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Language:
English
Series:
Part 3 of CrossOmens
Stats:
Published:
2024-07-11
Completed:
2024-07-13
Words:
0
Chapters:
2/2
Comments:
17
Kudos:
101
Bookmarks:
6
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624

CrossOmens: Book-Bound

Summary:

TV Aziraphale pays a visit to his book counterpart. It turns into an unexpected heart-to-heart when Book Crowley arrives in evident distress.

Notes:

Chapter 1

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Page 1. Book Aziraphale is arranging volumes on one of the shelves in his bookshop. A sound effect indicates the chime of a bell, signaling that someone has entered the shop. Aziraphale pushes a book into its place and calls without looking, “Terribly sorry, but we’re about to close.”

Page 2. A voice answers from offscreen. “Well, that’s a shame. I was hoping to find a first-edition classic.” Book Aziraphale looks up to find TV Aziraphale having just entered, smiling with some trepidation. “Ah, welcome! I must say I did not expect to see you here so soon.” “You did say to drop in anytime,” TV Aziraphale says.

Page 3. TV Aziraphale continues. “And, I miss my shop, and my books. It’s not quite the same here, but… the familiarity is a comfort.” Book Aziraphale looks at him in sympathy. “I was just about to put on the kettle,” he says. “Care for a cuppa?” TV Aziraphale smiles gratefully. “I would like that very much, thank you.” The bell rings again, and the door slams hard, and both angels look up in surprise.

Page 4. Book Crowley has entered the bookshop, clearly agitated, and he begins charging up the stairs without even looking at who else is there. TV Aziraphale calls his name and Crowley turns, startled.

Page 5. “Azir-” Book Crowley sputters. “What are YOU doing here?!” TV Aziraphale pauses. “Visiting. I…” Book Aziraphale steps forward. “Are you quite all right, my dear?” Crowley grips the banister, not meeting their eyes. “I’m fine.” The Aziraphales glance at each other, unconvinced.

Page 6. TV Aziraphale approaches Book Crowley. “Ah- won’t you join us? We could catch up a little, and…” Crowley stares at him. Book Aziraphale glances up at Crowley, and makes a decision. “Three teas, then,” he says, and walks into the back room, leaving his TV counterpart with Crowley. They glance at each other awkwardly.

Page 7. Book Crowley huffs and begins to slink back down the stairs. “I had been hoping to talk to you,” TV Aziraphale begins. “That was a very kind thing to do, reaching out to us. I know it was your idea.” “I’m NOT–“ Crowley begins to snap, but trails off into a grumble. “Ugh, forget it, no point anyway. He said he wouldn’t tell.” “He didn’t,” says Aziraphale. “I figured it out.” Crowley growls a sarcastic “Great.” “But it is,” Aziraphale insists. “I appreciated it, and I’m sure Crowley did too.” Crowley brushes past him. “Uh. Yeah. He sure didn’t sound it just now.” Aziraphale is bewildered. “Oh, he… what?”

Page 8. “What happened?” asks TV Aziraphale. Book Crowley pauses, glancing at him guiltily. “So he’s still living in his car, right?” he says. “I thought as long as we’re waiting, he may as well be somewhere comfortable, and I told him he could stay at my place a while, at least until you got the cottage. And then he–“ He stops when he notices that Aziraphale is visibly flinching, and looks away, uncomfortable.

Page 9. “Anyway, there was a row,” Book Crowley continues, “and I came back here.” “It was a generous offer,” TV Aziraphale offers. “Yeah, well, now he hates me,” Crowley returns. “Back to Square One.” Aziraphale looks away unhappily. “Ha. Well. Same boat.” That makes Crowley look at him, brow furrowed. “Sorry, that was…” Aziraphale adds miserably. “I, I know he doesn’t. Not me, and not you.”

Page 10. Book Crowley is seen in the foreground in silhouette, with his sunglasses the most visible detail. “I just wanted him to…” “It’s all right,” TV Aziraphale says gently. “I know you were trying to help.” Book Crowley mumbles, “I didn’t want him to be alone. I-I couldn’t let him be alone.” “There really is no need to explain,” Aziraphale begins, but then realizes what was said. “OH. Oh dear.” He stares at Crowley, who is running hands through his hair in agitation. “YOU were on your own, in your story,” Aziraphale remembers out loud.

Page 11. A series of images showing the scenes in the Good Omens novel where Crowley is in the burning bookshop. The panels point jaggedly at Crowley himself, seen from the back. TV Aziraphale’s words are superimposed in word balloons over the top. “I could reach my Crowley, but your Aziraphale couldn’t. You had no one, through all of that.” “’S okay. It worked out,” Crowley says weakly. “Rough for a while, but it worked out.”

Page 12. TV Aziraphale begins to reach toward Book Crowley, who is standing a few paces away with hands shoved in his jacket pockets. “I wouldn’t want any version of you alone, either.” He sighs. “Not that I haven’t inflicted precisely that.” “You did what you could,” Crowley admits. “And if it weren’t the two of you, it’d be…” He pauses, lost in thought. “If I could just find that ending…” Aziraphale looks at him. “That isn’t in your power, dear boy.” Crowley’s words come out in a rush. “I know! But I WANT to!”

Page 13. Book Crowley gestures frantically with his hands toward TV Aziraphale. “I need to know you’ll be happy in the end. That WE’LL be happy in the end. If we’re not, then…” As he’s talking, the camera reveals that Book Aziraphale has been listening from behind one of the bookcases, looking sad and sympathetic. Crowley swipes fingers under the rim of his sunglasses. “Then what’s even the point?” he finishes. TV Aziraphale looks at him worriedly. “Crowley…”

Page 14. The two Aziraphales look at each other from across the room. Book Aziraphale nods at TV Aziraphale, who smiles tightly and reaches for Book Crowley’s sunglasses, lifting them away. “There is always a point,” he tells him.

Page 15. “Then what’s ours?” asks Book Crowley. “I believe you know the answer already,” TV Aziraphale tells him with a smile. There is a pause, and then slowly, Crowley inches in until his forehead is resting on Aziraphale’s shoulder. From his body language, the angel appears a bit startled.

Page 16. “Just drive anyway,” Book Crowley says softly, referring to a passage in the novel. Gently, TV Aziraphale places a hand on the demon’s shoulder, welcoming him. “Not quite the way I would have phrased it,” he admits, “but, yes. Exactly.” It turns into a light, slightly awkward embrace, and Book Aziraphale joins them, touching Crowley’s back in a gesture of comfort. The two angels look at each other and share a slight smile.

Page 17. The first three panels are taken up by a door with an elegant snake-shaped handle. There is a knocking sound effect, and a long-fingered hand pushes down the handle and opens the door to reveal a familiar silhouette. It’s TV Crowley, leaning against the doorframe. “Look, this wasn’t my first choice. But I needed to be someplace that wasn’t mine. And I… My options are sort of limited right now.” Reverse angle to reveal that it is Radio Crowley who has answered the door, and he stares at him in apparent confusion while a voice from offcreen, presumably Radio Aziraphale’s, calls out “Crowley? Who’s out there?”

Notes:

"Heigh ho," said Anthony Crowley, and just drove anyway.