Latest Posts by greensweetie - Page 4

sick over the fact that we’re gonna get a full season where crowley’s romantic feelings for aziraphale are just out there and aziraphale knows and they’ve kissed. GOOD GOD.

Just thinking about Wild Blue Yonder and the Welsh tradition of Mari Lwyd (the horse skull that visits your door), and the Doctor treating the no-things like evil spirits with the salt and then being worried about invoking a superstition at the End of the Universe…

…and then there’s the captain of the ship, literally a horse skull, knocking at the door, invoking this tradition that is shrouded in mystery and is thought to have been originally meant as a way of warding off evil spirits…

"You can't save everyone."

"Why not?"

this gif is of David Tennant BTS of gomens and it’s keeping me alive

Gotta get me one of those platonic, buddy comedy friendships where when my pal asks me to help him with his big work presentation, I start losing layers of my clothes, lounge in a chair across from him and make dry sexual roleplay jokes while unnecessarily stroking my tie.

Forever thinking about the fact that Crowley rescued Aziraphale’s books because he knows him so well and he knows how much those books means to him. Aziraphale didn't ask him to do it, he hadn't even remember about the books until after the explosion.

It’s the kind of thing that you do when you love someone, when you respect someone and their interests. It’s personal. It’s intimate. And it’s brave.

mum said it's my turn to do the good omens + text posts meme pt. 3 (pt.1 / pt.2)

When I tell you I NEED Aziraphale and Crowley to kiss again, I mean it.

Anyone who thinks asexual people don’t kiss (or don’t have sex, but that’s not the point of this post) is misinformed. Asexual people - or celestial beings, for that matter - absolutely can and do express feelings and desires by acting physically upon them. Many ace people enjoy the sensations, the nuances, the feelings involved in the physical expressions of love - the only difference is HOW they experience attraction, which has NOTHING to do with kissing or sex, but with what motivates wanting to do those things.

With that said, let’s go back to everyone’s favorite idiots: Aziraphale and Crowley.

During their kiss, you can literally see them pulling each other in, like they need to be as close as physically possible in that moment. You can see it as Aziraphale embraces Crowley for a split second, and you can see it as Crowley throws himself onto Aziraphale more and more during the kiss. He can’t even pull back for a single second, not even to adjust to the kiss - he just GLUES his lips to Aziraphale’s.

Aziraphale’s look after the kiss CANONICALLY means “do it again, please, right now”, as Rob Wilkins already clarified. And that is writing perfection. It creates the angst - the cue - we need to make sure a second kiss - the reward - happens. I’ve been saying this in almost every post, but here i go again: the whole point of angst is that it HAS to pay off eventually, it HAS to be followed by relief, otherwise it’s just angst for the sake of angst.

Aziraphale mouths “no” as Crowley is leaving. He doesn’t say it, but he wants to. Whatever that means, whatever the reason for the “rejection” after the kiss was, the kiss changed something. He wasn’t expecting it, but he was heartbroken to see that Crowley thought he didn’t want it. You can see him not being able to keep his eyes off the door - and later on, off the window he can see Crowley through. He almost changes his mind - and that is still true even if he had a plan all along, he didn’t think Crowley would KISS him and that blows his mind.

He touches his lips after Crowley leaves. He relives that moment by doing so, but also realizes something completely new: Crowley did what Aziraphale had spent millennia wishing for him to do, but did it in the worst possible moment. He almost loses the strength to carry on with whatever it is his plan required. But he doesn’t. He pulls it together, and goes back to heaven.

Wether Crowley knows he has a plan (the “trust me” theory) or believes he was truly rejected, they both know they crossed that line for good. They both know that, if they’re ever reunited, they will never be able to act like platonic friends again. Aziraphale, in a beautifully made parallel to the ox rib scene, realizes he had been starving for Crowley’s touch. And that is just absolutely beautiful.

If you’ve seen my post about why this couple NEEDS a happy ending, you already know why i think Good Omens is the perfect show to give queer couples back their hopes for love. I think we are all tired of the tragic gays / couple baiting fictional couples. Now we need the happily ever after. The fairytale. The cheesy, chaotic, rom-com-y, EPIC resolution. We NEED them to kiss again. We NEED them to be happy.

