I just realized something from this scene where the angels snatch Crowley-disguised-as-Aziraphale. Crowley keeps bobbing his head and looking off to the side and then trying to nod at Aziraphale-disguised-as-Crowley.
I think that was supposed to indicate that Az!Crowley (I’ll use this to keep track of who I’m talking about) knew that that was Hastur close by and was trying to warn Cr!Aziraphale (and this is the Aziraphale version) about him. It explains why Az!Crowley played Aziraphale in such an animated way during that part. He wasn’t squirming to simply escape. He was trying to prevent what he knew Hastur would probably do next.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work and Hastur whacks Cr!Aziraphale with that crowbar.
One thing I did wonder about there though was who was Cr!Aziraphale talking to when he said that “it’s no problem, it’s tickety-boo.” To himself? To the audience? Both of those seem a bit off given the tone of the scene. And it doesn’t seem like that’s something he’d say to someone like Hastur.
My thought is that he was saying that to Az!Crowley. Yes, it was unlikely that Crowley would have been able to hear by that point unless Crowley would still hear thoughts that are directed at him (which I can totally buy with them),
It makes sense that Cr!Aziraphale would do this given how Crowley normally comes to his aid every time he’s threatened, Cr!Aziraphale might have thought that Az!Crowley would finding it agonizing if he had to watch him suffer and couldn’t do anything about it. Thus, Cr!Aziraphale’s last instinct before he passes out is to try to reassure Az!Crowley that it’s all right and to not worry about him.
The script book adds another wrinkle to this as it included a stage direction that Cr!Aziraphale tried to crawl after the van that was taking Az!Crowley away. Even while in what had to have been an immense amount of pain, Aziraphale still tried his best to save Crowley.
However, all of this also means that, it was one thing for them to come up with this plan, and it was something entirely different for them to actually stick with it. And I don’t think they were really prepared for that. The whole point of switching faces was so they could protect each other from punishments that would be lethal to the other one.
But…that doesn’t work if they don’t let themselves get captured! Their deep seated instinct to protect each other could have easily ruined their clever plan. They were very lucky that it didn’t.
This is one of the reasons why “idiots in love” takes on more than just the light-hearted meanings for me in regards to them.
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@ambular-dreply: Yes, but it wouldn’t have looked terribly realistic if they’d just calmly watched each other get kidnapped and hauled off without reacting, either, would it? “Oh, would you look at that, Aziraphale/Crowley is being made off with by agents of Heaven/Hell. Have a good time, dear.” That would have seemed downright suspicious. They couldn’t succeed in stopping it if they wanted their plan to work, but being seen trying and failing was perfectly reasonable and even necessary to the ruse.
@codicesandflorareply: Actually that makes sense too. They would both have to seem at least somewhat concerned about each of them being kidnapped or there might be concerns as to why they are so unworried…
Then again…Heaven and Hell seem pretty tone deaf when it comes to personal feelings, don’t they? I honestly wonder if it would occur to either of them that an angel could love a demon beyond the generalized feelings of love they are supposed to have for all things. So while Aziraphale might appear concerned, it would be the same sort of vague concern other angels might have for someone/something less fortunate than them.
And I think Aziraphale’s comments about how Crowley is a demon and thus implying that he’s not capable of love aren’t his own thoughts, but Heaven’s ideas. And Hell probably doesn’t encourage demons to love anything either. So I doubt either side believes that a demon could care about an angel beyond selfish interest.
That all said, I still really like your take because it implies that, despite the rampant obliviousness and prejudice of Heaven and Hell, they are still able to recognize the genuine love and affection Crowley and Aziraphale had for each other. The fact that they would have to show concern over the other one being kidnapped despite the thick, unmovable wall of beliefs Heaven and Hell have about the opposite side says a lot about how powerful the love Crowley and Aziraphale share truly is.
@megspictureaday reply: #ive always thought it was fortunate that crowley (as aziraphale) was taken away first #because if crowley had seen aziraphale get hit over the head with a crowbar #before he was restrained and forced to commit to the disguise #he wouldve gone fuckin ballistic #ALSO #poor aziraphale had heard crowley say my lot dont send rude notes #but then he gets cracked over the skull with a crowbar he mustve been like #oh my god is this what usually happens when crowley gets in trouble……
First off, 1000% yes. I don’t see how Crowley would have stayed committed if he hadn’t already been tied up and gagged.when Hastur did that to Aziraphale. I mean, this is a demon who will not hesitate to let people die just to prevent Aziraphale from being discorporated. Hell, he’ll let a bunch of corporate drones go through near-death experiences just because one of them had the audacity to stain his angel’s favorite jacket.
Granted, the ones who died tended to be awful people anyway and the paintball-to-real-gun prank was just as much about snark toward Aziraphale’s “Moral Argument” ridiculousness.
But both of those things still illustrate that Crowley can be ruthless when he chooses…and that choice often occurs when Aziraphale is involved.
Not to mention that Crowley already didn’t like Hastur anyway. Seeing him assault Aziraphale probably put him into Full Tilt Fire and Brimstone Mode. Which he ends up saving for Gabriel and his cronies, but that is another discussion….
Secondly….touche on going straight for the feels because I actually had not thought of that. I imagine Crowley doesn’t go into detail about what Hell does to people who directly defy orders because he doesn’t want his angel to worry about him (and possibly pull away in an effort to keep Crowley safe).
Although Aziraphale might be stupidly in love, but he’s not a fool. He definitely has an inkling of what could have been meant by “my lot don’t send rude notes”. He also might try to not think about it.
But having Hastur do that to him…and then seeing what goes on in Hell…and then realizing what that had/could have meant for Crowley…I think that would have been more traumatizing than anything.
I’m convinced that this is why he has that quietly horrified look (as Crowley) when that minor demon is destroyed.
That casual cruelty…the fact that anyone can be obliterated at any time for the flimsiest of reasons…that is/was the reality of Crowley’s life and the very real risk he took for choosing to “fraternize” with an angel.
Aziraphale is now seeing all of this for himself, and you can’t convince me that he wouldn’t harbor a sizable amount of guilt over that.
@monkey-on-nitrous-oxide oxidereply: Yes. I think that this is the point where Aziraphale realises how much he’s hurt Crowley every time he’s told him “you’re a demon”. Also, he probably realises that Crowley really wanted that Holy Water to use against other demons, not to destroy himself.
Crowley, as a former angel, knows very well how terrible angels can be. Aziraphale has no idea of how horrible demons are.
