#second:

[chamyl]

What Aziraphale says / what Crowley hears

An analysis of that scene from Good Omens 2. Because the amount of times Aziraphale says one thing when he means another is astounding, as is how perfectly he and Crowley misunderstand each other.

Obviously, SPOILERS all over the place.

Let’s pick it up from the chat with the Metatron. He’s talking about his big projects, blah blah blah, and how he needs someone to run them and Aziraphale's the perfect angel for the job, and Aziraphale's first reply is:

 A: "I don't want to go back to Heaven. Where would I get my coffee?"

Meaning: I'm not ready to give up what I can have here on Earth, i.e. Crowley. Metatron, unlike Crowley, hears perfectly well what Aziraphale means, not what he says, because he replies offering him to bring Crowley along.

 Flashback ends, we switch back to the bookshop.

C: "He said what?"

Crowley is immediately offended at the mere suggestion. Heaven sucks and he's learned he's lesson, he's never going back.

Aziraphale doesn't notice the anger in his voice, too caught up in his dream of ruling Heaven with Crowley by his side and doing all the good he can for humanity. After having to sit by and watch awful things happen to good people for 6000 years, this is his Ultimate Dream™. He can change things AND he gets to keep Crowley.

(Of course we know Heaven's not going to give him so much freedom, but he wants this so much it makes him oblivious to the possibility he's being fooled.)

 A: "Everything like the old times! Only, even nicer."

Meaning: we can be safe, no Book of Life or other punishments hanging over our heads, and I can make Heaven, finally, what it was always supposed to be: a good place. A good place for you, Crowley, too.

 C: "Right. And you told him just where he could stick it, then?"

Crowley's too angry to tackle this gently. We watch Aziraphale's face fall.

 A: "Not at all."

 C: "Oh we're better than that, you're better than that, Angel!"

Meaning: how could you possibly believe this bullshit? After all that we've been through?

 C: "You don't need them. I certainly don't need them! Look, they asked me back to Hell I said I'm not gonna be joining their team. Neither should you."

For Crowley, Heaven and Hell are the same thing, just a different colour. He can't understand why Aziraphale wouldn't say no immediately.

 A: "But... well, obviously you said no to Hell, you're the bad guys."

Meaning: Hell was never supposed to be a good place. It was always supposed to be a group of demons making the humans' lives harder. How would you make the world better by working with hell? Of course you said no.

 A: "But Heaven... well it's the side of truth, of light, of good."

 C: "When Heaven ends life here on Earth, it'll be just as dead as if Hell ended it. Tell me you said no."

Here they move away from the actual problem, which is Aziraphale's delusional thoughts in regards to the potential for change in Heaven, to talk about the two of them instead.

He already knows Aziraphale didn't say no. He's asking him to change his mind and stay on Earth, which he will continue to do throughout the rest of this exchange.

 C: "Tell me you said no."

Again, tell me you'll change your mind. Tell me you'll stay here, with me.

 A: "If I'm in charge, I can make a difference."

 This is where it sinks in for Crowley that he's really about to lose Aziraphale. He panics and throws out his confession.

C: "Oh, God[1]. Right, okay. Right. I didn't get a chance to say what I was going to say I think I better say it now. Right, okay, yes, so... We've known each other a long time."

 Aziraphale is totally confused and has no idea where this conversation is going.

 C: "We've been on this planet for a long time. I mean, you and me. I could always rely on you. You could always rely on me. We're a team. A group. A group of the two of us."

 Now Aziraphale realises what's happening. At the worst possible time, Crowley is bringing up all the things they haven't talked about openly in 6000 years.

 C: "And we've spent our existence pretending that we aren't. I mean, the last few years, not really. And I would like to spend--"

[gif source]

Crowley swallows it back because he can't bring himself to say 'I would like to spend the rest of our existence together'. It's too much, it’s too big.

 C: "I mean, if Gabriel and Beelzebub can do it, go off together, then we can."

And there it is, clear as day, the confession. Gabriel and Beelzebub weren't friends, they very clearly had a romantic relationship, and Aziraphale looks absolutely SHOCKED by how explicit Crowley is being.

 C: "Just the two of us. We don't need Heaven, we don't need Hell. They're toxic."

Aziraphale shakes his head. He can't accept that Crowley would put Heaven and Hell on the same level.

 C: "We need to get away from them, just be an us. You and me, what do you say?"

