In a little bookshop in Soho

[His shoulders sag more than usual as if the weight of his role is pressed too hard upon him. He feels like can empathize at least a little bit with what Alexander must have felt in this role at the mansion, though he has no loved ones here to worry about while knowing who is who. Still, knowing the carnage that is about to happen over the next several days doesn't make this any easier.

Aziraphale seems to dither for a moment before looking at Alexander and Phillip. His voice is soft but firm. This is something that has to be done. From what he's read about how this world works, they don't have much choice.]

Well, er... Alexander I suppose you know how this works better than I. You two are this Ritual's Wolves.

I'm sorry.

CHARACTER NAME: Aziraphale
CHARACTER SERIES: Good Omens

[OOC]
This is the permissions list for OOC (out of character), activity.
Answer the following questions with "yes" or "no", as well as additional information if desired.

Backtagging: Always.
Threadhopping: Certainly.
Fourthwalling: Preferably not.
Offensive subjects (elaborate): Nothing's too offensive.

[IC]
This is the permissions list for IC (in-character), activity.
Answer the following questions with "yes" or "no", as well as additional information if desired. With IC permissions, it's a good idea to elaborate on what other players can expect from your character if they choose to do any of the following:

Hugging this character: If you're a certain angel, by all means. If not, He's going to be very bemused.
Kissing this character: Aziraphale's modesty would not be too thrilled about kisses. Unless he knows you well and it's on the cheek.
Flirting with this character: Expect an oblivious/confused response.
Fighting with this character: He'd rather avoid a physical fight, but he's all for having words with someone.
Injuring this character (include limits and severity): He can be injured. And injured pretty badly.
Killing this character: I'd rather not kill him. The Bureaucracy in Heaven to get a new body is a pain in the ass.
Using telepathy/mind reading abilities on this character: Er, sure. Though he'll put up some resistance.

Name: Connie
DW username: korofel
E-Mail: korofel [at] gmail [dot] com
IM: discord - korofel#7229, Skype - korofel
Plurk: vaguelysauntered

Other Characters: N/A

Character Name: Aziraphale
Series: Good Omens
Timeline: Post canon, including the New Year's Resolutions
Canon Resource Link: Good Omens on Wikipedia


Character History: Aziraphale started out his life on Earth as the angel guarding the Eastern Gate of the Garden of Eden. His first notable act was "misplacing" his flaming sword. He in fact gave it to Adam and Eve as the girl was already with child and he worried for their very survival. He was intending to do the right thing, but after a conversation with the demon, a serpent by the name of Crawly, he had his doubts. When given an opportunity to (during the proof reading stage of the printing process), Aziraphale later added several verses to one of the "Infamous Bibles" (Bibles known for their typesetting errors) now known as the "Buggre Alle This Bible" that explains the aftermath of his sword misplacement. Verses 24-27 read:

24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
25 And the Lord spake unto the Angel that guarded the eastern gate, saying Where is the flaming sword which was given unto thee?
26 And the Angel said, I had it here only a moment ago, I must have put it down some where, forget my own head next.
27 And the Lord did not ask him again. (p. 50)

As an angel, Aziraphale's time on Earth since Eden was mainly to thwart evil, keep an eye on humanity, and to do (and inspire people to do) good. He helped in the creation of Shropshire and Edinburgh and reported Milton Keynes a success (as did Crowley), though he did not claim responsibility for it (p. 43).

And throughout the roughly 6,000 years the world has existed, there has really only been one person he would see on a semi-regular basis: the demon Crowley (formerly Crawly). Though they are on opposing sides, the pair have become unlikely "sort of" friends. In 1020, they came to an Arrangement. It was incredibly simple and allows for both to do their jobs, but not really for either to get ahead of the other. And while the Arrangement meant a tacit non-interference in certain of each others' activities (p. 43), they also take it to mean that they hold the fort for one another when common sense dictated (p. 44). It was going to get done anyway, right? Aziraphale occasionally feels pangs of guilt for the things he's done for Crowley, but this doesn't seem to stop him.

