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cimorenePeople on Tumblr are now tagging Aziraphale/Crowley pairing-related material as "ineffable husbands" (and it's consequently floating around the AO3 tag fields along with all those other catchphrase tags that serve no informational purpose other than to signal that the author is a member of the fandom community who has learned these memes, like MCU's "Tony Stark Has A Heart" and "Steve Rogers Needs A Hug"). The main reason pairing names without slashes are required are as tags, and this is better than a portmanteau of course, but it's twee enough that I wince in revulsion every time I read it (which is a lot). (So that would probably please both Aziraphale - because it's earnest while being saccharine - and Crowley - because it's revolting plenty of people - and in that sense you could say it's appropriate.)
But the other thing about it is that it contains a suggestion that the relationship as depicted is of the "they're so married" established relationship type, which has some truth to it of course, and which you could argue is exactly the dynamic in the book... but the biggest Thing that this series did was foreground their relationship arc to provide a strong emotional plot graph with the little peaks and valleys (and, presumably, to give Tennant and Sheen a good path to follow aside from just orbiting each other). In adding these key points the show effectively makes it a first time* story:
(Crowley was clearly charmed from ancient Rome onwards and ready to be charmed before that, but this all makes sense even if he's not really aware of his feelings until the 1960s scene.)
But they're still eating lunch when the show fades out. They are still at least five inches away from actually holding hands - they haven't worked anything out yet, and there's quite a distance to go before retiring to "a cottage on the South Downs" together, as Gaiman is rumored to have suggested years ago in a now-lost Twitter (?) comment.
* There are people who use "first time story" to refer to a story about the first time the participants in question have a sexual encounter with each other (and, no doubt deriving from this, people who use it to refer to a story about the first time the participants have penetrative sex even if they've already had other sexual encounters). I am using it in the long-established sense, however, of a story about the participants getting together, which just requires emotional resolution (kissing, walking/dogsledding off into the sunset, getting married, going on a date), not sexual contact. The framing on the show is pretty romantic in terms of genre convention, but a queerplatonic reading could still meet the criteria.
But the other thing about it is that it contains a suggestion that the relationship as depicted is of the "they're so married" established relationship type, which has some truth to it of course, and which you could argue is exactly the dynamic in the book... but the biggest Thing that this series did was foreground their relationship arc to provide a strong emotional plot graph with the little peaks and valleys (and, presumably, to give Tennant and Sheen a good path to follow aside from just orbiting each other). In adding these key points the show effectively makes it a first time* story:
- the doubt (or second thoughts) on Aziraphale's part in medieval England when Crowley first proposes their work-related Arrangement;
- the repeated gallantry on Crowley's, with Shakespeare and at the Terror;
- their disagreement about the holy water and 80 years without contact, followed by the scene wherein Aziraphale canonically (according to Michael Sheen's stated intent) falls in love with (or, one could argue, realizes he's in love with) Crowley;
- the scene wherein he hands over the holy water and responds to Crowley's eagerness to drive him wherever he wants to go with the heartfelt and highly significant "You go too fast for me, Crowley", which
AnnetheCatDetective convincingly argued in a meta essay called "The Long and Winding Road" is the point where Crowley fully realizes for the first time that Aziraphale loves him and that, moreover, they're both in love with each other (I've seen arguments that he was simply successfully avoiding thinking about the fact that he was pining for Aziraphale before this, but I'm not sure it's necessary to posit that he wasn't aware);
- the scene in which Crowley asks him to run away to Alpha Centauri in which, as lamardeuse argued on Tumblr, you can see thanks to Sheen's incredible acting the moment in which Aziraphale realizes he's being offered "everything he never knew he always wanted" and imagines saying yes for a split second;
- and finally, the last scene in which they evidently go on their first official date, believing their triumph has bought them freedom from oversight.
(Crowley was clearly charmed from ancient Rome onwards and ready to be charmed before that, but this all makes sense even if he's not really aware of his feelings until the 1960s scene.)
But they're still eating lunch when the show fades out. They are still at least five inches away from actually holding hands - they haven't worked anything out yet, and there's quite a distance to go before retiring to "a cottage on the South Downs" together, as Gaiman is rumored to have suggested years ago in a now-lost Twitter (?) comment.
