Abby Road - Phale and Wilson's Residence - Wednesday evening

[doctorjwilson]

Wilson was attempting to make gumbo.

The first four attempts at a proper rou had ended up in the trash, the mortal cursing up a blue streak each time. The fifth attempt had been deemed passable but not for gumbo but on the sixth attempt, Wilson felt he finally had it right.

And so he was making gumbo and dirty rice. The scent of both dishes was

Comments

[inshiningarmour]

A nice foody smell was enough to draw Thelma in from her evening walk.

And unless the front door was locked, she was about to just let herself in...

[ditheringangel]

In fact, the doors were all standing wide open, as if just hoping to tempt stray passers-by inside...

[inshiningarmour]

I READ GOOD

Thelma wandered in, trying not to be too conspicuous, which of course meant she was totally conspicuous, but not exactly everyone could spot her. She'd follow her nose to the food.

[ditheringangel]

It was unlikely that at least two of the current residents would notice Thelma, but Aziraphale looked up with a curious expression.

Then he opened his mouth, as if about to say something, glanced in the direction of the others, and closed it again, cocking his eyebrow at the young woman. Raising his wine glass toward his lips as something of a shield for his words, he said very softly, "I do hope, my dear, that you're here of your own choosing, and not because you're lost?"

[inshiningarmour]

Thelma froze on the spot.

"...bloody hell, you can see me too?"

[ditheringangel]

Slowly, Aziraphale nodded. "Don't worry, I won't say a word. But, er...you aren't wandering about trying to complete some unfinished task or anything, are you?"

[inshiningarmour]

"...Actually I was hoping I could sneak some of whatever was cooking and no one would notice," Thelma said. "Eating when you're dead has the excellent benefit of not actually adding to your weight at all."

[ditheringangel]

"My dear, James makes enough for an army every time he cooks." Aziraphale stepped over to the counter and set out an extra bowl. "No one will notice, and in fact I imagine he'll just be glad to not have to eat leftovers for the next fortnight."

[inshiningarmour]

"Right," Thelma said, shifting a little awkwardly. "So... why can you see me?" she asked.

[ditheringangel]

Dishing up some gumbo into the bowl, Aziraphale cocked his head at Thelma. "Well, I suppose it can't hurt to tell. Although really, I've given up any attempts at hiding it these days."

He leaned against the counter and held the bowl out. "I'm an angel."

[inshiningarmour]

Thelma paused for a second before taking the bowl.

"That's angel and not fallen angel, right?" she asked.

[ditheringangel]

"Goodness, no," Aziraphale said with a chuckle. "Not Fallen, just a plain old angel. So far, I do seem to have managed to stay on the side of the Light, and so long as I have anything to say about it, I'll continue on that way."

[inshiningarmour]

"Good," Thelma said. "Cause I've had plenty enough when it comes to the fallen kind, thank you very much."

[ditheringangel]

"They can be right troublesome when they want to be," Aziraphale agreed, although probably from his tone it didn't really sound as though he'd had quite the level of difficulty has Thelma had.

"I do want to ask, Miss Bates...and I know how strange this probably sounds, but are you doing all right?"

[inshiningarmour]

"As all right as a lesbian ghost can be, I suppose," Thelma said. "Given all the circumstances."

[ditheringangel]

"Yes, I suppose 'all right' was probably not the best choice of words, was it?" Aziraphale mused. "Well, what about 'Is there anything you need?'"