Ineffable

May I Have This Dance?

The moments that follow this new revelation about Aziraphale are very much the same for the angel.

Gorging himself on Earthly delights until his corporation can’t take any more.

Lying down flat on his back in the heart of the memorial site set up by the higher ups.

Constantly touching the singed scar on his face, the only remnant of Jophiel he has left.

Returning to each Fall site, praying to anyone who will listen to let him be next, as well as the last.

No one ever answers, and often he ends up bursting into tears all over again  and trying to get away as quickly as he’d come.

And so, when time comes for the promised party, he shows up in the same robes he wore to his and Jophiel’s first celestial concert, but of course, now the sparkly flames are on full display, when Jophiel will never see them.

Their reappearance alone is enough to make Aziraphale collapse all over again, unable to bring himself to join the rest of the angels.

He barely registers another angel kneeling down next to him, but of course it’s Ariel, beautiful Ariel in her beautiful ivy covered robes.

Feeling awkward, Aziraphale holds out a peace offering, “Apple?”

For a moment, it looks like she might accept, “How fermented is it?”, then just as quickly shakes her head, “No, I think not.”

Aziraphale shrugs, then takes it back, taking another bite into it.

It’s several more seconds before he realizes Ariel is holding out a scroll to him, and as he turns to look at her again, there’s a hopeful look in her eyes.

Aziraphale quickly grabs it, unrolling the scroll, then gasps, “My dear, is this…?”

Ariel nods, all smiles. “It is. The final Eden prototype.”

Aziraphale smiles with her for a moment, but of course, reality won’t let it last.

“But we’ll never stay angels long enough to make it there.” he reminds her, not hurt by those words anymore, just stating a fact he knows he can’t avoid anymore.

But Ariel, surprisingly, doesn’t agree, “Aziraphale, you truly don’t believe we’ve already been angels long enough?”

This surprises Aziraphale, but he doesn’t reply.

Which is just fine for Ariel, because she has some more news for him.

“My Assignment’s been approved. I pushed to be sent off first thing after the party is over.”

Aziraphale looks up at her, his expression a mix between surprised and sad all at once.

“I can’t wait for things to get better here. I need to leave. Even if I have only one day in the garden.”

Aziraphale won’t look at her, but before she can get up again, he tells her sincerely, “I hope you never Fall, and that it’s everything you were hoping for, my darling girl.”

Ariel smiles at that, then stands up, asking, “Will I see you with the rest of us?”

Aziraphale only nods, then watches as she starts to walk away.

Right before she turns back suddenly, kneelas back down, and grabs him in a tight hug.

“No matter where we go, what we do, or how Earth changes us, I will never forget our time together in Heaven, Aziraphale.”

Aziraphale nods against her chest, before she releases him, stands up, then finally, finally, walks away.

As Aziraphale joins the rest of Heaven, he’s intoxicated enough to not be paying attention to who he bumps into, nor caring as he bursts out laughing when someone gets knocked over.