#and going No! No! that is exactly the opposite of the point of Good Omens

[mlmshipbracket]

ROUND 4: POLL #4

ROUND 4 POLLS [HERE]

PROPAGANDA BELOW

Eustass Kid/Killer:

Friends/lovers since childhood, would kill and die for each other. [SPOILERS for those who have not watched/read the Wano arc yet] Killer ate a defective SMILE fruit to safe Kid, making him unable to swim and show any other emotion than laughing (and gains him nothing), and he also knew exactly where to cut off Hawkins' arm so he wouldn't harm Kid (because he knows his body so well). Kid promises to kill whoever makes fun of his partner, and lets himself be recaptured after escaping prison because Killer had gotten himself captured.

If this ain't love idk what is.

The captain/right-hand man dynamic. They call each other aibou (partner). If your partner doesn't tell you that he will send whoever laughs at you to hell then he is not worth it. Killer hates his own laugh to the point that he stopped laughing out loud and started wearing a mask. But then he was forced to eat a defective devil fruit (because they promised he could see Kidd if he did) so he's been cursed to only laugh no matter what emotion he's trying to express. That's why Kidd said that, it's so full of weight for someone like Killer. And when Kidd was imprisoned and he worked so hard to escape, but as soon as he saw Killer being pulled into the same prison he just broke out from mans did not hesitate for even a second to go right back in.

Crowley/Aziraphale:

Literally THE demon and angel ship. Spent thousands of years dancing around each other since they were so opposite even though they loved each other.

[actual-changeling]

I was once again re-watching good omens, and I once again realized something incredibly painful, so welcome back to

Alex's unhinged meta corner.

I really need to make a masterpost at some point.

You see, the very first episode not only foreshadows their last argument, it also tells us exactly why it will happen and what problem/offer they will have to face.

We don't usually pay much attention to it because it's a) in the very first episode and then doesn't come up again and b) we know that Crowley would never accept it.

My realization is that Beelzebub's offer mirrors the Metatron's. Both Crowley and Aziraphale are given the same kind of opportunity—but one says no and the other says yes.

Let's have a look!

This is not going to be chronological but more of a go with the flow thing because the aspects are the same but they don't appear in the same order.

The most obvious part first: the job offer itself.

Beelzebub offers him a promotion and later on specifies that he can be a Duke of Hell, one of the few people in charge. I believe that if Gabriel and Beez' plan had been to run away together from the very beginning, ze would have offered Crowley zir own job as Prince of Hell. Still, being a Duke would probably put him in a standing similar to Michael or Uriel's.

The Metatron obviously offers him the job of Supreme Archangel, which is the highest possible position for an angel to hold, aka it's the same promotion, just different colours.

Both offers also stem from the exact same problem—Gabriel is gone.

Now, Beelzebub and the Metatron aren't stupid, they know that they need to convince them to take it, they have to embellish it and play with their wants and fears.

Beelzebub presumably makes the correct assumption that Aziraphale is hiding Gabriel or that the two of them are somehow involved (because they always are), and while ze uses it as a threat/warning, the Metatron takes what is now fact and uses it in the opposite way.

Additionally, ze trusts Crowley to not only deliver Gabriel back to zem but to take care of him until he's safe and sound with his partner.

'I trust you with him' -> 'He trusted you with himself'.

I will now do a little jump to the last part of Aziraphale's conversation with the Metatron right in front of the lift. Once again, they appeal to a characteristic Crowley and Aziraphale share.

'You know earth and that is a useful asset.' What has previously been punished and was seen as a weakness—what is he, he has gone native, you've been down here for too long—is now praised.

It's good that you know earth, we see that you are worth something, you are different but that is good now.

Crowley does not care about that at all, he gives exactly zero fucks about what hell thinks of him, but Aziraphale? Who has been trying to impress the Archangels for six thousand years and been humiliated by them during Armageddon? This is what he has been craving all along, respect for his job on earth and to be recognized as a Good Angel.

Well, that was the carrot, time for the stick: threats.

They remind them of their respective status—they're both traitors, personae non gratae, and they could still be punished for that. After the trial, they were largely left alone, but they drew attention to themselves again, they became a problem.

The Metatron is more subtle, as usual. He knows that Aziraphale lied his ass off several times, including directly in front of God. This is not a just compliment, it's a threat—I know who you are and I have the power to make you feel that

'You don't just tell people what they want to hear.' Again, they are sitting at this table and both know that the opposite is true, and the Metatron is both using it to threaten him and to establish the clear expectations he will have for him should he take the job. Also, by saying he thinks Aziraphale is those things, he gives him more praise, more respect.

Both sides know that Aziraphale and Crowley are each other's biggest weakness; they want to be safe and together. I think it is clear what kind of threat/danger Beez is presenting Crowley, but we rarely talk about the fact that the Metatron also threatens him, just not as explicitly.

Aziraphale will be destroyed if they find Gabriel with him, and Crowley cannot let that happen. However, contrary to heaven, hell has more or less known about the two of them for decades, and they never actually cared about the arrangement as long as the job got done. They punished Crowley when he did good deeds aka not his fucking job but the opposite.

'I know you care about him, he's at risk if you don't help me find him.'

The Metatron on the other hand makes it clear that HE specifically knows about him and Crowley, and Aziraphale did not know who exactly was privy to that information and if it reached the Metatron. Not just that, he emphasizes that he has been doing research on them, he can dig up whatever dirt he likes and then kill them both.

No one would be able to stop him.

This next part is going to be interesting because it is a parallel that Aziraphale doesn't and currently wouldn't be able to see, while Crowley does see it very, very clearly.

When the Metatron tells Aziraphale he can take Crowley with him to heaven and make him an angel again, that is good news to him! It is PERFECT! It would solve out of his problems, and who wouldn't want to be an angel, on the side of good?

Everything the Metatron did up to this point, from 'saving' them from punishment at the hand of the Archangels, over getting him coffee, to giving twisted praise, has had one primary objective: Get Aziraphale to trust him.

It worked. Consequently, Aziraphale does not question what he tells him now, and believes that he truly could take Crowley with him and make him an angel again. He has no concept of what falling actually means, and what it meant for Crowley in particular, so he cannot discern the threat within it.

Yet when he presents it to Crowley, who is horrified and rightfully so, we are once again shown that no, Aziraphale does not understand. Crowley does, though. That angel he was no longer exists, he cannot go back to it because they're gone, and he would not want to either. Everything they have built on earth their life, their existence, would mean absolutely nothing and cease to exist.

Do you see the threat yet?

Here is what Beelzebub tells him, and what we are told over and over and over again throughout the season.

Erased from the book of life, gone from existence, everything they were, had, owned, lived—gone.

Erased from the book of life vs. turned back into an angel that doesn't exist anymore, that CAN'T exist again.

Put the threat and the 'offer' next to each other, and Crowley sees the same fate in both: His existence will be destroyed. Aziraphale, like I said above, doesn't. The book of life is a threat, but turning him into an angel is a blessing.

Right now, it doesn't matter whether the book of life really exists or if a demon can be turned back into an angel. What matters is that they both BELIEVE those things are real and possible, because that is what they act on, belief.

Beelzebub sends him away with bad news, the Metatron pushes Aziraphale to tell Crowley good news. Same offer, same possible outcomes (either they get to live together or one of them/both get destroyed), but entirely different responses.

Crowley says no. Aziraphale says yes.

Aziraphale thinks Crowley should have said yes.

Crowley thinks Aziraphale should have said no.

So. We know what happens next and personally, combing through all of this in detail only made it hurt worse!! If it did the same for you—you're welcome, I love my job.

[perseidlion]

I know it's upsetting to think the business with Neil Gaiman contributed to the cancellation of Dead Boy Detectives. But I don't think that's something we can easily discount.

Yes, Netflix has continued to work with some DEEPLY problematic people. But the difference is, the audience for problematic comedians doesn't care that the comedian is problematic. In fact, that is exactly why some people watch them. The opposite is true for people who are fans of DBD and honestly, Gaiman's other work. Those people are usually more liberal and queer-positive (or queer themselves) and those people DO care about his SA allegations. A lot, actually.

Netflix knows that the core audience for DBD and Sandman (and Amazon about Good Omens) cares about these allegations and takes them seriously. They knew that if they pushed forward, a portion of the target audience would not watch it on principle.

Now, WE know that Gaiman's involvement in DBD was very minimal, both in the show and in creating the source characters. But unfortunately, his name was all over the promo for the show because at the time that was a good move. The marketing made that connection explicit, so when the allegations came out, the show was tainted. Anyone who isn't in online fandom might not know he wasn't directly involved.