I REST MY CASE.

Tiny doodle of the omens omening

listen. the 1992 good omens script.

Thinking about the fact that it's the SECOND chorus of Nightingale that plays in Crowley's car at the end of S02E06

That certain night The night we met There was magic abroad in the air There were angels dining at the Ritz And a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

I may be right I may be wrong But I'm perfectly willing to swear That when you turned and smiled at me A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

The streets of town Were paved with stars It was such a romantic affair And as we kissed and said goodnight A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square

I know 'cause I was there That night in Berkeley Square

I compared the choruses in the full version of the song and THAT'S the only one that has any kind of piano/orchestral swell immediately afterward like it does in the show.

OW MY FEELS.

And it ALMOST lines up perfectly with when Aziraphale looks at the car, if you were to start from the beginning of the song, but not quite. Close enough for me. x'D

Also hm, Season One for the first bit, Season Two for the second, and Season Three for the third bit? Give my boys their streets paved with stars and kisses goodnight, Neil!

I just need them to hug, ok?

late night sketch

2500 BC, The Land of Uz

I'm a demon, I lied.

welcome back to alex's unhinged meta corner, today's topic: the chest touch at the pub. that scene has me in a chokehold for some reason and i still cannot stop thinking about it.

the first thing i wanna talk about is crowley's reaction, since this is the shorter part. he did not expect aziraphale to reach out to him like this and freezes for a second while aziraphale happily chatters away.

they were both walking and the hand on his chest stops him, so he comes to a stop right next to him while he was slightly behind him before that. his gaze also snaps to aziraphale's face, who is very much not looking at him.

they were having a conversation, but the touch essentially shuts crowley up and zira leaves him to get their drinks.

now, my question is why aziraphale does it. sure, it could just be an absent gesture since they're in a crowded place, just that he has never really done so before. i think it was very much planned, like asking crowley to dance and grabbing his hand later on.

a second before he actually reaches out, he also looks back to check whether crowley is where he thinks he is. that is the only time he does that, he was busy looking for a free table and miracles them one when he cannot find one - the look back is deliberate. especially since crowley is practically glued to his side, he has no need for confirmation, he can feel him brushing against him while walking.

the hand motion he does gets me, too. he is busy fidgeting with his hands like normal and has them clasped in front of him. aziraphale lifts them once he gets to "that is precisely the point", yet also already moves it slightly towards crowley, realizes he miscalculated where exactly he/his chest is, looks to check, then looks away again before actually touching him. am i reading too much into it? maybe.

i think it is his version of a little temptation. not only does it make crowley's brain short-circuit for a second, he also gets them their drinks and is now (or so aziraphale hopes) a bit calmer and will take the news aziraphale is about to give him better. the conversation at the cafe did not go entirely as planned, after all.

additionally, something i am not sure if other people have noticed or not is that aziraphale does not just touch crowley, it is a caress. he moves his hand down his chest.

the movement in order:

bar girl unfortunately moves in front of them, but you can clearly see the way his hand takes. to give you a direct comparison of the starting and end point:

a good point of reference is crowley's bolo tie but also the angle of aziraphale's arm while it is still visible.

the best part, in my opinion, is that aziraphale puts his hand right on top of crowley's heart. i think the symbolic importance of that is pretty clear and does not require any more explanation, although it makes me want to throw myself into a river. but that's by the by.

to summarize, aziraphale caresses crowley's heart chest to get him to calm down and not go insane over the news he is about to give him. he is also simply a bastard and knows exactly what he is doing to crowley.

as always, this is me going nuts with analysis, but i'm also curious to hear other people's thoughts on this.

don't tell my therapist about my unhinged meta posts or she will probably be very concerned for my mental wellbeing

So... it's been three months, guys, gals and non binary pals.

How we doing out there?

(This gif summing it up for me)...

I hope you understand that I literally do NOT accept any other ideas or explanations. It is Crowley’s precious black feather that Aziraphale is keeping. That’s it. Now I can melt from how absolutely sweet that is.

