InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "in yo' kitchen, eatin' yo food"

Anthony J Crowley (snakelikesmile) wrote in utr_logs,
@ 2009-03-07 14:28:00

Entry tags:

alexia winters, anthony j crowley

Who: Crowley and Alexia
What: A business meeting; which is to say, Crowley has no idea
When/Where: This evening, Alexia's London Flat
Warnings: No idea.

Crowley had been on the way to pick a... teaser, for a client, when he slid the tape into his casette player. The repetition of his name, admittedly, had Crowley worried- he hadn't been quite sure that Alexia would approve of his friendship with the Prince; he glanced around, paranoid, thinking he was about to be accosted, or worse, sent right back to Hell.

He visibly relaxed at the mention of a promotion, having to laugh hysterically at the end of the tape, when Sinatra resumed control over the stereo, sounding a little preturbed to have been upstaged. (The man always was a bit of a diva.)

Shutting the car back off, he took the time to send a quick message to his Angel and the goddess, unsure just what he was being sent off to do. However, Alexia had said he'd be waiting, so he quickly shut the device off (his business associates could figure out what to do with the child themselves), willing himself to the door of his Lord's flat. He didn't bother knocking, knowing Alexia would know he had arrived, and answer when he felt like.

(Post a new comment)

fallofman
2009-03-07 01:46 pm UTC (link)

When Alexia felt the presence of Crowley at his door, he was in the small dining area nearer the wall of windows, barefoot and in a pair of white cotton pants, his hair moving and shifting against his shoulders and into the air, as if carried by an unfelt breeze. He sighed and willed the door open with a dismissive gesture of one hand, while his other was still busy with its calligraphy - he had a large scroll of rice paper, and had been teaching himself the Eastern ways, for the sake of better understanding Sadako.

"That didn't take long." Was all he had to say to Crowley's quick showing up. "I must have caught you as you were going out."

(Reply to this) (Thread)

snakelikesmile
2009-03-07 01:53 pm UTC (link)

"Bit of trafficking, nothing important," Crowley offered, wandering through the door as it opened, willing it shut him behind him. He headed for the table where his Lord was writing, idly considering the rice paper.

"Interesting. Is she teaching you?" 'She' obviously being Sadako. He still wasn't sure he really wanted to hear what Alexia had in mind for him, and the anxiety probably radiated from him. Guilty conscience, and all.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fallofman
2009-03-07 02:24 pm UTC (link)

"Mm," replied Alexia to the first, head tilted as he set the brush aside and looked up at the lesser Demon before him. "Everything is important in one form or another." Straightening his posture, he rested his hands in his lap.

"No, I'm teaching myself. I required her assistance in learning her language, but that took one or two seconds to absorb from her mind. Otherwise, everything else is needed to be learned on its own. Down to business." He said, offering a summoned glass of brandy to Crowley.

He looked over at Crowley with his piercing, unflinching stare. "You seem to get on well with Satan's spawn. Adam and Damien. Have they met each other yet? Nevermind, that's not important. What I want, is that Damien gets top priority. Find him something to do. Give him something befitting his status. Give him everything he asks for, within reason. It seems that the boy wants his followers, but not his fanatic non-supporters. I want to give it to him."

He had his reasons, but he didn't feel like telling Crowley why. Tapping his nails on the low table, he smiled far too warmly. "If he asks why you're bending over backwards for him, which I very much doubt he will, tell him. I'm not going to pretend I'm a non-entity."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

snakelikesmile
2009-03-07 02:31 pm UTC (link)

Crowley didn't comment on the remark about the kanji- it had been a filler, something to say, nothing more. He accepted the brandy, taking a drink as he listened to what Alexia had to say. He didn't bother hiding the dubious glance, head literally moving back in reproach when he saw his Lord's grin.

"Define 'within reason', Alexia." It was on his tongue to ask just what Alexia was getting at- turning him into a yesman hardly seemed like a promotion- but he settled for another sip of brandy, to distract him from the potentially dangerous question.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fallofman
2009-03-07 02:36 pm UTC (link)

"Within reason means, if he wants to be a CEO again, make him a VP. If he wants to be a musician, make him a bassist. Basically, give him everything he wants, only one step below. Give him something to work for. In return, you'll be allowed any single thing you want, though you've got practically everything you've wanted, don't you, now?" He closed his eyes and looked away. "If you can think of anything, feel free to correct me."

