#the ineffable con 2

[queerfandomtrifecta]

And we love them for it

[aydracz]

Shax had a tough time delivering Crowley's mail at The Ineffable Con:

After collecting the Traitor's mail for months,

teaming up with a doppelganger,

interrupting intimate moments,

using threats

and demonic karate skills,

and chasing the Traitor around the entire Moor Hall, while the Traitor was chasing his emotional support angel,

Shax asserted her dominance and delivered the mail

and could finally have some time for herself.

Many thanks to my very own emotional support angels @fuzzywhispersbear and @drimmsydra ❤️ The whole weekend has been an absolute blast!

[melbatron5000]

It's a 2-man Con

Listen, I think I know a thing.

When Aziraphale comes back from talking to the Metatron and is telling Crowley about being an angel, we've all heard the theory that he's speaking code, trying to ask for help. The more I look at that scene, the more that theory tracks.

Maybe less well-known is the theory that Crowley didn't miss a damn thing, he's answering in his own code. And again, the more I look at that scene, the more this also tracks.

(When my husband, annoyingly observant beloved partner that he is, saw the second season for the first time, he said, "That whole thing was a show for the Metatron. They have a plan. Crowley slipped something to Aziraphale when he kissed him." And I said, "Nah." But now I think he's right, and damn if he isn't smug.)

I'm gonna try to break down what I think they're saying here, because it takes just a hot minute to piece it together. I've been thinking this over for a couple of months now. I think I have most of it. I just don't know when Crowley puts whatever he's handing to Aziraphale in his own mouth. I need more eagle-y eyes, it seems.

First, Aziraphale comes back from his talk. He's pensive as he crosses the road, and anxious when he starts talking, and mouths "I need help!" as he's talking. He's acting like he does when he lies to the other angels, and once it's seen "I need help!" is pretty clear.

He does the whole thing about telling Crowley he could appoint him as an angel, like old times, but even nicer. It's all very uptight and not positive at all. My interpretation? "The Metatron is here, I think he knows we're up to something, we have to go to Heaven right now and put things right before he really does something awful to one or both of us. The time to spring the plan is NOW."

Crowley stares at him. At first it seems like he's staring in disbelief, but if you really look at his face, he's listening, hard, and interpreting as fast as he can:

He asks Aziraphale if he told the Metatron where he could stick it, then. My interpretation? "The plan has changed. I can't go with you to Heaven. You'll have to go alone."

Then Crowley starts his confession -- "We've spent our existence pretending we aren't."

Aziraphale looks at him -- not with shock, or surprise, or love, or hope, but with a "Why are you doing this now?" face. Not "Why did you wait til now to tell me, you love me, oh, I love you too!" But "Why are you telling me SOMETHING I ALREADY KNOW while our ENEMY IS LISTENING??" :

He's confused, but also listening and interpreting. What I'm hearing/seeing: I don't think this is a love confession from our demon. I think they are both well aware they love one another. They can't say it in so many words, and it's a secret from Heaven and Hell, but it's not a secret between them. I'm hearing Crowley set the scene. "The Metatron either wants us together in Heaven under control, or separated. I have things I have to do here or the plan won't work, so we'll have to separate. We need to make it look good. I do love you."

I don't think Aziraphale likes this change of plan. And Crowley can't detail why the plan has changed, not with the Metatron listening. So Aziraphale insists, come with me. The plan we had will work. Do it my way. Crowley says, "You can't leave this book shop." It's easy to interpret that as "You can't leave me," but I don't think it's that. He's saying something about the book shop being safe, or even that he can't leave without whatever they've hidden in the book shop. (I THINK THEY HID SOMETHING IN THE BOOK SHOP!) Aziraphale says, "Nothing lasts forever." I hear him saying the book shop is no longer safe, and they have to move/take whatever they've hidden and they can't speak freely there anymore.

Crowley replies, "No I suppose it doesn't. Good luck." He's gotten that much, but he is still set on his "We need to fake a break up because I can't go with you."

Aziraphale still doesn't like that. "Come back! I need you!" He's scared. Whatever he has to do in Heaven is big, and scary, and he needs and wants Crowley with him. He does not want to go into the mouth of danger alone.