It happened one night, in 1941.

(aka how to get away with an insane amount of romantic tropes and innuendos) Part two.

I had to split this into two parts due to this app’s absolute lack of common sense in understanding that 10 images are not enough as a visual support for the 1941 flashback. Here’s the first part.

Now, where were we?

…

Yes, right. The proof that Aziraphale is indeed the strongest angel.

“I'm a lonely GI anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Ladies of Camelot. Amaze me. […] Go on, Mr. British man, wow me with your miracles.”

Yes, Aziraphale, wow him with your…

Jokes aside - or not… listen I can’t get over the level of shameless flirting in this whole American GI/magician roleplay. ANYWAY the real point here is to show us how comfortable they are with each other. Keep in mind that this whole “consorting with the enemy” thing is technically forbidden by both heaven and hell. And yet here they are: at ease, flirty and even a bit silly. Aziraphale with his ♪ The West End ♪ little dance, Crowley with his American accent: this is (chronologically) the first time we see them together in the bookshop and it's as if we’re taking a glimpse of domestic life. Or, rather, what it could be. The mood of the scene is light and fun and, for a while, they’re simply being themselves, without all the heaven/hell drama.

Aziraphale is often belittled by others. During season 1, Gabriel not only doesn't understand why Azi is consuming food, but in episode 4 he tells him to “lose the gut”. Shax call him “The softest touch. The one who went native” and then proceed to mock him “Do you need more big human meals, Aziraphale? Shall we send up the sushi?” Azi likes food, comfy clothes and a cozy environment, and others make him feel like he should be ashamed for it. But, with Crowley, he feels comfortable enough to show his interest in something human and trivial as magic tricks. And Crowley with his “You, my Nefertiti fooling fellow, are about to perform on the West End Stage. If that doesn't make you a professional conjurer, I don't know what does” makes him happy. Aziraphale feels valued, supported and encouraged, as he should be. Also, I don’t wanna say that he may have a praise kink, but… Antony J - acts of service - Crowley is good with words of affirmation too.

Then they go to the magic shop and flirt even more. Aziraphale is having the time of his life: he has found someone to share his special interest with, someone who doesn't judge him. And Crowley’s having fun too! They’re genuinely happy around each other.

“You're going to need a 100% reliable marksman. Someone you can really trust. Otherwise, it's lethal.”

“Oh, I've got the perfect man for the job.”

Of course Aziraphale hears the word “trust” and immediately thinks of Crowley. And if you dare to say iT’s oNLy BecAUSe cROwLey iS riGHt tHeRe I’m sorry, but you have to rewatch the series from episode one. I don’t make the rules.

“You'll do the shooting, I'll catch the bullet. I'll do all the hard bits. As a demon, you must have fired off a lot of guns, yeah?”

Yeah. I warned you about the innuendos. Crowley wants to be a supporting husband, but also wants to play the cool one and so he doesn’t admit that he had never fired a rifle. More important, they’re having a great time, Aziraphale is so excited at the idea of the show and Crowley doesn’t want to say no to his angel. He will never want to say no to him. Until he will be left with no other choice.

Crowley sways, uncertain, and Aziraphale follows his gaze, maintaining eye contact. (On a sad note, Aziraphale will do the exact same thing in the final 15 minutes, but this time Crowley will say no, putting his sunglasses back on. It will be the last time Aziraphale will see his eyes. In this season at least).

Look at the picture above: we still have the warm, soft light - they are in a secluded corner and the colors are softer than the bright ones in the rest of the shop, to convey an idea of intimacy - but there’s a sword hanging over their hands. A bad omen indeed.

But don’t get sad: we are about to witness some real magic.

“I bet you're all thinking, "What's that man doing up there, on the stage? Is he here to amaze and befuddle us all with his prestidigitation… and jiggery-pokery?"

Which apparently is a real word. No, Aziraphale, I’m thinking about the fact that Furfur has blocked yours and Crowley’s miracles and so you two idiots (affectionate) are on your own.