Now, this is absolutely not fair. I think auteur culture as a whole is stupid especially for film and television. Film and TV are inherently collaborative endeavors and one person should not be given the praise for all the success or take down the project if they turn out to be a shithead. But that's the world we live in.

Do I think the Gaiman connection was THE reason DBD was cancelled? No. There's clearly some other fuckery going on and honestly it probably would have been cancelled regardless because it was never going to get the massive numbers they apparently wanted. But it would be foolish to think it had no effect at all or wasn't a factor in the decision.

This isn't about Netflix's morality or the morality of its executives. It's about optics and marketing. And unfortunately, Netflix marketing attached Dead Boy Detectives pretty firmly to Gaiman even though he doesn't deserve it, and the show doesn't deserve to be connected to his downfall.

We KNOW the optics are bad around NG right now because of the recent news of Good Omens S3 turning into one 90 minute movie.

Netflix has also been very careful about keeping Gaiman's name off Sandman promo. If Netflix really didn't care about the NG optics and didn't think it would make a diference to the audience, why would they be conspiciously keeping him out of the promo? They know it is a factor. And thus it had to be a point against DBD when they were considering renewal.

[thealogie]

I'm curious to know your opinion on this. When it comes to JKR, she's obviously been cancelled for years. I saw people pressured to throw away old copies of her books, encouraged not to talk about the characters anymore or even not to buy unofficial merch, because even if she wouldn’t gain any financial benefit from it, her name and the story she wrote will still be relevant. For years it has been said that you’re a horrible person if you don’t completely detach yourself from HP. So why is the reaction into the good omens fandoms exactly the opposite? Why are there hundreds of posts in the Gaiman tag saying “remember you can still love GO”? Or even “even if Gaiman turned out to be a horrible person, he still made the world more beautiful with his works”? I don’t get it. I would never support a potential rapist and I’d expect the fandom to cancel him. And instead? For many fans the main concern seems to be to reiterate that people are still allowed to enjoy GO. I’ve seen people concerned about season 3. Why? Is it because Gaiman literally did the bare minimum in terms of representation? It’s ridiculous because Gaiman isn’t a great ally, he never was. Why are people so willing to give this man the benefit of the doubt?

I do think it’s because all of his shows were filled with gay, trans, and racial diversity that people are more hesitant to cut ties. And in the case of GO specifically people feel conflicted because I t’s also Terry work and half of us came at it from being Terry fans and never liked Neil lol.

In any event, I HAVE seen those “you can still enjoy the work” posts but I have also seen some people saying they will disengage and don’t want to give him money, and that’s heartening. And even the majority of the people saying “you can still love this thing” (as much as it honestly rubs me the wrong way and makes me go “NOT the point right now”) do also say they believe the allegations and I truly believe people are just young and having very emotional reactions right now.

I think once we let the worst of the discourse play itself out, we will get to a point where we can all agree that AT MINIMUM we cannot be causing him to make any money or boost his work.

[aziraphales-library]

Hiii! First of all I wanted to thank you all for the amazing work that you do. Your suggestions are always on point. Now, for the question, I was wondering if you know any fics that are similar to secondhand smoke. Maybe about Catholic guilt and/or coming out? Thank you :))

Hello! We have a #religious guilt tag you might be interest in. Here are some religious conflict/coming out fics...

Cappucchino Readings - A "Good Omens" Univeristy AU by Jelly_Jenkins (T)

When Aziraphale took the job at the campus library, he didn't think anything of it. Of course he was excited to make some extra money and such, but he never expected to get out so much more.

The Day You Eat of It by K1ngB (E)

It all started as it will end... at a summer camp (with strangely religious undertones). In Aziraphale's mind, the best part of summer was those two weeks spent with the children. Just as eager to absorb new information and experiences as he was to teach the next generation same as he was at this same camp nearly ten years ago. A lot has changed since then, namely the amount of blatant proselytizing but some things always stay the same. In Crowley's mind, he gets to see the apple of his eye for two weeks every year, and he'll be damned if he doesn't make the most of it. He sustains himself on the discreet glances, the creeping blushes, and the inevitable banter of his favorite camp counselor. He is prepared for the long game and was nailing it if he was being honest... And then he got caught wanking in the showers and it's all downhill from there. or Summer Camp Counselor AU. Crowley is a sappy pining fool and Aziraphale has no idea what's going on.

search terms by Vagabond (M)

Aziraphale expects it to be a quiet night working in the university library when a flashy red haired, foul mouthed, panicking student needs to find credible sources for his paper and can't figure out how to use the search. Little does Aziraphale know that meeting Crowley will lead him on a path to self-discovery, and give him the family he didn't realize he needed. From a prompt on tumblr: College AU - You’re REALLY GOOD at using the right search terms for the academic databases and I’m on a deadline.

Opposites Attract by Pal456 (M)

The Eastgate family hated the Crowley family. Hated them so much, that their children were not to spend any time together. That never stopped Aziraphale and Crowley being drawn to one another time and time again even though their families would pull them apart. As years go by, Aziraphale tries to do right by his parents in order to take over the family business one day, but it seems like the Almighty might have a different, ineffable, plan that brings the two together every chance they get.

Out of Suffering Into Love by Slow_Burn_Sally (E)

Aziraphale is a sexually repressed man who grew up in a religious household. Crowley is an artist with a sordid past. Both of them are afraid to love and be loved.

One and the Same Fall by ElliottRook (E)

Aziraphale Fell is a UK student attending an American Catholic school on exchange, an escape from a strict, conservative family. Anthony Crowley is a juvenile delinquent on his last chance, sent to live with his uncle and attend a school that promises to shape him up. When they cross paths at St. Bernadette's, they nearly instantly become friends, and nobody likes it--not the teachers, not the old-money students, not Aziraphale's family--but it's the best thing that's ever happened to either of them. Hanging over their heads, though, is Crowley's plan to flee the moment he comes of age, and what will happen after they're no longer trapped in the same gilded cage.

And the one you mentioned...

secondhand smoke by PaintedVanilla (T)

you're second hand smoke, second hand smoke i breathe you in, but, honey, i don't know what you're doing to me mon chéri the year is 1990, and anthony crowley is looking for a church in london that might be tolerable. the one he winds up attending isn't exactly such, but he decides to stick around for one reason. said reason happens to own a bookshop that crowley begins to frequent, much to the surprise and delight of anathema device and newton pulsifer, who seem quite convinced that crowley could use something else to focus on besides gardening, their campaigns, and visits to tadfield.

- Mod D

[yamayuandadu]

Hey I am kinda curious are there any sorcerers in Mesopotamian mythology

Great question, genuinely a joy to research.  Depends how you define this term, I suppose. If you want to go with the dictionary definition of sorcerer as someone who possessed magical powers and uses them to harm others, the answer is pretty much yeah. More under the cut.

There’s some debate in Assyriology when to call things “sorcery” and when “witchcraft” - Tzvi Abusch (who is great when it comes to covering Mesopotamian magic but… less great on other matters) argues the difference is essentially that sorcery can be employed by anyone, and witchcraft is a label applicable to actions of a specific category of malevolent individuals (this is a distinction made in other fields too). However, Daniel Schwemer treats these terms as interchangeable because, as he points out, there is no indication such a distinction was present in Mesopotamian culture, and on top of that neither Sumerian nor Akkadian have distinct terms for these two phenomena. I personally lean towards his approach, but I admit I’m biased because I generally like his work while Abusch wrote one of my least favorite Assyriological hot takes, the dreadful DDD Inanna entry.

A good summary of the Mesopotamian image of witchcraft (kišpū), witches and warlocks (or, if you prefer these labels, sorceresses and sorcerers) can be found here and here. Witches were known as kaššāptu; the masculine equivalent, kaššāpu, is less common and never really appears alone. A second term used to refer to male witches was bēl dabābi, literally “opponent in court” but more generically also “adversary”; in this case, the feminine equivalent, bēlet dabābi, is less common, even though ultimately bēl dabābi played second fiddle to kaššāptu. 

