It took a good deal of work, but Gabriel had finally been convinced that Aziraphale was actually going to let them in the shop.
"Technically it is a bookshop, and open to the public, we are the public, so we can go in. And Aziraphale is not going to pass up going to see Shakespeare. Trust me." Crowley said as they drove toward Soho.
Gabriel felt awful after Crowley finished his rant. He actually went for a walk through Crowley's neighborhood after Aziraphale stormed out. Aziraphale's reaction was completely understandable given what Crowley said. In his rage he made it seem like he didn't want to be on Earth. How different things would have been if Crowley wasn't. He looked over at the demon in question, crimson shirt, black suit and black tie made him look every bit the part.
The pulled up to Aziraphale's shop and he followed Crowley inside. They were early, it was just past 4 and Crowley had told Aziraphale they would be there at 5. Gabriel took a quick glance around the shop and found that many of the books were meant for Children.
"I'm just about to close shop for the night, really, is there anything you need urgently?" Aziraphale called out from somewhere.
"Just us, Angel, and I already switched the sign" Crowley replied. He walked down a row of books and out Gabriel's line of sight and hearing. The two of them certainly would need space to sort out whatever happened at Crowley's. What he had caused.
Gabriel was flipping through a visibly aged text on the influence of Angels in medieval Christianity when he was startled by the unmistakable sound of wings unfurling. As he rounded the corner to the aisle Crowley had gone down he heard the frankly terrifying whoosh that was Aziraphale lighting a sword ablaze.
"Are you going to kill me, Aziraphale?" Crowley stood motionless in front of the obviously furious Angel. "I thought we gave up on needless discorporations."
"I'm not sure this one is needless, Crowley. Given that you don't even want to be on Earth. I'm not that sure of anything right now"
So much for 'not going to pass up Shakespeare' Gabriel thought. He was torn about whether to intervene in the… argument or not. He'd observed many a fight between the angel and demon throughout history, but something about this one seemed more raw. And he knew it was his fault.
"Aziraphale, Angel, I know you don't want to do this. I'm sorry it sounded like I don't want to be here. I want nothing more than to be. We chose our side remember? You and me. Not Heaven, not Hell, us. Together."
Aziraphale looked at the sword on his hand "do you mean it Crowley, truly?"
"Truly. Our side."
The sword vanished. Gabriel exhaled loudly.
"Watching that were you?" Crowley asked
"It was hard not to hear what was going on, and I was trying to figure out how to very quickly file multiple recorporations."
"Multiple?" Aziraphale asked, confused.
"Well yeah, Crowley's obviously. I can actually do that, not advised, but nothing saying I can't recorp one who is fallen. Formed demons, not possible, but those of angelic stock I can. Well at least Michael can, so I assume I can." He looked to Aziraphale "and either yours or mine depending on who won the next round."
"Can we agree on no discorporations?" Crowley asked hopefully "and perhaps get on the road, Richard III will not wait for us."
The play was horribly boring in Gabriel's opinion. The actors were alright, but the story was a drag. He didn't realize that he had dozed off until a loud explosion shocked him awake. He was on the verge of summoning armor and a sword when he noticed no one else was alarmed. Part of the play, apparently.
"Have a nice nap?" Aziraphale asked smirking. "I was ready to project a complex glamor if needed. Awake or asleep we expected that bit to frighten you."
"I was not frightened" Gabriel snapped, offended at the suggestion, "It just startled me."
"You jumped Gabe." Crowley learned forward to look around Aziraphale "You were sacred. Impressed your wings didn't pop out."
Gabriel sighed and watched the rest of the play in bored silence, making sure he didn't fall asleep again. He had a feeling that neither Crowley or Aziraphale would let the subject drop for the remainder of his stay.
"I can't believe you fell asleep during Shakespeare Gabe." Crowley exclaimed as they left the theater. "That's like blasphemy or something. Will would be devastated if he knew."
"He's one of your's my dear, so I'm not sure an Archangel falling asleep would devastate him." Aziraphale replied, "but I do need to agree that falling asleep is quite a grievous sin Gabriel. I simply cannot believe you didn't enjoy the play."
"I enjoyed my nap until the play interrupted it, if that counts."
It did not count. Aziraphale and Crowley made that quite clear.
After the play, they went to the Ritz again for dinner. Gabriel wasn't sure how much Hell gave Crowley as a stipend but he was pretty sure that Aziraphale's was not enough to account for the cost of eating as much as they did. Miracles and manipulations, he supposed. And really what good were earthbound Angels and Demons if not miracles and manipulations.
"Have you called Raphael yet, Aziraphale?" Gabriel asked, it was rather important that Raphael attend the meeting, after all.
"Yes, I spoke to him this morning. His exact words were 'tell the arch-douches that I'll be there'. I've no idea why you can't trace him though, if I would expect anyone to have aural interference it would be me." Aziraphale paused, "have you tried running a trace on Jophiel?"
"Don't tell me that he has settled down with her?" He noticed Aziraphale's slight blush "Alright you don't need to tell me. Never would have expected that of him. But if he will be at the meeting that's good. Did you discuss the content of the meeting with him?"
Aziraphale nodded "He said his stance is that field agents should never get recalled or reassigned. Quite simple actually, probably rather unrealistic though."
"Raphael is a phenomenally lazy field agent. He has tried to quit being both a field agent and an Archangel more than once. Really Michael and I split his responsibilities and let him do whatever it is he does here. It isn't worth it to try to control him." Gabriel found Raphael's assessment of him and Michael as 'arch-douches' somewhat accurate, though insulting. Michael had always been most strict at the rules (except those involving Lucifer) and Raphael didn't believe in any rules. It was a bit surprising that Raphael hadn't fallen at some point. Perhaps Crowley was right and Heaven had loosened up the rules.
He needed to decide what he was going to do at the meeting.