Just like before Aziraphale wasn’t registering Crowley's anger, now Crowley doesn't pick up on Aziraphale's headshake, his shocked expression. He asks him what he thinks.

 A: "Come with me... to Heaven. I'll run it, you can be my second in command. We can make a difference."

This is so painful because they both want the same thing. To be together. But Aziraphale can't ignore the fact that he's just been given the chance to do so much good for everyone, and keeps pressing his point.

 C: "You can't leave this bookshop."

[gif source]

Crowley's not talking about the bookshop. He's brought up leaving for Alpha Centaury just a little while ago, a dream he still clings to. What he means is, you can't leave a place where you're safe and independent.

This is not what Aziraphale hears. He thinks Crowley is talking, literally, about the bookshop. That's why he says...

  A: "Oh, Crowley. Nothing lasts forever."

[gif source]

Meaning: I'm willing to sacrifice the bookshop to work towards the Greater Good. Even though it pains me.

What Crowley hears: it’s our relationship that was never meant to last forever. All things end, we're breaking up. And in fact his reaction is to put his sunglasses back on, defences back up, and say:

 C: "No. I don't suppose it does."

 Aziraphale misses the walls coming back up and smiles for a split second, thinking Crowley is agreeing with him. So he's shocked when Crowley says...

 C: "Good luck."

And starts to leave.

 A: "Good luck?! Cro--Crowley! Crowley come back! To Heaven! Work with me! We can be together! Angels... doing good!"

Aziraphale breaks down completely now. His dream is crumbling, not only Crowley won't join him, but Crowley is abandoning him altogether.

 A: "I... I need you!"

He cries out, desperately. Then he gets angry.

 A: "I don't think you understand what I'm offering you."

Safety. A chance to be together, out in the open. A chance to do good, save the world from a second Apocalypse. Full status as angel restored. He can't understand why in the world Crowley wouldn't want these things? They can fix Heaven together!

 C: "I understand. I think I understand a whole lot better than you do."

Crowley knows Heaven is only going to exploit and manipulate Aziraphale. But he doesn't insist, it's not what he does. In all their fights, Crowley's always been the one to run away in the face of conflict, and he's by the door, ready to go.

 A: "Well... then there's nothing more to say."

Meaning: Are you really going to leave me?

 C: "Listen. Do you hear that?"

 A: "I don't hear anything."

 C: "That's the point. No nightingales."

Possibly because this is their own coded language, this is the one time what Crowley means and what Aziraphale hears line up. That the relationship between them is coming to an end. There are no nightingales like the ones in Berkeley square, singing for them after their post-Apocalypse date.

 But then it's Crowley's turn to break down. He wasn't fast enough running out of the bookshop, his emotions caught up with him. He’s thinking about that lunch at the Ritz and the nightingales. And after what Maggie and Nina told him, what he himself has learned about love, he makes a last desperate attempt at fixing things.

 C: "You idiot. We could have been... us."

He grabs Aziraphale, forcefully kissing him. Aziraphale is shocked, doesn't know what to do with his hands, first he flails then he puts a hand on Crowley's back, as if about to relax, but then starts flailing again as he remembers he can't do this: he has to go to Heaven. Work for the Greater Good. He can't return the kiss.

[gif source]

He's basically sobbing when Crowley lets him go. Full-blown panic now, while Crowley watches him expectantly, hoping his last-resort strategy had some effect on his angel.

 But Aziraphale stutters and reaches for something to steady himself, some barrier to put up again between the two of them. Crowley is a demon, he's an angel. Crowley grabbed him and kissed him without asking first, Aziraphale is going to forgive him. There. Big red line between them.

 A: “I… I forgive you.”

[gif source]

He seems to regret it the moment the words have left his mouth. But it's too late. Crowley knows that the kiss didn't work, that there's nothing left to do now.

 C: "Don't bother."

[gif source]

And he leaves. Almost runs.

 Aziraphale is shaking all over. He presses his fingers to his mouth pretty hard, trying to replicate the feeling to process what just happened.

[gif source]

The Metatron was of course right outside, looking in, probably saw the whole thing going down. He takes advantage of the moment where Aziraphale is at his most vulnerable to press him to go, downplays their fight ("Always wanted to go his own way") makes disparaging comments about Crowley ("Damn fool questions too"), knocks down Aziraphale's excuses by entrusting the bookshop to Muriel.