“Aim for my mouth, but shoot past my ear. I just squeeze that there, do I not? Haven't you fired a gun before?”

…

I'll leave this up to your interpretation.

Crowley is forced to admit that this is his first time. With the rifle, I mean.

Then we have this sequence. If you're wondering why it was important for us to see the magic show, beyond the funny bits, here we are.

Suddenly the mood has changed, from funny to tense. Crowley is slighty shaking his head and mouthing a soft, but clear NO. And, if I just hear someone say iT’s bECaUSe oF tHe pAperWoRK…

“Never mind the paperwork, they probably won't be able to put him back together again.”

Thank you, Furfur. (On a lighter note: is Crowley wearing red nail polish in the picture above - and not in the close-up below - why am I discovering this only now??)

Crowley is worried. He's really, really worried. He’s afraid of hurting Aziraphale. Crowley knows to be an unreliable marksman, he knows that he should have told Aziraphale. And he knows that he would never, ever forgive himself if something bad has to happened to Aziraphale because of him. That would be unbearable. That "unforgivable, that’s what I am" would really become true, in the worst way possible.

Crowley doesn't know what to do. A 6000 year old immortal being and his hand is freaking shaking because is afraid to hurt his… whatever you wish to call. He knows he can't trust himself. But do you know who he can trust? Aziraphale. Aziraphale whispers “trust me” e so Crowley does. Even if he’s scared. Even if his finger is still shaking on the trigger. And that “trust me” from Aziraphale is a two-way street. It’s a “trust me, because I have trust in you”.

If you want a good visual reference of Crowley’s no and Aziraphale’s trust me I suggest this beautiful gifset by @rosettyller

Obviously things go well. The audience applauds. We have the “no paperwork” line for all the paperwork aficionados and for lighten up the mood again. Aziraphale is over the moon. Crowley puts himself together as if he wasn’t shaking a few minutes before. They would be free to unwind in the dressing room, but Furfur barges in, accusing Crowley of collaborating with the enemy. Back into the “forbidden romance” trope territory again.

“The miraculous Bullet Catch requires the use of a trusted stooge and confidant.”

Give me strength. Even Furfur has figured out what's going on - that's how started the rumors that Aziraphale and Crowley were an item. Luckily, Azi manages to recover the polaroid, which is the only evidence of his and Crowley’s… whatever you wish to call it. WHERE is this polaroid now? I need to know.

“I knew you would come through for me. You always do.”

“Well, you said trust me.”

“And you did. You could've walked away. If you were truly as evil as you like to paint yourself, you would've done that.”

“Nah. That's the trouble with you lot. You don't just see things in black and white. Sometimes, you've just gotta blur the edges.”

“Well, maybe there is something to be said for. Shades of grey.”

*scraping all the lame jokes about a certain book and shades of grey out of the draft*

That’s it. That’s the all point. First, trust. Mutual trust. From the beginning in the church to the magic show, trust is the recurring theme of the 1941 flashback. It’s also the foundation of their relationship. I can always rely on you, you can always rely on me. Over the centuries, they have influenced each other. Aziraphale, despite the prejudices he has been indoctrinated into, has come to trust a demon. Crowley, despite his rejection trauma, has come to trust someone again, an angel no less. That’s because, over the time, they repeatedly chose each other, they repeatedly gave each other a reason to be the object of their respective trust. And so we can see a little moment like this, where the labels "angel" and "demon" don't matter, as they shouldn’t. When they’re alone, just like that, they’re themselves, they’re them, they’re an us.

Also, the shades of grey. Angels are not inherently good and demons are not inherently evil. The system is wrong to its core and it must be dismantled.

Now, let’s take a moment and a deep breath.

It is common belief in the fandom - and I agree - that the 1941 flashback isn’t over yet. We leave Crowley and Aziraphale all lovey-dovey, sitting at a candlelit dinner, alone, with a bottle of red wine. The romantic setting par excellence. I don't think they kissed - because everything in s02e06 suggests that THE kiss is a first kiss, at least in my opinion - but something else must have happened that evening. We know that Aziraphale did the apology dance at some point. We know that A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square was written in 1939 and published in 1940. It’s plausible that they heard it that night. And we know that Azi, for some reason, will say You go too fast for me, Crowley in 1967.

