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Aziraphale

March 2022

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Aziraphale's Dream Guide started off as a white curly-feathered dove, and eventually became a white-tailed sea-eagle after he'd been through enough shit that he was ready to cut a bitch.
Her name is Shiphrah

In her monstrous form, Shiphrah becomes a Minoan Gryphon the size of a bus, with actual eyes floating around her head and in place of eyespots on her wings.


During the Hunger Games event, the animal he became was a white gyrfalcon with black spots.

Also, thanks to the Hobbit party, he has a large grey and black draft horse named Rohuinhîr, which means "Horse of the Lord" in Sindarin.

As well, he was able to finally pick up another sword, and a shield to go with it. Not a flaming sword, and different than the type he's used to wielding, but a sword is a sword when the going gets tough.

When in his purely angelic form, Aziraphale is massive, two stories tall with expansive white wings and pure white robes, a glowing being of white and gold light that is hard to look at. He carries a staff-like sceptre that he can wield defensively in a fight, and his halo shines around his head like a massive crown, rays of light radiating out of it like golden spikes. He's absolutely terrifying for most humans to look at, which isn't something he particularly likes, but is instead an effect caused by his massive amounts of power that he has no control over. He much prefers his tiny, soft, human form with white hair and tartan bow ties and cream-colored coats.
Tags:
Because hey, I just realized that sometimes people want to do PSL's that aren't attached to memes, right?

If you have a PSL in mind, just ask me or leave a starter here! ٩( ᐛ )و
I'm linking a number of memes I'd be interested in playing below. Each will have their own sub-thread, and if there are any particular things I don't feel comfortable playing (since some of them are NSFW/Smut memes) I'll mention that in the comments. Feel free to bounce into one of them if you want, this is just for fun and to try and distract myself with something fluffy and brainless while the world feels like it's exploding.

Side note: Shipping stuff doesn't have to be with a Crowley, but if it is with someone other then him, it's going to be a relationship that doesn't have the same emotional significance to Aziraphale as the one he has with his demon. He's also less likely to do romantic or sexual things then Crowley would have been, so bear that in mind. Just talk it out with me beforehand and we'll figure something out.
Link to AC Thread for Aziraphale: https://deeringtonhall.dreamwidth.org/6597.html?thread=2904773#cmt2904773








Base Activity:
LOG - W/CROWLEY, GILES, AND BUFFY (3 comments) = (9 points)
LOG - W/GILES, CROWLEY (3 comments) = (9 points)
LOG - W/GILES, CROWLEY (3 comments) = (9 points)
POST = (10 points)
TOTAL BASE ACTIVITY: 37 points

➟ AC ROLLOVER: (37) - 30 = 7 points

➟ CROSS CANON CR ➟ GILES, BUFFY ➟ (2) x 2 = 4 points

TOTAL: (7) + (4) = 11
Bonus points collection: (46) + 11 = 57
deerlyBeloved: Harpless

Hoping for a tall, dark, and handsome bad boy to finally ask him out on an actual date. Enjoys long walks in the park, fancy dinners, and sharing a nice bottle of wine or three with that certain someone,

( Aziraphale | 6,023 | Ethereal | Crowlyromantic )



[OOC: When he finally stumbles onto the Deerly Beloved app, anyone in the house will probably have heard a strangled sound of alarm, followed by the thud of his Fluid being tossed across the room in involuntary horror.]
[You know that way your Grandma sounds when she's having trouble figuring out some new-fangled contraption? Now imagine your Grandma sounds like a very prissy, possibly gay Englishman. There's lots of keys being beeped and shuffling sounds, as if his hand is brushing against the microphone.]

How are you supposed to use this blasted thing? What's wrong with a good, old rotary? Never had any trouble with the rotary, and I've had it for almost a century! [He doesn't seem to realize it's recording. He probably doesn't even know he's setting up voicemail.] There are far too many...buttons and...and pictures and why is it counting?

