Author's Note: This took longer to write than I anticipated. Hate being swamped with work. I rather enjoyed writing this though; been toying with this in my head for quite a while now. So I'm happy to see it finally in text-form.
ALL IN A LIFETIME'S WORK
Chapter 4
The applause was almost deafening, coupled with the endless squeels of the women in the audience, Aziraphale found himself fighting the urge to cover his ears as he waved and walked towards the waiting woman onstage. The fact that the audience was almost entirely female certainly did not help - or rather greatly helped - the noise level in the small studio. Aziraphale smiled despite the barrage of visual information, both enamoured at the fact that he was on television and utterly dismayed at the verbal farce that was to come. What in the world was Gabriel thinking when he allowed this (Aziraphale bit down the expletive forming in his mind) interview?!
"Welcome! Welcome to the show Azira. Glad you could come." the host smiled as she gave him a hug and handshake, then gestured to a plush cream chair next to hers. They both sat down as the audience settled themselves as if that was a cue for them to take their seats themselves.
Aziraphale's smile was plastered on his face and he hoped it looked sincere. He eyed the audience for a second and spotted Crowley slouched a few rows from the front, he gave a thumbs up sign in only a way a demon can; disapprovingly. "Thanks for having me." he said politely.
"So, Azira, first thing's first, I'm sure all the ladies here have the same question in mind; are you single?"
Damn, this lady certainly doesn't beat around the bush. Then again, she wouldn't be the queen of daytime tv if she did. Aziraphale didn't even notice that his mind had just cursed not even 2 minutes into the interview. "One could... say that..." He said carefully. The audience erupted into a collective sigh, including the host herself. She clutched a hand to her chest. Aziraphale wondered if he'd be fully justified to lie just this once or twice, or how many times it took in the next 10 minutes.
"He's single la~dies!" she beamed at him then rebounded with another question that sent the angel's mind and moral state reeling. "But are you seeing anyone? Just dating?"
"Er -" Aziraphale fought hard not to glance the demon's way, and even harder not to glance Gabriel's way. "Yes." he answered quietly. The audience fell silent, and Aziraphale imagined the archangel's brow raising sky high. He was wrong of course; Gabriel was more perceptive in terms of relationships than most angels having watched humans continuously over the past millenia - and thus issued nothing more than a knowing smile backstage.
"Anyone we know?"
"Oh, no, no." Aziraphale answered quickly, "I really prefer keeping things private, Oprah."
The woman's smile did not waver, "Of course, of course. Just arranging for this interview was quite a challenge for my producers. You are quite unlike many celebrities, nobody sees you attend parties, nor the Grammys, and you don't do any public appearances aside from your album launches and charities. Is there any reason for this?"
"I guess, this whole limelight thing isn't my cup of tea. Besides, I'm kept very busy with some of my projects."
Oprah nodded, listening intently. Aziraphale found himself admiring the woman's sincerity at least, "Some, I think is an understatement Azira. You've got charities all over the place, a new song coming out and a tour kicking off in a couple weeks - when do you find time to sleep?"
"Um. I don't," he answered truthfully.
The host missed the real truth of the statement.
Aziraphale continued, "I rest by reading books."
"Books? That's really interesting, I'm sure you've heard of my book club. I love books."
"Yes!" the angel beamed, "I love books too, collecting them in particular. Rare volumes on prophecies. Or, at least..." Aziraphale's smile withered, "I used to collect old books. Now, I havent really the time." He looked at Crowley in the audience longingly only to find the demon was fast asleep.
Oprah seemed to sense the singer's sadness and quickly changed the topic, not wishing the interview to go negative on her viewers. "Tell us, Azira, where do you get inspiration for your songs?"
That shook Aziraphale from his thoughts, and knit his brows for a second; how do you say; 'Well Oprah, no inspiration necesarry actually. Heaven simply sends me all the songs they want me to sing. Via this holy chalk circle in an archangel's highrise condominium unit.' He opted for something vague;
"I get my inspiration from all good things." That sounded lame even to his ears, but he saw women in the audience just lapping it up so he continued, "I'm just on a mission to let people know the really important things in life. If they get that from my songs, then I'm happy to know I've changed someone along the way."
"So is it true that over 80% of your album sales go directly to charity?" Oprah cupped her chin in one hand, "Thats eighty percent Azira. Thats a lot. Even I can't afford to do that."
Aziraphale smiled, "Yes. I'd give everything actually if my er.. accountant allowed it." That line was one hundred percent true. "Plus, I have my manager who figures out all of my finances anyway. Never been worried about money."
"You must be pretty close to trust him like that."
"Oh, we go back a long, long time."
The talkshow host nodded, "Well, Azira's new single; 'Longing', is out today." A poster flashed onto the huge screen behind them, Aziraphale in as angelic a form his human body can radiate, sword raised in hand and a fallen demon (replete with batwings and pitchfork at his side) under his feet. "Don't forget to catch his latest concert tour kick-off at Madison Square Garden next, next week entitled 'Symphony', everybody in the audience gets to bring home Azira's new sin-gle!" Oprah beamed at her audience who in turn cheered, then faced a camera, "After the break, Brad Pitt is heere!"
Aziraphale rose to his feet as she did, and recieved a hearty hug from the host.
"Thanks so much for making time for us, Azira."
"Don't mention it."
A camera panned out and music ushered in a commercial break.
*******
Crowley awoke to the noise of cheering women clutching their purses and waving at Aziraphale. The lady next to him was jumping up and down and he thought she was about to have a coronary. The demon languidly stretched, ignoring the chaos and peered up just in time to see the angel and Oprah hug with the wretched poster projected behind them. He eyed it with mild disapproval, hating the fact that he was at the bottom (he would have very much liked it to be the other way around and in a setting that included a mattress), but nonetheless pleased that the photographer had gotten his cheekbones in a most flattering light.
"Isn't he something?!"
"Huh?"
"Azira!" said the lady - it was the woman who Crowley thought was about to - or was now hoping to - have a heart attack. "Azira! I love you!" she called and turned back to the demon, "Such a sweet young man. Don't you just love him?"
Crowley stared at the angel smiling and talking to the host, the lady's words ringing in his ears.