BuT AzIRaPhalE wAS tALKiNg AbOUt The cAR.

Please just rewatch the show.

The fandom doesn’t talk enough about Crowley and Aziraphale having a room where they lock themselves away to speak in private.

The fandom also doesn’t talk enough about them getting “caught” by “police” and Crowley commenting about it being a hobby of certain policemen.

Brilliant social commentary and how it relates to their relationship being forbidden.

let me wrap my teeth around the world

Aziraphale really was like. Are those the pillars of creation or are you just happy to see me

SUMMER

1941.

It happened one night, in 1941.

(aka how to get away with an insane amount of romantic tropes and innuendos) Part one.

I have to split this post into two parts - the second one is already written - because Tumblr clearly doesn't understand the absolute necessity to analyze in excruciating details every single frame of the 1941 flashback or they wouldn't have put a ridiculous 10 images limit.

Now buckle up, because these two did more things in one night than me in my entire life.

Let's set the scene. London. The Blitz. Aziraphale enters a church, pretending to deliver a bag full of precious books to a couple of moronic n*zi spies. He ends up to be doublecrossed by a third n*zi spy.

We already know from the Bastille flashback how much Crowley loves to play the role of the knight in shining clothes to his angel in distress. And sure enough, right on time, Crowley makes his appearance, with a brand new suit and a brand new name, casually hopping on the consecrated ground. You know, the consecrated ground that could literally burn his feet. Right next to a holy water font. Only for Aziraphale. Sometimes we forget how much he’s brave.

Let's ignore the fact that they’re literally standing in the middle of a church’s nave and in the middle of the only beam of light in a scene otherwise dark.

But, as every romance book/movie/show teaches us, engaging in a playful banter is always a must.

“What are you doing here?”

“Stopping you getting into trouble.”

“I should have known. Of course. These people are working for you.”

“No.[…]I just didn't want to see you embarrassed.”

Listen, Antony, I can see the appeal of the grumpy x sunshine trope, but we know that rescuing Aziraphale makes you happy. You’re risking to be discorporated or worse - the holy water is still right there - just for helping him. We know it, Aziraphale knows it (and he loves it).

And now some casual flirting in front of the n*azis’ salad.

“Antony?”

“You don't like it?” (Don’t you like my new name, Angel? I can take yours, if you want…)

“No, no, I didn't say that. I'll get used to it.”

It’s funny how the n*zis insist on continuing with their threats, because Azi’s ass is not listening.

“What does the "J" stand for?”

This is comedy gold, of course. However, from the moment Crowley has hopped into the church, Aziraphale’s attention didn’t stray from him not even for a moment.

With a quick exchange, they come up with a plan. Playing the savior, Crowley performs a demonic intervention to blow up the church. Azi performs a miracle to save himself and Crowley. This whole shenanigan is noteworthy, not only because they’re working together, but also because we can see how quickly they decide to trust each other. Keep this in mind, because the whole concept of “trust” will be a recurring theme in this flashback.

Furthermore - I’m probably reading too much into this - let’s think about the symbolism. Aziraphale and Crowley, together, destroy both the church - heaven - and the n*zis - evil. They’re already on their own side. Also, foreshadowing? Heaven and Hell dismantled once and for all and Crowley and Aziraphale alive, together? We can dream.

Could Aziraphale have miracled his way out of the situation all by himself? Maybe. Probably. But this is so much better for their relationship. Aziraphale trusted Crowley and undoubtedly enjoyed, once again, the role of the damsel in distress. Crowley trusted that Aziraphale would save them both with a real miracle. And it’s not over yet.

Look at Crowley’s cheeky smirk. It’s time to shine!

The image is dimly lit, but they are eyefucking staring straight into each other's eyes. How many tropes can you find in this image? Forbidden romance, slow burn, mutual pining, belligerent sexual tension… you name it. And in a minute we’ll have one huge love epiphany.

