lt_safe_house | (no subject)

Current Location: the ballroom

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(no subject)

Date: April 20, 2003
Status: Public
Setting: The ballroom
Summary: Happy Easter, everyone!

Easter/Spring Equinox Party
Manor Ballroom
Refreshments Provided
Meet your housemates+

Aziraphale had posted the sign in the main entrance, right by Ms. Hodges' desk.

And now he was incredibly nervous. Would anyone show up? Would anyone who showed up actually enjoy themselves? He had spent all night cooking and was confident that if nothing else the food was good - deviled eggs, ham, cheese potatoes, pineapple casserole, vegetable mix - but the decorations were awfully... bright...

He crossed his fingers and chose to occupy himself by staring at the ballroom's music system, pondering what sort of music he ought to be playing.

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"They haven't been hanged! They're on swings!" Aziraphale protested. "And they're happy there, thank you very much!"

The stuffed bunnies couldn't agree with him, but they did appear to be comfortable higher up.

He wasn't going to respond to the comments about the brightness. The decorations were cheery, and that was that.

(That being said, he was going to lock himself in his room for a week to avoid everyone and their snark.)

"Exactly!" Loki pointed out with a bright smile. "They're in their own comfy little baskets and able to watch all the partying down here. Imagine they had been put on the floor - people might have stepped on them. Now that would've been undignified for an easter bunny, don't you think?"

Behind Gabriel's scrutiny of Crowley, he slipped away. He returned with a glass of punch and standing on the periphery of the group. Barnaby may not have wanted to make idle smalltalk with the other demon, but he wasn't going to have his back to him, either. It was like having a wasp in the room: you didn't want it out of your sight.

Instead, catching the last thing Loki had said, "I don't know, they are a subterranean species. I imagine they have the most terrible acrophobia."

Crowley was not going to participate in a conversation where the subject matter had anything even remotely to do with rabbits, Easter or otherwise. In point of fact, he wasn't sure why he was there in the first place, what with the various angels around. And then there was the other demon.

Perhaps now would be a good time to have a chat. Crowley narrowed his eyes (under his dark shades, so no one but Aziraphale would know the gesture) and focused his attention on Barnaby. "Ssso. I'd like a short…private word with my...coworker."

Barnaby's heart dropped to somewhere in the lower mantle of the Earth: Ohfrickwhatdoeshewant.

"By all means," he said, putting the glass down and tucking his hands in his pockets. "Although surely whatever you have to say is fit for polite company?" He nodded his head at the others.

Crowley gave him a cool look in return. "Probably not."

Aziraphale pinched the bridge of his nose, hoping to stave off a migraine. "Be polite," he murmured to Crowley a little hopelessly.

Edited 2010-05-19 01:32 (UTC)

Michael miracled his plate of food into a bowl of popcorn and began munching happily, incredibly amused. That was the fun bit about demons; all the infighting made his job a lot easier. These two were rather equal in power, too, although the one in the suit was more experienced.

He hoped they fought it out right here. That would be the best Easter present ever.*

--
* Not quite true. Like ~~all~~ most angels, Michael is a huge fan of chocolate and squeals in joy when gifted with an enormous hunk of chocolate in his Easter basket.

"Ah. That's a pity. Very well, after you." He gave Aziraphale a perfectly guileless look. "Don't worry, this shouldn't take a moment."

The festivities had not escaped Trilby's notice; he had, in fact, intended on using this time to investigate the manor more thoroughly while the inhabitants were occupied. On the other hand, what better place to observe everyone?

He entered the ballroom just as two men (http://community.livejournal.com/lt_safe_house/25992.html) left. He glanced at their stiff backs, then at the faces of those still there.

"I assume I missed something?"

Aziraphale responded to the newcomer, "Only a good deal of posturing and proof that no matter how old you are, you can still act like a young boy who doesn't want to share a toy."

Of course Aziraphale was flattered that Crowley was being so possessive, but that didn't mean he could actually admit that out loud.

He beamed. "But welcome to the party, my name is Aziraphale and I'm something of the host, and feel free to help yourself to refreshments!"

"Ah," Trilby said dryly. "Boys will be boys?"

He cast a glance around the faces, unfamiliar but for Ms. Hodges and Loki. Ideally he would have idled in the background to get a feel for these people first, out of sight, but these rooms were so brightly lit he was surprised none of them was getting an indoor tan.

"My compliments to you, then, as the host," he said. "I've been led to expect such things, but that is an unusual name you have."

Gabriel watched the two demons leave, thoughtfully. Beelzebub, not surprisingly, hadn't showed up yet, and Gabriel wondered when he would make his move.

He nodded to the new arrival, and waited for him to introduce himself. The Angel of Birth knew perfectly well that his name was Malcolm, but humans tended to be unnerved by strangers knowing their names.

"I think you all have me at a disadvantage," he said. "I've been here about a week and I haven't met most of you. Jon Robie, I'm a writer."

Odd. He could understand women's last names changing, but this was strange. Still, it wasn't the first time, and the man must have his own reasons.

He held out his hand. "I'm Gabriel."

Aziraphale felt a little awkward now. He did typically introduce himself to humans with the name Ezra, but he'd forgotten himself around all these people who weren't humans and thus knew his actual name. Oh well, too late now.

"It's been odder," he murmured, colouring. Really, Aziraphael? Five syllables? Oh well.

Michael pouted as the two demons sauntered outside. "There goes my Easter," he muttered, vaguely hoping that Beelzebub would walk in so he could kick his arse.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance," he said, shaking Gabriel's hand. "What do you do in the world, Gabriel?" He had to be still in school or just out of it, from his age.

"No matter," he added to Aziraphale, noting his discomfort.

"The feeling is mutual," Gabriel responded. "I'm the librarian at this Manor, and I also enjoy travelling. What genre do you write in?"

Loki had kept well back, listening to the conversation unfold. However, the two men leaving would probably give some more interesting information than the ones still there. How important could something be that one discussed among a handful of strangers?

He silently made his exit, hoping to still see where the two were headed.

Aziraphale felt awkward and so began cleaning up the food. making sure that all of the little spills were tidied.

"You're not putting the food away, are you?" Michael demanded, terrified.

Aziraphale had to chuckle. "No, dear, just tidying up."

He resisted the laugh at Michael's audible sigh of relief.

"A variety," he said. "Some murder mystery, some horror... I doubt you'd have seen anything by a J. Robie, though, I used to write under a pen name," he added. That, at least, flirted with the truth. "What of you? What places have you been to?"

"Oh? What are their titles?"

Gabriel thought about it. "Actually, the only places I haven't been to are... the United States, most of Eastern Europe, Antarctica, the Arctic Circle, New Zealand, and parts of South Africa. I hope to see New Zealand soon, though, I hear that it's beautiful."