This is when we get, "No nightingales." What I'm hearing? ESPECIALLY since if you listen, you can hear a LARK sing as Crowley goes out the door? It's the line from Romeo and Juliet, by Shakespeare, whose plays they both enjoy, though Crowley prefers the funny ones. "It's too late, that's a lark singing the dawn, not a nightingale singing to the night, we have to part. Our happy ending isn't yet."

Then the kiss. I do not believe this is their first kiss. I don't believe they've allowed themselves many, maybe not even more than one, but I do think they've kissed before. I'm not sure when, but I suspect 1941. (Season 3, come ON!!)

And when they part, Aziraphale stops himself from saying "I love you," and instead says, "I forgive you." I'm hearing so many things in that "I forgive you." I forgive you for leaving me on my own, I forgive you for hurting my feelings like this, I forgive you for changing the plan without telling me, I forgive you because you are forgivable whatever anyone else says, I forgive you because that's what I said when we split up at the bandstand and everything was okay in the end and I hope hope hope that everything will be okay in the end this time too.

Crowley says, "Don't bother." I'm hearing, "yeah, I hope it's all okay, too. Wish me fuckin luck. My part will be hard, too."

And as Crowley leaves, Aziraphale mouths, "No." And we hear a lark sing. A lark, singing to the dawn, and so fair Romeo must away.

Just because the break up is a ruse, doesn't mean it doesn't hurt and isn't hard. It has to look real, and so it's going to feel real, too. Ouch. :'(

And then Aziraphale touches his lips. Not once, but twice. My bad, he only touches his lips once. The first long second is pure emotion. "Why now, I hate this, I want that so badly and I can't have it."

After that, though --

After he pulls himself together a bit, he has a bulge in his cheek. He shifts his jaw to move whatever he has in his mouth to his lips, and then his first two fingers go stiff for a moment as he palms something right before he takes his hand away.

And then, this.

Edit to add: someone on Facebook asked me why a kiss to pass whatever Crowley gave to Aziraphale, why not palm it or drop it in his pocket?

My answers: 1. The kiss is a message. "We're still good, I still love you, I still want this." 2. The item is too important to be dropped in a pocket and hopefully found later. 3. The Metatron is paying WAY too close attention, and will definitely see them touch hands. Seeing a kiss and the angel rejecting the demon, though? Well, the demon forced that kiss on him, the angel didn't want it. Clearly the demon thinks this relationship is different than it is. It's a bigger gesture that sells the ruse. 4. Houdini's wife used to pass him the keys to his cuffs with a kiss before the show. This is a message that magic-loving Aziraphale WILL understand: here are the keys to your cuffs, sneaked to you by your beloved in plain sight.

That's it. That's what I got so far. I still have questions.

What did Crowley pass to Aziraphale? What's the plan? Why did it change? What does Crowley need to do that he can't go to Heaven again?

[idliketobeatree]

NO WAIT ROB ARE YOU TELLING ME AZIRAPHALE HAD, ADMITTEDLY, THE WORST KISS IN RECORDED HISTORY AND HE WAS STILL LIKE "come back and do that again, please, right now"?????!?!??!

[tismrot]

THE EVERY BIG ART from IneffableCon/TIC5

Julia (X and AO3: @do_it_to_julia) was literally the first person to say hello to me when I entered the lounge in Moor Hall, she offered me tea (I know this is a normal thing for a Brit to do, but I am from the Northern Wastes and we have no manners).

I don’t always instantly click with people, and I don’t always have that much in common with perfect strangers. Not to be sappy or anything, but running into Julia before I ran into everyone else was exactly what I needed to ease into the whole convention thing. I’ve never been to one before!

Thanks to Julia, the collaborative, Big Art mosaic now exists. Everyone who wanted to participate colored one of 64 pieces. It looks amazing! I think someone in California won it in the art raffle - imagine having this on your wall!

I colored three pieces, but only remembered to take a photo of one. The text is in Norwegian and is a translation of the ‘no nightingales’ dialogue. The stars are, of course, the THREE (yes, three, google it) stars of Alpha Centauri.