He shrugged, "Your business in Monte Carlo seems to be flourishing. Congratulations on that success."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

snakelikesmile
2009-03-07 02:47 pm UTC (link)

"Understood. And when he becomes frustrated with being given second chair, I'll give him your Name." It was a question, even phrased as a statement; he hadn't worked towards a specific goal under his brother yet, and he wasn't in the mood to botch things over a technicality.

He gave consideration to the offer, before nodding once, for his own benefit considering Alexia was looking away. "I have no complaints. No ambitions to speak of, for now. Save possibly a sense of complacence I could live without," The last was added almost bitterly, as he reached in his pocket for a smoke. He didn't doubt if Alexia minded, the smoke would never light. It seemed trite to ask.

The praise had him nodding again, almost a slight bow. "Thank you, Brother. Earning favors is nothing more than ass-kissing with purpose. Rather perfect assignment on your part." It was slightly self-depricating, but mostly meant to wipe the melancholy- or whatever it was- off of Alexia's features. If it persisted, he'd risk asking, but he knew it probably wouldn't be met well.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fallofman
2009-03-07 04:37 pm UTC (link)

Honestly, Alexia couldn't care less about whether or not Crowley smoked. The walls were perpetually scared of being stained, for fear of the elder Demon's wrath should they go even one hue off white. He considered and smirked, "Second chair isn't good enough for him, surely. If he wants more, he's got to work for it, that shouldn't be too beyond him. But luckily for him, there are options, and you'll find said options for him. Either he'll continue to rely on his associates, out of his own arrogance, or he'll wind up relying on himself and becoming stronger for it. He's a bright boy, he knows how to finagle. Graduating from Yale does that to one."

Alexia wasn't ever in a particularly giddy mood unless the topic of discussion was himself, so the self-deprecation was noted, and smiled joylessly at, with little else in his way.
"What would you prefer to do, Crowley? You befriended the boy of your own volition, and you would have been a brown nosing little snake no matter what. At least now, it's to an end. If he wants to take over, I want him to get used to the fact that he'll only ever be as great as second in command. There are greater powers than half-breed whelps around, and he'd be best to get used to that."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

snakelikesmile
2009-03-07 05:35 pm UTC (link)

Crowley fell into smoking his cigarette while he listened to Alexia's elaboration, leaning a shoulder against a nearby wall to at least give the pretense of being a bit more comfortable. At least physically- Crowley never bothered to deny that he was wary around Alexia, the way one might be stepping into the lion's cage at the zoo. He looked harmless, or at least tame, from a distance, but get too close, say the wrong thing, and he could lose one of his more favored body parts. Still, he knew better than to fall back on the groveling- and, either by Alexia's power or his own, he was starting to feel he needed it less. Living as a vice was taking its toll on Crowley's temper, for better or worse.

"That was my intention all along, Alexia, at least abstractly. It might not have been my usual game, before, but I do know how to run a Faustus. I just can't help but wonder why you're suddenly in the market for Antichrists. Or why I couldn't tend to the child while still holding your interests in Monte Carlo. It's no secret most of my associates have little respect for my Angel." Which was, admittedly, Aziraphale's fault; his deference to Crowley was obvious, even in business matters, and left the Fallen sitting one rung below anyone Crowley counted as a partner, no matter how he tried to spin it.

Well, in for an inch. "Is this just more of the same, or are you looking to make a move?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fallofman
2009-03-07 09:18 pm UTC (link)

"It could be said that your business is booming, and before it booms its last, you should pack up and move out. Carlo's going to wind up booming itself to bits eventually. You've made it less a den of sin and more a welcome vacation to the Greeks - not something I particularly like. You know my history with them. But so be it. Let them stay. Keep them eating from the palm of your hand. Keep them going until the going is gone, and hope above hope that they'll be on our side come the time for our move." Alexia stretched his legs languidly before reclining into a more comfortable sprawl, still facing Crowley.

"I'm biding my time, gaining resources. Expendable or no, Satan's boys don't seem to have a very good standing with her. She hates her kin. You saw her warm welcome to Thorn, and how she treats Adam. Well, I figure we could pick up what she considers invaluable. Everything is valuable." He shook his head, "I'm speaking too much. Suffice it to say, Serpent, you're doing a decent job building an army for me. Keep giving them what they want, showing them all they desire. The moment we have them, send them my way, and I'll make it official."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

snakelikesmile
2009-03-07 09:34 pm UTC (link)

"Let's face it, Brother. The greeks are this universe's equivolent- ironically so- of a fraternity of exceptionally retarded adolescents. They bicker, they fight, but they're not a threat to you; they act on parlor tricks and little experiments with humans, not even on a scale worthy their status. It's rather... pathetic, really. I will admit, even I've gotten rather disgusted with their antics, lately, and I'm used to the Heavenly Host. But believe me when I say, they will fight for us- better the devils they know, and all."

