[Aziraphale comes over as soon as he hears the door opening, holding a cup of tea on one hand and a tray with some pastries. He always tries to be prepared whenever he's got guests over- and if he's honest, the idea of having 'guests' is still kind of thrilling to him.]
Come over, I have some warm tea that should help with that. Or I could make some cocoa if you'd rather, that always warms me up right away.
[Rich looks happy to be expected, and the fact that Aziraphale already seems to have tea ready for him. Always such a good host. It's touching to Rich, when his friends usually didn't care much for that tradition. Not that he prefers hospitality over just being left to make himself at home, but it does feel nice to be accomodated a bit.]
Tea is perfect. You don't have to go out of your way for me.
[He follows Aziraphale a little bit further into the shop, where it's warmer.]
Oh, nonsense. I just want to give you more reasons to visit more often, truth be told.
[He smiles as he places the tray on a table, motioning at Rich to sit.] Plus, you're about to do something... very big for me, it's the least I can do. Have you given the bonding thing any more thought?
Hey, come on, you're more than enough of a reason.
[Rich sits as requested, and his smile gets wider as Aziraphale brings up the main topic. He's such a fuss, really. Rich is the one who had been thinking about it and had decided on it. Why would he change his mind now?]
I have thought about it. And I've decided I'm not going to change my mind. It'd be a big help for me too... and I know it's something you're getting used to hearing, but I think you're important enough to make that choice easy.
[Azirahale reaches for Rich’s hand. He’s not a physical contact kind of guy, but Rich is a lovely kid who’s about to do something… really damn big for Aziraphale and this seemed like the most simple way to show his affection.]
Oh, I hope you know I appreciate that, Rich, very much so. And if you’re sure about this it will not just be something I’d do to avoid a lot of pain and suffering- I’d do it because I trust you, I care about you and I like the fact that we’ve grown that close. If I must do a bond with a human, I am glad it is with someone as nice and selfless as you, dear boy.
But I just want you to realize that you could do better if you so wanted. And that I… I have- [An awkward chuckle as he takes his hand back to nervously play with his ring.] I have issues. A lot of them, in fact. And I am not sure how that will translate into a bond.
[Rich, for his part, is very much in need of physical contact and comfort, so what probably seems uncomfortable to Aziraphale is intensely reassuring to him. It only cements in his mind that he's making the right choice.]
Well, I'm glad. Because I'm not just doing it for that. You're really... special, even if you don't often think that about yourself. You're kind of... like, okay, this is gonna sound cheesy and stupid, but I do kind of think of you like family? It's... a little scary, because things are tough with my real family. So I'm kind of surprised it came to this.
[He hesitates then, shaking his head with his own wry grin.] I mean, I guess that at least lets you know I might be as messed up as you are. And that better isn't something I'm worried about. You're... the one I want to be Bonded to, and that's all there is to it, okay?
[Aziraphale chuckles, both out of amusement and out of pure... anxiety. He wasn't even supposed to get close to any humans, was supposed to be around but also be all but invisible to them. And yet here he is, about to get into a Bond with a kid, a Bond that will allow said kid to get a sense of Aziraphale's feelings- get a sense of how fucked up he really is.
But he's made a decision. This is, honestly, the perfect answer, Rich is the perfect person to Bond himself with, and he cares so much about the little guy. He's definitely not letting his own insecurities keep him from making the right choice.]
I've never had a family, Rich. She is the closest I have to a Father, I suppose, but that's different.
I am... beyond honored, that you would think about me that way, because I think of you that way as well. And what best person to create a bond with, than family? So I'm... [He takes a deep breath, full of emotion.] I am in, if you are.
[Rich, for his part, is very tired of doing whatever he's supposed to do. He very much understands the anxiety of stepping out, but he also knows people have judged him for doing the right thing before, so he's not going to let that stop him.
He might be judged for this too, but helping someone is far more important, as is being around someone who isn't going to doubt him and who he can rely on.]
Well, you can have a family now, right? Nothing stopping you.
[He gives a wider grin, despite the lump in his throat.]
What are we waiting for, then? Do you want to go now, or... guess I could see if we can go tomorrow?
I would like to have time to prepare, of course… but I am also afraid I will get cold feet if I don’t do it soon. Not- [An awkward chuckle, realizing that may have come out wrong.] Not because I will regret once it’s done, dear. I am positive now that I know that you want it as well that this is the best choice I could made, the best outcome for both of us.
But because, as you may have been able to tell already, I tend to get… a little nervous before making big decisions. And this is definitely one. So perhaps we could make the bond first, let me have a private little freak out about it later?
[Rich gives Aziraphale a warm, surprisingly patient grin. Usually he's far more eager than this, but he knows Aziraphale needs him to not be as pushy right now.]