[Then, there's a clatter, like it's been tossed onto a countertop.] Oh, stuff it. I'll just get Crowley to show me, later. He always likes these new gadgets. [There's a couple seconds of the sound of fading footsteps before the message ends in a "BEEP!" You may now leave your message. Send a little prayer that the intended recipient figures out how to retrieve it before there's no point in him hearing it, anymore.]
< div style="text-indent: 3em;">text text text< /div> for the first line
< blockquote>text text text< /blockquote> for the whole paragraph
⇓in character⇓

PHYSICAL AFFECTION: Allowed, but with stipulations.
Aziraphale doesn't mind phsyical displays of affection such as hugging and touching, though kissing is something that he's less likely to want to reciprocate with just anyone. He won't always actively initiate hugs or touching unless you're Crowley, but he'll return them when they're given, and unless it's the paternal or greeting type of kiss, that's definitely something he won't be reciprocating unless you're a certain demon.

PHYSICAL VIOLENCE: Allowed, but talk to me first. He tries to avoid violence as much as he can. Even when he had his flaming sword, he never used it. The only time he actively made an action that could harm someone was when he felt he had to kill the antichrist to save the world. So don't expect him to act violently of his own free will. If someone attacks him, he'll be more likely to retreat to a safe distance and talk them down.

ROMANCE/FLIRTING: He'll only do this if you're Crowley. Feel free to have your characters flirt at him, though. He'll possibly realize what's happening, but he won't return it and may in fact act dumb to what's going on.

SEXUAL CONTENT: Very much ONLY WITH CROWLEY, and only if the demon feels like it. He's a sex-positive asexual; He has absolutely no desire for it on his own, but if Crowley wanted to, he could enjoy the act in the moment because it was something his friend wanted.

If any other character tries to initiate those types of things with him, he will be very firm that No. He will not be doing anything of that nature with you. No hard feelings, you understand.

[When it comes to the player herself, this type of content is very welcome, as long as it's in character. So if there are any Crowley players who find me rping this feathery bean somewhere and want to thread things like that with me, then shoot me a line!]

PSYCHIC ABILITIES: Feel free to interpret how a psychic's abilities would be effected by his angelic nature as you like. He has some levels of telepathy himself, able to sense strong feelings of love and positive emotion as well as effect the thoughts and actions of people if he so chooses.

MAGIC/POWERS: Same as above, use magic all you like! He'll probably just be fascinated that you're doing something magical without divine or demonic abilities, or without using a simple sleight of hand trick like human magicians do.

MEDICAL INFORMATION: Him a round soft boy. Not really "fat," but he's certainly not perfectly fit and trim, either. Other then that, his human body is a perfectly healthy human form.

OFFENSIVE SUBJECTS OR TRIGGERS: The fear of Falling; being cast out of God's grace and into Hell's ranks. Losing Crowley, especially and specifically to total destruction and not just "inconvenient discorporation." Heaven or Hell finding out about the switch that he and the demon pulled to trick them into thinking that they were unkillable and should be left alone.

⇓out of character⇓

BACKTAGGING: Yes Please!

FOURTH WALLING: Yes again!

THREADHOPPING: Threadhopping makes me laugh, go right ahead!

OFFENSIVE SUBJECTS/TRIGGERS: Taking this from my app, but I'm not sure what you would call it, but anything having to do with piercing trauma to the brain, specifically the kind done in such a way that the victim is conscious of what's going on when it happens. Think lobotomies during the victorian era or those brain suckers in starship troopers. Gunshot wounds to the head don't effect me; it's instantaneous and there's no time to register what's happened before it's over, so I think it maybe has something to do with knowing that the thing that makes you you is being destroyed in a very brutal and painful way and you can't stop it.

If it happens to other characters or NPCs or things in the game, I can just avoid those things when they come up, but happening to my own character during an event or something similar would be really really bad for me. I can't explain it, I just know it's something that has left me really upset anytime it's come up in media, no matter how stupidly done it is. I still cringe at a particular page out of a "suicidal bunnies" cartoony adult picturebook I saw in a Barnes and Noble once, involving a rabbit and a wine corkscrew...

Needles are also a thing that I really prefer a warning for, but if it happens without one, I can usually try and turn my brain off about that particular bit and avoid a panic attack.