But, before that, we have THIS.

Oh, this is the period drama kind of romance! The casual touching hands, just for a moment, in a way that has no right to be SO. DAMN. SENSUAL. The Jane Austen-esque fantasies Aziraphale must been having for more than a century by now are finally happening! And 64 years before the iconic P&P's cinematic hand flex™ no less.

See? Aziraphale’s finger brush Crowley’s hand. I know, the whole thing lasts less than a second. But if I stare at this gif for too long I start to feel touch-starved.

I'm also thinking about the parallelism between Crowley saving Aziraphale's books in a period drama kind of way and the fact that Aziraphale will be willing to give away some books to throw the Jane Austen ball (just to touch Crowley’s hand). These two… I can’t.

And now the epiphany.

Crowley has rescued the books, Aziraphale's most valued possession. Aziraphale didn't ask him to do it, he hadn't even remember about the books until after the explosion. But Crowley knew how important they were to him. Crowley's gesture has nothing to do with the agreement or the greater good or the paperwork: it’s personal. It’s intimate. He has saved something dear to his angel’s heart. Azi loves the books -> Crowley rescues the books -> Aziraphale realizes that… oh. Look at his smile of amazement: he is literally paralyzed by what he is experiencing.

This is the definition of the love epiphany trope:

“When a character realizes they are in love with another character. This is not when the character confesses this love to that other character or anyone else, but when the character realizes it themselves. Often this can be when a character had feelings already and realized this has blossomed into love, or when a character has been in denial about these feelings until this moment.”

We are witnessing a textbook example. The music emphasizes it. In that single moment, Aziraphale not only acknowledges his feelings, but also everything that just happened. What Crowley just did for him. The level of mutual trust. Aziraphale’s feelings are not one-sided.

“You know... that was a very nice thing… you did for me. […] There must be something I can do for you… in return.”

Yes, I KNOW what you’re thinking, but let’s pretend to be oblivious as Crowley and let’s focusing on the imagery instead. They are literally driving through an inferno of explosions and who knows what else, but inside the Bentley they are safe. Somehow the scene manages to create a feeling of intimacy, so we, as well as them, can forget about whatever is happening outside. The Bentley is a shelter, just for the two of them. And there’s more. As the car moves forward, they’re lit by fire, literally the most common symbol of passion, desire and very un-angelic lust. If this seems unlikely to you, take a look at Aziraphale's eyes and smile in the picture above. Whatever he's thinking, it's not in the bible.

Fast forward to the ♪ The West End ♪

Mrs. H. gives Crowley a scolding for breaking the bottles with the smuggled liquor, earning in return this disdainful look from a protective Aziraphale.

Who, in the nine circles of heaven, gave you the nerve and the right to talk to my Antony Janthony like that?

Despite having rescued Azi’s books, Crowley had totally forgotten about the liquor he was supposed to deliver. Now it’s Aziraphale’s time to shine: it’s his turn to play the savior. This angelic mastermind decides to offer his services as an… expert… of the art of prestidigitation. And, doing so, Aziraphale:

1. Gets a chance to realize his magician fantasies.

2. Gets a chance to do something for Crowley.

3. Gets a chance to spend more time with Crowley.

Clever angel.

It may be trivial, but I love this shot. The warm light, the window frame: it's as if we’re peeking into their domestic life. The aesthetic is exactly the opposite of the heaven’s one - cold and aseptic - and the hell’s one - cold and crowded. Presumably, this is the first time that Aziraphale invites Crowley into the bookshop, his favorite place, destined to become their safe place. The atmosphere is welcoming, intimate and homely.

“Cheers for getting me off the hook.”

“Oh, there's no need to thank me, that's what... friends are for.”

I know everyone on this site has already pointed this out, but i have to mention the friends’ line. And how they look after that line. Yes, yes, they’re an angel and a demon, they’re not supposed to be friends, so admitting it out loud is a huge step. BUT they don’t look surprised or afraid that someone could hear them or anything like that: they’re looking disappointed, even miserable. Azi seems sad, Crowley’s looking as he’s about to discorporate inside. I haven't seen such a reaction since Michael Sheen had to call Aziraphale and Crowley “best buddies”. And this is the only moment in an otherwise funny scene in which they seem so unhappy.