 Aziraphale is torn, but after all, what else can he do? In his mind, Crowley abandoned him when he'd finally found somewhere safe for them to be together. And Aziraphale spit out that horrible 'I forgive you'. Even if he stayed now, he'd be all alone. And in Heaven, he gets a chance to do Good with a capital G.

 The Metatron tells him about very important plans to 'wrap things up'. Aziraphale looks back at Crowley, who’s standing by the Bentley, watching him.

But the Second Coming bomb the Metatron just dropped solidifies Aziraphale’s choice. Now more than ever he has to go up and do all he can. He steps into the elevator.

Crowley, completely alone now, looks at Nina and Maggie, each in their own shop, not together.

 And then both Aziraphale and Crowley do what they always do to deal with difficulties: Crowley drives away, probably to nowhere, just letting the car go, and Aziraphale swallows everything down and tries to put back on his polite, calm, jovial mask. He'll be damned if he'll not try his hardest to be the perfect angel for this job. He’s sacrificed too much.

[gif source]

[1] I don’t know that it’s a good idea to call on her right now, C.

[twistedexecutioner]

Wanna be an accurate bear anthro? Here’s the list.

Recommended Bear Body - https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/GENaPOP-Bear-MuscleBear-size/20449727 

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Textures for bear heads, old cheek fluffs, bear ears and better tail I got covered.

[xiosandrafirelyte]

♥Vintage Fair ♥ 2023 001 by Xiosandra Firelyte Via Flickr: Officially OPEN NOW through June 19th!! Event: VINTAGE FAIR Join SILLY LLAMA UPDATE GROUP Presented By: BeSpoke Silly Llama Productions Credits: BYRNE Doll Valley Outfit-EXCLUSIVE Semi sheer glitter diamond bishop sleeve button minidress and lace up boots. Includes medium length white & black wigs w/ bandana. Materials enabled.Black and white versions. For Maitreya and Legacy. ENLIGHT & ND/MD INA EVOX skins with 2 different dimple options Shape for Lelutka Avalon sold separately EUPHORIE Dahlia Choker MEWLY Bette Eyes- Lelutka eye appliers HUD, Our Mewly Eye Mesh With Huds and bom only. The Classics Almond Nails- for Kupra/kups, Ebody Reborn, Maitreya and Legacy only! Background: SHATGOGAE Kitchen VINTAGE VILLAGE Stage Sponsor List: DESIGNER SHOWCASE ENTICE MVD ND/MD & ENLIGHT SAINT SHE SAID DESTROY SHORT LEASH SIMPLY SHELBY BESPOKE CARAVAN GROUP Who else will be there? Take a look!! PARTICIPATING DESIGNERS Who will be showing off all of these fabulous designs? Meet us over here !! OFFICIAL BLOGGING TEAM LINK TREE XIO -----------------------------------------

[melynafoxclaw]

Nyx'Zhara skin by Melyna Foxclaw Via Flickr: Look at all the amazing detail on this skin! NEW from Glam Affair ~~ leLAPEAU ~~ Not Found ! Check the blog for all the details!  BLOG & CREDITS

[rastronomicals]

1:15 AM EDT June 23, 2024:

Steve Howe - “Concerto In D (Second Movement)” From the album The Steve Howe Album (November 1979)

Last song scrobbled from iTunes at Last.fm

–

[inventorymessblog]

# Mili # 6281 por Mili Miklos Via Flickr: Blog: Inventory Mess Blog (sponsors ads in comments) ■ Hair-Stealthic - Fortune (group gift) ■ Mesh Head❤LeLUTKA Avalon Head 3.1 ■ Face applier❤[theSkinnery] Zada (LeLutkaEVOX) rose @ Collabor88 ■ Top❤RIOT / Pamela Halter Tee ■ Bottom❤Gaia - bree ripped denim jeans @ Equal10 ■ Shoes❤Essenz - Boa Vista @ Fameshed ■ Pose❤Overlow Poses - Pack 119 .......... Facebook Plurk Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Instagram

Mili Miklos New Post!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/milimiklos/53654268689/in/dateposted/ https://inventorymess.blogspot.com/2024/04/mili-6281.html

[teresabeadle5]

Magic In The Water by Isabella Rumsford Via Flickr: Happy Weekend lovely souls! I am featuring: Newphe - Amaia Top available at Mainstore ::C'est la vie !:: - Jess Earrings available at Mainstore