ANYTHING ELSE: Ehhhhh??? [Massive Shrugs] Regardless of all that up there in the last answer, I'm totally up for really horrible things in rp. I try not to be too melodramatic in my own rp because I don't want to bother people with it, but in a horror type situation, I really enjoy throwing my poor muses into some terrible situations. Got an idea? Throw it at me, we'll see if the spaghetti sticks to the wall!

IN CHARACTER


Character Name: Aziraphale
Canon: Good Omens (TV)
Canon Point: The end of the series, after the Armageddon't, and the kangaroo courts in Heaven and Hell.

In-Game Tattoo Placement: On the inside of his left forearm, just below the elbow.
Current Health/Status: Healthy as can be, if not a little soft because of too many cream cakes. To get to Deerington, he dozed off in his chair in the book shop while reading, a very unusual thing since he doesn't need nor want sleep.
Age: Over 6000 years old, going by Earth years. Going by celestial years, he's even older. He was around before the Earth was created, though how much longer is never specified. His physical appearance, however, is that of a man who's at most 50 years of age, even with his pure-white hair, and when he's happy, he can look even younger.
Species: Angel

History: Aziraphale's got a long history. Additionally Neil Gaiman has said that if you can think of a time in history when there was something interesting going on, Aziraphale and Crowley were most likely there, getting up to their respective good and bad deeds in one way or another.

Personality: As described in the book, “Many people, meeting Aziraphale for the first time, formed three impressions: that he was English, that he was intelligent, and that he was gayer than a tree full of monkeys on nitrous oxide. Two of these were wrong; Heaven is not in England, whatever certain poets may have thought, and angels are sexless unless they really want to make an effort. But he was intelligent.” He's sweet, kind, friendly, caring. He's always quick to smile when interacting with people and goes out of his way to help them if he notices something he can effect. He can be a little out of touch with modern culture and society, dressing like he's stuck in the 1800's and using words like "velocipede" and "cinematographic" instead of "bicycle" and "movie." But even then, he knows a lot more then he lets on. He's completely aware that humans see him as a gay man, he knows what's implied when they make euphemisms, even if he pretends not to. He's been around since before human beings were even created, so he's seen it all.

He's also a bit of a hedonist, and it clashes with his devotion to his angelic duties. He loves good food, expensive alcohol, and he worships books. He always wants to look well-dressed and goes out of his way to buy expensive clothes instead of creating them with miracles the way Crowley does, even if they're outdated in style. He can be greedy, never wanting to actually sell the books in his bookshop, and he can be manipulative. He knows just how to pout and sulk to make Crowley dote on him when he wants attention, and he's completely aware of what he's doing. He may not return that priceless, rare book he's found, even when he knows who the owner is, and he has a tendency to let his angelic sense of superiority get the better of him, causing him to say things that, most noticeably for Crowley, can be somewhat hurtful, especially when his emotions are running high in a stressful situation. There's a reason Crowley says he's "just enough of a bastard to be worth knowing." For all his angelic kindness and love, he has a lot of pride.

But boy does he have a lot of love. That is, perhaps, his most defining personality trait. He loves humans, he loves the Earth, he loves all of creation and he loves God. But most of all, he loves Crowley. They've been through so much together over the years that they're more like a married couple then enemies, and for good reason. He has been in love with the demon for longer then he has even realized. From the very beginning, he wanted to shelter and protect the demon, despite being on opposing sides. He's always been drawn to him and found easy companionship with him, and as Aziraphale is an angel and therefore created specifically to be a force for love, it didn't take long before those same feelings were directed toward his friend.

The problem is in being able to express it. He's come to accept that that's what he feels for him, but has trouble understanding that Crowley is capable of feeling it for him in return. He's a demon, demons aren't supposed to feel love. He's his friend, but it can't be more then that. So he does his best to bury those feelings and just accept what he thinks they have and be happy with it. Unfortunately, he's very terrible at hiding it. But fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately all over again, he has yet to realize that Crowley is doing the same thing, so they end up being the most obviously love-sick dummies, dancing around each other constantly.