Sometimes specific applications of witchcraft could be referred to with distinct terms. These include zikurudû, “cutting of the throat” (sending ill omens); kadabbedû, “seizing of the mouth” (causing speech disorders, but also more generally making someone incapable of verbal defense); dibalû, “distortion of justice” (pretty similar, but with obvious judicial connotations); and zīru, “hate” (exactly what it says on the tin; the goal was to isolate the target socially).Witchcraft was ultimately a pretty abstract matter, and most references to witches come from anti-witchcraft rituals. While ex. laws of Hammurabi do contain passages dealing with it - and with false accusations of engaging with it - we have no real evidence this was a matter commonly handled by courts, and there is little evidence for mass hysteria leading to actual witch hunts. The Mesopotamian image of a witch was at times essentially closer to an intangible supernatural creature than a real person (as a matter of fact, there are two Old Babylonian texts referring to a witch as a “wind demon”, lil, and as a “daughter of Ereshkigal” which might be a poetic indication of coming from the underworld). However, instructions on performing witchcraft do sometimes pop up in the textual record - there is a surviving step by step kadabbedû guide, for example.

Distinction has to be drawn between witchcraft and “white magic” (āšipūtu), which was firmly considered exorcistic or purificatory in character, and was performed by specialists called āšipu or mašmašu, typically “incantation priests” or “exorcist”. There were also less well documented related professions, like eššebû (“owlman” according to Daniel Schwemer) or mušlaḫḫu (snake charmer). Additionally, there was a large “gray zone” sometimes referred to as “aggressive magic”: love spells (rāmu; technically the opposite of zīru), rituals meant to bring success in court or in business, and so on. These are difficult to firmly classify as a part of either category, and it is quite likely that even āšipu performed them if requested to do so. 

Despite there being an enormous text corpus of “anti-witchcraft” rituals, I actually can’t think of many literary characters who could be described as witches, let alone sorcerers, though.  

One exception I can think of is the myth Enmerkar and Ensukukešdana, in which the latter of the two eponymous characters depends on the services of a certain Urĝirinunna (or perhaps Uralimnunna; see here), a nefarious sorcerer “whose skill was that of a man of Ḫamazu”. He can make livestock speak, and ends up making cows and goats debate him to convince them to stop giving milk. The milk was supposed to be turned into butter and other offerings for Nisaba, though, so soon he meets his match, a woman named Saĝburu. Her professional credentials are not described in detail but she easily overcomes him in a number of magical challenges and then kills him, stressing that she did this with divine sanction from Nisaba (these were her offerings, after all) but also other deities. After his defeat, Enmerkar is acknowledged as the winner by Ensukukešdana. I suppose this is also as good of an opportunity as any to also once again mention Kanisurra, the fakest sounding genuine Mesopotamian deity. She was the bēlet kaššāpāti, “lady of the witches” (on top of her better attested association with sex and a suggested connection with the underworld reflecting the origin of her name, which is likely a mangled form of ganzer, a rare poetic term for the entrance of the underworld). What exactly did that entail? I honestly have no clue, and I have seen basically no attempts to explain this role in scholarship. Perhaps she was responsible for keeping them under control much like how Ninkilim controlled field pests or Pazuzu wind demons.

[isadrora]

The Fledgling writes Good Omens for school!

Alexander Perry

Year 6

Assignment: English Close reading

Description: Choose a piece of writing to describe and have opinion about (fiction)

Author: Irisblefic

Source: Archive of Our Own (https://archiveofourown.org/works/1055257)

Year published: 2006-09-30

Intro:

I choose this piece of writing becuase of two reasons. For the first, I have watched the tv show “Good Omens” and enjoy it a lot. I then learned that is based on a book that is also called Good Omens (authors Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett). With help of my mum I have also read the book. I like the book very much. I think that it is very different from the show but they both have lots to give offer. One of things both have in common is the stories that the fans (like me and my mum) write themselves. This is called Fan fiction. It is very legal to do this and is actually encouraged by the creator and actors. I want to write about a very good story that is written by a writer that has written many stories based on this world and charcters I enjoy.

Content:

In terms of just happening things in the story, there are these two characters that figure out that they love each other very much over week period. This I will say is one of those things where its not enough o just say “this happens” because the writer makes it clear that there is lots going on the surface with emotions. I will like to point out that I choose this story because there is lots of deeper stuff in feelings and what the characters dont say: this is a very interesting part of the story and makes it very unique.

Characters:

Crowley: (a demon his name he chose for himself is Anthony J Crowley):

He is a man shaped Being. He is a fallen angel: that is he used to be an angel in Heaven until some angels that were in Heaven had the fight with the ones in charge because they were rebelios (The First War in Heavan). We dont know why he was thrown out of Heavan exactly. This story only gives us idea but I am taking ideas from the TV show and the book and using it to make my ideas some more deep. Crowley as he is now has a slim shape, he is tall, and it is known his face sharp and pretty (rather than typical handsome as is common to use to describe male characters in books). Unique to him is that he has plants and is “highly strung” which has to do with that he is actually not as relaxed and cool as he pretends to be. He shouts at his plants and is obsessed with cleaning and being organized. This shows clearly in the story also that he has become “human like” and part of why he actually lets himself accept being in love and more truthful about being with Aziraphale. The show also lets us have a good idea of him because he is as a demon might be, sarcastick and thin and dark. It is funny to watch the show be cause the TV Crowley has different voice I think than the book and both are very good. This story I’m talking about now is very close to book character I think but I can also imagine the TV Crowley if I like which is I think a positive aspect. I will say more about this later.

Aziraphale:

He is an angel although quite a strange one, different from the other ones we meet in the show version and its clear in all the versions (and also from the fanfiction story) that he has been opn earth (and with Crowley) so long that its changed him. My mother told me the term “he’s gone native” to describe him which she says is common to say that people take up habits and thinking of the place they settle. This to me is exact right for these two main characters. He is kind and well spoken. He has good manners and old fashioned style. Although the story Im talking about doesn’t do lots of physical descriptions one can get clear ideas just by “reading for context”. Just by using dialoge especially the expression “Oh dear” “Good heavens” and others a reader can get an idea of him, softer looking than Crowley which actually makes good sense because they are clear meant to be opposites (but in a positive way in the end). In this story its clear he’s accepted his love for Crowley and is shown actually to be the one to have made effort to take things further. This actually is different from how he is in the show where he is scared and in Denial quite a lot. But whats also interesting is the story lets it be seen that he is not just “soft” he is somewhat of “bastard” this also from the book and show. Its important as my mum says that this is clear as part of his personality or Crowley would never have been able to see him different from other angels. I get the idea from “In 7 Days” that he is actually manipulating (not in bad way) that him and Crowley grow closer. I will talk also more of this upcoming.

Discussion:

First of all the way this story is presented is effective. I especially like the way it is broken into weekdays. The title is important : in Bible terms the earth was created in 7 days and this reflects the time it takes for the two main characters to realize their love properly. Creation is good idea for theme here because Crowley grows plants (creates life) and Aziraphale loves books (ideas created). It is also so good that every day division has a little heading underneath. Some made me laugh, like the Monday one that starts the story (“Survival of the fittest. ONLY the fittest.”). This has literally to do with Crowleys plants but also you can maybe think that is about Crowley and Aziraphale love too. It has survived so long and so much that even though “Evolution” is a bit of joke in book and show , something about it is actually true.

Moving on, the point of view (POV) is mostly from Crowley side. I personally like the fanfiction stories that are from his side. This is just preference because he is my favourite character. I would like to say also that it would be so good to get the POV of this story from Aziraphale also: I would like one day to try write something like that if ever I get good at it. But it works very well from Crowley POV for this story because as I said before he is interesting in that its Clear he loves Aziraphale for a long time. But the story makes very clear he has lots of what is called “defense mechanisms” to prevent him being hurt or looking too close at the feelings. So we see his shouting at plants, at his still thinking in terms like “ruining” Aziraphales day because they were Enemies, like him throwing away the card from Aziraphale at first and so on. This is him keeping old habits because he can’t think of how to be otherwise. I will say that my mum calls this story “a Crowley character study” and I like that idea a lot. Its not always important that lots of things Happen in a story for it to be very exciting and good and this story taught me that.

For another thing we can maybe think about “turning point” which most stories must have and I think that irisbleufic has this happen on the Wednesday (which seems good place as feels like middle of a week). It seems like a turning point comes when Crowley has Aziraphale sleeping on his couch after they spent night drinking wine and chatting. I think that its clear they dont do anything romantic at this point but that Aziraphale is there at all still is what Crowley reacts to (even if not openly). For me I think this part makes clear that Aziraphale is now the one making effort to get them to be together properly: because Aziraphale doesn’t really sleep if he doesn’t want to (its clear that demon and angel dont need sleep for real) and so why would he at end of the Wednesday part be sure to be snoring so Crowley wont make him leave. I think this is where Crowley gives into his feelings even with out him really knowing he does.

