𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚜 - 𝚊 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚗 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗

Part Five: An Opening

Crowley paced around his new shop, organizing plants, adding prices to them with neat handwritten tags Muriel had helped make, and hanging up various plants from the ceiling. The walls were filled with shelves that held luxurious plants, all in beautiful pots if not hung from beautifully detailed macrame holders. The interior of the shop had beautiful dark brown smooth walls as well as iconic stained hardwood floors. These were beautiful details of course but they were mostly covered with thick, distinctive foliage. The shop was lit with strategically placed lamps giving the shop an encapsulating candle-like glow aside from the daylight that crept through the large front windows.

Outfront, Crowley, and Nina had worked together to plant several beautiful succulents, exotic-looking plants, and lichen-covered rocks in the planters at the entrance. At the very top of the shop's exterior, there was a neat hanging sign that read 'Botany and Bouquets' in an eye-catching font. The edges of the sign had hand-painted plants and leaves; Muriel had added that bit of course.

Today was Crowley's first day open. He wore his long, ginger hair down and a pair of dangling star earrings. He was dressed in a sleek black button-up, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows along with a tight-fitting pair of black jeans. Over the top of these was a dark brown apron with various convenient pockets. He used to tuck in some small clipped plant nodes, a pen, and a pair of scissors he used for pruning.

Though it was only the first day the shop was open there were already a handful of customers coming in and out throughout the day, some bought small plants, and numerous bought bouquets. Crowley spent that day carefully preparing flowers, arranging them together into delicately extravagant bouquets for people, and sweeping up the entrance.

Maggie and Nina visited that day, bringing some exquisite red wine for him as a gift, as well as checking up on him. Crowley had been doing far better than he had before in general not to mention he had found something he dearly enjoyed.

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

Meanwhile, Muriel trotted happily around the bookshop rearranging and organizing books and tidying the place up. They wore cute indoor shoes as well as a frilly button-up and a long beige skirt. They were frequently glancing out the window at Nina and Maggie across the street going about their days. The door of the Shop opened, and the small old, silver Bell above began to jingle with the movement.

A familiar Angel walked in, his hands holding one another in front of himself. He was dressed back in his old beige coat that rested snuggly against his brown vest and baby blue button-up. He still wore the old pocket watch he had gotten from the demon several centuries back. Muriel looked up at Aziraphale and smiled, standing up from Aziraphale's desk.

"Welcome back!" Muriel said sweetly.

Aziraphlale stood at the entrance looking around slowly, taking in his space for the first time in nearly two years. The beautiful old books and scrolls were all stacked neatly in his intricate wooden shelves strewn about the shop.

"Hello dear." He looked at Muriel with a sweet smile, his cheeks flushed with excitement. "The place is beautiful, thank you for taking care of the shop."  he expressed in a relieved manner. He slowly walked further into the shop taking it all in once again.

Muriel stood proudly with excitement boiling in their stomach. "I'm so so glad!"

Aziraphale's expression dwindled into something rather somber, nervously playing with his ring. "Do you know where Crowley is?" Aziraphale asked, his voice quiet and aching with concern.

"Today is the opening day of his new shop, he is a few blocks down. He has a building with big windows filled with plants! And a little hanging sign out front: Botany and Bouquets." Muriel said in his usual cheery tone. "Would you like me to walk you over there?"

"Thank you dear but it's quite alright. Could you please look over the shop for a bit? I'll be back in a little while." Aziraphale asked. His expression was strewn with countless feelings.

"Of course!" Muriel hummed.

Aziraphale walked through the street, his brown thin shoes tapping along the sidewalk at a quick pace. Before visiting the demon he picked up a small box of chocolates for Crowley's opening day as Crowley had done for the angel years back.

Once Aziraphale had gotten a neatly wrapped box of chocolates he walked through town. The warm sun carefully kissed Aziraphale's rosy skin as he walked, his eyes scanning buildings and signs. Trying to find Crowley. He began to steady his once nervous, frantic breathing as he caught a glimpse of the demon's building.

The angel nervously stood in front of the door, his free hand hovering hesitantly over the doorknob. He felt his stomach twist as well as fill with butterflies, a mix of deep fear and excitement boiling up within himself. He took one deep breath before Aziraphale slowly turned the brass knob and walked into the beautiful shop, his eyes fluttered along all of the well-kept plants and flowers as he stepped in.

Crowley stood in the back of the shop watering plants. "Let me know if you have any questions," Crowley said for what must have been the hundredth time today for his customers. As Crowey spoke his gaze traveled up to the door. To his surprise, There stood an all too familiar figure. The angel stood looking back at Crowley, his hands clasped together in front of himself with the neatly wrapped chocolates. Aziraphale lips were parted as he tried to speak although he couldn't find the words. Their final moments, vividly played out in his eyes as his gaze fell to the floor.

Author: yes I'm ending it of there >:3 till next time