one of us. He's helped already. It might be that he will again. And if he does - we obviously oughtn't take any information he gives us at face value."

[harrowgate]

Felix's eyes went hard, narrow, and he gave one firm shake of his head. "Crowley? No. No, darling, you mustn't go to him. If you say he's a demon I'm inclined to believe you. He's horrible. He only wants to hurt people. You can't."

[whispersoflove]

"Trust me, as far as demons go, he's... all right," Anael settled on, and would rather not know what Crowley might think if he heard him say so. Or worse yet, what he might do to prove him wrong. "And we're running out of options. Like I've said, he's helped before. He might again."

[harrowgate]

Felix sniffed. "Treating you like garbage the entire time. Look, you know I don't subscribe to your Judeo-Christian mythos--" In fact, Felix's working theory was that beings like Anael had existed long before humans came along to make up a religion about them and everyone had gotten a bit carried away. "-- but whatever Crowley is, he knows far too much and he'll use it to hurt you."

The wizard huffed a short sigh. "Just... don't bargain away anything precious to you. All right?"

[whispersoflove]

"Felix, I know the nature of demons much more intimately than you," Anael pointed out gently. "And I know better than to entrust any of them with anything precious to me."

Felix meant well, but Anael hardly needed advice on how much to distrust one of his Fallen brethren.

[harrowgate]

Felix gave Anael a momentary disapproving lift of one brow. He was quite accustomed to telling other people what to do. "I just think it's deeply foolish, darling, but I can't stop you from doing anything."

[whispersoflove]

"No," Anael acknowledged patiently, "you can't." Once again, he stopped himself from reaching out to Felix, and kept his hands in his pockets. "But your concern is appreciated."

[harrowgate]

Felix had said all he could say; even he could see that. He took a step back and spread his hands as if to indicate there was nothing more he could do. "All right, darling. When we find something, how do we get in touch with you?"

[whispersoflove]

"Oh," Anael perked up slightly, as he always did when talking about Coby, "Coby got me a phone." Praying still worked, of course, but a phone was more practical when someone simply wanted to talk to him. It wasn't as if he could reach someone very quickly these days, not unless they were praying in close proximity to him.

[harrowgate]

Anael looked rather sweet, and Felix decided not to provide the man with any patented wizard sass on the matter. "Very good, darling. Here. Text me on mine and then I'll have your number," he added, a business card appearing in his hand which he gave to Anael.

[whispersoflove]

"I will do that," Anael told him after looking at the card. "Thank you for all your help, Felix."

[harrowgate]

Felix glanced away, his mouth pressed into a line; he didn't like acknowledgement for things like helping. It never seemed fully warranted. "We should return this room to the hotel, I suppose. You go first, and I'll let myself out in a few minutes. We wouldn't want to look terribly suspicious."

[whispersoflove]

"Of course not," Anael agreed, with some measure of humour. He smiled at Felix, resisted, once again, the urge to reach out, and slipped out of the room, his card still in his hand.