* There are people who use "first time story" to refer to a story about the first time the participants in question have a sexual encounter with each other (and, no doubt deriving from this, people who use it to refer to a story about the first time the participants have penetrative sex even if they've already had other sexual encounters). I am using it in the long-established sense, however, of a story about the participants getting together, which just requires emotional resolution (kissing, walking/dogsledding off into the sunset, getting married, going on a date), not sexual contact. The framing on the show is pretty romantic in terms of genre convention, but a queerplatonic reading could still meet the criteria.
(no subject)
Date: 9 Jun 2019 12:30 pm (UTC)Michael Sheen really brought it.
(no subject)
Date: 9 Jun 2019 12:57 pm (UTC)In the 60s when he realises that Aziraphale is saying yes, just slower, he stops trying to have sex with anybody else and realises just how gone he's been and for how long and possibly he gets very drunk for a week.
I also like Aziraphale as being non-repulsed asexual, in that he'll gladly do things with Crowley but he equally enjoys a good book and cocoa.
For a time Crowley takes this as a challenge to make sex really, really good, and eventually he just says fine, I found you a really excellent brand of cocoa.
But I don't think Aziraphale would ever allow himself to willingly and gleefully have a relationship with Crowley until after they've averted the apocalypse and Aziraphale is no longer afraid of losing his place in Heaven because of consorting with a demon. No matter how much he loves Crowley, before he realised Gabriel et al are a bunch of pricks, he would never have risked it.
Thank you for coming to my comments on your TED talk.
(no subject)
Date: 12 Jun 2019 11:09 am (UTC)Though I'm not entirely sure if I find it convincing - I think I imagine Crowley not usually quite bothering with it even if he knows it's enjoyable, simply because it's messy and a bit of trouble. Sort of like, oh, a dessert you really like that has way too many steps to make. In this scenario, he could easily decide it was more worth the trouble with Aziraphale (because doing something messy and time-consuming with Aziraphale is fun, because it's with Aziraphale). I can really see Aziraphale going either way on this - that is, delighted to try it out and even get in the habit if it's with Crowley, or just as happy to drink cocoa or wine or do anything else together.
Also I have really been enjoying the rise of the idea of slutty virgin Crowley who never really had the slightest urge to indulge with humans, while Aziraphale has been hanging around with queers for a very long time and has gotten good at sex (although there, I think, he also wouldn't have the slightest urge to after he starts to get pre-inklings of his feelings for Crowley - probably from the 19th century scene onwards).
And I agree, Aziraphale wouldn't indulge himself in a relationship that could put them both at risk. He'd much rather have them alive and keep the possibility of continuing to see each other in any way open.
(no subject)
Date: 13 Jun 2019 11:56 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 13 Jun 2019 07:38 pm (UTC)Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Good Omens (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Aziraphale/Crowley (Good Omens)
Characters: Aziraphale (Good Omens), Crowley (Good Omens), God (Good Omens)
Additional Tags: things don't work properly even after you've given them a good thumping, but the 'things' is just crowley's brain, if he's got one, i'm not convinced he does, 'god (good omens)' is a tag. i made it. it's here now
Summary:
"Don’t,” Aziraphale says firmly, “Stop me now. I’m moving in with you.”
“And I’m,” says Crowley wearily, “A racing car passing by like Lady Godiva. I’m gonna go, go, go—”
“Home?” Aziraphale suggests.
“Yeah,” says Crowley, faintly. “Home.”
Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy (2379 words) by orphan_account
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Good Omens (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Aziraphale/Crowley (Good Omens)
Characters: Aziraphale (Good Omens), Crowley (Good Omens)
Additional Tags: Handsome Babylonians, Weddings, Sushi Metaphors
Summary:
"It's only a sin in excess, my dear," said Aziraphale. "Like gluttony."
Bookmarker's Notes:This is hilarious, even if not entirely plausible, and definitely worth reading.
I'm fairly sure I've read other ones, but these are just the ones in my Renaissance-era bookmarks (I haven't really had a recent attempt at searching out updated links for my pre-ao3 bookmarks).
(no subject)
Date: 4 Jul 2019 04:06 pm (UTC)