Another important part that I like evry much is the Thursday section. Crowley rushes over to Aziraphale bookshop what he thinks is emergency. They have dialogue that is this:

��See, that's the problem with things like dust, and plants," Crowley added philosophically, helping himself to some more tea. "If they're inanimate, then I'm your aunt. You've got to let them know who's boss."

Aziraphale smiled faintly, setting down his cup.

"Why do you think I asked you here?"

This is a very good dialoge. It has different meaning to both of them. Aziraphale reply to Crowley almost seem like he is a bit smug because he knows Crowley will do anything for him but Crowley still thinks he has upper hand. “philosophy” is aword that the writer uses lots to connect to Crowley. My mum says this shows how Crowley likes to think of himself that he has control and a plan for his whole long life. But then there is Aziraphale now deciding that they should change that plan. This type of writing is very clever. Nothing big happens really but the small things happen in an important way.

Its also good how the Friday part is just used to show an easy normal scene that is between them as if they are already married or properly together. That is its as if they already are just nobody said it yet. “Laundry” is the heading for this one and that shows how normal everything seems already. Its also very funny to me because their version of laundry is snapping fingers and cleaning things (this also from the show which is very flirting part). When Crowley just says he will “start sleeping over” just casually, it is almost a shock because it isn’t a shock. That is how the story has led you to think of it all as logical even though there been no Romantic confession or big fights or anything.

The Saturday part is what is called as climax of the story because in a way its where Crowley has the full realization. It is never really put like that but irisbleufic makes it clear from his behaviour. Its not like in movies where the person will say “I love her/ him” and then run to them or whatever. What happens is that all the things that Crowley did before to make sure he was ok are not enough anymore. His Defense mechanism is not good because Aziraphale quietly been breaking it down. I will say that there is a piece about a Movie that Crowley watches that I didn’t understand about Gone with theWind. I asked my mum to explain what this meant and I think it has to do with that that movie is a very serious movie that everyone loves but is actually a bit horrible and so thats why Crowley calling it comedy is funny. I like that shows his sarcastick nature.

Moving last to the last day and this when they get together properly. I think its very good that the writer does not show the actual event. I think that it is important that the characters show their love physical because of their being changed by earth and they have become more earthly. It makes good sense and is very romantic. For my opinion though we cannot really imagine how the Sexual part will look for angel and demon and so its much better to be shown how they feel afterwards. This story is very good at that in fact actually is wonderfull. The characters are not changed by what happens between them, they are just more open. Crowley is still kind of bratty and Aziraphale is still fussy. But they are finally together and that is the point of the story in the end. Its interesting that Crowley actually says the fact that Aziraphale had a “seduction” plan for him., I want to ask, is it maybe that he knew about Aziraphale wanting it all wlong? Or is is just that he wants to try still be cool after he admits it to himself? It may be doesn’t matter because the last part is so good that I dont want the story to end even. The last line is I understand Inuuendo and that is also important because it shows Crowley being open to finally being loving and Affectionate.

Conclusion: A lot of people dont think that writing about FanFiction stories is real work and I think that is ridiculous i hope that this story will prove that wrong. A lot of people also think that the sexual parts of some stories are not good for us in Year 6 to write about but there are books we read with some of that in it already and worse than for example this story or others Ive read. It is a proper part of the story and needed for it to be good. To end I will say that this story is one of best things Ive ever read and theres lots more stuff about this “world” Good omens to read and that is positive

[contritecactite]

Revisiting book omens via audiobook as I drive halfway across the country and here are some personal, subjective observations and highlights so far (Newt and Anathema have just met):

- Crowley tells Aziraphale everything as soon as he can. He's so absolutely genuine and knowing that that's exactly the quality that got him into trouble in the first place has me tearing curtains and yelling at the sky because it's not like it's any safer for a demon but he's being himself anyway!

- Crowley really reads as the brains of the operation and Aziraphale largely reads as sidekick (caveat: up to this point!). I felt the opposite about TV omens, oddly. Maybe Michael Sheen just gives leader vibes idk.

- Adam Young is so casually mean to his friends in the way I absolutely remember my friends and I being mean to each other around that age and it's somehow both hilarious and sobering.

- A lot of specific lines have made me say "oh fuck" out loud. Many others have made me say "oh sweetheart noooo" (this second batch is entirely directed at Aziraphale).

- I don't think I stopped smiling for the first three hours because the writing is just so engaging on the whole. After three hours I had to shift at least some of my attention to traffic because, unlike Crowley, I can't just go 90 unnoticed and slip around other vehicles at incredibly close margins.

- I would like to consider the character of Mary Hodges much more closely now that I've read her again. I think she's so interesting.

- Crowley tried and failed to hit a hedgehog 😭

- The weight the authors managed to add to some lines really is just !!! It's the way I've always wanted to write and can only ever mimic.

- I always misremembered the line about Dog going into Jasmine Cottage as something like, "Dog went inside. The horseshoe above the door went white hot, and a little more of Hell burned away." BUT IT'S: " “There,” said Adam proudly. “Good boy.” And a little bit more of Hell burned away . . ." and that. Has so many more implications to me. Posts going around lately about Beelzebub asking another demon "what would you think I told you you did a good job" or whatever and someone "who would do anything for a kind word" etc. If you're here you've probably seen me yell about how one of the points Good Omens makes, to me, is that you are what you're told you are (unless you decide to be something else). And I'm YELLING MORE NOW.

- Aziraphale, of course, does not share anything with Crowley about the Agnes' book until it's too late, but he also just. Straight up chooses reading through it over sticking with Crowley, who "suddenly feel[s] very alone." (This was a nooooo moment.)

- For context, this was an "oh fuck" moment (also a "this line weighs a lot" moment): "Aziraphale was an angel, but he also worshiped books." It just. It says so much about both who Aziraphale is and what he's capable of. I think I could write an essay on what this line alone says about Aziraphale's relation to heaven, to the world, to knowledge, to materials things, and a bit by extension about his relationship with Crowley. But I have too many things to do, so I won't.

[chaiiitealeaves]

look i've tried my best not to go absolutely insane about good omens s2 but that has failed miserably and here i am. i just. heres a massive rant mainly about aziraphale. (good omens s2 ep6 spoilers)

i am such a firm believer that there is no theorising to be had with the ending, regarding why aziraphale did what he did. there's nothing you can say. it was totally in character for aziraphale, and it was totally in character for crowley. it made so much sense and THAT is why it hurt; i just cannot for a second outsource aziraphales responsibility to the metatron or anyone else.

the metatron didn't coerce aziraphale - he didn't have to. aziraphale just jumped at the opportunity to 'fix' things. things, however, do not mean crowley. i mean, i'm sure this opinion has been BEATEN TO DEATH by now, but i'd still like to get it out there.

aziraphale tends to pick up very well on verbal communication, but not very well on non-verbal communication. aziraphale will always listen to crowley's outbursts (such as, calling crowley nice, and being pinned violently to a wall because of it), and will not take it personally. he listens, regardless of tone, and seems to understand crowley better through his verbal responses. that obviously isn't to say they ever communicate, THEY DON'T, but aziraphale is still better at verbal cues than non-verbal ones. aziraphale can never anticipate crowley's actions, however, and we see this with job's children. aziraphale was genuinely unsure of what crowley would do. with crowley, it seems to be the exact opposite. he anticipates aziraphale - he knows that aziraphale is going to like food before he's even tried it, he knows exactly how to coerce aziraphale to help stop armageddon in the first series/book because he knows exactly what aziraphale likes and cares about.

i think that communication difference is exactly why the end hurt so much. aziraphale - and i will die on this hill - must've firmly believed that crowley was going to be happy with the news. and so, he was totally lost when crowley responded poorly. and i mean, aziraphale knew IMMEDIATELY that crowley had responded poorly, he just thought that he had to explain his point better. aziraphale just wasn't able to pick up on the true reason for that very obvious, deep hatred for heaven that crowley has. his angelic ball of thoughts that we liken to a brain is telling him that not that crowley hates heaven because it's corrupt, but that crowley hates heaven because he was CAST OUT. it's a misinterpretation built on 6000+ years of no real communication.