He's also not opposed to finding ways to work around the rules to get what he wants. This was the reason for the Arrangement that he and Crowley came up with. Instead of fighting against each other time and time again, cancelling each other's deeds out and getting nowhere, he agreed to work with the demon. As long as their jobs got done, the reasoning went, no one from Up Above or Down Below would pay any attention to just how they got done. So if Crowley did a little blessing for him while in another village he'd been sent to do a temptation, or even if Aziraphale did a little tempting for Crowley while on a job to give some heavenly guidance, then so be it. It gave them more free time to themselves, and unwittingly drew them closer to one another.

The biggest hurdle he has to deal with recently is his loss of faith in how he viewed God's "Ineffable Plan." For 6000 years, he quietly endured the prideful condescension the other Angels directed at him. Angels aren't supposed to want food, they aren't supposed to enjoy drinking alcohol, they aren't supposed to care about what actually happens to the humans, and they most certainly aren't supposed to fight against the Apocalypse, questioning everything they'd ever been told their entire lives about what their role was on the Earth. Follow the rules, Aziraphale, don't ask questions (like a certain fiery-haired Serpent) and you won't fall.

But he went against all of this. He made alliances behind their backs, he learned to love the world and the people in it, and he realized that those who were in charge cared more about proving they were Right then actually being right. Now, with no direct contact from God in 6000 years and scorned by those who claim to be the spokespeople for their creator, he's been set adrift, separated from Heaven and left without guidance for the first time in his entire life. Everything he thought he knew has finally come crashing down, and the only one he has to turn to is Crowley. For any other Angel, this would have caused them to Fall at best, or be destroyed at worst. The rogue duo were able to fool their superiors into thinking that they couldn't be killed, using it to convince them to leave the two alone on Earth, but in the back of Aziraphale's mind there now lies a very unshakable fear that God will cast him from her grace and he will fall. He's a bit of a wreck, when he lets himself have a moment to think about it, and it doesn't help that he's having to figure out who he is and what his purpose is now that he and Crowley are on their own. All he knows is that it's now him and the demon together, "on their own side," standing with the world and the humans, waiting for the day when Heaven and Hell finally decide to put aside their differences and deal with the world, the people, and the two celestial beings who stood against them instead of let everything go up in flames over a turf war.

He hates to see innocent people hurt or mistreated, even if it's something that "God" or her Archangels decree is just, and when push comes to shove will always stand up for what he feels is right no matter who tells him differently. In terms of what scares him on a personal level, he's dealing with the aftermath of living his entire life worrying that the head office would find out about his mistakes, the things he did that weren't "perfect," and most especially his relationship with Crowley. He's spent 6000 years repressing his own emotions and doubts, and even though the cat is out of the proverbial bag and they've managed to get out of the grip of their bosses and survive, those doubts are still there. It's still instinctual to want to hide everything and lie about what he's been up to when people weren't looking. He's worried that Hell will still find a way to come for Crowley and destroy him for helping the Angel, he's worried that he's turned so far away from what he's been told to be that he'll Fall and be cast into Hell, where Crowley can't reach him now that they've exiled themselves, and to a lesser degree, he's worried that Heaven will come for himself and try and finish what they tried to start at the trial and botched executions.

The presence of another ethereal or occult being other then Crowley is enough to put him into a mild state of panic as he tries to figure out what he can or can't say, or if he needs to escape before he's found. He tries to be brave and remember that their ex-bosses now think they can't be killed and are afraid of them, but that doesn't mean he's not absolutely terrified. There's just an added layer of fear on top of his worries that now, if their subterfuge is found out, Heaven and Hell will come for them and make sure they do the job right, this time.

Because of this, and because of how long he had to deal with the head offices and his supervisors treating him so poorly and forcing him to do things that felt so absolutely wrong, he doesn't get along with other ethereal or occult beings. He's quick to jump to the defensive, standoffish and brusque with them as he tries to figure out what they want with him and if he's in danger, and is quick to try and find a way to escape. The only exception to this rule, of course, is Crowley. He's the only other being of their kind that he's had any meaningful relationship with since the creation of the Earth, and he simply has no patience for anyone else like them, when he has someone he's so close to to be his companion.

