InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Bad as new."

Aziraphale (theflamingsword) wrote in colligo_threads,
@ 2010-12-23 16:29:00

Entry tags:

aziraphale, parker

Who: Aziraphale and Parker.
What: Zira is helping Parker with a Christmas gift.
Where: The bookshop.
When: Afternoon.
Rating: No more than PG.
Status: In progress.

It wasn't often that Parker made requests of Aziraphale, particularly ones involving books. In fact, not often pretty much translated into never. So Zira really didn't have a problem helping her find an interesting history book. He had been rather amused by her comment about cool history books and whether or not they existed, familiar by now with Parker's rather unique mindset. It was rather endearing, if he was honest¹, the way she looked at the world. He had personally always found it rather refreshing.

He'd gone into his back room² and found a few of his more interesting history books that he didn't mind parting with³, and had brought them into the sitting area. Then he made some hot chocolate and waited for Parker. Normally, he would have made tea, but Parker warranted special treatment and hot chocolate seemed more festive⁴. Settling down in one of the chairs, he began flipping through one of the books while he waiting for the girl to arrive.

1. And as Aziraphale was an angel, he was always honest. It was the degree of honesty that one needed to concern oneself with, not its presence or absence.
2. The back room housed the books he would only part with under special circumstances. Parker wanting to purchase anything, let alone a book, was certainly special circumstances.
3. That wasn't entirely true. He always minded parting with his books, but he was mellowing out. In another few millennia, he might truly not mind.
4. He felt like he needed to have something festive, lest she deem it necessary to decorate his shop.

(Post a new comment)

inafivepoundbag
2010-12-23 10:05 pm UTC (link)

The only time of year when Parker tended to buy things was at Christmas. Granted there were only a handful of people that she knew that she felt any sort of desire to buy gifts for, which probably helped ensure that she actually purchased them, but the point was that the thief was willing to occasionally part with money in order to get something and this was one of those times.

It was sheer lucky, really, that Alaric had met Parker when he had. If he'd been a week or so later in arriving at Colligo, he wouldn't have made her very exclusive list of gift recipients. He had, though, and so now here she was, making her way into Aziraphale's bookshop in the hopes that the Principality was telling the truth when he said he could help her. Not that Parker thought he was lying. She didn't. She thought he might be a little crazy for thinking history books could also be cool but she doubted he was outright lying about having something Ric would like.

Stepping inside the shop, frowning up at the bell that dinged when she entered - mostly because she knew there was no way even she could enter this particular shop without it dinging - Parker glanced around once before spotting Aziraphale. She gave him a little wave, moving to where he stood, only to pause a few steps in and sniff loudly.

"I smell hot chocolate," she announced. Then she paused, gasped loudly, and stared at him with wide eyes. "You have hot chocolate! I want some! Can I have some? Please let me have some! I'm even spending money here!"

What could she say? Hot chocolate sounded good and never let it be insinuated that Parker was one for keeping to herself things that she wanted at the very moment she wanted them.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

theflamingsword
2010-12-24 06:19 am UTC (link)

Aziraphale would have known she was there even without the bell, nothing happened in his shop without his knowledge, but he had always liked the bell. It was an odd little thing, ringing no matter how someone came in. You could come in through the roof and the bell would go off. The only person it wouldn't ring for was Crowley, and Adam if they boy chose not to have it go off. It was choosy like that.

He smiled as Parker noticed the smell of hot chocolate and reacted in a manner not unlike an excited young child. "Of course, dear girl," he said with a small grin as he fixed her a cup and passed it to her. "And I do appreciate that you're spending money here." Though it wasn't as though she could do anything else. Even Parker couldn't steal from his shop. The best thief in the world couldn't outdo the will of a Principality. And he had decided a long time ago that things wouldn't be stolen from his shop.

"Now," he said, "tell me about this friend. History is a rather broad topic. Do you happen to know what subjects might interest him?" It was all right if she didn't, but it would help him narrow down a good choice out of his selections.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

inafivepoundbag
2010-12-24 05:15 pm UTC (link)

Parker knew she couldn't steal from Aziraphale's shop. He was a Principality which, as Cas had explained to her, meant he outranks every angel to show up in Colligo so far. The idea of being able to take something from him, without his permission, was laughable at best. However even if she could steal something from the shop, she wouldn't. Not because he was powerful but rather because, in her own way, Parker respected Aziraphale. He cared for Cas and Jade and helped them whenever he could, he'd raised Adam to make sure the Antichrist didn't blink humanity out of existence whenever he was having a bad day, and he could always be counted on to step in if things got a little too heated over the networks.

