(no subject)

[http://users.livejournal.com/white_grin_/]

Date: December 14, 1999
Status: Public
Setting: The Pool Room
Summary: The marquis and Crowley get reacquainted


The marquis had taken it upon himself to explore the the Manor from bottom to top. As he couldn't find Adam Young, he couldn't ask to resume the tour. However, that meant he could linger in any room he found interesting--which, he had to admit, was most of them.

He picked up a red pool ball and polished it on his coat, and smiled at the resulting shine. He set it on the pool table, and gave it a nudge; it rolled into one of the pockets with a quiet thunk. He peered into the hole for a moment, then reached in and pulled the ball back out, and began rolling it easily from hand to hand, like a magician's trick. He continued doing this as he glanced around the room with interest.

Comments

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

Feeling thoroughly drained after his fight with Michael and the conversation with John that followed, Crowley headed downstairs looking for a quiet spot to not think about anything at all. Remembering the hidden billiards room, he turned his steps there, taking care to walk in a wide berth around the swimming pool. Adam only knew what Ligur had been telling his tentacle monster about him.

Pushing the door open, he was disappointed to find that there was already someone there. A rather familiar looking someone in really old-fashioned clothes.

"Marquis? What the hell are you doing here?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/white_grin_/]

The marquis turned, a bit surprised. He didn't fumble in his maneuvers, however, and the ball was rolled a few more times before it was sent gently back onto the table.

"Crowley." De Carabas looked at him and flashed a wide, white grin. "Seeking sanctuary, of course. And yourself?"

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

Raising an eyebrow, Crowley said, "The same, actually. Or it was at first. But it's been four and a half months and now I've got other reasons to be here."

He eyed the marquis. "Croup and Vandemar?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/white_grin_/]

The marquis's eyes narrowed. "Are back in London Below," he acknowledged. "And they aren't the best of company. What have you heard about them?"

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

Crowley shrugged.

"Only that they have been around a long time and can be nasty pieces of work. I can't think of anything or anyone else down there that could frighten the well-known and canny marquis into seeking sanctuary with the teenage antichrist."

[http://users.livejournal.com/white_grin_/]

"They are nasty," de Carabas agreed grimly. "Be glad that you've never met them." He fingered the cloth around his neck gently, then gave a bright, insincere smile. "Your teenage antichrist is quite the gentleman, however."

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

Crowley eyed the ascot the man was wearing. He couldn't remember him ever having anything like that before. Making a note of it, he smirked.

"Yeah, Adam's quite a piece of work. Not a bad kid, obviously, but that 'omnipotent and all-powerful' act gets real old after a while. Have you met anyone else yet?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/white_grin_/]

"I believe he pulled a bit of omnipotence on me, or at least omniprescience," de Carabas said dryly. "To answer your question, I ran into an old friend. Mister Wednesday, our maitre'd."

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

"I think that kid enjoys wrong footing us."

Crowley walked over towards the room's couch feeling very tired.

"Mind if I sit?"

The marquis waved a hand regally and Crowley sank gratefully onto the brown sofa.

"Wednesday, huh? He's a clever one. We met about a month ago." He shook his head. "I don't know. Norse gods, Egyptian gods, ghosts, wizards, angels, personifications of abstract concepts... It's an odd place, marquis." Crowley smiled sardonically. "And I'm sure you've already got your dirty little fingers in a pie or two."

[http://users.livejournal.com/white_grin_/]

The marquis spread his arms innocently. "I'm not sure what you're implying, Anthony Crowley," he said, and grinned. "Besides having to concede the fact that I'm sufficiently used to 'odd places,' as you put it... I may have made a deal already, but believe me, I need his help as much as he needs my own."

He nodded at Crowley, then. "Your lip looks horrible. Did you get in a fight?"

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

"I'll just bet you did. Well, if you're sticking around we may be able to work out a deal of our own later."

Crowley brought a hand to his still slightly swollen lip.

"Yeah. It was more like the fight came to me. Bloody angels..." he murmured.

[http://users.livejournal.com/white_grin_/]

"A hazard of the job, I should guess." De Carabas smirked. "But did you deserve it this time?"

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

"I suppose," he conceeded. "But it's been a while."

Finally realizing the humor in the situation, Crowley laughed. "I don't know. You tell me. I told an archangel that having genitalia was fun and that all the angels were doing it. Perhaps I may have also mentioned that a particular angel was interested in using his in conjunction with the first. He went away disgusted and the next thing I know, I'm being swung at by the disappointed suitor. All a bit absurd really, but I did get some information I've been looking for, so not a total waste. And I'll heal."

[http://users.livejournal.com/white_grin_/]

The marquis began to laugh, as well. "Really, Crowley, you didn't. You did deserve it, I must say!"

Still chuckling, he shook his head. "'All angels' are making the effort now? That's a new, and vaguely unsettling thought." Some of the humour in his voice did not quite reach his eyes.

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

Smiling, Crowley held up his hands. "Well, if you say so, Marquis."

Then he laid his head on the back of the couch. His jaw was still aching a bit.

"I don't know that it's all angels, but two that I know of for sure. I strongly suspect the third but only because no one can spend time around Belial without doing it." Crowley smirked. "The fourth? No way."

[http://users.livejournal.com/white_grin_/]

The marquis grinned, teeth gleaming white in his dark face. "Now, how would you know for sure that two angels are 'making the effort'?" he teased. "And speaking of angels, how's yours getting along? Aziraphael,* was it?"

*Pronounced, incorrectly, as Azz-zi-ra-PHAE-el. The devil is, as has been said, in the details.

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

Crowley casually crossed his legs.

"I would tell you that I know from personal experience, but then you'd think I was easy," he replied, enjoying the banter. Then he thought of Michael and shuddered. "No. One of them practically admitted it, and the other..." He winced, remembering an unpleasant February day over a century earlier. "...I have on good authority."

He eyed the marquis. "And just what makes you think that AZ-ra-phale is my angel?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/white_grin_/]

"Yours meaning the one that you associate with. You've admitted to that yourself." De Carabas spread his arms wide and smirked. "I meant nothing more... ah... personal. What makes you assume otherwise?"

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

"I have worked with Aziraphale before," said Crowley raising an eyebrow.

"And I assumed you meant something more personal because everyone else in this place appears to and I'm tired of hearing it. You avert one Apocalypse with someone on the opposite side and people figure that you're shagging. That ever happen to you, Marquis?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/white_grin_/]

"No, I can't say it ever has. But then, who I'm shagging is never much of a mystery to those who actually care." He shrugged, smirking slightly. "Everyone assumes? Well, aren't you? Note that that isn't an assumption, Crowley, but an actual question."

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

"Then note that this is an actual answer. No. We're not. If you care to hear more about my sexual proclivities, feel free to ask anyone else in the Manor. I'm certain they will relish the opportunity to share what they know."

Two small spots of colour barely appeared on Crowley's cheeks and he looked at the ground for a moment. Then he stood.

"It has been a pleasure to run into you again, Carabas, but I think I'll leave you to get acquainted with the place some more. I need to see to this lip anyway. Ciao."

[http://users.livejournal.com/white_grin_/]

"Ah, but if I can't trust a demon's actual answer, what good would asking others be?" De Carabas smiled, waving a hand. "I should get moving, too; my tour has yet to get above ground floor, and I'm sure I've dallied enough. No doubt we'll see each other around."

He stood, then, and gave a deep bow. "'Ciao,' Crowley."