He doesn't let himself think about it, though it's something he had to consider more then a few times over the years, but he's also terrified of something happening to Crowley specifically because it would leave him absolutely and terribly alone. He loves humans, but their short lifespans make it hard for him to develop a close, personal connection to them. They grow old and die, they get sick, they kill each other, they suffer through hardships that he's a level detached from because of his Angelic nature. There are none of them that could ever possibly understand the scope and impact of 6 millennia on a person's very being. He'd have no one to confide in, no one to turn to when he was upset by something that had happened to them and would understand the places he's coming from, no one to reminisce about old times with over a bottle of scotch. And now that he's exiled himself from Heaven, it would leave him lost and miserably alone.

That fear is so ingrained that, even when he had decided that he wouldn't abandon the Earth during the apocalypse and would do what he could to try and stop it even if he failed, he tried repeatedly to make Crowley escape to safety. When he begged and pleaded the Angel to run away to another planet so they could be safe, he refused, trying to make him think he didn't like him, even though it risked breaking his own heart, and when Crowley came back again, he "forgave him," telling him without explicitly saying it that he was letting him escape, without blaming him for his fear, so that he could be safe even if Aziraphale himself was killed in the battle between Heaven and Hell.

On a less important note, but still something to be noted, if Aziraphale were to make a conscious effort to identify as a specific gender, it would be male. He doesn't particularly care one way or the other, because of the sexless nature of angels, but it's the identity that he feels fits him best, even if just aesthetically. The humans see him as such, so he accepts it, but he doesn't have any particularly strong feeling towards the fact one way or the other.

Abilities/Powers/Weaknesses & Warping:

Weaknesses:

Hellfire - The only thing that can completely destroy an Angel is Hellfire, something created by Demonic magic. Short of that, his human body can be killed, but in his own Universe, he would just be given a new one. Hellfire, though, has the capability of burning his spirit alive until there's nothing left of his being.

Expensive alcohol and good food - Not neessarily something that can harm him, he still is easily swayed by the offer of good wine or desserts. And he's not immune to the effects of alcohol, when in possession of a "corporation" or human body. It just takes a lot more alcohol then it would for a human to become inebriated.

Crowley - He tries to pretend he isn't completely and utterly smitten with the demon, but he's probably the quickest way to get Aziraphale out of sorts. Threatening to hurt his best friend would be a very effective way of twisting his arm to make him do something he didn't want to do, if someone were able to recognize how fond they were of each other and were able to find out what could actually hurt Crowley. Unfortunately for Aziraphale, the two of them are about as subtle as a gigantic, flashing neon sign.

He's also pretty willing to do almost anything for the demon, even if it contradicts something in his Holier-Then-Though moral code.

Powers:

Miracles - Aziraphale is able to perform any number of miraculous feats - healing broken bones, manifesting magical light, conjuring things into existence from nothing at all or making them disappear altogether, instantly changing his clothes or cleaning them of big, ugly paint splatters with a snap of his fingers, amongst other things. If you can imagine an angelic being having the ability to do something, he probably can. He's gotten out of the habit of doing them, though, after receiving a "strongly worded memo" from the head office in the 1700's for performing "too many frivolous miracles," and will often pout at Crowley until he does it for him.
Suggested Warping - In Deerington, he'll find that, usually, either his miracles won't work at all, or will blow up in his face. He tries to conjure up a meal? It ends up tasting like salt and ash or is burnt to a crisp as if he left it in the oven for far too long. He tries to use his powers to turn on a light? Every lightbulb in the house bursts at the exact same time.

Healing - His physical body is as easily damaged as any human body, but he has the ability to heal himself of most any injury that isn't instantly fatal.
Warping - If he tries to heal another character, he'll end up causing them more harm. If he tries to heal himself, either it won't work at all, or it won't be as effective as it should be, and he'll either need more time or medical intervention to finish the job.