Being around humans (and Crowley) so long seems to have rubbed off on Aziraphale. He's highly intelligent (angelic intelligence, while not particularly higher than human intelligence, is much broader and has the advantage of thousands of years of practice, p. 167), materialistic, possessive, and vain. Aziraphale is a collector of books (Wilde first editions, Infamous Bibles, and first printings of books of prophesy, often autographed by the original author) and Regency silver snuff boxes. He enjoys dining out (sushi, the Ritz, fascinating little restaurants where they know you), having tea, and cocoa. And the assumption people have upon meeting him that he's gay implies a certain level of vanity. Little examples of this seem to be strewn about the book: his exquisite manicure, expensive clothes, sensitivity over his weight.

Aziraphale's love for his books seems to run very deep. He runs a bookshop, but if he were to be totally honest with himself he would have to have admitted that his bookshop was simply somewhere to store [his books]. (p. 48) He uses any means (short of physical violence) to prevent people from buying his books: unpleasant smells, erratic opening hours, glowering looks. When, on occasion, men in dark suits attempt to get Aziraphale to sell his shop, would be very polite, but the men would leave and never come back.

And Aziraphale is quite polite. He's scrupulously polite in the way of many Britons (unless the situation calls for rudeness). He has a flair for understatement, beating around the bush, and disguising a dig with a mild comment. Toward the end of the book, he's seen making some subtly nasty comments when he is losing his patience trying to get back to England.

Despite being an angel, Aziraphale is clearly not the picture of kind, gentle innocence. Crowley describes him as being enough of a bastard to be worth liking. (p. 371) His bastard streak can also be seen in the rude way he treats potential customers, his general support of terrorists (if he can justify them as "freedom fighters") and guns (They lend weight to moral argument. In the right hands, of course. p. 103), the couple of lies he's uttered (one to God, as shown above and also to convince someone to kill the Antichrist), and how it seems his motivations for stopping the Apocalypse are purely selfish (he likes Earth and its pleasures and doesn't want to see it destroyed).

*The edition of Good Omens used for page reference it the 2006 Harper Torch Paperback, white cover.


Abilities/Special Powers: Aziraphale is shown in the book do perform many tasks as miracles (such as sobering up at will, healing, tampering with someone's memories, or transforming real guns into water guns), which don't seem to be limited really except for his own moral limitations. As an angel, Aziraphale holds himself to a much higher moral standard when it comes to magic than Crowley. For example, his clothing gets stained and he does not wish to "miracle it away" because he would "always know that the stain was there." He has also been shown to have the ability of possession of those with minor occult powers (i.e. a man trying to commune with his ancestors and a woman conducting a seance). Also, being an Angel, He does not need to eat, drink, or sleep (though he does enjoy eating and drinking). He also has wings (when he wants to) so one would assume he has the ability to fly.

When he does use his powers (which is as little as possible as you never know who from Upstairs might be watching), he uses his powers generally for good. Minor healings, repairing objects, preventing deaths, and the like.


Third-Person Sample: Aziraphale was sitting on the couch in his quarters and reading. He quietly, reverentially turned a crackling page. He had a cup of cocoa on the end table beside him, but it had gone cold a couple days earlier and was starting to turn into a thick, brown sludge. Other than the occasional meticulous turning of a page, the angel had hardly moved. The book may not have been anything spectacular, but it was his. It was the first book he acquired since coming to this place. Aziraphale was completely absorbed in it.

He turned the last page and let out a gentle sigh of satisfaction, the first sound he'd made in days. Once the leather cover was closed, the angel set the book aside and stretched, uncurling his legs. He was stiff. Very stiff. Perhaps he was getting too old for sitting perfectly still for days on end. Not that he wouldn't in the future if another interesting book happened into his life.

Standing was a bit of a chore. His unused muscles creaked into action. He looked over at the cocoa and frowned. Oh yes... That... He picked up the cold mug and brought it over to the sink to wash. It was likely time to give Crowley a call.


First-Person Sample: Ah... Er... I'm not really certain if I'm using this device correctly, though Crowley did try to explain it to me, the dear. Ah, I seem to be running a bit low on things for tea. Does anyone know where I might be able to acquire cream and sugar. And some more Jaffa Cakes would be nice as well, though I understand that may be a bit of a stretch.

Er... Is this thing broadcasting in video? I didn't realize devices this small could do that! Incredible technology, though I do truly prefer to contact people face to face. This method is so impersonal. It's more difficult to truly make a connection like this, don't you think?

Oh dear... I do hope I'm not offending anyone.