demonicmiracle | (duplicity) ic contact

I was talking friends, yeah. The first few days tend to be the busiest. Someone I met a couple hours after I showed up is still one of my best mates here.

[It was a complete coincidence that he ran into Cullen, but he's glad he did.]

Have managed to avoid sleeping with him, too. Always a nice little bonus in this place.

[He has, unfortunately, slept with some of his other friends.]

Then you're luckier.

( and if he does read a little deeper he might find that it's the only detail she's going to offer about what happened with her -- that one of the first people she met and had a friendlier conversation with ended up being the first person she slept with. and she really hopes that doesn't become any pattern )

What was it like getting used to this place? We were always encouraged to... keep a distance from mortals.

( she doubted that demons had the same rule, not when they were encouraged to cause chaos )

[Most of the time, he's fairly good at reading between the lines.]

It was like that, huh?

[It's an opened-ended question, one that she can answer with a simple yes or no if she doesn't want to discuss too much more with him. He's hardly going to hold it against her, if she isn't keen to open up to a demon.

As for her question, Crowley shrugs. It's a lazy gesture, one that hides a thread of discomfort.]

It's harder to keep a distance, here. Not just 'cause of the sex. [It's being trapped together, the LIES program often forcing them to interact. It's the fact it's difficult to trust native Duplicity citizens, so it feels better to rely on one another.] No one dies in the program, but they do leave. Can be hard, if you fuck up and get attached.

[Like he has, multiple times.]

( rather than say anything she'll give him a look that confirms it. at this point, it's less opening up to a demon and simply just really not wanting to talk about sex. she's never done any kind of casual conversation about it before and embarrassment doesn't help )

I've been... attached to mortals before, even before I became mortal -- friends. ( and someone far closer to her ) Friends weren't specifically frowned upon, just how we acted with them.

( as long as they didn't get too familiar or interfere it wasn't too bad )

But if people leave here... it would be sudden enough to be a shock.

[That's a yes, then. He won't press for details, but he will offer a little advice.]

As long as you can both agree not to make a big deal of it, eventually you'll barely even think about whatever happened, even if it wasn't much fun.

[It's been true so far to his experience. The only encounter that's really stuck with him is with that other version of Aziraphale, and that's completely different than some unpleasant fuck with a friendly acquaintance.]

Death's sudden, too, most of the time. [He shrugs, fingers idly drumming against the table.] Sounds like you should do alright making friends, if you were allowed to have friends.

( there's a beat, a slight jolt in the conversation that makes her accidentally skip over his advice and then purposely skip over his next comment )

Allowed versus not crossing a line.

( one day perhaps she'd tell him that she almost did, that she'd stepped down instead. though that was absolutely rephrasing how it had gone )

Though a whilst I know it doesn't help it's perhaps relieving that being here isn't a punishment.

( she'd strongly considered it such, or a purpose but instead she was making her own purpose )

[He doesn't miss it, but he isn't sure what to attribute it to.]

Either way, friendship isn't exactly a new concept to you, is what I'm getting. And that's something you'll need, here, even if you do end up sleeping with them once or twice.

[People like Cullen, Diana, even Natasha when she was still around, they've been important in helping Crowley keep from entirely hating his time here.]

This isn't the Almighty's style. It's the wrong kind of cruel. For my money, it's just terrible fucking luck.

( she doesn't like that she'd thought it but she hadn't known what he'd been thinking in some time )

Well, you cant have done terribly for not being as familiar with it, not with the friends you mentioned.

( just going to gently sidestep that she might potentially sleep with some of them. she might have had sex already but she's still trying to avoid it )

Something that helps each of us.

[Crowley huffs out an amused breath, lifting a shoulder in a shrug.]

Well, I've gone soft, unfortunately. Not much to be done for it.

[Between Aziraphale and all the people he seems to have accidentally collected here, there's no real doubt about that.]

Think I have it easier than the angel, really. Part of being a demon's meant learning how to get people to trust me, and learning how to figure out what they want. Friendship isn't that different.

[It's just like, done in a nice way, instead of done to tempt them into something terrible.]

I think he'll be fine.

