The Arrangement: An Essay

[hekateras]

This is just a quick gander into the way the relationship between Aziraphale and Crowley progresses in Good Omens throughout the book, probably in not too eloquent a format.

What strikes me is that at the beginning, it is portrayed as very much a matter of necessity/convenience rather than emotional fulfillment: "they wouldn't have chosen each other

Comments

[hekateras]

*gasp* It's you! Your fics are amazing. In fact, now that you mention it, I know what fic you're talking about, and it's where the whole dichotomy of Crowley/Az's relationship first jumped out at me and made me dig deeper, and I've been using the whole prejudice themes heavily in my own fic, as well

[irisbleufic]

No shock or deference necessary: I haunt these kinds of discussions all the time, although it's a crap-shoot as to whether I'll respond or not (but your essay, your invitation to play is so thorough and inviting, something I wish more people would do, so I couldn't resist). I'm pleased you enjoy the stories, though. They exist because, when I first started scanning the GO-fic situation that existed when I first read the novel (November 2003), I wasn't seeing the kind of stories I wanted to see; more specifically, I was seeing stories that seemed intensely problematic when I tried to match them up with their characterization as I understood it. And when I find something I perceive to be a gap or absence in a universe I've come to love, there's really nothing left for me to do but roll up my sleeves and wade in.

I think I *could* believe a fic that is set a long time before the book and probably before the Arrangement. The way Crowley treats his plants (kicking out those who don't live up to his crazy standards of perfection, or

[hekateras]

Just... Everything, all of that, yes. Especially the part about needing to comfort Crowley whenever I think of him trying to be a proper demon or, gods forbid, being put under pressure to be a proper demon. It's really kind of miraculous, really, when you consider it, that they were able to arrive at an arrangement (which, over the, became The Arrangement) roughly during the Crusades, when so much was going on for their respective sides. I imagine that, by them, they would have adopted a pretty casual attitude towards fighting each other, simply doing their jobs - but says a lot about both of them that they came to and were self-aware enough to come up with something as formalised as an "arrangement". Once again, Aziraphale's attitude would likely have been the greater hurdle, so the Crusade era makes sense - it's a very small-scale Apocalypse, in a way, a lot of suffering for a holy cause, and Aziraphale would likely have already started feeling the isolation and disconnect he has to come to terms with later on

[irisbleufic]

Naked? Wow, did I miss that bit? I remember him in a dressing gown with the shoulder sort of falling down suggestively, but not nakedness. I'll have to re-check that...

Another moment from the book I really loved was the absolutely casual way Crowley rants away in order of priority Aziraphale's list of hobbies. The focus of the scene was their decision to stop the Apocalypse, not so much their background, but it was also character-establishing in the best way possible. One of the better parts of the early chapters was seeing how these two creatures had progressed and changed from the serpent of Eden and the angel of the Eastern Gate to these two fully fledged, unique personalities.That they know each other's fondnesses and weaknesses is, perhaps, the real clincher in all of this - and especially from the perspective of moving the relationship forward from the not inconsiderable place it's in already :) The affection is so deep and abiding that you do seriously wonder how early on the Arrangement gained the capital letter, when

[hekateras]

"Naked? Wow, did I miss that bit? I remember him in a dressing gown with the shoulder sort of falling down suggestively, but not nakedness. I'll have to re-check that

[irisbleufic]

No problem :) I keep a DA account for following and commenting on artists whose (primarily GO) stuff I enjoy looking at. As for LJ, the add does seem to have stuck this time, so, if you like, feel free to add back. However, if you're not an account that adds back, I have a quirk about my numbers balancing - so just let me know if you don't, and I'll shift you over as one of my bookmarks instead. OCD is a terrible thing; I wish I could kick it, but medication really didn't make a shred of difference.

[spfi_duo]

(Nam)

First: I agree with all statements which have been made here.

Second: I blame you both for the archive crawl I just endured, and the burning of snorted soda from laughing so hard.

Thank you for both~