Crowley nodded at the discussion of Satan's sons, a bit of a lazy puff of smoke accompanying the praise, subtly smug. "If you had someone you'd wanted me to find specifically, I would, but they make it rather damn easy; I'll admit, I've done very little active recruiting, save Thorn and the Greeks, since arriving."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fallofman
2009-03-07 09:42 pm UTC (link)

"No, there's nobody I can actually consider using that I don't already have." Alexia said with a shrug. "They trust you, Crowley. They'll take your word, and they'll take your orders. They don't know me, so I'll be giving my orders to you directly. Don't recruit more than you yourself can handle." This was, of course, not just because the people didn't know Alexia, but because if anything were to happen where he was called away or sent back to Hell, Crowley would be the one in charge Above the pit. "It's a shame, however, that we can't harvest from other pantheons. It would be fun to know what a proper Greek meal would taste like," mused the redheaded demon, licking his lips before summoning his own cigarettes, lighting it with no flame, not visibly at least. "Oh well, we're not here to eat, we're here to plan, yes? Do you like this arrangement thus far, Cerenus? Do you have any further ideas, any better ones?"

It was odd of any King to ask the opinion of the underling, but Alexia was admittedly a scatterbrain when it came to long term plans - that's why it had been 6000 years and nothing really panned out for him, Above or Below.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

snakelikesmile
2009-03-07 09:57 pm UTC (link)

He smiled wryly at the mention of a 'Greek meal'; some of them- especially the Olympians- were soft enough that if he tried, really tried, he could likely find a way. At least against the body they inhabited at the time. But he wouldn't make the offer, knowing it would sound almost too cocky. So he decided to go with the question, instead.

"You would know if I didn't like things, Ashmedai. I'm not exactly the most emotionally complex of us. But I can't think of anything better at the moment, no. The party I'm helping the antichrist throw will give me a chance to see some of those that still oppose you. I know that the Nazarene is on invite by the whelp himself, and that a friendship between the two of them is in the works. I was worried at first, but the boy seems set in his ways enough, that it could be ripe for exploitation, if we play it right. I have a feeling he's thinking the same thing; I'll bring it up, when the moment is right," And if they could get Jesus neutralized, they would have America- and one of God's only true followers in the place- taken care of.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fallofman
2009-03-07 10:04 pm UTC (link)

"The Christ-child is of no real concern to me, one way or another. If I were in a better mood, I'd try to convert him. However, this party you're fixing for Thorn, I may or may not come and crash. It seems like a good time to mingle, though I have things I need to do elsewhere. I've got to settle a score with some Tibetans, and a few African villages to destroy and eat. I haven't had a good meal in a while. I'm sure you understand. So have your way, Crowley. Enjoy yourself. Report back when you can." Sliding back up to a sitting position, Alexia took a drag of his cigarette and moved in a near crawl to kiss Crowley's cheek. "You're doing beautifully, brother-mine. You can be at ease."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

snakelikesmile
2009-03-07 10:10 pm UTC (link)

Admittedly, when someone like Alexia slithered towards him, shortly after not mentioning eating, Crowley tensed; it quickly melted at the kiss, making him smile slightly, with a nod. "Thank you, Brother. I'll make sure the party is worth crashing, in case you care to, but if not, I'll let you know how things fall into place. Do give my love to your Sadako when you see her next." He took one last drag off his cigarette, standing, prepared to take the dismissal the last statement seemed to be.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fallofman
2009-03-07 10:15 pm UTC (link)

"You know me far too well, brother." Alexia said with a wink, tapping Crowley's temple lightly with a nail. "Go ahead and get back to work. You do know you're allowed to distract me at any time, should the desire strike. I'm more than open to a little fun whenever you're in the mood." He nudged Crowley before standing himself, seeing the other Demon to the door. It was only proper.

"Send my fondest to Zira as well, pet. Tell him he's got to grow a damned spine before I take that noodle he calls one out of his body and replace it with an eternally hot rod of steel." He might have been joking, but the intent was there to keep the point as pointed as possible.

(Reply to this) (Parent)