Have y’all read @mrghostrat ‘s vampire AU yet?? Highly recommend. I had an idea that I put in my notes app to draw these two after rewatching Twlight a while ago but never got around to it but got re-inspired after reading it
I’m gonna go read Editor’s Note now because I had to stop reading it in the middle of the chapter
Second: I have go for a short (1.5 month) hiatus. I love drawing this silly comic and I love sharing it with you even more. But right now I've got way too much on my plate (my fault and I'm sorry!) and I have to focus on more urgent projects 😭 When I'm done with them, I'll hop right back into drawing my beloved comic 🐜🐞
I don’t see the alleged handholding on the bus. I don’t. I’m sorry. I’ve watched it so many times. I want to see it. I see Aziraphale’s hand going towards Crowley, but I don’t see any motion from Crowley that suggests he’s holding Aziraphale’s hand.
Are we really, really, REALLY sure they’re holding hands?
Hi there. 💕 Yep. Well, I am, anyway, and I'm happy to share why. I have watermelon salad to share tonight. Ahhh, summer... 🍉
I don't want to assume anything but I've seen the "Crowley doesn't react so they aren't holding hands" comment places before and what I think keeps people from seeing it is the idea that they think that Crowley should have some kind of big reaction because they think this is new. It's not. We aren't watching the very first time that they ever hold hands; we're watching a long-time couple familiar with doing so.
If this were the very first time Aziraphale had ever taken Crowley's hand then I could see why you're saying there should be some kind of reaction. We'd expect him to glance over or for his arm to be seen moving a bit from what of it we could see. On the other hand, if you look at the scene with a different perspective-- one assuming that they're already in a place where holding hands is not unfamiliar territory-- then the whole moment is really set up to reinforce that through showing how comfortable Crowley is with what's happening.
Crowley doesn't have to turn to Aziraphale right away in surprise and we don't need to see his head or arm move because all that's really likely happening is that Crowley is letting Aziraphale hold his hand right where it is resting on his thigh. Maybe he's turned his hand a little to thread their fingers together. Maybe he's just rubbing a thumb over Aziraphale's. We wouldn't see that from our angle because it would just be movement from his wrist down... and that seems to me to be the point of how the scene was shot. The outside view of the bus at this moment exactly? An angle designed to intimate to us that hands are being held and that it is not a rare or new event.
Think about it this way: if they never had held hands before, is Aziraphale just going to take his hand on this bus out of nowhere? Probably not. Is Crowley just going to sit there if Aziraphale did? Probably not. We get two or so seconds after Aziraphale takes his hand before the bus finishes moving out of the frame wherein we could have been shown Crowley having a more surprised reaction if that was what the scene was trying to say but we didn't see one because it seems like that is not what is being said with the scene.
Aziraphale's movements are familiar; he already knows he's permitted to take Crowley's hand whenever he likes and that they both find it comforting. Not only have they just been through all sorts of exhausting craziness over the last few days but Aziraphale was discorporated. He wasn't sure if he was going to be able to get his body back or how and this is basically the first moment they are alone enough to touch since Adam gave Aziraphale back his body. The hand holding then is a way of showing that Aziraphale needs to both feel grounded in his own body and to touch Crowley (not totally separate things, really...). That speaks to long-time coupledom to me more than it does to something new. If you look at the scene from the perspective that they're already together (just as if you look at most of the series from that perspective), you'll see a lot of subtle things just like this scene that reinforce the idea.
I wrote some stuff awhile back that you can find here about the connections between this scene and the flashback one on the bus earlier in S1 that also might help show how that they're sitting together and holding hands in this scene is set up by the earlier scene, should you be interested in that. Also: the "magic hands" massage joke would also suggest that holding hands in S1's present wouldn't be considered unusual. I think that if they've been making love since ancient Rome, as I wrote about the show suggesting here, liking to hold hands isn't too surprising but I understand from where your doubts are coming. Hope this helps. 💕
Crowley: "It doesn't matter what Heaven says anymore, why do you still want their approval?"
Aziraphale: "Sorry, it's an old habit. I've spent a good part of my existence listening to orders and, deep down, I still like certain things to be said to me."
[TIMELAPSE] "See something you like, Mr. Fell?" — 4hrs
you can visit the finished version [with the alternative cut + azira interaction !!] over here.
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Aziraphale: What are you doing here?
Crowley: I could ask you the same question.
Aziraphale: I live here. This is my bookshop.
Crowley: I should probably ask you a different question.
Berlin - 1889
“Well, if you must know,’’ the angel started, fidgeting with the lapels of his coat. “Have you heard of this lovely invention called a gramophone?’’
Crowley had, but still shook his head, happy to let him explain.
“It’s a device that allows you to play music! Isn’t it brilliant? They engrave the music on large discs, apparently, and the machine plays it, which means you could technically listen to symphonies directly in your home!’’
Aziraphale was literally buzzing with excitement. Crowley could feel the way his body was heating up, positively shivering as he explained. He steadied his hand on his cane and looked at him with an encouraging smile, waiting for more. This time, the angel’s blush was more frank, going all the way down his neck.
“Anyway, the company that produces the device is currently designing their logo, and they called for, erm- well, models.’’
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Thank you @phantomram-b00 for the beautiful art <3