I think it's the best choice too. But I understand being a little nervous about it. I was really nervous the first time around... I mean, no matter what, it seems really important here, so I don't want to mess up.
I think we can head over there now... and I'll give you space once it's done, okay?
[Just as long as Aziraphale doesn't push him out like Jeremy did...]
[He does have a tendency to push people out when he gets a little overwhelmed. And back home he'd literally just come to terms with walking away from heaven, making his own little team, creating their own little side... so he's definitely still not used to getting close to people, or humanity in general. It will take a lot more time to get used to it.
But this is the right thing, he knows it's the best thing for both of them. And so, while he may need a moment to stop himself from freaking out, he will work hard to make sure his new Bonded doesn't feel ignored.]
Let's go then. Let me- let me get something for you to eat, on the way? [Food = love, obviously.]
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[Aziraphale comes over as soon as he hears the door opening, holding a cup of tea on one hand and a tray with some pastries. He always tries to be prepared whenever he's got guests over- and if he's honest, the idea of having 'guests' is still kind of thrilling to him.]
Come over, I have some warm tea that should help with that. Or I could make some cocoa if you'd rather, that always warms me up right away.
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Tea is perfect. You don't have to go out of your way for me.
[He follows Aziraphale a little bit further into the shop, where it's warmer.]
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[He smiles as he places the tray on a table, motioning at Rich to sit.] Plus, you're about to do something... very big for me, it's the least I can do. Have you given the bonding thing any more thought?
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[Rich sits as requested, and his smile gets wider as Aziraphale brings up the main topic. He's such a fuss, really. Rich is the one who had been thinking about it and had decided on it. Why would he change his mind now?]
I have thought about it. And I've decided I'm not going to change my mind. It'd be a big help for me too... and I know it's something you're getting used to hearing, but I think you're important enough to make that choice easy.
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Oh, I hope you know I appreciate that, Rich, very much so. And if you’re sure about this it will not just be something I’d do to avoid a lot of pain and suffering- I’d do it because I trust you, I care about you and I like the fact that we’ve grown that close. If I must do a bond with a human, I am glad it is with someone as nice and selfless as you, dear boy.
But I just want you to realize that you could do better if you so wanted. And that I… I have- [An awkward chuckle as he takes his hand back to nervously play with his ring.] I have issues. A lot of them, in fact. And I am not sure how that will translate into a bond.
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Well, I'm glad. Because I'm not just doing it for that. You're really... special, even if you don't often think that about yourself. You're kind of... like, okay, this is gonna sound cheesy and stupid, but I do kind of think of you like family? It's... a little scary, because things are tough with my real family. So I'm kind of surprised it came to this.
[He hesitates then, shaking his head with his own wry grin.] I mean, I guess that at least lets you know I might be as messed up as you are. And that better isn't something I'm worried about. You're... the one I want to be Bonded to, and that's all there is to it, okay?
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But he's made a decision. This is, honestly, the perfect answer, Rich is the perfect person to Bond himself with, and he cares so much about the little guy. He's definitely not letting his own insecurities keep him from making the right choice.]
I've never had a family, Rich. She is the closest I have to a Father, I suppose, but that's different.
I am... beyond honored, that you would think about me that way, because I think of you that way as well. And what best person to create a bond with, than family? So I'm... [He takes a deep breath, full of emotion.] I am in, if you are.
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He might be judged for this too, but helping someone is far more important, as is being around someone who isn't going to doubt him and who he can rely on.]
Well, you can have a family now, right? Nothing stopping you.
[He gives a wider grin, despite the lump in his throat.]
What are we waiting for, then? Do you want to go now, or... guess I could see if we can go tomorrow?
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I would like to have time to prepare, of course… but I am also afraid I will get cold feet if I don’t do it soon. Not- [An awkward chuckle, realizing that may have come out wrong.] Not because I will regret once it’s done, dear. I am positive now that I know that you want it as well that this is the best choice I could made, the best outcome for both of us.
But because, as you may have been able to tell already, I tend to get… a little nervous before making big decisions. And this is definitely one. So perhaps we could make the bond first, let me have a private little freak out about it later?
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I think it's the best choice too. But I understand being a little nervous about it. I was really nervous the first time around... I mean, no matter what, it seems really important here, so I don't want to mess up.
I think we can head over there now... and I'll give you space once it's done, okay?
[Just as long as Aziraphale doesn't push him out like Jeremy did...]
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But this is the right thing, he knows it's the best thing for both of them. And so, while he may need a moment to stop himself from freaking out, he will work hard to make sure his new Bonded doesn't feel ignored.]
Let's go then. Let me- let me get something for you to eat, on the way? [Food = love, obviously.]