[kayshla19]

Brillas...♥ Style3213 by Kay ღ Lush ღ Photographer Via Flickr: thisiskayshla.blogspot.com/2023/08/style3213.html SI TE VAS ¿Qué tú quiere'? She went looking for real love I know you got a man, what you been through? I know you got places you went before I know you got someone you into 'Cause lying is something too immature A little bit It's quite a life, I'm livin' great And even if we touchin' intellect And I know things that I need to say I would hate to let you get away, oh Tell her stay for the night And if it don't work out, mornin' flight And the tequila feel good with sunrise The sun is sexy, perfect light, yeah-yeah-yeah She only get lost when she dance in the mirror Louis bags in back of her black Panamera She don' wanna go back, she came up fast Just pray we don' crash if it's real love Un ratito más quédate, si te vas Yo voy contigo, llévame a donde vayas A to' lo' tiene' tumba'o y tú conmigo es que prendes Sin na' debajo pa' dañarme la mente

[longreads]

How Concerned Citizens Drove a Neo-Nazi Out of Rural Maine

Christopher Pohlhaus planned to build a fascist training compound in the woods of rural Maine. The local journalists, veterans, lumberjacks, and policymakers weren't having it.

Pohlhaus, 37, is a former U.S. marine, an itinerant tattoo artist, and a hardcore white-supremacist influencer. He is loud and hostile, and proud to be both. His voice is pitched surprisingly high, and he has a slight Southern drawl. He has a large body and small bald head; a blue-black tattoo crawls up the right side of his face, from his chin to his forehead. Over the years, Pohlhaus has collected thousands of social media followers, who know him by his nickname: Hammer.

Hammer had been living in Texas for a few years when, in March 2022, he bought the land in Maine. He told his followers that he was going to use it to build a haven, operational center, and training ground for white supremacists.

Check out our excerpt of The Atavist’s latest blockbuster story. 

[389]

PORTO ROCHA

[nanaluvbug]

🧀🥪🌶️🥭 The Ravening War portraits  🧀🥪🌶️🥭

patreon * twitch * shop  

[ID: a series of digitally illustrated portraits showing - top left to bottom right - Bishop Raphaniel Charlock (an old radish man with a big red head and large white eyebrows & a scraggly beard. he wears green and gold robes with symbols of the bulb and he smirks at the viewer) Karna Solara (a skinny young chili pepper woman with wavy green hair, freckled light green skin with red blooms on her cheeks. she wears a chili pepper hood lined with small pepper seeds and stares cagily ahead) Thane Delissandro Katzon (a muscular young beef man with bright pinkish skin with small skin variations to resemble pastrami and dark burgundy hair. he wears a bread headress with a swirl of rye covering his ears and he looks ahead, optimistic and determined) Queen Amangeaux Epicée du Peche (a bright mango woman with orange skin, big red hair adorned with a green laurel, and sparkling green/gold makeup. she wears large gold hoop earrings and a high leafy collar) and Colin Provolone (a scraggly cheese man with waxy yellow skin and dark slicked back hair and patchy dark facial hair. he wears a muted, ratty blue bandana around his neck and raises a scarred brow at the viewer with a smirk) End ID.)

[70sscifiart]

One of my favorites by Paul Lehr, used as a 1971 cover to "Earth Abides," by George R. Stewart. It's also in my upcoming art book!

[melynafoxclaw]

And if you need to direct other feelings to something... by Melyna Foxclaw Via Flickr: (RP) Belladonna de la Sombra - PBR @ Nightshade thru Oct 28th. Check the blog post for more info: BLOG & CREDITS

[taizooo]

もともとは10年ほど前にTumblrにすごくハマっていて。いろんな人をフォローしたらかっこいい写真や色が洪水のように出てきて、もう自分で絵を描かなくて良いじゃん、ってなったんです。それで何年も画像を集めていって、そこで集まった色のイメージやモチーフ、レンズの距離感など画面構成を抽象化して、いまの感覚にアウトプットしています。画像の持つ情報量というものが作品の影響になっていますね。

映画『きみの色』山田尚子監督×はくいきしろい対談。嫉妬し合うふたりが語る、色と光の表現｜Tokyo Art Beat

[layla-keating]

#thistension

XO, KITTY — 1.09 “SNAFU”