So, the flashback in Rome is pretty much exclusively the only time Crowley is actively short with Aziraphale and it has always sort of itched my brain as to why. When I finally got my hands on the script book it started to make sense:
For the uninitiated, Caligula was a Roman Emperor so despicable that there's literally a wiki dedicated to his atrocities.
Some of the deplorable things he was said to have done include, but aren't limited to:
Ordering criminals to be fed to the wild animals used for Gladitorial entertainment, after having cut their tongues out
Decapitating and butchering several people
Beating a priest to death with a mallet
Crucifying, burning, and suffocating multiple people
Literally having a Senator he disliked ripped apart by a mob
With this in mind, we know that Crowley, despite his indifferent attitude toward his demonic assignments, actively works against hurting people and animals, and even though his dialogue implies that he never tempted Caligula, we don't actually know what he might have witnessed. Still, it's not at all out of the realm of possibility that he saw things that could have straight up left him scarred psychologically.
Though the filmed scene leaves this portion of the conversation out, including his failed rebuff of Aziraphale's company, it's clear that he's in some emotional distress. With this in mind, Aziraphale's appearance may have occurred at just the right time. If he saw even just a hint of the monstrosity and madness of Caligula, he'd have needed some sort of comfort, so Aziraphale's stupid question and temptation for oysters may have been the best thing that could have happened under the circumstance.
Plus, given Aziraphale's ignorance about Caligula (he was there for Nero,) he'd have no idea how badly Crowley was messed up. He never reacted to Crowley's irritation or boorish attitude with anything other than continued enthusiasm for his presence. Demonhood has likely been incredibly tragic and traumatizing for Crowley at times, and, in this scene, Aziraphale was a balm for that pain without ever knowing.
✨ Welp…the Smut War over on Reddit has me creating content that requires me to WARN you guys before posting on some platforms 🤣! If you are my child, my coworkers or my irl friends, you may wish to avert your eyes. I’d like to be able to make eye contact with you the next time we see each other 🤣. DON’T JUDGE ME, THIS IS FOR SCIENCE. (It’s me, I’m science 🤣).
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✨ ANYway. This is page one of what’s likely to be a 4ish page comic of what might’ve happened between Az and Crowley after their *very fantastic* oysters. They’ve gone back to the Angel’s place and seem to be having lovely…uh…conversation 😆. When in Rome…definitely snog your demon boyf and see what happens 😜.
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✨Tumblr absolutely destroys the quality of my art…for higher quality images, find me on Instagram or Reddit under KaeRaeSketches. It’s better.
Restoring Angel!Crowley was Aziraphale's hope for at least 2,000 years
inspo post by @waywardwendy
I'm going to briefly draw attention to a weird little one-off statement that generally only gets cited for comedic purposes, due to Crowley's quippy response:
Aziraphale: Still a demon, then?
Aziraphale has had it on his brain since at least 44 AD that Crowley's demon status could be temporary in nature. He's been waiting, hoping for that status to change. The fact that it hasn't isn't enough to keep him from tempting Crowley to some oysters, but it is his opener.
Flash forward:
In 1967 Aziraphale brings Crowley a thermos of holy water. Crowley offers him a lift, anywhere he wants to go. Aziraphale declines, but mentions that perhaps one day they could go for a picnic. Dine at the Ritz. I argue elsewhere that it's a callback to A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square as they first heard it in 1941 (not yet canon).
But let's recall what those lyrics are.
There were angels dining at the Ritz
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
Not "an angel and a demon."
Angels.
So taking a second look at Aziraphale's delivery of Metatron's offer:
AZIRAPHALE: He said I could appoint you to be an angel. You could come back to Heaven and... and everything, like the old times. Only, even nicer!
And his response to Crowley's rejection of that offer:
AZIRAPHALE: Good luck? Crowley! Crowley, come back, to Heaven! Work with me! We can be together! Angels... doing good! I... I need you! I don't think you understand what I'm offering you.
I'm not saying that Aziraphale was complicit in a conspiracy by Metatron against Crowley, but it seems to be indicated that Aziraphale saw Crowley being restored to angelic status as a solution to their relationship problems long before Metatron ever made his offer. The Metatron's offer was a fulfillment of a long-held secret (or not-so-secret) wish, and the perfect bait to tempt our angel.
"Nobody Needs to Know" A secret tryst in Rome 41 ad.
This was requested by my lovely and talented friend @daneecastle She was very specific and wanted to challenge me. Check out her art. She had some input from Gcaledonian who runs @goodomensafterdark
Part two can be found here: Part Two.
Which was suggested by also a talented art friend. @vavoom-sorted-art. My art peers all want me to make Romans it seems. I accept this burden!
Buy it as a print: https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/beanart
Like what I do? Can always buy me a coffee https://ko-fi.com/beanart
Sometimes I have some trouble finding reference images for my art, so I just put them in one spot. Be warned, this doc is like 150 pages long (and subject to expanding)
I always wonder if there's some significance in the fact that exactly 1900 years had passed between Crowley and Aziraphale's meeting in Rome and Crowley's rescue of Aziraphale from the Nazis. It's probably just a coincidence or something but it is interesting that the events happen in years 41 and 1941.
Just thinking about how out of all of the world, out of all of the ancient territories, out of all of Rome, and out of all the drinking establishments they each could have chosen, they end up at the same one on the same day, at the same time.
Gifs by @snek-eyes!
And bonus: will also never get over Aziraphale instantly recognizing Crowley’s voice.
Extra bonus: If you want to give this scene a lot more flavor, read this meta on their clothing choices!
Assigned by Heaven to guide the future Emperor Nero to be a good and just ruler, Aziraphale is instructed to do "whatever it takes" to ensure this outcome. Trapped between Heaven's disregard for his safety and the Emperor's desires, the angel has few options left to him, and only one person able to protect him.
AD 54 - Rome: It is the day of Nero's coronation, and Aziraphale finds himself alone with the Emperor-to-be.
“You must stand by the Emperor, keep his trust and his ear. Whatever it takes.”
Another kiss: hungrier, deeper. Aziraphale felt a flush as he tasted himself for the first time on Nero’s tongue as it thrust into his mouth. Eager hands gripped his hips, a firm but yielding mass pressed between his legs, pulsing with fierce heat. “You feel that, my dear tutor? That is my desire for you. Won’t you show me how much you love me? I know you want to — why else have you been by my side all this time, aiding me, guiding me? We are finally achieving what we have worked towards all this time.” Soft lips trailed down the angel’s neck as Nero slowly, inexorably pressed against his body, against his hardness in particular. “What better way to celebrate than with a union of our bodies to match our minds and hearts? Let me help you…”
Click and lick on AO3
(this is another in my series of "cutting room floor" one-shots of scenes that I wrote earlier in my process for the sequel to The Nephilim Loophole that no longer fit the story that has evolved. I wanted to give it life, so it along with other scenes will have a home in my series, "To Serve the Emperor," kicked off by the gifted fic of the same name)
Huge thanks to my outstanding and enthusiastic beta readers as they suffered through the sheer agony of every salacious detail of Nero's seduction of poor Aziraphale: @playdohangel, Mister Scruffy Poo, @rofell, and @ines2925.