Flight - Aziraphale has a pair of massive, white wings that are kept hidden most of the time in the ethereal realm. he can pull them out at any time, though he rarely actually uses them and prefers to take a cab, bus, or walk to his destination.
Warping - The suggested warping for flight will be in effect. If he tries to fly up and out of the city, he'll suffer the effects of leaving Deerington, and won't be able to go very far before coming crashing back down to Earth. Hopefully not literally.

Manipulation/Blessings/Temptations - Aziraphale can influence people's actions, and he's quite good at it. Though he never uses his powers to do it to Crowley, he has no problem effecting others. Luckily for them, it's usually only for good or kind intentions - to make them happy, give them a nice dream, or set them on the path to redemption. But he has, from time to time, also used those powers for temptations, as favors to Crowley in their Arrangement.
This can be left up to the other player's discretion? Open for suggestions, if it needs to be warped further.

Empathy - Aziraphale is able to sense Love and other strong, positive emotions.

Shapeshifting - He can make himself appear as a different person to others, if he feels the need to go in disguise. It's less a physical thing and more akin to a fairy glamour - they see what he wants them to see, but his true self stays the same for any beings who are able to see past those things. Usually, though, everyone he meets just sees a middle-aged, friend-shaped nerd.

Possession - Usually, only demons can possess humans, but Aziraphale figured out how to do it, himself, when his body was discorporated. He can't be physically in the world to do it, however, and he really prefers not to, as it's more the type of thing demons would do then angels.
Warping - Probably won't ever have a chance to come up. He only did it out of desperation to stop the apocalypse. Will nerf somehow, if the mods feel it should be.

Not bound by the laws of physics - He can move faster then possible for any mortal creature, he can be any size he wants to be (but only ever makes himself be human-sized), teleportation, etc.
Warping - He can't do these things in Deerington.

Creating Holy Water - May sound like a rather lackluster power, but it's the only thing that can completely destroy a demon in his Universe, so it's pretty potent stuff.

Can set a particular sword on Fire - It's never shown if he can do it with anything, but when he has his sword, he can set it alight with holy fire.
Warping - he won't start with his sword, and may not ever get it, so maybe a moot point? Sword may be requested later on, so I'll be open to interpretation on whether it will need to have the flaming aspect nerfed if and when he gets it.

Telekinesis - Unlocking doors, making things float in the air, etc.
Warping - Maybe he can't do it, or it's not as powerful? Am open to suggestions on how/if this needs to be nerfed.

Can swap physical forms with another celestial being - He's only ever done this with Crowley, and it took a concerted effort on both of their parts to do it. When done, they took on the physical appearance and voice of the other, and they were able to maintain the illusions without anyone being the wiser until they chose to reverse it on their own.
Warping - Up to the mods on if this needs to be nerfed. He probably won't have a reason to want to do it again, so I'm open to suggestions.

Strength - He's able to lift much greater amounts of weight then any human would be able to, though he usually doesn't.
Warping - He'll have normal human strength.


Inventory: Outfit - A three piece suit consisting of a white dress shirt, brown threadbare velvet waistcoat, medium-length cream-colored suit coat, khaki slacks, brown loafers, the standard "underthings" and socks, and a tartan bowtie. He also carries a pair of reading glasses in his pocket, though he wears them just because he thinks they make him look nice, a gold pinky ring on one hand shaped like angel's wings, and a fob chain on his waistcoat from which dangles an ornate angelic medallion.

Writing Samples: Just two idiots mutually pining for each other like they've got some sense.
Aziraphale is a timid bean!
And a very confused bean.

OUT OF CHARACTER


Player Name: Mel
Player Age: 35
Player Contact: https://www.plurk.com/tronja307020

Other Characters In Game: None
In-Game Tag If Accepted: Aziraphale: Mel
Permissions for Character: https://guardianofeden.dreamwidth.org/1186.html
Are you comfortable with prominent elements of fourth-walling?: Totally! Confuse the fluffy angel bean with all the four-wall shattering!
What themes of horror/psychological thrillers do you enjoy the most?: Survival, being lost in abandoned houses and buildings the size of cities with no way out while monsters are hunting for you as you get lost in this maze of rooms and corridors, whatever that is? I don't know, it's just something that happens in my dreams a lot and it's always creepy and it's always my jam!
Is there anything in particular you absolutely need specific content warnings for?: I'm not sure what you would call it, but anything having to do with piercing trauma to the brain, specifically the kind done in such a way that the victim is conscious of what's going on when it happens. Think lobotomies during the victorian era or those brain suckers in starship troopers. Gunshot wounds to the head don't effect me; it's instantaneous and there's no time to register what's happened before it's over, so I think it maybe has something to do with knowing that the thing that makes you you is being destroyed in a very brutal and painful way and you can't stop it.

