† 009

[mr_phale]

[ VOICE ]

[From the sound of it, the angel has no idea he's being recorded.]

You know, it's not that I mind this City, exactly; it's less pleasant some days than others, to be sure, but all in all I can accept I'm meant to be here, whether or not I know why. Ineffability and all that. One gets used to it, after a time, and certainly I've had plenty of that.

Still, it is... well, between you and I, if I'm honest, it's a bit lonesome at the moment. My fault, really, for being a bit of a creature of habit. But I'm hardly accustomed to, er, these sort of comings and goings.

[There's a soft huff of breath which he will insist is not a sigh, and a faint rustling in the background.]

But, one never knows. I'd best keep you in some semblance of presentable shape, or I'll never hear the end of it if Crowley does come back.



[ooc; no inner monologue, so he's soliloquizing at Crowley's houseplants. between Crowley being out-on-hiatus and Dulcie leaving, sad angel is saaaad]

Comments

Not here because hiatus but...

[itsjustafruit]

[Crowley is far away but can practically sense his plants despondently dropping leaves.]

voice;

[riceballfruit]

[That voice sounds familiar! Pinged by it, and her natural desire to help, Tohru responds in like.]

Do you need help with...err, helping whomever it is you're speaking to, Mister?

And I'm terribly sorry you feel lonely. There are plenty of people out here to speak with, though.

voice;

[mr_phale]

Oh, dear-- I hadn't realized it was recording, although I suppose I can't be surprised.

I was merely chatting with the, er, plants. Which, I know, is a bit ridiculous but they're accustomed to it-- though Crowley's not nearly so friendly with them. I must confess he does tend to have somewhat better results.

voice;

[riceballfruit]

Is this Mister - is he a Mister? - Crowley of yours a friend?'

I don't think talking to plants is ridiculous! I'm sure they enjoy getting to listen to someone. They might feel lonely if no one talks to them.

...better results. Are they not doing well?

voice;

[mr_phale]

In all fairness, neither of us are technically actually anything, but it does become a matter of habit, when one spends so much time among humans. But, er, that might be a bit much, I suppose. Yes, you may as well call him Mister, and yes he is a dear friend of mine.

Crowley speaks to his plants, er, in a rather... particular manner. He tends to, well, to threaten them.

voice;

[riceballfruit]

Mister Crowley, then.

Ah! But why does he threaten them? Doesn't that scare them?

voice;

[mr_phale]

Well, as I understand it-- and I can't claim to understand terribly well-- that's rather the point. They're meant to be too frightened not to grow beautifully.

voice;

[riceballfruit]

But it...actually works? [She's having a hard time with this one.] Maybe it's a good thing I don't have any plants.

voice;

[mr_phale]

Well, he does seem to get results.

[Aziraphale doesn't sound doubtful, exactly; it's more regretful.]

voice;

[anunluckypenny]

I'm sorry you've had a lot of goings. Would anything help?

Eight. No, darn. Sorry, curse.

voice;

[mr_phale]

Oh, really, it's not so bad-- I was only speaking to the plants. Crowley's houseplants, I've been doing my best to keep them in good health.

But thank you, my dear.

voice;

[anunluckypenny]

Are the plants good company?

voice;

[mr_phale]

They rarely disagree with me, which I suppose is rather nice. I'll confess they're not nearly as, er, lively as Crowley, but perhaps that's to be expected. The truth is, while I'm quite accustomed to being on my own for the most part, it is odd not being in the same place. Er. In the general sense.

voice;

[anunluckypenny]

Dumb question, but what other sense is there than the general sense?

voice;

[mr_phale]

Well, the immediate sense, as opposed to merely the same universe. We might go decades without seeing one another, but somehow this seems much more remote.

I expect that seems silly.

voice;

[anunluckypenny]

No, it doesn't. You can't be much farther apart from someone than in a different dimension, right?

voice;

[mr_phale]

Precisely, although technically speaking I suppose it's not strictly a matter of, er, distance.

But that's merely an attempt to avoid the topic, isn't it.

[unflagging]

Wait, are you saying you believe in things like destiny?

[mr_phale]

Not exactly. I was talking about ineffability, not destiny. It's, er. Well, by its nature it's quite complicated.

[unflagging]

Any relation to "ineluctable?"

[mr_phale]

Well, perhaps. I suppose-- if you'll pardon a bit of humour-- we can never truly know.

[unflagging]

Oh, ha ha.

[Actually, he's laughing like mad. Give him a moment.]

[mr_phale]

[The joke goes over his head. A great many of them do.]

In any case, I'd say it works to one's advantage as often as it works against one. Er. More or less.

[unflagging]

So it all works out in the end. Is that what you're saying?

[mr_phale]

Theoretically. I'm not really, er, terribly well-informed on how it's all meant to work out, but it does seem inevitable.