aziraphale wanted to fix heaven for crowley, he didn't want to fix crowley for heaven. and yet, that's exactly how it came across. and because neither of them talk, crowley was taking aziraphale's words in his own (wrong) way, and aziraphale was taking crowley's reactions as 'not understanding'. honestly, aziraphale's overeager want to make things 'good' and 'right' again is what makes. every word he speaks is hypocrisy, because he's not speaking for a principle, he's speaking to try and convince someone. that's why we get such extreme statements from him: "you could be an angel again" is just an echo of "nothing lasts forever" - he is so insanely sure that crowley would want to - should want to - be an angel again, that he's willing to leave everything behind for his one little corrupt corner of eternity. it's poisonous, watching aziraphale stick so intensely to the rules of heaven and hell. but it's inherently in character.

to aziraphale, gabriel and beelzebub's departing was initially grounds for a confession. i mean, look at him.

just look at his absolute happiness at being able to take crowley out to dance!!! in this episode, we get some real gems of aziraphale's true, deep love in his reactions - the infatuated smiles, the 'you're being silly', the hand on crowley's chest in the pub, the 'oh, crowley loves saving me' and VERY specifically, the gripping of crowley's shirt when he sees gabriel and beelzebub together because it means that they could be too. and quite honestly, i don't think the series conclusion throws ANY of that away!! i think the conclusion enhances it so aggressively! why? because it's made so much more painful.

aziraphale was so, SO ready to accept crowley's confession. he was going to confess himself - i am willing to die on that hill. throughout the whole season, he seems so infatuated and so ready to open himself up. yet, the moment the metatron proposes a promotion to archangel, that is all thrown away. all the rebellion he was willing to put up is lost. and i can understand that, because of the switch around in thought pattern, it's easy to say that the metatron manipulated him. but honestly? i really disagree with that take!

aziraphale is just not the type of angel to go against the rules. it took stupid amounts of alcohol to even get him to consider going against heaven regarding armageddon, and even then, he had to find his own loophole to justify it, AND EVEN THEN, HE ATTEMPTED TO CONVINCE HEAVEN TO CALL IT OFF DEMOCRATICALLY UNTIL THE VERY END. THE REASON HE ENDED UP DISCORPORATED AND FORCED TO POSSESS MADAM TRACY WAS BECAUSE HE WAS CONVERSING WITH THE METATRON TO TRY AND DEMOCRATICALY STOP ARMAGEDDON.

as he was ending that tether of obedience - as his want to be with crowley overcame the want to follow the rules - he seemed more bold. when he saw gabriel and beelzebub, that boldness solidified. he was willing to break rules and stand up for himself and crowley - at least, that's how i interpreted it, this season. but of course, he switched his opinions when an easier and SAFER route was provided for him. by making crowley an angel again, all the 'problems' would be solved. he wouldn't have to disobey heaven, crowley wouldn't be bound to the 'wrong' side, and they could be together. of course this thought pattern is inherently wrong, but it's a route that he would be more willing to take because - in his mind - it is a route that protects them.

and oh my god!! that apology after the kiss!! despite the fact it was tone deaf, it was also an apology in good faith. like the apology in s1, he is doing something, but unlike the apology in s1, he's also doing another thing. these things are:

distancing himself from the scenario. by apologising, he doesn't have to actually confront that what crowley's saying might be the better option. he is giving crowley the opportunity to take back his words so that both of them can continue playing by the book. we see this in season one.

misinterpreting literally everything. in season 1, that apology was a distancing attempt. hard and fast, clean and cut. but this time, i am genuinely and ENTIRELY willing to believe that aziraphale didn't understand crowley's kiss. sure, the apology might've also been based on distancing himself, but i would rather die than step down from my belief that aziraphale just wasn't able to grasp why crowley would kiss him if it weren't to apologise.

let me elaborate on this because i can't just put it in one point.

that kiss was seemingly out of the blue, for aziraphale. they had argued, it was nearly over, and then crowley decided to do something kind of - to aziraphale - a bit mental.

i mentioned, at the start of this bloody endless essay, that aziraphale is more adept at picking up on verbal cues. crowley, however, is able to pick up on non-verbal cues. what makes the scene so heart-wrenching is how they both choose to communicate. aziraphale explains again and again because words are what should make sense, and so crowley fumbles his way through communication. aziraphale listens - he waits, he's patient, like he always is - and then he just goes back to explaining, calmly, patiently, as if crowley is somehow just not understanding it. so crowley, as a last ditch attempt to get aziraphale to stay and rethink everything, kisses him.

you know that scene. the scene. this one.

this thing? this moment? you know, where aziraphale doesn't even flinch? i mentioned this earlier - aziraphale is prioritising the words, and listening to their meanings, disregarding the venom in his tone. there's a reason people keep comparing the two scenes! whilst shot similarly, the most harrowing similarities and differences arise the moment you look a bit deeper. for example, aziraphales demeanour. he's calm when crowley pins him to the wall and seethes in his tone, but he's flailing when kissed. see, when crowley finally does something that isn't accompanied by words - a human display of passion and love, a plea - aziraphale has nothing verbal to go off of.

"i forgive you" is a terrible thing to say, don't get me wrong, but aziraphale jumped to one conclusion. one that would let him believe - in his mind - the best case scenario. that the kiss was an apology. and so, when crowley storms out, we get this.

regret, confusion, guilt, that's all very present. he's not only misunderstood crowley, but he's talked down to him and severed a very important and close relationship. but the way he touches his own lips, oh my god.

aziraphale's always been tempted by humanely pleasures. food, obviously. but he also just enjoys their culture an obvious amount. books, for instance! that's not something you'd be getting in heaven, even though the bible is probably endorsed. books are a human thing. as is food, as is theatre, as is magic.

a kiss is totally within that spectrum. it's a human pleasure. and aziraphale adores that closeness, and he has just LOST IT FOREVER. it's the most specific look of regret i've ever seen on a character. it's performed so well. aziraphale truly thinks that he's doing what he's doing for good - transforming heaven, making it less corrupt, making it better. so when he walks away for good and gets in the elevator, he thinks he's making the right sacrifice. but, if you ask me, crowley must be thinking that aziraphale has finally found the one temptation he won't give into.

and it's crippling, for the both of them.

tldr; aziraphale fucked up so bad, and it is his own fault. but also, it's still totally in character!!!

sorry for the longest post ever oh mygod

[casual-witch-bitch]

Spoilers for good omens season 2 ahead. Skip past if you haven’t seen it yet <3

One of the most devastating parts about watching the finale is thinking about everything from Crowley’s perspective. Crowley didn’t want to go through with helping Aziraphale with keeping Gabriel safe. He only knew Aziraphale was insistent that something terrible was going to happen to Gabriel if he didn’t. But Crowley didn’t go through with the plan for Gabriel. He knew that if Gabriel was in trouble, it wouldn’t be too far off to assume Aziraphale was too, especially after the conversations he has with Shax. Crowley would do everything he could to keep Gabriel safe because in doing so he was also doing everything he could to keep Aziraphale safe.

Cutting forward to when Gabriel gets his memories back, it is revealed, at the end of the day, the something terrible wasn’t all that terrible for the reasons Crowley thought it was. It was Gabriel losing his memories of Beelzebub. Aziraphale was, for the most part, safe and because of that, to Crowley there really was no point in keeping Gabriel safe. This wasn’t his battle after all. So Crowley gets to sit there and watch as someone he despises, someone he watched try to murder the closest being in his life, get exactly what he wants. A happy ending. Because that’s what the threat was. That is what wouldn’t happen. That they wouldn’t get that happy ending. This is exactly the kind of thing Crowley would get pretty mad about, but he doesn’t. As much as Crowley doesn’t like them, he understands. He knows what that feeling is. Being horrified to lose someone you care about so deeply. He’s felt that before. Under the gazebo when they had the argument. When he drove away in the Bentley. When he returned to see the bookshop burning down. Crowley can’t be but so upset about it because he understands. And at the end of the day it made Aziraphale happy. Watching Gabriel and Beelzebub; Aziraphale grabs Crowleys arm. In his head Crowley is probably thinking, “This is it. After thousands of years of waiting there is an Angel and a Demon standing right in front of us getting exactly what we want. So why shouldn’t we be able to get that too?” And he likely thinks this is what Aziraphale is thinking too. I mean look at the reaction on his face. Look at the way he is looking at Crowley. Crowley can be oblivious but when love is looking at you that square in the face, especially when you already have rose colored glasses on, Crowley was most definitely certain he knew how this was going to end. The one obstacle in his way, being on opposite sides, had finally been passed. Someone had proven it was possible. He was finally ready to go and get that happy ending. They would be on their own side. Everything was perfect, and then everything stops. After so many obstacles he had gotten over. Another one. This time the obstacle wasn’t an outside force he could find a way to get past. This time the force was Aziraphale. In Crowley’s mind, Aziraphale was trying to change him. Trying to persuade him into being something he wasn’t. And when Crowley didn’t want that, Aziraphale left. He left before he even set foot out the bookshop. Left behind everything they had carved out for themselves. The bookshop. Humanity. Their love for eachother. He left everything they had and everything that could have been. Because “nothing lasts forever”. To Aziraphale this probably meant he had to give up everything down on Earth to be with Crowley, but to Crowley this meant that they wouldn’t last forever. They were done. The only thing Crowley could do was give Aziraphale one last chance to change his mind. He kissed him. Which was absolutely something he had been wanting to do for a very long time. He knew this was the only opportunity he was likely ever going to get. After this, who would ever think it was possible to get a second chance? So he finally gathered the courage and kissed him. To be met with a brick wall. Aziraphale tensed up and didn’t kiss him back. When Crowley pulled away Aziraphale was crying. Crowley had broken their last chance. Everything was ruined. He was met with, “I forgive you”. Crowley had played this game before. That wasn’t Aziraphale forgiving him for what he has just done. That was Aziraphale saying “I want this but I can’t.” Aziraphale had said this before in a situation like this. Once again. The forces of Heaven and Hell were stopping them. But only because Aziraphale was letting them. Aziraphale was giving this up. There was no fixing it. No going back. They were done. It wasn’t their side anymore. It never was in the way Crowley wanted As he left the bookshop, he stayed, hoping maybe Aziraphale would have a change of heart. But no. Aziraphale kept walking towards the lift, and Crowley had to watch him leave everything behind.