If it happens to other characters or NPCs or things in the game, I can just avoid those things when they come up, but happening to my own character during an event or something similar would be really really bad for me.

Needles are also a thing that I really prefer a warning for, but if it happens without one, I can usually try and turn my brain off about that particular bit and avoid a panic attack.

Additional Information:

The orders had been simple enough, he had thought. Make your way to a small village - three days ride from where he'd been living for the past couple of years - find the Inn within, and rent the last room for the night. More instructions would come, he'd been told, and that he must make his way post-haste. It was of terrible importance.

Which was how he found himself, with the sun just beginning to set over the horizon, making his way into the small establishment and weaving his way through the small dining room toward the owner. He could smell the wonderful meals being served to the patrons, and they made his mouth water as he stood patiently, a plate of something filled with honey and figs and nuts wafting by his nose as one of the staff made her way through the room. Oh, he would have to try some of that, most definitely!

The owner was brusque, but not unkind as Aziraphale gave him the gold pieces for the room, and the transaction completed, he moved gracefully through the tables until he found the only empty one in the far corner of the room. It must have been a very well-run venture, to be so busy this late into the evening. He waved down the friendly woman who'd been carting around orders and ordered 'Whatever that most delightfully-scented sweet thing is, and a jug of wine, please,' and settled in as she shuffled off to prepare the food.
All things considered, Aziraphale supposed that he shouldn't have been too shocked by the turn of events that had gotten him where he was. He only had himself to blame, after all. He'd gotten careless with his miracles, and so, in the midst of his last instructions from Heaven, he had been sent a reprimand informing him that for three months time, he should refrain from performing any frivolous, unnecessary magic. Again.

Which wouldn't have been that hard to deal with, if he hadn't caught wind of a very nasty operation that was going down by the shipping yards of London. Rumors of traffickers moving through town was never a good thing, and it had become an increasingly prevalent problem, despite the strides humanity had made in the last 6000 years when it came to their views on the ownership of other human beings. So while he normally wouldn't have gotten involved in legal matters, his compassion and sense of justice had made the decision for him very quickly to go down and investigate on his own. And if the higher-ups found out and wanted to know why, he could always say that he'd found reasons to believe it had been a part of some demonic schemes.

Everything had been going fine for a time, too. He'd even managed to find what he suspected was the temporary base of operations for the foul activities that were going on. But, as the despicable sounds of an actual auction murmured out from the warehouse floor, and as Aziraphale had tried to slip in deeper, to the rooms from which he could hear the sounds of soft crying and muffled cries for help, he had mistakenly put too much weight against an unexpectedly empty shipping crate, sending it toppling to the ground and destroying the one spot of cover he'd been able to put between himself and the guards that had been patrolling the grounds in a loud clatter of splintering wood.

Which was how he found himself sulking, chained to a chair in one of those same rooms he'd been trying to get into as he waited for them to decide what they wanted to do with him, three hours later. He wouldn't deny that he was very irritated with the situation, and the awkward angle of his arms behind his back was giving him a cramp in his shoulder, which only made his mood all the more sour. He could still hear the sounds of crying and despair around him, closer now then they had been before, but what succor could he offer them, now, when he was in no position to help them in their escape?

He would never say it aloud himself, but he could definitely hear Crowley's voice in his head, in that exasperated tone he seemed to effect so often with Aziraphale; 'Only you could pull such a spectacular cock-up as this.'

Shut up, Crowley. No one asked you. Not that he wouldn't be very grateful to see the demon again, very soon, if only to save him the trouble of what he was sure was going to be a mountain of post-discorporation paperwork.