[ikarakie]

hey if you’re an american currently in london and ate in a [redacted] italian restaurant on the 25th of july and the waiter gave you a little drawing of crowley and aziraphale …….. you guys made my fucking evening and it was genuinely a pleasure to wait on u. hope u have fun at ur convention <3

[ineffableandco]

A recap of the panel with Rob Wilkins at The Ineffable Con 4

- About the ending of S2/the kiss: he says that the scene blew his mind. It was not David & Michael but Crowley & Aziraphale. Everyone knew it was one of the most important scenes. There were 3-4 takes but the one we see is the only one that exists. He found the haunting look on Aziraphale’s face really emotional. He also said that he wasn’t prepared for the fandom’s reaction but finds it brilliant. He also said that Aziraphale’s expression meant “do it again”.

- His favourite side characters are Bildad, Mrs. Sandwich, Eric and the Dowlings.

- He was really excited to have David, Peter Davison and Ty on set. He wished he could have had a selfie with all of them.

- He says that Good Omens really is like a family.

- He loves the love and dedication fans show to Good Omens. He’s amazed by people who get tattoos.

- His favourite easter egg is the presence of Terry’s hat and scarf. Also, the copy of Good Omens that Jim is reading from is Rob’s copy.

- About red herrings: there are things in S2 that might become more or not if S3 happens. Rob also said that there are things in S2 we haven’t noticed yet.

- His favourite thing about Crowley and Aziraphale is the fact that they’re a unit.

- He genuinely doesn’t know anything about S3 happening or not but he’s hopeful because the sets are still there in Bathgate.

- He has a record of “Everyday” signed by David Tennant and Michael Sheen.

- He loves Jim and how Jon Hamm just went with it when playing him.

- He bought the S2 Bentley because if they were going to get new a Bentley, it was going to be him buying it

- He showed the license plate which he had right there

@neil-gaiman @theineffablecon

[ingravinoveritas]

Video of Ty Tennant at the Proud Nerd Con today answering a question about flirting with Michael in GO 2 and calling Michael his "daddy." I'm dying...

[scottishmushroom]

I can feel it in the air today. We are all deeply unwell.

[vangreunen-art]

New Art💜 I really loved episode 6✨️

[raggedy-spaceman]

Our Flag Means Death S02E01 // Good Omens S02E06

[desmyblank]

I was wondering how to post the ton of gartic phone doodles i made during The Ineffable Con 4 and this came out! First batch, more incoming.

[aydracz]

Crowley's mail for The Ineffable Con

Here's a detail of Crowley's mail that Shax was handing out to The Ineffable Con participants as a gift.

Making these brought me immense joy because it felt like giving back to the fandom, which is full of amazing people whose creations I enjoy every day. So these are for all of you, my dears!

And there was a little surprise in each of them

Some of the letters are still up for grabs at the Bandstand in Battersea Park in London together with some amazing art by @drimmsydra and @fuzzywhispersbear! (See details in the previous post.)

Aubrey Thyme's sign was created by @onlylurkingreadingstuff and used with their permission.

[inhonoredglory]

OK BUT ROB WILKINS SAYING AZIRAPHALE'S EXPRESSION AFTER THE KISS MEANT––

DO IT AGAIN

I AM UNDONE

[highlandwhackamole]

We could've seen. bus.

Peter Anderson, in his Ineffable Con 5 session, was asked about the name of the boat in the pile of items that the procession climbs in the Season 2 intro. He didn't know off the top of his head. But he did follow that up with: "Speaking of which, did anybody look at the bus? What was on the bus?"

He didn't really elaborate on the bus, other than it "was a special Good Omens bus."

Let's assume for the purposes of this post that he's talking about a bus in the intro, which was the current topic of conversation. (Rather than the actual, in-service bus that was wrapped to promote the series.) I am pretty sure this is the bus in question:

So what's on the bus?

There's an ad on the side, which is interesting. Wings for Victory was a fundraising effort in 1943.

And there's also what looks like a route identifier on the front:

I think this says GO2 (as the route number): Soho, Green Park, Victoria; Soho Square. That's a fairly reasonable bus route; the actual 38 bus takes a similar one.

In the X-Ray, Peter Anderson also brings up where the bus is going. Very briefly. So clearly it means something to him.

There is one more thing I found, because of course there is. Amazon did a behind the scenes tour of the Season 2 set as a prize for a promotional contest. There was a bus involved:

Interestingly, there was also a TikTok including the bus which shows a different set of stops for the route.

What does it mean? I have no idea. Ours* is not to reason why; ours is to deliver packages. Of research. What do you think?

*and by Ours I mean Mine

[zhuzha-flybeelzebub]