I’m terribly sorry for how long this was, but oh my goodness I love great writing. Maybe this was interpreted a little differently to others but this is how felt about it. I would love to hear any other interpretations! Thank you @neil-gaiman for your amazing writing, and I’m so excited to see where all this goes from here! Thank you for such an amazing story. You and Terry Pratchett have certainly changed lives and I hope to see both your visions continue to thrive with season three (fingers and toes and arms and legs everything are crossed). <3

[captainblou]

questions 20, 27, and 46 for the fic writer asks!!! <3

Hiii Leanne ‹3

Thanks for the questions!!

20. Have you noticed any patterns in your fics? Words/expressions that appear a lot, themes, common settings, etc?

OH yeah. I like to have at least one of my main characters having a tragic backstory (only fair with good omens). My human AUs usually include homophobic parents, so that’s a recurring theme. I like to write a good hangover scene at some point to… Words and expressions, not so much, except when I learn a new word in English that fits exactly to what I try to say, but it will usually be within the fic, not from one fic to another.

For the short fics, they’re all build the same way, with a melodic prose that (to my ears) ressemble poems.

27. What is your most and least favorite part of writing.

Well, it’s not going to be groundbreaking but: just not being able to write a single sentence when that’s all I wanna do… That’s the worst. And on the opposite side, those moments where I’m super focused and manage to write entire chapters or dialogues, those are the best moments!!

Also, another favorite part (I’m cheating, I know): the feedback.

46. How would you describe your style?

That’s a tough one… How would you describe my style friend????

I guess I have mostly a fast paced style. I like to set the scene with descriptions and inner dialogues, but when the story begins, I’m always afraid it’ll be boring or repetitive, so STUFF has to happen. I try to convey emotions through actions more than through dialogues too (angsty smut save me). Don’t know if I’m successful, but I try!!

[ineffable-endearments]

You know, there are some themes that show up in both Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's works, often repeatedly.

One is the power of beliefs, stories, and assumptions - our inner narratives - to create meaning and sometimes even shape what we view as reality. The most ready examples I can think of are in The Sandman, in Hogfather, and in Good Omens - especially in Adam Young's power.

Another feature I think I've noticed in both of their works is a pretty profound comfort with chaos and ambiguity. What are the rules of magic? What are the rules of anything in this world? Who did the good thing and who did the bad one? While not absolutely everything is totally ambiguous in their stories (it would be pretty hard to have a coherent narrative that way), I'd say they delight in ambiguity, conflicting information, and grey areas in ways that not all creators do.

Combine those themes with the ones Aziraphale and Crowley specifically explore - "opposites" and how they define each other, how they give each other meaning, how they aren't always so different after all - and I think you have a relationship that is not only up for interpretation, but whose interpretability is the whole point.

Aziraphale and Crowley aren't only mirrors to each other - they're mirrors in front of ourselves, showing us exactly what we'd expect to see, given our existing beliefs and assumptions. In other words, we create the meanings we see in their story. It's a more engaging process than simple projection - Aziraphale and Crowley are who they are; they aren't two-dimensional RPG player characters for us to project onto. The fact that their relationship is very well developed while avoiding specific labels forces us to engage with exactly why we see them, or don't see them, in certain ways.

I know there are people out there who don't buy this reasoning. And though I disagree, their feelings are valid. They've been messed with in ways that are incredibly damaging and they have every right to want certain things from their queer love stories. They don't have a right to be rude and hateful toward the creative team...but they definitely do have a right to roll their eyes and say "OK, this isn't the story I needed, I'm going to find a different one."

But I believe the interpretation I described is valid and worthwhile, too. It's provoked so much thought, so many internal adventures - you're just not going to convince me it's a waste.

Also, we barely know anything about season 2 yet anyway.

[jojococomo]

THANK YOU!

It's driving me nuts. I hate the coffee theory because it takes away the agency that Aziraphale has in this scene and the fact that he is making a choice that he was 100% always going to make at some point in the story.

Good Omens is a satire about organized religion. It's about what happens when people step beyond the control of the church and the question of faith and goodness. It is also about Queerness.

To me, Metatron represents the foundation of organized religion and how it controls people with very little effort. The thing about his scene is that they show him going into the coffee shop, interacting with a queer black woman to order the coffee like a normal person. He's polite, he orders something that would appeal to a late-millennial/gen-z market and does not sneer or damn the woman serving him. This to me felt intentional. It felt like new-age Christianity trying to repackage themselves to be less outwardly antagonistic to people outside their flock because the boom of technology has made censoring the people they hate from their young followers nigh impossible. It's hard to demonize people of different lifestyles when you interact with them on a day-to-day basis. When you see them as being just as human as you are. So they do the opposite, they try to appeal to young Christian's need to have their faith work in the context of the new world.

Metatron walks across the street, enters the bookshop, and has to introduce himself to the angels. Even the oldest and highest-acting members of Heaven don't recognize him. The only person who does is Crowley. Crowley who represents the healing former-church kid who became disillusioned with Heaven and was immediately cast out because he started asking dangerous questions. He recognizes Metatron because Crowley has been seeing Heaven (and Hell) for what they actually are since the very beginning. You notice how in every conflict Crowley and Aziraphale have, Aziraphale is the only one that brings up that it's because he's an Angel and Crowley is a Demon. Crowley never does that. He consistently tells Aziraphale that he is his own person with his own desires and goals. Crowley has never asked Aziraphale to join him in Hell, he's asked Aziraphale countless times to just be with him, point blank. Crowley is the only person who knows exactly what Aziraphale's return to heaven would mean for him and how it will hurt him.

Metatron offers the coffee to Aziraphale and waits for him to take it and does not pressure him to drink it. He waits for Aziraphale to make the choice. Then he takes Aziraphale outside, away from Crowley and away from the bookshop, before trying to convince him to return to Heaven. At first, Aziraphale is hesitant. He's lived on Earth among humans/with Crowley for so long that he doesn't want to leave. It's only when Metatron starts to praise him for his skills and knowledge that he begins to warm up to the idea. You know the sinners, so you are the best person to save them. Think of the good you can do.

Metatron appeals to Aziraphale's innate desire to be good. Aziraphale has not given up on Heaven despite how he is treated and despite ALL of the evidence stacking up that shows that Heaven does not care about the people Aziraphale loves dearly. Aizraphale has not given up on the conditioning that Heaven and Angels and God and The Plan are what his faith wants them to be. They are just and correct and good and heroes of the story.

He would of course jump at the chance to do more with Heaven. To have some control over the good being done. However, he still is hesitant to accept because he loves Crowley. Crowley who despite being a demon has proven to be so much kinder and loving than Angels and who is a person that understands Aziraphale in a way that no one else does.

