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[goodtobebad]

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[goodoldfashioned]

[Aziraphale is currently shuffling a deck of cards. Somewhat poorly, as here or there a renegade card flops out and must be hastily shoved back into alignment. He could just miracle the deck shuffled, of course, but that rather defeats the purpose, doesn't it?

It's a lovely day to practice some magic, if he says so himself, which he does. Now, if only he could get his (rather fetching) assistant to cooperate.

Yes, that means Crowley. Who else could it be?]

Really, it's just a card trick, it can't be too difficult.

[If he's saying that partially to himself, well, on that score he's staying mum.]

[goodtobebad]

This is completely pointless.

[ Crowley, sunglasses firmly in place, arms crossed over his chest, frowns at the angel. ]

Look, you've already messed it up!

[ He leans down to pick up the card that just flipped onto the ground. ]

[goodoldfashioned]

It's not pointless, Crowley. The point's just getting some magic practice in.

[Oh, darn. Why do they make these cards so bendy?]

That's not the three of hearts, is it?

[goodtobebad]

No, it's the ten of spades.

[ He hands it over with a long-suffering sigh. ]

You'll never have any use for it, angel. Even if you were good at it, which you aren't.

[goodoldfashioned]

[He shuffles it back into the deck, grinning sheepishly.]

It's always nice to have a hobby.

[Meanwhile, he reclaims the three of hearts from where it landed on the sofa.]

And you never know when a social event might need some livening up.

[Though the doves in his sleeves say otherwise.]

[goodtobebad]

You can have any hobby you want! You could... I dunno, knit, or something!

[ Crowley gives him the most skeptical look. ]

And when was the last time you went to a proper social event? That wasn't the birthday party of the kid we thought was the Antichrist?

[goodoldfashioned]

[He thinks it over, then admits.]

Only the once. But we'll be prepared if it ever comes up again!

[He beams.]

Though knitting doesn't sound so bad.

[goodtobebad]

I could at least make use of a good knitted cozy.

[goodoldfashioned]

For the kettle?

[What else needs cozies?]

[goodtobebad]

[ Crowley raises his eyebrows. ]

No, for - for me. Snakey-me. In winter.

[ He gets so cold. ]

[goodoldfashioned]

Oh! [He gets it now!] Oh, of course. And perhaps a scarf for not-snakey you, too?

[He's been convinced. It can't be too difficult to learn to knit, can it?]

[goodtobebad]

Sure.

[ He smiles faintly. Anything. Anything, but more magic tricks. ]

[goodoldfashioned]

Well, it's still going to take some time to learn the skills involved. So! In the meantime...

[Big grin.]

Pick a card?

[goodtobebad]

[ Crowley groans dramatically. The things he does for this angel.

But he draws a card. ]

[goodoldfashioned]

Thank you, dear.

Now I'll just shuffle the deck again....

[Whoops, almost lost some cards again. There we go, all sorted now.]

And you place the card back, er, wherever you like I suppose?

[He fans the cards out, so there's good spots to choose from.]

[goodtobebad]

This is so stupid.

[ So, so stupid. Crowley sighs, and sticks the card back in the deck. ]

[goodoldfashioned]

Oh, honestly, it's hardly that bad, is it? Now---

[Shuffle shuffle. He presents a card.]

Is this your card?

[It isn't, because the actual card chooses this moment to flop out of his coat sleeve onto the table.]

[goodtobebad]

Angel...

[ Crowley groans again, tilting his head back. ]

Please, enough.

[goodoldfashioned]

[He grins, somehow both a little embarrassed and a lot proud of himself.]

I managed to get the sleeves bit right this time around. I call that progress.

[:D]

Really, Crowley, you needn't make such a fuss.

[goodtobebad]

At least we're not in public, I guess. I just don't want to encourage you.

[goodoldfashioned]

Then I suppose I'll just have to keep encouraging myself.

[goodtobebad]

I mean, there are so many more things I should be encouraging you to do. If I was doing my actual job, I should be encouraging you to more vices. Gluttony - okay I've never needed to encourage you to that one. Sloth. You really should take more naps, angel.

[goodoldfashioned]

It'd be very diligent of you, which would count as encouraging a virtue on my part. Sounds like an elegant trade-off to me.

[goodtobebad]

Another way to cancel each other out? [ Crowley grins a bit and then puts on his best temptation face. ]

Take a nap with me, angel.

[goodoldfashioned]

[He turns it over in his mind, then smiles broadly.]

I suppose I can't see the harm in it. Naps away!

[He guesses he ought to make room on the couch for him? That's how this whole... napping thing works, right?]