( a little defensive for him? even if crowley does know him better than she ever could she can't help but defend an angel, to believe in them )

As much as parts of being here are uncomfortable. ( no matter whether they'd been there months or just arrived. she wasn't going to question whether either had gotten in trouble, though they did have each other ) But I think he could make friends easily.

[Oh no. If anything was going to make him maybe actually like her, it's this. There's something terribly fond in his smile.]

Yeah? What makes you so sure of that?

[It's a gentle inquiry, mostly because he's curious what kind of opinion she has of Aziraphale.]

I'd assume you'd know exactly why.

( teasing slightly given that they were married but she'll actually answer the question )

The first time we spoke he was comforting, wanted to reassure me that it would be fine. He made a friend then.

( angel or not that manner of his would help him )

Most humans I've seen him interact with have been waitstaff.

[Not that it would mean he doesn't know how Aziraphale could be with other people, but that's his current excuse and he's sticking to it.

He decides not to say that Aziraphale is kind of rubbish at relating to humans on a one-on-one basis, that likely the reason he was so good with her is because he knew she was Something Else. Crowley doesn't judge him for these things, but another angel might, and anyway, it's not her business.]

M'glad he made a good first impression. There's... [He hesitates, unsure if he should say this or not. In the end, he shakes his head.] I'm glad he's got someone sort of familiar around, even if we're not all from the same place.

I am too.

( that he's not alone in an angelic sense, that she isn't either. even that aziraphale hadn't been alone generally, that he'd had crowley from the beginning )

And... you've made a better second impression.

( honestly, his initial moment of trying to help her still stuck out, something good but then it had gotten confusing and complicated talking about heaven and hell )

[That earns a quiet little chuckle.]

Glad to hear I've worked my way into your good books.

[He says it lightly, but he does mean it, if only for Aziraphale's sake.]

Oh, you're not quite off the hook yet.

( though she's much fonder saying that, a barely concealed smile on her lips, a little more like a scolding mother than someone on the other side )

But I judged what you are not who you are, something I don't know I would say about many.

( every other demon was dreadful )

I can be patient.

[Just a hint of tease in that; it took a few millennia for Aziraphale to stop treating him with some wariness, so he hardly expects much more so soon.]

And no need to worry, I'm used to the judgement.

[It's a little bit pointed. Because of course an angel would judge him by what he is, someone forbid he not be a monster like God made him.]

Perhaps but it's a unique situations that we're in.

( meeting people from other worlds nevermind this city )

Something that needs to be carefully handled.

Mm, I'm not the only demon, though I'm probably the one most inclined to play nice with an angel. Ex-angel.

[It's a warning more than anything.]

There are witches, too, suppose you could call them Satanists. Would be best not to let them know what you were.

( she opend her mouth to say something but then closes it again, a little surprised by what he tells her )

I don't plan on letting anyone know. As far as anyone else is concerned I'm mortal.

( though she'd end up surprised at how many people here would be able to read something more from her )

I assume that they know what you are. Aziraphale too?

Fair warning, plans don't always work out well, place like this.

[Not even considering people like him who can read into power or divinity, the city just doesn't really respect secrets.]

Think most people who know me know what I am. Not so much for him. He's a bit more subtle, try to contain your shock.

[Considering Aziraphale tends to blend into the background, all soft and beige, while Crowley stands out.]

( she's not even considering that the city would know what she is )

Well, if he's managed it then it's possible.

( shockingly she's also subtle and very experienced at just being human, having those years of mortal existence )

Did you want people to know?

[Crowley just makes a non-committal sound; she'll figure it out for herself eventually.]

Figured I might as well lead with it. If they're going to be arseholes about it, I'd rather know from the beginning.

[Better than maybe starting to like someone only for them to say something shitty because of what he is.]

Think the only person I've had real trouble with is the priest, and he's a bloody lunatic, so I'm not too cut up about it.

Somehow that doesn't surprise me.

( that a demon would have trouble with a priest, how novel. though she also has yet to meet said priest to know what he's really like )

But... it's nice that you've had a positive response.

( or not negative. and it's weird still to her that she's speaking so positively about a demon but... maybe it's easier not thinking about that part too much )

Well, it helps that I'm utterly charming.

[He says it as a joke, but there's some truth to it. Perhaps not utterly, but Crowley knows how to be friendly and approachable when he needs to, and it's served him well here.]

(duplicity) ic contact

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