Metatron sees that one of his flock has been roaming among the sinners (notice how the neighborhood of shopkeepers is made up entirely of queer people, immigrants, PoC, ect.) and has started to have dangerous thoughts. Aziraphale is too kind-hearted to see how damaging Heaven's actions towards humans are. So Metatron flips the script and plays on Aziraphale's relationships with the people Heaven does not care about.

It's only when he says that by Aziraphale taking the job that Gabrial vacated that he would have the power to bring Crowley along. Just as long as Crowley returns to being an angel again. That Aziraphale agrees because that means that Crowley would be by his side. His queer feelings for Crowley would finally be justified because Crowley would no longer be a demon. He would be as good in Heaven's eyes as he's always viewed Crowley to be. He is so excited by this prospect that he does not even take a second to consider the fact that Crowley does not want that at all. Aziraphale's biggest character flaw is that he does not see beyond himself. He is selfish and prideful and self-centered. He does not listen when Crowley speaks. Despite the fact that Crowley knows what he's talking about. Aziraphale is so attached to his vision of Heaven that he ignores the fact that Crowley as a fallen angel may have a unique perspective of the institution that he fell from. It never is Heaven at fault for the sinners, of course.

Aziraphale's arc is about his self-imposed blindness to how his faith is constantly being manipulated by Heaven. He is naive to his own feelings about Crowley, his own queer-coded feelings. This is shown through both seasons because despite how much he obviously loves Crowley and is attracted to him. It took him 6000 years to admit they were even friends. Even then, he still will not let go of the fact that Crowley is a demon. Because Crowley being a demon is more important than Crowley being his friend and someone that he's in love with.

Faith is deeply rooted in upbringing. It's a core part of a person's perspective of the world. Aziraphale was beginning to question his faith but with a few short words from a high-ranking member of Heaven, he was renewed in his self-righteous vigor. His faith was validated. Aziraphale is relapsing. He rejects Crowley because Crowley is trying to break that chain that he's not ready to be free from. The chain that he had just begun to see for himself.

The coffee is just a cup of coffee. Aziraphale made this choice not because he was brainwashed by Metatron, he was already brainwashed. He was slowly being broken of that brainwashing by Crowley and humanity, but he still at his core stubbornly clung to the idealism of what he thinks Heaven is. At his core, he still has not accepted Crowley as being more important to him than his faith.

Metatron just bought him a coffee to get him to come sit back down at the table.

Additional note:

Aziraphale will return to Heaven, he will go all the way up to the top floor and look down upon Earth. He will try to recondition himself to the dogma and the Plan. He will try to forget about the man he left behind. He will try.

But he has spent too much time with Crowley and humans. He has fallen in love so deeply with the people that he shouldn't and he has seen the beauty beyond Heaven and because of that, his eyes are starting to open. He will begin seeing what Crowley saw. After he sees, he will think, and then he will question.

A. Z. Fell.

Aziraphale will fall in Season 3.

I'm the only one here against the coffee theory?

It takes away the point of the beautiful way the character is written. We can clearly see from the beginning Aziraphale is still bound to heaven in some ways. Or at least not specifically to heaven but to the thought of what it might and should be. And here it is, his chance to make it better, and to do it with Crowley. To make things better for Crowley. For the both of them.

Do you really want to erase all of this because of a miracle theory? I mean yes, Metatron manipulated Aziraphale, but not with a miracle. Just with words.

And Aziraphale fell for it because he still had hope.

[therantsofawriterrr]

Ok this is another loooooong good omens rant because I'm philosophical af abt it

So, the thing is, azi's inability to process Crowley's confession is kinda realistic in a way??? I mean ik that they've been pretending and Crowley's basically just saying, "We should be what we already are. We should make it official."

But, Azi still has two options in mind. Either he could stay on Earth and be with Crowley and just, go off together or he could convince Crowley to be with him in heaven as an angel and they could make a difference together.

Crowley obviously doesn't want that(slay, your majesty) but Azi desperately wants him cause they're supposed to be ineffable husbands.

Now, my point is, and why I know this is because there has to be a situation like this that's happened to someone irl. Not just the thing that you get a job in another place and your partner doesn't wanna move with you, but a situation where you confessed and they didn't reciprocate.

Now in Crowley and Aziraphale's case, it's kind of a misunderstanding, because they both have different understandings of how shit hit the fan, but then, we know what both their rejections meant.

Crowley has been in both Heaven and Hell. They know exactly what Azi's offering and they desperately want it, because it would mean that they'll be able to go back to their stars and their nebulae and be a happy little angel again. But that would also mean that God would plan anything and everything and they couldn't ask logical questions.

They've been in Hell too, which isn't much better. They just want vengeance for what happened to them and for Crowley, it wouldn't make much of a difference cause they love the universe and everything in it, not simply because of the fact that they created it, but also because they've lived in it and have come to love humans and life.

For Crowley Earth is Heaven and Earth is Hell. Just varies on how they're feeling at that moment Kinda cool, because Earth can be heaven or hell irl it just depends on how we feel.

Aziraphale just thinks that they can change the system(bad grammar but ok) which is... idk yet. I mean, their smile at the end is just the opposite of "I'm gonna use this to make a difference."

It just feels like they're gonna fuck shit up and well. Go off, Your Eminence. I just hope that at the end of it, they come back together and stay official, with no one to give a shit abt it.

P. S. At this point idec if anyone reads this fully I'm just glad I got that out lol

[nimblermortal]

OH HEY @pilfered-words it occurs to me that I should send this to you.

It’s Good Omens fic, I never posted it because it was mostly written in spite.

Aziraphale showed up at Crowley’s door at an hour of the morning that should never exist, which was 7:00. He was crying, Crowley thought, like an astronaut or a Studio Ghibli character: water welling in his eyes and refusing to fall, making pools of grief. Crowley noticed this particularly because he was in shock. He had never seen Aziraphale cry before.

“Angel - ?” he began uncertainly.

“Crowley!” Aziraphale wailed. “I’ve Fallen!”

“Well - come in,” said Crowley, pushing his door wide. “Have some cocoa.”

It was American cocoa, specially imported because it was waxy and grown on farms blazing with the life of freshly-cut Amazonian rainforest. Crowley had agonized between that and the overpriced Fair Trade box at the local, which lied about every part of its process, before deciding that the fossil fuel used shipping the American stuff made it suitably demonic. After all, he had resolved in the checkout lane years ago, if he did ever have the angel over it had to be for proper temptation purposes.

He had neglected to obtain a kettle, and had to miracle one into existence while Aziraphale wept like Lot in Crowley’s only chair.

“There there,” Crowley announced from his makeshift kitchen, where the kettle was rapidly coming to a boil under the heat of intimidation.

“Where?” Aziraphale asked, looking up.

“It’s just what people say,” said Crowley haplessly.

“Oh,” said Aziraphale. “People. Six thousand years I served people, averted the Apocalypse for people, and for what? I’ve Fallen.”

“Did it hurt?” Crowley asked.

“What?”

“When you fell from heaven.”

“Oh. No, not really. Not that I noticed, anyway.”

“It hurt quite a lot, for me,” said Crowley. More his soul than his body, but since angels were mostly soul it amounted to the same thing. Or else they didn’t have souls at all, he forgot which one it was. “Well how did you know you Fell, then?”

“I just woke up this morning and it had happened,” said Aziraphale. “Oh dear, I woke up - was it the sloth that did it? I hadn’t slept since the Apocalypse and I dreamed - that was new - I dreamed about sin, and when I woke up - this had happened.”

He punctuated ‘this’ by manifesting his wings. Crowley, turning with two cups of unethically farmed cocoa, dropped both of them.

“Now see what I’ve made you do,” Aziraphale said, his eyes welling up again. His wings stretched out from the sole throne in Crowley’s flat to the very tips of the flat and they were a lustrous, glossy red. Red as a cardinal’s coat. Red as a star Crowley had crafted and hung in the sky, looking shyly back at Her for approval. Red as roadside mums for sale, or genetically modified strawberries that would rot the next day, as stop signs or stop lights or tea boxes, red as the blaze of sunset across a polluted sky. Gloriously, earthly red, they looked completely detached from the angel’s cream coat, except that they were part of him.

“You see?” said Aziraphale, slumping miserably, he never slumped - “Fallen.”

“Angel,” Crowley promised him, his boots slowly soaking up cocoa as he refused to move, “There is no demon in Hell with wings like that.”

“Really?” asked Aziraphale.

“None,” said Crowley.

“Well, there’s a first time for everything,” said Aziraphale, but he was starting to sound dubious.

“All demons have raven wings with ebony luster,” Crowley recited, though his had gone a bit matte in recent centuries, almost greying with, he had assumed, age. “You’re something different.”