My explanation is that the word friends left a bad taste in their mouths, destabilizing them both. Although they wouldn't talk about their feelings out loud, deep down they know that "friends" isn't right. Come on, Aziraphale just had his big revelation moment! I'm not saying that they're ready to plan a little cottagecore wedding - even though that wouldn’t be a bad idea - but friends isn’t the word to describe 6000 years of… whatever you wish to call it.

Now, I have so much more to say, but the tumblr app warned me that I had exceeded the image limit, just as I was about to include the gif of Crowley unbuttoning his jacket and stroking the tie… you know which gif I'm talking about. Apparently tumblr can’t handle it 🤷‍♀️

So see you in part two!

Dusting this off just because

(SPOILERS FOR SEASON 2)

.

.

Note: I’m not upset by the kiss or by the idea of there being physical aspects to the relationship. These characters’ relationships to sex can still be very different than that of most humans and be nuanced.

Tldr: yes they kissed, yes they absolutely can still be asexual

An underwater graveyard in Llyn Celyn, Wales. The village it was located in was flooded in the 60’s to supply water to Liverpool.

Jane Austen & the South Downs cottage...

I know the idea of Aziraphale already owning the South Downs cottage is a pretty commonly-discussed thing but I don't know if this aspect of it has been. Apologies if it has. I think S2 might possibly be hinting at the idea of the South Downs cottage maybe having ties to Crowley & Aziraphale's past a bit via Jane Austen and the timeline and backstory they established for her.

In real life, Jane Austen lived the last 8 or so years of her life in the village of Chawton in Hampshire in the South Downs. She died pretty young, even for the time, in July 1817. Her books only became successful a few years prior to her death so much of her literary fame is posthumus. One of the reasons Crowley doesn't know she's a writer (still, somehow lol) is that it sounds like the era in which he knew Jane personally was prior to her becoming a famous writer.

Crowley says that he knows her as the brains behind "The 1810 Clerkenwell Diamond Robbery"-- an event that Good Omens made up but gave a year to that's kind of specific on the timeline of Jane Austen's real life history. Even though Clerkenwell itself is part of London, Jane Austen was living in the South Downs in 1810 when she was crossing paths with Crowley and Aziraphale, as she lived in Chawton from 1809 until her death in 1817. Since Aziraphale associates her with regency balls so quickly (and because there's no way that if we ever get a Jane Austen flashback after Aziraphale's whole ball/meeting in S2 that the flashback won't involve a Regency-era ball lol), it's likely that even if Jane was running her criminal empire through London, at least some of the setting of a flashback would be at a ball at a cottage (estate) in the South Downs.

This would then help to fill in how both Crowley and Aziraphale knew Jane Austen and know the other knew her (implying they were around her together at one point.) By 1810, Aziraphale is a wealthy London land owner and businessman. Does he get invited out to one of Jane Austen's balls or go with her group to one of her neighbor's ones, where he crosses paths with rakish Regency diamond thief Crowley? Does he spend half the night pretending not to moon over him, pining for a dance he doesn't get until 2023? (Probably safe to assume yes lol.)

Did he and Crowley have some romantic moment that night on an old estate in the South Downs-- or some significant near-miss of one-- and then Aziraphale just went and bought the cottage at some point a billion years ago and didn't tell Crowley because this is Aziraphale's 'maybe someday' pipe dream and he was never going to tell Crowley unless they'd evaded all possible Armageddons and there was a chance they could have this? Why disappoint Crowley more, right? And he doesn't tell him after S1 because they both know it's not really over so he just still hasn't as of S2 and that would set it up for being part of the end of S3.

It would be very sweet if the cottage isn't a new idea and was actually a place that has significance to them.

Crowley's been through a lot. Let him find out Aziraphale bought Pemberley for him in 1810.

Of course Aziraphale would have stars on his cape for the magic show. Because stars remind him of Crowley, and Crowley always has his back.