He also made hot chocolate. That was always a plus in Parker's book.

Taking the cup of steaming cocoa from him when he offered it, she took a small sip and grinned merrily. "Yummy," she said simply, plainly, with no poking or prodding and not at all attached to any part of their conversation. Then she blinked and the corners of her mouth pulled downward into a slight frown.

"No," she answered slowly, letting her gaze flicker from her drink back to Aziraphale. Her eyes widened as something occurred to her. "He's friends with a vampire!" she announced proudly, as though that clearly explained everything. "And he hunts them at night. Not his friend though, I don't think." She snorted. "That'd make him a really bad friend," she pointed out before adding, without missing a beat, "Oh! And he teaches history too! High school, I think. He seems like he teaches high school. People who teach small kids look a lot more frazzled and usually drink and he doesn't seem to drink a lot. He's good at getting out of handcuffs though!"

She nodded in a matter of fact way, took another sip of her hot chocolate, then asked hopefully, "Does that help?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

theflamingsword
2010-12-25 06:33 am UTC (link)

Though Aziraphale loved all humans, as most angels did, he certainly had his favourites. Claire was an obvious one, as were Jude and Molly. The two that stood out though were Castiel and Amitiel, now called Cas and Jade, as the two were his siblings. They both meant a great deal to him and, because of her closeness with both of them, he was also terribly fond of Parker. It was at least part of why he was so willing to part with his books, the other part being the Christmas season and feelings of goodwill toward people. It seemed wrong to deny people help with gifts for their loved ones, even if it did mean giving up books he might otherwise like to keep.

He smiled as she sipped her hot chocolate, obviously approving of it. "I'm glad you like it," he said, taking a sip of his own drink. It was very nice hot chocolate, but then one expected little else in this particular shop. "Feel free to take some with you when you go." With a wave of his hand, there was a thermos on the counter for her.

He listened to her description and stifled an amused smile. He knew who she was talking about, but it was certainly interesting to see what Parker thought might be relevant. Especially the bit about handcuffs. Holding up a hand, he gave her a fond sort of grin. "I'm certain Mister Saltzman isn't hunting his friend," he told her. "And I think I have just the thing. Just let me pop into the back for a moment." Picking up his books, he made his way to the back of the shop, rather than actually popping, then came back a few minutes later with two books in his hands. He set them on the counter, then turned his attention to Parker.

"This one," he gestured to the first, "is focused on the American Civil War, while the other," here he gestured to the other book, "is focused on the historical impact of supernatural mythos. Either book would be well received by your friend."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

inafivepoundbag
2010-12-26 07:39 pm UTC (link)

Parker's eyes widened when the thermos appeared. She quickly picked it up and hugged it to her chest much as a small child might their favorite toy. She continued to hold on to it when Aziraphale stepped into the back room and was still clutching it when he returned. She glanced from Aziraphale, to the books, back to him, then back to the books once more.

"Which ones better?" she asked, forehead crinkling a bit. Shifting the thermos to one arm, she pointed with her now free hand to the book focused on the American Civil War. "That one doesn't sound as neat and it's title's boring. Why do books have boring titles? If people can write enough to make one, can't they come up with something fun to name it?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

theflamingsword
2010-12-27 06:27 am UTC (link)

Aziraphale smiled to himself as she hugged the thermos much like he knew she did with her stuffed rabbit. She was so much like a child at times, and he was incredibly fond of her when she was like this. Really, he was always fond of her, but it was more paternal in these moments when she seemed so young.

When she asked which book was better, he laughed and shook his head. "It isn't a matter of better," he told her. "They each have their own merits." She seemed rather unimpressed with the Civil War and he knew he would have to explain. "Alaric focused on that time period," he said, "so it would likely interest him. As would the other, due to his other studies. And history books tend to have more straightforward titles than other types of books. It does not make the books themselves less interesting."

He put a hand on her shoulder. "I've no doubt that, whichever book you choose, he will like it," he promised. "Just pick the one you feel more drawn to."

(Reply to this) (Parent)