(no subject)

[dangeroushabits.livejournal.com]

Date: December 26, 1999
Setting: Crowley's room
Status: Private - John and Crowley
Summary: John stops by to thank Crowley for his gift.

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John glanced at his watch for the third time in ten minutes; not because he couldn't remember what time it was (he knew) or even to admire the stunningly-crafted timepiece (though he did) but simply to make sure it was still there. He'd never owned anything so classy in his life, and wearing it on his person made him a little nervous. Though the second hand was acting a little funny, swinging erratically from time to time for no apparent reason. He had decided not to say anything, though; it functioned perfectly otherwise.

The tag hadn't indicated the name of the giver. He'd given it a thorough inspection for any signs of hexes, poison or other deadly payloads, and finding nothing of the sort, assumed it had come from Crowley--simply because there was nobody else at the Manor who would have the slightest reason to give him anything, other than possibly a punch in the nose, and because it was very like Crowley not to want anyone to know he was doing something that could be perceived as in any way decent, generous or not bastardly in general.

He wasn't quite sure how to say thank you for a gift to someone who might not acknowledge having given it, but it seemed incumbent on him to try. Besides, he wanted to see whether Crowley and Aziraphale had enjoyed the wine. Which his name hadn't been on. Er.

Shaking his head bemusedly, he knocked softly at Crowley's door. It wouldn't do to interrupt anything.

Comments

[dangeroushabits.livejournal.com]

John opened the door and stuck his head inside, grinning. "Hey. I need some advice. I've been trying to think up a good crack about Gabriel's relationship with his horn in honor of the season, but I'm drawing a blank. You got any ideas?"

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

Crowley set aside his book and laughed.

"I don't think he'll have to blow it by himself for much longer. In fact, I suspect he'll soon bring in an expert horn blower to help."

He looked knowingly over the top of his glasses and smirked at John.

"Have a good holiday?"

[dangeroushabits.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, it was all right. Rang up Cheryl and jawed a while, met Chas and Never down the pub for a piss-up...good times." He held his arm out, displaying the watch. "And look, somebody left me a right spiffy watch under the tree downstairs." He admired the thing conspicuously, smiling lopsidedly. "About knocked me on my arse, it did. It's probably worth more than everything else I own put together. Silly bugger forgot to put a name on the tag, though."

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure the silly bugger didn't forget," said Crowley drily. "I'm sure he did it because he didn't want everyone in the world to know he was giving something to someone who'd be able to figure it out for himself."

He stood up and walked a couple of steps forward to look at the watch on John's arm.

"There's more to it than it seems," he said conversationally. "Think about Chas."

John looked puzzled, but he must have done it because the second hand on the watch swung to the right for three seconds then returned to where it was supposed to be.

"If it swings right, it means he's safe. If it ever goes left, it means he's in danger. It'll work for anyone you know, anywhere they may be." Crowley shrugged. "Just thought you'd like to be able to keep an eye on things while you were here. My intern, Draco, gave me the idea."

He didn't tell John about what else the watch could do.

[dangeroushabits.livejournal.com]

John's eyebrows shot up, and he mentally ran down the list of everybody whose safety he had reason to concern himself with. The hand swung to the right and stayed there until he'd gone through them all, then returned to its normal position.

"Well, I'd call that a bloody clever bit of work," he said, impressed. Draco, huh? Kid's got a better head on his shoulders than I thought. "Thanks, mate. That'll come in handy."

[anthony-crowley.livejournal.com]

"I thought so. Just keep it on at all times, will you? You never know when you'll need it. It's completely waterproof and the crystal can't be scratched or broken, nor will you ever need to change the battery, so there's no reason to take it off."

Crowley crossed to his dresser and lifted the bottle of wine he'd received for Christmas off the top.

"You know it's funny how you received that with no name on the tag, because that's exactly how this bottle arrived. I don't suppose you'd know anything about that?"

[dangeroushabits.livejournal.com]

John checked a frown at the request, which seemed a little peculiar. The watchband was extremely comfortable, to be sure, but he wasn't in the habit of wearing a watch while sleeping or showering, nor were most people he knew.

He glanced down at the handsome timepiece again, wondering if there was something else about it that Crowley wasn't telling him. Trying to put one over on me, old son? Well. We'll try it for a while then, I guess, and see what happens. "...sure. I can do that." Crowley had given him a number of reasons not to distrust him, and though he was paranoid by reflex, he was inclined to give his friend the benefit of the doubt where at all possible.

"Oh, that?" he said in answer to Crowley's inquiry, rubbing self-consciously at the back of his neck. "Seems vaguely familiar, now that you mention it. I might know a bloke who knew a bloke who was an expert on good booze."

He hoped Crowley would leave it at that. Not that he thought the demon would give a rat's arse that his own claim on the stuff was scarcely legal--couldn't just stand by and watch a good mate's pride and joy get auctioned off for back taxes, now could he?--but it always made him feel slightly sick, knowing how Brendan had come by his collection and where it had eventually led them both. Giving it away to an uninvolved party wasn't just a gesture of friendship, it was also a way to lay the whole sad business to rest, once and for all.