sauntereddownward | (no subject)

(no subject)

Crowley had been busy. He'd had a rather dastardly idea and with a bit of proper nudging of 'influencers' (whatever those were) and a quick trip to Reddit, he had a new viral sensation. It was sort of like the ice bucket challenge, except it didn't benefit any charities and instead involved putting hot sauce up the nose. It worried parents, caused a bit of harmless mayhem, and most of all...it tarnished the souls of all those who laughed at idiots' misfortunes.

Sure, it wasn't tempting a priest, but it was a laugh.

He sat in the autumn sun outside an interesting little tea shop. He had a steaming cup of a lapsang suchong blend that made the air smell like a campfire. A subtle scent under the cigarette smoke. Crowley was watching his mobile and chuckling along as another bloody idiot put hot sauce on a cotton tip and stuffed it up his nose and began to wail.

"People will do anything to be famous," he said to himself.

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"Do you live to serve? I doubt that very much. Besides, this way I can choose my glass," he said as he broke off to the kitchen to find a pint glass. Perhaps a bit much for a liqueur, but Gluttony was one of his specialties.

Fin shrugged, Letting Crowley help himself. He didn't mind if they had the whole bottle, honestly.

Crowley took what he liked, a bit Greedy it seemed, yet the level in the bottle didn't diminish one bit. He took a sip and smiled.

"So." He licked his upper lip with a slither of his forked tongue. "Why don't you eat? Or do you, but it's some strange fae thing where everything outside the Veil tastes like ash, or wotnot."

Fin frowned, ducking his head.

"It's an illness. Do you ask someone with a cold why they sneeze?" Fin countered, even though he knew exactly why he couldn't seem to stop himself.

"Typically, yes. I like knowing if it's a virus or cocaine," he replied dryly.

"Yeah, well, it's rude," Fin huffed, looking away.

"Exactly what is it about me that lead you to think I was polite?" Crowley asked.

"Never said I thought you were, just letting you know you're being an arse right now," Fin assured him.

"One of the many services I provide," he chuckled. "People often say that when I point out an uncomfortable truth. I've always found the truth much more damning than any lie on my part."

"You want to know why I don't eat? Because when I was a bit fitter the wrong people were paying too much attention- Taking things I wasn't offering. But then I started looking less well, and suddenly they weren't touching anymore. Suddenly I was free," the fae said, reaching for his cigarettes and lighting up.

Crowley considered that for a moment, then produced his own silver case. He very delicately plucked a cigarette, closed the case and tucked it away, then lit up with his Zippo.

It chinked when he closed it.

A deep drag, then he spoke, smoke boiling out of his mouth with every word.

"You've made yourself less attractive to predators?" he asked. "Human beings are, for the most part, garbage. Given Free Will and they choose often to be selfish, base, violent creatures. But, dear boy, I fear you're hardly free. You're in a prison of your own making. One that is shrinking away to nothing. You do know you can't control others by undoing yourself, don't you?"

"It's working so far," Fin said quietly.

"Is it? Is it really?" he asked...almost...kindly.

"How many roles, on average, would you say you're not being invited to because you look unhealthy? Not because the dodgy wanker in charge doesn't want to roger you now that you're a ghost of yourself, but rather because they don't want to hire a skeleton?"

Fin took a long drag, then shrugged.

"Dunno," he admitted quietly. "I just know what happens the moment I start looking better, even just a bit."

Crowley took a breath.

"You know, and I'm not an expert, but I'd think with your fae magics you could just make them...sorry," he suggested.

"And risk exposing myself," Fin pointed out.

"Oh, please. What right minded rapist is going to accuse their victim of shriveling their johnson into a raisin?" Crowley snorted. "None of them."

"It's not just one bloke. They're all connected," Fin said quietly. "You really think I haven't played out every possible scenario in my head already?"

Crowley was well aware of the networks and webs. Humans, as he'd tried to tell the Home Office, could be so unbelievably Evil there really was no need for an agent of Hell to walk around. He hadn't stressed it too hard, though, because he hadn't wanted to be called back. Human Evil aside, he rather liked it on Earth.

And then Crowley had a very wicked, very nasty, very despicable idea.

"I could do it for you," he said. "What would it be worth to you, having all of them taken care of, leaving you free to work as you please?"

"I'm not making a deal with you. I don't even like letting people make deals with me. I know the harm my deals can do, so I dread to think what yours might lead to," the fae replied.

"What if it wasn't a deal, per se? What if it was a favor? Quid pro quo and all that. I do a thing for you, you do a thing for me. Simple as that. Easy peasy. And nothing untoward or distasteful...I can do those sorts of things on my own, thank you very much," he replied smoothly.

"I suppose it would depend on what you wanted in return," Fin shrugged. "What is it you need?"

"I need to know what Love is," he replied simply. "You seem like you might know a thing or two."

Fin nearly made a joke there, something along the lines of 'you want me to show you?' However, the demon seemed quite serious.

"I suppose I do," he replied, "But I'm not sure how I can help."

"I'm sure if you let me pick your brain I glean something useful. At least, that's my hope," he replied.