“What, then?” asked Aziraphale.

“One way to find out,” said Crowley, and snapped his fingers, stomped one foot, and manifested his wings. The cocoa vanished beneath his maybe-a-boot, but it hardly mattered because his wings knocked the kettle over. Crowley yelped and drew them close, gently fanning the scalded region. He turned to look over his shoulder.

His wing was not even close to grey. It was blue, striped with white and black and - and cerulean. It was a nightmare. It was a travesty. It didn’t match the décor. Aziraphale matched the flat better than Crowley did.

“We should have done this outside,” he growled.

“What, in London?” Aziraphale asked. “Around the humans?”

“Tadfield, maybe. Angel! Do you think Adam can put them back?”

“Didn’t Adam swear off that kind of thing?” Aziraphale asked, his eyed wandering across Crowley’s wings. Crowley got the distinct sense that if Aziraphale’s wings had not been so large, his hands would be tracing Crowley’s wings as well, stroking to discover whether those bars were replicated on each feather or layered black on white on blue. “He said people were always messing each other about, and as long as they were being messed about they wouldn’t start thinking properly and and stop messing the world around. They’d never get a chance to see what they were meant to be, to see what a human being is.”

“He said if he started sorting things out then people would keep coming to him to get rid of all the rubbish and he didn’t want to tidy people’s bedrooms,” said Crowley. “I remember it distinctly.”

“Yes, but in the principle of the matter, he said humans ought to be left to human being.”

“Angel,” said Crowley, “If we’re not heavenly angels, and we’re not demonic demons, are we just - angels being?”

“Angel beings,” Aziraphale corrected, wrongly, and frowned. “I don’t know.”

“Maybe She means us to find out,” said Crowley, glancing hopefully upwards. There was no sound, from up, down, or otherwise.

“You said,” said Aziraphale suspiciously, “You said that you thought the next one was going to be all of Us against all of - Them.” His eyes flicked rapidly up and down, before meeting Crowley’s again. “Does that make us - Us?”

“I think we’re beings now,” said Crowley slowly, “and we get to decide what that means.”

“Crêpes,” suggested Aziraphale. “Oysters. Sushi. Those little things on the sticks.”

“Mozart,” said Crowley. “Borodin. All of the Bachs! We can mount a raiding party on Hell and Heaven both, no one deserves an eternity of harps and the Sound of Music, we can save them all -“

“Breakfast,” said the angel grimly. “I’m hungry.” He paused. Crowley’s stomach growled. “That’s never happened before.”

“We’ll watch the sun rise and eat ready-made dinner,” said Crowley enthusiastically. “And ice cream. Chocolate-vanilla-strawberry. I can’t think of anything more human than that.”

“The sun’s already risen,” said Aziraphale.

“The sunset, then,” said Crowley. “We’ll be ready for it.”

And they were.

[theaethernetconnection]

Oh also, just adding onto this, I think that the demons in good omens do this exact same thing of following the Bible to the word except by literally trying to be anti everything heaven is. And that's why it causes so many problems, because as you can see throughout the centuries, heaven does some pretty fucked up things. For example, the story of Job and the whole...killing his children and just like...replacing them? (Real and in the Bible btw) is so messed up.

How are you supposed to choose to be pure evil and the opposite of heaven--which is supposed to be pure good--when archangels are smiting humans into salt whenever they inconvenience them? I think that the show does a beautiful job introducing these dilemmas while walking us through aziraphale's growth as an angel (such as the gravedigger episode).

More specifically, the unlearning of a lot of things that have been drilled into his head all of his existence. I very much relate to this experience, having been raised in a Christian household and now later in life having to unlearn the things that I've been told make me "unholy".

Aziraphale has been taught that temptations are bad, and the first time he eats meat he discovers this craving he has never known he could sate. It's always rubbed me so much the wrong way that angels "don't soil their celestial bodies with gross matter". It's like they don't live, don't know what it's like to live and to do this perfectly natural thing. It might be a silly or frivolous example to human perspective, but of course we would think that, as we've known food all our lives. But when you compare this same idea to ideas like "sex is dirty/unholy before marriage" and this notion of "purity" it's much of the exact same thing.

I really love how the show presents two characters with very different coping methods to their religious trauma (and oh boy do they have trauma). For Crowley he was dropped very suddenly from the grace of heaven and copes through outward anger and holding people at arm's length because he feels he cannot trust anyone again. You can see these physical guards he has built up and how hard it has been to become comfortable enough with aziraphale to take them down. And yet, in angel standards, they're technically more holy than aziraphale in terms of "not soiling their body" and the like.

For aziraphale, his trauma looks a lot like a father-son abusive relationship, especially once the metatron comes into the picture. His religious teachings still stick with him, are still engrained in his head, and thus he thinks that he is the one who has to do better, to please heaven. To be more holy. He may partake in eating food, but clearly feels very guilty about it as Gabriel in season one criticized him for it, to the point where he had to lie (also not seen as angelic even tho the archangels literally do that all the time but that's a different point). So once the metatron, the voice of god herself, affirms his consuming of the coffee, aziraphale feels forgiven, feels that his sins were absolved and his lifestyle accepted, and that maybe heaven isn't as abusive as he was thinking. Maybe going back to church won't be as bad as I think...

So aziraphale falls back into these cycles of abuse that are very common in religious institutions. And it's exactly how other abuse works too: shame the person for who they are and then reach out a tiny bit of approval and they latch onto it. Churches need you to confess your sins because everyone is "dirty" and "unholy" in their eyes. It's a cycle of shame and leaves a lot of young children feeling resentment and like they're not worth enough. Especially not worth enough being without the institution that absolved you of your "unholiness", the very institution that leeches off of you.

Crowley sees his own religious trauma in aziraphale, that naive hope that heaven might be okay this time, that he can fix it. Crowley knows that that's not how it works, from his own 6000+ years of trauma and healing from being thrown out from the very parental figures and religion he was devoted to. That's where we get the line from him about knowing/understanding a lot more than aziraphale does. He doesn't want to see aziraphale get hurt clearly, but aziraphale broke his heart in the process due a lot to his "I forgive you".

To aziraphale, it meant I forgive myself and you for sinning by giving into these "unholy" cravings to be in a relationship together. To him it meant that he was trying to make them both "pure" according to what he had been taught.

But of course, Crowley hears this and hears that aziraphale thinks they are a sin to be together and it breaks him. He thinks aziraphale wants to fix him to be pure so that they can be in heaven together.

Back to the demon thing, since they have tried to be the exact unholy and dirty that heaven despises, you now have this Hell that is very picture perfect biblically, but in the process of trying to be the opposite of everything heaven is, they kept the bureaucracy and the idea of being an institution and basically created their own cycle of abuse. Think about it, you have a bunch of fallen angels with their own religious trauma from being angels and in the attempt to make their own space they end up making an abusive situation as it is the only thing they have ever known.

In my original post by Crowley vs aziraphale's methods, I mean how they are both dealing with this religious trauma and their own abusive cycles. Crowley has tried the assimilation method, the changing from the inside, the suggestion box, and it did not work out for him. In his view, it will come down to the abuse of heaven and hell vs. the beauty of human kind.

I truly believe that that is the message Neil gaiman is attempting to get across in the larger three seasons of the beauty of human kind, and how strong we all are. We have the strength to make our own paths, and love, and make mistakes, and delight in pleasures of sushi, and be honest to our friends (the them really stopped the apocalypse and so called ineffable fate all on their own). And we have the strength to heal from abuse. Every major character shows this in their own way from Nina to Gabriel, and I'm hoping in season three, our main duo.

The connection between doing exactly what the Bible says as it is written vs. doing what the actual good thing is and following the lessons of the bible and then good omens and how the angels are following the word and Crowley is doing what is right. AND aziraphale knows this and he knows that Crowley didn't deserve to fall and he decided he will change the system because clearly it's wrong, clearly they can't see the goodness in front of them, clearly it needs fixing since it outcast a demon doing good...

And then you think about the real world and how institutionalized religion follows words and cherry picks to validate their discriminatory and hateful actions instead of the morals the bible teaches and how love your neighbor is exactly what aziraphale and Crowley do in season two and exactly what queer communities do with their mutual aid and pride and...

God good omens really is what you get out of it. The whole heaven/hell system is broken. Institutionalized religion is broken.

And soon in season three we'll see that systems cannot be fixed from the inside, they can only be brought down and made anew. (Aziraphale vs Crowley's methods)